noun

Oxford Essential Dictionary

belt

noun
a long piece of cloth or leather that you wear around the middle of your body Look also at safety belt and seat belt.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

belt

I. belt¹ S2 W3 /belt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English]
1. a band of leather, cloth etc that you wear around your waist to hold up your clothes or for decoration:
He unbuckled his leather belt.
2. a large area of land that has particular features or where particular people live:
America’s farming belt
the green (=countryside) belt British English ⇨ ↑green belt
3. a circular band of something such as rubber that connects or moves parts of a machine ⇨ ↑conveyor belt, ↑fan belt
4. below the belt informal unfair or cruel:
That was a bit below the belt, Paul.
The comments hit below the belt (=they were unfair or cruel).
5. have something under your belt to have achieved something useful or important:
a secretary with several years’ experience under her belt
6. belt and braces British English informal a belt and braces way of doing something is one in which you do more than necessary in order to make sure that it succeeds
⇨ ↑black belt, ↑garter belt, ↑safety belt, ↑seat belt, ↑suspender belt, ⇨ tighten your belt at ↑tighten(6)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + belt
▪ a wide belt Along the coast is a wide belt of sand dunes.
▪ a narrow belt The tree grows in a narrow belt around the western Mediterranean.
▪ the green belt British English (=land around a city where building is not allowed) the government's commitment to protecting the green belt
▪ a mountain belt (=a long and wide area of mountains) mountain belts such as the Himalayas
▪ a coastal belt (=land along the coast) The wide coastal belt is a flat plain, partially wooded.
▪ an industrial belt (=where there are a lot of factories etc) the northern industrial belt of the United States
▪ the corn/cotton/wheat belt (=where corn/cotton etc is grown) Western Australia's wheat belt
▪ the commuter belt British English (=an area around a large city from where people travel to work in the city every day) House prices are high in the London commuter belt.
▪ the stockbroker belt British English (=an area around a city where rich people who work in the city live) wealthy families living in the stockbroker belt

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

belt

belt [belt belts belted belting] noun, verb [belt] [belt]

noun

1. a long narrow piece of leather, cloth, etc. that you wear around the waist
• to do up/fasten/tighten a belt
• a belt buckle

see also black belt, lifebelt, seat belt, suspender belt

2. a continuous band of material that moves round and is used to carry things along or to drive machinery

see also conveyor belt, fan belt

3. an area with particular characteristics or where a particular group of people live
• the country's corn/industrial belt
• We live in the commuter belt.
• a belt of rain moving across the country

see also green belt

4. (informal) an act of hitting sth/sb hard
• She gave the ball a terrific belt.
more at tighten your belt at tighten
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin, from Latin balteus ‘girdle’.
Example Bank:
• She was wearing a garter belt and stockings.
• The space mission provided new data on the Earth's radiation belts.
• a narrow belt of trees
• a studded leather belt
• Buffalo is an American rust belt city that was home to several steel mills.
• The government promised to maintain the green belt.
• Towns in the country's industrial belt were particularly affected by the recession.
• We live in the commuter belt.

• the US corn belt

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

belt / belt / noun [ C ] (CLOTHING)

belt

A2 a strip of leather or material worn around the waist to support clothes or for decoration:

She fastened her belt tightly around her waist.

He had eaten so much that he had to undo his belt a couple of notches.

See picture clothes 4

belt / belt / noun [ C ] (MOVING STRIP)

a flat strip of material in a machine that moves along continuously to keep another part turning, or to keep objects on it moving along:

a fan belt

a conveyor belt

belt / belt / noun [ C usually singular ] (AREA)

an area, usually just outside a city, where a particular group of people live, such as the commuter belt and the stockbroker belt, or an area that is known for a particular characteristic, such as the cotton belt (= an area where cotton is grown)

belt / belt / noun [ C usually singular ] informal (HIT)

a hard hit or punch:

a belt on the jaw

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

belt

/belt/
(belts, belting, belted)

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.

1.
A belt is a strip of leather or cloth that you fasten round your waist.
He wore a belt with a large brass buckle.
N-COUNT
see also safety belt, seat belt

2.
A belt in a machine is a circular strip of rubber that is used to drive moving parts or to move objects along.
The turning disc is connected by a drive belt to an electric motor.
N-COUNT
see also conveyor belt, fan belt

3.
A belt of land or sea is a long, narrow area of it that has some special feature.
Miners in Zambia’s northern copper belt have gone on strike...
= strip
N-COUNT: with supp
see also Bible Belt, commuter belt, green belt

4.
If someone belts you, they hit you very hard. (INFORMAL)
‘Is it right she belted old George in the gut?’ she asked.
= thump
VERB: V n
•
Belt is also a noun.
Father would give you a belt over the head with the scrubbing brush.
N-COUNT

5.
If you belt somewhere, you move or travel there very fast. (INFORMAL)
We belted down Iveagh Parade to where the motor was.
= dash
VERB: V prep/adv

6.
see also belted

7.
Something that is below the belt is cruel and unfair.
Do you think it’s a bit below the belt what they’re doing?
...this kind of below-the-belt discrimination.
PHRASE

8.
If you have to tighten your belt, you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have.
Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you’ll need to tighten your belt.
PHRASE: V inflects

9.
If you have something under your belt, you have already achieved it or done it.
Clare is now a full-time author with six books, including four novels, under her belt.
PHRASE: have/with n PHR

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹belt /ˈbɛlt/ noun, pl belts [count]
1 : a band of material (such as leather) that is worn around a person's waist
• I fastened/unfastened the buckle on my belt. = I buckled/unbuckled my belt.
• I tied the belt of my robe.
- see color picture
- see also black belt, garter belt, safety belt, seat belt
2 : a band that runs around wheels or other parts in a machine and that is used for moving or carrying something - see also fan belt
3 : a region that has a lot of a particular thing
• a belt of hilly land [=an area with many hills]
• a storm belt
• the farm/farming belt
• the corn/cotton belt [=a region with many farms growing corn/cotton]
• an asteroid belt
• (chiefly US) cities in the Rust Belt [=an area formerly known for industry and manufacturing]
- see also bible belt, sunbelt
below the belt informal : too harsh and unfair
• That remark was below the belt. = That remark really hit (him) below the belt.
✦The phrase below the belt comes from the sport of boxing, where it is against the rules to hit your opponent anywhere below the belt.
tighten your belt : to begin to spend less money : to make changes in order to save money
• Many companies are tightening their belts during the recession.
- see also belt-tightening
under your belt : as an achievement or as part of your experience
• She has a best-selling book under her belt. [=she has written a best-selling book]
• an actor who has several films under his belt [=who has appeared in several films]
• He finally has a full year of experience under his belt.

fight

/faɪt/

an argument or an occasion when someone uses physical force to try to defeat someone

معادل فارسی:

پيكار، مبارزه‌، ستيز

مثال انگلیسی:

the fight against addiction

پيكار با اعتياد

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

fight

noun
when people try to hurt or kill each other:
Don't get into a fight.
A fight broke out between the two gangs.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. fight² S2 W3 BrE AmE noun
1. PEOPLE HIT EACH OTHER [countable] a situation in which two people or groups hit, push etc each other:
Her son was always getting into fights at school.
fight with
They ended up having a fight with each other.
fight between
A fight broke out between the fans.
fight over/about
fights over territory
2. TO ACHIEVE/PREVENT SOMETHING [singular] the process of trying to achieve something or prevent something
fight for
the fight for justice and democracy
The little girl lost her fight for life (=fight to stay alive) last night.
fight against
the fight against crime
fight to do something
the fight to get financial aid
You’ll have a fight on your hands (=it will be difficult) to convince the committee.
3. ARGUMENT [countable] an argument
fight with
They’ve had a fight with the neighbours.
fight over/about
fights over money
4. BOXING [countable] a ↑boxing match:
Are you going to watch the big fight tonight?
5. BATTLE [countable] a battle between two armies
fight for
the fight for Bunker Hill
6. ENERGY [uncountable] energy or the desire to keep fighting for something you want:
There’s plenty of fight left in your grandmother.
7. put up a good fight to work very hard to fight or compete in a difficult situation:
Our team put up a good fight.
8. a fight to the death/finish a fight that continues until one side is completely defeated
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a fight I didn’t want to have a fight with him.
▪ get into a fight (=become involved in a fight) The two men got into a fight over a girl.
▪ start a fight They started a fight in the crowded bar.
▪ pick a fight (=deliberately start a fight) The guy tried to pick a fight with Jack.
▪ stop a fight/break up a fight The police were called in to break up a fight outside a nightclub.
▪ win/lose a fight He always won every fight he was in at school.
▪ be spoiling for a fight (=be very eager to fight with someone) The kids went round in gangs, all spoiling for a fight.
▪ a fight breaks out/erupts (=suddenly starts) A fight broke out and one man was struck on the head.
▪ a fight takes place (=happens) The fight took place outside a nightclub.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + fight
▪ a big fight They ended up having a big fight in the pub.
▪ a fair fight It was a fair fight, just two on two.
▪ a fierce fight There was a fierce fight with rebel forces and several soldiers were killed.
▪ a street fight There were reports of street fights every night in the local newspaper.
▪ a fist fight (=a fight in which people hit each other with their closed hands) A fist fight broke out after the match.
▪ a knife/sword fight There have been several arrests, following knife fights between drunken fans.
▪ a title fight (=a fight between two boxers to decide who will win a competition) a heavyweight title fight
• • •
THESAURUS
■ when people hit or attack each other
▪ fight a situation in which people hit or attack each other because of an argument, or as a sport: He had a fight with an older boy. | the famous fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
▪ battle a fight between opposing armies or groups of people: The English king was killed at the Battle of Hastings. | a battle between two rival gangs
▪ scuffle a short fight that is not very violent: There was a short scuffle with the police, but no arrests were made.
▪ punch-up British English informal a fight in which people hit each other because of an argument: The game turned into a punch-up.
▪ brawl a noisy fight between a group of people: He was hurt in a drunken brawl.
▪ altercation formal a short noisy argument or fight, especially one that is not serious: There was a brief altercation and someone called the police.
▪ riot a fight involving a large number of people, especially people who are protesting about something: The book provoked riots all over Europe.
■ when people try to achieve something
▪ fight the process in which people try to stop something bad from happening or to improve a situation: Schools have an important part to play in the fight against drugs. | women’s fight for equality
▪ battle a fight to change a situation or deal with a problem in society: The battle against racial discrimination is not over.
▪ campaign a planned series of actions intended to achieve something: Motoring organizations started a campaign for safer roads.
▪ struggle a long, hard fight for freedom, independence, equal rights etc: Nkrumah led the people in their struggle for independence.
▪ crusade someone’s fight against something they think is morally wrong: She intends to continue her crusade against sex and violence on TV.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noun

STRUGGLE
1. countable a struggle against sb/sth using physical force
• ~ (with sb/sth) He got into a fight with a man in the bar.
• I had a fight with the ticket machine, which was being temperamental.
• a street/gang fight
• ~ (between A and B) A fight broke out between rival groups of fans.

• a world title fight (= fighting as a sport, especially boxing )

TRYING TO GET/DO STH

2. singular the work of trying to destroy, prevent or achieve sth
• ~ (against sth) the fight against crime
• ~ (for sth) a fight for survival

• ~ (to do sth) Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.

COMPETITION

3. singular a competition or an act of competing, especially in a sport
• The team put up a good fight (= they played well) but were finally beaten.

• She now has a fight on her hands (= will have to play very well) to make it through to the next round.

ARGUMENT

4. countable ~ (with sb) (over/about sth) (especially NAmE) an argument about sth
• Did you have a fight with him?

• We had a fight over money.

BATTLE/WAR

5. countable a battle, especially for a particular place or position

• In the fight for Lemburg, the Austrians were defeated.

DESIRE TO FIGHT

6. uncountable the desire or ability to keep fighting for sth
• In spite of many defeats, they still had plenty of fight left in them.
• Losing their leader took all the fight out of them.
more at pick a fight at pick _v., be spoiling for a fight at spoil _v.
Word Origin:
Old English feohtan (verb), feoht(e), gefeoht (noun), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vechten, gevecht and German fechten, Gefecht.
Thesaurus:
fight noun
1. C
• He got into a fight in a bar.
brawl • • struggle • • scuffle • • tussle • |journalism clash •
a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle/clash with sb
a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle/clash between people
a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle/clash over sth
be in/get into/be involved in a fight/brawl/scuffle/tussle/clash
2. sing.
• the fight against crime
war • • crusade • • battle • • struggle • • campaign •
a fight/crusade/battle/struggle/campaign for sth
a fight/war/crusade/battle/struggle/campaign against sth
a fight/war/battle/struggle between people
lead/continue the fight/war/crusade/battle/struggle/campaign
Fight, war or crusade? A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself. A crusade is often about persuading people to share your beliefs about what is right and wrong.
3. C (especially AmE)
• We had a fight over money.
argument • • quarrel • • squabble • • shouting match • • disagreement • • dispute • |BrE, informal row • |informal tiff •
a/an fight/argument/quarrel/squabble/shouting match/disagreement/row/tiff with sb
a/an fight/argument/quarrel/squabble/shouting match/disagreement/dispute/row/tiff between A and B
(a/an) fight/argument/quarrel/squabble/disagreement/dispute/row about/over sb/sth
a/an fight/argument/quarrel/row/dispute breaks out
Fight, argument, quarrel or row? A quarrel, row or fight is usually only between people who know each other:
• We had an argument with the waiter about the bill.
¤ We had a quarrel/row/fight with the waiter about the bill. A quarrel is less violent than a row or fight, but it can continue for a period of time; an argument can be violent or it can be a serious discussion.
Synonyms:
campaign
battle • struggle • drive • war • fight
These are all words for an effort made to achieve or prevent sth.
campaign • a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim: ▪ the campaign for parliamentary reform ◊ ▪ an advertising campaign
battle • a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: ▪ She finally won the legal battle for compensation. ◊ ▪ the endless battle between man and nature
struggle • a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: ▪ the struggle for independence ◊ ▪ the struggle between good and evil
battle or struggle?
A struggle is always about things that seem absolutely necessary, such as life and death or freedom. A battle can also be about things that are not absolutely necessary, just desirable, or about the pleasure of winning: ▪ the battle/struggle between good and evil ◊ a legal struggle for compensation ◊ a struggle of wills/wits.
drive • an organized effort by a group of people to achieve sth: ▪ the drive for greater efficiency ◊ ▪ a drive to reduce energy consumption
campaign or drive?
A campaign is usually aimed at getting other people to do sth; a drive may be an attempt by people to get themselves to do sth: ▪ From today, we're going on an ▪ economy drive ▪ ▪ (= we must spend less) ▪. A campaign may be larger, more formal and more organized than a drive.
war • [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop sth bad: ▪ the war against crime
fight • [sing.] the work of trying to stop or prevent sth bad or achieve sth good; an act of competing, especially in a sport: ▪ Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.
war or fight?
A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.
a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight against sth
a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight for sth
a one-man/one-woman/personal campaign/battle/struggle/war
a bitter campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight
to launch/embark on a campaign/battle/drive
to lead/continue the campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight
to win/lose a battle/struggle/war/fight
Synonyms:
fight
clash • brawl • struggle • scuffle
These are all words for a situation in which people try to defeat each other using physical force.
fight • a situation in which two or more people try to defeat each other using physical force: ▪ He got into a fight with a man in the bar.
clash • (journalism) a short fight between two groups of people: ▪ Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators.
brawl • a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, usually in a public place: ▪ a drunken brawl in a bar
struggle • a fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of them is trying to escape, or to get sth from the other: ▪ There were no signs of a struggle at the murder scene.
scuffle • a short and not very violent fight or struggle: ▪ He was involved in a scuffle with a photographer.
a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle over sth
in a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle
a violent fight/clash/struggle
to be in/get into/be involved in a fight/clash/brawl/scuffle
a fight/clash/brawl/scuffle breaks out
Example Bank:
• Andy was drunk and spoiling for a fight.
• Are we losing the fight against illegal drugs?
• By 1807 politics had become a fight to the death between the two factions.
• Coal workers are determined to put up a fight to save their jobs.
• Doctors have now joined in the fight to make this treatment available to all.
• Don't get into any more fights!
• He is still engaged in a bitter fight with his old company.
• He killed a man in a fight.
• He tried to pick a fight with me.
• He was killed during a series of running fights outside a disco.
• I don't know who started the fight.
• I'm not giving up without a fight!
• If the polls are wrong and it's a fight to the finish, the result may not be known until all the votes have been counted.
• In a straight fight the army usually won.
• In a straight fight the crusaders usually won; in skirmishes, the Saracens often overcame their more numerous opponents.
• It was a fair fight and Stephen won.
• No doubt Ferguson wants his team to make a fight of it.
• Now he is facing his toughest fight yet— back to fitness after a series of injuries.
• She died at the age of 43 after a brave fight against cancer.
• She just gave up her fight for life.
• She now has a fight on her hands to make it through to the next round.
• She now has a fight on her hands= will have to play very well to make it through to the next round.
• She said they would continue their fight to find a cure for AIDS.
• She vowed to take her fight to the High Court.
• Suddenly the argument developed into a real fight.
• The dog fights took place every Sunday morning.
• The fight for justice goes on.
• The fight for supremacy in the sport is on.
• The fight is on to have this brutal practice stamped out.
• The fight was broken up by a teacher.
• The government has vowed to step up the fight against crime.
• The team put up a good fight but were finally beaten.
• The team put up a good fight= they played well but were finally beaten.
• There's nothing he likes so much as a good fight.
• They got involved in a fight with some older boys.
• They inadvertently got mixed up in a free fight involving some 20 people.
• They nearly had a fight over who should move first.
• This will be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives: the other parties are nowhere.
• This will be a straight fight between the two parties.
• Union leaders know that they have a real fight on their hands.
• a long fight to beat inflation
• a new weapon in the fight against car crime
• fights between hostile clans
• fights between police and football fans
• his fight with cancer
• lawyers leading the fight for compensation for the injured workers
• the company's desperate fight for survival in a cut-throat market
• the world title fight between Tyson and Lewis
• their fight for a fair deal
• Did you two have a fight?
• He has lined up a world title fight against Lewis.
• He is unbeaten in 34 fights.
• In the fight for Lemburg, the Austrians lost.
• The government has released new figures in the fight against crime.
• The referee stopped the fight in the third round.
• They got tickets to watch the world title fight.

• a fist fight

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

fight / faɪt / noun

B1 [ C ] an argument or an occasion when someone uses physical force to try to defeat someone:

Jeff's always getting into/starting fights.

The older boys broke up (= stopped) the fight.

UK I had a stand-up fight with her (= we argued strongly) about the phone bill.

Have you got tickets for the big fight (= boxing competition) ?

He put up a fight when the police tried to arrest him.

B2 [ C ] a situation in which you use a lot of effort to defeat someone or achieve something, or to stop something happening:

We must continue the fight against homelessness.

He died last week after a long fight with cancer.

They put up a good fight (= played well) against a more experienced football team.

[ U ] the wish or ability to fight or act energetically:

The team came out on the field full of fight.

Word partners for fight noun

get into / have / pick / start a fight • put up a fight • lose / win a fight • continue / join / keep up / give up the fight • a brave / desperate / long / tough fight • in a fight • a fight about / against / for / over sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fight

[fa͟ɪt]
♦
fights, fighting, fought
1) VERB If you fight something unpleasant, you try in a determined way to prevent it or stop it happening.
  [V n] Mother Teresa is an elderly nun who has devoted her life to fighting poverty...
  [V n] More units to fight forest fires are planned...
  [V against n] I've spent a lifetime fighting against racism and prejudice.
N-COUNT: oft N against n
Fight is also a noun. ...the fight against drug addiction.
2) VERB If you fight for something, you try in a determined way to get it or achieve it.
  [V for n] Our Government should be fighting for an end to food subsidies...
  [V for n] Lee had to fight hard for his place on the expedition...
  [V to-inf] I told him how we had fought to hold on to the company...
  [V way prep/adv] The team has fought its way to the cup final.
  Syn:
  battle
N-COUNT: usu N for n
Fight is also a noun. I too am committing myself to continue the fight for justice.
3) V-RECIP If an army or group fights a battle with another army or group, they oppose each other with weapons. You can also say that two armies or groups fight a battle.
  [pl-n V n over/for n] The two men fought a battle over land and water rights...
  [V n with n] In the latest incident at the weekend police fought a gun battle with a gang which used hand grenades against them...
  [V n for/over n] The Sioux had always fought other tribes for territorial rights. [Also pl-n V, V n]
4) VERB If a person or army fights in a battle or a war, they take part in it.
→ See also dogfight
  He fought in the war and was taken prisoner by the Americans...
  [V for n] If I were a young man I would sooner go to prison than fight for this country...
  [V n] My father did leave his university to fight the Germans...
  [V way prep/adv] Last month rebels fought their way into the capital.
  Derived words:
  fighting N-UNCOUNT More than nine hundred people have died in the fighting.
5) V-RECIP If one person fights with another, or fights them, the two people hit or kick each other because they want to hurt each other. You can also say that two people fight.
  [V with n] As a child she fought with her younger sister...
  [V n] I did fight him, I punched him but it was like hitting a wall...
  [V n for n] He wrenched the crutch from Jacob, who didn't fight him for it...
  [pl-n V] I refuse to act that way when my kids fight...
  [pl-n V pron-recip] You get a lot of unruly drunks fighting each other.
N-COUNT: oft N with n
Fight is also a noun. He had had a fight with Smith and bloodied his nose.
6) V-RECIP If one person fights with another, or fights them, they have an angry disagreement or quarrel. You can also say that two people fight. [INFORMAL]
  [V with n] She was always arguing with him and fighting with him...
  [V n] Gwendolen started fighting her teachers...
  [pl-n V about/over n] Mostly, they fight about paying bills. [Also pl-n V, V with n prep, V n prep]
  Syn:
  quarrel, argue
N-COUNT
Fight is also a noun. We think maybe he took off because he had a big fight with his dad the night before.
7) VERB If you fight your way to a place, you move towards it with great difficulty, for example because there are a lot of people or obstacles in your way.
  [V way prep/adv] I fought my way into a carriage just before the doors closed...
  [V way prep/adv] Peter fought his way through a blizzard to save one of the chickens.
  Syn:
  battle
8) N-COUNT A fight is a boxing match.
  This was Hyer's last fight, for no one else challenged him...
  The referee stopped the fight.
  Syn:
  bout
9) VERB To fight means to take part in a boxing match.
  In a few hours' time one of the world's most famous boxers will be fighting in Britain for the first time...
  [V n] I'd like to fight him because he's undefeated and I want to be the first man to beat him...
  [V n for n] I'd like to fight him for the title.
10) VERB If you fight an election, you are a candidate in the election and try to win it.
  [V n] The former party treasurer helped raise almost ₤40 million to fight the election campaign.
11) N-COUNT: usu sing You can use fight to refer to a contest such as an election or a sports match. [JOURNALISM]
  In the fight for the US Presidency, round two was a disaster for George Bush.
  Syn:
  contest
12) VERB If you fight a case or a court action, you make a legal case against someone in a very determined way, or you put forward a defence when a legal case is made against you.
  [V n] Watkins sued the Army and fought his case in various courts for 10 years...
  [V n] The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress.
13) N-UNCOUNT Fight is the desire or ability to keep fighting.
  I thought that we had a lot of fight in us.
14) VERB If you fight an emotion or desire, you try very hard not to feel it, show it, or act on it, but do not always succeed.
  [V n] I desperately fought the urge to giggle...
  [V with n] He fought with the urge to smoke one of the cigars he'd given up awhile ago...
  [V to-inf] He fought to be patient with her.
  Syn:
  resist
15) PHRASE: V inflects If you fight for breath, you try to breathe but find it very difficult.
16) PHRASE: usu PHR after v If you have a fighting chance of doing or achieving something, it is possible that you will do or achieve it, but only if you make a great effort or are very lucky.
  When they didn't shoot at me right away, I figured I had a fighting chance.
17) PHRASE: v-link PHR (emphasis) If you describe someone as fighting fit, you are emphasizing that they are very fit or healthy. [BRIT]
  After a good night's sleep I feel fighting fit again.
18) PHRASE: V inflects Someone who is fighting for their life is making a great effort to stay alive, either when they are being physically attacked or when they are very ill.
  He is still fighting for his life in hospital.
19) to fight a losing battle → see battle
fight to the finish → see finish
to fight fire with fire → see fire
to fight shy → see shy
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - fight back
  - fight down
  - fight off
  - fight out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

fight

²fight noun, pl fights
1 [count] : a violent physical struggle between opponents
• A fight broke out in the bar.
• a bar fight
• a street fight
• a knife fight [=a fight using knives]
• When he was young he was always getting into fights.
• It would be foolish to pick a fight [=start a fight] with that guy.
• a pillow fight [=a playful fight using pillows as weapons]
• a food fight [=a playful fight in which people throw food at each other]
• a snowball fight
- see also bullfight, dogfight, firefight, fistfight, gunfight
2 [count] : an argument or quarrel
• He got into another fight with his wife about money.
3 [count] : a boxing match
• a fight for the heavyweight title
- see also prizefight
4 [count] : a struggle to achieve a goal or to defeat something or someone
• We didn't win, but at least we put up a good fight.
• They are leading/joining the fight against cancer.
• the fight to defeat cancer
• He's in the fight of his political life in this election.
• She's in a fight for her life. [=she is struggling to stay alive]
5 [noncount] : a willingness to fight
• full of fight

fight

cancer

/ˈkæn.sɚ/

/ˈkæn.sər/

a serious disease that is caused when cells in the body grow in a way that is uncontrolled and not normal, killing normal cells and often causing death

معادل فارسی:

سرطان

مثال انگلیسی:

They say smoking causes lung cancer.

مى‌گويند سيگار كشيدن‌ موجب‌ سرطان‌ ريه‌ مى‌شود.‏

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

cancer

noun
a very dangerous illness that makes some very small parts in the body (called cells) grow too fast:
Smoking can cause cancer.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

cancer

can‧cer S2 W2 /ˈkænsə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: 'crab, cancer']
1. [uncountable and countable] a very serious disease in which cells in one part of the body start to grow in a way that is not normal ⇨ tumour:
A lot of cancers can now be treated successfully.
lung/breast/stomach etc cancer
Smoking causes lung cancer.
She was told last year that she had cancer.
He died of cancer last month.
cancer of
cancer of the womb
a new treatment which effectively kills cancer cells
2. [countable] an evil influence that affects a lot of people and is difficult to stop:
Drug abuse is the cancer of our society.
—cancerous adjective:
a cancerous growth
cancerous cells

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cancer

can·cer [cancer cancers] [ˈkænsə(r)] [ˈkænsər] noun
1. uncountable, countable a serious disease in which growths of cells, also called cancers, form in the body and kill normal body cells. The disease often causes death
• lung/breast cancer
• cancer of the bowel/stomach
• Most skin cancers are completely curable.
• The cancer has spread to his stomach.
• Smokers face an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
• cancer patients

• cancer research

2. countable (literary) an evil or dangerous thing that spreads quickly
• Violence is a cancer in our society.
Derived Word: cancerous
Word Origin:
Old English, from Latin, crab or creeping ulcer, translating Greek karkinos, said to have been applied to such tumours because the swollen veins around them resembled the limbs of a crab. canker was the usual form until the 17th cent. Compare with Cancer.
Collocations:
Illnesses
Becoming ill
catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(BrE) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
get (BrE) ill/(NAmE) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
come down with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu
contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
have a heart attack/a stroke
provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
Being ill
feel (BrE) ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
be running (BrE) a temperature/(NAmE) a fever
have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(BrE) a high temperature/(NAmE) a fever
suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental disorder
be laid up with/ (BrE) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
Treatments
examine a patient
diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
treat sb for cancer/depression/shock
have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
have/be given an injection/(BrE) a flu jab/(NAmE) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
be vaccinated against the flu/(BrE) flu/the measles/(BrE) measles/polio/smallpox
enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Example Bank:
• Childhood cancers have a very good survival rate.
• He died after an 18-month battle against cancer.
• Most of the women employees have now been screened for breast cancer.
• Prostate cancer deaths fell after screening was introduced.

• The cancer risk among smokers was found to be higher.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

cancer / ˈkæn.sə r / / -sɚ / noun

B1 [ C or U ] a serious disease that is caused when cells in the body grow in a way that is uncontrolled and not normal, killing normal cells and often causing death:

He died of liver cancer.

cancer of the cervix/stomach

breast/bowel/lung cancer

cancer cells

a cancer patient

It was a secondary cancer.

→ See also carcinogen

[ C ] a harmful activity that spreads quickly:

Drug abuse is a cancer which is destroying our society.

cancerous / -əs / adjective

a cancerous growth/tumour

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

cancer

[kæ̱nsə(r)]
♦♦
cancers
N-VAR: oft n N
Cancer is a serious disease in which cells in a person's body increase rapidly in an uncontrolled way, producing abnormal growths.
  Her mother died of breast cancer...
  Jane was just 25 when she learned she had cancer...
  Ninety per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

cancer

can·cer /ˈkænsɚ/ noun, pl -cers
1 : a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body

[noncount]

• breast/lung cancer
• He was diagnosed with cancer.
• She learned that she has cancer.
• Eating certain foods may help reduce the risk of cancer.

[count]

• Advanced cancers are more difficult to treat.
- often used before another noun
• cancer patients
• cancer prevention
• cancer treatments
2 [count] : something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen - usually singular
• Her jealousy was a cancer that slowly destroyed her marriage.
• Drugs and violence have become a cancer in the city.
3 Cancer
a [noncount] : the fourth sign of the zodiac that comes between Gemini and Leo and has a crab as its symbol - see picture at zodiac
b [count] : a person born under the sign of Cancer : a person born between June 22nd and July 22nd
• I'm a Taurus, but my best friend is a Cancer.
- can·cer·ous /ˈkænsərəs/ adj
• a cancerous growth/lump
• The tumor is not cancerous.

cancer

government ministers and civil servants

functionary

/ˈfʌŋk.ʃən.er.i/

/ˈfʌŋk.ʃən.ər.i/

a person who has official duties, especially in a government or political party

معادل فارسی:

كارمند، صاحب‌ منصب‌

مثال انگلیسی:

government functionaries

متصديان‌ امور دولتى‌

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

C1 (پیشرفته)

Region:

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

functionary

func‧tion‧a‧ry /ˈfʌŋkʃənəri $ -neri/ BrE AmE noun (plural functionaries) [countable]
someone who has a job doing unimportant or boring official duties:
Liberal Party functionaries

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

functionary

func·tion·ary [functionary functionaries] [ˈfʌŋkʃənəri] [ˈfʌŋkʃəneri] noun (pl. func·tion·aries)(often disapproving)
a person with official duties
Syn: official
• party/state/government functionaries
Example Bank:
• The request is probably still sitting on the desk of some Whitehall functionary.

• This was just one of the privileges enjoyed by party functionaries.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

functionary / ˈfʌŋk.ʃ ə n. ə r.i / / -er- / noun [ C ] formal

a person who has official duties, especially in a government or political party:

The visitors were met by a functionary who escorted them to the director's office.

a government functionary

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

functionary

[fʌ̱ŋkʃənəri, AM -neri]
functionaries
N-COUNT
A functionary is a person whose job is to do administrative work, especially for a government or a political party. [FORMAL]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

functionary

func·tion·ary /ˈfʌŋkʃəˌneri, Brit ˈfʌŋkʃənri/ noun, pl -ar·ies [count] : a person who works for a government or political party
• He was a party functionary during the political campaign.

functionary

strange - suspicious and unnatural things and people

monster

/ˈmɑːn.stɚ/

/ˈmɒn.stər/

any imaginary frightening creature, especially one that is large and strange

معادل فارسی:

هیولا، غول

مثال انگلیسی:

a sea monster

هيولاى دريايى‌

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

monster

noun
an animal in stories that is big, ugly and frightening

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

monster

I. mon‧ster¹ /ˈmɒnstə $ ˈmɑːnstər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: monstre, from Latin monstrum 'warning, monster', from monere 'to warn']
1. IN STORIES an imaginary or ancient creature that is large, ugly, and frightening:
the remains of a prehistoric monster
the search for the Loch Ness Monster
2. CRUEL PERSON someone who is very cruel and evil:
Only a monster could kill all those women.
3. CHILD a small child, especially one who is behaving badly – used humorously:
I’ve got to get home and feed this little monster.
4. SOMETHING LARGE informal an object, animal etc that is unusually large:
Did you see the fish Dad caught? It was a monster!
There’s a monster of a spider in the bath!
5. DANGEROUS PROBLEM a dangerous or threatening problem, especially one that develops gradually and is difficult to manage
II. monster² BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
informal unusually large SYN giant:
a monster cat
The song was a monster hit.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

monster

mon·ster [monster monsters] noun, adjective [ˈmɒnstə(r)] [ˈmɑːnstər]

noun
1. (in stories) an imaginary creature that is very large, ugly and frightening
• a monster with three heads

• prehistoric monsters

2. an animal or a thing that is very large or ugly

• Their dog's an absolute monster!

3. a person who is very cruel and evil

4. (humorous) a child who behaves badly
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French monstre, from Latin monstrum ‘portent or monster’, from monere ‘warn’.
Example Bank:
• He wanted to fight the monster of poverty.
• I wanted to fight these monsters: I didn't want to go on living with them.
• The government has created a bureaucratic monster.
• The tabloid papers labelled him ‘an evil sex monster’.
• What sort of inhuman monster could do such a thing?
• a barren wilderness inhabited by monsters
• cheap sci-fi films with bug-eyed monsters

• The man is a monster; he terrifies me.

adjective only before noun (informal)
unusually large
Syn: giant
• monster mushrooms
Word Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French monstre, from Latin monstrum ‘portent or monster’, from monere ‘warn’.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

monster / ˈmɒn.stə r / / ˈmɑːn.stɚ / noun [ C ] (CREATURE)

B1 any imaginary frightening creature, especially one that is large and strange:

a sea monster

prehistoric monsters

the Loch Ness monster

monster / ˈmɒn.stə r / / ˈmɑːn.stɚ / noun [ C ] (PERSON)

C2 a cruel and frightening person:

You'd have to be a monster to hit a child like that.

monster / ˈmɒn.stə r / / ˈmɑːn.stɚ / noun [ C ] informal (LARGE)

something that is very big, or too big:

You should have seen the onions he grew for the competition - they were monsters!

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

monster

[mɒ̱nstə(r)]
monsters
1) N-COUNT A monster is a large imaginary creature that looks very ugly and frightening.
2) N-COUNT A monster is something which is extremely large, especially something which is difficult to manage or which is unpleasant.
  ...the monster which is now the London marathon.
  ...the monster of apartheid.
3) ADJ: ADJ n (emphasis) Monster means extremely and surprisingly large. [INFORMAL]
  ...a monster weapon...
  The film will be a monster hit.
  Syn:
  giant
4) N-COUNT If you describe someone as a monster, you mean that they are cruel, frightening, or evil.
  Syn:
  fiend

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹mon·ster /ˈmɑːnstɚ/ noun, pl -sters [count]
1 : a strange or horrible imaginary creature
• mythical monsters
• a sea monster
• a monster movie [=a movie about monsters]
2 informal : something that is extremely or unusually large
• That car is a monster.
• It's a monster of a house. [=a very large house]
3 : a powerful person or thing that cannot be controlled and that causes many problems
• Inflation has become an economic monster.
4 a : an extremely cruel or evil person
• His father was a monster who punished his children for no reason.
• You don't want to work for that monster.
b : a person (such as a child) who behaves very badly
• My nephew is a little monster.

- see also green-eyed monster

monster

room

/ruːm/

a part of the inside of a building that is separated from other parts by walls, floor, and ceiling

معادل فارسی:

اتاق

مثال انگلیسی:

My house has 3 rooms.

خانه من 3 اتاق دارد.

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

the amount of space that someone or something needs

معادل فارسی:

جا، فضا

مثال انگلیسی:

We have room for only one more passenger.

فقط‌ براى يك‌ مسافر ديگر جا داريم‌.‏

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

space - general words

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

room

noun

1 (plural rooms) one of the spaces in a building that has walls around it:
How many rooms are there in the new house?
a classroom

word building
A house or flat usually has a living room (or sitting room or lounge), bedrooms, a bathroom, a toilet, a kitchen, a hall and perhaps a dining room.

2 (no plural) space; enough space:
There's no room for you in the car.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

room

I. room¹ S1 W1 /ruːm, rʊm/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: rum]
1. IN A BUILDING [countable] a part of the inside of a building that has its own walls, floor, and ceiling:
I looked around the room.
She nodded toward a man who was standing across the room (=on the other side of the room).
Someone was laughing in the next room (=the one beside the one you are in).
sb’s room (=someone’s bedroom)
Beth, it’s time to clean up your room.
bathroom/dining room/meeting room etc
the doctor’s waiting room
one-room(ed)/two-room(ed) etc
a three-room apartment
single/double room (=a room in a hotel for one person or for two)
I’d like to book a double room for two nights.
Here’s your key – room 348. ⇨ front room, living room, sitting room
2. SPACE [uncountable] space somewhere for a particular thing, person, or activity
room in
I hope there’s going to be enough room in the fridge.
room for
My suitcase was so full I didn’t have room for anything else.
room to do something
The museum doesn’t have enough room to show everything in their collection.
plenty of room/enough room
There’s plenty of room in the boot for your luggage.
I’m trying to make room for a vegetable garden in the backyard.
Step back, leave room for people to get past.
The old wardrobe took up too much room.
leg-room/head-room (=space for your legs or head in a vehicle) ⇨ elbow-room at elbow¹(5)
3. OPPORTUNITY/POSSIBILITY [uncountable] the chance to do something, or the possibility that something exists or can happen
room for
There’s little room for innovation.
room for doubt/debate/argument etc
The evidence was clear, and there was little room for doubt.
room for manoeuvre British English room for maneuver American English (=the possibility of changing what you do or decide)
Teachers feel they have little room for manoeuvre when the curriculum is so demanding.
room to do something
Children need to have room to develop their natural creativity.
Make room in your day for exercise.
4. there’s room for improvement used to say that something is not perfect and needs to be improved:
The report shows that there is room for improvement.
5. there’s not enough room to swing a cat used humorously to say that an area or room is not very big
6. APARTMENT rooms [plural] old-fashioned especially British English two or more rooms that you rent in a building, or stay in at a college
7. PEOPLE [singular] all the people in a room:
The whole room started singing ‘Happy Birthday’.
II. room² BrE AmE verb [intransitive] American English
to rent and live in a room somewhere
room with somebody phrasal verb
to share a room or house with someone, especially at college:
I roomed with Al at UCSD.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

room

room [room rooms roomed rooming] noun, verb [ruːm] [ruːm] [rʊm] [rʊm]

noun

IN BUILDING
1. countable a part of a building that has its own walls, floor and ceiling and is usually used for a particular purpose
• He walked out of the room and slammed the door.
• They were in the next room and we could hear every word they said.
• a dining/living/sitting room
• They had to sit in the waiting room for an hour.
• I think Simon is in his room (= bedroom).

• I don't want to watch television. I'll be in the other room (= a different room). There are many compounds ending in room. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.

-ROOMED/-ROOM

2. (in adjectives) having the number of rooms mentioned

• a three-roomed/three-room apartment

IN HOTEL

3. countable a bedroom in a hotel, etc
• a double/single room
• I'd like to book a room with a view of the lake.

• She lets out rooms to students.

PLACE TO LIVE

4. rooms plural (old-fashioned, BrE) a set of two or more rooms that you rent to live in
Syn: lodgings

• They lived in rooms in Kensington.

SPACE

5. uncountable empty space that can be used for a particular purpose
• ~ (for sb/sth) Is there enough room for me in the car?
• There's room for one more at the table.
• Do you have room for a computer on your desk?
• Yes, there's plenty of room.
• How can we make room for all the furniture?
• I'll move the table— it takes up too much room.
• ~ (to do sth) Make sure you have plenty of room to sit comfortably.

see also elbow room, headroom, houseroom, legroom, standing room

POSSIBILITY

6. uncountable ~ for sth the possibility of sth existing or happening; the opportunity to do sth
• He had to be certain. There could be no room for doubt.
• There's some room for improvement in your work (= it is not as good as it could be).

• It is important to give children room to think for themselves.

PEOPLE

7. singular all the people in a room
• The whole room burst into applause.
more at the elephant in the room at elephant, freedom of/room for manoeuvre at manoeuvre _n., a smoke-filled room at smoke _n.
Word Origin:
Old English rūm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ruim, German Raum.
Thesaurus:
room noun U
• Is there room in the car for me?
space • • headroom • • legroom •
room/space for/between sth
room/space to do sth
leave/make/create/save/take up room/space
Room or space? Room is usually space that you have or need for some practical purpose; space can be used in the same way, or it can mean a feeling of space that you enjoy for its own sake:
• The bright colours give a lovely feeling of space.
¤ The bright colours give a lovely feeling of room.
Collocations:
Travel and tourism
Holidays/vacations
have/take (BrE) a holiday/(NAmE) a vacation/a break/a day off/(BrE) a gap year
go on/be on holiday/vacation/leave/honeymoon/safari/a trip/a tour/a cruise/a pilgrimage
go backpacking/camping/hitchhiking/sightseeing
plan a trip/a holiday/a vacation/your itinerary
book accommodation/a hotel room/a flight/tickets
have/make/cancel a reservation/(especially BrE) booking
rent a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a holiday cottage
(especially BrE) hire/ (especially NAmE) rent a car/bicycle/moped
stay in a hotel/a bed and breakfast/a youth hostel/a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a caravan
cost/charge $100 a/per night for a single/double/twin/standard/(BrE) en suite room
check into/out of a hotel/a motel/your room
pack/unpack your suitcase/bags
call/order room service
cancel/cut short a trip/holiday/vacation
Foreign travel
apply for/get/renew a/your passport
take out/buy/get travel insurance
catch/miss your plane/train/ferry/connecting flight
fly (in)/travel in business/economy class
make/have a brief/two-day/twelve-hour stopover/(NAmE also) layover in Hong Kong
experience/cause/lead to delays
check (in)/collect/get/lose (your) (especially BrE) luggage/(especially NAmE) baggage
be charged for/pay excess baggage
board/get on/leave/get off the aircraft/plane/ship/ferry
taxi down/leave/approach/hit/overshoot the runway
experience/hit/encounter severe turbulence
suffer from/recover from/get over your jet lag/travel sickness
The tourist industry
attract/draw/bring tourists/visitors
encourage/promote/hurt tourism
promote/develop ecotourism
build/develop/visit a tourist/holiday/(especially BrE) seaside/beach/ski resort
work for/be operated by a major hotel chain
be served by/compete with low-cost/(especially NAmE) low-fare/budget airlines
book sth through/make a booking through/use a travel agent
contact/check with your travel agent/tour operator
book/be on/go on a package deal/holiday/tour
buy/bring back (tacky/overpriced) souvenirs
Example Bank:
• A ripple of laughter ran round the room.
• As soon as the teacher left the room there was uproar.
• Do you have enough room?
• Guests are requested to vacate their rooms by 11 a.m.
• He emailed his report back to the news room.
• He was pacing the room nervously.
• I rented a room while looking for a house to buy.
• I used to share a room with my sister.
• I wandered restlessly around my room.
• I was renting a tiny basement room at that time.
• Our guests are sleeping in the spare room.
• Police have set up an incident room at the scene of the murder.
• She felt sick and the room was spinning.
• She flew from room to room looking for the fire extinguisher.
• She prowled around the room like a caged tiger.
• Soaring room rates have put tourists off visiting the city.
• Suddenly Katie burst into the room.
• The patient was in a private room equipped with bathroom and TV.
• The room adjoins the hotel kitchens.
• The room contained little more than a table and chair.
• The room fell silent as she rose to speak.
• The room smelled of stale sweat and coffee.
• The rooms are cramped and narrow.
• The sales figures are good, but there is still room for improvement.
• There is some wiggle room for varying interpretations.
• This wine should be served at room temperature.
• We had to move the furniture to make room for the piano.
• We hired a room for the party.
• Will there be enough room for that dishwasher in your kitchen?
• a room decorated in pastel shades
• a room decorated with flowers
• a room lit by one dusty light bulb
• a room measuring 28 feet by 34
• a room measuring 6 metres by 7
• a room set aside for quiet study
• He had to be certain. There could be no room for doubt.
• I don't have room for a computer on my desk.
• I got rid of that old sofa— it took up too much room.
• Is there enough room for the car?
• There's plenty of room in the attic.
• There's room for one more at the table.
• There's some room for improvement in your work.
• You'll have to make room for all those books.

Idiom: no room to swing a cat

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

room / ruːm / / rʊm / noun (PLACE)

A1 [ C ] a part of the inside of a building that is separated from other parts by walls, floor, and ceiling:

She's waiting for you in the conference room upstairs.

She's upstairs in her room (= her private room, where she sleeps) .

figurative The whole room (= all the people in the room) turned and looked at her.

[ C ] Room is also used as a combining form:

a bedroom

a bathroom

a dining room

a living room

a hotel room

He booked a single/double room (= a room for one person/two people in a hotel) .

rooms [ plural ] UK old-fashioned

a set of rented rooms, especially in a college or university

Word partners for room (SPACE)

leave / make room for sb/sth • take up room • ample / enough / insufficient / sufficient room • room for sb/sth

room / ruːm / / rʊm / noun (SPACE)

B1 [ U ] the amount of space that someone or something needs:

That sofa would take up too much room in the flat.

James took the books off the little table to make room for the television.

He's fainted! Don't crowd him - give him room.

Is there (enough/any) room for me in the car?

[ + to infinitive ] There's hardly room to move in here.

[ U ] opportunity for doing something:

I feel the company has little room for manoeuvre.

Word partners for room (SPACE)

leave / make room for sb/sth • take up room • ample / enough / insufficient / sufficient room • room for sb/sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

room

[ru͟ːm, r'ʊm]
♦
rooms, rooming, roomed
1) N-COUNT A room is one of the separate sections or parts of the inside of a building. Rooms have their own walls, ceilings, floors, and doors, and are usually used for particular activities. You can refer to all the people who are in a room as the room.
  A minute later he excused himself and left the room...
  Downstairs are two small rooms: a kitchen and a sitting room...
  The largest conference room could seat 5,000 people...
  The whole room roared with laughter.
2) N-COUNT: poss N If you talk about your room, you are referring to the room that you alone use, especially your bedroom at home or your office at work.
  If you're running upstairs, go to my room and bring down my sweater, please.
3) N-COUNT A room is a bedroom in a hotel.
  Toni booked a room in an hotel not far from Arzfeld.
4) VERB If you room with someone, you share a rented room, apartment, or house with them, for example when you are a student. [AM]
  [V with n] I had roomed with him in New Haven when we were both at Yale Law School. [Also V together]
5) N-UNCOUNT If there is room somewhere, there is enough empty space there for people or things to be fitted in, or for people to move freely or do what they want to.
→ See also leg room, standing room
  There is usually room to accommodate up to 80 visitors...
  There wasn't enough room in the baggage compartment for all the gear...
  The old artist's studio is a brilliant place for a party with a high ceiling and plenty of room.
6) N-UNCOUNT: usu N for n If there is room for a particular kind of behaviour or action, people are able to behave in that way or to take that action.
  The intensity of the work left little room for personal grief or anxiety...
  Once the plaster was dry there was no room for correction...
  There's lots of room to express yourself creatively.
7) PHRASE: PHR after v, poss PHR, with PHR If you have room for manoeuvre, you have the opportunity to change your plans if it becomes necessary or desirable.
  With an election looming, he has little room for manoeuvre.
8) → See also changing room, common room, consulting room, dining room, drawing room, dressing room, elbow room, emergency room, ladies' room, leg room, living room, locker room, men's room, morning room, powder room, reading room, reception room, rest room, spare room, standing room
to give something houseroom → see houseroom

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹room /ˈruːm/ noun, pl rooms
1 [count]
a : a part of the inside of a building that is divided from other areas by walls and a door and that has its own floor and ceiling
• Cigarette smoke filled the room.
• I could hear the TV from the next room.
• The salesman went into the back room [=a room in the back of a building] to get another pair of shoes for me to try.
b : a room in a house, hotel, etc., where someone sleeps
• a double room [=a room in a hotel where two people can sleep]
• Go to your room!
• He rents rooms to college students.
- see also bedroom, guest room
2 [noncount] : space that is used for something
• We're running out of room in the office.
• The sofa takes up too much room.
• In the backyard there is enough room to run and play.
• Is there enough room to turn the car around?
• There's only room for five people in the car.
• Don't eat too much. You should leave some room for dessert.
• There's no more room on the computer disk to save the file.
• Can we make/find room in the garage for the bicycles?
- see also elbow room, headroom, legroom, standing room
3 [singular] : the people in a room
• The whole room cheered/applauded.
4 [noncount] : the possibility for something to happen or exist - often + for
• There is room for improvement in your essay. [=your essay is not as good as it could be]
• There is no room for doubt about his guilt. [=his guilt is certain]
5 rooms [plural] Brit old-fashioned : apartment
• I visited his rooms in London.

room

skill - talent and ability

ability

ability [noun]

the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something

/əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/

/əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

توانایی، توانمندی

مثال:

He does not have the ability to manage this large company.

او توانايى‌ اداره‌ اين‌ شركت‌ بزرگ‌ را ندارد.

the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something

معادل فارسی:

توانایی، توانمندی

مثال انگلیسی:

He does not have the ability to manage this large company.

او توانايى‌ اداره‌ اين‌ شركت‌ بزرگ‌ را ندارد.

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

skill

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

ability

noun (plural abilities)
the power and knowledge to do something:
She has the ability to pass the exam, but she must work harder.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

ability

a‧bil‧i‧ty S2 W1 /əˈbɪləti, əˈbɪlɪti/ BrE AmE noun (plural abilities)
[Word Family: noun: ability ≠ inability, disability; adjective: able ≠ unable, disabled; verb: enable ≠ disable; adverb: ably]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: habilité, from Latin habilitas, from habilis; ⇨ able]
1. [countable] the state of being able to do something
ability to do something
the ability to walk
The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
2. [uncountable and countable] someone’s level of skill at doing something:
The test measures your mathematical ability.
mixed ability classes
of high/low etc ability
students of average ability
There are musicians of all abilities.
somebody's abilities as something
He showed his abilities as a leader.
3. to the best of your ability as well as you can:
He completed the job to the best of his ability.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ adjectives
▪ high/low/average ability a group of low ability pupils | Many of these students are of above average ability. | Children of high ability demand more absorbing tasks.
▪ great/considerable ability He was a young man of great ability. | These drawings required considerable ability on the part of the artist.
▪ remarkable/outstanding/exceptional ability a writer of remarkable ability | The company aims to select people of outstanding ability. | his exceptional ability as a swimmer
▪ mixed ability (=at different levels) a mixed ability class
▪ uncanny ability (=an unusual ability that is difficult to explain) He has an uncanny ability for spotting investment opportunities.
▪ natural ability (also innate ability formal) (=an ability that you are born with) He didn't have the natural ability of his brother. | Babies have an innate ability to do simple maths.
▪ physical/athletic ability He has considerable athletic ability.
▪ artistic/creative ability You do not need to have any artistic ability.
▪ musical ability Tim showed musical ability at an early age.
▪ acting ability Her acting abilities were obvious straightaway.
▪ mental ability The exercises are supposed to help you improve your mental ability.
▪ intellectual/academic ability No one doubts his intellectual abilities. | A degree is evidence of your academic ability in a particular subject area.
▪ verbal/linguistic ability (=language skills) The test is intended to measure the children's linguistic ability.
▪ mathematical ability These students have a higher level of mathematical ability.
▪ proven ability (=that you have proved through your achievements) Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.
■ verbs
▪ have the ability to do something (also possess the ability to do something formal) She has the ability to make people feel relaxed.
▪ show/demonstrate the ability to do something a chance for candidates to demonstrate their abilities
▪ lack the ability to do something As a young man, he lacked the ability to say no.
■ phrases
▪ a level of ability/ability level The children were of the same age and ability level.
▪ a range of ability/ability range There is a wide range of ability within the class. | Disruptive behaviour is more prominent in the lower ability range.
▪ a test of ability/an ability test Examinations are not always a good test of ability. | The class was given a verbal ability test.
▪ an ability group (=a group that students are taught in, based on their level of ability) Children are divided into different ability groups.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ability

abil·ity [ability abilities] [əˈbɪləti] [əˈbɪləti] noun (pl. abil·ities)
1. singular ~ to do sth the fact that sb/sth is able to do sth
• The system has the ability to run more than one program at the same time.
• Everyone has the right to good medical care regardless of their ability to pay.
• A gentle form of exercise will increase your ability to relax.

Opp: inability

2. countable, uncountable a level of skill or intelligence
• Almost everyone has some musical ability.
• He was a man of extraordinary abilities.
• students of mixed abilities
• A woman of her ability will easily find a job.
• I try to do my job to the best of my ability (= as well as I can).
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas, from habilis ‘able’.
Thesaurus:
ability noun
1. sing., U
• the ability to learn
capability • • capacity • • power •
Opp: inability
the ability/capability/capacity/power to do sth
beyond/within your ability/capability/capacity/power
2. U, C
• a child's natural abilities
talent • • gift • • skill • • expertise • • aptitude • • competence • • proficiency • • art • • flair • |informal knack • • know-how • |formal prowess •
a natural ability/talent/gift/skill/aptitude/flair
(a) special ability/talent/gift/skill/expertise/aptitude
Example Bank:
• Fox's abilities were soon recognized.
• I seem to have lost my ability to attract clients.
• I taught a wide range of abilities.
• It is much more difficult to teach a mixed-ability class.
• It's important to discover the natural abilities of each child.
• She showed a high level of ability as a runner.
• She showed great ability in mathematics.
• The school does nothing for children of high ability.
• There was a high level of ability among the school leavers.
• We will keep you informed to the best of our ability.
• discovering the natural abilities of each child
• Are you used to teaching students of mixed abilities?

• I try to do the job to the best of my ability.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

ability / əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti / / -ə.t̬i / noun [ C or U ]

B1 the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something:

There's no doubting her ability.

[ + to infinitive ] She had the ability to explain things clearly and concisely.

She's a woman of considerable abilities.

I have children in my class of very mixed abilities (= different levels of skill or intelligence) .

a mixed-ability class

Word partners for ability

demonstrate / have / possess ability • lack ability • lose the ability to do sth • affect / limit sb's ability to do sth • innate / instinctive / natural ability • amazing / remarkable / uncanny ability • proven ability

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

ability

[əbɪ̱lɪti]
♦♦
abilities
1) N-SING: N to-inf, oft with poss Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it.
  The public never had faith in his ability to handle the job...
  He has the ability to bring out the best in others.
  Syn:
  capability
2) N-VAR: oft with poss Your ability is the quality or skill that you have which makes it possible for you to do something.
  Her drama teacher spotted her ability...
  I have confidence in the ability of the players...
  They repeatedly questioned his leadership abilities...
  Does the school cater for all abilities?
3) PHRASE If you do something to the best of your abilities or to the best of your ability, you do it as well as you can.
  I take care of them to the best of my abilities...
  They tackled them to the best of their ability.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

ability

abil·i·ty /əˈbɪləti/ noun, pl -ties : the power or skill to do something

[count]

• a young woman with many remarkable musical/artistic/athletic abilities
- often followed by to + verb
• a teacher with an ability to inspire his students
• Does he have the ability [=authority] to fire employees?
• a writer's ability [=capability, capacity] to interest readers

[noncount]

• a young woman of great musical/artistic/athletic ability
• She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
• He always works to the best of his ability. [=as well as he can]

skill - talent and ability

ability

power

ability to control people and events

/ˈpaʊ.ɚ/

/paʊər/

توانمندی، قدرت

مثال:

I've no power over him - he does what he wants to.

من هیچ کنترلی روی او ندارم. هرکار که بخواهد انجام می‌دهد.

ability to control people and events

معادل فارسی:

توانمندی، قدرت

مثال انگلیسی:

I've no power over him - he does what he wants to.

من هیچ کنترلی روی او ندارم. هرکار که بخواهد انجام می‌دهد.

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

power

noun

1 (no plural) the ability to control people or things; the ability to do things:
The president has a lot of power.
I did everything in my power (= everything I could do) to help her.

2 (plural powers) the right to do something:
Police officers have the power to arrest people.

3 (plural powers) a strong person or country:
There is a meeting of world powers in Rome next week.

4 (no plural) the energy or strength that somebody or something has:
The ship was helpless against the power of the storm.

5 (no plural) energy that can be collected and used for making machines work, making electricity, etc.:
nuclear power

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

power

I. pow‧er¹ S1 W1 /ˈpaʊə $ paʊr/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: power, superpower, powerlessness, empowerment; adjective: powerful ≠ powerless, overpowering, power, powered; verb: power, empower, overpower; adverb: powerfully ≠ powerlessly, overpoweringly]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: poeir, from poeir 'to be able', from Latin potere; ⇨ potent]
1. CONTROL [uncountable] the ability or right to control people or events ⇨ powerful, powerless
power over
People should have more power over the decisions that affect their lives.
power-mad/power-crazy/power-hungry (=wanting too much power)
power-hungry politicians
2. GOVERNMENT [uncountable] the position of having political control of a country or government
in power
The voters have once again shown their support for the party in power.
come/rise to power (=start having political control)
De Gaulle came to power in 1958.
They seized power in a military coup.
3. INFLUENCE [uncountable] the ability to influence people or give them strong feelings ⇨ powerful, powerless
power of
the power of his writing
the immense power of television
the pulling power (=ability to attract people or attention) of major celebrities
student/black/consumer etc power (=the political or social influence a particular group has)
4. RIGHT/AUTHORITY [uncountable and countable] the right or authority to do something:
The police have been given special powers to help them in the fight against terrorism.
power to do something
The committee has the power to order an enquiry.
power of arrest/veto etc
The chairman has the power of veto on all decisions.
5. ABILITY [uncountable and countable] a natural or special ability to do something:
After the accident she lost the power of speech (=ability to speak).
powers of observation/concentration/persuasion
a writer’s powers of observation
your mental powers
a stone with magical powers
6. ENERGY [uncountable] energy that can be used to make a machine work or to make electricity
nuclear/wind/solar etc power
Many people are opposed to the use of nuclear power.
the search for renewable sources of power
under power
The ship was able to leave port under its own power (=without help from another machine, ship etc).
7. earning/purchasing/bargaining etc power the ability to earn money, buy things etc:
Property in the city is beyond the purchasing power of most people.
your bargaining power in pay negotiations
8. STRENGTH [uncountable] the physical strength or effect of something ⇨ powerful:
the power of a cheetah’s long legs
The power of the explosion smashed windows across the street.
9. ELECTRICITY [uncountable] electricity that is used in houses, factories etc:
Make sure the power is switched off first.
power cut/failure/outage (=a short time when the electricity supply is not working)
Parts of the country have had power cuts because of the storms.
The power came back on.
10. air/sea power the number of planes or ships that a country has available to use in a war
11. STRONG COUNTRY [countable] a country that is strong and important and can influence events, or that has a lot of military strength ⇨ powerful, powerless:
Egypt is still a major power in the Middle East.
world power (=a country that can influence events in different parts of the world)
12. be in/within sb’s power (to do something) if it is in someone’s power to do something, they have the authority or ability to do it:
I wish it was within my power to change the decision.
do everything/all in your power
The ambassador promised to do everything in his power to get the hostages released.
13. be beyond sb’s power (to do something) if it is beyond someone’s power to do something, they do not have the authority or ability to do it:
It’s beyond the power of the court to make such a decision.
14. be in sb’s power literary to be in a situation in which someone has complete control over you
15. do somebody a power of good British English informal to make someone feel more healthy, happy, and hopeful about the future:
It looks as if your holiday has done you a power of good.
16. MATHEMATICS [countable] if a number is increased to the power of three, four, five etc, it is multiplied by itself three, four, five etc times
17. the powers that be the unknown people who have important positions of authority and power, and whose decisions affect your life:
The powers that be don’t want the media to get hold of the story.
18. LENS [uncountable] technical the ability of a ↑lens, for example in a pair of ↑glasses or a ↑microscope, to make things look bigger
19. the powers of good/evil/darkness unknown or magical forces that people believe can influence events in a good or evil way
20. a power in the land old-fashioned someone who has a lot of power and influence in a country
21. the power behind the throne someone who secretly controls and influences decisions made by the leader or government of a country, but who does not have an official government position
22. power trip informal if you are on a power trip, you are enjoying your power or authority in a way that other people think is unpleasant
⇨ ↑staying power, ↑balance of power, ↑high-powered
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have power People who have power never seem to use it to help others.
▪ get/gain power Women were trying to gain power in a male-dominated world.
▪ use your power (also exercise (your) power formal) The party will use all its power and influence to raise the issue in the Senate. | Questions have been asked about the way the police exercised their power.
▪ wield power formal (=use power - used when someone has a lot of power) The Church still wields enormous power in the country.
■ adjectives
▪ great/huge/enormous The central banks have huge power.
▪ limited The king's power was limited.
▪ political/economic/military power countries with little economic power
▪ absolute power (=total power, with no limits) Parents had absolute power over children in those days.
▪ unbridled power (=without any controls) Certain wealthy men exercised unbridled power.
▪ real power The real power lay with the President’s advisers.
■ phrases
▪ a power struggle (=a situation in which groups or leaders try to get control) The country is locked in a power struggle between forces favouring and opposing change.
▪ the balance of power There has been a shift in the balance of power between the two countries.
▪ a position of power (=a job or role that gives someone power) Many of them were using their positions of power for personal advantage.
▪ an abuse of power (=a wrong or unfair use of power) This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ be in power The law was passed when the Democrats were in power.
▪ come to power (=start being in control) Tony Blair came to power in 1997.
▪ take power (=start being in control, usually without an election) Many people fled after the military took power last September.
▪ seize power (=take power by force) His son seized power in a military coup.
▪ assume power formal (=take power) He assumed power after the assassination of the former president.
▪ win power (=win an election) The Prime Minister is facing his toughest challenge since winning power.
▪ rise to power The Roman emperor Vespasian rose to power through command of an army.
▪ return/be returned to power (=start being in control again, usually after an election) The party was returned to power with a reduced majority.
▪ hold power (=be in power) Economic disaster befell the country during the decade when he held power.
▪ restore somebody to power (=put someone in control of a country again) In 2004, the army restored him to power.
▪ sweep to power (=win an election easily) Reagan swept to power by promising reforms.
▪ cling to power (=not lose it, or try not to lose it) Mao Tse-tung, the leader of the 1949 Communist revolution, clung to power for 27 years.
■ phrases
▪ sb’s rise to power The programme examines Saddam Hussein’s rise to power.
▪ sb’s return to power Churchill’s return to power had an immediate effect upon Anglo-American relations.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 5)
■ adjectives
▪ mental powers Is it possible to enhance your mental powers?
▪ creative powers A music teacher should have a real interest in developing children’s creative powers.
▪ healing powers The water was supposed to have healing powers.
▪ magical/special/miraculous powers Diamonds were once thought to have magical powers.
■ phrases
▪ the power of speech I was so surprised that I momentarily lost the power of speech.
▪ the power of flight Some birds have lost the power of flight over millions of years.
▪ powers of observation Experience improves our powers of observation, since it teaches us what to look for.
▪ powers of concentration As you get older, your powers of concentration may decrease.
▪ powers of persuasion She used all her powers of persuasion to convince Tilly that the move was a good idea.
▪ be at the height of your powers (=be at a time in your life when your abilities are strongest) Fonteyn was still at the height of her powers as a dancer.
■ verbs
▪ lose a power He was a brilliant speaker, who never lost the power to influence people.
▪ sb’s powers are failing/waning (=becoming less good) Mark felt that his creative powers were waning.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 6)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + power
▪ nuclear power The accident raised doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
▪ solar power (=energy produced by sunlight) They use solar power for all their heating.
▪ wind power (=energy produced by the wind) Is wind power the answer to the energy crisis?
▪ wave power (=energy produced by waves in the sea) Wave power can be used to generate electricity.
▪ hydroelectric power (=energy produced by flowing water) The factory is run on hydroelectric power.
▪ steam power (=energy produced from steam) Early engines were driven by steam power.
■ phrases
▪ a source of power One problem is their reliance on coal as the main source of power.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 11)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + power
▪ a great power Britain wanted to maintain her status as a great power.
▪ a major power (=very important one) There will be representatives from all the world's major powers at the conference.
▪ a world power (=one with influence all over the world) The United States had replaced Great Britain as the dominant world power.
▪ a military/naval power (=with a very strong army or navy) Russia had become a naval power equal to Spain.
▪ a foreign power He was charged with spying for a foreign power.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ country an area of land controlled by its own government, president, king etc: Thailand is a beautiful country. | Which country would you most like to visit?
▪ nation a country, considered especially in relation to its people and its political and economic structure: The events shocked the whole nation. | The US is the most powerful nation in the world. | Leaders of the world’s major industrialized nations attended the meeting.
▪ state a country considered as a political organization with its own government: They believe that Scotland should be an independent sovereign state. | Most European states joined the Council of Europe.
▪ power a country that is very strong and important: a meeting of the great powers | Britain is still a world power.
▪ superpower one of the most powerful countries in the world: During the Cuban Missile Crisis there was a real danger of conflict between the two world superpowers.
▪ land literary a country – used in stories: He told them about his journeys to foreign lands. | a traveller from a far-off land

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

power

power [power powers powered powering] noun, verb [ˈpaʊə(r)] [ˈpaʊər]

noun

CONTROL
1. uncountable the ability to control people or things
• ~ (over sb/sth) The aim is to give people more power over their own lives.
• ~ (to do sth) He has the power to make things very unpleasant for us.

• to have sb in your power (= to be able to do what you like with sb)

2. uncountable political control of a country or an area
• to take/seize/lose power
• The present regime has been in power for two years.
• The party came to power at the last election.
• They are hoping to return to power.
• a power struggle between rival factions within the party

see also balance of power

ABILITY

3. uncountable (in people) the ability or opportunity to do sth
• It is not within my power (= I am unable or not in a position) to help you.

• I will do everything in my power to help you.

4. uncountable (also powers plural) a particular ability of the body or mind
• He had lost the power of speech.
• The drug may affect your powers of concentration.

• He had to use all his powers of persuasion.

5. powers plural all the abilities of a person's body or mind

• At 26, he is at the height of his powers and ranked fourth in the world.

AUTHORITY

6. uncountable, countable, usually plural the right or authority of a person or group to do sth
• ~ (to do sth) The Secretary of State has the power to approve the proposals.
• The powers of the police must be clearly defined.
• ~ (of sth) The president has the power of veto over all new legislation.
• Police in riot gear used their powers under the Public Order Act to move on 300 protesters.

see also power of attorney

COUNTRY

7. countable a country with a lot of influence in world affairs, or with great military strength
• world powers
• an allied/enemy power

see also superpower

INFLUENCE

8. uncountable (in compounds) strength or influence in a particular area of activity
• economic power
• air/sea power (= military strength in the air/ at sea)
• purchasing power

• Their efforts to exercise collective bargaining power against multinational companies have failed.

9. uncountable the influence of a particular thing or group within society
• the power of the media

• parent power

ENERGY

10. uncountable the strength or energy contained in sth
• The ship was helpless against the power of the storm.
• It was a performance of great power.
• They were impressed by the power of her arguments.

see also firepower, staying power

11. uncountable physical strength used in action; physical strength that sb possesses and might use
• He hit the ball with as much power as he could.

• the sheer physical power of the man

12. uncountable energy that can be collected and used to operate a machine, to make electricity, etc
• nuclear/wind/solar power
• engine power

see also horsepower

ELECTRICITY

13. uncountable the public supply of electricity
• They've switched off the power.

• a power failure

MATHEMATICS

14. countable, usually singular the number of times that an amount is to be multiplied by itself

• 4 to the power of 3 is 4 3 (= 4 × 4 × 4 = 64).

OF LENS

15. uncountable the amount by which a lens can make objects appear larger

• the power of a microscope/telescope

GOOD/EVIL SPIRIT

16. countable a good or evil spirit that controls the lives of others
• the powers of darkness (= the forces of evil)
• She believed in the existence of a benevolent power.
more at The corridors of power at corridor, sweep (sb) to power at sweep _v.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French poeir, from an alteration of Latin posse ‘be able’.
Thesaurus:
power noun
1. U
• He seized power in a military coup.
control • • authority • • command • • rule • • office • • hold • |formal jurisdiction •
power/control/authority/command/rule/a hold/jurisdiction over sb/sth
in power/control/authority/command/office
absolute/complete power/control/authority/command/rule
have power/control/authority/command/a hold over sb/jurisdiction
take power/control/command/office
2. U, C, usually pl.
• The president has the power of veto over all legislation.
authority • • right • • privilege • |especially BrE, formal entitlement •
the power/authority/right/entitlement to do sth
have a/an/the power/authority/right/privilege/entitlement
use/exercise your powers/authority/right/privilege/entitlement
Power or authority? (to have) the authority to do sth usually refers to what sb is allowed to do within a company or other organization. The power to do sth or special powers often refer to what sb is allowed to do within the law or government of a country:
• Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques.
¤ Only the manager has the power to sign cheques.:
• The powers of the police must be clearly defined.
¤ The authority of the police must be clearly defined.
3. U (used in compounds)
• the country's technological and military power
influence • • weight • |formal leverage •
considerable/political power/influence/weight/leverage
economic/financial power/weight/leverage
have/use/exercise/exert (your) power/influence/leverage
4. U
• Wind power drives the machinery.
energy •
electrical/nuclear/atomic/solar/wind/tidal power/energy
generate/produce/provide/supply/use/harness power/energy
a power/an energy supply
a source of power/energy
Power or energy? Energy is the source of power: the fuel, the light and heat from the sun or a nuclear reaction, etc. Power is energy that has been collected and used to produce electricity, etc. The energy supply is all the power that has not yet been used up; the power supply is the continuous flow of power to where it is being used
• The world's energy supply is heading for crisis.
• interruptions in the power supply
5. U
• the sheer physical power of the man
strength • • force • |formal literary might •
physical power/strength/force
use your power/your strength/force/your might
Collocations:
Politics
Power
create/form/be the leader of a political party
gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
seize/take control of the government/power
bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
be forced/removed/driven from office/power
resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister
enter/retire from/return to political life
Political debate
spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over sth)
get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
lobby/put pressure on the government (to do sth)
come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
Policy
call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
formulate/implement domestic economic policy
change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
invest (heavily) in/spend sth on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
nationalize the banks/the oil industry
promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
a/the budget is approved/ (especially NAmE) passed by parliament/congress
Making laws
have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate
propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution
introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures
amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
get/require/be decided by a majority vote
more collocations at economy, voting
Example Bank:
• Don't underestimate my powers of persuasion.
• Having served in four governments, he has the greatest staying power of any politician today.
• He did everything in his power to find us somewhere to live.
• He sits on the board but has no executive power.
• He wants to change the world through the power of prayer.
• I lost my power of speech for a while after the accident.
• I'm afraid it's not within my power to help you.
• In 1946 Dalí was at the peak of his powers.
• People say that the First Lady is the power behind the throne.
• Power tools make many jobs so much easier.
• Religion is rapidly losing its power to shape our behaviour.
• She exudes star power whenever she's on screen.
• She was in the elevator when the power went off.
• Some states delegate police power to municipalities.
• The Crown prince assumed power in his father's place.
• The company was too small to hold two such power-hungry men.
• The court has no power to order a psychiatric examination of the child's parents.
• The emperor held no real power.
• The generator supplies power for lighting,
• The government has limited legal powers over television.
• The new law delegates many of these powers to school governors.
• The party's power base is in the industrial north of the country.
• The plane was still climbing at full power.
• The real legislative power still rests with the lower chamber.
• The transmitter is operating on reduced power.
• The war brought about a shift in the balance of power.
• They believe he has supernatural powers.
• They fell from power in 1992.
• They held power for 18 years.
• They held us in their power.
• They use these streams to generate power for the mill.
• This wheel provides the power to the cutting machine.
• When did this government come to power?
• Who will get the upper hand in this power struggle?
• Wind power is used to drive the machinery.
• a task still beyond any computer's power
• a tribute to his powers as a teacher
• an increase in Britain's air power
• belief in a higher power
• certain powers that were granted to the government
• her powers of observation
• major European powers such as France and Germany
• supplying power for the grinding process
• the destructive power of a hurricane
• the father's position of power and influence in the home
• the healing power of sleep
• the party in power
• the raw power of their music
• the transfer of power from a military to a civilian government
• weapons with enormous fire power
• Air power decided the battle in favour of the Allies.
• He has the power to make life very difficult for us.
• He seized power in a military coup.
• He talked about the enormous power of the mass media.
• He transformed a backward country into a world power.
• Increased trade union bargaining power led to higher wage settlements.
• It is not within my power to help you.
• It was the beginning of a power struggle between rival factions within the party.
• She was determined to go through with her plan, now that she had him in her power.
• Sufferers of the disease have failing mental powers and poor memories.
• The Emperor had absolute power over all his subjects.
• The cost of solar power needs to fall before it makes an impact on the energy market.
• The country's dominance was assured by its technological and military power.
• The government promised greater opportunities for parent power.
• The influence of the former colonial power is still very much in evidence.
• There seems to have been a power failure.
• They've switched off the power.
• Those aged over 55 now have a purchasing power of more than £30 billion annually.
• To go higher the pilot increases the engine power.
• Values are distorted by the power of advertising.
• electrical/nuclear/atomic/solar/wind/tidal energy/power
• interruptions in the power supply
• to generate/produce/provide/supply/use/harness energy/power
Idioms: do somebody a power of good ▪ more power to somebody's elbow ▪ power behind the throne ▪ powers that be

Derived: power down ▪ power something down ▪ power something up

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun (CONTROL)

B2 [ U ] ability to control people and events:

I've no power over him - he does what he wants to.

Once nicotine has you in its power, it's very difficult to stop smoking.

She has the power to charm any man she meets.

C1 [ U ] the amount of political control a person or group has in a country:

Does the president have more power than the prime minister?

How long has the Conservative Party been in power?

The army seized power after five days of anti-government demonstrations.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

come into / rise to power • assume / seize / take power • devolve / hand over power • considerable / enormous power • a position of power • a power struggle • have power over sb • be in power

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ U ] (STRENGTH)

C1 strength:

Our car doesn't have enough power to tow a trailer.

Weightlifters have tremendous power in their arms and legs.

Scientists are working to harness the power of the atom.

The economic power of many Asian countries has grown dramatically in recent years.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun (OFFICIAL RIGHT)

[ U ] an official or legal right to do something:

[ + to infinitive ] I'd like to help but I don't have the power to intervene in this dispute.

It's not in your power to cancel the order.

I can't give you a refund - I'm afraid it's not within my power.

powers [ plural ] authority:

You were acting beyond your powers when you agreed to give her a pay rise.

Visitors to the city are respectfully reminded of the council's powers to remove illegally parked vehicles.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ U ] (ELECTRICITY)

B1 electricity, especially when considering its use or production:

You should disconnect the power before attempting to repair electrical equipment.

Our building lost power (= the electricity was stopped) during the storm.

power cables/lines

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun (ABILITY)

powers [ plural ] abilities:

My mental powers aren't as good as they used to be.

C1 [ U ] a natural skill or an ability to do something:

He was so shocked by what happened to his parents that he lost the power of speech.

[ + to infinitive ] The surgeon did everything in her power to save him.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ C ] (PERSON WITH CONTROL)

C1 a person, organization, or country that has control over others, often because of wealth, importance, or great military strength:

Spain was an important military power in the 16th century.

Germany is on its way to becoming a world power with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

She is an increasingly important power in the company.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ U ] (ENERGY)

the rate at which energy is used, or the ability to produce energy:

The ship was only slightly damaged in the collision and was able to sail into port under its own power.

specialized The power rating of my amplifier is 40 watts per channel.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ U ] (IMAGE SIZE)

the amount by which an image is increased by a device used for seeing things that are very small or a long distance away:

What's the magnification power of your binoculars?

You'll need a very high-power microscope to see something as small as that.

A low-power telescope is enough if you only want to look at the moon.

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

power / paʊə r / / paʊɚ / noun [ S ] specialized (MATHEMATICS)

the number of times that a number is to be multiplied by itself:

2 to the fourth power is 2 times 2 times 2 times 2, which equals 16.

3 to the power 4 is usually written as 3 4 .

Word partners for power (CONTROL)

Word partners for power (ELECTRICITY)

lose / restore power • switch off / turn off the power • a power cable / line / supply • be without power

Word partners for power (ENERGY)

generate / produce / provide / supply power • harness power • nuclear / solar / wind power

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

power

[pa͟ʊə(r)]
♦
powers, powering, powered
1) N-UNCOUNT If someone has power, they have a lot of control over people and activities.
  She interviewed six women who have reached positions of great power and influence...
  In a democracy, power must be divided.
  ...a political power struggle between the Liberals and National Party.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu N to-inf, N of n Your power to do something is your ability to do it.
  Human societies have the power to solve the problems confronting them...
  Fathers have the power to dominate children and young people...
  He was so drunk that he had lost the power of speech.
3) N-UNCOUNT: poss N If it is in or within your power to do something, you are able to do it or you have the resources to deal with it.
  Your debt situation is only temporary, and it is within your power to resolve it...
  Although it is not in his power to do so, he said he would rebuild the Air Base...
  We must do everything in our power to ensure the success of the conference.
4) N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, oft the N to-inf If someone in authority has the power to do something, they have the legal right to do it.
  The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss and appoint senior ministers...
  The police have the power of arrest...
  The legal powers of British Customs officers are laid out in the Customs and Excise Management Act of 1969.
5) N-UNCOUNT: oft in N If people take power or come to power, they take charge of a country's affairs. If a group of people are in power, they are in charge of a country's affairs.
  In 1964 Labour came into power...
  He first assumed power in 1970...
  The party has been in power since independence in 1964.
6) N-COUNT: usu supp N You can use power to refer to a country that is very rich or important, or has strong military forces.
  In Western eyes, Iraq is a major power in an area of great strategic importance.
  ...the emergence of the new major economic power, Japan.
7) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N The power of something is the ability that it has to move or affect things.
  The Roadrunner had better power, better tyres, and better brakes.
  ...massive computing power.
8) N-UNCOUNT Power is energy, especially electricity, that is obtained in large quantities from a fuel source and used to operate lights, heating, and machinery.
  Nuclear power is cleaner than coal...
  Power has been restored to most parts that were hit last night by high winds...
  There is enough power to run up to four lights.
9) VERB The device or fuel that powers a machine provides the energy that the machine needs in order to work.
→ See also high-powered
  [V n] The `flywheel' battery, it is said, could power an electric car for 600 miles on a single charge...
  [V n] The planes are powered by Rolls Royce engines.
  Syn:
  drive
  Derived words:
  -powered COMB in ADJ ...battery-powered radios. ...nuclear-powered submarines.
10) ADJ: ADJ n Power tools are operated by electricity.
  ...large power tools, such as chainsaws.
  ...a power drill.
  Ant:
  mechanical
11) N-SING: to the N of num, to the ord N In mathematics, power is used in expressions such as 2 to the power of 4 or 2 to the 4th power to indicate that 2 must be multiplied by itself 4 times. This is written in numbers as 2⁴, or 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, which equals 16.
  Any number to the power of nought is equal to one.
12) PHRASE You can refer to people in authority as the powers that be, especially when you want to say that you disagree with them or do not understand what they say or do.
  The powers that be, in this case the independent Television Association, banned the advertisement altogether...
  The powers that be may keep us from building a house just where we want to.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - power ahead
  - power up

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹pow·er /ˈpawɚ/ noun, pl -ers
1 [noncount] : the ability or right to control people or things
• She is from a very wealthy family with a lot of social power.
• a politician who is hungry for power = a power-hungry politician
• The company abused its power, forcing workers to work overtime without pay.
• The company was almost destroyed in a power struggle between its two founders.
• She had them in her power. [=she controlled them]
• I'm sorry, but I don't have it in my power to help you. [=I don't have the power to help you; I can't help you]
- often + over
• He has no power over me.
2 [noncount] : political control of a country or area
• After the emperor died, power passed to his eldest son.
• the peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected president
• The president was removed from power in the recent uprising.
• The new government has taken power.
• The latest elections put a new (political) party in power.
• The rebels rose/came to power several years ago.
- see also black power, flower power
3 [count]
a : a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people or organizations
• A small company with only a few products has grown to become a power in the industry.
• Our state is now the region's leading economic power.
b : a country that has a lot of influence and military strength
• a foreign power
• the European powers
- see also great power, superpower, world power
4 [noncount]
a : physical force or strength
• Getting the floor clean required lots of muscle power.
- often + of
• I was impressed by the sheer power of her tennis serve.
• the power of hurricane winds
b : military force
• They are threatening to use air/military power to resolve the conflict.
- see also balance of power, firepower, sea power
c : the energy or force that someone or something can produce for movement, work, etc.
• He could not walk under his own power. [=he could not walk without help]
• The machines are running at full power. [=are doing as much work as they can possibly do]
5 a : an ability to do something

[count]

• It's an old story, but it still has the power to frighten children.
• You have the power to change your life.
• I'll do everything within/in my power to help. [=I'll do everything that I can to help]
• It's in your power [=you have the ability] to change the way things are done here.
- often + of
• He's studying the healing powers of various plants.
• She lost the power of speech. [=she was no longer able to speak]
• Some things are beyond the power of human understanding.
• He used all of his powers of persuasion, but she still would not agree.

[noncount]

• Each member of the club has equal voting power.
• The new computer is tiny but has more computing power than many desktop computers.
• His position gives him great bargaining power.
- see also buying power, purchasing power, staying power
b [noncount] : the ability to influence or affect people or things
• It was a speech of great power.
• A good lawyer is able to argue with power and conviction.
- often + of
• the power of art/love/religion/television
• Great poetry reminds us of the power of language.
- see also drawing power, pulling power
6 : the right to do something : legal or official authority to do something

[count]

• You have the power to decide whether or not you'll agree to do it.
• The President has the power to veto laws passed by Congress.

[noncount]

• The board of directors has given her power to negotiate the contract.
- see also power of attorney
7 [noncount]
a : energy that can be collected and used to operate machines
• electrical/nuclear/solar/wind/battery power
• The car's engine yields more power while using less fuel.
- see also horsepower, manpower
b : the electricity that people use
• We lost power during the storm.
• Do you know how many watts of power your refrigerator uses per day?
8 [count] mathematics
a : the number of times that a number is to be multiplied by itself
• 5 (raised) to the third power is 125. [=5 x 5 x 5 = 125]
b : a number that results from multiplying a number by itself
• 8 is a power of 2 because 2 x 2 x 2 is equal to 8.
9 [noncount] technical : the ability of an optical device (such as a telescope) to make objects look bigger
• the power [=magnification] of a microscope/telescope
• a telescope of high power
do (someone) a power of good Brit informal + old-fashioned : to help someone physically or mentally : to make someone feel better
• I think spending a day outside in the sunshine would do you a power of good. [=(US) do you a world of good]
more power to you US or Brit more power to your elbow informal
- used to say that you approve of what someone is doing and hope it will be successful
• If he wants to write a book, more power to him!
the corridors/halls of power : places where people talk about issues and make important decisions especially about political matters
• the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.
the power behind the throne : the person who secretly controls a country, organization, etc., by controlling the actions and decisions of the official leader
• He's the company president, but his assistant is the (real) power behind the throne.
the powers that be : the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
• The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
• I applied for the job, but I guess the powers that be didn't think I was qualified. synonyms power, authority, jurisdiction, command, and dominion mean the right or ability to govern, rule, or strongly influence people or situations. power is a general word that suggests the ability to control or influence what is done, felt, etc.
• the power of the throne
• the power to appoint judges
• The movie has the power to shape public opinion. authority suggests power that has been given to someone for a specific purpose and that has certain limits.
• She gave her nephew the authority to manage the estate on her behalf. jurisdiction refers to official, legal power that has certain limits.
• This matter is outside the court's jurisdiction. command refers to the power that someone (such as a military officer) has to make decisions and to force people to behave in a desired way.
• He was given command of the regiment. dominion is a formal word that stresses the greatest or highest power or authority.
• The country no longer has dominion over the island.

death

/deθ/

the end of life

معادل فارسی:

مرگ

مثال انگلیسی:

What was the cause of her death?

علت‌ مرگ‌ او چه‌ بود؟

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

death

noun
when a life finishes:
He became manager of the company after his father's death.
There are thousands of deaths in car accidents every year.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

death

death S1 W1 /deθ/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑dead, ↑death, deadliness; adjective: ↑dead, ↑deadly, ↑deathly; adverb: ↑deadly, ↑deathly; verb: ↑deaden]
[Language: Old English]
1.
a) [uncountable] the end of the life of a person or animal
death of
The death of his mother came as a tremendous shock.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in women.
How Danielle met her death (=died) will probably never be known.
His friend was close to death.
His family are still mourning John’s tragic death.
the anniversary of Lenin’s death
bleed/burn/starve etc to death
a homeless man who froze to death
beat/stab/shoot etc somebody to death
The 76-year-old pensioner was beaten to death.
put/sentence/condemn somebody to death (=kill someone or decide they should be killed as an official punishment)
Legend has it that Sarah was put to death for practising witchcraft.
Members of the family have received death threats.
He remained president until his untimely death (=death at a surprisingly young age).
Two of the passengers managed to escape death (=avoid being killed).
b) [countable] a particular case when someone dies OPP birth:
a campaign to reduce the number of traffic deaths
death from
deaths from cancer
I heard there’d been a death in the family.
2. the death of something the permanent end of something OPP birth:
The latest bombing is the death of all our hopes.
These regulations could spell the death (=lead to the end) of the American car industry.
3. to death informal
a) used to emphasize that a feeling or emotion is very strong
be bored/scared/frightened etc to death
She was scared to death of what might happen next.
I’m absolutely sick to death of it (=very angry, bored, or unhappy about something).
bore/scare/love etc somebody to death
He drove at a speed which frightened Leonora to death.
She used to worry me to death.
b) used to say that an action is continued with a lot of effort and for as long as possible:
They just work you to death in that place.
4. do something to death informal to perform or present an idea, joke etc so often that people become tired of it:
Most of his material has been done to death by numerous comedians.
5. to the death
a) until someone is dead:
They will fight to the death rather than give an inch of ground.
soldiers locked in a struggle to the death
b) until you achieve something even if it means that you suffer:
The leadership election has become a fight to the death.
6. Death a creature that looks like a human ↑skeleton, used in paintings, stories etc to represent the fact that people die
7. be at death’s door to be very ill and likely to die
8. look/feel like death warmed up British English, look/feel like death warmed over American English informal to look or feel very ill or tired
9. you’ll catch your death (of cold) spoken old-fashioned used to warn someone that they are likely to become ill because they are wet or cold
10. somebody will be the death of me spoken old-fashioned used to say that someone is causing you a lot of worry and problems:
That boy will be the death of me!
⇨ ↑Black Death, ⇨ kiss of death at ↑kiss²(3), ⇨ life and death at ↑life(10)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ cause death We still don't know what caused his death.
▪ lead to/result in death Any delay in calling an ambulance may have resulted in her death.
▪ bleed/freeze/burn/starve to death Thousands of people are starving to death.
▪ stab/beat/kick somebody to death He was stabbed to death in an attack outside his home.
▪ sentence/condemn somebody to death (=decide someone must die as an official punishment) Two men were sentenced to death for the killings.
▪ be put to death (=be killed as a punishment for something you have done) The rebels were defeated and their leaders put to death.
▪ escape death (=avoid being killed) He fell while climbing in the mountains, and only narrowly escaped death.
▪ meet your death formal (=die) He met his death tragically while on holiday in Greece.
▪ mourn somebody's death (=feel very sad after someone has died) The entertainment world was last night mourning the actor's death.
■ adjectives
▪ sudden death Her sudden death shocked the world.
▪ tragic death Her family are trying to come to terms with Anna's tragic death.
▪ early death (=at a young age) Paul's first marriage ended with the early death of his wife.
▪ untimely death formal (=at a young age) He remained President until his untimely death in 2004.
▪ premature death technical (=earlier than people usually die) The disease is a significant cause of premature death in the developing world.
▪ accidental death (=caused by accident, not deliberately) The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
▪ violent death (=caused by violence, especially deliberately) There is a high rate of violent death in America.
▪ certain death (=definitely going to happen) Many of the prisoners faced certain death.
■ death + NOUN
▪ the death penalty (=the legal punishment of death) In the west, most countries have abolished the death penalty.
▪ the death sentence (=the legal punishment of death) Because of his young age, the judge decided not to impose the death sentence.
▪ the death rate (=the number of people who die each year from something) The death rate from heart attacks is about 50% higher for smokers.
▪ the death toll (=the number of people who die in an accident) Officials fear the death toll could be as high as 3000.
▪ a death threat (=a threat to kill someone deliberately) The writer had received a number of death threats.
■ phrases
▪ the cause of death The cause of death was a bullet in his chest.
▪ a sentence of death (=the official punishment of death for a crime) There were strong protests against the sentence of death.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

death

▪ I. death [death deaths] [deθ] [deθ] noun
1. countable the fact of sb dying or being killed
• a sudden/violent/peaceful, etc. death
• the anniversary of his wife's death
• an increase in deaths from cancer

• He died a slow and painful death.

2. uncountable the end of life; the state of being dead
• Two children were burnt to death in the fire (= they died as a result of the fire).
• He's drinking himself to death (= so that it will kill him).
• Police are trying to establish the cause of death.
• Do you believe in life after death?
• a death camp (= a place where prisoners are killed, usually in a war)

• He was sentenced to death (= to be executed ).

3. uncountable ~ of sth the permanent end or destruction of sth
• the death of all my plans

• the death of fascism

4. (also Death) uncountable (literary) the power that destroys life, imagined as human in form
• Death is often shown in paintings as a human skeleton.
• Death marched in and took him away.
see also sudden death
more at catch your death (of cold) at catch _v., cheat death at cheat _v., dice with death at dice _v., die a/the death at die _v., a fate worse than death at fate, fight to the death/finish at fight _v., flog sth to death at flog, hang/hold on for/like grim death at grim, the kiss of death at kiss _n., life after death at life, a matter of life and death at matter _n.
Idioms: at death's door ▪ do something to death ▪ look like death warmed up ▪ put somebody to death ▪ scare somebody to death ▪ the death ▪ the death of somebody
See also: like death warmed over
Word Origin:
Old English dēath, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dood and German Tod, also to die.
Example Bank:
• By 1740 European feudalism was in its death throes.
• By publicly condemning the terrorists he was signing his own death warrant.
• Chicago's birth and death records
• Delivering on time is a matter of life and death for a small company.
• Do you believe in life after death?
• Four prisoners were under sentence of death.
• He died as a prisoner of war in an enemy death camp.
• He escaped death by inches when a tree fell on his tent.
• He had been miraculously saved from almost certain death.
• He met his death two years later.
• He took drugs as if he had some kind of death wish.
• He witnessed the death of his mother from tuberculosis.
• Her death came at the age of 82.
• His face looked more peaceful in death than it had during his last days.
• How far would they go to avenge the death of their friend?
• If found guilty of drug trafficking, the pair could face the death penalty.
• Incest was punishable by death.
• It was clear that the dog was near death.
• It's a curious sensation, knowing that your death is approaching soon.
• It's easier to trace ancestors if you know their birth or death dates.
• More deaths occur in winter.
• More than 30% of all cancer deaths in the country can be attributed to smoking.
• No deaths from the disease have been recorded since 1990.
• Obesity is a leading cause of preventable deaths.
• On Samuel's death, the farm passed to his sons.
• Paramilitary death squads are operating in the area.
• Paramilitary death squads are rumoured to be operating in the area.
• People can sue for wrongful death.
• Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
• Police report a decrease in violent deaths.
• Poor living conditions can lead to early death.
• She died a slow and painful death.
• She faked her own death so he couldn't find her.
• The actor has received death threats since appearing in the controversial film.
• The average age at death of plague victims was 14.
• The bombing resulted in many civilian deaths.
• The brutal attack resulted in the man's death.
• The coroner said the cause of death was a stroke.
• The death toll in the earthquake has been put at over one thousand.
• The government's campaign aims to cut the death rate from heart attacks.
• The most common cause of neonatal death is birth defects.
• The movie contains plenty of death scenes.
• The president's untimely death has thrown the country into chaos.
• The prisoners were sent on a death march through the jungle.
• The snake was writhing in its death agonies.
• There are currently over 3 000 prisoners on death row.
• They are still mourning the death of their daughter.
• Touching the wires means instant death.
• Two deaths from cholera have been reported.
• What kind of man orders the death of his own sister?
• Women accounted for 2% of all combat deaths.
• Your next of kin will receive death benefit if you die in an accident.
• a death notice in the newspaper
• a service to commemorate the death of thousands of soldiers
• a verdict of accidental death
• an increase in drug overdose deaths
• death by starvation
• deaths resulting from disease
• drugs which will hasten the death of a terminally ill patient
• needless deaths in a war created by hatred
• the drivers who bring death to our roads
• the living death of captivity
• the tragic death of their son
• Police are still trying to establish the cause of death.
• Two children were burnt to death in the fire.
• a sudden/violent/peaceful death

• the anniversary of his wife's death

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

death / deθ / noun [ C or U ]

B1 the end of life:

The disease causes thousands of deaths a year.

Do you believe in life after death?

He never got over the death of his daughter.

death threats

bored, frightened, etc. to death

B2 extremely bored, frightened, etc.

to death C2 until you die:

The animals burned to death in the barn.

He choked to death on a fish bone.

The traitor was put to death (= killed as a punishment) .

the death of sb/sth the cause of the end of life, or the end or destruction of something:

The failure of the family business was the death of him.

That child will be the death of me (= is always doing something which upsets me) !

Word partners for death

bleed / choke / freeze / starve to death • be beaten / crushed / stabbed / trampled to death • condemned to / put to / sentenced to death • escape death • mourn / get over sb's death • premature / sudden / tragic / untimely death • a (leading/major) cause of death • death from sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

death

[de̱θ]
♦♦
deaths
1) N-VAR Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
  1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
  ...the thirtieth anniversary of her death...
  The report mentions the death of 18 people in suspicious circumstances...
  They were told only that there had been a death in the family.
  Ant:
  birth, life
2) N-COUNT: with supp A particular kind of death is a particular way of dying.
  They made sure that he died a horrible death...
  He would rather have a decent death which served some purpose than a meaningless death.
3) N-SING: usu the N of n The death of something is the permanent end of it.
  It meant the death of everything he had ever been or ever hoped to be.
  ...the death of pop music.
  Syn:
  end
4) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that someone is at death's door, you mean they are very ill indeed and likely to die. [INFORMAL]
  He told his boss a tale about his mother being at death's door...
  My dad was the same. He could be at death's door but wouldn't say a word.
5) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that you will fight to the death for something, you are emphasizing that you will do anything to achieve or protect it, even if you suffer as a consequence.
  He said they did not want war - but if attacked they would fight to the death...
  She'd have fought to the death for that child.
6) PHRASE (emphasis) If you refer to a fight or contest as a fight to the death, you are emphasizing that it will not stop until the death or total victory of one of the opponents.
  ...an eleven-hour fight to the death between a baboon and leopard...
  He now faces a fight to the death to reach the quarter-finals.
7) PHRASE: n of PHR, PHR n (emphasis) If you say that something is a matter of life and death, you are emphasizing that it is extremely important, often because someone may die or suffer great harm if people do not act immediately.
  Well, never mind, John, it's not a matter of life and death...
  We're dealing with a life-and-death situation here...
  It is only a hobby, not a life or death struggle.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If someone is put to death, they are executed. [FORMAL]
  Those put to death by firing squad included three generals.
9) PHRASE: PHR after v You use to death after a verb to indicate that a particular action or process results in someone's death.
  He was stabbed to death.
  ...relief missions to try to keep the country's population from starving to death...
  He almost bled to death after the bullet severed an artery.
10) PHRASE: adj PHR, PHR after v (emphasis) You use to death after an adjective or a verb to emphasize the action, state, or feeling mentioned. For example, if you are frightened to death or bored to death, you are extremely frightened or bored.
  He scares teams to death with his pace and power...
  Whereas 10 years ago I would have worried myself to death about it, now I accept it is part of the game...
  I went out last night, but not for very long. I was bored to death.
11) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that someone works another person to death, you are emphasizing that they make them work very hard indeed, especially in a way that seems cruel or unfair.
  They worked themselves to death but never lost their humour.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

death

death /ˈdɛɵ/ noun, pl deaths
1 a [noncount] : the end of life : the time when someone or something dies
• birth, life, and eventual death
• fear of death
• She is close to death. [=she will die soon]
• death threats
• The hostage managed to escape death. [=avoid being killed]
• The newspaper did not report the cause of death.
• She was convicted of murder and sentenced/condemned to death. [=told that she would be killed as punishment]
- see also brain death death knell at knell
b [count] : the ending of a particular person's life
• People around the world mourned his death.
• She worked at the newspaper until her death at (age) 74.
• The accident resulted in two deaths.
• The number of deaths from cancer is rising.
• He died a violent/tragic death.
• There has been a death in the family.
• She survived the plane crash and many years later died a natural death. [=from natural causes; because she was old]
• The general met his death on the battlefield.
2 [count] : the permanent end of something that is not alive : the ruin or destruction of something
• the death of innocence
• the death of vaudeville
• the death of a marriage
3 Death [noncount] literary : the force that ends life and is often shown in art or literature as a skeleton
• Death could be seen lurking in the corner of the painting.
• when Death comes to take me away
a matter of life and death
- see ¹life
at death's door : about to die : very sick and in danger of dying
• He is sick, but he's not at death's door.
be the death of : to cause (someone) to die
• I worry that his drug addiction will be the death of him.
- often used figuratively
• Those kids will be the death of me! [=they worry and upset me very much]
catch your death (of cold)
- see ¹catch
like death warmed over US or Brit like death warmed up informal : very tired or sick
• We worked through the night, and by morning we looked like death warmed over.
put to death
✦A person or animal that is put to death is killed at a scheduled time by someone who is legally allowed to do so.
• a serial killer who was put to death [=executed] for the murder of 28 people
• The dog that attacked the children was later put to death.
to death
1
- used to say how someone died or was killed
• He was shot/stabbed to death.
• They froze/starved to death.
• She drank herself to death. [=drank a lot of alcohol until it made her so sick that she died]
2 : very much : to a great degree
• We were bored/scared to death. [=extremely bored/scared]
• That teacher works her students to death. [=she makes them work too hard]
• He's wonderful! I just love him to death!
• I'm sick to death of hearing about the scandal. [=I don't want to hear anything more about the scandal; I've heard too much about it]
• That song has been done to death. [=many musicians have performed that song]
to the death
1 : until someone is dead
• The warriors would fight to the death.
• a battle to the death
2 : with all of your energy and effort
• Some parents do not want the school to be closed, and say they'll fight to the death for it.

- see also black death, kiss of death, sudden death

- death·like /ˈdɛɵˌlaɪk/ adj
• a deathlike state

death

disease and illness - general words

disease

/dɪˈziːz/

(an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident

معادل فارسی:

بیماری

مثال انگلیسی:

He suffers from a rare blood disease.

او از یک بیماری خونی نادر رنج می‌برد.

سطح، موضوع و برچسب

موضوع:

سطح:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

disease

noun
an illness, especially one that you can catch from another person:
Malaria and measles are diseases.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

disease

dis‧ease S3 W1 /dɪˈziːz/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desaise, from aise 'relaxed feeling, comfort']
1. [uncountable and countable] an illness which affects a person, animal, or plant
disease of
She suffers from a rare disease of the brain.
His father died of heart disease.
She contracted the disease while she was abroad on holiday.
2. [countable] something that is seriously wrong with society or with someone’s mind, behaviour etc:
Loneliness is a disease of our urban communities.
—diseased adjective:
diseased muscles
a diseased plant
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a disease How long have you had the disease?
▪ suffer from a disease About three million people suffer from the disease.
▪ catch/get a disease (also contract a disease formal) He caught the disease while travelling in Africa.
▪ develop a disease A few years ago, she developed a serious lung disease.
▪ pass on a disease (also transmit a disease formal) They may pass the disease on to their children.
▪ cause a disease Smoking is probably the major factor causing heart disease.
▪ prevent a disease It has been claimed that fibre in the diet could help prevent many serious diseases.
▪ treat a disease The disease can be treated with antibiotics.
▪ cure a disease The plant was believed to cure diseases in humans and cattle.
▪ fight (a) disease (=try to stop it continuing) Some bacteria help the human body fight disease.
▪ a disease spreads The government have no idea how far the disease has spread.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + disease
▪ common common childhood diseases
▪ rare She suffers from a rare bone disease.
▪ serious vaccines against serious diseases like hepatitis and meningitis
▪ fatal/deadly (=that causes death) If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. | Thousands of children are struck down by this deadly disease every year.
▪ incurable (=that cannot be cured) Diseases that were once thought incurable can be treated with antibiotics.
▪ infectious/contagious (=that spreads quickly from one person to another) The disease is highly contagious.
▪ a skin/brain/lung etc disease The fumes have caused skin diseases among the villagers.
▪ heart/liver/kidney disease He is being treated for kidney disease.
▪ a hereditary/inherited disease (=that is passed from parent to child) Parents are offered screening for some hereditary diseases.
▪ a sexually-transmitted disease (=that is spread by having sex) There was a worrying rise in the number of sexually-transmitted diseases.
▪ a degenerative disease (=that gradually gets worse) She was suffering from a degenerative disease that confined her to a wheelchair.
▪ a chronic disease (=continuing for a long time and not possible to cure) Chronic disease is sometimes seen as an inevitable part of being old.
■ phrases
▪ a cure for a disease There is no known cure for this disease.
▪ an outbreak of a disease (=when a disease appears in a number of people or animals) There has been an outbreak of the disease in Wales.
▪ the spread of a disease Knowing the facts about AIDS can prevent the spread of the disease.
▪ the symptoms of a disease (=physical signs that someone has a disease) To begin with, there are often no symptoms of the disease.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ illness something wrong with your health which makes you feel ill: Her husband was in hospital for six months with a serious illness.
▪ disease a particular illness, especially one that spreads to other people easily or that affects one part of your body: childhood diseases such as measles and chickenpox | heart disease
▪ infection an illness that is caused by ↑bacteria or a ↑virus: His cough got worse and worse and became a chest infection.
▪ condition a health problem that affects you permanently or for a long time: a medical condition such as asthma | a heart condition
▪ problem [usually after a noun] something that is wrong with a particular part of your body or your health in general: a serious back problem | health problems
▪ trouble [singular, only after a noun] illness or pain that affects a particular part of your body: I’ve had a bit of stomach trouble.
▪ disorder formal an illness that prevents a particular organ of your body from working properly, or affects the way you behave: a liver disorder | a blood disorder | Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

disease

dis·ease [disease diseases] [dɪˈziːz] [dɪˈziːz] noun uncountable, countable
1. an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection
• heart/liver/kidney, etc. disease
• health measures to prevent the spread of disease
• an infectious/contagious disease (= one that can be passed to sb very easily)
• It is not known what causes the disease.
• protection against sexually transmitted diseases
• He suffers from a rare blood disease.
• A fatty diet increases the risk of heart disease.

• the problem of controlling pests and disease with organic gardening methods

2. countable (formal) something that is very wrong with people's attitudes, way of life or with society
• Greed is a disease of modern society.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘lack of ease; inconvenience’): from Old French desaise ‘lack of ease’, from des- (expressing reversal) + aise ‘ease’.
Thesaurus:
disease noun C, U
• He suffers from a rare blood disease.
illness • • sickness • • infection • • condition • • ailment • • complaint • |informal bug • • virus • |medical disorder •
a serious/chronic disease/illness/infection/condition/ailment/disorder
have/suffer from a/an disease/illness/sickness/infection/condition/ailment/complaint/bug/virus/disorder
diagnose/treat a/an disease/illness/infection/condition/ailment/virus/disorder
recover from a/an disease/illness/sickness/infection/bug/virus/disorder
Disease or illness? Disease is used to talk about more severe physical medical problems, especially those that affect the organs:
• heart/kidney/liver disease
¤ heart/kidney/liver illness Illness is used to talk about most kinds of medical problems, including mental illness. Disease is not used about a period of illness:
• He died after a long illness.
¤ He died after a long disease.
Collocations:
Illnesses
Becoming ill
catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(BrE) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
get (BrE) ill/(NAmE) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
come down with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu
contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
have a heart attack/a stroke
provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
Being ill
feel (BrE) ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
be running (BrE) a temperature/(NAmE) a fever
have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(BrE) a high temperature/(NAmE) a fever
suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental disorder
be laid up with/ (BrE) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
Treatments
examine a patient
diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
treat sb for cancer/depression/shock
have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
have/be given an injection/(BrE) a flu jab/(NAmE) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
be vaccinated against the flu/(BrE) flu/the measles/(BrE) measles/polio/smallpox
enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Synonyms:
disease
illness • disorder • infection • condition • ailment • bug
These are all words for a medical problem.
disease • a medical problem affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection: ▪ He suffers from a rare blood disease.
illness • a medical problem, or a period of suffering from one: ▪ She died after a long illness.
disease or illness?
Disease is used to talk about more severe physical medical problems, especially those that affect the organs. Illness is used to talk about both more severe and more minor medical problems, and those that affect mental health: heart/kidney/liver illness ◊ mental disease. Disease is not used about a period of illness: she died after a long disease
disorder • (rather formal) an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly: ▪ a rare disorder of the liver.
A disorder is generally not infectious. Disorder is used most frequently with words relating to mental problems, for example psychiatric, personality, mental and eating. When it is used to talk about physical problems, it is most often used with blood, bowel and kidney, and these are commonly serious, severe or rare.
infection • an illness that is caused by bacteria or a virus and that affects one part of the body: ▪ a throat infection
condition • a medical problem that you have for a long time because it is not possible to cure it: ▪ a heart condition
ailment • (rather formal) an illness that is not very serious: ▪ childhood ailments
bug • (informal) an infectious illness that is usually fairly mild: ▪ a nasty flu bug
to have/suffer from a(n) disease/illness/disorder/infection/condition/ailment/bug
to catch/contract/get/pick up a(n) disease/illness/infection/bug
Example Bank:
• Children are still dying in their millions from preventable diseases.
• Drugs can slow down the progression of the disease, but not cure it altogether.
• He has a serious lung disease.
• He suffered from coronary heart disease
• It's better to prevent disease by ensuring a clean water supply.
• She got a rare liver disease when she was only twenty.
• Such unhygienic practices spread disease.
• Sufferers from Alzheimer's disease can't cope at home.
• The disease has been eradicated from the world.
• The disease has killed 500 people so far this year.
• The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes.
• The government must take action to fight this deadly disease.
• They want to stop the disease from spreading.
• Tobacco lowers the body's resistance to disease.
• You can't catch the disease just from physical contact.
• a disease caused by a vitamin deficiency
• a disease of the digestive system
• childhood diseases such as mumps and chicken pox
• fears of a new killer disease
• fears of an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease
• measures to prevent the spread of the disease
• new drugs which help to control the disease
• patients suffering from venereal disease
• the number of people with this disease
• the overall incidence of disease in the world
• the risk of coronary heart disease
• the ticks that carry the disease
• He talked about controlling pests and disease with organic gardening methods.
• Measures have been taken to prevent the spread of disease.
• The problem was finally diagnosed as heart disease.

• This is an extremely infectious disease.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

disease / dɪˈziːz / noun

B1 [ C or U ] (an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident:

a contagious/infectious disease

a common/rare/incurable/fatal disease

They reported a sudden outbreak of the disease in the south of the country.

The first symptom of the disease is a very high temperature.

She has caught/contracted (= begun to have) a lung disease/disease of the lungs.

Starvation and disease have killed thousands of refugees.

[ C ] something that is considered very bad in people or society:

The real disease affecting the country is inflation.

Word partners for disease

be affected by / have / suffer from a disease • contract / develop a disease • cure / detect / diagnose / treat a disease • die from / of a disease • carry / cause / spread disease • a chronic / deadly / hereditary / infectious disease • signs / symptoms of a disease • an outbreak of a disease

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

disease

[dɪzi͟ːz]
♦♦
diseases
1) N-VAR A disease is an illness which affects people, animals, or plants, for example one which is caused by bacteria or infection.
  ...the rapid spread of disease in the area.
  ...illnesses such as heart disease...
  Doctors believe they have cured him of the disease.
2) N-COUNT: with supp You can refer to a bad attitude or habit, usually one that a group of people have, as a disease. [LITERARY]
  ...the wretched disease of racism eating away at the core of our society.
  Syn:
  blight

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

disease

dis·ease /dɪˈziːz/ noun, pl -eas·es
1 : an illness that affects a person, animal, or plant : a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally

[count]

• infectious/contagious diseases
• He suffers from a rare genetic disease.
• a deadly/debilitating disease
• a disease of the mind/kidneys
• diseases of poultry

[noncount]

• Thousands die of heart disease each year.
• They are working to stop the spread of disease in rural areas.
• gum/liver disease
2 [count] : a problem that a person, group, organization, or society has and cannot stop
• The article cites intolerance as one of the most dangerous of society's diseases.
• He sees crime as a disease that too often plagues the poor and disadvantaged.
- dis·eased /dɪˈziːzd/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• She removed the diseased tree limbs.
• diseased cells/lungs/plants
• a diseased mind

disease