A picture stuck onto wood or cardboard and cut into pieces of different shapes that must be joined together correctly to form the picture again
One piece of the jigsaw puzzle is still missing.
jigsaw
(also jigsaw puzzle) noun
a picture in many pieces that you put together
jigsaw
jig‧saw /ˈdʒɪɡsɔː $ -sɒː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. (also ˈjigsaw ˌpuzzle) a picture cut up into many pieces that you try to fit together
2. [usually singular] a very complicated situation, especially one that you are trying to understand:
As he explained, another piece of the jigsaw fell into place.
3. a tool for cutting out shapes in thin pieces of wood
jigsaw
jig·saw [jigsaw jigsaws] [ˈdʒɪɡsɔː] [ˈdʒɪɡsɔː] noun
1. (also ˈjigsaw puzzle) (also puz·zle especially in NAmE) a picture printed on cardboard or wood, that has been cut up into a lot of small pieces of different shapes that you have to fit together again
• to do a jigsaw
2. a mysterious situation in which it is not easy to understand all the causes of what is happening; a complicated problem
• If Hollis was a double agent then the Crabb affair fits neatly into the jigsaw.
3. a saw (= a type of tool) with a fine blade for cutting designs in thin pieces of wood or metal
See also: puzzle
Word Origin:
late 19th cent.: from the verb jig + the noun saw.
Example Bank:
• One piece of the jigsaw is still missing.
• The police managed to piece together the jigsaw and reconstruct the victim's last hours.
• This is another piece in the jigsaw that will help us understand the biology of cancer.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
jigsaw / ˈdʒɪɡ.sɔː / / -sɑː / noun [ C ] ( also jigsaw puzzle ) (PICTURE GAME)
jigsaw
a picture stuck onto wood or cardboard and cut into pieces of different shapes that must be joined together correctly to form the picture again:
We spent all evening doing a 1,000-piece jigsaw.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
jigsaw
/dʒɪgsɔ:/
(jigsaws)
1.
A jigsaw or jigsaw puzzle is a picture on cardboard or wood that has been cut up into odd shapes. You have to make the picture again by putting the pieces together correctly.
= puzzle
N-COUNT
2.
You can describe a complicated situation as a jigsaw.
...the jigsaw of high-level diplomacy.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp
jigsaw
jig·saw /ˈʤɪgˌsɑː/ noun, pl -saws [count]
1 : a machine that has a narrow blade for cutting curved lines in thin pieces of wood, metal, plastic, etc.
2 chiefly Brit : jigsaw puzzle
Trousers made of denim (= strong blue cotton cloth) that are worn informally
She was wearing an old T-shirt and jeans.
jeans
noun (plural)
trousers made of strong cotton material (called denim). Jeans are usually blue:
a pair of jeans
He wore jeans and a T-shirt.
jeans
jeans /dʒiːnz/ BrE AmE noun [plural]
[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: jean 'strong cotton cloth' (15-21 centuries), from Gene, early form of the name Genoa, Italian city where the cloth was first made]
trousers made of ↑denim (=a strong, usually blue, cotton cloth)
jeans
jeans [dʒiːnz] [dʒiːnz] noun
plural
trousers/pants made of strong cotton, especially denim
• a faded pair of blue jeans
see also denims From Janne, the Old French name for Genoa, where the heavy cotton now used for jeans was first made.
Culture:
jeans [jeans]
Jeans were first made in the US. They are now worn all over the world. Jeans were created during the Gold Rush in the 1840s and 1850s, when many people went to the western US to search for gold. Miners often lived in tents made out of a strong fabric and, because they needed strong clothes, they began to wear trousers made from the same fabric. Many jeans were sold by Levi Strauss, who had a store in California, and today Levi's are among the most famous jeans.
Traditionally, jeans are blue (and are then also called blue jeans), but the fabric they are made of, denim, comes in many colours. Black jeans, and stonewashed jeans that are made from denim which has been washed until it becomes lighter and softer, are also made. Styles include bell-bottoms, flares and bootleg cut, which are halfway between straight and flared, but straight-leg is most popular as a universal style and worn by both men and women. Designer jeans are sold by top fashion designers.
For a long time jeans were worn only for physical work, but in the 1960s society changed and young people began to question traditional attitudes to dress. Jeans were a symbol of these changes and became very popular. Now, people of any age wear jeans because they are comfortable, practical and relatively cheap. They can be made more or less formal, depending on what is worn with them, but some restaurants and wine bars do not allow in people who are wearing jeans, and some companies do not like their staff to wear jeans for work.
Example Bank:
• She pulled on a pair of faded blue jeans.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
jeans / dʒiːnz / noun [ plural ]
A1 trousers made of denim (= strong blue cotton cloth) that are worn informally:
jeans and a T-shirt
I never wear jeans for work.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
jeans
/dʒi:nz/
Jeans are casual trousers that are usually made of strong blue cotton cloth called denim.
N-PLURAL: also a pair of N
jeans
jeans /ˈʤiːnz/ noun [plural] : pants made of a strong cloth (called denim)
• He was wearing (a pair of) jeans.
A brush used for making the hair on your head tidy and smooth
She opened the drawer and picked out a purple hairbrush.
hairbrush
noun (plural hairbrushes)
a brush that you use to make your hair tidy
hairbrush
hair‧brush /ˈheəbrʌʃ $ ˈher-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a brush you use on your hair to make it smooth
hairbrush
hair·brush [hairbrush hairbrushes] [ˈheəbrʌʃ] [ˈherbrʌʃ] noun
a brush for making the hair tidy or smooth
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
hairbrush / ˈheə.brʌʃ / / ˈher- / noun [ C ]
a brush used for making the hair on your head tidy and smooth
© Cambridge University Press 2013
hairbrush
/heə(r)brʌʃ/
(hairbrushes)
A hairbrush is a brush that you use to brush your hair.
N-COUNT
hairbrush
hair·brush /ˈheɚˌbrʌʃ/ noun, pl -brush·es [count] : a brush for the hair
Long hair is back in fashion for men.
A style that is popular at a particular time, especially in clothes, hair, make-up, etc
She always wears the latest fashions.
fashion
noun
a way of dressing or doing something that people like and try to copy for a time:
Bright colours are back in fashion.
Some styles never go out of fashion.
a fashion show
fashion
I. fash‧ion1 S3 W2 /ˈfæʃən/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: verb: ↑fashion; noun: ↑fashion; adverb: ↑fashionably ≠ UNFASHIONABLY; adjective: ↑fashionable ≠ ↑unfashionable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: façon, from Latin factio 'act of making', from facere 'to do, make']
1. [uncountable and countable] something that is popular or thought to be good at a particular time
fashion for
the fashion for ‘discovery methods’ of learning
fashion in
The emerging science of photography was already changing fashions in art.
Eastern religions used to be the fashion in the 60s.
His ideas are coming back into fashion (=they are becoming popular again).
Their music will never go out of fashion (=stop being fashionable).
Self-help books are all the fashion (=they are very fashionable).
2. [uncountable and countable] a style of clothes, hair etc that is popular at a particular time:
Young people are very concerned with fashion.
Hats like that just aren’t the fashion.
3. [uncountable] the business or study of making and selling clothes, shoes etc in new and changing styles:
magazines about fashion and beauty
the London College of Fashion
4. in a ... fashion in a particular way:
Please leave the building in an orderly fashion.
Perhaps they could sit down and discuss things in a civilised fashion.
She will be working out her problems in her own fashion (=in the way that she usually does this).
5. after a fashion not very much, not very well, or not very effectively:
‘Can you speak Russian?’ ‘After a fashion.’
6. after the fashion of somebody in a style that is typical of a particular person:
Her early work is very much after the fashion of Picasso and Braque.
7. like it’s going out of fashion informal use this to emphasize that someone does something a lot or uses a lot of something:
Danny’s been spending money like it’s going out of fashion.
⇨ parrot fashion at ↑parrot1(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ be in fashion Belted jackets are in fashion this winter.
▪ be out of fashion Flared trousers were out of fashion in the 1980s.
▪ go out of fashion (=stop being fashionable) Long evening dresses are going out of fashion.
▪ come back into fashion (=become fashionable again) Short skirts are coming back into fashion this year.
▪ be the height of fashion (=be very fashionable) With her short dress and high boots she was the height of fashion.
▪ keep up with fashion (=make sure that you know about the most recent fashions) Lucy likes to keep up with the latest fashions.
▪ fashion-conscious (=very interested in the latest fashions, and always wanting to wear fashionable clothes) Fashion-conscious people can’t get enough of these new designs.
■ adjectives
▪ the latest fashion They sell all the latest fashions.
▪ men’s/women’s fashions Men’s fashions have not changed much in 50 years.
■ fashion + NOUN
▪ the fashion industry London is the centre of the British fashion industry.
▪ the fashion world Small women are often overlooked by the fashion world.
▪ a fashion show Calvin Klein’s fashion show featured suits and sportswear.
▪ a fashion model Fashion models are usually very tall.
▪ a fashion designer Her favourite fashion designers include Giorgio Armani and Gianfranco Ferre.
▪ fashion design He went to St Martin’s School of Art to study fashion design.
▪ a fashion house (=a company that produces new and expensive styles of clothes) fashion houses such as Armani and Hugo Boss
▪ a fashion magazine She’s the editor of a leading fashion magazine.
▪ fashion photography a book of Lang’s fashion photography
▪ a fashion photographer Later he worked as a fashion photographer for Vogue.
▪ a fashion shoot (=an occasion when photographs are taken of fashion models) She was asked to star with top model Naomi Campbell in a fashion shoot.
▪ a fashion shop We walked around Milan’s famous fashion shops.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the last fashion'. Say the latest fashion.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ fashion noun [uncountable and countable] a style of clothes, hair, behaviour etc that is fashionable. Fashion is also used as an uncountable noun, when talking about all of these styles in general: the latest fashions from Donna Karan | changing fashions in popular music | I'm not interested in fashion.
▪ vogue noun [singular,uncountable] if there is a vogue for something, or it is in vogue, it is fashionable. Vogue sounds more formal and typical of the language that more educated speakers use than fashion: the current vogue for realistic animated films | There was a vogue for cream furniture in the 1920s. | His pictures are very much in vogue these days.
▪ trend noun [countable] a way of doing something or a way of thinking that is becoming fashionable or popular: The magazine focuses on the latest trends in contemporary design. | The trend is for people to wait longer to marry and have children.
▪ craze/fad noun [countable] informal a fashion, activity, type of music etc that suddenly becomes very popular, but only remains popular for a short time – often used about things that you think are rather silly: a new fitness craze | the current fad for bare white walls and uncomfortable-looking metal furniture | I'm sure it's just a passing fad (=something that will soon stop being fashionable). | fad diets
▪ something is all the rage formal used when saying that something is very popular and fashionable for a short time: The game was all the rage at her school.
fashion
fash·ion [fashion fashions fashioned fashioning] noun, verb [ˈfæʃn] [ˈfæʃn]
noun
1. uncountable, countable a popular style of clothes, hair, etc. at a particular time or place; the state of being popular
• dressed in the latest fashion
• the new season's fashions
• Long skirts have come into fashion again.
• Jeans are still in fashion.
• Some styles never go out of fashion.
2. countable a popular way of behaving, doing an activity, etc
• The fashion at the time was for teaching mainly the written language.
• Fashions in art and literature come and go.
3. uncountable the business of making or selling clothes in new and different styles
• a fashion designer/magazine/show
• the world of fashion
• the fashion industry
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘make, shape, appearance’, also ‘a particular make or style’): from Old French façon, from Latin factio(n-), from facere ‘do, make’.
Thesaurus:
fashion noun C, U
• The stores are full of the spring fashions.
style • • trend • • look • • craze • |written vogue • |disapproving fad •
a fashion/trend/craze/vogue/fad for sth
the latest fashion/style/trend/look/craze/fad
come (back) into/(be/go) out of fashion/vogue
Collocations:
Clothes and fashion
Clothes
be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy dress/fur/uniform
be (dressed) in black/red/jeans and a T-shirt/your best suit/leather/silk/rags (= very old torn clothes)
be dressed for work/school/dinner/a special occasion
be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate
wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes
wear jewellery/(especially US) jewelry/accessories/a watch/glasses/contact lenses/perfume
have a cowboy hat/red dress/blue suit on
put on/take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet
pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks
change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/your pyjamas/(especially US) your pajamas
Appearance
change/enhance/improve your appearance
create/get/have/give sth a new/contemporary/retro look
brush/comb/shampoo/wash/blow-dry your hair
have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle
have/get a piercing/your nose pierced
have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm)/a tattoo removed
have/get a makeover/cosmetic surgery
use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmetics
Fashion
follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions
spend/waste money on designer clothes
be fashionably/stylishly/well dressed
have good/great/terrible/awful taste in clothes
update/revamp your wardrobe
be in/come into/go out of fashion
be (back/very much) in vogue
create a style/trend/vogue for sth
organize/put on a fashion show
show/unveil a designer's spring/summer collection
sashay/strut down the catwalk/(NAmE also) runway
be on/do a photo/fashion shoot
Example Bank:
• Address me in a proper fashion.
• Application for the course can be made in the normal fashion.
• Black is always in fashion.
• Careful spending has gone out of fashion in our consumer society.
• Costs and revenues are assumed to behave in a linear fashion.
• Each chapter is structured in a similar fashion.
• Fashions in art come and go.
• Flared trousers were a fashion statement of the seventies.
• He asked questions in a direct fashion
• He delivered his speech in classic fashion.
• He has a small vocabulary and is only able to express himself in a limited fashion.
• He insisted the meeting be held, in true spy novel fashion, in the open air.
• He presents it in an entertaining fashion.
• He set a fashion for large hats.
• Her summer collection took the fashion world by storm.
• I need your expert fashion advice.
• I strive to get my work done in a timely fashion.
• I've given up trying to keep up with the latest fashions.
• I've started my own fashion line.
• Karpov struck back in no uncertain fashion to win the seventh game.
• Light and sound are recorded in such different fashions.
• Paris, the world's fashion capital
• Pessimism has become the fashion.
• Please proceed in an orderly fashion to the promenade deck.
• She always wore the latest fashions.
• She had no fashion sense whatsoever.
• She has corrected that oversight in fine fashion.
• She laid out her argument in a convincing fashion.
• She looked like a fashion plate.
• She loves fashion and make-up.
• She spoke in French after the fashion of the court.
• She spoke in French after= copying the fashion of the court.
• She started her career as a fashion model.
• She was respected as a fashion icon.
• She was strolling in a leisurely fashion in the opposite direction.
• She wore a powdered wig, as was the fashion of the day.
• She writes in a serious fashion about the future
• So they became friends, after a fashion.
• Somebody call the fashion police, please!
• Students become frustrated with learning verbs parrot fashion.
• The book traces how fashions have changed over the years.
• The convention proceeded in the normal fashion.
• The descent of the footpath starts in easy fashion.
• The new summer fashions have arrived.
• The palazzo represents the height of architectural fashion for the mid-17th century.
• The store sells everything from casual clothes to high fashion.
• The story moves in circular fashion.
• The troops embarked in an orderly fashion.
• They act in a purposeful and deliberate fashion.
• They celebrated their win in traditional fashion by spraying champagne everywhere.
• This theory, though recent, is more than a passing fashion.
• We had just gone out when, in typical fashion, the rain came down.
• We need to tackle this problem in a coordinated fashion.
• What were your worst fashion disasters?
• When did flares first come into fashion?
• Why are they behaving in such a ridiculous fashion?
• a magazine fashion spread
• a passion for French fashions and goods
• batons ready in best police fashion
• changing fashions in education
• classic fashions for your wardrobe
• fresh interest in the New York fashion scene
• household names in the world of fashion and design
• one of the most successful fashion houses in Milan
• photographers at fashion shoots
• slowly descending the stairs in a grand fashion
• the fashion for long dresses
• the fashion runways of Italy and France
• the influence of Italian designer fashion on the clothes industry
• the latest fashion trend
• the popular fashions of the day
• the world's top fashion experts
• this season's must-have accessories that no fashion victim will be seen without
• watching how fashions change over the years
• when people confront you in a negative fashion
• I remembered clearly the peculiar fashion in which it all happened.
• Jeans are always in fashion.
• Some styles never go out of fashion.
• The stores are full of the spring fashions.
• They all want to work in fashion.
• a fashion designer/magazine/show
Idioms: after a fashion ▪ after the fashion of somebody ▪ in … fashion ▪ like it's going out of fashion
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
fashion / ˈfæʃ. ə n / noun (POPULAR STYLE)
A2 [ C or U ] a style that is popular at a particular time, especially in clothes, hair, make-up, etc.:
Long hair is back in fashion for men.
Fur coats have gone out of fashion.
a programme with features on sport and fashion
She always wears the latest fashions.
There was a fashion for keeping reptiles as pets.
follow (a) fashion
to do what is popular at the time
like it's going out of fashion informal If you use something like it's going out of fashion, you use large amounts of it very quickly:
Emma spends money like it's going out of fashion.
Word partners for fashion
follow fashion • come into / go out of fashion • fashions change • the latest fashion • be in fashion • a fashion for sth
fashion / ˈfæʃ. ə n / noun (MANNER)
[ S ] a way of doing things:
The rebel army behaved in a brutal fashion.
after a fashion If you can do something after a fashion, you can do it, but not well:
I can cook, after a fashion.
Word partners for fashion
follow fashion • come into / go out of fashion • fashions change • the latest fashion • be in fashion • a fashion for sth
© Cambridge University Press 2013
fashion
/fæʃ(ə)n/
(fashions, fashioning, fashioned)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Fashion is the area of activity that involves styles of clothing and appearance.
There are 20 full-colour pages of fashion for men...
The fashion world does not mind what the real world thinks.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
A fashion is a style of clothing or a way of behaving that is popular at a particular time.
Queen Mary started the fashion for blue and white china in England...
He stayed at the top through all changes and fashions in pop music.
N-COUNT: oft the N
3.
If you do something in a particular fashion or after a particular fashion, you do it in that way.
There is another drug called DHE that works in a similar fashion...
It is happening in this fashion because of the obstinacy of one woman.
= manner
N-SING: with supp
see also parrot-fashion
4.
If you fashion an object or a work of art, you make it. (FORMAL)
Stone Age settlers fashioned necklaces from sheep’s teeth.
VERB: V n
5.
see also old-fashioned
6.
If you say that something was done after a fashion, you mean that it was done, but not very well.
She was educated–after a fashion–at home...
He knew the way, after a fashion.
PHRASE
7.
If something is in fashion, it is popular and approved of at a particular time. If it is out of fashion, it is not popular or approved of.
That sort of house is back in fashion...
Marriage seems to be going out of fashion.
PHRASE
1fash·ion /ˈfæʃən/ noun, pl -ions
1 a : a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people
[count]
• Jewelry and clothing fashions vary with the season.
[noncount]
• Long, full skirts were (all/very much) the fashion in those days.
• fashion-conscious shoppers [=shoppers who know what styles are popular]
• Short skirts are currently in fashion. [=are currently popular]
• Short skirts have come back into fashion.
• Those ruffled blouses went out of fashion years ago.
b [noncount] : the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles
• the world of fashion
- often used before another noun
• the fashion industry
• She reads all the fashion magazines. [=magazines about the newest fashions]
• We attended a fashion show. [=a show at which people who design clothes show their new designs]
- see also high fashion
c fashions [plural] : clothes that are popular
• She always wears the latest fashions.
2 : a style, way of behaving, etc., that is popular in a particular time and place
[count]
• Literary fashions have changed in recent years.
[noncount]
• Action movies are (all) the fashion in Hollywood these days. = Action movies are in fashion in Hollywood these days.
• Her theories have fallen/gone out of fashion. [=are no longer popular]
3 : a specified way of acting or behaving - usually used after in;
[singular]
• His friends noticed that he was behaving in a strange fashion. [=behaving strangely]
• We started the meeting in an orderly fashion.
[noncount]
• We all lined up in orderly fashion.
after a fashion : to a slight or minor degree : somewhat
• I can play the piano after a fashion, but I can't play anything difficult.
A small piece of rubber used to remove the marks made by a pencil
you can always rub out your mistakes with an eraser.
eraser
American English for rubber
eraser
e‧ras‧er /ɪˈreɪzə $ -sər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a small piece of rubber that you use to remove pencil or pen marks from paper SYN rubber British English
eraser
eraser [eraser erasers] [ɪˈreɪzə(r)] [ɪˈreɪsər] (NAmE or formal) (BrE also rub·ber) noun
a small piece of rubber or a similar substance, used for removing pencil marks from paper; a piece of soft material used for removing chalk marks from a blackboard
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
eraser / ɪˈreɪ.zə r / / -ˈreɪ.sɚ / noun [ C ] mainly US ( UK usually rubber )
eraser
A1 a small piece of rubber used to remove the marks made by a pencil:
If you draw or write in pencil you can always rub out your mistakes with an eraser.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
eraser
/ɪreɪzə(r), AM -reɪs-/
(erasers)
An eraser is an object, usually a piece of rubber or plastic, which is used for removing something that has been written using a pencil or a pen. (AM; also BRIT FORMAL)
...a large, flat, pink India-rubber eraser.
= rubber
N-COUNT
eraser
eras·er /ɪˈreɪsɚ, Brit ɪˈreɪzə/ noun, pl -ers [count] chiefly US : a small piece of rubber or other material that is used to erase something you have written or drawn - called also (Brit) rubber;
The dog's ears were cut off.
Either of the two organs, one on each side of the head, by which people or animals hear sounds, or the piece of skin and tissue outside the head connected to this organ
The dog's ears were cut off.
ear
noun
one of the two parts of your body that you use to hear with:
Elephants have big ears.
ear
ear S2 W2 /ɪə $ ɪr/ BrE AmE noun
[Sense 1,2: Language: Old English; Origin: eare]
[Sense 3: Language: Old English; Origin: ear]
1. PART OF YOUR BODY [countable] one of the organs on either side of your head that you hear with:
She tucked her hair behind her ears.
long-eared/short-eared etc
a long-eared rabbit
2. GRAIN [countable] the top part of a plant such as wheat that produces grain
ear of
an ear of corn
3. smile/grin etc from ear to ear to show that you are very happy or pleased by smiling a lot:
She came out of his office, beaming from ear to ear.
4. reach somebody's ears if something reaches someone's ears, they hear about it or find out about it:
The news eventually reached the ears of the king.
5. to somebody's ears used when saying how something sounds to someone:
It sounds odd to the ears of an ordinary English speaker.
6. [singular] the ability to learn music, copy sounds etc
ear for
She has no ear for languages at all.
a good ear for dialogue
7. a sympathetic ear used to say that someone listens sympathetically to what someone is saying:
He’s always prepared to lend a sympathetic ear.
8. close/shut your ears to something to refuse to listen to bad or unpleasant news:
You can’t just close your ears to their warnings. ⇨ turn a deaf ear at ↑deaf(4), ⇨ fall on deaf ears at ↑deaf(5)
9. be all ears informal to be very keen to hear what someone is going to tell you:
As soon as I mentioned money, Karen was all ears.
10. be out on your ear informal to be forced to leave a job, organization etc, especially because you have done something wrong:
You’d better start working harder, or you’ll be out on your ear.
11. be up to your ears in work/debt/problems etc to have a lot of work etc
12. have something coming out (of) your ears informal to have too much of something:
We’ve got pumpkins coming out our ears this time of year.
13. keep your/an ear to the ground to make sure that you always know what is happening in a situation
14. keep your ears open to always be listening in order to find out what is happening or to hear some useful information:
I hope you’ll all keep your eyes and ears open for anything unusual.
15. go in (at) one ear and out (at) the other informal if information goes in one ear and out the other, you forget it as soon as you have heard it:
I don’t know why I tell her anything. It just goes in one ear and out the other.
16. give somebody a thick ear British English informal to hit someone on the ear:
Behave yourself or I’ll give you a thick ear!
17. have sb’s ear to be trusted by someone so that they will listen to your advice, opinions etc:
He claimed to have the ear of several top ministers.
18. play something by ear to play music that you have heard without having to read written music ⇨ play it by ear at ↑play1(11)
19. sb’s ears are burning used to say that someone thinks that people are talking about them
20. sb’s ears are flapping British English spoken used to say that someone is trying to listen to your private conversation
⇨ ↑dog-eared, ⇨ bend sb’s ear at ↑bend1(7), ⇨ send somebody off with a flea in their ear at ↑flea(2), ⇨ make a pig’s ear of at ↑pig1(5), ⇨ prick (up) your ears at ↑prick1(5), ⇨ wet behind the ears at ↑wet1(7)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ big African elephants' ears are bigger than those of Indian elephants.
▪ floppy (=soft and hanging down loosely, rather than being stiff) a rabbit with big floppy ears
▪ pointy/pointed The dog has short pointy ears.
▪ pierced (=with a hole in the skin where an earring can be put) Her new boyfriend's got long hair and pierced ears.
▪ somebody's left/right ear She is deaf in her right ear.
▪ inner/middle ear (=the parts inside your ear, which you use to hear sounds) I've got an infection in my middle ear.
■ verbs
▪ say/whisper something into somebody's ear He whispered something into his wife's ear.
▪ have your ears pierced (=have a hole put into the skin, so that you can wear an earring) I had my ears pierced when I was quite young.
▪ somebody's ears stick out (=they are noticeable because they do not lie flat against someone's head) If my hair is too short, you can see that my ears stick out.
▪ somebody's ears pop (=the pressure in them changes suddenly, for example when you go up or down quickly in a plane) My ears finally popped when the plane landed.
ear
ear [ear ears] [ɪə(r)] [ɪr] noun
1. countable either of the organs on the sides of the head that you hear with
• an ear infection
• the inner/outer ear
• She whispered something in his ear.
• He put his hands over his ears.
• She's had her ears pierced.
• The elephant flapped its ears.
• He was always there with a sympathetic ear (= a willingness to listen to people).
see also cauliflower ear, glue ear, middle ear
2. -eared (in adjectives) having the type of ears mentioned
• a long-eared owl
3. singular an ability to recognize and copy sounds well
• She has always had an ear for languages.
• You need a good ear to master the piano.
4. countable the top part of a grain plant, such as wheat, that contains the seeds
• ears of corn
more at not believe your ears/eyes at believe, bend sb's ear (about sth) at bend v., give sb a box on the ears at box n., box sb's ears at box v., cock an ear/eye at sth/sb at cock v., fall on deaf earsturn a deaf ear at deaf adj., easy on the ear/eye at easy adj., feel your ears burning at feel v., with a flea in your ear at flea, lend an ear at lend, music to your ears at music, keep your ears/eyes open at open adj., make a pig's ear of sth at pig n., prick (up) your ears at prick v., ring in your ears/head at ring v., make a silk purse (out of a sow's ear) at silk, give sb/get a thick ear at thick adj., walls have ears at wall n., (still) wet behind the ears at wet adj., have a word in sb's ear at word n.
Idioms: all ears ▪ go in one ear and out the other ▪ grin from ear to ear ▪ have somebody's ear ▪ have something coming out of your ears ▪ have the ear of somebody ▪ keep your ear to the ground ▪ out on your ear ▪ play by ear ▪ play it by ear ▪ shut your ears to something ▪ somebody's ears are burning ▪ somebody's ears are flapping ▪ something comes to somebody's ears ▪ up to your ears in something ▪ with half an ear
Word Origin:
senses 1 to 3 and
Old English ēare Germanic Dutch oor German Ohr Indo-European Latin auris Greek ous
sense 4 Old English ēar Germanic Dutch aar German Ähre
Example Bank:
• ‘We were talking about you last night.’ ‘I thought my ears were burning.’
• A blast of punk rock music assaulted her ears.
• A horse may show annoyance by putting its ears back.
• A small noise caught his ear.
• At first I stopped my ears to what I did not want to hear.
• Blood from his torn ear was soaking his collar.
• Chinese music uses a scale that is unfamiliar to Western ears.
• Christopher felt his ears reddening.
• Come on, tell me, I'm all ears.
• Dogs can hear things that human ears can't hear.
• Drop a quiet word in her ear about it before it's too late.
• Each animal receives an individual ear tag.
• Even if my fears were silly, he always had an open ear.
• He arrived home hungry, and the noise from the kitchen was music to his ears.
• He could hear much better after having his ears cleaned out.
• He had three ear piercings.
• He has a good ear for accents and can usually tell where a speaker comes from.
• He has a keen ear for dialogue.
• He has really big ears that stick out.
• He listened to her with only half an ear as he watched TV.
• He plugged his ears to drown out the music.
• He plugged his ears with tissue paper to drown out the music.
• He pressed his ear to the door, but heard nothing.
• He waited in the darkness, his ears alert for the slightest sound.
• He was always willing to lend an ear.
• He was beaming from ear to ear.
• He went home with the teacher's warning ringing in his ears.
• Her ears listened expectantly.
• His ears pricked up when he heard his name mentioned.
• His sharp ears had picked up the uncertainty in her voice.
• I have a few words for your ears alone.
• I knew that my words were going in one ear and out the other.
• I strained my ears to catch the conversation in the other room.
• I'll keep my ears open for a second-hand bike for you.
• I'm sorry for talking your ear off.
• I've just had my ears pierced so I'm going to buy some earrings.
• If news of the break-in reaches the boss's ears, we're in trouble.
• If you suck a sweet as the plane takes off it stops your ears popping.
• In the silence everyone seemed to be aware of listening ears.
• It takes time to attune your ear to the local accent.
• My heart was pounding in my ears.
• She actually apologized. I couldn't believe my ears!
• She always provided a sympathetic ear for students with problems.
• She bent my ear about it for three days.
• She couldn't see, but her ears told her that the guards had arrived.
• She did not like the plan, as she made clear every time she found a receptive ear= sb willing to listen.
• She did not like the scheme, as she made clear every time she found a receptive ear.
• She has a tin ear for melody.
• She nibbled on his ear.
• She put her hands over her ears to block out what he was saying.
• She put on her ear muffs and went out into the snow.
• She stood outside the room, her ears straining to hear what they were saying.
• She usually plays the guitar by ear, rather than reading the music.
• Some of the words used in 18th-century writing sound strange to modern ears.
• The dog pricked up its ears.
• The explosion set my ears ringing and even made me jump a bit.
• The horse lifted its head and flicked its ears.
• The music was so loud I had to cover my ears.
• The music was so loud that it hurt my ears.
• The sound of the blast filled my ears.
• The teacher turned a deaf ear to the boy's requests= ignored them.
• The teacher turned a deaf ear to the boy's swearing.
• The voices buzzing all around echoed in her ears.
• Their complaints about the poor service fell on deaf ears.
• This was the woman who had the ear of the President.
• To the trained ear the calls of these birds sound quite different.
• When the notes are played so close together the ear hears no space between them.
• a rabbit with long floppy ears
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ear / ɪə r / / ɪr / noun [ C ] (BODY PART)
A1 either of the two organs, one on each side of the head, by which people or animals hear sounds, or the piece of skin and tissue outside the head connected to this organ:
The hearing in my left ear's not so good.
She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
→ See also aural
See picture head
ear / ɪə r / / ɪr / noun [ C ] (PLANT PART)
the flower part of a plant like a grass, such as wheat, which later contains the grains that are used as food:
an ear of corn
© Cambridge University Press 2013
ear
/ɪə(r)/
(ears)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Your ears are the two parts of your body, one on each side of your head, with which you hear sounds.
He whispered something in her ear...
I’m having my ears pierced.
N-COUNT
2.
If you have an ear for music or language, you are able to hear its sounds accurately and to interpret them or reproduce them well.
Moby certainly has a fine ear for a tune...
An ear for foreign languages is advantageous.
N-SING: with supp, usu N for n
3.
Ear is often used to refer to people’s willingness to listen to what someone is saying.
What would cause the masses to give him a far more sympathetic ear?...
They had shut their eyes and ears to everything.
N-COUNT: oft adj N
4.
The ears of a cereal plant such as wheat or barley are the parts at the top of the stem, which contain the seeds or grains.
N-COUNT: usu pl
5.
If someone says that they are all ears, they mean that they are ready and eager to listen. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
6.
If a request falls on deaf ears or if the person to whom the request is made turns a deaf ear to it, they take no notice of it.
I hope that our appeals will not fall on deaf ears...
He has turned a resolutely deaf ear to American demands for action.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you keep or have your ear to the ground, you make sure that you find out about the things that people are doing or saying.
Jobs in manufacturing are relatively scarce but I keep my ear to the ground.
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you lend an ear to someone or their problems, you listen to them carefully and sympathetically.
They are always willing to lend an ear and offer what advice they can.
PHRASE: V inflects
9.
If you say that something goes in one ear and out the other, you mean that someone pays no attention to it, or forgets about it immediately.
That rubbish goes in one ear and out the other.
PHRASE: V inflects
10.
If someone says that you will be out on your ear, they mean that you will be forced to leave a job, an organization or a place suddenly. (INFORMAL)
We never objected. We’d have been out on our ears looking for another job if we had.
PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR
11.
If you play by ear or play a piece of music by ear, you play music by relying on your memory rather than by reading printed music.
Neil played, by ear, the music he’d heard his older sister practicing.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If you play it by ear, you decide what to say or do in a situation by responding to events rather than by following a plan which you have decided on in advance.
PHRASE: V inflects
13.
If you are up to your ears in something, it is taking up all of your time, attention, or resources.
He was desperate. He was in debt up to his ears.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR in n
14.
music to your ears: see music
wet behind the ears: see wet
1ear /ˈiɚ/ noun, pl ears
1 [count] : the part of the body that you hear with
• He was whispering something in her ear.
• a dog with floppy ears
• pierced ears [=ears with earlobes that have been pierced for wearing earrings]
- see picture at face
2 [singular]
a : an ability to understand and appreciate something heard
• He has a good ear for music/languages.
b
- used to describe the way something sounds to you
• It sounds a little old-fashioned to my ear. [=it sounds old-fashioned to me]
3 [count] : attention that is shown or given by listening to what someone says
• Thanks for your ear. [=thanks for listening]
• When I told my story, my brother listened with only half an ear. [=did not listen closely]
✦To lend an ear or, in literary language, to lend someone your ears is to listen to what someone has to say.
• She's always willing to lend a sympathetic ear.
• “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (1599) -
all ears informal
- used to say that someone is listening very closely
• As I told the story, my daughter was all ears.
a word in someone's ear
- see 1word
bend someone's ear
- see 1bend
box someone's ears
- see 3box
can't believe your ears
- see believe
cock an/your ear
- see 2cock
ears are burning
✦If your ears are burning or you feel your ears burning, you have the feeling that other people are talking about you.
• (humorous) “We were talking about you last night.” “That explains why I felt my ears burning.”
ears pop
- see 1pop
fall on deaf ears : to fail to be heard : to be ignored
• Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
grin/smile from ear to ear : to smile widely : to have a big smile on your face
• He was grinning from ear to ear.
have someone's ear
✦If you have someone's ear you can talk and give advice to that person because you are trusted.
• an adviser who has the President's ear
in one ear and out the other : through someone's mind without being remembered or noticed
• Everything you say to him goes in one ear and out the other. [=he doesn't listen to or remember what you say]
out on your ear informal : forced out : thrown out
• If you're late to work again, you'll be out on your ear! [=you'll be fired]
play by ear
1
✦To play a song or a piece of music by ear is to play it after hearing it without looking at written music.
• He could play any tune by ear after hearing it only once.
2
✦To play it by ear is to do something without special preparation.
• I don't know how they'll react to our proposal, so we'll just have to play it by ear [=improvise, (informal) wing it] and hope for the best.
set (something) on its ear informal : to cause something to be in a state of great excitement or shock
• She set the racing world on its ear [=she surprised and shocked the racing world] by winning several major races.
• His early recordings set the jazz world on its ear. [=his recordings caused a sensation in the jazz world]
talk someone's ear off
- see 1talk
turn a deaf ear : to refuse to listen to what someone says
• The company president turned a deaf ear to my proposals.
up to your ears : deeply involved in something
• They are up to their ears in debt. [=they are deeply in debt]
• We're up to our ears in work. [=we are very busy]
wet behind the ears
- see 1wet
- compare 2ear
- eared /ˈiɚd/ adj
• a long-eared dog
- ear·less /ˈiɚləs/ adj
A game played outside on grass in which each player tries to hit a small ball into a series of nine or 18 small holes, using a long, thin stick
They usually paly golf at weekends.
golf
noun (no plural)
a game that you play by hitting a small ball into holes with a long stick (called a golf club):
My mother plays golf on Sundays.
>> golfer noun:
He's a keen golfer.
golf
golf S2 W3 /ɡɒlf $ ɡɑːlf, ɡɒːlf/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: Perhaps from Middle Dutch colf 'stick for hitting a ball']
a game in which the players hit a small white ball into holes in the ground with a set of golf clubs, using as few hits as possible:
He plays golf on Sundays.
a round of golf (=complete game of golf)
—golfer noun [countable]
—golfing noun [uncountable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ play golf I play golf at the weekends.
▪ take up golf (=start playing golf) He took up golf as a way of getting more exercise.
■ phrases
▪ a game of golf Anybody fancy a game of golf this afternoon?
▪ a round of golf (=a complete game of golf) He invited me to join him for a round of golf.
■ golf + NOUN
▪ a golf course (=an area of land designed for playing golf) an 18-hole golf course
▪ a golf club/Club (=an organization that you join in order to use its golf course, or the building where members meet) the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club | a party at the golf club
▪ a golf club (=a long thin metal stick used to hit the ball in golf) He spent $2000 on a new set of golf clubs.
▪ a golf tournament/championship She decided to enter the golf tournament.
▪ somebody's golf swing (=the way someone moves a golf club when hitting the ball) Keith's been working on improving his golf swing.
▪ a golf bag (=that holds the clubs) I put the golf bag over my shoulder.
▪ a golf cart (=a small car used on golf courses) He used a golf cart to get around the course.
▪ a golf professional Jack's hoping to become a golf professional.
▪ a golf lesson I'm thinking of taking golf lessons.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + golf
▪ 18-hole/9-hole golf Facilities include an 18-hole golf course.
▪ amateur/professional golf The standard of women's amateur golf is certainly improving.
▪ tournament/championship golf The course is suitable for modern world-class championship golf.
golf
golf [golf golfs golfed golfing] [ɡɒlf] [ɡɑːlf] [ɡɔːlf] noun
uncountable
a game played over a large area of ground using specially shaped sticks to hit a small hard ball (a golf ball) into a series of 9 or 18 holes, using as few strokes as possible
• He enjoyed a round of golf on a Sunday morning.
see also crazy golf, mini-golf
Word Origin:
late Middle English (originally Scots): perhaps related to Dutch kolf ‘club, bat’, used as a term in several Dutch games; golf, however, is recorded before these games.
Culture:
golf
Golf was first developed in Scotland in the 15th century but is now played all round the world by both professionaland amateurplayers.
The aim of golf is to hit a small ball from a tee (= a flat area of grass) into a hole on a green (= a very finely cut area of grass), which may be up to 600 yards/550 metres away, using as few shots (= hits) as possible. Most golf courses consist of 18 holes. To make play more difficult they are often hilly and have various natural and man-made hazards such as lakes, bunkers (= pits filled with sand), and rough, long grass or trees on either side of the fairway.
Each player has their own ball and several different types of club (woods, irons and a putter) with which to hit it. The club chosen depends on the type of shot the player needs to make. In professional tournaments players have a caddie to carry the bag of clubs from one hole to the next and to advise them on their play. Players try to finish each hole in a given number of shots, which is known as par. If they use one shot less than par they score a birdie; if they use two shots less they score an eagle; if they use three shots under par they score an albatross. If they manage to get the ball into the hole in a single shot they can claim a hole in one. If they use a shot more than par they score a bogey. A handicap is an advantage given to weaker players which is expressed as a number related to the number of shots above par. Professional golfers have a handicap of zero. At the end of a round (= all 18 holes), the player with the lowest score is the winner. Professional matches may consist of several rounds. The result sometimes depends on the total number of shots players have taken (stroke play), or else on the number of individual holes each player has won (match play).
Golf began as a sport of the upper classes and in Britain it continues to attract mainly people in business and the professions. The game is quite expensive to play and membership of the most popular golf clubs may cost a lot of money. The most famous British clubs include the Royal and Ancient at St Andrews, where the first official rules of golf were agreed in 1754, Muirfield and Wentworth. Golf may have been taken to America by people from Scotland in the 17th century, but the first permanent club was not established there until 1888, in Yonkers, New York.
There are four important international competitions for professional golfers, known as the majors, three of them held in the US. The Masters Tournament is always held at Augusta, Georgia. The others are the US Open and the US PGA Championship. The British Open is regarded as the world’s top golf tournament. US and European teams also compete every two years in the Ryder Cup. The major US competitions for women include the US Women’s Open and the LPGA Women’s Championship. Amateur events include the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. Television has helped to increase the popularity of the game, and many new golf courses have been created.
Many people who do not play golf enjoy a game of crazy golf (AmE miniature golf) in a local park. The idea is to hit a golf ball round a small grass and concrete course, through tunnels, over bridges, round small pools, etc. Others enjoy putting, a miniature form of golf on a small grassy course.
Example Bank:
• Choose from over 100 golf packages in our brochure.
• His coach says his golf swing needs improving.
• She decided to join a golf club.
• She has a golf handicap of 18.
• She's been a golf widow since she gave her husband his first set of clubs.
• The club is holding a golf clinic next week, where golfers can get advice from the pros.
• The eighth at Banff is one of the world's great golf holes.
• The hotel offers miniature golf and other activities for children.
• You can borrow golf clubs if you want a game.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
golf / ɡɒlf / / ɡɑːlf / noun [ U ]
golf
A2 a game played outside on grass in which each player tries to hit a small ball into a series of nine or 18 small holes, using a long, thin stick:
We often play a round (= game) of golf at the weekend.
golfer
golfer / ˈɡɒl.fə r / / ˈɡɑːl.fɚ / noun [ C ]
He's one of the highest-earning professional golfers in the world.
golfing / ˈɡɒl.fɪŋ / / ˈɡɑːl- / noun [ U ]
a golfing holiday
© Cambridge University Press 2013
golf
/gɒlf/
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Golf is a game in which you use long sticks called clubs to hit a small, hard ball into holes that are spread out over a large area of grassy land.
N-UNCOUNT
golf
golf /ˈgɑːlf/ noun [noncount] : an outdoor game in which players use special clubs (called golf clubs) to try to hit a small ball with as few strokes as possible into each of 9 or 18 holes
• playing some golf
• a round of golf
- golf verb golfs; golfed; golfing [no obj]
• He likes to golf. [=to play golf]
- golf·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• She's an excellent golfer.
- golf·ing /ˈgɑːlfɪŋ/ noun [noncount]
• She enjoys photography and golfing. [=playing golf]
Don't put your finger in your nose!
Any of the long, thin, separate parts of the hand, especially those that are not thumbs
Don't put your finger in your nose!
finger
noun
one of the five parts at the end of your hand
keep your fingers crossed to hope that somebody or something will be successful:
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in your exams.
finger
I. fin‧ger1 S2 W2 /ˈfɪŋɡə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English]
1. PART OF YOUR HAND one of the four long thin parts on your hand, not including your thumb:
The woman had a ring on her finger, so I assumed she was married.
We ate with our fingers.
run your fingers through/over/along etc something
She ran her fingers through his hair. ⇨ ↑index finger, ↑little finger, ↑forefinger, ↑middle finger, ↑ring finger
2. cross your fingers
a) to hope that something will happen the way you want:
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that she’s going to be OK.
b) to secretly put one finger over another finger, because you are telling a lie – done especially by children:
‘He’s nice,’ said Laura, crossing her fingers under the table.
3. not lift/raise a finger to not make any effort to help someone with their work:
I do all the work around the house – Frank never lifts a finger.
4. put your finger on something to know or be able to explain exactly what is wrong, different, or unusual about a situation:
There was something about the man that worried Wycliffe, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
5. not lay a finger on somebody to not hurt someone at all, especially to not hit them:
Don’t lay a finger on me, or I’ll call the police!
6. have/keep your finger on the pulse (of something) to always know about the most recent changes or developments in a particular situation or activity:
people who have their finger on the pulse of fashion and pop culture
7. have a finger in every pie/ in many pies to be involved in many activities and to have influence over a lot of people, used especially when you think someone has too much influence
8. twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger to be able to persuade someone to do anything that you want:
Ed could wrap his mother around his little finger.
9. the finger of blame/suspicion:
The finger of suspicion immediately fell on Broderick.
10. OF A GLOVE the part of a ↑glove that covers your finger
11. SHAPED LIKE A FINGER anything that is long and thin, like the shape of a finger, especially a piece of land, an area of water, or a piece of food:
fish fingers
chocolate fingers
finger of
the long finger of Chile
12. pull/get your finger out British English informal used to tell someone to work harder
13. put two fingers up at somebody British English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your first two fingers with the back of your hand facing them
14. give somebody the finger American English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your middle finger with the back of your hand facing them
15. be all fingers and thumbs British English to use your hands in an awkward or careless way, so that you drop or break things
16. long-fingered/slim-fingered etc having long fingers, slim fingers etc:
lovely long-fingered hands
17. DRINK an amount of an alcoholic drink that is as high in the glass as the width of someone’s finger:
two fingers of whiskey
⇨ ↑butterfingers, ↑fish finger, ⇨ have your hands/fingers in the till at ↑till2(3), ⇨ count something on the fingers of one hand at ↑count1(7), ⇨ have green fingers at ↑green1(10), ⇨ burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt at ↑burn1(16), ⇨ point the/a finger at somebody at ↑point2(9), ⇨ let something slip through your fingers at ↑slip1(15), ⇨ snap your fingers at ↑snap1(7), ⇨ have sticky fingers at ↑sticky(6), ⇨ work your fingers to the bone at ↑work1(29)
finger
fin·ger [finger fingers fingered fingering] noun, verb [ˈfɪŋɡə(r)] [ˈfɪŋɡər]
noun
1. one of the four long thin parts that stick out from the hand (or five, if the thumb is included)
• She ran her fingers through her hair.
• Hold the material between finger and thumb.
• He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips.
• The old man wagged his finger at the youths.
see also butterfingers, forefinger, green fingers, index finger, little finger, middle finger, ring finger
2. -fingered (in adjectives) having the type of fingers mentioned; having or using the number of fingers mentioned
• long-fingered
• nimble-fingered
• a four-fingered chord
see also light-fingered
3. the part of a glove that covers the finger
4. ~ (of sth) a long narrow piece of bread, cake, land, etc
• a finger of toast
• chocolate fingers
• a narrow finger of land pointing out into the sea
see also fish finger
more at burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt at burn v., be able to count sb/sth on (the fingers of) one hand at count v., cross your fingers at cross v., not lift/raise a finger/hand (to do sth) at lift v., point a/the finger (at sb) at point v., let sth slip (through your fingers) at slip v., snap your fingers at snap v., have sticky fingers at sticky, be all (fingers and) thumbs at thumb n.
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinger and German Finger.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Example Bank:
• ‘None of that!’ cried the teacher, wagging her finger.
• Although she knew lots of people, she could count her friends on the fingers of one hand.
• Dad started twiddling his fingers nervously.
• Everyone put their fingers in their ears when the shooting started.
• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.
• He gently laced his fingers between mine.
• He held up his hand with the fingers extended.
• He snapped his fingers and the waiter came running.
• He was drumming his fingers nervously on the arm of the chair.
• Her nimble fingers undid the knot in seconds.
• His clumsy fingers struggled with the buttons.
• I dipped my finger in the sauce and licked it.
• I noticed the ring on the third finger of her left hand.
• I stubbed my finger painfully while reaching for a book.
• It's easiest to eat chicken legs with your fingers.
• Sally trailed her fingers in the water idly.
• She hooked her fingers in the belt loop of his jeans.
• She raised a finger to her lips to ask for silence.
• She ran her finger along the dusty shelf.
• She took off his bandages with gentle fingers.
• The child needed treatment after trapping her finger in the car door.
• The enquiry pointed the finger of blame at the driver of the crashed coach.
• The finger of suspicion was pointed at the chicken served for lunch.
• The man drew a finger across his throat in a threatening gesture.
• The nurse pricked my finger to get some blood.
• The ornaments had been put out of reach of the children's prying fingers.
• The protester was jabbing a finger aggressively at a policeman.
• The teacher raised a warning finger and we stopped talking.
• Tina curled her slender fingers into a fist.
• We were swaying and clicking our fingers in time to the music.
Idioms: finger of suspicion ▪ get/pull your finger out ▪ give somebody the finger ▪ have a finger in every pie ▪ have your finger on the pulse ▪ have your fingers in the till ▪ lay a finger on somebody ▪ not put your finger on something ▪ put two fingers up at somebody ▪ work your fingers to the bone
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
finger / ˈfɪŋ.ɡə r / / -ɡɚ / noun [ C ]
A2 any of the long, thin, separate parts of the hand, especially those that are not thumbs:
He noticed her long delicate fingers.
I cut my finger chopping onions last night.
→ See also forefinger , index finger , little finger , ring finger
a part of a glove (= hand covering) that covers a finger
© Cambridge University Press 2013
finger
/fɪŋgə(r)/
(fingers, fingering, fingered)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Your fingers are the four long thin parts at the end of each hand.
She suddenly held up a small, bony finger and pointed across the room...
She ran her fingers through her hair...
There was a ring on each of his fingers.
N-COUNT
see also light-fingered
2.
The fingers of a glove are the parts that a person’s fingers fit into.
N-COUNT: usu pl
3.
A finger of something such as smoke or land is an amount of it that is shaped rather like a finger.
...a thin finger of land that separates Pakistan from the former Soviet Union...
Cover the base with a single layer of sponge fingers.
= strip
N-COUNT: N of n, n N
see also fish finger
4.
If you finger something, you touch or feel it with your fingers.
He fingered the few coins in his pocket...
Self-consciously she fingered the emeralds at her throat.
VERB: V n, V n
5.
If you get your fingers burned or burn your fingers, you suffer because something you did or were involved in was a failure or a mistake.
He has had his fingers burnt by deals that turned out badly...
Mr Walesa burned his fingers by promising he would give every Pole 100m zlotys to start a business.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
If you cross your fingers, you put one finger on top of another and hope for good luck. If you say that someone is keeping their fingers crossed, you mean they are hoping for good luck.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they turn up soon.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you say that someone did not lay a finger on a particular person or thing, you are emphasizing that they did not touch or harm them at all.
I must make it clear I never laid a finger on her.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu with brd-neg, PHR n [emphasis]
8.
If you say that a person does not lift a finger or raise a finger to do something, especially to help someone, you are critical of them because they do nothing.
She never lifted a finger around the house...
They will not lift a finger to help their country.
PHRASE: V inflects, with brd-neg [disapproval]
9.
If you point the finger at someone or point an accusing finger at someone, you blame them or accuse them of doing wrong.
He said he wasn’t pointing an accusing finger at anyone in the government or the army.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
10.
If you tell someone to pull their finger out or to get their finger out, you are telling them rudely that you want them to start doing some work or making an effort. (BRIT INFORMAL)
Isn’t it about time that you pulled your finger out?
PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval]
11.
If you put your finger on something, for example a reason or problem, you see and identify exactly what it is.
He could never quite put his finger on who or what was responsible for all this.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n/wh
12.
If someone or something slips through your fingers, you just fail to catch them, get them, or keep them.
Money has slipped through his fingers all his life...
You mustn’t allow a golden opportunity to slip through your fingers or you will regret it later.
PHRASE: V inflects
13.
to have green fingers: see green
finger on the pulse: see pulse
1fin·ger /ˈfɪŋgɚ/ noun, pl -gers
1 [count] : one of the five long parts of the hand that are used for holding things especially; : one of the four that are not the thumb
• Don't stick your fingers in the cookie batter!
• He slipped the ring onto her finger.
• The baby held onto my thumb with her tiny fingers.
• She ran her fingers through his hair.
• He drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.
- see also forefinger, index finger, little finger, middle finger, ring finger
2 [count]
a : something that is long and thin and looks like a finger
• a finger of land extending into the sea
• a finger of flame
b : the part of a glove into which a finger is placed
3 the finger US informal : an obscene gesture made by pointing the middle finger up, keeping the other fingers down, and turning the palm towards you
• She was so mad, she gave him the finger.
• Some angry driver flipped me the finger on the highway this morning.
all fingers and thumbs informal : very clumsy
• Sorry I dropped the vase; I'm all fingers and thumbs today.
cross your fingers
- see 2cross
finger on the pulse
✦If you have/keep your finger on the pulse of something, you know about the latest things that are happening.
• He claims that he has/keeps his finger on the pulse of the computer industry. [=that he is very aware what is happening in the computer industry]
have a finger in a/the pie : to have an interest or share in something
• a sharp talent agent who has a finger in nearly every pie in show business
itchy finger
- see itchy
keep your fingers crossed
- see 2cross
lay a finger on informal : to touch or hit (someone) - usually used in negative statements
• I don't know what he's complaining about. I never laid a finger on him.
lift a finger : to make an effort to do something - usually used in negative statements
• I have so many chores to do, and my sister won't lift a finger to help me.
• He never lifted a finger to try to improve his failing grades.
point an accusing finger at or point a/the finger at : to accuse or blame (someone)
• He was quick to point an accusing finger at his coworkers.
• Let's stop pointing fingers at each other and just solve the problem!
put/stick two fingers up at someone Brit informal : to make an obscene gesture by holding up the index finger and the middle finger of one hand in the shape of a V while keeping the palm turned inward
put your finger on : to find out the exact nature of (something) : identify
• I feel that something is wrong but I can't quite put my finger on the problem.
the finger of blame/suspicion
- used to say that someone is being blamed or suspected
• He was shocked to realize that the finger of suspicion was now pointed at him. [=that he was now suspected]
work your fingers to the bone : to work very hard
• She had to work her fingers to the bone to make enough money to raise her kids.
wrap (someone) around your (little) finger
- see 1wrap
- fin·gered /ˈfɪŋgɚd/ adj
- used in combination
• three-fingered
- fin·ger·like /ˈfɪŋgɚˌlaɪk/ adj
The part of the body between the hand and the arm
she had a gold watch on her wrist.
wrist
noun
the part of your body where your arm joins your hand
wrist
wrist /rɪst/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English]
the part of your body where your hand joins your arm
on/around your wrist
She had a gold watch on her wrist. ⇨ ↑body
wrist
wrist [wrist wrists] [rɪst] [rɪst] noun
the joint between the hand and the arm
• She's broken her wrist.
• He wore a copper bracelet on his wrist.
see a slap on the wrist at slap n.
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin, probably from the base of writhe.
Example Bank:
• ‘Is it serious?’ she asked, clasping the doctor's wrist.
• A policeman snapped handcuffs around his wrists.
• He grabbed her wrist but she twisted it free.
• He slashed his wrists in a suicide attempt.
• He wears weights on his wrists when he goes running.
• I turned to leave but he clasped me by the wrist.
• She sent the ball flying over the net with a flick of the wrist.
• Strong fingers encircled her tiny wrists.
• The burglars bound the family's wrists behind their backs.
• The secret of making the ball spin is in the wrist action.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
wrist / rɪst / noun [ C ]
B2 the part of the body between the hand and the arm:
I sprained my wrist playing squash.
See picture hand 1
© Cambridge University Press 2013
wrist
/rɪst/
(wrists)
Your wrist is the part of your body between your hand and your arm which bends when you move your hand.
N-COUNT
wrist
wrist /ˈrɪst/ noun, pl wrists [count] : the part of your body where your hand joins your arm
• I hurt/sprained/broke my wrist.
- see pictures at hand, human
a slap on the wrist
- see 2slap
A set of physical and mental exercises, originally from India, intended to give control over the body and mind
She does yoga for an hour a day.
yoga
noun (no plural)
a system of exercises that helps you relax both your body and your mind
yoga
yo‧ga /ˈjəʊɡə $ ˈjoʊɡə/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: Sanskrit; Origin: 'union']
1. a system of exercises that help you control your mind and body in order to relax
2. a Hindu ↑philosophy in which you learn exercises to control your mind and body in order to try to become closer to God
yoga
yoga [ˈjəʊɡə] [ˈjoʊɡə] noun
uncountable
1. a Hindu philosophy that teaches you how to control your body and mind in the belief that you can become united with the spirit of the universe in this way
2. a system of exercises for your body and for controlling your breathing, used by people who want to become fitter or to relax
Derived Word: yogic
Word Origin:
[yoga yogic] Sanskrit, literally union.
Example Bank:
• He attends regular yoga classes.
• I go to a yoga session on Thursdays.
• She does yoga for an hour a day.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
yoga / ˈjəʊ.ɡə / / ˈjoʊ- / noun [ U ]
B1 a set of physical and mental exercises, originally from India, intended to give control over the body and mind:
a yoga class
a Hindu system of philosophy which aims to unite the self with god
yogic / -ɡɪk / adjective
yogic exercises
© Cambridge University Press 2013
yoga
/joʊgə/
1.
Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to become more fit or flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
Yoga is a philosophy which first developed in India, in which physical exercises and meditation are believed to help people to become calmer and united in spirit with God.
N-UNCOUNT
yoga
yo·ga /ˈjoʊgə/ noun [noncount]
1 : a system of exercises for mental and physical health
• She teaches yoga.
• a yoga class/instructor
2 Yoga : a Hindu philosophy that teaches a person to experience inner peace by controlling the body and mind
