British English

rage

I. rage¹ /reɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin rabies 'anger, wildness', from rabere 'to be wild with anger']
1. [uncountable and countable] a strong feeling of uncontrollable anger:
Sobbing with rage, Carol was taken to the hospital.
in a rage
Sam became quite frightening when he was in a rage.
cry/scream/roar etc of rage
Just then, she heard Mr Evan’s bellow of rage.
red/dark/purple with rage
His face was red with rage.
trembling/shaking with rage
Forester stared at his car, trembling with rage.
seething/incandescent with rage (=as angry as a person can possibly be)
Animal rights supporters were incandescent with rage.
Richens was 17 when he flew into a rage and stabbed another teenager.
2. be all the rage informal to be very popular or fashionable:
DiCaprio became all the rage after starring in the film ‘Titanic’.
3. rage for something a situation in which something is very popular or fashionable:
the rage for mobile phones

ignorance

ig‧no‧rance AC /ˈɪɡnərəns/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑ignorance; adverb: ↑ignorantly; adjective: ↑ignorant]
1. lack of knowledge or information about something:
Excuse my ignorance, but how does it actually work?
ignorance of
our ignorance of the true situation
in ignorance
I would have remained in ignorance if Shaun hadn’t mentioned it.
ignorance about
public fear and ignorance about AIDS
2. ignorance is bliss used to say that if you do not know about a problem, you cannot worry about it

overcome

o‧ver‧come W3 /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm $ ˌoʊvər-/ BrE AmE verb (past tense overcame /-ˈkeɪm/, past participle overcome) [transitive]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ofercuman]
1. to successfully control a feeling or problem that prevents you from achieving something:
He struggled to overcome his shyness.
Her financial problems could no longer be overcome.
2. [usually passive] if smoke or gas overcomes someone, they become extremely sick or unconscious because they breathe it:
The engineer was working on the freezer when he was overcome by gas.
3. if an emotion overcomes someone, they cannot behave normally because they feel the emotion so strongly
overcome with
Charles was overcome with grief.
4. to fight and win against someone or something SYN defeat:
Australia overcame the Netherlands 2–1.
 

shade

I. shade¹ /ʃeɪd/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sceadu]
1. OUT OF SUNLIGHT [uncountable] slight darkness or shelter from the direct light of the sun made by something blocking it:
a plant that needs a lot of shade
in the shade (of something)
She was sitting in the shade of a large oak tree.
The temperature was over 90 degrees in the shade.
2. FOR BLOCKING LIGHT [countable]
a) something you use to reduce or block light:
The shade on the lamp was slightly crooked. ⇨ ↑lampshade
b) American English a covering that can be pulled down over a window SYN blind
3. shades [plural] informal ↑sunglasses
4. IN A PICTURE [uncountable] the dark places in a picture:
strong contrasts of light and shade
5. COLOUR [countable] a particular type of red, green, blue etc
shade of
a bright shade of pink
6. shade of meaning/opinion/feeling etc a meaning etc that is slightly different from other ones SYN nuance:
There is room in the Democratic Party for many shades of opinion.
7. a shade formal very slightly
a shade too big/hot/fast etc
Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me.
a shade better/quicker/faster etc
The results were a shade better than we expected.
a shade over/under/above etc
She was a shade under five feet tall.
8. shades of somebody/something used to say that someone or something reminds you of another person or thing:
The food was horrible – shades of school dinners.
9. put somebody/something in the shade to be so good or impressive that other similar things or people seem much less important or interesting:
They’re planning a festival that will put all the others in the shade.
10. have it made in the shade American English informal to be extremely rich – used humorously
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ colour red, blue, yellow etc: Blue is my favourite colour. | Matisse was famous for his use of colour.
▪ shade a particular type of a colour: The dress is a light shade of pink. | He uses different shades of green.
▪ hue /hjuː/ literary or technical a particular colour or shade of a colour: Her face had lost its golden hue.
▪ tint a small amount of a colour in something that is mostly another colour: He wears sunglasses that have a pinky-orange tint.
▪ tone one of the many different shades of a colour, each slightly darker, lighter, brighter etc than the next: Carpets in neutral tones give a feeling of space.

society

so‧ci‧e‧ty S1 W1 /səˈsaɪəti, səˈsaɪɪti/ BrE AmE noun (plural societies)
[Word Family: noun: ↑society, ↑sociologist, ↑sociology, ↑sociability, ↑social, ↑socialism, ↑socialist, ↑socialite, ↑socialization, ↑sociopath; adjective: ↑sociable ≠ ↑unsociable, ↑social ≠ ANTI-SOCIAL, ↑unsocial, ↑socialist, ↑socialistic, ↑societal, ↑sociological, ↑sociopathic; adverb: ↑socially, ↑sociably, ↑sociologically; verb: ↑socialize]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: société, from Latin societas, from socius; ⇨ ↑social¹]
1. PEOPLE IN GENERAL [uncountable] people in general, considered in relation to the laws, organizations etc that make it possible for them to live together:
technology and its effects on modern society
Children are the most vulnerable members of society.
2. A PARTICULAR GROUP [uncountable and countable] a particular large group of people who share laws, organizations, customs etc:
Britain is now a multiracial society.
the capitalist societies of the West
the conservative segment of American society
3. CLUB [countable] an organization or club with members who share similar interests, aims etc:
the university film society
the American Cancer Society
society of
the Society of Black Lawyers
4. UPPER CLASS [uncountable] the fashionable group of people who are rich and powerful:
a society wedding
high society (=the richest, most fashionable etc people)
5. BEING WITH PEOPLE [uncountable] formal when you are together with other people
society of
Holidays are a time to enjoy the society of your family.
6. polite society middle- or upper-class people who behave correctly in social situations
in polite society (=among middle- or upper-class people)
The subject was rarely mentioned in polite society.
⇨ ↑building society, ↑friendly society
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ a free society Censorship has no place in a free society.
▪ a civilized society A civilized society should treat its elderly members well.
▪ a civil society (=a society based on laws that everyone accepts) The protection of human rights is essential for a civil society.
▪ a multicultural/multiracial society We live in a multicultural society.
▪ a democratic society Education is important in a democratic society.
▪ an advanced/modern society The Greeks formed the first advanced societies in the West. | This kind of hatred and violence have no place in a modern society like ours.
▪ an industrial society In complex industrial societies, different groups specialize in particular activities.
▪ a primitive society In almost all primitive societies, volcanoes have been regarded with fear.
▪ a just society We are making progress towards a just society.
▪ a classless society (=one in which people are not divided into different social classes) the Prime Minister’s vision of a classless society
▪ a capitalist society As consumers in a capitalist society, we can press companies to behave responsibly.
▪ the larger/wider society (=used when comparing a small group of people to society as a whole) The poor are part of the larger society, and programs must be there to help them.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ organization a group of people, companies, or countries, which is set up for a particular purpose: Greenpeace is an international organization that protects the environment. | the World Health Organization
▪ institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university: The University is an important academic institution. | financial institutions such as banks
▪ association an organization for people in a particular profession, sport, or activity, which officially represents its members – often used in names: I met a representative of the National Association of Teachers. | the Football Association
▪ party an organization of people with the same political aims which you can vote for in elections: Which political party do you support? | He voted for the Republican Party’s candidate.
▪ body an important group of people who make the rules and advise people about what should be allowed: the sport’s governing body | The government has set up an advisory body.
▪ club/society an organization for people who share an interest, for example a sport: We belong to a tennis club. | I joined the university film society.
▪ union an organization formed by workers in order to protect their rights: The union ordered its members out on strike.
▪ charity an organization which collects money to help people who are poor, sick etc and does not make any profit for itself: She has raised a lot of money for local charities.
▪ quango British English disapproving an organization set up by the government, which has official power but whose members have not been elected: the amount of money that is wasted on government quangos

achieve

a‧chieve S2 W1 AC /əˈtʃiːv/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑achievement, ↑achiever, ↑underachiever ≠ OVERACHIEVER, ↑underachievement ≠ OVERACHIEVEMENT; verb: ↑achieve, ↑underachieve ≠ OVERACHIEVE; adjective: ↑achievable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: achever, from chief 'end, head']
1. [transitive] to successfully complete something or get a good result, especially by working hard:
Frances achieved very good exam results.
Wilson has achieved considerable success as an artist.
She eventually achieved her goal of becoming a professor.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say someone gets a result rather than achieves it:
▪ He got good grades in his final exams.
2. [intransitive] to be successful in a particular kind of job or activity:
We want all our students to achieve within their chosen profession.

impossible

I. im‧pos‧si‧ble¹ S2 W2 /ɪmˈpɒsəbəl, ɪmˈpɒsɪbəl $ ɪmˈpɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑possibility ≠ ↑impossibility, the impossible, ↑possible; adverb: ↑possibly ≠ ↑impossibly; adjective: ↑possible ≠ ↑impossible]
1. something that is impossible cannot happen or be done OPP possible:
‘I want to speak to Mr Franks.’ ‘I’m afraid that’s impossible.’
It’s impossible to be accurate about these things.
The noise made sleep impossible.
Members with young children often found it impossible to attend evening meetings.
It is difficult to find work these days, but for blind people it is virtually impossible.
He was faced with a seemingly impossible task.
It was physically impossible to get the fridge through the door.
Six months ago, peace seemed an impossible dream.
Such mental attitudes are difficult, if not impossible, to change.
2. a situation that is impossible is one that you cannot deal with:
We were in an impossible situation. Whatever we decided to do would upset someone.
Helen’s refusal to cooperate put me in an impossible position.
His attitude is making life impossible for the rest of the team.
He was facing impossible odds.
3. behaving in a very unreasonable and annoying way:
Oh, you’re just impossible!

person

per‧son S1 W1 /ˈpɜːsən $ ˈpɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑person, ↑personality, ↑persona, ↑personage, the personals, ↑personification, ↑personnel; adjective: ↑personal ≠ ↑impersonal, ↑personalized, ↑personable; verb: ↑personalize, ↑personify; adverb: ↑personally ≠ ↑impersonally]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: persone, from Latin persona 'actor's mask, character in a play, person', probably from Etruscan phersu 'mask']
1. (plural people /ˈpiːpəl/) a human being, especially considered as someone with their own particular character:
He was a very nice person, always pleasant and friendly.
The only person who really said anything helpful was Jack.
kind/type/sort of person
David was not the sort of person who found it easy to talk about his feelings.
I like her as a person, but not as a boss.
I still know quite a lot of people in the village.
a group of young people
city/cat/night etc person (=someone who likes a particular kind of thing)
I’m not a morning person.
2. in person if you do something in person, you go somewhere and do it yourself, instead of doing something by letter, asking someone else to do it etc:
You have to sign for it in person.
3. businessperson/salesperson etc someone who works in business, who sells things etc ⇨ ↑chairperson, ↑spokesperson
4. (plural persons) formal or law someone who is not known or not named:
The police are appealing for any person who was in the area at this time to contact them.
murder by person or persons unknown
All 115 persons on board were killed.
5. on/about your person formal if you have something on or about your person, you have it in your pockets or attached to you:
Customs officers found a gun concealed about his person.
6. in the person of somebody formal used before the name of someone who you have just mentioned in a more general way:
I was met by the police in the person of Sergeant Black.
⇨ ↑first person, ↑missing person, ↑person-to-person, ↑second person, ↑third person
• • •
GRAMMAR
The plural of person is usually people:
▪ Sixty-four people (NOT persons) died in the fire.
Persons is also used, but only in formal notices, documents, and situations:
▪ All persons born in the United States are citizens of the United States.
People meaning 'more than one person' is already plural and cannot form a plural with 's':
▪ A lot of British people (NOT peoples) are employed by foreign firms.
People meaning 'race' or 'nation' is countable and you can add 's' to form a plural in the normal way:
▪ African peoples

advantage

ad‧van‧tage S2 W1 /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ $ ədˈvæn-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑advantage ≠ ↑disadvantage, the disadvantaged; adjective: ↑advantageous ≠ ↑disadvantageous, ↑advantaged ≠ ↑disadvantaged; verb: ↑disadvantage; adverb: ↑advantageously ≠ ↑disadvantageously]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: avantage, from avant 'before', from Latin abante; ⇨ ↑advance²]
1. [uncountable and countable] something that helps you to be more successful than others, or the state of having this OPP disadvantage
advantage over
Her experience meant that she had a big advantage over her opponent.
Younger workers tend to be at an advantage (=have an advantage) when applying for jobs.
It might be to your advantage (=it might help you) to take a computer course of some kind.
2. [uncountable and countable] a good or useful feature that something has
advantage of
One of the many advantages of living in New York is that you can eat out at almost any time of day.
advantage over
This printer has several advantages over conventional printers.
3. take advantage of somebody to treat someone unfairly in order to get what you want, especially someone who is generous or easily persuaded:
Don’t lend them the car – they’re taking advantage of you!
4. take advantage of something (to do something) to use a particular situation to do or get what you want:
I took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
You’ll want to take full advantage of the beach-front clubs.
5. use/turn something to your/good advantage to use something that you have or that happens in order to achieve something:
How could he turn the situation to his advantage?
Burns used his family connections to good advantage.
6. show something to (good/great) advantage to make the best features of someone or something very noticeable:
Her dress showed her tanned skin to great advantage.
7. advantage somebody used in tennis to show that the person named has won the next point after the score was 40–40

inner

in‧ner S3 W2 /ˈɪnə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[Language: Old English; Origin: innera, from inne 'inside']
1. on the inside or close to the centre of something OPP outer:
an inner room
inner London
the inner ear
2. inner thoughts or feelings are ones that you feel strongly but do not always show to other people:
Yoga gives me a sense of inner calm.
She’ll need great inner strength to get over the tragedy.
She never shared her inner thoughts with anyone.
3. relating to things which happen or exist but are not easy to see:
the inner workings of the film industry
the fascinating inner life of a political party
4. inner circle the few people in an organization, political party etc who control it or share power with its leader:
members of the president’s inner circle
5. sb’s inner voice thoughts or feelings inside your head which seem to warn or advise you:
My inner voice told me to be cautious.