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Mulberry Street. | (AmE) What street did you say you lived on? | (AmE) I met her on the street the other day. b) (used with words about travelling): on a journey | I'm on my way to school. 5 during; at the time of: They arrive on Tuesday. (AmE also They arrive Tuesday.) | on July 1st | on the morning of July 1st | She was rushed to hospital but was dead on arrival. | on the hour (=every hour at exactly 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock etc) (compare in the morning, in 1985, at 6 o'clock) 6 also upon fml — directly after (and often as a result of): acting on your advice | On hearing the news, she burst into tears. | On second thoughts (=after some consideration), let's not bother going out. → compare IN¹ 7 also upon fml — with regard to; about: a book on India | a lecture on philosophy | new evidence on the matter | keen on football → see USAGE 8 using as a means of travelling: on foot/horseback | on a ship | on the 9 o'clock train (compare in a car, by ship, by train) 9 by means of: They live on potatoes. | A car runs on petrol. | to hear it on the radio | to speak on the telephone (compare by telephone) | He cut his foot on (=against) a piece of glass. 10 supported by: He went round the world on the money his aunt gave him. | on the dole/on welfare | (infml) She's on drugs. (=uses them and depends on them) 11 (before a noun or the) in a state or process of: on fire | on sale | on holiday | Unemployment is on the increase. (=is increasing) | on offer | on purpose (compare by accident) 12 working for; belonging to: to serve on a committee | a job on a newspaper | Which side was he on in the game? 13 also upon fml — (between repeated words for unpleasant things) added to; after: to suffer defeat on defeat | Wave upon wave of enemy soldiers poured into the town. 14 by comparison with: a big improvement on your last essay | Sales are up on last year's figures. 15 infml (before PRONOUNS) with: Have you any money on you? 16 infml paid for by: Drinks are on me! 17 infml causing difficulty or inconvenience to: I'd just got through to her when the phone went dead on me. | The car broke down on us. 18 have/get something on someone slang to have/get information that can be used against someone: The police have nothing on me.
A book on rabbits is probably more formal and scientific than a book about rabbits which might, for example, be a children's story.
on² adv, adj [F] 1 continuously; not stopping: We worked on (and on) all night. | He just kept on talking. 2 further in space or time; forward: If you walk on you'll come to the church. | If any letters come, shall I send them on? (=to your new address) | It's time to move on. | I'll do it later on. (=afterwards) | (BrE) to put the clock on (=so that it shows a later time) 3 (so as to be) connected or in place: with his coat on | He had nothing (=no clothes) on. | The bus stopped, and we got on. | I fixed the handle back on. 4 with the stated part in front: The two cars crashed head on. 5 (especially of a machine or electrical apparatus) working; operating: Turn the light/the taps on. | Is the TV on? (fig.) He has only two speeds, on and off. → opposite OFF; compare IN³ 6 (of something that has been arranged) happening or going to happen: There's a new film on at the cinema. | I've nothing on tonight, so let's go out. → compare OFF¹ 7 (of actors) actually performing on the stage: You're on in two minutes! 8 be on about BrE infml & usually derog to keep talking, especially in a dull way and for too long, about: What's he on about now? 9 be on at (someone) infml to keep trying to persuade someone in a complaining way: She's always on at me to have my hair cut. 10 not on infml, especially BrE impossible; not acceptable or reasonable: You can't refuse to help her now - it's just not on! 11 on and off also off and on — from time to time; sometimes 12 on and on without stopping → see also ONTO, and so on (AND) 13 be on (for something) spoken to want to do something or be involved in it: What about Patrick? Is he on for the football game? | We're going to the club tonight. Are you on?
on³ also on side — n [the+S] (in cricket) LEG
on-air adj [A] broadcast while actually happening: an on-air interview
O-nas-sis, Aristotle /əu'næsɪs/ (1906-75) a Greek ship owner, known for being extremely rich, who married Jackie KENNEDY, the WIDOW of US President John F. KENNEDY, in 1968. Before that he had a long relationship with Maria CALLAS.
Onassis, Jackie → see KENNEDY, JACKIE
'on-board adj [A] carried on a ship, plane, car etc: an on-board computer
once¹ /wʌns/ adv 1 one time and no more: We've met only once. | They go there once a week. 2 at some time in the past; formerly: He once lived in Rome. | The town isn't as big as it was once/(fml) as once it was. | this once-great nation 3 once again now again, as in the past: With this new book she has once again proved her remarkable talent. 4 once and for all for the last time: Let's try to solve this problem once and for all. 5 once in a while sometimes, but not often: I still see my ex-wife once in a while. 6 once more a) one more time b) now again as before: John's back home once more. 7 once or twice several times; a few times: I've been there once or twice. 8 once upon a time (used to begin a story for small children) at some time in the past: Once upon a time there was a little girl, and her name was Alice. → see also all at once (ALL²)
once² n 1 [this/the+S] one time; one occasion: Do it just this once. | She did it just the once, and once was enough. 2 at once a) now; without delay: Do it at once! b) at the same time; together: Don't all talk at once! 3 (just) for once for this one time only: For once he was telling the truth.
once³ conj from the moment that; when: Once she arrives, we can start. | Once in bed, the children usually stay there.
Once in ,Royal ,David's 'City the title and first words of a well-known Christmas CAROL (=a traditional religious song)
'once-·over n give something a/the once-over infml to look at something quickly: He gave the car the once-over and decided not to buy it.
on·col·ogy /ɒŋ'kɒlədʒi||ɒŋ'kɑː-/ n [U] the part of medical science that deals with CANCER and TUMOURS —oncologist n
on·com·ing /'ɒnkʌmɪ||'ɒn-, 'ɑːn-/ adj [A] coming towards one; advancing: facing the oncoming traffic | (fig.) the oncoming winter
On·daat·je, Michael /ɒn'dɑːtjə||ɒn-/ (1943-) a Canadian writer, born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), whose books include The English Patient, which won the Booker Prize in 1992, and In the Skin of a Lion. The English Patient was made into a film, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1996.
one¹ /wʌn/ determiner, n 1 (the number) 1: Only one person came. | twenty-one | one thousand six hundred (1600) | one o'clock | page one | one pound fifty pence (=£1.50) | to combine two substances into one (substance) | There were three letters and one (of them) was for you. | one third (=1/3) of the Earth's surface is land and two thirds is sea. | one of your friends (=a friend of yours) 2 a certain, especially a) (before times): I met her one day/one afternoon in June. | early one morning b) fml (before a name, especially of a person not known to the speaker): The victim of the crime was one Arthur Nesbitt. 3 (especially before past or future times) some: Come again one day soon. (=some day soon) 4 [(with)] the same: Do you think we can all fit into the one room? | They are of one mind. (=of the same opinion) | I am one with you/of one mind with you on this. 5 (the) only: She's the one person I trust. | He's my one and only (=my only) friend. 6 (as opposed to another, the other etc) a particular example or type (of): He can't tell one tree from another. | One (of them) went North, the other went South. | Are we taking all these children? One or other is sure to be sick! 7 AmE infml certainly a(n); an unusually: I tell you, she's one wonderful girl! 8 also single AmE a one-dollar bill: Have you got five ones for five? | Give me the five back; I'll give you three ones and the right change. 9 a one old infml, especially BrE (expressing shocked admiration) an amusingly disrespectful person: Oh, you are a one! 10 a right one old infml, especially BrE a fool: You're a right one, losing the tickets again! 11 as one (man) fml all together; with the agreement of everyone 12 at one (with) fml in agreement (with): We, the opposition, are at one with the government on this (issue). 13 be one up (on someone) to have the advantage (over someone) → see also ONE-UPMAN-SHIP 14 for one as one (person, reason etc) of perhaps several: I for one think he's guilty. | For one thing, it costs too much. 15 in one a) also all in one — combined; together: She's president and secretary (all) in one. b) infml in only one attempt: She did it in one! 16 in ones and twos a few at a time 17 one after the other/after another singly; first one, then the next etc 18 one and all every one: The bride was