noun

legacy

leg·acy [legacy legacies] noun, adjective   [ˈleɡəsi]    [ˈleɡəsi] 

noun (pl. leg·acies)
1. money or property that is given to you by sb when they die
Syn:  inheritance

• They each received a legacy of $5 000.

2. a situation that exists now because of events, actions, etc. that took place in the past
• Future generations will be left with a legacy of pollution and destruction.
• The problems were made worse by the legacy of centuries of neglect.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English (also denoting the function or office of a deputy, especially a papal legate): from Old French legacie, from medieval Latin legatia ‘legateship’, from legatus ‘person delegated’, past participle of legare ‘depute, delegate, bequeath’.  
Thesaurus:
legacy noun C
• He received a legacy of £5 000.
inheritance • • heritage • |formal bequest • • birthright • |law estate •
a/an legacy/inheritance/bequest from sb
a cultural/artistic legacy/inheritance/heritage
leave (sb) a legacy/an inheritance/a bequest/your estate
bequeath (sb)/inherit a legacy/an estate 
Example Bank:
• His influence on younger musicians is perhaps his greatest legacy.
• She is the heir to a legacy of £1 million.
• She left her the money in a legacy.
• She said she would continue her father's legacy.
• Such attitudes are a legacy from colonial times.
• These problems have arisen as a result of historical legacies.
• a great legacy of technical innovation
• a legacy from my old teacher
• the enduring legacy bequeathed by the war years

• They each received a legacy of £5 000.

adjective only before noun used to describe a computer system or product that is no longer available to buy but is still used because it would be too difficult or expensive to replace it
• How can we integrate new technology with our legacy systems?
• legacy hardware/software
• Legacy hardware and software should be able to cope with the website.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English (also denoting the function or office of a deputy, especially a papal legate): from Old French legacie, from medieval Latin legatia ‘legateship’, from legatus ‘person delegated’, past participle of legare ‘depute, delegate, bequeath’.

intimacy

in·tim·acy [intimacy intimacies]   [ˈɪntɪməsi]    [ˈɪntɪməsi]  noun (pl. in·tim·acies)
1. uncountable the state of having a close personal relationship with sb

• The old intimacy between them had gone for ever.

2. countable, usually plural a thing that a person says or does to sb that they know very well

3. uncountable (formal or law) sexual activity, especially an act of sexual intercourse  
Example Bank:
• Gradually, a deep emotional intimacy developed between them.
• He enjoys an intimacy with the president.
• He was prevented from declaring his love by his fear of intimacy.
• I sensed a close intimacy between them.
• She isn't capable of real intimacy.
• The noise destroyed the intimacy of their conversation.
• The old intimacy between them had gone forever.
• The room had a peaceful sense of intimacy about it.
• the artist's ability to achieve intimacy with his subjects

• the intimacy created between student and teacher

honesty

hon·esty   [ˈɒnəsti]    [ˈɑːnəsti]  noun uncountable
the quality of being honest
• She answered all my questions with her usual honesty.
• His honesty is not in question.
Idiom: in all honesty  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French honeste, from Latin honestas, from honestus, from honos, honor. The original sense was ‘honour, respectability’, later ‘decorum, virtue, chastity’.  
Thesaurus:
honesty [honesty] noun U
• I expect total honesty from my employees.
integrity • • sincerity • • good faith • |BrE honour • |AmE honor • |formal probity •
Opp: dishonesty
absolute/complete honesty/integrity/sincerity
sb's personal honesty/integrity/honour/probity 
Example Bank:
• ‘Don't you love me?’ ‘I don't know,’ she said with brutal honesty.
• Are you questioning my honesty?
• He has the honesty and integrity to be chairman.
• I always expect total honesty from my employees.
• I appreciate your honesty about this.
• In all honesty, the book was not as good as I expected.
• She answered the questions with complete honesty.
• She had the honesty to admit her mother was right.
• Who in honesty can blame her?
• You need ruthless intellectual honesty about your own skills, weaknesses and motives.
• At least he had the honesty to admit he was wrong.
• She prided herself on her honesty.

• They have a reputation for scrupulous honesty.

bathtub

bath·tub [bathtub bathtubs]   [ˈbɑːθtʌb]    [bæθtʌb] 

(also informal tub) (both especially NAmE) (BrE also bath) noun a large, long container that you put water in and then get into to wash your whole body

baseball

base·ball [baseball baseballs]   [ˈbeɪsbɔːl]    [ˈbeɪsbɔːl]  noun

1. uncountable a game played especially in the US by two teams of nine players, using a bat and ball. Each player tries to hit the ball and then run around four bases before the other team can return the ball
• a baseball bat/team/stadium
• a pair of baseball boots

compare  rounders

2. countable the ball used in this game 
Culture:
baseball
America’s national sport, played mainly by men, which developed in the 19th century from the British games rounders and cricket. It is a popular sport to play and watch, with many families going to watch baseball games on a Sunday afternoon. Baseball has become an important part of US culture with many baseball terms becoming part of the language and it is the subject of songs, novels and films. Baseball shirts and caps have also become fashionable in many countries.
Baseball is played with long wooden bats and a small, hard ball, by two teams of nine players each. The infield has three bases (= bags filled with sand) and a home plate arranged in a diamond. The pitcher, who throws the ball to the batter, stands in the centre of the diamond. Each game lasts nine innings and in each inning the visiting team is first to bat (= hit the ball) while the home team plays defense. Players bat in turn but when a team has three outs it must let the other side bat. If a batter hits the ball and it is not caught in the air for an out, he runs to first base. If the ball is thrown to first base before he gets there, he is out and if not, he then tries to run to second base, third base and back to home for a run while other players bat. The team that scores the most runs is the winner.

 Major League Baseball is organized into the American League and the National League and the season lasts from April to October. At the end of the season, the four best teams in each league play to decide which two teams will go forward to the World Series. Well-known teams include New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Cleveland Indians, the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago Cubs, the St Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

banana

ba·nana [banana bananas]   [bəˈnɑːnə]    [bəˈnænə]  noun

a long curved fruit with a thick yellow skin and soft flesh, that grows on trees in hot countries
• a bunch of bananas
Idiom: go bananas  
Word Origin:
late 16th cent.: via Portuguese or Spanish from Mande. Mande is a group of Niger-Congo languages spoken by the Mande people of West Africa.  
Example Bank:

• The company has acquired an unhappy knack of slipping on banana skins.

bag

bag [bag bags bagged bagging] noun, verb   [bæɡ]    [bæɡ] 

noun

CONTAINER
1. countable (often in compounds) a container made of paper or plastic, that opens at the top, used especially in shops/stores
• a plastic/polythene/paper bag
• a laundry/mail bag

• a black plastic rubbish/garbage bag

2. countable a strong container made from cloth, plastic, leather, etc, usually with one or two handles, used to carry things in when shopping or travelling
• a shopping bag
• a make-up bag
• He's upstairs unpacking his bags.
• She opened her bag (= her handbag ) and took out her comb.

see also  airbag, beanbag, bumbag, goody bag, punchbag, sandbag, tea bag  

AMOUNT

3. countable ~ (of sth) the amount contained in a bag
• She ate a bag of chips.

see also  mixed bag, ragbag

4. bags uncountable, plural ~ (of sth) (BrE, informal) a large amount or a large number of sth

• Get in! There's bags of room.  

UNDER EYES

5. bags plural dark circles or loose folds of skin under the eyes, as a result of getting old or lack of sleep  

UNPLEASANT WOMAN
6. countable (informal, especially BrE) an insulting word for an unpleasant or bad-tempered older woman

see also  ratbag, scumbag, windbag  

BIRDS/ANIMALS

7. countable, usually singular all the birds, animals, etc. shot or caught on one occasion
• We got a good bag today.  There are many other compounds ending in bag. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
more at let the cat out of the bag at  cat, be a bag/bundle of nerves at  nerve  _n., pack your bags at  pack  _v., a bag/box of tricks at  trick  _n.  
Word Origin:
Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse baggi.  
Thesaurus:
bag noun C
• I got my bag down from the rack.
handbag • • backpack • • suitcase • • case • |BrE rucksack • |AmE purse • |AmE old-fashioned knapsack •
carry a bag/handbag/backpack/suitcase/case/rucksack/purse/knapsack
put on/take off a backpack/rucksack/knapsack
pack/unpack a bag/backpack/suitcase/case/rucksack/knapsack 
Example Bank:
• He could not convince those who held the money bags that his idea was viable.
• He shouldered his bag and left.
• He tossed his bag onto an empty seat.
• He was walking along swinging his school bag.
• Her crocodile skin clutch bag matched her shoes.
• I had to lug my bags up the stairs.
• I opened the trunk of the car to retrieve my bags.
• I rummaged in my bag for a pen.
• New airline regulations banned scissors in carry-on bags.
• She grabbed her bag and ran out of the door.
• She had a heavy bag swinging from each hand.
• She helped me load my bags into the car.
• She stepped down off the bus with her bag slung over her shoulder.
• The bag bulged with papers and letters.
• The camera caught him slipping a CD into his bag.
• The customs officer asked him to empty out the contents of his bag.
• The dead soldiers were put on the plane in body bags.
• The mushrooms are sealed in a bag for freshness.
• They were gathering their bags, preparing to leave.
• Two youths snatched her bag as she was walking home.
• We dropped our bags off at the hotel and went straight out.
• We're giving away a free goody bag with every children's meal.
• You can check bags of up to 70 pounds for free.
• You need to have your bags packed and be ready to go by six.
• a baby changing bag
• a bag of groceries
• a cyclist with his laptop in a messenger bag slung across his chest
• He was carrying a leather travelling bag.
• He was told to pack his bags and leave.
• I got my bag down from the rack.
• My passport was right at the bottom of my bag.
• The porter will take your bags up to your room.

Idioms: bag and baggage ▪ bag of bones ▪ bags … ▪ in the bag ▪ leave somebody holding the bag ▪ somebody's bag 

verb (-gg-) 

PUT INTO BAGS
1. ~ sth (up) to put sth into bags

• The fruit is washed, sorted and bagged at the farm.  

CATCH ANIMAL

2. ~ sth (informal) to catch or kill an animal

• We bagged ten fish in two hours.  

IN SPORT

3. ~ sth (informal) to score a goal, point, etc

• Dublin bagged two goals in last night's win.  

CLAIM STH

4. ~ sth (BrE, informal) to claim sth as yours before sb else claims it; to take sth before sb else can get it
• Sally had managed to bag the two best seats.

• Quick, bag that table over there!  

CRITICIZE SB/STH

5. ~ sb/sth (AustralE, NZE, informal) to criticize sb/sth  

DECIDE NOT TO DO STH
6. ~ sth (NAmE, informal) to decide not to do sth because you think it will not be successful or because you think it will be better to do it later
• They decided to bag the trip because they were short of cash.
• Don't use the risk of failure as an excuse to bag the plan.
• We admitted we were fair-weather climbers and bagged it.
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:

Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse baggi.

athlete

ath·lete [athlete athletes]   [ˈæθliːt]    [ˈæθliːt]  noun
1. a person who competes in sports

• Olympic athletes

2. (BrE) a person who competes in sports such as running and jumping

3. a person who is good at sports and physical exercise
• She is a natural athlete.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein ‘compete for a prize’, from athlon ‘prize’.  
Example Bank:
• She has the build and strength of a natural athlete.
• The athletes are training hard for the Olympics.
• athletes playing pro football
• one of the greatest athletes of all time
• It's clear that he's a natural athlete.
• Several Olympic athletes were accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

• She's a superbly gifted all-round athlete.

music [music musics]   [ˈmjuːzɪk]   [ˈmjuːzɪk]  noun
uncountable
1. sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments
• pop/dance/classical/church music
• to listen to music
• She could hear music playing somewhere.
• It was a charming piece of music.
• the popularity of Mozart's music
• He wrote the music but I don't know who wrote the words.
• The poem has been set to music.
• Every week they get together to make music (= to play music or sing).

see also  chamber music, country music, rock music, soul music

2. the art of writing or playing music
• to study music
• a career in music
• music lessons

• the music business/industry

3. the written or printed signs that represent the sounds to be played or sung in a piece of music
• Can you read music (= understand the signs in order to play or sing a piece of music)?
• I had to play it without the music.
• The music was still open on the piano (= the paper or book with the musical notes on it).
see also  sheet music
more at face the music at  face  _v.
Idiom: music to your ears  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French musique, via Latin from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of the Muses’, from mousa ‘muse’.  
Thesaurus:
music noun U
• pop/dance/classical music
singing • • song • • melody • • harmony •
(a) beautiful music/singing/songharmony/melody
listen to/hear music/singing/a song/the melody/the harmony 
Collocations:
Music
Listening
listen to/enjoy/love/be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.
listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD
put on/play a CD/a song/some music
turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass
go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital
copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD
download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video
Playing
play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear
sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune
hum a tune/a theme tune/a lullaby
accompany a singer/choir
strum a chord/guitar
Performing
form/start/get together/join/quit/leave a band
give a performance/concert/recital
do a concert/recital/gig
play a concert/gig/festival/venue
perform (BrE) at/in a concert/(especially NAmE) a concert
appear at a festival/live
go on/embark on a (world) tour
Recording
write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony
land/get/sign a record deal
be signed to/be dropped by a record company
record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD
be top of/top the charts
get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one 
Example Bank:
• Birmingham's live music scene
• Calypso music played faintly in the distance.
• Can you read music?
• Could you turn that music down?
• He got into music by chance.
• He made up the words and music for the song.
• He played the piece without music.
• Heavy music thundered from the basement.
• Her taste in music was eclectic.
• I pulled the lyrics out and laid them on the music stand.
• I use my laptop to burn music to a CD.
• Listening to music is a great way to relax.
• Music filled the air.
• Put some music on, would you?
• Put your music on the music stand.
• Schubert set several poems by Goethe to music.
• She could hear loud music from the party upstairs.
• She is a rising star in the music world.
• She's really into indie music.
• The ability to appreciate music is largely learnt.
• The album has been praised in the music press.
• The band are number one in the music charts.
• The city has produced a lot of good music.
• The movie uses appropriate period music.
• The music sounded vibrant and loud.
• The music was coming from next door.
• The soft background music made her feel sleepy.
• The sound of pop music drifted through the open window.
• They did their exercises in time to the music.
• We bought a new television and music centre at the weekend.
• We love to make music as a family.
• With the guidance of the conductor, an orchestra creates music and harmonies.
• a beach party with music provided by a local band
• an evening of Scottish music and song
• bars and nightclubs blaring music late into the night
• disco music blaring out of the open windows of a car
• music for piano, cello and voice
• music legend, Elvis Presley
• software that rips music from CDs
• the choir's music director
• the incidental music for a radio play
• the music emerging from the cities of America
• the music which accompanied the dance
• to dance to the music
• Every week they get together to make music.
• He wrote the music but I don't know who wrote the words.
• It was a charming piece of music.
• Many people believe that listening to Mozart's music can improve memory and learning.
• People often choose to listen to music that suits their moods and activities.
• The poem has been set to music.

• pop/dance/classical/church music