British English

bicycle

bi·cycle [bicycle bicycles bicycled bicycling] noun, verb   [ˈbaɪsɪkl]    [ˈbaɪsɪkl]

noun

(also informal bike)
a road vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing the pedals with your feet
• He got on his bicycle and rode off.
• We went for a bicycle ride on Sunday.  
Word Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from bi-  ‘two’ + Greek kuklos ‘wheel’.  
Example Bank:
• Did you come by bicycle?
• He mounted his bicycle and rode off.
• I dismounted and began to push my bicycle up the hill.
• She came off her bicycle when it skidded on some wet leaves.
• She pedalled her bicycle up the track.
• She tried to pedal her bicycle up the track.

• We watched the boys on their bicycles.

verb intransitive (+ adv./prep.) (old-fashioned)
to go somewhere on a bicycle
compare  bike, cycle
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:

mid 19th cent.: from bi-  ‘two’ + Greek kuklos ‘wheel’.

ride

ride [ride rides rode riding ridden] verb, noun   [raɪd]   [raɪd]

verb (rode   [rəʊd]  ;   [roʊd]  rid·den   [ˈrɪdn]  ;   [ˈrɪdn]  ) 

HORSE
1. intransitive, transitive to sit on a horse, etc. and control it as it moves
• I learnt to ride as a child.
• + adv./prep. They rode along narrow country lanes.
• He was riding on a large black horse.
• ~ sth She had never ridden a horse before.

• He's ridden six winners so far this year (= in horse racing).

2. go riding (BrE) (NAmE go ˈhorseback riding) intransitive to spend time riding a horse for pleasure

• How often do you go riding?  

BICYCLE/MOTORCYCLE

3. transitive, intransitive to sit on and control a bicycle, motorcycle, etc
• ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) The boys were riding their bikes around the streets.
• He rode a Harley Davidson.

• (+ adv./prep.) The ground there is too rough to ride over.  

IN VEHICLE

4. intransitive, transitive to travel in a vehicle, especially as a passenger
• (+ adv./prep.) I walked back while the others rode in the car.
• ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) (NAmE) to ride the subway/an elevator, etc.

• She rode the bus to school every day.  

ON WATER/AIR

5. intransitive, transitive to float or be supported on water or air
• (+ adv./prep.) We watched the balloon riding high above the fields.
• The ship was riding at anchor in the harbour.
• ~ sth surfers riding the waves

• A large bird was riding the air currents beneath it.  

GO THROUGH AREA

6. transitive ~ sth to go through or over an area on a horse, bicycle, etc

• We rode the mountain trails.  

CRITICIZE

7. transitive ~ sb (NAmE) to criticize or tease sb in an annoying way

• Why is everybody riding me today?

Word Origin:
Old English rīdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rijden and German reiten.  
Example Bank:
• At the end of the film they ride off into the sunset.
• They rode hard all night.
• We were riding along a dusty trail.
• riding along a country lane
• riding bareback on a circus horse
• He rides the subway every day.
• The men loaded my stuff onto the pick-up and I rode with them in the cab.
• The widow and children rode in the first car after the coffin.
• You could ride right along the coast by tram.
Idioms: give somebody a an easy ride ▪ go along for the ride ▪ have a an easy ride ▪ let something ride ▪ ride a wave of something ▪ ride herd on somebody ▪ ride shotgun ▪ ride the crest of something ▪ riding for a fall ▪ riding high ▪ take somebody for a ride
Derived: ride on something ▪ ride something out ▪ ride up

noun  

IN VEHICLE
1. a short journey in a vehicle, on a bicycle, etc
• a train ride through beautiful countryside
• It's a ten-minute bus ride from here to town.
• Steve gave me a ride on his motorbike.
• We went for a ride on our bikes.

• a bike ride

2. (NAmE) (BrE lift) a free ride in a car, etc. to a place you want to get to
• She hitched a ride to the station.

• We managed to get a ride into town when we missed the bus.

3. the kind of journey you make in a car, etc
• a smooth/comfortable/bumpy, etc. ride

• (figurative) The new legislation faces a bumpy ride (= will meet with opposition and difficulties).  

ON HORSE

4. a short journey on a horse, etc
• a pony ride
• The kids had a ride on an elephant at the zoo.

• He goes for a ride most mornings.  

AT FUNFAIR

5. a large machine at a funfair or amusement park that you ride on for fun or excitement; an occasion when you go on one of these
• The rides are free.
• a roller coaster ride
more at get, take, etc. a free ride at  free  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Old English rīdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rijden and German reiten.  
Thesaurus:
ride noun C
• We went for a ride in Jo's new car.
drive • • flight • |BrE lift •
a ride/drive/flight/lift in sth
a ride/drive/flight/lift back/home
take/go on a ride/drive/flight
give sb/hitch a ride/lift 
Example Bank:
• He took her for a wild ride on the back of his motorbike.
• He used to get free rides by hiding in the toilet of the train.
• I managed to cadge a ride with a lorry driver.
• I managed to hitch a ride with someone going in my direction.
• I went on every ride in the amusement park.
• It was a bumpy ride along the farm track.
• She's gone for a ride on her bike.
• The day had been a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
• The new legislation did not have a smooth ride through Parliament.
• The new teacher was given a rough ride by the class.
• The rats hitch a free ride on ships.
• The ride from our house to my parents' takes about an hour.
• Visitors can take a ride on a miniature train.
• We have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow.
• We went for a leisurely ride along the canal.
• After a short taxi ride, we were there.
• Have you ever had a ride on a camel?
• I asked if she'd give me a ride on the back of her motorbike.
• I was taking my usual morning ride along the beach.
• It's a pretty long ride from Las Vegas to the coast.
• It's a ten-minute bus ride into town.
• John took me for a ride in his new car.
• The train ride through the mountains was fantastic.

• There were pony rides for the children.

car

car [car cars]   [kɑː(r)]    [kɑːr]  noun

1. (also BrE formal ˈmotor car) (NAmE also auto·mo·bile) a road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that can carry a small number of passengers
• Paula got into the car and drove off.
• ‘How did you come?’ ‘ By car.’
• Are you going in the car?
• a car driver/manufacturer/dealer
• a car accident/crash
• Where can I park the car?

see also  company car

2. (also rail·car both NAmE) a separate section of a train

• Several cars went off the rails.

3. (BrE) (in compounds) a coach/ car on a train of a particular type
• a sleeping/dining car

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the general sense ‘wheeled vehicle’): from Old Northern French carre, based on Latin carrum, carrus, of Celtic origin.  
Culture:
driving
Americans have long had a ‘love affair’ with the automobile (also car), and are surprised when they meet somebody who cannot drive. Almost everybody over the age of 15 is a driver and most households have a vehicle. American life is arranged so that people can do most things from their cars. There are drive-in banks, post offices, restaurants, movie theatres and even some churches.
In Britain the proportion of the population who are drivers is slightly less but, as in the US, many people prefer to use their car rather than public transport, because it is more convenient and because they like to be independent. In order to reduce pollution the government tries to discourage car ownership by making driving expensive. In particular, it puts a heavy tax on petrol and increases the annual road tax for cars that cause heavy pollution. Congestion charging is used to persuade people to avoid driving their cars in city centres.
To many people the make and quality of their car reflects their status in society, and it is important to them to get a smart new car every few years. In Britain since 2001 the registration number of a car shows the place and date of registration but older number plates can be used and a personalized number plate (= a registration number that spells out the owner’s name or initials) may also suggest status. Many people prefer to buy a small, economical car, or get a second-hand one. Cars in the US are often larger than those in Britain and though petrol/gas is cheaper, insurance is expensive. In the US car license plates, commonly called tags, are given by the states. New ones must be bought every two or three years, or when a driver moves to another state. The states use the plates to advertise themselves: Alabama plates say ‘The heart of Dixie’ and have a small heart on them, and Illinois has ‘The land of Lincoln’.
In Britain, before a person can get a driving licence they must pass an official driving test, which includes a written test of the Highway Code and a practical driving exam. Only people aged 17 or over are allowed to drive. Learner drivers who have a provisional driving licence must display an L-plate, a large red ‘L’, on their car, and be supervised by a qualified driver. The US has no national driver’s license (AmE), but instead licences are issued by each state. Most require written tests, an eye test and a short practical test. The minimum age for getting a licence is normally 16, although some states will issue a learner’s permit to drivers as young as 14. Many states now apply a system of graduated licenses in which young drivers are first required to have an intermediate license for a period of time before being given a full license. An intermediate licence may, for example, prevent driving alone at particular times of the day or require the driver to take special classes if they drive badly. Americans have to get a new driver’s licence if they move to another state.
In Britain people drive on the left and in the US they drive on the right. Generally British and US drivers are relatively careful and courteous but there is dangerous driving. In the US many of the deaths due to traffic accidents are caused by drivers who have drunk alcohol. Drink-driving (AmE driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated) (= driving a car after drinking alcohol) is also a serious problem in Britain. On many British roads speed cameras have been set up to catch drivers who go too fast. In the US the main job of state highway patrols is to prevent speeding.
Many drivers belong to a motoring organization in case their car breaks down. In Britain the main ones are the AA (Automobile Association) and the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), and in the US the largest is the American Automobile Association. 
Thesaurus:
car noun
1. C
• We came by car.
formal vehicle • |AmE, becoming old-fashioned humorous automobile •
2. C (especially AmE)
• This train has no buffet car.
compartment • |BrE carriage • • coach • • truck • • wagon • • van • |especially AmE freight car •
a railway compartment/carriage/coach/truck/wagon
a railroad car
a sleeping car/compartment/coach
a passenger car/compartment/carriage/coach 
Collocations:
Driving
Having a car
have/own/ (BrE) run a car
ride a motorcycle/motorbike
drive/prefer/use an automatic/a manual/(NAmE, informal) a stick shift
have/get your car serviced/fixed/repaired
buy/sell a used car/(especially BrE) a second-hand car
take/pass/fail a (BrE) driving test/(both NAmE) driver's test/road test
get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your (BrE) driving licence/(NAmE) driver's license
Driving
put on/fasten/ (NAmE) buckle/wear/undo your seat belt/safety belt
put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
start the car/engine
(BrE) change/ (NAmE) shift/put sth into gear
press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
release the clutch/(especially BrE) the handbrake/(both NAmE) the emergency brake/the parking brake
drive/park/reverse the car
(BrE) indicate left/right
(especially NAmE) signal that you are turning left/right
take/miss (BrE) the turning/(especially NAmE) the turn
apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
beep/honk/ (especially BrE) toot/ (BrE) sound your horn
Problems and accidents
a car skids/crashes (into sth)/collides (with sth)
swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestrian
crash/lose control of the car
have/be in/be killed in/survive a car crash/a car accident/(NAmE) a car wreck/a hit-and-run
be run over/knocked down by a car/bus/truck
dent/hit (BrE) the bonnet/(NAmE) the hood
break/crack/shatter (BrE) the windscreen/(NAmE) the windshield
blow/ (especially BrE) burst/puncture (BrE) a tyre/(NAmE) a tire
get/have (BrE) a flat tyre/a flat tire/a puncture
inflate/change/fit/replace/check a tyre/tire
Traffic and driving regulations
be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
cause congestion/tailbacks/traffic jams/gridlock
experience/face lengthy delays
beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
break/observe/ (NAmE) drive the speed limit
be caught on (BrE) a speed camera
stop sb for/pull sb over for/ (BrE, informal) be done for speeding
(both informal) run/ (BrE) jump a red light/the lights
be arrested for/charged with (BrE) drink-driving/(both US) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
be banned/ (BrE) disqualified from driving 
Example Bank:
• He got in the car and they drove off.
• He pulled his car over at a small hotel.
• He swerved his car sharply to the right.
• Her car skidded on a patch of ice.
• His car hit a van coming in the opposite direction.
• I have to take the car in for a service.
• I lost control of the car and it spun off the road.
• I'll wait for you in the car.
• It's too far to walk. I'll take the car.
• It's very expensive to run a car these days.
• Police in an unmarked car had been following the stolen vehicle for several minutes.
• The car does 55 miles per gallon.
• The car was doing over 100 miles an hour.
• The government wants more people to use public transport instead of private cars.
• The government wants to reduce the use of private cars.
• The kids all piled into the car.
• The number of cars on the road is increasing all the time.
• The red car suddenly pulled out in front of me.
• The robbers abandoned their getaway car and ran off.
• The robbers abandoned their getaway car in Sealand Road.
• There was a line of parked cars in front of the building.
• There's not enough car parking in the city.
• They take the children to school by car.
• What cheek! That car pulled out right in front of me!
• You lock up the house and I'll get the car out.
• a car boot sale
• a used car salesman
• cars that run on diesel
• ‘How did you come?’ ‘By car.’
• Are we going in the car?
• He had to take his car to the garage.
• He opened the car door for her.
• I can put the wheelchair in the back of the car.
• I decided to buy a second-hand car.
• She was sitting in the smoking car.
• The driver crashed the stolen car while being chased by the police.
• They parked the car and walked the rest of the way.
• They were admiring his new sports car.
• a buffet car

• a sleeping/dining car

drive

drive [drive drives drove driving driven] verb, noun   [draɪv]    [draɪv] 

verb (drove   [drəʊv]  ;   [droʊv]  , driven   [ˈdrɪvn]  ;   [ˈdrɪvn]  ) 

VEHICLE
1. intransitive, transitive to operate a vehicle so that it goes in a particular direction
• Can you drive?
• Don't drive so fast!
• I drove to work this morning.
• Shall we drive (= go there by car) or go by train?

• ~ sth He drives a taxi (= that is his job).

2. transitive ~ sb (+ adv./prep.) to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc

• Could you drive me home?

3. transitive ~ sth to own or use a particular type of vehicle

• What car do you drive?  

MACHINE

4. transitive, usually passive ~ sth to provide the power that makes a machine work

• a steam-driven locomotive  

MAKE SB DO STH

5. transitive ~ sb (+ adv./prep.) to force sb to act in a particular way
• The urge to survive drove them on.

• You're driving yourself too hard.

6. transitive to make sb very angry, crazy, etc. or to make them do sth extreme
• ~ sb + adj. to drive sb crazy/mad/insane
• ~ sb to do sth Hunger drove her to steal.
• ~ sb to sth Those kids are driving me to despair.

• (humorous) It's enough to drive you to drink (= to make you start drinking too much alcohol).  

MAKE SB/STH MOVE

7. transitive ~ sb/sth + adv./prep. to force sb/sth to move in a particular direction
• to drive sheep into a field

• The enemy was driven back.  

CAUSE STH TO MAKE PROGRESS

8. transitive ~ sth to influence sth or cause it to make progress

• This is the main factor driving investment in the area.  

HIT/PUSH

9. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to force sth to go in a particular direction or into a particular position by pushing it, hitting it, etc

• to drive a nail into a piece of wood  

MAKE A HOLE

10. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to make an opening in or through sth by using force

• They drove a tunnel through the solid rock.  

IN SPORT

11. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (+ adv./prep.) to hit a ball with force, sending it forward

• to drive the ball into the rough (= in golf )  

WIND/WATER

12. transitive ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) to carry sth along

• Huge waves drove the yacht onto the rocks.

13. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to fall or move rapidly and with great force
• The waves drove against the shore.

more at run/drive/work yourself into the ground at  ground  _n., drive/strike a hard bargain at  hard  _adj., needs must (when the devil drives) at  need  _n., as clean, pure, etc. as the driven snow at  snow 

Word Origin:
Old English drīfan ‘urge (a person or animal) to go forward’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drijven and German treiben.  
Thesaurus:
drive verb
1. I, T
• I learned to drive at 17.
steer • • handle • |BrE manoeuvre • |AmE maneuver •
drive/steer/handle/manoeuvre a car
2. I, T
• We've driven over 200 miles today.
travel • • go • • come • • do •
drive/travel/go/come from/to sth
drive/travel/go/come/do 50 miles/10 kilometres, etc.
drive/travel/come a long distance
3. T (sometimes disapproving)
• You're driving yourself too hard.
work • |disapproving overwork • |usually approving push •
drive/work/push sb hard
drive/push sb too far/to the limit
drive/work sb into the ground  
Collocations:
Driving
Having a car
have/own/ (BrE) run a car
ride a motorcycle/motorbike
drive/prefer/use an automatic/a manual/(NAmE, informal) a stick shift
have/get your car serviced/fixed/repaired
buy/sell a used car/(especially BrE) a second-hand car
take/pass/fail a (BrE) driving test/(both NAmE) driver's test/road test
get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your (BrE) driving licence/(NAmE) driver's license
Driving
put on/fasten/ (NAmE) buckle/wear/undo your seat belt/safety belt
put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
start the car/engine
(BrE) change/ (NAmE) shift/put sth into gear
press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
release the clutch/(especially BrE) the handbrake/(both NAmE) the emergency brake/the parking brake
drive/park/reverse the car
(BrE) indicate left/right
(especially NAmE) signal that you are turning left/right
take/miss (BrE) the turning/(especially NAmE) the turn
apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
beep/honk/ (especially BrE) toot/ (BrE) sound your horn
Problems and accidents
a car skids/crashes (into sth)/collides (with sth)
swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestrian
crash/lose control of the car
have/be in/be killed in/survive a car crash/a car accident/(NAmE) a car wreck/a hit-and-run
be run over/knocked down by a car/bus/truck
dent/hit (BrE) the bonnet/(NAmE) the hood
break/crack/shatter (BrE) the windscreen/(NAmE) the windshield
blow/ (especially BrE) burst/puncture (BrE) a tyre/(NAmE) a tire
get/have (BrE) a flat tyre/a flat tire/a puncture
inflate/change/fit/replace/check a tyre/tire
Traffic and driving regulations
be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
cause congestion/tailbacks/traffic jams/gridlock
experience/face lengthy delays
beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
break/observe/ (NAmE) drive the speed limit
be caught on (BrE) a speed camera
stop sb for/pull sb over for/ (BrE, informal) be done for speeding
(both informal) run/ (BrE) jump a red light/the lights
be arrested for/charged with (BrE) drink-driving/(both US) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
be banned/ (BrE) disqualified from driving 
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:
• He was arrested for driving recklessly.
• I'll drive you home.
• She drove quickly back to the office.
• She got into the car and drove away.
• We drove from Quebec to Ottawa.
• You shouldn't drive so fast!
• driving from London to Manchester
• Driving lessons can be expensive.
• Have you ever driven a racing car?
• He drives a taxi.
• He took a wooden peg and drove it into the ground.
• Hunger drove them to steal.
• I asked the man to drive me home.
• I learned to drive when I was 25.
• It's enough to drive you to drink.
• It's the story of a teenager driven to despair by the hypocrisy of the adult world.
• My mother drove us to the airport.
• Shall we drive or go by train?
• Someone had driven a nail deep into the wood.
• The knife had been driven through his heart.
• They run a driving school in Birmingham.
• They were driven to an unknown place in the hills.
• They're intending to drive from Seattle down to San Diego.
• We drove the rest of the way in silence.
• We must have driven over 600 kilometres today.
• What type of car do you drive?
• You need a special licence to drive a heavy goods vehicle.
• You're driving yourself too hard.
Idioms: drive a coach and horses through something ▪ drive something home ▪ what somebody is driving at
Derived: drive away ▪ drive off ▪ drive on ▪ drive somebody away ▪ drive somebody off ▪ drive somebody out ▪ drive something up

noun  

IN/OF VEHICLE
1. countable a journey in a car or other vehicle
• Let's go for a drive.
• a drive through the mountains

• It's a three-hour drive to London.

2. countable, uncountable the equipment in a vehicle that takes power from the engine to the wheels
• the drive shaft
• a car with four-wheel drive

• a left-/right-hand drive car (= a car where the driver and the controls are on the left/right)  

OUTSIDE HOUSE

3. (also drive·way) countable a wide hard path or a private road that leads from the street to a house
• There were two cars parked in/on the drive.

EFFORT

4. countable an organized effort by a group of people to achieve sth
• a recruitment/export/economy drive
• ~ for sth a drive for greater efficiency

• ~ to do sth the government's drive to reduce energy consumption  

DESIRE/ENERGY

5. countable, uncountable a strong desire or need in people

• a strong sexual drive

6. uncountable (approving) a strong desire to do things and achieve sth; great energy

• He'll do very well— he has tremendous drive.  

IN SPORT
7. countable a long hard hit or kick
• She has a strong forehand drive (= in tennis ).

• He scored with a brilliant 25-yard drive.  

COMPUTING

8. countable the part of a computer that reads and stores information on disks or tapes
• a 750GB hard drive
• a CD drive

see also  disk drive  

GAMES

9. countable (BrE) a social occasion when a lot of people compete in a game such as whist or bingo  
ANIMALS/ENEMY

10. countable an act of chasing animals or the enemy and making them go into a smaller area, especially in order to kill or capture them  

ROAD
11. Drive (abbr. Dr) used in the names of roads
• 21 Island Heights Drive  
Word Origin:
Old English drīfan ‘urge (a person or animal) to go forward’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drijven and German treiben.  
Thesaurus:
drive noun C
• We went out for a drive.
ride • |BrE lift •
a drive/ride/lift from/to sth
a drive/ride/lift back/home
take/go on/go for a drive/ride
give sb/hitch a ride/lift 
Synonyms:
campaign
battle • struggle • drive • war • fight
These are all words for an effort made to achieve or prevent sth.
campaign • a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim: ▪ the campaign for parliamentary reform ◊ ▪ an advertising campaign
battle • a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: ▪ She finally won the legal battle for compensation. ◊ ▪ the endless battle between man and nature
struggle • a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: ▪ the struggle for independence ◊ ▪ the struggle between good and evil
battle or struggle?
A struggle is always about things that seem absolutely necessary, such as life and death or freedom. A battle can also be about things that are not absolutely necessary, just desirable, or about the pleasure of winning: ▪ the battle/struggle between good and evil ◊ a legal struggle for compensation ◊ a struggle of wills/wits.
drive • an organized effort by a group of people to achieve sth: ▪ the drive for greater efficiency ◊ ▪ a drive to reduce energy consumption
campaign or drive?
A campaign is usually aimed at getting other people to do sth; a drive may be an attempt by people to get themselves to do sth: ▪ From today, we're going on an ▪ economy drive ▪ ▪ (= we must spend less) ▪. A campaign may be larger, more formal and more organized than a drive.
war • [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop sth bad: ▪ the war against crime
fight • [sing.] the work of trying to stop or prevent sth bad or achieve sth good; an act of competing, especially in a sport: ▪ Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.
war or fight?
A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.
a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight against sth
a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight for sth
a one-man/one-woman/personal campaign/battle/struggle/war
a bitter campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight
to launch/embark on a campaign/battle/drive
to lead/continue the campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight
to win/lose a battle/struggle/war/fight 
Example Bank:
• A lack of narrative drive leaves the reader with piecemeal vignettes.
• A number of police cars blocked the drive.
• All my family live within an hour's drive.
• Cole scored with a thunderous left-foot drive.
• He hit a line drive straight at me.
• He lacks the competitive drive needed to succeed.
• He pulled into a long drive leading up to a large villa.
• He walked up the front drive of the vicarage.
• It's a pleasant drive to the coast.
• It's one of the most scenic drives in Europe.
• Left-hand drive cars make driving in Britain difficult.
• Let's go for a drive.
• The Popular Front spearheaded the drive for independence.
• The lakes are only a short drive away.
• The spots will run during drive time radio.
• There was a car parked on the drive.
• We organized a food drive for the city's homeless shelters.
• We're going to launch a big recruitment drive in the autumn.
• You need to inject more narrative drive into the story.
• a drive against corruption
• a drive towards higher safety standards
• a forehand drive down the line
• a housing development within a 30-minute drive time from the airport
• the country's drive for modernization
• the recent recruitment drive by the police
• From today, we're going on an economy drive.
• He offered to take me for a drive later in the day.
• He played a crucial role in the drive for greater efficiency.
• He was tired after the long drive home.
• He'll do very well— he has tremendous drive.
• I took the car for a test drive.
• She is leading the recruitment drive.
• The beach is a 20-minute drive away.
• The government has launched a drive to reduce energy consumption.
• The treatment should not affect your sex drive or fertility.
• We have this insatiable drive to be successful in the markets we serve.

• We went for a drive along the coast.

brother

brother [brother brothers brethren] noun, exclamation   [ˈbrʌðə(r)]    [ˈbrʌðər]

noun  

IN FAMILY
1. a boy or man who has the same mother and father as another person
• We're brothers.
• He's my brother.
• an older/younger brother
• a twin brother
• Does she have any brothers and sisters?
• Edward was the youngest of the Kennedy brothers.
• He was like a brother to me (= very close).

see also  half-brother, stepbrother  

OTHER MEN

2. (pl. brothers or old-fashioned brethren)used for talking to or talking about other male members of an organization or other men who have the same ideas, purpose, etc. as yourself
• We must work together, brothers!
• We are all brothers in the fight against injustice.
• He was greatly respected by his brother officers.

• We must support our weaker brethren.  

IN RELIGIOUS GROUP

3. (also Brother)(pl. brethren or brothers) a male member of a religious group, especially a monk
• Brother Luke

• The Brethren meet regularly for prayer.  

FORM OF ADDRESS

4. (NAmE, informal) used by black people as a form of address for a black man  

AT COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
5. (in the US) a member of a fraternity (= a club for a group of male students at a college or university) 
Word Origin:
Old English brōthor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broeder and German Bruder, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frater.  
Example Bank:
• Bill idolizes his big brother, who is a professional footballer.
• Do you have any brothers and sisters?
• He married the wife of his late brother.
• His old teacher greeted him like a long-lost brother.
• She wrote daily to her beloved brother, Leo.

• The boys are so close, they're like brothers.

exclamation (old-fashioned, especially NAmE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed or surprised
• Oh brother!  
Word Origin:

Old English brōthor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broeder and German Bruder, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frater.

learn

learn [learn learns learned learnt learning]   [lɜːn]    [lɜːrn]  verb (learnt, learnt   [lɜːnt]  ;   [lɜːrnt]  ) or (learned, learned)
1. transitive, intransitive to gain knowledge or skill by studying, from experience, from being taught, etc
• ~ sth to learn a language/a musical instrument/a skill
• ~ sth from sb/sth I learned a lot from my father.
• ~ sth from doing sth You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.
• ~ (about sth) She's very keen to learn about Japanese culture.
• The book is about how children learn.
• ~ to do sth He's learning to dance.
• ~ how, what, etc… He's still learning how to dance.

• Today we learnt how to use the new software.

2. intransitive, transitive to become aware of sth by hearing about it from sb else
Syn:  discover
• ~ of/about sth I learnt of her arrival from a close friend.
• ~ (that)… We were very surprised to learn (that) she had got married again.
• ~ who, what, etc… We only learned who the new teacher was a few days ago.
• ~ sth How did they react when they learned the news?

• it is learned that… It has been learned that 500 jobs are to be lost at the factory.

3. transitive ~ sth to study and repeat sth in order to be able to remember it
Syn:  memorize

• We have to learn one of Hamlet's speeches for school tomorrow.

4. intransitive, transitive to gradually change your attitudes about sth so that you behave in a different way
• ~ (from sth) I'm sure she'll learn from her mistakes.
• ~ (that)… He'll just have to learn (that) he can't always have his own way.
• ~ to do sth I soon learned not to ask too many questions.
more at know/learn/find sth to your cost at  cost  _n., you live and learn at  live¹, show sb/know/learn the ropes at  rope  _n.
Idioms: learn the hard way ▪ learn your lesson
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
Old English leornian ‘learn’ (in Middle English also ‘teach’), of West Germanic origin; related to German lernen, also to lore.  
Thesaurus:
learn verb
1. T, I
• Did you learn German at school?
study • • do • • memorize • • pick sth up • • know • • master • • learn/know sth by heart • • get the hang of sth • |formal acquire •
learn/pick up/know sth from sb/sth
learn/memorize/pick up/know/master/get the hang of what…
learn/study/do/pick up/know/master/acquire a language
2. I, T (not usually used in the progressive tenses)
• I learned the news from a close friend.
discover • • find out (sth) • • hear •
learn/find out/hear about sth
learn/discover/find out the facts/truth/secret/identity
be surprised/shocked/delighted/interested to learn/discover/find out/hear sth 
Vocabulary Building:
Learning
learn▪ He’s learning Spanish/to swim.
study▪ She studied chemistry for three years.
revise (BrE) (NAmE review) ▪ In this class we’ll revise/review what we did last week.
practise (BrE) (NAmE practice) ▪ If you practise speaking English, you’ll soon improve.
rehearse▪ We only had two weeks to rehearse the play.  
Example Bank:
• Children learn very quickly.
• He was eager to learn all she could teach him.
• I was surprised to learn that he was only 23.
• I've got a lot to learn, haven't I?
• She learned from watching others.
• Some people never learn, do they?
• The children learn about art by painting.
• They soon learn that bad behaviour is a sure-fire way of getting attention.
• We first learned of the problem from her school.
• You still have a lot to learn.
• learning about art
• Did you ever learn any languages?
• Everyone learns in a slightly different way.
• He learned to ride when he was about three years old.
• He'll just have to learn (that) he can't always have his own way.
• I learned of her arrival from a close friend.
• I'll need to learn how to use the new software.
• I'm sure she'll learn from her mistakes.
• I've forgotten most of what I learned at school.
• It's a bit overwhelming at first but don't worry, you'll soon learn.
• Most of the kids here are eager to learn.
• She's still quite young and she's got a lot to learn.
• She's very interested in learning more about Japanese culture.
• We have to learn one of Hamlet's speeches for school tomorrow.
• We were very surprised to learn that she had got married again.
• You can learn a great deal just from watching the other players.

• You'll have to learn your lines by next week.

sister

sis·ter [sister sisters]   [ˈsɪstə(r)]    [ˈsɪstər]  noun
1. a girl or woman who has the same mother and father as another person
• She's my sister.
• an older/younger sister
• (informal) a big/little/kid sister
• We're sisters.
• Do you have any brothers or sisters?
• My best friend has been like a sister to me (= very close).

2. used for talking to or about other members of a women's organization or other women who have the same ideas, purpose, etc. as yourself

• They supported their sisters in the dispute.

3. Sister (BrE) a senior female nurse who is in charge of a hospital ward

4. Sister a female member of a religious group, especially a nun
• Sister Mary

• the Sisters of Charity

5. (in the US) a member of a sorority (= a club for a group of female students at a college or university)

6. (NAmE, informal) used by black people as a form of address for a black woman

7. (usually used as an adjective) a thing that belongs to the same type or group as sth else
• our sister company in Italy
• a sister ship  
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zuster and German Schwester, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin soror.  
Example Bank:
• Carolyn's sorority sisters at Indiana University
• Have you got any brothers and sisters?
• I have no brothers or sisters.
• The girls are so close, they're like sisters.
• a refugee who traced his long-lost sister

• my bratty little sister

son

son [son sons]   [sʌn]    [sʌn]  noun
1. countable a person's male child
• We have two sons and a daughter.
• They have three grown-up sons.
• He's the son of an Oxford professor.

• Maine & Sons, Grocers (= the name of a company on a sign)

2. singular (informal) a friendly form of address that is used by an older man to a young man or boy

• Well, son, how can I help you?

3. countable (literary) a man who belongs to a particular place or country, etc

• one of France's most famous sons

4. my son (formal) used by a priest to address a boy or man

5. the Son singular Jesus Christ as the second member of the Trinity
• the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
see from father to sonlike father, like son at  father  _n., sb's favourite son at  favourite  _adj., the/a prodigal (son) at  prodigal  
Word Origin:
Old English sunu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zoon and German Sohn, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek huios.  
Thesaurus:
son noun C
• He's the son of a teacher.
boy • • child • |informal kid • |especially BrE, informal lad • |formal offspring •
Opp: daughter
a newborn son/boy/child
sb's eldest/oldest/youngest son/boy/child/kid/lad
bring up/raise a son/boy/child/kid 
Collocations:
Children
Having a baby/child
want a baby/a child/kids
start a family
conceive/be expecting/be going to have a baby/child
miss your period
become/get/ be/find out that you are pregnant
have a baby/a child/kids/a son/a daughter/twins/a family
have a normal/a difficult/an unwanted pregnancy; an easy/a difficult/a home birth
be in/go into/induce labour (especially US) labor
have/suffer/cause a miscarriage
give birth to a child/baby/daughter/son/twins
Parenting
bring up/ (especially NAmE) raise a child/family
care for/ (especially BrE) look after a baby/child/kid
change (BrE) a nappy/(NAmE) a diaper/a baby
feed/breastfeed/bottle-feed a baby
be entitled to/go on maternity/paternity leave
go back/return to work after maternity leave
need/find/get a babysitter/good quality affordable childcare
balance/combine work and childcare/child-rearing/family life
educate/teach/home-school a child/kid
punish/discipline/spoil a child/kid
adopt a baby/child/kid
offer a baby for/put a baby up for adoption
(especially BrE) foster a child/kid
be placed with/be raised by foster parents 
Example Bank:
• Living alone and trying to bring up a young son is no easy task.
• The queen bore him four fine sons.
• They have three young sons.
• They welcomed me like a long-lost son.
• They've got three young sons.
• a native son of Philadelphia
• a single parent raising her son alone
• an illegitimate son of Louis XV
• his wife and unborn son
• He's the son of an Oxford professor.

• Maine & Sons, Grocers

daughter

daugh·ter [daughter daughters]   [ˈdɔːtə(r)]    [ˈdɔːtər]  noun
1. a person's female child
• We have two sons and a daughter.
• They have three grown-up daughters.
• She's the daughter of an Oxford professor.

see also  god-daughter, granddaughter, stepdaughter

2. (literary) a woman who belongs to a particular place or country, etc
• one of the town's most famous daughters  
Word Origin:
Old English dohtor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dochter and German Tochter, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek thugatēr.  
Thesaurus:
daughter noun C
• She gave birth to a daughter.
girl • • child • • baby • |informal kid • |formal offspring •
Opp: son
a young daughter/girl/child/baby/kid
a teenage daughter/girl/child/kid
have/give birth to/bring up/raise a daughter/girl/child/baby/kid 
Collocations:
Children
Having a baby/child
want a baby/a child/kids
start a family
conceive/be expecting/be going to have a baby/child
miss your period
become/get/ be/find out that you are pregnant
have a baby/a child/kids/a son/a daughter/twins/a family
have a normal/a difficult/an unwanted pregnancy; an easy/a difficult/a home birth
be in/go into/induce labour (especially US) labor
have/suffer/cause a miscarriage
give birth to a child/baby/daughter/son/twins
Parenting
bring up/ (especially NAmE) raise a child/family
care for/ (especially BrE) look after a baby/child/kid
change (BrE) a nappy/(NAmE) a diaper/a baby
feed/breastfeed/bottle-feed a baby
be entitled to/go on maternity/paternity leave
go back/return to work after maternity leave
need/find/get a babysitter/good quality affordable childcare
balance/combine work and childcare/child-rearing/family life
educate/teach/home-school a child/kid
punish/discipline/spoil a child/kid
adopt a baby/child/kid
offer a baby for/put a baby up for adoption
(especially BrE) foster a child/kid
be placed with/be raised by foster parents 
Example Bank:
• Living alone and trying to bring up a small daughter is no easy task.
• They have three young daughters.

• They've got three young daughters.

husband

hus·band [husband husbands husbanded husbanding] noun, verb   [ˈhʌzbənd]   [ˈhʌzbənd]