highball
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high-ball /'haibɔ:l/ n especially AmE an alcoholic drink, espe-
cially WHISKY or BRANDY mixed with water or SODA and
served with ice
high-born /'haibɔ:n||-'bɔ:rn/ adj fml or lit born into the highest
social class; of noble birth
high-boy /'haibɔi/ n AmE for TALLBOY
high-brow /'haibrau/ n sometimes derog a person who is
thought to have more than average knowledge of, or interest
in, artistic and INTELLECTUAL matters ➔ compare LOWBROW,
MIDDLEBROW —highbrow adj
high 'chair n a chair with long legs in which a baby or small
child can sit, especially when eating from a table or from a
special TRAY joined to the chair ➔ see picture at CHAIR
High 'Church adj of the part of the Church of England which
places great importance on ceremony, and is closest in its
beliefs to the Roman Catholic Church. High Church services
include the burning of CANDLES and sweet-smelling INCENSE.
➔ compare LOW CHURCH —~man n
high-'class adj 1 of good quality; SUPERIOR 2 of high social
position
high com'mand n [U;C] (the offices of) the top leaders and
officers of a military force
high com'mission n [C+sing./pl. v] (often caps.) (the group of
people who work in) the office (like an EMBASSY) of a high
commissioner
high com'missioner n (often caps.) a person who is the chief
official representative of one Commonwealth country in
another: the British High Commissioner in New Delhi ➔
compare AMBASSADOR, CONSUL
high 'court n 1 [C] a court which is at a higher level than
ordinary courts and which can be asked to change the
decision of a lower court: a high court judge 2 [the] (caps) also
High Court of 'Justice — the lower branch of the Supreme
Court of England and Wales consisting of the Queen's
Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family
Division
High Court of Jus-ti-cia-ry, the /ˌhaɪ ˌkɔrt əv
dʒʌs'tʃəriɪl-kɔ:rt-/ in the Scottish legal system, a court of
law that is more important than a SHERIFF COURT and deals
with serious crimes such as murder
high-defi,nition 'television abbrev. HDTV n [U;C] (a
television set which uses) a modern system of broadcasting
television pictures which gives a much sharper image than
previous systems
'high-end adj [usually A] especially AmE relating to products or
services that are more expensive and of better quality than
other products of the same type: high-end quality merchan-
dise ➔ opposite LOW-END
high-er¹ /'haɪə/ adj 1 comparative of HIGH 2 [A] more
advanced, especially in development, organization, or
knowledge needed: higher animals | higher nerve centres |
higher mathematics
higher² n the higher level of the Scottish Certificate of
Education ➔ see also SCE; compare O GRADE
,higher edu'cation n [U] education at a university or
college ➔ compare ADULT EDUCATION, FURTHER EDUCATION
,higher-'up n [usually pl.] infml an important person of high
rank in an organization
,high ex'plosive n [C;U] a powerful explosive
high-fa-lu-tin /ˌhaɪfə'luːtɪn ||-tn/ adj infml derog foolishly
trying to appear serious or important; PRETENTIOUS: a highfa-
lutin manner
,high fi'delity also hi-fi n [U] the ability (of TAPE RECORDERS,
RECORD PLAYERS etc) to give out sound which represents
very closely the details of the original sound before record-
ing: high fidelity equipment ➔ see also HI-FI
,high-'flier n an unusually clever person who has a strong
desire to succeed and is regarded by others as likely to gain a
high position
,high-'flown adj usually derog (of language) important-
sounding, though lacking in deep meaning: high-flown
rhetoric
,high-'flying adj 1 which flies high: high-flying air-
craft 2 like a high-flier; AMBITIOUS
High-gate /'haigeit/ a pleasant area of North London with
expensive houses, known especially for Highgate Cemetery,
where many famous people, including Karl MARX, are buried
,high-'grade adj of high quality: high-grade cloth for suits |
high-grade oil
High-grove House /ˌhaɪgrəv 'haus/ a large house in
Gloucestershire, England, which is owned by Prince CHARLES
,high-'handed adj using one's power too forcefully and with-
out considering the wishes or feelings of other people; ARBI-
TRARY: high-handed treatment/attitudes | It was rather high-
handed of him to take that decision without consulting you
first. —~ly adv —~ness n [U]
,high 'heels also heels n [P] women's shoes with high heels
,high 'horse n on one's high horse infml derog behaving,
especially talking, as if one knows best, or more than others
,high 'interest ac,count n a bank account in which
money saved earns a higher rate of interest than in other
savings accounts, if you keep at least a certain sum in the
account
'high jinks n [P] infml old-fash wild fun of a harmless type
'high jump n [the S;C] 1 (a sport in which someone makes) a
jump over a bar which is gradually raised higher and
higher 2 be for the high jump BrE infml to be about to be in
trouble or get a serious punishment: You'll be for the high
jump when they find out you've crashed the firm's car. —~er n
high-land¹ /'hailənd/ n a mountainous area
highland² adj [A] 1 of a mountainous area: highland vegeta-
tion 2 (often cap.) of the Scottish Highlands: a Highland clan
Highland a REGION (=local government area) of northern.
Scotland which includes many islands and the highest
mountain in the UK, BEN NEVIS
,Highland 'dress a set of clothes worn by some Scottish men
on special occasions, for example at a wedding. Highland
dress consists of a short black JACKET, a BOW TIE, a KILT and
long socks with a small knife kept under the fold at the top
of one of the socks.
High-land-er, highlander /'hailəndər/ n [C] someone
from the Scottish Highlands
,Highland 'fling n [C] a fast Scottish dance, danced by one
person
,Highland 'Games also ,Highland 'Gathering a special
event held every year in Scottish towns, with traditional
Scottish sports, dancing, and music. The most famous one
takes place in the town of Braemar. The sports include
'tossing the caber' (=throwing a long, heavy wooden pole
into the air).
High-lands, the /'hailəndz/ mountainous areas, especially
those in the north of Scotland ➔ compare LOWLANDS
,Highlands and 'Islands, the the northern and north-
western areas of Scotland and the islands off its west coast
'high-,level adj [A] 1 at a high level 2 done by or including
people of high rank or importance: high-level discussions
about the future of the company 3 tech (of a language for
computer PROGRAMS) similar to human language, rather than
to machine language: BASIC is a high-level programming
language.
'high life n [U] 1 [(the)] the enjoyable life of rich and
fashionable people, which includes lots of amusement, good
food etc 2 a type of music and dance popular in W Africa
high-light¹ /'hailait/ n [often pl.] 1 [(of)] an important, notice-
able, or special part of something bigger, e.g. of a perform-
ance or sports event: Recorded highlights of today's big
football game will be shown after the news. 2 a lighter area in
the hair, often made lighter by artificial means. Highlights
are often used as a way of hiding grey hairs. 3 tech the area
on a picture or photograph where most light appears to fall
highlight² v [T] to pick out (something) as an important
part; throw attention onto: facts that highlight the need for
change
high-light-er /'hailaitə/ n a kind of pen which writes with
a very bright colour which does not cover up the words
underneath it, and is used to highlight words on a page
high-ly /'haili/ adv 1 (often before adjectives made from
verbs) to a great degree; very: highly amused | highly skilled
| highly enjoyable | highly unlikely 2 a) very well: highly
paid | She speaks/thinks very highly of your work. (=praise