American English

envy

I. en‧vy¹ /ˈenvi/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle envied, present participle envying, third person singular envies) [transitive]
1. to wish that you had someone else’s possessions, abilities etc:
I really envy you and Ian, you seem so happy together.
She has a lifestyle which most people would envy.
envy somebody something
He envied Rosalind her youth and strength.
2. I don’t envy you/her etc spoken used to say that you are glad that you are not in the bad situation that someone else is in

tomorrow

I. to‧mor‧row¹ S1 W2 /təˈmɒrəʊ $ -ˈmɔːroʊ, -ˈmɑː-/ BrE AmE adverb
[Language: Old English; Origin: to morgen, from to 'to' + morgen 'morning']
on or during the day after today ⇨ yesterday, today:
Our class is going to London tomorrow.
a week from tomorrow (also a week tomorrow/tomorrow week )British English:
Terry’s new job starts a week tomorrow.
tomorrow morning/night etc
We’re meeting tomorrow evening.

pace

I. pace¹ W3 /peɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: pas 'step', from Latin passus]
1. SPEED OF EVENTS/CHANGES [singular] the speed at which something happens or is done
pace of
The pace of change in our lives is becoming faster and faster.
at a steady/slow etc pace
Public spending continues to rise at a steady pace.
2. WALK/RUN [singular] the speed at which someone walks, runs, or moves
pace of
You need to step up the pace of your exercises.
at a slow/leisurely/brisk etc pace
Lucy set off at a leisurely pace back to the hotel.
He quickened his pace, longing to be home.
Traffic slowed to a walking pace.
3. STEP [countable] a single step when you are running or walking, or the distance you move in one step
pace backwards/towards/forwards etc
He took a pace towards the door.
Rebecca walked a few paces behind her mum.
4. keep pace (with something/somebody) to change or increase as fast as something else, or to move as fast as someone else:
Salaries have not always kept pace with inflation.
The supply of materials cannot keep pace with demand.
Slow down! I can’t keep pace with you.
5. go through your paces (also show your paces) to show how well you can do something
6. put somebody/something through their paces to make a person, vehicle, animal etc show how well they can do something:
The test driver puts all the cars through their paces.
7. set the pace
a) if a company sets the pace, it does something before its competitors or to a better standard
set the pace in
Japanese firms have been setting the pace in electronic engineering.
b) (also set a brisk/cracking etc pace British English) to go faster than the other competitors in a race, who then try to achieve the same speed:
The Italians set the pace for the first eight laps.
8. force the pace to make something happen or develop more quickly than it would do normally
force the pace on
measures designed to force the pace on alternative energy policies
9. be able to stand the pace to be able to deal with situations where you are very busy and have to think and act very quickly:
If you can stand the pace, working in advertising pays well.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pace
▪ rapid/fast The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty.
▪ slow The pace of life in the countryside is slower.
▪ a steady pace The economy was growing at a slow but steady pace.
▪ at your own pace (=at the pace that suits you) This allows each child to learn at his or her own pace.
▪ at a snail’s pace (=very slowly) Reform is proceeding at a snail’s pace.
▪ a breakneck pace (=extremely fast) Singapore prospered and modernized at a breakneck pace.
▪ a hectic/frantic pace (=a very fast and hurried speed) We worked at a hectic pace.
■ verbs
▪ the pace quickens/accelerates The pace of change is quickening.
▪ the pace slows/slackens After a surge in exports, the pace slackened considerably the following year.
▪ gather pace (=happen more quickly) Support for the campaign is gathering pace.
▪ keep up the pace (=continue to do something or happen as quickly as before) China's society is transforming but can it keep up the pace?
▪ keep up with the pace (=do something as fast as something else is happening or being done) It's essential that we constantly update our skills and keep up with the pace of change.
■ phrases
▪ the pace of change The pace of change accelerated dramatically in the early 1980s.
▪ the pace of life Here, the sun shines every day and the pace of life is slower.
▪ the pace of development The pace of development in computer graphics is amazing.
▪ the pace of reform Some senior party figures favor a slower pace of reform.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'in your own pace' or 'on your own pace'. Say at your own pace.

rage

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

ignorance

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

overcome

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

shade

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

society

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

achieve

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

impossible

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