American English

half-brother

half-brother [noun]

a brother who is the son of only one of your parents

US /ˈhæfˌbrʌð.ɚ/ 
UK /ˈhɑːfˌbrʌð.ər/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

half-brother

ˈhalf-ˌbrother BrE AmE noun [countable]
a brother who is the son of only one of your parents ⇨ half-sister

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

half-brother

ˈhalf-brother [half-brother half-brothers]       noun
a person's half-brother is a boy or man with either the same mother or the same father as they have

compare  stepbrother

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ˈ half- ˌ brother / ˈhɑːfˌbrʌð.ə r /   / ˈhæfˌbrʌð.ɚ / noun [ C ]

a brother who is the son of only one of your parents

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

half-brother

 half-brothers
 N-COUNT
 Someone's half-brother is a boy or man who has either the same mother or the same father as they have.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

half brother
 

half brother noun, pl ~ -ers [count] : a brother with the same father but a different mother or the same mother but a different father
• George is my half brother.

half-sister

half-sister [noun]

a sister who is the daughter of only one of your parents

US /ˈhæfˌsɪs.tɚ/ 
UK /ˈhɑːfˌsɪs.tər/ 
Example: 

She is my half sister.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

half-sister

ˈhalf-ˌsister BrE AmE noun [countable]
a sister who is the daughter of only one of your parents ⇨ half-brother

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

half-sister

ˈhalf-sister [half-sister half-sisters]       noun
a person's half-sister is a girl or woman who has either the same mother or the same father as them

compare  stepsister

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ˈ half- ˌ sister / ˈhɑːfˌsɪs.tə r /   / ˈhæfˌsɪs.tɚ / noun [ C ]

a sister who is the daughter of only one of your parents

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

half-sister
 half-sisters
 N-COUNT: oft poss N
 Someone's half-sister is a girl or woman who has either the same mother or the same father as they have.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

half sister
 

half sister noun, pl ~ -ters [count] : a sister with the same father but a different mother or the same mother but a different father
• Emily is my half sister.

stepdaughter

stepdaughter [noun]

the daughter of your husband or wife from a previous marriage

US /ˈstepˌdɑː.t̬ɚ/ 
UK /ˈstepˌdɔː.tər/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepdaughter

stepdaughter /ˈstepdɔːtə $ -dɒːtər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a daughter that your husband or wife has from a relationship before your marriage

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepdaughter

step·daugh·ter [stepdaughter stepdaughters]   [ˈstepdɔːtə(r)]    [ˈstepdɔːtər]  noun
a daughter that your husband or wife has from an earlier marriage to another person 
Word Origin:

Old English stēopdohtor (see step-, daughter).

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepdaughter / ˈstepˌdɔː.tə r /   / -ˌdɑː.t̬ɚ / noun [ C ]

the daughter of your husband or wife from a previous marriage

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepdaughter

[ste̱pdɔːtə(r)]
 stepdaughters
 also step-daughter
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepdaughter is a daughter that was born to their husband or wife during a previous relationship.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepdaughter

step·daugh·ter /ˈstɛpˌdɑːtɚ/ noun, pl -ters [count] : your wife's or husband's daughter by a past marriage or relationship

stepson

stepson [noun]

the son of your husband or wife from a previous marriage

US /ˈstep.sʌn/ 
UK /ˈstep.sʌn/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepson

stepson /ˈstepsʌn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a son that your husband or wife has from a relationship before your marriage
 

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepson

step·son [stepson stepsons]   [ˈstepsʌn]    [ˈstepsʌn]  noun
a son that your husband or wife has from an earlier marriage to another person 
Word Origin:

Old English stēopsunu (see step-, son).

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepson / ˈstep.sʌn / noun [ C ]

the son of your husband or wife from a previous marriage

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepson

[ste̱psʌn]
 stepsons
 also step-son
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepson is a son born to their husband or wife during a previous relationship.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepson

step·son /ˈstɛpˌsʌn/ noun, pl -sons [count] : your wife's or husband's son by a past marriage or relationship

stepsister

stepsister [noun]

not your parents' daughter, but the daughter of a person one of your parents has married

US /ˈstepˌsɪs.tɚ/ 
UK /ˈstepˌsɪs.tər/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepsister

stepsister /ˈstepsɪstə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
the daughter of your stepmother or stepfather

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepsister

step·sis·ter [stepsister stepsisters]   [ˈstepsɪstə(r)]    [ˈstepsɪstər]  noun
the daughter from an earlier marriage of your stepmother or stepfather

compare  half-sister

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepsister / ˈstepˌsɪs.tə r /   / -tɚ / noun [ C ]

not your parents' daughter, but the daughter of a person one of your parents has married

→  Compare half-sister

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepsister

[ste̱psɪstə(r)]
 stepsisters
 also step-sister
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepsister is the daughter of their stepfather or stepmother.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepsister

step·sis·ter /ˈstɛpˌsɪstɚ/ noun, pl -ters [count] : the daughter of your stepmother or stepfather

stepbrother

stepbrother [noun]

not your parents' son, but the son of a person that one of your parents has married

US /ˈstepˌbrʌ.ðɚ/ 
UK /ˈstepˌbrʌ.ðər/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepbrother

stepbrother /ˈstepbrʌðə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
the son of your stepmother or stepfather

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepbrother

step·brother [stepbrother stepbrothers]   [ˈstepbrʌðə(r)]    [ˈstepbrʌðər]  noun
the son from an earlier marriage of your stepmother or stepfather

compare  half-brother

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepbrother / ˈstepˌbrʌ.ðə r /   / -ðɚ / noun [ C ]

not your parents' son, but the son of a person that one of your parents has married

→  Compare half-brother

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepbrother

[ste̱pbrʌðə(r)]
 stepbrothers
 also step-brother
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepbrother is the son of their stepfather or stepmother.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepbrother

 

step·broth·er /ˈstɛpˌbrʌðɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count] : the son of your stepmother or stepfather

stepmother

stepmother [noun]

the woman who is married to someone's father but who is not their real mother

US /ˈstepˌmʌð.ɚ/ 
UK /ˈstepˌmʌð.ər/ 
Example: 

the wicked stepmother in fairy stories

Oxford Essential Dictionary

stepmother

 noun
a woman who has married your father but who is not your mother

word building
The child of your stepmother or stepfather is called your stepbrother or stepsister.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepmother

stepmother /ˈstepmʌðə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a woman who is married to your father but who is not your mother
• • •
THESAURUS
mother a female parent: My mother and father are both teachers.
mum British English informal, mom American English informal used when talking to your father, or about someone's father: My mum and dad won’t mind if you want to stay the night. | Mom, where’s my sweater?
mummy British English, mommy American English a name for mother, which is used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: Where’s Mummy, Abbie?
ma American English old-fashioned used when talking to your mother, or about someone's mother: Ma stirred the soup on the stove.
mama old-fashioned used when talking to your mother, or about someone's mother: Mama seldom disagreed with Papa.
stepmother (also stepmum British English informal, stepmom American English informal) a woman who is married to your father, who is not your mother but often acts as your parent: the wicked stepmother in fairy stories

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepmother

step·mother [stepmother stepmothers]   [ˈstepmʌðə(r)]    [ˈstepmʌðər]  noun
the woman who is married to your father but who is not your real mother 
Word Origin:

Old English stēopmōdor (see step-, mother).

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepmother / ˈstepˌmʌð.ə r /   / -ɚ / noun [ C ]

B2 the woman who is married to someone's father but who is not their real mother

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepmother

[ste̱pmʌðə(r)]
 stepmothers
 also step-mother
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepmother is the woman who has married their father after the death or divorce of their mother.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepmother
 

step·moth·er /ˈstɛpˌmʌðɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count] : a woman that your father marries after his marriage to or relationship with your mother has ended

stepfather

stepfather [noun]

The man who is married to someone's mother but who is not their real father.

US /ˈstepˌfɑː.ðɚ/ 
UK /ˈstepˌfɑː.ðər/ 
Example: 

Her stepfather is really nice.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

stepfather

 noun
a man who has married your mother but who is not your father Look at the note at stepmother.

 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stepfather

stepfather /ˈstepfɑːðə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a man who is married to your mother but who is not your father
• • •
THESAURUS
father a male parent: My father’s a doctor. | He’s a father of three.
dad informal used when talking to your father, or about someone's father: Can I borrow your car, Dad? | Her dad retired ten years ago. | My dad was in the army.
daddy a name for father, which is used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: Where’s your daddy? | Daddy, can I have a drink, please?
pop American English informal (also pa old-fashioned) used when talking to your father, or about someone's father: I helped Pop fix the gate this morning. | Can I help, Pa? | He is in New York with his Pop's credit card, eating all the ice cream and pizza the city has to offer.
papa old-fashioned informal used when talking to your father, or about someone's father: Papa had forbidden me to go. | She saw her papa 's face change at this news.
sb’s old man informal someone's father – used when talking about him in a way that is not very respectful: His old man wouldn’t let him use the car.
stepfather (also stepdad informal) a man who is married to your mother, who is not your father but often acts as your parent: Her stepfather is really nice.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepfather

step·father [stepfather stepfathers]   [ˈstepfɑːðə(r)]    [ˈstepfɑːðər]  noun
the man who is married to your mother but who is not your real father 
Word Origin:
Old English stēopfæder (see step-, father).  
Example Bank:

• He lives at home with his mother and stepfather.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stepfather / ˈstepˌfɑː.ðə r /   / -ðɚ / noun [ C ]

B2 the man who is married to someone's mother but who is not their real father

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stepfather

[ste̱pfɑːðə(r)]
 stepfathers
 also step-father
 N-COUNT: oft poss N

 Someone's stepfather is the man who has married their mother after the death or divorce of their father.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stepfather

step·fa·ther /ˈstɛpˌfɑːðɚ/ noun, pl -thers [count] : a man that your mother marries after her marriage to or relationship with your father has ended

rage

rage [noun] (ANGER)

(a period of) extreme or violent anger

US /reɪdʒ/ 
UK /reɪdʒ/ 
Example: 

Her sudden towering rages were terrifying.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

rage

 noun
very strong anger:
Sue stormed out of the room in a rage.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

rage

I. rage1 /reɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin rabies 'anger, wildness', from rabere 'to be wild with anger']
1. [uncountable and countable] a strong feeling of uncontrollable anger:
Sobbing with rage, Carol was taken to the hospital.
in a rage
Sam became quite frightening when he was in a rage.
cry/scream/roar etc of rage
Just then, she heard Mr Evan’s bellow of rage.
red/dark/purple with rage
His face was red with rage.
trembling/shaking with rage
Forester stared at his car, trembling with rage.
seething/incandescent with rage (=as angry as a person can possibly be)
Animal rights supporters were incandescent with rage.
Richens was 17 when he flew into a rage and stabbed another teenager.
2. be all the rage informal to be very popular or fashionable:
DiCaprio became all the rage after starring in the film ‘Titanic’.
3. rage for something a situation in which something is very popular or fashionable:
the rage for mobile phones
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
shake/tremble with rage His wife was shaking with rage.
seethe with rage The injustice of it made Melissa seethe with rage.
cry with rage I was crying with rage and frustration.
explode with rage (also fly into a rage) (=suddenly become very angry) She knew her father would explode with rage if he found out.
■ phrases
be in a rage Moran was in a rage about some tools that had been left out in the rain.
be speechless with rage Speechless with rage, he hurled the letter in the fire before storming out.
be beside yourself with rage (=be so angry that you cannot control yourself) They had been publicly humiliated and were beside themselves with rage.
be incandescent with rage formal (=be extremely angry) The Queen was incandescent with rage.
be white with rage I could see she was white with rage.
somebody's face is dark/red/purple with rage His face went purple with rage.
somebody's face is twisted/contorted with rage Mike's usually calm face was contorted with rage.
a fit of rage In a fit of rage, he seized the poor man by the shoulders and shouted at him.
a cry/howl/bellow etc of rage She remembered his cries of rage as he was taken away.
tears of rage Her eyes were now full of tears of rage.
■ adjectives
a jealous rage He killed his wife in a jealous rage.
a drunken rage He smashed up his former girlfriend's car in a drunken rage.
a blind/uncontrollable rage (=extreme uncontrolled anger that makes someone violent) He lashed out in a blind rage.
murderous rage (=anger that makes someone capable of murder) Captain Black was in a murderous rage.
a towering rage (=extremely angry) He was in a towering rage.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ extreme anger
fury a very strong feeling of anger: The judge sparked fury when he freed a man who had attacked three women. | The decision caused fury among local people.
rage a very strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control or is expressed very suddenly or violently: When we accused him of lying, he flew into a rage (=became very angry very suddenly). | Brown killed his wife in a jealous rage.
outrage extreme anger and shock because you think something is unfair or wrong: The racist comments caused outrage in India and Britain.
wrath formal extreme anger: Pietersen was the next to incur the wrath of the referee (=make him angry).

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rage

rage [rage rages raged raging] noun, verb   [reɪdʒ]    [reɪdʒ] 

 

noun
1. uncountable, countable a feeling of violent anger that is difficult to control
His face was dark with rage.
to be shaking/trembling/speechless with rage
Sue stormed out of the room in a rage.

• He flies into a rage if you even mention the subject.

2. uncountable (in compounds) anger and violent behaviour caused by a particular situation
a case of trolley rage in the supermarket
see also  road rage  
Word Origin:
Middle English (also in the sense ‘madness’): from Old French rage (noun), rager (verb), from a variant of Latin rabies, from rabere ‘rave’.  
Example Bank:
‘How dare you!’ she said, her voice choked with rage.
A motorist was assaulted in a road rage attack.
Blind rage consumed him.
He flew into a rage at the insult.
He gave a roar of rage and punched me in the face.
He glared at me, quite beside himself with rage.
He left in a rage of humiliation.
He managed to master his rage.
He punched the wall in a fit of rage.
He was boiling with rage at the unfairness of it all.
He was filled with rage.
He was in a towering rage about his lost watch.
He was literally shaking with rage.
He was prone to violent rages.
Her eyes were burning with rage.
Her rage boiled over as she burst into tears.
Her voice was trembling with rage.
His answer only seemed to fuel her rage.
His rage suddenly erupted.
His rage was beginning to subside.
I was seething with rage.
If something's too difficult she gets in a rage.
Ron felt rage boil up inside him.
She felt the rage building up inside her.
She killed him in a rage of despair.
She smashed up his car in a drunken rage.
She started hitting him in a drunken rage.
She was burning with impotent rage.
The people vented their rage on government buildings.
She stormed out of the room in a rage.
• Sue stormed out in a rage.

Idiom: all the rage 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rage / reɪdʒ / noun [ C or U ] (ANGER)

B2 (a period of) extreme or violent anger:

Her sudden towering rages were terrifying.

I was frightened because I had never seen him in such a rage before.

He flew into a fit of rage over the smallest mistake.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

rage

[re͟ɪʤ]

 rages, raging, raged
 1) N-VAR Rage is strong anger that is difficult to control.
  He was red-cheeked with rage...
  I flew into a rage...
  He admitted shooting the man in a fit of rage.
  Syn:
  fury
 2) VERB You say that something powerful or unpleasant rages when it continues with great force or violence.
  Train services were halted as the fire raged for more than four hours.
  ...the fierce arguments raging over the future of the Holy City...
  [V on] The war rages on and the time has come to take sides.
 3) VERB If you rage about something, you speak or think very angrily about it.
  [V about/against/at n] Monroe was on the phone, raging about her mistreatment by the brothers...
  Inside, Frannie was raging...
  [V with quote] `I can't see it's any of your business,' he raged.
 4) N-UNCOUNT: n N You can refer to the strong anger that someone feels in a particular situation as a particular rage, especially when this results in violent or aggressive behaviour.
 → See also road rage
  Cabin crews are reporting up to nine cases of air rage a week.
 5) N-SING: the N When something is popular and fashionable, you can say that it is the rage or all the rage. [INFORMAL]
  Badges are all the rage in France, Mr Toff explains.
 6) → See also raging

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1rage /ˈreɪʤ/ noun, pl rag·es
1 a [noncount] : a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control
• Her note to him was full of rage.
• He was shaking with rage.
• a fit of rage
- see also road rage synonyms see1anger
b [count] : a sudden expression of violent anger
• She was seized by a murderous rage.
• His rages rarely last more than a few minutes.
• He flew into a rage. [=he suddenly became extremely angry]
2 [singular]
a : something that is suddenly very popular
• Karaoke is (all) the rage these days. [=karaoke is very popular]
b : a strong desire by many people to have or do something - + for
• I don't understand the current rage for flavored coffee. [=I don't understand why flavored coffee is so popular]

beverage

beverage [noun]

a drink of any type

US /ˈbev.ɚ.ɪdʒ/ 
UK /ˈbev.ər.ɪdʒ/ 
Example: 

Hot beverages include tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

beverage

beverage /ˈbevərɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bevrage, from beivre 'to drink', from Latin bibere]
formal a hot or cold drink:
alcoholic beverages
the Food and Beverage Manager
• • •
THESAURUS
drink something that you drink: ‘Would you like a drink?’ ‘Yes, I’ll have a lemonade.’ | They had a few drinks in a local bar.
something to drink especially spoken a drink: Can I get you something to drink?
soft drink a cold drink that does not contain alcohol, especially one that is sweet and has bubbles in it: Coca-Cola and other soft drinks
toast a drink, usually of wine, that a group of people have on a special occasion, for example to celebrate something or wish someone luck in the future: At midnight they all drank a toast to the New Year.
beverage /ˈbevərɪdʒ/ formal especially written a drink – often used on ↑menus and signs: Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage. | the list of beverages
 

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beverage

bev·er·age [beverage beverages]   [ˈbevərɪdʒ]    [ˈbevərɪdʒ]  noun (formal)
any type of drink except water
laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French bevrage, based on Latin bibere ‘to drink’.  
Example Bank:
• regulations concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.

• Studies on the consumption of various alcoholic beverages have been conducted.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beverage / ˈbev. ə r.ɪdʒ /   / -ɚ- / noun [ C ] formal

a drink of any type:

Hot beverages include tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.

We do not sell alcoholic beverages.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

beverage

[be̱vərɪʤ]
 beverages
 N-COUNT: usu pl, oft adj N
 Beverages are drinks. [FORMAL]
  Alcoholic beverages are served in the hotel lounge.
  ...artificially sweetened beverages.
  ...foods and beverages.
 Syn:
 drink

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

beverage

bev·er·age /ˈbɛvrɪʤ/ noun, pl -ag·es [count] somewhat formal : something you can drink : a liquid for drinking
• May I offer you a beverage? [=drink]
Beverages are listed on the back of the menu.
• alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages

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