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kite
Kip-ling, Rud-yard /'kɪplɪŋ, 'rʌdjədl-jɔrd/ (1865-1936) a British writer born in India. He is known for his novels, poems, and short stories set in that country, especially his popular children's story *The Jungle Book*, and for poems such as *Gunga Din* and *If*. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1907. He is sometimes criticized now as being a strong supporter of the British Empire and British IMPERIALISM.
kip-per /'kɪpə/ *n* a salted HERRING (=kind of fish) to which salt has been added and that is preserved by being treated with smoke
Kir-ghiz-i-a /kɜː'gɪziəlkɪər-/ another name for KYRGYZSTAN
Kir-i-bati /ˌkɪrɪ'bɑːti/ a country in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of 33 islands. Population 98,549 (2003). Capital: Bairiki. It was formerly ruled by the UK and called the Gilbert Islands, but has been independent since 1979.
kirk /kɜklkɜːrk/ *n* *ScotE* a church
**Kirk, Captain** one of the main characters in the television programme STAR TREK, whose full name is Captain James T. Kirk. Captain Kirk is a brave, determined man who is in charge of the STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.
**Kirk, the** *ScotE* the Church of Scotland
**Kirk-wall** /'kɜːkwɔːl||'kɜːrk-/ a town on the largest island of the ORKNEY islands, where the local government for the islands is based
kirsch /kɪʃ||kɪərʃ/ *n* [U] a strong alcoholic drink made from CHERRY juice
kis-met /'kɪzmet, 'kɪs-/ *n* [U] *lit* fate; DESTINY
kiss¹ /kɪs/ *v* **1** [;T] to touch with the lips as a sign of love or as a greeting: *In the final scene of the film, they kiss.* (=kiss each other on the lips) | *Kiss me!* | *He kissed her on the forehead.* | (*fig., lit*) *The wind kissed the trees.* (=touched and moved them gently) **2** [T] to express (something) to someone by kissing: [+obj][+obj(d)] *He kissed his wife goodbye/kissed his children goodnight.* | [+obj]+to] (*fig.*) *If you fail that exam you can kiss goodbye to (=you will have lost) your chance of going to university.* **3** kiss hands (in Britain) to ceremoniously kiss the king's or queen's hand as an official sign of being appointed to a high position in the government —**able** *adj*
**CULTURAL NOTE** People usually only kiss someone on the mouth if they are having a romantic relationship. Parents and children will also kiss each other on the cheek or FOREHEAD. People also sometimes kiss each other on the cheek in order to greet each other or say goodbye. Sometimes, especially in the UK, people kiss hello or goodbye on both cheeks. It is fairly common for people, when they are kissing someone on the cheek, to not actually kiss them, but instead to make a kissing movement next to their cheek. In both the US and the UK, it is unusual for men to kiss each other unless they are GAY. → see also HUG
kiss² *n* an act of kissing: *I gave her a kiss.* | *a passionate kiss* → see also FRENCH KISS, KISS OF DEATH, KISS OF LIFE, blow someone a kiss (BLOW¹)
kiss-a-gram, kiss-a-gram /'kɪsəgræm/ → see KISSO-GRAM
kiss-and-'tell *adj* [usually A] (of sexual affairs, or newspaper etc accounts of them) retold in public, and often in great detail, by one of the lovers after the affair is over. Often famous people are involved: *kiss-and-tell stories in the tabloids* | *a kiss-and-tell lover*
kiss-er /'kɪsə/ *n* **1** a person who kisses **2** *old-fash slang* the mouth
kissing 'cousin *n* *AmE old-fash* a COUSIN or other family member whom one knows well enough to greet with a kiss
Kis-sin-ger, Henry /'kɪsɪndʒə/ (1923-) a US politician and university teacher, who was born in Germany and who was the US SECRETARY OF STATE from 1973 to 1977. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for helping to achieve the agreement that ended the VIETNAM WAR. He also improved the US's relationship with the USSR and China, and helped to establish peace between Israel and Egypt in 1975.
kiss-me-'quick, hat *n* *BrE* a cheap, usually black, hat, with 'kiss me quick' or some other SLOGAN on it, worn for fun usually by young women at a FAIRGROUND or the SEASIDE
kiss of 'death [the] *infml* something that makes failure certain: *The withdrawal of government funding gave our plan the kiss of death.*
kiss of 'life [the] especially *BrE* MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION
kis-so-gram, kissagram, kiss-a-gram /'kɪsəgræm/ *n* **1** a message, often a humorous greeting, sent by way of a person dressed in COSTUME, who may either sing or speak it, and who usually gives the person receiving it a kiss **2** the person in such a costume who delivers the message
kit¹ /kɪt/ *n* **1** [C] a set of articles or tools needed for a particular purpose or job: *a shaving/repair kit* | *a survival kit* (=containing necessary food, tools etc to keep one alive for a time) | *first aid kit* (=containing supplies for medical EMERGENCY) **2** [U] *BrE* a set of clothes and other articles needed for daily life, especially by soldiers, sailors etc, or for playing a particular sport: *The captain wants to inspect your kit.* | *my football kit* **3** [C] a set of parts sold ready to be put together: *a model aircraft kit* | *This furniture comes as a kit/in kit form.* **4** kit and caboodle *AmE infml* everything: *She threw all my stuff out. Everything. The whole kit and caboodle.*
kit² *v* -tt-
kit sbdy. ⇔ out/up *phr v* [T(with) often pass.] especially *BrE* to supply with necessary things, especially clothes: *They were all kitted out (with boots and trousers) for skiing.*
'kit bag *n* especially *BrE* a long narrow bag used by soldiers, sailors etc, for carrying kit → compare DUFFEL BAG
'kit car *n* a car whose engine, body parts, and CHASSIS are bought separately and put together by the buyer
kitch-en /'kɪtʃən/ *n* **1** a room where food is prepared and cooked: *We usually eat breakfast in the kitchen.* | *kitchen appliances, such as food mixers* **2** everything but the kitchen sink *humor* a larger amount than seems necessary: *He's only staying three days, but he arrived with everything but the kitchen sink.* (=lots of bags, cases etc)
kitchen 'cabinet *n* a small, informal group of people who advise the leader of a government
**Kitch-en-er, Ho-ra-ti-o** /'kɪtʃənə, hə'reɪʃiəʊ/ (1850-1916) a British army officer, also known as Lord Kitchener, who fought successfully in the BOER WAR. During World War I he was responsible for building up the British army, and his picture appeared on a famous POSTER with the words 'Your country wants YOU, Join your country's army, God save the King'.
Horatio Kitchener
YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU
kitch-en-ette /ˌkɪtʃə'net/ *n* a very small kitchen, or a part of a room used for cooking
kitchen 'garden *n* especially *BrE* a garden where fruit and vegetables are grown, usually for eating at home rather than for sale
'kitchen roll also 'kitchen, paper, towel *BrE* || ,paper 'towel *AmE* — *n* [C,U] thick ABSORBENT paper used mainly in the kitchen for cleaning up small amounts of food, liquid, dirt etc: *Pass me a piece of kitchen roll/a paper towel.*
kitchen-'sink, drama *n* [C,U] a serious play or plays about working-class home life, especially as written in Britain in the late 1950s and the 1960s
kitch-en-ware /'kɪtʃənweə/ *n* [U] pots, pans, and other things used for cooking
kite¹ /kaɪt/ *n* **1** a paper-covered or cloth-covered frame flown in the air at the end of a long string using the power of the wind, especially for amusement: *The children are on the hillside flying their kites.* → see also **fly a kite** (FLY¹ (12)), **go fly a kite** (FLY¹ (15)) **2** a large bird (HAWK) that kills and eats small birds and animals
kite² *v* [I;T] *AmE* to obtain money or goods by writing a cheque