walk
walk up phr v [I usually imperative] infml (used when inviting people to come in and see a performance, especially outdoors, such as a CIRCUS) to enter: Walk up, ladies and gentlemen!
walk² n 1 [S] a natural way of moving on foot in which a person's feet are lifted one at a time, in such a way that one foot is always touching the ground: He set off at a brisk walk. 2 [S] the movement of creatures with four legs in which there are always at least two feet on the ground: He slowed the horse into a walk. 3 [C] a usually short journey on foot, especially for exercise or pleasure: Let's go for/take a (short) walk. | She's taken the dog for a walk. | a ten-mile walk | a sponsored walk | a space walk 4 [C] a place, path, or course for walking: There are some beautiful walks in Sussex. 5 [S] a distance to be walked: The station's just a few miles' walk/a ten-minute walk from here. 6 [S] the manner or style of walking: His walk is just like his father's. | an odd walk ➜ see also WALK OF LIFE 7 [C] (in BASEBALL) the going to the first of four points (BASES) without having to hit the ball because the PITCHER has thrown four balls outside the area he must aim at: The pitcher threw four walks in a row before being removed from the game.
walk·a·bout /ˈwɔːkəbaʊt/ n 1 a period spent, especially by an Australian ABORIGINE, away from regular work travelling about on foot through the country 2 infml, especially BrE a walk through crowds by an important person, mixing and talking informally with the people: The Queen did her now-traditional walkabout in the main square.
walk·a·way /ˈwɔːkəweɪ/ n AmE infml an easy victory: That race was just a walkaway for my horse. ➜ see also WALK AWAY FROM
Walk·en, Christopher /ˈwɔːkən/ (1943–) an American actor whose films include The Deer Hunter, A View to a Kill, and Pulp Fiction
walk·er /ˈwɔːkəʳ/ n 1 a person who walks, especially for pleasure or exercise: a fast walker | a keen hill-walker 2 an apparatus for helping someone to walk, especially a frame used by babies or people who cannot walk properly ➜ compare ZIMMER FRAME
Walker, Al·ice /ˈælɪs/ (1944–) a US writer best known for her novel The Color Purple, which won a PULITZER PRIZE, and which was made into a successful film
Walker Cup, the a GOLF competition between two teams, one British and one American, of non-professional male golfers
walk·ies /ˈwɔːkiːz/ n [P] BrE infml (used to dogs) a walk: Come along, Spot; let's go walkies! (=go for a walk)
walk·ie·talk·ie /ˌwɔːki ˈtɔːki/ n a two-way radio that can be carried, allowing one to talk as well as listen
'walk-in adj [A] especially AmE 1 large enough to be walked into: a walk-in closet 2 easy (especially in the phrase walk-in victory)
walk·ing /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/ adj [A] 1 used in the process of moving on foot: walking shoes 2 consisting of or done by travelling on foot: a walking holiday/tour 3 infml human: She knows so many words that she's a walking dictionary!
'walking papers n [P] AmE infml for MARCHING ORDERS
'walking stick n 1 a stick used for supporting someone while walking ➜ see picture at STICK 2 AmE for STICK INSECT
Walk·man /ˈwɔːkmæn/ trademark a type of PERSONAL STEREO made by the SONY Corporation. Walkmans were the first personal stereos, and people often use the name Walkman to mean any type of personal stereo.
walk of 'life n a position in society, especially either one's job or one's social rank: The club's membership includes people from all walks of life/every walk of life.
'walk-on n (someone who has) a small usually non-speaking part in a play: a walk-on part
walk·out /ˈwɔːk-aʊt/ n 1 the action of leaving a meeting or organization as an expression of disapproval: a walkout by/of the Russian delegation 2 a STRIKE especially at its start: The walkout was caused by a disagreement over pay and working conditions. | The union staged a walkout over the issue. ➜ see also WALK OUT
walk·o·ver /ˈwɔːkˌəʊvəʳ/ n infml 1 an easy victory 2 an advance from one part of a competition to the next without having to compete against anyone, because of the sickness or WITHDRAWAL of one's opponent ➜ see also WALK OVER
'walk-through n the actions of practising a part or PROCEDURE; a REHEARSAL ➜ see also WALK THROUGH
'walk-up n, adj [C;A] AmE infml 1 (a flat, office etc) in a tall block with no LIFT: It's not easy living in a 6th-floor walk-up. 2 (a block of flats) that is tall but has no LIFT
walk·way /ˈwɔːkweɪ/ n a road or path etc built especially for people to walk on: a pedestrian walkway | Let's cross over on the walkway.
wall¹ /wɔːl/ 1 also walls pl. — n an upright dividing surface, especially of stone or brick, intended for defence or safety, or for enclosing something: The garden was surrounded by a high brick wall. | a garden/cellar wall | the ancient city walls of Cairo | (fig.) A wall of fire advanced through the dry forest. | (fig.) Our enquiries were met by a wall of silence. (=no one would tell us anything) ➜ compare FENCE; see also CHINESE WALL 2 the side of a building or room: He painted the walls blue. | Hang that picture on the wall. | a wall plaque 3 the covering or inner surface of something hollow: the walls of a blood vessel 4 to the wall BrE into a hopeless position: Unless the company gets some more investment soon it will go to the wall. (=be ruined) 5 up the wall infml in or into a state of great anger or near madness 6 Walls have ears infml Other people may hear us ➜ see also OFF-THE-WALL, have one's back to the wall (BACK¹), bang one's head against a brick wall (HEAD¹), the writing is on the wall (WRITING)
wall² v [T] to provide, cover, or surround with a wall: an old walled town in Portugal
wall sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T(from)] to separate or close with one or more walls: This part of the house is walled off (from the rest of the house).
wall sbdy./sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] 1 to close (an opening) with a wall: The door had been walled up. 2 also wall in — to build a wall in order to keep (someone or something) in: The prisoner was walled up by his captors.
Wal·la·bies, the /ˈwɒləbiːz||ˈwɑː-/ n [plural] Australia's international Rugby Union team
wal·la·by /ˈwɒləbi||ˈwɑː-/ n a small Australian animal related to the KANGAROO
Wal·lace, Ed·gar /ˈwɒləs||ˈwɑː-ˈedʒəʳ/ (1875–1932) a British writer, well known for his crime stories, many of which were filmed for television
Wallace, George (1919–98) a US politician in the DEMOCRATIC PARTY who was Governor of Alabama for most of the period between 1963 and 1987. He is often considered to be RACIST because he supported SEGREGATION. He was shot in 1972, when he was trying to be chosen to represent the Democratic Party in the election for President, and after that he had to use a WHEELCHAIR.
Wallace, Mike (1918–) a US television news REPORTER and INTERVIEWER. He helped start the television news magazine programme 60 Minutes in 1968. He is known for asking people difficult questions and for repeating the questions if he doesn't get a proper answer.
Wallace, Sir William (1272–1305) a Scottish soldier and politician, who was a leader of the fight to keep Scotland independent of England. After being defeated in battle by the English king, Edward I, he was taken to London and hanged. He is regarded in Scotland as a national HERO, and the film Braveheart (1995) tells his story.
Wallace and Grom·it /ˌwɒləs ən ˈgrɒmɪt||wɑːləs ən ˈɡroː-/ trademark two characters in British CARTOON films made by Nick Park, which are extremely popular with both adults and children. Wallace is a man who is nice but rather stupid, who loves cheese, and who is always inventing new machines that do not work very well. Gromit, his dog, is extremely intelligent, and can read, fly a plane, ride a MOTORCYCLE, and together they catch criminals.
wal·lah, -la /ˈwɒlə||ˈwɑːlə/ n IndE & PakE a person, usually male, who has the stated type of work or does the stated duty or service: the book wallah
wall·chart /ˈwɔːltʃɑːt||-ɑːrt/ n a large piece of paper with information on it, often in pictures, that is fastened to a wall, especially in a classroom
Wal·ler, Fats /ˈwɒləʳ||ˈwɑː-, fæts/ (1904–43) a US JAZZ piano