1569
wheeze² n 1 an act or sound of wheezing 2 BrE infml a clever and amusing trick or idea
wheezy /'wi:zi/ adj that wheezes, especially habitually: a wheezy chest —ily adv —iness n [U]
whelk /welk/ n a sea animal which lives in a shell, and is sometimes used as food
whelp /welp/ n a young animal, especially a dog or wild animal of the dog or cat family
when¹ /wen/ adv, conj 1 at what time; at the time that: When will they come? | Do you know when they're coming? | She'll tell us when to open it. | I jumped up when she called. | Things were different when I was a child. | Fire the rockets when I give the signal. | When completed, the new railway will run for 250 miles. 2 considering that: Why do you want a new job when you've got such a good one already? 3 even though; in spite of the fact that: They kept trying when they must have known it was hopeless.
when² pron 1 (in questions) what time: Since when has he had a beard? 2 which time: next May, by when the new house should be finished
whence /wens/ adv, pron old use (from) where: Whence came this man? | They returned to the land (from) whence they came.
→ compare WHITHER
when-ev-er /wen'evər/ adv, conj 1 at whatever time: Whenever I come here it rains. | Come whenever you like. | I'd like to see you whenever (it's) convenient. 2 (shows surprise) when: Whenever did you find time to do all that?
When Harry Met 'Sally (1989) a humorous romantic US film with Meg RYAN and Billy Crystal, about a man and a woman who meet several times over a period of 12 years, and who secretly love each other, but have problems communicating with each other, and so do not actually admit that they love each other until the end of the film
where /weər/ adv, conj at, to, or from what/which place, position, or situation; at or to the place that: Where do you live? | Where are you going? | I asked her where she was going. | Where did you get that book (from)? | Where will all this trouble lead? (=what result will it have?) | This is the building where I work. | I told him where to put it. | Sit where you like. | The crisis has reached a point where the receiver will have to be called in. | Where possible (=whenever it is possible) we use fresh local ingredients.
where-a-bouts¹ /,weərə'baʊts || 'weərəbaʊts/ adv (used in questions when an exact answer is not expected) where; in or to what place: Whereabouts did I leave my bag? | Whereabouts in Scotland do they live?
where-a-bouts² /'weərəbaʊts/ n [U+sing/pl. v] fml the place where a person or thing is: The escaped prisoner's whereabouts is/are still unknown.
where-as /weər'æz/ conj 1 (used to show an opposite or different fact, situation etc) but: They want a house, whereas we would rather live in a flat. | Whereas we want a flat, they would rather live in a house. 2 law (used at the beginning of a sentence, especially in official papers) since; because of the fact that
where-at /weər'æt/ adv, conj old use 1 WHEREUPON 2 at which; where
where-by /weə'baɪ||weər-/ adv fml 1 by means of which: a system whereby we can calculate future costs 2 according to which: a law whereby all children are to receive cheap milk
where-fore /'weəfɔːr || 'weər-/ adv, conj old use 1 why: Wherefore comest thou? 2 for that reason; therefore
where-fores /'weəfɔːz||'weərfɔːrz/ n → see WHY
where-in /weər'ɪn/ adv, conj fml or old use in what; in which: Wherein lies the difficulty? | the grave wherein he lies
where-of /weər'ɒv||weər'ʌv, -'ɑːv/ adv, conj fml or old use of what; of which
where-on /weər'ɒn||weər'ɔːn, -'ɑːn/ adv, conj fml or old use 1 on which: the table whereon lay the food 2 whereupon
where-so-ever /,weəsəʊ'evər || 'weərsəʊ,evər/ conj, adv lit for WHEREVER
where-to /weə'tuː||weər-/ also where-un-to /weər'ʌntuː, ,weərʌn'tuː||weər'ʌntuː/ old use — adv, conj fml or old use to what place; to which
where-u-pon /,weərə'pɒn||'weərəpɑːn, -pɔːn/ conj at once or soon after and because of which; at which point; as a result of which: One of the men insulted another, whereupon a fight broke out.
wher-ev-er /weər'evər/ adv 1 to or at whatever place, position, or situation: Wherever you go, I go too. | Sleep wherever you like. | Wherever possible (=whenever it is possible) the jobs are given to local people. 2 (shows surprise) where: Wherever did you get that idea?
where-with-al /'weəwɪðɔːl||'weər-/ n [the+S] sometimes humor the necessary means, especially money: I'd like a new car but I lack the wherewithal (to pay for it).
whet /wet/ v -tt- [T] 1 fml or lit to sharpen: He whetted his knife on the stone. 2 whet someone's appetite (of a taste or short experience) to make someone wish for more: Going to France for the day has whetted her appetite.
wheth-er /'weðər/ conj 1 if or not: He asked me whether she was coming. | I couldn't decide whether to do it. | It was uncertain whether she would recover. | The decision whether to see her was mine alone. | I worry about whether I hurt her feelings. | I wonder whether or not we should tell her. | I wonder whether we should tell her or not. 2 a) no matter if (or): I will go, whether you come with me or stay at home. b) (used to introduce two or more possibilities) I don't know if: I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, whether here or in New York. | Whether by accident or design (=through luck or on purpose) they met.
If can be used instead of whether in meaning 1. But we must use whether (not if) a before infinitives: The question is whether to go or stay b after prepositions: It depends on whether he's ready or not c after nouns: It's your decision whether you go or stay d with or not in sentences like this: I asked him whether or not he was coming.
whet-stone /'wetstəʊn/ n a stone used for sharpening cutting tools
whew /hjuː/ interj PHEW
whey /weɪ/ n [U] the watery part of sour milk after the solid part has been removed → compare CURD
which /wɪtʃ/ determiner, pron 1 (used in questions, when a choice is to be made) what particular one or ones: Which shoes shall I wear, the red ones or the brown ones? | Which of these books is yours? | Ask him which (one) he wants. (not Ask him which does he want.) | She comes from either Los Angeles or San Francisco, I can't remember which. 2 (shows what thing or things is/are meant): Did you see the letter which/that came today? | This is the book which/that I told you about. 3 (used especially in written language, after a COMMA to add more information to a sentence) a) (about a thing or things): The train, which takes only two hours to get there, is quicker than the bus, which takes three. b) (about the first part of the sentence): She said she'd been waiting for an hour, which was true. (=and this was true) | The police arrived, after which (=and after this) the situation became calmer. | She may have missed her train in which case (=if this is true) she won't arrive for another hour. 4 which is which? what is the difference between the two: The twins look so alike that I can't tell which is which.
Which? /wɪtʃ/ trademark a British magazine that tests products made by different companies and provides reports on them to help people decide which one to buy. Which? is known for providing useful information that can be trusted. There is a similar magazine in the US called Consumer Reports.
which-ev-er /wɪtʃ'evər/ determiner, pron 1 any (one) of the set that: Take whichever seat you like. | Choose whichever of them you like best. 2 no matter which: It has the same result, whichever way you do it.
whick-er /'wɪkər/ v [I] to NEIGH (=make the sound which horses make) gently —whicker n
Whicker, Al-an /'ælən/ (1925– ) a British BROADCASTER, known especially for his 1960s television programme Whicker's World in which he travelled to many different countries and visited rich people there.
whiff /wɪf/ n 1 [S(of)] a short-lasting smell or movement of air: Something good must be cooking; I got/caught a whiff of it through the window. | (fig.) a whiff of scandal 2 [C(of); usually pl.] an act of breathing in (air, smoke etc)