what
1568
his name – you know, the boy with the red car. → compare WHATCHAMACALLIT 11 what's more and this is more important: The new system is cheaper, and what's more, it's better. 12 what's what infml the true state of things: You can't fool him; he knows what's what. 13 what the ...? (used with various words, such as hell, devil, blazes etc when asking angry or surprised questions) what: What the hell do you want? | What the devil did they do that for? → see also what about (ABOUT); see HOW (USAGE)
what² adv 1 (used especially in questions when no answer is expected) in what way; to what degree: What do you care about it? (=I don't think you care at all) | We may be a little late, but what does it matter? 2 what with (used for introducing the cause of something, especially something bad): What with all this work and so little sleep at nights, I don't think I can go on much longer.
what·cha·ma·call·it /'wɒtʃəməkɔːlɪt||'wɑːt-, 'wɑːt-/ n infml (used when speaking about a thing whose name one cannot remember): I broke the whatchamacallit off the car door. | Pass me that whatchamacallit – there. → see also DOODAH, DOOHICKEY, THINGAMAJIG; compare what's his/her/their name (WHAT)
what·ev·er¹ /wɒt'evə||wɑːt-, wɑːt-/ also what·so·ev·er /ˌwɒtsəʊ'evə||ˌwɑːt-, ˌwɑːt-/ fml or lit — determiner, pron 1 any(thing) at all that: Goats eat whatever (food) they can find. 2 no matter what; without considering what: Whatever I suggest, he always disagrees. | Don't keep him waiting whatever you do. (=it is very important that you don't keep him waiting) | She refuses, for whatever reason. (=the reason why is not important) | The building must be saved, whatever the cost.
whatever² pron 1 infml anything (else) like that: Anyone seen carrying bags, boxes, or whatever, was stopped by the police. 2 (shows surprise) what: Look at that strange animal! Whatever is it? | Joe's getting married? Whatever next! 3 infml (used when replying to an offer or suggestion, especially to show a lack of interest): 'Shall I call you tonight or tomorrow?' 'Whatever.' (=I don't care which)
whatever³ also what·so·ev·er /ˌwɒtsə'evə||ˌwɑːt-, ˌwɑːt-/ adj [after n; in questions or negatives] at all: I have no money whatever.
,what 'for n [U] infml, especially BrE punishment: If she finds out what you've done she'll give you what for!
what·not /'wɒtnɒt||'wɑːtnɑːt, 'wɑːt-/ n 1 [U] infml anything (else): carrying his bags and whatnot 2 [C] a piece of furniture with open shelves, used, especially in Victorian times, for showing small decorations
whats·it /'wɒtsɪt||'wɑːts-, 'wɑːts-/ n infml a small object, such as a small piece of machinery, whose proper name one cannot remember: I can't unfasten the whatsit; will you try?
,What's My 'Line a British television programme in the 1950s, in which four well-known people tried to guess someone's job from a very short piece of acting. One of the team, Gilbert Harding, would sometimes argue with the contestants and was accused of being rude to them.
,What's 'On trademark a British LISTINGS magazine which gives details of all the films, plays, sports games, and other events and activities taking place in the current week or month. Many cities in the UK have a What's On. → compare TIME OUT
wheat /wiːt/ n [U] 1 a plant from whose grain flour is made: a field of wheat 2 the grain from this plant: This bread is made from wheat. 3 (to separate) the wheat from the chaff (to separate) the good or important parts from the bad or worthless parts
'wheat germ n [U] the centre of the wheat grain, containing much of the goodness and food value
Wheat·ies /'wiːtiːz/ trademark a type of breakfast CEREAL made from wheat, which is popular in the US. Advertisements for Wheaties usually call it 'the breakfast of champions' and show famous sports players eating it.
wheat·meal /'wiːtmil/ n [U] especially BrE a flour made from especially whole grains of wheat. Wheatmeal bread is brown bread but may contain white flour as well as whole wheat flour. —wheatmeal adj [A] wheatmeal bread
whee /wiː/ interj (used to express joy, especially to children and often when moving quickly, for example when riding on a swing)
whee·dle /'wiːdl/ v [I;T+obj+adv/prep] derog to (try to) persuade (someone) by pleasant but insincere behaviour and words: She wheedled him into taking her with him.
wheedle sthg. ↔ out phr v [T(of)] to obtain from someone by insincerely pleasant persuading: I wheedled a promise/the information out of her.
wheel¹ /wiːl/ n 1 [C] a circular object with an outer frame which turns round an inner part to which it is joined (the HUB), and is used for turning machinery, making vehicles move etc: Most cars have four wheels. 2 [the+S] the STEERING WHEEL of a car or the wheel used to guide a ship: I'm rather tired; will you take the wheel? (=drive instead of me) | My sister was at the wheel. (=was driving) 3 the wheel is coming full circle quote a phrase from SHAKESPEARE's play King Lear sometimes used when a number of connected events have ended in the same way that they began, especially regarding a particular person's fortune (FORTUNE) 4 wheels within wheels facts or reasons which influence people's behaviour but which are hidden or only partly known or understood 5 -wheeler /wiːlər/ a vehicle or other moving object with the stated number or type of wheels: His car is a three-wheeler. → see also WHEELS, oil the wheels (OIL), put one's shoulder to the wheel (SHOULDER), put a spoke in someone's wheel (SPOKE)
wheel² v 1 [T] to move (a wheeled object), especially by pushing it with the hands: The nurse wheeled the trolley up to the bed. 2 [I[ROUND, AROUND, ABOUT]] to turn or change direction suddenly: Platoon, right wheel! | She wheeled round to face her accusers. 3 [I] (of birds) to fly round and round in circles: The vultures were wheeling overhead. 4 wheel and deal [I] infml, often derog to make deals, especially in business or politics, in a skilful and perhaps dishonest way → see also WHEELER-DEALER
wheel sbdy./sthg. ↔ out phr v [T] infml, especially BrE to produce in order to gain a desired result, especially in a dishonest or insincere way: To back up these claims, they wheeled out their familiar arguments.
wheel·bar·row /'wiːlbærəʊ||-roʊ, -rə/ also barrow n a small cart with one wheel at the front, two legs, and two handles at the back for pushing: The gardener put the dead plants in his wheelbarrow.
wheel·base /'wiːlbeɪs/ n the distance between the front and back AXLE on a vehicle: This truck is the long-wheelbase model.
wheel·chair /'wiːltʃeə/ n a chair with large wheels which can be turned by the user, used especially by people who are unable to walk: The injured pilot spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. → compare BATH CHAIR; see picture at CHAIR
'wheel clamp also Denver boot AmE infml — n a metal apparatus which the police fasten to a car's wheel if it is parked in the wrong place. The owner of the car must pay a lot of money to have it removed. → see also YELLOW LINE —wheel-clamp v [I;T] I've just been wheel-clamped!
wheeled /wiːld/ adj (often in comb.) having wheels: wheeled vehicles | a two-wheeled cart
,wheeler-'dealer n infml, often derog someone who is skilled at making profitable or successful deals, especially in business or politics → see also wheel and deal (WHEEL) —ing n [U]
wheel·house /'wiːlhaʊs/ n pl. -houses /ˌhaʊzɪz/ the place on a ship where the captain stands at the WHEEL
wheel·ie /'wiːli/ n infml an act of balancing a cycle on its back wheel while riding it
'wheelie ,bin n BrE a large RUBBISH BIN on wheels
wheels /wiːlz/ n [P] slang a car or similar vehicle: Are these your new wheels, man?
wheel·wright /'wiːlraɪt/ n (especially in former times) a person who makes and repairs wheels, especially the wooden wheels for horse-drawn carts
wheeze¹ /wiːz/ v [I] to make a rough whistling sound because of difficulty in breathing: By the time he reached the top of the stairs he was panting and wheezing. 1 (fig.) The old engine wheezed up the slope.