American English

dinner

din·ner [dinner dinners]   [ˈdɪnə(r)]    [ˈdɪnər]  noun
1. uncountable, countable the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening
• It's time for dinner.
• When do you have dinner?
• What time do you serve dinner?
• Let's invite them to dinner tomorrow.
• What shall we have for dinner tonight?
• It's your turn to cook dinner.
• She didn't eat much dinner.
• I never eat a big dinner.
• Christmas dinner
• a three-course dinner
• I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.

• (BrE) school dinners (= meals provided at school in the middle of the day)

2. countable a large formal social gathering at which dinner is eaten
• The club's annual dinner will be held on 3 June.
see also  dinner party
more at a dog's breakfast/dinner at  dog  _n.
Idiom: done like a dinner  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French disner (infinitive used as a noun), probably from desjëuner ‘to break fast’, from des- (expressing reversal) + jëun ‘fasting’.  
Culture:
meals
Americans and British people generally eat three meals a day though the names vary according to people’s lifestyles and where they live.
The first meal of the day is breakfast. The traditional full English breakfast served in many British hotels may include fruit juice, cereal, bacon and eggs, often with sausages and tomatoes, toast and marmalade, and tea or coffee. Few people have time to prepare a cooked breakfast at home and most have only cereal and/or toast with tea or coffee. Others buy coffee and a pastry on their way to work.
The traditional American breakfast includes eggs, some kind of meat and toast. Eggs may be fried, ‘over easy’, ‘over hard’ or ‘sunny side up’, or boiled, poached or in an omelette (= beaten together and fried). The meat may be bacon or sausage. People who do not have time for a large meal have toast or cereal and coffee. It is common for Americans to eat breakfast in a restaurant. On Saturday and Sunday many people eat brunch late in the morning. This consists of both breakfast and lunch dishes, including pancakes and waffles (= types of cooked batter) that are eaten with butter and maple syrup.
Lunch, which is eaten any time after midday, is the main meal of the day for some British people, though people out at work may have only sandwiches. Some people also refer to the midday meal as dinner. Most workers are allowed about an hour off work for it, called the lunch hour, and many also go shopping. Many schools offer a cooked lunch (school lunch or school dinner), though some students take a packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit, etc. Sunday lunch is special and is, for many families, the biggest meal of the week, consisting traditionally of roast meat and vegetables and a sweet course. In the US lunch is usually a quick meal, eaten around midday. Many workers have a half-hour break for lunch, and buy a sandwich from near their place of work. Business people may sometimes eat a larger lunch and use the time to discuss business.
The main meal of the day for most people is the evening meal, called supper, tea or dinner. It is usually a cooked meal with meat or fish or a salad, followed by a sweet course. In Britain younger children may have tea when they get home from school. Tea, meaning a main meal for adults, is the word used in some parts of Britain especially when the evening meal is eaten early. Dinner sounds more formal than supper, and guests generally receive invitations to ‘dinner’ rather than to ‘supper’. In the US the evening meal is called dinner and is usually eaten around 6 or 6.30 p.m. In many families, both in Britain and in the US, family members eat at different times and rarely sit down at the table together.
Many people also eat snacks between meals. Most have tea or coffee at mid-morning, often called coffee time or the coffee break. In Britain in the past this was sometimes also called elevenses. In the afternoon many British people have a tea break. Some hotels serve afternoon tea which consists of tea or coffee and a choice of sandwiches and cakes. When on holiday/vacation people sometimes have a cream tea of scones, jam and cream. In addition many people eat chocolate bars, biscuits (AmE cookies) or crisps (AmE chips). Some British people have a snack, sometimes called supper, consisting of a milk drink and a biscuit before they go to bed. In the US children often have milk and cookies after school. 
Thesaurus:
dinner noun U, C
• They invited us to dinner.
lunch • • supper • • meal • • banquet • • feast • |BrE tea • |formal luncheon •
have/invite sb for/to dinner/lunch/supper/a meal/banquet/feast/tea/luncheon
eat/serve dinner/lunch/supper/a meal/tea/luncheon
get dinner/lunch/supper/tea/a meal
Which word? A main or formal meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner. Lunch is eaten in the middle of the day; in Britain some people call this dinner if it is the main meal of the day. Tea is usually a light afternoon meal with a cup of tea, but it can also refer to an evening meal, especially one for children. Supper is an informal evening meal or a light meal before bedtime.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
More About:
meals
People use the words dinner, lunch, supper and tea in different ways depending on which English-speaking country they come from. In Britain it may also depend on which part of the country or which social class a person comes from.
A meal eaten in the middle of the day is usually called lunch. If it is the main meal of the day it may also be called dinner in BrE, especially in the north of the country.
A main meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner, especially if it is a formal meal. Supper is also an evening meal, but more informal than dinner and usually eaten at home. It can also be a late meal or something to eat and drink before going to bed.
In BrE, tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cakes, etc. and a cup of tea: ▪ a cream tea. It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children: ▪ What time do the kids have their tea?
As a general rule, if dinner is the word someone uses for the meal in the middle of the day, they probably call the meal in the evening tea or supper. If they call the meal in the middle of the day lunch, they probably call the meal in the evening dinner.
Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch, is becoming more common, especially as a meal where your guests serve themselves. 
Example Bank:
• A gala dinner was held to celebrate the world premiere of the movie.
• A state dinner was held in honour of the visiting Japanese premier.
• Are we expected to dress for dinner?
• I always forgot to take my dinner money to school.
• My old school is giving a fund-raising dinner
• The club's annual dinner is this week.
• The extensive dinner menu includes Russian delicacies.
• The former Olympic champion was invited to speak at a charity dinner.
• The school dinner menu always includes a balance of food types.
• There was never much conversation at the dinner table in my family.
• They invited three couples to a dinner party at their house.
• We attended the formal reunion dinner.
• We didn't wash up the dinner things until the morning after.
• We're going to attend a formal dinner in aid of cancer research.
• a bone-china dinner service
• the society's annual dinner dance
• Have you had dinner yet?
• I used to hate school dinners.
• I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.
• It's time for dinner.
• It's your turn to get dinner.
• Let's invite them to dinner.
• She didn't eat much dinner.
• The club's annual dinner will be held on the 4th of June.

• The evening includes a three-course dinner with wine.

dinner table

ˈdinner table f91 [dinner table dinner tables]       noun (often the dinner table) usually singular
the table at which people are eating dinner; an occasion when people are eating together
• conversation at the dinner table
• The dinner table was laden with crystal and silver.

compare  dining table

cook

cook [cook cooks cooked cooking] verb, noun   [kʊk]    [kʊk] 

verb
1. intransitive, transitive to prepare food by heating it, for example by boiling, baking or frying it
• Where did you learn to cook?
• ~ sth What's the best way to cook trout?
• Who's going to cook supper?
• Add the onion and cook for three minutes.
• He cooked lunch for me.

• ~ sb sth He cooked me lunch.

2. intransitive (of food) to be prepared by boiling, baking, frying, etc

• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.

3. intransitive be cooking (informal) to be planned secretly
• Everyone is being very secretive— there's something cooking.
 
Word Origin:
Old English cōc (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.  
Thesaurus:
cook verb T, I
• There are various ways to cook fish.
make • • bake • • roast • • toast • • fry • • grill • • barbecue • |AmE broil • |especially AmE fix • |especially spoken get • |especially written prepare •
cook/make/fix/get/prepare breakfast/lunch/dinner
cook/roast/fry/grill/barbecue/broil/prepare chicken
cook/bake/roast/fry potatoes  
Collocations:
Cooking
Preparing
prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
Cooking
heat the oil in a frying pan
preheat/heat the oven/(BrE) the grill/(NAmE) the broiler
bring to (BrE) the boil/(NAmE) a boil
stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
reduce the heat
simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
brown the meat for 8-20 minutes
drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
Ways of cooking
cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially NAmE) cookies/(BrE) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
toast bread/nuts
microwave food/popcorn/(BrE) a ready meal
Serving
serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
dress/toss a salad
dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper 
Example Bank:
• Ensure that the meat is cooked through.
• I'll cook you a special meal for your birthday.
• Make sure you cook the meat well.
• The vegetables were cooked perfectly.
• Turn the fish over so that it cooks evenly.
• the smell of freshly cooked bacon
• What's the best way to cook trout?
• Who's going to cook supper?
Idioms: cook somebody's goose ▪ cook the books ▪ cooking with gas ▪ too many cooks spoil the broth

Derived: cook something up 

noun
a person who cooks food or whose job is cooking
• John is a very good cook (= he cooks well).
• Who was the cook (= who cooked the food)?
• She was employed as a cook in a hotel.
compare  chef  
Word Origin:
Old English cōc (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.  
Example Bank:
• He's a very good cook.
• She wants to become a professional cook.

• easy recipes for home cooks

singer

sing·er [singer singers]   [ˈsɪŋə(r)]    [ˈsɪŋər]  noun
a person who sings, or whose job is singing, especially in public
• She's a wonderful singer.
• an opera singer  
Thesaurus:
singer noun C
• the band's lead singer
vocalist • • musician • • artist • • performer • • entertainer •
a talented/famous singer/vocalist/musician/artist/performer/entertainer 
Example Bank:
• A local singer belted out the national anthem.
• I was just a lounge singer in a Key West bar.
• Our wedding singers are the best in Las Vegas.
• She will perform with two guest singers.
• Singers took turns to perform songs they had written.
• a singer who sounds like Rufus Wainwright
• a soulful jazz singer
• an aspiring concert singer

• an interview with the band's lead singer

musician

mu·si·cian [musician musicians]   [mjuˈzɪʃn]    [mjuˈzɪʃn]  noun
a person who plays a musical instrument or writes music, especially as a job
• a jazz/rock musician  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French musicien, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of the Muses’, from mousa ‘muse’.  
Thesaurus:
musician noun C
• The musicians came back on stage and bowed.
performer • • singer • • artist • • artiste • • entertainer •
a talented/famous musician/performer/singer/artist/entertainer 
Example Bank:
• She had toured as a backing musician for Madonna.

• You have to be a very dedicated musician to get to the top.

artist

art·ist [artist artists]   [ˈɑːtɪst]    [ˈɑːrtɪst]  noun
1. a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings
• an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists
• a graphic artist
• a make-up artist
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.

• (figurative) Whoever made this cake is a real artist.

2. (especially BrE ar·tiste   [ɑːˈtiːst]  ;   [ɑːrˈtiːst]  ) a professional entertainer such as a singer, a dancer or an actor
• a recording/solo artist
• (especially BrE) Among the artistes appearing on our show tonight we have…
• He was a true artiste: sensitive, dramatic and tragic.  
Word Origin:
early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste, from Italian artista, from arte ‘art’, from Latin ars, art-.  
Thesaurus:
artist noun
1. C
• an exhibition of work by contemporary Danish artists
painter • • sculptor •
a contemporary/talented/famous artist/painter/sculptor
a/an abstract/impressionist/portrait/landscape artist/painter
2. C
• After the duo split up, Kit became a successful solo artist.
performer • • entertainer • • artiste • • musician • • singer • • dancer •
a famous/talented/aspiring artist/performer/entertainer/musician/singer/dancer 
Collocations:
Fine arts
Creating art
make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(especially US) in watercolors/on canvas
draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
mix colours/(especially US) colors/pigments/paints
add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(especially US) color/pigment
use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
Describing art
paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
Showing and selling art
commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of sb/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint sth
frame a painting/portrait
hang art/a picture/a painting
display/exhibit modern art/sb's work/a collection/original artwork/ drawings/sculptures/a piece
be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
install/place a sculpture in/at/on sth
erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
hold/host/mount/open/curate/see (especially BrE) an exhibition/(NAmE usually) exhibit
be/go on (BrE) exhibition/(NAmE) exhibit
feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art 
Example Bank:
• He is a serious artist, and totally committed to his work.
• In 1942 the city commissioned war artist John Piper to paint its bombed cathedral.
• Local artists are currently exhibiting their work at the gallery.
• Local watercolour artists are currently exhibiting their work in the town hall.
• My husband is a real artist in the kitchen.
• She set up the gallery so that up-and-coming artists could exhibit their work.
• The Blue Note Quartet will be the guest artists tomorrow night.
• The agency began to represent Chinese artists.
• The artists explored common themes.
• The festival featured artists such John Mclaughlin and Russell Malone.
• The festival featured up-and-coming young artists.
• The museum's featured artists include Degas, Cézanne and Renoir.
• a group of artists who specialize in jazz-themed art
• an artist who paints in oils
• an exhibition featuring wildlife artist Emma Gray
• artists who work in different media
• the new artist in residence at the Tate Gallery
• A mime artist's movements must be clear to the audience.
• After the band broke up, Joe relaunched his career as a solo artist.
• Caruso was probably the most popular recording artist of his time.
• Even the most beautiful celebrities need the services of a make-up artist.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.

• The advertisement was designed professionally by a graphic artist.

late

late [late later latest] adjective, adverb   [leɪt]    [leɪt] 

adjective (later, lat·est)
1. only before noun near the end of a period of time, a person's life, etc
• in the late afternoon
• in late summer
• She married in her late twenties (= when she was 28 or 29).
• In later life he started playing golf.
• The school was built in the late 1970s.
• a late Victorian house
• his late plays
• a late goal
• The concert was cancelled at a very late stage.

Opp:  early

2. not usually before noun arriving, happening or done after the expected, arranged or usual time
• I'm sorry I'm late.
• She's late for work every day.
• My flight was an hour late.
• We apologize for the late arrival of this train.
• Because of the cold weather the crops are later this year.
• Interest will be charged for late payment.
• Here is a late news flash.
• Some children are very late developers.

Opp:  early

3. near the end of the day
• Let's go home— it's getting late.
• Look at the time— it's much later than I thought.
• What are you doing up at this late hour?
• What is the latest time I can have an appointment?
• I've had too many late nights recently (= when I've gone to bed very late).

Opp:  early

4. only before noun (formal) (of a person) no longer alive
• her late husband
• the late Paul Newman
see also  later, latest  
Word Origin:
Old English læt (adjective; also in the sense ‘slow, tardy’), late (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus ‘weary’ and let.  
Thesaurus:
late adj. not usually before noun
• My flight was an hour late.
overdue • • slow • |written belated •
Opp: early, Opp: on time, Opp: punctual
late/overdue for sth
late/slow in doing sth
two weeks/a year late/overdue 
Example Bank:
• He was now three weeks late with his rent.
• I don't know what the time is, but it feels quite late.
• I'm late for work.
• It was now late into the night.
• It's getting too late to do anything today.
• Kevin was fashionably late as always.
• The train was 45 minutes late.
• You've left it a bit late to start your homework, haven't you?
• She spoke of her late husband with passion.
• She's late for work every day.
• The event was organized in memory of the late Christopher Reeve.
Idioms: better late than never ▪ late in the day ▪ late of … ▪ of late ▪ too late

Derived Word: lateness 

adverb (comparative later, no superlative)
1. after the expected, arranged or usual time
• I got up late.
• Can I stay up late tonight?
• She has to work late tomorrow.
• The big stores are open later on Thursdays.
• She married late.

• The birthday card arrived three days late.

2. near the end of a period of time, a person's life, etc
• late in March/the afternoon
• It happened late last year.
• As late as (= as recently as) the 1950s, tuberculosis was still a fatal illness.

• He became an author late in life.

3. near the end of the day
• There's a good film on late.
• Late that evening, there was a knock at the door.
• Share prices fell early on but rose again late in the day.
• They worked late into the night to finish the report.
Opp:  early 
see also  later 
more at an early/a late night at  night, sooner or later at  soon  
Word Origin:
Old English læt (adjective; also in the sense ‘slow, tardy’), late (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus ‘weary’ and let.  
Grammar Point:
late / lately
Late and lately are both adverbs, but late is used with similar meanings to the adjective late, whereas lately can only mean ‘recently’: ▪ We arrived two hours late. ◊ ▪ I haven’t heard from him lately. Lately is usually used with a perfect tense of the verb.

Look also at the idioms be too late (at the adjective) and too late (at the adverb).

of late

of ˈlate idiom
(formal) recently
• I haven't seen him of late.
• The situation has become more confusing of late.

Main entry: late_idiom

sooner or later

ˌsooner or ˈlater idiom

at some time in the future, even if you are not sure exactly when

• Sooner or later you will have to make a decision.

midnight

mid·night [midnight midnights]   [ˈmɪdnaɪt]    [ˈmɪdnaɪt]  noun uncountable
1. 12 o'clock at night
• They had to leave at midnight.
• on the stroke of midnight/shortly after midnight
• She heard the clock strike midnight.
• Let's have a midnight feast tonight (= a secret meal that children like to have in the middle of the night).

• We have to catch the midnight train.

2. (especially NAmE) =  midnight blue
see burn the midnight oil at  burn  _v., do a moonlight/midnight flit at  flit  _n.  
Word Origin:
Old English midniht (see mid-, night).  
Example Bank:
• Downstairs in the hall, midnight struck.
• It was approaching midnight when I finally reached home.
• On the stroke of midnight, Prince Charming turned back into a rat.
• The church clock struck midnight.
• the land of the midnight sun
• The law comes into effect on the stroke of midnight tomorrow.
• The ship set sail shortly after midnight.

• They had to leave at midnight.

noon

noon [noon noons]   [nuːn]    [nuːn]  noun uncountable
12 o'clock in the middle of the day
Syn:  midday
• We should be there by noon.
• The conference opens at 12 noon on Saturday.
• the noon deadline for the end of hostilities
• I'm leaving on the noon train.
• the glaring light of high noon
see morning, noon and night at  morning  
Word Origin:
Old English nōn ‘the ninth hour from sunrise, i.e. approximately 3 p.m.’, from Latin nona (hora) ‘ninth hour’.  
Example Bank:
• the glaring light of high noon
• I'm leaving on the noon train.

• We arrived at high noon.

hope

hope [hope hopes hoped hoping] verb, noun   [həʊp]    [hoʊp] 

verb intransitive, transitive
to want sth to happen and think that it is possible
• ~ (for sth) We are hoping for good weather on Sunday.
• All we can do now is wait and hope.
• ‘Do you think it will rain?’ ‘ I hope not.’
• ‘Will you be back before dark?’ ‘ I hope so, yes.’
• The exam went better than I'd dared hope.
• I'll see you next week, I hope.
• ~ (that)… I hope (that) you're okay.
• I can only hope (that) there has been some mistake.
• Detectives are hoping (that) witnesses will come forward.
• Let's hope we can find a parking space.
• it is hoped (that)… It is hoped that over £10 000 will be raised.
• ~ to do sth She is hoping to win the gold medal.
• We hope to arrive around two.
• What had he hoped to achieve?  Hope can be used in the passive in the form it is hoped that…. For must always be used with hope in other passive sentences
• The improvement that had been hoped for never came.
• The hoped-for improvement never came.
more at cross my heart (and hope to die) at  cross 
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
late Old English hopa (noun), hopian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop (noun), hopen (verb), and German hoffen (verb).  
Thesaurus:
hope verb I, T
• We're hoping for good weather on Sunday.
wish • • aspire • • wait • • set your heart on sth • |especially journalism set your sights on sth •
Opp: despair of sth
hope/wish/wait for sth
hope/wish that…
hope/aspire/wait to do sth  
Example Bank:
• He secretly hoped that she wouldn't be home.
• I hardly dared to hope the plan would succeed.
• I only hope you're right.
• I sincerely hope that you will be successful.
• They hoped desperately that their missing son would come home.
• We are hoping for good weather.
• ‘Do you think it will rain?’ ‘I hope not.’
• ‘Will you be back before dark?’ ‘I hope so, yes.’
• I can only hope there has been some mistake.
• Let's hope we can find a parking space.
• The exam went better than I'd dared hope.
• We're hoping for good weather on Sunday.

Idioms: I should hope so ▪ beyond hope ▪ hold out little hope ▪ hope against hope ▪ hope for the best ▪ hope springs eternal ▪ in the hope of something ▪ in the hope that … ▪ not have a hope ▪ not hold out any/much hope ▪ so I should hope ▪ some hope! 

noun
1. uncountable, countable a belief that sth you want will happen
• ~ (of sth) There is now hope of a cure.
• ~ (for sb/sth) Hopes for the missing men are fading.
• ~ (that…) There is little hope that they will be found alive.
• ~ (of doing sth) They have given up hope of finding any more survivors.
• She has high hopes of winning (= is very confident about it).
• The future is not without hope.
• Don't raise your hopes too high, or you may be disappointed.
• I'll do what I can, but don't get your hopes up.
• There is still a glimmer of hope.

• The situation is not good but we live in hope that it will improve.

2. countable ~ (of/for sth) | ~ (for sb) | ~ (that…) | ~ (of doing sth) something that you wish for
• She told me all her hopes, dreams and fears.

• They have high hopes for their children.

3. countable, usually singular ~ (of sth) | ~ (for sb) a person, a thing or a situation that will help you get what you want
• He turned to her in despair and said, ‘You're my last hope.’
• The operation was Kelly's only hope of survival.
more at dash sb's hopes at  dash  _v., pin (all) your hopes on sb/sth at  pin 
Word Origin:
late Old English hopa (noun), hopian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop (noun), hopen (verb), and German hoffen (verb).  
Thesaurus:
hope noun
1. U, C
• There is no hope of finding any more survivors.
optimism • • expectancy • • wishful thinking •
Opp: despair, Opp: hopelessness
hope/optimism for sth
hope/optimism that…
express/share your hope/optimism
2. C
• They have high hopes for their children.
dream • • ambition • • aspiration • • expectation • • fantasy •
Opp: fear
hopes/aspirations/expectations for sth
high hopes/ambitions/aspirations/expectations
have hopes/a dream/an ambition/aspirations/expectations/a fantasy
fulfil your hopes/dreams/ambitions/aspirations/expectations/fantasies 
Example Bank:
• He had one last hope to cling to.
• He pinned all his hopes on getting that job.
• He represents our best hope for a swimming medal.
• He secretly cherished hopes that George would marry his daughter.
• He turned to her in despair and said, ‘You're my last hope.’
• He wasn't trying to give her false hope.
• Her dark eyes lit with sudden hope.
• Her hopes of going to college have now been dashed.
• Her only hope lay in escape.
• His early hopes of freedom were now gone.
• Hope faded after wrecked remains of the ship were washed onto the shore.
• Hope flared up inside her.
• Hope remains that survivors will be found.
• Hopes are high that a resolution to the conflict can be found.
• Hopes of a peaceful end to the strike are now growing.
• I am writing this letter in hopes that it will be forwarded to the editor.
• I am writing to you in the hope that you can help me obtain some information.
• I didn't give up hope of being released.
• I don't hold out much hope of finding a buyer.
• I have no hope of winning.
• I haven't yet found a flat, but I live in hope.
• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.
• I'll see what I can do, but don't get your hopes up too much.
• It is important to keep alive the hope that a peace settlement might be found.
• It is my fervent hope that you will be able to take this project forward.
• It is my sincere hope that she will find happiness at last.
• It seemed a forlorn hope that we would find a taxi.
• Lord Mountbatten secretly cherished hopes that Charles would marry his granddaughter.
• Maybe we can find some hope for humanity after all.
• Our one hope was that the hurricane would change direction.
• Peace is a distant hope in this war-torn region.
• Political leaders do now entertain the hope that a settlement can be found.
• Privatization seems to offer the best hope for the industry.
• She felt weak and without hope.
• She is Britain's brightest hope for a medal.
• She saw little hope of meeting the targets.
• She told me all her hopes and dreams.
• The Mexican president expressed hope for cooperation on trade.
• The latest job figures have boosted hopes for the economy.
• The use of fish oil to treat cancer has brought fresh hope to millions of sufferers.
• Their main hopes rest on their new striker.
• There was still a faint hope that they would accept the offer.
• These figures kill off any lingering hopes of an early economic recovery.
• This announcement has raised hopes that the crisis may be coming to an end.
• We have every hope of completing the project this year.
• We have high hopes for the project.
• We now have good grounds for hope.
• We're trying to keep our hopes up.
• You don't have a hope in hell of finding a job.
• a bitter tale of disappointed hopes
• a feeling of considerable hope
• damaged beyond hope of repair
• keeping alive the hope that a peace settlement might be found
• the team's championship hopes
• the treatment gave him renewed hope
• without any real hope of success
• young people who are full of hope for the future
• Don't raise your hopes too high, or you may be disappointed.
• I'll do what I can, but don't get your hopes up.

• She has high hopes of winning.

walk

walk [walk walks walked walking] verb, noun   [wɔːk]   [wɔːk] 

verb
1. intransitive, transitive to move or go somewhere by putting one foot in front of the other on the ground, but without running
• The baby is just learning to walk.
• ‘How did you get here?’ ‘I walked.’
• + adv./prep. He walked slowly away from her.
• The door opened and Jo walked in.
• She missed the bus and had to walk home.
• The school is within easy walking distance of the train station.

• ~ sth Children here walk several miles to school.

2. (also go walking) (both especially BrE) intransitive, transitive to spend time walking for pleasure
• (+ adv./prep.) We're going walking in the mountains this summer.
• I walked across Scotland with a friend.

• ~ sth They love walking the moors.

3. transitive ~ sb + adv./prep. to go somewhere with sb on foot, especially in order to make sure they get there safely

• He always walked her home.

4. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to take an animal for a walk; to make an animal walk somewhere
• They walk their dogs every day.

• She walked the horse around the ring.

5. intransitive (informal) to disappear; to be taken away

• Lock up any valuables. Things tend to walk here (= be stolen).

6. intransitive (literary) (of a ghost) to appear
more at float/walk on air at  air  _n., go/walk down the aisle at  aisle, walk/tread a fine/thin line at  line  _n., a trip/walk down memory lane at  memory lane, be skating/walking on thin ice at  thin  _adj., tread/walk a tightrope at  tightrope 
 
Word Origin:
Old English wealcan ‘roll, toss’, also ‘wander’, of Germanic origin. The sense ‘move about’, and specifically ‘go about on foot’, arose in Middle English.  
Synonyms:
take
lead • escort • drive • show • walk • guide • usher • direct
These words all mean to go with sb from one place to another.
take • to go with sb from one place to another, for example in order to show them sth or to show them the way to a place: ▪ It's too far to walk— I'll take you by car.
lead • to go with or go in front of sb in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction: ▪ Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
escort • to go with sb in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way: ▪ The president arrived, escorted by twelve bodyguards.
drive • to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc: ▪ My mother drove us to the airport.
show • to take sb to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route: ▪ The attendant showed us to our seats.
walk • to go somewhere with sb on foot, especially in order to make sure that they get there safely; to take an animal, especially a dog, for a walk or make an animal walk somewhere: ▪ He always walked her home. ◊ ▪ Have you walked the dog yet today?
guide • to show sb the way to a place, often by going with them; to show sb a place that you know well: ▪ She guided us through the busy streets. ◊ ▪ We were guided around the museums.
usher • (rather formal) to politely take or show sb where they should go, especially within a building: ▪ She ushered her guests to their seats.
direct • (rather formal) to tell or show sb how to get somewhere or where to go: ▪ A young woman directed them to the station.
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher/direct sb to/out of/into sth
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide sb around/round
to take/lead/escort/drive/walk sb home
to take/lead/escort/guide sb to safety
to lead/show the way  
Vocabulary Building:
Ways of walking
creep▪ He could hear someone creeping around downstairs.
limp▪ One player limped off the field with a twisted ankle.
pace▪ I found him in the corridor nervously pacing up and down.
pad▪ She spent the morning padding about the house in her slippers.
plod▪ They wearily plodded home through the rain.
shuffle▪ The queue gradually shuffled forward.
stagger▪ They staggered out of the pub, completely drunk.
stomp▪ She stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
stroll▪ Families were strolling around the park.
tiptoe▪ They tiptoed upstairs so they wouldn’t wake the baby.
trudge▪ We trudged up the hill.  
Example Bank:
• Due to his illness, he can no longer walk unaided.
• For our holiday we went walking in the Lake District.
• He walked home from school.
• I got up and walked calmly out into the early evening.
• Jake was walking some way ahead.
• She had no sandals and walked barefoot.
• She walked cautiously up the drive towards the door.
• The couple walked hand in hand along the beach.
• We went walking by the waterfront.
• When she walked onstage, the audience started screaming.
• humans' ability to walk upright
• ‘How did you get here?’ ‘I walked’.
• A couple were walking hand in hand along the path.
• Have you ever walked the Pennine Way?
• He walked straight past me when I called.
• He walked the pony up and down the yard.
• How long does it talk them to walk to school?
• I had to walk all the way home.
• I walked him to the corner of the street.
• She walks the dog every day at about two o'clock.
• The hotel is within easy walking distance of the beach.
• They walked barefoot through the cool grass.
• Try walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
• Walking in the countryside can be a great form of exercise.
• We're going walking in the mountains this summer.
• Women have to walk several miles each day to get water.
Idioms: run before you can walk ▪ walk free ▪ walk in the park ▪ walk it ▪ walk of life ▪ walk off the job ▪ walk somebody off their feet ▪ walk tall ▪ walk the beat ▪ walk the plank ▪ walk the streets ▪ walk the walk

Derived: walk away ▪ walk away with something ▪ walk in on somebody ▪ walk into somebody ▪ walk into something ▪ walk off ▪ walk off with something ▪ walk out ▪ walk over somebody ▪ walk somebody through something ▪ walk something off ▪ walk up 

noun
1. countable a journey on foot, usually for pleasure or exercise
• Let's go for a walk.
• I like to have a walk in the evenings.
• She's taken the dog for a walk.
• He set out on the long walk home.
• The office is ten minutes' walk from here.
• a ten-minute walk

• It's only a short walk to the beach.

2. countable a path or route for walking, usually for pleasure; an organized event when people walk for pleasure
• a circular walk
• There are some interesting walks in the area.

• a guided walk around the farm

3. singular a way or style of walking; the act or speed of walking rather than running
• I recognized him by his walk.

• The horse slowed to a walk.

4. countable (NAmE) a sidewalk or path 
Word Origin:
Old English wealcan ‘roll, toss’, also ‘wander’, of Germanic origin. The sense ‘move about’, and specifically ‘go about on foot’, arose in Middle English.  
Example Bank:
• He has a mincing walk, fast with short steps.
• He met her on one of his Sunday afternoon walks.
• He's done several long-distance walks for charity.
• I had a little walk around to calm my nerves.
• It's a five-minute walk from the hotel to the restaurant.
• It's a good walk to the town centre, so I usually cycle.
• It's a good= fairly long walk to the beach.
• She did a silly walk to amuse her friends.
• She takes her dog for a walk every evening.
• She used to enjoy solitary walks along the cliffs.
• She's doing a 200-mile charity walk to raise money for cancer research.
• She's doing a 200-mile sponsored walk in aid of cancer research.
• The book contains circular walks you can do in half a day.
• The doctor advised a brisk walk every day.
• The horses set off at a walk.
• The walk takes two hours.
• The walk takes you past a lot of interesting buildings.
• They broke their walk at a pub by the river.
• We live just a few minutes' walk from the station.
• We took a brief walk around the old quarter.
• We went for a long walk after breakfast.
• We went on a guided walk of the city in the afternoon.
• We went on a ten-mile walk along the coast.
• We'll go for a walk before lunch.
• the anniversary of the first space walk
• He did a funny walk and made the children laugh.
• He moved with a slow, hesitant walk.
• I recognized her by her walk.
• It's only a short walk to the beach.
• Let's go for a walk.
• She's taken the dog for a walk.
• The office is ten minutes' walk from here.
• There are some interesting walks around here.

• You could tell from her walk that she was angry.

walk out

▪ I. ˌwalk ˈout derived
(informal) (of workers) to stop working in order to go on strike
related noun  walkout

Main entry: walk_derived

▪ II. ˌwalk ˈout (of sth) derived

to leave a meeting, performance, etc. suddenly, especially in order to show your disapproval

• They hinted that they would walk out of the peace talks.

Main entry: walk_derived

▪ III. ˌwalk ˈout (on sb) derived

(informal) to suddenly leave sb that you are having a relationship with and that you have a responsibility for
Syn:  desert
• How could she walk out on her kids?

Main entry: walk_derived

▪ IV. ˌwalk ˈout (on sth) derived

(informal) to stop doing sth that you have agreed to do before it is completed

• I never walk out on a job half done.