put on phr v [T] 1 [(put sthg. ⇔ on)] to cover (part of) the body with (especially clothing); get dressed in: She put her hat and coat on. | He put on his glasses to read the letter. → opposite TAKE OFF; see DRESS (USAGE) 2 [(put sthg. ⇔ on)] to cause (a light, an electrical apparatus etc) to operate by pressing or turning a button, SWITCH etc: Put on the light/the radio. | Have you put the heating on? 3 (put sthg. ⇔ on) (of a person) to increase in (weight) and grow fatter: I put on six pounds/a lot of weight while I was on holiday. 4 [(put sthg. on sthg.)] to add (an amount) to the cost or rate of: a tax increase that will put another 10p on the price of petrol 5 BrE [(put sthg. ⇔ on)] to provide in addition to existing services: So many people wanted to go to the match that another train had to be put on. 6 [(put sthg. on sthg.)] to state or guess (the price, value etc) of: What price would you put on this fine old silver cup? 7 [(put sthg. on sthg.)] to risk (something, especially money) on; BET on 8 [(put sthg. ⇔ on)] to pretend to have (an opinion, quality etc): She's not really ill; she puts it on to get people's sympathy. 9 [(put sthg. ⇔ on)] to arrange for the performance of (a play, show etc); STAGE 10 [(put sbdy. on)] infml, especially AmE to play a trick on; deceive: 'My dog can sing.' 'No, you're putting me on!' → see also PUT-ON
put sbdy. onto sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] infml to give information about (someone or something good): I can't help you myself, but I can put you onto a good lawyer.
put out phr v 1 [T(put sthg. ⇔ out)] to cause to stop burning: It took them six hours to put the fire out. | She put out the light. 2 [T(put sbdy. out)] a) to upset or annoy: She was so put out by his rudeness that she didn't know what to say. b) to cause inconvenience to: Will it put you out if I bring another guest? | She never puts herself out (=takes trouble) to help people. 3 [T(put sthg. ⇔ out)] to produce, broadcast, or print; ISSUE: The government has put out a statement denying these rumours. 4 [T(put sthg. ⇔ out)] to put (part of the body) out of place; DISLOCATE: I can't play tennis today, I've put my shoulder out. 5 [I(to)] to begin sailing; move away from the shore or coast: We put out to sea at high tide. 6 [T(put sbdy. out)] (especially of a doctor etc) to make (someone) unconscious 7 [I(for)] AmE slang (of a woman) to be willing to have sex with someone 8 [T(put sbdy. out)] (in BASEBALL and CRICKET) to prevent (a player) from scoring (SCORE) by removing him/her from play
put sthg. ⇔ over phr v [T] to PUT across: He can't put his ideas over clearly enough.
put sthg. over on sbdy. phr v [T] infml to deceive into believing or accepting (something worthless): He tried to put one over on me (=cheat me) by selling me a car that didn't work.
put through phr v [T] 1 [(put sbdy/sthg. through)] a) to connect (a telephone caller) by telephone: If she's not in, can you put me through to her secretary? b) to make (a telephone call): I have to put through a call to our Madrid office. 2 [(put sthg. ⇔ through)] to complete (a piece of work or business) successfully: Production will start up again when these changes have been put through. 3 put someone through it/through the mill infml to give someone a severe test of courage or ability
put sbdy./sthg. to sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to ask (a question) of or make (an offer) to: I'd like to put a question to the speaker. 2 to test (something or someone) by (the stated means): Let's put the matter to a vote/to a full discussion. 3 put it to someone (that) to suggest; invite someone to consider (that): I put it to you that you haven't told us the full facts. → see also be hard put (to it) to (HARD)
put sbdy./sthg. ⇔ together phr v [T] 1 to form by combining parts or members: to put a team together | to put together a proposal 2 [usually pass.] to combine: His share was more than all the others' put together.
put up phr v 1 [T(put sthg. ⇔ up)] to build or raise into position: Have you put up the tent? | They're putting up a new office block. 2 [T(put sthg. ⇔ up)] to fix (especially a notice) in a public place where people can see it: She put up the exam results. → opposite TAKE DOWN 3 [T(put sthg. ⇔ up)] to increase in amount: They've put the price up. 4 a) [T(put sbdy. ⇔ up)] to provide food and lodging for: I'm afraid I can't put you up; you'll have to go to a hotel. b) [I+adv/prep] especially BrE to get food and lodging; stay: We'll put up at a hotel/with friends for the night. 5 [T(put up sthg.)] to show, or give in a fight or competition: They put up a lot of resistance. | What a coward; he didn't put up much of a fight! 6 [T(put sthg. up)] to offer for sale: She's putting her house up (for sale). 7 [T(put sthg. ⇔ up)] to supply or lend (money needed): The plans for the new sports centre are all prepared, but someone will have to put up £50,000. 8 [T(put sbdy. ⇔ up)] to suggest as being a suitable person for a job etc: Will you put Tom up for the cricket club? (=suggest him as a member) 9 [T(put sthg. ⇔ up)] tech to make (a hunted animal or bird) leave a hiding place → see also put someone's back up (BACK)
put upon sbdy. phr v [T] especially BrE to be a cause of inconvenience to: You're sure I won't be putting upon you if I stay to dinner? → see also PUT-UPON
put sbdy. up to sthg. phr v [T] to give the idea of (doing especially something bad): It's not like David to cause trouble: someone must have put him up to it.
put up with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T pass. rare] infml to suffer (something annoying or unpleasant) without complaining: I can't put up with your rudeness any more; leave the room. That woman has a lot to put up with. (=has many troubles)
put $ ^{2} $ n tech the right to sell a certain quantity of something (for example SHAREs) at a fixed price within a given time → compare CALL
pu·ta·tive /'pjʊtətɪv/ adj [A] fml generally accepted or sup-
posed to be or to become: the putative father of her child
'put-down n infml words, especially as an answer, that make someone feel unimportant or hurt; SNUB → see also PUT DOWN
Pu·tin, Vlad·i·mir /'pu:tin, 'vlaedəmiər/ (1952-) a Russian politician who became President of Russia in 2000. He is known as a strong leader who supports the Russian military in Chechnya. Before becoming president, Putin worked for the KGB for many years.
'put-off n infml, especially AmE a pretended reason for not doing something; excuse → see also PUT OFF
'put-on n AmE infml something not intended seriously or sincerely → see also PUT ON
'put ,option n the right to sell an ASSET at an agreed price by a particular date
pu·tre·fac·tion /,pju·trə'fækʃən/ n [U] fml, or tech 1 the process of becoming putrid 2 putrid matter
pu-tre-fy /'pju:trəfaɪ/ v [ɒt] to decay; (cause to) become putrid
putres·cent /pjuːˈtresənt/ adj fml or tech beginning to decay and smell bad: putrescent fish —-cence n [U]
pu·trid /'pju:trd/ adj 1 (especially of an animal or plant substance) very decayed and bad-smelling 2 infml worthless; very much disliked: That play last night was really putrid!
putsch /putʃ/ n a sudden secretly planned attempt to remove a government by force
putt /pʌt/ v [l;T] (in the game of GOLF or PUTTING) to strike (the ball) gently along the ground towards or into the hole —putt n
put-ter¹ /'putər/ n [(of)] a person who puts something
putter·er² /'pʌtər/ n (in the game of GOLF) 1 a GOLF CLUB used in putting (PUTT) the ball 2 a person who PUTTS: an expert putter
put•ter³ /'pɑtər/ n, v AmE for POTTER
put·ting /ˈpʌtɪŋ/ n [U] a simple game of GOLF played on a PUTTING GREEN in public parks and seaside towns. Putting is popular with British people and is played especially on holiday.
'putting green n 1 one of the smooth grassy areas on a GOLF course containing the hole where the ball must be played 2 a smooth grassy area in a public park etc with a number of holes where the game of putting is played
Putt·nam, David /'pʌtnəm/ (1941-) a British film producer who produced films which include Bugsy Malone (1976), Chariots of Fire (1981), which won an Oscar, and The Killing Fields (1984). He has had several jobs as an adviser to the government about arts and education. His official title is Lord Puttnam of Queensgate.
put·ty /ˈpʌti/ n [U] a soft pale oily substance, used especially in fixing glass to window frames: He was like putty in her hands. (=very easily influenced by her)
'put-up job n [C usually sing.] infmi something dishonestly arranged in advance
'put-up,on adj [F] (of a person) used for someone else's