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toenail
toenail [noun] (BODY PART)
the hard part over the top of a toe
US
/ˈtoʊ.neɪl/
UK
/ˈtəʊ.neɪl/
ناخن انگشت پا، ناخن پا
مثال:
I hurted my toenails.
ناخن های پایم آسیب دیده اند.
the hard part over the top of a toe
ناخن انگشت پا، ناخن پا
I hurted my toenails.
ناخن های پایم آسیب دیده اند.
toenail
noun
the hard part at the end of your toe
toenail
toe‧nail /ˈtəʊneɪl $ ˈtoʊ-/ noun [countable]
the hard part that covers the top of each of your toes
toenail
toe·nail [toenail toenails] [ˈtəʊneɪl] [ˈtoʊneɪl] noun
the nail on a toe
toenail
toe·nail [toenail toenails] [ˈtəʊneɪl] [ˈtoʊneɪl] noun
the nail on a toe
toenail
/toʊneɪl/
also toe nail
(toenails)
Your toenails are the thin hard areas at the end of each of your toes.
N-COUNT: usu pl
toenail
toe·nail /ˈtoʊˌneɪl/ noun, pl -nails [count] : the hard covering at the end of a toe
Any of the five separate parts at the end of the foot
انگشت پا
the big toe
انگشت بزرگ پا
toe
noun
1 one of the five parts at the end of your foot
2 the part of a shoe or sock that covers the end of your foot
toe
I. toe1 S3 /təʊ $ toʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ta]
1. one of the five movable parts at the end of your foot ⇨ finger:
He stubbed his toe (=hurt it by kicking it against something) on a rock.
big toe (=the largest of your toes)
the part of a shoe or sock that covers the front part of your foot
3. tread on sb’s toes British English, step on sb’s toes American English to offend someone, especially by becoming involved in something that they are responsible for
4. keep somebody on their toes to make sure that someone is ready for anything that might happen:
They do random checks to keep workers on their toes.
5. make sb’s toes curl to make someone feel very embarrassed or uncomfortable
6. touch your toes to bend downwards so that your hands touch your toes, without bending your knees
7. put/dip a toe in the water to try a little of something or try an activity for a short time to see if you like it
⇨ from head to toe at ↑head1(1), ⇨ from top to toe at ↑top1(22)
toe
toe [toe toes toed toeing] noun, verb [təʊ] [toʊ]
noun
1. one of the five small parts that stick out from the foot
• the big/little toe (= the largest/smallest toe)
• I stubbed my toe on the step.
• Can you touch your toes? (= by bending over while keeping your legs straight)
2. the part of a sock, shoe, etc. that covers the toes
• He kicked the earth with the toe of his boot.
3. -toed (in adjectives) having the type or number of toes mentioned
• open-toed sandals
• a three-toed sloth
see also pigeon-toed
more at dig your heels/toes in at dig v., dip a toe in/into sthdip a toe in/into the water at dip v., from head to foot/toe at head n., step on sb's toes at step v., from top to toe at top n., tread on sb's toes at tread v.
Word Origin:
Old English tā, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tee and German Zeh, Zehe. Current senses of the verb date from the mid 19th cent.
Example Bank:
• He gave himself a good scrub from head to toe.
• He had some kind of fungus between his toes.
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.
• I dipped my toe in the river to test the temperature.
• I stood on the tips of my toes to look through the window.
• Ouch! That was my toe you just trod on.
• She stood on her toes to kiss him.
• She tapped her toes to the music.
• She trod on a lot of toes when she joined the company.
• So far they have only dipped their toe in the potentially vast computer market.
• The man's broad smile made her toes curl.
• The shoe pressed painfully against her big toe.
• The threat of inspections kept us all on our toes.
• Under his bare toes the floor felt gritty.
• the pain of a stubbed toe
Idioms: keep somebody on their toes ▪ make somebody's toes curl ▪ toe the line
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
toe / təʊ / / toʊ / noun [ C ]
A2 any of the five separate parts at the end of the foot:
your big toe (= your largest toe)
your little toe (= your smallest toe)
I stubbed (= knocked) my toe on the edge of the bed.
the part of a sock, shoe, or other foot covering that goes over the toes
toe
/toʊ/
(toes, toeing, toed)
1.
Your toes are the five movable parts at the end of each foot.
N-COUNT: usu pl
2.
If you dip your toes into something or dip your toes into the waters of something, you start doing that thing slowly and carefully, because you are not sure whether it will be successful or whether you will like it.
This may encourage gold traders to dip their toes back into the markets...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR n
3.
If you say that someone or something keeps you on your toes, you mean that they cause you to remain alert and ready for anything that might happen.
His fiery campaign rhetoric has kept opposition parties on their toes for months.
PHRASE: V inflects
4.
If you toe the line, you behave in the way that people in authority expect you to.
...attempts to persuade the rebel members to toe the line...
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
If you tread on someone’s toes, you offend them by criticizing the way that they do something or by interfering in their affairs. (INFORMAL)
I must be careful not to tread on their toes. My job is to challenge, but not threaten them.
PHRASE: V inflects
1toe /ˈtoʊ/ noun, pl toes [count]
1 : one of the five separate parts at the end of your foot
• He felt the sand/grass between his toes.
• I accidentally stepped on her toe.
• I stubbed my toe on the table's leg.
- see picture at foot; compare finger; see also big toe
2 : the part of a shoe or sock that covers the front part of your foot
• My sock has a hole in the toe.
• boots with steel toes
• the toe of her boot
- see picture at foot
3 : something that is shaped like a toe
• the toe of the peninsula
dip/put/stick a toe in the water informal : to try an activity briefly to see if you like it
• I'm not sure I want to join, but I'd like to dip a toe in the water.
from top to toe
- see 1top
keep (someone) on their toes informal : to cause someone to be alert and prepared to deal with problems
• Taking care of three kids really keeps me on my toes.
• The boss made regular inspections in order to keep employees on their toes.
make your toes curl informal : to cause you to have a very strong and usually unpleasant feeling (such as a feeling of being embarrassed, annoyed, etc.)
• Just thinking about my old boyfriend makes my toes curl.
point your toes
- see 2point
step on someone's toes US or Brit tread on someone's toesinformal : to do something that upsets or offends someone
• You might step on the toes of some important people with this project.
• I don't want to step on anyone's toes.
( plural feet ) the part of the body at the bottom of the leg on which a person or animal stands
پا
Iraj has wide feet.
ايرج پاهاى پهنى دارد.
foot
noun
1 (plural feet ) the part of your leg that you stand on:
I've been walking all day and my feet hurt.
2 (plural foot or feet) (abbr. ft) a measure of length (= 30.48 centimetres). There are twelve inches in a foot:
'How tall are you?' 'Five foot six (= five feet and six inches).'
culture
In the past, people in Britain used inches, feet, yards and miles to measure distances. In the US, people still use these measurements. In Britain people now use both centimetres and metres as well as feet and inches but usually use miles instead of kilometres.
3 the lowest part of something same meaning the bottom:
She was standing at the foot of the stairs.
on foot walking:
Shall we go by car or on foot?
put your feet up to rest:
If you're tired, put your feet up and listen to some music.
put your foot down (informal) to say strongly that something must or must not happen:
My mum put her foot down when I asked if I could stay out all night.
put your foot in it (informal) to say or do something by accident that makes somebody embarrassed or upset
foot
I. foot1 S1 W1 /fʊt/ BrE AmE noun (plural feet /fiːt/) [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: fot]
1. BODY PART the part of your body that you stand on and walk on:
My foot hurts.
I had blisters on the soles of my feet.
I dropped a glass earlier, so don’t walk around in bare feet.
The vet examined the horse’s hind feet.
Don’t wipe your feet on the carpet!
She stood on the platform, her suitcase at her feet.
2. MEASUREMENT (plural feet or foot) (written abbreviation ft) a unit for measuring length, equal to 12 ↑inches or about 30 centimetres:
He’s six feet tall, with blonde hair.
Mark was standing just a few feet away from me.
I’d say she’s about five foot three (=five feet and three inches).
a one/two/three etc foot something
a four foot wall
square feet/cubic feet
15,000 square feet of office space
3. BOTTOM PART the foot of something the lowest or bottom part of something
the foot of the stairs/ladder etc
He walked to the foot of the stairs.
the foot of a mountain/cliff etc
a small cottage at the foot of the hill
at the foot of something
a large wooden trunk at the foot of his bed
The date is shown at the foot of the page.
4. on foot if you go somewhere on foot, you walk there:
It takes about 30 minutes on foot, or 10 minutes by car.
5. get/jump/rise etc to your feet to stand up after you have been sitting:
He leapt to his feet and ran outside.
6. on your feet
a) to be standing for a long time without having time to sit down:
The worst thing about working in the shop is that you’re on your feet all day. ⇨ dead on your feet at ↑dead1(8)
b) to be standing up:
As soon as the bell rang the class were on their feet and out of the door.
c) to feel better again after being ill and in bed:
We’ll soon have you on your feet again.
7. be/get back on your feet to have enough money again, or to be successful again after having problems:
I need to get back on my feet again and forget all this.
8. off your feet sitting or lying down, rather than standing or walking:
The doctor told me to stay off my feet for a few days.
9. knock/lift etc somebody off their feet to make someone fall over:
They were blown off their feet by the force of the explosion.
10. be rushed/run off your feet to be very busy:
Before Christmas, most salespeople are rushed off their feet.
11. set foot in something to go to or enter a place:
She swore she would never set foot in his house again.
12. be/get under your feet to annoy you by always being in the same place as you and preventing you from doing what you want:
I hate summer vacation. The kids are under my feet all day long.
13. put your foot down
a) to say very firmly that someone must do something or must stop doing something:
You’ll just have to put your foot down and tell him he can’t stay out on school nights.
b) informal to make a car go faster
14. put your feet up informal to relax, especially by sitting with your feet supported on something
15. put your foot in it especially British English, put your foot in your mouth especially American English to say something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or upset someone:
I’ve really put my foot in it this time. I didn’t realize that was her husband!
16. start/get off on the wrong/right foot to start a relationship badly or well:
Simon and I got off on the wrong foot but we’re good friends now.
17. not put a foot wrong British English to do everything right and make no mistakes, especially in your job
18. have/keep both feet on the ground to think in a sensible and practical way and not have ideas or aims that will be impossible to achieve:
It was a great result, but we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground.
19. fall/land on your feet to get into a good situation because you are lucky, especially after being in a difficult situation:
Don’t worry about Nina, she always falls on her feet.
20. get/have/keep your foot in the door to get your first opportunity to work in a particular organization or industry
21. have a foot in both camps to be involved with or connected with two opposing groups of people
22. have somebody/something at your feet used to say that people admire or respect someone very much:
All Paris was at his feet. ⇨ have the world at your feet at ↑world1(24)
23. have two left feet informal to be very ↑clumsy
24. have one foot in the grave to be very old or very ill – used humorously
25. ... my foot! British English old-fashioned used to show that you do not believe something that someone has just said:
£50 my foot! It’ll cost £200 at least.
26. leave feet first to die before you leave a place or job – used humorously:
If you keep fooling around with that gun you’ll be leaving this camp feet first.
27. feet of clay someone that you admire who has feet of clay has faults and weaknesses that you did not realize they had
28. foot soldier/patrol a soldier or group of soldiers that walks and does not use a horse or a vehicle
29. foot passenger a passenger on a ship who has not brought a car with them
30.
a) left-footed/right-footed using your left foot or right foot when you kick a ball
b) flat-footed/four-footed having a particular type or number of feet
31. foot pedal/brake/pump etc a machine or control that you operate using your feet
32. SOCK the foot the part of a sock that covers your foot
33. POETRY technical a part of a line of poetry in which there is one strong ↑beat and one or two weaker ones
⇨ the boot is on the other foot at ↑boot1(6), ⇨ get/have cold feet at ↑cold1(6), ⇨ ↑underfoot, ⇨ drag your feet/heels at ↑drag1(8), ⇨ find your feet at ↑find1(18), ⇨ from head to foot at ↑head1(1), ⇨ stand on your own (two) feet at ↑stand1(31), ⇨ sweep somebody off their feet at ↑sweep1(14), ⇨ have itchy feet at ↑itchy(3), ⇨ not let the grass grow under your feet at ↑grass1(6), ⇨ vote with your feet at ↑vote1(8)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ left foot My left foot ached a bit.
▪ right foot He has broken a bone in his right foot.
▪ front foot (=of an animal) The tiger has five claws in each of its front feet.
▪ back/hind foot (=of an animal) The horse lifted its back foot.
▪ big/small He had small neat feet.
▪ bare (=without any socks or shoes) The marble floor felt cold under his bare feet.
▪ flat (=having a medical condition in which someone’s feet rest flat on the ground, with no curved part) We’ve both got slightly flat feet.
▪ booted/sandalled feet (=wearing boots or sandals) He put down his rucksack and stretched out his booted feet.
■ verbs
▪ injure/hurt your foot Simon injured his foot while playing rugby.
▪ sb’s foot hurts She complained that her foot was hurting.
▪ raise/lift your feet He raised his foot off the floor and rested it on a chair.
▪ drag your feet (=walk slowly in an unwilling way) I was dragging my feet because I didn’t want to get there.
▪ wipe your feet (=wipe your shoes on a mat to remove dirt) Be sure to wipe your feet before coming into the house.
▪ stamp your feet (=bang them noisily on the ground) He stamped his feet in an attempt to keep warm.
▪ tap your feet (=bang them gently on the ground) She was tapping her feet in time with the music.
▪ shuffle your feet (=make small movements with them, because you are nervous or impatient) Ken shuffled his feet and looked down at the floor.
■ foot + NOUN
▪ a foot injury He suffered a foot injury during the match against Sporting Lisbon.
▪ a foot massage Would you like a foot massage?
■ phrases
▪ the sole of your foot (=the base of your foot, that you walk on)The soles of her feet were aching from the long walk.
▪ the ball of your foot (=the rounded part of your foot at the base of the toes) He has a blister on the ball of his foot.
▪ the heel of your foot (=the curved back part of your foot ) He kicked his opponent with the heel of his foot.
▪ at sb’s feet (=on the ground, near your feet) The dog was sitting at his master’s feet.
▪ in your stockinged/stocking feet (=not wearing shoes) She stood 5ft 6 inches tall in her stockinged feet.
▪ my feet are killing me informal (=my feet are hurting)
foot
foot [foot foots footed footing] noun, verb [fʊt] [fʊt]
noun (pl. feet [fiːt] ; [fiːt] )
PART OF BODY
1. countable the lowest part of the leg, below the ankle, on which a person or an animal stands
• My feet are aching.
• to get/rise to your feet (= stand up)
• I've been on my feet (= standing or walking around) all day.
• We came on foot (= we walked).
• Come on lads— on your feet and do some work!
• walking around the house in bare feet (= not wearing shoes or socks)
• Please wipe your feet (= your shoes) on the mat.
• Daniel was shifting anxiously from foot to foot.
• a foot pump (= operated using your foot, not your hand)
• a foot passenger (= one who travels on a ferry without a car)
see also athlete's foot, barefoot, club foot, underfoot
-FOOTED
2. (in adjectives and adverbs) having or using the type or number of foot/feet mentioned
• bare-footed
• four-footed
• a left-footed shot into the corner
see also flat-footed, sure-footed
PART OF SOCK
3. countable, usually singular the part of a sock, stocking, etc. that covers the foot
BASE/BOTTOM
4. singular the ~ of sth the lowest part of sth; the base or bottom of sth
• the foot of the stairs/page/mountain
• The nurse hung a chart at the foot of the bed (= the part of the bed where your feet normally are when you are lying in it).
MEASUREMENT
5. (pl. feet or foot)(abbr. ft) a unit for measuring length equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres
• a 6-foot high wall
• We're flying at 35 000 feet.
• ‘How tall are you?’ ‘Five foot nine’ (= five feet and nine inches).
-FOOTER
6. (in compound nouns) a person or thing that is a particular number of feet tall or long
• His boat is an eighteen-footer.
• Both my brothers are six-footers.
IN POETRY
7. singular (technical) a unit of rhythm in a line of poetry containing one stressed syllable and one or more syllables without stress. Each of the four divisions in the following line is a foot
• For ˈmen / may ˈcome / and ˈmen / may ˈgo.
more at the boot is on the other foot at boot n., get/have cold feetat cold adj., drag your feet/heels at drag v., find your feet at find v., not let the grass grow under your feet at grass n., cut the ground from under sb's feet at ground n., bind/tie sb hand and footat hand n., from head to foot/toe at head n., (get/have) itchy feetat itchy, have two left feet at left adj., the patter of tiny feet at patter n., pull the rug (out) from under sb's feet at pull v., the shoe is on the other foot at shoe n., shoot yourself in the foot at shoot v., sit at sb's feet at sit, in your stocking(ed) feet at stocking, sweep sb off their feet at sweep v., think on your feet at think v., vote with your feet at vote v., wait on sb hand and foot at wait v., walk sb off their feet at walk v., take the weight off your feet at weight n., have the world at your feet at world
Word Origin:
Old English fōt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voet and German Fuss, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit pad, pāda, Greek pous, pod-, and Latin pes, ped- ‘foot’.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Synonyms:
bottom
base • foundation • foot
These are all words for the lowest part of sth.
bottom • [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth: ▪ Footnotes are given at the bottom of each page. ◊ ▪ I waited for them at the bottom of the hill.
base • [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth, especially the part or surface on which it rests or stands: ▪ The lamp has a heavy base.
foundation • [usually pl.] a layer of bricks, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building: ▪ to ▪ lay the foundations ▪of the new school
foot • [sing.] the lowest part of sth: ▪ At the foot of the stairs she turned to face him.
bottom or foot?
Foot is used to talk about a limited number of things: it is used most often with tree, hill/mountain, steps/stairs and page. Bottom can be used to talk about a much wider range of things, including those mentioned above for foot. Foot is generally used in more literary contexts.
at/near/towards the bottom/base/foot of sth
on the bottom/base of sth
(a) firm/solid/strong base/foundation(s)
Synonyms:
stand
get up • stand up • rise • get to your feet • be on your feet
These words all mean to be in an upright position with your weight on your feet, or to put yourself in this position.
stand • to be in an upright position with your weight on your feet: ▪She was too weak to stand. ◊ ▪ Stand still ▪ when I'm talking to you!
Stand is usually used with an adverb or prepositional phrase to show where or how sb stands, but sometimes another phrase or clause is used to show what sb does while they are standing: ▪ We stood talking for a few minutes. ◊ ▪ He stood and looked out to sea.
get up • to get into a standing position from a sitting, kneeling or lying position: ▪ Please don't get up!
stand up • to be in a standing position; to stand after sitting: ▪Stand up straight! ◊ ▪ Everyone would stand up when the teacher entered the classroom.
stand, get up or stand up?
Stand usually means ‘to be in a standing position’ but can also mean ‘to get into a standing position’. Stand up can be used with either of these meanings, but its use is more restricted: it is used especially when sb tells sb or a group of people to stand. Get up is the most frequent way of saying ‘get into a standing position’, and this can be from a sitting, kneeling or lying position; if you stand up, this is nearly always after sitting, especially on a chair. If you want to tell sb politely that they do not need to move from their chair, use get up: Please don't stand up!
rise • (formal) to get into a standing position from a sitting, kneeling or lying position: ▪ Would you all rise, please, to welcome our visiting speaker.
get to your feet • to stand up after sitting, kneeling or lying: ▪ I helped her to get to her feet.
be on your feet • to be standing up: ▪ I've been on my feet all day.
Example Bank:
• Foot passengers were allowed to leave the ferry before the vehicles.
• He raised his foot off the accelerator pedal.
• He shifted his weight onto his back foot.
• He swung a foot at the ball but missed completely.
• He's broken several bones in his left foot.
• His foot caught in the cable and he fell under the train.
• My foot slipped as I was about to shoot and I missed the ball.
• She kicked the ball with her right foot.
• She put her foot down on the accelerator and the car lurched forward.
• She was dressed from head to foot in green velvet.
• She was tapping her foot impatiently.
• That man trod on my foot and he didn't even apologize.
• The city is best explored on foot.
• They looked unsure and shifted uneasily from foot to foot.
• soldiers on foot patrol
• At the foot of the stairs she turned to face him.
Idioms: fall on your feet ▪ feet first ▪ foot the bill ▪ get a foot in the door ▪ get off on the right foot ▪ get your feet wet ▪ have a foot in both camps ▪ have feet of clay ▪ have one foot in the grave ▪ have your feet on the ground ▪ on your feet ▪ put a foot wrong ▪ put your best foot forward ▪ put your feet up ▪ put your foot down ▪ put your foot in it ▪ run off your feet ▪ set foot in something ▪ set somebody on its feet ▪ stand on your own feet ▪ under your feet ▪ … my foot!
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
foot / fʊt / noun (BODY PART)
A1 [ C ] ( plural feet ) the part of the body at the bottom of the leg on which a person or animal stands:
I've got a blister on my left foot.
I've been on my feet (= standing) all day and I'm exhausted.
informal You look tired. Why don't you put your feet up (= sit or lie down with your feet resting on something) ?
Please wipe your feet (= clean the bottom of your shoes) before you come into the house.
See picture foot
get/rise to your feet C2 to stand up after you have been sitting:
He rose to his feet when she walked in.
on foot A2 walking:
Are you going by bicycle or on foot?
foot / fʊt / noun [ C ] ( plural feet or foot ) ( written abbreviation ft ) (MEASUREMENT)
B1 a unit of measurement, equal to twelve inches or 0.3048 metres, sometimes shown by the symbol ′:
The man was standing only a few feet away.
She is five feet/foot three inches tall.
She is 5′ 3″ tall.
foot / fʊt / noun [ S ] (BOTTOM)
C1 the bottom or lower end of a space or object:
They built a house at the foot of a cliff.
She dreamed she saw someone standing at the foot of her bed.
There's a note to that effect at the foot of the page.
foot / fʊt / noun [ C ] ( plural feet ) specialized (POETRY)
a unit of division of a line of poetry containing one strong beat and one or two weaker ones
© Cambridge University Press 2013
foot
/fʊt/
(feet)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Your feet are the parts of your body that are at the ends of your legs, and that you stand on.
She stamped her foot again.
...a foot injury.
...his aching arms and sore feet.
N-COUNT
• -footed
She was bare-footed.
...pink-footed geese.
COMB in ADJ
2.
The foot of something is the part that is farthest from its top.
David called to the children from the foot of the stairs...
A single word at the foot of a page caught her eye.
= bottom
≠ head, top
N-SING: usu the N of n
3.
The foot of a bed is the end nearest to the feet of the person lying in it.
Friends stood at the foot of the bed, looking at her with serious faces.
≠ head
N-SING: usu the N of n
4.
A foot is a unit for measuring length, height, or depth, and is equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres. When you are giving measurements, the form ‘foot’ is often used as the plural instead of the plural form ‘feet’.
This beautiful and curiously shaped lake lies at around fifteen thousand feet...
He occupies a cell 10 foot long, 6 foot wide and 10 foot high...
I have to give my height in feet and inches.
N-COUNT: usu num N, oft num N adj
5.
A foot brake or foot pump is operated by your foot rather than by your hand.
I tried to reach the foot brakes but I couldn’t.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
A foot patrol or foot soldiers walk rather than travelling in vehicles or on horseback.
Paratroopers and foot-soldiers entered the building on the government’s behalf.
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
see also footing
8.
If you get cold feet about something, you become nervous or frightened about it because you think it will fail.
The Government is getting cold feet about the reforms.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR about n
9.
If you say that someone is finding their feet in a new situation, you mean that they are starting to feel confident and to deal with things successfully.
I don’t know anyone in England but I am sure I will manage when I find my feet...
PHRASE: V inflects
10.
If you say that someone has their feet on the ground, you approve of the fact that they have a sensible and practical attitude towards life, and do not have unrealistic ideas.
In that respect he needs to keep his feet on the ground and not get carried away...
Kevin was always level-headed with both feet on the ground.
PHRASE: usu v PHR [approval]
11.
If you go somewhere on foot, you walk, rather than using any form of transport.
We rowed ashore, then explored the island on foot for the rest of the day.
PHRASE
12.
If you are on your feet, you are standing up.
Everyone was on their feet applauding wildly.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
13.
If you say that someone or something is on their feet again after an illness or difficult period, you mean that they have recovered and are back to normal.
He said they all needed to work together to put the country on its feet again.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
14.
If you say that someone always falls or lands on their feet, you mean that they are always successful or lucky, although they do not seem to achieve this by their own efforts.
He has good looks and charm, and always falls on his feet...
PHRASE: V inflects
15.
If you say that someone has one foot in the grave, you mean that they are very old or very ill and will probably die soon. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
If you say, in British English, the boot is on the other foot or, mainly in American English, the shoe is on the other foot, you mean that a situation has been reversed completely, so that the person who was in the better position before is now in the worse one.
You’re not in a position to remove me. The boot is now on the other foot.
PHRASE: V inflects
17.
If someone puts their foot down, they use their authority in order to stop something happening.
He had planned to go skiing on his own in March but his wife had decided to put her foot down.
PHRASE: V inflects
18.
If someone puts their foot down when they are driving, they drive as fast as they can.
I asked the driver to put his foot down for Nagchukha.
PHRASE: V inflects
19.
If someone puts their foot in it or puts their foot in their mouth, they accidentally do or say something which embarrasses or offends people. (INFORMAL)
Our chairman has really put his foot in it, poor man, though he doesn’t know it.
PHRASE: V inflects
20.
If you put your feet up, you relax or have a rest, especially by sitting or lying with your feet supported off the ground.
After supper he’d put his feet up and read. It was a pleasant prospect.
= rest
PHRASE: V inflects
21.
If you never put a foot wrong, you never make any mistakes.
When he’s around, we never put a foot wrong...
PHRASE: V inflects, with brd-neg
22.
If you say that someone sets foot in a place, you mean that they enter it or reach it, and you are emphasizing the significance of their action. If you say that someone never sets foot in a place, you are emphasizing that they never go there.
...the day the first man set foot on the moon...
A little later I left that place and never set foot in Texas again.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft with brd-neg [emphasis]
23.
If someone has to stand on their own two feet, they have to be independent and manage their lives without help from other people.
My father didn’t mind whom I married, so long as I could stand on my own two feet and wasn’t dependent on my husband.
PHRASE: V inflects
24.
If you get or rise to your feet, you stand up.
Malone got to his feet and followed his superior out of the suite...
He sprang to his feet and ran outside.
PHRASE: v PHR
25.
If someone gets off on the wrong foot in a new situation, they make a bad start by doing something in completely the wrong way.
Even though they called the election and had been preparing for it for some time, they got off on the wrong foot.
PHRASE: V inflects
26.
to foot the bill: see bill
foot in the door: see door
drag your feet: see drag
to vote with your feet: see vote
1foot /ˈfʊt/ noun, pl feet /ˈfiːt/
1 [count] : the part of the leg on which an animal or person stands and moves : the part of the leg below the ankle
• He was wearing boots on his feet.
• tracks made by the feet of a bird
• standing on one foot
• The people in the crowd began to stamp their feet.
• She was walking around the house in (her) bare feet. [=she was not wearing any shoes or socks]
• She was in her stockinged/stocking feet. [=she was wearing socks but no shoes]
• It's a long hike, but we'll get there if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other. [=if we just keep walking]
• Wipe your feet [=rub the bottoms of your shoes on the doormat] when you come in.
- often used before another noun
• a foot pump [=a pump that is operated by being pressed with the foot]
• a foot brake
• an area that gets a lot of foot traffic [=an area where many people walk]
- see also athlete's foot, clubfoot, cold feet, flat foot
2 pl also foot [count] : a unit of measurement equal to {frac1/3} yard (0.3048 meter) or 12 inches
• a 10-foot pole = a pole 10 feet long
• He's six feet tall.
• He's six feet, three inches tall. = He's six foot three.
• a plant that grows three feet tall = a three-foot-tall plant
3 [singular]
a : the lowest part of something : bottom
• They camped at the foot of the mountain.
• at the foot of the stairs
b : the end of something that is opposite to the end that is called the head
• the foot of the bed [=the end where your feet are when you are lying on the bed]
• the foot of the table
4 [count] : a basic unit of rhythm in a line of poetry made up of a group of syllables that are accented in a certain way
• Each line of the poem has five feet.
at someone's feet : close to someone's feet
• His dog was lying at his feet.
- sometimes used figuratively
• He was young and fearless, and he felt the world was at his feet. [=felt that he could do great things in the world]
• She claimed that men fell at her feet. [=that men often fell in love with her]
be run/rushed off your feet Brit : to be very busy
• We are run off our feet trying to fill orders.
drag your feet
- see 1drag
feet of clay
✦A person who was admired in the past but who has serious faults or flaws can be described as having feet of clay.
• a former political leader who turned out to have feet of clay
find your feet : to start to be comfortable in a new situation : to begin to be confident or successful
• They quickly found their feet in their adopted country.
• I was away for a long time, so it will take me a while to find my feet again.
get/start off on the right foot : to begin a relationship well
• I want to get off on the right foot with your parents.
get/start off on the wrong foot : to begin a relationship badly
• They got off on the wrong foot when they first met and they've disliked each other ever since.
get your feet wet
- see 1wet
get your foot in the door : to make the first step toward a goal by gaining entry into an organization, a career, etc.
• He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.
hand and foot
- see 1hand
have one foot in the grave : to be close to dying because of old age or illness
have/keep your feet on the ground : to be a sensible and practical person
• Even after she became famous, she always kept her feet on the ground.
let the grass grow under your feet
- see 1grass
light on your feet
- see 4light
my foot informal + somewhat old-fashioned
- used to express surprise or disagreement
• Fair, my foot! That contest wasn't fair!
off your feet : not in a standing position : in or into a sitting or lying position
• The blow knocked me off my feet.
• The doctor suggested that he stay off his feet [=that he avoid standing and walking] as much as possible.
on foot : by walking
• The refugees traveled on foot.
on your feet
1 : in a standing position
• I've been on my feet all day.
• He jumped over the wall and landed on his feet.
• They say that no matter how a cat falls, it always manages to land on its feet.
• By the end of the day the workers were dead on their feet. [=very tired but still standing, working, etc.]
✦In figurative use, to land on your feet or Brit fall on your feet is to be lucky and be in good condition or in a good situation after having a bad or difficult experience.
• He lost his job but landed on his feet when he was hired by another company just a few days later.
2 : in a good position or condition
• The business is finally/back on its feet.
3 : in a healthy condition after an illness or injury
• She should be out of the hospital and (back) on her feet again in a couple of weeks.
4 : quickly and while actively doing something
• Good debaters can think on their feet.
put a foot wrong : to make a mistake
• He never put a foot wrong during the campaign.
put your best foot forward
1 US : to behave very well so that someone will like you and approve of you
• When I visited my girlfriend's parents I tried to be very polite and put my best foot forward.
2 Brit : to try as hard as possible to do something difficult
• I've got to put my best foot forward [=do my best] to meet this deadline.
put your feet up informal : to sit and relax : to not work or be active
• I'm going to go home and put my feet up.
put your foot down
1 : to deal with someone in a harsh or strict way
• When my son broke his curfew for the third time, I knew it was time to put my foot down.
2 Brit : to make a car go faster
put your foot in your mouth chiefly US or put your foot in itinformal : to say something that causes someone to be embarrassed, upset, or hurt especially when you did not expect that reaction
• I really put my foot in it when I asked her about her job. I didn't know she'd just been fired.
set foot in : to enter (a place)
• That was the last time she ever set foot in this house.
set foot on : to walk on (something)
• Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon.
shoot yourself in the foot
- see 1shoot
stand on your own two feet : to support yourself without help from other people
• You can't live with your parents forever. It's time to get a place of your own and learn to stand on your own two feet.
sweep (someone) off his/her feet
- see 1sweep
the shoe is on the other foot or Brit the boot is on the other foot
- used to say that a situation has changed to the opposite of what it was before
• I used to boss my little sister around. Now the shoe is on the other foot. [=now she bosses me around]
• The shoe is on the other foot and he is the one asking for help this time.
to your feet : to a standing position
• I got/rose to my feet [=I stood up] and left.
• His inspirational speech brought the crowd to its feet.
• Everyone in the courtroom came to their feet when the judge entered.
two left feet
✦A person who dances badly can be described as having two left feet.
• My wife is a good dancer, but I've got two left feet.
under your feet chiefly Brit : in the way : underfoot
• I can't get any work done with those kids under my feet.
vote with your feet
- see 1vote
a piece of information that is only known by one person or a few people and should not be told to others
راز
A close couple should have no secrets from each other.
noun
something that you do not or must not tell other people:
I can't tell you where I'm going – it's a secret.
Can you keep a secret (= not tell other people)?
in secret without other people knowing:
They met in secret.
II. secret2 S3 W3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑secrecy, ↑secret, ↑secretiveness; adverb: ↑secretly, ↑secretively; adjective: ↑secret, ↑secretive; verb: ↑secrete]
1. something that is kept hidden or that is known about by only a few people ⇨ secrecy:
I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.
It was no secret that the two men hated each other.
Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me (=I won’t tell anyone about it).
2. in secret in a private way or place that other people do not know about:
The negotiations were conducted in secret.
3. the secret a particular way of achieving a good result, that is the best or only way
the secret to (doing) something
The secret to making good pastry is to use very cold water.
Your hair always looks so great – what’s your secret?
What do you think is the secret of her success?
4. make no secret of something to make your opinions about something clear:
Louise made no secret of her dislike for John.
5. the secrets of life/nature/the universe etc the things no one yet knows about life, nature etc
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a secret We have no secrets from each other.
▪ know a secret (=about someone else) You can tell Tom that I know his secret.
▪ keep a secret (=not tell it to anyone) Can you keep a secret?
▪ tell somebody a secret Shall I tell you a secret?
▪ let somebody in on a secret (=tell them a secret) Frank let me in on the secret.
▪ reveal/divulge a secret formal (=tell it to someone) He was accused of revealing state secrets.
▪ give away a secret (=tell it to someone carelessly or by mistake) I had to be careful not to give away any secrets.
▪ share a secret (=tell it to someone because you trust them) I trusted Alexander, so I decided to share my secret with him.
▪ discover/find out a secret He was afraid that someone would discover his secret.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + secret
▪ a big secret (=an important secret or one that very few people know) The event was supposed to be a big secret, but everyone knew about it.
▪ a little secret (=a personal secret that very few people know) You must promise me that this will be our little secret.
▪ a closely guarded/well-kept secret (=a secret that few people are allowed to know) The recipe is a closely guarded secret.
▪ an open secret (=something that a lot of people know, but do not talk about because it is supposed to be a secret) It was an open secret that he was having an affair.
▪ a dark/terrible secret (=a secret about something bad) I’m sure every family has a few dark secrets.
▪ a dirty secret (=a shameful secret) The exclusion of black people from the film industry is one of Hollywood’s dirty little secrets.
▪ a guilty secret (=a secret that someone feels guilty about) He had finally discovered Jo’s guilty secret.
▪ sb’s innermost secrets (=very private or personal secrets) She wasn’t confident enough to share her innermost secrets with him.
▪ a family secret Their normally strong relationship is threatened when he has to reveal a family secret.
▪ a state/official secret (=a government secret) He was accused of passing on state secrets to a foreign power.
▪ a trade secret (=a company or business secret) They must not betray their employer 's trust, for instance by giving away trade secrets.
▪ military secrets He was sent to prison for five years in 1933 for selling military secrets to Germany.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say ˈsay a secretˈ or ˈsay your secretsˈ. Say tell somebody a secret or tell somebody your secrets.
noun
1. countable something that is known about by only a few people and not told to others
• Can you keep a secret?
• The location of the ship is a closely guarded secret.
• Shall we let him in on (= tell him) the secret?
• He made no secret of his ambition (= he didn't try to hide it).
• She was dismissed for revealing trade secrets.
• official/State secrets
• dark secrets from his past
2. (usually the secret) singular the best or only way to achieve sth; the way a particular person achieves sth
• Careful planning is the secret of success.
• She still looks so young. What's her secret?
3. countable, usually plural a thing that is not yet fully understood or that is difficult to understand
• the secrets of the universe
more at a guilty secret at guilty adj., be an open secret at open adj.
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin secretus (adjective) ‘separate, set apart’, from the verb secernere, from se- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘sift’.
Thesaurus:
secret noun
1. C
• The two leaders held a number of secret talks.
confidential • • private • • classified • • undisclosed • • personal • • intimate •
Opp: open
secret/confidential/private/classified/undisclosed/personal information
secret/confidential/private/cassified/personal documents
keep sth secret/confidential/private
2. only before noun
• He was a secret agent during the war.
undercover • • underground • |formal covert • |formal, usually disapproving clandestine •
secret/undercover/underground/covert/clandestine activity
a secret/clandestine meeting/relationship/affair
a secret/an undercover agent
Example Bank:
• Can you keep a secret?
• He refuses to make any secret of his political allegiances.
• How did the secret get out?
• I have no secrets from you.
• She let us into her secret— she was engaged.
• She revealed the secret behind her extraordinary success.
• That evening she had revealed many of her innermost secrets.
• The film stars were married in secret to avoid publicity.
• Their affair is an open secret.
• Their relationship remained a secret.
• There was some secret about the source of his wealth.
• These animals may hold the secret to combating the virus.
• Uncle Charlie hides a dark secret.
• a charming museum that is one of the city's best-kept secrets
• the secrets of staying healthy
• He made no secret of his ambition.
• He spent much of his childhood here, learning the secrets of the woods.
• Shall we let him in on the secret?
• The location of the ship is a closely guarded secret.
• They hope to unlock the secrets of the universe.
• trade/official/State secrets
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
secret / ˈsiː.krət / noun
B1 [ C ] a piece of information that is only known by one person or a few people and should not be told to others:
Why did you have to go and tell Bob about my illness? You just can't keep a secret, can you?
A close couple should have no secrets from each other.
Aren't you going to let me in on (= tell me) the secret?
There's no secret (= everyone knows) about his homosexuality.
She makes no secret of (= makes very clear) her dislike of her father.
That restaurant is one of the best-kept secrets in London.
[ C ] a fact about a subject that is not known:
the secrets of the universe
B2 [ S ] the particular knowledge and skills needed to do something very well:
So what's the secret of being a good cook?
Word partners for secret noun
harbour / have / keep a secret • let sb in on / reveal / tell sb a secret • a guilty / terrible / well-kept secret • a big secret • do sth in secret
secret
[si͟ːkrɪt]
♦♦
secrets
1) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n, v n ADJ, v-link ADJ If something is secret, it is known about by only a small number of people, and is not told or shown to anyone else.
→ See also top secret
Soldiers have been training at a secret location...
The police have been trying to keep the documents secret.
Derived words:
secretly ADV-GRADED ADV with v, ADV adj/n He wore a hidden microphone to secretly tape-record conversations. ...secretly organised events.
2) N-COUNT A secret is a fact that is known by only a small number of people, and is not told to anyone else.
I think he enjoyed keeping our love a secret...
I didn't want anyone to know about it, it was my secret.
3) N-SING: the N, oft the N of n If you say that a particular way of doing things is the secret of achieving something, you mean that it is the best or only way to achieve it.
The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing...
I learned something about writing. The secret is to say less than you need.
4) N-COUNT: usu pl, oft with poss Something's secrets are the things about it which have never been fully explained.
We have an opportunity now to really unlock the secrets of the universe...
The past is riddled with deep dark secrets.
5) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something in secret, you do it without anyone else knowing.
Dan found out that I had been meeting my ex-boyfriend in secret.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone can keep a secret, you mean that they can be trusted not to tell other people a secret that you have told them.
Tom was utterly indiscreet, and could never keep a secret.
7) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR of n If you make no secret of something, you tell others about it openly and clearly.
His wife made no secret of her hatred for the formal occasions...
Ministers are making no secret about their wish to buy American weapons.
secret
2secret noun, pl -crets [count]
1 : a fact or piece of information that is kept hidden from other people
• Don't tell him about the party—it's a secret.
• I'm going to tell you a secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else.
• They're getting married. The secret is out. [=everyone now knows that they're getting married]
• He knows how to keep a secret. [=if you tell him a secret he won't tell it to anyone else]
• This wine may be Italy's best-kept secret. [=something very good that not many people know about]
• It's no secret [=many people know] that he has connections to the Mafia.
• I'll let you in on a (little) secret. [=I'll tell you a secret]
• The report disclosed the company's dirty little secret. [=something bad that the company does not want people to know]
• Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. [=I won't tell anyone your secret]
- see also trade secret
2 : a special or unusual way of doing something to achieve a good result
• You always look great. What's your secret?
• She shared her beauty secrets with the group.
• The secret to/of a good sauce is the base.
• What is the secret to your success? [=why are you so successful?]
3 : something that cannot be explained
• the secrets of the universe
• one of nature's greatest secrets
in secret : in a private place or manner
• They met in secret. [=secretly]
make no secret of : to show or express (something) openly : to not try to hide (something)
• She made no secret of her dislike for him.
a flat, usually round dish with a slightly raised edge that you eat from or serve food from
بشقاب
There's still lots of food on your plate.
plate
noun
a round dish that you put food on Look also at number plate.
plate
I. plate1 S2 W2 /pleɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Sense 1,3,7: Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: plat 'plate, dish', from plat 'flat', from Vulgar Latin plattus, probably from Greek platys 'broad, flat']
[Sense 2, 4-5,8-11: Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: plat 'flat']
[Sense 6: Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Partly from Old French plat 'plate, piece of silver', partly from Old Spanish plata 'silver']
1. FOOD [countable]
a) a flat and usually round dish that you eat from or serve food on:
The plates were piled high with rice.
a dinner plate
b) (also plateful) the amount of food that is on a plate
plate of
He’s eaten a whole plate of french fries.
► Do not use plate when you mean ‘food cooked in a particular way as a meal’. Use dish: the chef who created this dish (NOT this plate)
2. SIGN [countable] a flat piece of metal with words or numbers on it, for example on a door or a car:
The brass plate on the door said ‘Dr Rackman’.
number/license/registration plate (=on a car)
Did anyone see the car’s license plate? ⇨ ↑L-plate, ↑nameplate
3. have a lot/enough on your plate informal to have a lot of problems to deal with or problems to worry about
4. PROTECTIVE COVERING [countable]
a) technical one of the thin sheets of bone, horn etc that covers and protects the outside of some animals
b) a thin sheet of metal used to protect something
metal/steel/iron plates
The shoes had metal plates attached to the heels.
5. EARTH’S SURFACE [countable] technical one of the very large sheets of rock that form the surface of the Earth ⇨ ↑plate tectonics
6. GOLD/SILVER
a) gold/silver plate ordinary metal with a thin covering of gold or silver
b) [uncountable] things such as plates, cups, forks, or knives made of gold or silver
7. hand/give/offer somebody something on a plate to let someone get or achieve something easily, without much effort from them:
I worked hard for what I’ve got. It wasn’t handed to me on a plate.
8. PICTURES/PHOTOS [countable]
a) a sheet of metal that has been cut or treated in a special way so that words or pictures can be printed from its surface:
copper printing plates
b) a picture in a book, printed on good-quality paper and usually coloured
c) a thin sheet of glass used especially in the past in photography, with chemicals on it that are sensitive to light
9. BASEBALL [countable usually singular] the place where the person hitting the ball stands
10. COMPETITION the ... Plate used in the names of sports competitions or races in which the winner gets a silver plate:
This horse won the Galway Plate.
11. TEETH [countable]
a) a thin piece of plastic shaped to fit inside a person’s mouth, into which ↑false teeth are fixed
b) British English a thin piece of plastic with wires fixed to it, that some people wear in their mouth to make their teeth straight SYN brace British English
⇨ ↑hotplate
plate
plate [plate plates plated plating] noun, verb [pleɪt] [pleɪt]
noun
FOOD
1. countable a flat, usually round, dish that you put food on
• sandwiches on a plate
• a pile of dirty plates
• dinner plates
2. countable the amount of food that you can put on a plate
• a plate of sandwiches
• two large plates of pasta
compare plateful
3. countable (especially NAmE) a whole main course of a meal, served on one plate
• Try the seafood plate.
FOR STRENGTH
4. countable a thin flat piece of metal, used especially to join or make sth stronger
• The tanks were mainly constructed of steel plates.
• She had a metal plate inserted in her arm.
FOR INFORMATION
5. countable a flat piece of metal with some information on it, for example sb's name
• A brass plate beside the door said ‘Dr Alan Tate’.
see also nameplate
ON VEHICLE
6. usually plural the pieces of metal or plastic at the front and back of a vehicle with numbers and letters on it
see also L-plate, license plate, number plate
SILVER/GOLD
7. uncountable ordinary metal that is covered with a thin layer of silver or gold
• The cutlery is plate, not solid silver.
see also gold plate, silver plate, tinplate
8. uncountable dishes, bowls, etc. that are made of silver or gold
• the family plate
ON ANIMAL
9. countable (biology) one of the thin flat pieces of horn or bone that cover and protect an animal
• the armadillo's protective shell of bony plates
GEOLOGY
10. countable one of the very large pieces of rock that form the earth's surface and move slowly
• the Pacific plate
• Earthquakes are caused by two tectonic plates bumping into each other.
see also plate tectonics
PRINTING/PHOTOGAPHY
11. countable a photograph that is used as a picture in a book, especially one that is printed on a separate page on high quality paper
• The book includes 55 colour plates.
• See plate 4.
12. countable a sheet of metal, plastic, etc. that has been treated so that words or pictures can be printed from it
• a printing plate
13. countable a thin sheet of glass, metal, etc. that is covered with chemicals so that it reacts to light and can form an image, used in larger or older cameras
IN MOUTH
14. countable a thin piece of plastic with wire or artificial teeth attached to it which fits inside your mouth in order to make your teeth straight
compare brace, dentures
IN BASEBALL
15. singular (NAmE) = home plate
IN CHURCH
16. (usually the plate) singular a flat dish that is used to collect money from people in a church
see also bookplate, breastplate, footplate, hotplate
more at hand sth to sb on a plate at hand v., step up to the plate at step v.
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting a flat, thin sheet, usually of metal): from Old French, from medieval Latin plata ‘plate armour’, based on Greek platus ‘flat’. Senses 1 to 3 represent Old French plat ‘platter, large dish’, also ‘dish of meat’, noun use of Old French plat ‘flat’.
Thesaurus:
plate noun C
• He barely touched the food on his plate.
dish • • bowl • • platter •
a plate/dish/bowl/platter of sth
on a plate/dish/platter
fill a plate/dish/bowl/platter
Example Bank:
• I could see how hungry she was from the way she cleared her plate.
• She ate everything on her plate.
• The driver was arrested for having false licence/license plates on his car.
• The sink was full of dirty plates.
• a plate of rice
• He barely touched the food on his plate.
• He came in carrying a plate of sandwiches.
• The set includes four dinner plates, four side plates and four soup bowls.
• There was an enormous pile of dirty plates in the kitchen sink.
• There were two large plates of pasta on the table.
• We used plastic cutlery and ate off paper plates.
• a vehicle's license plates
Idiom: have a lot much on your plate
plate / pleɪt / noun (DISH)
A1 [ C ] a flat, usually round dish with a slightly raised edge that you eat from or serve food from:
paper/plastic/china plates
a dinner/salad plate
clean/dirty plates
There's still lots of food on your plate.
[ C ] ( also plateful ) an amount of food on a plate:
Stephen ate three plates of spaghetti.
plate
[ple͟ɪt]
♦♦♦
plates
1) N-COUNT A plate is a round or oval flat dish that is used to hold food.
Anita pushed her plate away; she had eaten virtually nothing.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
A plate of food is the amount of food on the plate. ...a huge plate of bacon and eggs.
2) N-COUNT A plate is a flat piece of metal, especially on machinery or a building.
3) N-COUNT A plate is a small, flat piece of metal with someone's name written on it, which you usually find beside the front door of an office or house.
4) N-PLURAL On a road vehicle, the plates are the panels at the front and back which display the license number in the United States, and the registration number in Britain.
→ See also number plate, license plate
...dusty-looking cars with New Jersey plates.
5) N-UNCOUNT Plate is dishes, bowls, and cups that are made of precious metal, especially silver or gold.
...gold and silver plate, jewellery, and roomfuls of antique furniture.
6) N-COUNT In printing, a plate is a sheet of metal which is carved or specially treated with chemicals so that it can be used to print text or pictures.
7) N-COUNT In photography, a plate is a thin sheet of glass that is covered with a layer of chemicals which react to the light and on which an image can be formed.
8) N-COUNT A plate in a book is a picture or photograph which takes up a whole page and is usually printed on better quality paper than the rest of the book.
Fermor's book has 55 colour plates.
Syn:
illustration
9) N-COUNT In a microscope, the plate is a small rectangular piece of glass onto which you put a small amount of the substance that you want to look at. You then slide the plate under the microscope to look at the substance.
Syn:
slide
10) N-COUNT A dental plate is a piece of plastic which is shaped to fit inside a person's mouth and which a set of false teeth is attached to.
11) N-COUNT In geology, a plate is a large piece of the earth's surface, perhaps as large as a continent, which moves very slowly. [TECHNICAL]
The United States Geological Survey has revealed that the earthquake was not caused by a simple horizontal movement of one plate past another.
12) N-COUNT: usu the N in sing In baseball, the plate is the same as the home plate. [AM]
13) PHRASE: V inflects If you have enough on your plate or have a lot on your plate, you have a lot of work to do or a lot of things to deal with.
We have enough on our plate. There is plenty of work to be done on what we have.
14) PHRASE: V inflects (disapproval) If you say that someone has things handed to them on a plate, you disapprove of them because they get good things easily. [mainly BRIT]
Even the presidency was handed to him on a plate.
plate
2plate verb plates; plat·ed; plat·ing [+ obj]
1 : to add a layer of metal to the outside of (something) - usually used as (be) plated
• The tin cups were plated with silver.
2 baseball : to cause (a run or a runner) to score
• His second hit plated [=drove in] two runs.
1plate /ˈpleɪt/ noun, pl plates
1 [count]
a : a flat and usually round dish that is used for eating or serving food
• plates, bowls, and cups
• a paper plate
• fancy dinner/salad/bread/dessert plates
• a large serving plate [=platter]
• pie plates [=plates used to hold pies]
- see picture at place setting
b : the food that is served on a plate
• a plate of cheese and crackers
• a fruit/vegetable/meat plate [=a plate filled with different fruits/vegetables/meats]
• I ate a salad and a plate of spaghetti.
2 [count] : a thin, flat piece of metal
• A shiny metal plate was screwed to the door.
• He had a steel plate put in his shoulder after the accident.
• a plate of armor
- see also breastplate, nameplate
3 [count] : license plate
- usually plural
• a car with New York plates
4 [count] : one of the usually flat, hard pieces that cover the body of some animals
• a dinosaur covered in bony plates
5 [singular] : a dish or small container used in some churches to collect money
• They passed around the plate during services.
• the collection plate
6 the plate baseball : home plate
• The runner was tagged out at the plate.
- see also step up to the plate (below)
7 [count] geology : one of the very large sections of the Earth's surface that are believed to move and cause earthquakes where they touch each other - see also plate tectonics
8 [noncount]
a : metal that is covered with a thin layer of gold or silver
• gold/silver plate
b : objects (such as dishes, knives, forks, etc.) that are covered with a thin layer of gold or silver
• The dishes were solid silver, not plate.
9 [count] : a special page in a book that has pictures on it
• The book is 500 pages long and contains over 50 color plates.
- see also bookplate
10 [count] : a surface of metal, plastic, or wood that is used in printing words or pictures on paper
• printing plates
11 [count] : a sheet of glass or plastic that is treated with a special chemical and used in photography
• photographic plates
12 [count] : the part of a set of false teeth that attaches to the mouth
• the upper/lower plate of a set of dentures
clean your plate
- see 2clean
on a plate informal : in a way that requires no effort : as a gift
• He was handed the job on a plate. [=he was given the job without having to do anything to earn it]
• The victory was handed to us on a plate.
on your plate informal
- used to refer to the things that a person has to do or deal with at one time
• She has a lot on her plate right now. [=she has a lot of things that she has to deal with right now]
• I've got enough on my plate to keep me busy this summer.
step up to the plate baseball : to move into position next to home plate in order to bat - often used figuratively in U.S. English
• He finally stepped up to the plate [=he finally took action] and asked her to marry him.
• If you want this promotion, you're going to have to step up to the plate. [=you will have to improve your work performance to show that you deserve the promotion]
- see also fashion plate
1. noun
a) A dish from which food is serve d or eat en.
I filled my plate from the bountiful table.
b) The contents of such a dish.
I ate a plate of beans.
2. verb
a) To cover the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material, usually a metal.
This ring is plated with a thin layer of gold.
b) To place the various elements of a meal on the diners plate prior to serving.
After preparation, the chef will plate the dish.
plate (PICTURE) /pleɪt/plate
noun [C] SPECIALIZED
a picture, especially in colour, in a book:
The three birds differ in small features (see Plate 4).
a weapon that is like a long, thin stick with a sharp point at one end and often feathers at the other, shot from a bow (= a long, thin piece of wood bent into a curve by a piece of string)
تیر
Robin Hood asked to be buried where his arrow landed.
arrow
noun
1 a long thin piece of wood or metal with a point at one end.
word building
You shoot an arrow by pulling back the string on a curved piece of wood called a bow and then letting go. You try to hit a target.
2 the sign (?) that shows where something is or where you should go:
The arrow is pointing left.
arrow
ar‧row /ærəʊ $ ˈæroʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: arwe]
1. a weapon usually made from a thin straight piece of wood with a sharp point at one end, that you shoot with a ↑bow
2. a sign in the shape of an arrow, used to show direction:
Follow the arrows to the X-ray department.
arrow
arrow [arrow arrows arrowed arrowing] [ˈærəʊ] [ˈæroʊ] noun
1. a thin stick with a sharp point at one end, which is shot from a bow
• a bow and arrow
• to fire/shoot an arrow
• The road continues as straight as an arrow.
2. a mark or sign like an arrow (➞), used to show direction or position
• Follow the arrows.
• Use the arrow keys to move the cursor.
Word Origin:
Old English arewe, arwe, from Old Norse.
Example Bank:
• A hail of arrows descended from the tower.
• An arrow whizzed past his head.
• Follow the red arrows to get to the camp reception.
• He drew two arrows and placed them in the bow.
• She aimed carefully at the tree but the arrow missed.
• She strung an arrow to her bow.
• The arrow hit its target.
• The down arrow indicates rain.
• The old road is shown on the map by broken arrows.
• The people used bows and arrows for hunting.
• You can scroll through the text using the up and down arrow keys.
• You will see an arrow pointing to the left.
• the arrow slits in the castle's battlements
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
arrow / ˈær.əʊ / / ˈer.oʊ / noun [ C ]
B2 a weapon that is like a long, thin stick with a sharp point at one end and often feathers at the other, shot from a bow (= a long, thin piece of wood bent into a curve by a piece of string) :
Robin Hood asked to be buried where his arrow landed.
→ Compare dart noun (POINTED OBJECT)
See picture bow
See picture sports 3
B2 a sign consisting of a straight line with an upside down V shape at one end of it that points in a particular direction, used to show where something is:
I followed the arrows to the car park.
arrow
[æ̱roʊ]
arrows
1) N-COUNT An arrow is a long thin weapon which is sharp and pointed at one end and which often has feathers at the other end. An arrow is shot from a bow.
Warriors armed with bows and arrows and spears have invaded their villages.
2) N-COUNT An arrow is a written or printed sign that consists of a straight line with another line bent at a sharp angle at one end. This is a printed arrow: →. The arrow points in a particular direction to indicate where something is.
A series of arrows points the way to the modest grave of Andrei Sakharov.
3) slings and arrows → see
arrow
ar·row /ˈeroʊ/ noun, pl -rows [count]
1 : a weapon that is made to be shot from a bow and that is usually a stick with a point at one end and feathers at the other end
• shoot an arrow
2 : a mark (such as →) that is shaped like an arrow and that is used to show direction
• The arrow on the map points north.
- see also straight arrow
a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a long, thin piece of wood bent into a curve by a tightly stretched string
کمان
bow and arrowsbow and arrows
bow
noun
pronunciation
With these meanings, the word bow sounds like go.
1 a curved piece of wood with a string between the two ends. You use a bow to send arrows through the air.
2 a knot with two loose round parts and two loose ends that you use when you are tying shoes, etc.
3 a long thin piece of wood with hair stretched across it that you use for playing some musical instruments:
a violin bow
bow2 /baʊ/ BrE AmE noun
1. [countable] the act of bending the top part of your body forward to show respect for someone when you meet them, or as a way of thanking an ↑audience
take/give a bow (=bow to the audience at the end of a performance)
The music ended and the girl took a bow.
He gave a final bow just as the curtains came down.
This is done with a formal bow to the king or queen.
noun
1. the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body forward in order to say hello or goodbye to sb or to show respect
• She gave a slight bow of her head in greeting.
• The messenger made a formal bow and left the room.
2. (also bows plural) the front part of a boat or ship
compare stern n.
more at a shot across the/sb's bows at shot n.
Word Origin:
Old English būgan ‘bend, stoop’ Germanic German biegen bow2 late Middle English Low German boog Dutch boeg ‘shoulder or ship's bow’ bough
Example Bank:
• He gave a formal bow and left the room.
• He made a deep bow to the king.
• He gave her a deep bow.
• The song ended and Albert took a bow.
• The boss takes his final bow today.
• The team's chairman takes his final bow at this match.
• The ship's name was printed on her bow.
• There were huge waves breaking over the bows.
• There's a small boat on the port bow.
• They fired a shot across our bow/bows.
• We left two men in the bow to receive the cargo.
• A huge whale crossed our bows.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
bow / bəʊ / / boʊ / noun [ C ] (WEAPON)
B2 a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a long, thin piece of wood bent into a curve by a tightly stretched string:
bow and arrows
→ See also crossbow
See picture bow
See picture sports 3
bow / bəʊ / / boʊ / noun [ C ] (KNOT)
B2 a knot with two curved parts and two loose ends, used as a decoration or to tie shoes:
I tied the ribbon around the parcel in a pretty bow.
See picture bow
bow / baʊ / noun [ C ] ( also bows ) (FRONT PART)
the front part of a ship
→ Compare stern noun
See picture bow
bow / baʊ / noun [ C ] (BEND)
the movement of bending your head or body forward, especially as a way of showing someone respect or expressing thanks to people who have watched you perform:
The audience applauded enthusiastically, and she came back on stage to take another bow.
bow / bəʊ / / boʊ / noun [ C ] (MUSIC)
C2 a long, thin piece of wood with hair from the tail of a horse stretched along it, used to play musical instruments that have strings:
Violins are played with bows.
See picture bow
See picture music (strings)
bow
I BENDING OR SUBMITTING
bows, bowing, bowed
(Pronounced [ba͟ʊ] in bow 1 and 2, and [bo͟ʊ] in bow 3.)
1) VERB When you bow to someone, you briefly bend your body towards them as a formal way of greeting them or showing respect.
[V to n] They bowed low to Louis and hastened out of his way...
He bowed slightly before taking her bag.
N-COUNT: usu sing
Bow is also a noun. I gave a theatrical bow and waved.
2) VERB If you bow your head, you bend it downwards so that you are looking towards the ground, for example because you want to show respect or because you are thinking deeply about something.
[V n] The Colonel bowed his head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving...
[V-ed] She stood still, head bowed, hands clasped in front of her.
Syn:
lower
3) VERB If you bow to pressure or to someone's wishes, you agree to do what they want you to do.
[V to n] Some shops are bowing to consumer pressure and stocking organically grown vegetables...
[V to n] Parliament has bowed to the demand for a referendum next year.
4) V-PASSIVE If you are bowed by something, you are made unhappy and anxious by it, and lose hope.
[be V-ed] ...their determination not to be bowed in the face of the allied attacks.
PHR-V-PASSIVE
To be bowed down means the same as to be bowed. be V-ed P I am bowed down by my sins.
5) PHRASE: V inflects If someone bows to the inevitable and does something that they do not want to do, they do it, because circumstances force them to do it.
He bowed to the inevitable and announced that he was willing to resume diplomatic relations.
6) PHRASE: V and N inflect If an actor or entertainer takes a bow, he or she shows appreciation of an audience's applause by bowing to them.
They ran to the center of the tent to take their bows.
Phrasal Verbs:
- bow down
- bow outII PART OF A SHIP
bows
N-COUNT
(Pronounced [ba͟ʊ] in bow 1 and 2, and [bo͟ʊ] in bow 3.)
The front part of a ship is called the bow or the bows. The plural bows can be used to refer either to one or to more than one of these parts.
The waves were about five feet now, and the bow of the boat was leaping up and down.
...the sight of that magnificent ship lit up from bow to stern.
...spray from the ship's bows.III OBJECTS
bows
(Pronounced [ba͟ʊ] in bow 1 and 2, and [bo͟ʊ] in bow 3.)
1) N-COUNT A bow is a knot with two loops and two loose ends that is used in tying shoelaces and ribbons.
Add a length of ribbon tied in a bow.
2) N-COUNT A bow is a weapon for shooting arrows which consists of a long piece of curved wood with a string attached to both its ends.
Some of the raiders were armed with bows and arrows.
3) N-COUNT The bow of a violin or other stringed instrument is a long thin piece of wood with fibres stretched along it, which you move across the strings of the instrument in order to play it.
4) another string to your bow → see string
4bow /ˈboʊ/ noun, pl bows [count]
1 : a knot that is made by tying a ribbon or string into two or more loops and that is used for tying shoelaces or for decoration
• She tied/wore a bow in her hair.
- see also bow tie
2 : a weapon used for shooting arrows that is made of a long, thin piece of wood which is bent with its ends connected by a tight, strong string
• They hunted with bows and arrows.
3 : a tool that is used for playing a violin or similar musical instrument and that is made of a thin stick of wood with its ends connected by stretched pieces of hair or fiber - see picture at stringed instrument
- compare 2bow, 3bow
3bow /ˈbaʊ/ noun, pl bows [count] : the front part of a boat or ship
• The deck was cleaned from bow to stern. [=from the front end to the back end]
- see picture at boat; opposite 2stern
- compare 2bow, 4bow
2bow noun, pl bows [count] : the act of bending forward at the neck or waist in order to greet someone or show respect : the act of bowing
• In some cultures it is polite to greet people with a bow, while in others a handshake is preferred.
• He smiled and made/gave a bow.
take a bow : to bow towards an audience that is applauding for you
• When the play has finished, the actors will line up to take a bow.
- often used figuratively to say that someone deserves to be praised
• The people who organized the festival should take a bow for its remarkable success.
- compare 3bow 4bow
the art or sport of shooting arrows
تیراندازی با کمان
He took up archery eight years ago.
archery
ar‧cher‧y /ˈɑːtʃəri $ ˈɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
the sport of shooting ↑arrows from a ↑bow
archery
arch·ery [ˈɑːtʃəri] [ˈɑːrtʃəri] noun
uncountable
the art or sport of shooting arrows with a bow
Word Origin:
[archery] late Middle English: from Old French archerie, from archier, based on Latin arcus ‘bow’.
Example Bank:
• He took up archery eight years ago.
• Neither had practised archery before last year.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
archery / ˈɑː.tʃə.ri / / ˈɑːr.tʃɚ.i / noun [ U ]
archery
the art or sport of shooting arrows
archery
[ɑ͟ː(r)tʃəri]
N-UNCOUNT
Archery is a sport in which people shoot arrows at a target using a bow.
...a traditional national festival of horse racing, wrestling and archery.
archery
ar·chery /ˈɑɚʧəri/ noun [noncount] : the sport or skill of shooting with a bow and arrow - often used before another noun
• an archery competition/contest
• archery equipment
a set of connected or related things
زنجیره، سلسله
She has built up a chain of 180 bookshops across the country.
noun
a line of metal rings that are joined together:
Round her neck she wore a gold chain.
My bicycle chain is broken.
chain
I. chain1 S3 W2 /tʃeɪn/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaeine, from Latin catena]
1. JOINED RINGS [uncountable and countable] a series of metal rings which are joined together in a line and used for fastening things, supporting weights, decoration etc ⇨ link:
She had a gold chain around her neck.
a length of heavy chain
the Mayor’s chain of office (=a decoration worn by some British officials at ceremonies)
pull the chain British English (=flush the toilet)
a bicycle chain (=that makes the wheels turn) ⇨ ↑jewellery
2. CONNECTED EVENTS [countable] a connected series of events or actions, especially which lead to a final result:
the chain of events that led to World War I
The salesmen are just one link in the chain (=part of a process) of distribution.
a rather complicated chain of reasoning ⇨ ↑chain of command, ↑food chain
3. SHOPS/HOTELS [countable] a number of shops, hotels, cinemas etc owned or managed by the same company or person
chain of
a chain of restaurants
hotel/restaurant/retail etc chain
several major UK supermarket chains ⇨ ↑chain store
4. CONNECTED LINE [countable] people or things which are connected or next to each other forming a line
mountain/island chain
the Andean mountain chain
chain of atoms/molecules etc technical:
a chain of amino acids
They formed a human chain (=a line of people who pass things from one person to the next) to move the equipment.
daisy chains (=flowers tied together)
5. PRISONERS [countable usually plural] metal chains fastened to the legs and arms of a prisoner, to prevent them from escaping
in chains
He was led away in chains.
ball and chain (=a chain attached to someone’s ankle at one end with a heavy metal ball at the other)
6. BUYING A HOUSE [countable usually singular] British English a number of people buying houses, where each person must complete the sale of their own house before they can buy the next person’s house
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ types of chain
▪ a big/major/large chain It is one of Europe’s biggest clothing chains.
▪ a hotel chain Hilton is an international hotel chain.
▪ a supermarket chain Many people buy all their food at one of the major supermarket chains.
▪ a retail chain (=one whose business is buying and selling goods) Large retail chains usually want to expand and build more stores.
▪ a department store/video store/food store etc chain Morgan was the owner of a computer store chain.
▪ a restaurant chain the Pizza Hut restaurant chain
▪ a grocery chain These are two of Florida’s largest grocery chains.
▪ a fast-food chain the fast-food chain, Burger King
▪ a national/nationwide chain He was head of a national chain of grocery stores.
■ phrases
▪ be part of a chain The hotel is part of the MacDonald chain.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 4)
■ types of chain
▪ a mountain chain The town of Besançon lies at the end of the Jura mountain chain.
▪ an island chain the island chain from Asia to Australasia
▪ a human chain (=a large number of people who form a line, a circle etc to do something) Riot police formed human chains to block demonstrators.
▪ a chain of atoms/molecules etc technical: Most fabrics are made of long chains of molecules.
■ verbs
▪ form a chain They formed a human chain passing buckets of water to the fire.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ mountain a very high hill: the highest mountain in Austria
▪ hill an area of land that is higher than the land around it, which is like a mountain but smaller and usually has a rounded top: We went for a walk in the hills. | The house is surrounded by woods, farmland and gentle hills.
▪ Mount (also Mt written abbreviation) used in the names of mountains. Don’t say ‘Fuji Mountain’ – say ‘Mount Fuji’: Mount Everest
▪ cliff the steep side of an area of land, often next to the sea: the white cliffs of Dover
▪ precipice especially literary a very steep and dangerous cliff: They were standing on the edge of a precipice.
▪ crag a high steep rock or mountain: An eagle sailed over the high crags.
▪ ridge a long narrow area of high ground, especially at the top of a mountain: I could see a group of climbers high up on a ridge.
▪ knoll a small round hill: a grassy knoll
▪ volcano a mountain with a large hole at the top, through which ↑lava (=hot liquid rock) is sometimes forced out: the eruption of a volcano
▪ summit the very highest point of a mountain: the summit of Mt Everest
▪ peak especially literary the top of a mountain: the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas | a distant peak
▪ range/chain a group of mountains or hills arranged in a line: the mountain range that is part of the border between Norway and Sweden
▪ foothills a group of smaller hills below a range of high mountains: the Sierra foothills
chain
chain [chain chains chained chaining] noun, verb [tʃeɪn] [tʃeɪn]
noun
METAL RINGS
1. countable, uncountable a series of connected metal rings, used for pulling or fastening things; a length of chain used for a particular purpose
• a short length of chain
• She wore a heavy gold chain around her neck.
• The mayor wore his chain of office.
• a bicycle chain
• The prisoners were kept in chains (= with chains around their arms and legs, to prevent them from escaping).
CONNECTED THINGS
2. countable a series of connected things or people
• to set in motion a chain of events
• a chain of command (= a system in an organization by which instructions are passed from one person to another)
• mountain/island chains
• Volunteers formed a human chain to rescue precious items from the burning house.
see also food chain
OF SHOPS/HOTELS
3. countable a group of shops/stores or hotels owned by the same company
• a chain of supermarkets/a supermarket chain
RESTRICTION
4. countable, usually plural (formal or literary) a thing that restricts sb's freedom or ability to do sth
• the chains of fear/misery
IN HOUSE BUYING
5. countable, usually singular (BrE) a situation in which a number of people selling and buying houses must each complete the sale of their house before buying from the next person
see ball and chain at ball n., a link in the chain at link n., the weak link (in the chain) at weak
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French chaine, chaeine, from Latin catena ‘a chain’.
Thesaurus:
chain noun C
• It was all part of a chain of events.
series • • sequence • • string • • succession • • line • |especially BrE catalogue •
a chain/series/sequence/string/succession/line/catalogue of sth
a chain/series/sequence/string/succession of events
a/an long/endless/continuous/unbroken chain/series/sequence/string/succession/line
Example Bank:
• Let the dog off its chain.
• Our suppliers are the weakest link in the chain.
• Put the chain on the door before you go to bed.
• She wore a long gold chain around her neck.
• The mayor was wearing his chain of office.
• The people formed a human chain to pass the supplies up the beach.
• The prisoner was led away in chains.
• There has been an unbroken chain of great violinists in the family.
• They kept the dog on a chain all day long.
• This hotel is part of a large chain.
• a chain of clothes shops
• a chain of department stores
• a chain of volcanic islands
• efforts to ensure that dioxins do not enter the food chain
• the complex chain of events that led to the war
• I was next in the chain of command.
• If any part of the chain of infection is broken, the spread of the disease will be stopped.
• It's important to make sure the chain of communication is not broken.
• Middlemen are important links in the chain.
• She was personally involved in this chain of events.
• Volunteers formed a human chain to pass buckets of water to each other.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
chain / tʃeɪn / noun [ C ] (CONNECTED THINGS)
B2 a set of connected or related things:
She has built up a chain of 180 bookshops across the country.
His resignation was followed by a remarkable chain of events .
chain / tʃeɪn / noun (RINGS)
A2 [ C or U ] (a length of) rings usually made of metal that are connected together and used for fastening, pulling, supporting, or limiting freedom, or as jewellery:
The gates were locked with a padlock and a heavy steel chain.
Put the chain on the door if you are alone in the house.
Mary was wearing a beautiful silver chain around her neck.
See picture plug
in chains tied with chains:
The hostages were kept in chains for 23 hours a day.
[ plural ] a fact or situation that limits a person's freedom:
At last the country has freed itself from the chains of the authoritarian regime.
chain / tʃeɪn / noun UK (HOUSE SALE)
[ C ] a situation in which someone selling their house cannot complete the sale because the person who wants to buy it needs to sell their house first:
Some sellers refuse to exchange contracts with buyers who are in a chain.
chain
[tʃe͟ɪn]
♦♦♦
chains, chaining, chained
1) N-COUNT A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line.
His open shirt revealed a fat gold chain...
The dogs were leaping and growling at the full stretch of their chains.
2) N-PLURAL: in N If prisoners are in chains, they have thick rings of metal round their wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping.
He'd spent four and a half years in windowless cells, much of the time in chains.
3) N-PLURAL: oft N of n You can refer to feelings and duties which prevent you from doing what you want to do as chains. [LITERARY]
He had to break right now the chains of habit that bound him to the present.
Syn:
fetters
4) VERB If a person or thing is chained to something, they are fastened to it with a chain.
[be V-ed to n] The dog was chained to the leg of the one solid garden seat...
[V n to n] She chained her bike to the railings...
[V n to n] Some demonstrators chained themselves to railings inside the court building...
[V-ed] We were sitting together in our cell, chained to the wall. [Also V n adv/prep]
Syn:
tie
PHRASAL VERB
Chain up means the same as chain. V n P I'll lock the doors and chain you up... V-ed P They kept me chained up every night and released me each day... Also V P n (not pron) V-ed P All the rowing boats were chained up.
5) N-COUNT: N of n A chain of things is a group of them existing or arranged in a line.
...a chain of islands known as the Windward Islands...
Students tried to form a human chain around the parliament.
6) N-COUNT: with supp A chain of shops, hotels, or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person or company.
...a large supermarket chain.
...Italy's leading chain of cinemas.
7) N-SING: N of n A chain of events is a series of them happening one after another.
...the bizarre chain of events that led to his departure in January 1938.
Syn:
series
8) → See also food chain
Phrasal Verbs:
- chain up
1chain /ˈʧeɪn/ noun, pl chains
1 a : a series of usually metal links or rings that are connected to each other in a line and used for supporting heavy things, for holding things together, for decoration, etc.
[count]
• The neighbor's dog is kept on a chain. [=is connected to a chain that keeps it from getting away]
• She wore a beautiful gold chain [=necklace] around her neck.
• the ship's anchor chain
• a bicycle chain
[noncount]
• We'll need 25 feet of chain for the pulley.
- see pictures on page C11 and at bicycle; see also choke chain, key chain
b [count] : a chain that is attached to the arms or legs of a prisoner - usually plural
• The prisoners were kept in chains while being transferred to the new jail.
- often used figuratively
• The contract would keep the employees in chains, unable to leave the company for at least five years.
- see also ball and chain
2 [count] : a series or group of things or people that are connected to each other in some way
• a chain of islands
• The world's longest mountain chain [=group of mountains that form a long line] is the Andes.
• The new book chronicles the chain of events leading up to the crime.
• Protesters formed a human chain [=they stood next to each other with their arms linked] around the ancient tree to prevent it from being cut down.
- see also daisy chain, food chain
3 [count] : a group of businesses (such as stores, restaurants, or hotels) that have the same name and basic appearance and sell the same products or services
• They own a chain of organic grocery stores.
• fast-food/clothing chains also; : the company that owns such a group of businesses
• The hotel chain recently opened a new hotel in Hong Kong.
- see also chain store
4 [count] Brit : a number of people who each want to buy a house but must first sell their current house before moving to the next one - usually singular
• Both houses are currently vacant so there is no chain to worry about.
pull the chain Brit : to flush a toilet
pull/yank someone's chain US informal : to deceive someone in a friendly or playful way
• I thought he really won the lottery but he was only pulling my chain. [=he was only playing a joke on me]
something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it
عادت
His eating habits are extraordinary.
habit
noun
something that you do very often:
Smoking is a bad habit.
She's got a habit of phoning me when I'm in bed.
habit
hab‧it S3 W3 /ˈhæbət, ˈhæbɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑habit, ↑habitué; verb: ↑habituate; adverb: ↑habitually; adjective: ↑habitual]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin habitus 'condition, character', from habere 'to have']
1. USUAL/REGULAR [uncountable and countable] something that you do regularly or usually, often without thinking about it because you have done it so many times before:
Regular exercise is a good habit.
Thinking negatively can become a habit.
She has a habit of playing with her hair when she’s nervous.
Some people drink alcohol as much from habit as from desire.
by/from/out of habit (=because this is what you usually do in this situation)
I did it out of habit.
2. DRUGS [countable] a strong physical need to keep taking a drug regularly:
A lot of drug addicts get into petty crime to support their habit.
heroin/cocaine etc habit
His cocaine habit ruined him physically and financially.
3. not make a habit of (doing) something spoken used to say that someone does not usually do something bad or wrong, or should not do it again:
You’re ten minutes late. I hope you’re not going to make a habit of this.
4. I’m not in the habit of doing something spoken used when you are annoyed, to say that you would not do something:
I’m not in the habit of lying to my friends.
5. have a habit of doing something if something has a habit of doing something, it usually or often does it – used humorously:
Life has a habit of springing surprises.
6. old habits die hard used to say that it is difficult to make people change their attitudes or behaviour:
She knew it probably wasn’t necessary any more, but old habits die hard.
7. habit of thought/mind the way someone usually thinks about something, or their usual attitudes
8. CLOTHING [countable] a long loose piece of clothing worn by people in some religious groups:
a nun’s habit
⇨ a creature of habit at ↑creature(3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a habit (of doing something) He has a habit of being late.
▪ something becomes a habit Once you you have been driving for a few weeks, it becomes a habit.
▪ get into a habit (=start doing something regularly or often) Try to get into the habit of walking for 30 minutes each day.
▪ get out of a habit (=stop doing something regularly or often) She couldn’t get out of the habit of saying 'sorry'.
▪ break/kick a habit (=stop doing something that is bad for you) I’ve smoked for years, but I really want to kick the habit.
▪ develop/form a habit I developed a habit of eating porridge for breakfast.
▪ change your habits It's sometimes difficult for people to change their habits.
■ adjectives
▪ a good/bad habit Eating healthy food as snacks is a good habit to get into.
▪ eating/drinking habits (=the kinds of things you eat or drink regularly) You need to change your eating habits.
▪ buying/spending habits (=the kinds of things you buy regularly) The recession will mean that many people will be changing their spending habits.
▪ viewing habits (=the kinds of television shows you regularly watch) Parents try to control their children’s viewing habits.
▪ sexual habits (=what you normally do in sexual relationships) a survey of the sexual habits of gay men
▪ personal habits (=the things you normally do each day, for example keeping yourself clean or whether you smoke) Some of his personal habits were unpleasant.
▪ social habits (=the things people normally do when they are with other people) Television changed some of our social habits.
▪ an annoying/unpleasant/nasty habit He had the unpleasant habit of eating with his mouth open.
▪ a strange/peculiar/odd habit He had a lot of peculiar habits, one of them being to stare at you without blinking.
■ phrases
▪ be in the habit of doing something On Friday evenings Carrie was in the habit of visiting her parents.
▪ (by/from) force of habit (=used about a habit that is difficult to change) I still walk by his house each day - force of habit, I suppose.
▪ change/break the habits of a lifetime (=stop doing the things you have done for many years) It is hard to change the habits of a lifetime, but you must eat more healthily or you will have a heart attack.
▪ have the unfortunate habit of doing something (=do something that makes other people feel embarrassed or offended) Teenage girls have the unfortunate habit of laughing too loudly.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ habit something you do regularly, often without thinking about it: Biting your nails is a bad habit. | I always go to the same supermarket, out of habit.
▪ mannerism a way of speaking or a small movement of your face or body that is part of your usual behaviour: Even her mannerisms are the same as her sister’s.
▪ custom something that people in a particular society do because it is traditional or the accepted thing to do: In Japan it is the custom to take off your shoes when you enter a house.
▪ tradition a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time: The tradition of giving Easter eggs goes back hundreds of years. | In many countries, it’s a tradition for the bride to wear white. | It was a family tradition to go for a walk on Christmas Day.
▪ practice something that people often do, especially as part of their work or daily life: The hotel has ended the practice of leaving chocolates in guests’ rooms.
habit
habit [habit habits] [ˈhæbɪt] [ˈhæbɪt] noun
1. countable a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially sth that is hard to stop doing
• You need to change your eating habits.
• good/bad habits
• He has the irritating habit of biting his nails.
• It's all right to borrow money occasionally, but don't let it become a habit.
• I'd prefer you not to make a habit of it.
• I'm not in the habit of letting strangers into my apartment.
• I've got into the habit of turning on the TV as soon as I get home.
• I'm trying to break the habit of staying up too late.
• These things have a habit of coming back to haunt you.
2. uncountable usual behaviour
• I only do it out of habit.
• I'm a creature of habit (= I have a fixed and regular way of doing things).
3. countable (informal) a strong need to keep using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes regularly
• He began to finance his habit through burglary.
• She's tried to give up smoking but just can't kick the habit.
• a 50-a-day habit
4. countable a long piece of clothing worn by a monk or nun
see force of habit at force n.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French abit, habit, from Latin habitus ‘condition, appearance’, from habere ‘have, consist of’. The term originally meant ‘dress, attire’, later coming to denote physical or mental constitution.
Thesaurus:
habit noun C, U
• I got into the habit of calling my aunt every night.
practice • • ways • • ritual • • rule • |formal policy •
be sb's habit/practice/policy to do sth
the/sb's usual habit/practice/ritual/policy
change your habit/practice/policy/ways
Example Bank:
• Don't let eating between meals become a habit.
• Ellington's work habits were a marvel to all.
• Even last year the nation's eating habits changed significantly.
• He had an irritating habit of singing tunelessly about the house.
• He turned to crime to support his habit.
• Healthy lifestyle habits begin when you're young.
• Horses are creatures of habit and like to have a daily routine.
• I found some of his personal habits rather disconcerting.
• I got out of the habit of getting up early.
• I had fallen into my old bad habit of leaving everything until the last minute.
• I had got out of the habit of going to the pub.
• I just did it from habit.
• I sat in my old seat purely out of habit.
• I'm trying to kick the smoking habit.
• It was a nervous habit she'd had for years.
• It's hard to change the habit of a lifetime.
• Life has a nasty habit of repeating itself.
• Make a habit of noting down any telephone messages.
• Mental habits are not easily changed.
• Mr Norris bellowed from force of habit.
• Mr Norris woke up early from force of habit.
• Much of what we do in daily life is done by habit.
• She had been in the habit of drinking five or six cups of coffee a day.
• She has some very annoying habits.
• The children are developing unhealthy eating habits.
• The pills affected your sleeping habits.
• Try to get into good habits and eat regular healthy meals.
• You must break yourself of the habit.
• a difficult habit to break
• an effort to change the buying habits of the British public
• deeply ingrained habits of thought
• her charming habit of setting fire to cats
• one of his more endearing habits
• poor eating habits
• women's television viewing habits
• I do it out of habit.
• I got into the habit of going there every night for dinner.
• I'd prefer you not to make a habit of calling late at night.
• I'm not in the habit of letting strangers into my apartment.
• It's all right to borrow money occasionally, but don't let it become a habit.
• The majority of smokers want to give up the habit.
• Try to break the habit of of adding salt at the table.
• When it comes to clothes, men are creatures of habit.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
habit / ˈhæb.ɪt / noun (REPEATED ACTION)
B1 [ C or U ] something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it:
I always buy the same brand of toothpaste just out of (= because of) habit.
I'm trying not to get into (= start) the habit of always having biscuits with my coffee.
I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of (= ended) the habit recently.
I was taught to drive by my boyfriend and I'm afraid I've picked up (= caught) some of his bad habits.
His eating habits are extraordinary.
I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night.
I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she doesn't make a habit of it (= do it frequently) .
I'm not really in the habit of looking at (= I don't usually look at) other people's clothes, but even I noticed that awful suit!
B2 [ C ] something annoying that someone often does:
She has a habit of finishing off other people's sentences.
B2 [ C ] a strong physical need to keep having a particular drug:
a cocaine habit
figurative humorous I'm afraid I've got a chocolate habit.
Word partners for habit
have a habit • get into / get out of the habit of doing sth • have / make a habit of doing sth • sth becomes a habit • acquire / develop / pick up a habit • break / kick a habit • an annoying / bad / good / nasty habit • be in the habit of doing sth • do sth from / out of / through habit
habit / ˈhæb.ɪt / noun [ C ] (CLOTHING)
a special piece of long clothing worn by monks and nuns
Word partners for habit
have a habit • get into / get out of the habit of doing sth • have / make a habit of doing sth • sth becomes a habit • acquire / develop / pick up a habit • break / kick a habit • an annoying / bad / good / nasty habit • be in the habit of doing sth • do sth from / out of / through habit
habit
[hæ̱bɪt]
♦♦♦
habits
1) N-VAR: oft N of -ing A habit is something that you do often or regularly.
He has an endearing habit of licking his lips when he's nervous...
Many people add salt to their food out of habit, without even tasting it first.
...a survey on eating habits in the UK.
2) N-COUNT: oft N of -ing A habit is an action which is considered bad that someone does repeatedly and finds it difficult to stop doing.
A good way to break the habit of eating too quickly is to put your knife and fork down after each mouthful...
After twenty years as a chain smoker Mr Nathe has given up the habit.
3) N-COUNT: supp N A drug habit is an addiction to a drug such as heroin or cocaine.
She became a prostitute in order to pay for her cocaine habit.
4) N-COUNT A habit is a piece of clothing shaped like a long loose dress, which a nun or monk wears.
5) PHRASE: creature inflects, usu v-link PHR If you say that someone is a creature of habit, you mean that they usually do the same thing at the same time each day, rather than doing new and different things.
6) PHRASE: v-link PHR -ing If you are in the habit of doing something, you do it regularly or often. If you get into the habit of doing something, you begin to do it regularly or often.
They were in the habit of giving two or three dinner parties a month...
I got into the habit of calling in on Gloria on my way home from work.
7) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing/n If you make a habit of doing something, you do it regularly or often.
You can phone me at work as long as you don't make a habit of it.
8) PHRASE: habit inflects If someone has a particular habit of mind, they usually think in that particular way.
In accent, mannerism and habit of mind he appeared to be completely Eastern European.
habit
hab·it /ˈhæbət/ noun, pl -its
1 : a usual way of behaving : something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way
[count]
• It was his habit to take a nap after dinner every evening.
• It's important that parents teach their children good study/eating habits.
• He fell/got into some bad habits after graduating from college.
• It's never easy to break/kick a bad habit.
• Old habits die hard. [=it is hard to stop doing things that you have been doing for a long time]
- often followed by of + -ing verb
• He had a habit of coughing when he was nervous.
• He has an annoying/irritating habit of cracking his knuckles.
• Things have a nasty habit of not turning out the way you expect them to. [=things often do not turn out the way you expect them to]
[noncount]
• He still gets up early every day from habit.
• She always closed the door softly out of habit.
• He reached into his pocket for his keys by/from force of habit. [=he did it without thinking because it is what he usually does]
• I'm a creature of habit. [=I always do the same things in the same way]
✦If you are in the habit of doing something, you do it often or usually.
• I'm in the habit of reading before I go to bed.
✦If you say that you are not in the habit of doing something, you mean that you do not do it or that you do not usually do it.
• I'm not in the habit of getting involved in other people's arguments.
• I'm not in the habit of making predictions, but I don't think there's much doubt about who will win this election.
✦To get in/into the habit of doing something means to do something in a regular or repeated way so that it becomes a habit.
• I had gotten into the habit of reading before going to bed.
• She got in the habit of leaving her keys on the counter so she wouldn't forget them.
✦To fall/slip into the habit of doing something is to begin to do something in a regular way without realizing that you are doing it.
• It's easy to fall into the habit of not eating enough for breakfast.
✦If you make a habit of doing something or make it a habit to do something, you do it often.
• They have made a habit of criticizing each other whenever possible.
• The team has made a habit of winning the crucial games.
• Yes, you can leave work early today, but don't make a habit of it.
2 [count] : a strong need to use a drug, to smoke cigarettes, etc.
• He hasn't been able to kick his cocaine habit.
• I used to have a three-pack-a-day cigarette habit. [=I used to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day]
3 [count] : a piece of clothing worn by members of a religious group
• a monk's/nun's habit
