Oxford Advanced Learner

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 8th edition


mer cen ary noun, adjective BrE / msnri / NAmE / mrsneri / noun word origin example bank ( pl. mer cen aries )

a soldier who will fight for any country or group that offers payment

foreign mercenaries mercenary soldiers adjective word origin ( disapproving )

only interested in making or getting money

a mercenary society/attitude She's interested in him for purely mercenary reasons. Oxford University Press, 2010


horse man BrE / hsmn / NAmE / hrsmn / noun ( pl. horse men / BrE hsmn ; NAmE hrsmn / )

a rider on a horse; a person who can ride horses

a good horseman 300 horsemen appeared on the top of the hill. see also horsewoman Oxford University Press, 2010


cav alry BrE / kvlri / NAmE / kvlri / noun word origin ( usually the cavalry ) [ singular + singular or plural verb ] (in the past) the part of the army that fought on horses; the part of the modern army that uses armoured vehicles

The cavalry charged up the hill to engage the rebels. Oxford University Press, 2010


arch er BrE / t(r) / NAmE / rtr / noun word origin a person who shoots with a bow and arrows

Oxford University Press, 2010


breast plate BrE / brestplet / NAmE / brestplet / noun a piece of armour worn by soldiers in the past to protect the upper front part of the body



lance noun, verb BrE / lns / NAmE / lns / noun word origin a weapon with a long wooden handle and a pointed metal end that was used by people fighting on horses in the past

verb verb forms word origin 1 [ transitive ] ~ sth to cut open an infected place on sb's body with a sharp knife in order to let out the pus (= a yellow substance produced by infection)

to lance an abscess 2 [ intransitive ] + adv./prep. ( of a pain ) to move suddenly and quickly and be very sharp

Pain lanced through his body. Oxford University Press, 2010


sword BrE / sd / NAmE / srd / noun word origin example bank a weapon with a long metal blade and a handle

to draw/sheathe a sword (= to take it out/put it into its cover)

put sb to the sword ( old-fashioned or literary ) to kill sb with a sword

a/the sword of Damocles ( literary ) a bad or unpleasant thing that might happen to you at any time and that makes you feel worried or frightened From the legend in which Damocles had to sit at a meal at the court of Dionysius with a sword hanging by a single hair above his head. He had praised Dionysius' happiness, and Dionysius wanted him to understand how quickly happiness can be lost.

turn swords into ploughshares ( literary ) to stop fighting and return to peaceful activities

more at cross swords at cross v. , be a double-edged sword/weapon at double-edged , the pen is mightier than the sword at pen n. Oxford University Press, 2010


mace BrE / mes / NAmE / mes / noun word origin culture 1 [ countable ] a decorative stick, carried as a sign of authority by an official such as a mayor

compare sceptre 2 [ countable ] a large heavy stick that has a head with metal points on it, used in the past as a weapon

3 [ uncountable ] the dried outer covering of nutmegs (= the hard nuts of a tropical tree), used in cooking as a spice



battle axe ( BrE )

( US also battle ax )

BrE / btlks / NAmE / btlks / noun 1 ( informal , disapproving ) an aggressive and unpleasant older woman

My landlady is an old battleaxe and has far too many house rules. 2 a heavy axe with a long handle, used in the past as a weapon



land owner BrE / lndn(r) / NAmE / lndonr / noun a person who owns land, especially a large area of land

land owner ship / BrE ; NAmE / ( also land owning ) noun [ uncountable ] private landownership land owning / BrE lndn ; NAmE lndon / adjective [ only before noun ] the great landowning families Oxford University Press, 2010


ir ri gate BrE / ret / NAmE / ret / verb verb forms word origin 1 ~ sth to supply water to an area of land through pipes or channels so that crops will grow

irrigated land/crops 2 ~ sth ( medical ) to wash out a wound or part of the body with a flow of water or liquid

ir ri ga tion / BrE ren ; NAmE ren / noun [ uncountable ] irrigation channels Irrigation has increased the area of cultivable land. Oxford University Press, 2010


ro ta tion BrE / rten / NAmE / roten / noun word origin example bank 1 [ uncountable ] the action of an object moving in a circle around a central fixed point

the daily rotation of the earth on its axis 2 [ countable ] one complete movement in a circle around a fixed point

This switch controls the number of rotations per minute. 3 [ uncountable , countable ] the act of regularly changing the thing that is being used in a particular situation, or of changing the person who does a particular job

crop rotation/the rotation of crops (= changing the crop that is grown on an area of land in order to protect the soil)

job rotation (= the practice of regularly changing the job that a particular person does so that they become experienced in different areas)

Wheat, maize and sugar beet are planted in rotation . The committee is chaired by all the members in rotation . ro ta tion al / BrE rtenl ; NAmE rotenl / adjective [ only before noun ] The event is held on a rotational basis in each of the participating countries.


pot ter verb, noun BrE / pt(r) / NAmE / ptr / verb verb forms word origin ( BrE )

( NAmE putt er )

[ intransitive ] + adv./prep. to do things or move without hurrying, especially when you are doing sth that you enjoy and that is not important

I spent the day pottering around the house. noun word origin a person who makes clay pots by hand



weaver BrE / wiv(r) / NAmE / wivr / noun a person whose job is weaving cloth



car pen ter BrE / kpnt(r) / NAmE / krpntr / noun word origin example bank a person whose job is making and repairing wooden objects and structures

compare joiner Oxford University Press, 2010


join er BrE / dn(r) / NAmE / dnr / noun word origin 1 ( BrE ) a person whose job is to make the wooden parts of a building, especially window frames, doors, etc.

compare carpenter 2 a person who joins an organization, club, etc

All joiners will receive a welcome pack. Oxford University Press, 2010


black smith BrE / blksm / NAmE / blksm / ( also smith )

noun a person whose job is to make and repair things made of iron, especially horseshoes compare farrier Oxford University Press, 2010


mill er BrE / ml(r) / NAmE / mlr / noun a person who owns or works in a mill for making flour



trade noun, verb BrE / tred / NAmE / tred / noun word origin collocations collocations synonyms example bank 1 [ uncountable ] the activity of buying and selling or of exchanging goods or services between people or countries

international/foreign trade Trade between the two countries has increased. the international trade in oil the arms/drugs, etc. trade see also balance of trade , fair-trade , free trade 2 [ countable ] a particular type of business

the building/food/tourist, etc. trade He works in the retail trade (= selling goods in shops/stores) . see also rag trade

3 the trade [ singular + singular or plural verb ] a particular area of business and the people or companies that are connected with it

They offer discounts to the trade (= to people who are working in the same business) . a trade magazine/journal Their company is respected and well known in the trade. see also stock-in-trade 4 [ uncountable , countable ] the amount of goods or services that you sell

business Trade was very good last month. 5 [ uncountable , countable ] a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and that requires special training and skills

He was a carpenter by trade . When she leaves school, she wants to learn a trade. She was surrounded by the tools of her trade (= everything she needs to do her job) . see a jack of all trades at jack n. , ply for hire/trade/business ply your trade at ply v. , do a roaring trade (in sth) at roaring , the tricks of the trade at trick n. verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 [ intransitive , transitive ] to buy and sell things

~ (in sth) (with sb) The firm openly traded in arms. Early explorers traded directly with the Indians. trading partners (= countries that you trade with)

~ sth (with sb) Our products are now traded worldwide. 2 [ intransitive ] to exist and operate as a business or company

The firm has now ceased trading. ~ as sb/sth They traded as Walker and Son. 3 [ intransitive , transitive ] ~ (sth) to be bought and sold, or to buy and sell sth, on a stock exchange Shares were trading at under half their usual value. 4 [ transitive ] to exchange sth that you have for sth that sb else has

~ (sb) sth to trade secrets/insults/jokes ~ sth for sth She traded her posters for his CD. ~ sth with sb I wouldn't mind trading places with her for a day. trade at sth ( US ) to buy goods or shop at a particular store

trade down to spend less money on things than you used to

Shoppers are trading down and looking for bargains. trade sth in to give sth used as part of the payment for sth new

He traded in his old car for a new Mercedes. related noun trade-in trade sth off (against/for sth) to balance two things or situations that are opposed to each other

They were attempting to trade off inflation against unemployment. related noun trade-off trade on sth ( disapproving ) to use sth to your own advantage, especially in an unfair way

exploit They trade on people's insecurity to sell them insurance. trade up 1 to sell sth in order to buy sth more expensive

We're going to trade up to a larger house. 2 to give sth you have used as part of the payment for sth more expensive



pol yg amy BrE / plmi / NAmE / plmi / noun word origin [ uncountable ] ( technical )

the custom of having more than one wife at the same time

compare polyandry pol yg am ist / BrE plmst ; NAmE plmst / noun pol yg am ous / BrE plms ; NAmE plms / adjective a polygamous marriage/society Oxford University Press, 2010


des pot ism BrE / desptzm / NAmE / desptzm / noun word origin [ uncountable ] the rule of a despot Oxford University Press, 2010


des pot BrE / despt / NAmE / despt / noun word origin example bank a ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way

an enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his/her power in a good way)

des pot ic / BrE dsptk ; NAmE dsptk / adjective despotic power/rule Oxford University Press, 2010


cap ital noun, adjective BrE / kptl / NAmE / kptl / noun word origin example bank

city

1 ( also capital city ) [ countable ] the most important town or city of a country, usually where the central government operates from

Cairo is the capital of Egypt. Troops are stationed in and around the capital. a tour of six European capital cities ( figurative ) Paris, the fashion capital of the world

money

2 [ singular ] a large amount of money that is invested or is used to start a business

to set up a business with a starting capital of 100000 3 [ uncountable ] wealth or property that is owned by a business or a person

capital assets capital expenditure (= money that an organization spends on buildings, equipment, etc.)

4 [ uncountable ] ( technical ) people who use their money to start businesses, considered as a group

capital and labour

letter

5 ( also capital letter ) [ countable ] a letter of the form and size that is used at the beginning of a sentence or a name (= A,B,C rather than a,b,c)

Use block capitals (= separate capital letters) . Please write in capitals/in capital letters .

architecture

6 the top part of a column

make capital (out) of sth to use a situation for your own advantage

The opposition parties are making political capital out of the government's problems. adjective word origin

punishment

1 [ only before noun ] involving punishment by death

a capital offence

letter

2 [ only before noun ] ( of letters of the alphabet ) having the form and size used at the beginning of a sentence or a name

English is written with a capital E. compare lower case

excellent

3 ( old-fashioned , BrE ) excellent

with a capital A, B, etc. used to emphasize that a word has a stronger meaning than usual in a particular situation

He was romantic with a capital R. Oxford University Press, 2010


in fra struc ture BrE / nfrstrkt(r) / NAmE / nfrstrktr / noun word origin [ countable , uncountable ] the basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or an organization to run smoothly, for example buildings, transport and water and power supplies

in fra struc tural / BrE nfrstrktrl ; NAmE nfrstrktrl / adjective [ usually before noun ] infrastructural development Oxford University Press, 2010


cer am ic BrE / srmk / NAmE / srmk / noun word origin 1 [ countable , usually plural ] a pot or other object made of clay that has been made permanently hard by heat

an exhibition of ceramics by Picasso 2 ceramics [ uncountable ] the art of making and decorating ceramics

cer am ic adjective ceramic tiles Oxford University Press, 2010


lapis laz uli BrE / lps lzjli / NAmE / lps lzli / noun word origin [ uncountable ] a bright blue stone, used in making jewellery



ob sid ian BrE / bsdin / NAmE / bsdin / noun word origin [ uncountable ] a type of dark rock that looks like glass and comes from volcanoes Oxford University Press, 2010


bas-relief BrE / bs rlif / NAmE / bs rlif / noun word origin [ uncountable , countable ] a form of sculpture in which the shapes are cut so that they are slightly raised from the background; a sculpture made in this way



met al work BrE / metlwk / NAmE / metlwrk / noun [ uncountable ] 1 the activity of making objects out of metal; objects that are made out of metal

a class in metalwork a piece of ornamental metalwork 2 the metal parts of sth

cracks in the metalwork met al work er / BrE metlwk(r) ; NAmE metlwrkr / noun Oxford University Press, 2010

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