1153
something as a means of help: The company hopes to solve
this problem without recourse to (=without making use of)
further borrowing. → compare RESORT
re-cov-er /rɪ:kʌvər/ v [T] to put a new cover on: They
re-covered all the chairs in purple silk.
re-cov-er /rɪˈkʌvər/ v 1 [T] to get back or bring back
(especially something lost or taken away): The police recov-
ered the stolen jewellery. | She recovered consciousness soon
after the accident. | The company hopes to recover the cost of
developing this product within about two years. | They are still
trying to recover bodies from the wrecked building. (=find
them and get them out) 2 [I(from)] to return to the proper
state of health, strength, ability etc: He is very ill and
unlikely to recover. | recovering from a bad cold | (fig.)
The country had not yet recovered from the effects of the war. 3 [T]
fml to get (oneself or one's senses, powers etc) back into a
proper or favourable state or position: He almost fell, but
managed to recover himself. | She soon recovered herself/her
control and went on with her lecture. → -able adj
re-cov-er-y /rɪˈkʌvəri/ n 1 [U] the getting back of some-
thing: the recovery of the stolen jewels 2 [S(from)] a return to
good health, a strong condition etc: She made a quick/
speedy recovery from her illness and was soon back at work. |
Will the government's policies lead to an economic recovery?
re'covery, program n AmE a programme that helps people
with difficult problems of ADDICTION (=being unable to stop
doing or using something harmful e.g. drugs, alcohol etc).
Recovery programmes, also called 12-step programs, are
very common in the US. Many of the programmes are free
and are operated by the people who take part in them.
rec-re-ant /'rekriənt/ n old use a cowardly and disloyal
person
re-create /ˌriːkrieɪt/ v [T] 1 to make a copy of: a Spanish
bar which tries to recreate the atmosphere of a typical English
pub 2 to cause to be seen, heard, or experienced again,
especially in the mind: to recreate the past in one's imagina-
tion
rec-re-a-tion /ˌrekrieɪʃn/ n [C;U] (a form of) amusement
and enjoyment; way of spending free time: His only recrea-
tions are drinking beer and working in the garden. | a recrea-
tion programme for senior citizens —al adj: recreational
activities/facilities
Recreation [U] is a general word for what people do in their spare time for amusement and enjoyment. A recreation [C] (fml) is any particular activity which is done for amusement. Forms of recreation include sport, which needs physical effort and is usually played according to rules: I'm not interested in sport. | My favourite sports are tennis and football. A game is either an example of a sport, or an activity in which people compete with each other using their brains: Let's have a game of tennis/cards. An important public game is a match: Have you got a ticket for the football match on Saturday? A hobby is a form of recreation which people do on their own, not in order to compete: Her hobbies are gardening, stamp-collecting, and playing the piano.
recreational, vehicle
abbrev. RV — n AmE a motor vehicle made especially for
recreation, such as camping or travelling with a family.
Many states require special LICENSE PLATES for such
vehicles, which usually carry the letters RV.
ecre'ation ground BrE || playground AmE — n a
piece of public land set aside for games: The children were
playing football on the recreation ground.
ecre'ation room n 1 a public room, for example in a
hospital, used for social activities 2 AmE also rec room infml a
room in a house used for playing games in
e-crim-i-nate /rɪkrɪmɪneɪt/ v [(against)] fml to make a
charge of lying, dishonesty, or other bad behaviour against a
person who has already made a charge against oneself
—natory /nəˈtːrɪtəri/ adj
re-crim-i-na-tion /rɪˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/ n [C; usually pl; U (against)]
(an act of) quarrelling and blaming one another: Let's make
friends, instead of wasting our time on recrimination(s)
(against each other). | The negotiations broke down in an
atmosphere of recrimination.
rec room /'rek ru:m, -rʊm/ n AmE infml for RECREATION ROOM
re-cru-des-cence /rɪˌkruːdɪˈsəns/ n [+of] fml a sudden
fresh reappearance, especially of something unpleasant: a
recrudescence of urban violence
re-cruit¹ /rɪˈkrut/ n 1 someone who has just joined one of
the armed forces, especially without being forced to, and is
still being trained: a squad of raw (=completely untrained)
recruits 2 [to()] a new member of an organization: New
recruits to our music club are always welcome.
recruit² v 1 [T] to find in order to employ; get the services
of: We are having difficulties in recruiting well-qualified
staff. | Most of the teachers there are recruited from
abroad. 2 [I;T] a) to get (recruits) for the armed forces b)
to form (an army etc) by doing this: The King recruited an
army. → compare CONSCRIPT 3 [T] to attract and obtain
(someone) as a new member: to recruit new members to the
party/the club | a recruiting drive 4 [I;T] old use or fml to regain
(one's health, strength etc) e.g. by rest and good food
→ —ment n [U]
re'cruitment, agency n a business that makes its money
by finding suitable people for employers who need new
workers, especially WHITE-COLLAR workers
rec-tal /'rektəl/ adj med of the RECTUM → —ly adv
rec-tan-gle /'rektæŋgəl/ n a flat shape with four straight
sides forming four RIGHT ANGLES → compare SQUARE
rec-tan-gu-lar /rekˈtægjʊlər/ adj tech in the shape of a
rectangle
rec-ti-fi-er /'rektɪfaɪər/ n 1 someone or something that
rectifies (RECTIFY) 2 tech an instrument that rectifies (RECTIFY)
rec-ti-fy /'rektɪfaɪ/ v [T] 1 fml to put right: Please rectify the
mistakes in my bill. 2 tech to make pure: rectified alco-
hol 3 tech to change (an ALTERNATING CURRENT or flow of
electricity backwards and forwards along a wire) so that it
flows only one way (DIRECT CURRENT) → —fiable adj
—fication /ˌrektɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ n [C;U]
rec-ti-lin-e-ar /ˌrektɪˈlɪnɪər/ adj fml or tech forming or mov-
ing in a straight line; having or made of straight lines
rec-ti-tude /'rektɪtju:d|tju:d/ n [U] fml honesty of charac-
ter; moral correctness
rec-to /'rektəʊ/ adj, n pl. -tos [A;C] tech (being) a right-hand
page of a book: written on the recto (side) → compare VERSO
rec-tor /'rektər/ n 1 (in the Church of England and the
Episcopal church) a priest in charge of an area (PARISH) from
which he receives his income directly → compare
VICAR 2 the head of certain colleges and schools, especially
in Scotland
rec-to-ry /'rektəri/ n the house where a RECTOR lives or used
to live
rec-tum /'rektəm/ n med the lowest end of the bowels (the
LARGE INTESTINE) through which solid food waste passes from
the COLON to the ANUS → see also RECTAL and see picture at
DIGESTIVE
re-cum-bent /rɪˈkʌmbənt/ adj fml lying down on the back or
side: a recumbent statue/posture
re-cu-pe-rate /rɪˈkju:pəreɪt, -'ku:-/ v [I;T] to get well again
after illness or difficulty; get back (one's health, strength
etc): He went to the mountains to recuperate (his strength). |
(fig.) to recuperate one's financial losses → —ration
/rɪˌkju:pəˈreɪʃn, -,ku:-/ n [U]
re-cu-pe-ra-tive /rɪˈkju:pərətɪv, -'ku:-||pəreɪtɪv/
adj helping
one to recuperate: a recuperative holiday
re-cur /rɪˈkɜ:r/ v -rr- [I] 1 (especially of something unpleas-
ant or unwelcome) to happen or appear again, or more than
once; return: If the pain recurs, take these tablets. | The
memory of the accident often recurs to me. (=returns to my
mind) | a recurring dream/problem 2 tech (of a DECIMAL) to
be repeated for ever in the same order: In 5.1515... the figures
15 recur, and the number can be read '.15 recurring'.