subvention
1390
CULTURAL NOTE The STEREOTYPE of people who live in the suburbs is a married couple who go to the nearest city to work, and have two children, and a fairly new car. Most of the families own their home rather than rent it. Suburbia is generally considered to be a boring but safe place to live.
sub·ven·tion /sʌbˈvenʃən/ n fml a SUBSIDY or gift of money for a special use
sub·ver·sive¹ /səbˈvɜːsɪv|ˈsɜː-/ adj (dangerous because) trying or likely to destroy established ideas and take power away from those at present in control, especially secretly: The government is trying to ban this magazine because it prints subversive ideas. | a subversive influence -->ly adv -->ness n [U]
subversive² n a subversive person
sub·vert /səbˈvɜːt||ˈsɜːrt/ v [T] fml to try to destroy the power and influence of (a government, an established system etc) -->version /səbˈvɜːn||ˈvɜːrʒən/ n [U]
sub·way /ˈsʌbweɪ/ n 1 BrE || underpass AmE -- a path under a road or railway by which it can be safely crossed 2 AmE for UNDERGROUND railway -> compare METRO, TUBE
suc·ceed /səkˈsiːd/ v 1 [I(in)] to do what one has tried or wanted to do: If you try hard you'll succeed. | Police have finally succeeded in solving the mystery. | The first time she took the exam she failed, but the second time she succeeded (in passing). | (fig, humor) I tried to pick all the bottles up together, but succeeded only in dropping (=failed and dropped) all of them. -> see COULD (USAGE) 2 [I] to be done or completed as one had wished, with a favourable result: I don't think his later novels succeed as well as his earlier ones. | Our plan succeeded, and soon we were in complete control. 3 [I] to do well in life, especially in gaining high position or popularity: She's the type of person who succeeds anywhere. 4 [I(to);T(as)] to be the next to take a position or rank (after): When the duke dies, his eldest son will succeed to the title. | Lord Davis succeeded Sir Hugh as chairman of the commission. 5 [T] fml to follow; come after: A silence succeeded his words. | The company are developing a new generation of computers to succeed their existing range. 6 If at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again an old saying
suc·cess /səkˈses/ n 1 [U(in)] a degree of succeeding; a good result: Did you have any success (=did you succeed) in persuading her to change her mind? | His career has been a real success story; from office boy to millionaire in five years. | We tried to get them to agree, but without much success. | a low success rate 2 [C] a person or thing that succeeds or has succeeded: His new book/play was a great success/an overnight success. | She's just started up a new company; I hope she makes a success of it. | In spite of our doubts, the new secretary has proved a great success.
suc·cess·ful /səkˈsesfəl/ adj 1 [fml] having done what one has tried to do: Were you successful (=did you succeed) in persuading him to change his mind? | I'm afraid my attempt to make a cake wasn't very successful. | a very successful performance | successful peace talks 2 having gained a high position in life, one's job etc: They're advertising luxury apartments ideal for the successful young executive. -> opposite UNSUCCESSFUL -->ly adv
suc·ces·sion /səkˈseʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of following one after the other: The days followed each other in quick/close succession and still no news came. | It happened four times in succession. (=successively) 2 [S[of]+sing./pl. v] a number of people or things following each other closely: A succession of visitors came to the door. 3 [U(to)] the act of succeeding (SUCCEED) to an office or position: In the event of the heir's death, the succession passes to his brother. | her succession to the throne -> compare ACCESSION
suc·ces·sive /səkˈsesv/ adj following each other closely: It happened on two successive days. | successive waves of invaders -->ly adv
suc·ces·sor /səkˈsesər/ n 1 [(as, to)] a person who takes an office or position formerly held by someone else: My successor as chairman takes over next week. 2 fml a person or thing that comes after another: The transistor seemed astounding enough when it was introduced, but its successor, the microchip, is immeasurably more powerful. -> compare PREDECESSOR
suc·cess ,story n (an account of) a person's development from being poor and unknown to being rich, famous, and successful
suc·cinct /səkˈsɪŋkt/ adj apprc clearly expressed in few words: a very succinct explanation/style -->ly adv -->ness n [U]
suc·co·tash /ˈsʌkətæʃ/ n [U] AmE a dish made from CORN and LIMA BEANS cooked together
suc·cour¹ BrE || -cor AmE /ˈsʌkər/ n [U] fml or lit help given to someone in difficulty
succour² BrE || -cor AmE -- v [T] fml or lit to help (someone in difficulty): succouring the needy
suc·cu·bus /ˈsʌkjʊbəs/ n pl. -bi /baɪ/ a female devil supposed to have sex with a sleeping man -> compare INCUBUS
suc·cu·lent¹ /ˈsʌkjʊlənt/ adj. 1 apprc juicy: a succulent steak 2 tech (of a plant) having thick soft leaves or stems that can hold a lot of liquid -->lence n [U]
succulent² n tech a SUCCULENT plant, such as a CACTUS
suc·cumb /səˈkʌm/ v [I(to)] fml 1 to stop opposing; give in (to greater strength or force, a desire etc): After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. | They held out for some hours in the face of our persuasive offers, but eventually they succumbed. | to succumb to temptation/blackmail 2 to die (because of): He finally succumbed to the illness.
such¹ /sʌtʃ/ predeterminer, determiner 1 (sometimes with as) of that kind; of the same kind; like that: People such as him/ Such people as him shouldn't be allowed in here. | The regulations apply to all such hospitals. (=all hospitals of the type described) | We've planted lots of different flowers such as (=for example) roses, carnations, and poppies. | He said 'Get out!' or some such rude remark. | 'Can I speak to Alice Smith?' 'No such person (=no one called Alice Smith) lives here.' 2 (sometimes with as or that) so great; so good, bad, or unusual: He's such a kind man. (=he is very kind) | She tells such funny jokes. | It was such a lovely day we decided to go for a picnic. | It wasn't such a hard exam after all. | (fml) The force of the explosion was such that it blew out all the windows/was such as to blow out all the windows. | The explosion blew out all the windows, such was its force. 3 such ... as fml any that: Such accommodation as she could find was expensive. 4 such as it is/they are although it/they may not be worth much: You can borrow my exam notes, such as they are. (=they are not very good) -> compare for what it's worth (WORTH)
USAGE In general such comes before nouns, or before adjectives followed by nouns. So comes before adjectives alone, or before much, many, few. Compare such and so in these examples: a It was such an interesting meeting. | The meeting was so interesting. b There were such a lot of people. | There were so many people. c It was such a shock. | It was so shocking. But note also these patterns: His courage was such that ... | His courage was so great that ... | such a nice man; also so nice a man (fml).
such² pron 1 fml that thing, fact, or action: We had predicted a Welsh victory, and such indeed was the result. 2 and such infml and SUCHLIKE 3 as such properly so named; in the exact meaning of the stated thing: It's not an agreement as such, but it will have virtually the same effect as one. 4 such as fml any people or things that; those that: Such (of you) as wish to leave may do so.
'such and ,such predeterminer infml a certain (time, amount etc) not named: If they tell you to come on such and such a day, don't agree if it's not convenient.
such·like¹ /ˈsʌtʃlaɪk/ adj [A] of that kind; similar: tennis and cricket and suchlike summer sports
suchlike² pron infml things of that kind: Do you enjoy plays, films, and suchlike?
suck¹ /sʌk/ v 1 [I;T] to draw (liquid) into the mouth by using the tongue, lips, and muscles at the side of the mouth, with the lips tightened into a small hole: a baby sucking at its mother's breast | She was sucking milk through a straw. 2 [I[(AWAY, at);T] to hold (something) in the mouth and move one's tongue against it, especially so as to melt and eat it: He was sucking (away at) a sweet. | The baby was sucking its thumb. 3 [T+obj+adv/prep] to draw powerfully: They fell