health

English translation unavailable for health.

health

US /helθ/ 
UK /helθ/ 

Oxford Essential Dictionary

health

 noun (no plural)
the condition of your body:
Smoking is bad for your health.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

health

health S1 W1 /helθ/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: health, healthiness; adverb: healthily ≠ unhealthily; adjective: healthy ≠ unhealthy]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hælth, from hal; ⇨ whole1]
1. the general condition of your body and how healthy you are:
I’m worried about my husband’s health.
2. the work of providing medical services to keep people healthy:
The government has promised to spend more on health and education.
health insurance
nurses and other health workers ⇨ public health
3. when you have no illness or disease:
Even if you haven’t got much money, at least you’ve got your health.
When we last met, he was glowing with health (=was clearly very healthy).
4. how successful something such as a business, an organization, or a country’s ↑economy is:
The monthly trade figures are seen as an indicator of the health of the economy.
a clean bill of health at clean1(13)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
good Physical exercise is essential to good health.
excellent At the age of 70, her health is excellent.
poor He wanted to join the army but his health was too poor.
ill health He retired early due to ill health.
failing health (=when someone is becoming more ill) Despite failing health, he travelled to Australia to visit his son.
mental health Poverty affects children's physical and mental health.
physical health Her physical health was generally good.
sexual health The programme aims to educate teenagers about sexual health.
general health (=the health of your whole body rather than a particular part) A balanced diet will improve your general health.
human health Some chemicals pose a significant risk to human health.
■ verbs
damage your health There is no doubt that smoking can seriously damage your health.
endanger your health (=cause danger to your health) Being overweight endangers your health.
improve (somebody's) health Doing more exercise will improve your health.
somebody's health improves Her health improved slowly after she came home from hospital.
somebody's health deteriorates (=gets worse) Her health deteriorated rapidly.
■ health + NOUN
health care (=care from doctors, nurses etc) Many Americans cannot afford even basic health care.
a health problem He missed a lot of time at work through health problems.
a health risk/hazard/threat (=something that could damage your health) The report looked at the health risks linked to eating excess sugar.
health benefits the health benefits of doing yoga
health effects The study looked at the long-term health effects of drinking alcohol.
a health warning (=a warning printed on a product that could harm you) the health warning on cigarette packets
■ phrases
be in good/poor health (=be healthy/unhealthy) Her parents were elderly and in poor health.
be good/bad for your health Eating plenty of vegetables is good for your health.
somebody's state of health Your choice of exercise must depend on your general state of health.
health and well-being The breakfast program improves the health and well-being of the children.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

health

health   [helθ]    [helθ]  noun uncountable
1. the condition of a person's body or mind
• Exhaust fumes are bad for your health.
to be in poor/good/excellent/the best of health
• Smoking can seriously damage your health.
mental health
• Your (very) good health! (= said before drinking alcohol to express good wishes for sb's health and happiness)

see also  ill health

2. the state of being physically and mentally healthy
• He was nursed back to health by his wife.
• She was glowing with health and clearly enjoying life.

• As long as you have your health, nothing else matters.

3. the work of providing medical services
• All parties are promising to increase spending on health.
• the Health Minister
• the Department of Health
health insurance

health and safety regulations (= laws that protect the health of people at work)

4. how successful sth is
• the health of your marriage/finances
see a clean bill of health at  clean  adj., drink sb's health at  drink  v., propose sb's health at  propose, in rude health at  rude  
Word Origin:
Old English hǣlth, of Germanic origin; related to whole.  
Thesaurus:
health [health] noun U
• Exhaust fumes are bad for your health.
fitness • • condition • • shape • • well-being • • constitution
sb's general/physical health/fitness/condition/well-being
sb's health/fitness/condition deteriorates/improves
maintain/regain your health/fitness
be in good health/shape 
Example Bank:
• He felt in much better health.
• He had to retire due to ill health.
• He is unable to travel far because of his state of health.
• Health visitors give families support for infant care and development.
• Her health gradually improved.
• His health began to fail under the heavy pressures of the job.
• How is primary health care best delivered?
• She was nursed back to full health.
• She's never really enjoyed good health.
• Smoking is bad for your health.
• Some athletes are prepared to risk their health to win a medal.
• The air quality was so bad that the government issued a health warning.
• The poisoned food has been removed from the shops and there is no threat to public health.
• There is no threat to public health from this paint.
• You need to maintain your physical and mental health.
• Your doctor, midwife or health visitor will advise.
• a campaign to promote better health in the workplace
• a community health centre/center
• community health care
• environmental health officers
• health and safety at work
• health food stores
• private health insurance
• the district/local/regional health authority
• the health benefits of physical activity
• ways to improve the nation's general health
• He has been in poor health for some time now.
• Her mental health began to deteriorate.
• She has always enjoyed the best of health.
• She was forced to resign because of ill health.
• Smoking can seriously damage your health.

• The government project aims to promote health in disadvantaged areas.

 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

health / helθ / noun [ U ]

A2 the condition of the body and the degree to which it is free from illness, or the state of being well:

to be in good/poor health

Regular exercise is good for your health.

I had to give up drinking for health reasons.

He gave up work because of ill health.

the condition of something that changes or develops, such as an organization or system:

the financial health of the business

Word partners for health

sb's state of health • (in) excellent / good / ill / poor health • sb's health deteriorates / improves / worsens • damage / improve sb's health • health benefits / effects / problems

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

health

[he̱lθ]
 
 1) N-UNCOUNT: oft with poss A person's health is the condition of their body and the extent to which it is free from illness or is able to resist illness.
  Tea contains caffeine. It's bad for your health.
 2) N-UNCOUNT Health is a state in which a person is not suffering from any illness and is feeling well.
  In hospital they nursed me back to health.
 3) PHRASE: V inflects When you drink to someone's health or drink their health, you have a drink as a sign of wishing them health and happiness.
  In the village pub, regulars drank the health of John and his father.
 4) N-UNCOUNT The health of something such as an organization or a system is its success and the fact that it is working well.
  There's no way to predict the future health of the banking industry.
  Syn:
  prosperity

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1health /ˈhɛlɵ/ noun [noncount]
1 a : the condition of being well or free from disease
• We nursed him back to health.
• My aunt is quite elderly, but she still has her health. [=she is still healthy]
• She is the picture of health. [=she is very healthy]
✦If you drink (to) someone's health, you take a drink as a wish for that person to be healthy.
b : the overall condition of someone's body or mind
• He's in good/poor health these days.
• He has continued to enjoy good health in his old age.
• Her health is excellent. = She is in the best of health.
• Smoking is bad for your health.
• He is concerned about his sister's mental health.
2 : the condition or state of something
• We must protect the health of our oceans.
• The economy is in a period of robust financial health.
• Investors are worried about the company's health.
give (someone or something) a clean bill of health
- see 1bill

Health

  1. Are you in good health?
  2. What do you do to keep healthy?
  3. How often do you visit a doctor?
  4. Do you usually worry about your health? How about the health of those who are around you?
  5. What are some common health problems in your country? What's the root of these problems (genetic, climate,…)?
  6. How often do you go to gym?
  7. How many times a week do you eat fresh fruit and vegetables?
  8. Do you read any magazines/books about health? Do you recommend them to your friends?

Vegetarian

  1. Are you or have you ever been a vegetarian? Why? Why not?
  2. Do you have a family member or a close friend who is a vegetarian? How do you feel about it? Is it difficult to cook for them?
  3. What are some reasons that people choose to be vegetarian?
  4. Isn't being a vegetarian dangerous to your health?
  5. Why vegetarianism has become more fashionable these days? Isn't it just a fad?
  6. If you had to kill an animal by yourself to eat its meat, would you ever do it? Why? Why not?

Mental and physical health

  1. How do you take care of your body?
  2. What do you do to relax after a long workday?
  3. How often do you visit your doctor? Just when you are sick or for regular checkups?
  4. Do you do yoga/meditation? What do you think about them?
  5. How many hours a day do you sleep? Is that enough?
  6. How do you help yourself to relax when you are stressed?
  7. How often do you do sports or exercise?

Food and Eating

  1. How many meals do you have a day?
  2. Where do you eat your lunch?
  3. What was your last meal? What did you eat? Who had prepared it? Did you like it?
  4. Is there any food you strongly dislike? What's wrong with it?
  5. What's your favorite meal/food/restaurant?
  6. Do you like cooking?
  7. Do you drink a lot of tea/coffee/water/coke? What's your favorite drink? Is it good for your health?
  8. Are you a vegetarian? Have you ever considered it?

Government Providing Free Service

  1. What kind of welfare services are currently provided by the government in your country?
  2. Does everybody have health insurance in your country? Is the government responsible for this? Do you think it should be?
  3. What kinds of facilities are provided for unemployed people? Have you personally ever used these services? Are they any useful?
  4. What educational services are provided by the government? How is the quality?
  5. What are the government's programs for free sport facilities?
  6. Do you think your government spends enough on social services?

Smoking

  1. Smoking is bad for health, is it difficult to understand?
  2. How many people smoke in your family? Do/did your grandparents smoke?
  3. Why do people start smoking?
  4. Should smoking be banned in public places like parks, cafes, …?
  5. Do people who smoke seem more attractive, cool and handsome?
  6. How do you feel about women smoking?
  7. Is there any age limit for buying cigarettes in your country?
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