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which a match is divided, e.g. in tennis, BRIDGE etc 3 [U] wild animals, birds, and fish which are hunted or fished for food, especially as a sport: *Pheasants and partridges are game birds. | A strong red wine goes well with game.* → see also BIG GAME 4 [C] *infml* a profession or activity, especially one in which people compete against each other: *the advertising game | Can you help me plan the meeting — I'm new to this game.* 5 [C] *infml* a trick or secret plan: *What's your little game, then? | Don't play games with me — just tell me what you want. | I'll tell you what we're planning for Jane's birthday, as long as you promise not to give the game away.* (=tell Jane about it) 6 **make game of** *old-fash* to laugh at or make fun of 7 **on the game** *slang, BrE* in the business of being a PROSTITUTE 8 **the game's up** your/our trick or plan has been found out and can succeed no further → see also GAMES, FAIR GAME, MUG'S GAME, WAR GAME, the name of the game (NAME¹), play the game (PLAY²), two can play at that game (TWO); see RECREATION (USAGE)
**game²** *adj* 1 brave, determined, and ready for action: *The little boy was hurt by the fall, but he was game enough to get up and try again.* 2 [F(for)] willing: *'Who's game for a swim?' 'I'm game!'* | [+ to-v] *I'm game to try.* **—ly** *adv*
**game³** *v* [I] *fml* to GAMBLE at cards and other games of chance: *She spends every evening at the gaming tables.*
**game⁴** *adj* [A] *old-fash* for GAMMY
**'Game Boy** *trademark* a type of small machine for playing computer games, which can be held in the hand. Game Boy is made by the NINTENDO company and is popular especially with children.
**game-cock** /'geimkɒk||-kɑ:k/ *n* a male chicken specially trained to fight others
**game-keep-er** /'geim,ki:pəʳ/ *n* a person employed to raise and protect GAME especially birds, on private land
**gam-e-lan** /'gæməlæn/ *n* [U] a type of traditional Indonesian music from the islands of Java and Bali. a gamelan ORCHESTRA includes drums, FLUTES, and instruments similar to the XYLOPHONE.
**'game park** also **game reserve** *n* a large area of country which is set aside for wild animals to live in, especially in Africa
**game-plan** /'geimplæn/ *n* a plan for gaining success by a number of steps, used especially in business or sports; TACTICS: *The businessman eventually forced the board to agree to his gameplan.*
**game-play** /'geimpleı/ *n* [U] the way that a computer game is designed and the skills that you need to play it: *This is packed with brilliant graphics and gameplay.*
**'game point** *n* [C;U] the situation in games such as tennis in which one player will win the game if he or she wins the next point → compare MATCH POINT
**gam-er** /'geiməʳ/ *n infml* 1 someone who plays computer games 2 *AmE* a person who is very good at a sport and helps their team to win games
**'game re,serve** *n* a GAME PARK
**games** /geimz/ *n pl.* **games 1** [P;U] *BrE* (the playing of) team games and other forms of physical exercise out of doors at school: *We have games on Wednesday afternoons.* 2 [the+C+sing./pl. v] (often cap. in names) a particular set of sports competitions: *The 1984 (Olympic) Games were/was held in Los Angeles. | the Commonwealth Games* → see also FUN AND GAMES
**'game show** *n* a television programme in which competitors, usually members of the public, play games for prizes. Game shows are usually funny and noisy rather than serious or meaningful, and valuable prizes e.g. cars, or large amounts of money can be won.
**games-man-ship** /'geimzmənʃıp/ *n* [U] *often derog* the art of winning by using the rules to one's own advantage without actually cheating
**gam-ey** /'geımi/ *adj* GAMY
**gam-ma** /'gæmə/ *n* the third letter (Γ, γ) of the Greek alphabet
**gamma glob-u-lin** /,gæmə 'glɒbjʊlın||-'glɑ:-/ *n* [U] a natural substance found in the body, a form of ANTIBODY which gives protection against certain diseases
**'gamma ray** *n* [usually pl.] a beam of light of short wavelength, which goes through solid objects
**gam-mon** /'gæmən/ *n* [U] *especially BrE* the meat, preserved by salt or smoke, from the back part and leg of a pig: *gammon steaks* → compare BACON, HAM
**gam-my** /'gæmi/ *also* **game** *old-fash — adj infml, especially BrE* (especially of a human leg) injured or painful
**gam-ut** /'gæmət/ *n* [the] **S (of)** the complete range of a subject, including the smallest details and the most general ideas: *He's run the whole gamut of (=experienced all of) human experience.*
**gam-y, gamey** /'geımi/ *adj* (of meat) having the strong taste of GAME which has been hung up for some time before being cooked → compare HIGH¹ **—iness** *n* [U]
**Gan-dalf** /'gændælf||'gɑ:ndɑ:lf/ one of the main characters in the book THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien. He is a WIZARD.
**gan-der** /'gændəʳ/ *n* 1 [C] a male GOOSE 2 [S(at)] *infml* a look: *'Come and take a gander at this!' he said, with his eye to the keyhole.*
**Gan-dhi, In-di-ra** /'gændi||'gɑ:n-, 'ındıərə/ (1917–84) an Indian politician who was Prime Minister of India from 1966–77 and from 1980–84. She was the daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal NEHRU, and her son Rajiv Gandhi also became Prime Minister, but she was not related to Mahatma Gandhi. She was ASSASSINATED by one of her BODYGUARDS in 1984.
**Gandhi, Ma-hat-ma** /mə'hætmə||-'hɑ:t-/ (1869–1948) an Indian lawyer and politician who successfully led the fight for India's independence from the British. Gandhi is famous especially for developing the idea of non-violent protest, and his methods have been copied in many other places. Gandhi wore very simple HOMESPUN clothes, including a LOINCLOTH, to support the Indian way of life. His real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but he was given the name 'Mahatma' (meaning 'great soul') by his followers. He was ASSASSINATED soon after India gained independence.
**Gandhi, Ra-jiv** /ræ'dʒi:v/ (1944–91) the son of Indira Gandhi, who was elected Prime Minister of India after his mother was killed in 1984 and remained in power until 1989. He was ASSASSINATED in 1991 while campaigning (CAMPAIGN) in the Indian elections.
**G & T** /,dʒi: ən 'ti:/ *n* [C; U] gin and tonic; a popular alcoholic drink served with ice and a thin piece of LEMON (1)
**gang¹** /gæŋ/ *n* [C+sing./pl. v] **1 a)** a group of criminals: *The gang was/were planning a robbery. | the leader of the James Gang* **b)** a group of young people who cause trouble and/or fill other people with fear: *They were attacked by a Chicago girl gang. | a gang fight* **2** a group of friends, especially TEENAGERS: *Have you seen any of the/our gang lately?* **3** a group of people working together, such as prisoners or building workers → see also CHAIN GANG
**gang²** *v*
**gang up** *phr v* [I(on, against)] *derog* to work together as a close group (against someone); CONSPIRE: *She feels that everyone is ganging up on her.*
**'gang-,bang** *n slang* an occasion on which several different men have sex with the same woman, especially against her wishes **—gang-bang** *v* [I;T]
**gang-er** /'gæŋəʳ/ *n BrE* the FOREMAN (=leader) of a group of workers, especially building workers
**Gan-ges, the** /'gændʒi:z/ a long river which flows through northern India and provides water for the fields in India and Bangladesh. To the Hindus the Ganges is a holy river, and many Hindus go to the river as PILGRIMS and wash themselves in it. **—Gangetic** /gæn'dʒetık/ *adj:* *the Gangetic plain*
**gang-land** /'gæŋlænd, -lənd/ *n* [U] the world of professional and especially violent crime: *gangland killings*
**gang-ling** /'gæŋlıŋ/ *adj* (especially of a boy) unusually tall and thin, so as to appear awkward in movement
**gan-gli-on** /'gæŋliən/ *n* **med 1** a mass of nerve cells **2** a (painful) swelling containing liquid, often on the back of the wrist
**Gang of 'Four, the** a group of four Chinese Communist politicians, including Jiang Qing, who were leading supporters of the CULTURAL REVOLUTION in China in the late 1960s