a small clock that is worn on a strap around the wrist or, sometimes, connected to a piece of clothing by a chain
My watch seems to have stopped.
II. watch2 S2 W3 noun
[Word Family: noun: watch, watcher; adjective: watchful, watchable; verb: watch]
1. [countable] a small clock that you wear on your wrist or keep in your pocket:
My watch has stopped.
look at/glance at/consult your watch
She glanced nervously at her watch.
How do you keep track of time if you don’t wear a watch?
noun
1. countable a type of small clock that you wear on your wrist, or (in the past) carried in your pocket
• She kept looking anxiously at her watch.
• My watch is fast/slow.
see also stopwatch, wristwatch
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
watch / wɒtʃ / / wɑtʃ / noun [ C ] (SMALL CLOCK)
watch A1 a small clock that is worn on a strap around the wrist or, sometimes, connected to a piece of clothing by a chain:
My watch seems to have stopped (= stopped working) .
He glanced nervously at his watch.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
a) an occasion when you go out with someone that you like in a romantic way date with
b) American English someone that you have a date with
He has never been out on a date with a girl.
a particular day of the month or year, especially shown by a number
do you remember the date of her arrival?
a sweet sticky brown fruit that grows on a tree called a date palm, common in N Africa and W Asia
Zahedi is a kind of dried date that grows in Fars and Khozestan provinces in Iran.
date
noun
1 the number of the day, the month and sometimes the year:
'What's the date today?' 'The first of February.'
Today's date is 11 December 2004.
What is your date of birth?
Look at Study Page S8.
2 a romantic meeting when two people go out somewhere:
He's asked her out on a date.
3 a small sweet brown fruit that comes from a tree which grows in hot countries
out of date
1 not modern:
The machinery they use is completely out of date.
2 too old, so that you cannot use it:
This ticket is out of date.
up to date
1 modern:
The new kitchen will be right up to date, with all the latest gadgets.
2 with the newest information:
Is this list of names up to date?
date
I. date1 S1 W1 /deɪt/ noun [countable]
[Word Family: verb: date, predate; adjective: dated, outdated; noun: date]
[Sense 1-5: Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin data, from the past participle of Latin dare 'to give']
[Sense 6: Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Greek daktylos 'finger']
1. DAY a particular day of the month or year, especially shown by a number:
The date on the letter was 30th August 1962.
What’s today’s date?
date of
What’s the date of the next meeting?
You should apply at least 8 weeks before your date of departure.
date for
Have you set a date for the wedding yet?
2. at a later/future date formal at some time in the future SYN later:
The details will be agreed at a later date.
3. to date up to now:
The cost of the work to date has been about £150 million.
Her best performance to date was her third place at the World Junior Championships.
4. ROMANTIC MEETING
a) an occasion when you go out with someone that you like in a romantic way
date with
I’ve got a date with Andrea tomorrow night.
I felt like a teenager going out on a first date. ⇒ blind date
b) American English someone that you have a date with
sb’s date
Can I bring my date to the party?
5. ARRANGEMENT TO MEET SOMEBODY a time arranged to meet someone, especially socially:
Let’s make a date to come over and visit.
6. FRUIT a sweet sticky brown fruit with a long hard seed inside
⇒ closing date, ⇒ expiry date at expiry(2), ⇒ out-of-date, sell-by date, up-to-date
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + date
▪ the exact/precise date I can’t remember the exact date we moved into this house.
▪ the agreed date British English, agreed upon date American English (=one that people have agreed on) The work was not finished by the agreed date.
▪ the closing date (=the last day you can officially do something) The closing date for applications is April 30th.
▪ the due date (=the date by which something is due to happen) Payment must be made by the due date.
▪ the delivery date (=a date on which goods will be delivered) The delivery date should be around 23rd August.
▪ the publication date (=the date when something is published) We are aiming at a publication date of mid-November.
▪ the departure date (=the date when someone leaves) My departure date was only a few days away.
▪ the expiry date British English, expiration date American English (=a date on a product after which it cannot be used) Check the expiry date on your credit card.
▪ the sell-by date British English (=a date on a food product after which it should not be sold) Those yoghurts are a week past their sell-by date.
verbs
▪ decide on a date (=choose the date when something will happen) Have you decided on a date for the wedding yet?
▪ set/fix a date (=decide the date when something will happen) They haven’t set a date for the election yet.
phrases
▪ today’s date Don’t forget to put today’s date at the top of the letter.
▪ sb’s date of birth (also sb’s birth date) (=the day and year when someone was born) What’s your date of birth?
▪ the date of publication/issue/departure etc formal The insurance will only cover costs incurred on or after the date of departure.
THESAURUS
▪ meeting an occasion when people meet in order to discuss something: a business meeting. | Mr Bell is in a meeting. | The committee will hold another meeting Wednesday.
▪ conference an organized event, especially one that continues for several days, at which a lot of people meet to discuss a particular subject and hear speeches about it: Didn’t you give a talk at the conference last year? | a conference of women business leaders
▪ convention a large formal meeting of people who belong to a political party, or to an organization of people with the same interests: the Democratic Party Convention | a convention for Star Trek fans
▪ rally a large public meeting, especially one that is held outdoors to support or protest about something: There was a massive peace rally in London.
▪ summit a meeting between government leaders from important and powerful countries, to discuss important matters: A summit meeting of OPEC leaders was called to find a solution to the oil crisis. | next week’s economic summit
▪ caucus American English a local meeting of the members of a political party to choose people to represent them at a larger meeting, or to choose a candidate in an election: Obama won the Iowa caucus in 2007.
▪ teleconference/video conference a business meeting in which people in different places talk to each other using telephones or video equipment: The chairman held teleconferences with his senior managers.
▪ gathering/get-together a situation in which a group of people come together to meet, talk, and have drinks with each other, especially friends or family: We held a small family get-together to celebrate her birthday. | She arranged social gatherings in Kettering for young people on Saturday evenings.
▪ date an arrangement to meet someone who you are having, or hoping to have, a romantic relationship with: I think I might ask her out on a date.
▪ rendezvous a meeting where two people have arranged to meet at a particular time or place, often secretly: She arranged a rendezvous with him in the hotel bar.
▪ tryst literary a secret meeting between people who are having a romantic relationship: a good place for a moonlight tryst
date
▪ I. date [date dates dated dating] noun, verb [deɪt]
noun
PARTICULAR DAY
1. countable a particular day of the month, sometimes in a particular year, given in numbers and words
• ‘What's the date today?’ ‘The 10th.’
• Write today's date at the top of the page.
• We need to fix a date for the next meeting.
• They haven't set a date for the wedding yet.
• I can't come on that date.
• Please give your name, address and date of birth.
• (especially NAmE) name, address and birth date
• There's no date on this letter.
• Anyone who knows of the vehicle's whereabouts from that date until 7 March is asked to contact Bangor police station.
see also best-before date, closing date, sell-by date
PAST TIME/FUTURE
2. singular, uncountable a time in the past or future that is not a particular day
• The details can be added at a later date.
• The work will be carried out at a future date.
• a building of late Roman date
ARRANGEMENT TO MEET
3. countable (BrE) an arrangement to meet sb at a particular time
• Call me next week and we'll try and make a date.
ROMANTIC MEETING
4. countable a meeting that you have arranged with a boyfriend or girlfriend or with sb who might become a boyfriend or girlfriend
• I've got a date with Lucy tomorrow night.
• Paul's not coming. He's got a hot date (= an exciting one).
see also blind date, double date
5. countable (especially NAmE) a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom you have arranged a date
• My date is meeting me at seven.
FRUIT
6. countable a sweet sticky brown fruit that grows on a tree called a date palm, common in N Africa and W Asia
see also out of date, up to date
Word Origin:
n. senses 1 to 5 and v. Middle English Old French medieval Latin data dare ‘give’ Latin data (epistola) ‘(letter) given or delivered’
n. sense 6 Middle English Old French Latin Greek daktulos ‘finger’
Thesaurus:
date noun
1. sing., U
• The details can be discussed at a later date.
time • • occasion • • point • • moment •
on that date/occasion
from/until that date/time/point/moment
2. C
• I've got a date with Lucy tomorrow night.
meeting • • appointment • • engagement •
a/an date/meeting/appointment/engagement with sb
have a/an date/meeting/appointment/engagement
make/keep a/an date/appointment/engagement
Collocations:
Marriage and divorce
Romance
fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with sb)
be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
be/find true love/the love of your life
suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for sb/sth
meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have/go on a (blind) date
be going out with/ (especially NAmE) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
Weddings
get/be engaged/married/divorced
arrange/plan a wedding
have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
have/enter into an arranged marriage
call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
invite sb to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
Separation and divorce
be unfaithful to/ (informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have an affair (with sb)
break off/end an engagement/a relationship
break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend
separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife
annul/dissolve a marriage
apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband)
Example Bank:
• Can we fix dates for the holiday?
• Give me a couple of dates are good for you.
• Has a date been fixed for the meeting?
• He really didn't want to break his date with Alicia.
• He was late, and ended up breaking their dinner date.
• Historians disagree on the cut-off date for the medieval period.
• I can't give you specific dates.
• I have a date with Camilla on Friday night.
• I have two meetings on that date.
• I need to find a date for Friday.
• It's a great date movie.
• It's difficult to put a date on when the idea started.
• It's difficult to put a date on when this neighbourhood became fashionable.
• Joe's getting ready for his big date on 3rd March, when he gets married.
• More money will be made available at some future date.
• Please give your name, address and date of birth.
• She had a hot date and wanted to look her best.
• She met her husband on a blind date.
• She suggested an earlier date for the meeting.
• She wanted to arrive in time to keep her date.
• She's out on a date with her new boyfriend.
• The agreement runs from that date.
• The baby was born exactly on its due date.
• The building must be finished by the date agreed.
• The building was not finished by the completion date.
• The closing date for applications is May 22.
• The election is scheduled to take place at an unspecified date in the autumn.
• The foundations are Roman, but the rest of the building is of more recent date.
• This yogurt is past its sell-by date.
• We can do that at a later date.
• We cannot accept applications received after this date.
• We must make a date to have lunch.
• We need to set a date for the wedding.
• What's the expiration/expiry date on your credit card?
• What's today's date?
• the biggest date in the country music calendar
• the date of the election
• I can't believe you set me up on a blind date.
• Paul's not coming— he's got a hot date!
• The building has certain features in common with cathedrals of a similar date.
• The coins are all of late Roman date.
• The details can be added at a later date.
• The work will be carried out at a future date.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
date / deɪt / noun [ C ] (DAY)
A1 a numbered day in a month, often given with a combination of the name of the day, the month, and the year:
What's the date (today)?/What date is it?/What's today's date?
UK Today's date is 11 June (the eleventh of June).
US Today's date is June 11 (June the eleventh).
What is your date of birth ?
The closing date for applications is the end of this month.
We've agreed to meet again at a later date.
I'd like to fix a date for our next meeting.
I've made a date (= agreed a date and time) to see her about the house.
→ See also out of date (FASHION) , up to date
a particular year:
The date on the coin is 1789.
Albert Einstein's dates are 1879 to 1955 (= he was born in 1879 and died in 1955) .
a month and a year:
The expiry ( US expiration ) date of this certificate is August 2013.
date / deɪt / noun [ C ] (MEETING)
B1 a social meeting planned before it happens, especially one between two people who have or might have a romantic relationship:
He's asked her out on a date.
She has a hot date (= an exciting meeting) tonight.
mainly US a person you have a romantic meeting with:
Who's your date for the prom?
date / deɪt / noun [ C ] (PERFORMANCE)
a performance:
They've just finished an exhausting 75-date European tour.
date / deɪt / noun [ C ] (FRUIT)
date
C1 the sweet fruit of various types of palm tree
© Cambridge University Press 2013
date
[de͟ɪt]
dates, dating, dated
1) N-COUNT A date is a specific time that can be named, for example a particular day or a particular year.
What's the date today?...
You will need to give the dates you wish to stay and the number of rooms you require.
2) VERB If you date something, you give or discover the date when it was made or when it began.
[V n] You cannot date the carving and it is difficult to date the stone itself...
[V n] I think we can date the decline of Western Civilization quite precisely...
[V n to n] Archaeologists have dated the fort to the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
3) VERB When you date something such as a letter or a cheque, you write that day's date on it.
[V n] Once the decision is reached, he can date and sign the sheet...
[V-ed] The letter is dated 2 July 1993.
4) N-SING: with supp, at N If you want to refer to an event without saying exactly when it will happen or when it happened, you can say that it will happen or happened at some date in the future or past.
Retain copies of all correspondence, since you may need them at a later date...
He did leave open the possibility of direct American aid at some unspecified date in the future...
At some date in the 1990s British oil production will probably tail off.
5) PHRASE: PHR with cl To date means up until the present time.
`Dottie' is by far his best novel to date...
She is without question the craziest person I've met to date...
To date we have spent eight thousand pounds between us.
Syn:
so far
6) VERB If something dates, it goes out of fashion and becomes unacceptable to modern tastes.
Blue and white is the classic colour combination for bathrooms. It always looks smart and will never date...
This album has hardly dated at all.
7) VERB If your ideas, what you say, or the things that you like or can remember date you, they show that you are quite old or older than the people you are with.
[V n] It's going to date me now. I attended that school in nineteen-sixty-nine to nineteen-seventy-two.
8) N-COUNT A date is an appointment to meet someone or go out with them, especially someone with whom you are having, or may soon have, a romantic relationship.
I have a date with Bob...
He had made a date with a girl he had met the day before...
I think we should make a date to go and see Gwendolen soon.
9) N-COUNT: usu poss N If you have a date with someone with whom you are having, or may soon have, a romantic relationship, you can refer to that person as your date.
He lied to Essie, saying his date was one of the girls in the show.
10) V-RECIP If you are dating someone, you go out with them regularly because you are having, or may soon have, a romantic relationship with them. You can also say that two people are dating.
[V n] For a year I dated a woman who was a research assistant...
[pl-n V] They've been dating for three months...
[V (non-recip)] In high school, he did not date very much.
11) N-COUNT A date is a small, dark-brown, sticky fruit with a stone inside. Dates grow on palm trees in hot countries.
date /ˈdeɪt/ noun, pl dates [count]
1 a : a particular day of a month or year
• The date of the party is March 1.
• What's today's date?
• They announced June 10th as their wedding date. [=they announced that they would get married on June 10th]
• They have not yet set a date for the trial. [=they have not decided what day the trial will start on]
• The decision will be made at a later/future date. [=at some time in the future]
• your date of birth = your birth date [=the day you were born]
- see also due date, out-of-date, up-to-date
b : writing that shows when something was done or made
• The date on the letter was the 26th of April.
• a coin with a date of 1902
2 : an agreement to meet someone at a particular time or on a particular day
• He set up a date [=(more commonly) appointment] to meet with his professor.
• “So we'll meet for coffee next Tuesday?” “Yes. It's a date.” [=I agree to meet you then]
3 a : an occasion when two people who have or might have a romantic relationship do an activity together
• We went (out) on a few dates last year.
• She asked him (out) on a date.
• They went to an Italian restaurant on their first date.
• I'm going (out) on a date with him tomorrow night. = I have a date with him tomorrow night.
- see also blind date, double date
b chiefly US : a person you have a date with
• I have to pick up my date at seven o'clock.
• Are you bringing a date to the dance?
• He has a different date every night. [=he dates a different person every night]
to date : up to now : until the present time
• We've received no complaints to date. [=yet]
• This is their greatest success to date.
• To date, most of their work has been preparatory.
up to date
1
- used to say that something or someone has or does not have the newest information
• These textbooks are not up to date.
- usually used with bring or keep
• They needed to bring the first edition of the textbook up to date.
• It's hard to keep all our records up to date.
• This memo should bring everyone up to date on the latest changes. [=give everyone the newest information about the most recent changes]
• She reads the magazines to keep up to date on the latest fashions. [=to know what is fashionable]
2
- used to say that something is or is not modern or new
• The styles are not up to date.
- usually used with bring or keep
• The book brings the familiar fable up to date by setting it in the present day.
1- a small stick that produces a flame when rubbed against a rough surface, used for lighting a fire, cigarette etc
a box of matches
2- a game in which players or teams compete against each other, especially in a sport. The usual American word is game
a football match
match 1 S2 W2 / mætʃ / noun
1 game [ countable ] especially British English an organized sports event between two teams or people :
It’s our last match of the season.
cricket/football/tennis etc match
They’re preparing for a big (= important ) match tomorrow.
match against/between/with
the match between Nigeria and Ireland
home/away match (= a match played at a team’s own sports ground, or at a different ground )
Good teams win their home matches.
McClaire’s goal earned him the title of man of the match (= the person in a team who plays best ) .
2 fire [ countable ] a small wooden or paper stick with a special substance at the top, that you use to light a fire, cigarette etc :
a box of matches
Don’t let your children play with matches.
strike/light a match (= rub a match against a surface to produce a flame )
Peg struck a match and lit the candle.
I tore up the letter and put a match to it (= made it burn, using a match ) .
3 colours/patterns [ singular ] something that is the same colour or pattern as something else, or looks attractive with it match for
That shirt’s a perfect match for your blue skirt.
4 good opponent [ singular ] someone who is much stronger, cleverer etc than their opponent :
Carlos was no match for the champion.
This time you’ve met your match , Adam Burns! I’m not giving up without a fight!
Guerrilla tactics proved more than a match for the Soviet military machine.
5 shouting match ( also slanging match British English ) a loud angry argument in which two people insult each other :
The meeting degenerated into a shouting match.
6 marriage [ singular ] a marriage or two people who are married :
They’re a perfect match .
a match made in heaven (= a marriage of two people who are exactly right for each other )
Claire made a good match (= married someone suitable ) .
7 suitability [ singular ] a situation in which something is suitable for something else, so that the two things work together successfully match between
We need to establish a match between students’ needs and teaching methods.
→ mix and match at mix 1 ( 6 )
COLLOCATIONS
verbs
go to a match I love going to football matches.
watch a match I watched the match on TV.
play a match We played the match in heavy rain.
lose a match They lost the match, despite playing very well.
win a match Do you think we'll win our next match?
draw a match (= finish with the score even ) United have drawn their last two matches.
have a match (= be scheduled to play a match ) Do we have a match on Sunday?
postpone a match (= arrange for it to happen at a later time ) Our first match was postponed because of bad weather.
miss a match (= not play in a match ) He missed two matches because of an ankle injury.
level the match (= make the score level ) Woods won the last two holes to level the match.
clinch the match (= to win a match by scoring a goal, hitting a winning ball etc ) Ronaldo clinched the match with a brilliant goal.
referee a match (= be the person on the field who makes sure players follow the rules ) The matches are refereed by the children's parents.
a match kicks off (= it starts ) The match kicks off at 3.30 pm.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + match
great/brilliant (= very good to watch ) We're sure it's going to be another great match.
exciting The match could not have been more exciting.
thrilling (= very exciting ) There were some thrilling matches at Wimbledon this year.
tough (= difficult ) At this stage of the competition, every match is tough.
close (= with each team playing equally well ) Germany won the match, although it was close.
an important/crucial match Luckily, all their players are fit for such an important match.
a big match (= an important match ) Are you going to watch the big match on TV?
a football/rugby/tennis etc match There was a rugby match going on on the school field.
a home match (= played at the place where a team usually practises ) They have won their last five home matches.
an away match (= played at the place where the opponent usually practises ) This is their last away match of the season.
a live match (= shown on TV as it happens ) There is a live match on TV every Wednesday evening.
a friendly match (= not part of a competition ) Fitness is still important in friendly matches.
a qualifying match (= to decide who plays in a competition ) They won all their qualifying matches.
a semi-final match (= between two of the last four teams left in a competition ) Spain beat Russia in their semi-final match last night.
phrase
man of the match (= the best player in a match ) Henri was named man of the match.
match
I
1. mach
n.
1) a contest in which people or teams compete against each other in a particular sport
a boxing match
2) a person or thing able to contend with another as an equal in quality or strength
they were no match for the trained mercenaries
3) a person or thing that resembles or corresponds to another
the child's identical twin would be a perfect match for organ donation
■ Computing a string that fulfills the specified conditions of a computer search
■ a pair that corresponds or is very similar
the headdresses and bouquet were a perfect match
■ the fact or appearance of corresponding
stones of a perfect match and color
4) a person viewed in regard to their eligibility for marriage, esp. as regards class or wealth
he was an unsuitable match for any of their girls
■ a marriage
a dynastic match
2.
v. [trans.]
1) correspond or cause to correspond in some essential respect; make or be harmonious
[trans.] we bought green and blue curtains to match the bedspread she matched her steps to his | [intrans.] the jacket and pants do not match | [as adj.] matching a set of matching coffee cups
■ team (someone or something) with someone or something else appropriate or harmonious
they matched suitably qualified applicants with institutions that had vacancies | she was trying to match the draperies to the couch
2) be equal to (something) in quality or strength
his anger matched her own
■ succeed in reaching or equaling (a standard or quality)
he tried to match her nonchalance
■ equalize (two coupled electrical impedances) so as to bring about the maximum transfer of power from one to the other
3) place (a person or group) in contest or competition with another
the big names were matched against nobodies | [as adj., with submodifier] matched evenly matched teams
•
- make a match
- meet one's match
- to match
Phrasal Verbs:
- match up to
- match someone with
Derivatives:
matchable adj.
Origin:
Old English gemæcca ‘mate, companion’; related to the base of make
II
n. a short, thin piece of wood or cardboard used to light a fire, being tipped with a composition that ignites when rubbed against a rough surface
■ historical a piece of wick or cord designed to burn at a uniform rate, used for firing a cannon or lighting gunpowder
- put a match to
Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘wick of a candle’): from Old French meche, perhaps from Latin myxa ‘spout of a lamp’, later ‘lamp wick’
match
match (EQUAL) /mætʃ/
noun [S]
a person or thing which is equal to another person or thing in strength, speed or quality
match /mætʃ/
verb [T]
to be as good as someone or something else:
It would be difficult to match the service this airline gives its customers.
x
match (SUITABLE) /mætʃ/
noun [S]
1 something which is similar to or combines well with something else:
The curtains look great - they're a perfect match for the sofa.
2 OLD-FASHIONED If two people who are having a relationship are a good match, they are very suitable for each other:
Theirs is a match made in heaven (= a very good relationship).
I have cereal for breakfast.
cereal
noun
1 (plural cereals) a plant that farmers grow so that we can eat the grain (= the seed):
Wheat and oats are cereals.
2 (no plural) a food made from grain, that you can eat for breakfast with milk:
a bowl of cereal with milk
cereal
ce‧re‧al S3 /ˈsɪəriəl $ ˈsɪr-/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: céréale, from Latin cerealis 'of Ceres', from Ceres ancient Roman goddess of grain and farming]
1. [uncountable and countable] a breakfast food made from grain and usually eaten with milk:
a bowl of breakfast cereal
2. [countable] a plant grown to produce grain, for example wheat, rice etc:
cereal crops
cereal
cer·eal [cereal cereals] [ˈsɪəriəl] [ˈsɪriəl] noun
1. countable one of various types of grass that produce grains that can be eaten or are used to make flour or bread. Wheat, barley and rye are all cereals
• cereal crops
2. uncountable the grain produced by cereal crops
3. countable, uncountable food made from the grain of cereals, often eaten for breakfast with milk
• breakfast cereals
• a bowl of cereal
Word Origin:
early 19th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin cerealis, from Ceres, the goddess of agriculture in Roman mythology.
Example Bank:
• I have cereal for breakfast.
• a big bowl of cereal
• a wholewheat cereal fortified with B group vitamins
• fortified breakfast cereals
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
cereal / sɪə.ri.əl / / sɪr.i- / noun [ C or U ]
C1 a plant that is grown to produce grain:
cereal crops
A2 a food that is made from grain and eaten with milk, especially in the morning:
breakfast cereals
© Cambridge University Press 2013
cereal
[sɪ͟əriəl]
cereals
1) N-MASS Cereal or breakfast cereal is a food made from grain. It is mixed with milk and eaten for breakfast.
I have a glass of fruit juice and a bowl of cereal every morning.
2) N-COUNT Cereals are plants such as wheat, corn, or rice that produce grain.
...the rich cereal-growing districts of the Paris Basin.
cereal
ce·re·al /ˈsirijəl/ noun, pl -als
1 [count] : a plant (such as a grass) that produces grain that can be eaten
• Wheat and barley are common cereals.
2 : a breakfast food made from grain
✦Cereal is usually eaten in a bowl with milk poured over it.
[noncount]
• a bowl of cereal
• Some kinds of cereal have a lot of added sugar.
[count]
• Some cereals have a lot of added sugar.
• breakfast cereals
a person who writes music, especially classical music
Mozart was a great composer of the classical era.
composer
com‧pos‧er /kəmˈpəʊzə $ -ˈpoʊzər/ noun [countable]
someone who writes music ⇒ composition
composer
com·poser [composer composers] [kəmˈpəʊzə(r)] [kəmˈpoʊzər] noun
a person who writes music, especially classical music
Example Bank:
• Verdi was a prolific composer of operas.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
composer / kəmˈpəʊ.zə r / / -ˈpoʊ.zɚ / noun [ C ]
B2 a person who writes music
© Cambridge University Press 2013
a state of not speaking or writing or making a noise
The soldiers listened in silence as their captain gave the orders.
silence
noun
1 (no plural) a situation in which there is no sound:
I can only work in complete silence.
2 (plural silences) a time when nobody speaks or makes a noise:
There was a long silence before she answered the question.
We ate our dinner in silence.
silence
I. si‧lence1 W2 /ˈsaɪləns/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑silence, ↑silencer; verb: ↑silence; adverb: ↑silently; adjective: ↑silent]
1. NO NOISE [uncountable] complete absence of sound or noise SYN quiet
silence of
Nothing disturbed the silence of the night.
silence falls/descends (on/upon something)
After the explosion, an eerie silence fell upon the scene.
break/shatter the silence
A loud scream shattered the silence.
2. NO TALKING [uncountable and countable] complete quiet because nobody is talking:
There was a brief silence before anyone answered.
in silence
The four men sat in silence.
complete/total/dead silence
‘How long have you been here?’ I asked. There was complete silence.
‘Silence in court!’ roared the judge.
embarrassed/awkward/stunned etc silence
There was an awkward silence between them.
The accused exercised his right to silence (=the legal right to choose to say nothing).
3. NO DISCUSSION/ANSWER [uncountable] failure or refusal to discuss something or answer questions about something
silence on
The government’s silence on such an important issue seems very strange.
Once again the answer was a deafening silence (=a very noticeable refusal to discuss something).
4. NO COMMUNICATION [uncountable] failure to write a letter to someone, telephone them etc:
After two years of silence, he suddenly got in touch with us again.
5. one-minute/two-minute etc silence a period of time in which everyone stops talking as a sign of honour and respect towards someone who has died
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ adjectives
▪ complete/total/absolute/utter silence They sat in complete silence. | The silence in the room was absolute.
▪ dead silence (=complete silence) There was a gasp from Peter and then a dead silence.
▪ a long silence ‘He’s dead.’ There was a long silence.
▪ a short/brief silence After a brief silence, Katherine nodded.
▪ an awkward/uncomfortable/embarrassed silence ‘Fred tells me you like books,’ Steve said, after an awkward silence.
▪ a stunned/shocked silence There was a stunned silence at the other end of the phone.
▪ stony silence (=unfriendly silence) Harrison stared at him in stony silence.
▪ a tense silence There was a brief, tense silence.
▪ an eerie silence (=one that is strange and rather frightening) An eerie silence descended over the house.
▪ an ominous silence (=one that makes you feel that something bad is going to happen) ‘How long will she be ill?’ There was a short, ominous silence.
▪ a sudden silence At the mention of John, a sudden silence fell on the room.
silence
si·lence [silence silences silenced silencing] noun, verb, exclamation [ˈsaɪləns] [ˈsaɪləns]
noun
1. uncountable a complete lack of noise or sound
Syn: quiet
• Their footsteps echoed in the silence.
• A scream broke the silence of the night.
• I need absolute silence when I'm working.
2. countable, uncountable a situation when nobody is speaking
• an embarrassed/awkward silence
• a moment's stunned silence
• I got used to his long silences.
• They finished their meal in total silence.
• She lapsed into silence again.
• There was a deafening silence (= one that is very noticeable).
• a two-minute silence in honour of those who had died
• Her accusations reduced him to silence.
• He's not one to suffer in silence! (= to suffer without telling sb)
3. uncountable, singular a situation in which sb refuses to talk about sth or to answer questions
• She broke her public silence in a TV interview.
• ~ (on sth) The company's silence on the subject has been taken as an admission of guilt.
• the right to silence (= the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested)
• There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening (= everyone has agreed not to discuss it).
4. uncountable a situation in which people do not communicate with each other by letter or telephone
• The phone call came after months of silence.
more at a heavy silence/atmosphere at heavy adj., a pregnant pause/silence at pregnant
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’.
Thesaurus:
silence noun U
• A cry broke the silence of the night.
peace • • quiet • • hush • • calm • |especially BrE, written tranquillity • |AmE usually tranquility •
Opp: noise
in silence/peace/tranquillity
absolute/total silence/peace/quiet/calm/tranquillity
break the silence/peace/quiet/calm
Example Bank:
• A heavy silence lingered in the air.
• A minute's silence for the victims will be observed.
• A stunned silence greeted her announcement.
• A sudden silence fell over the room.
• An awkward silence followed.
• Celeste's voice penetrated the silence.
• Countries throughout Europe held a three minutes' silence.
• He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject.
• He lapsed into a sullen silence.
• He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening.
• Her comments were met with a stunned silence.
• Her question was met with an uneasy silence.
• I took her silence as a no.
• Lewis finally broke the long silence between them.
• She fell into long, brooding silences.
• She filled the silence with music.
• She has broken her vow of silence on the issue.
• She maintained a stony silence.
• Silence reigned.
• The boys were stunned into silence by this news.
• The government's only response has been a deafening silence.
• The rest of the trip passed in relative silence.
• The soldier had broken radio silence to contact his aircraft.
• There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening.
• There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers.
• There was a moment's silence before she replied.
• They ate their breakfast in silence.
• They observed two minutes' silence to remember the war dead.
• They walked in companionable silence.
• We sat and watched in awed silence as she performed.
• We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock.
• a debate to break the silence surrounding domestic violence
• a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children
• Something was moving in silence along the edge of the woods.
Idiom: silence is golden
silence / ˈsaɪ.ləns / noun (NO SPEAKING)
B1 [ U ] a state of not speaking or writing or making a noise:
The soldiers listened in silence as their captain gave the orders.
"Silence! (= Stop talking!) " shouted the teacher.
My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer) .
Her silence on/about what had happened to her surprised everyone.
Their mother's angry words reduced the children to silence.
I don't expect to hear from her now, after three years' silence (= three years in which she has not spoken or written to me) .
B2 [ C ] a period of time in which there is complete quiet or no speaking:
Their conversation was punctuated by uncomfortable silences.
Word partners for silence
in silence • reduce sb to silence • break the silence • lapse into silence • meet with silence •
silence descends / falls / follows • a shocked / stunned / stony silence • absolute / complete / total silence • a brief / long / short silence • an awkward / embarrassed / tense / uncomfortable silence • a deafening / eerie silence
silence
[sa͟ɪləns]
silences, silencing, silenced
1) N-VAR: oft in/of N If there is silence, nobody is speaking.
They stood in silence...
He never lets those long silences develop during dinner...
Then he bellowed `Silence!'
2) N-UNCOUNT: oft the N of n The silence of a place is the extreme quietness there.
...the silence of that rainless, all-concealing fog...
She breathed deeply, savouring the silence.
3) N-UNCOUNT: oft poss N Someone's silence about something is their failure or refusal to speak to other people about it.
The district court ruled that Popper's silence in court today should be entered as a plea of not guilty.
●
PHRASE: V inflects If someone breaks their silence about something, they talk about something that they have not talked about before or for a long time.
Gary decided to break his silence about his son's suffering yesterday in the hope of helping other families cope with the disease.
4) VERB To silence someone or something means to stop them speaking or making a noise.
[V n] A ringing phone silenced her...
[V n] The shock silenced him completely.
5) VERB If someone silences you, they stop you expressing opinions that they do not agree with.
[V n] Like other tyrants, he tried to silence anyone who spoke out against him.
[V n] ...an unsuccessful attempt by the government to silence the debate.
6) VERB To silence someone means to kill them in order to stop them revealing something secret.
[V n] A hit man had been sent to silence her over the affair.
1si·lence /ˈsaɪləns/ noun, pl -lenc·es
1 [noncount] : a lack of sound or noise : quiet
• I find it hard to sleep unless there is complete silence.
• The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
2 : a situation, state, or period of time in which people do not talk
[noncount]
• We sat there in dead/total/complete silence.
• My sister's revelation was met with stunned silence.
• Silence fell/descended upon the room. [=the room became quiet]
• The professor asked for silence.
[count]
• There was an awkward silence after he confessed his love for her.
• A long silence followed her reply.
3 : a situation or state in which someone does not talk about or answer questions about something
[noncount]
• We must break 50 years of silence on issues like the government's involvement in assassination and espionage.
• I will not be intimidated into silence.
• You don't have to suffer in silence. [=suffer or be unhappy without saying anything]
[singular]
• She finally ended her silence and spoke to the media about what happened.
- see also conspiracy of silence
deafening silence
- see deafening
silence is golden
- used to say that it is often better to remain silent than to speak;
