1445
thoroughbred
saw Mrs Jones this morning. (=before midday today) | Wait until you've heard this story. | These latest revelations will severely damage the President's reputation. | Who's this Mr Black we keep hearing about? | There will be another meeting later this week. | Come here this minute! (=at once) | They should have arrived by this time. (=by now) | If we keep losing money at this rate we may have to close the factory. 2 being the one of two or more people or things that is nearer in time, place, thought etc: You look in this box (here) and I'll look in that one (over there). | I'm surprised you like that picture; I prefer this one. | Is the meeting this Friday or next Friday? 3 infml a certain: This man came up to me in the street and started making rude suggestions ... | There were these two Irishmen called Pat and Mick ...
this² pron pl. these 1 the thing, idea, action etc, which is understood or (about to be) mentioned: Who told you this? | Wait until you've heard this. | What's this? | This is what you must do. | Do it like this. (=in the way shown) | This has been the best year in the company's history. | We're getting some new machines next month, and this (=this fact) will help us to increase production. 2 (used with be) the thing or person that is near or nearer in place, time, thought etc: This is your book, isn't it? | 'This is my sister.' 'How do you do?' | This is more comfortable than that one over there. | (on the telephone) Hullo! This is Jane Robinson speaking ... 3 this time or place; now or here: I thought he'd have got back before this. 4 this, that, and the other also this and that — infml various things; all sorts of things: We were sitting there talking about this, that, and the other. 5 What's all this? What is the trouble, matter etc, here?
this³ adv infml to this degree: I've never been out this late before. | Cut off about this much thread.
This·be /'θɪzbi/ the female lover of Pyramus → see PYRAMUS AND THISBE
This is Your 'Life a British and US television programme in which a famous person's life story is told. It begins when the PRESENTER surprises someone and says 'This is Your Life', before taking him or her to a television studio. The famous person's friends and relations have been secretly brought to the studio to meet them there and say something about them. At the end of the programme the presenter hands the person a large red book containing the story of their life.
This 'Life a British television programme about a group of young people who share a house in London. Most of the main characters are lawyers, and they drink a lot of alcohol, take drugs, have lots of sex, and swear a lot, which some people find shocking.
this·tle /'θɪsəl/ n a wild plant with prickly leaves and yellow, white, or especially purple flowers. The thistle is the national sign of Scotland.
this·tle·down /'θɪsəldaʊn/ n [U] the soft feathery substance fastened to the seeds of the thistle, by means of which they float through the air
hith·er /'hɪðə/ || 'θɪ-/ adv old use to that place; in that direction → see also hither and thither (HITHER)
Thom·as, Clar·ence /'tɒməs || 'tɑː-, 'klærəns/ (1948–) a US judge, who is generally considered to be very CONSERVATIVE. When he was first chosen for the Supreme Court in 1991, a woman called Anita Hill said that he had tried to start a sexual relationship with her while they were working together, even though she did not want it. Thomas said this was not true, and after a lot of discussion the Senate allowed him to become a Supreme Court JUSTICE.
Thomas, Dy·lan /'dɪlən/ (1914–53) a Welsh poet and writer known for his short stories, and especially for his radio play UNDER MILK WOOD. He is also known to have been an ALCOHOLIC (=someone who drinks too much alcohol).
Thomas, R. S. (1913–2000) a Welsh poet who wrote about Welsh people and their CULTURE in poems such as Song at the Year's Turning (1955)
Thomas à Kempis → see KEMPIS, THOMAS A
Thomas 'Cook trademark a British company that sells holidays and also arranges flights, sells foreign money etc. It is one of the oldest companies providing services for travellers and was started in 1841 by Thomas Cook.
Thomas the 'Tank Engine a little blue steam railway engine with a smiling face, which is the main character in a series of books, television programmes, and films for young children, which first became popular with British children in the 1950s
Thomp·son, Da·ley /'tɒmpsən || 'tɑː-, 'deɪli/ (1958–) a British ATHLETE who competed in the DECATHLON (=competition with ten different events, including running short and long distances and jumping over a high bar). He held the world record for several years, and won GOLD MEDALS at the 1980 and 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES.
Thompson, Em·ma /'emə/ (1959–) a British actress in film, theatre, and on television. Her films include Howards End (1991), for which she won an Oscar, The Remains of the Day (1993), and Sense and Sensibility (1995).
Thompson, Tommy (1941–) a US politician in the Republican Party who became Secretary of Health and Human Services in George W. Bush's government in 2001
Thom·son Hol·i·days /'tɒmsən 'hɒlɪdeɪz || 'tɑːmsən 'hɑː-/ trademark a large British holiday company, which sells PACKAGE HOLIDAYS (=where you pay for your travel, hotel, and meals before you go) in countries all over the world
Thomson 'Local, the trademark a book produced by Thomson Directories Ltd, in which local businesses advertise, giving their addresses and telephone numbers. It is sent free of charge to every private house and business in the UK. → compare YELLOW PAGES
thong /θɒŋ || θɑːŋ/ n 1 a narrow length of leather used as a fastening, whip etc 2 a piece of underwear with a single string at the back that goes between the BUTTOCKS
thongs /θɒŋz || θɑːŋz/ n [P] AmE & AustrE a type of open shoe (SANDAL) which is held on by the toes and loose at the back → see PAIR (USAGE)
Thor /θɔː/ in Norse MYTHOLOGY, the god of THUNDER and the strongest of the gods. The word 'Thursday' is based on his name.
tho·rax /'θɔːræks/ n pl. -races /-rəsiːz/ or -raxes tech 1 the part of the human body between the neck and ABDOMEN 2 a part like this in other animals 3 the part of an insect's body that carries the legs and wings → see picture at INSECT
Tho·reau, Henry David /'θɔːrɔː || 'θɔːrəʊ/ (1817–62) a US writer and PHILOSOPHER best known for his book Walden, or Life in the Woods, in which he describes his simple life in the countryside, and for CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, an ESSAY on refusing to obey unfair laws, which influenced GANDHI and Martin Luther KING → see also WALDEN POND
thorn /θɔːn || θɔːrn/ n 1 [C] a small sharp pointed growth on the stem of a plant: the thorns on a rose bush. 2 [C;U](usually in comb.) a bush, tree, or other plant having such growths → see also HAWTHORN 3 a thorn in one's flesh/side a continual cause of annoyance or problems → see also CROWN OF THORNS
Thorn·ton, Billy Bob /'θɔːntən || 'θɔːrn-/ (1955–) an American actor from Arkansas whose films include Indecent Proposal, Sling Blade, and Love Actually. He is also a musician and has recorded some ROCK 'N' ROLL CDs.
Thorn·tons /'θɔːntənz || 'θɔːrn-/ trademark a British company which makes and sells different types of CHOCOLATE
thorn·y /'θɔːni || 'θɔːrni/ adj 1 prickly; having thorns 2 difficult to deal with; causing worry or trouble: a thorny problem —iness n [U]
thor·ough /'θʌrə || 'θʌrəʊ, 'θʌrə/ adj 1 complete in every way: a thorough search | They have promised a thorough inquiry into the plane crash. 2 [A] being fully or completely (the stated thing): This has been a thorough waste of time. 3 (of a person) careful with regard to detail; METICULOUS: She's very thorough. —ly adv: I feel thoroughly tired. | We thoroughly enjoyed your party. —ness n [U]
thor·ough·bred /'θʌrəbred || 'θʌrəʊ-, 'θʌrə-/ n, adj (an animal, especially a horse) descended from parents of one very good breed; the type of horse used in racing → compare PUREBLOODED, PUREBRED