altruism 36
al·tru·ism /'æltruizəm/ n [U] consideration of the happiness and good of others before one's own; unselfishness ➔ compare EGOISM
al·tru·ist /'æltruist/ n a person who is habitually kind and helpful to others ➞ic /æltru'istik/ adj ➞ically /-kli/ adv
al·u·min·i·um /ˌæljə'miniəm/, /ˌælə-/ *BrE* || **a·u·mi·num** /ə'lu:mɪnəm/ *AmE* ➞ n [U] a silver-white metal that is a simple substance (ELEMENT) light in weight, and easily shaped: *aluminium saucepans* | *aluminium foil*
aluminum 'foil n [U] *AmE* for TINFOIL
al·um·nus /ə'lʌmnəs/ a•lum•na /-nə/ *fem* ➞ n **-ni** /-naɪ/, **-nae** /-ni:/ *fem, especially AmE* a former student of a school, college, or university
al·veo•lar /ælˈviələʳ, ˌælviˈəʊləʳ, ˌlælˈviələʳ/ n [adj] *tech* (a consonant sound such as /t/ or /d/) made by putting the end of the tongue on the hard bony area at the top of the mouth just behind the upper front teeth
al•ways /ˈɔlweɪz, -wɜːz/ *adv* **1** at all times; at each time: *The sun always rises in the east.* | *We've always lived here.* | *I'm always pleased to see her.* | *They always go to Italy for their holidays.* | *The job is interesting, but not always easy* **2** for ever: *I will love you always.* **3** (used with the progressive form of a verb) all the time and often in an annoying way; repeatedly: *He's always asking silly questions.* **4** (used especially with can or could) as a possible course of action: *If you can't start the car, you can always go by bus instead.* ➔ compare FOREVER; see NEVER (USAGE)
Always /ˈɔːlweɪz/ *trademark* a type of SANITARY TOWEL known for having 'wings' (=pieces of tape on the sides of the towel for sticking to a woman's pants)
**Alz•heim•er's dis•ease /ˈæltshaɪməz drɪziːzlˈæltshaɪmərz/** also **Alzheimer's** n [U] an illness that attacks and gradually destroys parts of the brain, especially in older people, so that they forget things and lose their ability to take care of themselves
**am, AM** /ˌeɪ ˈem/ *abbrev.* for *ante meridiem* (Lat) before midday (used after numbers expressing time): *the 8 am (train) from London* ➔ see also PM
**am** /æm, əm; strong æm/ *v* *1st person sing. present tense of* BE: *I am (living) here now.* | *Here I am.* | *Am I the only person who's going?*
**A.M.A., the** /ˌeɪ em ˈeɪ/, **the AMA** *abbrev.* for the American Medical Association; an organization in the US for doctors and people who do medical RESEARCH. There is a similar organization in the UK called the BMA.
**amalgam** /əˈmælgəm/ *n* **1** [C(of)] *fml* a mixture or combination of different things: *Her work is a strange amalgam of musical styles.* **2** [C;U] *tech* a mixture of metals, one of which is MERCURY, often used for filling holes in teeth
**amalgamate** /əˈmælgəmeɪt/ *v* [I;T(with)] (of businesses, societies, groups etc) to join so as to form something larger; unite; combine ➞ion /əˌmælgəˈmeɪʃn/ n [C;U(with)] *The new company was formed by the amalgamation of three smaller businesses.*
**A•man•pour, Chris•ti•ane** /ˈɑːmænpʊəʳ, ˌkrɪstiˈɑːn/ (1958-) a television news REPORTER known for her reports on international news for CNN.
**a•man•u•en•sis** /əˌmænjuˈensɪs/ *n* *pl.* **-ses** /-siːz/ *fml* or *pomp* a person employed to write down what someone else is saying or to copy what someone else has written
**amass** /əˈməʊs/ *v* [T] to collect (money, goods, power etc) in great amounts, usually over a long period; ACCUMULATE: *She amassed a fortune by speculating on the stock exchange.* | *to amass evidence/information* ➔ see GATHER (USAGE)
**am•a•teur** /ˈæmətəʳ, -tʃʊəʳ, -tʃəʳ, ˈæməˌtɜː/ *adj, n* **1** [no comp.] (of, by, or being) a person who paints pictures, performs plays, takes part in sports etc, for enjoyment and without being paid for it: *Only amateurs can compete in the Olympic Games.* | *an amateur photographer/actor/detective* | *amateur football/psychology* ➔ compare DILETTANTE PROFESSIONAL; see also PRO-AM **2** *derog* (typical of) a person without experience or skill in a particular art, sport etc: *We made a rather amateur job of painting the house.*
**amateur dra•matics** n [U] the performing of plays by people who are not paid for this and do it just for enjoyment
**CULTURAL NOTE**
In Britain, most towns have an amateur dramatics group, and because the standard is not always very high, it is sometimes connected with bad over-emotional acting, and many people think of it as being humorous: *When they screamed at each other and he walked out of the meeting, it was like amateur dramatics.*
**am•a•teur•ish** /ˈæmətərɪʃ, ˌæməˈtʃʊəʃ, ˈtʃərɪʃ, æməˈtʊər-/ *adj* *derog* lacking skill; typical of an AMATEUR ➞**ly** *adv* ➞**ness** n [U]
**am•a•to•ry** /ˈæmətəɪl-təːri/ *adj* *lit* or *poet* concerning or expressing sexual love: *amatory verses*
**a•maze** /əˈmeɪz/ *v* [T] to fill with a feeling of great surprise or disbelief; cause wonder in; ASTONISH: *Your knowledge amazes me.* | *It amazed us to hear that you were leaving.* ➞**ment** n [U:] *To my amazement I came first.* | *We watched in amazement as she tore up the contract and threw it in the bin.*
**a•mazed** /əˈmeɪzd/ *adj* [at, by]) filled with great surprise or wonder: *I was amazed at/by his calmness.* | *We were amazed to hear the news/amazed (that) he could do it.* | *I would be amazed how difficult it was.* | *an amazed expression on her face*
**a•maz•ing** /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/ *adj* *usually appred* causing great surprise or wonder, especially because of quantity or quality; EXTRAORDINARY: *The new car goes at an amazing speed.* | *What an amazing film!* *It's quite amazing that he should be so unaware of what's going on!* ➞**ly** *adv:* *an amazingly hot day* | *amazingly good/bad*
**Amazing 'Grace** a HYMN (=a song of praise to God) that is popular in the UK:
*Amazing grace!*
*How sweet the sound,*
*That saved a wretch like me!*
*I once was lost*
*But now am found,*
*Was blind but now I see.*
**am•a•zon** /ˈæməzɔːn||-zɑːn, -zɔːn/ *n* (often cap.) a tall strong woman, especially one who likes sports. in CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY the Amazons were a nation of fierce fighting women. ➞**ian**, /ˌæməˈzəʊniən/ *adj, n*
**Amazon** a US company that does not have any stores, but that sells books and other products such as CDs and DVDs on the INTERNET often at cheaper prices than other book or record stores. It has described itself as 'Earth's biggest book store'.
**Amazon, the** a river in South America, which goes through Peru and Brazil and is the second longest river in the world.
**am•bas•sa•dor** /æmˈbæsədəʳ/ *n* a DIPLOMAT of the highest rank who is the official representative of his/her country in another country: *Britain's ambassador to the Soviet Union* | *(fig.)* *Sportsmen who play abroad should remember that they are ambassadors of their country.* ➔ compare CONSUL, HIGH COMMISSIONER ➞**ship** n, [C;U] ➞**ial** /ˌæmˌbæsəˈdɔəriəl/ *adj*
**am•bas•sa•dress** /æmˈbæsədʳis/ *n* **1** the wife of a ambassador **2** *pomp* a female representative or official messenger
**am•ber** /ˈæmbəʳ/ *n* [U] (the colour of) a yellowish brown hard clear substance used for jewels, decorative objects etc: *an amber necklace* | *The traffic lights changed from green to amber to red.* ➞**amber** *adj*
**am•bi•dex•trous** /ˌæmbɪˈdekstrəs/ *adj* able to use either hand with equal skill ➞**ly** *adv*
**am•bi•ence, ambiance** /ˈæmbiəns/ *n* the character, quality, feeling etc of a place; ATMOSPHERE: *This little restaurant has a pleasant ambience.*
**am•bi•ent** /ˈæmbiənt/ *adj* [A] often *tech* on all sides; completely surrounding: *The equipment will function in ambient temperatures of up to 40°C.*
**am•big•u•ous** /æmˈbɪgjʊəs/ *adj* having more than one possible meaning or INTERPRETATION; unclear: *an ambiguous reply/attitude* ➔ opposite UNAMBIGUOUS; compare AMBIVALENT ➞**ly** *adv* ➞**ity** /ˌæmbɪˈgjuːəti/ *n* [C;U] *You should avoid ambiguity in your writing.* | *His reply was full of ambiguities.*