British English

cheese

cheese S2 W3 /tʃiːz/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cese]

1. a solid food made from milk, which is usually yellow or white in colour, and can be soft or hard:
half a kilo of cheese
a cheese sandwich
Sprinkle with the grated cheese.
a selection of English cheeses
piece/bit/slice/lump etc of cheese
cow’s/goat’s/sheep’s cheese (=from the milk of a cow etc)
2. (say) cheese! spoken used to tell people to smile when you are going to take their photograph
⇨ big cheese, ⇨ chalk and cheese at chalk¹(3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ a piece/bit of cheese Would you like a piece of cheese?
▪ a slice of cheese Sue cut six thin slices of cheese.
▪ a lump/hunk of cheese (=a large piece) We just had bread and a hunk of cheese for lunch.
▪ a wedge of cheese (=a piece which is thin at one end and thick at the other) I bought a half pound wedge of cheese.
▪ bread and cheese Lunch was bread and cheese.
▪ cheese and biscuits After the meal we had coffee with cheese and biscuits.
▪ cheese on toast (=melted cheese on toast) Would you like some cheese on toast?
■ adjectives
▪ strong This is one of the strongest French cheeses.
▪ mild (=without a strong taste) The cheese is mild and creamy.
▪ hard cheese Use a hard cheese such as Cheddar for grating.
▪ soft cheese (=that you can spread) Camembert is my favourite soft cheese.
▪ grated cheese (=that has been cut into many small pieces using a special tool) Cover the vegetables with the grated cheese.
▪ melted cheese Nachos are good with melted cheese.
▪ goat's cheese (=made from goat's milk)
▪ cream cheese (=a type of soft smooth white cheese)
▪ cottage cheese (=a type of soft white cheese with small lumps in it)
▪ blue cheese (=a type of cheese with blue lines in it and a strong taste)
▪ processed cheese (=with substances added to preserve it)
■ verbs
▪ grate cheese (=cut it into many small pieces using a special tool) Would you grate some cheese for me?
▪ sprinkle cheese over/on something (=put small pieces of cheese over/on something) Sprinkle the cheese over the top.
▪ top something with cheese (=put cheese on top of something) Top the potatoes with grated cheese.
■ cheese + NOUN
▪ a cheese sandwich I'll make you a cheese sandwich.
▪ a cheese omelette Lunch was a cheese omelette with salad.
▪ (a) cheese sauce I made a cheese sauce to go with the pasta.
 

big cheese

ˌbig ˈcheese BrE AmE noun [countable] informal
[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cheese probably from Urdu chiz 'thing', from Persian]
an important and powerful person in an organization – used humorously

pilot

I. pi‧lot¹ W3 /ˈpaɪlət/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: pilote, from Italian pedota, from Greek pedon 'oar']
1. someone who operates the controls of an aircraft or spacecraft:
an airline pilot
a fighter pilot
The official report into the accident says that it was caused by pilot error (=a mistake by the pilot).
2. someone with a special knowledge of a particular area of water, who is employed to guide ships across it:
a harbour pilot
3. pilot study/project/scheme etc a small study, project etc which is carried out as a test to see if an idea, product etc will be successful:
a pilot scheme which could be extended to other areas
4. a television programme that is made in order to test whether people like it and would watch it:
a pilot for a new sitcom
⇨ ↑automatic pilot
• • •
THESAURUS
■ people on a plane
▪ pilot someone who operates the controls of a plane: an airline pilot | He has a pilot’s licence.
▪ co-pilot a pilot who shares the control of a plane with the main pilot: The pilot became ill, and the co-pilot had to land the plane.
▪ captain the pilot who is in charge of an aircraft: This is your captain speaking. We will be arriving at Gatwick Airport in approximately 10 minutes.
▪ the flight crew all the people who work on a plane during a flight: The flight crew asked for permission to land at Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport.
▪ the cabin crew the people whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane: The cabin crew will be serving drinks shortly.
▪ flight attendant someone whose job is to serve food and drink to passengers on a plane: The flight attendant told him to go back to his seat.
▪ steward/stewardess a man/woman whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane: I asked the stewardess if I could have a blanket.

flight attendant

ˈflight atˌtendant BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who serves food and drinks to passengers on a plane, and looks after their comfort and safety

bean

I. bean¹ S2 /biːn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English]

1. a seed or a ↑pod (=case containing seeds), that comes from a climbing plant and is cooked as food. There are very many types of beans.:
baked beans
Soak the beans overnight.
kidney beans
green beans
2. a plant that produces beans
3. a seed used in making some types of food or drinks:
coffee beans
cocoa beans
4. be full of beans informal to be very eager and full of energy:
She’s full of beans this morning.
5. not have a bean British English informal to have no money at all
6. not know/care beans (about somebody/something) American English informal to not know anything or care at all about someone or something
⇨ spill the beans at spill¹(3), ⇨ not amount to a hill of beans at hill(5), ⇨ jelly bean

doctor

I. doc‧tor¹ S1 W1 /ˈdɒktə $ ˈdɑːktər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: doctour, from Latin doctor 'teacher', from docere 'to teach']

1. (written abbreviation Dr) someone who is trained to treat people who are ill ⇨ GP:
She was treated by her local doctor.
I’d like to make an appointment to see Dr Pugh.
the doctor’s informal (=the place where your doctor works)
‘Where’s Sandy today?’ ‘I think she’s at the doctor’s.’
2. someone who holds the highest level of degree given by a university ⇨ doctoral:
a Doctor of Law
3. be just what the doctor ordered informal to be exactly what someone needs or wants:
A 2–0 victory is just what the doctor ordered.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to the doctor I’d been having bad headaches so I went to the doctor.
▪ see a doctor (also visit a doctor American English) (=go to the doctor) Have you seen a doctor about it yet?
▪ ask a doctor (also consult a doctor formal) If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
▪ call a doctor (=telephone one, especially to ask them to come to you) His mother was very worried and called the doctor.
▪ get a doctor (=arrange for one to come to you) In the middle of the night we decided to get the doctor.
▪ a doctor examines somebody The doctor examined her and said she had a chest infection.
▪ a doctor prescribes something (=writes an order for medicine for someone) My doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics.
▪ a doctor diagnoses flu/depression etc (=says what illness someone has) The doctor diagnosed malaria.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + doctor
▪ a family doctor (=who treats all the members of a family) We’ve had the same family doctor for fifteen years.
▪ sb’s local doctor (=working near where you live) You should go and see your local doctor.
▪ a hospital doctor British English (=working in a hospital) Junior hospital doctors have to work very long hours.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ doctor someone who treats people who are ill, who has completed a long course of study at medical school: If you have bad chest pains, you should see a doctor.
▪ GP British English a doctor who is trained in general medicine and who treats the people who live in a local area: My GP told me that I must lose weight.
▪ physician /fəˈzɪʃən, fɪˈzɪʃən/ formal especially American English a doctor: the American physician, Dr James Tyler Kent
▪ quack informal someone who pretends to be a doctor: My father felt that people practicing alternative medicine were just a bunch of quacks.
▪ the medical profession doctors and nurses considered as a group: This view is widely accepted among the medical profession.
▪ surgeon /ˈsɜːdʒən $ ˈsɜːr-/ a doctor who does operations in a hospital: One of the world’s top heart surgeons performed the operation.
▪ specialist a doctor with special knowledge about a particular illness, part of the body, or type of treatment: The new drug is being tested by cancer specialists. | an eye specialist
▪ consultant British English a very senior doctor in a hospital, with a lot of knowledge about a particular area of medicine: The consultant said that he did not think it was cancer.
▪ paramedic someone who has been trained to treat sick or injured people, especially at the scene of an accident: Paramedics treated him for shock.
▪ vet (also veterinarian especially American English) a doctor who treats animals: We took the cat to the vet.
▪ paediatrician British English, pediatrician American English a doctor who treats children who are sick
▪ gynaecologist British English, gynecologist American English a doctor who treats medical conditions and illnesses that affect women’s bodies
▪ obstetrician a doctor who deals with the birth of children
▪ radiographer someone whose job is to take ↑X-rays or to treat people using an X-ray machine
■ a doctor who treats mental illness
▪ psychiatrist /saɪˈkaɪətrəst, saɪˈkaɪətrɪst $ sə-/ a doctor who is trained to treat people with mental illnesses: In order to become a psychiatrist, you first need a medical degree.
▪ psychologist /saɪˈkɒlədʒəst, saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst $ -ˈkɑː-/ a scientist who studies and is trained in ↑psychology (=the study of the mind): Many psychologists believe that aggression is a learned behaviour.
▪ shrink informal a humorous word for a ↑psychiatrist
▪ therapist a trained person whose job is to help people with their emotional problems, especially by talking to them and asking them to talk about their feelings
■ someone who is studying to be a doctor
▪ medical student a student who is studying medicine in order to be a doctor: James is a medical student at Edinburgh university.
▪ intern American English a student who has almost finished studying to be a doctor, and who is working in a hospital

chef

chef /ʃef/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: chef de cuisine 'head of the kitchen']

a skilled cook, especially the main cook in a hotel or restaurant:
a master chef
a pastry chef

TV

TV S2 W2 /ˌtiː ˈviː◂/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
television
on TV
I watched the film on TV.
TV series/programme/show/station/channel etc
a TV series based on the novel
cable/satellite TV
a new TV set.
He’s the top TV presenter for children’s programmes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ television/TV noun [uncountable and countable] the piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box on which you can watch programmes, or the programmes that are broadcast using this. In everyday English, people usually say TV: Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything except watching television. | A lot of people use the Internet for watching TV. | Can you turn on the television? | the TV Guide in the newspaper | There's nothing good on the TV. | Our TV set (=television)isn't working properly.
▪ the box/the telly British English (also the tube American English) noun [singular] informal a television, or the programmes that are broadcast on television: Can you turn the telly down a bit? | What’s on the box tonight? | There's nothing good on the tube.
▪ satellite television (also satellite TV) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast using ↑satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch: Do you have satellite TV at home? | You can watch the game on satellite television. | a satellite dish (=the round thing that you put on your roof or the wall of your house in order to receive satellite television signals)
▪ terrestrial television television that is not broadcast by satellite or cable: The company has secured the rights to broadcast the Championship on terrestrial television.
▪ cable television (also cable TV, cable) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast by ↑cable (=tubes containing wires that carry television pictures): The program was first shown on cable.
▪ digital television (also digital TV, digital) noun [uncountable] programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals, with more choice and better quality pictures than ordinary television: The switchover to digital TV will take place between 2010 and 2012.
▪ widescreen television (also widescreen TV) noun [countable] a television that is much wider than it is high, and wider than an ordinary television. Widescreen televisions are used for programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals: There was a massive widescreen TV in the living room. | Widescreen TV is good for watching films.

satellite television

ˌsatellite ˈtelevision BrE AmE (also ˌsatellite TˈV) noun [uncountable]
television programmes that are broadcast using satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch

television

tel‧e‧vi‧sion S1 W1 /ˈteləˌvɪʒən, ˈtelɪˌvɪʒən, ˌteləˈvɪʒən/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: télévision, from télé- 'tele-' + vision]
1. [countable] (also television set formal) a piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box with a screen, on which you can watch programmes SYN TV:
Lucy turned on the television to watch the evening news.
They have a television in every room.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say TV rather than television:
▪ What's on TV tonight?
2. [uncountable] the programmes broadcast in this way SYN TV:
In the evenings I like to relax and watch television.
3. on (the) television broadcast or being broadcast on television:
What’s on television tonight?
4. [uncountable] the business of making and broadcasting programmes on television SYN TV
in television
Jean works in television.
a television film crew
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ watch television Mum was in the lounge watching television.
▪ see/watch something on television She saw the race on television.
▪ turn/switch the television on/off I switched off the television and went to bed.
▪ turn the television up/down (=make it louder or quieter) Rory had turned the television up so loud that the people next door complained.
■ television + NOUN
▪ a television show/programme Her favourite television programme was just starting.
▪ a television series (=a set of programmes with the same characters or subject, broadcast every day or every week) He starred in the popular television series, ‘Friends’.
▪ a television film/movie (=a film that has been made to be shown on television, not in a cinema) Ford appeared in several television movies.
▪ a television documentary a television documentary about an important public issue
▪ the television news There was nothing about it on the television news.
▪ a television screen Bella’s eyes were fixed on the television screen.
▪ a television presenter British English a well-known television presenter
▪ a television reporter/journalist Grant was interviewed by a BBC television journalist.
▪ a television producer a BBC television producer
▪ a television director He’s a very successful television director.
▪ a television (film) crew A television crew were allowed to film the meeting.
▪ a television actor/actress Peebles is best known as a television actor.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + television
▪ live television The accident was shown on live television.
▪ national television The President went on national television to appeal for calm.
▪ satellite/cable television They have a dish for satellite television.
▪ digital television the switchover to digital television
▪ terrestrial television British English (=television that is not broadcast using a satellite or cable) Many of these matches are not available on terrestrial television.
▪ high definition/HD television high definition television channels
▪ a widescreen television Widescreen televisions are getting more popular, especially in home cinema systems.
▪ a plasma/LCD television Each hotel room has a minibar and plasma television.
▪ a flat screen television a buyer’s guide to the latest flat screen televisions
▪ a colour television a 32 inch colour television
▪ a black-and-white television They had an old black and white television in the garage.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'see/watch something in television'. Say see/watch something on television.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ television/TV noun [uncountable and countable] the piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box on which you can watch programmes, or the programmes that are broadcast using this. In everyday English, people usually say TV: Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything except watching television. | A lot of people use the Internet for watching TV. | Can you turn on the television? | the TV Guide in the newspaper | There's nothing good on the TV. | Our TV set (=television)isn't working properly.
▪ the box/the telly British English (also the tube American English) noun [singular] informal a television, or the programmes that are broadcast on television: Can you turn the telly down a bit? | What’s on the box tonight? | There's nothing good on the tube.
▪ satellite television (also satellite TV) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast using ↑satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch: Do you have satellite TV at home? | You can watch the game on satellite television. | a satellite dish (=the round thing that you put on your roof or the wall of your house in order to receive satellite television signals)
▪ terrestrial television television that is not broadcast by satellite or cable: The company has secured the rights to broadcast the Championship on terrestrial television.
▪ cable television (also cable TV, cable) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast by ↑cable (=tubes containing wires that carry television pictures): The program was first shown on cable.
▪ digital television (also digital TV, digital) noun [uncountable] programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals, with more choice and better quality pictures than ordinary television: The switchover to digital TV will take place between 2010 and 2012.
▪ widescreen television (also widescreen TV) noun [countable] a television that is much wider than it is high, and wider than an ordinary television. Widescreen televisions are used for programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals: There was a massive widescreen TV in the living room. | Widescreen TV is good for watching films.

study

I. stud‧y¹ S2 W3 /ˈstʌdi/ BrE AmE noun (plural studies)
[Word Family: noun: ↑student, ↑study, ↑studiousness; adjective: ↑studious, ↑studied; verb: ↑study; adverb: ↑studiously]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: estudie, from Latin studium 'mental effort, eagerness, study', from studere 'to be eager, try to be helpful, study']
1. RESEARCH [countable] a piece of work that is done to find out more about a particular subject or problem, and usually includes a written report:
Recent studies show that women still get paid a lot less than men.
study of/into/on
a study of Australian wild birds
The study was carried out between January and May 2008. ⇨ ↑case study
2. LEARNING [uncountable] when you spend time learning, especially at home or by yourself rather than during school:
Set aside a period of time specifically for study.
ways to improve study skills (=skills that help you study efficiently and be successful in school)
3. SUBJECT [uncountable] (also studies [plural])
a subject that people study at a college or university
study of
Linguistics is the study of language.
Environmental Studies
literary/historical/scientific etc study
the scientific study of earthquakes
4. sb’s studies the work that someone does in order to learn about a particular subject, especially the courses they take at a college or university:
How are your studies coming along?
begin/continue/stop etc your studies
I gave up my studies when I had the baby.
5. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION [uncountable] when you examine or consider something very carefully and in detail:
a report that deserves careful study
6. ROOM [countable] a room in a house that is used for work or study ⇨ office
7. ART [countable] a small detailed drawing, especially one that is done to prepare for a large painting:
Renoir’s studies of small plants and flowers
8. MUSIC [countable] a piece of music, usually for piano, that is often intended for practice
9. make a study of something to try to find out more about a subject
10. be a study in something literary to be a perfect example of something:
His face was a study in fear.
11. a quick study American English someone who learns things quickly
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ do a study/carry out a study (also conduct a study formal) The scientists are carrying out a study into the effects of global warming.
▪ a study finds something The study found that men were more likely to take risks.
▪ a study shows something Studies have shown that the drug works.
▪ a study suggests/indicates something A British study suggests that older drivers are safer drivers.
▪ a study reveals something (=shows something, especially something surprising) A recent study revealed that 74% of donuts are bought on impulse.
▪ a study confirms something (=shows that something is true) The study confirms what we all know – smoking is also bad for the people around you.
▪ a study aims to do something The study aimed to identify the housing needs of local people.
▪ publish a study The study was published in the British Medical Journal.
▪ fund a study (=pay for it) The study was funded by a major US drugs company.
▪ commission a study (=ask someone to carry out a study) The government has commissioned a study into the health of residents living near the power station.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + study
▪ a research study Research studies have found that young people are drinking no more than they were 20 years ago.
▪ a detailed study (also an in-depth study) They carried out a detailed study into the effects of the disease on mice.
▪ a two-year/three-month etc study They are engaged in a five-year study into the effects of calcium on bone health.
▪ a huge/massive study The journal published the results of a massive study of 87,000 women.
▪ a previous/earlier study The report is a summary of the work done in earlier studies.
▪ a pilot study (=one done to find out if something will be successful) The government has just completed a pilot study, with some encouraging results.
▪ a feasibility study (=one done to find out if something is possible or practical) They commissioned a feasibility study into re-opening the whole railway line.
■ phrases
▪ the aims of a study The aims of this study are to examine the reliability of current techniques.
▪ the results/findings of a study The results of this study suggest that the drug is effective in over 80% of cases. | His research confirmed the findings of earlier studies.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ research noun [uncountable] careful detailed work that is done in order to find out more about a subject, especially as a part of a scientific or academic project: Billions of dollars have been spent on research into the causes and treatment of cancer. | The University has for a long time been a leading centre for research in this field.
▪ work noun [uncountable] the studies that have been done on a particular subject: Faraday is famous for his work on electricity. | A lot of work has been done on hydrogen-powered cars. | Their work had an enormous influence on the study of genetics.
▪ study noun [countable] a piece of work in which someone examines a particular subject in order to find out more about it, and writes about what they have found: The study showed that 25 percent of adults do not eat breakfast at all, compared with 14 percent in 1961. | Recent studies suggest that our sense of smell is closely linked with the part of the brain that deals with memory.
▪ experiment noun [countable] a scientific test in order to find out what happens when you do something: They carried out a series of experiments (=they did a series of experiments) in order to try to prove their theory. | Experiments have shown that there is an increased risk of some forms of cancer.
II. study² S2 W2 BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle studied, present participle studying, third person singular studies)
[Word Family: noun: ↑student, ↑study, ↑studiousness; adjective: ↑studious, ↑studied; verb: ↑study; adverb: ↑studiously]
1. [intransitive and transitive] to learn about a subject at school, university etc:
I’ve been studying English for six years.
I can’t study with that music playing all the time.
study law/business/history etc (=study a subject at a school or university)
Anna is studying French literature.
study at a university/school etc
Stephen is currently studying at Exeter University.
study to be a doctor/lawyer etc
My brother’s studying to be an accountant.
study for an exam/diploma etc
I’ve only got three weeks left to study for my exams.
study under somebody (=be trained by a famous teacher)
a psychologist who studied under Jung in Zurich
2. [transitive] to try to find out more about a subject or problem, using scientific methods:
Goodall was studying the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild.
The scientists were studying the action of a protein called ubiquitin.
study how/what/why etc
They’re studying how stress affects body chemistry.
3. [transitive] to look at something carefully SYN look at:
She studied his face.
They got out of the car and studied the map.
I haven’t had time to study the proposals yet.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ study verb [intransitive and transitive] to learn about a subject at school, university etc: If you study hard, you’ll get a good job. | He studied law at Harvard University.
▪ take verb [transitive] to study a subject that you have chosen at school, college etc: What classes are you taking next semester? | In my final year, I decided to take English and economics.
▪ do verb [transitive] British English informal to study a particular subject at school or university: I can’t decide whether to do German or Spanish next year. | Did you do computing at school?
▪ major in something phrasal verb American English to study something as your main subject at a college or university: Diane majored in psychology at the University of Washington.
▪ revise verb [intransitive] British English to study to prepare for an examination: It’s best to start revising early. | He’s revising for his final exams.
▪ cram verb [intransitive] informal to study very hard and try to learn a lot of information just before an examination: Everyone’s cramming for their final exams.
▪ do research to study something in a very detailed way, especially in order to discover new information about it: He does research at Oxford University. | I’m doing research into second language learning. | It’s difficult to do research on humans.

coin

I. coin¹ S3 /kɔɪn/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: 'three-sided piece, corner', from Latin cuneus; ⇨ cuneiform]

1. [countable] a piece of metal, usually flat and round, that is used as money ⇨ bill, note
2. toss/flip a coin to choose or decide something by throwing a coin into the air and guessing which side of it will show when it falls:
Toss a coin to see who goes first.
3. the other/opposite side of the coin a different or opposite way of thinking about something:
Making the rules is only part of it. How the rules are carried out is the other side of the coin.
4. two sides of the same coin two problems or situations that are so closely connected that they are really just two parts of the same thing:
Great opportunity and great danger are two sides of the same coin.
5. [uncountable] money in the form of metal coins
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ money what you use to buy things, in the form of notes or coins: He spent all his money on computer equipment.
▪ cash money in the form of coins and notes: I didn’t have any cash with me.
▪ currency the money used in a particular country: The dollar gained in value against other currencies. | a single European currency
▪ change money in the form of coins of low value: Do you have any small change? | a pocketful of loose change
▪ note British English, bill American English a piece of paper money: a £20 note | a $5 bill
▪ coin a flat round piece of metal used as money: She put some coins in the parking meter. | He took a coin out of his pocket.
▪ a ten-pence/50-cent etc piece a coin worth a particular amount
II. coin² BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1. to invent a new word or expression, especially one that many people start to use:
The word ‘aromatherapy’ was coined in the 1920s.
2. to coin a phrase spoken said in a joking way when you use a very common expression, to show that you know it is used a lot:
He’d thought the flight would never – to coin a phrase – get off the ground.
3. coin money/coin it (in) British English informal to earn a lot of money very quickly:
BT at its profitable peak was coining it at the rate of £90 a second.
4. to make pieces of money from metal

read

I. read¹ S1 W1 /riːd/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle read /red/)
[Word Family: noun: ↑read, ↑reader, ↑readership, ↑reading, ↑readability; verb: ↑read; adjective: ↑readable ≠ ↑unreadable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: rædan]
1. WORDS/BOOKS [intransitive and transitive] to look at written words and understand what they mean:
I can’t read your writing.
She picked up the letter and read it.
Read the instructions carefully before you start.
children who are just learning to read and write
Her books are quite widely read (=read by a lot of people).
When I was young, I read every one of his books from cover to cover (=read all of something because you are very interested).
2. FIND INFORMATION [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to find out information from books, newspapers etc:
You can’t believe everything you read in the papers.
read about
Did you read about what happened to that guy in Florida?
read of
I was shocked when I read of his death.
read (that)
I read last week that the disease is on the increase.
3. READ AND SPEAK [intransitive and transitive] to say the words in a book, newspaper etc so that people can hear them
read somebody something
Daddy, will you read me a story?
read (something) to somebody
Our mother reads to us every evening.
Teachers should read more poetry to children.
He glanced at the letter and began to read it aloud.
4. MUSIC/MAPS ETC [transitive] to look at signs or pictures and understand what they mean:
He plays the violin very well but can’t actually read music.
Are you any good at map reading?
5. COMPUTER [transitive] technical if a computer can read a ↑disk, it can take the information that is on the disk and put it into its memory
6. UNDERSTAND SOMETHING IN A PARTICULAR WAY [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to understand a situation, remark etc in one of several possible ways SYN interpret:
I wasn’t sure how to read his silence.
read something as something
She shook her head, and I read this as a refusal.
The poem can be read as a protest against war.
read something well/accurately (=understand something correctly)
He had accurately read the mood of the nation.
7. HAVE WORDS ON [transitive not in progressive] used to say what words are on a sign, in a letter etc SYN say:
A sign on the outer door read: ‘No Entry’.
8. STYLE OF WRITING [intransitive] if something reads well, badly etc, it has been written well, badly etc:
I think in general the report reads well.
9. read something as/for something to replace one word or number with another one, usually with the correct one:
Please read £50 as £15.
For ‘November’ (=instead of November) on line 6, read ‘September’.
10. MEASURING [transitive]
a) to look at the number or amount shown on a measuring instrument:
Someone should be coming to read the gas meter.
b) if a measuring instrument reads a particular number, it shows that number:
The thermometer read 46 degrees.
11. AT UNIVERSITY [intransitive and transitive] British English to study a subject at a university:
I read history at Cambridge.
read for
He wants to read for a law degree.
REGISTER
In everyday British English, people usually say that someone does a subject at university:
▪ I did history at Cambridge.
▪ He wants to do a law degree.
12. take it as read (that) especially British English to feel certain that something is true although no one has told you it is true SYN assume:
You can take it as read that we will support the project.
13. take something as read to accept that a report or statement is correct without reading it or discussing it:
We’ll take the secretary’s report as read.
14. read between the lines to guess someone’s real feelings from something they say or write, when they do not tell you directly:
Reading between the lines, I’d say Robert’s not very happy.
15. read sb’s mind/thoughts to guess what someone else is thinking:
‘Want some coffee?’ ‘You read my mind.’
16. can read somebody like a book if you can read someone like a book, you know them so well that you immediately know what they are thinking or feeling
17. read sb’s palm to look carefully at someone’s hand, in order to find out about their future
18. read sb’s lips to understand what someone is saying by watching the way their lips move. People who cannot hear do this. ⇨ ↑lip-read
19. read my lips spoken used to tell someone that you really mean what you are saying:
Read my lips: I will not let you down.
20. do you read me? spoken used to ask someone whether they can hear you when you are speaking to them by radio
21. well-read/widely-read someone who is well-read has read a lot of books and knows a lot about many subjects:
She is intelligent and extremely well-read.
⇨ ↑reading, ⇨ read (somebody) the riot act at ↑riot¹(4)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ read to look at and understand the words in a book, magazine, letter etc for interest, enjoyment, or study: What book are you reading at the moment? | I usually read the newspaper on the way to work.
▪ flick/flip/leaf through something to turn the pages of a book, magazine etc quickly, looking for things that might interest you: While I was waiting, I flicked through a magazine. | She was flipping through the pages of an encyclopedia. | Cunningham was leafing through a copy of the Financial Times at his desk amidst a cloud of cigar-smoke.
▪ browse through something to spend time looking through a book, magazine etc without any clear purpose, looking for things that might interest you: Would you like to browse through our holiday brochure?
▪ skim/scan (through) something to read something quickly to get the main ideas or find a particular piece of information: I want you to skim through the article and write a short summary of it. | Tony scanned the menu for a vegetarian option.
▪ pore over something to read something very carefully for a long time: They spent weeks poring over guidebooks and planning their holiday.
▪ devour something /dɪˈvaʊə $ -ˈvaʊr/ to read something quickly and eagerly: Her young fans devour her books.
▪ dip into something to read short parts of something: It’s a book you can dip into rather than read from cover to cover.
▪ plough/wade through something to read something long and boring: He’s upstairs ploughing through financial reports. | I can’t possibly wade through all this.
▪ surf the Net/Internet/Web to look quickly through information on the Internet, stopping to read what interests you: I was surfing the Net, trying to find my ideal job.
read something ↔ back phrasal verb
to read out loud something that you have just written down
read something ↔ back to
Can you read that last bit back to me?
read for something phrasal verb
to say some of the words that are said by a particular character in a play, as a test of your ability to act
read something into something phrasal verb
to think that a situation, action etc has a meaning or importance that it does not really have:
It was only a casual remark. I think you’re reading too much into it.
read something ↔ out phrasal verb
to read and say words that are written down, so that people can hear:
Why don’t you read out the name of the winner?
read something ↔ out to
He read the last few sentences out to me.
read something ↔ through/over phrasal verb
to read something carefully from beginning to end in order to check details or find mistakes SYN check over/through:
Read the contract over carefully before you sign it.
Spend a couple of minutes just reading through your essay.
read up on something (also read something ↔ up British English) phrasal verb
to read a lot about something because you will need to know about it:
You’ll enjoy traveling more if you read up on the history of the countries you’ll be visiting.
II. read² BrE AmE noun [singular] informal
[Word Family: noun: ↑read, ↑reader, ↑readership, ↑reading, ↑readability; verb: ↑read; adjective: ↑readable ≠ ↑unreadable]
1. British English if you have a read, you spend time reading:
I sat down to have a nice quiet read.
read of
I had a quick read of the report before I left.
2. a good read something that you enjoy reading:
I thought his last book was a really good read.