verb

plant

plant [verb] (LIVING THING)

to put a plant into the ground or into a container of earth so that it will grow

US /plænt/ 
UK /plɑːnt/ 

کاشتن، درختکاری کردن

مثال: 

We planted trees and bushes in our new garden.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

plant

 verb (plants, planting, planted)
to put plants or seeds in the ground:
We planted some roses in the garden.

 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. plant2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑plant, ↑transplant, ↑transplantation, ↑plantation, ↑planter; verb: ↑plant, ↑transplant]
[Language: Old English; Origin: plantian, from Latin plantare, from planta; ⇨ ↑plant1]

1. PLANTS/SEEDS to put plants or seeds in the ground to grow:
Residents have helped us plant trees.
We’ve planted tomatoes and carrots in the garden.
plant a field/garden/area etc (with something)
a hillside planted with fir trees
2. PUT SOMETHING SOMEWHERE [always + adverb/preposition] informal to put something firmly in or on something else
plant something in/on etc something
He came up to her and planted a kiss on her cheek.
She planted her feet firmly to the spot and refused to move.
3. HIDE ILLEGAL GOODS informal to hide stolen or illegal goods in someone’s clothes, bags, room etc in order to make them seem guilty of a crime
plant something on somebody
She claims that the police planted the drugs on her.
4. BOMB plant a bomb to put a bomb somewhere:
Two men are accused of planting a bomb on the plane.
5. PERSON to put or send someone somewhere, especially secretly, so that they can find out information:
The police had planted undercover detectives at every entrance.
6. plant an idea/doubt/suspicion (in sb’s mind) to make someone begin to have an idea, especially so that they do not realize that you gave them the idea:
Someone must have planted the idea of suicide in his mind.
plant something ↔ out phrasal verb
to put a young plant into the soil outdoors, so that it has enough room to grow:
The seedlings should be planted out in May.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

SEEDS/PLANTS
1. ~ sth to put plants, seeds, etc. in the ground to grow
• to plant and harvest rice

• Plant these shrubs in full sun.

2. to cover or supply a garden/yard, area of land, etc. with plants
~ sth a densely planted orange grove

~ sth with sth The field had been ploughed and planted with corn.  

 

PUT IN POSITION

3. ~ sth/yourself + adv./prep. to place sth or yourself firmly in a particular place or position
They planted a flag on the summit.
• He planted himself squarely in front of us.

• Demonstrators planted themselves right in front of the convoy of trucks.  

 

BOMB

 

4. ~ sth (+ adv./prep.) to hide sth such as a bomb in a place where it will not be found  

 

STH ILLEGAL
5. ~ sth (on sb) to hide sth, especially sth illegal, in sb's clothing, possessions, etc. so that when it is found it will look as though they committed a crime

• He claims that the drugs were planted on him.  

 

PERSON

6. ~ sb (in sth) to send sb to join a group, etc, especially in order to make secret reports on its members

• The police had planted an informer in the gang.  

 

THOUGHT/IDEA

7. ~ sth (in sth) to make sb think or believe sth, especially without them realizing that you gave them the idea
He planted the first seeds of doubt in my mind.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English plante ‘seedling’, plantian (verb), from Latin planta ‘sprout, cutting’ (later influenced by French plante) and plantare ‘plant, fix in a place’.  
Thesaurus:
plant verb T
Many farmers have planted cash crops.
cultivategrow
plant/cultivate the land
plant/cultivate/grow crops  
Example Bank:
Carefully plant your cutting in the soil.
He was determined to keep both feet firmly planted on dry land.
She planted a kiss squarely on his cheek.
The Bordeaux area is densely planted with vine.
The garden was planted with roses and other shrubs.
Zinfandel is California's most widely planted red grape.
a thickly planted orange grove
recently planted maples
• weeds that had not been deliberately planted

• Demonstrators planted themselves right in front of the convoy of trucks.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

plant / plɑːnt /   / plænt / verb (LIVING THING)

B1 [ T ] to put a plant into the ground or into a container of earth so that it will grow:

We planted trees and bushes in our new garden.

Hyacinth bulbs planted in pots now will flower early in the spring.

[ T ] If you plant a particular area, you put plants into the ground there:

The plot was surrounded by a stone wall and planted with flowering trees.

a densely planted garden (= one in which the plants are close together)

 

planting / ˈplɑːn.tɪŋ /   / ˈplæn.t̬ɪŋ / noun [ C or U ]

Heavy rain delayed planting in parts of Indiana.

 

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

plant

[plɑ͟ːnt, plæ̱nt]
 
 plants, planting, planted
 1) N-COUNT A plant is a living thing that grows in the earth and has a stem, leaves, and roots.
 → See also bedding plant, pot plant, rubber plant
  Water each plant as often as required.
  ...exotic plants.
 2) VERB When you plant a seed, plant, or young tree, you put it into the ground so that it will grow there.
  [V n] He says he plans to plant fruit trees and vegetables.
  Derived words:
  planting N-UNCOUNT Extensive flooding in the country has delayed planting and many crops are still under water.
 3) VERB When someone plants land with a particular type of plant or crop, they put plants, seeds, or young trees into the land to grow them there.
  [V n with n] They plan to plant the area with grass and trees...
  [V n] Recently much of their energy has gone into planting a large vegetable garden.
  [V-ed] ...newly planted fields.
 4) N-COUNT A plant is a factory or a place where power is produced.
  ...Ford's British car assembly plants...
  The plant provides forty per cent of the country's electricity.
 5) N-UNCOUNT Plant is large machinery that is used in industrial processes.
  Firms may start to invest in plant and equipment abroad where costs may be lower.
  Syn:
  machinery
 6) VERB If you plant something somewhere, you put it there firmly.
  [V n adv/prep] She planted her feet wide and bent her knees slightly.
  [V n adv/prep] ...with his enormous feet planted heavily apart.
 7) VERB To plant something such as a bomb means to hide it somewhere so that it explodes or works there.
  [V n] So far no one has admitted planting the bomb.
 8) VERB: oft passive If something such as a weapon or drugs is planted on someone, it is put among their possessions or in their house so that they will be wrongly accused of a crime.
  [be V-ed] He always protested his innocence and claimed that the drugs had been planted to incriminate him.
 9) VERB If an organization plants someone somewhere, they send that person there so that they can get information or watch someone secretly.
  [V n] Journalists informed police who planted an undercover detective to trap Smith.
 10) VERB If you plant a kiss on someone, you give them a kiss.
  [V n on n] She planted a kiss on each of his leathery cheeks.
 11) VERB If you plant an idea in someone's mind, they begin to accept the idea without realizing that it has originally come from you and not from them.
  [V n] He hoped that he could plant the idea in such a way that Abramov would believe it was his own.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - plant out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

plant

2plant verb plants; plant·ed; plant·ing [+ obj]
1 a : to put (a seed, flower, or plant) in the ground to grow
• He planted the seeds.
• I planted corn this year.
b : to fill (an area) with seeds, flowers, or plants
• I planted the border with roses.
• a field planted with corn
2 a : to put or place (something) in the ground
• She planted stakes in the garden to hold the vines.
b : to put or place (something or yourself) firmly or forcefully on a surface or in a particular position
• He planted a punch on the other boxer's nose. [=he punched the other boxer's nose]
• She planted a big kiss on his cheek. [=she gave him a big kiss on his cheek]
• I firmly planted my feet and refused to move.
• He planted himself in front of the TV and stayed there.
3 a : to put (someone or something) in a place secretly
• Terrorists planted a bomb in the bus station.
• She claims that the police planted the drugs in her car.
• The police officers were accused of planting evidence at the scene. [=placing objects at the scene to make someone seem guilty of a crime]
• He was a spy planted in the office by a rival company.
b : to cause (a story, rumor, etc.) to be reported or talked about usually for some secret purpose
• Someone planted a rumor saying that he had died.
• They planted a story in the press about her mental problems.
4 : to cause (an idea, feeling, etc.) to be in someone's mind
• She planted the first seeds of doubt in my mind.
• The story planted the idea of starting my own business in my mind. [=the story made me think of starting my own business]

achieve

achieve [verb]

to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially after a lot of work or effort

US /əˈtʃiːv/ 
UK /əˈtʃiːv/ 

به هدف رسیدن، موفق شدن

مثال: 

The government's training policy, he claimed, was achieving its objectives .

Oxford Essential Dictionary

achieve

 verb (achieves, achieving, achieved )
to do or finish something well after trying hard:
He worked hard and achieved his aim of becoming a doctor.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

achieve

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

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

achieve

achieve AW [achieve achieves achieved achieving]   [əˈtʃiːv]    [əˈtʃiːv]  verb
1. transitive ~ sth to succeed in reaching a particular goal, status or standard, especially by making an effort for a long time
Syn:  attain
• He had finally achieved success.

• They could not achieve their target of less than 3% inflation.

2. transitive ~ sth to succeed in doing sth or causing sth to happen
Syn:  accomplish
• I haven't achieved very much today.

• All you've achieved is to upset my parents.

3. intransitive to be successful
Their background gives them little chance of achieving at school.
Derived Word: achievable
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French achever ‘come or bring to a head’, from a chief ‘to a head’.  
Thesaurus:
achieve verb T
She finally achieved success.
managesucceedreachaccomplish|BrE fulfil|AmE fulfill|informal pull sth off|formal attaineffect
achieve/succeed in/reach/accomplish/fulfil/attain a/an goal/objective
achieve/succeed in/accomplish/fulfil/attain a/an aim
achieve/reach/fulfil/attain a target
achieve/accomplish/fulfil an ambition  
Example Bank:
By the end of the afternoon we had achieved very little.
I achieved a longstanding ambition to fly solo.
I knew that the demonstration would achieve nothing.
Sooner or later our shared efforts will achieve results.
The present law has failed to achieve its objectives.
They haven't achieved much yet.
how to achieve a balance between work and family life
All you've achieved is to upset my parents.
• I haven't achieved very much today.

• These students need to achieve academically in order to enter the labour market.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

achieve / əˈtʃiːv / verb [ T ]

B1 to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially after a lot of work or effort:

The government's training policy, he claimed, was achieving its objectives .

She finally achieved her ambition to visit South America.

I've been working all day, but I feel as if I've achieved nothing.

→  See also underachieve

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

achieve

[ətʃi͟ːv]
 
 achieves, achieving, achieved
 VERB

 If you achieve a particular aim or effect, you succeed in doing it or causing it to happen, usually after a lot of effort.
  [V n] There are many who will work hard to achieve these goals...
  [V n] We have achieved what we set out to do.
 Syn:
 accomplish

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

achieve

achieve /əˈʧiːv/ verb achieves; achieved; achiev·ing
1 [+ obj] : to get or reach (something) by working hard
• This year, our company was able to achieve [=accomplish, attain] all of its production goals.
• He worked hard and achieved success. [=became successful]
• a diet that achieves dramatic results
• With much practice, she has achieved a high level of skill.
• They achieved high scores on their math tests.
2 [no obj] : to become successful : to reach a goal
• We give students the skills they need in order to achieve in college.
- achiev·able /əˈʧiːvəbəɫ/ adj [more ~; most ~]
achievable goals

corrupt

corrupt [verb] (MAKE BAD)

 to make someone or something become dishonest or immoral

US /kəˈrʌpt/ 
UK /kəˈrʌpt/ 

فاسد کردن، منحرف کردن

مثال: 

The study claimed that violence on television corrupts the minds of children.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. corrupt2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1. to encourage someone to start behaving in an immoral or dishonest way:
Young prisoners are being corrupted by the older, long-term offenders.
2. to change the traditional form of something, such as a language, so that it becomes worse than it was:
The culture has been corrupted by Western influences.
3. to change the information in a computer, so that the computer does not work properly any more:
a virus which corrupts the data on your hard drive

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

verb
1. transitive ~ sb to have a bad effect on sb and make them behave in an immoral or dishonest way
• He was corrupted by power and ambition.

• the corrupting effects of great wealth

2. transitive, often passive ~ sth to change the original form of sth, so that it is damaged or spoiled in some way

• a corrupted form of Buddhism

3. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (computing) to cause mistakes to appear in a computer file, etc. with the result that the information in it is no longer correct
The program has somehow corrupted the system files.
corrupted data
The disk will corrupt if it is overloaded.
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:

Middle English: from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere ‘mar, bribe, destroy’, from cor- ‘altogether’ + rumpere ‘to break’.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

corrupt / kəˈrʌpt / verb [ T ] (MAKE BAD)

C1 to make someone or something become dishonest or immoral:

The study claimed that violence on television corrupts the minds of children.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

corrupt

[kərʌ̱pt]
 corrupts, corrupting, corrupted
 1) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is corrupt behaves in a way that is morally wrong, especially by doing dishonest or illegal things in return for money or power.
  ...to save the nation from corrupt politicians of both parties.
  ...corrupt police officers...
  He had accused three opposition members of corrupt practices.
  Ant:
  fair, honest, just
  Derived words:
  corruptly ADV-GRADED ADV with v ...several government officials charged with acting corruptly.
 2) VERB: usu passive If someone is corrupted by something, it causes them to become dishonest and unjust and unable to be trusted.
  [be V-ed] It is sad to see a man so corrupted by the desire for money and power.
 3) VERB To corrupt someone means to cause them to stop caring about moral standards.
  [V n] ...warning that television will corrupt us all...
  Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
 4) VERB: usu passive If something is corrupted, it becomes damaged or spoiled in some way.
  [be V-ed] Some of the finer type-faces are corrupted by cheap, popular computer printers...
  [be V-ed] They can ensure that traditional cuisines are not totally corrupted by commercial practices.
  [V-ed] ...corrupted data.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1cor·rupt /kəˈrʌpt/ verb -rupts; -rupt·ed; -rupt·ing
1 : to cause (someone or something) to become dishonest, immoral, etc.

[+ obj]

• He believes that violence on television and film is corrupting our children. [=teaching bad beliefs and behaviors to our children]
• a politician corrupted by greed
• music that corrupts the morals of children
corrupting the country's legal system

[no obj]

• the corrupting influence/effects of power
2 [+ obj] : to change (something) so that it is less pure or valuable
• He's convinced that the Internet is corrupting [=ruining] the English language.
• Their idealism has been corrupted by cynicism.
3 [+ obj] : to change (a book, computer file, etc.) from the correct or original form
• The file has been corrupted and no longer works properly.
corrupted databases/files
• a corrupted version of the ancient text
- cor·rupt·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• a corrupter of our nation's youth
- cor·rupt·ibil·i·ty /kəˌrʌptəˈbɪləti/ noun [noncount]
- cor·rupt·ible /kəˈrʌptəbəl/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• young people who are easily corruptible

exploit

exploit [verb] (USE UNFAIRLY)

to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage

US /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ 
UK /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ 

سواستفاده‌ كردن‌، بهره‌ بردارى كردن‌

مثال: 

Laws exist to stop companies exploiting their employees.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

exploit

 verb (exploits, exploiting, exploited)
to treat somebody badly to get what you want:
Some employers exploit foreign workers, making them work long hours for low pay.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

exploit

I. exploit1 AC /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: esploit 'result, success', from Latin explicitus, from explicare; ⇨ ↑explicate]
1. to treat someone unfairly by asking them to do things for you, but giving them very little in return – used to show disapproval:
Homeworkers can easily be exploited by employers.
2. to try to get as much as you can out of a situation, sometimes unfairly:
The violence was blamed on thugs exploiting the situation.
3. to use something fully and effectively:
The new TV companies are fully exploiting the potential of satellite transmission.
4. to develop and use minerals, forests, oil etc for business or industry:
the urgent need to exploit the resources of the Irish Sea
—exploitable adjective
—exploiter noun [countable]
• • •
THESAURUS
use: Do you mind if I use your phone? | They rebuilt the church using local stone. | We use a range of different methods.
make use of something to use something that is available to you: Staff can make use of a wide range of facilities. | She made full use of her contacts within the organization.
employ formal to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something: The surgeons employed a new technique. | They employed every means at their disposal (=every available method).
utilize formal to use something that is available to you, for a practical purpose: The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy. | a better way of utilizing the space
exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible, or to use something that will give you an advantage over your opponent: The country’s natural resources have not yet been fully exploited. | He was quick to exploit any weakness in his opponent’s argument.
apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation: New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process. | I wanted to apply the things that I had learned on the course.
draw on something to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past: He was able to draw on his own experience as a diplomat when he was writing the book. | Journalists draw on information from many different sources.
resort to something to use violence, force, threats etc as a way of achieving something: Extremists on both sides resort to violence. | We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

exploit

ex·ploit AW [exploit exploits exploited exploiting] verb, noun

 

verb   [ɪkˈsplɔɪt]  ;   [ɪkˈsplɔɪt]
1. ~ sth (disapproving) to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself
He exploited his father's name to get himself a job.
• She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited.

• The opposition parties will always exploit government problems to their own advantage.

2. ~ sb (disapproving) to treat sb unfairly by making them work and not giving them much in return

• What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people?

3. ~ sth to use sth well in order to gain as much from it as possible
• She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play.

• Teachers should be exploiting computers in education.

4. to develop or use sth for business or industry
~ sth No minerals have yet been exploited in Antarctica.
~ sth for sth countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French esploit (noun), based on Latin explicare ‘unfold’, from ex- ‘out’ + plicare ‘to fold’. The early notion of ‘success, progress’ gave rise to the sense ‘attempt to capture’, ‘military expedition’, hence the current sense of the noun. Verb senses (mid 19th cent.) are from modern French exploiter.  
Thesaurus:
exploit verb T (usually disapproving)
Some employers are exploiting immigrants.
disapproving abuseuse|formal misuse
exploit/abuse your position
abuse/misuse drugs/alcohol/solvents
exploit/use sb/sth for your own ends  
Example Bank:
Birds exploit these wind patterns to the fullest.
Companies are moving in to exploit the natural resources of the area.
He pursued his own interests, cynically exploiting his privileged position as trustee.
He was determined to exploit the potential of this new discovery.
She was eager to exploit her discovery commercially.
The architect has cleverly exploited new materials and building techniques.
The company has been successful in exploiting new technology to the full.
The team were quick to exploit their competitive advantage.
The workers are ruthlessly exploited by their employers.
They were quick to exploit the economic possibilities of the situation.
He exploited his father's name to get himself a job.
They were hoping to exploit any weaknesses the other team might have.
This legal loophole has been ruthlessly exploited by many unscrupulous investors.
• What is being done to stop employers from exploiting immigrants?

Derived Word: exploiter 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

exploit / ɪkˈsplɔɪt / verb [ T ] (USE UNFAIRLY)

B2 to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage:

Laws exist to stop companies exploiting their employees.

 

exploit / ɪkˈsplɔɪt / verb [ T ] (USE WELL)

B2 to use something for advantage:

We need to make sure that we exploit our resources as fully as possible.
 

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

exploit

 exploits, exploiting, exploited
 (The verb is pronounced [ɪksplɔ͟ɪt]. The noun is pronounced [e̱ksplɔɪt].)
 1) VERB If you say that someone is exploiting you, you think that they are treating you unfairly by using your work or ideas and giving you very little in return.
  [V n] Critics claim he exploited black musicians for personal gain.
  [V-ed] ...the plight of the exploited sugar cane workers.
  Derived words:
  exploitation [e̱ksplɔɪte͟ɪʃ(ə)n] N-UNCOUNT Extra payments should be made to protect the interests of the staff and prevent exploitation.
 2) VERB (disapproval) If you say that someone is exploiting a situation, you disapprove of them because they are using it to gain an advantage for themselves, rather than trying to help other people or do what is right.
  [V n] The government and its opponents compete to exploit the troubles to their advantage.
  Derived words:
  exploitation N-SING N of n ...the exploitation of the famine by local politicians.
 3) VERB If you exploit something, you use it well, and achieve something or gain an advantage from it.
  [V n] You'll need a good aerial to exploit the radio's performance...
  [V n] Cary is hoping to exploit new opportunities in Europe...
  [V n] So you feel that your skills have never been fully appreciated or exploited?
 4) VERB To exploit resources or raw materials means to develop them and use them for industry or commercial activities.
  [V n] I think we're being very short sighted in not exploiting our own coal.
  Derived words:
  exploitation N-UNCOUNT usu N of n ...the planned exploitation of its potential oil and natural gas reserves.
 5) N-COUNT: usu pl, with poss If you refer to someone's exploits, you mean the brave, interesting, or amusing things that they have done.
  His wartime exploits were later made into a film and a television series.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

exploit

2ex·ploit /ɪkˈsploɪt/ verb -ploits; -ploit·ed; -ploit·ing [+ obj]
1 : to get value or use from (something)
• He has never fully exploited his talents.
• Top athletes are able to exploit their opponents' weaknesses.
• We need to exploit [=take advantage of] this opportunity/situation.
exploit natural resources
2 : to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly
• They were accused of exploiting [=taking advantage of] migrant workers.
• She said the tragedy had been exploited by the media.
- ex·ploit·able /ɪkˈsploɪtəbəl/ adj [more ~; most ~]
exploitable resources
- ex·ploi·ta·tion /ˌɛkˌsploɪˈteɪʃən/ noun [noncount]
• a victim of exploitation

conrtol

control [verb]

to order, limit, or rule something, or someone's actions or behaviour

کنترل کردن، اداره کردن

مثال: 

You're going to have to learn to control your temper.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

control

 verb (controls, controlling, controlled )
to make people or things do what you want:
He can't control his dog.
This switch controls the heating.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

verb: ↑control; adverb: uncontrollably]
1. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING DO WHAT YOU WANT [uncountable] the ability or power to make someone or something do what you want or make something happen in the way you want:
The disease robs you of muscle control.
control of/over
Babies are born with very little control over their movements.
Artists like to have some control over where their works are hung in a gallery.
She’s a good teacher who has control of her class.
Students are encouraged to take control of their own learning, rather than just depending on the teacher.
Excessive drinking can make you lose control of your own life.
‘Do you need any help?’ ‘No. It’s under control, thanks.’
Dogs are allowed on the trails if they are kept under control.
The car spun out of control and hit a tree.
Flight delays do occur, for reasons that are outside our control.
2. POWER [uncountable] the power to make the decisions about how a country, place, company etc is organized or what it does:
The press was freed from political control.
control of
Jordan asked for editorial control of the project.
in control (of something)
Anti-government forces are still in control of the area.
By the end of the year, the rebels had control over the northern territories.
The Johnson family has effective control of the company, owning almost 60% of the shares.
China gained control of the island in 1683.
His son is being trained to take control of the family business.
The Democrats lost control of Congress in the last election.
under the control of somebody
The college was under the control of a group of trustees.
The whole of this area came under Soviet control after World War II.
The Conservatives are hoping to regain control of the city council.
3. WAY OF LIMITING SOMETHING [uncountable and countable] an action, method, or law that limits the amount or growth of something, especially something that is dangerous:
pest control
control of
the control of inflation
control on
The authorities imposed strict controls on the movement of cattle.
an agreement on arms control (=control of the amount of weapons a country has)
under control
Firefighters had the blaze under control by 9:44 p.m.
Shea used diet and exercise to bring her weight under control.
The Federal Reserve Bank raised interest rates to keep inflation under control.
rent/price/wage etc controls
Rent controls ensured that no one paid too much for housing.
tight/rigid controls (=strict controls)
the introduction of tighter controls on immigration
Police used fire hoses and dogs for crowd control.
4. ABILITY TO STAY CALM [uncountable] the ability to remain calm even when you feel very angry, upset, or excited:
There were sudden tears in his eyes and he paused, fighting for control.
Davidson lost control of himself and started yelling.
Small children can’t be expected to have the same self-control (=ability to control their emotions and behaviour) as an adult.
under control
Her voice is under control, but she is almost shaking with anger.
in control
I felt calm and in control.
5. MACHINE/VEHICLE [countable] the thing that you press or turn to make a machine, vehicle, television etc work:
the TV remote control
the volume control on the radio
a car with manual controls
at the controls (=controlling a vehicle or aircraft)
Belton, at the controls, made a perfect landing.
6. PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZE AN ACTIVITY [singular, uncountable] the people who direct an activity or who check that something is done correctly, the place where this is done, or the process of doing it:
air-traffic control
Please stop at passport control.
computers used for stock control
7. SCIENTIFIC TEST [countable]
a) a person, group etc against which you compare another person or group that is very similar, in order to see if a particular quality is caused by something or happens by chance
control group/population/sample etc
A control group of non-smoking women was compared to four groups of women smokers.
b) a thing that you already know the result for that is used in a scientific test, in order to show that your method is working correctly ⇨ ↑controlled experiment
8. COMPUTER [singular] (also control key) a particular button on a computer that allows you to do certain operations:
Press control and F2 to exit.
⇨ ↑birth control, ↑quality control, ↑remote control
II. control2 S2 W1 BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle controlled, present participle controlling) [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: controlling, ↑controllable ≠ ↑uncontrollable, ↑controlled ≠ ↑uncontrolled; noun: ↑control, ↑controller; verb: ↑control; adverb: uncontrollably]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: contreroller 'to keep a copy of an official document in rolled-up form', from Medieval Latin contrarotulare, from contrarotulus 'copy of a roll', from Latin contra- ( ⇨ ↑contra-) + rotulus 'roll']
1. POWER to have the power to make the decisions about how a country, place, company etc is organized or what it does:
The Democrats continued to control the Senate until last year.
a huge company controlling half the world’s coffee trade
Labour-/Republican-/Democrat- etc controlled
2. LIMIT to limit the amount or growth of something, especially something that is dangerous:
a chemical used to control weeds
an economic plan to control inflation
Development in areas of outstanding natural beauty is strictly controlled.
Strict measures were taken to control the spread of foot and mouth disease.
3. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING DO WHAT YOU WANT to make someone or something do what you want, or make something happen in the way that you want:
Police had to be called in to control the crowds.
a skilled rider controlling a spirited horse
4. EMOTION if you control your emotions, your voice, your expression etc, you succeed in behaving calmly and sensibly, even though you feel angry, upset, or excited:
Sarah took a deep breath, trying to control her anger.
He controlled the urge to laugh.
control yourself
Newman controlled himself with an effort.
5. MACHINE/PROCESS/SYSTEM to make a machine, process, or system work in a particular way:
a radio-controlled toy car
A thermostat controls the temperature in the building.
control how/what/which etc
The valves in the heart control how quickly the blood is pumped around the body.
6. CHECK SOMETHING to make sure that something is done correctly SYN check, monitor:
The company strictly controls the quality of its products.
• • •
THESAURUS
control to have power over a country, place, company etc, and decide what happens there: The Democrats controlled the US Congress. | Government forces now control the city.
run to make the important everyday decisions concerning a company, organization, country etc, so that it can continue to operate: He runs a software company in New York. | The parents want to run the school themselves. | The government is unfit to run the country. | The charity runs a medical clinic in one of the poorest parts of the city.
be in charge of somebody/something to have control over something, or responsibility for a group of people: She is in charge of training new employees. | I left him in charge of the children while I was out.
manage to be in charge of a company, especially one that someone else owns: In 1963, she opened a furniture store, and her son has managed it since 1985.
be in power if a group or leader is in power, they have political control of a country: Abe resigned after less than a year in power. | It was the first time a democratically elected government had been in power.
rule if a leader or political group rules a country, they have political control of that country: President Assad ruled the country for almost 30 years. | The same party has ruled Japan for many years.
supervise to be in charge of a group of workers or students and make sure that they do their work properly: Professor Braude supervised the research team. | He’s supervising the building work.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

verb (-ll-

 

HAVE POWER
1. ~ sb/sth to have power over a person, company, country, etc. so that you are able to decide what they must do or how it is run
By the age of 21 he controlled the company.
The whole territory is now controlled by the army.
• Can't you control your children?

• a multi-national company based in Britain but controlled from South Africa  

 

LIMIT/MANAGE

2. to limit sth or make it happen in a particular way
~ sth government attempts to control immigration
Many biological processes are controlled by hormones.
• Try to control your breathing.

~ what/how, etc… Parents should control what their kids watch on television.

3. ~ sth to stop sth from spreading or getting worse
• Firefighters are still trying to control the blaze.

• She was given drugs to control the pain.  

 

MACHINE

4. ~ sth to make sth, such as a machine or system, work in the way that you want it to
• This knob controls the volume.

• The traffic lights are controlled by a central computer.  

 

STAY CALM

5. to manage to make yourself remain calm, even though you are upset or angry
~ yourself I was so furious I couldn't control myself and I hit him.
~ sth He was finding it difficult to control his feelings.
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘check or verify accounts’, especially by referring to a duplicate register): from Anglo-Norman French contreroller ‘keep a copy of a roll of accounts’, from medieval Latin contrarotulare, from contrarotulus ‘copy of a roll’, from contra- ‘against’ + rotulus ‘a roll’. The noun is perhaps via French contrôle.  
Thesaurus:
control verb
1. T
By the age of 25 he controlled the company.
runmanagebe in chargedirectbe responsible for sb/sthadministercommand
control/run/manage a/an company/business/organization
control/run/manage/direct/be responsible for/administer a project
control/run/manage/be in charge of/direct/be responsible for operations
2. T
Can't you control your dog?
managehandle
control/manage a child
be easy/difficult to control/manage/handle
control/manage/handle sb/sth properly
3. T
new measures to control immigration
limitrestrictcurbcheckkeep/hold sth in checkrein sth in|especially BrE cap|written containsuppress
control/limit/restrict/curb/check/rein in/cap spending
keep/hold spending in check
control/limit/curb/check/contain the spread of sth
control/limit/restrict the size/number/extent/amount of sth
4. T
She was given drugs to control the pain.
overcomebring/get/keep sth under controlget over sth|informal beat|written conquer
control/overcome/get over/beat/conquer a problem
control/overcome/get over/conquer a fear
control a fire /bring a fire under control
5. T
The lights are controlled by a computer.
operaterun|especially spoken work|formal manipulate
control/operate/run/work a machine
control/operate/run a/an engine/motor
Control, operate or run? A person operates or runs a machine; machines are often controlled by the controls, such as a computer, knob or lever.
6. T
She struggled to control her temper.
restrainhold sth backsuppressrepressstiflecurb|written containcheck
control/restrain/contain/check yourself
control/restrain/hold back/suppress/repress/contain/check your anger
control/restrain/suppress/repress/stifle/curb/check an impulse
control/curb/contain your temper  
Example Bank:
Conditions in the greenhouse are carefully controlled.
Expenditure within the company is tightly controlled.
The shutters can be electronically controlled.
You can easily control the speed of the fan.
Can't you control your children?
Each school is controlled by a Board of Governors.
Government forces have proved incapable of controlling the rebels.
He had an emergency operation in which surgeons attempted to control the bleeding.
He was finding it hard to control his feelings.
His diabetes can be controlled by diet.
I was so furious I couldn't control myself and I hit him.
It is a multi-national company based in Britain but controlled from South Africa.
Mounted police had been called to control the crowds.
She was struggling to control her temper.
Symptoms can be controlled in most patients.
The National Bank is directly controlled by the government.
The clerk could scarcely control his excitement.
The clubs were found guilty of failing to control their fans.
The government has announced new measures to control immigration
• This government has failed to control inflation.

• Time out is an effective way of controlling aggressive behaviour.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

control / kənˈtrəʊl /   / -ˈtroʊl / verb [ T ] ( -ll- )

B1 to order, limit, or rule something, or someone's actions or behaviour:

If you can't control your dog, put it on a lead!

You're going to have to learn to control your temper.

The temperature is controlled by a thermostat.

The laws controlling drugs are very strict in this country.

The government is trying to control spending.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

control

[kəntro͟ʊl]
 
 controls, controlling, controlled
 1) N-UNCOUNT: oft N of/over n Control of an organization, place, or system is the power to make all the important decisions about the way that it is run.
  The restructuring involves Mr Ronson giving up control of the company...
  The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
  
  PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, usu PHR of n If you are in control of something, you have the power to make all the important decisions about the way it is run.
  Nobody knows who is in control of the club...
  In the West, people feel more in control of their own lives.
  PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If something is under your control, you have the power to make all the important decisions about the way that it is run.
  All the newspapers were taken under government control.
 2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N of/over n If you have control of something or someone, you are able to make them do what you want them to do.
  He lost control of his car...
  Some teachers have more control over pupils than their parents have.
 3) N-UNCOUNT If you show control, you prevent yourself behaving in an angry or emotional way.
  He had a terrible temper, and sometimes he would completely lose control...
  He was working hard to keep control of himself.
 4) VERB The people who control an organization or place have the power to take all the important decisions about the way that it is run.
  [V n] He now controls the largest retail development empire in southern California...
  [V n] Almost all of the countries in Latin America were controlled by dictators...
  [V-ing] Minebea ended up selling its controlling interest in both firms.
  Derived words:
  -controlled COMB in ADJ AGA Gas is Swedish-controlled. ...the state-controlled media.
 5) VERB To control a piece of equipment, process, or system means to make it work in the way that you want it to work.
  [V n] ...a computerised system to control the gates...
  [V n] Scientists would soon be able to manipulate human genes to control the ageing process.
  [V-ed] ...the controlled production of energy from sugar by a cell.
  Derived words:
  -controlled COMB in ADJ ...computer-controlled traffic lights.
 6) VERB When a government controls prices, wages, or the activity of a particular group, it uses its power to restrict them.
  [V n] The federal government tried to control rising health-care costs.
  [V n] ...measures to control illegal mining.
 N-UNCOUNT: with supp
 Control is also a noun. Control of inflation remains the government's absolute priority.
 7) VERB If you control yourself, or if you control your feelings, voice, or expression, you make yourself behave calmly even though you are feeling angry, excited, or upset.
  [V pron-refl] Jo was advised to learn to control herself...
  [V n] I just couldn't control my temper.
  Syn:
  restrain
  Derived words:
  controlled ADJ-GRADED Her manner was quiet and very controlled.
 8) VERB To control something dangerous means to prevent it from becoming worse or from spreading.
  [V n] ...the need to control environmental pollution...
  [V n] One of the biggest tasks will be to control the spread of malaria.
 9) N-COUNT A control is a device such as a switch or lever which you use in order to operate a machine or other piece of equipment.
  I practised operating the controls.
  ...the control box.
  
  PHRASE If someone is at the controls of a machine or other piece of equipment, they are operating it.
  He died of a heart attack while at the controls of the plane.
 10) N-VAR Controls are the methods that a government uses to restrict increases, for example in prices, wages, or weapons.
  Critics question whether price controls would do any good...
  Their talks are expected to focus on arms control...
  They have very strict gun control in Sweden.
 11) N-VAR: n N The word control is used to refer to a place where your documents or luggage are officially checked when you enter a foreign country.
  He went straight through Passport Control without incident.
  ...an agreement to abolish border controls.
 12) → See also air traffic control, birth control, quality control, remote control, stock control
 13) PHRASE: usu v PHR, v-link PHR If something is out of control, no-one has any power over it.
  The fire is burning out of control...
  I'm dealing with customers all the time who have let their debts get out of control.
 14) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If something harmful is under control, it is being dealt with successfully and is unlikely to cause any more harm.
  The situation is under control...
  If the current violence is to be brought under control, the government needs to act.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1con·trol /kənˈtroʊl/ verb -trols; -trolled; -trol·ling [+ obj]
1 : to direct the behavior of (a person or animal) : to cause (a person or animal) to do what you want
• The parents could not control their child.
• The police controlled the crowd.
• The small boy could not control the big dog.
2 : to have power over (something)
• Her family controls the business.
• One country controls the whole island.
• The rebel army now controls nearly half the country.
3 a : to direct the actions or function of (something) : to cause (something) to act or function in a certain way
• The lights on stage are controlled by this computer.
• She struggled to control the cart as it rolled before her down the steep, bumpy road.
b : to set or adjust the amount, degree, or rate of (something)
• He controlled the volume by turning the radio's knob.
• A thermostat controls the room's temperature.
• The dam controls the flow of the river.
4 : to limit the amount or growth of (something)
• The farmer used insecticides to control the pests.
• The state allowed hunting in the area to control the deer population.
• The government made new laws to control pollution.
• The firefighters worked all night to control the fire.
5 a : to keep (emotions, desires, etc.) from becoming too strong or from being shown
• Please control your temper. [=keep yourself calm]
• He tried hard to control his laughter. [=to avoid laughing]
• I was hungry, but I controlled my appetite [=I resisted the desire to eat] and waited for dinner.
b : to keep or make (yourself) calm especially when you are angry, upset, or excited
• He couldn't control himself any longer.
- con·trol·la·ble /kənˈtroʊləbəl/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• The temperature of the room is controllable.
• The lighter drill was more controllable than the heavier one.

worry

worry [verb] (PROBLEM)

to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened

US /ˈwɝː.i/ 
UK /ˈwʌr.i/ 

نگران بودن

مثال: 

Don't worry, she'll be all right.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

 verb (worries, worrying, worried /, has worried)
to feel that something bad will happen or has happened; to make somebody feel this:
I always worry when Mark doesn't come home at the usual time.
Don't worry if you don't know the answer.
There's nothing to worry about.
What worries me is how we are going to get home.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

worry

I. worry1 S1 W2 /ˈwʌri $ ˈwɜːri/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle worried, present participle worrying, third person singular worries)
[Word Family: adjective: ↑worried ≠ UNWORRIED, ↑worrying, ↑worrisome; noun: ↑worry, ↑worrier; adverb: ↑worryingly, ↑worriedly; verb: ↑worry]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wyrgan 'to strangle']
1. BE ANXIOUS [intransitive] to be anxious or unhappy about someone or something, so that you think about them a lot
worry about
I worry about my daughter.
You’ve really got no need to worry about your weight.
worry (that)
She worried that she wasn’t doing enough to help.
worry over
Dad worries over the slightest thing.
Don’t tell Mum about this – she’s got enough to worry about (=she already has a lot of problems or is very busy).
2. don’t worry spoken
a) used when you are trying to make someone feel less anxious:
Don’t worry, darling, Daddy’s here.
don’t worry if
Don’t worry if you can’t finish all the questions.
b) used to tell someone that they do not need to do something
don’t worry about
Don’t worry about sorting them out – I’ll do it later.
c) used to tell someone that you will definitely do something:
Don’t you worry, I’ll make sure he does his fair share.
3. MAKE SOMEBODY ANXIOUS [transitive] to make someone feel anxious about something:
The recent changes in the Earth’s climate are beginning to worry scientists.
I didn’t tell Mum and Dad – I didn’t want to worry them.
what worries me is .../the (only) thing that worries me is ...
The only thing that worries me is the food. I don’t want to get food poisoning.
Doesn’t it worry you that Sarah spends so much time away from home?
worry yourself (=feel anxious, especially when there is no need to)
You’re worrying yourself unnecessarily.
4. not to worry British English spoken used to say that something is not important:
Not to worry, we can always go another time.
5. nothing to worry about spoken used to tell someone that something is not as serious or difficult as they think:
It’s just a check-up – nothing to worry about.
6. ANNOY [transitive] to annoy someone SYN bother:
The heat didn’t seem to worry him.
7. ANIMAL [transitive] if a dog worries sheep, it tries to bite or kill them
worry at something phrasal verb
1. if an animal worries at a bone or piece of meat, it bites and shakes it
2. if you worry at a problem, you think about it a lot in order to find a solution

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

worry

worry [worry worries worried worrying] verb, noun   [ˈwʌri]    [ˈwɜːri] 

 

verb (wor·ries, worry·ing, wor·ried, wor·ried)
1. intransitive to keep thinking about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems that you have
Don't worry. We have plenty of time.
~ about sb/sth Don't worry about me. I'll be all right.
He's always worrying about his weight.
~ over sb/sth There's no point in worrying over things you can't change.

~ (that)… I worry that I won't get into college.

2. transitive to make sb/yourself anxious about sb/sth
~ sb/yourself (about sb/sth) What worries me is how I am going to get another job.
~ sb/yourself + adj. (about sb/sth) He's worried himself sick (= become extremely anxious) about his daughter.
it worries sb that… It worries me that he hasn't come home yet.

it worries sb to do sth It worried me to think what might happen.

3. transitive to annoy or disturb sb
~ sb The noise never seems to worry her.

~ sb with sth Don't keep worrying him with a lot of silly questions.

4. transitive ~ sth (of a dog) to attack animals, especially sheep, by chasing and/or biting them
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Old English wyrgan ‘strangle’, of West Germanic origin. In Middle English the original sense of the verb gave rise to the meaning ‘seize by the throat and tear’, later figuratively ‘harass’, which led to the sense ‘cause anxiety to’ (early 19th century, the date also of the noun).  
Example Bank:
Don't bother Harry— he has enough to worry about as it is.
Don't let it worry you unduly.
Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.
Don't worry the driver with unnecessary requests.
Don't worry too much about it.
I can't help worrying about the future.
She worries a lot about crime.
Stop worrying, Dad, we'll be fine.
We can't help worrying for your safety.
What really worries me is what we do if there's nobody there.
You do worry unnecessarily, you know.
He's worried himself sick about his daughter.
I worry that I won't get into college.
What worries me is how I'm going to get another job.
You worry too much.
Idioms: no worries!  not to worry

Derived: worry at something 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

worry / ˈwʌr.i /   / ˈwɝː- / verb (PROBLEM)

A2 [ I ] to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened:

Try not to worry - there's nothing you can do to change the situation.

Don't worry, she'll be all right.

It's silly worrying about things which are outside your control.

[ + (that) ] She's worried (that) she might not be able to find another job.

B2 [ T ] to make someone feel unhappy and frightened because of problems or unpleasant things that might happen:

You worried your mother by not writing.

[ + that ] It worries me that he hasn't phoned yet.

The continued lack of rain is starting to worry people.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

worry

[wʌ̱ri, AM wɜ͟ːri]

 worries, worrying, worried
 1) VERB If you worry, you keep thinking about problems that you have or about unpleasant things that might happen.
  Don't worry, your luggage will come on afterwards by taxi...
  [V about n/-ing] I worry about her constantly...
  [V about n/-ing] I work in a school so I don't have to worry about finding someone to look after my little boy...
  [V that] They worry that extremists might gain control.
 2) VERB If someone or something worries you, they make you anxious because you keep thinking about problems or unpleasant things that might be connected with them.
  [V n] I'm still in the early days of my recovery and that worries me...
  [V n] `Why didn't you tell us?' - `I didn't want to worry you.'...
  [V-ed] The English, worried by the growing power of Prince Henry, sent a raiding party to Scotland to kill him...
  [it V n that/to-inf] Does it worry you that the Americans are discussing this?
 3) VERB: oft with neg If someone or something does not worry you, you do not dislike them or you are not annoyed by them. [SPOKEN]
  [V n] The cold doesn't worry me...
  [it V n if] It wouldn't worry me if he came to my house, but I don't know if I would go out of my way to ask him.
  Syn:
  bother
 4) N-UNCOUNT Worry is the state or feeling of anxiety and unhappiness caused by the problems that you have or by thinking about unpleasant things that might happen.
  The admission shows the depth of worry among the Tories over the state of the economy...
  His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
 5) N-COUNT A worry is a problem that you keep thinking about and that makes you unhappy.
  My main worry was that Madeleine Johnson would still be there...
  The worry is that the use of force could make life impossible for the UN peacekeepers...
  His wife Cheryl said she had no worries about his health.
 6) CONVENTION You say not to worry to someone to indicate that you are not upset or angry when something has gone wrong. [INFORMAL]
  `Not to worry, Baby,' he said, and kissed her tenderly.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1wor·ry /ˈwɚri/ verb -ries; -ried; -ry·ing
1 : to think about problems or fears : to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen

[no obj]

• We didn't want you to worry.
• Don't worry. You'll be fine.
• Don't make your parents worry.
• When they didn't call after two hours, we began to worry.
• They were fine. We needn't have worried.
- often + about
• Let the travel agent worry about the details.
• Haven't we got enough to worry about?
• We don't have to worry about choosing a restaurant. [=someone else will choose a restaurant]
• The nurse said her condition was nothing to worry about. [=her condition was not serious]
• I'll take care of it. Don't worry about a thing.
- sometimes + over
• She worried over her husband's health.

[+ obj]

- + that
• Medical experts worry that a new strain of the virus will be more difficult to contain.
• We worry that children don't get enough exercise.
• My parents worry [=fear] that I won't go to college.
2 [+ obj] : to make (someone) anxious or upset : to cause (someone) to worry
• His poor health worries me.
• What's worrying you? [=what is causing you to feel upset?]
• It doesn't seem to worry him that rain is in the forecast.
• We didn't tell you about the accident because we didn't want to worry you.
Don't worry yourself. [=don't be upset or concerned]
• He worried himself sick [=he was extremely worried] before the exam.
not to worry informal
- used to say that there is no cause for concern or worry
• “It looks like we're almost out of milk.” “Not to worry. I'll get some more when I go to the store this afternoon.”
worry at [phrasal verb] worry at (something) chiefly Brit
1 : to pull, twist, or bite (something) repeatedly
• The dog was in the corner worrying at a bone.
2 : to try to solve (a problem) by thinking about it for a long time
• She kept worrying at the problem all day.

destroy

destroy [verb]

to damage something so badly that it cannot be used

US /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ 
UK /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ 

نابود کردن، خراب کردن

مثال: 

Most of the old part of the city was destroyed by bombs during the war.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

destroy

 verb (destroys, destroying, destroyed )
to break something completely so that you cannot use it again or so that it is gone:
The house was destroyed by fire.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

destroy

destroy S2 W2 /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: destroyer, destruction; adjective: indestructible, destructive; verb: destroy; adverb: destructively]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: destruire, from Latin destruere, from struere 'to build']
1. to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used or repaired ⇨ destruction
completely/totally destroy
The school was completely destroyed by fire.
companies that are polluting and destroying the environment
destroy sb’s confidence/hope/faith etc
2. if something destroys someone, it ruins their life completely:
The scandal destroyed Simmons and ended his political career.
3. informal to defeat an opponent easily:
The Bears destroyed the Detroit Lions 35–3.
4. to kill an animal, especially because it is ill or dangerous:
One of the bulls had to be destroyed.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
destroy the evidence (=deliberately destroy evidence of a crime) They set light to the car to destroy the evidence.
destroy the environment Some of these companies are polluting and destroying the environment.
destroy the world/planet No one wants another war, which might destroy the world.
destroy sb’s career She made one bad mistake and it destroyed her career.
destroy sb’s reputation The scandal destroyed his reputation.
destroy the character of something New buildings have destroyed much of the character of the area.
destroy sb’s hopes Losing the game destroyed the team’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
destroy sb’s confidence When he failed his degree, it completely destroyed his confidence.
■ adverbs
completely/totally destroy something The plane was completely destroyed when it hit a mountain.
partially destroy something The Great Fire of 1666 partially destroyed the prison.
■ phrases
be destroyed by fire/a bomb/earthquake etc The building was destroyed by fire in 2004.
• • •
THESAURUS
destroy to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used or repaired: The earthquake almost completely destroyed the city. | The twin towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack.
devastate to damage a large area very badly and destroy many things in it: Allied bombings in 1943 devastated the city. | The country’s economy has been devastated by years of fighting.
demolish to completely destroy a building, either deliberately or by accident: The original 15th century house was demolished in Victorian times. | The plane crashed into a suburb of Paris, demolishing several buildings.
flatten to destroy a building or town by knocking it down, bombing it etc, so that nothing is left standing: The town centre was flattened by a 500 lb bomb.
wreck to deliberately damage something very badly, especially a room or building: The toilets had been wrecked by vandals. | They just wrecked the place.
trash informal to deliberately destroy a lot of the things in a room, house etc: Apparently, he trashed his hotel room while on drugs.
obliterate formal to destroy a place so completely that nothing remains: The nuclear blast obliterated most of Hiroshima.
reduce something to ruins/rubble/ashes to destroy a building or town completely: The town was reduced to rubble in the First World War.
ruin to spoil something completely, so that it cannot be used or enjoyed: Fungus may ruin the crop. | The new houses will ruin the view.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

destroy

des·troy [destroy destroys destroyed destroying]   [dɪˈstrɔɪ]    [dɪˈstrɔɪ]  verb
1. ~ sth/sb to damage sth so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc
• The building was completely destroyed by fire.
• They've destroyed all the evidence.
• Heat gradually destroys vitamin C.
• You have destroyed my hopes of happiness.

• Failure was slowly destroying him (= making him less and less confident and happy).

2. ~ sth to kill an animal deliberately, usually because it is sick or not wanted
• The injured horse had to be destroyed.
see also  soul-destroying
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French destruire, based on Latin destruere, from de- (expressing reversal) + struere ‘build’.  
Thesaurus:
destroy verb T
• a mission to destroy the enemy
devastate • • wipe sb/sth out • • annihilate • • eradicate • • decimate • • exterminate • • stamp sth out • |informal zap • |especially written ravage
Opp: create
destroy/devastate/wipe out/decimate/ravage a village/town/city
destroy/wipe out/decimate/annihilate/exterminate/zap the enemy
a/an earthquake/flood/fire destroys/devastates/ravages sth
Destroy or devastate? Devastate is stronger than destroy, but is only used about places or buildings, not substances or objects. When used about people it has a different meaning.  
Word Family:
destroy verb
destroyer noun
destruction noun
destructive adjective
indestructible adjective  
Example Bank:
• Drugs can destroy the health and lives of young people.
• He physically destroyed the computer by smashing it to pieces.
• Our greed may ultimately destroy the planet.
• She seemed intent on destroying everything they had built up together.
• That guy just single-handedly destroyed everything we've worked for.
• The bomb hit, instantly destroying the building.
• The building was destroyed by fire last year.
• The earthquake literally destroyed their villages.
• The horse broke a leg and had to be destroyed.
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.
• Their lives have been virtually destroyed by this tragedy.
• These weapons are capable of destroying the entire planet.
• This disease threatens to destroy many of our native trees.
• a new attempt to destroy enemy positions
• Failure was slowly destroying him.
• The brigade's mission was to destroy the enemy.

• They've destroyed all the evidence.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

destroy / dɪˈstrɔɪ / verb [ T ]

B1 to damage something so badly that it cannot be used:

Most of the old part of the city was destroyed by bombs during the war.

The accident seemed to have completely/totally destroyed his confidence.

to kill an animal because it is ill, in pain, or dangerous

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

destroy

[dɪstrɔ͟ɪ]
 
 destroys, destroying, destroyed
 1) VERB To destroy something means to cause so much damage to it that it is completely ruined or does not exist any more.
  [V n] That's a sure recipe for destroying the economy and creating chaos...
  [V n] No one was injured in the explosion, but the building was completely destroyed...
  [V n] Even the most gifted can have confidence destroyed by the wrong instructor.
  Syn:
  wreck
 2) VERB To destroy someone means to ruin their life or to make their situation impossible to bear.
  [V n] If I was younger or more naive, the criticism would have destroyed me.
 3) VERB: usu passive If an animal is destroyed, it is killed, either because it is ill or because it is dangerous.
  [be V-ed] Lindsay was unhurt but the horse had to be destroyed.
  Syn:
  be put down
 4) → See also soul-destroying

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

destroy

de·stroy /dɪˈstroɪ/ verb -stroys; -stroyed; -stroy·ing [+ obj]
1 : to cause (something) to end or no longer exist : to cause the destruction of (something)
• Eventually our problems with money destroyed our marriage.
• All the files were deliberately destroyed.
• The disease destroys the body's ability to fight off illness. : to damage (something) so badly that it cannot be repaired
• The bomb blast destroyed the village.
• The scandal destroyed [=ruined] his reputation.
• The building was partially destroyed [=demolished] by fire.
2 : to kill (an animal) especially because it is sick, injured, or dangerous
• The dog had to be destroyed since its owner could not prevent it from attacking people.
3 informal : to defeat (someone or something) easily or completely
• They destroyed [=demolished] the other team 51–7.

sweep

sweep [verb] (REMOVE)

to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way

US /swiːp/ 
UK /swiːp/ 

(چیزی را با فشار و زور) از جا کندن، شستن و با خود بردن، نابود کردن

مثال: 

A large wave swept away half the sandcastle.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

sweep

 verb (sweeps, sweeping, swept /, has swept)

1 to clean something by moving dirt or rubbish away with a brush:
I've swept the floor.

2 to push something along or away quickly and strongly:
The bridge was swept away by the floods.

sweep up, sweep something up to remove dirt or rubbish using a brush:
I swept up the broken glass.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

sweep

I. sweep1 W3 /swiːp/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle swept /swept/)
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from sweop, the past tense of Old English swapan 'to sweep']
1. CLEAN SOMETHING [transitive] to clean the dust, dirt etc from the floor or ground, using a brush with a long handle SYN brush:
Bert swept the path in front of the house.
sweep something off/out/up etc
Will you sweep the leaves off the patio?
2. PUSH SOMETHING SOMEWHERE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move things from a surface with a brushing movement:
I swept the papers quickly into the drawer.
3. PUSH SOMEBODY/SOMETHING WITH FORCE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to force someone or something to move in a particular direction:
The windsurfer was swept out to sea.
Jessie was swept along by the angry crowd.
4. GROUP MOVES [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a group of people or animals sweep somewhere, they quickly move there together
sweep through/along etc
The crowd swept through the gates of the stadium.
5. WIND/WAVES ETC [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] if winds, waves, fire etc sweep a place or sweep through, across etc a place, they move quickly and with a lot of force:
Thunderstorms swept the country.
sweep across/through etc
Ninety-mile per hour winds swept across the plains.
6. BECOME POPULAR [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] written if an idea, feeling, or activity sweeps a group of people or a place, it quickly becomes very popular or common
sweep the country/nation/state etc
a wave of nationalism sweeping the country
sweep across/through etc
the latest craze sweeping through the teenage population
7. FEELING [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a feeling sweeps over you, you are suddenly affected by it
sweep over
A feeling of isolation swept over me.
8. PERSON [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if someone sweeps somewhere, they move quickly and confidently, especially because they are impatient or like to seem important
sweep into/through etc
Eva swept into the meeting and demanded to know what was going on.
9. POLITICS [intransitive and transitive] to win an election easily and in an impressive way
sweep to power/victory
Nixon and Agnew swept to victory with 47 million votes.
Herrera was swept into office on the promise of major reforms.
10. SPORTS [transitive] American English to win all of the games in a series of games against a particular team:
Houston swept Orlando to become NBA champions.
11. sweep the board British English to win everything that can be won, especially very easily
12. FORM A CURVE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to form a long curved shape
sweep down/along etc
The hills swept down to the sea.
13. LOOK [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to look quickly at all of something:
The general’s eyes swept the horizon.
sweep over/across/around etc
the beam from the lighthouse sweeping across the sea
14. sweep somebody off their feet to make someone feel suddenly and strongly attracted to you in a romantic way:
Jill’s been swept off her feet by an older man.
15. sweep/brush something under the carpet (also sweep something under the rug American English) to try to keep something a secret, especially something you have done wrong
16. HAIR [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to pull your hair back from your face
sweep something back/up
Kerry swept her hair back into a ponytail.
sweep somebody along phrasal verb
to ↑sweep someone ↑away
sweep something ↔ aside phrasal verb
to refuse to pay attention to something someone says:
Branson swept all the objections aside.
sweep somebody/something away phrasal verb
1. sweep something ↔ away to completely destroy something or make something disappear:
houses swept away by the floods
A sudden feeling of grief swept all my anger away.
2. sweep somebody away (also sweep somebody along) [usually passive] if a feeling or idea sweeps you away or along, you are so excited that you do not think clearly or you forget about other things:
We couldn’t help being swept away by Bette’s enthusiasm.
Nineteenth-century scientists were swept along on the tide of Darwin’s theories.
sweep up phrasal verb
1. to clean the dust, dirt etc from the floor or ground using a brush with a long handle:
The janitor was just sweeping up as I left the building.
sweep something ↔ up
Jan was sweeping up the bits of paper and broken glass.
2. sweep somebody ↔ up to pick someone up in one quick movement:
Harriet swept the child up in her arms and hugged her.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sweep

sweep [sweep sweeps swept sweeping] verb, noun   [swiːp]    [swiːp] 

verb (swept, swept   [swept]  ;   [swept]  ) 

WITH BRUSH OR HAND
1. transitive, intransitive to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a long handle)
~ (sth) to sweep the floor
• Chimneys should be swept regularly.

~ sth + adj. The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.

2. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to remove sth from a surface using a brush, your hand, etc
She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket.
• He swept the leaves up into a pile.

• She swept the clothes onto the floor and invited him to sit down.

MOVE QUICKLY/WITH FORCE

3. transitive ~ sb/sth + adv./prep. to move or push sb/sth suddenly and with a lot of force
The little boat was swept out to sea.
• Their tent was swept away in the storm.

• She let herself be swept along by the crowd.

4. intransitive, transitive (of weather, fire, etc.) to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction
+ adv./prep. Rain swept in through the broken windows.
• A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night.

~ sth Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.  

OF A PERSON

5. intransitive + adv./prep. to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that impresses or is intended to impress other people
• Without another word she swept out of the room.

(figurative) He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance.

6. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to move sth, especially your hand or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction

• He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms wide.  

OF FEELINGS

7. intransitive + adv./prep. to suddenly affect sb strongly
• A wave of tiredness swept over her.

• Memories came sweeping back.  

OF IDEAS/FASHIONS

8. intransitive, transitive to spread quickly
+ adv./prep. Rumours of his resignation swept through the company.

~ sth the latest craze sweeping America  

LOOK/MOVE OVER AREA

9. intransitive, transitive to move over an area, especially in order to look for sth
+ adv./prep. His eyes swept around the room.
The car headlights swept across the front of the building.
~ sth Searchlights swept the sky.

• She swept the crowd with her binoculars.  

TOUCH SURFACE

10. transitive ~ sth to move, or move sth, over a surface, touching it lightly

• Her dress swept the ground as she walked.  

HAIR

11. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a particular direction

• Her hair was swept back from her face.  

OF LANDSCAPE

12. intransitive + adv./prep. to form a long smooth curve

• The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach.  

IN SPORT

13. transitive ~ sth (NAmE) to win all the games in a series of games against another team or all the parts of a contest
The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the series.
New Jersey swept Detroit last season.
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Old English swāpan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schweifen ‘sweep in a curve’.  
Example Bank:
A pair of golden eagles swept across the sky.
She swept a hand through her hair.
The traveller swept a hand toward the endless expanse of water.
Two police motorcycles swept through the village.
Without another word, she swept out of the room.
to sweep the floor/street/stairs
Idioms: sweep somebody off their feet  sweep something under the carpet  sweep the board  sweep to power  sweep to victory

Derived: sweep somebody away  sweep somebody up  sweep something aside  sweep something away  sweep something out 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sweep / swiːp / verb [ T usually + adv/prep ] ( swept , swept ) (REMOVE)

B2 to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way:

A large wave swept away half the sandcastle.

She swept the pile of papers and books into her bag.

The boat was swept out to sea (= away from land) by the tide.

Government troops swept aside the rebel forces (= caused them to move away from the area in which they were) .

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sweep

[swi͟ːp]
 sweeps, sweeping, swept
 1) VERB If you sweep an area of floor or ground, you push dirt or rubbish off it using a brush with a long handle.
  [V n] The owner of the store was sweeping his floor when I walked in...
  [V n prep/adv] She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan...
  Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping. [Also V n with adv]
 2) VERB If you sweep things off something, you push them off with a quick smooth movement of your arm.
  [V n prep/adv] I swept rainwater off the flat top of a gravestone...
  [V n prep/adv] With a gesture of frustration, she swept the cards from the table...
  [V n prep/adv] `Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket.
 3) VERB If someone with long hair sweeps their hair into a particular style, they put it into that style.
  [V n prep/adv] ...stylish ways of sweeping your hair off your face...
  [V-ed] Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail.
 4) V-ERG If your arm or hand sweeps in a particular direction, or if you sweep it there, it moves quickly and smoothly in that direction.
  [V prep/adv] His arm swept around the room...
  [V n prep/adv] Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder.
  [V-ing] ...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist.
 N-COUNT
 Sweep is also a noun. With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
 5) VERB If wind, a stormy sea, or another strong force sweeps someone or something along, it moves them quickly along.
  [V n prep/adv] ...landslides that buried homes and swept cars into the sea...
  [V n prep/adv] Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd.
 6) VERB If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
  [be V-ed prep/adv] The visitors were swept past various monuments...
  [V n prep/adv] A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport.
 7) VERB If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly. [WRITTEN]
  [V prep/adv] An icy wind swept through the streets...
  [V prep/adv] The car swept past the gate house.
 8) VERB If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
  [V through/across n] A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.
  [V n] ...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country.
 9) VERB If someone sweeps into a place, they walk into it in a proud confident way, often when they are angry. [WRITTEN]
  [V prep/adv] She swept into the conference room...
  [V prep/adv] Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs...
  [V prep/adv] The Chief turned and swept out.
 10) VERB If a person or thing sweeps something away or aside, they remove it quickly and completely.
  [V n with adv] The commission's conclusions sweep away a decade of denials and cover-ups...
  [V n with adv] In times of war, governments often sweep human rights aside...
  [V n prep] He swept the names from his mind.
 11) VERB If lights or someone's eyes sweep an area, they move across the area from side to side. [mainly WRITTEN]
  [V n] Helicopters with searchlights swept the park which was sealed off...
  [V prep/adv] Her gaze sweeps rapidly around the room.
 12) VERB If land or water sweeps somewhere, it stretches out in a long, wide, curved shape.
  [V prep/adv] The land sweeps away from long areas of greenery.
  [V prep/adv] ...the arc of countries that sweeps down from South Korea to Indonesia.
 13) N-COUNT: with supp A sweep of land or water forms a long, wide, curved shape.
  The ground fell away in a broad sweep down to the river.
  ...the great sweep of the bay.
 14) VERB If a person or group sweeps an election or sweeps to victory, they win the election easily.
  [V n] ...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept the election...
  [V to n] In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power, defeating the communists.
  [V n to n] ...voters nostalgic for the free-spending policies of the 1980s swept his Socialists back to power.
  [V-ing] ...a sweeping victory.
 15) N-COUNT: usu sing If someone makes a sweep of a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
  Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises...
  There may be periodic police `sweeps' of crime in the area.
 16) N-SING: with supp If you refer to the sweep of something, you are indicating that it includes a large number of different events, qualities, or opinions.
  ...the whole sweep of German social and political history.
 17) → See also sweeping, chimney sweep
 18) PHRASE: V inflects If someone sweeps something bad or wrong under the carpet, or if they sweep it under the rug, they try to prevent people from hearing about it.
  For a long time this problem has been swept under the carpet.
 19) PHRASE: PHR n, usu v PHR If you make a clean sweep of something such as a series of games or tournaments, you win them all.
  ...the first club to make a clean sweep of all three trophies.
 20) PHRASE: V inflects If someone sweeps you off your feet, you fall in love with them very quickly because you find them very attractive or exciting.
  I was swept off my feet. I had always dreamed of being an officer's wife.
 21) to sweep the boardsee board
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - sweep up

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1sweep /ˈswiːp/ verb sweeps; swept /ˈswɛpt/; sweep·ing
1 a always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to remove (something, such as dust or dirt) from a surface with a broom or brush or with a quick movement of your hand, fingers, etc.
• He swept the dirt off the driveway.
• He swept the crumbs from the table.
b : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) with a broom or brush

[+ obj]
• She swept the floor.
• I need to sweep the kitchen.
• Are you finished sweeping the porch?

[no obj]
• Have you swept yet?
- see also sweep out (below), sweep up (below)
2 always followed by an adverb or preposition
a [no obj] : to move or pass quickly, forcefully, or smoothly
• A storm swept across the plains.
• Fires swept through the forest.
- often used figuratively
• She swept to victory on a wave of popularity.
b [no obj] : to move or walk in a smooth, quick, and impressive way
• She proudly swept into the room.
• The limo swept up to the door.
c [+ obj] : to push or move (something) quickly or forcefully
• He swept the curtains aside.
• She swept the books off the desk.
d [+ obj] : to push, carry, or lift (someone or something) with great force
• The debris was swept [=carried] out to sea by the tide.
• She was swept toward the door by the crowd.
• He swept her into his arms.
- often used figuratively
• We were swept along/away by her enthusiasm.
• The party was swept into power in the last election.
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] of a feeling or emotion : to be felt suddenly
• Fear swept over/through her. [=she suddenly felt afraid]
• A feeling of relief swept over him.
4 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to move (your hand, arm, etc.) in a wide, curving motion
• He swept his arm across the table.
5 [+ obj] : to pass over (all of an area or place) in a continuous motion
• The teacher's gaze swept the classroom.
• A searchlight swept the area.
• Strong winds sweep the mountainside.
6 [+ obj] : to become very popular or common suddenly in (a particular place)
• It's the latest craze sweeping the nation.
7 [+ obj] : to win everything that can be won in (something, such as an election) in an easy or impressive way
• The opposition party swept the election.
8 [+ obj] US sports : to win all of the games in a series of games against another team
• They swept their rivals in a three-game series.
• They swept the series/doubleheader.
• They were swept in the play-offs last year.
9 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to brush or pull (your hair) away from your face
• She swept her hair up/back and clipped it in place.
10 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to form a long, smooth curve
• The property sweeps down to the water's edge.
sweep aside [phrasal verb] sweep (something) aside or sweep aside (something) : to treat (something) as not important : to ignore (something)
• He swept aside [=brushed aside] questions about his son's arrest.
• He swept aside [=dismissed] their objections, refusing to change his plans.
sweep away [phrasal verb] sweep (something) away or sweep away (something) : to destroy or remove (something) completely
• Floods swept away several houses.
• an ancient civilization swept away by war
• His performance today swept away any doubts about his ability to play.
sweep out [phrasal verb] sweep (something) out or sweep out (something) : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush
• Please sweep out the room when you're done working.
sweep (someone) off his/her feet : to make (someone) suddenly become very attracted to you in a romantic way
• She says that he swept her off her feet, and they were married six months later.
sweep (something) under the rug US or chiefly Brit sweep (something) under the carpet : to hide (something that is illegal, embarrassing, or wrong)
• He tried to sweep his past mistakes under the rug.
• This is not something we can just sweep under the rug.
sweep the board chiefly Brit : to win everything that can be won in a competition
• She swept the board at the awards ceremony.
sweep up [phrasal verb]
1 sweep up or sweep (something) up or sweep up (something)
a : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush
• When I was sweeping up, I found an earring that I had lost.
• Can you please sweep up the porch?
b sweep (something) up or sweep up (something) : to remove (something, such as dust, dirt, etc.) from a surface by using a broom or brush
• She swept up the broken glass.
2 sweep (someone or something) up or sweep up (someone or something) : to pick up (someone or something) in one quick, continuous motion
• She swept the baby up and carried her to the crib.

attack

attack [verb] (HURT)

to try to hurt or defeat using violence

US /əˈtæk/ 
UK /əˈtæk/ 

حمله کردن،حمله ور شدن

مثال: 

He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

attack

 verb (attacks, attacking, attacked )
to start fighting or hurting somebody or something:
The army attacked the town.
The old man was attacked and his money was stolen.

 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. attack2 S3 W2 BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑attack, ↑counterattack, ↑attacker; verb: ↑attack, ↑counterattack; adjective: attacking, counterattacking]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare 'to attach', from stacca 'sharp post']
1. USE VIOLENCE [intransitive and transitive] to deliberately use violence to hurt a person or damage a place:
She was attacked while walking home late at night.
His shop was attacked by a gang of youths.
Snakes will only attack if you disturb them.
attack somebody/something with something
He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.
2. IN A WAR [intransitive and transitive] to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war:
Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.
3. CRITICIZE [transitive] to criticize someone or something very strongly:
Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.
attack somebody for (doing) something
Newspapers attacked the government for failing to cut taxes.
strongly/bitterly/savagely etc attack somebody/something
4. DAMAGE [transitive] if something such as a disease, insect, or chemical attacks something, it damages it:
a cruel disease that attacks the brain and nervous system
5. BEGIN DOING [transitive] to begin to do something in a determined and eager way:
She immediately set about attacking the problem.
Martin attacked his meal (=started eating) with vigour.
6. SPORT [intransitive and transitive] to move forward and try to score ↑goals or win points ⇨ defend:
Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to attack a person
attack to use violence against someone and try to hurt them: She was attacked by a man with a baseball bat. | Police dogs are trained to attack.
ambush /ˈæmbʊʃ/ if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then attack them: The judge was ambushed by gunmen as he drove to work at the courthouse.
mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street: He was mugged on his way home from school.
stab to attack someone with a knife: The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
assault to attack and hurt someone – used especially when talking about this as a criminal ↑offence: He assaulted a flight attendant who refused to serve him more drinks.
be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people: He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this: The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.
■ to attack a place
attack to use weapons to try to damage or take control of a place: The village was attacked by enemy warplanes. | We will attack at dawn.
invade to enter a country and try to get control of it using force: The Romans invaded Britain 2,000 years ago.
storm to suddenly attack a city or building that is well defended by getting inside it and taking control: Elite troops stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
besiege /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ to surround a city or building with soldiers in order to stop the people inside from getting out or from receiving supplies: In April 655, Osman’s palace was besieged by rebels.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

attack / əˈtæk / verb [ I or T ] (HURT)

B1 to try to hurt or defeat using violence:

He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.

Army forces have been attacking the town since dawn.

Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.

→  Compare defend (PROTECT)

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

attack

[ətæ̱k]
 attacks, attacking, attacked
 1) VERB To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence.
  [V n] Fifty civilians in Masawa were killed when government planes attacked the town...
  [V n] He bundled the old lady into her hallway and brutally attacked her...
  While Haig and Foch argued, the Germans attacked...
  [V-ing] The infantry would use hit and run tactics to slow attacking forces.
 N-VAR: usu with supp
 Attack is also a noun. ...a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets... Refugees had come under attack from federal troops.
 2) VERB If you attack a person, belief, idea, or act, you criticize them strongly.
  [V n] He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for secret ballot nominations...
  [V n for -ing] A newspaper ran an editorial attacking him for being a showman. [Also V n as n/adj]
 N-VAR: usu with supp
 Attack is also a noun. The role of the state as a prime mover in planning social change has been under attack... The committee yesterday launched a scathing attack on British business for failing to invest.
 3) VERB If something such as a disease, a chemical, or an insect attacks something, it harms or spoils it.
  [V n] The virus seems to have attacked his throat...
  [V n] Several key crops failed when they were attacked by pests.
 N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl
 Attack is also a noun. The virus can actually destroy those white blood cells, leaving the body wide open to attack from other infections.
 4) VERB If you attack a job or a problem, you start to deal with it in an energetic way.
  [V n] Any attempt to attack the budget problem is going to have to in some way deal with those issues.
 5) VERB In games such as soccer, when one team attacks the opponent's goal, they try to score a goal.
  [V n] Now the US is controlling the ball and attacking the opponent's goal...
  The goal was just reward for Villa's decision to attack constantly in the second half.
  Derived words:
  attacking ADJ-GRADED ADJ n Manchester City will play a more attacking style of football.
 N-COUNT
 Attack is also a noun. Lee was at the hub of some incisive attacks in the second half.
 6) N-COUNT: with supp An attack of an illness is a short period in which you suffer badly from it.
  It had brought on an attack of asthma.
 7) → See also counter-attack, heart attack

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

attack

3attack adj always used before a noun : designed for or used in a military attack
• an attack helicopter/submarine
• The bombers were in attack formation.

understand

understand [verb] (REALIZE)

to know or realize something because you have been told it

 

US /ˌʌn.dɚˈstænd/ 
UK /ˌʌn.dəˈstænd/ 

درک کردن، فهمیدن

مثال: 

I understand (that) you are interested in borrowing some money from us.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

understand

 verb (understands, understanding, understood /, has understood)

1 to know what something means or why something happens:
I didn't understand what the teacher said.
He doesn't understand Spanish.
I don't understand why you're so angry.

2 to know something because somebody has told you about it same meaning believe:
I understand that the plane from Geneva will be late.

make yourself understood to make people understand you:
My German isn't very good but I can usually make myself understood.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

understand

understand S1 W1 /ˌʌndəˈstænd $ -ər-/ verb (past tense and past participle understood /-ˈstʊd/) [not in progressive]
[Word Family: adjective: understandable, understanding, misunderstood; verb: understand ≠ misunderstand; noun: understanding ≠ misunderstanding; adverb: understandably]
[Language: Old English; Origin: understandan, from under + standan 'to stand']
1. MEANING [intransitive and transitive] to know the meaning of what someone is telling you, or the language that they speak ⇒ misunderstood:
She doesn’t understand English.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Can you explain that again?
The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
make yourself understood (=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language)
I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood. ⇒ see Thesaurus box on P. 1916
2. FACT/IDEA [intransitive and transitive] to know or realize how a fact, process, situation etc works, especially through learning or experience:
I don’t really understand the political situation in Northern Ireland.
understand how/why/where etc
You don’t need to understand how computers work to be able to use them.
How the drug works isn’t fully understood.
understand (that)
I understand that this treatment may not work.
3. PERSON/FEELINGS [intransitive and transitive] to realize how someone feels and why they behave the way they do, and to be sympathetic:
My parents just don’t understand me.
Just tell him how you feel – I’m sure he’ll understand.
understand how/what etc
I understand how you feel, but I think you’re overreacting.
(can) understand somebody doing something
I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.
4. BELIEVE/THINK [transitive] to believe or think that something is true because you have heard it or read it
understand (that)
‘I understand that he was 62 when he died,’ McLeish said.
it is understood (that)
It is understood that the Queen approves of her nephew’s romance.
be understood to be (doing) something
Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company’s management structure.
5. give somebody to understand (that) formal to make someone believe that something is true, going to happen etc, without telling them this directly:
I was given to understand that the property was in good condition.
6. be understood (that) formal if something is understood, everyone knows it, or has agreed to it, and there is no need to discuss it:
From childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.
7. understand something to be/mean something to accept something as having a particular meaning:
In this document, ‘children’ is understood to mean people under 14.
8. do you understand? spoken used when you are telling someone what they should or should not do, especially when you are angry with them:
Never speak to me like that again! Do you understand?
• • •

THESAURUS

understand to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something: I understand what you’re saying. | Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.
see especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something: I can see why you don’t like him. | Do you see what I mean? | Oh, I see!
get informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc: She didn’t seem to get the joke. | Do you get me? | He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it. | I still don’t get why she left.
comprehend formal to understand something, or understand why something is important: The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend. | They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.
know what somebody means spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this: ‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’ | We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.
follow to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc: The plot is hard to follow. | His instructions were easy to follow.

to understand something difficult

grasp to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp. | I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.
fathom /ˈfæðəm/ formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.
make sense of something to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: People are still trying to make sense of the news.
can’t make head nor tail of something spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

understand

under·stand [understand understands understood understanding]   [ˌʌndəˈstænd]    [ˌʌndərˈstænd]  verb (under·stood, under·stood   [ˌʌndəˈstʊd]  ;   [ˌʌndərˈstʊd]  )(not used in the progressive tenses)

 
MEANING
1. transitive, intransitive to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc
~ (sth) Can you understand French?
Do you understand the instructions?
She didn't understand the form she was signing.
I'm not sure that I understand. Go over it again.
• I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?

~ what… I don't understand what he's saying.  

 

HOW STH WORKS/HAPPENS
2. transitive, intransitive to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important
~ (sth) Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
No one is answering the phone— I can't understand it.
~ why, what, etc… I could never understand why she was fired.
They're too young to understand what is happening.
~ sb/sth doing sth I just can't understand him taking the money.
(formal) I just can't understand his taking the money.

~ that… He was the first to understand that we live in a knowledge economy.  

 

KNOW SB
3. transitive, intransitive to know sb's character, how they feel and why they behave in the way they do
~ sb Nobody understands me.
He doesn't understand women at all.
We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.
~ what, how, etc… They understand what I have been through.
I understand how hard things have been for you.
~ (that…) I quite understand that you need some time alone.
• If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.

~ sb doing sth I quite understand you needing some time alone.  

 

THINK/BELIEVE
4. transitive (formal) to think or believe that sth is true because you have been told that it is
~ (that)… I understand (that) you wish to see the manager.
Am I to understand that you refuse?
~ sb/sth to be/have sth The Prime Minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.

it is understood that… It is understood that the band are working on their next album.  

 

BE AGREED
5. transitive it is understood that… to agree sth with sb without it needing to be said

• I thought it was understood that my expenses would be paid.  

 

MISSING WORD
6. transitive, usually passive ~ sth to realize that a word in a phrase or sentence is not expressed and to supply it in your mind
In the sentence ‘I can't drive’, the object ‘a car’ is understood.
more at give sb to believe/understand at  give  v.
Idiom: make yourself understood
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English understandan (see under-, stand).  
Word Family:
understand verb (≠ misunderstand)
understandable adjective
misunderstood adjective
understanding adjective noun (≠ misunderstanding) 
Synonyms:
understand
see get follow grasp comprehend
These words all mean to know or realize sth, for example why sth happens, how sth works or what sth means.
understandto know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc; to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important: I don't understand the instructions. Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
seeto understand what is happening, what sb is saying, how sth works or how important sth is: ‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, I see .’ Oh yes, I see what you mean .
get(informal) to understand a joke, what sb is trying to tell you, or a situation that they are trying to describe: She didn't get the joke. I don't get you.
followto understand an explanation, a story or the meaning of sth: Sorry— I don't quite follow. The plot is almost impossible to follow.
graspto come to understand a fact, an idea or how to do sth: They failed to grasp the importance of his words.
understand or grasp?
You can use understand or grasp for the action of realizing the meaning or importance of sth for the first time: It's a difficult concept for children to understand/grasp. Only understand can be used to talk about languages, words or writing: I don't grasp French/the instructions.
comprehend(often used in negative statements) (formal) to understand a fact, idea or reason: The concept of infinity is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
to understand/see/get/follow/grasp/comprehend what/why/how…
to understand/see/grasp/comprehend that…
to understand/see/get/grasp the point/idea (of sth)
to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/grasp/comprehend
to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend sth 
Example Bank:
Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
I can't understand what all the fuss is about.
I could barely understand a word of his story.
I don't claim to understand it.
I finally understood what she meant.
I fully understand the reason for your decision.
If I've understood you correctly…
It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.
Only specialists can hope to understand them.
She intuitively understood his need to be alone.
She realized that she had never properly understood him.
She soon learnt to understand English.
The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
The girl understands immediately and promises to be more careful.
The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.
These beliefs are best understood as a form of escapism.
These categories help us to better understand our readers.
They won't necessarily understand the pros and cons of the matter.
We came to understand why certain things happened in certain ways.
We understand little about this disease.
What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?
a complex topic which I only partially understand
a woman struggling to understand an incomprehensible situation
Do you understand French?
Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
He couldn't understand what she was saying.
He doesn't understand women at all.
I don't understand the instructions.
I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?
I just can't understand him taking the money.
If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.
It's understood that the band are already working on their next album.
She said she didn't understand the form she was signing.
She understood that this was her last chance.
The disease is still not fully understood.
• The prime minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.

• We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

understand / ˌʌn.dəˈstænd /   / -dɚ- / verb ( understood , understood ) (REALIZE)

C1 [ T ] formal to know or realize something because you have been told it:

[ + (that) ] I understand (that) you are interested in borrowing some money from us.

[ + that ] The Director had given her to understand (= told her) that she would be promoted.

[ + obj + to infinitive ] A secret buyer is understood to have paid £1 million for the three pictures (= there is unofficial news that this has happened) .

[ I or T ] formal used when making certain that someone knows what you mean and that they will do as you want:

I don't want you to see that boy again. Understand?/Do you understand?/Is that understood?

it is understood formal used to refer to something such as a rule that everyone knows and accepts:

In the library it is understood that loud talking is not permissible.

 

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

understand

[ʌ̱ndə(r)stæ̱nd]
 
 understands, understanding, understood
 1) VERB: no cont If you understand someone or understand what they are saying, you know what they mean.
  [V n] I think you heard and also understand me...
  [V n] Rusty nodded as though she understood the old woman...
  [V wh] I don't understand what you are talking about...
  [make pron-refl V-ed] He was speaking poor English, trying to make himself understood.
 2) VERB: no cont If you understand a language, you know what someone is saying when they are speaking that language.
  [V n] I couldn't read or understand a word of Yiddish, so I asked him to translate.
 3) VERB: no cont To understand someone means to know how they feel and why they behave in the way that they do.
  [V n] It would be nice to have someone who really understood me, a friend...
  [V n] Trish had not exactly understood his feelings...
  [V wh] She understands why I get tired and grumpy.
 4) VERB: no cont You say that you understand something when you know why or how it happens.
  [V wh] They are too young to understand what is going on...
  [V wh] She didn't understand why the TV was kept out of reach of the patients...
  [V n] In the effort to understand AIDS, attention is moving from the virus to the immune system.
 5) VERB: no cont If you understand that something is the case, you think it is true because you have heard or read that it is. You can say that something is understood to be the case to mean that people generally think it is true.
  [V that] We understand that she's in the studio recording her second album...
  [V that] I understand you've heard about David...
  [V it] As I understand it, you came round the corner by the cricket field and there was the man in the road...
  [be V-ed to-inf] The management is understood to be very unwilling to agree to this request...
  [it be V-ed that/to-inf] It is understood that the veteran reporter had a heart attack.
 6) PHRASE: give inflects, usu PHR that If someone is given to understand that something is the case, it is communicated to them that it is the case, usually without them being told directly.
  I am given to understand that he was swearing throughout the game at our fans.
 7) CONVENTION You can use understand in expressions like do you understand? or is that understood? after you have told someone what you want, to make sure that they have understood you and will obey you.
  You do not hit my grandchildren, do you understand?...
  I don't need it, understand?...
  I don't want to hear another word about it. Is that understood, Emma?

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

understand

un·der·stand /ˌʌndɚˈstænd/ verb -stands; -stood /-ˈstʊd/ ; -stand·ing
1 : to know the meaning of (something, such as the words that someone is saying or a language) : comprehend

[+ obj]
• Do you understand English?
• “Did you understand what he said?” “Not a word (of it).”
• I can't understand a word you're saying.
• I don't understand these directions.
• I didn't understand what you told me. = I didn't understand you.
• If I understand you correctly [=if I understand what you are saying correctly], this needs to be changed.

[no obj]
• I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand?
• The work has to be finished today. Understand? [=do you understand what I am telling you?]
2 [+ obj] : to know how (something) works or happens
• They understand local politics.
• I don't understand how this is supposed to work.
• He doesn't really understand the situation.
• You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject.
• I can't understand why she would do such a thing.
• She's beginning to understand what's going on.
• You have to understand that I had no other choice.
• We still don't fully understand the causes of the disease. = The causes of the disease are still not fully understood.
3 a [+ obj] : to know how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves
• I understand [=know] him well enough to know that he won't want to go.
• She understands children.
• At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now.
b : to feel sympathy for someone's feelings or situation

[+ obj]
• She had a similar experience, so she understands what I'm going through.
• I can understand your/you feeling annoyed. [=I think you have good reason for feeling annoyed]

[no obj]
• They will understand if you need some time off.
• My cousin doesn't understand about these things.
4 [+ obj]
a : to think or believe (something)
• She was given to understand [=she was led to believe] that the job was hers.
- used to say what you believe to be true based on what you have heard, read, etc.
• I understand that they will arrive today.
• As I understand it, this has been a problem for several years.
• I understand that some doctors disagree.
• He understood that he would be paid for the work.
b
- used to say that something is agreed to or accepted and does not need to be discussed; usually used as (be) understood
• It's understood that more time will be needed. [=we all know/accept that more time will be needed]
• He believed it was understood [=believed that everyone had agreed] that he would be paid for the work.
5 [+ obj] : to think that (something) has a particular meaning : interpret
• I understood the letter to be a refusal.
6 [+ obj]
- used to say that a word or phrase is thought of as having been said even though it is not actually said; usually used as (be) understood
• When people say “they're engaged,” the phrase “to be married” is understood. [=“they're engaged” is understood to mean “they're engaged to be married”]
make yourself understood
- see 1make

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