American English

dessert

dessert [noun]

sweet food eaten at the end of a meal

/dɪˈzɝːt/

/dɪˈzɜːt/

Example:

For dessert there's apple pie or fruit.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

dessert

noun

spelling
Remember! You spell dessert with SS.

something sweet that you eat at the end of a meal same meaning pudding:
We had ice cream for dessert.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

dessert

des‧sert /dɪˈzɜːt $ -ɜːrt/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: desservir 'to clear the table', from servir 'to serve']
sweet food served after the main part of a meal
for dessert
What are we having for dessert?
• • •
THESAURUS
■ parts of a large meal
▪ hors d'oeuvre (also starter British English, appetizer American English) the small first part of a meal: a tempting plate of hors d'oeuvres including olives and small pieces of roast beetroot
▪ main course (also entrée especially American English) the main part of a meal. entrée is used especially on restaurant ↑menus: For the main course we had cheese and onion pie. | The menu includes a few hot entrées.
▪ dessert (also pudding British English or sweet British English) sweet food eaten at the end of a meal: What do you want for dessert? | They serve a wide range of desserts, including ice cream and home-made apple pie.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dessert

des·sert [dessert desserts] [dɪˈzɜːt] [dɪˈzɜːrt] noun uncountable, countable
sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
• What's for dessert?
• a rich chocolate dessert
• a dessert wine
• (BrE) the dessert trolley (= a table on wheels from which you choose your dessert in a restaurant)
compare afters, pudding, sweet
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent.: from French, past participle of desservir ‘clear the table’, from des- (expressing removal) + servir ‘to serve’.
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip
Example Bank:
• The waiter asked us if we'd like to order a dessert.
• This chestnut pudding is a rich dessert with a festive flavour.
• We finished off with a dessert of honey and nuts.

• We had mousse for dessert.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dessert / dɪˈzɜːt / / -ˈzɝːt / noun [ C or U ]

A2 sweet food eaten at the end of a meal:

a dessert fork/spoon

For dessert there's apple pie or fruit.

If you make the main course, I'll make a dessert.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

dessert

[dɪzɜ͟ː(r)t]
desserts
N-MASS
Dessert is something sweet, such as fruit or a pudding, that you eat at the end of a meal.
She had homemade ice cream for dessert...
I am partial to desserts that combine fresh fruit with fine pastry.
Syn:
sweet, pudding

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

dessert

des·sert /dɪˈzɚt/ noun, pl -serts : sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal

[count]

• She doesn't care for rich desserts.
• a chocolate dessert

[noncount]

• Coffee and tea will be served with dessert.
• We had ice cream and apple pie for dessert.
- sometimes used before another noun
• They asked to look at the dessert menu.
• dessert plates

American English

British English

puddings - desserts and ices

A2 (Elementary)

noun

salad

salad [noun]

a mixture of uncooked vegetables, usually including lettuce, eaten either as a separate dish or with other food

/ˈsæl.əd/

Example:

Serve the risotto with a mixed salad.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

salad

noun
a dish of cold vegetables that have not been cooked:
Do you want chips or salad with your chicken?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

salad

sal‧ad S2 /ˈsæləd/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: salade, from Old Provençal salada, from salar 'to add salt to', from sal 'salt']

1. a mixture of raw vegetables, especially ↑lettuce, ↑cucumber, and tomato:
Would you like some salad with your pasta?
a spinach salad
toss a salad (=mix it all together, usually with a dressing)
2. raw or cooked food cut into small pieces and served cold
fruit/potato salad

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

salad

salad [salad salads] [ˈsæləd] [ˈsæləd] noun

1. uncountable, countable a mixture of raw vegetables such as lettuce, tomato and cucumber, usually served with other food as part of a meal
• All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
• Is cold meat and salad OK for lunch?
• a side salad (= a small bowl of salad served with the main course of a meal)
• a salad bowl (= a large bowl for serving salad in)

see also Caesar salad, green salad

2. countable, uncountable (in compounds) meat, fish, cheese, etc. served with salad

• a chicken salad

3. uncountable, countable (in compounds) raw or cooked vegetables, etc. that are cut into small pieces, often mixed with mayonnaise and served cold with other food
• potato salad
• a pasta salad

see also fruit salad

4. uncountable any green vegetable, especially lettuce, that is eaten raw in a salad
• salad plants
Idiom: your salad days
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French salade, from Provençal salada, based on Latin sal ‘salt’.
Collocations:
Cooking
Preparing
prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
Cooking
heat the oil in a frying pan
preheat/heat the oven/(BrE) the grill/(NAmE) the broiler
bring to (BrE) the boil/(NAmE) a boil
stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
reduce the heat
simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
brown the meat for 8-20 minutes
drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
Ways of cooking
cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially NAmE) cookies/(BrE) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
toast bread/nuts
microwave food/popcorn/(BrE) a ready meal
Serving
serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
dress/toss a salad
dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
Example Bank:
• Is the steak served with a side salad?
• She tossed and dressed the salad.

• The sandwiches came with a rather limp salad garnish.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

salad / ˈsæl.əd / noun [ C or U ]

salad

A2 a mixture of uncooked vegetables, usually including lettuce, eaten either as a separate dish or with other food:

Toss (= mix) the salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

Serve the risotto with a mixed salad.

a salad bowl

cheese, egg, etc. salad

cheese, egg, etc. with salad

cooked or uncooked vegetables cut into very small pieces and often mixed with mayonnaise:

potato salad

rice/pasta salad

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

salad

[sæ̱ləd]
salads
1) N-VAR A salad is a mixture of raw foods such as lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes. It is often served with other food as part of a meal.
→ See also fruit salad
  ...a salad of tomato, onion and cucumber.
  ...potato salad.
2) PHRASE If you refer to your salad days, you are referring to a period of your life when you were young and inexperienced. [LITERARY]
  The Grand Hotel did not seem to have changed since her salad days.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

salad
sal·ad /ˈsæləd/ noun, pl -ads
1 : a mixture of raw green vegetables (such as different types of lettuce) usually combined with other raw vegetables

[count]

• For dinner we had roast chicken and a salad.
• a salad of fresh/local greens
• a spinach salad
• I tossed the salad with some oil and vinegar and set it on the table.

[noncount]

• a bowl of salad
• Would you like soup or salad with your sandwich?
• salad greens [=vegetables that are grown for their leaves and commonly used in salads]
2 [count, noncount] : a mixture of small pieces of raw or cooked food (such as pasta, meat, fruit, eggs, or vegetables) combined usually with a dressing and served cold
• a delicious pasta/potato/fruit salad
• chicken/tuna salad

appetizer

appetizer [noun]

a small amount of food eaten before a meal

/ˈæp.ə.taɪ.zɚ/

/ˈæp.ə.taɪ.zər/

Example:

At 6.30 everyone gathered for drinks and appetizers in the lounge.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

appetizer

noun American English for starter

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

appetizer

ap‧pe‧tiz‧er BrE AmE (also appetiser British English) /ˈæpətaɪzə, ˈæpɪtaɪzə $ -ər/ noun [countable]
a small dish that you eat at the beginning of a meal

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

appetizer

ap·pet·izer (BrE also -iser) [appetizer appetizers] [ˈæpɪtaɪzə(r)] [ˈæpɪtaɪzər] noun
a small amount of food or a drink that you have before a meal
• Some green olives make a simple appetizer.
Example Bank:

• This wine should be served chilled as an appetizer.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

appetizer ( UK usually appetiser ) / ˈæp.ɪ.taɪ.zə r / / -zɚ / noun [ C ]

a small amount of food eaten before a meal:

At 6.30 everyone gathered for drinks and appetizers in the lounge.

mainly US the first part of a meal:

The average cost of a full three-course meal - appetizer, main course, and dessert - is about $45.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

appetizer

[æ̱pɪtaɪzə(r)]
appetizers
N-COUNT
An appetizer is the first course of a meal. It consists of a small amount of food.
Seafood soup is a good appetizer.(in BRIT, also use appetiser)

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

appetizer

ap·pe·tiz·er also Brit ap·pe·tis·er /ˈæpəˌtaɪzɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count] : a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal

American English

British English

meals and parts of meals

B1 (Intermediate)

noun

different

different [adjective]

not the same

/ˈdɪf.ɚ.ənt/

/ˈdɪf.ər.ənt/

Example:

She seems to wear something different every day.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

different

adjective

1 not the same:
These two shoes are different sizes!
Cricket is different from baseball.

2 many and not the same:
They sell 30 different sorts of ice cream.

>> differently adverb:
He's very quiet at home but he behaves differently at school.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

different

dif‧fe‧rent S1 W1 /ˈdɪfərənt/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: verb: ↑differ, ↑differentiate; noun: ↑difference, ↑differentiation; adverb: ↑differently; adjective: ↑different]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: différer; ⇨ ↑differ]
1. not like something or someone else, or not like before OPP similar
different from
Our sons are very different from each other.
different to
Her jacket’s different to mine.
different than American English:
He seemed different than he did in New York.
The place looks completely different now.
They decided to try a radically different approach.
We found women had significantly different political views from men.
a slightly different way of doing things
What actually happened was subtly different from the PR people’s version.
The show is refreshingly different from most exhibitions of modern art.
The publishing business is no different from any other business in this respect.
It’s a different world here in London.
GRAMMAR
In spoken British English, different from and different to are both common. Different than is also used in American English and occasionally in British English, especially when it is followed by a clause:
▪ He looks no different than when he was 20. Teachers prefer different from, so from is the preposition to use in writing:
▪ Their homes are completely different from ours.

► Do not say 'different of'.
2. [only before noun] used to talk about two or more separate things of the same basic kind SYN various:
Different people reacted in different ways.
different types/kinds etc
There are many different types of fabric.
I looked in lots of different books but couldn’t find anything about it.
3. [only before noun] another:
I think she’s moved to a different job now.
4. spoken unusual, often in a way that you do not like:
‘What did you think of the film?’ ‘Well, it was certainly different.’
—differently adverb:
I didn’t expect to be treated any differently from anyone else.
Things could have turned out quite differently.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ different if something or someone is different, they are not like something or someone else, or they are not like they were before: You look different. Have you had your hair cut? | We’ve painted the door a different colour. | The cultures of the two countries are very different.
▪ unique very different, special, or unusual and the only one of its kind. Don’t use words such as very before unique: The book is certainly very rare, and possibly unique. | the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
▪ distinctive having a special feature or appearance that makes something different from other things, and makes it easy to recognize: Male birds have distinctive blue and yellow markings.
▪ unlike [prep] completely different from a particular person or thing: In Britain, unlike the United States, the government provides health care.
▪ have nothing in common if two people have nothing in common, they do not have the same interests or opinions and therefore cannot form a friendly relationship: Apart from the fact that we went to the same school, we have absolutely nothing in common.
▪ there’s no/little resemblance used when saying that two people or things seem very different: There’s no resemblance between the two sisters at all. | The final product bore no resemblance to the original proposal (=it was very different).
▪ dissimilar formal not the same as something else: These four politically dissimilar states have all signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation.
▪ be like chalk and cheese British English informal if two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different: It’s hard to believe that they’re brothers – they’re like chalk and cheese!
▪ be (like) apples and oranges American English informal used when saying that two people or things are very different: You can't compare residential and commercial real estate markets. It's apples and oranges. | Obama and Romney are apples and oranges. | Comparing homemade soup to canned soup is really comparing apples and oranges.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

different

dif·fer·ent [ˈdɪfrənt] [ˈdɪfrənt] adjective
1. ~ (from/to/than sb/sth) not the same as sb/sth; not like sb/sth else
• American English is significantly different from British English.
• (BrE) It's very different to what I'm used to.
• (NAmE) He saw he was no different than anybody else.
• It's different now than it was a year ago.
• People often give very different accounts of the same event.
• My son's terribly untidy; my daughter's no different.
• The room looks different without the furniture.
• Now he spoke in a different and kinder voice.

Opp: similar

2. only before noun separate and individual
• She offered us five different kinds of cake.
• The programme was about customs in different parts of the country.
• They are sold in many different colours.

• I looked it up in three different dictionaries.

3. not usually before noun (informal) unusual; not like other people or things
• ‘Did you enjoy the play?’ ‘Well, it was certainly different!’
more at put a new/different complexion on sth at complexion, know different/otherwise at know _v., be another/a different matter at matter _n., march to (the beat of) a different drummer/drum at march, pull in different/opposite directions at pull _v., sing a different tune at sing _v., tell a different story/tale at tell
Idiom: different kettle of fish
Derived Word: differently
Word Origin:
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin different- ‘carrying away, differing’, from the verb differre, from dis- ‘from, away’ + ferre ‘bring, carry’.
Thesaurus:
different [different differently] adj.
• The room looks different without the furniture.
unlike • • unequal • • contrasting • • varied • • mixed • • diverse • • assorted • |formal disparate • • dissimilar •
Opp: the same, Opp: similar
different/dissimilar from sth
different/contrasting/varied/diverse/disparate ways
different/contrasting/mixed/diverse /disparate views
look different/unlike sth/dissimilar
British/American:
different from / to / than
Different from is the most common structure in both BrE and NAmE. Different to is also used in BrE: ▪ Paul’s very different from/to his brother. ◊ ▪ This visit is very different from/to last time.
In NAmE people also say different than: ▪ Your trains are different than ours. ◊ ▪ You look different than before.
Before a clause you can also use different from (and different than in NAmE): ▪ She looked different from what I’d expected. ◊ ▪ She looked different than (what) I’d expected.
Example Bank:
• That's a whole different matter.
• The movie's different than the original book.
• The same colour can appear subtly different on different types of paper.
• The tune returns in a subtly different guise.
• Their customs are very different to ours.
• This is a far different movie from his previous one.
• This school is radically different from most others.
• a refreshingly different approach to language learning
• ‘Did you enjoy the play?’ ‘Well, it was certainly different.’
• He's a different proposition from his father— much less tolerant.
• Her methods are different, but no less effective for that.
• I don't mind lizards, but snakes are a different matter.
• It's very different to what I'm used to.
• My son's terribly untidy; my daughter's no different.
• This exquisite little hotel seemed to belong to a different age.
• We come from different worlds.

• We must approach the problem from a different standpoint.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

different / ˈdɪf. ə r. ə nt / / -ɚ- / adjective

A1 not the same:

She seems to wear something different every day.

He's different now that he's been to college.

We're reading a different book this week.

Emily is very/completely/entirely different from her sister.

Emily and her sister are quite (= completely) different.

There are many different types/kinds of bacteria.

informal describes something or someone you think is unusual or shows bad judgment:

What do I think of your purple shoes? Well, they're certainly different.

differently / -li / adverb

We want to do things differently.

Are girls treated differently?

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

different

[dɪ̱frənt]

1) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ from n If two people or things are different, they are not like each other in one or more ways.
  London was different from most European capitals...
  If he'd attended music school, how might things have been different?...
  We have totally different views.
  Derived words:
  differently ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV -ed, oft ADV from n Every individual learns differently... They still get treated differently from almost every other contemporary British band... The skeleton consists of differently shaped bones held together by ligaments.
ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ to n
In British English, people sometimes say that one thing is different to another. Some people consider this use to be incorrect. My approach is totally different to his.
ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ than n/cl
People sometimes say that one thing is different than another. This use is often considered incorrect in British English, but it is acceptable in American English. We're not really any different than they are. ...a style of advertising that's different than the rest of the country.
2) ADJ: ADJ n You use different to indicate that you are talking about two or more separate and distinct things of the same kind.
  Different countries specialised in different products...
  The number of calories in different brands of drinks varies enormously.
  Ant:
  identical
3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ You can describe something as different when it is unusual and not like others of the same kind.
  The result is interesting and different, but do not attempt the recipe if time is short.
  Syn:
  distinctive

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

different

dif·fer·ent /ˈdɪfrənt/ adj
1 [more ~; most ~] : not of the same kind : partly or totally unlike
• The two brothers could not have been more different.
• The students come from (very) different backgrounds.
• We need to try an entirely different approach.
- often + from, than, or to
• Our house is different from the others on our street.
• (US) The movie was different than I expected.
• (Brit) Her dress is different to mine.

usage In both U.S. English and British English, one person or thing is said to be different from another. Different is also often followed by than in U.S. English. Some people believe that different than is incorrect, but it is very common. In British English, different can be followed by to. Different to is not used in U.S. English.
• The old house looks different from what I remember. = (Brit) The old house looks different to what I remember. = (US) The old house looks different than I remember.

2 always used before a noun : not the same
• They met with each other on several different occasions.
3 [more ~; most ~] : not ordinary or common : unusual
• advertising that tries to be different
• That movie certainly was different.
• He has a very different style of dressing.
a horse of a different color
- see ¹horse
different drummer
- see drummer
put a different complexion on
- see complexion
- dif·fer·ent·ly adv
• She sees the situation a little differently.
• He dresses differently now that he's out of college.

American English

British English

different and difference

A1 (Basic)

adjective

ex-wife

ex-wife [noun]

Someone's ex-wife is the woman they were once married to.

/ˌeksˈwaɪf/

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ex- ˈ wife / ˌeksˈwaɪf / noun [ C ]

Someone's ex-wife is the woman they were once married to.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

noun

a former wife

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

a woman to whom one was formerly married : a former wife

American English

British English

marriage - cohabitation and other relationships

B1 (Intermediate)

noun

fiancee

fiancee [noun]

the woman who someone is engaged to be married to

/ˌfiː.ɑːnˈseɪ/

/fiˈɒn.seɪ/

Example:

Hassan's fiancée is called Pervin.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

fiancée

noun
A man's fiancée is the woman he has promised to marry.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

fiancÃ©e

fi‧an‧cée /fiˈɒnseɪ $ ˌfiːɑːnˈseɪ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: fiancé used for females]
the woman who a man is going to marry
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ girlfriend a girl or woman that you have a romantic relationship with, especially for a fairly long time: Katherine was his first girlfriend.
▪ partner the person you are married to, or the person you are living with and having a sexual relationship with: He brought his partner along to the party.
▪ old flame informal someone who was your girlfriend or boyfriend in the past: I found a love letter from one of his old flames.
▪ mistress a woman that a man has a sexual relationship with even though he is married to someone else. Often used when the man is famous or powerful: The president had a mistress for many years.
▪ lover someone who you have a sexual relationship with, but who you are not married to: He was going to meet his secret lover.
▪ fiancée the woman who a man is going to marry: Rod plans to marry his fiancée later this year.
▪ ex informal a man's former wife or girlfriend: My ex looks after the children on Thursdays.
▪ be going out with somebody if you are going out with a girl or woman, she is your girlfriend: She's going out with a guy she met at work.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fiancée

fi·an·cée [fiancée fiancées] [fiˈɒnseɪ] [ˌfiːɑːnˈseɪ] noun
the woman that a man is engaged to
• Paul and his fiancée were there.
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)

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fiancée / fiˈɒn.seɪ / / ˌfiː.ɑːnˈseɪ / noun [ C ]

the woman who someone is engaged to be married to

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fiancée

[fiɒ̱nseɪ, AM fi͟ːɑːnse͟ɪ]
fiancées
N-COUNT: usu poss N
A man's fiancée is the woman to whom he is engaged to be married.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

fiancee

fi·an·cée /ˌfiːˌɑːnˈseɪ, fiˈɑːnˌseɪ/ noun, pl -cées [count] : a woman that a man is engaged to be married to
• My fiancée and I will be married in June.

American English

British English

romantic and sexual partners

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

noun

fiance

fiance [noun]

the man who someone is engaged to be married to

/ˌfiː.ɑːnˈseɪ/

/fiˈɒn.seɪ/

Example:

Have you met Christina's fiancé?

Oxford Essential Dictionary

fiancé

noun
A woman's fiancé is the man she has promised to marry.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

fiancÃ©

fi‧an‧cé /fiˈɒnseɪ $ ˌfiːɑːnˈseɪ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: past participle of fiancer 'to promise (in marriage)']
the man who a woman is going to marry
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ boyfriend a boy or man that you have a romantic relationship with, especially for a fairly long time: Josh was my first boyfriend.
▪ partner the person you are married to, or the person you are living with and having a sexual relationship with: Sweden allows gay partners to receive many of the same benefits that married couples get. | Partners are also welcome.
▪ fiancé the man whom a woman is going to marry: Her fiancé was killed in the war.
▪ lover someone who you have a sexual relationship with, without being married to them: A few nights later, they became lovers.
▪ ex informal a woman’s former husband or boyfriend: Her ex has caused a lot of trouble for her.
▪ old flame informal someone who was your boyfriend in the past: In a box in the closet, I found love letters from one of her old flames.
▪ man informal a woman’s husband or boyfriend: She’ll always stand by her man.
▪ sweetheart old-fashioned the person that you love: They were childhood sweethearts.
▪ beau old-fashioned a woman’s boyfriend or lover - a very old-fashioned use: Does she have a beau?
▪ toy boy informal humorous a young man who is having a sexual relationship with an older woman: A woman with a toy boy gets a lot more disapproving looks than a man with a younger woman.
▪ sugar daddy informal an older man who gives a younger woman presents and money in return for their company and often for sex: I can imagine her cashing checks from some mysterious sugar daddy.
▪ be going out with somebody if you are going out with a boy or man, you have him as your boyfriend: She’s been going out with Jack for a couple of months.
⇨ ↑girlfriend

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fiancé / fiˈɒn.seɪ / / ˌfiː.ɑːnˈseɪ / noun [ C ]

the man who someone is engaged to be married to:

Have you met Christina's fiancé?

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fiancé

[fiɒ̱nseɪ, AM fi͟ːɑːnse͟ɪ]
fiancés
N-COUNT: usu poss N
A woman's fiancé is the man to whom she is engaged to be married.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

fiance

fi·an·cé /ˌfiːˌɑːnˈseɪ, fiˈɑːnˌseɪ/ noun, pl -cés [count] : a man that a woman is engaged to be married to
• Let me introduce my fiancé.

American English

British English

romantic and sexual partners

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

noun

separate

separate [verb] (RELATIONSHIP)

to start to live in a different place from your husband or wife because the relationship has ended

/ˈsep.ə.reɪt/

/ˈsep.ər.eɪt/

Example:

My parents separated when I was six and divorced a couple of years later.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

separate

verb (separates, separating, separated)

1 to stop being together same meaning split up:
My parents separated when I was a baby.

2 to divide people or things; to keep people or things away from each other same meaning split:
The teacher separated the class into two groups.

3 to be between two things:
The Mediterranean separates Europe and Africa.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. sep‧a‧rate² S2 W2 /ˈsepəreɪt/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑separation, ↑separates, ↑separatist, ↑separatism, ↑separator, inseperability; adjective: ↑separable ≠ ↑inseparable, ↑separate, ↑separated; adverb: ↑inseparably, ↑separately; verb: ↑separate]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of separare, from se- 'apart' + parare 'to prepare, get']
1. BE BETWEEN [transitive] if something separates two places or two things, it is between them so that they are not touching each other
separate something from something
The lighthouse is separated from the land by a wide channel.
2. DIVIDE [intransitive and transitive] to divide or split into different parts, or to make something do this:
This will keep your dressing from separating.
separate from
At this point, the satellite separates from its launcher.
separate something into something
Separate the students into four groups.
First, separate the eggs (=divide the white part from the yellow part).
3. STOP LIVING TOGETHER [intransitive] if two people who are married or have been living together separate, they start to live apart:
Jill and John separated a year ago.
4. RECOGNIZE DIFFERENCE [transitive] to recognize that one thing or idea is different from another
separate something from something
She finds it difficult to separate fact from fantasy.
5. MOVE APART [intransitive and transitive] if people separate, or if someone or something separates them, they move apart:
Ed stepped in to separate the two dogs.
separate somebody from somebody/something
In the fog, they got separated from the group.
6. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING DIFFERENT [transitive] to be the quality or fact that makes someone or something different from other people or things
separate something from something
The capacity to think separates humans from animals.
7. BETTER/OLDER [transitive] if an amount separates two things, one thing is better or older than the other by that amount:
Three points now separate the two teams.
8. separate the men from the boys informal to show clearly which people are brave, strong, or skilled, and which are not
9. separate the sheep from the goats British English (also separate the wheat from the chaff) to separate the good things from the bad things
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to make something separate
▪ separate verb [transitive] to divide something into two or more parts or groups, or to divide one type of thing from another. You use separate especially when saying that the parts are different from each other: Motorola is planning to separate the company into two public companies. | The items are separated into recyclable and non-recyclable waste.
▪ divide verb [transitive] to make something become two or more parts or groups: The teacher divided us into groups. | The money was divided between them. | The house is divided into three apartments.
▪ split verb [transitive] to separate something into two or more groups, parts etc – used especially when each part is equal in size: The class was split into groups of six.
▪ break something up phrasal verb [transitive] to separate something into several smaller parts, especially to make it easier to deal with: The phone company was broken up to encourage competition. | Police used tear gas to break up the crowd.
▪ segregate verb [transitive] to separate one group of people from others because of race, sex, religion etc: Schools were racially segregated. | Some prisons segregate prisoners who are infected with HIV.
■ to become separate
▪ separate verb [intransitive] to divide into different parts, especially in a natural way: A watery liquid separates from the milk during cheesemaking.
▪ split verb [intransitive] to separate into two or more parts or groups – used especially when each part is equal in size: What happens when an atom splits?
▪ break up phrasal verb [intransitive] to separate into several smaller parts: In spring, the icebergs begin to break up.
separate somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to divide a group of people or things into smaller groups:
We must separate out these different factors and examine each one.
2. to remove one type of thing or person from a group
separate somebody/something ↔ out from
Many older people may prefer not to be separated out from the rest of the adult population.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

verb [ˈsepəreɪt] ; [ˈsepəreɪt]
1. intransitive, transitive to divide into different parts or groups; to divide things into different parts or groups
• Stir the sauce constantly so that it does not separate.
• ~ sth Separate the eggs (= separate the yolk from the white).
• ~ sth from/and sth It is impossible to separate belief from emotion.

• ~ sth into sth Make a list of points and separate them into ‘desirable’ and ‘essential’.

2. intransitive, transitive to move apart; to make people or things move apart
• South America and Africa separated 200 million years ago.
• ~ from sth South America separated from Africa 200 million years ago.
• ~ into sth We separated into several different search parties.
• ~ sb/sth Police tried to separate the two men who were fighting.
• The war separated many families.

• ~ sb/sth from/and sb/sth Those suffering from infectious diseases were separated from the other patients.

3. transitive to be between two people, areas, countries, etc. so that they are not touching or connected
• ~ sb/sth A thousand kilometres separates the two cities.

• ~ sb/sth from/and sb A high wall separated our back yard from the playing field.

4. intransitive to stop living together as a couple with your husband, wife or partner
• They separated last year.

• ~ from sb He separated from his wife after 20 years of marriage.

5. transitive ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to make sb/sth different in some way from sb/sth else
Syn: divide
• Politics is the only thing that separates us (= that we disagree about).
• Her lack of religious faith separated her from the rest of her family.
• The judges found it impossible to separate the two contestants (= they gave them equal scores).
• Only four points separate the top three teams.
see separate/sort out the men from the boys at man _n., sort out/separate the sheep from the goats at sheep, sort out/separate the wheat from the chaff at wheat
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin separat- ‘disjoined, divided’, from the verb separare, from se- ‘apart’ + parare ‘prepare’.
Thesaurus:
separate verb
1. I, T
• It is impossible to separate belief from emotion.
disentangle • • sort sth out • • filter sth out • |formal divorce •
separate/disentangle/sort out/divorce sth from sth else
separate/disentangle the strands of sth
be totally/easily separated/divorced from sth
2. I, T
• The war separated many families.
break (sth) up • • scatter • • isolate • • cut sb/sth off • |written disperse • |formal part • • divide • • segregate •
separate/isolate/cut off/part/divide/segregate sb/sth from sb/sth else
a crowd scatters/disperses/parts
3. T
• A high wall separated the school from the park.
divide • • partition • • mark sth off • • fence sth off • • cordon sth off • • seal sth off •
separate/divide/partition sth into different sections/areas
separate/divide/partition/mark off/fence off/cordon off/seal off an area
a wall separates/divides sth from sth else
4. I
• He separated from his wife last year.
split (up) • • break up • • divorce • • get divorced •
separate/split (up) from sb
split (up)/break up with sb
a couple separates/splits (up)/breaks up/divorces/gets divorced
Word Family:
separate adjective
separately adverb
separable adjective (≠ inseparable)
separate verb
separated adjective
separation noun
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:
• A magnet separates out scrap iron from the rubbish.
• He had recently separated from his wife.
• I separated the documents into two piles.
• It was impossible to separate the rival fans.
• Mechanically separated meat made from cattle and sheep has now been banned.
• One cannot easily separate moral, social and political issues.
• She is separated from her husband.
• Slave parents were forcibly separated from their children.
• The boys are separated from the girls.
• The disciplines of science and engineering are not always sharply separated.
• The two groups became widely separated.
• These two branches of the science have now become clearly separated.
• an island resort totally separated from the mainland
• A high wall separated our block from the playing field.
• A thousand kilometres separate the two cities.
• First, separate the eggs.
• Politics is the only thing that separates us.
• The judges found it impossible to separate the two contestants.

• Two men separated from the others and walked towards me.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

separate / ˈsep. ə r.eɪt / / -ə.reɪt / verb (RELATIONSHIP)

B2 [ I ] to start to live in a different place from your husband or wife because the relationship has ended:

My parents separated when I was six and divorced a couple of years later.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

separate

separates, separating, separated
(The adjective and noun are pronounced [se̱pərət]. The verb is pronounced [se̱pəreɪt].)
1) ADJ: oft ADJ from n If one thing is separate from another, there is a barrier, space, or division between them, so that they are clearly two things.
  Each villa has a separate sitting-room...
  They are now making plans to form their own separate party...
  Business bank accounts were kept separate from personal ones.
  Derived words:
  separateness N-UNCOUNT ...establishing Australia's cultural separateness from Britain.
2) ADJ: usu ADJ n If you refer to separate things, you mean several different things, rather than just one thing.
  Use separate chopping boards for raw meats, cooked meats, vegetables and salads...
  Men and women have separate exercise rooms...
  The authorities say six civilians have been killed in two separate attacks.
  Syn:
  different
3) V-RECIP-ERG If you separate people or things that are together, or if they separate, they move apart.
  [V pl-n] Police moved in to separate the two groups...
  [V n from n] The pans were held in both hands and swirled around to separate gold particles from the dirt...
  [V from n] The front end of the car separated from the rest of the vehicle...
  [pl-n V] They separated. Stephen returned to the square...
  [V-ed] They're separated from the adult inmates.
4) V-RECIP-ERG If you separate people or things that have been connected, or if one separates from another, the connection between them is ended.
  [V n from n] They want to separate teaching from research...
  [V pl-n] It's very possible that we may see a movement to separate the two parts of the country...
  [V from n] He announced a new ministry to deal with Quebec's threat to separate from Canada. [Also pl-n V]
5) V-RECIP If a couple who are married or living together separate, they decide to live apart.
  [pl-n V] Her parents separated when she was very young...
  [V from n] Since I separated from my husband I have gone a long way.
6) VERB An object, obstacle, distance, or period of time which separates two people, groups, or things exists between them.
  [V n from n] ...the white-railed fence that separated the yard from the paddock.
  [V pl-n] ...although they had undoubtedly made progress in the six years that separated the two periods...
  [V pl-n] Rural communities are widely separated and often small...
  [get V-ed] But a group of six women and 23 children got separated from the others.
7) VERB If you separate one idea or fact from another, you clearly see or show the difference between them.
  [V n from n] It is difficult to separate legend from truth.
  [V n from n] ...learning how to separate real problems from imaginary illnesses...
  [V pl-n] It is difficult to separate the two aims.
  Syn:
  distinguish
PHRASAL VERB
Separate out means the same as separate. V P n from n How can one ever separate out the act from the attitudes that surround it?
8) VERB A quality or factor that separates one thing from another is the reason why the two things are different from each other.
  [V n from n] The single most important factor that separates ordinary photographs from good photographs is the lighting...
  [V n from n] What separates terrorism from other acts of violence?
  Syn:
  distinguish
9) VERB If a particular number of points separate two teams or competitors, one of them is winning or has won by that number of points.
  [V pl-n] In the end only three points separated the two teams.
10) V-ERG If you separate a group of people or things into smaller elements, or if a group separates, it is divided into smaller elements.
  [V n into n] The police wanted to separate them into smaller groups...
  [V n into n] Wallerstein's work can be separated into three main component themes...
  [V into n] Let's separate into smaller groups...
  So all the colours that make up white light are sent in different directions and they separate.
  Syn:
  split
PHRASAL VERB
Separate out means the same as separate. V P If prepared many hours ahead, the mixture may separate out.
11) N-PLURAL Separates are clothes such as skirts, trousers, and shirts which cover just the top half or the bottom half of your body.
12) → See also separated
13) PHRASE: V inflects When two or more people who have been together for some time go their separate ways, they go to different places or end their relationship.
  Sue was 27 when she and her husband decided to go their separate ways.
14) to separate the wheat from the chaff → see chaff
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - separate out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

separate

²sep·a·rate /ˈsɛpəˌreɪt/ verb -rates; -rat·ed; -rat·ing
1 [+ obj] : to cause (two or more people or things) to stop being together, joined, or connected : to make (people or things) separate
• He separated the fighters (from each other).
• They described the process used to separate cream from milk.
• (US) He fell and separated [=dislocated] his shoulder. [=caused the bone in his shoulder to move out of its proper position]
2 [+ obj] : to be between (two things or people)
• A river separates the two towns. = The two towns are separated by a river. [=there is a river between the two towns]
• A great distance separated the sisters from each other.
3 [no obj] : to stop being together, joined, or connected : to become separate
• They walked together to the corner, but then they separated and went their separate ways.
• The main group separated into several smaller groups.
• Oil and water separate when combined together.
• The oil separated from the water.
• The salt crystals separated out of the liquid.
4 [no obj] : to stop living with a husband, wife, or partner
• They separated six months after their wedding.
• She separated from her boyfriend last week.
5 [+ obj] : to see or describe the differences between (two things)
• We need to separate [=distinguish] fact and/from fiction.
6 [+ obj] : to be the quality that makes (people or things) different : differentiate
• Their personalities and political beliefs separate them.
• Our ability to reason is what separates us from animals.
7 [+ obj]
- used to describe how much difference there is in the scores or positions of people or teams in a race, game, etc.
• One goal separated the teams at the beginning of the third period.
• Polls show that the candidates are separated by only a narrow margin as the election approaches.
separate off [phrasal verb] separate (someone or something) off or separate off (someone or something) : to cause (someone or something) to be separate from other people or things
• He separated himself off from the crowd in the subway.
separate out [phrasal verb] separate out (someone or something) or separate (someone or something) out : to remove (someone or something) from a group
• Before you put out the trash, you have to separate out the bottles and cans.
• Most schools separate out children with learning problems.
separate the men from the boys : to show which people are really strong, brave, etc., and which are not
• The competition has been easy to this point, but now it gets tough and we'll really begin to separate the men from the boys.
separate the sheep from the goats or separate the wheat from the chaff chiefly Brit : to judge which people or things in a group are bad and which ones are good
• The magazine describes many different products and then separates the sheep from the goats.

American English

British English

ending relationships and divorce

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

verb

ex-husband

ex-husband [noun]

Someone's ex-husband is the man they were once married to.

/ˌeksˈhʌz.bənd/

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ex- ˈ husband / ˌeksˈhʌz.bənd / noun [ C ]

Someone's ex-husband is the man they were once married to.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

a former husband

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

a man to whom one was formerly married : a former husband

American English

British English

marriage - cohabitation and other relationships

B1 (Intermediate)

noun

widow

widow [noun]

a woman whose husband or wife has died and who has not married again

/ˈwɪd.oʊ/

/ˈwɪd.əʊ/

Example:

He married a rich widow.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

widow

noun
a woman whose husband is dead

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

widow

wid‧ow /ˈwɪdəʊ $ -doʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wuduwe]
1. a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again:
an elderly widow who was attacked and robbed last month
a wealthy widow
2. football/golf etc widow a woman whose husband spends all his free time watching football, playing golf etc – used humorously
• • •
THESAURUS
■ husband/wife etc
▪ husband/wife the man/woman you are married to: My wife’s a teacher.
▪ partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.
▪ fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to: He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.
▪ divorcee a woman who is divorced: The Prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
▪ widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former President
▪ spouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife: The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.
▪ estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

widow

widow [widow widows widowed widowing] noun, verb [ˈwɪdəʊ] [ˈwɪdoʊ]

noun
a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again
• She gets a widow's pension.
Word Origin:
Old English widewe, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘be empty’; compare with Sanskrit vidh ‘be destitute’, Latin viduus ‘bereft, widowed’, and Greek ēitheos ‘unmarried man’.

Derived Word: widowed

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

widow / ˈwɪd.əʊ / / -oʊ / noun [ C ]

B2 a woman whose husband or wife has died and who has not married again

fishing/football/golf widow informal humorous

a woman whose partner is often not at home because he or she is fishing or playing football or golf

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

widow

[wɪ̱doʊ]
widows
N-COUNT
A widow is a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

widow

wid·ow /ˈwɪdoʊ/ noun, pl -ows [count]
1 : a woman whose husband has died
2 informal : a woman whose husband often leaves her alone while he plays sports or is involved in other activities
• a football widow [=a woman whose husband spends a lot of time watching football]
• Everyone joked that she was a golf widow. [=a woman whose husband is often away playing golf]