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chair
cervical 'smear || pap smear AmE — n a test for CANCER
of the cervix. Women are advised to have this test regularly.
cer·vix /'sɜ:vɪks||'sɜ:r-/ n pl. -vices /vɪsi:z/, -vixes med the
narrow necklike opening into the WOMB
ce·sar·e·an /sə'zeəriən/ n a CAESAREAN
ces·sa·tion /se'seɪʃən/ n [C;U(of)] fml a short pause or a stop:
a cessation of hostilities (=fighting with an enemy) | a
momentary cessation of breathing
ces·sion /'seʃən/ n [C;U] fml (an example of) the giving of
land, property, or rights → see also CEDE
cess·pit /'sesˌpɪt/ also cess·pool /'sesˌpu:l/ n an under-
ground container or hole, in which waste from a building,
especially body waste (SEWAGE), is collected
ce·ta·cean /sɪ'teɪʃən/ adj, n tech (of) a fishlike MAMMAL (=an
animal which feeds its young on milk) which lives in water,
such as a WHALE
Cey·lon /sə'lon||-'la:n/ the former name of SRI LANKA. The
name 'Ceylon' is still used when talking about tea, which is
an important EXPORT product of Sri Lanka.
Cé·zanne, Paul /si'zæn||sei'za:n/ (1839-1906) a French
IMPRESSIONIST painter, who helped to develop POST-
IMPRESSIONISM and who influenced the development of
CUBISM and ABSTRACT art
cf. written abbrev. for compare
CFC /ˌsi: ef 'si:/ n abbrev. for chlorofluorocarbon; a gas used in
REFRIGERATORS and in some AEROSOLS which is believed to
be responsible for damaging the OZONE LAYER. Because of
this many countries have agreed to stop producing CFCs.
C4 written abbrev. for CHANNEL 4
Chab·lis /'ʃæbli:||'ʃæ:bli:/ trademark an expensive type of dry
white wine produced in northern Burgundy, France
Cha·bon, Michael /'ʃeɪbən||-ba:n/ (1963-) a US writer
whose novels include The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Wonder
Boys, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which
won a Pulitzer Prize in 2001
cha-cha /'tʃa: tʃa:/ also ,cha-cha-'cha n pl. -chas a fast
spirited dance of South American origin
Chad /tʃæd/ a country in north central Africa, between Niger
and Sudan. Population: 9,253,493 (2003) Capital:
N'djaména.
chafe /tʃeɪf/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) become sore or worn by
rubbing: Her new shoes chafed her feet. 2 [T] to make (part of
the body) warm by rubbing 3 [I(at, under)] to become or be
impatient or annoyed: They are beginning to chafe at/under
these restrictions. → see also chafe at the bit (BIT)
chaff¹ /tʃa:f||tʃæf/ n [U] 1 the HUSKS (=outer seed covers)
separated from grain before it is used as food 2 dried grasses
and plant stems used as food for farm animals → see also
the wheat from the chaff (WHEAT)
chaff² v [T] old-fash infml to make fun of (someone) in a friendly
way
chaff³ n [U] old-fash infml friendly joking; BANTER
chaf·finch /'tʃæfɪntʃ/ n a small bird with a cheerful song,
common in Europe
Cha·gall, Marc /ʃæ'gæl, ma:k||ma:rk/ (1887-1985) a Russian
artist who lived in France and painted in bright colours
chag·rin¹ /'ʃægrɪn||ʃə'grɪn/ n [U] fml annoyance and disap-
pointment, caused by failure or unfulfilled hopes: Much to
his chagrin he was not offered the job.
chagrin² v [T] to cause to feel chagrin; disappoint greatly
chain¹ /tʃeɪn/ n 1 [C;U] (a length of) usually metal rings,
connected to or fitted into one another, used for fastening,
supporting, decorating etc: The bridge was supported by
heavy iron chains hanging from two towers. | The Mayoress
wore her chain of office. (=her official chain) | a bicycle
chain (=one that makes the wheels turn) | She always wears
a gold chain round her neck. 2 [C(of)] a) a number of
connected things: a mountain chain | a chain of events b) a
number of shops, hotels etc under the same ownership or
management: a well-known chain of fast-food restaurants →
see also CHAIN STORE, FOOD CHAIN 3 [C] a number of people
who are all buying houses from one another, so that each
sale is dependent on the previous one: I should be able to buy
the house pretty quickly, since I'm not in a chain. 4 [C] an old
measurement of length → see TABLE 2 5 in chains kept in
prison or as a slave
chain² v [T+obj+adv/prep] to limit the freedom of (someone or
something) (as if) with a chain: The dogs were chained up for
the night. | The kidnappers chained the girl's hands and feet
together. | With a sick husband, she's chained to the house all
day.
'chain gang n [C+sing./pl. v] a group of prisoners chained
together for work outside their prison.
'chain ,letter n a letter sent to several people who are asked
to send copies to several more people. Chain letters are
meant to bring luck or sometimes great wealth, if you are
asked to send money to people on a list.
,chain-link 'fence n especially AmE a type of fence made from
metal wires loosely woven together. Chain-link fences are
usually put around places to prevent people entering them,
such as schools, prisons, or private gardens.
'chain mail also 'chain ,armour n [U] armour made by
joining small metal rings together into a protective garment,
used especially in former times
,chain of com'mand n a system in an organization by
which decisions are passed from people at the top of the
organization to people lower down: Symonds is third in the
chain of command.
,chain re'action n a number of related events or chemical
changes, each of which causes the next
'chain saw n a SAW made up of a circular chain fitted with
teeth and driven by a motor → compare CIRCULAR SAW
'chain-smoke v [I;T] to smoke (cigarettes) continually, espe-
cially lighting each new one from the previous one
--smoker n
'chain stitch n [C;U] a way of sewing in which each new
stitch is pulled through the last one
'chain store also multiple store especially BrE — n (any of) a
group of usually large shops of the same kind owned by one
organization → see also CHAIN¹
chairs
chair
armchair
rocking chair
swivel chair
deckchair BrE/
beachchair AmE
wheelchair
high chair
chair¹ /tʃeər/ n 1 [C] a piece of furniture for one person to
sit on, which usually has a back, a seat, four legs, and
sometimes arms: sitting on a chair at her desk | sitting in a
comfortable chair watching TV → see also ARMCHAIR, BATH
CHAIR, DECKCHAIR, HIGH CHAIR, WHEELCHAIR 2 [C usually sing.]
(the office, position, or official seat of) a CHAIRPERSON espe-
cially one in charge of a meeting: Please address your
remarks to the chair. | Who will be in the chair at tomorrow's
meeting? | She's the chair of the housing committee. → see