Oxford Advanced Learner

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

mer cen ary •

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noun, adjective

BrE / ˈmɜːsənəri / NAmE / ˈmɜːrsəneri / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

( pl. mer cen aries ) a soldier who will fight for any country or group that offers payment foreign mercenaries mercenary soldiers adjective •

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WORD ORIGIN

( disapproving ) only interested in making or getting money a mercenary society/attitude She's interested in him for purely purely mercenary reasons. © Oxford University Press, 2010


or!e man •

BrE / ˈhɔːsmən / NAmE / ˈhɔːrsmən / noun ( pl. horse men / BrE ˈhɔːsmən ; NAmE ˈhɔːrsmən / ) a rider on a horse; a person who can ride horses a good horseman 300 horsemen appeared on the top of the hill. see also horsewoman •

© Oxford University Press, 2010


cav a"ry •

BrE / ˈkævlri / NAmE / ˈkævlri / noun WORD ORIGIN

( usually the cavalry ) [ !in#u"ar $ !in#u"ar or %"ura" ver& ] (in the past) the part of the army that fought on horses; the part of the modern army that uses armoured vehicles The cavalry charged up the hill to engage the rebels. © Oxford University Press, 2010


arc er •

BrE / ˈɑːt ʃə(r) ʃə(r) /

NAmE / ˈɑːrt ʃər / noun WORD ORIGIN

a person who shoots with a bow and arrows © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

&rea!t %"ate •

BrE / ˈ brestpleɪt / NAmE / ˈ brestpleɪt / noun a piece of armour worn by soldiers in the past to protect the upper front part of the body © Oxford University Press, 2010


"ance

noun, verb BrE / lɑːns / NAmE / læns / noun WORD ORIGIN

a weapon with a long wooden handle and a pointed metal end that was used by people fighting on horses in the past ver& 'ERB (ORM) WORD ORIGIN

* [ tran!itive ] ~ sth to cut open an infected place on sb's body with a sharp knife in order to let out the pus (= a yellow substance produced by infection) to lance an abscess + [ intran!itive ] + adv./prep. ( of a pain ) to move suddenly and uickly and be very sharp Pain lanced through his body. © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

!,ord BrE / sɔːd / NAmE / sɔːrd / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

a weapon with a long metal blade and a handle to draw/sheathe a sword (= to take it out!put it into its cover) %ut !& to te ˈ!,ord ( old-fashioned or literary ) to kill sb with a sword a-te !,ord o. ˈDamoc"e! ( literary ) a bad or unpleasant thing that might happen to you at any time and that makes you feel worried or frightened "rom the legend in which Damocles had to sit at a meal at the court of #ionysius with a sword hanging by a single hair above his head$ %e had praised #ionysius' happiness& and #ionysius wanted him to understand how uickly happiness can be lost$

turn !,ord! into ˈ%"ou#!are! ( literary ) to stop fighting and return to peaceful activities more at cro!! !,ord! at cross v. & &e a dou&"e/ed#ed !,ord-,ea%on at double-edged & te %en i! mi#tier tan te !,ord at pen n. © Oxford University Press, 2010


mace BrE / meɪs / NAmE / meɪs / noun WORD ORIGIN 01L21RE

* [ counta&"e ] a decorative stick& carried as a sign of authority by an official such as a mayor compare sceptre + [ counta&"e ] a large heavy stick that has a head with metal points on it& used in the past as a weapon 3 [ uncounta&"e ] the dried outer covering of nutmegs (= the hard nuts of a tropical tree)& used in cooking as a spice © Oxford University Press, 2010


&att"e a4e

( BrE ) ( US also battle ax ) BrE / ˈ bætlæks / NAmE / ˈ bætlæks / noun * ( informal & disapproving ) an aggressive and unpleasant older woman My landlady is an old battleaxe and has far too many house rules. + a heavy axe with a long handle& used in the past as a weapon •

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"and o,ner •

BrE / ˈlændəʊnə(r) / NAmE / ˈlændoʊnər / noun a person who owns land& especially a large area of land "and o,ner !i% / BrE ; NAmE / ( also land owning ) noun [ uncounta&"e ] private landownership "and o,nin# / BrE ˈlændəʊnɪ ; NAmE ˈlændoʊnɪ / adjective [ on"y &e.ore noun ] the great landowning families •

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ir ri #ate •

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BrE / ˈɪrɪɡeɪt / NAmE / ˈɪrɪɡeɪt / ver& 'ERB (ORM) WORD ORIGIN

* ~ sth to supply water to an area of land through pipes or channels so that crops will grow irrigated landcrops + ~ sth ( medical ) to wash out a wound or part of the body with a flow of water or liuid ir ri #a tion / BrE ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃ n ; NAmE ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃ n / noun [ uncounta&"e ] irrigation channels !rrigation has increased the area of cultivable land. •

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ro ta tion •

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BrE / rəʊˈteɪʃ n / NAmE / roʊˈteɪʃ n / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

* [ uncounta&"e ] the action of an obect moving in a circle around a central fied point the daily rotation of the earth on its axis + [ counta&"e ] one complete movement in a circle around a fied point This switch controls the number of rotations per minute. 3 [ uncounta&"e & counta&"e ] the act of regularly changing the thing that is being used in a particular situation& or of changing the person who does a particular ob crop rotation/the rotation of crops (= changing the crop that is grown on an area of land in order to protect the soil) "ob rotation (= the practice of regularly changing the ob that a particular person does so that they become eperienced in different areas) #heat$ mai%e and sugar beet are planted in rotation . The committee is chaired by all the members in rotation . ro ta tion a" / BrE rəʊˈteɪʃənl ; NAmE roʊˈteɪʃənl / adjective [ on"y &e.ore noun ] The event is held on a rotational basis in each of the participating countries. •

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%ot ter

verb, noun BrE / ˈpɒtə(r) / NAmE / ˈpɑːtər / ver& •

'ERB (ORM) WORD ORIGIN

( BrE )

( NAmE putt er ) [ intran!itive ] + adv./prep. to do things or move without hurrying& especially when you are doing sth that you enoy and that is not important ! spent the day pottering around the house. noun •

WORD ORIGIN

a person who makes clay pots by hand © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

,eaver BrE / ˈ wiː v ə(r) / NAmE / ˈ wiː v ər / noun a person whose ob is weavng cloth © Oxford University Press, 2010


car %en ter •

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BrE / ˈk ɑːpəntə(r) / NAmE / ˈk ɑːrpəntər / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

a person whose ob is making and repairing wooden obects and structures compare joiner © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

join er •

BrE / ˈd!ɔɪnə(r) / NAmE / ˈd!ɔɪnər / noun WORD ORIGIN

* ( BrE ) a person whose ob is to make the wooden parts of a building& especially window frames& doors& etc$ compare carpenter + a person who oins an organi*ation& club& etc &ll "oiners will receive a welcome pac. © Oxford University Press, 2010


&"ac5 !mit •

BrE / ˈ blæksmɪ+ / NAmE / ˈ blæksmɪ+ / ( also smith )

noun a person whose ob is to make and repair things made of iron& especially "orses"oes compare farrier © Oxford University Press, 2010


mi"" er •

BrE / ˈmɪlə(r) / NAmE / ˈmɪlər / noun a person who owns or works in a mll for making flour © Oxford University Press, 2010


trade

noun, verb

BrE / treɪd / NAmE / treɪd / noun WORD ORIGIN 0OLLO0A2ION) 0OLLO0A2ION) )6NON6M) EXAMPLE BANK

* [ uncounta&"e ] the activity of buying and selling or of echanging goods or services between people or countries international/foreign trade Trade between the two countries has increased. the international trade in oil the arms/drugs, etc. trade see also balance of trade & fair-trade & free trade + [ counta&"e ] a particular type of business the building/food/tourist, etc. trade (e wors in the retail trade (= selling goods in shops!stores) . see also rag trade

3 the trade [ !in#u"ar $ !in#u"ar or %"ura" ver& ] a particular area of business and the people or companies that are connected with it They offer discounts to the trade (= to people who are working in the same business) . a trade magazine/journal Their company is respected and well nown in the trade. see also stoc-in-trade 7 [ uncounta&"e & counta&"e ] the amount of goods or services that you sell business Trade was very good last month. 8 [ uncounta&"e & counta&"e ] a ob& especially one that involves working with your hands and that reuires special training and skills

(e was a carpenter by trade . #hen she leaves school$ she wants to learn a trade. She was surrounded by the tools of her trade (= everything she needs to do her ob) . see a jac5 o. a"" trade! at jac n. & %"y .or ire-trade-&u!ine!! %"y your trade at ply v. & do a roarin# trade 9in !t: at roaring & te tric5! o. te trade at tric n. ver& 'ERB (ORM) WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

* [ intran!itive & tran!itive ] to buy and sell things ~ !in sth" !with sb" The firm openly traded in arms. )arly explorers traded directly with the !ndians. trading partners (= countries that you trade with) ~ sth !with sb" *ur products are now traded worldwide. + [ intran!itive ] to eist and operate as a business or company The firm has now ceased trading. ~ as sb/sth They traded as +#aler and Son,. 3 [ intran!itive & tran!itive ] ~ !sth" to be bought and sold& or to buy and sell sth& on a stoc$ exc"ange Shares were trading at under half their usual value. 7 [ tran!itive ] to echange sth that you have for sth that sb else has ~ !sb" sth to trade secrets/insults/jokes ~ sth for sth She traded her posters for his -. ~ sth with sb ! wouldn't mind trading places with her for a day. ˈtrade at !t ( US ) to buy goods or shop at a particular store ˌtrade ˈdo,n to spend less money on things than you used to Shoppers are trading down and looing for bargains. ˌtrade !t ˈin to give sth used as part of the payment for sth new (e traded in his old car for a new Mercedes. related noun trade-in ˌtrade !t ˈo.. 9a#ain!t-.or !t: to balance two things or situations that are opposed to each other They were attempting to trade off inflation against unemployment. related noun trade-o# ˈtrade on !t ( disapproving ) to use sth to your own advantage& especially in an unfair way exploit They trade on people's insecurity to sell them insurance. ˌtrade ˈu% * to sell sth in order to buy sth more epensive #e're going to trade up to a larger house. + to give sth you have used as part of the payment for sth more epensive © Oxford University Press, 2010


%o" y# amy •

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BrE / pəˈlɪɡəmi / NAmE / pəˈlɪɡəmi / noun WORD ORIGIN

[ uncounta&"e ] ( technical ) the custom of having more than one wife at the same time compare polyandry %o" y# am i!t / BrE pəˈlɪɡəmɪst ; NAmE pəˈlɪɡəmɪst / noun %o" y# am ou! / BrE pəˈlɪɡəməs ; NAmE pəˈlɪɡəməs / adjective a polygamous marriagesociety •

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de! %ot i!m •

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BrE / ˈdespətɪ*əm / NAmE / ˈdespətɪ*əm / noun WORD ORIGIN

[ uncounta&"e ] the rule of a despot © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

de! %ot •

BrE / ˈdespɒt / NAmE / ˈdespɑːt / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

a ruler with great power& especially one who uses it in a cruel way an enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his!her power in a good way) de! %ot ic / BrE dɪˈspɒtɪk ; NAmE dɪˈspɑːtɪk / adjective despotic power/rule •

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ca% ita" •

noun, adjective

BrE / ˈkæpɪtl / NAmE / ˈkæpɪtl / noun WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK $%&'

* ( also ˌcapital ˈcity ) [ counta&"e ] the most important town or city of a country& usually where the central government operates from -airo is the capital of )gypt.

Troops are stationed in and around the capital. a tour of six )uropean capital cities ( gurative ) Paris$ the fashion capital of the world ()*'

+ [ !in#u"ar ] a large amount of money that is invested or is used to start a business to set up a business with a starting capital of /00 000 3 [ uncounta&"e ] wealth or property that is owned by a business or a person capital assets capital expenditure (= money that an organi*ation spends on buildings& euipment& etc$) 7 [ uncounta&"e ] ( technical ) people who use their money to start businesses& considered as a group capital and labour ,&&

8 ( also ˌcapital ˈletter ) [ counta&"e ] a letter of the form and si*e that is used at the beginning of a sentence or a name (= ,&-&. rather than a&b&c) 1se block capitals (= separate capital letters) . Please write in capitals/in capital letters . $%&$&0

; the top part of a column ma5e ca%ita" 9out: o. !t to use a situation for your own advantage The opposition parties are maing political capital out of the government's problems. adjective WORD ORIGIN 10*%2(*&

* [ on"y &e.ore noun ] involving punishment by death a capital offence ,&&

+ [ on"y &e.ore noun ] ( of letters of the alphabet ) having the form and si*e used at the beginning of a sentence or a name )nglish is written with a capital +),. compare lower case 3$,,*&

3 ( old-fashioned & BrE ) ecellent ,it a ca%ita" A< B< etc= used to emphasi*e that a word has a stronger meaning than usual in a particular situation (e was romantic with a capital 2. © Oxford University Press, 2010


in .ra !truc ture •

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BrE / ˈɪnfrəstr%kt ʃə(r) / NAmE / ˈɪnfrəstr%kt ʃər /

noun WORD ORIGIN

[ counta&"e & uncounta&"e ] the basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or an organi*ation to run smoothly& for eample buildings& transport and water and power supplies in .ra !truc tura" / BrE ˌɪnfrəˈstr%kt ʃərəl ; NAmE ˌɪnfrəˈstr%kt ʃərəl / adjective [ u!ua""y &e.ore noun ] infrastructural development •

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© Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

cer am ic •

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BrE / səˈræmɪk / NAmE / səˈræmɪk / noun WORD ORIGIN

* [ counta&"e & u!ua""y %"ura" ] a pot or other obect made of clay that has been made permanently hard by heat an exhibition of ceramics by Picasso + ceramics [ uncounta&"e ] the art of making and decorating ceramics cer am ic adjective ceramic tiles •

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© Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

"a%i! "a> u"i •

BrE / ˌlæpɪs ˈlæ*ʊli / NAmE / ˌlæpɪs ˈlæ*əli / noun WORD ORIGIN

[ uncounta&"e ] a bright blue stone& used in making ewellery © Oxford University Press, 2010 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

o& !id ian •

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BrE / ə bˈsɪdiən / NAmE / ə bˈsɪdiən / noun WORD ORIGIN

[ uncounta&"e ] a type of dark rock that looks like glass and comes from volcanoes © Oxford University Press, 2010


&a!/re"ie. BrE / ˌ bæs rɪˈliːf / NAmE / ˌ bæs rɪˈliːf /

noun WORD ORIGIN

[ uncounta&"e & counta&"e ] a form of sculpture in which the shapes are cut so that they are slightly raised from the background; a sculpture made in this way © Oxford University Press, 2010


met a" ,or5 •

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BrE / ˈmetlw ɜːk / NAmE / ˈmetlw ɜːrk / noun [ uncounta&"e ] * the activity of making obects out of metal; obects that are made out of metal a class in metalwor a piece of ornamental metalwor + the metal parts of sth cracs in the metalwor met a" ,or5 er / BrE ˈmetlw ɜːk ə(r) ; NAmE ˈmetlw ɜːrk ər / noun •

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Oxford Advanced Learner

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