A pale yellow solid food containing a lot of fat that is made from cream and is spread on bread or used in cooking
کره
Have some bread and butter.
کمی نان و کره بخور.
A pale yellow solid food containing a lot of fat that is made from cream and is spread on bread or used in cooking
کره
Have some bread and butter.
کمی نان و کره بخور.
butter
noun (no plural)
a soft yellow food that is made from milk. You put it on bread or use it in cooking:
She spread butter on the bread.
>> butter verb (butters, buttering, buttered ) to put butter on bread:
I buttered the toast.
butter
I. but‧ter1 S2 /ˈbʌtə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: butere, from Latin butyrum, from Greek boutyron, from bous 'cow' + tyros 'cheese']
1. a solid yellow food made from milk or cream that you spread on bread or use in cooking ⇨ ↑bread-and-butter
2. butter wouldn’t melt in sb’s mouth used to say that someone seems to be very kind and sincere but is not really
—buttery adjective
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ salted/unsalted (=with or without salt in it) Unsalted butter is better for baking. | Most butter is slightly salted.
▪ melted butter (=heated until it is liquid) Brush the pastry with a little melted butter.
■ phrases
▪ a pat of butter (=a small flat piece) Breakfast was a small roll and a pat of butter.
▪ a knob of butter (=a small round piece) Add a knob of butter to the meat juices in the pan.
▪ a lump of butter He served himself a big lump of butter.
■ verbs
▪ spread butter on something Lee was spreading butter on his toast.
▪ spread something with butter Spread the warm crumpets with butter.
▪ melt butter Melt the butter and mix it with the other ingredients.
▪ soften butter First soften the butter in a warm place.
butter
but·ter [butter butters buttered buttering] noun, verb [ˈbʌtə(r)] [ˈbʌtər]
noun uncountable
a soft yellow food made from cream, used in cooking and for spreading on bread
• Fry the onions in butter.
• Do you want butter or margarine on your toast?
see also bread and butter, peanut butter
more at like a knife through butter at knife v.
Word Origin:
Old English butere, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boter and German Butter, based on Latin butyrum, from Greek bouturon.
Example Bank:
• Cream the butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy.
• He put a large knob of butter on the potatoes.
• He spread butter on the roll.
• Put some butter on the crackers, please.
• Rub the butter into the flour.
• The butter melted in the heat.
• This butter doesn't spread very well.
• You can make frosting out of half a stick of butter and two cups of powdered sugar.
• courgettes sautéed in butter
• If you're still hungry, have some bread and butter.
Idiom: butter wouldn't melt
Derived: butter somebody up
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
butter / ˈbʌt.ə r / / ˈbʌt̬.ɚ / noun [ U ]
A1 a pale yellow solid food containing a lot of fat that is made from cream and is spread on bread or used in cooking:
We were served scones with butter and jam.
Have some bread and butter (= bread spread with butter) .
a butter dish
© Cambridge University Press 2013
butter
/bʌtə(r)/
(butters, buttering, buttered)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Butter is a soft yellow substance made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it in cooking.
...bread and butter...
Pour the melted butter into a large mixing bowl.
N-MASS
2.
If you butter something such as bread or toast, you spread butter on it.
She spread pieces of bread on the counter and began buttering them.
...buttered scones.
VERB: V n, V-ed
1but·ter /ˈbʌtɚ/ noun, pl -ters
1 [noncount] : a solid yellow substance made from milk or cream that is spread on food or used in cooking
• bread and butter
• Would you like some butter for your potato?
• Sauté the onions in melted butter.
- see also bread and butter
2 [count, noncount] : a food made from cooked fruit or roasted nuts that have been ground up
• apple butter
- see also peanut butter
butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth chiefly Brit
- used to say that a person who appears to be innocent, sincere, or kind is really not;
like a (hot) knife through butter
A common white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used especially to add flavour to food or to preserve it
نمک
Add a pinch of salt to the sauce.
کمی نمک به سس اضافه کن.
A common white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used especially to add flavour to food or to preserve it
نمک
Add a pinch of salt to the sauce.
کمی نمک به سس اضافه کن.
salt
noun (no plural)
a white substance that comes from sea water and from the earth. We put it on food to make it taste better:
Add a little salt and pepper.
>> salty adjective (saltier, saltiest) tasting of salt or containing salt:
Sea water is salty.
salt
I. salt1 S2 W3 /sɔːlt $ sɒːlt/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sealt]
1. [uncountable] a natural white mineral that is added to food to make it taste better or to preserve it:
This might need some salt and pepper.
a pinch of salt (=a very small amount)
Could you pass the salt?
2. the salt of the earth someone who is ordinary but good and honest
3. take something with a pinch/grain of salt informal to not completely believe what someone tells you, because you know that they do not always tell the truth:
Most of what he says should be taken with a pinch of salt.
4. [countable] technical a type of chemical substance that is formed when an acid is combined with a ↑base
⇨ ↑Epsom salts, ↑smelling salts, ↑old salt, ⇨ rub salt into sb’s wounds at ↑rub1(7), ⇨ worth his/her salt at ↑worth1(10)
salt
salt [salt salts salted salting] noun, verb, adjective [sɔːlt] [sɒlt] [sɔːlt]
noun
1. uncountable a white substance that is added to food to give it a better flavour or to preserve it. Salt is obtained from mines and is also found in sea water. It is sometimes called common salt to distinguish it from other chemical salts.
Syn: sodium chloride
• Pass the salt, please.
• a pinch of salt (= a small amount of it)
• Season with salt and pepper.
• sea salt
see also rock salt
2. countable (chemistry) a chemical formed from a metal and an acid
• mineral salts
see also acid salt, Epsom salts
3. salts plural a substance that looks or tastes like salt
• bath salts (= used to give a pleasant smell to bath water)
see also smelling salts
more at like a dose of salts at dose n., take sth with a pinch of salt at pinch n., rub salt into the wound/sb's wounds at rub v., worth your/its salt at worth adj.
Word Origin:
Old English sealt (noun), sealtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zout and German Salz (nouns), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sal, Greek hals ‘salt’.
Example Bank:
• Could you pass the salt, please?
• Don't put so much salt on your chips!
• He could taste the salt from the water in his mouth.
• He wants to reduce his salt intake.
• I could smell the salt air as it whipped through my hair.
• Most foodstuffs contain some salt.
• When salt is dissolved in water, it alters the properties of the water.
• a diet low in salt
• foods with a high salt content
Idiom: salt of the earth
Derived: salt something away
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
salt / sɒlt / / sɑːlt / noun [ U ] (FOOD)
A1 a common white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used especially to add flavour to food or to preserve it:
salt and pepper
Can you pass the salt please?
Add a pinch of (= small amount of) salt to the sauce.
salt / sɒlt / / sɑːlt / noun [ C ] specialized (CHEMICAL)
a chemical substance that is a combination of a metal or a base with an acid:
Potassium nitrate and potassium chloride are potassium salts.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
salt
/sɔ:lt/
(salts, salting, salted)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Salt is a strong-tasting substance, in the form of white powder or crystals, which is used to improve the flavour of food or to preserve it. Salt occurs naturally in sea water.
Season lightly with salt and pepper.
...a pinch of salt.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
When you salt food, you add salt to it.
Salt the stock to your taste and leave it simmering very gently.
VERB: V n
• salt‧ed
Put a pan of salted water on to boil.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
3.
Salts are substances that are formed when an acid reacts with an alkali.
The rock is rich in mineral salts.
N-COUNT: usu pl
4.
see also Epsom salts, smelling salts
5.
If you take something with a pinch of salt, you do not believe that it is completely accurate or true.
The more miraculous parts of this account should be taken with a pinch of salt.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
If you say, for example, that any doctor worth his or her salt would do something, you mean that any doctor who was good at his or her job or who deserved respect would do it.
Any coach worth his salt would do exactly as I did.
PHRASE: n PHR
7.
If someone or something rubs salt into the wound, they make the unpleasant situation that you are in even worse, often by reminding you of your failures or faults.
I had no intention of rubbing salt into a friend’s wounds, so all I said was that I did not give interviews.
PHRASE: V and wound inflect
1salt /ˈsɑːlt/ noun, pl salts
1 [noncount] : a natural white substance that is used especially to flavor or preserve food
• The soup needs a little more salt.
• Season the meat with salt and pepper.
• Add a pinch of salt. [=a small amount of salt]
- see also sea salt, table salt
2 [count] technical : a chemical compound formed when part of an acid is replaced by a metal or something like a metal
• mineral/potassium salts
rub salt in/into someone's wounds
- see 1rub
take (something) with a grain/pinch of salt informal : to not completely believe (something) : to be doubtful about the truth or accuracy of (something)
• He seems confident, but you should take what he says with a grain of salt.
the salt of the earth : a very good and honest person or group of people
• These folks are the salt of the earth.
worth your salt : worthy of ordinary respect - used to say what should be expected from someone who does a job properly, from something that is as good as it should be, etc.
• A detective writer worth his salt [=a good detective writer] keeps his readers from solving the mystery.
• Any doctor worth her salt [=any good/capable doctor] would have advised you to get a second opinion before having major surgery.
The flesh of an animal when it is used for food
گوشت
Eat less meat and more vegetables.
گوشت قرمز كمتر و سبزيجات بيشتر بخور.
The flesh of an animal when it is used for food
گوشت
Eat less meat and more vegetables.
گوشت قرمز كمتر و سبزيجات بيشتر بخور.
meat
noun (no plural)
pronunciation
The word meat sounds just like meet.
the parts of an animal or bird that you can eat:
You can buy meat at a butcher's
I don't eat meat.
meat
meat S2 W3 /miːt/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: mete 'food']
1. [uncountable and countable] the flesh of animals and birds eaten as food:
I gave up eating meat a few months ago.
raw meat
a meat pie
a selection of cold meats
red meat (=a dark-coloured meat, for example ↑beef)
white meat (=meat that is pale in colour, for example ↑chicken)
2. [uncountable] something interesting or important in a talk, book, film etc:
There’s no meat to their arguments.
We then got down to the real meat of the debate (=the main and most interesting part of it).
3. somebody doesn’t have much meat on him/her British Englishneed some (more) meat on your bones American English informal used to say that someone looks very thin
4. one man’s meat is another man’s poison used to say that something that one person likes may not be liked by someone else
5. be easy meat British English informal if someone is easy meat, they are easy to defeat, deceive, or hurt
be easy meat for
San Marino should be easy meat for England in next week’s match.
6. the meat and potatoes American English informal the most important or basic parts of a discussion, decision, piece of work etc:
Let’s get down to the meat and potatoes. How much are you going to pay me for this?
7. be meat and drink to somebody British English to be something that someone enjoys doing or finds very easy to do because they have done it many times before:
The first five questions in the quiz were about football, which was meat and drink to Brian.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ eat meat I don't eat meat - I'm vegetarian. | People are eating less meat these days.
▪ have meat in it (=contain meat) Does this stew have meat in it?
■ adjectives
▪ raw (=not cooked) The dogs are fed on raw meat.
▪ cooked How will I know when the meat is cooked?
▪ undercooked (=not cooked enough) Eating undercooked meat can make you very ill.
▪ tough (=difficult to chew) The meat was tough and chewy.
▪ lean (=with little fat) Try to eat more lean meat, fish and chicken.
▪ fatty (=with a lot of fat) People are being urged to eat less fatty meat.
▪ red meat (=a dark-coloured meat such as beef) For health reasons, you should eat less red meat.
▪ white meat (=a light-coloured meat such as chicken) White meat is supposed to be healthier.
■ phrases
▪ a joint of meat British English (=a large piece of meat, sometimes containing a bone) He began to carve the joint of meat.
▪ a cut of meat (=a joint of meat taken from a particular part of an animal) Cheaper cuts of meat can be tough.
▪ a slice of meat (=a thin piece of meat cut from a larger piece) He helped himself to another slice of meat.
meat
meat [meat meats] [miːt] [miːt] noun
1. uncountable, countable the flesh of an animal or a bird eaten as food; a particular type of this
• a piece/slice of meat
• horse meat (= from a horse)
• dog meat (= for a dog)
• meat-eating animals
• There's not much meat on this chop.
• (figurative, humorous) There's not much meat on her (= she is very thin).
see also luncheon meat, mincemeat, red meat, sausage meat, white meat
2. uncountable ~ (of sth) the important or interesting part of sth
Syn: substance
• This chapter contains the real meat of the writer's argument.
more at dead meat at dead, one man's meat is another man's poison at man n.
Idiom: meat and drink to somebody
Word Origin:
Old English mete ‘food’ or ‘article of food’ (as in sweetmeat), of Germanic origin.
Example Bank:
• Britain's meat consumption
• Do you eat meat?
• Fry the meat in a little olive oil.
• He eventually found employment as a meat cutter.
• I'm not a great meat eater.
• It was so cold, it was like a meat locker.
• She always buys the cheaper cuts of meat.
• Simmer the meat for 30 minutes until tender.
• That meat smells rotten.
• The animals do not hunt and rarely consume meat.
• The meat has gone off.
• These pies have a low meat content.
• Turn the meat frequently to brown it.
• a plate of cold meats
• chewing on the tough meat
• recipes for simple meat dishes
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
meat / miːt / noun (FOOD)
A1 [ U ] the flesh of an animal when it is used for food:
I don't eat meat.
raw meat
red/white meat
[ C ] a type of meat:
a buffet of cold meats and cheeses
meat / miːt / noun [ U ] (INTEREST)
important, valuable, or interesting ideas or information:
It was a nicely written article and quite amusing but there wasn't much meat to it.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
meat
/mi:t/
(meats)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Meat is flesh taken from a dead animal that people cook and eat.
Meat and fish are relatively expensive.
...imported meat products.
...a buffet of cold meats and salads.
N-MASS
meat
meat /ˈmiːt/ noun, pl meats
1 a [noncount] : the flesh of an animal used as food
• She doesn't eat meat.
• a piece/slice of meat
• raw meat
• (US) ground meat
• meat sauce [=sauce that contains meat]
✦Meat often refers specifically to the flesh of mammals or birds instead of the flesh of fish. It can also sometimes refer only to the flesh of mammals.
• She eats fish but not meat.
• The soup can be made with meat, chicken, or fish.
b [count] : a type of meat
• The restaurant serves a variety of meats.
• sandwich meats
- see also dark meat, luncheon meat, white meat
2 [noncount] : the part of something (such as a nut) that can be eaten
• coconut meat
3 [noncount] : the most important or interesting part of something
• The real meat of the book is found in its discussion of his economic plan.
4 [noncount] US : the thickest part of something (such as a baseball bat)
• He hit the ball right on the meat of the bat.
A food made from flour, water, and usually yeast, mixed together and baked
نان
I usually eat bread for breakfast.
من معمولا برای صبحانه نان میخورم.
A food made from flour, water, and usually yeast, mixed together and baked
نان
I usually eat bread for breakfast.
من معمولا برای صبحانه نان میخورم.
bread
noun (no plural)
pronunciation
The word bread sounds like red.
food made from flour and baked in an oven:
I bought a loaf of bread.
a slice of bread and butter
bread
bread S2 W3 /bred/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Language: Old English]
1. a type of food made from flour and water that is mixed together and then baked:
Would you like some bread with your soup?
a loaf of brown bread
a piece of bread and butter
2. your/sb’s bread and butter informal the work that provides you with most of the money that you need in order to live:
Writing is my bread and butter.
3. know which side your bread is buttered on informal to know which people to be nice to in order to get advantages for yourself
4. old-fashioned informal money
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ fresh Eat the bread while it’s nice and fresh.
▪ stale (=hard and no longer fresh) This bread’s stale – shall I throw it away?
▪ crusty (=having a hard crust that is nice to eat) Serve the soup with crusty bread.
▪ mouldy British English, moldy American English (=covered with a green substance that grows on old food) All there was in the house was a loaf of mouldy old bread.
▪ white/brown bread Would you like white bread or brown bread?
▪ wholewheat bread (also wholemeal bread British English) (=bread made with flour that contains all of the grain) Wholemeal bread is good for you.
▪ home-made/home-baked bread I love home-made bread.
■ phrases
▪ a slice/piece of bread Can I have another slice of bread?
▪ a loaf of bread He’s gone to buy a loaf of bread.
▪ a chunk of bread (=a piece that you pull off a loaf instead of cutting it) He tore off a chunk of bread and dipped it in the sauce.
■ verbs
▪ make/bake bread We usually make our own bread.
▪ cut/slice bread Could you cut some bread?
bread
bread [bread breads breaded breading] [bred] [bred] noun uncountable
1. a type of food made from flour, water and usually yeast mixed together and baked
• a loaf/slice/piece of bread
• white/brown/wholemeal bread
see also crispbread, French bread, gingerbread
2. (old-fashioned, slang) money
more at your daily bread at daily adj., half a loaf is better than no bread at half det., know which side your bread is buttered at know v., the best thing since sliced bread at sliced
Idiom: take the bread out of somebody's mouth
Word Origin:
Old English brēad, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brood and German Brot.
Example Bank:
• He had to live on bread and water for two weeks.
• People started going up to receive the bread and wine.
• She tore off a large hunk of bread.
• This bread is going stale.
• What would you like on your bread?
• a plate of bread and butter
• bread thickly spread with peanut butter
• bread thickly spread with plum jam
• loaves of crusty French bread
• some nice crusty white bread
• the smell of freshly baked bread
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
bread / bred / noun [ U ]
A1 a food made from flour, water, and usually yeast, mixed together and baked:
a slice of bread
a loaf of bread
white/brown bread
wholemeal ( US whole wheat ) bread
sliced bread
This bread is fresh/stale .
Do you bake your own bread?
© Cambridge University Press 2013
bread
/bred/
(breads, breading, breaded)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Bread is a very common food made from flour, water, and yeast.
...a loaf of bread...
There is more fibre in wholemeal bread than in white bread.
N-MASS
2.
If food such as fish or meat is breaded, it is covered in tiny pieces of dry bread called breadcrumbs. It can then be fried or grilled.
It is important that food be breaded just minutes before frying.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed
• bread‧ed
...breaded fish.
ADJ
1bread /ˈbrɛd/ noun, pl breads
1 : a baked food made from a mixture of flour and water
[noncount]
• She bakes bread every day.
• a loaf/slice/piece/hunk of bread
[count]
• The bakery offers a nice selection of breads and pastries.
- often used before another noun
• bread crumbs
• a bread knife [=a knife used for cutting bread]
2 [noncount] old-fashioned slang : money
• I took the job because I needed to earn some bread. [=(more commonly) dough]
break bread : to have a meal together
• He received an invitation to break bread with the president.
know which side your bread is buttered on informal : to know how to act or how to treat others in order to get what you want
• He pretends to be impartial, but believe me, he knows which side his bread is buttered on.
The liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables
آب سبزى يا ميوه
Orange juice
آب پرتقال
Nice? Follow me.
خوبه؟ دنبالم بیاین
There's also orange juice
آب پرتغال هم هست
and grapefruit juice…
و آب گریپ فروت
-Grapefruit juice?
آب گریپ فروت میخوری؟
-Yes, please. Thanks.
بله لطفا. ممنون
There you go. Honey?
خدمت شما. عزیزم تو چطور؟
No, I'll stick with orange, thank you.
نه، من همون پرتغالو میخورم
Good morning, sir. Can I start you with anything?
صبحتون بخیر جناب. برای شروع چی میل دارید؟
Orange juice, coffee?
آب پرتغال؟ قهوه؟
What about, like, some pineapple juice with a little bit of rum on the side.
چطوره مثلا یکم آب آناناس و کنارش کمی رام (نوعی شراب) بیاری
The liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables
آب سبزى يا ميوه
Orange juice
آب پرتقال
juice
noun (no plural)
pronunciation
The word juice sounds like loose.
the liquid from fruit and vegetables:
a glass of orange juice
juice
I. juice1 S2 /dʒuːs/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑juice, ↑juicer, ↑juiciness; verb: ↑juice; adjective: ↑juicy]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: jus, from Latin]
1. [uncountable and countable] the liquid that comes from fruit and vegetables, or a drink that is made from this:
a carton of orange juice
A Coke and a tomato juice, please.
2. [countable usually plural] the liquid that comes out of meat when it is cooked
3. gastric/digestive juice(s) the liquid inside your stomach that helps you to ↑digest food
4. [uncountable] informal something that produces power, such as petrol or electricity:
Okay, turn on the juice.
⇨ stew in your own juice at ↑stew2(2)
juice
juice [juice juices juiced juicing] noun, verb [dʒuːs] [dʒuːs]
noun
1. uncountable, countable the liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables; a drink made from this
• Add the juice of two lemons.
• a carton of apple juice
• Two orange juices, please.
2. countable, usually plural, uncountable the liquid that comes out of a piece of meat when it is cooked
• Use the juices of the meat to make gravy.
3. countable, usually plural the liquid in the stomach that helps you to digest food
• digestive/gastric juices
4. uncountable (informal, especially BrE) petrol/gas
5. uncountable (NAmE, informal) electricity
see let sb stew in their own juice at stew v.
Word Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin jus ‘broth, vegetable juice’.
Example Bank:
• Sprinkle the avocado slices with lemon juice.
• The juice from the meat is used to make the sauce.
• the grated rind and juice of two lemons
Derived: juice something up
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
juice / dʒuːs / noun (LIQUID)
A1 [ U ] the liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables:
orange/lemon/grapefruit/carrot juice
a carton of apple juice
juices the liquid in meat:
Fry the meat first to seal in the juices.
juice / dʒuːs / noun [ U ] US slang (POWER)
power or influence:
My cousin Gianni's got all the juice in this neighborhood.
juice / dʒuːs / noun (ABILITY)
juices informal energy:
This early in the morning it's hard to get the creative juices flowing (= to start thinking of good ideas) .
© Cambridge University Press 2013
juice
/dʒu:s/
(juices)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Juice is the liquid that can be obtained from a fruit.
...fresh orange juice...
N-MASS: usu with supp
2.
The juices of a piece of meat are the liquid that comes out of it when you cook it.
When cooked, drain off the juices and put the meat in a processor or mincer.
N-PLURAL
1juice /ˈʤuːs/ noun, pl juic·es
1 a : the liquid part that can be squeezed out of vegetables and fruits
[noncount]
• a glass of apple/orange/carrot juice
[count]
• a variety of fruit juices
b : the liquid part of meat
[noncount]
• the juice of a steak
[plural]
• gravy made with real beef juices
2 [noncount] informal : something (such as electricity) that provides power
• Turn on the juice.
• His camera ran out of juice because he forgot to replace the battery.
3 [count] : the natural fluids in your stomach - usually plural
• digestive/gastric/stomach juices
4 [plural] informal : energy that gives you the ability to do something in a very effective way - used with flow
• He can be very tough to beat when he gets his competitive juices flowing.
• She came up with some great ideas when her creative juices started flowing.
stew in your own juice/juices
- see 2stew
(A drink made by pouring hot water onto) dried and cut leaves and sometimes flowers, especially the leaves of the tea plant
چای
A lemon tea
چای لیمویی
(A drink made by pouring hot water onto) dried and cut leaves and sometimes flowers, especially the leaves of the tea plant
چای
A lemon tea
چای لیمویی
tea
noun
1 (no plural) the dry leaves of a special plant that you use to make tea to drink
2 (no plural) a brown drink that you make with hot water and the dry leaves of a special plant:
Would you like a cup of tea?
3 (plural teas) a cup of this drink:
Two teas, please.
4 (plural teas) (British) a small afternoon meal of sandwiches (= two slices of bread with food between them), cakes and cups of tea
culture
Some people call their evening meal tea, especially when it is eaten early in the evening.
Look at the note at meal.
tea
tea S1 W2 /tiː/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Chinese; Origin: te]
1. DRINK/LEAVES
a) [uncountable and countable] a hot brown drink made by pouring boiling water onto the dried leaves from a particular Asian bush, or a cup of this drink:
Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?
Do you take milk and sugar in your tea?
I’d like two teas and a piece of chocolate cake, please.
b) [uncountable] dried, finely cut leaves that are used to make tea
c) [uncountable] bushes whose leaves are used to make tea:
tea plantations
2. mint/camomile etc tea a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto leaves or flowers, sometimes used as a medicine
3. MEAL [uncountable and countable] British English
a) a small meal of cake or ↑biscuits eaten in the afternoon with a cup of tea:
We serve lunch and afternoon tea.
We stopped for a cream tea on the way home (=tea and cream cakes).
b) used in some parts of Britain to mean a large meal that is eaten early in the evening ⇨ ↑high tea
4. tea and sympathy British English kindness and attention that you give someone when they are upset
⇨ not be your cup of tea at ↑cup1
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ a cup/mug of tea Would you like a cup of tea?
▪ a pot of tea Shall I make a pot of tea?
■ adjectives
▪ hot The tea was too hot to drink.
▪ sweet I poured Helen a mug of sweet tea and waited for her to answer.
▪ strong You've made the tea too strong.
▪ weak You have your tea weak, don't you Chris?
▪ black (=without milk) I ordered black tea and toast.
▪ white (=with milk) Two white teas and a coffee, please.
▪ milky (=with a lot of milk) I don't like my tea so milky.
■ verbs
▪ drink tea Susan sank into her chair and drank her tea.
▪ pour tea She poured the tea and handed a cup to Cara.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ types of meal
▪ breakfast a meal that you eat in the morning
▪ brunch a meal that you eat in the late morning, instead of breakfast or lunch
▪ lunch a meal that you eat in the middle of the day
▪ tea British English a meal that you eat in the afternoon or evening
▪ dinner the main meal of the day, which most people eat in the evening
▪ supper a small meal that you eat in the evening, in British English; the main meal that you eat in the evening, in American English
▪ picnic a meal that you eat outdoors, consisting of food that you cooked or prepared earlier
▪ barbecue a meal that you cook outdoors over hot coals or wood and eat outdoors
▪ snack a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a meal
▪ side dish food eaten with the main course, such as vegetables: I’ll have the salad as a side dish.
▪ course one of the separate parts of a meal, such as the starter or the dessert: a three-course meal
tea
tea [tea teas teaed tea'd teaing] [tiː] [tiː] noun
1. uncountable the dried leaves (called tea leaves) of the tea bush
see also green tea
2. uncountable a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto tea leaves. It may be drunk with milk or lemon and/or sugar added
• a cup/mug/pot of tea
• lemon/iced tea
• Would you like tea or coffee?
• Do you take sugar in your tea?
3. countable a cup of tea
• Two teas, please.
4. uncountable, countable a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto the leaves of other plants
• camomile/mint/herb, etc. tea
see also beef tea
5. uncountable, countable the name used by some people in Britain for the cooked meal eaten in the evening, especially when it is eaten early in the evening
• You can have your tea as soon as you come home from school.
compare dinner, supper
6. uncountable, countable (BrE) a light meal eaten in the afternoon or early evening, usually with sandwiches and/or biscuits and cakes and with tea to drink
see also cream tea, high tea
more at not sb's cup of tea at cup n.
Idiom: not for all the tea in China
Word Origin:
mid 17th cent.: probably via Malay from Chinese (Min dialect) te; related to Mandarin chá. Compare with char (noun - sense 2).
Culture:
meals
Americans and British people generally eat three meals a day though the names vary according to people’s lifestyles and where they live.
The first meal of the day is breakfast. The traditional full English breakfast served in many British hotels may include fruit juice, cereal, bacon and eggs, often with sausages and tomatoes, toast and marmalade, and tea or coffee. Few people have time to prepare a cooked breakfast at home and most have only cereal and/or toast with tea or coffee. Others buy coffee and a pastry on their way to work.
The traditional American breakfast includes eggs, some kind of meat and toast. Eggs may be fried, ‘over easy’, ‘over hard’ or ‘sunny side up’, or boiled, poached or in an omelette (= beaten together and fried). The meat may be bacon or sausage. People who do not have time for a large meal have toast or cereal and coffee. It is common for Americans to eat breakfast in a restaurant. On Saturday and Sunday many people eat brunch late in the morning. This consists of both breakfast and lunch dishes, including pancakes and waffles (= types of cooked batter) that are eaten with butter and maple syrup.
Lunch, which is eaten any time after midday, is the main meal of the day for some British people, though people out at work may have only sandwiches. Some people also refer to the midday meal as dinner. Most workers are allowed about an hour off work for it, called the lunch hour, and many also go shopping. Many schools offer a cooked lunch (school lunch or school dinner), though some students take a packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit, etc. Sunday lunch is special and is, for many families, the biggest meal of the week, consisting traditionally of roast meat and vegetables and a sweet course. In the US lunch is usually a quick meal, eaten around midday. Many workers have a half-hour break for lunch, and buy a sandwich from near their place of work. Business people may sometimes eat a larger lunch and use the time to discuss business.
The main meal of the day for most people is the evening meal, called supper, tea or dinner. It is usually a cooked meal with meat or fish or a salad, followed by a sweet course. In Britain younger children may have tea when they get home from school. Tea, meaning a main meal for adults, is the word used in some parts of Britain especially when the evening meal is eaten early. Dinner sounds more formal than supper, and guests generally receive invitations to ‘dinner’ rather than to ‘supper’. In the US the evening meal is called dinner and is usually eaten around 6 or 6.30 p.m. In many families, both in Britain and in the US, family members eat at different times and rarely sit down at the table together.
Many people also eat snacks between meals. Most have tea or coffee at mid-morning, often called coffee time or the coffee break. In Britain in the past this was sometimes also called elevenses. In the afternoon many British people have a tea break. Some hotels serve afternoon tea which consists of tea or coffee and a choice of sandwiches and cakes. When on holiday/vacation people sometimes have a cream tea of scones, jam and cream. In addition many people eat chocolate bars, biscuits (AmE cookies) or crisps (AmE chips). Some British people have a snack, sometimes called supper, consisting of a milk drink and a biscuit before they go to bed. In the US children often have milk and cookies after school.
Culture:
Many British people have a cup of tea in the morning, and several more during the day. Some people stop work for a few minutes to have a tea break. Most people in Britain offer a cup of tea to anybody visiting their home or office. Tea also suggests comfort and warmth, and sitting down with a ‘nice cup of tea’ is a common response to problems and worries.
More About:
meals
People use the words dinner, lunch, supper and tea in different ways depending on which English-speaking country they come from. In Britain it may also depend on which part of the country or which social class a person comes from.
A meal eaten in the middle of the day is usually called lunch. If it is the main meal of the day it may also be called dinner in BrE, especially in the north of the country.
A main meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner, especially if it is a formal meal. Supper is also an evening meal, but more informal than dinner and usually eaten at home. It can also be a late meal or something to eat and drink before going to bed.
In BrE, tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cakes, etc. and a cup of tea: ▪ a cream tea. It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children: ▪ What time do the kids have their tea?
As a general rule, if dinner is the word someone uses for the meal in the middle of the day, they probably call the meal in the evening tea or supper. If they call the meal in the middle of the day lunch, they probably call the meal in the evening dinner.
Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch, is becoming more common, especially as a meal where your guests serve themselves.
Example Bank:
• A lady comes round the office with a tea trolley in the afternoon.
• All rooms have tea-making facilities.
• Allow the tea to cool before you drink it.
• He stores his books in a tea chest.
• He tried to alleviate their disappointment by inviting them in for tea and sympathy.
• I cleared away the tea things.
• I decided to treat myself to a cream tea in the tea room next door.
• I don't drink tea.
• I'll bring you a cup of tea in a few minutes.
• I'll have tea— white, no sugar, please.
• I'll make you some tea.
• John rushed around dispensing tea and cakes to everyone.
• Pour me a cup of tea please.
• She sipped her hot tea slowly.
• The hospital tea bar is run by volunteers.
• There's some fresh tea in the pot.
• There's some fresh= just made tea in the pot.
• You haven't let the tea brew long enough.
• a bone china tea service
• an authentic Japanese tea house
• When we were on holiday we had cream teas every day.
• Would you like to come to tea on Sunday?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
tea / tiː / noun (DRINK)
A1 [ C or U ] (a drink made by pouring hot water onto) dried and cut leaves and sometimes flowers, especially the leaves of the tea plant:
China/Indian tea
iced/lemon tea
a selection of herbal teas
I'd love a cup of tea, please.
"Shall I pour the tea?" "No, let it brew (= get stronger) a while."
Tea and biscuits will be provided at eleven o'clock.
How do you like your tea - strong or weak ?
We sat in the shade of a tree, sipping tea and eating scones.
I'm not much of a tea drinker .
UK informal How about a nice cup of tea? That'll make you feel better.
[ C ] a cup of tea:
Two teas, please.
tea / tiː / noun (MEAL)
[ U or C ] a meal that is eaten in the early evening and is usually cooked B1 [ U or C ] a small meal eaten in the late afternoon, usually including cake and a cup of tea
© Cambridge University Press 2013
tea
/ti:/
(teas)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Tea is a drink made by adding hot water to tea leaves or tea bags. Many people add milk to the drink and some add sugar.
...a cup of tea...
Would you like some tea?...
Four or five men were drinking tea from flasks.
N-MASS
•
A cup of tea can be referred to as a tea.
Would anybody like a tea or coffee?
N-COUNT
2.
The chopped dried leaves of the plant that tea is made from is referred to as tea.
...a packet of tea...
N-MASS
3.
Tea is a meal some people eat in the late afternoon. It consists of food such as sandwiches and cakes, with tea to drink. (BRIT)
I’m doing the sandwiches for tea...
N-VAR
see also afternoon tea, high tea
4.
Some people refer to the main meal that they eat in the early part of the evening as tea. (BRIT)
At five o’clock he comes back for his tea.
N-VAR
5.
If you say that someone or something is not your cup of tea, you mean that they are not the kind of person or thing that you like.
Politics was not his cup of tea...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, usu with brd-neg
tea
tea /ˈtiː/ noun, pl teas
1 [count, noncount]
a : a drink that is made by soaking the dried leaves of an Asian plant in hot water
• a cup of tea
b : a similar drink that is made by using the dried leaves of another kind of plant
• herbal/mint tea
- see also green tea
2 [noncount] : the dried leaves that are used in making tea
• a bag of tea
3 Brit
a : a light meal or snack that usually includes tea with sandwiches, cookies, or cakes and that is served in the late afternoon
[noncount]
• Let's meet for tea tomorrow.
[count]
• That shop does a great afternoon tea.
b [count, noncount] : a cooked meal that is served in the early evening - see also cream tea, high tea
not for all the tea in China informal + old-fashioned : not for any reason
• I would never invite him to my house again—not for all the tea in China.
not your cup of tea
- see 1cup
A clear liquid, without colour or taste, that falls from the sky as rain and is necessary for animal and plant life
آب
A glass of water
یک لیوان آب
A clear liquid, without colour or taste, that falls from the sky as rain and is necessary for animal and plant life
آب
A glass of water
یک لیوان آب
noun (no plural)
the liquid that is in rivers, lakes and seas:
I'd like a glass of water.
After the heavy rain a lot of the fields were under water.
water
I. wa‧ter1 S1 W1 /ˈwɔːtə $ ˈwɒːtər, ˈwɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: adjective: ↑underwater, water, ↑waterless; noun: ↑water, waters; verb: ↑water; adverb: ↑underwater]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wæter]
1. LIQUID the clear liquid without colour, smell, or taste that falls as rain and that is used for drinking, washing etc:
There’s water all over the bathroom floor.
Does anyone want a drink of water?
a glass of sparkling mineral water
All rooms have hot and cold running water.
Pour boiling water over the rice and let it soak.
a fresh water spring
When dealing with a burst pipe, always turn off the water first.
contamination of the local water supply
2. AREA OF WATER
a) an area of water such as the sea, a lake etc
shallow/deep water
Rangoon is surrounded on three sides by water.
Denzil dived into the water.
He stepped down to the water’s edge.
by water (=by boat)
The temple can only be reached by water.
b) the surface of a lake, river etc ⇨ underwater
on the water
something floating on the water
3. waters [plural] a large area of water, especially an ocean that is near or belongs to a particular country:
the coastal waters of Alaska
Korean/Mexican/Pacific etc waters
The ship drifted into Turkish territorial waters.
a species found in inland waters (=not the sea, but rivers, lakes etc)
4. high/low water the highest or lowest level of the sea and some rivers SYN tide
5. uncharted/troubled/murky waters formal a situation that is difficult, dangerous, or unfamiliar:
the uncharted waters of the 21st century
6. be (all) water under the bridge informal used to say that what happened in the past should be forgotten
7. like water if you use something or spend money like water, you use or spend large amounts of it when you should try to save it – used to show disapproval:
Some of the companies were spending money like water.
8. like water off a duck’s back informal if criticism, warnings etc are like water off a duck’s back, they have no effect on the person you are saying them to
9. sb’s waters break when a ↑pregnant woman’s waters break, liquid comes from her body just before her baby is born
10. water on the brain/knee old-fashioned informal liquid around the brain or knee as the result of a disease
11. take the waters old-fashioned to wash yourself in or drink special water that is thought to make you healthy
12. make/pass water formal to ↑urinate
⇨ ↑soda water, ↑toilet water, ⇨ in deep water at ↑deep1(15), ⇨ take to something like a duck to water at ↑duck1(4), ⇨ of the first water at ↑first1(18), ⇨ (be/feel) like a fish out of water at ↑fish1(3), ⇨ not hold water at ↑hold1(37), ⇨ in hot water at ↑hot1(10), ⇨ muddy the waters at ↑muddy2(2), ⇨ pour cold water over/on something at ↑pour(6), ⇨ still waters run deep at ↑still2(5), ⇨ test the water at ↑test2(7), ⇨ tread water at ↑tread1(5), ⇨ troubled waters at ↑troubled(3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + water
▪ drinking water (=water that you can drink safely) There is no source of drinking water on the island.
▪ tap water (=water that comes out of a tap) The tap water is not safe to drink.
▪ bottled water (=water to drink that you buy in bottles) Sales of bottled water have rocketed.
▪ mineral water (=water that has natural substances in it, and is sold in bottles) The mineral water comes from the Scottish mountain.
▪ spring water (=water that comes naturally out of the ground and has not been treated with any chemicals, usually sold in bottles) I ordered a glass of spring water.
▪ running water (=water that comes out of a system of pipes into buildings) Only half the city’s houses had running water.
▪ fresh water (=water in lakes, rivers etc that does not contain salt) This bird is usually found in open country near fresh water.
▪ salt water (=water from the sea, or water to which salt has been added) He washed his hands in a pool of salt water.
▪ hard (=containing a lot of calcium) Hard water is formed as rainwater passes down through layers of limestone.
▪ soft (=not containing much calcium) In our area the water is quite soft.
▪ hot There isn't any hot water!
▪ cold The water in the pool was pretty cold.
▪ lukewarm (=only slightly warm) Stir the yeast into lukewarm water.
▪ clean Millions of people do not have access to clean drinking water.
▪ dirty Diseases can be spread by dirty water.
▪ contaminated (=water that has harmful substances in it) They became ill from drinking contaminated water.
▪ soapy Wash your hands with hot soapy water.
■ water + NOUN
▪ the water supply (=water and the lakes, reservoirs etc where it is stored ) A dam was built to improve the water supply.
▪ a water shortage There is a severe water shortage in many parts of the country.
■ phrases
▪ a glass of water She poured herself a glass of water.
▪ a drink of water He asked for a drink of water.
■ verbs
▪ turn the water off/on (=turn a tap to stop water coming out of pipes or to let it come out) Turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth.
▪ water runs I let the cool water run down my back.
▪ water flows We watched the water flow under the bridge.
water
water [water waters watered watering] noun, verb [ˈwɔːtə(r)] [ˈwɔːtər] [ˈwɑːtər]
noun
1. uncountable a liquid without colour, smell or taste that falls as rain, is in lakes, rivers and seas, and is used for drinking, washing, etc
• a glass of water
• drinking water
• water pollution
• clean/dirty water
• water shortages
• There is hot and cold running water in all the bedrooms.
• The water (= the supply of water) was turned off for several hours each day during the drought.
see also bathwater
2. uncountable an area of water, especially a lake, river, sea or ocean
• We walked down to the water's edge.
• She fell into the water.
• shallow/deep water
• In the lagoon the water was calm.
see also backwater, breakwater
3. waters plural the water in a particular lake, river, sea or ocean
• the grey waters of the River Clyde
• This species is found in coastal waters around the Indian Ocean.
4. uncountable the surface of a mass of water
• She dived under the water.
• The leaves floated on the water.
• He disappeared under the water.
• I could see my reflection in the water.
see also underwater
5. waters plural an area of sea or ocean belonging to a particular country
• We were still in British waters.
• fishing in international waters
see also territorial waters
6. waters plural murky, uncharted, stormy, dangerous, etc. ~ used to describe a situation, usually one that is difficult, dangerous or not familiar
• The conversation got into the murky waters of jealousy and relationships.
• The government has warned of stormy waters ahead.
• I was going into uncharted waters. There are many other compounds ending in water. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
more at blood is thicker than water at blood, blow sb/sth out of the water at blow v., pour/throw cold water on sth at cold adj., dead in the water at dead adj., in deep water(s) at deep adj., dip a toe in/into the water at dip v., (take to sth) like a duck to water at duck n., a fish out of water at fish n., keep your head above water at head n., (come) hell or high water at hell, you can lead/take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink at horse n., be in/get into hot water at hot adj., pass water at pass v., pour oil on troubled water(s) at pour, still waters run deep at still adj., test the waters at test v., tread water at tread adj.
Word Origin:
Old English wæter (noun), wæterian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch water, German Wasser, from an Indo-European root shared by Russian voda (compare with vodka), also by Latin unda ‘wave’ and Greek hudōr ‘water’.
Example Bank:
• Alexis filled the sink with soapy water.
• All the rooms have hot and cold running water.
• An abandoned town lies under the water of the reservoir.
• As the weather heats up, water evaporates.
• At last the boat reached safer waters.
• Avoid drinking the tap water when you first arrive in the country.
• Brown water gushed out of the rusty old tap.
• Building can be difficult where the water table lies close to the surface.
• Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water.
• Don't slosh too much water on the floor when you're having a bath.
• Goods were often transported by water in the 19th century.
• He kept sprinkling holy water on Mia.
• He twisted it to drain the excess water.
• How do you pump the water up here?
• I could feel the icy water entering my lungs.
• I saw something large floating in the water.
• Residents are being asked to boil their drinking water.
• She crouched at the water's edge to wash her hands.
• She dried off the excess water from her hair.
• Some fields have areas with standing water.
• That causes the moss to absorb water.
• The boat cut effortlessly through the water.
• The burst pipe was spurting water everywhere.
• The farmers draw their irrigation water from the Colorado.
• The flood water had caused tremendous damage.
• The ship had drifted into uncharted waters.
• The submarine had strayed into Russian waters.
• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.
• The swan landed gracefully on the water.
• The water is now receding after the floods.
• The water was rising fast.
• There was water dripping from a hole in the ceiling.
• These fish will quickly die in salt water.
• They climbed a tree to escape the rising water.
• They turned the water off for a few hours to do some work on the pipes.
• Water got into the boat and was sloshing around under our feet.
• a water-resistant watch
• a woman fetching water
• areas which are dependent on ground water
• household water heaters
• inland navigable waters
• large expanses of open water
• the ballast water of ocean-going freighters
• the calm waters of Lake Como
• the fast-flowing water of the river
• the freezing waters of the Irish Sea
• the icy waters of the North Atlantic
• the purest well water
• the region's most important fresh water source
• the shark-infested waters off the coast of Florida
• water-repellent leather
• Leaves floated on the water.
• We walked down to the water's edge.
Idioms: by water ▪ it's water under the bridge ▪ like water ▪ not hold water ▪ somebody's waters break ▪ water off a duck's back
Derived: water something down
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
water / ˈwɔː.tə r / / ˈwɑː.t̬ɚ / noun
A1 [ U ] a clear liquid, without colour or taste, that falls from the sky as rain and is necessary for animal and plant life:
a bottle/drink/glass of water
bottled/mineral/tap water
hot/cold water
Can I have a drop of water in my whisky , please?
Is the water hot enough for a bath?
The human body is about 50 percent water.
A2 [ U ] an area of water, such as the sea, a lake, or a swimming pool:
The water's warm - are you coming for a swim?
I don't like getting my head under (= in) water.
Dad, I swam a whole length of the pool under water (= with the whole head and body below the surface of the water) !
[ U ] the level of an area of water:
High water this morning at Portsmouth is at 11.17.
waters [ plural ] the area of sea near to and belonging to a particular country:
St Lucia depends on its clean coastal waters for its income.
the water contained in a particular lake, river, or part of the sea :
In the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, oil rigs attract fish.
UK ( US water ) the liquid that surrounds a baby inside a pregnant woman's womb:
At 3 a.m. her waters broke, and the baby was born soon after.
the waters [ plural ] water from a spring, especially when used in the past for drinking or swimming in, in order to improve the health:
People used to come to this city to take (= drink or swim in) the waters.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
water
/wɔ:tə(r)/
(waters, watering, watered)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Water is a clear thin liquid that has no colour or taste when it is pure. It falls from clouds as rain and enters rivers and seas. All animals and people need water in order to live.
Get me a glass of water.
...the sound of water hammering on the metal roof.
...a trio of children playing along the water’s edge.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
You use waters to refer to a large area of sea, especially the area of sea which is near to a country and which is regarded as belonging to it.
The ship will remain outside Chinese territorial waters.
...the open waters of the Arctic Ocean.
N-PLURAL: with supp
3.
You sometimes use waters to refer to a situation which is very complex or difficult.
...the man brought in to guide him through troubled waters...
The British Government may be in stormy economic waters.
N-PLURAL: adj N
4.
If you water plants, you pour water over them in order to help them to grow.
He went out to water the plants.
VERB: V n
5.
If your eyes water, tears build up in them because they are hurting or because you are upset.
His eyes watered from cigarette smoke.
VERB: V
6.
If you say that your mouth is watering, you mean that you can smell or see some nice food and you might mean that your mouth is producing a liquid.
...cookies to make your mouth water.
VERB: V
see also mouth-watering
7.
When a pregnant woman’s waters break, the fluid in her womb that surrounds the baby passes out of her body, showing that the baby is ready to be born. A doctor or midwife can break a woman’s waters so that the birth can begin.
My waters broke at six in the morning and within four hours Jamie was born.
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you say that an event or incident is water under the bridge, you mean that it has happened and cannot now be changed, so there is no point in worrying about it any more.
He was relieved his time in jail was over and regarded it as water under the bridge.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
9.
If you are in deep water, you are in a difficult or awkward situation.
I could tell that we were getting off the subject and into deep water.
PHRASE
10.
If an argument or theory does not hold water, it does not seem to be reasonable or be in accordance with the facts.
This argument simply cannot hold water in Europe.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu with brd-neg
11.
If you are in hot water, you are in trouble. (INFORMAL)
The company has already been in hot water over high prices this year.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
12.
If you pour cold water on an idea or suggestion, you show that you have a low opinion of it.
City economists pour cold water on the idea that the economic recovery has begun.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
13.
If you test the water or test the waters, you try to find out what reaction an action or idea will get before you do it or tell it to people.
You should be cautious when getting involved and test the water before committing yourself.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
14.
like water off a duck’s back: see duck
to take to something like a duck to water: see duck
to keep your head above water: see head
1wa·ter /ˈwɑːtɚ/ noun, pl -ters
1 [noncount] : the clear liquid that has no color, taste, or smell, that falls from clouds as rain, that forms streams, lakes, and seas, and that is used for drinking, washing, etc.
• Would you like a glass of water?
• bottled/mineral/spring water
• There's water dripping from the ceiling.
• Drink some water.
• drinking water [=water that is safe for drinking]
• The house has hot and cold running water. [=water carried by pipes inside a building]
- see also bathwater, freshwater, groundwater, holy water, ice water, mineral water, rainwater, rose water, saltwater, seawater, soda water, tap water, toilet water, white water
2 [noncount] : an area of water (such as a lake, river, or ocean)
• deep/shallow water
• The kids love playing in the water.
• A stick was floating on/in the water.
• They like to vacation near the water.
- see also underwater
3 waters [plural] : a specific area of water especially; : an area of seawater
• frigid northern waters
• coastal/shallow waters
• We are sailing in international waters.
• They were fishing in Canadian waters.
- often used figuratively
• We are entering into dangerous waters [=a difficult or complicated situation] whenever we discuss religion in public.
• He began studying the murky waters [=confusing details] of copyright law.
• The company is moving into uncharted waters [=new and unknown areas] with its Internet marketing campaign.
- see also headwaters, territorial waters
4 [noncount] : methods of travel that involve boats and ships
• They came by water. [=by traveling on a boat or ship]
a fish out of water
- see 1fish
blood is thicker than water
- see blood
come hell or high water
- see hell
dead in the water
- see 1dead
hold water informal : to be possible or believable - usually used in negative statements
• Her argument doesn't hold water. [=does not make sense]
• His theory cannot hold water. [=his theory is wrong]
in deep water
- see 1deep
keep your head above water
- see 1head
like a duck to water
- see 1duck
like water informal : in large amounts
• He spends money like water.
muddy the waters
- see 2muddy
pass water medical : to send urine out of the body : urinate
• a patient who is finding it difficult to pass water
pour/throw cold water on : to say that you do not like (an idea, suggestion, etc.) in a way that stops other people from doing it or from feeling enthusiastic about it
• He wanted to buy a new car, but I poured/threw cold water on that idea. [=I said he should not buy a new car]
still waters run deep
- see 2still
test the waters/water
- see 2test
tread water
- see 1tread
troubled waters
- see troubled
water breaks US or Brit waters break
- used to describe what happens when fluid suddenly comes from a pregnant woman's body because her baby will be born soon
• Her water broke early.
water off a duck's back informal
✦If something, such as criticism, advice, etc., is (like) water off a duck's back, it has no effect on someone.
• He tried to convince her to take the job, but his advice was like water off a duck's back. [=she completely ignored his advice]
water under the bridge
- used to say that something happened in the past and is no longer important or worth arguing about
• We had our differences in the past, but that's all water under the bridge now.
One of the parts of the body of a human or animal that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin vertical parts of an object that it stands on
پا
Humans have two and horses have four legs.
انسان دو پا و اسب چهار پا دارد.
One of the parts of the body of a human or animal that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin vertical parts of an object that it stands on
پا
Humans have two and horses have four legs.
انسان دو پا و اسب چهار پا دارد.
leg
noun
1 one of the long parts of the body of a person or an animal that is used for walking and standing:
A spider has eight legs.
She sat down and crossed her legs.
2 one of the parts of a pair of trousers that covers your leg:
a trouser leg
3 one of the long parts that a table or chair stands on:
a table leg
leg
I. leg1 S1 W1 /leɡ/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: leggr]
1. BODY PART [countable] one of the long parts of your body that your feet are joined to, or a similar part on an animal or insect:
a young boy with skinny legs
She fell and broke her leg.
four-legged/long-legged etc
four-legged animals
2. MEAT [uncountable and countable] the leg of an animal when it is cooked and eaten as food:
roast leg of lamb
FURNITURE [countable] one of the upright parts that support a piece of furniture:
One of the legs on the table was a bit wobbly.
a chair leg
a three-legged stool
4. CLOTHING [countable] the part of your trousers that covers your leg:
The legs of my jeans were covered in mud.
He rolled up his trouser legs and waded out into the stream.
5. JOURNEY/RACE [countable] one part of a long journey or race
leg of
the final leg of the Tour de France
6. SPORT [countable] British English one of the series of games in a football competition played between two teams:
Leeds will have to win the second leg if they are to go forward to the finals.
7. not have a leg to stand on informal to be in a situation where you cannot prove or legally support what you say:
If you didn’t sign a contract, you won’t have a leg to stand on.
8. get your leg over British English informal not polite to have sex with someone
9. have legs American English informal if a piece of news has legs, people continue to be interested in it and talk about it
⇨ on its last legs at ↑last1(9), ⇨ on your last legs at ↑last1(8), ⇨ pull sb’s leg at ↑pull1(11), ⇨ ↑leg-pull, ↑leg-up, ↑peg leg, ↑sea legs, ⇨ shake a leg at ↑shake1(9), ⇨ show a leg at ↑show1(23), ⇨ stretch your legs at ↑stretch1(7)
leg
leg [leg legs legged legging] noun, verb [leɡ] [leɡ]
noun
PART OF BODY
1. countable one of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body
• Sit on the floor, stretching your legs out in front of you.
• I broke my leg playing football.
• How many legs does a centipede have?
• front/back legs
• forelegs/hind legs
• a wooden leg
see also bow legs, daddy-long-legs, inside leg, leggy, legroom, peg leg, sea legs
MEAT
2. countable, uncountable the leg of an animal, especially the top part, cooked and eaten
• frogs' legs
• chicken legs
• ~ of sth roast leg of lamb
OF TROUSERS/PANTS
3. countable the part of a pair of trousers/pants that covers the leg
• a trouser/pant leg
• These jeans are too long in the leg.
OF TABLE/CHAIR
4. countable one of the long thin parts on the bottom of a table, chair, etc. that support it
• a chair leg
-LEGGED
5. [ˈleɡɪd] ; [ˈleɡɪd] [leɡd] ; [leɡd] (in adjectives) having the number or type of legs mentioned
• a three-legged stool
• a long-legged insect When -legged is used with numbers, it is nearly always pronounced /[ˈleɡɪd] /; in other adjectives it can be pronounced /[ˈleɡɪd] / or /[leɡd] /.
see also cross-legged
OF JOURNEY/RACE
6. countable ~ (of sth) one part of a journey or race
Syn: section, Syn: stage
• The final leg of the trip was by donkey.
SPORTS GAME
7. countable (BrE) one of a pair of matches played between the same opponents in a sports competition, which together form a single round (= stage) of the competition
more at cost/pay an arm and a leg at arm n., as fast as your legs can carry you at fast adv., be on your/its last legs at last adj., pull sb's leg at pull v., shake a leg at shake v., stretch your legs at stretch v., with your tail between your legs at tail n., talk the hind leg off a donkey at talk v.
see also leg-up
Word Origin:
Middle English (superseding shank): from Old Norse leggr (compare with Danish læg ‘calf (of the leg)’), of Germanic origin.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Example Bank:
• Have you ever tried frogs' legs?
• He jumped to avoid the flailing leg of the defender.
• He lost a leg in a motorcycle accident.
• He put his back against the car, braced his legs and pushed.
• He rolled up his trouser legs.
• He rolled up the legs of his jeans.
• He rose to his feet on shaky legs.
• He sat down with his lame leg outstretched.
• He sat with his legs dangling off the bridge.
• He was shot in the leg by a sniper.
• He was wheeled out of the hospital with his leg in a cast/in plaster.
• He was wheeled out of the hospital with his leg in plaster.
• His legs buckled and he collapsed on the floor.
• I had a big bruise on my leg.
• I moved the chair away from the table so I could cross my legs.
• I was able to stand on my good leg.
• I'm getting my legs waxed tomorrow.
• It was good to get out of the car and stretch our legs.
• Leg extensions use the quadriceps muscles to extend the knee.
• Many birds are able to stand on one leg for hours at a time.
• She crossed the finish line on tired legs.
• She had her leg amputated below the knee.
• She sat with her legs drawn up underneath her.
• She started running, fat legs pumping.
• She stretched her legs under the table.
• She swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her crutches.
• The dog lifted its leg against the lamp post.
• The dog sloped off, its tail between its legs.
• The fastest runner often runs the anchor leg of a relay.
• The fastest runner often runs the anchor leg= the last part of a relay race.
• These jeans are too long in the leg.
• They don't train the day before a match to ensure they have fresh legs.
• They gazed at each other, their legs entwined under the table.
• They made him put his hands on the police car and spread his legs.
• They ran together, their legs moving in unison.
• We were on the last leg of our journey.
• a fine pair of legs
• an injury to his upper leg
• Hopefully, the next leg of the race will feature fewer icebergs and more dolphins.
• I really believe we can turn around that 4–2 first leg deficit and win this game.
• The Spanish team won the third leg.
Idioms: break a leg! ▪ get your leg over ▪ have legs ▪ leg it ▪ not have a leg to stand on
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
leg / leɡ / noun [ C ] (BODY PART)
A1 one of the parts of the body of a human or animal that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin vertical parts of an object that it stands on:
My legs were tired after so much walking.
He broke his leg skiing.
The horse broke its front leg in the fall.
a chair/table leg
See picture body
the part of a piece of clothing that you put your leg in:
He rolled up his trouser legs and waded into the water.
leg / leɡ / noun [ C ] (STAGE)
a particular stage of a journey, competition, or activity:
He has tickets for the first leg of the UEFA Cup tie.
The last leg of the race was Paris to London.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
leg
/leg/
(legs)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A person or animal’s legs are the long parts of their body that they use to stand on.
He was tapping his walking stick against his leg.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
• -legged
Her name was Sheila, a long-legged blonde.
...a large four-legged animal.
COMB in ADJ
2.
The legs of a pair of trousers are the parts that cover your legs.
He moved on through wet grass that soaked his trouser legs.
N-COUNT: usu pl
3.
A leg of lamb, pork, chicken, or other meat is a piece of meat that consists of the animal’s or bird’s leg, especially the thigh.
...a chicken leg.
...a leg of mutton.
N-COUNT: n N, N of n
4.
The legs of a table, chair, or other piece of furniture are the parts that rest on the floor and support the furniture’s weight.
His ankles were tied to the legs of the chair...
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N, N of n
• -legged
...a three-legged stool.
COMB in ADJ
5.
A leg of a long journey is one part of it, usually between two points where you stop.
The first leg of the journey was by boat to Lake Naivasha in Kenya.
N-COUNT: usu ord N, N of n
6.
A leg of a sports competition is one of a series of games that are played to find an overall winner. (mainly BRIT)
They will televise both legs of Leeds’ European Cup clash with Rangers.
N-COUNT
7.
If you say that something or someone is on their last legs, you mean that the period of time when they were successful or strong is ending. (INFORMAL)
This relationship is on its last legs.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
8.
If you are pulling someone’s leg, you are teasing them by telling them something shocking or worrying as a joke. (INFORMAL)
Of course I won’t tell them; I was only pulling your leg.
PHRASE: V inflects
9.
If you say that someone does not have a leg to stand on, or hasn’t got a leg to stand on, you mean that a statement or claim they have made cannot be justified or proved. (INFORMAL)
It’s only my word against his, I know. So I don’t have a leg to stand on.
PHRASE: with brd-neg
10.
an arm and a leg: see arm
with your tail between your legs: see tail
1leg /ˈlɛg/ noun, pl legs
1 [count] : one of the long body parts that are used especially for standing, walking, and running
• He sat on a chair with his legs crossed.
• He leaned against the wall with his legs spread so the police could search him.
• She broke her leg in a skiing accident.
• His legs gave way under him and he fell over.
• a wooden/artificial leg
• the dog's front/back/hind legs
- see picture at human; see also peg leg, sea legs
2 : an animal's leg when it is used as food
[count]
• We had chicken legs for dinner.
[noncount]
• Would you like some more leg of lamb?
3 [count] : any one of the long thin parts that support a table, chair, etc.
• the legs of a table
• a chair with a broken leg
4 [count] : the part of a pair of pants that covers the leg
• The legs of these jeans are too long. = These jeans are too long in the leg(s).
5 [count]
a : a part of a journey or race
• She took the lead in the last leg of the race.
• The weather got worse on each leg of the trip.
b : any one of several events or games that form a competition
• a horse that has won the first two legs of racing's Triple Crown
6 legs [plural] US informal : lasting appeal or interest
• a news story with legs
a leg up informal
1 give someone a leg up
a : to hold your hands together so that someone can step into them while climbing up onto something
• I don't think I can get on this horse without help. Can someone give me a leg up?
b : to give someone an advantage over others
• These skills will give you a leg up in the job market. [=they will help you get a job]
2 have a leg up : to have an advantage over others
• The company has a leg up on the competition thanks to the recent publicity.
an arm and a leg
- see 1arm
break a leg informal
- used in speech to wish good luck to someone (such as a performer);
get your leg over Brit informal + impolite of a man : to have sex with a woman
not have a leg to stand on : to have no support for what you think, say, or do
• He claims that the company cheated him, but without evidence of a written agreement, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.
on your/its last legs informal : very close to failure, exhaustion, or death
• The company is on its last legs.
• He was on his last legs, but he managed to finish the race.
• an old tree that is on its last legs [=that is dying and will not last much longer]
pull someone's leg informal : to make someone believe something that is not true as a joke : to trick or lie to someone in a playful way
• I panicked when he said the test was tomorrow, but then I realized he was just pulling my leg.
• When I got mad, she finally admitted that she was pulling my leg.
shake a leg informal : to go or move quickly
• You'd better shake a leg [=hurry up] if you don't want to be late for work.
- often used as a command
• Shake a leg! You're going to be late!
stretch your legs informal : to stand up and walk especially after sitting for a long period of time
with your tail between your legs
To decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities
انتخاب کردن
She had to choose between the two men in her life.
to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities
گزيدن، برگزيدن، انتخاب كردن
Julie chose him as her husband.
جولى او را به شوهرى انتخاب كرد.
choose
verb (chooses, choosing, chose /, has chosen )
to decide which thing or person you want:
She chose the chocolate cake.
Mike had to choose between getting a job or going to college.
The noun is choice.
choose
choose S1 W1 /tʃuːz/ BrE AmE verb (past tense chose /tʃəʊz $ tʃoʊz/, past participle chosen /ˈtʃəʊzən $ ˈtʃoʊ-/) [intransitive and transitive]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ceosan]
1. to decide which one of a number of things or people you want ⇨ choice:
It took us ages to choose a new carpet.
A panel of judges will choose the winner.
He chose his words carefully as he spoke.
I don’t mind which one we have – you choose.
choose between
For pudding we could choose between ice cream and apple tart.
choose from
You can choose from a wide range of vehicles.
choose to do something
I chose to learn German rather than French.
choose somebody/something to do something
They chose Donald to be their leader.
choose somebody/something as something
The company chose London as its base.
choose somebody/something for something
Why did you choose me for the job?
2. to decide to do something because that is what you prefer to do
choose to do something
I chose to ignore his advice.
You can, if you choose, invest in the stock market.
3. there is little/nothing to choose between something used when you think that two or more things are equally good and you cannot decide which is better:
There was little to choose between the two candidates.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choose to decide which one of several things you want: I chose a black dress. | Which dessert should I choose?
▪ pick to choose something, especially without thinking carefully. Pick is more informal than choose: Pick any number from one to ten.
▪ select formal to choose something, especially after thinking carefully: The committee will meet to select a new chairman. | All our instructors are carefully selected.
▪ opt for/go for to choose one thing instead of another: Many car buyers opt for used vehicles. | I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.
▪ decide on to choose something from many possible things, especially when the decision has been difficult or taken a long time: Thomas had decided on a career as a writer.
▪ single out to choose one person or thing from a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the others: Why should he be singled out for special treatment? | One student was singled out for special attention.
▪ take your pick especially spoken to choose anything you want, especially when there are many different things available: You can take your pick from Bodrum’s many bars and restaurants.
choose
choose [choose chooses chose choosing chosen] [tʃuːz] [tʃuːz] verb (chose [tʃəʊz] ; [tʃoʊz] , chosen [ˈtʃəʊzn] ; [ˈtʃoʊzn] )
1. intransitive, transitive to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available
• You choose, I can't decide.
• There are plenty of restaurants to choose from.
• ~ between A and/or B She had to choose between staying in the UK or going home.
• ~ sth Sarah chose her words carefully.
• This site has been chosen for the new school.
• ~ A from B We have to choose a new manager from a shortlist of five candidates.
• ~ sb/sth as/for sth He chose banking as a career.
• We chose Phil McSweeney as/for chairperson.
• ~ whether, wat, etc… You'll have to choose whether to buy it or not.
• ~ to do sth We chose to go by train.
• ~ sb to be/do sth We chose Phil McSweeney to be chairperson.
2. intransitive, transitive to prefer or decide to do sth
• Employees can retire at 60 if they choose.
• ~ to do sth Many people choose not to marry.
see also choice n.
more at pick and choose at pick v.
Idiom: there is not much to choose between A and B
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English cēosan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kiezen.
Thesaurus:
choose verb I, T
1.
• We have to choose a new manager.
select • • decide • • opt • • single sb/sth out • • adopt • |informal pick • • go for sth •
choose/select/decide/pick between A and/or B
choose/select/opt for/single out/adopt/pick/go for sb/sth as sb/sth
choose/select/single out/pick sb/sth for sb/sth
choose/select/opt for/single out/adopt/pick/go for sb/sth to do sth
Choose, select or pick? When you select sth you usually choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word that describes a less careful action. Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object:
• You choose— I can't decide
¤ You select/pick— I can't decide.
2. I, T
• Many people choose not to marry.
decide • • make up your mind • |formal determine • • elect • • resolve •
choose/decide/make up your mind/determine/elect/resolve to do sth
choose/decide/make up your mind whether/what/how…
be free to choose/decide/determine
Synonyms:
choose
select • pick • decide • opt • go for
These words all mean to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available.
choose • to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available: ▪ You choose— I can't decide.
select • [often passive] to choose sb/sth, usually carefully, from a group of people or things: ▪ He was selected for the team. ◊ ▪ a randomly selected sample of 23 schools
pick • (rather informal) to choose sb/sth from a group of people or things: ▪ She picked the best cake for herself.
choose, select or pick?
Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object. When you select sth, you choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word and often a less careful action, used especially when the choice being made is not very important.
decide • to choose between two or more possibilities: ▪ We're still trying to ▪ decide on ▪ a venue.
opt • to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action: ▪ After graduating she opted for a career in music. ◊ ▪ After a lot of thought, I ▪ opted against ▪ buying a motorbike.
go for sth • (rather informal) to choose sth: ▪ I think I'll go for the fruit salad.
to choose/select/pick/decide between A and/or B
to choose/select/pick A from B
to opt/go for sb/sth
to choose/decide/opt to do sth
to choose/select/pick sb/sth carefully/at random
randomly chosen/selected/picked
Example Bank:
• She had to choose between giving up her job or hiring a nanny.
• There are several different models to choose from.
• They can choose freely from a wide range of courses.
• You are free to choose whichever courses you want to take.
• You have to take any job you can get— you can't pick and choose.
• We chose Paul Stubbs to be chairperson.
• We deliberately chose to stay in a cheap non-western hotel.
• With practice, you can consciously choose not to react in a stressed way.
• You choose— I can't decide.
• You'll have to choose whether to buy it or not.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
choose / tʃuːz / verb [ I or T ] ( chose , chosen )
A1 to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities:
She had to choose between the two men in her life.
Danny, come here and choose your ice cream.
He chose a shirt from the many in his wardrobe.
[ + question word ] It's difficult choosing wh ere to live.
[ + two objects ] I've chosen Luis a present/I've chosen a present for Luis.
Yesterday the selectors chose Dales as the team's new captain.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] The firm's directors chose Emma to be the new production manager.
choose to do sth B1 to decide to do something:
Katie chose (= decided) to stay away from work that day.
little/not much to choose between
When there is little to choose between two or more things, they are (all) very similar.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
choose
[tʃu͟ːz]
♦♦
chooses, choosing, chose, chosen
1) VERB If you choose someone or something from several people or things that are available, you decide which person or thing you want to have.
[V n] They will be able to choose their own leaders in democratic elections...
[V n to-inf] This week he has chosen Peter Mandelson to replace Mo Mowlam...
[V from/between n] There are several patchwork cushions to choose from...
[be V-ed as n] Houston was chosen as the site for the convention...
[V-ed] He did well in his chosen profession. [Also V n as n, V]
Syn:
select
2) VERB If you choose to do something, you do it because you want to or because you feel that it is right.
[V to-inf] They knew that discrimination was going on, but chose to ignore it...
You can just take out the interest each year, if you choose.
3) PHRASE: v-link PHR If there is little to choose between people or things or nothing to choose between them, it is difficult to decide which is better or more suitable. [mainly BRIT]
There is very little to choose between the world's top tennis players.
4) PHRASE The chosen few are a small group who are treated better than other people. You sometimes use this expression when you think this is unfair.
Learning should no longer be an elitist pastime for the chosen few.
Syn:
elite
5) to pick and choose → see pick
choose
choose /ˈʧuːz/ verb choos·es; chose /ˈʧoʊz/; cho·sen /ˈʧoʊzn̩/; choos·ing
1 : to decide that a particular person or thing is the one that you want
[+ obj]
• The political party chose a leader.
• They chose her as the team captain.
• We've chosen a different time to go.
• He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
• She was chosen from a long list of people.
• He chose his words carefully.
• Which shirt would you choose?
[no obj]
• How do I choose when there's so much available?
• Let everyone choose for themselves.
• You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
• You'll have to choose between the two of them.
• There are several books available to choose from.
2 : to make a choice about what to do : decide
[+ obj]
- usually followed by to + verb
• They chose to go by train.
• They chose not to believe it.
• They chose to keep quiet.
• She chooses to work in the city.
[no obj]
• You can do as you choose. [=you can do what you want to do]
choose sides : to divide a group into two teams that will play against each other
• When we chose sides in gym class, I was always the last person to be picked to be on a team.
- often used figuratively
• They are forcing us to choose sides in the dispute.
pick and choose
- see 1pick
- choos·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• a careful chooser
- see also beggars can't be choosers at beggar
A building where objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest are kept
موزه
A museum of modern art
موزه هنر های معاصر
A building where objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest are kept
موزه
A museum of modern art
موزه هنر های معاصر
museum
noun
a building where people can look at old or interesting things:
Have you ever been to the British Museum?
museum
mu‧se‧um S3 W2 /mjuːˈziəm $ mjʊ-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek Mouseion, from Mousa; ⇨ ↑muse2]
a building where important ↑cultural, historical, or scientific objects are kept and shown to the public:
the Museum of Modern Art
The museum has an extensive collection of early photographs.
museum
mu·seum [museum museums] [mjuˈziːəm] [mjuˈziːəm] noun
a building in which objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific interest are kept and shown to the public
• a museum of modern art
• a science museum
Word Origin:
early 17th cent. (denoting a university building, specifically one erected at Alexandria by Ptolemy Soter): via Latin from Greek mouseion ‘seat of the Muses’, based on mousa ‘muse’.
Culture:
art galleries and museums of art
In Britain, works of art are displayed in art galleries and, especially outside London, in museums. Shops that sell paintings are also called galleries. In the US public art collections are displayed in art museums, and a gallery is a place where people go to buy works of art.
Many galleries and museums in Britain and the US receive limited financial support from national or local government. Other money is raised through admission fees, although admission to many British museums is free, and the sale of postcards, calendars, etc. Some galleries obtain money through sponsorship. Many works of art are expensive and galleries can rarely buy them without organizing a public appeal or, in Britain, asking for money from the National Art Collections Fund.
Visiting an art gallery is a popular leisure activity. Galleries and museums are friendlier places than they used to be. Many try to encourage children’s interest in art by arranging school visits and many people make their first trip to an art museum with their school class.
The most popular galleries in Britain, all in London, are the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern. The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition of paintings sent in by the general public also receives a lot of visitors. Sculpture attracts less attention, and though the names of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are known to many people, few could describe any of their works. Well-known galleries outside London include the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Important art museums in the US include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum, all in New York, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Most US cities and many smaller towns have art museums.
Galleries sometimes mount exhibitions of the paintings of one artist, e.g. Turner, that are brought together from all over the world. People are prepared to queue for a long time to see them. Many people admire old masters, famous works by great artists of the past, but have little interest in modern art. New works receive publicity in the media only when they are unusual or likely to shock people. Galleries and museums try to encourage a more positive attitude to modern art but many people remain doubtful. When the Tate displayed half a cow and its calf rotting in formaldehyde (= a chemical used to preserve it), the public criticized the artist, Damien Hirst. There is usually controversy about the winners of the Turner Prize
Some exhibitions bring together all kinds of art, not only paintings, from a particular time or country so that people can learn about it. Exhibitions on subjects such as the Aztecs, art nouveau and the art of Turkey attract large crowds.
Culture:
museums
Many people have a hobby that involves collecting things, e.g. stamps, postcards or antiques. In the 18th and 19th centuries wealthy people travelled and collected plants, animal skins, historical objects and works of art. They kept their collection at home until it got too big or until they died, and then it was given to a museum. The 80 000 objects collected by Sir Hans Sloane, for example, formed the core collection of the British Museum which opened in 1759.
The parts of a museum open to the public are called galleries or rooms. Often, only a small proportion of a museum’s collection is on display. Most of it is stored away or used for research. A person in charge of a department of a museum is called a keeper. Museum staff involved in the care and conservation of items are sometimes called curators.
Many museums are lively places and they attract a lot of visitors. As well as looking at exhibits, visitors can play with computer simulations and imagine themselves living at a different time in history or walking through a rainforest. At the Jorvik Centre in York, the city’s Viking settlement is recreated, and people experience the sights, sounds and smells of the old town. Historical accuracy is important but so also is entertainment. Museums must compete for people’s leisure time and money with other amusements. Most museums also welcome school groups and arrange special activities for children.
In Britain, the largest museums are the British Museum, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Museums outside London also cover every subject and period. Homes of famous people sometimes become museums, such as the house where Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The first public museum in the US was the Charlestown Museum in South Carolina, founded in 1773. The largest is the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, a group of 14 museums. The most popular of these is the National Air and Space Museum. Some US museums are art museums. Many describe a period of history. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for example, a museum explains the Civil War and gives details of the battle of Gettysburg. Halls of Fame are museums that honour people who have been outstanding in a certain field, e.g. baseball or rock music.
National museums receive money from the government but not enough to cover their costs. Museums usually have a shop selling books, postcards and gifts, and often a cafe. Their profits help to fund the museum. Some museums have the support of a commercial sponsor. In small museums only a few people have paid jobs, and the rest are volunteers, called docents in the US, who lead tours and answer visitors’ questions.
Example Bank:
• All the planes are museum pieces.
• Although the mill is no longer in commercial use, it is maintained as a working museum.
• He founded a museum of modern art in his home town.
• Los Angeles County Art Museum
• The first painting acquired by the museum was by Hopper.
• The museum houses a fine collection of textiles.
• The museum is housed in a converted church.
• The website's print gallery is a virtual museum.
• There's a gift shop in the museum.
• a museum devoted to children's toys
• a museum devoted to railway memorabilia
• an exhibition of Chinese ceramics at the Ashmolean Museum
• an open-air museum of farming and the countryside
• one of the world's great museums
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
museum / mjuːˈziː.əm / noun [ C ]
A1 a building where objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest are kept:
a museum of modern art
the Natural History Museum
© Cambridge University Press 2013
museum
/mju:zi:əm/
(museums)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
A museum is a building where a large number of interesting and valuable objects, such as works of art or historical items, are kept, studied, and displayed to the public.
For months Malcolm had wanted to visit the Parisian art museums.
...the American Museum of Natural History.
N-COUNT
museum
mu·se·um /mjʊˈziːjəm/ noun, pl -ums [count] : a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public
• an art museum
• a history museum
• a museum of natural history
