1293
Simpson, Wallis
(=books about crime and murder) in which the main character is the French police officer Superintendent MAIGRET
sim-i-an /'sımıən/ adj, n tech (of or like) a monkey or APE
sim-i-lar /'sımılər, 'sımılər/ adj 1 [to]) like or alike; of the same kind; almost but not exactly the same in nature or appearance: He was advised not to eat bread, cake, and other similar foods. | We have similar opinions/my opinions are similar to hers. | These two signatures are very similar; can you tell them apart? | My train was 20 minutes late in the morning and there was a similar delay in the evening. 2 [no comp.] tech exactly the same in shape but not size: Similar triangles have equal angles. → see also SIMILARLY; see SAME (USAGE)
sim-i-lar-i-ty /ˌsımə'lærəti/ n [(between)] 1 [U] the quality of being alike or like something else; RESEMBLANCE: How much similarity is there between the two religions? | What strikes me about his poetry is its similarity to Wordsworth's. 2 [C] a point or quality in which things are similar: The police say there are some similarities between this murder and one that happened last year.
sim-i-lar-ly /'sımʒlərli-ərli/ adv 1 in a similar way: They were similarly dressed. 2 as is similar: Men must wear a jacket and tie; similarly, women must wear a skirt or dress, not trousers.
sim-i-le /'sıməli/ n [C;U] (the use of) an expression which describes one thing by directly comparing it with another (as in as white as snow), using the words as or like → compare METAPHOR
sim-mer¹ /'sımər/ v [I;T] to (cause to) cook gently in liquid at or just below boiling point: The soup was left to simmer. | (fig.) The crowd was simmering with excitement (=could hardly control its excitement) as the two fighters stepped into the ring. → see COOK (USAGE)
simmer down phr v [I often imperative] infml to become calmer; control one's excitement: Simmer down, Mary; it won't help to lose your temper.
simmer² n [S] a heat just below boiling; the condition of simmering: Bring the vegetables to a simmer.
Si-mon, Neil /'saımən, ni:l/ (1927-) a US writer of many humorous plays and films such as The Odd Couple (1968), The Goodbye Girl (1978), and Lost in Yonkers (1991)
Simon, Paul (1941-) a US singer and songwriter who made many successful records with Art Garfunkel in the 1960s. Together they were known as Simon and Garfunkel. He has also made several records on his own, including Graceland (1987), and he is known for his interest in WORLD MUSIC.
Simon and Garfunkel two US singers, Paul SIMON (1941-) and Art GARFUNKEL (1941-), who started playing together during the 1960s and became very famous when some of their songs were used in the film The Graduate (1967). Their songs, most of which were written by Paul Simon, include The Sound of Silence (1964), Mrs Robinson (1968), and Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970).
Si-mone, Ni-na /sı'məun, 'ni:nə/ (1933-2003) a US JAZZ and BLUES singer who also played the piano. As well as being a musician, she was known for her active involvement in the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT in the US in the 1960s
Simon 'Says n [U] a game played by children in which one child tells the other children to do things such as sit down or stand on one leg, but they must only do something when he or she says 'Simon says' before giving an order: 'Simon says, touch your nose.'
si-mo-ny /'sıməni, 'sai-/ n [U] derog (in former times) the buying and selling of appointments in the Christian church
sim-pat-i-co /sim'pætıkəu/ adj AmE infml 1 (of a person) likable 2 in agreement: He and I are simpatico about a lot of things.
sim-per /'sımpər/ v [I] to smile in a silly unnatural way; used especially of girls —simper n ---ingly adv
sim-ple /'sımpəl/ adj 1 without decoration; plain; not ELABORATE: a simple dress | simple but well-prepared food | Their buildings are constructed in a plain and simple style. 2 easy to understand or do; not difficult: a simple explanation | The plan sounds simple enough but it won't be so simple to put it into action. | a simple but effective solution to the problem | I wish we could offer you more money, but I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. 3 consisting of only one thing or part, rather than a number of parts combined: Bacteria are simple forms of life. | A knife is a simple tool. | A simple sentence has only one verb. → compare COMPLEX, COMPOUND 4 (of something non-physical) without anything added or mixed; pure: She did it for the simple reason that she had no choice. | His motive was simple greed, nothing else. | The simple truth is, I don't know. 5 making no claim to special qualities, abilities, or importance; natural or sincere: I'm just a simple farmer. | a woman of simple tastes | simple faith 6 easily tricked; foolish: You may be joking but she's simple enough to believe you. 7 [F] euph, old use weak-minded: I'm afraid old Jack is a bit simple. → see also SIMPLY
,simple 'fracture n med a broken or cracked bone which does not cut through the surrounding flesh → compare COMPOUND FRACTURE
,simple 'interest n [U] interest calculated on an original sum of money without adding in the interest already earned → compare COMPOUND INTEREST
'simple, life n [the S] infml apprec life without the problems of having many possessions, using modern machines etc
,simple ma'chine n tech any of the several machine parts, such as the wheel, LEVER, screw etc, of which all machinery is made
,simple-'minded adj having little ability to think or understand, or little experience of the world: The instructions are so easy I should think even the most simple-minded person could follow them.
,Simple 'Simon n a stupid person who believes everything he is told, from the name of a stupid young man in a NURSERY RHYME (=an old song or poem for young children):
Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the piaman
'Let me taste your ware.'
sim-ple-ton /'sımpəltən/ n old-fash a weak-minded trusting person
sim-pli-ci-ty /sım'plısəti/ n [U] the quality of being simple: She writes with a beautiful simplicity of style. | He believes everything with childlike simplicity. | For the sake of simplicity (=to make it easy to understand) the tax form is divided into three sections. | The plan was simplicity itself (=very simple); how could it fail?
sim-pli-fy /'sımplıfaı/ v [T] to make plainer, easier, or less full of detail: Try to simplify your explanation for the children. | An attempt to simplify the tax laws → compare COMPLICATE; see also OVERSIMPLIFY —fication /ˌsımplıfı'keıʃən/ n [C;U]
sim-plis-tic /sım'plıstık/ adj derog treating difficult matters as if they were simple; tending to OVERSIMPLIFY: This is a very complex problem, and we won't get anywhere with such simplistic solutions. —ally /klı/ adv
sim-ply /'sımpli/ adv 1 in a simple way; easily, plainly, clearly, or naturally: On her small income they live very simply. | To put it simply (=to explain it in a simple way) the new proposals mean that the average worker will be about 10% better paid. 2 just; only: I don't like driving; I do it simply because I have to get to work each day. | I'm afraid I simply don't know. 3 infml really; very (much): What a simply gorgeous day it is today!
,Simply 'Red a British POP group whose songs include If You Don't Know Me By Now and Stars. Their singer is Mick Hucknall.
Simp-son, O.J. /'sımpsən/ (1947-) a former US football player who was one of the most successful players of the 1970s, and who later became an actor. In 1994 he was charged with murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The TRIAL was watched on television by people all over the world. In the end, the JURY decided that he did not kill her. Later, relatives of the murdered people won a CIVIL court case against him and he was ordered to pay them $8.5 million.
Simpson, Wal-lis /'wɒlısı'wɔ:-/ (1896-1986) a US woman, often known simply as Mrs Simpson, who had a relationship with the British king EDWARD VIII. Because she had already been married twice before, Edward was not allowed to marry her. In 1938, he decided to ABDICATE (=give up his