above
4
bit of bribery if it will get them what they want. 6 above all
(else) most important of all: And above all, remember to send
us your comments. 7 get above oneself to have too much
trust in one's own cleverness → see also over and above
(OVER)
The prepositions above and over can often be
used in the same way: Let's hang the painting
over/above the fireplace. Use over if there is an idea of
movement: The bird flew over the lake. | The sheep
jumped over the wall. Also use over if there is an idea of
covering: He pulled the blanket over his head and fell
asleep. | They built a roof over the courtyard.
above² adv 1 in or to a higher place; higher: I heard some
noises coming from the room above. | A shout from above
warned me of the danger. 2 more; higher: the numbers 20
and above | children of six or above (=six or older) | a military
meeting for captains and above (=of higher rank) 3 on an
earlier page or higher on the same page: the facts mentioned
above → opposite BELOW
above³ adj [A;after n] fml mentioned on an earlier page or
higher on the same page: For an explanation, see the above
section/the section above. | [also n, the+C, pl. above] The above is
the profit before tax. | All the above are asked to attend
tomorrow's meeting.
a·bove·board /əˌbʌvˈbɔːd, əˌbʌvˈbɔːd||əˌbʌvˈbɔːrd/ adj [F]
without any attempt to deceive: Don't worry; it's all open
and aboveboard.
a·bove-ˈmen·tioned adj [A] fml ABOVE³: the above-mentioned
facts | [also n, the+P] ... Williams, Brown, and Jones. The
above-mentioned will attend the course. → compare UNDER-
MENTIONED
ab·ra·ca·dab·ra /ˌæbrəkəˈdæbrə/ n, interj (a word spoken to
help magic to be successful, when performing magic tricks
for entertainment)
a·brade /əˈbreɪd/ v [I;T] tech to wear away by hard rubbing
A·bra·ham /ˈeɪbrəhæm, -hæm/ in the Old Testament of the
Bible, a religious leader who is regarded as the person who
established the JEWS as a nation. Abraham was asked by God
to kill his son ISAAC as a human SACRIFICE because he
wanted to test Abraham's faith. Then because Abraham had
shown that he was willing to obey God and kill his own son,
a RAM (=a male sheep) was used instead as a sacrifice.
A·bram·o·vich, Ro·man /ˈæbrəməvɪtʃ||ˈæbrɑː-,
ˈrɑʊmən||ˈraʊmɪn/ (1966–) a Russian businessman who
became very rich through his oil company. He became the
owner of Chelsea Football Club in 2003 and spent a lot of
money buying famous players, which has helped Chelsea
become one of England's most successful teams. He has also
been the GOVERNOR of Chukotka, a region in Russia.
a·bra·sion /əˈbreɪʒən/ n tech 1 [U] loss of surface by rub-
bing; wearing away 2 [C] a place where the surface, espe-
cially of the skin, has been rubbed or worn away: suffering
from multiple abrasions
a·bra·sive¹ /əˈbreɪsɪv/ adj 1 causing the wearing away of a
surface 2 causing annoyance or dislike; rough: an abrasive
voice/personality —ly adv
abrasive² n [C;U] a substance, such as sand, used for clean-
ing, polishing, or removing a surface
a·breast /əˈbrest/ adv 1 next to one another and facing the
same way: They were cycling two abreast. 2 keep/be
abreast of to know the most recent facts about: Read the
papers if you want to keep abreast of the times/of the latest
developments in the news.
a·bridge /əˈbrɪdʒ/ v [T] to make (something written or
spoken) shorter: the abridged version of 'War and Peace' →
see also UNABRIDGED
a·bridg·ment, abridgement /əˈbrɪdʒmənt/ n 1 [C]
something, such as a book or play, that has been made
shorter: an abridgment for radio in five parts 2 [U] the act of
making shorter
a·broad /əˈbrɔːd/ adv 1 to or in another country or coun-
tries: He lived abroad for many years. | Are you going abroad
for your holidays? | products sold both at home and
abroad 2 fml over a wide area; everywhere: The news soon
spread abroad. 3 old use out of doors: There was no one
abroad so early.
ab·ro·gate /ˈæbrəɡeɪt/ v [T] fml to put an end to the force of:
to abrogate a law/a treaty —gation /ˌæbrəˈɡeʃən/ n [C;U]
a·brupt /əˈbrpt/ adj 1 sudden and unexpected: The meeting
came to an abrupt end. | an abrupt change of policy/drop in
oil prices 2 (of behaviour, character etc) not wanting to waste
time being nice; BRUSQUE: an abrupt manner —ly adv: Our
discussion was abruptly curtailed. —ness n [U]
abs /æbz/ n [P] infml the muscles on your ABDOMEN (=stomach)
ABS /ˌei biː ˈes/ n [U] abbrev. for ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM; a
piece of equipment that makes a vehicle easier to control
when you have to stop very suddenly
ab·scess /ˈæbses/ n a swelling on or in the body where PUS
(=a thick yellowish poisonous liquid) has gathered
ab·scond /əbˈskɒnd, æb-||æbˈskɑːnd/ v [I(from, with)] fml to go
away suddenly and secretly because one has done some-
thing wrong
ab·seil /ˈæbseɪl/ especially BrE || usually rappel AmE — v [I(down)]
to descend a steep slope using a rope —abseil n
ab·sence /ˈæbsəns/ n 1 [C;U(from)] the state or a period of
being away: Caroline will be in charge of the office during my
absence. | She took a year's leave of absence (=official pause)
from her job. | Jane was conspicuous by her absence.
(=people noticed she was not there) | After a long absence, he
has returned to doing TV work. → opposite PRES-
ENCE 2 [U(of)] non-existence; lack: We were worried by the
absence of definite figures in the report. | In the absence of
any further evidence (=because there was none) the police
were unable to solve the murder. 3 absence makes the
heart grow fonder saying one likes a person better when one
has been away from him/her for a little time; one forgets the
less attractive things about a person
ab·sent¹ /ˈæbsənt/ adj 1 [(from)] not present: How many
students are absent (from class) today? 2 [A] showing lack of
attention: an absent expression on his face 3 fml not existing;
lacking: In the Manx type of cat, the tail is absent. → see also
ABSENTLY 4 absent friends (a phrase used when drinking,
to show that one is thinking about people who are not able
to be present): I propose a toast – absent friends.
ab·sent² /əbˈsent, æb-||æb-/ v [T(from)] fml to keep (oneself)
away: He absented himself from the meeting.
ab·sen·tee /ˌæbsənˈtiː/ n a person who ought to be
present but stays away: There were many absentees from the
meeting. | an absentee landlord (=who does not live near the
property he owns)
absentee ˈballot n AmE an official paper used to vote by
post when one cannot go to the place where voting is being
done
ab·sen·tee·ism /ˌæbsənˈtiːɪzəm/ n [U] regular absence
from work or duty without good cause: an industry with a
high rate of absenteeism
absentee ˈvote n AmE a vote which is sent by post because
one cannot go to the place where voting is being done
ab·sen·ti·a /æbˈsentiə/ n in absentia fml in his/her/their
absence
ab·sent·ly /ˈæbsəntli/ adv in an absent-minded manner
absent-ˈminded adj too concerned with one's thoughts to
notice what is happening, what one is doing etc; PREOCCU-
PIED —ly adv —ness n [U]
absent-minded proˈfessor n a STEREOTYPE of a univer-
sity teacher who is usually a fairly old man and is very
clever, but too concerned with his work and ideas to notice
or remember things that are happening around him
ab·sinth, absinthe /ˈæbsɪnθ/ n [U] a bitter green very
strong alcoholic drink
ab·so·lute¹ /ˈæbsəluːt/ adj 1 [A] complete; perfect: a woman
of absolute honesty | That's absolute nonsense! 2 [A] not
allowing any doubt: We now have absolute proof of his
guilt. 3 having complete power; without limit: an absolute
ruler/monarchy | The general's power was absolute. → see
also ABSOLUTISM 4 not measured by comparison with other
things: In absolute terms, wages have risen, but not in com-
parison with the cost of living. → opposite RELATIVE → see
also DEGREE ABSOLUTE —ness n [U]