1453
time
tight·fist·ed /ˌtaɪtˈfɪstəd/ adj infml very ungenerous, espe-
cially with money; STINGY: a tightfisted old skinflint —ness
n [U]
tight·knit /ˌtaɪtˈnɪt/ adj AmE well arranged: a tightknit plan
tight·lipped adj 1 having the lips pressed together, espe-
cially in determination or anger 2 unwilling to talk; silent:
He remained tight-lipped when questioned about his resigna-
tion.
tight·rope /ˈtaɪt-rəʊp/ n a tightly stretched rope or wire,
high above the ground, on which tightrope walkers per-
form: (fig.) The government is walking a tightrope between
being too tough and not wanting to seem too weak.
tightrope walker n a person skilled in walking or doing
tricks on a tightrope
tights /taɪts/ n [P] 1 BrE || panty hose AmE — a very close
fitting garment made of thin material which one can see
through and covering the legs and lower part of the body, as
worn by girls and women 2 a similar garment which is
usually coloured and cannot be seen through 3 especially BrE ||
usually leotard AmE — a similar garment covering the legs and
body, worn by ACROBATS, BALLET dancers etc ➔ see PAIR
(USAGE); compare NYLONS, SOCK, STOCKING
tight·wad /ˈtaɪtwɒd‖-wɑːd/ n AmE, infml derog a person who
does not spend or give money easily: His dad's a real
tightwad who won't give him a dime.
ti·gress /ˈtaɪgrəs/ n a female tiger
Ti·gris, the /ˈtaɪgrəs/ a river in southwest Asia, flowing
through Turkey and Iraq. The area between the Tigris and
another river, the Euphrates, is called Mesopotamia, and
several of the world's most ancient cities were built in this
area.
tik·ka /ˈtiːkə/ n [U] a type of Indian food that consists of
small pieces of meat covered in spices, and cooked: chicken
tikka
Tik·rit /tɪˈkrit/ a town in Iraq, northwest of Baghdad on the
Tigris river. It is the place where Saddam Hussein was born
and where many of his supporters came from, including
important members of his government and soldiers in the
Republican Guard. In December 2003, US soldiers found
Hussein hiding in Ad Dawr, a town near Tikrit.
til, 'til /tɪl/ prep, conj AmE nonstandard TILL
til·de /ˈtɪldə/ n a mark (~) placed over the letter n in Spanish
as a sign that it is to be pronounced /nj/
tile¹ /taɪl/ n 1 a thin shaped piece of baked clay used for
covering roofs, walls, floors etc 2 an object like this made
from plastic, rubber etc, and used for covering floors and
walls: cork tiles 3 a marked playing piece used in certain
games: Scrabble® tiles 4 (out) on the tiles BrE infml enjoying
oneself in a wild manner: a night on the tiles
tile² v [T] to cover (a roof, floor, wall etc) with tiles: a tiled
floor —tiler n
till¹ /tɪl, tl/ prep, conj until: I'll keep it for you till Monday/till
you come back. ➔ see TO (USAGE)
till² /tɪl/ n a drawer where money is kept in a shop ➔ see also
have/with one's fingers in the till (FINGER)
till³ v [T] old use to cultivate (the ground) —er n
till·age /ˈtɪlɪdʒ/ n [U] old use the act or practice of cultivating
land
til·ler /ˈtɪlər/ n a long handle fastened to a small boat's
RUDDER so that it can be turned easily
tilt¹ /tɪlt/ v [I,T] to (cause to) slope (as if) by raising one end:
The table top suddenly tilted and all the plates and glasses
crashed onto the floor. | (fig.) This piece of evidence may tilt the
balance of opinion against the defendant.
tilt at sbdy. phr v [T] 1 to attack in speech or writing 2 (in
former times) to charge at with a LANCE 3 tilt at windmills to
fight imaginary enemies
tilt² n 1 [C,U] a slope: She wore her hat at a tilt over her left
eye. 2 [C] an act of tilting; tilting movement 3 [C(at)] an
attack in speech or writing: In his newspaper column this
week he has one of his regular tilts at modern fashions. 4 (at)
full tilt infml at full speed; with full force: They rode down the
hill at full tilt.
tim·ber¹ /ˈtɪmbər/ n 1 [U] BrE || usually lumber AmE — wood for
building 2 [U] growing trees, especially considered as a
supply of wood for building 3 [C] a wooden beam, espe-
cially forming part of a structure, such as a ship or a roof ➔
see also HALF-TIMBERED
tim·ber² /ˈtɪmbɜːr/ interj (a warning shouted when a cut tree
is about to fall down)
Tim·ber·lake, Jus·tin
/ˈtɪmbərleɪk‖-ər-, ˈdʒʌstɪn/
(1981–) a US TEEN POP singer
who first became famous
with the 1990s band 'N
Sync. He is known for being
sexually attractive.
tim·ber·land /ˈtɪmbəlænd‖
-ər-/ n [C,U] AmE an area of
land that is covered by trees,
especially ones that will be
used for wood
Tim·ber·land
/ˈtɪmbəlænd‖-bɜːr-/ trademark
a BRAND (=type) of expen-
sive, strongly-made clothing
and shoes which people buy
for camping, walking, and
wearing outdoors
tim·ber·line /ˈtɪmbəlaln‖-ər-/ n [the S] the TREELINE
tim·bre /ˈtæmbər, ˈtɪm-/ n [C,U] tech the quality in a sound
which allows one to tell the difference between sounds of
the same level and loudness when made by different musi-
cal instruments or voices
tim·brel /ˈtɪmbrəl/ n old use for TAMBOURINE
Tim·buk·tu /ˌtɪmbʌkˈtuː/ a city on the edge of the Sahara
Desert in Mali, West Africa, whose correct name is Tombouc-
tou. People sometimes mention Timbuktu as an example of
a place that is very far away: enough cars to stretch from here
to Timbuktu
time¹ /taɪm/ n 1 [U] a continuous measurable quantity from
the past, through the present, and into the future: The
universe exists in space and time. 2 [U] the passing of the
days, months, and years, considered as a whole: Time goes
by/passes quickly when you're enjoying yourself. | In ten years'
time (=10 years from now) the children will all have grown
up. | Only time will tell if you're right. (=in the future we
will find out if you were right) | They'll have to change their
decision; it's only a matter/question of time. (=it must
happen, but we do not yet know when) 3 [U] a particular
system of measuring time: British Summer Time | Eastern
Standard Time 4 [S;U] a limited period, e.g. the period that
passes between two events, or the period needed or allowed
for the completion of an action: It will take you a long time
to learn French properly. | Take more time and care over your
work. | That all happened some time ago. | I don't get much
time to watch television. (=periods when I have nothing else
to do, and therefore can watch television) | I'd love to stop
and talk but I'm afraid I haven't got (the) time. (=I am too
busy doing other things) | The traffic was light, so we made
good time. (=went more quickly than expected) | What do
you do in your spare time/free time? (=when you are not
working, studying etc) | I can't decide yet – I need more time to
think. 5 [C] an occasion: Every time I go there I seem to get
sick. | 'How many times did you try to phone her?' 'I called
seven times.' | Next time you're in London come and visit us. |
Nine times out of ten (=nearly always) the train is late. 6 [C]
also times pl. — a period or occasion and the particular
experience connected with it: We had a good time at the
party. | We had the time of our lives. (=we enjoyed ourselves