semibreve 1256
sem·i·breve /'semibri:v/ BrE || whole note AmE — n a musical note with a time value equal to two MINIMS
sem·i·cir·cle /'semi,sɜːkl||-sɜːr-/ n 1 half a circle ➔ see picture at DIAMETER 2 a group arranged as if along the outside curve of this: The teacher asked the pupils to sit in a semicircle to listen to the story. —cular /ˌsemɪ'sɜːkjʊlər || -'sɜːr-/ adj
sem·i·co·lon /ˌsemɪ'kəʊlən||'semɪˌkoʊlən/ n a mark (;) used in writing and printing to separate independent parts of a sentence and different things in a list ➔ compare COLON
sem·i·con·duc·tor /ˌsemɪkən'dʌktər/ n a substance, such as SILICON, which allows the passing of an electric current more easily than an INSULATOR but not as well as a CONDUCTOR. Semiconductors are used in making TRANSISTORS.
sem·i·de·tached /ˌsemɪdɪ'tætʃt/ n, adj 1 BrE || duplex AmE — (a house) that is one of a pair of joined houses ➔ compare DETACHED, TOWN HOUSE 2 following accepted customs and standards without thinking
sem·i·fi·nal /ˌsemɪ'faɪnl/ n either of a pair of matches whose winners then compete against one another to decide the winner of the whole competition —➔ist n
sem·i·nal /'semɪnəl/ adj 1 fml apprec influencing future development in a new way: Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' was a seminal work. 2 [A no comp.] of, producing, or being SEMEN: seminal fluid
sem·i·nar /'semɪnɑːr/ n a small group, especially a class of advanced students with a teacher, meeting to study or talk about a subject
sem·i·na·ry /'semɪnərɪl-neri/ n 1 a college for training especially ROMAN CATHOLIC priests 2 old-fash fml a school: a young ladies' seminary
Sem·i·nole /'semɪnəʊl/ n 1 the Seminole [P] a group of Native Americans, originally part of the Creek tribe. They lived in Florida until they were forced to move to Oklahoma by the US government in the mid-19th century 2 [C] a member of this group ➔ see Cultural Note at NATIVE AMERICAN —Seminole adj
sem·i·ot·ics /ˌsemɪ'ɒtɪks||-'ɑː-/ also sem·i·ol·o·gy /ˌsemɪ'ɒlədʒɪ||-'ɑːl-/ n [U] tech the study of signs and their meaning in the exchange of information, especially in language —ician /ˌsemɪə'tɪʃən// —semiologist /ˌsemɪ'ɒlədʒɪst||-'ɑːl-/ n
sem·i·pre·cious /ˌsemɪ'preʃəs/ adj (of a jewel, stone etc) of lower value than a PRECIOUS STONE
sem·i·pro·fes·sion·al /ˌsemɪprə'feʃənəl/ adj taking part in an activity for pay but not as a full-time job: a semiprofessional footballer/musician
sem·i·qua·ver /'semɪˌkweɪvər/ BrE || sixteenth note AmE — n a short musical note, with a time value half as long as a QUAVER
semi-skimmed BrE || two percent (milk) AmE — adj (of milk) having had about half of the fat removed
Se·mite /'siːmaɪt||'sem-/ n someone who belongs to the race of people that includes Jews, Arabs, and, in ancient times, Babylonians, Assyrians etc ➔ see also ANTI-SEMITISM
Se·mit·ic /sə'mɪtɪk/ adj 1 a) belonging to the race of people that includes Jews, Arabs, and, in ancient times, Babylonians, Assyrians etc b) belonging to or connected with any of the languages of these people. Hebrew and Arabic are Semitic languages. 2 another word for JEWISH
sem·i·tone /'semɪtəʊn/ BrE || half step AmE — n a difference in PITCH (=highness of a musical note) equal to that between two notes which are next to each other on a piano
sem·i·trop·i·cal /ˌsemɪ'trɒpɪkəl || -'trɑː-/ adj SUBTROPICAL
sem·i·vow·el /'semɪˌvaʊəl/ n tech a speech sound, such as /w/ or /j/, produced like a vowel but used like a consonant
sem·i·week·ly /ˌsemɪ'wikli/ adj, adv appearing or happening twice a week ➔ compare BIWEEKLY
sem·o·li·na /ˌsemə'liːnə/ n [U] grains of crushed wheat used especially in making PASTA and smooth cooked milky dishes: semolina pudding
Sem·tex /'semteks/ trademark a powerful explosive often used illegally to make bombs
sen·ate /'senɪt/ n (usually cap.) 1 [(the)C+sing./pl. v] the smaller and more important of the two parts of the central law-making body in such countries as Australia, France, and the US: The Senate has voted to support the President's defence plans. ➔ see Feature on page A20 2 [the S+sing./pl. v] the highest council of state in ancient Rome 3 [(the) C+sing./pl. v] the governing council at some universities 4 [(the) C+sing./pl.v] state senate the governing council in US states
sen·a·tor /'senətər/ n (often cap.) a member of a SENATE: Senator Kennedy ➔ see Feature on page A20
sen·a·to·ri·al /ˌsenə'tɔːrɪəl/ adj [A] fml of a senate or senator
send /send/ v sent /sent/ 1 [T(to)] to cause to go or be taken to a place, in a particular direction etc, without going oneself: It will get there quicker if you send it by airmail. | Did you send a birthday card to Susan? (=by post) | [+obj][+obj(d)] Did you send Susan a birthday card? | The spacecraft sent pictures back to Earth. | We are sending our luggage ahead by sea. | I had some coffee sent up to my room. | [+obj][+to-v] I'll have to send my passport to be renewed. 2 [T] a) to direct or order (someone) to go: 'I've come to collect the films.' 'Who sent you?' | The allies agreed to send reinforcements. | to send a criminal to prison | The doctor sent me to bed. | The general sent his men into battle. | [+obj]+to-v] She sent her daughter to buy some milk. | We'll send someone round to repair your TV. b) [+obj+adv/prep] to arrange or make it possible for (someone) to go: Are you going to send your children to private schools? | The company are sending me on a management course. 3 [T+obj+v-ing] to cause to move quickly and uncontrollably: The explosion sent glass flying everywhere. | The punch in the chest sent me reeling. 4 [T+obj+adj/adv/prep] to cause to have a particular feeling or be in a particular state: This noise is sending me mad. | The explosion sent the whole place into total confusion. | His boring speeches always send me to sleep. 5 [T+obj+adv/prep, especially OUT, FORTH] especially lit to produce from itself: The crowd sent out a roar of approval. || The branches are sending forth buds. 6 [I(for);T(to)] to cause (a message, request, or order) to be made known; give (a command, request etc): The King sent and had the man brought to him. | We may have to send to Japan for the spare parts. | Send for help/a doctor. | Mother sends her love and says she hopes to see you soon. | [+to-v] He sent to tell us he couldn't come. | [+obj][+obj(d)] Send them my best wishes when you see them. 7 send someone packing infml to tell someone unwanted to leave at once 8 send word to send a message
send away/off phr v 1 [T[send sbdy./sthg. <-> away]] to send to another place: He sent his son away/off to school in Germany. 2 [I(for)] to order goods to be sent by post: She sent away/off for a set of bed linen she saw advertised in a magazine.
send down phr v 1 [T[send sthg./sbdy. <-> down]] to cause to go down: Reports of the company's bad trading figures sent its share prices down. 2 [I(to)] to send a message, order etc, to a lower place: I'll send down to the kitchen for some more coffee. 3 [T usually pass. (send sbdy. <-> down)] BrE to dismiss (a student) from a university because of bad behaviour 4 [T[send sbdy. <-> down]] BrE infml to send to prison: He was sent down for ten years for robbing a bank.
send sthg. <-> in phr v [T] to send (something for official consideration, such as a form) to a place where it will be dealt with: Listeners sent in their suggestions to the radio station.
send off phr v 1 [T[send sthg. <-> off]] to post (a letter, parcel, message etc) 2 [T[send sbdy. <-> off]] BrE (in sport) to order (a player) to leave the field because of a serious breaking of the rules 3 [I(for);T(= send sbdy./sthg. <-> off)] to SEND AWAY ➔ compare SEND-OFF
send sthg. <-> on phr v [T] 1 to send (a letter) to the address to which the receiver has since moved: When he moved he left instructions for his letters to be sent on to his new address. 2 to send (belongings) in advance to a point on a journey
send out phr v 1 [T[send sthg./sbdy. <-> out]] to send from a central point: Make sure you send out the invitations in good time. | The satellite is sending out radio signals. | The order was/The goods were sent out from the warehouse yesterday. 2 [I(for, to)] to (try to) obtain something from somewhere else: The coffee in the office vending machine is so bad that we prefer to send out (for it) to a local restaurant.