A2 (مبتدی)

air

air [air airs aired airing] noun, verb   [eə(r)]    [er] 

noun  

GAS
1. uncountable the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe
• air pollution
• Let's go out for some fresh air.
• I need to put some air in my tyres.
• currents of warm air
• whales coming up for air (= in order to breathe)

• The act lays down a minimum standard for air quality.  

SPACE

2. uncountable (usually the air) the space above the ground or that is around things
• I kicked the ball high in/into the air.
• Spicy smells wafted through the air.
• Music filled the night air.

see also  open air  

FOR PLANES

3. uncountable the space above the earth where planes fly
• It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane).
• air travel/traffic
• The temple was clearly visible from the air.

• A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.  

IMPRESSION

4. singular the particular feeling or impression that is given by sb/sth; the way sb does sth
• The room had an air of luxury.
• She looked at him with a defiant air.

• There was an air of complete confidence about her.  

TUNE

5. countable (old-fashioned) (often used in the title of a piece of music) a tune

• Bach's Air on a G string  

BEHAVIOUR

6. airs plural (disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that sb thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are
• I hate the way she puts on airs.
more at a breath of (fresh) air at  breath, (build) castles in the air at  castle, clear the air at  clear  _v., with your nose in the air at  nose  _n., pluck sth out of the air at  pluck  _v., disappear, vanish, etc. into thin airout of thin air at  thin  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Middle English (in senses 1-3 of noun): from Old French air, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr, denoting the gas. Senses 4 and 6 of the noun are from French air, probably from Old French aire ‘site, disposition’, from Latin ager, agr- ‘field’ (influenced by senses 1-3). Sense 5 of the noun comes from Italian aria, from Latin aer ‘air’.  
Example Bank:
• He drew in another breath of air.
• He had an air of mystery about him.
• He leaned over to Melissa with an air of confidentiality.
• He punched the air in triumph.
• I hate the way she puts on airs.
• I kicked the ball high into the air.
• I sat for a moment, inhaling the fresh forest air.
• It only takes three hours by air.
• It's difficult carrying such heavy loads in the thin air of the mountains.
• Land crabs breathe air and cannot swim.
• Nothing moved in the still air.
• She gulped in the fresh mountain air.
• She was gasping for air as she ran out of the burning house.
• Spicy smells wafted through the air.
• Suddenly a scream pierced the air.
• The air was sweet with incense.
• The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
• The argument helped to clear the air between them.
• The cool night air wafted in the open windows.
• The dog stretched and sniffed the air.
• The hideout is clearly visible from the air.
• The market is held in the open air.
• The tang of some wild herb hung in the air.
• The two planes collided in mid-air.
• There are regulatory requirements for clean air and water.
• They have developed an engine powered by compressed air.
• Three buildings were bombed last night in an air strike on the city.
• We are cleared by Air Traffic Control to taxi and take off.
• We felt a blast of cold air as she opened the door.
• We need some fresh air in this stuffy room!
• You have an air of authority.
• equipment to monitor air quality
• the musty smell of stale air
• the polluted air of our cities
• warm currents of air
• A surprise air attack was launched at night.
• air travel/traffic/fares
Idioms: airs and graces ▪ in the air ▪ on air ▪ up in the air ▪ walk on air

Derived: air out ▪ air something out 

player

play·er [player players]   [ˈpleɪə(r)]    [ˈpleɪər]  noun
1. a person who takes part in a game or sport
• a tennis/rugby/chess, etc. player
• a game for four players
• a midfield player

• We've lost two key players through injury.

2. a company or person involved in a particular area of business or politics
• The company has emerged as a major player in the London property market.

see also  team player

3. (in compounds) a machine for reproducing sound or pictures that have been recorded on CDs, etc

• a CD/DVD/cassette/record player

4. (usually in compounds) a person who plays a musical instrument

• a trumpet player

5. (old-fashioned) (especially in names) an actor
• Phoenix Players present ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  
Thesaurus:
player noun C
• She's one of the country's top tennis players.
athlete • • runner • |especially BrE sportsman • • sportswoman • • sportsperson • |AmE, informal, sometimes disapproving jock •
a top/great/keen player/athlete/runner/sportsman, etc.
a/an all-round/amateur/professional player/athlete/sportsman, etc.
a/an player/athlete/runner/sportsman, etc. competes (in sth) 
Example Bank:
• The club was forced to sell their star player.
• The team has drafted some good players in recent years.
• Their company is a major player in the London property market.
• These boots are for the professional rather than for the average player.
• one of the country's top tennis players
• At that time, he was one of the most famous baseball players in America.
• He proved an excellent chess player.
• She's a former international netball player for New Zealand.
• They're both attacking players who've scored 37 of the team's 40 goals this season.

• We've lost two key players through injury.

healthful

health·ful [healthful healthfully]   [ˈhelθfl]    [ˈhelθfl]  adjective usually before noun (formal or NAmE)
good for your health

Derived Word: healthfully

earphones

ear·phones [earphones]   [ˈɪəfəʊnz]    [ˈɪrfoʊnz]  noun plural
=  headphones  
Example Bank:
• She was listening to a personal stereo through earphones.

• She was listening to her MP3 player through earphones.

special

spe·cial [special specials] adjective, noun   [ˈspeʃl]    [ˈspeʃl] 

adjective
1. usually before noun not ordinary or usual; different from what is normal
Syn:  exceptional
• The school will only allow this in special circumstances.
• Some of the officials have special privileges.
• There is something special about this place.

• This type of wood needs special treatment.

2. more important than others; deserving or getting more attention than usual
• What are your special interests?
• She's a very special friend.
• Our special guest on next week's show will be…

• Don't lose it — it's special.

3. organized or intended for a particular purpose
• a special event
• These teachers need special training.

• Dr Pearce is the special adviser on environmental issues.

4. used by or intended for one particular person or group of people
• She has a special way of smiling.

• He sent a special message to the men.

5. only before noun better or more than usual
• As an only child she got special attention.
• Please take special care of it.
compare  especial  
Word Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French especial ‘especial’ or Latin specialis, from species ‘appearance’, from specere ‘to look’.  
Thesaurus:
special adj.
1. usually before noun
• Journalists were given no special privileges.
exceptional • • particular • |formal extraordinary •
Opp: ordinary
a special/an exceptional case/situation
special/exceptional circumstances
of special/particular concern/importance/interest
2.
• She has a special way of smiling.
unique • • distinctive • • peculiar • • idiosyncratic • |usually approving individual •
sth special/unique/distinctive/individual about sth
a/an special/unique/distinctive/peculiar/idiosyncratic/individual style/character
sb/sth's special/unique/distinctive/peculiar brand of sth 
Example Bank:
• He was usually to be found in the cafe at his own special table by the window.
• In special circumstances candidates without these qualifications may be considered.
• It's the author's special way of paying homage to an earlier poet.
• Journalists were given no special privileges.
• Police advised residents to take special precautions because of the increase in burglaries.
• The President ended with a special message for the people of Texas.
• The choreographer created a special style of dance for each character.
• The director received a special ovation from the actors.
• The directors have their own special pension fund.
• The merger was approved at a special meeting of shareholders.
• The oil industry was treated as a special case.
• The speaker paid special tribute to the founder of the organization.
• There really is something special about the place.

Idiom: on special 

lucky

lucky [lucky luckier luckiest]   [ˈlʌki]    [ˈlʌki]  adjective (luck·ier, lucki·est)
1. having good luck
Syn:  fortunate
• ~ (to do sth) His friend was killed and he knows he is lucky to be alive.
• She was lucky enough to be chosen for the team.
• ~ (that…) You were lucky (that) you spotted the danger in time.
• You can think yourself lucky you didn't get mugged.
• She counted herself lucky that she still had a job.
• Mark is one of the lucky ones — he at least has somewhere to sleep.

• the lucky winners

2. ~ (for sb) (that…) being the result of good luck
• It was lucky for us that we were able to go.
• That was the luckiest escape of my life.

• a lucky guess

3. bringing good luck
• a lucky charm
more at strike (it) lucky at  strike  _v., thank your lucky stars at  thank, third time lucky at  third
Idioms: lucky you/me ▪ you should be so lucky ▪ you'll be lucky
Derived Word: luckily  
Thesaurus:
lucky adj.
1.
• Sam knew he was lucky to be alive.
fortunate • • in luck •
Opp: unlucky
lucky/fortunate that…
lucky/fortunate to do sth
feel/consider yourself/count yourself/think yourself lucky/fortunate
2.
• It was lucky for us that he didn't see us.
fortunate • • happy • • timely •
Opp: unlucky
lucky/fortunate/timely for sb/sth
lucky/fortunate/timely that…
a lucky/fortunate/happy coincidence/chance  
Example Bank:
• It was lucky for you that no one saw you.
• She hopes that some day she'll get lucky and win the jackpot.
• She is incredibly lucky to be alive.
• That was just plain lucky.
• We certainly struck it lucky with the weather.
• We've been pretty lucky so far.
• A lucky find on the edge of the Cotswolds is helping archaeologists discover what life was like in Roman Britain.
• I didn't know he was there— it was just a lucky guess.

• It was lucky for us that he didn't see us.

healthy

healthy [healthy healthier healthiest]   [ˈhelθi]    [ˈhelθi]  adjective (health·ier, healthi·est)
1. having good health and not likely to become ill/sick
• a healthy child/animal/tree
• Keep healthy by eating well and exercising regularly.

Opp:  unhealthy

2. usually before noun good for your health
• a healthy diet/climate/lifestyle

Opp:  unhealthy

3. usually before noun showing that you are in good health
• to have a healthy appetite

• a shampoo that keeps hair looking healthy

4. normal and sensible
• The child showed a healthy curiosity.
• She has a healthy respect for her rival's talents.
• It's not healthy the way she clings to the past.

Opp:  unhealthy

5. successful and working well
• a healthy economy

• Your car doesn't sound very healthy.

6. usually before noun large and showing success
• a healthy bank balance
• a healthy profit
Derived Words: healthily ▪ healthiness  
Thesaurus:
healthy adj.
1.
• Keep healthy with good food and exercise.
strong • |especially BrE fit • |especially spoken well • • fine •
Opp: sickly, Opp: unhealthy
feel/look healthy/strong/fit/well/fine
keep (sb) healthy/fit/well
fit and healthy/strong/well
2. usually before noun
• Many people are adopting a healthy lifestyle.
good • • nutritious • • nourishing •
Opp: unhealthy
a healthy/good/nutritious/nourishing meal/diet
healthy/good/nutritious/nourishing food  
Synonyms:
well
all right • OK • fine • healthy • strong • fit
These words all describe sb who is not ill and is in good health.
well • [not usually before noun] (rather informal) in good health: ▪ I'm not feeling very well. ◊ ▪ Is he well enough to travel?
Well is used especially to talk about your own health, to ask sb about their health or to make a comment on it.
all right • [not before noun] (rather informal) not feeling ill; not injured: ▪ Are you feeling all right?
OK • [not before noun] (informal) not feeling ill; not injured: ▪ She says she's OK now, and will be back at work tomorrow.
all right or ok?
These words are slightly less positive than the other words in this group. They are both used in spoken English to talk about not actually being ill or injured, rather than being positively in good health. Both are rather informal but OK is slightly more informal than all right.
fine • [not before noun] (not used in negative statements) (rather informal) completely well: ▪ ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
Fine is used especially to talk about your health, especially when sb asks you how you are. It is also used to talk about sb's health when you are talking to sb else. Unlike well it is not often used to ask sb about their health or make a comment on it: Are you keeping fine?
healthy • in good health and not likely to become ill: ▪ Keep healthy by exercising regularly.
strong • in good health and not suffering from an illness: ▪ After a few weeks she was feeling stronger.
Strong is often used to talk about becoming healthy again after an illness.
fit • (especially BrE) in good physical health, especially because you take regular physical exercise: ▪ I go swimming every day in order to keep fit.
all right/OK/fit for sth
all right/OK/fit to do sth
to feel/look well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/strong/fit
to keep (sb) well/healthy/fit
perfectly well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/fit
physically well/healthy/strong/fit 
Example Bank:
• Her good diet had kept her healthy.
• She looked pale, but otherwise healthy.
• The economy is extremely healthy at the moment.
• The rare disorder strikes apparently healthy boys between the ages of five and twelve.
• Their lifestyle is quite healthy.
• We have a very healthy diet.
• Working in the open air has made him very healthy.
• You look disgustingly healthy! How do you manage it?
• a new diet which is considered much healthier than previous ones
• He says he's ill, but he looks perfectly healthy to me.
• Here are ten tips for a healthy heart.
• I feel much healthier since I gave up smoking.
• Keep healthy by eating well and exercising regularly.
• Many people today are adopting a healthy lifestyle.
• More public awareness of healthy eating has made us think more about our diet.
• She gave birth to a healthy boy.

• The condition can affect otherwise healthy adults.

perfect

per·fect [perfect perfects perfected perfecting] adjective, verb, noun

adjective   [ˈpɜːfɪkt]  ;   [ˈpɜːrfɪkt]
1. having everything that is necessary; complete and without faults or weaknesses
• in perfect condition
• a perfect set of teeth

• Well I'm sorry— but nobody's perfect (= used when sb has criticized you).

2. completely correct; exact and accurate
• She speaks perfect English.
• a perfect copy/fit/match
• What perfect timing!

see also  word-perfect

3. the best of its kind
• a perfect example of the painter's early style

• the perfect crime (= one in which the criminal is never discovered)

4. excellent; very good

• The weather was perfect.

5. ~ for sb/sth exactly right for sb/sth
Syn:  ideal
• It was a perfect day for a picnic.
• She's the perfect candidate for the job.

• ‘Will 2.30 be OK for you?’ ‘Perfect, thanks.’

6. only before noun total; complete

• I don't know him— he's a perfect stranger.

7. (grammar) connected with the form of a verb that consists of part of the verb have with the past participle of the main verb, used to express actions completed by the present or a particular point in the past or future
• ‘I have eaten’ is the present perfect tense of the verb ‘to eat’, ‘I had eaten’ is the past perfect and ‘I will have eaten’ is the future perfect.
see also  future perfect, past perfect, present perfect
see practice makes perfect at  practice, in an ideal/a perfect world at  world  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French perfet, from Latin perfectus ‘completed’, from the verb perficere, from per- ‘through, completely’ + facere ‘do’.  
Thesaurus:
perfect adj.
1.
• He smiled, revealing a perfect set of teeth.
pristine • • faultless • • flawless • • impeccable • • exemplary • • immaculate • • unspoiled •
Opp: imperfect
perfect/pristine/impeccable/immaculate condition
a/an perfect/faultless/flawless/impeccable/exemplary/immaculate performance
perfect/flawless/impeccable English/French
2.
• This farm is a perfect example of sustainable agriculture.
excellent • • outstanding • • wonderful • • classic • • first-rate • • prime • • superb • |informal fantastic • • terrific • |BrE, especially spoken marvellous • |AmE, especially spoken marvelous •
Opp: mediocre
a/an perfect/excellent/outstanding/wonderful/first-rate/superb/fantastic/terrific/marvellous performance/job
a/an perfect/excellent/outstanding/wonderful/classic/prime/superb/fantastic/terrific/marvellous example
3.
• It was the perfect day for a picnic.
ideal • • optimum • • tailor-made • |spoken just right •
perfect/ideal/tailor-made/just right for sb/sth
a/an perfect/ideal opportunity/solution/candidate
absolutely perfect/ideal
Perfect or ideal? Perfect is slightly more informal. A perfect day for sth is one with very good weather; an ideal day for sth is a very convenient day.  
Synonyms:
excellent
outstanding • perfect • superb
These words all describe sth that is extremely good.
excellent • extremely good. Excellent is used especially about standards of service or of sth that sb has worked to produce: ▪ The rooms are excellent value at $20 a night. ◊ ▪ He speaks excellent English.
Excellent is also used to show that you are very pleased about sth or that you approve of sth: ▪ You can all come? Excellent!
outstanding • extremely good. Outstanding is used especially about how well sb does sth or how good sb is at sth: ▪ an outstanding achievement
perfect • extremely good. Perfect is used especially about conditions or how suitable sth is for a purpose: ▪ Conditions were perfect for walking. ◊ ▪ She came up with the perfect excuse.
superb • (informal) extremely good or impressive: ▪ The facilities at the hotel are superb.
a(n) excellent/outstanding/perfect/superb job/performance
a(n) excellent/outstanding/superb achievement
really/absolutely/quite excellent/outstanding/perfect/superb 
Example Bank:
• He had brought chaos to her once perfect life.
• He had high blood pressure but was in otherwise perfect health.
• He seemed too perfect to be real.
• Her high heels emphasized her already perfect legs.
• Hove's position makes it perfect for touring.
• The day seemed perfect for a picnic.
• The town's position in the region makes it perfect for touring.
• The treaty is far from perfect, but it is clearly the way forward.
• a seemingly perfect alibi
• the impossibly perfect shine on the vinyl-tiled floors
• ‘What's your room like?’ ‘Perfect!’
• Conditions were perfect for walking.
• He has behaved like a perfect gentleman ever since I met him.
• He smiled, revealing a perfect set of teeth.
• I don't know her— she's a perfect stranger.
• I have a perfect right to ask you— and you have the right not to answer.
• In a perfect world no one would need to pay for health care.
• Most of our testers considered the driving position and seats close to perfect.
• She came up with the perfect excuse that she had to visit her sick grandmother.
• The location of the cottage makes it perfect for touring.
• Well, I'm sorry, but nobody's perfect.

• What's your idea of the perfect partner?

adjective only before noun
cooked in an oven or over a fire
• roast chicken  
Word Origin:

Middle English: from Old French rostir, of West Germanic origin.

See also: joint

mixed

mixed   [mɪkst]    [mɪkst]  adjective
1. having both good and bad qualities or feelings
• The weather has been very mixed recently.
• I still have mixed feelings about going to Brazil (= I am not sure what to think).
• The play was given a mixed reception by the critics (= some liked it, some did not).

• British athletes had mixed fortunes in yesterday's competition.

2. only before noun consisting of different kinds of people, for example, people from different races and cultures
• a mixed community
• people of mixed race

• a mixed marriage (= between two people of different races or religions)

3. only before noun consisting of different types of the same thing

• a mixed salad

4. usually before noun of or for both males and females
• a mixed school
• I'd rather not talk about it in mixed company.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English mixt: from Old French mixte, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere ‘to mix’.  
Thesaurus:
mixed [mixed] adj. only before noun
• a mixed-ability class
diverse • • assorted • • miscellaneous • |often approving varied • |formal heterogeneous • • eclectic • |especially written, often disapproving motley •
Opp: homogeneous
a/an mixed/diverse/assorted/miscellaneous/varied/heterogeneous/motley group
a/an mixed/diverse/miscellaneous/varied/heterogeneous/motley collection
racially/ethnically/culturally/socially mixed/diverse/varied 
Example Bank:
• In his world view, art and religion were inextricably mixed.
• an ethnically mixed community
• Do you have experience of teaching mixed-ability classes?
• She was born to parents of mixed race.

• a mixed marriage