Table Of ContentCOLLINS
COBUILD
COLLINSBirmingham University International Language Database
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
DICTIONARY
COLLINS
COBUILD
(Ill.l.INSBirmingham'mu-i'sitvInternationall.antruauvItatabaM'
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
DICTIONARY
THE UNIVERSITY
COLLINS
OF BIRMINGHAM
PUBLISHERS
COBUILD
is the Coilins Birmingham University
International Language Database
This dictionary was developed and
compiled in the English Department
at the University of Birmingham as
part ofa language research project
commissioned by Collins Publishers
COLLINS
COBUILD
COLLINSBirminghamUniversityInternationalLanguageDatabase
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
DICTIONARY
Collins
London and Glasgow
HarperCollins Publishers
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London W6 8JB
COBUILD is a trademark ofWilliam Collins Sons & Co Ltd
© William Collins Sons & Co Ltd 1987
First Published 1987
Reprinted 1988 (twice), 1989, 1990 (twice), 1991, 1992
10 9 8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior permission in writing ofthe Publisher
ISBN 00 370023 2
Computer Typeset by C R Barber & Partners, Wrotham, England
Printed in England by Clays Ltd, St Ives pie
C1P- Kurztitelaufnahmeder Deutschen Bibliothek
CollinsCOBUILD English languagedictionary
[developedand comp. in the Engl. Dep. at the
Univ. of Birmingham]. Ed. in chiefJohn Sinclair
London; Glasgow Collins;Stuttgart Klett 1987
: :
ISBN 3-12-517910-6 (Klett)
ISBN 0-00-370023-2 (Collins) Pb.
ISBN 0-00-375021-3 (Collins) cased ed.
NE: Sinclair, John[Hrsg
]
ISA B^mixmm <i987»
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V.fift w kbK#J& 4 - 12 - 7
IftKAMI I-J: <. *Wr'JI'H. tcft. ft*!'. 1 I r.
NOTE Entered words that we have reason to believe constitute trademarks have been
designated as such. However, neither the presence nor absence of such designation
shouldbe regardedasaffectingthe legalstatusofany trademark.
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR IN CHIEF
John Sinclair
MANAGING EDITOR
Patrick Hanks
EDITORS
Gwyneth Fox
.
Rosamund Moon
Penny Stock
SENIOR COMPILERS SENIOR COMPUTINGOFFICER
Andrew Delahunty Jeremy Clear
Sheila Dignen
Ramesh Krishnamurthy COMPUTINGOFFICER
Elaine Pollard Eileen Fitzgerald
COMPILERS
Stephen Bullon CLERICALSTAFF
Deborah Kirby Lynne Farrow
Helen Liebeck JaniceJohnson
Elizabeth Manning Brenda Nicholls
John Todd Pat Smith
COLLINS PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
Richard Thomas
Foreword
TheProjectTeam the support of the Head of the Department throughout,
The final project team is set out above. Several other Professor J T Boulton. In various ways every one of the
colleagues madea notablecontribution in the earlyyears, staffhelpedandencouragedthe workandoneortwomust
andcontinued to providesupport throughout the lifeofthe be singled out for specific contributions. Dr David Brazil
project. Antoinette Renouf, the original Project devised the system of recording pronunciations, and
Co-ordinator led the team from 1980-83andestablished the transcribed mostofthem.Tim Laneensuredtheirtransfer
text corpus and maintained and developed corpus work. to electronic form and gave support on thecomputational
Dr Michael Hoey gave a great deal of help in side. Tim Johns encouraged the use of real examples and
administration and policyguidance in theearly periodand made experimental classes available. Chris Kennedy,
continued with strong academic guidance. From Collins, Tony Dudley-Evans, Dr Mike McCarthy, Charles Owen,
Beryl TAtkins playeda formative role in thedesign ofthe Phillip King, Dr Kirsten Malmkjaer and Martin Hewings
project and in the general training; continuing in her all read drafts, picked holes in them and offered many
capacity as General Editor she commented on draft suggestionsforimprovement.
dictionarytextsthroughout. Many colleagues in the University of Birmingham
Some members of the team moved on before the work contributed notably to the project. Three Pro-Vice
was completed. Wendy Morris and Clive Upton were two Chancellors in turn guided the project through various
of the original editors. Nigel Turton, Martin Manser, committees; Professor Harry Prime, ProfessorJohn Fage
Dieter Wachendorff, Judy Amanthis, Duncan Marshall, and Professor John Samuels. The Centre for Computing
Emily Driver, Kathy Kavanagh and Michael Rundell were and Computer Sciences was deeply involved throughout
compilers for substantial periods. Ian Sedwell helped with andeasedproblemsin thecomplex finalediting.
tEhveancsomapnudtiSnuge.SHmeiatthhweerrCehsaemcprieotanr,ieLso.rraine Dove, Cheryl memIbeworusldofCaollsloinsliskteafftwohothhaanvke htehelpepdasitn thaendpropjercets.ent
whiTlheenportojercetguhlaasralmsoembebneerfsiteodfgrtehaetlytefarmo,m paecotpeldewinho,a comTehissfdricotmiohnuarnydriesdbsasoefddooncuemveindtensceanadndcotnhveeresvaitdieonncse,
consultative capacity or provided a specialist service. In kindly made available by the copyright holders. A full list
bpaertmiecnutliaorneMda,rcCealthLyeEmmmmeontst,,gwrhaomhmealrpedconwsiutlhtatnhte,Emxutsrta ispSruocvhidaedfuonndpaamgeentxaxlii.re-appraisal ofa language requires
Column,andalso Ela Bullon, Helmut HirschmUller, Debbie a high degree of teamwork and large-scale co-ordination
Krishnamurthy,ClareRamsey,andLouiseRavelli. of resources. The success of this book and other books to
come will owe a great deal to the people and groups
AckInwoowulleddlgiekmeetnottshank many other people'whose names cmoennttriibounteidonasb.ove, and I am verygrateful tothem fortheir
do not appear on the team credits but who made a
significant contribution to the compilation of the
dictionary. John MSinclair
This project was part of the work of the English ProfessorofModern EnglishLanguage
Department and its successful completion owes much to EditorinChief
Guide to the Use of the Dictionary
Thisdictionaryiswritteninordinary,everydayEnglish.There initials called an acronym (salt and SALT), or a contracted
are only a few special symbols to understand and they are form (shed and she'd). In these cases the word is explained
explained below. We also explain how to find things ina long first in all its uses and the abbreviations, acronyms and
entry. Asfaraspossible each entry followsthesamepattern. contractions are explained in separate entries immediately
Forinstance, ifyouarelookingfora noteon thespelling,you afterwards.
will always find it near the beginning ofthe entry, but ifyou am
think you want to know about a phrasal verb you should look Am.
neartheendoftheentry. a.m.
In the section that follows, on page xv, there is a short amalgam
explanation of how this dictionary was designed and made, ,
why it is new and different, and how you can make the best 2.4 Special entries, each in a box also appear at their
useofit. correctplaceinalphabeticalorder.Someoftheseexplain the
Theexplanationsgivenherereferonlytothemain textofthe abbreviationsused in theextracolumn.Othersshowtheways
dictionary. By the side ofthe main text you will findan extra in which you can express some important concepts such as
column of notes about the structures and meanings. To save age, measurement, number and time in English. For the full
space these notes are abbreviated and there is a key to the listofthesespecialentries,seepagexiii.
abbreviationsonpagexiii.
1 Entries 3 Pronunciation
1.1 Anentryinthisdictionarybeginswithawordorgroupof 3.1 The pronunciation is normally given only for the first
words in large bold lettersstartingat the left-most sideofthe form of the word at each entry and is placed immediately
column. afterthatform.
agriculture ... is the practice of farming cabin /kaebm/,cabins ...
alonodktahfetermectrhoopsdsantdhaatniamraelsu.sed to raise and 3e.x2amHpolweevwehre,nifitthiseuwsoerddaissparonnoouunnacnedd iwnhdeinffeitreinstuwsaeyds,asfoar
1.2 The main factor in deciding whether or not to include a verb,thesevariationsareexplainedafteralltheforms.
wordasan entry in this dictionary was how often it occurred record, records, recording, recorded.
coiinutt,ioeusfroarnleadxrgpaeemoppclloeer,pvuaesnrdyofsteotcemxhetnsi.rcaaHrloewwfoeorvrdeesri,g,ntshweoormndeasm.weosrdosfcwoeunrterileesf,t Tnohuenviserpbronisoupnrcoendou/rnecker>d:d//.ri'koid/and the
3.3 Pronunciation is not given for the special entries in
2 OrderofEntries bEongxleiss,h,foorrfoarbbernetvriiaestitohnastctohnastistarofetwroaroerlymourseedwoirndsswphookseen
2.1 All entriesare printed in strictalphabetical order, taking pronunciationisgivenateachoftheseparatewords.
nboetnwoeteincewoorfdsc.apital letters, hyphens, apostrophes or spaces 3.4 The system used for pronunciation is described on page
xii.
aid
aide
aide-de-camp
AIDS 4 FormsandSpellings
ail 4.1 The spelling foreach form ofa word in thedictionary is
aileron given inlargeboldlettersatthebeginningofeachentry.
ailing
ailment 4.2 The following forms are usually given, if they are
aim commonlyused:
aimless 4.2.1 -fornouns,thepluralform.
ain't
aerosol aerosols
air ...
bathingcap,bathingcaps
airbase ...
airbed 4.2.2 - for qualitative adjectives, the comparative and
2.2 Sometimes a word can be used either alone or followed superlativeforms.
by another word, and the addition ofthe extra word does not happy ...happier,happiest ...
cthhaenmgeintahlephambeeatniicnagl.orIdfert,hetrheeawroerdnoanodthtehrecenotmrbiiensatbieotnweaerne Where no comparative or superlative forms are given for
explainedinthesameentry qualitativeadjectivestheyareformedwith'more'and'most'.
Wtbeoololkteisenpagrtyeoonulorn.fg..eertWuebdlbrlye.irnbgotootnsswhorichWeyloluinwgetaorn -4(s.t2hf.e3or--mef)do,rftvoherermb)sp,,reatsnhedenttthhpieardrptapiscetirpsploaenrt(fitcohierpml-eionfgiftfhitoerimps)rn,eosttehntetheptaessntasemtee(ntsahese
thepasttense.
2t.h3e sAlalmetheenutsrey.s oHfowaewveorr,d asroemeutsiuamlelsy gthievensatmoegetlheettrerwsitchainn place ...places,placing,placed
form both a word and an abbreviation (no and No.), a set of take takes,taking, took,taken
vii
GuidetotheUseoftheDictionary
4.3 If a word can be used as a noun with a plural and as a becalmed ... Ifasailingshipisbecalmed, it
verb, and the third person form of the present tense of the isunabletomovebecausethereisnowind.
ovnelrybgiisvtehneosnacem.easthe plural form ofthe noun,the-sform is brave ... 1 Someone who is brave shows in
their behaviour that they have the courage
alarm ...alarms,alarming,alarmed... to do something even though it is
4.4 If there are any special features about the use of the frightening,dangerousordifficult.
forms, forexample ifaparticularformorsetofformsisused 6.2 In the explanation, the entry word is printed in bold
only when a word is used with one particular meaning, these letters. This is done whether it is the first word of the
featuresareexplainedaftertheforms. explanationorwhetheritappearslateron.
hang ... The forms hang, hangs, hanging, acumen ... is the ability to make good
hung are used for the verb except in judgements and decisions in relation to a
paragraph 6 where the forms are hang, particularactivity,especiallybusiness.
hangs,hanging,hanged... bareback ... Ifyou ridebarebackyouridea
4.5 One of the forms of a word may also be explained in a horsewithoutasaddle.
smeepaanriantgeienntsroymeifotfheitsfousrems.is very common or hasa different 6f.o3undAafntoetrethaeboeuxtpltahneatiwoany. in which a word is used may be
begin begins, beginning, began,
begun...1..Ifyoubegintodo... aguisvpeiscihooupse...ofSosmuectcheisnsgotrhatevisidaeunscpeicitohuast
beginning ... beginnings. 1 Thebeginning successislikely;afairlyformalword.
ofanevent... 6.4 If a word has several senses as a noun, verb, etc, in a
particularpatternofuse,thefirstpartoftheexplanationisnot
repeated.
5 Entrynotes cistern ... A cistern is 1 a container which
5p.r1onuEnnctiratyionno,teosrmafatyerbalelgtihevefnoramfst.er the first form, after the 2hwoaaltdelsarrtighseesttwaoarnteked.rintthhaetrisooufseodfatohfoluussehaintwoihlietch..
5.2 Anentrynotemayshowdifferentspellingsoftheword. nod ... 1 Ifyou nod, 1.1 you move your head
polarize ... polarizes, polarizing, quickly upand down several times toshow
polarized;alsospelledpolarise... that you are answering 'yes' to a question,
vAampeoruirca.n.. Evnagploisuhrs..;. also spelled vapor in aoirnpdpirtcooavtaselhos..ow.m1e.at2ghryieoneugmebonertn,dtoyuongudirevrehsetsaaonddmieonnogcn,eeotaro
baby-sitter, baby-sitters; also spelled signal todo something ... 1.3 you bend your
withoutahyphen... headoncewhenyoumeetorleavesomeone
5.3 Anentrynotemayexplainchangesinpronunciation. or when they leave you, asa way ofsaying
helloorgoodbye... 1.4you keeplettingyour
default /di'telt/, defaults, defaulting, head fall forward because you are falling
defaulted. The word default is also asleepwhilesittingdown...
pronounced/di:f:>:lt/inparagraph3.
5.4 An entry note may explain the particular form or forms 7 Ordering within an entry: paragraphs and
used fora particular meaningofthe wordsor when the word sub-paragraphs:
isusedinAmericanorBritishEnglish.
burst ... bursts, bursting. The form burst s7.o1metIfimaeswowridthhaesxaomnpllyeso,newicthoimnmoonneuspea,raitgriasphexpalnadinendo,
is used in the present tense and is the past numbersareused.
tenseandpastparticipleoftheverb...
anaesthesia ...; also spelled anesthesia, otshtarticchann...otAnflyo.stItrihcahsilsoanglalerggse,Aaflroincgannebcikr,d
especiallyinAmericanEnglish. asmallheadandlargesoftfeathers.
analogue ... analogues; also spelled 7.2 Ifa word hasseveral uses, the ordering within theentry
analog,especiallyforparagraph3. has been decided by consideration of several criteria,
5.5 Anentrynotemayrefertoalltheusesofaword. including frequency, independence of meaning, and
concreteness. For a fuller discussion of this point, see page
assemblage ... assemblages; a formal xix.
word. 1 An assemblage is ... 2 Assemblage
is... 7.3 Ifa word hasseveral uses, butall theusesareasa noun,
verb, etc, in a particular pattern, they are explained in one
paragraphandeachuseisintroducedbyawholenumber.
6 Explanationsofmeaningand use aepnpjloayumseent...oArppalpparuesceiaitsi1onanbyexparegsrsoiuopn ooff
6.1 The entry word is always explained by means of a peopleinwhichtheyallclaptheirhands...2
complete sentence. This normally means that the userofthe support or praise by a lot of people for
dictionaryisshownthewordinnaturalEnglish. somethingthathasbeendone...
appaprotiicnutlar...po1stIfoyrotuodaoppaoipnatrtiscoumlaeronjoeb,tyooua 7v.e4ryIdfitfhfeereunstesfrofomtheeacwhorodthaesr,aenaocuhn,usoermasaya vbeerbg,iveetnc,ianrae
dfoorimt.ally choose them for it or ask them to dsiefpfaerraetnecepsamraagyrbaephduienttorotdhuecfeodllboywinagwchhaonlgeesn.umber. These
viii
GuidetotheUseoftheDictionary
7.4.1-changesinmeaning: 9 Theuseof
clear ... 16 Ifyourskin isclear, it ishealthy 9.1 The symbol is used in this dictionary to introduce a
andfreefromspotsorrashes... slightchangeinthewayawordisused.Theparticularchange
17 If your conscience is clear, you do not involvedisexplainedimmediatelyafterthesymbol.
yf1e8oeulIfhguyaiovluet,ynyaoobuoaruptptoaiimnney,ttmhoeirnntgyso..u.orrdiary is clear, 9a.n2adIjteccatinveintthraotduucseuaallsylidgehstccrhiabensgepeionpmleeanmianyg.alFsoorbeexuasmepdlet,o
arrangements ... dmeasycrailbseotrheefierrbteohiatvsicoounrt,enotrs.a noun that referstoa container
joeinnd.o..f2itIsfoytohuatjoyionuaaqrueepuaer,tyoofuits.t..andatthe bsuhcakpeetd..l.i1keAabuccykleitndiesraacnodntawihniecrhwhhaischains
y3oIufyboeucojmoienaamcelumb,besorcioeftiytoorrsotragratniwzoartkioans, ouspeednftoorphoalnddinagahnadndlcea.rryBiuncgkewtastearr,eegofTtheen
anemployeeofit... hotelcleanerenteredcarryingabucketand
7.4.2-changesingrammar: a mop. Bucketisalsousedtorefertothe
amountofliquidwhichabucketcontains,eg
asfofmroenotne,... i1t Ifissoamedtehliinbgeraitseaninasuflftronotr tao nprceopuntth:einfto ...abucketofwarmwater.
challengetotheirprideordignity... 9.3 It can introduce a change in the grammar of the word
2 If you are affronted by something, you v+o:usupass thathaslittleornoeffectonitsmeaning.Forexample,aword
feel insulted and yourprideand dignityare that is most commonly used as a verb mayalso be used asa
hurt... nounreferringtotheactionthattheverbinvolves.
7.5 Sub-paragraphs, introduced by numbers with a decimal giggle ... If you giggle, you make quiet and
point, maybeused when therearemorethan twosensesofa repeated laughing noises, because you are
particularpattern. nervous or embarrassed, eg The absurd
d2mfroayrcDemhrrsiyne.o..efradlfraosyron.ddsrpyedlirlniegedrcdlroaitrehere.s.t1h1eA.2dacrohymaepirarrdirsayt1ei.r1v.ea hgnsieoogluugpnnll,deeds,selmgya.'d..aIetdahhnqeeuerrirtvoegoiwugngsfloer.gjg.ioo.gktgetl.ee'.nO.'h....Wdueseaegrdi,hg'gaaldssihnaaeg
goodgiggleaboutthat.
aspopmoeionntemetontdoa...pa1rtiTchuelarajpopboiisntthmeenacttoorf 9u.s4edTahseanchuancnoguentmanoyuni.nvolve a count noun that can also be
processofchoosingthemtodoit.
2 An appointment is 2.1 a job or position rope ... 1 A rope is a piece of very thick, ncount
usuallyone involvingsomeresponsibility ... strong string, usually made of several
2.2 someone who has been chosen for a strandsofhemp... egOneofthecharacters
particularjoborposition... in the playhangsherselfwitha rope...She
picked up the end of the rope, and pulled n
with all her might. used as an uncount uncount
noun,eg...apieceofrope.
8 Examples 9b.e5forTehaenocthhaenrgneoumnaaysifinitvowlevreetahneadfjreecqtuievne.t use of a noun
8a.p1peaArnienxaitmaplilces winitthhiinsadnicteinotnrayr.yTihseaegxraomuppleosf whoarvdesbteheant biamcpkogrtraonutnedven...t 2orTshietuatbiaocnkcgornosuisntds otfotahne
sgeerxlaaemmcmptaletdeiscsateloesptasrguhecotwuxvr.est.ypFiocrala fculolnetrexdtiss,cusscioolnloocfattihoensroleanodf pwfaahcryttsiictutlhhaaatrppheteinlmeped,toineetaxcpplaaerigtnic.uw.l.hatahretwaceyacuoosnreodamtiicta,
8.2 The firstexample in eachentry,or in each paragraph or background to the present political crisis...
sub-paragraph, isalways preceded by the letters EG in small used as an adjective, eg ...background
capitalletters. information.
waterhole ... A waterhole isa pond or pool
inadesertorotherdryareawhereanimals
can find watertodrink, egWecamped that
eveningbyawaterhole.
s8.e3nteTnhcees.eWxhaempnlethsisiwsiltlhencoatse,altwhaeyysarecoinsnitsrtoduocfedcboymptlherteee 10 Theuseof
dots. 10.1 Derived wordscan appearwithinanentryinsmallbold
wweobvbeinngin s..t.riipss satnrdonugsedmattoermiaalkewhbeilcths oirs lfertotmersthaefteenrttrhyewsoyrmdbobly0t.heThaeddyitairoenwoofradssuwffhiixc,hacacroerdfionrgmetdo
ss.tp.rr.aicpnasgn,sv,asorewgebub.s.ie.nAdg.bienltseoaftsgrteoensuwpepbobritng.t.h.e iwrnuolrtedhsistohrwatatyoaptaphrleeypuvaserurtayilclguyelnavreerramylelasyinmiiinnlgaErnogiflnitsmhh.eeaTennhitenrgywotwroodrtsdhefioenrnmtterhdye
paragraphorsub-paragraph in whichtheyareplaced. Insuch
8.4 Three dots are placed after an example to separate it cases,thereisnoseparateentryforthederivedword.
fromanexamplethatfollows. * touchy ... 1 A touchy person iseasilyupset,
8.5 Mostoftheexamplesin thisdictionaryaregivenexactly offended or irritated, eg He always was a
as they are found in our corpus, or with very minor changes touchyandquick-temperedman...Theyare
which have been made in order to remove unnecessary touchy about criticism. touchiness, eg
distractinginformation. Shewasamusedbyhistouchiness.
ix
