American English

0

chair

chair [noun] (FURNITURE)
US /tʃer/ 
UK /tʃeər/ 
Example: 

The room was full of empty chairs.

A seat for one person, which has a back, usually four legs, and sometimes two arms

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

The room was full of empty chairs.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
chairs and seats
Level: 
A1 (Basic)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

chair

 noun

1 a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with four legs, a seat and a back:
a table and four chairs

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

chair

I.   noun

I. chair1 S1 W2 /tʃeə $ tʃer/ noun
 [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaiere, from Latin cathedra, from Greek, from kata- ( ⇨ cataclysm) + hedra 'seat']

 1. [countable] a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, which has a back, a seat, and four legs:
   • a kitchen chair
   • They bought a new table and chairs.
   • One of the chair legs was broken.
  on/in a chair
   • She was sitting on a wooden chair.
   • He sat back in his chair.
 2. [singular] the position of being in charge of a meeting or committee, or the person who is in charge of it:
   • Address your questions to the chair, please.
  be in the chair
   • Who will be in the chair at tomorrow’s meeting?
  chair of
   • He was nominated as chair of the board of governors.
 3. [countable] the position of being a university professor
  chair of
   • a new Chair of Medicine
 4. the chair American English informal the electric chair
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS■ verbs

   ▪ sit in/on a chair • She sat in her favourite chair.
   ▪ pull/draw up a chair (=move a chair nearer someone or something) • Pull up a chair and look at these pictures.
   ▪ take a chair (=sit down in one in a particular place) • Brian took a chair beside his wife.
   ▪ lean back in your chair • He leant back in his chair and took out his pipe.
   ▪ sink/slump/flop into a chair (=sit down in one in a tired or unhappy way) • Greg groaned and sank into his chair.
   ▪ collapse in/into a chair (=sit down suddenly because you are very tired or upset) • Eileen collapsed into a chair and burst out crying.
   ▪ get up from your chair (also rise from your chair formal) • He got up from his chair and walked to the window.
   ▪ jump up from your chair (=get up quickly) • ‘Look at the time!’ she cried, jumping up from her chair.
   ▪ push back your chair (=in order to get up) • He pushed back his chair and stood up.
   ▪ lounge in a chair (=sit in one in a very relaxed way) • Everyone was outside, lounging in chairs in the sun.

■ adjectives

   ▪ a comfortable chair (also a comfy chair informal) • The hotel had a TV room with some nice comfy chairs.
   ▪ a hard chair (=not comfortable) • I sat on a hard chair in the corridor and waited.
   ▪ an empty chair (=with no one using it) • She came and sat in an empty chair beside me.
   ▪ a wooden/plastic/leather etc chair • In the kitchen was a table with six wooden chairs around it.
   ▪ a folding chair (=one which you can fold so it is flat) • People were sitting on blankets or folding chairs, listening to the outdoor concert.

■ chair + NOUN

   ▪ a chair leg/arm/back/seat • The chair leg has broken.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chair

chair [chair chairs chaired chairing] noun, verb   [tʃeə(r)]    [tʃer] 

noun
 

1. countable a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, a seat and four legs

• a table and chairs

• Sit on your chair!

• an old man asleep in a chair (= an armchair )

• dining/kitchen chairs

see also  armchair, deckchair, easy chair, high chair, musical chairs, rocking chair, wheelchair

2. the chair singular the position of being in charge of a meeting or committee; the person who holds this position

• She takes the chair in all our meetings.

• Who is in the chair today?

• He was elected chair of the city council.

• All remarks should be addressed to the chair.

3. countable the position of being in charge of a department in a university

• He holds the chair of philosophy at Oxford.

4. the chair singular (US, informal) =  electric chair 

Word Origin:

Middle English: from Old French chaiere (modern chaire ‘bishop's throne, etc.’, chaise ‘chair’), from Latin cathedra ‘seat’, from Greek kathedra. Compare with cathedral.

Thesaurus:

chair noun C

• Sit on your chair!

• a wheelchair/deckchair/high chair/rocking chair

seat • • armchair • • throne • • stool •

in/into/out of a/an chair/seat/armchair

on/onto/off a chair/seat/throne/stool

Chair or seat? A chair is a piece of furniture designed for sitting on; a seat is anywhere that you can sit:

• a set of dining/kitchen chairs

 ¤ a set of dining/kitchen seats:

• We used the old tree stump as a seat.

 ¤ We used the old tree stump as a chair. Seat is also used for the place where you sit in a vehicle:

• the passenger seat/driver's seat (= in a car)

• an aisle/a window seat (= in a bus/plane/train)

Example Bank:

• ‘Please, be my guest.’ He gestured towards an empty chair.

• A cat was asleep on the chair.

• A chair lift carried us to the top of the ski run.

• A chair stood facing the window.

• A private benefactor endowed the new Chair of Japanese Literature.

• Anne took the chair in Carol's absence.

• Anne took the chair= was chairperson in Carol's absence.

• Come in and take a chair.

• He gave her his chair.

• He gestured to an empty chair.

• He got up from his chair to address the meeting.

• He held the Chair of Botany at Cambridge University for thirty years.

• He held the Chair of Psychology at Yale.

• He lay back in the reclining chair and went to sleep.

• He pulled out a chair for her.

• He pushed back his chair and got to his feet.

• He put his feet up on the desk and lay back in his chair.

• He sank into his chair and opened the letter.

• He sat nervously on the edge of his chair.

• He was shifting about uneasily in his chair.

• Lisa heard a chair scraping the floor.

• Paul Ryan was in the chair at today's meeting.

• Paul Ryan was in the chair= was chairperson at today's meeting.

• Please address your questions to the chair.

• She always swivels around in her chair.

• She dropped her bags and flopped down into the nearest chair.

• She gripped the arm of her chair as she spoke.

• She leaned back in her chair and lit a cigarette.

• She returned to the swivel chair behind her desk.

• She swivelled round in her chair and picked up the phone.

• She tipped her chair back and fixed her gaze full upon him.

• The chair creaked every time I moved.

• They straightened in their chairs when the manager burst in.

• a dining table and four matching chairs

• a set of antique dining chairs

• a high chair

• a rocking chair

• an old man asleep in a chair

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

chair / tʃeə r /   / tʃer / noun [ C ] (FURNITURE)

A1 a seat for one person, which has a back, usually four legs, and sometimes two arms

→  See also armchair noun , deckchair , pushchair , wheelchair

See picture in the office

the chair

informal for the electric chair

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

chair

/tʃeə(r)/
(chairs, chairing, chaired)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A chair is a piece of furniture for one person to sit on. Chairs have a back and four legs.
He rose from his chair and walked to the window.
N-COUNT

2.
At a university, a chair is the post of professor.
He has been appointed to the chair of sociology at Southampton University...
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N of/in n

3.
The person who is the chair of a committee or meeting is the person in charge of it.
She is the chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Military.
= chairperson
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N of n

4.
If you chair a meeting or a committee, you are the person in charge of it.
He was about to chair a meeting in Venice of EU foreign ministers...
VERB: V n

5.
The chair is the same as the electric chair. (AM)
N-SING: the N

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1chair /ˈʧeɚ/ noun, pl chairs
1 [count] : a seat for one person that has a back and usually four legs
• a chair by the window
• We'll need a table and four chairs for the dining room.
• Please pull up a chair [=bring a chair to where we are] and join us.
2 [count]
a : the person who is the leader of a department at a college or university
• He is now chair of the English department.
b : the person who is the leader of a meeting, organization, committee, or event
• She's chair of the school board this year.
• Address any questions to the committee chair.
- see also chairman, chairperson, chairwoman
3 the chair US informal : electric chair
• a murderer who was sentenced/sent to the chair

American English
British English
A1 (Basic)
chair
noun
0

cabinet

cabinet [furniture]
US /ˈkæb.ən.ət/ 
UK /ˈkæb.ɪ.nət/ 
Example: 

kitchen cabinets

A piece of furniture with doors and shelves or drawers that is used for storing things or for showing attractive objects

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

kitchen cabinets

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
furniture for storage
Level: 
A2 (Elementary)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

cabinet

 noun

1 (plural cabinets) a piece of furniture that you can keep things in:
a bathroom cabinet
a filing cabinet (= one that you use in an office to keep documents in)

2 the Cabinet (no plural) a group of the most important people in the government

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

cabinet

cab‧i‧net S2 W2 /ˈkæbənət, ˈkæbɪnət/ noun [countable]
 [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: 'small room', from Old North French cabine 'room for gambling']
 1. (also Cabinet) [also + plural verb] British English the politicians with important positions in a government who meet to make decisions or advise the leader of the government:
   • a cabinet meeting
   • a member of the Cabinet ⇨ Shadow Cabinet at shadow3(2)
 2.

   a piece of furniture with doors and shelves or drawers, used for storing or showing things SYN cupboard:
   • the medicine cabinet
  ⇨ filing cabinet
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS■ cabinet + NOUN

   ▪ a cabinet meeting • A cabinet meeting will consider the government's environmental policies.
   ▪ a cabinet member/a member of the cabinet • Two senior cabinet members have resigned.
   ▪ a cabinet minister • Cabinet ministers voted against the proposal.
   ▪ a cabinet reshuffle (=when members of a cabinet are given a different job) • Putin promoted his Defence Minister in a surprising cabinet reshuffle.
   ▪ a cabinet post (=a job in a cabinet) • She accepted a cabinet post with the new Conservative government.

■ verbs

   ▪ appoint a cabinet • The Prime Minister appoints the cabinet.
   ▪ form a cabinet • Ministers remain in office until a new cabinet is formed.
   ▪ join a cabinet • Lee was considered a likely candidate to join the cabinet.
   ▪ the cabinet meets • The cabinet will meet again on April 30th.

■ adjectives

   ▪ the inner cabinet (=only the most important members) • He was a member of Howard's inner cabinet.
   ▪ the full cabinet (=all the members) • There was a meeting of the full cabinet.
   ▪ the shadow cabinet (=the most important members of the opposition party) • He joined the shadow cabinet as transport spokesman.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cabinet

cab·inet [cabinet cabinets]   [ˈkæbɪnət]    [ˈkæbɪnət]  noun

1. (usually the Cabinet) countable + singular or plural verb a group of chosen members of a government, which is responsible for advising and deciding on government policy

• a cabinet meeting

• (BrE) a cabinet minister

• (BrE) the shadow Cabinet (= the most important members of the opposition party)

2. countable a piece of furniture with doors, drawers and/or shelves, that is used for storing or showing things

• kitchen cabinets

• a medicine cabinet

• The china was displayed in a glass cabinet.

see also  filing cabinet 

 

Word Origin:

mid 16th cent.: from cabin  + -et, influenced by French cabinet.

 

Culture:

the Cabinet

In Britain, the Cabinet is a committee responsible for deciding government policy and for coordinating the work of government departments. It consists of about 20 ministers chosen by the Prime Minister and meets for a few hours each week at Downing Street. Its members are bound by oath not to talk about the meetings. Reports are sent to government departments but these give only summaries of the topics discussed and decisions taken. They do not mention who agreed or disagreed. The principle of collective responsibility means that the Cabinet acts unanimously (= all together), even if some ministers do not agree. When a policy has been decided, each minister is expected to support it publicly or resign. In recent years, prime ministers have changed the members of their Cabinet quite often in Cabinet reshuffles. Some members are dropped, new ones are brought in, and the rest are given new departmental responsibilities.

The leader of the main opposition party forms a shadow cabinet of shadow ministers, each with a particular area of responsibility, so that there is a team ready to take over immediately if the party in power should be defeated.

Committees are appointed by the Cabinet to examine issues in more detail than the Cabinet has time for. Members of these committees are not necessarily politicians. The Cabinet Office led by the Secretary to the Cabinet, the most senior civil servant in Britain, prepares agendas for Cabinet meetings and committees.

In the US the Cabinet consists of the heads of the 15 departments that make up the executive branch of the federal government. Each president appoints the department heads, called secretaries, from his or her own party, and they give advice on policy. Since the Cabinet was not established by the Constitution, the President can add, remove or combine departments, and can decide when to ask the Cabinet for advice, and whether or not to follow it.

State governments are usually organized in a similar way to the national government, and most have a cabinet.

 

Example Bank:

• Past reports are kept in the filing cabinet in my office.

• The Prime Minister reshuffled= changed his Cabinet yesterday.

• The affair led to a mid-term Cabinet reshuffle.

• The defeat in the vote forced the Cabinet to change its policy on immigration.

• The inner Cabinet is to meet again today.

• The prime minister reshuffled his Cabinet yesterday.

• There was a meeting of the full Cabinet this afternoon.

• a glass china cabinet

• He is a member of the Shadow Cabinet.

• Several cabinet ministers have been implicated in the scandal.

• She lost her position as Health Minister in a recent cabinet reshuffle.

• The issue was discussed at yesterday's cabinet meeting.

• There's a medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cabinet

Cabinet (GOVERNMENT), cabinet /ˈkæb.ɪ.nət/
group noun [C usually singular]
a small group of the most important people elected to government, who make the main decisions about what should happen:
The Cabinet meet/meets every Thursday.
a cabinet minister.
The Prime Minister has announced a cabinet reshuffle (= changes in the Cabinet).

cabinet

cabinet (FURNITURE) /ˈkæb.ɪ.nət/
noun [C]
a piece of furniture with shelves, cupboards, or drawers, which is used for storing or showing things:
Valuable pieces of china were on display in a glass-fronted cabinet.
a bathroom/filing cabinet

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

cabinet

/kæbɪnɪt/
(cabinets)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A cabinet is a cupboard used for storing things such as medicine or alcoholic drinks or for displaying decorative things in.
He looked at the display cabinet with its gleaming sets of glasses.
N-COUNT: usu n N
see also filing cabinet

2.
The Cabinet is a group of the most senior ministers in a government, who meet regularly to discuss policies.
The announcement came after a three-hour Cabinet meeting in Downing Street.
...a former Cabinet Minister.
N-COUNT: oft N n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

cabinet

cab·i·net /ˈkæbnɪt/ noun, pl -nets [count]
1 : a piece of furniture that is used for storing things and usually has doors and shelves
• a kitchen/medicine cabinet
- see also file cabinet
2 or Cabinet : a group of people who give advice to the leader of a government
• the British cabinet
• a member of the President's Cabinet
✦In British English, cabinet in this sense is sometimes used with a plural verb.
• The Cabinet are meeting now.

American English
British English
A2 (Elementary)
cabinet
noun
0

bookcase

bookcase [noun]
US /ˈbʊk.keɪs/ 
UK /ˈbʊk.keɪs/ 
Example: 

I put my books in bookcase.

a piece of furniture with shelves in it for putting books on

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

I put my books in bookcase.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
furniture for storage
Level: 
A1 (Basic)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

bookcase

 noun
a piece of furniture that you put books in

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

bookcase

book‧case /ˈbʊk-keɪs/ noun [countable]
  a piece of furniture with shelves to hold books

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

bookcase

book·case [bookcase bookcases]   [ˈbʊkkeɪs]    [ˈbʊkkeɪs]  noun

a piece of furniture with shelves for keeping books on

Example Bank:

• I chose a book from the bookcase.

• I found this book in your bookcase.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

bookcase / ˈbʊk.keɪs / noun [ C ]

A1 a piece of furniture with shelves to put books on

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

bookcase

/bʊkkeɪs/
(bookcases)

A bookcase is a piece of furniture with shelves that you keep books on.

N-COUNT
 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

bookcase

book·case /ˈbʊkˌkeɪs/ noun, pl -cases [count] : a piece of furniture with shelves to hold books

American English
British English
A1 (Basic)
bookcase
noun
0

upstairs

upstairs [noun]
US /ʌpˈsterz/ 
UK /ʌpˈsteəz/ 
Example: 

The house has three rooms upstairs.

Towards or on the highest floor or floors of a building

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

The house has three rooms upstairs.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
floors and parts of floors
Level: 
A2 (Elementary)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

upstairs

 adverb
to or on a higher floor of a building:
I went upstairs to bed.

>> upstairs adjective:
An upstairs window was open.
 opposite downstairs

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II.   noun

II. upstairs2 noun
  the upstairs one or all of the upper floors in a building OPP the downstairs:
   • Would you like to see the upstairs?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

upstairs

noun singular

the floor or floors in a building that are above the ground floor

• We've converted the upstairs into an office.

Opp:  downstairs 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

upstairs / ʌpˈsteəz /   / -ˈsterz / adverb [ before noun ] , adjective

A2 towards or on the highest floor or floors of a building:

an upstairs landing/window

He heard glass breaking and ran upstairs to see what had caused it.

→  Opposite downstairs

upstairs noun [ S ]

Sadly, the upstairs of the house was gutted by fire.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

upstairs

/ʌpsteə(r)z/

1.
If you go upstairs in a building, you go up a staircase towards a higher floor.
He went upstairs and changed into fresh clothes...
≠ downstairs
ADV: ADV after v

2.
If something or someone is upstairs in a building, they are on a floor that is higher than the ground floor.
The restaurant is upstairs and consists of a large, open room...
The boys are curled asleep in the small bedroom upstairs.
≠ downstairs
ADV: be ADV, n ADV

3.
An upstairs room or object is situated on a floor of a building that is higher than the ground floor.
Marsani moved into the upstairs apartment.
...an upstairs balcony.
ADJ: ADJ n

4.
The upstairs of a building is the floor or floors that are higher than the ground floor.
Frances invited them to occupy the upstairs of her home.
≠ downstairs
N-SING: the N

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

upstairs

3up·stairs /ˈʌpˈsteɚz/ noun
the upstairs : the upper floors of a building
• We've decided to rent out the upstairs.
• We're having the upstairs carpeted.

American English
British English
A2 (Elementary)
upstairs
noun
0

downstairs

downstairs
US /ˌdaʊnˈsterz/ 
UK /ˌdaʊnˈsteəz/ 
Example: 

The house has three rooms upstairs.

To or on a lower floor of a building, especially the ground floor

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

Go downstairs and wait for me.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
floors and parts of floors
Level: 
A2 (Elementary)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

downstairs

 adverb
to or on a lower floor of a building:
I went downstairs to make breakfast.

>> downstairs adjective:
She lives in the downstairs flat.
 opposite upstairs

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

downstairs

II.   noun

II. down·stairs2 noun
  the downstairs the rooms on the ground floor in a house:
   • We have still got to paint the downstairs.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

downstairs

▪ I. down·stairs [downstairs] adverb, noun   [ˌdaʊnˈsteəz]    [ˌdaʊnˈsterz]

noun singular

the lower floor of a house or building, especially the one at ground level

• We're painting the downstairs.

Opp:  upstairs 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

downstairs / ˌdaʊnˈsteəz /   / -ˈsterz / adverb

A2 to or on a lower floor of a building, especially the ground floor:

I went downstairs to answer the phone.

→  Compare upstairs

 

downstairs adjective

B1

a downstairs bathroom

 

the downstairs noun [ S ]

We've finished decorating upstairs but the downstairs still needs some work.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

downstairs

/daʊnsteə(r)z/

1.
If you go downstairs in a building, you go down a staircase towards the ground floor.
Denise went downstairs and made some tea.
≠ upstairs
ADV: ADV after v

2.
If something or someone is downstairs in a building, they are on the ground floor or on a lower floor than you.
The telephone was downstairs in the entrance hall...
≠ upstairs
ADV: be ADV, n ADV

3.
Downstairs means situated on the ground floor of a building or on a lower floor than you are.
She repainted the downstairs rooms and closed off the second floor.
≠ upstairs
ADJ: ADJ n

4.
The downstairs of a building is its lower floor or floors.
The downstairs of the two little houses had been entirely refashioned.
≠ upstairs
N-SING: the N

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

downstairs

3down·stairs /ˈdaʊnˈsteɚz/ noun
the downstairs : the lower and usually main floor of a building
• The downstairs needs to be cleaned.
• We painted the downstairs.

American English
British English
A2 (Elementary)
downstairs
adverb
0

door

door [noun]
US /dɔːr/ 
UK /dɔːr/ 
Example: 

Open the door!

A flat object that is used to close the entrance of something such as a room or building, or the entrance itself

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

Open the door!

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
doors and parts of doors
Level: 
A1 (Basic)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

door

 noun
the way into a building or room; a piece of wood, glass or metal that you use to open and close the way in to a building, room, cupboard, car, etc.:
Can you close the door, please?
Sophie knocked on the door. 'Come in,' Peter said.
There is somebody at the door.
Will you answer the door (= go to open the door when somebody knocks or rings the bell)?
A house often has a front door and a back door.

next door in the next house, room or building:
Mary lives next door to us.

out of doors outside; not in a building:
Farmers spend a lot of time out of doors.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

door

I.   noun

I. door1 S1 W1 /dɔː $ dɔːr/ noun [countable]
 [Language: Old English; Origin: duru 'door' and dor 'gate']

 1. the large flat piece of wood, glass etc that you move when you go into or out of a building, room, vehicle etc, or when you open a cupboard ⇨ gate:
   • Could you open the door for me?
   • The door flew open and Ruth stormed in.
   • Don’t forget to lock the garage door. ⇨ fire door, French doors, revolving door(1), sliding door, stage door, swing door, trapdoor
 2. the space made by an open door SYN doorway
  in/out (of)/through the door
   • Rick turned and ran out of the door.
   • I glanced through the open door.
 3. at the door if someone is at the door, they are waiting for you to open the door of a building so they can come inside:
   • There’s somebody at the front door.
 4. out of doors outside SYN outdoors:
   • I prefer working out of doors.
 5. show/see somebody to the door to take someone to the main way out of a building:
   • My secretary will show you to the door.
 6. two/three etc doors away/down/up used to say how many houses or buildings there are between your house, office etc and another building
  two/three etc doors away/down/up from
   • Patrick lived two doors away from me.
 7. (from) door to door
   a) especially British English from one place to another:
   • How long is the journey, door to door?
   b) going to each house in a street or area to sell something, collect money, or ask for votes:
   • Joe sold vacuum cleaners door to door for years. ⇨ door-to-door
 8. be on the door to work at the entrance to a theatre, club etc, collecting tickets
 9. shut/close the door on something to make something impossible:
   • The accident shut the door on her ballet career.
  ⇨ at death’s door at death(7), ⇨ behind closed doors at closed(5), ⇨ get in through the back door at back door(2), ⇨ lay something at sb’s door at lay2(19), ⇨ next door, ⇨ open doors (for somebody) at open2(16), ⇨ open-door policy, ⇨ open the door to something at open2(16), ⇨ show somebody the door at show1(20)
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS■ verbs

   ▪ open/close/shut the door • I opened the door and Dad was standing there. | • Can you close the door as you go out?
   ▪ slam/bang the door (=shut it loudly, usually because you are angry) • He strode from the room, slamming the door behind him.
   ▪ answer the door (=open it for someone who has knocked or pressed the bell) • Lucy ran downstairs to answer the door.
   ▪ a door leads somewhere (=used to say what place is on the other side of a door) • This door leads into the garden.
   ▪ a door opens/closes/shuts • We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
   ▪ a door slams/bangs (shut) (=shuts loudly) • I heard the front door slam.
   ▪ a door flies/bursts open (=opens very suddenly and quickly) • Then the door burst open and two men with guns came in.
   ▪ a door swings open/shut (=moves forward to open or backwards to shut) • The door swung shut behind me.
   ▪ a door slides open/shut (=moves smoothly to the side or back again) • The lift doors slid open and we got in.
   ▪ lock/unlock the door • I locked the door and turned out the lights.
   ▪ bolt the door (=slide a metal bar across to fasten it) • Once inside, he bolted the door.
   ▪ knock on/at the door (=hit it with your hand to make someone open it) • Who's that knocking at the door?
   ▪ bang/hammer on the door (=hit it very loudly and urgently) • A policeman was banging on the door across the road.
   ▪ tap on/at the door (=hit it very gently) • I tapped on the door and opened it.
   ▪ get the door (=open or close it for someone) • Could you get the door for me?

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + door

   ▪ the front/back/side door (=of a house) • I heard someone knocking at the front door. | • Use the back door if your boots are muddy.
   ▪ the main door (=the door into a building that most people use) • The main door to the hotel is on Queen Street.
   ▪ the kitchen/bedroom/bathroom etc door • The kitchen door opened and Jake walked in.
   ▪ the cupboard door British English, the closet door AmE: • Both the cupboard doors were locked.
   ▪ the fridge/oven door • Steam came out as I opened the oven door.
   ▪ a car door • She heard a car door slamming.
   ▪ the passenger door (=for the person in a car who sits beside the driver) • The taxi driver was holding open the passenger door.
   ▪ a rear door (=a door at the back of a vehicle) • The kids opened the rear doors and climbed in.

■ door + NOUN

   ▪ a door handle (=that you move up or down to open a door) • Ella reached for the door handle.
   ▪ a door knob (=that you turn to open a door) • I turned the door knob and went into the room.
   ▪ a door knocker (=a metal object on a door that you use to knock with) • There was a brass door knocker in the shape of a lion's head.
   ▪ a door bell (=that you press to make it ring) • Adam walked up the path and rang the door bell.
   ▪ a door key • She was looking in her bag for her door key.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

door

door [door doors]   [dɔː(r)]    [dɔːr]  noun

1. countable a piece of wood, glass, etc. that is opened and closed so that people can get in and out of a room, building, car, etc; a similar thing in a cupboard/closet

• a knock on the door

• to open/shut/close/slam/lock/bolt the door

• to answer the door (= to go and open it because sb has knocked on it or rung the bell)

• the front/back door (= at the entrance at the front/back of a building)

• the bedroom door

• the door frame

• a four-door saloon car

• the fridge door

• Shut the door!

• Close the door behind you, please.

• The door closed behind him.

see also  back-door, fire door, French door, open-door, revolving door, sliding door, stable door, stage door, swing door, trapdoor

2. countable the space when a door is open

• Marc appeared through a door at the far end of the room.

• (informal) She's just arrived— she's just come in the door.

• (informal) He walked out the door.

3. countable the area close to the entrance of a building

• There's somebody at the door (= at the front door of a house).

• ‘Can I help you?’ asked the man at the door.

see also  doorway

4. countable a house, room, etc. that is a particular number of houses, rooms, etc. away from another

• the family that lives three doors up from us

• Our other branch is just a few doors down the road.

see also  next door

5. uncountable (BrE) the amount of money made by selling tickets for an event

Syn:  gate

• 50% of the door will go to the Red Cross.

• Performers keep 75% of the door.

more at by/through the back door at  back  adj., close, etc. the barn door after the horse has escaped at  barn, beat a path to sb's door at  beat  v., close its doors at  close1 v., behind closed doors at  closed, never darken my door again at  darken, at death's door at  death, get/have a foot in the door at  foot  n., open doors for sb at  open  v., show sb the door at  show  v., close, etc. the stable door after the horse has bolted at  stable door  n., keep the wolf from the door at  wolf  n.

Idioms: door to door ▪ door to something ▪ lay something at somebody's door ▪ leave the door open ▪ on the door ▪ out of doors ▪ shut the door in somebody's face ▪ shut the door on something ▪ somebody's door 

Word Origin:

Old English duru, dor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch deur ‘door’ and German Tür ‘door’, Tor ‘gate’; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin foris ‘gate’ and Greek thura ‘door’.

 

Thesaurus:

door noun C

• There was a knock on the door.

entrance • • exit • • doorway • • way • • hatch • • gate • • gateway •

at the door/entrance/exit/gate

through the door/doorway/hatch/gate/gateway

the front/back/side door/entrance/exit/way/gate

open/shut/close/slam the door/hatch/gate

 

Example Bank:

• Always put the door chain on.

• Go along the corridor and through the double doors.

• Go and answer the door.

• He arrived home to find the door barred.

• He banged the front door behind him as he left.

• He came in the side door.

• He flung the door open and caught them stuffing a document back into a briefcase.

• He got stuck in a revolving door.

• He had left the door ajar.

• He leaned against the door jamb.

• He looked through the door to make sure the children were all right.

• He pulled the door shut.

• He stood in the door for several minutes before deciding whether he'd stay.

• He was working the door at the event.

• I banged on the door for ages but still couldn't wake them.

• I left the door on the latch so that I could sneak back in later.

• I stopped at a low oak door set in the stone wall.

• I tried the door but it was locked.

• I was woken by a door banging in the wind.

• I went through the door marked ‘Enquiries’.

• Parking is helped by wide door mirrors.

• Remember to bolt the door before you go to bed.

• She had trouble pushing the heavy door open.

• She poked her head through the door to say goodbye.

• She pushed her way through the swing doors.

• Someone had propped the fire door open with a pile of books.

• The car drove off with its rear door flapping open.

• The door bore a notice saying ‘Private’.

• The door burst open and a little boy ran in.

• The door connecting the two offices is kept locked.

• The door opens onto a sunny terrace.

• The door stood ajar so I could see a narrow section of the room.

• The door was half-open when we got there.

• The door was jammed shut.

• The inner door leads to the safe and is always locked after 5 p.m.

• There's someone at the door.

• They had to break the door down to get into the flat.

• This door leads to my bedroom.

• a creaking door hinge

• automatic garage door openers

• the back door of a house

• the door between the laundry room and the garage

• the door into the back garden

• the rear door of a car

• He walked out the door.

• Mark appeared through a door at the far end of the room.

• She's just arrived— she's just come in the door.

• There was a knock on the door.

• the bedroom/wardrobe door

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

door     / dɔ r /      / dɔr /   noun   [ C ]   
  
    A1     a flat object that is used to close the entrance of something such as a room or building, or the entrance itself:  
  the front door 
  the back door 
  a car door 
  a sliding door 
  The door  to  his bedroom was locked. 
  We could hear someone knocking  at/on  the door. 
  Could you  open/close/shut  the door, please? 
  She asked me to  answer  the door   (= go and open it for someone) . 
See picture  door 
  be on the door 
        to work at the entrance of a building, collecting tickets or preventing particular people from entering 
        used to refer to a house or other building:  
  Sam only lives a few doors  (away/up/down) from  us. 
  The people  next  door ( to  us)   (= living in the house next to us)  aren't very friendly. 
  out of doors 
        outside in the open air 

 
© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

door

/dɔ:(r)/
(doors)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
A door is a piece of wood, glass, or metal, which is moved to open and close the entrance to a building, room, cupboard, or vehicle.
I knocked at the front door, but there was no answer...
The policeman opened the door and looked in...
N-COUNT

2.
A door is the space in a wall when a door is open.
She looked through the door of the kitchen. Her daughter was at the stove.
= doorway
N-COUNT

3.
Doors is used in expressions such as a few doors down or three doors up to refer to a place that is a particular number of buildings away from where you are. (INFORMAL)
Mrs Cade’s house was only a few doors down from her daughter’s apartment.
N-PLURAL: amount N down/up

4.
see also next door

5.
When you answer the door, you go and open the door because a visitor has knocked on it or rung the bell.
Carol answered the door as soon as I knocked.
PHRASE: V inflects

6.
If you say that someone gets or does something by the back door or through the back door, you are criticizing them for doing it secretly and unofficially.
The government would not allow anyone to sneak in by the back door and seize power by force...
PHRASE: PHR after v [disapproval]

7.
If someone closes the door on something, they stop thinking about it or dealing with it.
We never close the door on a successful series.
PHRASE: V inflects: PHR n

8.
If people have talks and discussions behind closed doors, they have them in private because they want them to be kept secret.
...decisions taken in secret behind closed doors.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n

9.
If someone goes from door to door or goes door to door, they go along a street calling at each house in turn, for example selling something.
They are going from door to door collecting money from civilians.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n

10.
If you talk about a distance or journey from door to door or door to door, you are talking about the distance from the place where the journey starts to the place where it finishes.
...tickets covering the whole journey from door to door...
PHRASE

11.
If you say that something helps someone to get their foot in the door or their toe in the door, you mean that it gives them an opportunity to start doing something new, usually in an area that is difficult to succeed in.
The bondholding may help the firm get its foot in the door to win the business...
PHRASE: N inflects, PHR after v

12.
If someone shuts the door in your face or slams the door in your face, they refuse to talk to you or give you any information.
Did you say anything to him or just shut the door in his face?
PHRASE: V inflects

13.
If you lay something at someone’s door, you blame them for an unpleasant event or situation.
The blame is generally laid at the door of the government.
PHRASE: V inflects

14.
If someone or something opens the door to a good new idea or situation, they introduce it or make it possible.
This book opens the door to some of the most exciting findings in solid-state physics...
PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR to n

15.
When you are out of doors, you are not inside a building, but in the open air.
The weather was fine enough for working out of doors.
= outdoors
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR

16.
If you see someone to the door, you go to the door with a visitor when they leave.
PHRASE: V inflects

17.
If someone shows you the door, they ask you to leave because they are angry with you.
Would they forgive and forget–or show him the door?
PHRASE: V inflects

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

door

door /ˈdoɚ/ noun, pl doors [count]
1 a : a movable piece of wood, glass, or metal that swings or slides open and shut so that people can enter or leave a room, building, vehicle, etc.
• open/shut/slam/lock/bolt the door
• I heard a knock on/at the door.
• the bedroom/bathroom/cellar door
• The car has four doors. = It's a four-door car.
• Leave the package at the front/back/side door. [=the door at the front/back/side of the house, building, etc.]
• Can you answer the door? [=open the door to see who is knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell]
• Is somebody at the door? [=knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell]
• Let me open the door for you. = (US) Let me get the door for you.
• (US) Can you get the door? [=can you open or close the door for me?] My hands are full.
• an exterior/outside door [=a door that can be used to enter or leave a building]
• an interior door [=a door inside a building; a door that connects rooms]
• a garage door [=a large door that covers the opening through which a car enters and leaves a garage]
• turn/pull the door handle
• a large brass door knocker [=knocker]
- see also back door, dutch door, french door, revolving door, storm door, trapdoor
b : a part of an object (such as piece of furniture or an appliance) that swings or slides open and shut
• the cupboard/closet/refrigerator/oven door
2 : the opening for a door : the entrance to a room or building : doorway
• Please don't block the door.
• I peeked through the open door.
• He stood at/before the door.
• He greeted his guests as they came in/through the door. = He greeted his guests at the door.
• She walked out the door [=left] without saying goodbye.
• standing (just/right) inside/outside the door [=inside/outside the room, building, etc., near the door]
3 : a house, building, apartment, office, etc. - used with an adverb to indicate where something is in relation to something else
• She lives in a house two doors down/up from me. [=there is one house between our houses]
• The library is a few doors down from the bank. [=there are several buildings between the library and the bank]
• We grew up two doors apart. [=with one house/apartment between our houses/apartments]
✦If you do something (from) door to door, you do it at each of the houses, apartments, or buildings in an area.
• Girl Scouts are selling cookies door to door. = Girl Scouts are going door to door selling cookies.
• She went (from) door to door looking for her cat.
- see also door-to-door, next door
4
- used especially with open or unlock to describe an opportunity or possibility
• The grant will open new doors for our town. [=will give our town new opportunities]
• The discovery may unlock the door to a cure for the disease.
• The door is open (to you) if you want a better job.
• A good education can open/unlock the door of success. [=can make success possible]
• The patent on the product has expired, which leaves the door open for [=makes it possible for] other companies to make it.
- see also out of doors
at death's door
- see death
behind closed doors
- see closed
close the door on : to no longer think about, consider, or accept (something)
• I'd like to close the door on that chapter in my life.
• The former senator says she hasn't closed the door on politics.
• Don't close the door on your options.
close your doors
1 : to not allow someone to enter
• The country has closed its doors to immigrants.
2 of a business or organization : to close permanently : to stop operating
• The museum may be forced to close its doors.
• The store closed its doors (for the last time) last fall.
darken someone's door/doors
- see darken
get your foot in the door
- see 1foot
keep the wolf from the door
- see 1wolf
lay the blame for (something) at someone's door : to blame someone for (something)
• They laid the blame for the book's failure at my door.
open doors for
- see 2open
open the door
- see 2open
open your doors
1 : to allow someone to enter
• The country has opened its doors to immigrants.
• local churches that open their doors to the homeless in the winter months [=that let homeless people stay there]
2 of a business or organization : to open for business : to begin operating
• The new store will be opening its doors next month.
show (someone) the door : to tell or force (someone) to leave
• We don't tolerate bad behavior. If you cause trouble, we'll show you the door.
• If the coach doesn't win this year, they'll show him the door. [=they'll fire him]
show/see (someone) to the door : to go to the door with (someone who is leaving)
• My secretary will show you to the door. [=show you out]
- doorless adj
• a doorless cubicle

American English
British English
A1 (Basic)
door
noun
0

floor

floor [noun] (LEVEL OF BUILDING)
US /flɔːr/ 
UK /flɔːr/ 
Example: 

Mehri's apartment is on the sixth floor.

A level of a building

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

Mehri's apartment is on the sixth floor.

 

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
floors and parts of floors
Level: 
A1 (Basic)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

floor

 noun

1 the part of a room that you walk on:
There weren't any chairs so we sat on the floor.

2 all the rooms at the same height in a building:
I live on the top floor.
Our hotel room was on the sixth floor.

which word?
The part of a building that is on the same level as the street is called the ground floor in British English and the first floor in American English.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

floor

I.   noun

I. floor1 S1 W1 /flɔː $ flɔːr/ noun [countable]
 [Language: Old English; Origin: flor]
 1. IN A BUILDING  the flat surface that you stand on inside a building:
   • a polished wooden floor
   • a puddle of water on the kitchen floor
   • a warehouse that has 410,000 square feet of floor space
 2. IN A CAR  British English the part of a car that forms its inside floor SYN floorboard American English
 3. LEVEL IN BUILDING  one of the levels in a building:
   • a ground floor flat
  on the top/first/tenth etc floor
   • Our office is on the top floor.
  floor of
   • We are located on the seventh floor of the building.
 4. OCEAN/FOREST/CAVE FLOOR ETC  the ground at the bottom of the ocean, the forest etc:
   • creatures that live on the ocean floor
 5. FOR DANCING  an area in a room where people can dance:
   • There were two or three couples already on the dance floor.
  take (to) the floor (=begin dancing)
   • Everyone took to the floor for the last waltz.
 6. WHERE PEOPLE WORK  a large area in a building where a lot of people do their jobs:
   • He wasn’t keen on the idea of working on the shop floor (=the part of a factory where people make things using machines).
   • the busy trading floor (=area where STOCKS and SHARES are bought and sold)
 7. LIMIT  an officially agreed limit below which something cannot go ⇨ ceiling:
   • Manufacturers have tried to put a floor under the price of their products.
 8. the floor
   a) the people attending a public meeting:
   • Are there any questions from the floor?
   b) the part of a parliament, public meeting place etc where people sit:
   • The delegates crowded the floor of the House.
 9. take the floor to begin speaking at an important public meeting:
   • The chairman then took the floor.
 10. have the floor to be speaking or have the right to speak at an important public meeting:
   • He stepped aside to allow other speakers to have the floor.
 11. go through the floor if a price, amount etc goes through the floor, it becomes very low OPP go through the roof:
   • Share prices have gone through the floor.
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS■ verbs

   ▪ clean the floor • Next he had to clean the floor.
   ▪ wash/mop the floor • The floor needs mopping.
   ▪ sweep the floor • He grabbed a broom and began sweeping the floor.
   ▪ wax/polish the floor • I washed and waxed the kitchen floor.
   ▪ sit/lie/sleep on the floor • Officers found her lying face down on the floor.
   ▪ fall/drop/sink to the floor • He let his cigarette fall to the floor.

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + floor

   ▪ the bathroom/kitchen/bedroom etc floor • I’ve still got to clean the bathroom floor.
   ▪ a wooden floor • The hut had a muddy wooden floor.
   ▪ a marble floor • He strode across the marble floor.
   ▪ a tiled floor • There were a couple of oriental rugs on the tiled floor.
   ▪ a carpeted floor • Barbara was sitting on the carpeted floor.
   ▪ a bare floor (=not covered by anything) • Father Murphy led me to a tiny room with a bare floor and a simple bed.

■ floor + NOUN

   ▪ floor tiles (=flat square pieces of clay or other material, used to cover floors) • When you buy floor tiles, always get a few extra.
   ▪ floor polish • The room smelt of floor polish.
   ▪ a floor covering (=a material, such as carpet, that covers a floor) • A carpet fitter can fit floor coverings quickly and inexpensively.
   ▪ floor space (=a measure of how big a room or building is, based on the size of the floor) • The shop has 33,000 square feet of floor space.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ floor one of the levels in a building: • She lives in an apartment on the eighteenth floor.
   ▪ storey British English, story American English used when saying how many levels a building has: • a five-storey car park | • The school is a single storey building.
   ▪ the ground floor (also the first floor American English) the floor of a building that is at ground level: • There is a shop on the ground floor. | • The emergency room is on the first floor.
   ▪ the first floor British English, the second floor American English the floor of a building above the one at ground level: • She lives on the first floor.
   ▪ deck one of the levels on a ship, bus, or plane: • The Horizon Lounge is on the top deck of the ship.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

floor

floor [floor floors floored flooring] noun, verb   [flɔː(r)]    [flɔːr]

noun  

OF ROOM

1. countable, usually singular the surface of a room that you walk on

• a wooden/concrete/marble, etc. floor

• ceramic floor tiles

• The body was lying on the kitchen floor.

• The furniture and floor coverings date from the 1920s.

• The alterations should give us extra floor space.  

OF VEHICLE

2. (NAmE also floor·board) countable, usually singular the bottom surface of a vehicle

• The floor of the car was covered in cigarette ends.  

LEVEL OF BUILDING

3. countable all the rooms that are on the same level of a building

• Her office is on the second floor.

• the Irish guy who lives two floors above

• There is a lift to all floors.

• Their house is on three floors (= it has three floors).

see also  ground floor  

OF THE SEA/FORESTS

4. countable, usually singular the ground at the bottom of the sea, a forest, etc

• the ocean/valley/cave/forest floor  

IN PARLIAMENT, ETC.

5. the floor singular the part of a building where discussions or debates are held, especially in a parliament; the people who attend a discussion or debate

• Opposition politicians registered their protest on the floor of the House.

• We will now take any questions from the floor.  

AREA FOR WORK

6. countable, usually singular an area in a building that is used for a particular activity

• on the floor of the Stock Exchange (= where trading takes place)

see also  dance floor, factory floor, shop floor  

FOR WAGES/PRICES

7. countable, usually singular the lowest level allowed for wages or prices

• Prices have gone through the floor (= fallen to a very low level).

compare  ceiling  (2)

more at be/get in on the ground floor at  ground floor 

 

Word Origin:

Old English flōr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloer and German Flur.

Thesaurus:

floor noun

1. C, usually sing.

• She sat on the floor and watched TV.

ground • • earth •

Opp: ceiling

on/under the floor/ground/earth

drop/fall to (the) floor/ground/earth

reach/hit (the) floor/ground

2. C

• an office on the third floor

level • • deck • |especially BrE storey • |AmE usually story •

on the top, etc. floor/level/deck/storey

the top/upper/lower floor/level/deck/storey

the main floor/deck

Floor or storey? Use floor to talk about which level of a building sb lives/works on; use storey to talk about how many floors a building has

• His office is on the fifth floor.

• a five-storey house

British/American:

floor

In BrE the floor of a building at street level is the ground floor, the one above it is the first floor and the one below it is the basement, or lower ground floor in a public building.

In NAmE the floor at street level is usually called the first floor, the one above it is the second floor and the one below it is the basement. In public buildings the floor at street level can also be called the ground floor.

note at storey 

Synonyms:

floor

ground • land • earth

These are all words for the surface that you walk on.

floor • the surface of a room that you walk on: ▪ She was sitting on the floor watching TV.

ground • (often the ground) the solid surface of the earth that you walk on: ▪ I found her lying on the ground. ◊ ▪ The rocket crashed a few seconds after it ▪ left the ground ▪.

land • the surface of the earth that is not sea: ▪ It was good to be back on ▪ dry land ▪ again. ◊ ▪ They fought both at sea and ▪ on land ▪.

earth • (often the earth) the solid surface of the world that is made of rock, soil, sand, etc: ▪ You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer.

ground, land or earth?

Ground is the normal word for the solid surface that you walk on when you are not in a building or vehicle. You can use earth if you want to draw attention to the rock, soil etc. that the ground is made of. Land is only used when you want to contrast it with the sea: the land beneath our feet ◊ feel the land shake ◊ sight ground/earth ◊ travel by ground/earth

on/under the floor/ground/earth

bare floor/ground/earth

to drop/fall to the floor/the ground/(the) earth

to reach the floor/the ground/land

 

Which Word?:

storey / floor

You use storey (BrE)/story (NAmE) mainly when you are talking about the number of levels a building has: ▪ a five-storey house ◊ ▪ The office building is five storeys high.

Floor is used mainly to talk about which particular level in the building someone lives on, goes to, etc: ▪ His office is on the fifth floor.

note at floor 

 

Example Bank:

• Do you mind sitting on the floor?

• His glass fell to the floor and broke.

• I can't sleep on the bare floor!

• The offices occupy the top floor of the building.

• a cafe on the mezzanine floor

• Her office is on the second floor.

• His footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.

• She was sitting on the floor watching TV.

• The bathroom floor was flooded with water.

• The vase fell to the floor with a crash.

• Their house is on three floors.

• There is a lift/an elevator to all floors.

• There were wooden panels from floor to ceiling.

• There's not really enough floor space in here.

• to clean/wash/sweep the floor

Idioms: get have the floor ▪ hold the floor ▪ mop the floor with somebody ▪ take the floor 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

floor / flɔː r /   / flɔːr / noun [ C usually singular ] (SURFACE)

A1 the flat surface of a room on which you walk:

The floor was partly covered with a dirty old rug.

The bathroom floor needs cleaning.

The children sat playing on the floor.

There's barely enough floor space to fit a bed in this room.
 

floor / flɔː r /   / flɔːr / noun [ C ] (LEVEL OF BUILDING)

A2 a level of a building:

This building has five floors.

Take the elevator to the 51st floor.

We live on the third floor.

a ground floor apartment
 

floor / flɔː r /   / flɔːr / noun (OPEN SPACE)

B1 [ C usually singular ] a public space for activities such as dancing and having formal discussions:

a dance floor

The new proposal will be discussed on the floor of the House of Commons (= in Parliament) tomorrow.

He spent several years working on the factory floor (= in the factory) before becoming a manager.

The chairman said that he would now take questions from the floor (= from the audience) .

have the floor to have the right to speak:

Silence, please, the prime minister has the floor.

take (to) the floor to stand and begin to dance:

The newlyweds were the first to take the floor.

take the floor start speaking:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will take the floor for his Budget speech at 3.00 p.m.

floor / flɔː r /   / flɔːr / noun (BOTTOM)

the floor the bottom surface of the sea, a forest, a cave, etc.:

the floor of the ocean/the ocean floor

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

floor

/flɔ:(r)/
(floors, flooring, floored)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
The floor of a room is the part of it that you walk on.
Jack’s sitting on the floor watching TV...
We painted the wooden floor with a white stain.
N-COUNT: usu the N in sing

2.
A floor of a building is all the rooms that are on a particular level.
It is on the fifth floor of the hospital...
They occupied the first two floors of the tower.
= storey
N-COUNT: usu supp N

3.
The ocean floor is the ground at the bottom of an ocean. The valley floor is the ground at the bottom of a valley.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp, oft n N

4.
The place where official debates and discussions are held, especially between members of parliament, is referred to as the floor.
The issues were debated on the floor of the House.
N-COUNT: usu the N in sing

5.
In a debate or discussion, the floor is the people who are listening to the arguments being put forward but who are not among the main speakers.
The president is taking questions from the floor.
N-SING-COLL: the N

6.
The floor of a stock exchange is the large open area where trading is done.
...the dealing floor at Standard Chartered Bank.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp

7.
The floor in a place such as a club or disco is the area where people dance.
N-COUNT

8.
If you are floored by something, you are unable to respond to it because you are so surprised by it.
He was floored by the announcement...
He seemed floored by a string of scandals.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed

9.
see also floored, flooring, dance floor, first floor, ground floor, shop floor

10.
If you take the floor, you start speaking in a debate or discussion. If you are given the floor, you are allowed to do this.
Ministers took the floor to denounce the decision to suspend constitutional rule...
Only members would be given the floor.
PHRASE: V inflects

11.
If you take to the floor, you start dancing at a dance or disco.
The happy couple and their respective parents took to the floor.
PHRASE: V inflects

12.
If you say that prices or sales have fallen through the floor, you mean that they have suddenly decreased.
Property prices have dropped through the floor...
PHRASE: PHR after v

13.
If you wipe the floor with someone, you defeat them completely in a competition or discussion. (INFORMAL)
He could wipe the floor with the Prime Minister.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1floor /ˈfloɚ/ noun, pl floors
1 [count] : the part of a room on which you stand
• Keep your feet on the floor.
• washing the kitchen floor
• a marble/tile/hardwood floor
2 [count]
a : the lower inside surface of something (such as a vehicle)
• the floor of a car
b : the area of ground at the bottom of something - usually singular
• the ocean floor
• the forest floor
3 [count] : a level in a building
• She lives on the second floor of a five-story building.
• His office is located on the fourth floor.
- see also first floor, ground floor
4 [count] : a large indoor space where people gather for some activity - usually singular
• the floor of the convention/legislature
• the factory floor
• the dance floor
• buying and selling shares on the floor of the exchange
5 [singular] : the people who are gathered in a place for a public meeting
• He will now take questions from the floor.
6 [count] : a lower limit - usually singular
• establishing a floor for wages and prices
• The value of the stock has dropped/gone/fallen through the floor. [=to a very low level]
- opposite ceiling
have the floor : to have the right to speak at a public meeting
• May I have the floor?
hold the floor : to be the person who is speaking at a public meeting
• The senator held the floor for several hours.
on the cutting-room floor
- see cutting room
take the floor
1 : to begin speaking at a public meeting
• After Senator Smith was finished addressing the assembly, Senator White took the floor.
2 : to go out onto a dance floor to begin dancing
• Several couples took the floor.

American English
British English
A1 (Basic)
floor
noun
0

time

time [noun] (MINUTES/DAYS/YEARS)
US /taɪm/ 
UK /taɪm/ 
Example: 

Time passes quickly.

Related quotes: 
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.
People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine
Pray, dear madam, another glass; it is Christmas time, it will do you no harm.
Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.
I know from my own education that if I hadn't encountered two or three individuals that spent extra time with me, I'm sure I would have been in jail.
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do.
If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of.
Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart's desire.
The way we spend our time defines who we are.

the thing that is measured in minutes, hours, days, years etc using clocks

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

Time passes quickly.
 

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
relating to time
Level: 
A2 (Elementary)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

noun

1 (no plural) a period of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years:
Time passes quickly when you're busy.
They have lived here for some time (= for quite a long time).
I haven't got time to help you now – I'm late for school.
It takes a long time to learn a language.

2 (plural times) a certain point in the day or night, that you say in hours and minutes:
'What time is it?' 'It's twenty past six.'
What's the time?
Can you tell me the times of trains to Brighton, please?
It's time to go home.
By the time (= when) we arrived they had eaten all the food.

3 (plural times) a certain moment or occasion:
I've seen this film four times.
Come and visit us next time you're in England.

4 (plural times) an experience; something that you do:
We had a great time on holiday.

5 (plural times) certain years in history:
In Shakespeare's time, not many people could read.

at a time together; on one occasion:
The lift can carry six people at a time.

at one time in the past, but not now:
We were in the same class at one time.

at the time then:
My family moved to London in 1986 – I was four at the time.

at times sometimes:
A teacher's job can be very difficult at times.

for the time being now, but not for long:
You can stay here for the time being, until you find a flat.

from time to time sometimes; not often:
I see my cousin from time to time.

have a good time enjoy yourself:
Have a good time at the party!

in a week's, two months', a year's time after a week, two months, a year:
I'll see you in two weeks' time.

in good time at the right time or early:
I want to get to the station in good time.

in time not late:
If you hurry, you'll arrive in time for the film.

it's about time (informal) words that you use to say that something should be done now:
It's about time you started studying if you want to pass the exam.

on time not late or early:
My train was on time.

spare time, free time time when you do not have to work or study:
What do you do in your spare time?

spend time to use time to do something:
I spend a lot of time playing tennis.

take your time to do something slowly

tell the time to read the time from a clock or watch:
Can your children tell the time?

time after time, time and time again many times

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

time

I. time1 S1 W1 /taɪm/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: time, overtime, timer, timing, timelessness; adjective: timeless, timely ≠ untimely; verb: time; adverb: timelessly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: tima]
1. MINUTES/HOURS ETC [uncountable] the thing that is measured in minutes, hours, days, years etc using clocks:
Einstein changed the way we think about space and time.
close relationships established over a long period of time
Customers have only a limited amount of time to examine the goods.
time passes/goes by
Their marriage got better as time went by.
2. ON A CLOCK [singular] a particular point in time shown on a clock in hours and minutes:
‘What time is it?’ ‘It’s about two thirty.’
What time are you going out tonight?
what time do you make it? British English what time do you have? American English (=used to ask someone with a watch what time it is)
have you got the time? British English do you have the time? American English (=used to ask someone if they know what time it is)
tell the time British English tell time American English (=be able to understand a clock)
Robin’s just learning to tell the time.
look at the time (=used when you realize that it is later than you thought it was)
Oh no. Look at the time. I’ll be late.
is that the time? (=used when you suddenly realize what the time is)
Is that the time? I must go.
this time tomorrow/last week etc
By this time tomorrow I’ll know whether I’ve got the job.
3. OCCASION [countable] an occasion when something happens or someone does something:
That was the only time we disagreed.
Do you remember the time I hit Tom Benson?
Mary had seen the film many times.
(for) the first/second/last etc time
It was the first time that he had lost a game.
Gerry had just had back surgery for the third time in two years.
(the) next time/(the) last time/this time
Why don’t you drop in for a drink next time you’re over this way?
The last time (=the most recent time) I saw Jonathan was Thursday evening.
The freezing weather did not return until February but this time we were prepared.
the first/second/next/last etc time round (=the first, second etc time something happens)
I missed their concert the first time round so I’m going next week.
every/each time
I meet up with Julie every time I go to Washington.
how many times ...?
How many times did you take your driving test?
How many times have I told you not to wander off like that? (=I have told you many times)
One time (=once) I went to a garage sale and bought fifteen books.
4. POINT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS [uncountable and countable] the particular minute, hour, day etc when something happens or should happen
at the time of something
She was three months pregnant at the time of Stephen’s death.
at some/any/that time
He is performing as well as at any time in his career.
The UK has 500,000 stray dogs on its streets at any one time (=at any particular time).
at a/the time when ...
At the time when this scheme was introduced, it was recognised that there might be problems.
by the time ...
The phone was ringing but by the time she got indoors, it had stopped.
it’s time to do something
Rosie – it’s time to get up.
it’s time for something
Come on, it’s time for bed.
He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s time for me to go.’
it’s time somebody did something
It’s time I fed the dog.
Now is the right time for us to move to London.
a good/bad time
This might be a good time to start planning the new garden.
not the time/hardly the time
Now is not the time to annoy Peter.
there’s no time like the present (=used to say that now is a good time to do something)
‘When do you want to meet?’ ‘Well, there’s no time like the present.’
dinner/lunch/tea etc time
It’s nearly dinner time.
opening/closing time (=the time when a shop, bar etc opens or closes)
We empty the till each night at closing time.
arrival/departure time (=the time when a train, plane etc arrives or leaves)
Our estimated arrival time is 2:30 pm.
time of day/year
England is so lovely at this time of year.
We’ll sort that out when the time comes (=when it becomes necessary).
5. PERIOD OF TIME [singular, uncountable] a period of time during which something happens or someone does something:
Dustin wanted to spend as much time as possible with his family.
a long/short/limited time
I first met Jennifer a long time ago.
They stopped for a short time to rest the horses.
Andy and Tom talked for some time (=for a fairly short period).
Alison was married, for a time (=for a fairly short period), to a comedian.
Martin disliked being away from his family for any length of time (=for more than just a short period).
It took her a long time to make a decision.
Learning a language isn’t easy – it takes time (=takes a long period of time).
take time to do something (=deliberately spend time doing something)
While in New York he took time to visit some friends.
travel time
I wanted to make better use of my travel time.
6. AVAILABLE TIME [uncountable] an amount of time that is available for you to do something:
I’ll visit him if I have time.
Molly would like to do some diving if there is time.
have time for something
She realized she would have time for a coffee before her train left.
We don’t have to rush. We have all the time in the world (=have plenty of time).
June had little time to spare (=available time) for making her own clothes.
free/spare time (=time when you are not working)
He writes poetry in his spare time.
Being prepared for meetings will save time.
I don’t want to waste time arguing.
She spent precious time (=valuable and important time) looking for a telephone.
I seem to spend most of my time on the phone.
McDuff passed the time writing letters (=wrote letters because he had nothing else to do).
have time on your hands/time to kill (=not have enough to do)
Now the children have left home, she has too much time on her hands.
make/find time (for something/to do something) (=plan so that you have time available for something)
Make time to talk to your children.
Book your ticket soon, as time is running out.
time’s up (=used to say that it is the end of the time allowed for something such as a competition or examination)
we’re out of time (=used on radio and television programmes to say that there is no more time available on the programme)
7. all the time (also the whole time) continuously or very often:
I keep practising and I’m improving all the time.
He worries about her the whole time.
8. most of the time very often or almost always:
I can speak German but we speak English most of the time.
9. half the time if something happens half the time, especially something annoying, it happens quite often:
Half the time you don’t even notice what I’m wearing.
10. at times sometimes:
Life is hard at times.
11. from time to time sometimes, but not regularly or very often:
These food safety scares happen from time to time.
12. time after time/time and time again often, over a long period:
The police were catching the same kids stealing time after time.
13. at all times always – used especially in official rules and statements:
Children must be supervised at all times while in the park.
Parents are welcome at all times.
14. nine times out of ten/99 times out of 100 etc used to say that something is almost always true or almost always happens:
Nine times out of ten she’s right.
15. at the time at a particular moment or period in the past when something happened, especially when the situation is very different now:
I was about ten or eleven at the time.
16. at one time at a time in the past but not now:
At one time she wanted to be a nurse, but the thought of working at night put her off.
17. at this time American English at this particular moment:
The President said his actions were ‘the right ones at this time’.
18. at no time used to say strongly that something never happened or should never happen
at no time did/was etc
At no time did anyone involved speak to the press.
At no time was the company informed.
19. for the time being for a short period of time from now, but not permanently:
Now, for the time being, she is living with her father in Tijuana.
20. in 10 days’/five years’/a few minutes’ etc time ten days, five years etc from now:
He has an appointment with the doctor in two days’ time.
21. in time
a) before the time by which it is necessary for something to be done:
Will you be able to finish it in time?
in time to do something
They ran all the way to the corner just in time to see the bus disappearing up the street.
in time for
The painting was successfully repaired in time for the opening of the exhibition.
in good time/in plenty of time (=a long time before the necessary time)
We arrived at the concert hall in good time.
b) after a certain period of time, especially after a gradual process of change and development:
He wants to see changes in the company and I am sure he will, in time.
22. with time to spare sooner than expected or necessary:
We should arrive in New York with time to spare.
23. over time if something happens over time, it happens gradually during a long period:
The research project will be assessed over time.
Students are encouraged to consider the way language changes over time.
24. with time/given time after a period of time:
These symptoms will start to get better with time.
I would have thought of the answer, given time.
25. take your time
a) to do something slowly or carefully without hurrying
take your time doing something
Marie took her time cutting my hair and did it really well.
take your time over
He had planned to take his time over the journey.
b) to do something more slowly than seems reasonable:
You’re taking your time with the lab tests. We need the results now.
26. five/ten/many etc times ... used to say how much greater, more etc one thing is than another:
Sound travels four times faster in water than in air.
There were three times as many girls as boys.
27. ... at a time
a) if someone deals with things one, three, ten etc at a time, they deal with them separately or in groups of three, ten etc:
If you raise your hands, I’ll answer questions one at a time.
Frank took the stairs two at a time.
b) if something happens for hours, days, months etc at a time, it continues for several hours, months etc:
Because of his work, he’s often away for weeks at a time.
28. on time at the correct time or the time that was arranged:
Jack was worried about whether he’d be able to get there on time.
right/bang/dead on time (=at exactly the right time)
The plane arrived right on time.
29. ahead of/behind time earlier or later than the time when something happens, should be done etc:
Prepare what you plan to say in the meeting ahead of time (=before the meeting).
The train left twenty minutes behind time (=after it should have left).
30. it’s about time (also it’s high time) spoken used to say strongly that you think something should happen soon or should already have happened:
It’s about time our team won.
It’s high time we had a party.
31. not before time/and about time (too) spoken used to say that something should have happened sooner:
Philip is going to be punished and not before time.
32. the best/biggest etc ... of all time the best, biggest etc of a particular kind of person or thing that has ever existed:
He is the greatest athlete of all time, in my opinion.
33. in no time (at all)/in next to no time very quickly or soon:
We’ll be there in no time.
34. any time (now) very soon:
‘When is she due back?’ ‘Any time now.’
35. it’s (only/just) a matter/question of time used to say that something will definitely happen at some time in the future, but you do not know when:
I’ll find the key eventually. It’s just a question of time.
It’s only a matter of time before we catch the person who killed her.
36. (only) time will tell used to say that at some time in the future it will become clear whether or not something is true, right etc:
Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.
37. PERIOD IN HISTORY [countable] (also times [plural]) a particular period in history:
Mankind has used the horse since ancient times.
In earlier times, servants would use the bare wooden stairs at the back of the house.
at/in/during etc the time of something
He lived at the time of the Napoleonic wars.
our time(s) (=the present period in history)
Air pollution has become one of the most significant health problems of our time.
38. behind the times old-fashioned:
Our equipment is a bit behind the times.
39. move/change/keep up with the times to change when other things in society, business etc change:
We’ve got to move with the times.
40. ahead of your/its time having or using the most advanced ideas, methods, designs, technology etc:
Coleridge was far ahead of his time in his understanding of the unconscious.
41. PLEASANT/UNPLEASANT [countable] a good time, bad time, difficult time etc is a period or occasion when you have good, bad, difficult etc experiences:
This was the happiest time of her life.
good/bad/hard etc times
They had their happy times, but they had their hard times too.
have a good/great/lovely etc time (=enjoy yourself)
Did you have a good time at the party?
Julie went to a wedding at the weekend and had the time of her life (=enjoyed herself very much).
42. sb’s time in/at/as something the period of time when you were living in a particular place, working for a particular company etc:
In her time at the United Nations she was considered a tough negotiator.
43. before your time
a) before you were born or before you started working or living somewhere:
They say he was a great actor but that was before my time.
b) if you do something, especially get old, before your time, you do it before the time when most people usually do it in their lives:
He seemed to grow into an old man before his time.
44. IN PART OF THE WORLD [uncountable] the way of referring to points in time in one particular part of the world:
Eastern Standard Time
British Summer Time
The flight to Boston arrives at 1.15 pm local time.
45. TIME TAKEN [countable]
a) the amount of time taken by a competitor in a race:
The Olympic medallist’s time in the 200 metres final was 2 minutes 11.56 seconds.
b) journey time the amount of time a journey takes:
The journey time to London is approximately four hours.
46. SPORTS [uncountable] British English the end of the normal period of playing time in a sports game, especially football SYN full time:
Mason’s goal 13 minutes from time earned his team a place in the finals.
47. MUSIC [uncountable] the number of beats in each ↑bar in a piece of music:
Waltzes are usually in three-four time.
48. in time to/with something if you do something in time to a piece of music, you do it using the same ↑rhythm and speed as the music:
Gloria was tapping her feet in time to the music.
49. keep/beat time to show the ↑rhythm and speed that a piece of music should be played at to a group of musicians, using your hands
50. keep perfect/good etc time if a clock keeps good time, it always shows the correct time
51. PRISON do time to spend a period of time in prison:
Paul was doing time for burglary.
52. pass the time of day (with somebody) to say hello to someone and have a short talk with them:
People like to pass the time of day with neighbours.
53. time was (when) used to say that there was a time when you used to be able to do something, when something used to happen etc:
Time was when no one had television.
54. there’s no time to lose used to say that you must do something quickly because there is very little time
55. make good time if you make good time on a journey, you travel quickly, especially more quickly than you expected:
We made good time and were at the hotel by lunchtime.
56. race/work/battle against time to try to finish or achieve something even though you have very little time:
Mark was racing against time to complete the work by Friday.
57. time is money used to say that wasting time or delaying something costs money
58. time is on your side used to say that someone is young enough to be able to wait before doing something or until something happens
59. time is a great healer/heals all wounds used to say that someone will become less upset as time passes
60. time flies used to say that time seems to pass very quickly:
Time flies when you’re having fun.
61. in your own time if you study or do work in your own time, you do it outside normal school or work hours:
Nurses in training study in their own time.
62. in your own (good) time informal when you are ready:
Bobby will tell them about it in his own good time.
63. all in good time used to tell someone to be patient because something they are waiting for will certainly happen after a period of time, and probably quite soon:
‘I’d love to see it.’ ‘All in good time.’
64. have a lot of/no time for somebody/something informal if you have a lot of time for someone or something, you like or admire them:
He has no time for (=does not like) people who talk too much.
65. time of life used to refer to someone’s age:
At my time of life, you can’t take too many shocks like that.
66. your time used in certain expressions to refer to the period when you are alive
in your time
I’ve met some rude women in my time but she’s the worst.
He was many things in his time – musician, pilot, cattle-rancher, industrialist, journalist.
If I had my time over again (=lived my life again), I’d probably do exactly the same things.
67. time of the month the time when a woman has her ↑period:
It’s that time of the month.
68. time out of mind literary a very long time, or a very long time ago
⇨ big time1, full-time, half-time, part-time, real-time, ⇨ at the best of times at best3(11), ⇨ time is of the essence at essence(4), ⇨ bide your time at bide(1), ⇨ in the fullness of time at fullness(1), ⇨ give somebody/something time at give1(21), ⇨ kill time at kill1(8), ⇨ lose time at lose(8), ⇨ mark time at mark2(11), ⇨ move with the times at move1(17), ⇨ in the nick of time at nick1(1), ⇨ for old times’ sake at old(19), ⇨ once upon a time at once1(14), ⇨ play for time at play1(18), ⇨ the time is ripe at ripe(3), ⇨ at the same time at same1(3), ⇨ sign of the times at sign1(9), ⇨ a stitch in time (saves nine) at stitch1(8), ⇨ have a whale of a time at whale1(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1, 5 & 6)
■ verbs
▪ time passes/goes by As time passed, she thought less and less about her family back home.
▪ take time (=require a long time to do) Learning a new skill takes time.
▪ have time (=have enough time to do something) I didn’t do it because I didn’t have time.
▪ have/get time to do something We never get time to do anything together.
▪ spend time I’m going to spend some time with my family.
▪ pass the time (=spend a period of time doing something) The prisoners pass the time reading, or writing letters.
▪ waste time You are wasting your time arguing with him.
▪ save time I used a ready-made sauce in order to save time.
▪ make/find time to do something (=do something, even though you are busy) You need to make time to do things you enjoy.
▪ kill time (=spend time doing something unimportant while waiting for something) He was just killing time before his appointment.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + time
▪ a long time I haven’t seen him for a long time.
▪ a short time A short time later, she heard him drive away.
▪ a limited time (=a short period of time) The offer is available for a limited time only.
▪ some time (=quite a long period of time) I’ve known the truth for some time.
▪ free/spare time He spends all this free time watching television.
▪ precious/valuable time I’m sorry if I’m taking up your valuable time.
▪ family time As the children get older, evenings become valuable family time.
▪ journey/travel time (=the time it takes to travel somewhere) By train, the journey time to London is about two hours.
■ phrases
▪ a period of time Over a period of time the students develop their own ideas.
▪ an amount/a length of time Customers only have a limited amount of time to inspect the goods.
▪ there is time to do something (=there is enough time to do it) There was no time to discuss it further.
▪ it takes time to do something It took them a long time to struggle through the crowds.
▪ as time goes on (=as time passes) I understood him better as time went on.
▪ time is running out (=there is not much time left to do something) Doctors are looking for a suitable donor, but time is running out.
▪ time’s up (=used to say that the time allowed for something has finished) Time’s up, class. Put your pens down and hand your papers to the front.
▪ have time to kill (=have time to do something unimportant while waiting for something) I still had some time to kill, so I thought I’d make a couple of phone calls.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'a small time'. Say a short time.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a time when something happens
▪ time a time when something happens or when you should do something: The last time I saw her she was in high school. | It’s time for you to go to bed. | The best time to visit Scotland is in late May.
▪ occasion a time when something happens. Occasion is more formal than time: They have been seen together on several occasions. | The last occasion the two teams met, the Giants won easily.
▪ moment a particular point in time when something happens: At that moment (=at exactly that time), the door bell rang. | The next moment she was gone.
▪ point a particular time during a longer period of time: At one point during the play she completely forgot her lines. | the lowest point of the holiday
■ a long time
▪ a long time a long period of time, especially many months or years: They’ve been married a long time – nearly 30 years. | The house has been empty for a long time.
▪ all day/night/year/week continuing for the whole day, night, year etc – used especially to emphasize that it is a long time: It’s going to take me all night to finish this essay. | He’s in London all week, and only comes home at the weekends.
▪ hours/weeks/months/years many hours, weeks, months, or years – used to emphasize that it is a long time, or much longer than it should be: It’s years since I rode a bike. | My wife had to wait months for a hospital appointment.
▪ ages especially British English informal a very long time: I’ve been standing here for ages. | The software takes ages to load. | They’ve lived there for ages.
▪ a while (also some time) a fairly long time: I hadn’t seen Paul for a while, and he’d completely changed. | It may be some time before the company starts to make a profit.
▪ the longest time American English a very long time: For the longest time, my daughter wasn’t reading at all. | It took me the longest time to figure out how to work the sunroof in this car.
■ a short time
▪ a minute/moment a short time: I’ll call you back in a minute. | Can I show you something? It will only take a moment.
▪ a second a very short time: I’ll be ready in a second. | Just a second – I can’t find my wallet.
▪ an instant written a very short time: In an instant, they were gone. | He paused for an instant.
▪ a little while/a short while a short period of time, especially a few hours, days, or weeks: I’ve been to Tokyo, but I was only there for a short while. | I saw him a little while ago.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

time

 

time [time times timed timing] noun, verb   [taɪm]    [taɪm] 

 

noun

see also  times  

 

MINUTES/HOURS/YEARS, ETC.
1. uncountable what is measured in minutes, hours, days, etc
• The changing seasons mark the passing of time.
• A visit to the museum will take you back in time to the 1930s.
• time and space
• As time went by we saw less and less of each other.
• Perceptions change over time (= as time passes).
• They say that time heals all wounds.

see also  Father Time

2. uncountable the time shown on a clock in minutes and hours
• What time is it/What's the time?
• Do you have the time?
• (BrE) What time do you make it?
• (NAmE) What time do you have?
• The time is now half past ten.
• (BrE) Can she tell the time yet (= say what time it is by looking at a clock)?
• (NAmE) Can she tell time yet?
• My watch keeps perfect time (= always shows the correct time).
• Look at the time! We'll be late.

• This time tomorrow I'll be in Canada.

3. uncountable the time measured in a particular part of the world
• Greenwich Mean Time
• 6 o'clock local time

see also  standard time, summer time

4. uncountable, countable the time when sth happens or when sth should happen
• What time do you finish work?
• The baby loves bath time.
• ~ (to do sth) I think it's time to go to bed.
• This is hardly the time to discuss politics.
• ~ (for sth) It's time for lunch.
• ~ (that)… It's time the kids were in bed.
• By the time you get there the meeting will be over.
• A computer screen shows arrival and departure times.
• The train arrived right on time (= at exactly the correct time).
• You'll feel differently about it when the time comes (= when it happens).
• Have I called at a bad time? Shall I call back later?
• The promotion came at just the right time for me.
• We stock six different beers at any one time.

see also  any time, closing time, drive time, night-time, opening time  

 

 

PERIOD

5. uncountable ~ (to do sth) an amount of time; the amount of time available to work, rest, etc
• Allow plenty of time to get to the airport.
• I can probably make the time to see them.
• It takes time to make changes in the law.
• We have no time to lose (= we must hurry).
• We got to the airport with time to spare.
• He spends most of his time working.
• She doesn't have much free/spare time.
• Sorry, I can't spare the time.
• What a waste of time!
• I didn't finish the test— I ran out of time.
• Time's up — have you worked out the answer yet?
• He never takes any time off (= time spent not working).
• Jane's worked here for some time (= for a fairly long period of time).
• Do it now please— not in three hours' time (= three hours from now).
• The journey time is two hours.
• I don't want to take up too much of your precious time.
• What's the hurry? We have all the time in the world.

see also  response time

6. a time singular a period of time, either long or short, during which you do sth or sth happens
• His injuries will take a long time to heal.
• Did you have to wait a long time to see the doctor?
• I lived in Egypt for a time.
• The early morning is the best time of day.
• Her parents died a long time ago.
• At one time (= at a period of time in the past) Emily was my best friend.

• Mr Curtis was the manager in my time (= when I was working there).

7. uncountable, plural a period of history connected with particular events or experiences in people's lives
• The movie is set at the time of the Russian Revolution.
• in ancient times
• the violent times we live in (= the present period of history)
• the politician who promised ‘peace in our time’
• Times are hard for the unemployed.
• Times have changed since Grandma was young.

see also  old-time  

 

 

OCCASION/EVENT

8. countable an occasion when you do sth or when sth happens
• Every time I hear that song I feel happy.
• It doesn't matter if you don't win every time (= every time you play).
• Next time you're here let's have lunch together.
• He failed his driving test three times.
• He's determined to pass this time.
• When was the last time you saw her?
• How many times (= how often) do I have to tell you not to do that?
• (especially NAmE) I remember one time (= once) we had to abandon our car in the snow.
• (formal) At no time did I give my consent to the plan.  To talk about the first or the last time you do sth, use the first/last time (that) I…
• This is the first time (that) I've been to London.
• This is the first time for me to go to London.

• That was the last time (that) I saw her.

9. countable an event or occasion that you experience in a particular way
• Did you have a good time in Spain?
• I had an awful time in the hospital.

• Mike and I shared some really good times.  

 

 

FOR RACE

10. countable, uncountable how long sb takes to run a race or complete an event
• The winner's time was 11.6 seconds.
• She completed the 500 metres in record time (= faster than any previous runner).

• one of the fastest times ever  

 

 

IN MUSIC

11. uncountable the number of beats in a bar of music
• This piece is in four-four time.
• a slow waltz time

• The conductor beat time with a baton.

12. uncountable the correct speed and rhythm of a piece of music
• Try and dance in time to the music (= with the same speed and rhythm).
• Clap your hands to keep time (= sing or move with the correct speed and rhythm).
• to play in/out of time (= follow/not follow the correct speed and rhythm)
• He always plays in perfect time.
see also  big time, small-time 
more at beat time (to sth) at  beat  v., bide your time at  bide, be (living) on borrowed time at  borrow, buy time at  buy  v., call time (on sth) at  call  v., in the course of time at  course  n., take it/things one day at a time at  day, a devil of a job/time at  devil, have an easy time of it at  easy  adj., there's a first time for everything at  first  det., from that day/time forth at  forth, in the fullness of time at  fullness, gain time at  gain  v., give me sth/sb (any day/time) at  give  v., give sb a hard time at  hard  adj., have a high old time at  high  adj., kill time at  kill  v., long time no see at  long  adj., make up for lost time at  lost  adj., better luck next time at  luck  n., mark time at  mark  v., it's just/only a matter of time at  matter  n., move with the times at  move  v., in the nick of time at  nick  n., ninety-nine times out of hundred at  ninety, for old times' sake at  old, once upon a time at  once  adv., pass the time of day at  pass  v., a race against time/the clock at  race  n., a sign of the times at  sign  n., a stitch in time (saves nine) at  stitch  n., in your own sweet time/way at  sweet  adj., have a thin time (of it) at  thin  adj., third time lucky at  third, have a whale of a time at  whale  
Word Origin:
Old English tīma, of Germanic origin; related to tide, which it superseded in temporal senses. The earliest of the current verb senses (dating from late Middle English) is ‘do (something) at a particular moment’.  
Synonyms:
rest
break • respite • time out • breathing space
These are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.
rest • a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity: ▪ We stopped for a well-earned rest.
break • a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat: ▪ Let's ▪ take a break ▪.
In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.
respite • a short break from sth difficult or unpleasant: ▪ The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.
time out • (informal, especially NAmE) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies: ▪ Take time out to relax by the pool.
breathing space • a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort: ▪ This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.
(a) rest/break/respite/time out from sth
to have/take (a) rest/break/time out
to give sb (a) rest/break/respite/breathing space 
Example Bank:
• A great deal of time has been spent on developing this software.
• As time went by we saw less and less of each other.
• At one time Mary was my best friend.
• At the time of writing, a ceasefire is under discussion.
• By the time you get there the meeting will be over.
• Can he tell the time yet?
• Check the programme ahead of time.
• De Niro makes the most of limited screen time.
• Do you have time for a chat?
• Do you need more time?
• Every time I hear that song I feel happy.
• Finishing the book was a race against time.
• For the first time in history, more than half of us now live in cities.
• Get to the airport in good time.
• Have you lived abroad for any length of time?
• He can be rather moody at times.
• He completed the course in record time.
• He lived at the time of the Civil War.
• He put all his time into the show.
• He surfs the Internet for hours at a time.
• He'd been thinking about quitting his job for quite some time.
• Her parents died a long time ago.
• Her skills improved with time.
• Hot water is available at all times.
• How time flies!
• I can certainly do the job if you give me time.
• I can never find time to write letters.
• I can remember the first time I met her.
• I didn't finish the test— I ran out of time.
• I had no time to think.
• I hope to spend more time with my family.
• I lived there for a time.
• I told her not to do it for the umpteenth time.
• I'll be back in ten minutes' time.
• I'm determined to pass this time.
• I've told you countless times.
• Is this an appropriate time to discuss my salary?
• It helps to pass the time.
• It took her a long time to read the report.
• It was a fun time for us girls.
• It was only a matter of time before someone tried to kill him.
• It's a sign of the times when sports stars earn more than movie stars.
• It's time for a break.
• Kelly played guitar and everyone clapped their hands in time.
• Let me just check the time.
• Mr Curtis was the manager in my time.
• My watch keeps good time.
• Next time you're here let's have lunch together.
• Not knowing what to do, she played for time by going to the bathroom.
• Perceptions change over time.
• She clocked up one of the fastest times of the year.
• She devotes all her spare time to gardening.
• She spends much of her time reading.
• She'll have gone by the time we get there.
• Sorry, your time is up.
• Take your time.
• The Beatles were before my time.
• The attacks were launched at 9 p.m. local time.
• The chairlift can take four people at a time.
• The changing seasons mark the passing of time.
• The coach plans to give younger players more playing time.
• The leaves start to turn red at this time of (the) year.
• The letter was in my pocket all the time.
• The origins of this custom are lost in the mists of time.
• The plane took off an hour behind time.
• The play takes us back in time to the 1940s.
• The time is ripe for revolution.
• The trains are rarely on time.
• The world exists in time and space.
• There are extra buses at peak times.
• There is a long lead time between order and delivery of the product.
• There's less traffic at this time of day.
• They didn't allow much time for discussion.
• They were clapping in time to the music.
• This doesn't leave much time for us to get ready.
• This time tomorrow I'll be in Canada.
• This would be a bad time to tell her.
• Time drags in this job.
• Time heals all wounds.
• Time was when we never needed to lock our house at night.
• Times have changed since Grandma was young.
• We got home in time to see the end of the game.
• We had a great time at the party.
• We had everything worked out ahead of time.
• We had to wait some time before the bus arrived.
• We have no time to lose.
• We need to fix a time for the next meeting.
• We will discuss this matter later, if time permits.
• We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops.
• We're wasting precious time.
• What a waste of time!
• What are you doing out of bed at this time of night?
• What time do you make it?
• Where does the time go?
• You would save time with a dishwasher.
• You'll feel differently about it when the time comes.
• You'll get used to the work in time.
• Your time will come.
• in times of trouble
• measures to reduce waiting times
• the greatest footballer of all time
• the movie's two-hour running time
• three times out of ten
• travel through time
• two hours behind Central European Time
• At no time did I give my consent to the plan.
• Clap your hands to keep time.
• Have I called at a bad time?
• He failed the test three times.
• How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?
• I remember one time we had to abandon our car in the snow.
• I think it's time to go to bed.
• It's time the kids were in bed.
• She always plays in/out of time.
• The Industrial Revolution took place in Victorian times.
• The early morning is the best time of day.
• The rise in gun sales is an alarming sign of the times.
• The train arrived right on time.
• The violence of our times is nothing new.
• There were times— sometimes whole weeks— when I thought it wasn't worth trying to complete the project.
• Try and dance in time to the music.
Idioms: about time ▪ against time ▪ ahead of time ▪ ahead of your time ▪ all the time ▪ at a time ▪ at all times ▪ at my/your/his time of life ▪ at the best of times ▪ at the same time ▪ at times ▪ before my/your/his time ▪ behind the times ▪ do time ▪ every time ▪ for the time being ▪ from time to time ▪ have a lot of time for somebody ▪ have no time for somebody ▪ have the time of your life ▪ have time on your hands ▪ have time to kill ▪ in good time ▪ in no time ▪ in time ▪ in your own time ▪ it's high time ▪ keep up with the times ▪ make good time ▪ many a time ▪ many's the time … ▪ next/first/second time round ▪ nine times out of ten ▪ ninety-nine times out of a hundred ▪ no time like the present ▪ not before time ▪ not give somebody the time of day ▪ not have much time for somebody ▪ of all time ▪ only time will tell ▪ take time out ▪ take your time ▪ take your time to do something sth ▪ time after time ▪ time and a half ▪ time and again ▪ time flies ▪ time is money ▪ time is on your side ▪ time was … ▪ time will tell ▪ whole time

Derived: time out ▪ time sthout 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

time / taɪm / noun (MINUTES/DAYS/YEARS)

A2 [ U ] the part of existence that is measured in minutes, days, years, etc., or this process considered as a whole:

He wants to spend more time with his family.

Time passes so quickly when you're enjoying yourself.

She grew more and more fascinated by the subject as time went on/by .

The curtains have faded over/with time (= as years have gone past) .

You'll forget her in time (= in the future) .

Over the course of time (= as years have gone past) , holes have formed in the rock.

When Paula was ill, I took her some magazines to help her pass the time.

If you'd taken more time with/over (= spent more time doing) this essay, you could have done it much better.

It takes a long time (= many hours are needed) to get from London to Sydney.

We'd save time on our journey (= it would be quicker) if we went by train.

I only worked there for a short period of time.

The kitchen clock is gaining/losing time (= is going fast/slow) .

My watch has never kept very good time (= been correct) .

all the time A2 continuously:

I wish you'd stop criticizing me all the time.

in no time C1 ( also in next to no time ) very quickly or very soon:

The children ate their dinner in no time.

We'll be home in next to no time.

no time to lose If you say there is or that you have no time to lose, it means that you must do quickly whatever it is that you want to do:

Come on, there's no time to lose, we must get home before John finds out.

for all time literary always:

I will love you for all time.

of all time that has ever lived or existed:

She's been called the greatest singer of all time.

 

time / taɪm / noun (SYSTEM)

C1 [ U ] the system of recording hours used in different parts of the world:

Greenwich Mean Time

daylight saving time

 

time / taɪm / noun (TIME AVAILABLE)

an amount of time that you have available to do something:

I don't know how you find time to do all the things you do.

I thought we'd give her a bit more time (= allow her more time) to get the job done.

I'd like to visit them all but time is short (= there is little time left) .

have time B1 If you have got time, you have enough time to do something:

We haven't got much time before the train leaves.

Have you got time for a quick drink after work?

I'd like to learn to sail, but I haven't the time (= I am too busy) .

[ + to infinitive ] I haven't got time to go to the shops today.

waste time A2 to not make good use of the hours, etc. that you have available:

If you'd got on with your work instead of wasting time chatting, you'd be finished by now.

run out of time B1 to not have enough hours, etc. available to finish something you are trying to do:

She ran out of time and didn't finish the last question.

be (all) out of time to not have enough minutes, etc. available:

I'd like to continue this discussion but we're all out of time.

time's up informal there are no more minutes, hours, etc. available:

OK, everyone, time's up for this week.

 

time / taɪm / noun (PERIOD)

A2 [ S or U ] a particular period of time for which something has been happening, or that is needed for something:

I enjoyed my course at first, but after a time I got bored with it.

They stayed with us for a short time.

That was the best restaurant I've been to for/in a long time (= a long period has gone past since I went to such a good restaurant) .

It was some time ago that I last heard from her.

We're going on holiday in two weeks' time (= after two weeks have passed) .

During her time (= while she was) in office, the prime minister introduced a large number of changes.

What do you like doing in your spare/free time (= when you are not working) ?

have/take time off to stop work, in order to do something else:

I asked my boss if I could have some time off ( from work) to go to the dentist.

for a time for a short period:

For a time, we all thought that Sheila and Frank would get married.

for some time B2 for a fairly long period of time:

I've been doing yoga for some time.

for the time being C1 for a limited period:

Leave the ironing for the time being - I'll do it later.

 

time / taɪm / noun (PARTICULAR POINT)

A1 [ C or S or U ] a particular point in the day, as expressed in hours and minutes or shown on a clock, or a particular point in time:

"What's the time?" "It's ten o'clock."

What time is it?

What time do you finish work?

Have you got the time? (= Do you know what time it is?)

He's teaching his daughter to tell the time (= to recognize what time it is by looking at a clock) .

Did you find out the times of the trains to London?

The estimated time of arrival/departure of this flight is 11.15.

Oh dear, is that the (right) time? (= is it really so late?)

We always have dinner at the same time every day.

I was exhausted by the time (= when) I got home.

When would be a good time for me to call you?

"What would be the best time of day for us to deliver the table?" "Oh, any time will be OK."

Today's temperatures will be normal for the time of year (= will be as they are expected to be in this season) .

Just think, this time (= at the same particular point during) next week we'll be in Mauritius.

We regret that at the present time ( US also at this time ) we are unable to supply the goods you ordered.

The time is fast drawing near/approaching (= it will soon be the time) when we'll have to make a decision.

at the time A2 at the particular point when something was thought of or done:

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

at the same time B1 If two things happen at the same time, they happen together:

We arrived at the same time.

at your time of life at a person's present age:

At his time of life, he ought to be taking things easy.

 

time / taɪm / noun (SUITABLE POINT)

B1 [ S or U ] a particular point of the day, year, etc. that is suitable for a particular activity, or at which something is expected to happen:

holiday time

party time

Put your toys away now - it's time for bed.

It's time (that) I was leaving.

[ + to infinitive ] Is it time to go home yet?

This is not the time (= not a suitable moment) to be thinking about buying a house.

This is no time (= not a suitable moment) to change your mind.

I feel that the time has come (= now is a suitable moment) for me to move on.

The repairs to the road were finished two weeks ahead of time (= sooner than was expected) .

Why is it that the trains never run on time (= make their journeys in the expected number of hours, etc.) ?

She's grown old before her time (= sooner than she might have been expected to have done) .

in time B1 early enough:

I got home just in time - it's starting to rain.

If we don't hurry up, we won't be in time to catch the train.

We arrived in good time (= we arrived early) for the start of the match.

(bang/dead/right) on time informal happening or done at the particular moment that it was expected to happen or be done:

The bus arrived dead on time.

ahead of time mainly US earlier than a particular moment:

Let's meet for lunch. I'll call you ahead of time to fix up exactly when and where.

about time C1 ( also high time ) informal If it is about time/high time that someone did something, it should have been done sooner or a long time ago:

It's about time (that) the school improved its meals service.

It is high time for the critics to open their minds to a new approach.

about time (too) ( also not before time ) informal said when someone does something or something happens that you think should have been done or have happened much sooner:

"So Ben's finally found a job." "Yes, and about time too."

 

time / taɪm / noun (OCCASION)

A2 [ C ] an occasion when somnething happens, or the experience connected with it:

The last time we went to Paris, it rained every day.

Every time/ Each time I ask you to do something you say you're busy.

They go swimming three or four times a week.

There are times when I wish I didn't live where I do.

The four-times ( US four-time) champion (= the champion on four occasions in the past) was defeated in the second round.

If I'd known at the time (= then) that she was his former wife, I'd never have said what I did.

Sometimes I enjoy my English lessons, but at other times I find them really boring.

For the umpteenth/hundredth/thousandth time, (= I've told you on many occasions to) stop hitting your sister.

Did you have a bad/good time (= an unpleasant/enjoyable experience) at the conference?

She had an easy/hard time of it (= a comfortable/uncomfortable experience) with the birth of her second baby.

from time to time B2 sometimes, but not often:

From time to time I still think of her.

time after time C2 again and again:

Time after time she gets involved in relationships with unsuitable men.

time and (time) again very often:

I've told you time and time again - look before you cross the road.

at all times continuously:

When you're at the airport, you should make sure you have your luggage with you at all times.

at (any) one time ( also at a time , also at any given time ) at or during any particular point or moment in the day:

Only a certain number of people are allowed in the building at any one time.

I'm sorry, but I'm too busy to help you now - I can only do one thing at a time.

at times C1 sometimes:

You can be really annoying at times, you know.

at any time ever:

Parking is not allowed here at any time.

the times UK on many occasions:

The times I've told you, ask before you borrow my clothes.

 

time / taɪm / noun (HISTORICAL PERIOD)

B2 [ C ] ( also times ) a period in history:

"A Tale of Two Cities" is set at the time of the French Revolution.

In/During medieval times, women thought to be witches were burned at the stake.

In times gone by, all crops were harvested by hand.

Times were hard (= living conditions were not good) when I was a boy.

He is widely regarded as one of the best writers of modern/our times (= the present or very recent past) .

I never thought it would happen in my time (= before I died) .

We sat and talked about old times (= things that had happened to us in the past.)

at one time C2 in the past:

At one time, George Eliot lived here.

ahead of your time ( UK also before your time )

having new ideas, opinions, or ways of living long before most other people do

before your time If something or someone is before your time, they happened or existed before you were born or were old enough to remember them:

I don't remember the Beatles - they were before my time.

→  See also ahead of your time

time was said to mean that there was a period in the past when something used to happen or be true:

Time was (when) you could buy a loaf of bread for sixpence.

 

time / taɪm / noun [ C or U ] (RACE)

Your time in a race is the number of minutes, hours, etc. you take to complete it:

Her time for the marathon was just under three hours.

He won the 100 metres in record time.

 

time / taɪm / noun [ U ] (MUSIC)

the number of beats in a bar of music, or the speed at which a piece of music is intended to be played:

This piece is written in 4/4 time.

Small children often have difficulty singing in time with the music (= at the same speed at which the music is being played) .

It seemed to me as if the violins were playing out of time (= at a different speed from the other instruments playing the same piece of music) .

To beat time is to make a regular series of sounds at the same speed as a piece of music is played.

Tapping your foot will help you to keep time (= to play the music at the correct speed) .

 

 

time / taɪm / noun (PRISON)

do time informal to spend a period of time in prison:

It's not always easy to find a job after you've done time.

 

time / taɪm / noun [ U ] (DRINKING)

the particular point in the day at which people who are drinking in a bar in the UK have to finish their drinks and leave:

"Time, please!" called the landlord.

Is it time already?

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

time

[ta͟ɪm]
 ♦
 times, timing, timed
 1) N-UNCOUNT Time is what we measure in minutes, hours, days, and years.
  ...a two-week period of time...
  Time passed, and still Ma did not appear...
  As time went on the visits got more and more regular...
  The social significance of religion has changed over time.
 2) N-SING: what/the N You use time to ask or talk about a specific point in the day, which can be stated in hours and minutes and is shown on clocks.
  `What time is it?' - `Eight o'clock.'...
  He asked me the time...
  What time did he leave?...
  I phoned my mother to ask what time she was coming home...
  The time is now 19 minutes past the hour.
 3) N-COUNT The time when something happens is the point in the day when it happens or is supposed to happen.
 → See also opening time
  Departure times are 08:15 from St Quay, and 18:15 from St Helier.
 4) N-UNCOUNT: supp N You use time to refer to the system of expressing time and counting hours that is used in a particular part of the world.
  The tidal predictions are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time. Add one hour for British Summer Time...
  The incident happened just after ten o'clock local time.
 5) N-UNCOUNT: also a N You use time to refer to the period that you spend doing something or when something has been happening.
  Adam spent a lot of time in his grandfather's office...
  He wouldn't have the time or money to take care of me...
  Listen to me, I haven't got much time...
  It's obvious that you need more time to think...
  The route was blocked for some time...
  For a long time I didn't tell anyone...
  A short time later they sat down to eat...
  Thank you very much for your time.
 6) N-SING: a N If you say that something has been happening for a time you mean that it has been happening for a fairly long period of time.
  He was also for a time the art critic of `The Scotsman'...
  He stayed for quite a time...
  After a time they came to a pond.
 7) N-COUNT: with supp, oft prep N You use time to refer to a period of time or a point in time, when you are describing what is happening then. For example, if something happened at a particular time, that is when it happened. If it happens at all times, it always happens.
  We were in the same college, which was male-only at that time...
  By this time he was thirty...
  During the time I was married I tried to be the perfect wife...
  It was a time of terrible uncertainty...
  Homes are more affordable than at any time in the past five years...
  It seemed like a good time to tell her...
  There were times when he would ring his bell at all hours of the day or night.
 8) N-COUNT: with supp, usu adj N, N of n You use time or times to talk about a particular period in history or in your life.
  They were hard times and his parents had been struggling to raise their family...
  We'll be alone together, quite like old times...
  We are in one of the most severe recessions in modern times...
  A `Felucca' is the traditional Nile sailboat, unchanged since the time of the pharaohs.
 9) N-PLURAL: the N You can use the times to refer to the present time and to modern fashions, tastes, and developments. For example, if you say that someone keeps up with the times, you mean they are fashionable or aware of modern developments. If you say they are behind the times, you mean they are unfashionable or not aware of them.
  He is unafraid to move with the times...
  This approach is now seriously out of step with the times...
  Johnny has changed his image to fit the times.
 10) N-COUNT: adj N When you describe the time that you had on a particular occasion or during a particular part of your life, you are describing the sort of experience that you had then.
  Sarah and I had a great time while the kids were away...
  She's had a really tough time the last year and a half...
  You had an easy time of it at home...
  I try to remember all the good times I've had here.
 11) N-SING: poss N Your time is the amount of time that you have to live, or to do a particular thing.
  Now Martin has begun to suffer the effects of AIDS, and he says his time is running out...
  Every administration has its time. And when your time is over, you leave...
  I doubt I would change anything if I had my time again.
 12) N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n, N to-inf, N that If you say it is time for something, time to do something, or time you did something, you mean that this thing ought to happen or be done now.
  Opinion polls indicated a feeling among the public that it was time for a change...
  It was time for him to go to work...
  This was no time to make a speech...
  The time has come to put an end to the conflict...
  It's time you went to school.
 13) N-COUNT: with supp When you talk about a time when something happens, you are referring to a specific occasion when it happens.
  Every time she travels on the bus it's delayed by at least three hours...
  The last time I saw her was about sixteen years ago...
  House prices are rising for the first time since November...
  Next time you go shopping, throw in a few extra fruit and vegetables...
  Remember that time she picked up my daughter when I was ill?.
 14) N-COUNT: usu num/ord N You use time after numbers to say how often something happens.
  It was her job to make tea three times a day...
  How many times has your mother told you never to talk to strangers?...
  The Masters golf tournament was won a second time by the American Ben Hogan.
 15) N-PLURAL: num N compar, num N as adj/adv, num N n You use times after numbers when comparing one thing to another and saying, for example, how much bigger, smaller, better, or worse it is.
  Its profits are rising four times faster than the average company...
  Young people were several times more likely to be out of work than older members of the workforce...
  He polled four times as many votes as his rival.
  ...an area five times the size of Britain.
 16) CONJ-COORD You use times in arithmetic to link numbers or amounts that are multiplied together to reach a total.
  Four times six is 24.
 17) N-COUNT: with supp, oft poss N, N of n Someone's time in a race is the amount of time it takes them to finish the race.
  He was over a second faster than his previous best time...
  She recorded a time of two minutes 8.74 seconds.
 18) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N, oft in N The time of a piece of music is the number of beats that the piece has in each bar.
  A reel is in four-four time, and a jig is in six-eight time.
 19) VERB If you time something for a particular time, you plan or decide to do it or cause it to happen at this time.
  [V n to-inf] He timed the election to coincide with new measures to boost the economy...
  [V n for n] We had timed our visit for March 7...
  [V n adv] He had timed his intervention well...
  [V-ed] Operation Amazon is timed to coincide with the start of the dry season. [Also V n]
 20) VERB If you time an action or activity, you measure how long someone takes to do it or how long it lasts.
  [V n] He timed each performance with a stop-watch.
 21) → See also timing
 22) PHRASE: it v-link PHR that, PHR as reply (emphasis) If you say it is about time that something was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner.
  It's about time a few movie makers with original ideas were given a chance...
  `Here she is.' - `About time too.'
 23) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something ahead of time, you do it before a particular event or before you need to, in order to be well prepared.
  Find out ahead of time what regulations apply to your situation.
  Syn:
  in advance
 24) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR in -ing If someone is ahead of their time or before their time, they have new ideas a long time before other people start to think in the same way.
  He was indeed ahead of his time in employing women, ex-convicts, and the handicapped...
  His only fundamental mistake, he insists, is that he was 20 years before his time.
 25) PHRASE: PHR after v If something happens or is done all the time, it happens or is done continually.
  We can't be together all the time...
  I get the two of them mixed up all the time, they're so similar.
  Syn:
  continually
 26) PHRASE: amount PHR You say at a time after an amount to say how many things or how much of something is involved in one action, place, or group.
  Beat in the eggs, one at a time...
  She ran for the staircase and down the steps, taking them two at a time...
  Do you sometimes find that you are doing very little physical exercise for several weeks at a time?
 27) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something could happen at any time, it is possible that it will happen very soon, though nobody can predict exactly when.
  Conditions are still very tense and the fighting could escalate at any time.
  Syn:
  at any moment
 28) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You say at the best of times when you are making a negative or critical comment to emphasize that it is true even when the circumstances are as favourable as possible.
  His voice is hardly resonant at the best of times. Today he is almost inaudible.
 29) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something was the case at one time, you mean that it was the case during a particular period in the past.
  At one time 400 men, women and children lived in the village.
  ...enormous glaciers, which at one time covered vast areas of the northern hemisphere.
 30) PHRASE: PHR with cl If two or more things exist, happen, or are true at the same time, they exist, happen, or are true together although they seem to contradict each other.
  I was afraid of her, but at the same time I really liked her...
  She was somehow able to look sad and cheerful at the same time.
 31) PHRASE: PHR with cl At the same time is used to introduce a statement that slightly changes or contradicts the previous statement.
  I don't think I set out to come up with a different sound for each album. At the same time, I do have a sense of what is right for the moment.
 32) PHRASE: PHR with cl/group You use at times to say that something happens or is true on some occasions or at some moments.
  The debate was highly emotional at times...
  At times she had an overwhelming desire to see him...
  He went on listening to her, at times impatient and at times fascinated.
  Syn:
  sometimes
 33) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that something was before your time, you mean that it happened or existed before you were born or before you were able to know about it or remember it.
  `You've never seen the Marilyn Monroe film?' - `No, I think it was a bit before my time.'
 34) PHRASE: PHR after v If someone has reached a particular stage in life before their time, they have reached it at a younger age than is normal.
  The small print has forced me, years before my time, to buy spectacles...
  There is nothing like a college town to make you feel old before your time.
 35) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) If you say not before time after a statement has been made about something that has been done, you are saying in an emphatic way that you think it should have been done sooner. [BRIT]
  The virus is getting more and more attention, and not before time...
  Not before time, that is about to change.
 36) PHRASE: V inflects If you call time on something, you end it. [mainly BRIT, JOURNALISM]
  Scott Hastings has called time on his international career by cutting short his contract.
 37) PHRASE: V inflects Someone who is doing time is in prison. [INFORMAL]
  He is serving 11 years for robbery, and did time for a similar offence before that.
 38) PHRASE: usu PHR with v, PHR with group If you say that something will be the case for all time, you mean that it will always be the case.
  The desperate condition of the world is that madness has always been here, and that it will remain so for all time.
 39) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something is the case or will happen for the time being, it is the case or will happen now, but only until something else becomes possible or happens.
  For the time being, however, immunotherapy is still in its experimental stages...
  The situation is calm for the time being.
  Syn:
  for now
 40) PHRASE: PHR with v, PHR with cl If you do something from time to time, you do it occasionally but not regularly.
  Her daughters visited him from time to time when he was ill.
  Syn:
  now and again
 41) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something is the case half the time you mean that it often is the case. [INFORMAL]
  Half the time, I don't have the slightest idea what he's talking about.
 42) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you say that you have no time for a person or thing, you mean you do not like them or approve of them, and if you say that you have a lot of time for a person or thing, you mean you like them or approve of them very much.
  When I think of what he's done to my mother and me, I've just got no time for him...
  I have got a lot of time for people who are prepared to put the welfare of their party above their own vanity.
 43) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR that, PHR to-inf (emphasis) If you say that it is high time that something happened or was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner.
  It is high time the Government displayed a more humanitarian approach towards victims of the recession...
  It is high time to consider the problem on a global scale.
 44) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf If you are in time for a particular event, you are not too late for it.
  I arrived just in time for my flight to London...
  She set the alarm so she'd wake up in time to give her two sons their medication.
 45) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something will happen in time or given time, you mean that it will happen eventually, when a lot of time has passed.
  He would sort out his own problems, in time...
  Tina believed that, given time, her business would become profitable.
 46) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR with n If you are playing, singing, or dancing in time with a piece of music, you are following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly. If you are out of time with it, you are not following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly.
  Her body swayed in time with the music...
  We were standing onstage playing completely out of time.
 47) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something will happen, for example, in a week 's time or in two years ' time, you mean that it will happen a week from now or two years from now.
  Presidential elections are due to be held in ten days' time...
  In a year's time we will all be laughing about it.
 48) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n If you arrive somewhere in good time, you arrive early so that there is time to spare before a particular event.
  If we're out, we always make sure we're home in good time for the programme.
 49) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR as reply If you tell someone that something will happen in good time or all in good time, you are telling them to be patient because it will happen eventually.
  There will be many advanced exercises that you won't be able to do at first. You will get to them in good time...
  `I can't wait to be grown up.' - `All in good time.'
 50) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something happens in no time or in next to no time, it happens almost immediately or very quickly.
  He's going to be just fine. At his age he'll heal in no time...
  He expects to be out of prison in next to no time.
 51) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you do something in your own time, you do it at the speed that you choose, rather than allowing anyone to hurry you.
  Now, in your own time, tell me what happened.
 52) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you do something such as work in your own time in British English, or on your own time in American English, you do it in your free time rather than, for example, at work or school.
  If I choose to work on other projects in my own time, then I say that is my business.
 53) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep time when playing or singing music, you follow or play the beat, without going too fast or too slowly.
  As he sang he kept time on a small drum.
 54) PHRASE: V inflects When you talk about how well a watch or clock keeps time, you are talking about how accurately it measures time.
  Some pulsars keep time better than the earth's most accurate clocks.
 55) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf If you make time for a particular activity or person, you arrange to have some free time so that you can do the activity or spend time with the person.
  Before leaving the city, be sure to make time for a shopping trip...
  She had made time for me in the midst of her busy schedule...
  I think you should always make time to see your friends.
 56) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that you made good time on a journey, you mean it did not take you very long compared to the length of time you expected it to take.
  They had left early in the morning, on quiet roads, and made good time.
 57) PHRASE: V inflects If someone is making up for lost time, they are doing something actively and with enthusiasm because they have not had the opportunity to do it before or when they were younger.
  Five years older than the majority of officers of his same rank, he was determined to make up for lost time.
 58) PHRASE: V inflects If you are marking time, you are doing something that is not particularly useful or interesting while you wait for something more important or interesting to happen.
  He's really just marking time until he's old enough to leave.
 59) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something happens or is the case nine times out of ten or ninety-nine times out of a hundred, you mean that it happens on nearly every occasion or is almost always the case.
  When they want something, nine times out of ten they get it...
  Ninety-nine times out of a hundred when parents say to their children `I know how you feel', they are lying.
 60) PHRASE: n PHR, usu PHR after adj-superl If you say that someone or something is, for example, the best writer of all time, or the most successful film of all time, you mean that they are the best or most successful that there has ever been.
  `Monopoly' is one of the best-selling games of all time...
  This is my favourite song of all time.
 61) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If you are on time, you are not late.
  Don't worry, she'll be on time...
  Their planes usually arrive on time.
 62) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft it v-link PHR before cl If you say that it is only a matter of time or only a question of time before something happens, you mean that it cannot be avoided and will definitely happen at some future date.
  It now seems only a matter of time before they resign...
  The doctors are confident he'll make a full recovery. It's just a question of time.
 63) PHRASE: usu of/in/for PHR When you refer to our time or our times you are referring to the present period in the history of the world.
  It would be wrong to say that the Church doesn't enter the great moral debates of our time.
 64) PHRASE: V inflects If you do something to pass the time you do it because you have some time available and not because you really want to do it.
  Without particular interest and just to pass the time, I read a story...
  During a lunch break, he and the buyer passed the time with some chitchat.
 65) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR with n If you pass the time of day with someone, you have a short friendly conversation with them.
  One or two people went up and passed the time of day with her...
  They can't even say `good morning' or pass the time of day.
 66) PHRASE: V inflects If you play for time, you try to make something happen more slowly, because you do not want it to happen or because you need time to think about what to do if it happens.
  The president's decision is being seen as an attempt to play for time.
 67) PHRASE: V inflects, oft it PHR to-inf If you say that something will take time, you mean that it will take a long time.
  Change will come, but it will take time...
  It takes time to build up intimacy.
 68) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR -ing If you take your time doing something, you do it quite slowly and do not hurry.
  `Take your time,' Cross told him. `I'm in no hurry.'...
  He took his time answering, knowing that he must select his words with great care.
 69) PHRASE: V inflects If a child can tell the time, they are able to find out what the time is by looking at a clock or watch.
  My four-year-old daughter cannot quite tell the time.
 70) PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v If something happens time after time, it happens in a similar way on many occasions.
  Burns had escaped from jail time after time...
  Time after time, I hear these stories of missing children on the news.
  Syn:
  repeatedly
 71) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that time flies, you mean that it seems to pass very quickly.
  Time flies when you're having fun.
 72) PHRASE: Ns inflect, PHR after v, v-link PHR If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much indeed.
  We're taking our little grandchild away with us. We'll make sure he has the time of his life...
  For some it was awful, for others, particularly the young, it was the time of their lives.
 73) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If you say there is no time to lose or no time to be lost, you mean you must hurry as fast as you can to do something.
  He rushed home, realising there was no time to lose.
 74) PHRASE: oft PHR whether/if If you say that time will tell whether something is true or correct, you mean that it will not be known until some time in the future whether it is true or correct.
  Only time will tell whether Broughton's optimism is justified...
  I can't see any problems, but time will tell.
 75) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR in -ing If you waste no time in doing something, you take the opportunity to do it immediately or quickly.
  Tom wasted no time in telling me why he had come.
 76) time and again → see again
 to the end of time → see end
 in the fullness of time → see fullness
 there's no time like the present → see present
 the time is ripe → see ripe

time

[ta͟ɪm]
 ♦
 times, timing, timed
 1) N-UNCOUNT Time is what we measure in minutes, hours, days, and years.
  ...a two-week period of time...
  Time passed, and still Ma did not appear...
  As time went on the visits got more and more regular...
  The social significance of religion has changed over time.
 2) N-SING: what/the N You use time to ask or talk about a specific point in the day, which can be stated in hours and minutes and is shown on clocks.
  `What time is it?' - `Eight o'clock.'...
  He asked me the time...
  What time did he leave?...
  I phoned my mother to ask what time she was coming home...
  The time is now 19 minutes past the hour.
 3) N-COUNT The time when something happens is the point in the day when it happens or is supposed to happen.
 → See also opening time
  Departure times are 08:15 from St Quay, and 18:15 from St Helier.
 4) N-UNCOUNT: supp N You use time to refer to the system of expressing time and counting hours that is used in a particular part of the world.
  The tidal predictions are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time. Add one hour for British Summer Time...
  The incident happened just after ten o'clock local time.
 5) N-UNCOUNT: also a N You use time to refer to the period that you spend doing something or when something has been happening.
  Adam spent a lot of time in his grandfather's office...
  He wouldn't have the time or money to take care of me...
  Listen to me, I haven't got much time...
  It's obvious that you need more time to think...
  The route was blocked for some time...
  For a long time I didn't tell anyone...
  A short time later they sat down to eat...
  Thank you very much for your time.
 6) N-SING: a N If you say that something has been happening for a time you mean that it has been happening for a fairly long period of time.
  He was also for a time the art critic of `The Scotsman'...
  He stayed for quite a time...
  After a time they came to a pond.
 7) N-COUNT: with supp, oft prep N You use time to refer to a period of time or a point in time, when you are describing what is happening then. For example, if something happened at a particular time, that is when it happened. If it happens at all times, it always happens.
  We were in the same college, which was male-only at that time...
  By this time he was thirty...
  During the time I was married I tried to be the perfect wife...
  It was a time of terrible uncertainty...
  Homes are more affordable than at any time in the past five years...
  It seemed like a good time to tell her...
  There were times when he would ring his bell at all hours of the day or night.
 8) N-COUNT: with supp, usu adj N, N of n You use time or times to talk about a particular period in history or in your life.
  They were hard times and his parents had been struggling to raise their family...
  We'll be alone together, quite like old times...
  We are in one of the most severe recessions in modern times...
  A `Felucca' is the traditional Nile sailboat, unchanged since the time of the pharaohs.
 9) N-PLURAL: the N You can use the times to refer to the present time and to modern fashions, tastes, and developments. For example, if you say that someone keeps up with the times, you mean they are fashionable or aware of modern developments. If you say they are behind the times, you mean they are unfashionable or not aware of them.
  He is unafraid to move with the times...
  This approach is now seriously out of step with the times...
  Johnny has changed his image to fit the times.
 10) N-COUNT: adj N When you describe the time that you had on a particular occasion or during a particular part of your life, you are describing the sort of experience that you had then.
  Sarah and I had a great time while the kids were away...
  She's had a really tough time the last year and a half...
  You had an easy time of it at home...
  I try to remember all the good times I've had here.
 11) N-SING: poss N Your time is the amount of time that you have to live, or to do a particular thing.
  Now Martin has begun to suffer the effects of AIDS, and he says his time is running out...
  Every administration has its time. And when your time is over, you leave...
  I doubt I would change anything if I had my time again.
 12) N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n, N to-inf, N that If you say it is time for something, time to do something, or time you did something, you mean that this thing ought to happen or be done now.
  Opinion polls indicated a feeling among the public that it was time for a change...
  It was time for him to go to work...
  This was no time to make a speech...
  The time has come to put an end to the conflict...
  It's time you went to school.
 13) N-COUNT: with supp When you talk about a time when something happens, you are referring to a specific occasion when it happens.
  Every time she travels on the bus it's delayed by at least three hours...
  The last time I saw her was about sixteen years ago...
  House prices are rising for the first time since November...
  Next time you go shopping, throw in a few extra fruit and vegetables...
  Remember that time she picked up my daughter when I was ill?.
 14) N-COUNT: usu num/ord N You use time after numbers to say how often something happens.
  It was her job to make tea three times a day...
  How many times has your mother told you never to talk to strangers?...
  The Masters golf tournament was won a second time by the American Ben Hogan.
 15) N-PLURAL: num N compar, num N as adj/adv, num N n You use times after numbers when comparing one thing to another and saying, for example, how much bigger, smaller, better, or worse it is.
  Its profits are rising four times faster than the average company...
  Young people were several times more likely to be out of work than older members of the workforce...
  He polled four times as many votes as his rival.
  ...an area five times the size of Britain.
 16) CONJ-COORD You use times in arithmetic to link numbers or amounts that are multiplied together to reach a total.
  Four times six is 24.
 17) N-COUNT: with supp, oft poss N, N of n Someone's time in a race is the amount of time it takes them to finish the race.
  He was over a second faster than his previous best time...
  She recorded a time of two minutes 8.74 seconds.
 18) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N, oft in N The time of a piece of music is the number of beats that the piece has in each bar.
  A reel is in four-four time, and a jig is in six-eight time.
 19) VERB If you time something for a particular time, you plan or decide to do it or cause it to happen at this time.
  [V n to-inf] He timed the election to coincide with new measures to boost the economy...
  [V n for n] We had timed our visit for March 7...
  [V n adv] He had timed his intervention well...
  [V-ed] Operation Amazon is timed to coincide with the start of the dry season. [Also V n]
 20) VERB If you time an action or activity, you measure how long someone takes to do it or how long it lasts.
  [V n] He timed each performance with a stop-watch.
 21) → See also timing
 22) PHRASE: it v-link PHR that, PHR as reply (emphasis) If you say it is about time that something was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner.
  It's about time a few movie makers with original ideas were given a chance...
  `Here she is.' - `About time too.'
 23) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something ahead of time, you do it before a particular event or before you need to, in order to be well prepared.
  Find out ahead of time what regulations apply to your situation.
  Syn:
  in advance
 24) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR in -ing If someone is ahead of their time or before their time, they have new ideas a long time before other people start to think in the same way.
  He was indeed ahead of his time in employing women, ex-convicts, and the handicapped...
  His only fundamental mistake, he insists, is that he was 20 years before his time.
 25) PHRASE: PHR after v If something happens or is done all the time, it happens or is done continually.
  We can't be together all the time...
  I get the two of them mixed up all the time, they're so similar.
  Syn:
  continually
 26) PHRASE: amount PHR You say at a time after an amount to say how many things or how much of something is involved in one action, place, or group.
  Beat in the eggs, one at a time...
  She ran for the staircase and down the steps, taking them two at a time...
  Do you sometimes find that you are doing very little physical exercise for several weeks at a time?
 27) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something could happen at any time, it is possible that it will happen very soon, though nobody can predict exactly when.
  Conditions are still very tense and the fighting could escalate at any time.
  Syn:
  at any moment
 28) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You say at the best of times when you are making a negative or critical comment to emphasize that it is true even when the circumstances are as favourable as possible.
  His voice is hardly resonant at the best of times. Today he is almost inaudible.
 29) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something was the case at one time, you mean that it was the case during a particular period in the past.
  At one time 400 men, women and children lived in the village.
  ...enormous glaciers, which at one time covered vast areas of the northern hemisphere.
 30) PHRASE: PHR with cl If two or more things exist, happen, or are true at the same time, they exist, happen, or are true together although they seem to contradict each other.
  I was afraid of her, but at the same time I really liked her...
  She was somehow able to look sad and cheerful at the same time.
 31) PHRASE: PHR with cl At the same time is used to introduce a statement that slightly changes or contradicts the previous statement.
  I don't think I set out to come up with a different sound for each album. At the same time, I do have a sense of what is right for the moment.
 32) PHRASE: PHR with cl/group You use at times to say that something happens or is true on some occasions or at some moments.
  The debate was highly emotional at times...
  At times she had an overwhelming desire to see him...
  He went on listening to her, at times impatient and at times fascinated.
  Syn:
  sometimes
 33) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that something was before your time, you mean that it happened or existed before you were born or before you were able to know about it or remember it.
  `You've never seen the Marilyn Monroe film?' - `No, I think it was a bit before my time.'
 34) PHRASE: PHR after v If someone has reached a particular stage in life before their time, they have reached it at a younger age than is normal.
  The small print has forced me, years before my time, to buy spectacles...
  There is nothing like a college town to make you feel old before your time.
 35) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) If you say not before time after a statement has been made about something that has been done, you are saying in an emphatic way that you think it should have been done sooner. [BRIT]
  The virus is getting more and more attention, and not before time...
  Not before time, that is about to change.
 36) PHRASE: V inflects If you call time on something, you end it. [mainly BRIT, JOURNALISM]
  Scott Hastings has called time on his international career by cutting short his contract.
 37) PHRASE: V inflects Someone who is doing time is in prison. [INFORMAL]
  He is serving 11 years for robbery, and did time for a similar offence before that.
 38) PHRASE: usu PHR with v, PHR with group If you say that something will be the case for all time, you mean that it will always be the case.
  The desperate condition of the world is that madness has always been here, and that it will remain so for all time.
 39) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something is the case or will happen for the time being, it is the case or will happen now, but only until something else becomes possible or happens.
  For the time being, however, immunotherapy is still in its experimental stages...
  The situation is calm for the time being.
  Syn:
  for now
 40) PHRASE: PHR with v, PHR with cl If you do something from time to time, you do it occasionally but not regularly.
  Her daughters visited him from time to time when he was ill.
  Syn:
  now and again
 41) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something is the case half the time you mean that it often is the case. [INFORMAL]
  Half the time, I don't have the slightest idea what he's talking about.
 42) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you say that you have no time for a person or thing, you mean you do not like them or approve of them, and if you say that you have a lot of time for a person or thing, you mean you like them or approve of them very much.
  When I think of what he's done to my mother and me, I've just got no time for him...
  I have got a lot of time for people who are prepared to put the welfare of their party above their own vanity.
 43) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR that, PHR to-inf (emphasis) If you say that it is high time that something happened or was done, you are saying in an emphatic way that it should happen or be done now, and really should have happened or been done sooner.
  It is high time the Government displayed a more humanitarian approach towards victims of the recession...
  It is high time to consider the problem on a global scale.
 44) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf If you are in time for a particular event, you are not too late for it.
  I arrived just in time for my flight to London...
  She set the alarm so she'd wake up in time to give her two sons their medication.
 45) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something will happen in time or given time, you mean that it will happen eventually, when a lot of time has passed.
  He would sort out his own problems, in time...
  Tina believed that, given time, her business would become profitable.
 46) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR with n If you are playing, singing, or dancing in time with a piece of music, you are following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly. If you are out of time with it, you are not following the rhythm and speed of the music correctly.
  Her body swayed in time with the music...
  We were standing onstage playing completely out of time.
 47) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something will happen, for example, in a week 's time or in two years ' time, you mean that it will happen a week from now or two years from now.
  Presidential elections are due to be held in ten days' time...
  In a year's time we will all be laughing about it.
 48) PHRASE: PHR after v, oft PHR for n If you arrive somewhere in good time, you arrive early so that there is time to spare before a particular event.
  If we're out, we always make sure we're home in good time for the programme.
 49) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR as reply If you tell someone that something will happen in good time or all in good time, you are telling them to be patient because it will happen eventually.
  There will be many advanced exercises that you won't be able to do at first. You will get to them in good time...
  `I can't wait to be grown up.' - `All in good time.'
 50) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something happens in no time or in next to no time, it happens almost immediately or very quickly.
  He's going to be just fine. At his age he'll heal in no time...
  He expects to be out of prison in next to no time.
 51) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you do something in your own time, you do it at the speed that you choose, rather than allowing anyone to hurry you.
  Now, in your own time, tell me what happened.
 52) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you do something such as work in your own time in British English, or on your own time in American English, you do it in your free time rather than, for example, at work or school.
  If I choose to work on other projects in my own time, then I say that is my business.
 53) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep time when playing or singing music, you follow or play the beat, without going too fast or too slowly.
  As he sang he kept time on a small drum.
 54) PHRASE: V inflects When you talk about how well a watch or clock keeps time, you are talking about how accurately it measures time.
  Some pulsars keep time better than the earth's most accurate clocks.
 55) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n, PHR to-inf If you make time for a particular activity or person, you arrange to have some free time so that you can do the activity or spend time with the person.
  Before leaving the city, be sure to make time for a shopping trip...
  She had made time for me in the midst of her busy schedule...
  I think you should always make time to see your friends.
 56) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that you made good time on a journey, you mean it did not take you very long compared to the length of time you expected it to take.
  They had left early in the morning, on quiet roads, and made good time.
 57) PHRASE: V inflects If someone is making up for lost time, they are doing something actively and with enthusiasm because they have not had the opportunity to do it before or when they were younger.
  Five years older than the majority of officers of his same rank, he was determined to make up for lost time.
 58) PHRASE: V inflects If you are marking time, you are doing something that is not particularly useful or interesting while you wait for something more important or interesting to happen.
  He's really just marking time until he's old enough to leave.
 59) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something happens or is the case nine times out of ten or ninety-nine times out of a hundred, you mean that it happens on nearly every occasion or is almost always the case.
  When they want something, nine times out of ten they get it...
  Ninety-nine times out of a hundred when parents say to their children `I know how you feel', they are lying.
 60) PHRASE: n PHR, usu PHR after adj-superl If you say that someone or something is, for example, the best writer of all time, or the most successful film of all time, you mean that they are the best or most successful that there has ever been.
  `Monopoly' is one of the best-selling games of all time...
  This is my favourite song of all time.
 61) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If you are on time, you are not late.
  Don't worry, she'll be on time...
  Their planes usually arrive on time.
 62) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft it v-link PHR before cl If you say that it is only a matter of time or only a question of time before something happens, you mean that it cannot be avoided and will definitely happen at some future date.
  It now seems only a matter of time before they resign...
  The doctors are confident he'll make a full recovery. It's just a question of time.
 63) PHRASE: usu of/in/for PHR When you refer to our time or our times you are referring to the present period in the history of the world.
  It would be wrong to say that the Church doesn't enter the great moral debates of our time.
 64) PHRASE: V inflects If you do something to pass the time you do it because you have some time available and not because you really want to do it.
  Without particular interest and just to pass the time, I read a story...
  During a lunch break, he and the buyer passed the time with some chitchat.
 65) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR with n If you pass the time of day with someone, you have a short friendly conversation with them.
  One or two people went up and passed the time of day with her...
  They can't even say `good morning' or pass the time of day.
 66) PHRASE: V inflects If you play for time, you try to make something happen more slowly, because you do not want it to happen or because you need time to think about what to do if it happens.
  The president's decision is being seen as an attempt to play for time.
 67) PHRASE: V inflects, oft it PHR to-inf If you say that something will take time, you mean that it will take a long time.
  Change will come, but it will take time...
  It takes time to build up intimacy.
 68) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR -ing If you take your time doing something, you do it quite slowly and do not hurry.
  `Take your time,' Cross told him. `I'm in no hurry.'...
  He took his time answering, knowing that he must select his words with great care.
 69) PHRASE: V inflects If a child can tell the time, they are able to find out what the time is by looking at a clock or watch.
  My four-year-old daughter cannot quite tell the time.
 70) PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v If something happens time after time, it happens in a similar way on many occasions.
  Burns had escaped from jail time after time...
  Time after time, I hear these stories of missing children on the news.
  Syn:
  repeatedly
 71) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that time flies, you mean that it seems to pass very quickly.
  Time flies when you're having fun.
 72) PHRASE: Ns inflect, PHR after v, v-link PHR If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much indeed.
  We're taking our little grandchild away with us. We'll make sure he has the time of his life...
  For some it was awful, for others, particularly the young, it was the time of their lives.
 73) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If you say there is no time to lose or no time to be lost, you mean you must hurry as fast as you can to do something.
  He rushed home, realising there was no time to lose.
 74) PHRASE: oft PHR whether/if If you say that time will tell whether something is true or correct, you mean that it will not be known until some time in the future whether it is true or correct.
  Only time will tell whether Broughton's optimism is justified...
  I can't see any problems, but time will tell.
 75) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR in -ing If you waste no time in doing something, you take the opportunity to do it immediately or quickly.
  Tom wasted no time in telling me why he had come.
 76) time and again → see again
 to the end of time → see end
 in the fullness of time → see fullness
 there's no time like the present → see present
 the time is ripe → see ripe

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1time /ˈtaɪm/ noun, pl times
1 [noncount] : the thing that is measured as seconds, minutes, hours, days, years, etc.
• The time passed slowly/quickly.
• The two events were separated by time and space.
• The poem is a reflection on the passage/passing of time.
• What was happening at that particular moment in time?
• At this point in time, we have not made a decision. [=we have not yet made a decision]
• It has been that way since the beginning of time.
• If only I could travel back in time and do things differently.
• They were given a relatively short amount of time to finish the job.
• The situation has been getting more complicated as time goes by/on.
• In the course of time [=as time passed], people learned to accept the changes.
• The medicine is released in small amounts over time. [=it is released slowly]
• Her condition should improve with time. [=it should become better as time passes]
• happening for an extended period of time
• The study took place over a time span of 20 years. [=the study continued for 20 years]
2 a [singular] : a particular minute or hour shown by a clock
• What time is it? = (chiefly Brit) What's the time?
• The time is 6:15. [=it is 6:15]
• I'll see you tomorrow, same time, same place. = I'll see you here this time tomorrow.
• Would you prefer the meeting to be at an earlier time?
• Feel free to call me at any time, day or night.
• What time did you leave work? [=when did you leave work?]
• They arrived at the appointed/agreed-on time. [=hour]
• Do you know the time? = (chiefly US) Do you have the time? = (chiefly Brit) Have you got the time?
• (US) What time do you have? = (Brit) What time do you make it? [=what time is it?]
• “Look at the time! We have to go.”
b [noncount] : the time in a particular area or part of the world
• We'll be arriving at 9:00 a.m. local time.
• It's 2:00 p.m. Tokyo time.
- see also british summer time, daylight saving time, greenwich mean time, local time, standard time
3 a : the part of a day, week, month, or year when something usually happens or is scheduled to happen

[noncount]

• My kids love bath time.
• It's party time!
• Test time is at 8:00. [=the test will begin at 8:00]
• I did some work on my house during my vacation time.

[count]

• She gave the family some advice on how to make breakfast times less hectic.
- see also bedtime, dinnertime, drive time, lunchtime, mealtime, playtime, prime time, teatime
b [count] : a particular part of a day, week, month, or year
• He has to go to the classes at certain times of the month.
• There was snow on the ground at this time last year.
• It's unusually hot for this time of year. [=season]
• My favorite times of year are spring and fall.
- see also christmastime, daytime, nighttime, noontime, springtime, summertime, wintertime
4 [count] : an occurrence of an action or event : an instance of something happening or of someone doing something
• She's already seen the movie several times.
• He told us the story about the time he bought his first car.
• Do you remember the time we got lost in Washington, D.C.?
• Take one pill two times daily [=take one pill twice each day] for seven days.
• This is my first time on an airplane. [=I have never been on an airplane before]
• He ran for governor for the second time in 1980.
• I cry each/every time [=whenever] I hear that song.
• Remember to buckle up your seatbelt each and every time you ride in a car.
• I'll come by the next time I'm in town.
• The last time I saw him [=the most recent time that I saw him] was at his wedding.
• Okay, I'll do it again one last time.
• For the last time, please stop! = This is the last time I'm going to tell you: please stop!
• Would you please do it one more time? [=again, once more]
• How many times do I have to tell you? I don't know where it is!
• I've told you many times not to do that. = I've told you a hundred/thousand/million times not to do that.
• Don't worry about it. We've all made that same mistake many a time. = Many's the time we have made that same mistake.
• “This time you've gone too far!” he said.
• She beats me at chess nine times out of ten. [=for every ten games we play, she beats me nine times]
• They may have lost their last championship game, but they're determined to win the next time around/round.
• We're going to win this time out.
• One time [=once, (more formally) on one occasion] I came home two hours late and nobody noticed.
5 a [singular] : the period of time when something happens
• I had lived in 12 different cities by the time I turned 18. [=when I was 18 years old, I had already lived in 12 different cities]
• She had known that she wanted to be President from the time [=since] she was seven years old.
• Since that time, the government has done much to fix the problem.
- often used after at
• If you're busy now, perhaps we can get together at another time.
• At no time did the defendant ask for a lawyer. [=the defendant never asked for a lawyer]
• It was raining at the time of the accident. [=it was raining when the accident happened]
• This information was correct at the time of publication.
• He was elected pope in 1978, at which time he took the name John Paul.
- see also at the same time (below), at times (below)
b [count] : the exact moment when a particular event happens or is scheduled to happen
• Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. [=the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.]
• What is the movie's starting time? [=when does the movie start?]
• The patient's time of death was 2:15 a.m.
• He called to give me his flights' departure/arrival times. [=the times when his flights are scheduled to depart/arrive]
• The network moved my favorite television show to a different time slot.
- see also closing time, showtime
6 : a period of time when a situation or set of conditions exists : a period of minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc., when something is happening or someone is doing something

[count]

• I can't remember a time that/when I've been happier.
• She helped me in my time of need. [=she helped me when I needed help]
• He is someone you can depend on in times of crisis.
• He sat down to rest, and after a time [=while] he continued on his way.
• She served in the military for a time in her early twenties.
• No one spoke to us the entire/whole time we were there.
• We will be able to stay here only a short time.
• I haven't seen you in such a long time!
• It took them a long time to find out what was causing the problem.
• His promotion was a long time coming. [=he waited a long time to be promoted]
• It happened a long time ago.
- often + when
• There was a time when I thought he would never graduate from college.
- often used after at
• She was calm at a time when everyone else was panicking.
• Sometimes this helps, while at other times it makes things worse.
• No more than five people should ride in the car at any one time.
• There are between 200 and 300 patients in the hospital at any given time.
• How could you think about food at a time like this?
• At one time [=during one period of time in the past], 20 people lived together in this house.
• Everyone has experienced this feeling at one time or another.
• At the present time [=presently, right now], we don't know why it happened. = We don't know why it happened at this time.

[noncount]

• Some time ago [=at some point in the past], I read that the restaurant had closed.
• She has been living there for (quite) some time. [=for a somewhat long time]
• I get sick if I sit in the back seat of a car for any length of time. [=for more than a very small amount of time]
7 [noncount] : the number of minutes, days, years, etc., before something happens : the amount of time it takes for something to happen - usually used after in
• The movie is coming out in two months' time. [=it is coming out two months from now]
• They expect the system to be completely replaced in a few years' time.
• This machine can have the job finished in half the time (it would take you to do it by hand).
• It can do the job in a fraction of the time. [=it can do the job much more quickly]
• It's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt. [=someone will get hurt eventually]
• The police will catch him. It's only a question of time. [=the police will catch him at some point in the future]
8 [noncount] : the amount of time that is used, needed, available, or allowed for a particular activity or for someone to do something
• You must complete the project within the time allotted.
• I'll try not to take up too much of your time.
• Thank you for your time. [=thank you for listening to me]
• It's not worth your time and energy.
• Is there (enough) time to stop for lunch?
• What do you do in your free/spare time? [=when you are not working]
• We played games to pass/kill the time on the bus. [=we played games to cause time to seem to go by more quickly]
• How much more time do we have (left)? = How are we doing on/for time?
• We're pressed for time. [=we don't have much time left to do what we need to do]
• We ran out of time and didn't finish the project. [=we had no more time to work on the project]
• Time's up. [=the allowed period of time has ended] Please put down your pencils and hand in your tests.
• They finished with time to spare. [=they finished early]
• We're using up valuable/precious time talking when we could be getting started.
• The candidates will receive equal time to answer questions during the debate.
• Her teammates were complaining about their lack of playing time. [=the amount of time that they were allowed to play during a game]
• Sometimes she would drop by to pass the time of day. [=to have a friendly and informal conversation]
• She's had a lot of time on her hands [=time when she was not busy] lately.
• He can't manage to find (the) time to exercise.
- often used with save
• This new system will save time [=take less time, be faster] and money.
• We can save a lot of time by using this shortcut.
- often used with lose
• They lost a lot of time getting started.
• You'll just have to make up for lost time by working harder now. [=you'll have to work faster because you have less time to finish the work]
- often used with spend
• He spends all his time watching TV.
• I'm looking forward to spending more time at home [=being at home more] with my family.
- often used with waste
• Stop wasting time [=doing nothing or doing something that is not useful] and get to work!
• They wasted no time in decorating their new apartment. [=they started decorating it immediately]
• That class was a (big) waste of time. [=the class was not good] I didn't learn a thing.
- often followed by to + verb
• If we leave now, there's just (enough) time to catch the last show.
• There's no time to explain. I'll have to tell you why later.
• In the time it takes you to read one chapter, she can read the entire book.
• We will have plenty of time to buy souvenirs later.
• I haven't had much time to think about it.
• We have to hurry. There's no time to lose. [=we have little time, so we cannot waste any of it]
9 : the right moment to do something or for something to happen

[count]

• This is no time for jokes.
• The time for talking has passed. We must take action now.
• There is a time and a place for everything.
• Am I calling at a bad time? [=are you too busy to talk to me?]
• Is this a good time for you?
• This is as good a time as any.
• “Should we do it now?” “Sure. There's no time like the present.” [=let's do it now]
- often followed by to + verb
• Now is the perfect time to buy a new car.
• Now's not the time to discuss such things.
- often used with come
• We feel that the time has come for a decision to be made.
• When the time comes to move out of their apartment, they will have saved up enough money to buy a house.
• There comes a time when children leave their parents and start families of their own.
• an idea whose time has come [=an idea that is ready to be used]

[noncount]

• It's time to go.
• It is time for us to consider an alternative.
10 [count] : the quality of a person's experience on a particular occasion or during a particular period
• We all had a good/great/lovely time at the concert. [=we enjoyed the concert very much]
• Did you have a good time?
• A good time was had by all.
• Try to remember the good times you had together rather than the bad times.
• Their music helped me get through some difficult/hard/rough/tough times in my life.
• He looked like he was having the time of his life. [=enjoying himself very much; having a lot of fun]
• They've been having a hard time finding an apartment in the city.
11 [count] : a specific period in the past
• It happens more now than at any other time in history.
• The writings date back to the time of Shakespeare. [=the period of time when Shakespeare was alive]
• Like most families at/of/during that time, they had only one car.
• There was a time when people could let their children play outside without worrying about their safety.
• He was a famous comedian of the/that time.
• The bridge was built around the time of World War I.
• It was the most important book of its time.
• He is one of the greatest actors of our time. [=of the present day]
• Life was very different at that time. [=then]
• People have been creating art since time immemorial. [=for a very long time]
- often used after in
• Things were very different in your grandparents' time. [=day]
• I've seen a lot of crazy things in my time. [=during my life]
• She was a legend in her own time. [=she was someone who was very famous and admired while she was still alive]
• The tools were known to be in use in medieval/ancient/prehistoric times.
• In earlier times, this road was an important trade route.
• farming methods used in times past [=in the past]
- often used in the titles of books, newspapers, etc.
• She was reading the latest issue of the New York Times.
• The biography was titled The Life and Times of Napoleon.
12 times [plural]
a : the conditions experienced by a group of people now or during a particular period in the past
• The country is facing some difficult/trying times.
• Those were lean times, and our family couldn't afford new clothes.
• Life can be difficult even at/in the best of times.
b : the styles, events, or ideas that are popular or important in a culture now or at a particular period in the past
• Companies must change/evolve/move with the times or risk losing their customers.
• In this business, you have to keep up with the times. [=stay current; change as conditions change]
• Times have changed since then.
• Come on. Get with the times. [=understand and change to fit what is now happening and accepted in the culture]
• Their methods are behind the times. [=outdated]
13 a [count] : a period or stage in a person's life
• I'm at a time in my life when I don't care much about my appearance.
• at various times of her life
b [singular] : the time when a woman gives birth to a child
• Her time is drawing near.
c [singular] : the time when someone dies
• “Why did he have to die?” “It was just his time.”
14 a [singular] : the number of months, years, etc., that a person spends at a particular place or in a particular group or organization
• I learned a great deal during my time at Harvard.
• She used her time in the Senate to fight for the environment.
b [singular] : the number of months or years that an active member of the military is required to stay in the military
• She plans on going to college after she serves her time in the army. = She plans on going to college after she puts in her time in the army.
• He was an ex-soldier who did his time in Vietnam. [=he fought in Vietnam while he was a soldier]
c [noncount] informal : the number of days, months, or years that a person must stay in prison
• She's now doing time for armed robbery.
• (US) He could be facing hard time [=a long or difficult prison sentence] for his crimes.
15 [count] : the seconds, minutes, etc., it takes to do something (such as finish a race)
• She ran the mile in a time of 5 minutes and 15 seconds.
• What was my time? [=how long did it take me to do it?]
• He finished in record time. [=in the least amount of time ever]
16 [noncount] : the minutes, hours, or days that a person works or is required to work for a company : the time during which a company is paying a worker
• She has been putting in a lot of time [=she has been working a lot] at the office.
• I'll ask my supervisor if I can take time off (work) to go to the dentist.
• She took time out from her career to raise her children. [=she stopped working while she raised her children]
• (US) Employees need to make personal calls on their own time. = (Brit) Employees need to make personal calls in their own time. [=when their employer is not paying them to work]
• (US) Please do not make personal calls (when you are) on company time. = (Brit) Please do not make personal calls (when you are) in company time. [=when your employer is paying you to work]
- see also double time, flextime, full-time, overtime, part-time, short time, time and a half
17 times [plural]
- used to say how much bigger, smaller, faster, etc., something is than something else
• Her salary is five times greater than mine. = She earns five times as much money as I do.
• The area received three times the amount of rain it got last year.
• You would have to spend two times [=twice] as much at a regular department store.
• Their original investment has paid for itself many times over.
- see also times
18 [noncount] music
a : the rate of speed at which a piece of music is performed
• We clapped in time to [=in a way that matched the speed of] the music.
• March in time.
- see also keep time 2 (below)
b : the way that beats are grouped together in a piece of music
• the use of 6/8 time in certain styles of music
- often used after in
• If a song is in 3/4 time, that means that there are three beats per bar/measure and that each of those beats is a quarter note.
• a dance performed in 4/4 time with a quick tempo
against time
✦If you are racing/working (etc.) against time or are in a race against time, you are doing something quickly because you have only a small amount of time.
• We're working against time to finish this book.
• They raced against time to get her to the hospital.
• It was a race against time to find a cure for the disease.
ahead of time : before something happens : earlier than a time or event
• He called the restaurant ahead of time to make a dinner reservation.
• She read the report ahead of time to prepare for the meeting.
ahead of your/its time
✦If you are ahead of your time or if your ideas, creations, etc., are ahead of their time, you are too advanced or modern to be understood or appreciated during the time when you live or work.
• As a director, he was ahead of his time. His movies are now regarded as classics, but they were unpopular when he made them.
(all) in good time : when the appropriate moment arrives : when the time is right
• I'll let him know in good time.
• It will happen all in good time.
all (of) the time
1 : always
• You can't be right all of the time.
2 informal : very often or frequently
• “Do you ever take the subway to work?” “Yeah, all the time.”
• My sisters and I used to fight all of the time.

American English
British English
A2 (Elementary)
time
noun
0

lead

US /liːd/ 
UK /liːd/ 
Example: 

She led us through the hall and into the room.

to walk, drive, fly, sail etc in front of a group of people, vehicles, planes, ships etc

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

She led us through the hall and into the room.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
controlling and being in charge
Level: 
B2 (Upper-intermediate)
Region: 
American English
British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

verb (leads, leading, led /, has led)

pronunciation
The word lead usually sounds like feed or need. However, when it means a soft grey metal or the part inside a pencil, it sounds like red or said.

1 to take a person or an animal somewhere by going with them or in front of them:
He led me to the classroom.

2 to go to a place:
This path leads to the river.

3 to make something happen:
Smoking can lead to heart disease.

4 to have a particular type of life:
They lead a very busy life.

5 to be the first or the best, for example in a race or game:
Who's leading in the race?

6 to control a group of people:
The team was led by Gwen Hollis.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

lead

I. lead1 S1 W1 /liːd/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle led /led/)
[Word Family: noun: lead, ↑leader, ↑leadership; adjective: lead, ↑leading; verb: ↑lead]
[Language: Old English; Origin: lædan]
1. TAKE SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE [intransitive and transitive] to take someone somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently
lead somebody to/into etc something
A nurse took her arm and led her to a chair.
The horses were led to safety.
lead somebody away/down etc
She was led away from the courtroom in tears.
The manager led the way through the office.
2. GO IN FRONT [intransitive and transitive] to go in front of a line of people or vehicles:
A firetruck was leading the parade.
3. BE IN CHARGE [intransitive and transitive] to be in charge of an organization, country, or team, or a group of people who are trying to do something:
He has led the party for over twenty years.
Some people say she is too old to lead the country (=be in charge of its government).
Beckham led his team to victory.
lead an investigation/inquiry/campaign
The investigation will be led by Inspector Scarfe.
They are leading a campaign to warn teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.
lead a revolt/rebellion/coup etc
The rebellion was led by the King’s brother.
lead an attack/assault
Nelson preferred to lead the attack himself from the front.
a man who was born to lead
a communist-led strike
4. CAUSE SOMETHING TO HAPPEN [intransitive and transitive] to cause something to happen or cause someone to do something
lead to
the events that led to the start of the First World War
A degree in English could lead to a career in journalism.
lead somebody into something
Her trusting nature often led her into trouble.
lead somebody to do something
What led him to kill his wife?
lead to somebody doing something
His actions could lead to him losing his job.
5. CAUSE SOMEBODY TO BELIEVE SOMETHING [transitive] to make someone believe something, especially something that is not true
lead somebody to believe/expect/understand something
He had led everyone to believe that his family was very wealthy.
The hotel was terrible, and not at all what we had been led to expect.
Our research led us to the conclusion that the present system is unfair.
6. INFLUENCE [transitive] to influence someone to make them do something that is wrong
lead somebody into something
His brother led him into a life of crime.
He’s not a bad boy. He’s just easily led (=it is easy for other people to persuade him to do things that he should not do).
7. BE MORE SUCCESSFUL [transitive] to be more successful than other people, companies, or countries in a particular activity
lead the world/market/pack/field
US companies lead the world in biotechnology.
lead the way (=be the first to do something, and show other people how to do it)
The Swedes have led the way in data protection. ⇨ ↑leading1(1)
8. BE WINNING [intransitive and transitive] to be winning a game, competition etc OPP lose:
At half-time, Brazil led 1–0.
With 15 laps to go, Schumacher led the race.
The polls showed Clinton leading Bush 55 percent to 34 percent.
lead by ten points/two goals etc
Nadal was leading by two sets.
9. PATH/DOOR ETC [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say where a path, wire etc goes or what place is on the other side of a door
lead to/towards
The path led down to a small lake.
lead from/out of
the major artery leading from the heart
lead into
the door leading into the hallway
lead somebody to/into something
The riverside path leads visitors to a small chapel.
10. LIFE [transitive] if you lead a particular kind of life, that is what your life is like
lead a normal/quiet/busy etc life
If the operation succeeds, Carly will be able to lead a normal life.
He has led a charmed life (=been very fortunate).
lead a life of luxury/poverty etc
lead the life of a ...
She now leads the life of a recluse.
lead a double life (=deceive people by keeping different parts of your life separate and not letting anyone know the whole truth)
Joe had been leading a double life, seeing an ex-model while his wife believed he was on business.
They lead a nomadic existence.
11. DISCUSSION ETC [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to control the way a discussion, conversation etc develops:
I tried to lead the conversation back to the subject of money.
12. lead somebody up the garden path informal to deliberately deceive someone
13. lead somebody astray
a) to encourage someone to do bad or immoral things which they would not normally do
b) to make someone believe something that is not true
14. lead nowhere/not lead anywhere to not produce any useful result:
So far police investigations seem to have led nowhere.
15. lead by example to show the people you are in charge of what you want them to do by doing it yourself:
The best managers lead by example.
16. lead somebody by the nose to influence someone so much that you can completely control everything that they do:
Politicians think they can easily lead people by the nose.
17. this/that leads (me) to something used to introduce a new subject that is connected to the previous one:
That leads me to my final point. Where are we going to get the money?
18. somebody has their own life to lead used to say that someone wants to be able to live their life independently, without having to do things that other people want them to do
19. lead somebody a merry old dance/a right old dance British English to cause a lot of problems or worries for someone
20. market-led/export-led etc most influenced by the market, by ↑exports etc:
an export-led economic recovery
21. lead the eye if a picture, view etc leads the eye in a particular direction, it makes you look in that direction:
marble columns that lead the eye upward
22. CARD GAME [intransitive and transitive] to play a particular card as your first card in one part of a card game
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ lead to take a person or animal somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently: Rachel led Jo into the kitchen. | She was leading a horse, which seemed to have a bad leg.
▪ take to take someone somewhere with you when you have the transport, know the way, are paying etc: I took her to see a film. | Matt’s taking me in his car.
▪ guide to take someone through or to a place you know, showing them the way: Ali guided us through the streets to his house on the edge of the town.
▪ show to take someone to a place such as a table in a restaurant or a hotel room and leave them there: A waitress showed us to our table. | We were shown to our seats near the front of the theatre.
▪ point to show someone which direction to go using your hand or a sign: The sign back there pointed this way.
▪ escort to take someone somewhere, protecting them, guarding them, or showing them the way: He was escorted from the court by police. | The President’s car will be escorted by a military convoy.
▪ usher to show someone the way to a room or building nearby, usually as part of your job: His housekeeper ushered us into the living room.
▪ shepherd to carefully take someone somewhere – used especially about a group of people: The police shepherded thousands of people to safety in the cathedral.
▪ direct formal to tell someone where to go or how to get somewhere: He directed us to a cafe a few blocks away. | Can you direct me to the station?
lead off phrasal verb
1. to start a meeting, discussion, performance etc by saying or doing something:
I’d like to lead off by thanking Rick for coming.
lead off with
The French team led off with two quick goals in the first five minutes.
lead something ↔ off
Hal led the evening off with some folk songs.
2. lead off (something) if a road, room etc leads off a place, you can go directly from that place along that road, into that room etc
lead off from something
He pointed down a street leading off from the square.
a large room, with doors leading off it in all directions
3. to be the first player to try to hit the ball in an ↑inning (=period of play) in a game of baseball
lead somebody on phrasal verb
to deceive someone, especially to make them think you love them:
He thought she loved him, but in fact she was just leading him on.
lead on to something (also lead onto something) phrasal verb especially British English
to cause something to develop or become possible at a later time:
Alan Turing’s work led onto the development of modern computers.
lead with something phrasal verb
1. if a newspaper or television programme leads with a particular story, that story is the main one:
The Washington Post leads with the latest news from Israel.
2. to use a particular hand to begin an attack in ↑boxing, or a particular foot to begin a dance:
Adam led with his left and punched his opponent on the jaw.
lead up to something phrasal verb [not in passive]
1. if a series of events or a period of time leads up to an event, it comes before it or causes it:
the weeks that led up to her death
the events leading up to his dismissal
2. to gradually introduce an embarrassing, upsetting, or surprising subject into a conversation:
She had already guessed what he was leading up to.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lead

 

▪ I. lead 1 [lead leads led leading] verb, noun   [liːd]    [liːd] 

see also  lead2

verb (led, led   [led]  ;   [led]  ) 

 

SHOW THE WAY
1. intransitive, transitive to go with or in front of a person or an animal to show the way or to make them go in the right direction
Syn:  guide
• If you lead, I'll follow.
• ~ sb/sth + adv./prep. He led us out into the grounds.
• The receptionist led the way to the boardroom.
• She led the horse back into the stable.

• (figurative) I tried to lead the discussion back to the main issue.  

 

 

CONNECT TWO THINGS

2. intransitive ~ from/to sth (to/from sth) to connect one object or place to another
• the pipe leading from the top of the water tank

• The wire led to a speaker.  

 

 

OF ROAD/PATH/DOOR

3. intransitive, transitive to go in a particular direction or to a particular place
• + adv./prep. A path led up the hill.
• Which door leads to the yard?

• ~ sb + adv./prep. The track led us through a wood.  

 

 

CAUSE

4. intransitive ~ to sth to have sth as a result
Syn: result in
• Eating too much sugar can lead to health problems.

• A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.

5. transitive to be the reason why sb does or thinks sth
• ~ sb (to sth) What led you to this conclusion?
• He's too easily led (= easily persuaded to do or think sth).
• ~ sb to do sth This has led scientists to speculate on the existence of other galaxies.

• The situation is far worse than we had been led to believe.  

 

 

LIFE

6. transitive ~ sth to have a particular type of life

• to lead a quiet life/a life of luxury/a miserable existence  

 

 

BE BEST/FIRST

7. transitive, intransitive to be the best at sth; to be in first place
• ~ (sb/sth) (in sth) The department led the world in cancer research.
• We lead the way in space technology.

• ~ (sb/sth) by sth The champion is leading (her nearest rival) by 18 seconds.  

 

 

BE IN CONTROL

8. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to be in control of sth; to be the leader of sth
• to lead an expedition
• to lead a discussion

• Who will lead the party in the next election?  

 

 

IN CARD GAMES

9. intransitive, transitive to play first; to play sth as your first card
• It's your turn to lead.
• ~ sth to lead the ten of clubs
Syn:  mislead, see the blind leading the blind at  blind  adj., you can lead/take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink at  horse  n., lead/live the life of Riley at  life, one thing leads to another at  thing 
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
Old English lǣdan Germanic Dutch leiden German leiten load lode
 
Thesaurus:
lead verb
1. T, I
• The survivors were led to safety.
take • • escort • • show • • walk • • guide • • usher • |formal accompany •
Opp: follow
lead/take/escort/show/walk/guide/usher/accompany sb to/out of/into sth
lead/take/escort/walk/guide/usher/accompany sb there/somewhere
lead/take/escort/show/walk/guide sb round/around
lead/show the way
2. I, T (always used with an adverb or preposition)
• A path leads to the beach.
go • • continue • • reach • • stretch • • extend •
lead/go/continue/reach/stretch/extend beyond/across sth
lead/go/continue/reach/stretch/extend from sth to sth
3. T
• What led you to this conclusion?
prompt • • make • • motivate • |formal induce • • predispose •
lead/predispose sb to sth
lead/prompt/motivate/induce/predispose sb to do sth
make sb do sth
4. I, T
• The champion is leading by 18 seconds.
• They lead the world in cancer research.
be ahead of sb • • leave sb/sth behind • • get ahead • • overtake • • pass • |written, especially business outpace •
Opp: trail
lead/be ahead of sb/leave sb behind/get ahead/overtake in sth
lead/be ahead of sb/overtake a rival
5. T, I
• He led an expedition to the North Pole.
head • • chair • • captain • |formal preside • |especially journalism spearhead •
lead/head/captain a team
lead/head a (political) party/the government
lead/head/chair/preside over a/an commission/committee/inquiry
Head or lead? A person who heads sth has the official position of being the head of it. A person who leads sth may also have an official position, but the verb lead emphasizes their leadership qualities. An individual usually heads sth, but a group of people can lead sth.  
Language Bank:
cause
X causes Y
▪ Childhood obesity can cause ▪ / lead to ▪ long-term health problems.
▪ Changes in lifestyle and diet over the last twenty years have caused ▪ / led to ▪ / resulted in ▪ a sharp increase in childhood obesity.
▪ Several factors, including changes in diet and lifestyle, have contributed to ▪ the increase in childhood obesity.
▪ Research suggests that fast food and soft drinks directly contribute to ▪ childhood obesity.
▪ Genetics, lifestyle and diet are ▪ all important factors ▪ in cases of childhood obesity.
▪ Even small changes in lifestyle and diet can bring about ▪ significant weight loss.
Language Banks at because of, consequently, therefore  
Synonyms:
take
lead • escort • drive • show • walk • guide • usher • direct
These words all mean to go with sb from one place to another.
take • to go with sb from one place to another, for example in order to show them sth or to show them the way to a place: ▪ It's too far to walk— I'll take you by car.
lead • to go with or go in front of sb in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction: ▪ Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
escort • to go with sb in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way: ▪ The president arrived, escorted by twelve bodyguards.
drive • to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc: ▪ My mother drove us to the airport.
show • to take sb to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route: ▪ The attendant showed us to our seats.
walk • to go somewhere with sb on foot, especially in order to make sure that they get there safely; to take an animal, especially a dog, for a walk or make an animal walk somewhere: ▪ He always walked her home. ◊ ▪ Have you walked the dog yet today?
guide • to show sb the way to a place, often by going with them; to show sb a place that you know well: ▪ She guided us through the busy streets. ◊ ▪ We were guided around the museums.
usher • (rather formal) to politely take or show sb where they should go, especially within a building: ▪ She ushered her guests to their seats.
direct • (rather formal) to tell or show sb how to get somewhere or where to go: ▪ A young woman directed them to the station.
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher/direct sb to/out of/into sth
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide sb around/round
to take/lead/escort/drive/walk sb home
to take/lead/escort/guide sb to safety
to lead/show the way  
Example Bank:
• ‘Lead on!’ said Arnold.
• An old track led back through the wood.
• Business success does not automatically lead to financial success.
• Discussion of a client's tax affairs will lead naturally into consideration of investment options.
• Five people helping to lead a convoy of aid are feared dead.
• I tried to lead as normal a life as possible.
• Industrialization inevitably led to the expansion of the urban working class.
• Let me lead the way.
• Often there are discoveries which lead nowhere.
• She led them along a dark corridor to a small room.
• Some children are easily led.
• Such actions would most likely lead to the decline of rural communities.
• Sugar and fat can easily lead to obesity.
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.
• The carbon tax might well lead to a doubling of prices for fossil fuels.
• The gardens lead directly onto a beach.
• The glass doors lead out onto a rooftop garden.
• The use of soft drugs does not necessarily lead to a progression to hard drugs.
• These measures in turn led to an increased opportunity for independent music production.
• Worrying about your weight is more likely to lead to comforting yourself with a piece of chocolate.
• Worrying about your weight is more likely to lead to low self-esteem.
• You lead the way and we'll follow.
• a path leading from the village to the old church
• the events that led eventually to war
• Detective Inspector Adrian Eakins, who is leading the hunt for the killer, has called a press conference.
• Disconnect the pipe leading from the top of the water tank.
• Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
• He led the first expedition to the North Pole.
• He led the race for eight laps until his engine blew.
• If you lead, I'll follow.
• She is leading her nearest rival by 18 seconds.
• The campaign for the ban had been led by Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
• The firm's solid construction standards still lead the field.
• The project is run by a team of experts led by Andrew Hall.
• The situation is far worse than we had been led to believe.
• This has led scientists to speculate on the existence life on other planets.
• Top management should be seen to lead by example.
• What we found leads us to suspect that more people may be involved.
• Who will lead the party into the next election?
Idioms: lead from the front ▪ lead nowhere ▪ lead somebody a dance ▪ lead somebody by the nose ▪ lead somebody up the garden path

Derived: lead off ▪ lead off something ▪ lead somebody on ▪ lead something off ▪ lead up to something ▪ lead with something 

 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T ] ( led , led / led / ) (CONTROL)

B2 to control a group of people, a country, or a situation:

I think we've chosen the right person to lead the expedition.

I've asked Gemma to lead the discussion.

Who will be leading the inquiry into the accident?

 

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T ] ( led , led / led / ) (BE WINNING)

B2 (especially in sport or other competitions) to be in front, to be first, or to be winning:

After 30 minutes the challengers were leading by two goals.

With two laps to go Ngomo led by less than two seconds.

The Lions are leading the Hawks 28–9.

 

lead / liːd / verb [ T ] ( led , led / led / ) (INFLUENCE)

C2 to cause someone to do something, especially something bad:

[ + to infinitive ] The brochure led me to believe that the price included home delivery.

It's worrying that such a prominent politician is so easily led.

He was a weak man, led astray by ambition.

 

lead / liːd / verb ( led , led / led / ) (SHOW WAY)

B1 [ I ] to show the way to a group of people, animals, vehicles, etc. by going in front of them:

I don't know the way, so you'd better lead.

If you lead in the jeep, we'll follow behind on the horses.

[ T ] To lead a group of moving people or vehicles is to walk or drive in front of them:

The local youth band will lead the parade this weekend.

A large black hearse led the funeral procession.

B1 [ T usually + adv/prep ] to take someone somewhere, by going with them:

She led them down the hall.

The waiter led us to our table.

Our guide led us through the mountains.

B1 [ T usually + adv/prep ] to take hold of a person or an animal, or of something fastened to them, and take them somewhere:

She took the child by the hand and led him upstairs to bed.

He led the horse out of the stable.

lead the way to show the way by going in front:

You've been there before - why don't you lead the way?

to make more progress than other people in the development of something:

The company has been leading the way in network applications for several years.

 

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T , usually + adv/prep ] ( led , led / led / ) (DIRECTION)

B2 (especially of roads, paths, doors, signs, information, etc.) to go in a particular direction or have a particular result, or to allow or cause this:

There's a track that leads directly to the reservoir.

The French windows lead out onto a wide, shady terrace.

A narrow trail of blood led directly into the cave.

This information led the police to a house near the harbour.

 

lead / liːd / verb ( led , led / led / ) (LIVE)

lead a busy, normal, quiet, etc. life B2 to live a particular type of life:

He was able to lead a normal life, despite the illness.

We certainly don't lead a life of luxury but we're not poor either.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

lead

I BEING AHEAD OR TAKING SOMEONE SOMEWHERE
 ♦
 leads, leading, led
 (Pronounced [li͟ːd] in lead 1, and [le̱d] in lead 2.)
 1) VERB If you lead a group of moving people, you walk or ride in front of them.
  [V n] John Major and the Duke of Edinburgh led the mourners...
  [V n prep/adv] He walks with a stick but still leads his soldiers into battle...
  Tom was leading, a rifle slung over his back.
 2) VERB If you lead someone to a particular place or thing, you take them there.
  [V n prep/adv] He took Dickon by the hand to lead him into the house...
  [V n prep/adv] She confessed to the killing and led police to his remains...
  [V n] Leading the horse, Evandar walked to the door.
 3) VERB If a road, gate, or door leads somewhere, you can get there by following the road or going through the gate or door.
  [V prep/adv] ...the doors that led to the yard.
  [V prep/adv] ...a short roadway leading to the car park...
  [V prep/adv] Hundreds of people are said to have blocked a main highway leading north.
 4) VERB If you are leading at a particular point in a race or competition, you are winning at that point.
  He's leading in the presidential race...
  [V by amount] So far Fischer leads by five wins to two...
  [V n] Aston Villa last led the League in March 1990.
 5) N-SING: the N, oft in/into the N If you have the lead or are in the lead in a race or competition, you are winning.
  England took the lead after 31 minutes with a goal by Peter Nail...
  Labour are still in the lead in the opinion polls.
 6) N-SING: with supp, oft N over n Someone's lead over a competitor at a particular point in a race or competition is the distance, amount of time, or number of points by which they are ahead of them.
  ...a commanding lead for the opposition is clearly emerging throughout the country.
  His goal gave Forest a two-goal lead against Southampton...
  Sainz now has a lead of 28 points.
 7) VERB If one company or country leads others in a particular activity such as scientific research or business, it is more successful or advanced than they are in that activity.
  [V n] When it comes to pop music we not only lead Europe, we lead the world.
  [V n in n] ...foodstores such as Marks & Spencer, which led the market in microwavable meals.
 8) VERB If you lead a group of people, an organization, or an activity, you are in control or in charge of the people or the activity.
  [V n] He led the country between 1949 and 1984...
  [V n] Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
 9) N-COUNT: usu supp N If you give a lead, you do something new or develop new ideas or methods that other people consider to be a good example or model to follow.
  ...the need for the president to give a moral lead...
  The American and Japanese navies took the lead in the development of naval aviation...
  Over the next 150 years, many others followed his lead.
 10) VERB You can use lead when you are saying what kind of life someone has. For example, if you lead a busy life, your life is busy.
  [V n] She led a normal, happy life with her sister and brother...
  [V n] Most of the women in here are not people who have led a life of crime.
 11) VERB If something leads to a situation or event, usually an unpleasant one, it begins a process which causes that situation or event to happen.
  [V to n] Ethnic tensions among the republics could lead to civil war...
  [V to n] He warned yesterday that a pay rise for teachers would lead to job cuts.
 12) VERB If something leads you to do something, it influences or affects you in such a way that you do it.
  [V n to-inf] His abhorrence of racism led him to write The Algiers Motel Incident...
  [V n to-inf] What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?
 13) VERB If you say that someone or something led you to think something, you mean that they caused you to think it, although it was not true or did not happen.
  [V n to-inf] Mother had led me to believe the new baby was a kind of present for me...
  [V n to-inf] It was not as straightforward as we were led to believe.
 14) VERB If you lead a conversation or discussion, you control the way that it develops so that you can introduce a particular subject.
  [V n adv/prep] After a while I led the conversation around to her job...
  [V n] He planned to lead the conversation and keep Matt from changing the subject.
 15) VERB You can say that one point or topic in a discussion or piece of writing leads you to another in order to introduce a new point or topic that is linked with the previous one.
  [V n to n] Well, I think that leads me to the real point.
  Syn:
  bring
 16) N-COUNT A lead is a piece of information or an idea which may help people to discover the facts in a situation where many facts are not known, for example in the investigation of a crime or in a scientific experiment.
  The inquiry team is also following up possible leads after receiving 400 calls from the public.
 17) N-COUNT The lead in a play, film, or show is the most important part in it. The person who plays this part can also be called the lead.
  Nina Ananiashvili and Alexei Fadeyechev from the Bolshoi Ballet dance the leads...
  The leads are Jack Hawkins and Glynis Johns.
 18) N-COUNT A dog's lead is a long, thin chain or piece of leather which you attach to the dog's collar so that you can control the dog. [mainly BRIT]
  An older man came out with a little dog on a lead.
  Syn:
  leash(in AM, use leash)
 19) N-COUNT A lead in a piece of equipment is a piece of wire covered in plastic which supplies electricity to the equipment or carries it from one part of the equipment to another.
 20) N-SING: oft N n The lead story or lead in a newspaper or on the television or radio news is the most important story.
  The Turkish situation makes the lead in tomorrow's Guardian...
  Cossiga's reaction is the lead story in the Italian press.
 21) → See also leading, -led
 to lead someone astray → see astray
 one thing led to another → see thing
 to lead the way → see way
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - lead off
  - lead on
  - lead on to
  - lead up toII SUBSTANCES
 leads
 (Pronounced [li͟ːd] in lead 1, and [le̱d] in lead 2.)
 1) N-UNCOUNT Lead is a soft, grey, heavy metal.
  ...drinking water supplied by old-fashioned lead pipes.
 2) N-UNCOUNT Lead is sometimes used to refer to bullets. [INFORMAL]
  Eventually Bogart pumps him full of lead.
  Syn:
  bullets
 3) N-COUNT The lead in a pencil is the centre part of it which makes a mark on paper.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1lead /ˈliːd/ verb leads; led /ˈlɛd/; lead·ing
1 a : to guide someone to a place especially by going in front

[no obj]

• You lead and we'll follow right behind you.

[+ obj]

• He led [=took] me into a room in the back of the house.
• You lead us and we'll follow right behind you.
- often + to
• The teacher led the child by the hand to his seat. = The teacher took the child's hand and led him to his seat.
• Our hostess led us to the dinner table.
- often used as (be) led
• The passengers were led onto/aboard the ship by the steward.
• The prisoner was led off to jail [=was taken to jail] in handcuffs.
- often used figuratively
• I gradually led the interview around/back to the subject of his failed marriage.
• He says that he will follow the evidence wherever it leads (him).
• This leads me to my next point, which is that the building needs a new roof.
• The painting's composition leads the/your eye to the figures in the foreground. [=causes you to look at the figures in the foreground]
b [+ obj] : to go or be at the front part of (something)
• The veterans will lead a parade down Main Street.
• lead a march
2 [no obj] : to lie or go in a specified direction
• The path leads uphill.
• This road doesn't lead to the village as we thought it did.
• a set of stairs that leads down to the basement
• There was a path leading (off) from the meadow into the woods.
- often used figuratively
• She realized that their relationship would never lead to marriage.
• The investigation into the murder was leading nowhere. [=the investigation was not solving the crime]
3 : to guide the actions of a person or group : to be in charge of a person, group, activity, etc.

[no obj]

• We need to elect someone who can lead.
• bosses who lead by example [=who show employees how they should act by acting that way themselves]

[+ obj]

• She leads her employees by setting a good example for them.
• She led a successful boycott of the store.
• lead an expedition
• A visiting professor will be leading the seminar.
• lead [=direct] an orchestra
• She led the children in a song. [=she sang a song and the children sang with her]
4 [+ obj] : to cause (a person, group, etc.) to do something or to follow some course of action
• Her interest in art led her into the field of art history.
- usually followed by to or to + verb
• His volunteer work in the hospital led him to a career in nursing. = His volunteer work in the hospital led [=inspired] him to become a nurse.
• Her experience with cancer led her to consider writing a book on the subject.
• The evidence leads me to believe [=makes me believe] that this disease is curable.
• We've been led to believe that the labels on food items disclose all ingredients, but it's becoming clear that this is not the case.
• I had been led to expect that someone would meet me at the airport, but no one came.
• He led me to understand [=he told me or caused me to think] that the deadline was January 7.
5 : to be first, best, or ahead in a race or competition

[no obj]

• the team that is currently leading in the pennant race
• At the end of the fourth inning, the Red Sox led by two runs.

[+ obj]

• lead a race
• They led their opponents by 20 points at the end of the third quarter.
• the team that is leading the league [=the team that is in first place]
• a batter who leads the league in home runs [=who has hit more home runs than any other batter]
• a runner who is leading the pack/field [=a runner who is ahead of the group of other runners]
- often used figuratively
• Their company leads the world [=is the most successful company in the world] in developing new technology to assist people with disabilities.
6 [+ obj] : to go through (life) in a certain way : to have (a specified kind of life)
• They chose to lead [=live] a quiet life.
• He leads a peaceful existence.
• It turned out that he had been leading a double life. [=deceiving people about his life, not telling the whole truth about his life]
• He has always led a charmed life. [=he has always been lucky]
• She needs to lead her own life. [=she needs to make her own decisions about her life]
7 : to begin play in a card game with (a certain card or kind of card)

[+ obj]

• lead trumps
• led a spade

[no obj]

• lead with a spade
8 [no obj] : to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
• I don't know this dance, so I'd prefer it if you lead.
9 [+ obj] law : to ask (a witness) a question in a way that suggests what the answer should be : to ask (a witness) a leading question
• The judge ruled that the lawyer was leading the witness.
lead off [phrasal verb] lead off or lead (something) off or lead off (something)
1 : to start something (such as an activity or performance) in a specified way
• She led off [=started, kicked off] the presentation with a brief overview of the project.
• She led off [=began] with a brief overview of the project.
2 baseball : to be the first batter in an inning
• He led off with a walk. [=he was the first batter in his team's half of the inning and he was walked]
• He led off the inning with a home run.
- see also leadoff
lead on [phrasal verb] lead (someone) on : to cause (someone) to wrongly continue believing or doing something
• She was devastated when she found out that he didn't really love her, and had only been leading her on. [=he had been leading her to believe that he loved her]
lead someone a merry chase US or Brit lead someone a (merry) dance old-fashioned : to cause a series of troubles or worries for (someone)
• He led me a merry chase before I finally got him to agree to a meeting.
lead someone (around) by the nose
- see 1nose
lead someone down/up the garden path informal : to deceive someone : to cause someone to go, think, or proceed wrongly
• He believes the average consumer is being led down the garden path by the promises in advertisements.
lead the way : to be the first person to go somewhere
• You lead the way, and we'll follow.
- often used figuratively
• Their company led the way in developing this technology. [=was the first to have success developing the technology]
lead to [phrasal verb] lead to (something) : to result in (something)
• a course of study leading to a degree in agriculture
• Her investigations ultimately led to the discovery of the missing documents.
• His volunteer work in the hospital led to a career in nursing. = His volunteer work in the hospital led to him becoming a nurse.
- see also 1lead 1a, 4 (above)
lead up to [phrasal verb] lead up to (something)
1 : to occur in the time that comes before (something)
• Many voters were still undecided in the days leading up to [=approaching] the election.
2 : to come before and help to cause (something)
• There was a series of errors leading up to the accident.
3 : to come before and help to introduce (something)
• a chapter leading up to the main topic of the book
• I had no idea what he was leading up to when he started talking about his father.
lead with [phrasal verb] lead with (something)
1 : to begin something (such as a story or speech) with (something specified)
• The newspaper story led [=opened, began] with a long report on the funeral.
2 : to begin a series of punches in boxing with (a punch thrown by a specified hand)
• The champion led with a left to the body, followed up quickly with a right to the jaw.
the blind leading the blind
- see 1blind

American English
British English
B2 (Upper-intermediate)
lead
verb
0

stairway

stairway [noun]
US /ˈster.weɪ/ 
UK /ˈsteə.weɪ/ 
Example: 

He carried the box through the stairway.

A passage in a public place with a set of steps that leads from one level to another

Persian equivalent: 

Click here.

Example: 

He carried the box through the stairway.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme: 
stairs and lifts
Level: 
A2 (Elementary)
Region: 
American English
British English

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stairway

stair‧way /ˈsteəweɪ $ ˈster-/ noun [countable]
  a staircase, especially a large or impressive one

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stairway

stair·way [stairway stairways]   [ˈsteəweɪ]    [ˈsterweɪ]  noun

a set of stairs inside or outside a building

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

stairway / ˈsteə.weɪ /   / ˈster- / noun [ C ]

a passage in a public place with a set of steps that leads from one level to another

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stairway

/steə(r)weɪ/
(stairways)

A stairway is a staircase or a flight of steps, inside or outside a building.

N-COUNT

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stairway

stair·way /ˈsteɚˌweɪ/ noun, pl -ways [count] : a set of stairs that go from one level or floor to another
• He took the stairway up to the third floor. [=he went to the third floor by walking up the stairs]

American English
British English
A2 (Elementary)
stairway
noun

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