mockery
900
mock·e·ry /'mɒkəri||'mɑː-/ n 1 [U] the act of laughing unkindly or unfairly at something, especially to show that one thinks it foolish: He continued with his plans to build a flying machine, in spite of the mockery of his friends. | the humiliation of being held up to mockery (=made to seem foolish) in front of all my colleagues 2 [S] something that is not worthy of respect: The medical examination was a mockery; the doctor hardly looked at the child. 3 make a mockery of to make or show to be useless or worthless: The violence and dishonesty of the election made a mockery of his claim to be restoring democracy.
mock·ing·bird /'mɒkɪŋbɜːd||'mɑːkɪŋbɜːrd/ n an American bird that copies the songs of other birds
,Mock 'Turtle, the a character in the book ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Lewis CARROLL, who is a strange and sad creature who often cries
,mock turtle 'soup n [U] soup made from meat, but tasting as if made from TURTLE
'mock-up n a full-size model of something planned to be made or built: a mock-up of the film set/of the space shuttle ➔ see also MOCK UP
Mod¹ /mɒd||mɑːd/ n a member of a group of young people in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s, who followed a fashion for neat clothes, SOUL MUSIC, and PARKAS (=a long coat with a HOOD). Mods rode SCOOTERS and often went in large groups to SEASIDE towns to have fights with ROCKERS on BANK HOLIDAYS.
Mod² n a Gaelic FESTIVAL of music and poetry held in Scotland every year
MOD /ˌem ə 'diː/ abbrev. for MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
mo·dal¹ /'məʊdl/ adj tech 1 [A] of the MOOD of a verb 2 of or written in a musical MODE —-ly adv
modal² also ,modal aux'iliary, ,modal 'verb n tech any of the verb forms can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, used to, need, had better, and dare ➔ see also AUXILIARY VERB
,mod 'con n [often pl.] BrE infml (used especially in house advertisements) abbrev. for modern convenience; something that makes living easier and more comfortable, such as central heating: a desirable house with all mod cons
mode /məʊd/ n 1 [often fml] a way of behaving, living, operating etc: He suddenly became wealthy, which changed his whole mode of life. | As the spacecraft came closer to the Earth, it was put into its re-entry mode. | If you press this key the computer will go into its graphics mode. (=the system of operating in which pictures are produced) 2 tech any of various systems of arranging notes in music, such as MAJOR and MINOR in modern Western music
mode, the n fml what is fashionable: Long skirts were then the latest mode. ➔ see also À LA MODE, MODISH
mod·el¹ /'mɒdl||'mɑːdl/ n 1 [often fml] a small representation or copy of something: a model of the Eiffel Tower | a model aircraft/car | He made a working model of a steam engine out of old bits of metal. 2 a person, especially a young woman, employed to model clothes, hairstyles, COSMETICS etc: a fashion model | a male model 3 a person employed to be painted by a painter or photographed by a photographer 4 something on which a copy is based: building a new system of democracy, on the American model (=copying the American system) | Macho heroes in films are bad role models for children. ➔ compare PATTERN¹ 5 [often fml] apprec a person or thing that is a perfect example to be followed or copied: She's a model student. | Her written work is a model of care and neatness. 6 a particular type of vehicle, weapon, machine, instrument etc, as made by a particular maker: Volkswagen has produced two new models this year. | This dishwasher is the latest model. 7 euph, especially BrE (used especially in written advertisements) a PROSTITUTE
model² v -ll- || -l- AmE 1 [T] a) to shape (a soft substance) into an article: to model clay into little horses b) to make a model of: to model little horses out of clay | to model a ship out of bits of wood ➔ see also COMPUTER MODELLING 2 [T] to wear and show (clothes) to possible buyers: Angela is modelling an attractive blue silk dress. 3 [I] to work as a fashion model: She'd like to be a film actress, but at present she's modelling.
model sbdy./sthg. on/upon sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to form as a copy of: Their railway system was modelled on the French one. | She modelled herself on her favourite film star. (=copied her character and behaviour)
Model T Ford /ˌmɒdl tiː 'fɔːd||ˌmɑː- 'fɔːrd/ trademark a type of Ford car made between 1909 and 1927. It was the first car to be built on an ASSEMBLY LINE, and this made inexpensive cars available to ordinary people for the first time. The Model T Ford was sold in very large numbers, and was informally called the 'Tin Lizzie'. Henry FORD, who invented and produced this car, was speaking about the Model T when he said the famous phrase: 'You can have any colour you like, so long as it's black.' ➔ see photo on page A37
mo·dem /'məʊdəm, -dæm/ n a piece of electronic equipment, either inside a computer or connected to it, which allows information to be sent from one computer to another along telephone wires, and is used for sending EMAIL and using the INTERNET
mod·er·ate¹ /'mɒdərət||'mɑː-/ adj 1 not at either end of a range of size, force etc but perhaps nearer the lower end than the higher: The garden is of moderate size. (=not very big) | travelling at a moderate speed 2 done or kept within sensible limits: The union's demands are very moderate; they're only asking for a small wage increase. | a moderate smoker 3 avoiding or not accepting ideas that are very different from those of most people; not politically extreme: a moderate politician | moderate views/opinions 4 often euph of average or less than average quality: a child of only moderate ability (=not very clever) | moderate success
mod·er·ate² /'mɒdəreɪt||'mɑː-/ v [I;T] 1 rather fml to make or become less in force, degree, rate etc; reduce: The union decided to moderate their demands. | He should moderate his language when children are present. (=shouldn't use words not fit for them to hear) | Her fury moderated when she learned why he had done it. ➔ compare MODIFY 2 to do the work of a MODERATOR
mod·er·ate³ /'mɒdərət||'mɑː-/ n a person whose opinions are MODERATE
,moderate 'breeze n tech wind which has a speed of 20 to 28 kilometres per hour: Tomorrow will be sunny with a moderate breeze.
mod·er·ate·ly /'mɒdərətli||'mɑː-/ adv to a moderate degree; not very: a moderately successful film
mod·er·a·tion /ˌmɒdə'reɪʃən||ˌmɑː-/ n [U] 1 the ability to keep one's feelings, desires, and habits within reasonable limits; self-control: He showed great moderation in not responding angrily to the attacks on his character. 2 [often fml] reduction in force, degree, rate etc: Even after sunset there was little moderation in the temperature. 3 in moderation within sensible limits: Some people say that smoking in moderation isn't harmful to health.
mod·er·a·to /ˌmɒdə'rɑːtəʊ||ˌmɑː-/ n, adj pl. -s (a piece of music) played at an average even speed —moderato adv
mod·er·a·tor /'mɒdəreɪtə||'mɑː-/ n 1 a person who tries to help people to reach an agreement 2 (often cap.) a minister chosen to be in charge of a large meeting of the Presbyterian Church 3 BrE an examiner who makes sure that an examination paper arranged by someone else is fair, and also that the marks given by other examiners are of the right standard 4 a person who asks questions and keeps the marks of competing teams in a spoken game or competition
mod·ern¹ /'mɒdn||'mɑːdərn/ adj 1 [no comp.] of the present time, or of the not far distant past; not ancient: The modern history of Italy dates from 1860, when the country became united. | What do you think of modern art? | modern times 2 often apprec typical of or developed in the most recent times; up to date: using the most modern surgical techniques | bright modern colours 3 [no comp.] (often cap.) (of a language) in use today: Modern English/Greek/Hebrew ➔ compare MIDDLE, OLD; see also MODERN LANGUAGES, SECONDARY MODERN and NEW (USAGE) —-ity /mɒ'dɜːnɪti||mɑː'dɜːr-/ n [U] (often fml)
modern² n [usually pl.] lit or old-fash a person living in modern as compared with ancient, times
,modern 'art n [U] a general name for (work produced by) a variety of movements in art, mainly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which produced work extremely different