0
fifth
fifth [ordinal number]
US
/fɪfθ/
Example:
the fifth year
سال پنجم
the fifth year
سال پنجم
coming after four other things in a series
the fifth year
fifth
pronoun, adjective, adverb
1 5th
2 one of five equal parts of something;
fifth
I. fifth1 /fɪfθ/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: fifta, from fif 'five']
1. coming after four other things in a series:
in the fifth century
her fifth birthday
2. fifth wheel American English informal someone who is not wanted in a particular group of people:
They’d made her feel like a fifth wheel.
—fifth pronoun:
I’m planning to leave on the fifth (=the fifth day of the month).
—fifthly adverb
fifth
fifth [fifth fifths] ordinal number, noun [fɪfθ] [fɪfθ]
ordinal number
5th
• Today is the fifth (of May).
• the fifth century BC
• It's her fifth birthday.
• My office is on the fifth floor.
• It's the fifth time that I've been to America.
• Her mother had just given birth to another child, her fifth.
• the world's fifth-largest oil exporter
• He finished fifth in the race.
• Edward V (= Edward the Fifth)
Idiom: take the fifth
noun
each of five equal parts of sth
• She cut the cake into fifths.
• He gave her a fifth of the total amount.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
fifth / fɪfθ / ordinal number
A2 5th written as a word:
the fifth floor of the building
Tomorrow is the fifth ( of September).
I was/came fifth in the race.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
fifth
[fɪ̱fθ]
♦♦
fifths
1) ORD The fifth item in a series is the one that you count as number five.
Joe has recently returned from his fifth trip to Australia.
2) FRACTION A fifth is one of five equal parts of something.
India spends over a fifth of its budget on defence.
fifth
2fifth adj : occupying the number five position in a series
• the fifth dancer in the line
• the fifth annual awards banquet
- fifth adv
• the nation's fifth largest city
• She finished fifth in the race.
There was no sign of life in him.
the period of time when someone is alive
There was no sign of life in him.
life
noun (plural lives )
1 (no plural) People, animals and plants have life while they are alive, but things like stone, metal and water do not:
Do you believe there is life after death?
Is there life on other planets?
2 (plural lives) being alive:
Many people lost their lives (= died) in the fire.
The doctor saved her life (= stopped her dying).
3 (plural lives) the time that somebody is alive:
He has lived here all his life.
4 (plural lives) the way that you live or the experiences that you have when you are alive:
They were very happy throughout their married life.
They lead a busy life.
5 (no plural) energy; being busy and interested:
Young children are full of life.
life
life S1 W1 /laɪf/ BrE AmE noun (plural lives /laɪvz/)
[Word Family: noun: life, lifelessness, lifer; adjective: lifeless, lifelike, lifelong; adverb: lifelessly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: lif]
1. TIME SOMEBODY IS ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the period of time when someone is alive:
Learning goes on throughout life.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
in sb’s life
For the first time in my life I was happy.
I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life!
I’ve known John all my life (=since I was born).
His main aim in life was to have fun.
It was one of the best days of my life.
The accident scarred him for life (=for the rest of his life).
She knew she’d feel guilty for the rest of her life.
Raj spent his life caring for others.
Bonington spent his entire adult life in France.
We don’t know much about the poet’s early life (=when he was young).
Poor diet can lead to a whole range of diseases in later life (=when you are older).
She married late in life (=when she was fairly old).
He’s a life member (=continuing until he dies) of the club.
2. STATE OF BEING ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the state of being alive:
The right to life is the most basic of human rights.
Danny was a cheerful little boy who loved life.
Two firefighters risked their lives to save the children.
3. WAY SOMEBODY LIVES [countable usually singular] the way you live your life, and what you do and experience during it
lead/live/have a ... life
The operation should enable Bobby to lead a normal life.
She just wanted to live a quiet life.
Having a baby changes your life completely.
The family moved to Australia to start a new life.
Ken’s whole life revolved around surfing (=that was the main interest and purpose of his life).
You shouldn’t let your boyfriend rule your life (=control and affect everything you do).
My grandmother had a hard life (=a life full of problems).
She’s led a very sheltered life (=a life in which you have been protected from unpleasant things).
a life of crime/poverty/misery etc
He had been drawn into a life of crime.
4. PARTICULAR SITUATION/JOB [uncountable and countable]
a) the experiences, activities, and ways of living that are typical of being in a particular job, situation, society etc:
Why do so few women enter political life?
the British way of life
city/country/village etc life
Noise has become one of the main pollutants of modern city life.
army/student/college etc life
He missed the routine of army life.
Are you enjoying married life?
b) the time in your life when you are doing a particular job, are in a particular situation etc
sb’s life as something
Now a celebrity chef, he rarely talks about his life as an army cook.
Sara admits to having affairs throughout her married life.
Most of his working life was spent in the shipyards.
5. social/personal/sex etc life the activities in your life relating to your friends, your family, sex etc:
I don’t need advice about my love life.
traditional views of family life
Children need a caring and happy home life.
6. HUMAN EXISTENCE [uncountable] human existence, considered as a variety of experiences and activities:
My Aunt Julia had very little experience of life.
Life has a way of changing the best of plans.
For some people, religion gives life a meaning.
daily/everyday life
the frustrations and disappointments of everyday life
I try to see the funny side of life.
7. TIME WHEN SOMETHING EXISTS/WORKS [countable usually singular]
a) the period of time during which something happens or exists
life of
The issues will not be resolved during the life of the present parliament.
start/begin/come to life as something
The building began life as a monastery.
b) the period of time during which something is still good enough to use
life of
What’s the average life of a passenger aircraft?
Careful use can extend the life of your washing machine. ⇨ ↑shelf life
8. LIVING THINGS [uncountable]
a) the quality of being alive that people, animals, plants etc have and that objects and dead things do not have:
Ben felt her neck for a pulse or any other sign of life.
In the springtime, everything comes to life again.
b) living things, such as people, animals, or plants:
Is there life on other planets?
human/animal/plant/bird etc life
The island is rich in bird life. ⇨ ↑wildlife
9. be sb’s (whole) life to be the most important thing or person to someone:
Music is Laura’s whole life.
10. life and death (also life or death) used for emphasizing that a situation, decision etc is extremely urgent and important, especially because someone is at risk of dying:
Don’t call me unless it’s a matter of life and death.
a life or death decision
A doctor’s job involves life and death situations.
11. GAME [countable] a chance in a game, especially a computer game, in which you can be defeated or do something wrong and can still continue playing:
He’s up to level five and still has three lives left.
12. ACTIVITY [uncountable] activity or movement:
The house was quiet and there was no sign of life.
She was always so cheerful and full of life.
13. INTEREST/EXCITEMENT [uncountable] a quality of being interesting or exciting:
Try to put some life into your writing.
The game really came to life after a magnificent goal from Rooney.
A gifted teacher can really bring literature to life for his or her students.
14. come to life/roar into life/splutter into life etc to suddenly start working:
Finally the car spluttered into life.
15. make life difficult/easier etc to make it difficult, easier etc to do something:
Surely computers are supposed to make life easier, not more complicated!
make life difficult/easier etc for
Why make life difficult for yourself?
16. the life and soul of the party British English, the life of the party American English someone who enjoys social occasions and is fun and exciting to be with
17. life and limb formal your life and physical health – used especially when this is threatened in some way:
She risks life and limb every day in her job as an undercover investigator.
18. get a life! spoken used to tell someone that you think they are boring and should find more exciting things to do:
You guys should just stop moaning and get a life!
19. that’s life (also such is life) spoken used to say that something is disappointing but you have to accept it:
Oh well, that’s life!
20. life’s a bitch spoken not polite used to say that bad things happen in life
21. this is the life spoken used when you are relaxing and doing something you enjoy:
Ah, this is the life! Lying on the beach, sipping cool drinks.
22. the shock/surprise/game etc of sb’s life the biggest shock or surprise, the best game etc that someone has ever had:
I had the surprise of my life when I saw John standing there. ⇨ have the time of your life at ↑time1(41)
23. how’s life? spoken used to ask someone if they are well, what they have been doing etc:
Hi Bob! How’s life?
How’s life been with you?
24. life goes on spoken used to say that you must continue to live a normal life even when something sad or disappointing has happened:
We both miss him, but life goes on.
25. a life of its own
a) if something has a life of its own, it seems to move or work by itself:
The ball seemed to have acquired a life of its own.
b) if something has a life of its own, it exists and develops without depending on other things:
Slowly but surely, the project is taking on a life of its own.
26. cannot for the life of me spoken used to say that you cannot remember or understand something even when you try hard:
I couldn’t for the life of me remember his name.
27. life’s too short spoken used to say that you should not waste time doing something or worrying about something:
Forget about it. Life’s too short.
life’s too short for
Life’s too short for moping about.
life’s too short to do something
Life’s too short to bear grudges.
28. not on your life spoken used as a reply to a question or suggestion to say that you definitely will not do something:
‘Are you going to go and work for him then?’ ‘Not on your life!’
29. the woman/man/girl etc in your life the woman or man you are married to or are having a relationship with – used especially in advertisements:
This is the ideal gift for the man in your life.
30. PRISON [uncountable] (also life imprisonment) the punishment of being put in prison for the rest of your life
be sentenced to/get/be given life
He was sentenced to life for the murder.
I think she should get life. ⇨ ↑life sentence, ↑lifer
31. ART [uncountable] when you paint, draw etc something you are looking at, especially a person or animal:
She’s taking classes in life drawing. ⇨ ↑still life
32. frighten/scare the life out of somebody informal to make someone feel very frightened:
Don’t do that! You scared the life out of me!
33. there’s life in the old dog yet spoken used to say that although someone or something is old, they are still able to do something – used humorously
34. live/lead/have the life of Riley informal to have a very easy and comfortable life and not have to work hard:
He spends all day lounging by the pool and living the life of Riley.
35. BOOK/FILM [uncountable] the story of someone’s life SYN biography:
Boswell’s ‘Life of Johnson’
36. the next life (also the life to come), life after death the time after death, in which some people believe life continues in another form:
She expects to meet her dead husband in the next life.
⇨ as large as life at large1(7), ⇨ change of life, ⇨ for dear life at dear3(6), ⇨ double life, ⇨ high life at high1(22), ⇨ a new lease of life at lease1(2), ⇨ quality of life at quality1(5), ⇨ real life at real1(3), ⇨ real-life, ⇨ true to life at true1(9), ⇨ walk of life
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ save sb’s life The money you give will save the life of a child.
▪ risk your life He risked his life to help Jews during the Second World War.
▪ lose your life (=die) Hundreds of people lost their lives on the first day of the fighting.
▪ take a/sb’s life (=kill someone) All cultures consider it wrong to take a life for no reason.
▪ take your own life (=kill yourself) He was depressed and decided to take his own life.
▪ claim the life of somebody (=kill someone – used of a thing) The disease claimed the lives of up to a quarter of the population.
▪ cost lives/cost somebody their life (=result in deaths/in someone’s death) That decision may have cost him his life.
▪ give your life/lay down your life (=die in order to save other people, or because of a strong belief) These men gave their lives during the war to keep us free.
▪ endanger the life of somebody They wanted to capture the gunman without endangering the lives of his hostages.
▪ spare sb’s life (=not kill someone, when you could kill them) She begged him to spare the life of her son.
▪ be fighting for your life (=be so ill or injured that you might die) One badly burned man was fighting for his life in hospital.
▪ cling to life (=try to stay alive, even though you are very ill or injured) She clung to life, despite the pain.
■ phrases
▪ owe your life to somebody (=be still alive because of someone’s actions) The victim said he owed his life to the stranger who helped him.
▪ take your life in your hands (=put yourself in a dangerous situation) Just crossing this road is taking your life in your hands.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the cost of life'. Say the cost of living.
life
life [life lives] [laɪf] [laɪf] noun (pl. lives [laɪvz] ; [laɪvz] )
STATE OF LIVING
1. uncountable the ability to breathe, grow, reproduce, etc. which people, animals and plants have before they die and which objects do not have
• life and death
• The body was cold and showed no signs of life.
• My father died last year— I wish I could bring him back to life.
• In spring the countryside bursts into life.
2. uncountable, countable the state of being alive as a human; an individual person's existence
• The floods caused a massive loss of life (= many people were killed).
• He risked his life to save his daughter from the fire.
• Hundreds of lives were threatened when the building collapsed.
• The operation saved her life.
• My grandfather lost his life (= was killed) in the war.
• Several attempts have been made on the President's life (= several people have tried to kill him).
LIVING THINGS
3. uncountable living things
• plant/animal life
• marine/pond life
• Is there intelligent life on other planets?
PERIOD OF TIME
4. countable, uncountable the period between sb's birth and their death; a part of this period
• He's lived here all his life.
• I've lived in England for most of my life.
• to have a long/short life
• He became very weak towards the end of his life.
• Brenda took up tennis late in life.
• He will spend the rest of his life (= until he dies) in a wheelchair.
• There's no such thing as a job for life any longer.
• She is a life member of the club.
• in early/adult life
see also change of life
5. countable (used with an adjective) a period of sb's life when they are in a particular situation or job
• She has been an accountant all her working life.
• He met a lot of interesting people during his life as a student.
• They were very happy throughout their married life.
6. countable the period of time when sth exists or functions
• The International Stock Exchange started life as a London coffee shop.
• They could see that the company had a limited life (= it was going to close).
• In Italy the average life of a government is eleven months.
see also shelf life
PUNISHMENT
7. uncountable the punishment of being sent to prison for life; life imprisonment
• The judge gave him life.
• She is doing life for murder.
EXPERIENCE/ACTIVITIES
8. uncountable the experience and activities that are typical of all people's existences
• the worries of everyday life
• He is young and has little experience of life.
• Commuting is a part of daily life for many people.
• Jill wants to travel and see life for herself.
• We bought a dishwasher to make life easier.
• In London life can be hard.
• In real life (= when she met him) he wasn't how she had imagined him at all.
• Life can be difficult when you move to a new town.
• Life isn't like in the movies, you know.
9. uncountable, countable the activities and experiences that are typical of a particular way of living
• country/city life
• She enjoyed political life.
• family/married life
• How do you find life in Japan?
10. countable a person's experiences during their life; the activities that form a particular part of a person's life
• He has had a good life.
• a hard/an easy life
• My day-to-day life is not very exciting.
• a life of luxury
• Her daily life involved meeting lots of people.
• She lived a quiet life in the countryside.
• Many of these children have led very sheltered lives (= they have not had many different experiences).
• They emigrated to start a new life in Canada.
• He doesn't like to talk about his private life.
• She has a full social life.
• articles about the love lives of the stars
see also sex life
ENERGY/EXCITEMENT
11. uncountable the quality of being active and exciting
Syn: vitality
• This is a great holiday resort that is full of life.
IN ART
12. uncountable a living model or a real object or scene that people draw or paint
• She had lessons in drawing from life.
• a life class (= one in which art students draw a naked man or woman)
see also still life
STORY OF LIFE
13. countable a story of sb's life
Syn: biography
• She wrote a life of Mozart.
IN CHILDREN'S GAMES
14. countable one of a set number of chances before a player is out of a game
• He's lost two lives, so he's only got one left.
more at you can bet your life/your bottom dollar (on sth/(that)…) at bet v., the breath of life at breath, breathe (new) life into sth at breathe, the change of life at change n., depart this life at depart, a dog's life at dog n., end your days/life at end v., a fact of lifethe facts of life at fact, in fear of your life at fear n., fight for (your) life at fight v., within an inch of your life at inch n., kiss of life at kiss n., large as lifelarger than life at large, a new lease of life at lease, light of sb's life at light n., a matter of life and death at matter n., make sb's life a misery at misery, have nine lives at nine, risk life and limb at risk v., not be able to do sth to save your life at save v., a slice of life at slice n., spring into/to life at spring v., the staff of life at staff n., that's the story of my life at story, at my, your, his, etc. time of lifehave the time of your life at time n., true to life at true adj., variety is the spice of life at variety, a walk of life at walk n., a/the/sb's way of life at way n.
Idioms: bring somebody to life ▪ come to life ▪ for dear life ▪ for the life of you ▪ for your life ▪ full of life ▪ get a life ▪ lay down your life ▪ lead the life of Riley ▪ life after death ▪ life and soul of the party ▪ life is cheap ▪ life of its own ▪ life's too short ▪ make life difficult ▪ man in your life ▪ not on your life ▪ scare the life out of somebody ▪ somebody's life ▪ take somebody's life ▪ take your life ▪ take your life in your hands ▪ that's life ▪ where there's life
Word Origin:
Old English līf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijf, German Leib ‘body’, also to live1.
Thesaurus:
life noun
1. U, C
• The body was cold and showed no signs of life.
existence • • survival •
Opp: death
sb/sth's very/continued/day-to-day life/existence/survival
threaten sb/sth's life/existence/survival
fight for your life/survival
2. C, U
• I've lived here all my life.
lifetime • • career • • in sb's day •
in/of sb's life/lifetime/career/day
during sb's life/lifetime/career
a life/lifetime/career of doing sth
3. C
• How do you find life in America?
lifestyle • • way of life • • living • • existence •
(sb's) day-to-day life/living/existence
a comfortable/busy life/lifestyle/existence
have/lead/enjoy a… life/lifestyle/existence
4. U
• We need to inject some new life into this project.
energy • • vitality • • fire • • dynamism • • spark • • gusto • • zest • |BrE vigour • |AmE vigor •
new life/energy/vitality/zest/vigour
be full of life/energy/vitality/fire/dynamism/zest/vigour
Collocations:
The living world
Animals
animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth)
fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
insects/bees/locusts swarm
bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
spiders spin/weave a web
snakes/lizards shed their skins
bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
attract/find/choose a mate
produce/release eggs/sperm
lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
mark/enter/defend (a) territory
stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
Plants and fungi
trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
a seed germinates/sprouts
leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
flower buds swell/open
a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth
pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
produce/bear fruit
develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
Bacteria and viruses
bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth
bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease
bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth)
a virus enters/invades sth/the body
a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
contain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a virus
kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Example Bank:
• He always believed in living life to the full.
• He always had a great love of life.
• He built his whole life around his children.
• He devoted his life to the education of deaf children.
• He ended his life a happy man.
• He gave up his high-flying job and now enjoys a better quality of life.
• He had been leading a double life, married to two women.
• He hopes the development will breathe new life into the community.
• He lost his life in an air crash.
• He met the love of his life at college.
• He never discussed the unhappiness of his past life.
• He never let his work dominate his life.
• He ruined his life through drinking.
• He spent his whole life in Cornwall.
• He was a miner all his working life.
• He'll be haunted by the crash for the rest of his life.
• Her paintings became more obscure towards the end of her life.
• His fame was so sudden that he was unprepared for public life.
• His foolishness almost cost him his life.
• His time in London was his first glimpse of the seamier side of life.
• I had the fright of my life when I saw the snake in my bed.
• I owe my life to the the doctors at the hospital.
• I think I may have been an animal in a previous life.
• I wanted to see something of life before I settled down.
• I've always had a fairly optimistic outlook on life.
• I've known her all my life.
• In later life he took up writing.
• It's nice to see an old man still so full of life.
• Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.
• Learning meditation changed her life.
• No lives were lost in the accident.
• Only his wife had access to his inner life.
• She begged the soldiers to spare her son's life.
• She clung to life for several weeks.
• She did not tolerate press intrusion into her private life.
• She discovered jazz quite late in life.
• She is still rebuilding her life after the accident.
• She leads a busy social life.
• She loved the Spanish way of life and immediately felt at home there.
• She risked her life for the sake of the children.
• She sensed she was entering a new phase in her life.
• She thought marriage should be for life.
• She took her own life.
• She went through life always wanting what she couldn't get.
• She's critically ill, on life support.
• The city only comes to life at night.
• The crash claimed 43 lives.
• The driver showed no signs of life.
• The hotel started life as a prison.
• The pace of life is much gentler on the island.
• The plane crashed with heavy loss of life.
• There has only been one woman in her life.
• There have been three attempts on the president's life.
• These talks are a matter of life and death for the factory.
• They both seem to want the same things out of life.
• They need some new, younger staff to breathe some life into the company.
• They went to Australia to start a new life.
• They were enjoying the high life in the smartest hotels of New York.
• They're living a life of luxury in the Bahamas.
• Throughout her life she was dogged by loneliness.
• Witnesses are living in fear for their life after giving evidence against the gang.
• You're still in the prime of life.
• a child bursting with life
• a drug that will save lives
• a life-support machine
• a real-life drama
• anti-abortionists campaigning for the right to life
• for the first time in her life
• Bad posture is one of the causes of back pain in later life.
• He doesn't like to talk about his private life.
• He has had a hard life.
• He is young and has little experience of life.
• He met a lot of interesting people during his life as a student.
• He said the men had threatened his life.
• He spent his entire adult life in France.
• He will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
• He's lived here all his life.
• How do you find life in America?
• I've lived in England for most of my life.
• In Italy at that time the average life of a government was eleven months.
• In real life he wasn't how she had imagined him at all.
• Life isn't like in the movies, you know.
• Many of these children have led very sheltered lives.
• My father died last year— I wish I could bring him back to life.
• My grandfather lost his life in the Second World War.
• My mother took up tennis late in life.
• She has a full social life.
• She has been an accountant all her working life.
• She led a life of luxury.
• The International Stock Exchange started life as a London coffee shop.
• The body was cold and showed no signs of life.
• The floods caused a massive loss of life.
• The operation saved her life.
• The product has a guaranteed shelf life of 60 days.
• The worries of everyday life can become unbearable for people with this condition.
• There's no such thing as a job for life any longer.
• They emigrated to start a new life in America.
• They were very happy throughout their married life.
• We bought a dishwasher to make life easier.
• We need to inject some new life into this project.
• Yet more species of plant and animal life die out as their very specialized habitat is disturbed.
• You mustn't let anyone know— it's a matter of life and death.
• pond life
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
life / laɪf / noun ( plural lives )
A1 [ C or U ] the period between birth and death, or the experience or state of being alive:
Life's too short to worry about money!
I'm not sure I want to spend the rest of my life with him.
Unfortunately, accidents are part of life.
He went mad towards the end of his life.
Cats are supposed to have nine lives.
He doesn't know what he really wants in/out of life.
The accident changed my whole outlook on life.
He lost his life (= died suddenly because of a violent event or accident) in the Great War.
A simple mixture of glucose and water can save lives in many parts of the world.
He ran off with her life savings (= all the money she had saved) .
→ See also afterlife , pro-life
B1 [ C or U ] a way of living or a particular part of someone's life:
her family/private/sex life
my working life
We interviewed senior politicians, famous writers, and others in public life.
Drugs and violence are deeply rooted in American life.
I left home at 16 to see life (= have different experiences with a lot of people in lots of places) .
Teaching has been her life (= the most important and enjoyable thing in her life) .
C2 [ C usually singular ] the period for which a machine or organization lasts:
The newer batteries have a much longer life.
Careful use will prolong the life of your machine.
The legislation won't be passed during the life of the present parliament.
[ U ] the quality that makes people, animals, and plants different from objects, substances, and things that are dead:
The doctor could find no sign of life in the old man's body.
figurative I looked through the window but I couldn't see any signs of life (= people moving) .
B2 [ U ] energy or enthusiasm:
She's so full of life.
B1 [ U ] everything that is alive:
human/marine/plant life
[ U ] specialized In art, if you work from life, you paint, draw, etc. real people or objects, usually while they are in front of you rather than from memory:
life drawing classes
[ C ] informal especially in children's games, one of the limited number of times that you can lose, but still continue playing:
Every time the little man gets hit, you lose a life.
bring sth to life ( also come to life ) to make something more real or exciting, or to become more real or exciting:
It's always been an interesting period in history and this film really brought it to life.
for life C1 for the whole of a person's life:
I believe marriage is for life.
give your life ( also lay down your life ) to be willing to die in order to defend or support someone or something:
They were ready to give their lives for their country.
life after death
If you believe in life after death, you believe that people continue to exist in some form after they die.
start a new life ( also make a new life for yourself ) to completely change how or where you live:
She decided to start a new life in Australia.
Word partners for life
have / lead / live a (charmed/normal, etc.) life • spend your life (doing sth) • affect / change / ruin sb's life • lose / risk your life • save sb's life • rebuild your life • an aspect / part of sb's life • all sb's life
© Cambridge University Press 2013
life
[la͟ɪvz]
♦
lives
1) N-UNCOUNT Life is the quality which people, animals, and plants have when they are not dead, and which objects and substances do not have.
...a baby's first minutes of life...
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty as a violation of the right to life.
...the earth's supply of life-giving oxygen.
2) N-UNCOUNT: with supp You can use life to refer to things or groups of things which are alive.
Is there life on Mars?...
The book includes some useful facts about animal and plant life.
3) N-COUNT: usu poss N If you refer to someone's life, you mean their state of being alive, especially when there is a risk or danger of them dying.
Your life is in danger...
A nurse began to try to save his life...
The intense fighting is reported to have claimed many lives.
4) N-COUNT: poss N Someone's life is the period of time during which they are alive.
He spent the last fourteen years of his life in retirement...
For the first time in his life he regretted that he had no faith.
5) N-COUNT: with supp, usu poss N You can use life to refer to a period of someone's life when they are in a particular situation or job.
Interior designers spend their working lives keeping up to date with the latest trends...
That was the beginning of my life in the television business.
6) N-COUNT: supp N You can use life to refer to particular activities which people regularly do during their lives.
My personal life has had to take second place to my career...
Most diabetics have a normal sex life.
7) N-UNCOUNT You can use life to refer to the events and experiences that happen to people while they are alive.
Life won't be dull!...
It's the people with insecurities who make life difficult.
...the sort of life we can only fantasise about living.
8) N-UNCOUNT If you know a lot about life, you have gained many varied experiences, for example by travelling a lot and meeting different kinds of people.
I was 19 and too young to know much about life...
I needed some time off from education to experience life.
9) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N You can use life to refer to the things that people do and experience that are characteristic of a particular place, group, or activity.
How did you adjust to college life?...
...he abhors the wheeling-and-dealing associated with conventional political life.
...the culture and life of north Africa.
10) N-UNCOUNT (approval) A person, place, book, or film that is full of life gives an impression of excitement, energy, or cheerfulness.
The town itself was full of life and character...
The rejection of the Jewish theme meant the rejection of everything that gave the script passion and life...
He's sucked the life out of her.
11) N-COUNT: oft N of n A life of a person is a book or film which tells the story of their life.
A life of John Paul Jones had long interested him.
Syn:
biography
12) N-UNCOUNT If someone is sentenced to life, they are sentenced to stay in prison for the rest of their life or for a very long time. [INFORMAL]
He could get life in prison, if convicted.
Syn:
life imprisonment
13) N-COUNT: with poss The life of something such as a machine, organization, or project is the period of time that it lasts for.
The repairs did not increase the value or the life of the equipment.
14) N-UNCOUNT In art, life refers to the producing of drawings, paintings, or sculptures that represent actual people, objects, or places, rather than images from the artist's imagination.
...learning to draw from life...
She had once posed for Life classes when she was an art student.
15) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that something or someone is your life, you are emphasizing that they are extremely important to you.
The Church is my life.
16) PHRASE: V inflects If you bring something to life or if it comes to life, it becomes interesting or exciting.
The cold, hard cruelty of two young men is vividly brought to life in this true story...
Poems which had seemed dull and boring suddenly came to life.
17) PHRASE: V inflects If something or someone comes to life, they become active.
The volcano came to life a week ago.
18) PHRASE If you talk about life after death, you are discussing the possibility that people may continue to exist in some form after they die.
I believe in life after death.
19) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone is fighting for their life, you mean that they are in a very serious condition and may die as a result of an accident or illness. [JOURNALISM]
He was in a critical condition, fighting for his life in hospital.
20) PHRASE: PHR after v, n PHR For life means for the rest of a person's life.
He was jailed for life in 1966 for the murder of three policemen...
She may have been scarred for life...
There can be no jobs for life.
21) PHRASE: with brd-neg, usu PHR before v, PHR with cl (emphasis) If you say that you cannot for the life of you understand or remember something, you are emphasizing that you cannot understand or remember it, even if you try hard. [INFORMAL]
I can't for the life of me understand why you didn't think of it.
22) PHRASE: PHR after v (emphasis) If you say that someone does something for dear life or for their life, you mean that they do it using all their strength and effort because they are in a dangerous or urgent situation. [INFORMAL]
I made for the life raft and hung on for dear life.
23) PHRASE: V inflects (approval) If you say that someone lives life to the full, you mean that they try to gain a lot from life by being always busy and trying new activities.
24) PHRASE (disapproval) If you tell someone to get a life, you are expressing frustration with them because their life seems boring or they seem to care too much about unimportant things. [INFORMAL]
25) CONVENTION (feelings) You can say `Life goes on' after mentioning something very sad to indicate that, although people are very upset or affected by it, they have to carry on living normally.
I can't spend the rest of my life wishing it hadn't happened. Life goes on.
26) PHRASE: V and N inflect If you say that you have a life, you mean that you have interests and activities, particularly outside your work, which make your life enjoyable and worthwhile.
27) PHRASE: usu n PHR If you talk about the man or woman in someone's life, you mean the person they are having a relationship with, especially a sexual relationship.
There is a new man in her life.
28) PHRASE: usu with brd-neg, usu PHR after v (emphasis) You can use in all my life or in my life to emphasize that you have never previously experienced something to such a degree.
I have never been so scared in all my life...
I have never seen such a shambles in my life.
29) PHRASE: N inflects (emphasis) You can use expressions such as the fright of your life or the race of your life to emphasize, for example, that you have never been so frightened or that you never have run faster.
A top reggae singer gave a young fan the thrill of her life when he serenaded her.
30) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n If you say that someone or something is larger than life, you mean that they appear or behave in a way that seems more exaggerated or important than usual.
...not that we should expect all good publishers to be larger than life...
Nobody takes seriously the improbable storylines and larger than life characters.
31) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR for n If someone lays down their life for another person, they die so that the other person can live. [LITERARY]
Man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
32) PHRASE: V inflects To risk life and limb means to do something very dangerous in order to achieve something.
Viewers will remember the dashing hero, Dirk, risking life and limb to rescue Daphne from the dragons.
33) PHRASE: N inflects If you start a new life, you move to another place or country, or change your career, usually to try and recover from an unpleasant experience.
He had gone as far away as possible to build a new life.
34) CONVENTION (emphasis) If someone says `Not on your life', they are totally rejecting a suggestion that has been made. [INFORMAL]
`You should have given him a lift.' - `In that condition? Not on your life!'
Syn:
no way
35) PHRASE: V and N inflect If you live your own life, you live in the way that you want to and accept responsibility for your actions and decisions, without other people's advice or interference.
Adults need to live their own lives and that's difficult with children.
36) PHRASE: V and N inflect If you say that something rules someone's life, you mean that it affects everything they do, usually in a negative way.
I'm going to stop letting drugs and drink rule my life.
37) PHRASE: N inflects, PHR after v (emphasis) If you say that someone cannot do something to save their life, you are emphasizing that they do it very badly. [INFORMAL]
Winston could not have read the road signs to save his life.
38) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR (approval) If you refer to someone as the life and soul of the party, you mean that they are very lively and entertaining on social occasions, and are good at mixing with people. In American English, you usually say that they are the life of the party.
39) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR as n If something starts life or begins life as a particular thing, it is that thing when it first starts to exist.
Herr's book started life as a dramatic screenplay.
40) PHRASE: V and N inflect If someone takes another person's life, they kill them. If someone takes their own life, they kill themselves. [FORMAL]
Before execution, he admitted to taking the lives of at least 35 more women...
He helped his first wife take her life when she was dying of cancer.
41) CONVENTION (feelings) People say `That's life' after an unlucky, unpleasant, or surprising event to show that they realize such events happen occasionally and must be accepted.
`It never would have happened if Florette had not gone back for the book.' - `That's life.'
42) PHRASE: V inflects You can use expressions such as to come to life, to spring to life, and to roar into life to indicate that a machine or vehicle suddenly starts working or moving. [LITERARY]
To his great relief the engine came to life...
In the garden of the Savoy Hotel the sprinklers suddenly burst into life.
43) CONVENTION (feelings) People say `What a life' to indicate that they are unhappy or are having great difficulties.
Here I am at a crummy hotel with no clean clothes, no money and suffering from shock. What a life!
44) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that life isn't worth living without something, or that something makes life worth living, you mean that you cannot enjoy life without it.
Life is not worth living without food you can look forward to and enjoy!...
Those are the moments which make life worth living.
45) → See also fact of life, kiss of life
a matter of life and death → see death
a new lease of life → see lease
to have the time of your life → see time
true to life → see true
1life /ˈlaɪf/ noun, pl lives /ˈlaɪvz/
1 [noncount] : the ability to grow, change, etc., that separates plants and animals from things like water or rocks
• He believes that God gives life to all creatures.
• the miracle of life
• eternal/everlasting life
2 a : the period of time when a person is alive
[noncount]
• She knew what she wanted to do early in life. [=when she was young]
• He became famous relatively late in life. [=at a relatively old age]
• He became famous later in life. = He became famous in later life.
[count]
• She was happy and healthy for most of her life.
• The people in her family tend to have long/short lives.
• I've known her all my life.
• He is nearing the end of his life.
• They spent their whole/entire lives in one town. = They lived in one town all their lives.
• People can expect to change jobs several times in their life/lives.
• They've been waiting their whole/entire life/lives for an opportunity like this.
• This is the financial opportunity of his life. [=of his lifetime; the best chance in his life to make money]
b : the experience of being alive
[noncount]
• What do you really want out of life?
• He believes in living life to the fullest. [=in living a very full and rich life]
• All this paperwork has made life much more difficult.
• The details of everyday/ordinary life can be fascinating.
• life in the city/country = city/country life
• Sometimes life just isn't fair.
• We can laugh at things in movies that would scare us in real life. [=in a real situation; in actual existence]
• Oh well, that's life! [=bad things will happen, and you have to deal with them]
• Despite the political upheaval, for most people life goes on as usual. [=the activities of life continue in the usual way]
[count]
• What do you really want to do with your life?
• Her children say that she has ruined their lives.
• She talked about the men in her life. [=the men she has had a romantic or close relationship with during her life]
• She has dedicated/devoted her life to helping other people.
• All this paperwork has made my life much more difficult.
• They're trying to get/put their lives back together. [=to begin living in a normal way after suffering loss, hardship, etc.]
• She was the love of my life. [=the person I loved more than any other person at any time in my life]
• I've never heard such a silly idea in all my life! [=at any time] = Never in my life have I heard such a silly idea!
• They're old enough to run/live their own lives. [=to make their own decisions about how to live]
• After all the problems they've had recently, they just want to get/move on with their lives. [=to continue living their lives in the usual way]
• I'm not surprised that I didn't get the job. That's the story of my life. [=that's the way things usually or always happen in my life]
- often used before another noun
• She told us her life story. [=she told us about many of the things that had happened to her in her life]
• a lack of life experience [=experience and knowledge gained through living]
✦If your life flashes/passes before your eyes or if your life flashes/passes before you, many memories from different parts of your life quickly appear in your mind one after the other.
• Her life flashed before her eyes when her car was about to crash.
3 [count]
a : a specified part of a person's life
• He talked about his life as an artist.
• the social lives of college students
• How's your love/sex life?
• They had difficult home lives when they were children.
• They are trying to keep their personal/private lives separate from their public lives.
• the responsibilities of their family life
b : a specified way or manner of living
• He lived/led a life of crime. [=he was a criminal]
• They have lived/led sheltered lives.
• He is trying to make a better life for himself and his family.
✦Your way of life is how you live your life.
• a fisherman's way of life
• Most people don't approve of my way of life.
• a traditional way of life
4 [count] : the state or condition of being alive
• They spared the horse's life. [=they did not kill the horse]
• She feels that her life is in danger. = She fears for her life. = She is in fear for her life. [=she feels that she is in danger of being killed]
• She risked her life [=she did something very dangerous that could have resulted in her death] to help him.
• She gave/sacrificed her life [=she did something that resulted in her death] for her country.
• He was running for his life. [=he was running to escape from great danger]
• He is fighting for his life. [=he is very sick or injured and may die]
• A would-be assassin made an attempt on the President's life. [=tried to kill the President]
5 [noncount] : living things of a specified kind or in a specified place
• There may be a great deal of animal/plant life still to be discovered in this region.
• forest life
• ocean life
• Will we ever find intelligent life on other planets?
6 : the time when something can be used : the period when something exists or is useful or effective
[noncount]
• battery life
• the life of an insurance policy
• They claim that using their product will extend the life of the car.
• a warranty that is good for the life of the product
[count]
• a product that extends the lives of the rugs/cars
- see also half-life, shelf life
7 [noncount]
a : energy and spirit
• eyes full of life
• (informal) suck the life out of a room [=take all the fun and energy out of a group of people in a room]
b : activity and movement
• The streets were humming with life. [=the streets were filled with people and activity]
• There were no signs of life in the deserted village.
8 [count] : a book that tells about the life of a person : biography
• She wrote a life of Napoleon.
• Boswell's Life of Johnson
9 [noncount] : the punishment of being kept in a prison for the rest of your life : life imprisonment
• He was found guilty and sentenced to life. = (informal) He got life. = He was given life.
a dog's life
- see 1dog
a life of its own
✦Something that takes on a life of its own becomes very large, important, or hard to control.
• The project soon took on a life of its own and prevented us from getting any other work done.
• The story took on a life of its own and began to appear on news broadcasts everywhere.
all walks of life or every walk of life
- see 2walk
a matter of life and death : something that is extremely important and often involves decisions that will determine whether someone lives or dies
• Being prepared for severe weather can be a matter of life and death.
- see also life-and-death
a new lease on/of life
- see 1lease
(as) big as life US or chiefly Brit (as) large as life informal : in person - used to describe the surprise of seeing someone
• I never expected her to come to the party, but there she was, as big as life.
bet/stake your life on
✦If you would bet/stake your life on something, you are very sure that it will happen.
• “Will she keep her promise?” “I'd bet/stake my life on it!”
breathe (new) life into : to give new energy and excitement to (something)
• She is credited with breathing new life into contemporary art.
• The singer managed to breathe life into some tired old songs.
bring someone or something back to life : to cause someone or something that has died to begin living again
• The story is about a mad scientist who tries to bring dead people back to life.
- often used figuratively
• They're trying to bring the restaurant back to life by introducing a new menu.
• an old theory that is being brought back to life
bring something to life : to make something very interesting, appealing, or exciting
• She brings history to life with her books.
come to life
1 : to become very interesting, appealing, or exciting
• The movie really comes to life when she appears on the screen.
2 of a place : to become filled with the energy and excitement of active people
• Downtown comes to life each night when the clubs open.
3 or sputter/roar (etc.) to life of a machine : to begin working
• The engine suddenly roared to life.
depart this life
- see depart
for dear life : very tightly or quickly because of fear or danger
• He was hanging/holding on to the rope for dear life.
• They were running for dear life to get away from the vicious dogs.
for life : for the whole of your life : for the rest of your life
• They met in college and have remained friends for life.
• He was sentenced to prison for life.
for the life of me informal : in any way at all - used to say that you are unable to remember or understand something
• I couldn't for the life of me remember what her name was.
• For the life of me, I can't think of any reasons why you wouldn't want a computer at home.
frighten/scare the life out of informal : to frighten (someone) very badly
• You (nearly) scared the life out of me when you startled me like that!
from life of a painting, drawing, etc. : from looking at an actual person, object, etc.
• drawings done from life rather than from photographs
get a life informal : to stop spending time doing or thinking about things that are not important or interesting : to begin to have a more interesting or exciting life
• My girlfriend's parents are nice people, but all they do is watch TV all day. They need to get a life.
larger than life
- see 1large
lay down your life
- see lay down at 1lay
life depends on
✦If your life depends on something, then you must do it.
• His life depends on how he answers this question.
• He was studying as if his life depended on it.
- often used in negative statements
• I wouldn't eat that food if my life depended on it. [=I would never eat it]
lose your life : to die
• She nearly lost her life in a car accident.
• Many lives were lost. [=many people died]
new life
✦When something takes on (a) new life or when you give something new life or give new life to something, it becomes more active, interesting, etc.
• Plain old mashed potatoes take on a new life in this recipe.
• Falling interest rates gave new life to the housing market.
not on your life informal
- used as a very forceful way of saying “no” or “never”
• Do the government's policies really help the average worker? Not on your life.
risk life and limb : to do something that is very dangerous
• They risked life and limb to pull the child from the river.
save someone's life
- see 1save
spring into/to life
- see 2spring
staff of life
- see 1staff
such is life
- see 2such
take/claim someone's life : to cause someone's death
• Two years ago he was diagnosed with the illness that eventually took his life.
• The flood claimed many lives. [=caused the deaths of many people]
take your own life : to kill yourself
• He threatened to take his own life [=commit suicide], but no one believed him.
the life of the party US or chiefly Brit the life and soul of the party : someone who is very lively and amusing at a party or other social gathering
the light of your life
- see 1light
the next life or the life to come : a life that is believed by some people to come after death
• He believed that he would see his family again in the next life.
the simple life
- see simple
to save your life
- see 1save
true to life
- see 1true
- see also fact of life, good life, slice-of-life, still life
men's toilet
A bowl-shaped device with a seat that you sit on or stand near when emptying the body of urine or solid waste, or another device used for this purpose
men's toilet
toilet
noun
1 a large bowl with a seat, that you use when you need to empty waste from your body
2 (British) (American bathroom) a room that contains a toilet:
I'm going to the toilet.
word building
In their houses, British people usually say the toilet or, informally, the loo. Lavatory and WC are formal and old-fashioned words. In public places in Britain, the toilets are called the Ladies or the Gents. In American English, people say the bathroom in their homes and the restroom, ladies' room or men's room in public places.
toilet
toi‧let S2 /ˈtɔɪlət, ˈtɔɪlɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: toilette 'cloth put around the shoulders while arranging the hair or shaving, toilette, toilet', from toile 'net, cloth', from Latin tela 'something woven']
1. [countable] a large bowl that you sit on to get rid of waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
He flushed the toilet (=pulled the handle so that water ran into the toilet to clean it).
2. [countable] British English a room or building containing a toilet SYN bathroom, restroom American English:
public toilets
3. go to the toilet especially British English to pass waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
Mummy, I need to go to the toilet!
4. [uncountable] old-fashioned the act of washing and dressing yourself:
She finished her toilet.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to the toilet (also use the toilet especially British English) He got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
▪ need the toilet British English (=need to use the toilet) Does anyone need the toilet before we set off?
▪ flush the toilet (=make water go through it to clean it) I heard someone flush the toilet.
■ adjectives
▪ a public toilet especially British English He set off across the square in search of a public toilet.
▪ a disabled toilet British English (=one for disabled people) Is there a disabled toilet?
▪ an outside toilet (=one that is outside a house, not in it) The house was small, with no hot water and an outside toilet.
▪ an indoor toilet Many cottages lacked a bathroom or indoor toilet.
■ toilet + NOUN
▪ toilet facilities Toilet facilities are available at the bus station.
▪ the toilet seat He always left the toilet seat up.
▪ the toilet bowl She was scrubbing the toilet bowl.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'go to toilet'. Say go to the toilet.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ toilet British English a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house or in a public place: He locked himself in the toilet. | the public toilets
▪ bathroom a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house. In British English, bathroom is used especially when you want to be polite. In American English, it is the usual word to use: He asked to use the bathroom.
▪ restroom American English a room in a public place that has one or more toilets in it: She went into the store to use the restroom.
▪ lavatory formal a room with a toilet in it. In American English lavatory is used mainly for toilets in a public building or on a plane. In British English it is used both about public toilets and toilets in people’s houses: public lavatories | He didn’t have time to visit the lavatory.
▪ loo British English informal, john American English informal a room with a toilet in it. Loo is very common in everyday spoken British English: ‘Where’s Chris?’ ‘He’s in the loo.’ | Can I use your loo? | Where’s the john?
▪ bog British English informal a very informal word for a toilet, which is not considered polite: The nearest bog was miles away.
▪ the ladies British English, the ladies’ room American English a public toilet for women: Where’s the ladies? | I need to go to the ladies’ room.
▪ the gents British English, the men’s room American English a public toilet for men: I followed him into the gents. | I’ve got to go to the men’s room. Excuse me.
▪ latrine an outdoor toilet in a camp or military area: The latrines were in a shocking state.
▪ urinal a type of toilet for men that is attached to a wall: He was standing at the urinal.
▪ potty a bowl that babies use as a toilet: Does he need his potty?
▪ commode a chair with a bowl in it, used as a toilet, especially in hospitals and homes for old people: She has to use a commode.
▪ bedpan a container which is used as a toilet, especially in hospitals by people who are too ill or weak to get out of bed: I had to change the bedpans.
toilet
toi·let [toilet toilets toileted toileting] [ˈtɔɪlət] [ˈtɔɪlət] noun
1. countable a large bowl attached to a pipe that you sit on or stand over when you get rid of waste matter from your body
• Have you flushed the toilet?
• (BrE) I need to go to the toilet (= use the toilet).
• a toilet seat
• toilet facilities
• Do you need the toilet?
2. (BrE) (NAmE bath·room) countable a room containing a toilet
• Every flat has its own bathroom and toilet.
• Who's in the toilet?
3. (BrE) countable (also toi·lets plural) a room or small building containing several toilets, each in a separate smaller room
• public toilets
• Could you tell me where the ladies' toilet is, please?
4. uncountable (old-fashioned) the process of washing and dressing yourself, arranging your hair, etc.
See also: bathroom
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent.: from French toilette ‘cloth, wrapper’, diminutive of toile ‘cloth, web’, from Latin tela ‘web’. The word originally denoted a cloth used as a wrapper for clothes; then (in the 17th cent.) a cloth cover for a dressing table, the articles used in dressing, and the process of dressing, later also of washing oneself (sense 4). In the 19th cent. the word came to denote a dressing room, and, in the US, one with washing facilities; hence, a lavatory (early 20th cent.).
British/American:
toilet / bathroom
In BrE, but not in NAmE, the room that has a toilet in it is usually referred to as a toilet. This room in people’s houses can also be called the lavatory, or informally, the loo. An extra downstairs toilet in a house can be called the cloakroom. In public places, especially on signs, the words toilets, Gents (for men’s toilets) or Ladies (for women’s toilets) are used for a room or small building containing several toilets. You might also see WC or Public Conveniences on some signs.
In NAmE the room that contains a toilet is usually called the bathroom, never the toilet. A room with a toilet in a public place can also be called a restroom, ladies’ room, women’s room or men’s room. Washroom is also used, especially in Canada.
Example Bank:
• He flushed the letter down the toilet.
• I need to go to the toilet.
• Someone's forgotten to flush the toilet.
• The caravan is equipped with a sink and a flush toilet.
• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.
• Could you tell me where the ladies' toilet is, please?
• The toilets are located in the entrance area.
• Toilet facilities for the disabled are available.
• Who's in the toilet?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
toilet / ˈtɔɪ.lət / noun (CONTAINER)
A1 [ C ] a bowl-shaped device with a seat that you sit on or stand near when emptying the body of urine or solid waste, or another device used for this purpose:
I was on (= using) the toilet when the phone rang.
Don't forget to flush the toilet.
Excuse me, Miss Lewis, I need/want (to go to) the toilet.
The toilet seat was cracked and there was no paper.
[ C ] UK ( US bathroom ) a room with a toilet in it:
Someone's in the toilet.
go to the toilet A2 to empty the body of urine or solid waste, usually using a toilet to do so:
It's going to be a long journey, kids, so if you want to go to the toilet do so now.
toilets A2 [ plural ] UK ( US restroom , US also ladies'/men's room ) a room or small building in a public place in which there are several toilets:
Do you know where the ladies' toilets are?
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
toilet / ˈtɔɪ.lət / noun [ U ] old-fashioned formal (WASHING)
the process of washing and dressing yourself:
Virginia had spent longer than usual over her toilet that evening, with pleasing results.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
toilet
/tɔɪlət/
(toilets)
1.
A toilet is a large bowl with a seat, or a platform with a hole, which is connected to a water system and which you use when you want to get rid of urine or faeces from your body.
N-COUNT
2.
A toilet is a room in a house or public building that contains a toilet. (BRIT; in AM, use bathroom, rest room)
Annette ran and locked herself in the toilet...
Fred never uses public toilets.
N-COUNT
3.
You can say that someone goes to the toilet to mean that they get rid of waste substances from their body, especially when you want to avoid using words that you think may offend people. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use go to the bathroom)
PHRASE: V inflects
toilet
toi·let /ˈtoɪlət/ noun, pl -lets [count]
1 : a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste and then flushed with water
• flush the toilet
• One of the kids needed to use the toilet.
• a toilet brush/seat/bowl
• (Brit) The little boy told his mother that he had to go to the toilet. [=use the toilet; (US) go to the bathroom]
- see picture at bathroom
2 chiefly Brit : bathroom
• a public toilet [=restroom]
• He's in the toilet. [=loo]
3 old-fashioned : the act or process of washing and dressing yourself
• a painting of a woman at her toilet
flush something down the toilet
There was a small dresser in the corner of the bedroom.
A piece of bedroom furniture with drawers, usually with a mirror on top, used especially for keeping clothes in
There was a small dresser in the corner of the bedroom.
dresser
dress‧er /ˈdresə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑dress, ↑dresser, ↑dressing; adjective: ↑dressed ≠ ↑undressed, ↑dressy; verb: ↑dress ≠ ↑undress]
1. British English a large piece of furniture with open shelves for storing plates, dishes etc SYN Welsh dresser
2. American English a piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes, sometimes with a mirror on top SYN chest of drawers British English
3. a fashionable/stylish/sloppy etc dresser someone who dresses in a fashionable etc way:
Stanley was an impeccable dresser.
4. someone who takes care of someone’s clothes, especially an actor’s in the theatre, and helps them to dress
dresser
dress·er [dresser dressers] [ˈdresə(r)] [ˈdresər] noun
1. (also ˌWelsh ˈdresser) (BrE) a large piece of wooden furniture with shelves in the top part and cupboards below, used for displaying and storing cups, plates, etc.
2. (NAmE) = chest of drawers
3. (used with an adjective) a person who dresses in the way mentioned
• a snappy dresser
4. (in a theatre) a person whose job is to take care of an actor's clothes for a play and help him/her to get dressed
See also: Welsh dresser
Word Origin:
senses 1 to 2 late Middle English (denoting a kitchen sideboard or table on which food was prepared): from Old French dresseur, from dresser ‘prepare’, based on Latin directus ‘direct, straight’.
Example Bank:
• I put the kettle on and took two cups and saucers down from the dresser.
• The china display in her dresser was all blue and white.
• There was a small dresser in the corner of the bedroom.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
dresser / dres.ə r / / -ɚ / noun [ C ] (FURNITURE)
UK a tall piece of furniture with cupboards below and shelves on the top half:
a kitchen dresser
A2 US a piece of bedroom furniture with drawers, usually with a mirror on top, used especially for keeping clothes in
dresser / ˈdres.ə r / / -ɚ / noun [ C ] (CLOTHES)
used in phrases that describe the type of clothes that someone wears:
She was always a very stylish dresser.
He's a very snappy (= stylish and modern) dresser.
specialized a person who works in the theatre or in films, helping the actors to put on their clothes
© Cambridge University Press 2013
dresser
/dresə(r)/
(dressers)
1.
A dresser is a chest of drawers, usually with a mirror on the top. (AM; in BRIT, use dressing table)
N-COUNT
2.
A dresser is a piece of furniture which has cupboards or drawers in the lower part and shelves in the top part. It is usually used for storing china. (mainly BRIT)
N-COUNT
3.
You can use dresser to refer to the kind of clothes that a person wears. For example, if you say that someone is a smart dresser, you mean that they wear smart clothes.
N-COUNT: adj N
dresser
dress·er /ˈdrɛsɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count]
1 : a person who dresses in a particular way
• She is a stylish/sloppy dresser.
2 US : a piece of furniture that has drawers for storing clothes : chest of drawers
3 Brit : hutch 1
- see also hairdresser window dresser
she sat behind her desk and wrote two letters
A type of table that you can work at, often one with drawers
she sat behind her desk and wrote two letters
desk
noun
1 a type of table, often with drawers, that you sit at to write or work:
The pupils took their books out of their desks.
2 a table or place in a building where somebody gives information, etc.:
Ask at the information desk.
desk
desk S2 W2 /desk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: desca, from Latin discus 'dish, disk']
1. a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to write and work:
Marie was sitting at her desk.
2. a place where you can get information or use a particular service in a hotel, airport etc:
the reception desk
the check-in desk
3. an office that deals with a particular subject, especially in newspapers or television
the news/sports desk
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ tidy How come your desk is always so tidy?
▪ cluttered (=covered with papers, books etc in an untidy way) His desk is so cluttered he can't find anything.
▪ empty (=that no one is using) There are one or two empty desks in the office.
▪ a school desk The children are at their school desks by 8:30 in the morning.
▪ an office desk I got back from holiday to find piles of papers on my office desk.
▪ a writing desk (=that you use for writing letters etc) Under the window was a small writing desk.
▪ a wooden/mahogany/rosewood etc desk He sat at a plain wooden desk.
■ verbs
▪ sit at a desk I don't want to do a job in which I'm sitting at a desk all day.
▪ get up from your desk He got up from his desk to welcome the visitors.
▪ tidy your desk I need to tidy my desk.
▪ clear your desk (=remove all the papers etc from it) It's a good idea to clear your desk regularly.
■ desk + NOUN
▪ a desk job (=working mostly at a desk in an office) He left his desk job to become a gardener.
▪ a desk drawer I think I left my car keys in the desk drawer.
▪ a desk lamp Don't forget to switch off the desk lamp.
desk
desk [desk desks] [desk] [desk] noun
1. a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to read, write, work, etc
• He used to be a pilot but now he has a desk job.
2. a place where you can get information or be served at an airport, a hotel, etc
• the check-in desk
• the reception desk
see also cash desk, front desk
3. an office at a newspaper, television company, etc. that deals with a particular subject
• the sports desk
see also city desk, news desk
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from medieval Latin desca, probably based on Provençal desca ‘basket’ or Italian desco ‘table, butcher's block’, both based on Latin discus from Greek diskos.
Example Bank:
• A very strange request landed on my desk this morning.
• He got up from his desk and went to the window.
• He was sitting at his desk working when we got home.
• I left the file on your desk.
• I worked the front desk as one of my first jobs.
• Leave your valuables at the reception desk.
• My desk gets very cluttered if I don't clear it at the end of each day.
• Papers littered the desk and the floor.
• She called the front desk to let them know that he would be arriving.
• She paid for the book at the cash desk.
• Staff experiencing problems with their computers should call the help desk.
• The empty desk suggested she had already gone home.
• The manager sat frowning behind his desk throughout the whole interview.
• There was a long queue at the check-in desk.
• They put me on desk duty for a month.
• We asked the man on the information desk for a map of the city.
• a computer which takes up less desk space
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
desk / desk / noun [ C ] (TABLE)
desk
A1 a type of table that you can work at, often one with drawers:
an office/school desk
She sat at her desk writing letters.
He had a pile of papers on his desk.
The report arrived on/landed on/reached my desk (= I received it) this morning.
See picture in the office
desk / desk / noun [ C ] (SERVICE AREA)
a place, often with a counter (= a long flat narrow surface) especially in a hotel or airport, where you can get information or service:
a check-in/information/reception desk
desk / desk / noun [ C ] (NEWSPAPER OFFICE)
an office that deals with a particular type of news for a newspaper or broadcasting company:
the foreign/sports desk
Now let's hear from Sue at our travel desk.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
desk
/desk/
(desks)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A desk is a table, often with drawers, which you sit at to write or work.
N-COUNT
2.
The place in a hotel, hospital, airport, or other building where you check in or obtain information is referred to as a particular desk.
I spoke to the girl on the reception desk...
N-SING: usu supp N
3.
A particular department of a broadcasting company, or of a newspaper or magazine company, can be referred to as a particular desk.
Over now to Simon Ingram at the sports desk.
N-SING: supp N
desk
desk /ˈdɛsk/ noun, pl desks [count]
1 : a piece of furniture that is like a table and often has drawers
✦People often sit at desks when they are writing or using a computer.
• a cluttered desk
• a classroom with desks arranged in rows
✦Often desk refers specifically to the desk a person uses to do his or her job.
• I'm sorry I missed your call. I've been away from my desk.
- often used before another noun
• a desk lamp/calendar/chair
• She left her desk job [=the job that she did while sitting at a desk] to become a farmer.
- see picture at office
2 : a place where people can get information or be served at an office, a hotel, etc.
• an information desk at an airport
• We will ask for directions to the restaurant at the front desk.
• We went to the reception desk to check into our room.
3 : the part of a company or organization that deals with a particular subject
• the television network's financial/foreign desk [=department]
• the newspaper's sports desk
• the news desk [=the office where news is gathered to be reported in a newspaper, on television, etc.]
- see also city desk
A room with two large windows
A space usually filled with glass in the wall of a building or in a vehicle, to allow light and air in and to allow people inside the building to see out
A room with two large windows
window
noun
an opening in a building or in a car door, for example, with glass in it:
It was cold, so I closed the window.
She looked out of the window.
window
win‧dow S1 W1 /ˈwɪndəʊ $ -doʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: vindauga, from vindr 'wind' + auga 'eye']
1. a space or an area of glass in the wall of a building or vehicle that lets in light
open/close/shut a window
Do you mind if I open the window?
out of/from/through the window
She looked out of the window to see if it was raining.
The sun was shining through the windows.
in the window (=just inside a window)
We were looking at the Christmas displays in the shop windows.
bedroom/kitchen etc window ⇨ ↑bay window, DORMER WINDOW, ↑French windows, ↑picture window, ↑sash window
2. one of the separate areas on a computer screen where different programs are operating
3. (also window of opportunity) a short period of time that is available for a particular activity:
Delay might open a window of opportunity for their rivals.
4. an area on an envelope with clear plastic in it which lets you see the address written on the letter inside the envelope
5. a window on/to the world something that makes it possible to see and learn about what is happening in other parts of the world:
Television provides us with a useful window on the world.
6. go out (of) the window informal to disappear completely or no longer have any effect:
One glass of wine, and all my good intentions went out the window.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ open a window I opened the window and breathed in the fresh air.
▪ close/shut a window She shut the window firmly.
▪ roll up/down a window (=open or shut the window in a car) Lucy rolled the window down and waved to him.
▪ look/gaze/stare out of the window Mom stared out of the window at the road.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + window
▪ open A breeze from the open window lifted her hair.
▪ closed/shut All the windows were closed.
▪ a front window I don't want people looking in my front window.
▪ a back window The burglar had got in through one of the back windows.
▪ the rear window (=the back window, especially of a car) The car's rear window had been bashed in.
▪ a shop/store window She looked in shop windows.
▪ somebody's bedroom/office window From his bedroom window he could see two men having an argument.
▪ the kitchen/car etc window She had left the kitchen window open.
▪ a stained glass window (=made of pieces of coloured glass) The church has fine medieval stained glass windows.
■ window + NOUN
▪ the window frame The window frame was rotten.
window
win·dow [window windows] [ˈwɪndəʊ] [ˈwɪndoʊ] noun
1. an opening in the wall or roof of a building, car, etc, usually covered with glass, that allows light and air to come in and people to see out; the glass in a window
• She looked out of the window.
• to open/close the window
• the bedroom/car/kitchen, etc. window
• a broken window
see also bay window, dormer window, French window, picture window, rose window, sash window
2. = shop window
• I saw the dress I wanted in the window.
• a window display
3. an area within a frame on a computer screen, in which a particular program is operating or in which information of a particular type is shown
• to create/open a window
4. a small area of sth that you can see through, for example to talk to sb or read sth on the other side
• There was a long line of people at the box-office window.
• The address must be clearly visible through the window of the envelope.
5. singular ~ on/into sth a way of seeing and learning about sth
• Television is a sort of window on the world.
• It gave me an intriguing window into the way people live.
6. a time when there is an opportunity to do sth, although it may not last long
• We now have a small window of opportunity in which to make our views known.
Idiom: go out the window
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse vindauga, from vindr ‘wind’ + auga ‘eye’.
Example Bank:
• All the windows blew out with the force of the blast.
• All the windows in the prison are barred.
• Click on the window to make it active.
• Do you have a window next Monday?
• French windows lead out onto the patio.
• He was standing at the window waiting for us.
• He works as a window cleaner.
• How does the window open?
• I always ask for a window seat when I fly.
• I found her looking in the window of a department store.
• I love going window shopping.
• I rolled down the window to ask for directions.
• I sat by the window to get some air.
• If you close a couple of windows, the screen will be less cluttered.
• It was raining so hard I could scarcely see out of the window.
• No light showed in any of the blank windows of the house.
• She gazed out of the window at the falling snow.
• The cathedral has a beautiful rose window.
• The windows all steam up when you have a shower.
• The windows glinted in the sunlight.
• The windows of the house stared bleakly down at her.
• The windows rattle when a train goes past.
• There was a vase of flowers in the window.
• There was evidence that the window had been forced.
• They threw a brick through the window.
• We caught sight of him in the window as we passed.
• We tapped on the window to get their attention.
• You get to the garden through French windows at the back of the house.
• a limousine with smoked windows
• a studio with windows looking out on the park
• an advertisement in the shop window
• floral displays such as window boxes and hanging baskets
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
window / wɪn.dəʊ / / -doʊ / noun (GLASS)
A1 [ C ] a space usually filled with glass in the wall of a building or in a vehicle, to allow light and air in and to allow people inside the building to see out:
Is it all right if I open/close the window?
He caught me staring out of the window.
I saw a child's face at the window.
She's got some wonderful plants in the window (= on a surface at the bottom of the window) .
I was admiring the cathedral's stained-glass windows.
Have you paid the window cleaner (= person whose job is to clean the outside of windows) ?
window frames
a window ledge
[ S ] literary something that makes it possible for you to see and learn about a situation or experience that is different from your own:
The film provides a window on the immigrant experience.
[ C ] a transparent rectangle on the front of an envelope, through which you can read the address written on the letter inside
[ C ] the decorative arrangement of goods behind the window at the front of a shop, in addition to the window itself:
How much is the jacket in the window?
The shop windows are wonderful around Christmas time.
window / ˈwɪn.dəʊ / / -doʊ / noun [ C ] (COMPUTER)
B1 a separate area on a computer screen that shows information and can be moved around:
to minimize/maximize a window
window / ˈwɪn.dəʊ / / -doʊ / noun [ C ] (OPPORTUNITY)
a period when there is an opportunity to do something:
I'm quite busy this week but there might be a window on Friday.
If a window of opportunity (= an opportunity) should present itself, I'd take advantage of it.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
window
/wɪndoʊ/
(windows)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A window is a space in the wall of a building or in the side of a vehicle, which has glass in it so that light can come in and you can see out.
He stood at the window, moodily staring out...
The room felt very hot and she wondered why someone did not open a window...
...my car window.
N-COUNT
2.
A window is a large piece of glass along the front of a shop, behind which some of the goods that the shop sells are displayed.
I stood for a few moments in front of the nearest shop window.
N-COUNT
3.
A window is a glass-covered opening above a counter, for example in a bank, post office, railway station, or museum, which the person serving you sits behind.
The woman at the ticket window told me that the admission fee was $17.50.
N-COUNT
4.
On a computer screen, a window is one of the work areas that the screen can be divided into. (COMPUTING)
N-COUNT
5.
If you have a window in your diary for something, or if you can make a window for it, you are free at a particular time and can do it then.
Tell her I’ve got a window in my diary later on this week.
N-COUNT: usu sing
6.
see also French window, picture window, rose window
7.
If you say that something such as a plan or a particular way of thinking or behaving has gone out of the window or has flown out of the window, you mean that it has disappeared completely.
By now all logic had gone out of the window...
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you say that there is a window of opportunity for something, you mean that there is an opportunity to do something but that this opportunity will only last for a short time and so it needs to be taken advantage of quickly. (JOURNALISM)
The king said there was now a window of opportunity for peace.
PHRASE: window inflects, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf
window
win·dow /ˈwɪndoʊ/ noun, pl -dows
1 [count]
a : an opening in a wall, door, etc., that usually contains a sheet of glass
• She opened a window to let in some air.
• I looked out the window and saw a deer.
- see also bay window, french window, picture window, rose window, storm window
b : a sheet of glass that covers an opening in a building, vehicle, etc.
• He used vinegar and water to wash the windows.
• He accidentally broke a window.
• Can you roll down the car window?
c : a large window at the front of a store where goods are displayed so that they can be seen by people who are walking past
• The windows along 5th Avenue were all decorated for Christmas.
• I saw a beautiful dress in the window.
d : an opening in a wall through which business is conducted
• He sits behind a window and sells movie tickets.
• a ticket window
• a bank teller's window
2 [count] : a part of something that you can see through
• Make sure the address shows through the window in the envelope.
• A window opened in the fog and we could finally see the ocean.
3 [count] : an area or box on a computer screen that shows a program that is currently running
• Minimize that window and open a new one.
• Close all the windows and restart the computer.
- see picture at computer
4 [singular] : a period of time during which something can happen
• The shuttle's launch has a window of only two days. [=it can only happen within two specific days]
• The window of opportunity [=the time during which there is a chance to do something] has closed/ended.
a window into/on : something that makes it possible to see or understand something clearly
• This knowledge opens a window into your opponent's mind.
• The book gives the reader a window on war.
go out the window informal : to stop being used or thought about
• By that point in the argument, reason had gone out the window.
throw (something) out the window informal : to stop using or thinking about (something)
• We can throw that idea out the window.
She hung my overcoat in the closet
A cupboard or a small room with a door, used for storing things, especially clothes
She hung my overcoat in the closet
closet
noun (American)
a space in a wall with a door that reaches the ground, used for storing clothes, shoes, etc.:
a walk-in closet
closet
I. clos‧et1 S3 /ˈklɒzət, ˈklɒzɪt $ ˈklɑː-, ˈklɒː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: clos 'enclosed place', from Latin clausum, from clausus; ⇨ ↑close2]
1. especially American English a cupboard built into the wall of a room from the floor to the ceiling ⇨ wardrobe:
a closet full of beautiful clothes
2. come out of the closet
a) to tell people that you are ↑homosexual after hiding the fact SYN come out
b) to admit something or to start to discuss something that was kept secret before
3. be in the closet American English informal to not tell people that you are ↑homosexual
⇨ ↑water closet, ⇨ a skeleton in the closet at ↑skeleton(5)
II. closet2 BrE AmE adjective
closet homosexual/alcoholic etc someone who is a ↑homosexual etc but who does not want to admit it:
a closet communist
III. closet3 BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
to shut someone in a room away from other people in order to discuss something private, to be alone etc
be closeted with somebody
All morning he’d been closeted with various officials.
Don’t let her closet herself away in her room.
closet
closet [closet closets closeted closeting] noun, adjective, verb [ˈklɒzɪt] [ˈklɑːzət]
noun (especially NAmE)
a small room or a space in a wall with a door that reaches the floor, used for storing things
• a walk-in closet
compare cupboard, wardrobe
see also water closet
see also come out (10), see a skeleton in the cupboard/closet at skeleton
Word Origin:
late Middle English (denoting a private or small room): from Old French, diminutive of clos ‘closed’, from Latin claudere ‘to shut’.
Thesaurus:
closet noun C (especially AmE)
• a walk-in closet for her clothes
cupboard • • wardrobe • • pantry • • cabinet • • unit •
walk-in closet/cupboard/wardrobe/pantry
built-in closet/cupboard/wardrobe
wall/storage/kitchen closet/cupboard/cabinet/unit
Example Bank:
• He searched his closet for something to wear.
• He went to the closet and pulled out a suit.
• Her closet was filled with black clothes.
• I picked a shirt from the closet.
• I raided Bob's closet for something to wear.
• More public figures are finding the courage to come out of the closet.
• They were hoping to find some skeletons in his closet.
• clothes hanging in the closet
• It's about time I cleared out this closet.
• She has a walk-in closet for all her clothes.
Idiom: come out of the closet
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
closet / klɒz.ɪt / / klɑ.zɪt / noun [ C ] mainly US
A2 a cupboard or a small room with a door, used for storing things, especially clothes:
a bedroom/linen/storage closet
© Cambridge University Press 2013
closet
/klɒzɪt/
(closets)
1.
A closet is a piece of furniture with doors at the front and shelves inside, which is used for storing things. (AM; in BRIT, use cupboard)
N-COUNT
2.
A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows. (AM; also BRIT OLD-FASHIONED)
N-COUNT
3.
Closet is used to describe a person who has beliefs, habits, or feelings which they keep secret, often because they are embarrassed about them. Closet is also used of their beliefs, habits, or feelings.
He is a closet Fascist.
ADJ: ADJ n
1clos·et /ˈklɑːzət/ noun, pl -ets
1 [count] chiefly US : a usually small room that is used for storing things (such as clothing, towels, or dishes)
• The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
• He has a closet full of new clothes.
• broom/coat closets
• a walk-in closet [=a large closet usually for clothes]
- see also water closet
2 [noncount] : a state in which someone will not talk about something or admit something especially; : a state in which someone will not admit being a homosexual - usually used in the phrases in the closet or out of the closet
• He's still in the closet. [=he has not told people that he is gay]
• She came out of the closet in college.
skeleton in the/your closet
She wants a house with a large kitchen.
A room where food is kept, prepared, and cooked and where the dishes are washed
She wants a house with a large kitchen.
kitchen
noun
a room where you cook food
kitchen
kitch‧en S1 W2 /ˈkɪtʃən, ˈkɪtʃɪn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cycene]
1. the room where you prepare and cook food:
Sam went into the kitchen to make a pot of tea.
She is in the kitchen making a meal.
2. everything but the kitchen sink humorous used when someone has brought too many things with them
kitchen
kit·chen [kitchen kitchens] [ˈkɪtʃɪn] [ˈkɪtʃɪn] noun
a room in which meals are cooked or prepared
• She's in the kitchen.
• We ate at the kitchen table.
see also soup kitchen
more at if you can't stand the heat (get out of the kitchen) at heat n.
Idiom: everything but the kitchen sink
Word Origin:
Old English cycene, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch keuken and German Küche, based on Latin coquere ‘to cook’.
Example Bank:
• I sat at the kitchen island eating a bowl of cereal.
• We handed our trays through the kitchen hatch as we left.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
kitchen / ˈkɪtʃ. ə n / noun [ C ]
A1 a room where food is kept, prepared, and cooked and where the dishes are washed:
We usually eat breakfast in the kitchen.
the kitchen table
a new fitted kitchen (= cupboards that look the same fixed to the walls and floor in the kitchen)
See picture in the kitchen
See picture kitchen equipment and cooking
© Cambridge University Press 2013
kitchen
/kɪtʃɪn/
(kitchens)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
A kitchen is a room that is used for cooking and for household jobs such as washing dishes.
N-COUNT
kitchen
kitch·en /ˈkɪʧən/ noun, pl -ens [count] : a room in which food is cooked
• She wants a house with a large kitchen.
- often used before another noun
• kitchen counters/cabinets/chairs
• They sat down at the kitchen table.
• When he goes on vacation he takes along everything but the kitchen sink. [=an extremely large number of things]
- see picture on next page; see also soup kitchen
I'll eat dinner in the dining room.
A room in which meals are eaten.
I'll eat dinner in the dining room.
dining room
noun
a room where people eat
dining room
ˈdining room BrE AmE noun [countable]
a room where you eat meals in a house or hotel
dining room
ˈdining room [dining room dining rooms] noun
a room that is used mainly for eating meals in
Example Bank:
• The dining room seats up to 60 guests.
• a comfortable dining room serving just-caught seafood
• a cosy dining room serving excellent home-prepared cooking
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ˈ dining ˌ room noun [ C ]
A1 a room in which meals are eaten
© Cambridge University Press 2013
dining room
also dining-room
(dining rooms)
The dining room is the room in a house where people have their meals, or a room in a hotel where meals are served.
N-COUNT: usu the N
dining room
dining room noun, pl ~ rooms [count] : a room that is used for eating meals
A hotel with 50 bedrooms
A room used for sleeping in
A hotel with 50 bedrooms
bedroom
noun
a room where you sleep
bedroom
bed‧room S1 W2 /ˈbedrʊm, -ruːm/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. a room for sleeping in:
a hotel with 50 bedrooms
three-bedroomed/five-bedroomed etc
They’ve just bought a new four-bedroomed house in Edinburgh.
2. bedroom eyes a look in your eyes that shows that you are sexually attracted to someone
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + bedroom
▪ a single bedroom (=with a bed for one person) We have one single bedroom and two doubles.
▪ a double bedroom (=with a big bed for two people) I'd like to book a double bedroom for two nights, please.
▪ a twin bedroom (=with two single beds) Do you prefer a double or a twin bedroom?
▪ the main/master bedroom (=the biggest bedroom in a house) The master bedroom has a view of the sea.
▪ the spare bedroom (=for visitors) She set up a home office in the spare bedroom.
▪ a study bedroom (=for students, with a bed and a desk) In my first year at university I had a really tiny study bedroom.
■ bedroom + NOUN
▪ bedroom furniture All the bedroom furniture was old and falling apart.
▪ the bedroom door/window etc Did you shut the bedroom window?
bedroom
bed·room [bedroom bedrooms] noun, adjective [ˈbedruːm] [ˈbedruːm] [ˈbedrʊm] [ˈbedrʊm]
noun
1. a room for sleeping in
• the spare bedroom
• a hotel with 20 bedrooms
• This is the master bedroom (= the main bedroom of the house).
2. -bedroomed having the number of bedrooms mentioned
• a three-bedroomed house
Example Bank:
• All the children had separate bedrooms.
• I told him he could sleep in the spare bedroom.
• I used to share a bedroom with my brother.
• The actress refused to appear naked in the bedroom scenes.
• The larger houses are four-bedroom houses.
• There were dirty clothes strewn around the bedroom.
• They converted the spare bedroom into an office.
• an en suite master bedroom
adjective only before noun used as a way of referring to sexual activity
• the bedroom scenes in the movie
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
bedroom / ˈbed.rʊm / / -ruːm / noun [ C ]
A1 a room used for sleeping in:
Our home has three bedrooms.
the master bedroom (= the main bedroom in a house)
You can stay in the spare bedroom.
We've just bought some new bedroom furniture.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
bedroom
/bedru:m/
(bedrooms)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
A bedroom is a room used for sleeping in.
...the spare bedroom.
...a two-bedroom apartment.
N-COUNT
1bed·room /ˈbɛdˌruːm/ noun, pl -rooms [count] : a room used for sleeping
• a house with three bedrooms = a 3-bedroom house
• a spare/guest bedroom
• a large master bedroom [=a large bedroom that is the main bedroom in a house]
- bedroomed adj Brit
- used in combination
• a three-bedroomed house
