American English

choice

choice [choice choices choicer choicest] noun, adjective   [tʃɔɪs]    [tʃɔɪs]

noun
1. countable ~ (between A and B) an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose
• women forced to make a choice between family and career
• We are faced with a difficult choice.
• We aim to help students make more informed career choices.
• Resources are finite, and choices have to be made between competing priorities and needs.

• There is a wide range of choices open to you.

2. uncountable, singular the right to choose or the possibility of choosing
• If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
• He had no choice but to leave (= this was the only thing he could do).
• She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?
• This government is committed to extending parental choice in education.
• After a delicious meal with free wine, the choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach beneath a starry sky.

• Sandy had to tell his tale in halting Italian. Since Franco spoke no English, he had no choice in the matter.

3. countable a person or thing that is chosen
• She's the obvious choice for the job.
• Hawaii remains a popular choice for winter vacation travel.
• This colour wasn't my first choice.
• She wouldn't be my choice as manager.

• I don't like his choice of friends (= the people he chooses as his friends).

4. singular, uncountable the number or range of different things from which to choose
• The menu has a good choice of desserts.
• There wasn't much choice of colour.
see also  Hobson's choice, multiple-choice 
more at you pays your money and you takes your choice at  pay  _v., be spoilt for choice at  spoilt  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French chois, from choisir ‘choose’, of Germanic origin and related to choose.  
Thesaurus:
choice noun
1. C
• Many women make a choice between family and career.
selection • |informal pick •
make a choice/selection
have/take a/your choice/pick
get first choice/pick
2. U, C, usually sing.
• If I had the choice, I'd give up work tomorrow.
• He had no choice but to (= he had to) leave.
option • • alternative • • possibility •
a real/realistic/practical choice/option/alternative/possibility
a/an good/acceptable/reasonable choice/option/alternative
have no choice/option/alternative (but to do sth)
look at/limit the choices/options/alternatives/possibilities
Choice, option or alternative? Alternative is slightly more formal than option or choice, and is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.
3. C
• She is the first choice for the job.
preference • • selection • |BrE favourite • |AmE favorite • |especially AmE, informal pick •
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
an obvious choice/selection/favourite
4. sing., U
• a good choice of desserts
range • • variety • • selection • • assortment • • array •
a wide choice/range/variety/selection/assortment/array
a/an good/interesting/limited choice/range/variety/selection
have/offer/provide (a/an) choice/range/variety/selection/array/assortment (of sth) 
Synonyms:
choice
favourite • preference • selection • pick
These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.
choice • a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She's the obvious choice for the job.
favourite/favorite • a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type: ▪ Which one's your favourite?
preference • a thing that is liked better or best: ▪ Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
favourite or preference?
Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose.
selection • a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group: ▪ A selection of reader's comments are published below.
pick • (rather informal, especially NAmE) a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She was his pick for best actress.
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
an obvious choice/favourite/selection
a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection 
Synonyms:
option
choice • alternative • possibility
These are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation.
option • something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do: ▪ As I see it, we have two options… ◊ ▪ Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program: ▪ Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu.
choice • the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do: ▪ If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow. ◊ ▪ There is a wide range of choices open to you.
alternative • something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities: ▪ You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
option, choice or alternative?
Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for ‘the freedom to choose’, although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative): ▪ If I had the choice/option, I would… ◊ If I had the alternative, I would… ◊ ▪ parental choice in education ◊ parental option/alternative in education. Things that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.
possibility • one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation: ▪ We need to explore a wide range of possibilities. ◊ ▪ The possibilities are endless.
Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available.
with/without the option/choice/possibility of sth
a(n) good/acceptable/reasonable/possible option/choice/alternative
the only option/choice/alternative/possibility open to sb
to have a/an/the option/choice of doing sth
to have no option/choice/alternative but to do sth)
a number/range of options/choices/alternatives/possibilities 
Example Bank:
• Bill is the obvious choice for captain of the team.
• Doctors have to make moral choices every day of their lives.
• Everyone in a democracy has the right to exercise choice.
• First prize will be a meal for two at a restaurant of your choice.
• He had no choice about that.
• I don't think much of her choice of outfit.
• I had no choice but to cancel my holiday.
• I now had a clear choice: either I accept their terms or I leave.
• I think she's a very good choice for captain.
• I wouldn't have come to this bar by choice!
• In the end, the choice was quite easy.
• It was a happy choice of venue
• Maria defended her choice of name for the child.
• Mary is a popular choice as chair of the committee.
• Much ill health is the result of poor diet and lifestyle choices.
• Our first choice for a holiday is the north of Scotland.
• Our first choice for a site was already taken.
• People were asked about their top choices for meeting locations.
• She faced the stark choice of backing the new plan or losing her job.
• She has a choice between three different universities.
• She questioned the choice of Murphy for this role.
• She was starting to regret her choice.
• Smoking may limit your choice of contraception.
• Students have a free choice from a range of subjects.
• The hotel is the preferred choice for business people.
• The shop has a very limited choice of ties.
• The way he behaved meant that we had no choice in the matter.
• These are personal choices that people must make for themselves.
• We gave her the choice, and she decided she'd like a bike for her birthday.
• We offer a choice of ten different destinations.
• When did you make a conscious choice to become an artist?
• You can have first choice of all the rooms.
• Your decision leaves me with no choice but to resign.
• Your needs should dictate your choice.
• a careful choice of words
• a limited range of choices available to buyers
• a range of available choices
• a test with multiple choice questions
• to extend parental choice as to which schools children should attend
• to make choices about their future
• I don't like his choice of friends.
• Many women are forced to make a choice between family and career.
• She wouldn't be my choice as manager.
• She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?
• She's the obvious choice for the job.
• The choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach.
• There wasn't much choice of colour.
• This colour wasn't my first choice.

Idioms: by choice ▪ of choice ▪ of your choice 

sun

sun [sun suns sunned sunning] noun, verb   [sʌn]    [sʌn]

noun
1. the sun, the Sun singular the star that shines in the sky during the day and gives the earth heat and light
• the sun's rays
• the rising/setting sun
• The sun was shining and birds were singing.
• The sun was just setting.

• A pale wintry sun shone through the clouds.

2. (usually the sun) singular, uncountable the light and heat from the sun
Syn:  sunshine
• the warmth of the afternoon sun
• This room gets the sun in the mornings.
• We sat in the sun.
• The sun was blazing hot.
• Too much sun ages the skin.
• We did our best to keep out of the sun.
• They've booked a holiday in the sun (= in a place where it is warm and the sun shines a lot).
• Her face had obviously caught the sun (= become red or brown) on holiday.
• I was driving westwards and I had the sun in my eyes (= the sun was shining in my eyes).

see also  sunny

3. countable (technical) any star around which planets move
more at make hay while the sun shines at  hay, a place in the sun at  place  _n.  
Word Origin:
Old English sunne, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zon and German Sonne, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek hēlios and Latin sol.  
Collocations:
The weather
Good weather
be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine
the sun shines/warms sth/beats down (on sth)
the sunshine breaks/streams through sth
fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky
a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea
the snow crunches beneath/under sb's feet/boots
Bad weather
thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun
the sky darkens/turns black
a fine mist hangs in the air
a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in
the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down
snow falls/comes down/covers sth
the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through sth/sweeps across sth
strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph)
a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages
thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds
(forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes
a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages
a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys sth/rips through sth
forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane
(NAmE) pour (down)/ (BrE) pour (down) with rain
get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain
be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog
be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm
hear rolling/distant thunder
be battered/buffeted by strong winds
(BrE) be blowing a gale
battle against/brave the elements
The weather improves
the sun breaks through the clouds
the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up)
the clouds part/clear
the rain stops/lets up/holds off
the wind dies down
the storm passes
the mist/fog lifts/clears  
Example Bank:
• Don't sit in the sun too long.
• He was enjoying the feel of the sun on his back.
• It was getting cooler as the sun sank below the horizon.
• Just then, a watery sun broke through the clouds.
• On children, use a cream with a high sun protection factor.
• The clouds darkened, obliterating the sun.
• The distant mountains glowed in the light of the setting sun.
• The evening sun slanted through the window.
• The helmets were glinting in the sun.
• The north side of the garden never gets any sun.
• The setting sun cast long shadows over the landscape.
• The sun caught her dazzling copper hair.
• The sun climbed higher in the sky.
• The sun glinted on the blades.
• The sun moved slowly westward.
• The sun reflected off the water.
• The sun rises in the east.
• The sun sets in the west.
• The sun struck the steep blue slates of the roof.
• The sun warmed his face.
• The sun was up now, and strong.
• The sun went in and it started to rain.
• The wintry sun was already low in the sky.
• There is nothing new under the sun.
• They call Norway the land of the midnight sun.
• This plant likes a dryish soil in full sun.
• Try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Venus orbits the Sun in just under one Earth year.
• We did our best to keep out of the sun.
• We had discussions about everything under the sun.
• We went out into the sun.
• We were lying by the pool, soaking up the afternoon sun.
• We've booked a holiday in the sun.
• You've caught the sun.
• an afternoon of lazing under the warm sun
• with the sun in her eyes
• wrinkles caused by sun damage
• Her face had obviously caught the sun.
• They're having a winter break in the sun.
• We sat in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

Idioms: under the sun ▪ with the sun 

verb (rose   [rəʊz]  ;   [roʊz]  risen   [ˈrɪzn]  ;   [ˈrɪzn]  ) 

MOVE UPWARDS
1. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to come or go upwards; to reach a higher level or position
• Smoke was rising from the chimney.

• The river has risen (by) several metres.  

GET UP

2. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) (formal) to get up from a lying, sitting or kneeling position
Syn:  get up
• He was accustomed to rising (= getting out of bed) early.
• They rose from the table.

• She rose to her feet.  

OF SUN/MOON

3. intransitive when the sun, moon, etc. rises, it appears above the horizon
• The sun rises in the east.

Opp:  set  

END MEETING

4. intransitive (formal) (of a group of people) to end a meeting
Syn:  adjourn

• The House (= members of the House of Commons) rose at 10 p.m.  

INCREASE

5. intransitive to increase in amount or number
• rising fuel bills
• The price of gas rose.
• Gas rose in price.
• Unemployment rose (by) 3%.

• Air pollution has risen above an acceptable level.  

BECOME POWERFUL/IMPORTANT

6. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to become more successful, important, powerful, etc
• a rising young politician
• She rose to power in the 70s.
• He rose to the rank of general.

• She rose through the ranks to become managing director.  

OF SOUND

7. intransitive if a sound rises, it become louder and higher

• Her voice rose angrily.  

OF WIND

8. intransitive if the wind rises, it begins to blow more strongly
Syn:  get up

• The wind is rising— I think there's a storm coming.  

OF FEELING

9. intransitive (formal) if a feeling rises inside you, it begins and gets stronger
• He felt anger rising inside him.

• Her spirits rose (= she felt happier) at the news.  

OF YOUR COLOUR

10. intransitive (formal) if your colour rises, your face becomes pink or red with embarrassment  

OF HAIR
11. intransitive if hair rises, it stands vertical instead of lying flat

• The hair on the back of my neck rose when I heard the scream.  

FIGHT

12. intransitive ~ (up) (against sb/sth) (formal) to begin to fight against your ruler or government or against a foreign army
Syn:  rebel
• The peasants rose in revolt.
• He called on the people to rise up against the invaders.

related noun  uprising  

BECOME VISIBLE

13. intransitive (formal) to be or become visible above the surroundings

• Mountains rose in the distance.  

OF LAND

14. intransitive if land rises, it slopes upwards

• The ground rose steeply all around.  

OF BEGINNING OF RIVER

15. intransitive + adv./prep. a river rises where it begins to flow

• The Thames rises in the Cotswold hills.  

OF BREAD/CAKES

16. intransitive when bread, cakes, etc. rise, they swell because of the action of yeast or baking powder  

OF DEAD PERSON
17. intransitive ~ (from sth) to come to life again
• to rise from the dead
• (figurative) Can a new party rise from the ashes of the old one?
more at sb's gorge rises at  gorge  _n., make sb's hackles rise at  hackles, draw yourself up/rise to your full height at  height 
 
Word Origin:
Old English rīsan ‘make an attack’, ‘wake, get out of bed’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rijzen and German reisen.  
Thesaurus:
rise verb
1. I
• rising fuel bills/divorce rates
increase • • grow • • climb • • escalate • • jump • • rocket • |especially spoken go up • |written soar • |disapproving spiral • • shoot up • |often approving leap • |especially business surge •
Opp: fall, Opp: drop, Opp: sink
rise/increase/grow/jump/go up/shoot up/soar in price, number, etc.
rise/increase/grow/go up/climb/jump/rocket/shoot up/soar (by) 10%, 200, etc.
rise/increase/grow/go up/climb/escalate/jump/rocket/shoot up/soar from 2% to 5%
Rise, increase or grow? Rise is the most frequent of these verbs. It is used most often about the number or level of sth; grow and increase can also be used about size and strength:
• Profits/Numbers have risen/grown/increased.
• Her confidence grew/increased.
 ¤ Her confidence rose.
2. I
• From the river the ground rises steeply towards the north.
slope • • climb •
Opp: drop away
rise/slope/climb towards sth
rise/slopeclimb steeply
rise/slope gently/slightly  
Language Bank:
increase
Describing an increase
▪ Student numbers in English language schools in this country increased ▪ from 66 000 in 2008 to just over 84 000 in 2009.
▪ The number of students increased ▪ by almost 30% compared with the previous year.
▪ Student numbers shot up ▪ / increased dramatically ▪ in 2009.
▪ The proportion of Spanish students rose sharply ▪ from 5% in 2008 to 14% in 2009.
▪ There was a significant rise ▪ in student numbers in 2009.
▪ The 2009 figure was 84 000, an increase of ▪ 28% on the previous year.
▪ The 2009 figure was 84 000, 28 per cent up ▪ on the previous year.
▪ As the chart shows, this can partly be explained by a dramatic increase ▪ in students from Spain.
Language Banks at expect, fall, illustrate, proportion  
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:
• Adam rose abruptly from the table.
• Entry standards into the profession are set to rise further.
• Gas rose in price.
• He made to rise but found his legs were not strong enough to support him.
• He rose early and went for a walk.
• He rose to his full height and leaned across the table.
• House prices have risen sharply in recent months.
• Inflation rose from 2% to 5% last year.
• Lush green mountains rise up behind the airport.
• Pensions will rise in line with inflation.
• She rose shakily to her feet and looked around.
• She rose slowly from her chair to greet us.
• She rose unsteadily to her feet.
• Smoke rose from the chimney.
• Somehow he managed to rise to a sitting position.
• Tall chimneys rise into the air.
• The cost of health care is rising faster than ever.
• Unemployment has risen by 25 000 this month.
• the cliffs which rise majestically from the ocean
• Behind the house the ground rises steeply to the north.
• Interest rates are expected to rise from 4.5% to 5% in the next six months.
• The price of gas has risen by 3%.
• Would you all rise, please, to welcome our visiting speaker.

• rising fuel bills/divorce rates

grey matter

ˈgrey matter [grey matter]       (especially BrE) (NAmE usually ˈgray matter) noun uncountable (informal)
a person's intelligence

• This should exercise the old grey matter.

walk somebody ˈthrough something
to help somebody learn or become familiar with something, by showing them each stage of the process in turn

She walked me through a demonstration of the software.
 
RELATED NOUN walk-through

wet blanket

ˌwet ˈblanket [wet blanket]       noun (informal, disapproving)

a person who is not enthusiastic about anything and who stops other people from enjoying themselves

ring a ˈbell idiom

(informal) to sound familiar to you, as though you have heard it before

> His name rings a bell but I can't think where we met.

botanical garden

boˌtanical ˈgarden [botanical garden]       (also boˌtanic ˈgarden) noun usually plural

a park where plants, trees and flowers are grown for scientific study