opera glasses 982
'opera glasses n [P] small BINOCULARS to be used in a
theatre -> see PAIR (USAGE)
'opera house n a theatre in which OPERAS are performed
op·er·ate /'ɒpəreɪt||'ɑː-/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) work or be in
action; (cause to) FUNCTION: Do you know how to operate the
heating system? | The machine is not operating at maximum
efficiency. | controls on the way the committee operates in
future | one-man operated trains 2 [+adv/prep] to carry on
trade or business: Our company operates in several countries/
out of Rome. | operating losses/costs | a gang of thieves
operating in the city 3 [+adv/prep] to produce effects: The new
law operates against us/doesn't operate in our favour. 4 [I(on,
for)] to cut the body in order to set right or remove a diseased
part, usually in an operating theatre in a hospital: I'm afraid
we'll have to operate. | to operate on a patient for appendicitis
'operating system n a set of PROGRAMS inside a computer
that controls the way it works and helps it to handle other
programs
'operating theatre BrE || 'operating room AmE — n a
room in a hospital where OPERATIONS are done
op·er·a·tion /ˌɒpə'reɪʃən||ˌɑː-/ n 1 [U] the condition or
process of working: The operation of a new machine can be
hard to learn. | When does the new law come into opera-
tion? 2 [C] a thing (to be) done; an activity: The company's
overseas operations include banking and insurance. | Getting
the glue off the rug was a difficult/major operation. | to
finance a mining/hotels operation | to organize a search/
famine relief operation 3 [C(on, for)] also op BrE infml — the
cutting of the body in order to set right or remove a diseased
part: The surgeon is performing a delicate operation/a hip
operation. | She's going into hospital to have a minor opera-
tion on her knee. 4 [C] a planned, especially military, move-
ment: the army's operations in Northern Ireland | It's code-
named Operation Sunshine. | to mount/coordinate a major
security operation 5 [C] tech a) a process used to get one
MATHEMATICAL expression or figure from others b) a single
step performed by a computer
op·er·a·tion·al /ˌɒpə'reɪʃənəl||ˌɑː-/ adj 1 [F] ready to be
used: The new machines are not yet fully operational. 2 [A] of
or about operations: operational costs -> compare OPERATIVE
—ly adv
,operational re'search also ,operations re'search n
[U] tech the study of how best to build and use machines or
plan organizations
,Operation ,Desert 'Storm the name given to the military
operation that forced the army of Iraq to leave Kuwait in
1991, during the GULF WAR
,Operation ,Iraqi 'Freedom the name used by the US for
the military INVASION of Iraq in 2003
,Operation 'Overlord the secret name given to the Allied
INVASION of northwest Europe, on D-DAY 1944
op·er·a·tive¹ /'ɒpərətɪv||'ɑːpərə-, 'ɑːpəreɪ-/ adj 1 [F] (of
plans, laws etc) in operation; producing effects -> opposite
INOPERATIVE; compare OPERATIONAL 2 [A] most suitable: 'We
should push him for a decision.' 'Yes, 'push' is the operative
word!'
operative² n often euph a worker
op·er·a·tor /'ɒpəreɪtə||'ɑː-/ n 1 a person who works a
machine, apparatus etc 2 a person who works a telephone
SWITCHBOARD: Operator! I've been cut off. -> see TELEPHONE
(USAGE) 3 infml, often derog a person who is (rather too) clever
at dealing with difficulties: a clever/smooth operator
op·er·et·ta /ˌɒpə'retə||ˌɑː-/ n a short cheerful musical play
that includes dancing and in which many of the words are
spoken -> compare OPERA
O·phe·li·a /ə'fiːliə||əʊ-/ a character in the play HAMLET by
William SHAKESPEARE. She loves Hamlet, but goes crazy and
dies by falling into a river after he ends their relationship.
oph·thal·mi·a /ɒf'θælmɪə||ɑːf-/ n [U] med an illness of the
eyes causing redness and swelling
oph·thal·mic /ɒf'θælmɪk||ɑːf-/ adj med of or concerning the
eyes: an ophthalmic surgeon
oph·thal·mol·o·gy /ˌɒfθæl'mɒlədi||ˌɑfθæl'mɑː-/ n [U]
med the study of the eyes and their diseases —gist n -> see
OPTICIAN (USAGE)
o·pi·ate /'əʊpiət, -eɪt/ n a sleep-producing drug containing
OPIUM
o·pine /əʊ'paɪn/ v [T+that; obj] pomp to express an opinion: He
opined that it was too dangerous.
o·pin·ion /ə'pɪnjən/ n 1 [C;U(of, about)] what a person thinks
about something, based on personal judgment rather than
actual facts: Her recent behaviour confirms my opinion that
she is not happy here. | What's your opinion of this wine? | to
give/express one's opinion | In my opinion you're wrong. |
George is of the opinion that (=he thinks) they should close the
factory. | I can't stomach my son's political opinions. | to form
strong opinions | We had a slight difference of opinion
(=disagreement) about which car to buy. | It's my considered
opinion that he is a liar and a cheat. (=I say this after careful
thought about it) | Is French food better than English food?
It's all a matter of opinion. (=not something that can be
clearly proved or decided) 2 [U] what people in general
think about something: Public opinion is against
him. 3 [C] professional judgment or advice: You should get a
second opinion from another doctor. 4 have a good or
high/bad or low opinion of to think well/badly of: They
have a very high opinion of his work.
o·pin·ion·at·ed /ə'pɪnjəneɪtɪd/ adj derog too sure of the
rightness of one's opinions
o'pinion poll n a POLL
o·pi·um /'əʊpiəm/ n [U] 1 an ADDICTIVE drug made from the
seeds of the white POPPY, that lessens pain and makes one
sleep 2 the opium of the people quotation a phrase used by
Karl Marx to describe religion
o·pos·sum /ə'pɒsəm||-'pɑː-, 'pɑːsəm/ n especially BrE and frml for
POSSUM
Op·pen·hei·mer, J. Rob·ert /'ɒpənhaɪmə||'ɑː-
'rɒbət||'rɑːbɜːrt/ (1904-67) a US PHYSICIST who led the team
of scientists on the MANHATTAN PROJECT (1942-45), the secret
plan to develop the first ATOM BOMB
op·po·nent /ə'pəʊnənt/ n 1 a person who takes the oppo-
site side in a game, competition etc: His opponent did not
stand a chance. 2 a person who opposes someone or some-
thing: She is one of the strongest opponents of tax reform. ->
see also OPPOSITION; compare PROPONENT
op·por·tune /'ɒpətjuːn||ˌɑːpər'tuːn/ adj 1 (of times) right
for a purpose: I picked an opportune moment to ask a favour
of her. 2 coming at the right time: an opportune remark ->
opposite INOPPORTUNE —ly adv
op·por·tun·ism /ˌɒpə'tjuːnɪzəm||ˌɑːpər'tuː-/ n [U] usually
derog the tendency to take advantage of every chance for
success, sometimes to other people's disadvantage: blatant
opportunism —ist n: a political opportunist
op·por·tu·ni·ty /ˌɒpə'tjuːnɪti||ˌɑːpər'tuː-/ n [C;U(for, of)] a
favourable moment or occasion (for doing something): You
should go and see this film if you get the opportunity. | My
flight was delayed so it was a good opportunity for doing some
shopping. | I took the opportunity of visiting Ann while I was
in London. | I'd like to/May I take this opportunity to thank
everyone for your hard work on the project. | [+to-v] You
shouldn't miss the opportunity to see the play – it's rarely put
on. -> see CHANCE (USAGE)
op·posable 'thumb n a thumb that is set at an angle facing
the other fingers, such as on the human hand, which makes
it possible to use the hands in many more ways than animals
can use their PAWS
op·pose /ə'pəʊz/ v [T] to regard (especially a suggestion or
planned course of action) with strong disapproval, and
especially to take action to try to prevent it from happening
or succeeding: The proposed new airport will be vigorously/
strongly opposed by the local residents. | [+v-ing] The President
opposes giving military aid to this country. | an attempt to
reconcile their opposing views on this question
op·posed /ə'pəʊzd/ adj [to]) opposite; against: Their opin-
ions are diametrically opposed. (=completely opposed) | I
am strongly opposed to your suggestion. | This is a book about
business practice as opposed to theory. | Our members are
definitely opposed to making concessions on the health and
safety question.
op·po·site¹ /'ɒpəzɪt||'ɑː-/ n [C; the+S(of)] a person or thing
that is as different as possible from another: Black and white