athleticism
70
ath·let·i·cism /æθˈletɪsɪzəm, əθ-/ n [U] the ability to play
sports or do physical activities well
ath·let·ics /æθˈletɪks, əθ-/ BrE || track and field AmE — n
[U] the practice of physical exercises and of sports demand-
ing strength and speed, such as running and jumping: an
athletics club/meeting
ath'letic sup,porter n AmE fml for JOCKSTRAP
a·thwart /əˈθwːt||-ɔːrt/ prep rare across, especially in a
sloping direction
a·tish·oo /əˈtɪʃuː/ interj the word used to represent the sound
of a SNEEZE
At·kins Di·et, the /ˈætkɪnz ˌdaɪət/ also Atkins a method
of becoming thinner by limiting what you eat, invented by
an American doctor, Dr Robert C. Atkins (1930–2003). It
involves eating food that has a low amount of CARBOHYDRATE
and high amounts of fat and PROTEIN. The Atkins Diet
became very popular, especially after some famous people
started using it, but some scientists are worried that it could
be harmful to people's health. The full name of the Atkins
Diet is the Atkins Nutritional Approach.
At·kin·son, Rowan /ˈætkɪnsən/ (1955–) a British COMEDIAN
who has appeared in many television shows and films. He is
best known for playing the main character in the television
show Blackadder and for playing the character Mr Bean. →
see colour photo on page A46
At·lan·ta /ətˈlæntə/ the capital city of the state of Georgia in
the US
At·lan·tic /ətˈlæntɪk/ adj in, near, or from the Atlantic
Ocean: the southern Atlantic coast | Atlantic salmon
Atlantic, the the Atlantic Ocean. British people sometimes
use phrases such as 'across the Atlantic' or 'on the other side
of the Atlantic' when they are talking about the US, and
Americans use these phrases when they are talking about
western Europe, especially the UK: Scientists from both sides
of the Atlantic will meet next month in New York.
At,lantic 'City a city in New Jersey, US, on the coast of the
Atlantic Ocean, known especially for its CASINOS
At,lantic 'Ocean, the the ocean between the east coast of
North and South America and the west coast of Europe and
Africa. The Atlantic Ocean is the world's second largest
ocean.
At·lan·tis /ətˈlæntɪs/ according to ancient Greek stories, an
island CONTINENT west of Gibraltar that sank into the Atlan-
tic Ocean after an EARTHQUAKE
at·las /ˈætləs/ n a book of maps: a world atlas
Atlas in Greek MYTHOLOGY, one of the TITANS (=the first gods
who ruled the universe). After the Titans were defeated by
ZEUS, Atlas was forced to hold the sky on his shoulders
forever. In art, however, Atlas is usually shown holding the
world on his shoulders, not the sky.
Atlas, Charles (1893–1972) a US BODYBUILDER, who started a
successful business selling a course that showed people how
to develop strong muscles. Its advertisements used the phrase
'You too can have a body like mine'. Charles Atlas's name is
often used humorously to describe someone who has strong
muscles: He thinks he's Charles Atlas.
ATM /ˌeɪ tiː ˈem/ n especially AmE abbrev. for automatic teller
machine; a machine that you use to get money from espe-
cially outside a bank; CASHPOINT BrE
at·mo·sphere /ˈætməsfɪər/ n 1 [C;the+S] the mixture of
gases that surrounds the Earth, a star etc 2 [S] the air,
especially in a room: a smoky atmosphere 3 [C usually sing.]
the general character or feeling of a place: Ever since their
quarrel, there has been an unpleasant atmosphere in the
office. 4 you could (have) cut the atmosphere/air with a
knife used in order to say that you felt or knew very clearly
that the people in a room were very angry or upset,
although no one was saying anything: When Dot said that
hanging the flag upside down was appropriate, you could
have cut the atmosphere with a knife. | The moment I walked
into the room, I knew something was wrong. You could cut the
air with a knife.
at·mo·spher·ic /ˌætməsˈferɪk/ adj 1 [A] of or concerning
the Earth's atmosphere: atmospheric pressure 2 myster-
iously beautiful and strange: That music's very atmospheric.
at·mo·spher·ics /ˌætməsˈferɪks/ n [P] (a continuous light
cracking noise in a radio caused by) electrical forces in the
atmosphere
at·oll /ˈætɒl||ˈætɑːl, ˈætɔːl, ˈətɑʊl/ n a ring-shaped island
made of CORAL partly or completely enclosing an area of sea
water (LAGOON)
at·om /ˈætəm/ n the smallest piece of a simple substance
(ELEMENT) that can exist alone or combine with other sub-
stances (to form MOLECULES): (fig.) There's not an atom (=not
even the smallest bit) of truth in that statement.
'atom bomb also a,tomic 'bomb, A-bomb n old-fash a
bomb that uses the explosive power of NUCLEAR ENERGY
a·tom·ic /əˈtɒmɪk||ˈɑːt-/ adj of or concerning atoms,
NUCLEAR weapons, or NUCLEAR ENERGY: an atomic
submarine | atomic power/warfare —›-ally /kli/ adv
a,tomic 'energy n [U] NUCLEAR ENERGY
a,tomic 'pile n a NUCLEAR REACTOR
at·om·ize also -ise BrE /ˈætəmaɪz/ v [T] 1 to make a sub-
stance change into ATOMS 2 especially AmE to divide some-
thing so that it is no longer whole or united: a society that
has become atomized
at·om·izer /ˈætəmaɪzər/ n an instrument that changes a
liquid, such as a PERFUME, into a mist of very small drops by
forcing it out through a very small hole
'atom ,smasher n infml ACCELERATOR
a·ton·al /eɪˈtəʊnl, æ-/ adj (of music) not based on any ordered
SCALE (=set of notes) —›-ly adv —›-ity /ˌeɪtəʊˈnælɪti, æ-/ n [U]
a·tone /əˈtəʊn/ v [(for)] to make repayment (for a crime, for
failing to do something etc): He tried to atone for his rudeness
by sending her some flowers. —›-ment n [U] → see also DAY
OF ATONEMENT
a·top /əˈtɒp||əˈtɑːp/ prep lit on, to, or at the top of
A to Z /ˌeɪ tə ˈzed||-ˈziː/ → see A-Z
at·ri·um /ˈeɪtriəm/ n pl. -ria /-riə/ or -ums 1 either of the two
spaces in the top of the heart that force blood into the
VENTRICLES 2 a large open space on the ground floor of a
tall building sometimes open to the sky and sometimes
going up several levels of the building.
a·tro·cious /əˈtrəʊʃəs/ adj 1 extremely cruel, evil, shame-
ful, shocking etc: an atrocious crime | atrocious working
conditions 2 infml very bad or unpleasant: an atrocious meal
—›-ly adv
a·troc·i·ty /əˈtrɒsəti||əˈtrɑː-/ n 1 [C;U] (an act of great evil,
especially cruelty: war criminals who committed appalling
atrocities/acts of appalling atrocity 2 [C] infml something
that is very unpleasant or ugly: The new library building is
an atrocity.
at·ro·phy /ˈætrəfi/ v [I;T] to (cause to) weaken and lose flesh
and muscle through lack of blood or lack of use: The disease
atrophied her leg. | Her leg quickly atrophied. | (fig.) a boring
repetitive job that atrophied my mind —›atrophy n [U]
at·tach /əˈtætʃ/ v [T] 1 [(to)] to fasten in position; fix or
connect: Be careful of the handle – it's not very well
attached. | She attached a cheque to the order form. | 'Their
offer seems too good to be true.' 'Don't worry—there are no
strings attached.' (=no hidden conditions) → compare
DETACH 2 law to seize (goods or a person) because of an
unpaid debt
attach to phr v [T] 1 (attach sbdy. to sthg.) to cause to
belong to (a group or organization), especially for a limited
period: During the war I was attached to the naval college as
a gunnery instructor. | I got lost so I attached myself to another
party of tourists. 2 (attach sthg. to sthg.) to regard as
having (special meaning or importance): She attaches great
importance to regular exercise. | It would be unwise to attach
too much significance to these opinion polls. 3 (attach to
sthg.) fml to belong to or be connected with: No blame
attaches to him for the accident. | [+v-ing] the responsibilities
that attach to being president 4 be attached to to be fond of
and feel a strong connection with: I am deeply/very attached
to this old car.
at·tach·é /əˈtæeɪ||ˌætəˈʃeɪ/ n a person with specialist know-
ledge who works in an EMBASSY: a naval attaché
at'taché case /ˌɪ.../ n a thin hard case with a handle, for
carrying papers → compare BRIEFCASE