afresh 20
(=they work very hard.) 3 [+(that)] polite sorry for something that has happened or is likely to happen: I am afraid (that) I've broken your pen. | 'Are we late?' 'I'm afraid so.' | 'Are we on time?' 'I'm afraid not.' | 'I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. 4 afraid of one's own shadow habitually frightened or nervous
I'm afraid is often used as a polite phrase when you are telling someone something that will upset, annoy, or disappoint them: I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. | 'Did you pass your exam?' 'I'm afraid not.' | 'Is she really very ill?' 'I'm afraid so.' | We're afraid we're unable to offer you the job. It can also be used when you want to disagree with someone: I'm afraid I really can't agree with you there. | Yes, Sue, but I'm afraid you haven't quite understood my point.
a-fresh /ə'freʃ/ adv.fml once more from the beginning; again: After his business collapsed he had to start afresh.
Af-ric-a /'æfrɪkə/ a CONTINENT (=one of the seven main areas of land on the Earth) that is south of the Mediterranean Sea, and west of Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Af-ri-can /'æfrɪkən/ n someone who comes from Africa, especially a black person —African adj: African countries | African languages
African A'merican n especially AmE an American whose family were originally brought to the US as SLAVES in the 18th and 19th centuries —African-American adj: a prominent African-American lawyer
African National 'Congress, the → see ANC
African 'Union, the abbrev. the AU an organization whose aim is to encourage African countries to work together to become more politically and economically independent, and to develop plans for improving health, education, defence etc. Most countries in Africa belong to the African Union. It used to be called the Organization for African Unity.
African 'violet n a house plant with small pink or purple flowers, which is popular in the UK and the US
Af-ri-kaans /ˌæfrɪ'kɑːns/ n [U] a language of South Africa that is similar to Dutch
Af-ri-ka-ner /ˌæfrɪ'kɑːnər/ n a white South African whose first language is Afrikaans, and whose family originally came to Africa from the Netherlands in the 17th century —Afrikaner adj: Afrikaner farmers
Af-ro /'æfrəʊ/ n a hair style popular with black people in the 1970s in which the hair is cut into a round shape
Afro- prefix → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
Afro-Carib'bean n a black person who comes from the Caribbean or whose family originally came from there, especially one who lives in the UK or the US. The black population of the Caribbean originally came from Africa as SLAVES: How many British MPs are Afro-Caribbeans? —Afro-Caribbean adj: Afro-Caribbean culture
aft /ɑːft||æft/ adj, adv in or towards the STERN (=the back part) of a boat or aircraft → opposite FORE; compare FORWARD
af-ter¹ /'ɑːftə||'æf-/ prep 1 following in time; later than: We'll leave after breakfast. | They will be back the day after tomorrow. | I don't like going out after dark. | After the performance there was enthusiastic applause. | a film about life after a nuclear attack | (AmE) It's twenty after seven. 2 following continuously: Day after day the rain continued. | It seems to be just one problem after another. 3 following in place or order: He entered the room after his father. | Your name comes after mine in the list. | Shut the door after you. (=when you have gone through) | After you with the sugar, please. (=can I have it next?) 4 as a result of; because of: After the way he treated me I never want to see him again. 5 in spite of: After all my care in packing it, the clock arrived broken. 6 in search of (especially in order to punish); looking for: The police are after me. | 'What are you after?' 'I'm looking for my coat.' 7 with the name of: The boy was named after his uncle. 8.fml in the manner or style of: This is a painting after Rembrandt. 9 after all a) in spite of everything: So you see I was right after all! b) it must be remembered (that): I know he hasn't finished the work but, after all, he's very busy. → see also ask after (AFTER), after one's own heart (HEART), TAKE AFTER
after² conj at a later time than (when): I found your coat after you had left the house. | She started the job soon after/shortly after she left the university.
after³ adv [after n] later; afterwards: John came on Tuesday, and I arrived the day after.
after⁴ adj [A] 1 lit later in time: He grew weak in after years. 2 tech in the back part of a boat or aircraft: the after deck
after- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
af-ter-birth /'ɑːftəbɜːθ||'æftərbɜːrθ/ n the material that comes out of a woman just after she has given birth to a child → compare PLACENTA
af-ter-care /'ɑːftəkeə||'æftər-/ n [U] the care or treatment given to someone after a period in hospital, prison etc
af-ter-ef-fect /'ɑːftərɪfekt||'æf-/ n [often pl.] an effect (usually unpleasant) that follows some time after the cause or after the main effect
After 'Eight trademark a type of flat, square, chocolate-covered soft PEPPERMINT sweet which is popular especially after formal meals
af-ter-glow /'ɑːftəgləʊ||'æftər-/ n [C usually sing.] 1 the light that remains in the western sky after the sun has set 2 a pleasant feeling that remains after a happy experience or event
af-ter-life /'ɑːftəlaɪf||'æftər-/ n pl. -lives /laɪvz/ [C usually sing.] 1 life after death 2 the later part of a person's life, especially after a particular event → compare HEREAFTER
af-ter-math /'ɑːftəmæθ||'æftər-/ n [(of) usually sing.] the result or period following a bad event such as an accident, storm, war etc: the danger of disease in the aftermath of the earthquake
af-ter-noon /ˌɑːftə'nuːn||æftər-/ n [C;U] the period between midday and either sunset or the end of the day's work: a hot afternoon | on Tuesday afternoons | I'll have a sleep in the afternoon. | tomorrow afternoon | an afternoon swim | in the early/late afternoon → compare EVENING
af-ter-noons /ˌɑːftə'nuːnz||æftər-/ adv especially AmE in the afternoon repeatedly; during any afternoon: I'm always out in the afternoons.
afternoon 'tea n [C;U] BrE, AustrE a drink of tea and sometimes a light meal taken at about four o'clock in the afternoon
CULTURAL NOTE In the UK, afternoon tea is traditionally a rather formal meal where you drink tea and eat small SANDWICHES (especially CUCUMBER sandwiches), SCONES, and cakes. Not many British people now have this type of meal at home, but it is still served in some hotels and in special TEAROOMS that serve tea in delicate, finely painted cups.
af-ters /'ɑːftəz||'æftərz/ n [P] BrE infml the part of a meal that comes after the main dish; DESSERT: What are we having for afters?
after-'sales service n [U] the services such as providing SPARE PARTS, repairs, and advice offered to customers after they have bought something: The company provides a very good after-sales service.
af-ter-shave /'ɑːftəʃeɪv||'æftər-/ also 'after shave lotion n [C;U] a liquid with a pleasant smell for use on the face after shaving (SHAVE)
af-ter-shock /'ɑːftəʃɒk||'æftərʃɑːk/ n 1 a small EARTHQUAKE that happens after a larger one 2 the effects of a shocking event: the war and its aftershocks
af-ter-taste /'ɑːftəteɪst||'æftər-/ n a taste, especially an unpleasant taste, that stays in the mouth after the food that caused it is no longer there: (fig.) The angry exchange of words left an unpleasant aftertaste.
af-ter-thought /'ɑːftəθɔːt||'æftər-/ n 1 an idea that comes later 2 something added later, especially something that was not part of the original plan: The conservatory was an afterthought, added on to the building several years later.
af-ter-wards /'ɑːftəwədz||'æftərwərdz/ also af-ter-ward /-wərd||-wərd/ AmE — adv later; after that
AFTRA /'æftrə/ abbrev. for American Federation of Television