'right, angle n an angle of 90 degrees, e.g. at any of the four corners of a square: Put the tables at right angles to each other. → see picture at ANGLE
'right-, angled adj (of a TRIANGLE) with one angle of 90 degrees
'right-brain adj concerned with or resulting from the right side of the brain, which controls the left side of the body and also ARTISTIC and IMAGINATIVE thinking
,right-'click v [I(on)] to press the right-hand button on a computer MOUSE to make the computer do something: Right-click on the image to save it.
right·eous /'raɪtʃəs/ adj 1 especially lit or bibl (of a person or their behaviour) (doing what is) morally good and just: a righteous man | [also n, the+P] The righteous shall go to Heaven. | 'I never drink or smoke,' he said in a righteous tone. → see also SELF-RIGHTEOUS 2 (of feelings) morally blameless; having just cause: righteous indignation'—ly adv—ness n [U]
right field n 1 (in BASEBALL) the area of the playing field outside the DIAMOND and to the right 2 the position of the player (the rightfielder) who plays in this area
right·ful /'raɪtʃəl/ adj [A] fml in accordance with what is just or legally correct: He regained his rightful place on the English throne. (=as king of England) | Who is the rightful owner of this car? —ly adv: The legacy is rightfully yours; she always intended you to have it. —ness n [U]
right-'hand adj [A] 1 on or to the right side: the right-hand page 2 of, for, with, or done by the right hand: a right-hand stroke 3 turning or going to the right: a right-hand bend | Take the right-hand lane. → opposite LEFT-HAND
right-hand-drive adj (of a car) having the driver's wheel and foot controls on the right-hand side, being intended for driving on the left-hand side of the road
right-'handed adj 1 using the right hand for most actions rather than the left: a right-handed tennis player 2 made for use by a right-handed person: right-handed scissors → opposite LEFT-HANDED ︷ness n [U]
right-'hander n 1 a hit or stroke given with the right hand 2 ‖ also righty AmE infml — someone who usually uses their right hand for most actions rather than their left → opposite LEFT-HANDER
right-hand 'man also right 'hand — n one's most useful and valuable helper
Right Hon written abbrev. for Right Honourable
Right 'Honourable adj used when formally announcing or talking about lords or important government ministers in Britain: the Right Honourable Giles Williams MP
rightist /'raɪtɪst/ n, adj (often cap.) sometimes derog (a supporter) of the RIGHT in politics: a rightist government → opposite LEFTIST
rightly /ˈraɪtli/ adv 1 [no comp.] correctly, truly, or with good reason: If I am rightly informed ... | He believed rightly or wrongly that she was guilty. | They argue, quite rightly, that this measure will do nothing to solve the problem. 2 justly: He was punished, and (very/quite) rightly so. 3 [usually in negatives] infmi for certain; without any doubt: I can't rightly say/don't rightly know whether it was Tuesday or Wednesday.
right-'minded also right-thinking — adj [A] having correct and acceptable opinions, principles, or standards of behaviour: All right-minded people will support this change in the law. ----ness n [U]
right·o /,rait'əʊ/ also ,right 'oh interj BrE infml used to show that you agree with a suggestion that someone has made → compare OK Righto, I'll see you at six.
right of ap'peal n pl. rights of appeal the legal right to ask for a court's decision to be re-examined
right-of-'centre, right of centre adj to the CONSERVATIVE (right) side of political thinking, but not very far → compare LEFT-OF-CENTRE
right of 'way n pl. rights of way 1 [(the) U] the right of traffic to drive, cross, pass etc, before other vehicles: It's our right of way at this road junction. (=we can go first) 2 [C] a) a right to follow a path across a piece of private land: We have a right of way across his field to our house. b) a path over which someone holds this right: a public right of way through the forest
Right, Reverend a title of respect used before the name of a BISHOP (=a Christian priest of high rank)
rights /raits/ n [P] 1 the political, social, and other advantages to which someone has a just claim, morally or legally: The suffragettes led the fight for women's rights. | a prisoners' rights campaign 2 by rights if things were done properly or correctly: I shouldn't by rights be at this party at all – I'm on duty tonight! 3 set/put someone/something to rights to bring someone/something (back) to a healthy, correct, or satisfactory condition: This medicine will soon put you to rights. | We need a new leader to set the country to rights again. 4 the rights and wrongs of the true facts about: We are determined to find out the rights and wrongs of this matter. → see also BILL OF RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS
,right-'thinking adj RIGHT-MINDED
'rights issue n tech an offer by a company to sell shares at a favourable price to those people who already hold shares in it
,right to 'life n the right to live, especially the right of an unborn child to be born. This phrase is used by people who are opposed to ABORTION.
,right-to-lifer n a person who supports the idea of the unborn child's right to be born, and is opposed to ABORTION
,right 'triangle n AmE for a RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE
right·ward /'raɪtwədəl-wɜːrd/ adj on or towards the right → opposite LEFTWARD
right·wards /'raɪtwədz|l-wərdz/ especially BrE || usually right-ward AmE — adv on or towards the right → opposite LEFTWARDS
right 'wing n, adj [the] 1 [+sing./pl. v] (the members) of a group or political party that favour either fewer political changes or less state control, and who are usually rather NATIONALISTIC: He is on the right wing of his party. 2 [+sing./pl. v] (of) the RIGHT: right-wing ideas/newspapers | She's very right wing. 3 (on) the right-hand side of the field in games such as football: He centred the ball from the right wing. → opposite LEFT WING —right-winger n
right-y /'raiti/ n → see RIGHT-HANDER
ri·gid /'rɪdʒɪd/ adj 1 stiff; not easy to bend: a tent supported on a rigid framework | She was rigid with fear. 2 often derog firm or fixed in behaviour, views, or methods; difficult to change or unwilling to change: He's very rigid in his ideas. | the rigid discipline of army life | rigid distinctions between social classes | rigid adherence to the regulations —ly adv: rigidly opposed to all new ideas | rigidly orthodox —ity /rɪˈdʒɪdʒi/ n [U]
rig·ma·role /'rigmərəʊl/ | also rigamarole AmE — n infml derog 1 [U] a long, confusing, and often meaningless set of actions: I had to go through the whole rigmarole of swearing in front of the judge and kissing the Bible. 2 [S;U] a long confused story without much meaning: She told me some rigmarole or other about having lost her keys.
rig•or mor•tis /,rigə 'mo:təs, raɪɡo:–‖,rɪɡər 'mo:r-/ n [U]
Lat the stiffening of the muscles after death: Bury him before
rigor mortis sets in. (=before his body becomes stiff)
rig·or·ous /'rɪgərəs/ adj 1 often apprec careful, thorough, and exact: The planes have to undergo rigorous safety checks. 2 severe; painful: the rigorous hardships of the journey ︷ly adv
rig·our BrE  $ \parallel $ -or AmE /'rigər/ n [U] 1 firmness or severity; lack of pity: He deserves to be punished with the full rigour of the law. 2 also rigours pl. severe conditions: The expedition suffered all the rigour(s) of a Canadian winter. 3 often aprec (in a subject of study) exactness that demands clear thinking: the rigour of a scientific proof
'rig-out n BrE infml, often derog a set of clothes of a particular, especially unusual, type: You can't go to the party in that rig-out! → see also RIG OUT
Rig-Ve·da /,rig 'veɪdə/ the first of the four holy books of the VEDA, which contains prayers and HYMNS to gods in the Hindu religion
rile /rail/ v [T] infmi to annoy; make very angry: His patronizing manner really riles me. → see ANNOY (USAGE)
Ri-ley /'raɪli/ the life of Riley → see LIFE
rill /rɪl/ n. poet a small stream