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preserve
presence is requested at the club meeting on Thursday. | He never seemed at ease in my presence. (=when I was there; when we were together) | The concert will be performed in the presence of the Queen. (=she will attend it) | The police scientists detected the presence of poison in the dead woman's blood. → opposite ABSENCE 2 [S] a group of people of the stated type in a place, regarded as a sign that they or their country are active or have influence there: He advocated the withdrawal of the American presence in the Lebanon. | There was a strong police presence at the anti-nuclear rally. 3 [S;U] apprec personal qualities and ways of behaving that have a strong effect on others: a man of great presence 4 [C usually sing.] a spirit or an influence that cannot be seen but is felt to be near: I could feel a strange presence in the room. 5 make one's presence felt to have a strong noticeable effect (on the people around one): Since she joined the team last season she has really made her presence felt. (=by playing well)
,presence of 'mind n [U] apprec the ability to act calmly, quickly, and wisely in conditions of sudden danger or surprise: When the fire started in the kitchen, John had the presence of mind to turn off the gas.
pres·ent¹ /'prezənt/ n 1 something that is given willingly, without the expectation that anything will be given in return; a gift: They unwrapped their Christmas presents. 2 make someone a present of something a) to give someone something as a gift: I don't want all these old books; I'll make you a present of them. b) infml to give something away to someone carelessly: They made the other team a present of a goal by careless play.
pre·sent² /prɪ'zent/ v 1 [T(to, with)] to give (something) away, especially at a ceremonial occasion: to present the prizes at the annual flower show | When Mr. Brown left the firm, the director presented a gold watch to him/presented him with a gold watch. | (fig.) His wife presented him with a brand-new baby girl. 2 [T(to, with)] to be the cause of: He's clever with computers; they present no problems to him. | His sudden resignation presents us with a tricky situation. 3 [T(to)] to offer for consideration or acceptance: When are the committee presenting their report? 4 [T(to)] to be when looked at; show: The grim walls of the prison present a forbidding picture to a new inmate. 5 [T] to provide for the public to see or hear in a theatre, cinema etc: The National Theatre is presenting 'King Lear' next month. 6 [T] to introduce and take part in (a television or radio show): And here to present the show tonight is Bob Hope. 7 [T(to)] fml to offer politely: Mrs Gottlieb presents her apologies, but she won't be able to attend. | Mr Cox presents his compliments (=greets you politely) and asks if you will join him. 8 [T(to)] fml to introduce (someone) formally, especially to someone of higher rank: He had the honour of being presented to the Queen. | May I present Mr. Jobbings? 9 present arms (used especially in giving a military order) to hold a weapon upright in front of the body as a ceremonial greeting to an officer or person of high rank 10 present itself a) (of an idea) to arrive in the mind, especially unexpectedly b) (of something possible) to happen: If the chance to buy this farm presents itself, buy it. 11 present oneself fml (of a person) to attend; arrive; be present: He was ordered to present himself at the chairman's office at nine o'clock next morning.
pres·ent³ /'prezənt/ adj 1 [F] in this/that place; here/there: How many people were present at the meeting? | Small amounts of the gas are present in the atmosphere. | It was unfair to discuss his case if he wasn't present. → opposite ABSENT 2 [A] existing or being considered now: What's your present address? | It's usually best to wait, but in the present case (=in this case) I'd advise you to act without delay. 3 [A] being the form of a verb that shows an existing state or act: 'He wants' and 'They are coming' are examples of verbs in the present tense. 4 [F] fml strongly felt, remembered, or imagined: The tragic death of her son last year is still present in her mind. 5 all present and correct humor a phrase said by someone who is reporting that all the people or things that should be in a place are now there 6 present company (always) excepted (used when making unfavourable or rude remarks about people) not including anyone now here in this place → see also PRESENTLY
present⁴ n [the] 1 the PRESENT time: encouraging them to live in the present and not have regrets over lost opportunities in the past | 'I'm thinking of asking her to marry me.' 'Well, there's no time like the present.' (=you should ask her now) 2 tech (in grammar) the form of a verb that shows what exists or is happening now → see also HISTORIC PRESENT 3 at present a) now; at this time; at this moment: She's busy at present and can't speak to you. b) during this period of time: At present he's Professor of Chemistry at Oxford. → see PRESENTLY (USAGE) 4 for the present now but not necessarily in the future: Let's leave things as they are for the present; we can always make changes later on if we have to.
pre·sent·a·ble /prɪ'zentəbəl/ adj. apprec suitable to be shown, heard etc, in public; fit to be seen and judged: He looked very presentable in his new suit. | I'm just going upstairs to make myself presentable (=make my appearance tidy) before the guests arrive. | The children made quite a presentable snowman. ---bly adv
pre·sen·ta·tion /ˌprezən'teɪʃən, prɪˈzen-, -zən-/ n 1 [C;U(of)] the act of presenting something: There are two presentations of the cabaret each night. | The presentation of prizes will begin at three o'clock. 2 [U(of)] the way in which something is said, offered, shown, explained etc, to others: It's this product's attractive presentation (=the way it is wrapped up, advertised etc) that makes it sell so well. 3 [C(on)] a talk, usually to a group of people, in which information is given: The sales director will give a short presentation on the new sales campaign. 4 [C;U] med the position in which a baby is lying in the mother's body just before birth ---al adj: Our party's policies are right; our only problems are presentational. (=we do not explain them in a way that makes them seem attractive)
presen'tation ,copy n a book given away free, especially by the writer
'present-day adj [A no comp.] modern; existing now
pres·en·tee·ism /ˌprezən'tiːɪzəm/ n [U] a situation when people spend a lot of time at work, even if they are ill or could take a holiday, because they want their employers to see that they are working very hard → compare ABSENTEEISM
pre·sent·er /prɪ'zentər/ especially BrE || announcer, host AmE — n a person who PRESENTS a television or radio show
pre·sen·ti·ment /prɪ'zentɪmənt/ n [(of)] fml an unexplained uncomfortable feeling that something, especially something bad, is going to happen; PREMONITION: a presentiment of danger
pres·ent·ly /'prezəntli/ adv 1 in a short time; soon: The doctor will be here presently. 2 especially AmE & ScotE at present; now: The doctor is presently writing a book.
USAGE British speakers are beginning to use presently to mean 'now', as the Americans do, rather than 'soon'. At present always means 'now'.
,present 'participle n tech (in grammar) a PARTICIPLE that is formed in English by adding -ing to the verb and can be used in compound forms of the verb to show PROGRESSIVE tenses (such as sleeping in She's sleeping), or sometimes as an adjective (such as sleeping in a sleeping child) → compare VERBAL NOUN
,present 'perfect also ,present ,perfect 'tense n [the S] fml or tech for PERFECT
pres·er·va·tion /ˌprezə'veɪʃən, -zər-/ n [U] the act of preserving or state of being preserved: The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order. | The old building is in a good state of preservation (=in good condition after a long time) except for the wooden floors. → see also SELF-PRESERVATION
preser'vation ,order n especially BrE an official order that something, especially a historical building, must be preserved and not destroyed
pre·ser·va·tive /prɪ'zɜːvətɪv, -zɜː-/ n, adj [C;U] (a usually chemical substance) that can be used to PRESERVE foods. In many countries, there are now rules about the use of preservatives because of the dangers to health → see E NUMBER
pre·serve¹ /prɪ'zɜːv, -zɜːrv/ v [T] 1 [(from)] to prevent (someone or something) from being harmed or destroyed: The ancient Egyptians knew ways to preserve dead bodies (from decay). | I think these interesting old customs should be