MVP /,em vi: 'piz/ n AmE most valuable player; used in sport to describe the best player in a team, LEAGUE, or event
MW written abbrev. for MEDIUM WAVE
my /maɪ/ determiner (possessive form of l) 1 of or belonging to me: my car | my mother | You should take my advice. | That's my problem, not yours. 2 (used to show surprise or pleasure): My (my)! What a clever boy you are! 3 my dear polite or humor (a form of address): My dear sir, I'm so sorry. | Come in, my dear.
Myan·mar /'mʌnməʊr/ a country in southeast Asia, to the east of India and Bangladesh, and to the west of China and Thailand. Many people around the world still call it 'Burma' even though its name officially changed in 1989. Population 42,510,537 (2003). Capital: Yangon (formerly called Rangoon in English). → see also AUNG SAN SUU KYI —Myanmarese /,mʌnmaɪˈriːz/ n, adj
My·ce·nae /mar'sini/ an ancient Greek city in southern Greece, where King AGAMEMNON is supposed to have lived. It was a wealthy and important city in the period before about 1100 BC. In the late 19th century many beautiful and ancient objects were found there by ARCHAEOLOGISTS. —Mycenaean /,mais'ni:ən·/ adj: a gold Mycenaean bracelet
my·col·o·gy /mar'kɒlədʒɪl-'kɑː-/ n [U] the study of fungi (FUNGUS)
My Country 'Tis of 'Thee a PATRIOTIC song that praises the US. It has the same tune as the British song GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, and it begins:
## Of thee I sing
My•ers, Mike /'maɪəz|-ərz/ (1963-) a Canadian film DIRECTOR, writer, and COMEDY actor, best known for acting in and writing the Austin Powers series of films. His other films include Wayne's World. He also wrote for and appeared in the US television show Saturday Night Live.
My Fair 'Lady (1964) a US MUSICAL (=a film that uses singing and dancing to tell a story) in which Audrey HEP-BURN plays a poor young woman from London who is taught to speak and behave like an UPPER-CLASS lady by a bad-tempered PROFESSOR, played by Rex Harrison. It is based on the play PYGMALION by George Bernard SHAW.
My Lai mas·sa·cre, the /,mi: lai 'mæsəkər/ a village in Vietnam where, in 1968, a group of US soldiers cruelly killed several hundred people, mostly old people, women, and children, during the Vietnam War. The officer who led this attack, Lt William Calley, was later put on trial and sent to prison, but he was allowed to go free after a short time. This event influenced many Americans to oppose the war. In 1998, a US soldier who tried to prevent the attack and save some of the people, Hugh Thompson, was given a MEDAL for bravery.
my·nah, myna /'maɪnə/ also 'mynah bird n a large dark-coloured bird from Asia that can learn to make sounds like words
MYOB /,em war əu 'biː/ v [[infinitive and imperative only]] infml abbrev. for Mind Your Own Business; to avoid getting involved in other people's affairs: He asked me where I got the fifty bucks, and I told him to MYOB.
my·o·pi·a /maɪˈəʊpiə/ n [U] fɪml inability to see distant objects clearly —-pic /maɪˈɒpɪkəl-ˈɑːpɪk/ adj: (fig.) myopic minds —-pically /kli/ adv
myr·i·ad /'mɪriəd/ adj, n especially lit a great and varied number (of): a myriad stars | Myriads of followers joined Gandhi's cause.
myrrh /mɜːr/ n [U] a brown GUM obtained from trees, which is used in making PERFUME and INCENSE → see also gold, frankincense, and myrrh (GOLD $ ^{1} $)
myr·tle /'mɜːtlɪl'mɜːr-/ n a small tree with shiny green leaves and sweet-smelling white flowers
my·self /mar'self/ pron 1 (reflexive form of I) I hurt myself. I'm pleased with myself. 2 (strong form of I) I'll do it myself, if you won't. I'm husband and myself are both doctors. I myself wrote it. I'm afraid I can't help you, I'm a stranger here myself. (=like you) 3 (in) my usual state of mind or body: I feel more myself today. (=not so ill as before) 4 (all) by myself alone, without help: I carried it all by myself. 5 to myself for my private use; not shared: a bedroom to myself → see YOURSELF (USAGE)
mys·te·ri·ous /mrˈstɪəriəs/ adj 1 full of mystery; not easily understood; The mysterious disappearance of my brother upset everyone. 2 secret; hiding one's intentions: He's being very mysterious about his future plans. —ly adv —ness n [U]
mys·te·ry /'mɪstəri/ n 1 [C] something which cannot be explained or understood: Her sudden disappearance was a complete mystery. | It's a mystery to me how she ever passed that exam! 2 [U] a strange secret nature or quality: stories full of mystery 3 [C often pl.] a religious teaching or belief that is beyond human understanding or that is kept secret: the ultimate mystery of God 4 [C] an invented story about crime and murder: I enjoy (reading) a good mystery.
'mystery play n a MIRACLE PLAY
'mystery tour n a pleasure trip, usually by bus, in which the
travellers do not know where they will be taken
mys·tic /'mɪstɪk/ n a person who practises mysticism
mys·tic·al /'mɪstɪkəl/ also mystic adj 1 concerning mysticism 2 of hidden religious or magic power: mystical ceremonies —ly /kli/ adv
mys·ti·cis·m /'mistɪsɪzəm/ n [U] the attempt to gain, or practice of gaining, a knowledge of real truth and union with God by prayer and MEDITATION
Mystic Meg /,mɪstɪk 'meg/ a British CLAIRVOYANT (=someone who claims to know what will happen in the future) who used to appear on the NATIONAL LOTTERY, television programme
mys·ti·fy /'mɪstʃaɪ/ v [T] to make (someone) unable to understand or explain something; fill with wonder; completely BEWILDER: I'm quite mystified – where can it be? | a strange case that mystified the police —fication /,mɪstʃəˈkeɪʃən/ n [U]
mys·tique /mɪˈstiːk/ n [C usually sing.] a special quality that makes a person or thing seem mysterious and different, especially causing admiration: the mystique of the film industry
myth /mɪθ/ n 1 [C] an ancient story that is based on popular beliefs or that explains natural or historical events 2 [U] such stories generally: an idea common in myth 3 [C] a widely believed but false story or idea: the myth of male superiority | This report should explode the myth (=show it to be false) that high wages cause unemployment. → compare LEGEND
myth-i-cal /'miθikəl/ adj 1 of or in a myth: mythical heroes of ancient Greece 2 not real; imagined or invented
myth•o•lo•gi•cal /ˌmɪθəˈlɒdʒɪkəlˈlɑːz/ adj 1 concerning the study of myths 2 in a myth; MYTHICAL
my·thol·o·gy /mr'θɒlədʒiːl-'θɑː-/ n [C;U] myths in general and the beliefs which they contain: He studies Greek and Roman mythology. —-gist n
myx·o·ma·to·sis /,miksəmə'tausəs/ n [U] an illness which infects rabbits, usually killing them