American English

stove

stove [stove stoves stoved stoving]   [stəʊv]    [stoʊv]  noun
1. a piece of equipment that can burn various fuels and is used for heating rooms

• a gas/wood-burning stove

2. (especially NAmE) (BrE also cook·er) (NAmE also range) a large piece of equipment for cooking food, containing an oven and gas or electric rings on top
• She put a pan of water on the stove.
• (NAmE, BrE) Most people don't want to spend hours slaving over a hot stove (= cooking).
see also  stave, stove, stove  _v.
See also: cooker ▪ range  
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘sweating room’): from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German stove; perhaps related to the noun stew.  
Example Bank:
• A pan was simmering on the stove.
• A pot of soup was cooking on the stove.
• Don't touch the stove! It's hot.
• I've been slaving over a hot stove all day for you!
• Most people don't want to spend hours slaving over a hot stove.
• There is no heating in the house apart from a small wood-burning stove.

• We cooked dinner outside the tent on a little paraffin stove.

fridge

fridge [fridge fridges]   [frɪdʒ]    [frɪdʒ]  (BrE) (NAmE or formal re·friger·ator) (US also old-fashioned ice·box) noun
a piece of electrical equipment in which food is kept cold so that it stays fresh

• This dessert can be served straight from the fridge.

refrigerator

re·friger·ator [refrigerator refrigerators]   [rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə(r)]    [rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtər]  noun (formal or NAmE)
=  fridge
• This dessert can be served straight from the refrigerator.
 
Example Bank:
• I opened the refrigerator to take out some orange juice.
• I stocked the refrigerator with fruit.
• I'll raid your refrigerator while we talk.
• Place the dough in the refrigerator overnight.
• The refrigerator was humming in the corner.

• a refrigerator stocked with food

relax

relax AW [relax relaxes relaxed relaxing]   [rɪˈlæks]    [rɪˈlæks]  verb
1. intransitive to rest while you are doing sth enjoyable, especially after work or effort
Syn:  unwind
• Just relax and enjoy the movie.
• I'm going to spend the weekend just relaxing.

• ~ with sth When I get home from work I like to relax with the newspaper.

2. intransitive, transitive ~ (sb) to become or make sb become calmer and less worried
• I'll only relax when I know you're safe.

• Relax! Everything will be OK.

3. intransitive, transitive to become or make sth become less tight or stiff
• Allow your muscles to relax completely.
• ~ sth The massage relaxed my tense back muscles.
• He relaxed his grip on her arm.

• (figurative) The dictator refuses to relax his grip on power.

4. transitive ~ sth to allow rules, laws, etc. to become less strict

• The council has relaxed the ban on dogs in city parks.

5. transitive ~ sth to allow your attention or effort to become weaker
• You cannot afford to relax your concentration for a moment.
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin relaxare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.  
Thesaurus:
relax verb
1. I
• Just relax and enjoy the movie.
unwind • • take it/things easy • • sit back • • put your feet up • • rest • |informal chill (out) • • hang out • |BrE potter • |AmE putter •
try to/help sb (to) relax/unwind/rest
just relax/unwind/take it easy/sit back/rest/hang out/potter/putter
2. I
• Relax! Everything will be OK.
calm down • • cool • • pull yourself together •
things calm down/cool off
Relax or calm down? People can relax; people or a situation can calm down. To relax is to stop feeling worried. Calm down is more about behaviour than feelings: you may still feel worried but you manage to behave in a calm way.
3. I, T
• He relaxed his grip on her arm.
loosen • • slacken • • release •
Opp: tighten, Opp: tense
relax/loosen/slacken/release your grip/hold
relax/loosen/slacken your muscles
loosen/slacken a knot/tie/belt  
Example Bank:
• He gradually relaxed and began to enjoy himself.
• He was relaxing on the couch with a book.
• His severe expression relaxed into a half-smile.
• Jenna relaxed against the pillows.
• Julie seems to be relaxing a little now.
• Just relax and take it easy.
• Just try to relax completely.
• She instantly relaxed at the sight of him.
• She realized how tense she was and consciously relaxed.
• Use music to help you relax.
• I'll only relax when I know you're safe.
• I'm going to spend the weekend just relaxing.

• When I get home from work I like to relax with a glass of wine.

sofa

sofa [sofa sofas]   [ˈsəʊfə]    [ˈsoʊfə]  noun
a long comfortable seat with a back and arms, for two or more people to sit on
Syn:  settee, Syn: couch 
 
Word Origin:
early 17th cent.: from French, based on Arabic ṣuffa.  
Example Bank:
• Amy collapsed on her overstuffed leather sofa.
• He got up from the sofa to fetch some drinks.
• He slumped back on the sofa in tears.
• I fell asleep on the sofa.
• I might have to hide behind the sofa if the movie gets too scary!
• I spent the evening sprawled on the sofa, watching TV.
• I was lying on my living-room sofa.
• She sank into the deep sofa.
• She was curled up on the sofa.
• The convertible sofa means that the apartment can sleep four.

• a sofa bed

table

table [table tables tabled tabling] noun, verb   [ˈteɪbl]    [ˈteɪbl]

noun  

FURNITURE
1. a piece of furniture that consists of a flat top supported by legs
• a kitchen table
• A table for two, please (= in a restaurant).
• I'd like to book a table for tonight (= in a restaurant).
• to set the table (= to put the plates, knives, etc. on it for a meal)
• (BrE also) to lay the table
• to clear the table (= take away the dirty plates, etc. at the end of a meal)
• He questioned her next morning over the breakfast table (= during breakfast).
• (BrE, formal) Children must learn to behave at table.

• a billiard/snooker/pool table  There are many compounds ending in table. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.  

PEOPLE

2. the people sitting at a table for a meal or to play cards, etc
• He kept the whole table entertained with his jokes.

see also  round-table  

LIST OF FACTS/NUMBERS

3. a list of facts or numbers arranged in a special order, usually in rows and columns
• a table of contents (= a list of the main points or information in a book, usually at the front of the book)
• Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the past 20 years.

see also  periodic table  

IN SPORT

4. a list of sports teams, countries, schools, etc. that shows their position in a competition, etc
• If Arsenal win this game they'll go to the top of the table.

• school performance league tables  

MATHEMATICS

5. =  multiplication table
• Do you know your six times table?
see also  turntable, water table 
more at lay/put your cards on the table at  card  _n., drink sb under the table at  drink  _v., wait at tablewait tables at  wait  _v.  
Word Origin:
Old English tabule ‘flat slab, inscribed tablet’, from Latin tabula ‘plank, tablet, list’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French table.  
Example Bank:
• He left the table in a hurry.
• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.
• James crawled out from under the table.
• My father always sits at the head of the table.
• Please lay the table for six.
• See Table XII for population figures.
• She leaned across the table and kissed him.
• She often does her homework at the kitchen table.
• She put the vase on the table.
• The league table shows the Danish team in first place with eight points.
• The potato rolled under the table.
• The team will be lucky to finish the season mid-table.
• They flirted over the dinner table.
• They spent hours around the negotiating table.
• They were all five of them sitting around the kitchen table.
• United are second in the table.
• We arranged the party food on a trestle table in the garden.
• We booked a table at the restaurant for 8 p.m.
• We found an empty table at the back of the restaurant.
• We gathered around the table to hear his news.
• We never discuss politics at the breakfast table.
• We turned the box upside down and used it as a makeshift table.
• We'll take the corner table near the bar, please.
• You clear the table and I'll wash the dishes.
• school league tables
• to sit down at the table
• Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the last 20 years.
• a table of contents

Idioms: bring something to the party ▪ on the table ▪ turn the tables 

magic

magic [magic magics magicked magicking] noun, adjective, verb   [ˈmædʒɪk]    [ˈmædʒɪk] 

noun uncountable
1. the secret power of appearing to make impossible things happen by saying special words or doing special things
• Do you believe in magic?
• a place of secret shadows and ancient magic
• He suddenly appeared as if by magic.
• A passage was cleared through the crowd like magic.

see also  black magic

2. the art of doing tricks that seem impossible in order to entertain people

Syn:  conjuring

3. a special quality or ability that sb/sth has, that seems too wonderful to be real
Syn:  enchantment
• dance and music which capture the magic of India
• He loved the magic and mystery of the place.
• Like all truly charismatic people, he can work his magic on both men and women.
• Our year in Italy was pure/sheer magic.
• He's returning to the team this season, hoping that the old magic can be made to work once more.
see weave your magic at  weave  _v.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French magique, from Latin magicus (adjective), late Latin magica (noun), from Greek magikē (tekhnē) ‘(art of) a magus’: magi were regarded as magicians.  
Thesaurus:
magic noun U
• Do you believe in magic?
witchcraft • • black magic • • the supernatural • • the occult • • conjuring • |written sorcery •
do sth by magic/sorcery
use magic/witchcraft/sorcery
a magic/conjuring trick  
Example Bank:
• A hot bath and a good night's sleep worked their usual magic.
• Fans agree the musical magic is still there.
• He earns extra money doing magic at children's parties.
• I don't believe in magic.
• It's the director's job to make the magic happen.
• Many people think he has lost his magic as a player.
• People found guilty of practising black magic were hanged.
• Prospero uses his magic to attack them.
• The film fails to recapture the magic of his earlier films.
• The fireworks brought a touch of magic to the occasion.
• The magic slowly begins to work, and the princess starts to come to life again.
• The money had reappeared as if by magic.
• The rabbit disappeared by magic.
• The show is three hours of pure magic.
• Visitors can experience the magic of age-old traditions and historical sites.
• A passage was cleared through the crowd like magic.
• He suddenly appeared as if by magic.

• This was a place of secret shadows and ancient magic.

noun
1. a large open container in a kitchen that has taps/faucets to supply water and that you use for washing dishes in
• Don't just leave your dirty plates in the sink!
• I felt chained to the kitchen sink (= I had to spend all my time doing jobs in the house).

2. (especially NAmE) =  washbasin
see everything but the kitchen sink at  kitchen  
Word Origin:
v. Old English sincan Germanic Dutch zinken German sinken
n. Middle English sink
 
Example Bank:
• Don't pour tea leaves down the kitchen sink— it'll get blocked.
• I bought a sink plunger to clear the blocked kitchen sink.
• Put the dishes in the sink.
• She filled the sink with hot water.
• She was at the sink, washing the dishes.
• She was at the sink, washing up the dinner things.
• The kitchen had a double sink.
• You can install a new sink in the kitchen.

• the sink counter in the bathroom

shower

shower [shower showers showered showering] noun, verb   [ˈʃaʊə(r)]    [ˈʃaʊər] 

noun
1. a piece of equipment producing a spray of water that you stand under to wash yourself; the small room or part of a room that contains a shower
• a hotel room with bath and shower
• He's in the shower.
• a shower cubicle
• a shower curtain

2. the act of washing yourself with a shower: (especially BrE) to have a shower
• (especially NAmE) to take a shower

• shower gel

3. a short period of rain or snow
• scattered showers
• April showers
• We were caught in a heavy shower.
• snow showers

• wintry showers (= of snow)

4. a large number of things that arrive or fall together
• a shower of leaves
• a shower of sparks from the fire

• a shower of kisses

5. (NAmE) a party at which you give presents to a woman who is getting married or having a baby
• a bridal/baby shower  
Word Origin:
Old English scūr ‘light fall of rain, hail, etc.’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schoer and German Schauer.  
Thesaurus:
shower noun
1. C
• He's in the shower just now.
bath • • wash •
in the shower/bath
need/have a shower/bath/wash
take a shower/bath
2. C
• We got caught in a heavy shower.
downpour • • rain • • drizzle •
(a) heavy shower/downpour/rain
a sudden shower/downpour
be/get caught in a shower/a downpour/the rain
3. C, usually sing. (usually followed by of) (written)
• The fire sent out a shower of sparks.
volley • |written hail •
a shower/volley/hail of arrows/bullets/stones  
Example Bank:
• After the game, the boys hit the showers.
• He could hear the shower running in the bathroom.
• I got a shower invitation from Katie.
• I'll just take a quick shower.
• Scattered showers during the afternoon will die out by late evening.
• Scattered showers will die out by late evening.
• The grinding wheel sent out a shower of sparks.
• The plans include changing facilities and shower blocks.
• They decided to brave the showers and headed for the coast.
• a baby shower for my sister
• A bridal shower is usually organized by the bridesmaids.
• A log in the fire broke and fell, sending out a shower of sparks.
• Despite occasional April showers, the tennis season started in great style yesterday.
• He pushed the couch so that it banged against the wall and released a shower of dust.
• He's in the shower at the moment — can you call back later?
• Scattered wintry showers over western areas will become more widespread as the evening goes on.
• The white seeds drifted down in a slow shower against the blue sky.
• We got caught in a heavy shower.

• to take a shower

thirtieth

thir·ti·eth [thirtieth thirtieths]   [ˈθɜːtiəθ]  ;   [ˈθɜːrtiəθ]  ordinal number, noun  There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.

Main entry: thirty_derived