surrogacy
1402
sur·ro·ga·cy /'sʌrəgəsi||'sɜːr-/ n [U] 1 the state of being a surrogate 2 the act of becoming a SURROGATE MOTHER
sur·ro·gate /'sʌrəgeɪt, -gət||'sɜːr-/ n, adj [A] fml (a person or thing) acting or used in place of another; SUBSTITUTE
,surrogate 'mother n a woman who has a baby for another woman who cannot have one herself, using either an egg or SPERM from the two people who will be the baby's parents —hood n
CULTURAL NOTE There is some disagreement about the ETHICS of this practice, especially when the surrogate mother decides that she wants to keep the baby after it is born. In Britain and the US it is now against the law to pay a surrogate mother, but she can agree to become one as a favour for a friend or relative.
sur·round¹ /sə'raʊnd/ v [T] 1 to be all around on every side: A high wall surrounds the prison camp. | She was sitting on the floor surrounded by books. | (fig.) The whole affair is surrounded by controversy. | (fig.) a beautiful woman surrounded by (=having many) admirers 2 to go around and take up position on every side, especially in order to prevent escape: The police surrounded the house.
surround² n a usually decorative edge or border: This old fireplace has a very attractive surround.
sur·round·ing /sə'raʊndɪŋ/ adj [A] around and nearby: in the surrounding area
sur·round·ings /sə'raʊndɪŋz/ n [P] everything that surrounds a place or person, especially as it influences the quality of life: The house is situated in very pleasant surroundings. | She grew up in comfortable surroundings. → compare ENVIRONMENT
sur'round ,sound n [U] a system of four or more SPEAKERS (=pieces of equipment that sound comes out of) used so that sounds from a film or television programme come from all directions
sur·veil·lance /sɜː'veɪləns||sɜːr-/ n [U] a close watch kept on someone, especially someone who is believed to have criminal intentions: The police have been keeping her under surveillance. | strict surveillance of all incoming flights
sur·vey¹ /sə'veɪsər-/ v [T] 1 to look at, examine, or consider (a person, place, or condition) as a whole: We surveyed the view from the top of the hill. | If you survey the current state of British industry, it's pretty discouraging. 2 to examine the condition of (a building), especially professionally: Have the house surveyed before you buy it. → see also SURVEYOR 3 tech to measure and record on a map the details of (an area of land): to survey the east coast 4 [often pass.] to question when making a SURVEY: Almost 60% of those surveyed said they supported the President's action.
sur·vey² /'sɜːveɪ||'sɜːr-/ n 1 a) a general examination or study (of conditions, opinions etc), especially carried out by asking people questions: to do/make/carry out a survey of public attitudes | The latest survey shows a majority in support of government policy. b) a general (usually written) description (of a situation, set of ideas etc): She has written a survey of modern English literature. 2 a professional examination of a house, especially for someone who may buy it: Make sure you get a proper survey.
sur·vey·or /sə'veɪər ||sər-/ n a person whose job is to SURVEY buildings or land → see also QUANTITY SURVEYOR
sur·viv·al /sə'vaɪvəl||sər-/ n 1 [U] the fact or likelihood of surviving: Hopes are fading for the survival of the missing climbers. | (fig.) fighting for her political survival 2 [C] especially BrE something which has continued to exist from an earlier time, especially when similar ones have disappeared; RELIC: That fashion is a survival from the 1970s.
sur·viv·al·ist /sə'vaɪvəlst||sər-/ n a member of a group of people in the US who live away from society because they believe it is going to be destroyed by war, crime, problems with the environment etc. Survivalists are typically white people with extreme RIGHT-WING political beliefs, who often keep a lot of guns. They usually live in the mountains in states such as Montana and Idaho.
survival kit n a packet containing the few articles needed to keep one alive when one is lost or hurt beyond the range of help
sur,vival of the 'fittest n [U] 1 a quote from Principles of Biology by the English PHILOSOPHER Herbert Spencer (1820-1903); NATURAL SELECTION 2 any situation in which unsuccessful competitors are quickly destroyed or defeated. The phrase is sometimes used humorously in other ways: remarkable survival of the quickest
sur·vive /sə'vaɪv||sər-/ v 1 [(∅)] to continue to live or exist, especially after coming close to death: Her parents died in the accident, but she survived. | He survived in the desert for a week on biscuits and water. | Very few of these old coins survive. (=are still in existence now) | (fig.) 'How can you cope with this huge amount of work?' 'Don't worry; I'll survive.' 2 [T] to continue to live or exist after: Few buildings survived the fire. | She survived her sons. | The government is unlikely to survive the next election. —vivable adj: Is nuclear war survivable?
sur·vi·vor /sə'vaɪvər||sər-/ n a person or living thing who has continued to live, especially in spite of coming close to death: There was only one survivor from/of the plane crash. | (fig.) Don't worry about him; he's a survivor. (=he always manages to continue in spite of difficulties)
Survivor a television programme in which people compete with each other to try to win a very large prize of money. They are sent to a place where there are no other people, and where they are given special jobs to do. Each week the people there vote on who will leave the competition. This programme was very popular in the US in 2000, and it has been done again several times. Britain and Australia tried doing similar programmes, but they were not successful.
Su·sann, Jac·que·line /su:'zæn, 'dʒækəlɪn/ (1926-74) a US writer of popular novels, such as Valley of the Dolls, written in 1968, which shocked people at the time with its story of rich and powerful people who take drugs and live very immoral lives
sus·cep·ti·ble /sə'septəbəl/ adj 1 [(to)] easily influenced (by): He is very susceptible to persuasion. 2 [+to] likely to suffer from: She's rather susceptible to colds. 3 tending to experience strong feelings easily; IMPRESSIONABLE: He's a very susceptible boy. 4 [+of] law or fml able to have or be changed by: This agreement is not susceptible of alteration. —bility /səˌseptə'bɪləti/ n [U] This policy has no regard for the susceptibilities (=strong feelings) of the minority groups.
su·shi /'su:ʃi/ n [U] Japanese food consisting of pieces of raw fish on top of cooked rice: a sushi bar (=a place where this is served)
sus laws /'sʌs lɔːz/ n [P] BrE, slang (formerly) laws which allowed the police to stop and ARREST a person thought to be about to COMMIT a crime, especially a street crime, without needing formal EVIDENCE. These laws caused a great deal of bad feeling against the police, who were believed by some, especially young black people, to treat them in particular with SUSPICION.
sus·pect¹ /sə'spekt/ v [T not in progressive forms] 1 to believe (especially something bad) to be true or likely: She was found dead in her apartment, and the police suspect murder. | They said the problem was in the engine, which was just what I had suspected. | [+(that)] We suspected (that) he was the murderer even before we were told. 2 [(of)] to believe (someone) to be guilty: They suspect him of murder/of giving false evidence. | Who do you suspect? | She was suspected of being a spy. | police surveillance of suspected terrorists 3 to doubt the truth or value of; distrust: I suspect his motives. 4 [+(that);obj] infml to suppose or guess: I suspect you may be right.
sus·pect² /'sʌspekt/ n a person who is suspected of guilt, especially in a crime: The police have arrested two suspects.
suspect³ adj of uncertain truth, quality, legality etc: The customs authorities have impounded some suspect crates and ordered them to be opened. | His fitness is suspect, so we can't risk including him in the team.
sus·pend /sə'spend/ v [T] 1 to stop or cause to be inactive or ineffective for a period of time: Parliament has been suspended because of the civil unrest. | Sales of this drug have been suspended until more tests have been performed. | I'd like to suspend judgment on this until I've heard more of the facts. 2 [(from)] to prevent from taking part in a team belonging to a group etc, for a time, usually because of misbehaviour or breaking rules: She has been suspended from