ergo
intransitive form, such as 'cooked' in the sentences 'He cooked the potatoes' and 'The potatoes cooked quickly'.
**er·go** /'ɜːɡəʊ║'ɜːr-/ *adv Lat, sometimes humor* (used for introducing the result of a reasoned argument) therefore
**er·go·nom·ics** /ˌɜːɡə'nɒmɪks║ˌɜːrɡə'nɑː-/ also **biotechnology** *AmE* —n [U] the study of making the right working conditions, machines, and equipment for people to work most effectively **—ic** *adj*: *an ergonomic design* **—ically** /-kli/ *adv*
**Er·ics·son** /'erɪksən/ *trademark* a Swedish company which makes MOBILE PHONES and other types of TELECOMMUNICATIONS equipment.
**Ericsson, Eriksson, Leif** /liːf/ (10th century AD) an EXPLORER from Norway, who was probably the first European to discover America. He landed in Newfoundland in the late 10th century. $\rightarrow$ see also COLUMBUS, CHRISTOPHER
**E·rie, Lake** /'ɪəri/ one of the GREAT LAKES of North America, between the US and Canada. There is a lot of industry on the southern side.
**,Erie Ca'nal**, the a CANAL (=artificial river) in the US state of New York which connects Lake Erie and the Hudson River. Built in the early 19th century, the canal allowed trade between New York City and the states of the Midwest.
**Er·iks·son, Sven Go·ran** /'erɪksən, sven 'jɔːrən/ (1948-) a Swedish football manager who in 2000 became the first foreign manager of the England football team. He is known for being calm and for not showing his feelings. Before managing England, he was the manager of many successful European football teams, including Benfica and Lazio, and is considered to be one of the best football managers in the world.
**Er·i·tre·a** /ˌerɪ'treɪə║'trɪːə/ a country in northeast Africa, south of Sudan and north of Ethiopia, which became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 after a long war. Population: 4,362,254 (2003). Capital: Asmara.
**ERM, the** /ˌiː ɑː 'em/ *abbrev. for* THE EUROPEAN EXCHANGE RATE MECHANISM
**er·mine** /'ɜːmɪn║'ɜːr-/ *n pl.* **ermines** or **ermine** **1** [U] the white winter fur of the STOAT (=a small animal), often worn, especially formerly, by people such as kings and noble-men **2** [C] (the name given in winter to) a STOAT
**Er·nie** /'ɜːni║'ɜːr-/ Electronic Random Number Indicating Equipment; the computer which chooses the prize-winning numbers of PREMIUM BONDS in the UK. Its name is the short form of the man's name 'Ernest'.
**Ernst, Max** /eənst║eərnst, mæks/ (1891-1976) a German painter who lived in Germany, France, and then the US, and who is known for his work in DADAISM and SURREALISM
**e·rode** /ɪ'rəʊd/ *v* [I; T(AWAY)] to wear or be worn away gradually, especially by the slow action of water, wind etc: *The coast is slowly eroding (away).* | *The sea erodes the rocks.* | (*fig.*) *Jealousy is eroding our friendship.*
**e·ro·ge·nous** /ɪ'rɒdʒənəs║ɪ'rɑː-/ *adj tech* (of a part of the body) sexually sensitive: *The female breasts are an erogenous zone.*
**E·ros** /'ɪərɒs║'erɑːs/ **1** in Greek mythology, the god of sexual and romantic love. He is usually shown in pictures as a beautiful boy with wings, holding a BOW and ARROW. In Roman mythology his name is CUPID. **2** a STATUE of Eros at PICCADILLY CIRCUS in central London. It is one of the best-known sights in London. **3** [U] sexual love
**e·ro·sion** /ɪ'rəʊʒən/ *n* [U] the process of eroding or being eroded: *Soil erosion by rain and wind is a serious problem here.* | (*fig.*) *the slow erosion of royal power.* **—sive** /ɪ'rəʊsɪv/ *adj*
**e·rot·ic** /ɪ'rɒtɪk║ɪ'rɑː-/ *adj* apprec of, dealing with, or producing sexual love and desire: *erotic feelings* | *an erotic picture* | *an erotic sensation* **—ally** /-kli/ *adv*
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USAGE Compare **erotic, sexual**, and **sexy**. **Erotic** is used particularly for works of art: *an erotic film* | *some erotic pictures.* **Sexual** simply means 'connected with or in regard to sex': *the sexual organs* | *sexual habits*. **Sexy** means 'exciting in a sexual way': *You look very sexy in those jeans.*
**e·rot·i·ca** /ɪ'rɒtɪkə║ɪ'rɑː-/ *n* [P] erotic books, pictures etc: *a collection of erotica*
**e·rot·i·cis·m** /ɪ'rɒtɪsɪzəm║ɪ'rɑː-/ *n* [U] the quality of being erotic
**err** /ɜː/ *v* [I] **1** *fml* to make a mistake; do something wrong: *To err is human. (old saying)* | *It's better to err on the side of caution. (=to be too careful, rather than not careful enough)* **2 to err is human, to forgive, divine** quote a phrase from a work by Alexander Pope
**er·rand** /'erənd/ *n* a short journey made to carry a message, or to do or get something: *I'm in a hurry - I've got some errands to do. | I've no time to go on/run errands for him. | an errand of mercy (=to get or bring help)* $\rightarrow$ see also FOOL'S ERRAND
**er·rant** /'erənt/ *adj* [A] *fml or humor* wandering away from home and behaving in a bad or irresponsible way: *She went to London to bring back her errant daughter.* $\rightarrow$ see also KNIGHT-ERRANT
**er·rat·ic** /ɪ'rætɪk/ *adj* changeable without reason; not regular in movement or behaviour: *She's a very erratic tennis player. (=sometimes good, sometimes bad)* | *He made erratic movements with his hands.* **—ally** /-kli/ *adv*
**er·ra·tum** /e'rɑːtəm/ *n pl.* **-ta** /-tə/ [*usually pl.*] *Lat* a mistake in printing or writing, especially one noted in a list at the beginning of a book
**er·ro·ne·ous** /ɪ'rəʊniəs/ *adj fml* (of a statement, belief etc) incorrect; mistaken: *the erroneous belief that the Earth is flat* **—ly** *adv*
**er·ror** /'erə/ *n* **1** [C] a mistake: *There are several errors in the calculations. | The accident was caused by an error of judgment on the part of the pilot. | a programming error causing faulty readings* **2** [U] the state or quality of being wrong or mistaken: *The accident was caused by human error. | I did it in error. (=by mistake)* | *It's time you pointed out to him the error of his ways. (=the way in which he is behaving badly)* | *The computer screen showed an error message because I had typed in the wrong instructions.* $\rightarrow$ see also trial and error (TRIAL)
USAGE **Error** is a more formal word than **mistake**: *Your homework is full of mistakes/errors (fml).* **Error (literary)** is sometimes used to suggest something that is morally wrong: *the errors of his youth.* In certain fixed phrases only one of the two words can be used: *an error of judgment | by mistake.*
**er·satz** /'eəzæts║'eərzɑːts/ *adj derog* used instead of something else, either because of cost or because the real thing cannot be obtained; not real; artificial: *ersatz flour made from potatoes | ersatz coffee*
**Erse** /ɜːs║ɜːrs/ *n* [U] the GAELIC language, especially as spoken in Ireland
**er·u·dite** /'erʊdaɪt/ *adj fml* (of a person or book) full of learning; SCHOLARLY: *an erudite work on the history of the Roman Empire* **—ly** *adv* **—dition** /ˌerʊ'dɪʃən/ *n* [U] *a book that displays great erudition*
**e·rupt** /ɪ'rʌpt/ *v* [I] **1** (of a VOLCANO) to explode and pour out fire, LAVA etc: *Mount Vesuvius hasn't erupted for many years.* | (*fig.*) *Violence erupted in the city after the football match.* **2** [(in)] *med* (of a person or their skin) to become suddenly covered in unhealthy spots: *Her face erupted in pimples.* **3** *med* (of a tooth) to come up through the skin of the GUM; start to grow **—ion** /ɪ'rʌpʃən/ *n* [C;U] *There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.*
**Er·ving, Ju·li·us** /'ɜːvɪŋ║'ɜːr-, 'dʒuːliəs/ (1950-) a US BASKETBALL player often called Dr. J
**er·y·sip·e·las** /ˌerɪ'sɪpələs/ *n* [U] an infectious illness which makes the skin very red and sore
**ESA, the** /ˌiː iː 'es/ *abbrev. for* EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
**E·sau** /'iːsɔː/ in the Old Testament of the Bible, the son of