Attila
72
cheap to rent and people with little money often used to live in them. → compare GARRET
At·til·a /əˈtɪlə/ also At,tila the 'Hun (?406-453 AD) a king of the Huns (=an ancient people from Asia) who attacked and took control of large parts of the ROMAN EMPIRE. He is famous for being violent and cruel.
at·tire¹ /əˈtaɪəʳ/ n [U] fml clothes, especially of a particular type: in formal attire
attire² v [T(in)] fml to put on clothes; dress: attired in her academic robes
at·ti·tude /ˈættjuːd||-tuːd/ n 1 [to, towards] a way of feeling or thinking about someone or something, especially as this influences one's behaviour: I don't like her (unhelpful) attitude. | What is the company's attitude to/towards this idea? | a pessimistic attitude of mind 2 have an attitude problem also have an attitude AmE to behave in an angry way that shows you have no respect for other people: Ben has an attitude problem at school that needs to change. | Tillman's a tough player with an attitude on the basketball court. 3 with attitude a person with attitude is very confident and determined, and does unusual and exciting things without caring what other people think 4 with attitude showing the confidence to do exactly what you want, especially if it annoys or worries other people: I like what Krista was wearing at the club – it's dance fashion with attitude. | They're a couple of South London rockers with attitude.
Att·lee, Clement /ˈætliː/ (1883–1967) a British politician in the LABOUR Party who was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. His government established the UK's NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE and the modern WELFARE STATE.
attn. written abbrev. for attention; used to say that a letter or package is for a particular person
at·tor·ney /əˈtɜːʳniː||-ɜːr-/ n AmE a lawyer. Lawyers in the US have to be licensed (LICENSE) by the state in which they practise, which allows them to practise in FEDERAL courts, but not necessarily in other states: She refused to make a statement until she had spoken to her attorney. → see also POWER OF ATTORNEY
At,torney 'General n pl. Attorneys General or Attorney Generals (usually caps.) the chief law officer of a state or nation. In Britain the Attorney General is a Member of Parliament and a BARRISTER. He is the chief law officer of the Crown and head of the English Bar. In the US the Attorney General is a member of the CABINET appointed by the President. He is the head of the Justice Department and the government's lawyer. → see also LORD ADVOCATE
at·tract /əˈtrækt/ v [T] 1 to excite the admiration, interest, or feelings of: He was attracted by her smile. | She's always attracted to (=she likes) foreign men. | His new book has attracted a lot of attention. 2 to draw or pull towards oneself; cause to come near: A magnet attracts iron. | Flowers attract bees. | The company is trying to attract overseas investors. | a proposal that attracted widespread criticism | They say that opposites attract.
at·trac·tion /əˈtrækʃən/ n 1 [U] the action or power of attracting: The idea of travelling to the moon holds little attraction for me. | What's the attraction of going (=why do you want to go) on the stage? 2 [C] something which attracts: Our main attraction on tonight's show is an interview with Clint Eastwood. → see also TOURIST ATTRACTION
at·trac·tive /əˈtræktɪv/ adj 1 able to attract; exciting interest or pleasure: I find the idea of travel very attractive. | an attractive smile/offer/investment 2 having good looks; pretty or HANDSOME: an attractive girl/young man → opposite UNATTRACTIVE; see BEAUTIFUL (USAGE) —ly adv —ness n [U]
at·tri·bute¹ /ˈætrɪbjuːt/ n a quality forming part of the nature of a person or thing: Kindness is one of his best attributes.
at·tri·bute² /əˈtrɪbjuːt||-bəːt/ v
attribute sthg. to sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to believe (something) to be the result or work of: [+obj/v-ing] He attributes his success to hard work/to working hard. | This song is usually attributed to Schubert. —attributable adj [F+to] The fall in the price is attributable to a sharp reduction in demand. —attribution /ˌætrɪˈbjuʃən/ n [U(to)]
at·trib·u·tive /əˈtrɪbjʊtɪv/ adj (of an adjective, noun, or phrase) describing and coming before a noun: In 'a major success', 'major' is an attributive adjective, and in 'the school bus' 'school' is a noun in attributive position. → compare PREDICATIVE —ly adv
at·tri·tion /əˈtrɪʃən/ n [U] the process of tiring, weakening, or destroying by continual worry, hardship, or repeated attacks: to wage a war of attrition
at·tune /əˈtjuːn||əˈtuːn/ v
attune sbdy./sthg. to sthg. phr v [T usually pass.] to make used to or ready for: I'm not really attuned to his way of thinking yet.
ATV /ˌeɪ tiː ˈviː/ n abbrev. for all terrain vehicle; a vehicle which is designed to be ridden on rough ground where there are no roads. ATVs have one seat, no roof, and three or four large wheels.
At·wood, Margaret /ˈætwʊd/ (1939–) a Canadian writer of short stories, poems, and NOVELS, usually about the lives and relationships of women. Her NOVELS include The Handmaid's Tale (1986), Cat's Eye (1989), and Alias Grace (1996). She won the Booker Prize for The Blind Assassin in 2000.
A3 /ˌeɪ ˈθriː/ n [U] a standard size of paper in the EU (European Union), which is 29.7 centimetres by 42 centimetres, twice as large as A4: Can you enlarge the photocopy onto a sheet of A3?
a·typ·i·cal /eɪˈtɪpɪkəl/ adj not typical; different from what is usual: Her reaction to the drug was atypical. —ly /kli/ adv
AU, the /ˌeɪ ˈjuː/ abbrev. for the African Union
au·ber·gine /ˈəʊbəʒiːn||-ber-/ usually eggplant AmE [C;U] (a type of plant with) a large purple fruit that is eaten as a vegetable, usually cooked, e.g. in MOUSSAKA or RATATOUILLE
au·burn /ˈɔːbʌn||-ɜːrn/ adj (especially of hair) reddish-brown
—auburn n [U]
Auck·land /ˈɔːklənd/ the largest city of NORTH ISLAND, New Zealand, and an important port → see picture at NEW ZEALAND
auc·tion¹ /ˈɔkʃən/ n a public meeting at which land, buildings, or valuable goods are sold to the person who offers the most money. The auctioneer calls out a fairly low price, called the starting price, then people show in some way if they are willing to pay more than this, until finally one person offers more than anyone else is willing to pay, and the goods are sold to them: to bid at a furniture auction | They've put the contents of their house up for auction. | It was sold at/by auction. → see also DUTCH AUCTION
auction² v [T(off)] to sell by auction
'auction ,bridge n [U] a card game for four people where the players BID to be allowed to choose the TRUMP suit → see also BRIDGE, CONTRACT BRIDGE
auc·tio·neer /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪəʳ/ n a person who is in charge of an auction and who calls out the prices as they are reached
'auction house n a company which arranges auctions. The most well-known auction houses in Britain and the US are Christie's and Sotheby's
au·da·cious /ɔːdeɪʃəs/ adj 1 daring, often to a degree that is considered foolish; ready to take dangerous risks 2 daringly impolite and disrespectful —ly adv
au·dac·i·ty /ɔːdæsɪti/ n [U]. 1 daring bravery 2 daring rudeness; lack of respect: How you have the audacity to say such a thing, I don't know!
Au·den, W.H. /ˈɔːdn/ (1907–73) a British poet who was an important and influential figure in English literature during the 1930s, when he belonged to a group of LEFT-WING writers. He became a US citizen in 1946.
Au·di /ˈaʊdi/ trademark a type of German car, made by the same company that produces VOLKSWAGEN cars
au·di·ble /ˈɔːdɪbəl/ adj able to be heard: His voice was barely audible above the noise of the machinery. → opposite INAUDIBLE —bly adv —bility /ˌɔːdɪˈbɪləti/ n [U]
au·di·ence /ˈɔːdiəns||ˈː-, ˈɑː-/ n 1 [C+sing./pl. v] the people listening to or watching a performance, speech, television show etc: The audience applauded loudly at the end of the concert. | Some members of the audience were shocked by the scenes of violence. | an appreciative audience | a TV programme with an audience of 12 million viewers | a show wit