1377
stray
development etc: A few large firms have a stranglehold on the production of this essential commodity.
stran·gu·late /'stræŋgjʊleɪt/ v [I;T] med to (cause to) become tightly pressed so as to stop the flow of blood: a strangulated hernia
stran·gu·la·tion /ˌstræŋgjʊ'leɪʃən/ n [U] the act of strangling or state of being strangled: The cause of death was strangulation.
strap¹ /stræp/ n 1 [C] a narrow band of strong material, such as leather, used as a fastening or support: a watch strap | Fasten the straps round the case. → see also CHIN-STRAP, SHOULDER STRAP 2 [the S] BrE the giving of punishment by hitting with a thick narrow piece of leather
strap² v -pp- [T] 1 [+obj+adv/prep] to fasten in place with one or more straps: She strapped the bag onto her back. | Make sure you're firmly strapped in (=with a SEAT BELT) before the plane takes off 2 [(UP) often pass.] BrE || tape AmE — to tie BANDAGES firmly round (a part of the body that has been hurt, especially a limb)
strap·hang·ing /'stræpˌhæɪŋ/ n [U] BrE infml 1 supporting oneself while standing in a moving bus, underground train etc, by holding on to a strap which hangs from the roof 2 derog commuting (COMMUTE) —er n
strap·less /'stræpləs/ adj (of a dress etc) leaving the shoulders completely bare: a strapless evening gown
strapped /stræpt/ adj [F(for)] infml having little or no money: I can't pay you; I'm rather strapped (for cash).
strap·ping /'stræpɪŋ/ adj infml big and strong: a fine, strapping man
Stras·berg, Lee /'stræzbɜːgɪl-bɜːrg/ (1901-82) a US teacher of acting and theatre DIRECTOR who was the first person in the US to use and develop the ideas about acting, called METHOD ACTING, that were invented by Constantin STANISLAVSKY. From 1948 to 1982 he was in charge of the ACTORS' STUDIO in New York City.
Stras·bourg /'stræzbɜːgɪl'strɑːsbrg/ a city in northeast France where the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and the COUNCIL OF EUROPE are based. It is also known for its historic buildings, including the CATHEDRAL and the university.
stra·ta /'strɑːtə'streɪtə/ n 1 pl. of STRATUM 2 pl. stratas nonstandard for STRATUM
strat·a·gem /'strætədʒəm/ n fml a trick or plan to deceive an enemy or to gain an advantage
stra·te·gic /strə'tiːdʒɪk/ also stra·te·gi·cal /-kəl/ adj 1 (done) for reasons of strategy; being part of a plan, especially in war: a strategic decision | We made a strategic withdrawal, so that we could build up our forces for a renewed attack. | strategic bombing 2 useful or right for fulfilling a particular purpose: Policemen were stationed at strategic points round the football ground in case of crowd trouble. | A package ideal for those who want to go for long-term strategic investment. 3 used in fighting wars: secret purchases of strategic materials —ally /kli/ adv: The trap was strategically placed just at the point where the mouse always came out.
Stra·tegic De'fense I·nitiative, the the full name of SDI
Stra·tegic 'Rail Au·thority, the abbrev. SRA a public organization responsible for planning the development of the railway system in Britain and for deciding which train companies should be allowed to operate. It was started by the government in February 2001. In 2004 the government announced that it would be ABOLISHED (=officially stopped) and its powers would instead be shared between the government and Network Rail. → see also NETWORK RAIL
strat·e·gist /'strætɪdʒɪst/ n a person skilled in planning, especially of military movements
strat·e·gy /'strætɪdʒi/ n 1 [U] a) the art of planning in advance the movements of armies or forces in war: a master of strategy b) skilful planning generally 2 [C] a particular plan for gaining success in a particular activity, e.g. in a war, a game, or a competition, or for personal advantage: [+for/to-v] I think we have worked out a strategy for dealing with/to deal with this situation. | Our strategy was to play defensively for most of the game, with sudden attacking bursts. | marketing strategies
Strat·ford-upon-A·von /ˌstrætfəd ˌpɒn eɪvɒn‖-fərd ˈɑːvɑːn-/ a town in Warwickshire, central England, on the
River Avon. It is famous as the place where William SHAKESPEARE was born, and is very popular with tourists. Interesting places to visit there include the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the house of Anne HATHAWAY, who was Shakespeare's wife.
Strath·clyde /stræθ'klaɪd/ a former COUNTY in central Scotland whose centre of government was the city of Glasgow. Since 1996 it has been divided into 12 authorities.
strat·i·fi·ca·tion /ˌstrætɪfɪ'keʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of stratifying or state of being stratified 2 [C;U] a) arrangement in strata (STRATUM) b) the positioning of different strata in relation to one another
strat·i·fy /'strætɪfaɪ/ v [T usually pass.] to arrange in separate levels or strata (STRATUM): a stratified society | stratified rock
strat·o·sphere /'strætəsfɪər/ n [the S] the outer part of the air which surrounds the Earth, starting at about ten kilometres (six miles) above the Earth
stra·tum /'strɑːtəm‖'streɪ-/ n pl. -ta /-tə/ 1 a band of rock of a certain kind, especially with other types above and below it in the ground 2 a level of earth, such as one where remains of an ancient civilization are found by digging 3 [(of)] a level of people in society; social class: Such inequalities are found in every stratum/in all strata of society.
Strauss, Jo·hann /straʊs, 'jəʊhæn‖-hɑːn/ (1825-99) an Austrian COMPOSER who wrote more than 400 waltzes (WALTZ) including the very popular Blue Danube and Tales from the Vienna Woods
Strauss, Richard (1864-1949) a German COMPOSER known especially for his SYMPHONIC poems, his OPERAS, especially Der Rosenkavalier (1911), and his Four Last Songs (1948). One of his symphonic poems, Also sprach Zarathustra (1895) was used in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).
Stra·vin·sky, I·gor /strə'vɪnski, 'iːgɒr‖/ (1882-1971) a Russian musician, known especially for his BALLET music, including The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, which he wrote for the ballet producer DIAGHILEV. His work was known for being modern and very different from anything done before.
straw /strɔː/ n 1 [U] dried stems of grain plants, such as wheat, used for animals to sleep on, and for making articles such as baskets and mats etc: a straw hat 2 [C] a single dried stem of wheat, rice etc 3 [C] a thin tube of paper or plastic for sucking up liquid: drinking fruit juice through a straw 4 [S usually in questions and negatives] something of the smallest value: I don't care/give a straw for (=don't care at all about) your opinion. 5 straw in the wind a sign of what may happen: These stories of arms build-up along the border are straws in the wind. 6 the straw that breaks the camel's back a small problem or unpleasant event which, when added to existing troubles, is too much to bear → see also LAST STRAW, MAN OF STRAW, make bricks without straw (BRICK), clutch at straws (CLUTCH)
straw·ber·ry /'strɔːbəri-beri, -bəri/ n 1 [C] (a plant which grows near the ground and has) a soft red juicy fruit with small pale seeds on its surface: strawberries and cream | strawberry jam → see picture at BERRY 2 [U] a dark pink colour
,strawberry 'blonde n (a woman with hair of) a light reddish yellow colour
'strawberry mark n a reddish area of skin present from birth; BIRTHMARK
,straw 'boater also boater n BrE a stiff hat made of straw usually worn in summer
'straw boss n AmE a person who manages a few other workers and also does the same job as them
'straw-,coloured adj light yellow
,straw 'man n a MAN OF STRAW
,straw 'poll also ,straw 'vote n an unofficial test of opinions before an election, to see what the result is likely to be
stray¹ /streɪ/ v [I(from)] to wander away, especially from the right or proper path or place: Some of the sheep have strayed (from the flock/into the neighbouring fields). | a warship that had strayed into the enemy's territorial waters | (fig.) Her thoughts strayed from the subject.
stray² n 1 an animal lost from its home or having no home: She always wanted a cat so she has adopted a stray. 2 a child