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analgesia, such as a drug or a cream that is rubbed into the skin: *Aspirin is a mild analgesic*. —**analgesic** *adj*
**a‧nal‧o‧gous** /əˈnæləgəs/ *adj* [(to, with)] *fml* similar or alike in some ways; able to be compared (with): *The movement of particles in an atom is analogous to/with the way the planets move round the sun.*
**an‧a‧logue, -log** /ˈænəlɒg||-lɔːg, -lɑːg/ *n* [(of)] *fml* something that is in some way similar to something else
**ˌanalogue com'puter** *n* a type of computer, now used only for certain special purposes, that performs operations by measuring continuously varying quantities rather than by a binary system of counting $\rightarrow$ compare DIGITAL COMPUTER
**a‧nal‧o‧gy** /əˈnælədʒi/ *n* **1** [C(to, with, between)] a degree of similarity between one thing or process and another, which makes it possible to explain something by comparing it with something else: *The author draws an analogy between the way water moves in waves and the way light travels.* **2** [U] the act of comparing one thing with another thing that is in some way similar, especially in order to explain: *to explain the movement of light by analogy with that of water*
**an‧a‧lyse** *also* **-lyze** *AmE* /ˈænəlaɪz/ *v* [T] **1** to examine (something) by dividing it into its separate parts, in order to learn about its qualities, meaning etc: *He analysed the food and found it contained poison. | to analyse a sentence when studying grammar | Let's analyse the problem and see what went wrong.* $\rightarrow$ compare SYNTHESIZE **2** to PSYCHOANALYSE
**a‧nal‧y‧sis** /əˈnæləsə̇s/ *n pl.* **-ses** /siːz/ **1** [C;U] examination of something by dividing it into its separate parts: *The analysis of the food showed the presence of poison.* $\rightarrow$ compare SYNTHESIS **2** [C] an examination of something together with thoughts and judgments about it: *Our analysis shows that the company's failure was caused by lack of investment. | a detailed analysis of the week's news* **3** [U] PSYCHOANALYSIS **4** **in the final/last analysis** when everything has been considered; ULTIMATELY: *In the last analysis, the responsibility for this failure must lie with the minister.*
**an‧a‧lyst** /ˈænələ̇st/ *n* **1** a person who makes an analysis, e.g. of chemical materials: *a food analyst | a political analyst* **2** a PSYCHOANALYST $\rightarrow$ see also SYSTEMS ANALYST
**an‧a‧lyt‧ic** /ˌænəˈlɪtɪk/ *also* **an‧a‧lyt‧i‧cal** /-kəl/ *adj* using, or skilled in using, methods of careful examination, especially in order to separate things into their parts: *She has a very analytic mind. | computer-based analytical techniques* —**-ally** /kli/ *adv*
**an‧a‧paest** /ˈænəpest, -piːst/ *also* **-pest** /pest/ *AmE* — *n* tech a measure of poetry consisting of two weak (or short) beats followed by one strong (or long) beat —**-ic** /ˌænəˈpestɪk, -ˈpiː-||-ˈpe-/ *adj, n*
**an‧ar‧chic** /æˈnɑːkɪk||-ɑːr-/ *adj* of, like, or likely to cause anarchy, especially in lacking order or control: *The situation in the country is becoming increasingly anarchic. | An anarchic style of painting* —**-ally** /kli/ *adv*
**an‧ar‧chism** /ˈænəkɪzəm||-nər-/ *n* [U] the political belief that society should have no government, laws, police etc, but should be a free association of all its members
**an‧ar‧chist** /ˈænəkə̇st||-ər-/ *n* especially derog a person who believes that all forms of government or control are unnecessary or undesirable, and sometimes supports the use of violence to destroy governments —**-ic** /ˌænəˈkɪstɪk||-ər-/ *adj* —**-ically** /kli/ *adv*
**an‧ar‧chy** /ˈænəki||-ər-/ *n* [U] **1** lawlessness and social and political disorder caused by absence of government or control **2** complete absence of government **3** any state of disorder and confusion: *a newspaper report on anarchy in our schools*
**a‧nath‧e‧ma** /əˈnæθə̇mə/ *n* **1** [S;U(to)] something that one regards with strong dislike and disapproval: *His political views are (an) anathema to me.* **2** [C] tech someone or something that has been cursed by the Christian Church
**An‧a‧to‧li‧a** /ˌænəˈtəʊliə/ the main part of Turkey that is east OF THE SEA OF MARMARA $\rightarrow$ see also ASIA MINOR —**Anatolian** *adj*
**an‧a‧tom‧i‧cal** /ˌænəˈtɒmɪkəl||-ˈtɑː-/ *adj* of or concerned with anatomy: *an anatomical description of the leg* —**-ly** /kli/ *adv*
**a‧nat‧o‧mist** /əˈnætəmə̇st/ *n* a person skilled in ANATOMY
**a‧nat‧o‧my** /əˈnætəmi/ *n* **1** [U] the scientific study of the bodies and body parts of people and animals $\rightarrow$ compare PHYSIOLOGY **2** [C] *often humor* the body of a person or animal: *The ball hit him on a rather delicate part of his anatomy.* **3** [C;U] the DISSECTION (=cutting into pieces) of a body or part of a person or animal to study the way it works or is built **4** [C *usually sing.*] the way a living thing works or is built: *a lesson on the anatomy of the frog | (fig.) The book studies the anatomy of modern society.*
**ANC, the** /ˌei en ˈsiː/ *abbrev. for* the African National Congress; a political group in South Africa that was originally established to fight for political rights for the black population. For many years it was an illegal organization, but it later became a political party, won elections, and became the government of South Africa. Its most famous leader is Nelson Mandela.
**an‧ces‧tor** /ˈænsəstəʳ, -ses-||-ses-/、**an‧ces‧tress** /-trə̇s/ *fem.* — *n* [(of)] a person from whom one is descended, especially one who lived a long time ago: *My ancestors came from Spain. | (fig.) This machine is the ancestor of the modern computer.* $\rightarrow$ compare DESCENDANT
Many people in the US and UK are interested in learning who their ancestors were. They sometimes make a FAMILY TREE showing the names of all the relatives they know from the present and the past. In the past, some people paid professional organizations to help them find out where their family originally came from, but now many people use the Internet to get information about their ancestors.
**an‧ces‧tral** /ænˈsestrəl/ *adj* [A] belonging to or coming from one's ancestors: *my ancestral home*
**an‧ces‧try** /ˈænsəstri, -ses-||-ses-/ *n* [C *usually sing.*;U] a person's ancestors considered as a group or as a continuous line: *a woman of noble ancestry/Scottish ancestry | to trace one's ancestry (=find out who one's ancestors were)*
**an‧chor¹** /ˈæŋkəʳ/ *n* **1** a piece of heavy metal, usually a hook with two arms, at the end of a chain or rope, for lowering into the water to keep a ship from moving: *We sailed round the coast and came to anchor (=stopped sailing and lowered the anchor) in a pleasant little bay. In the morning we weighed anchor (=pulled it up) and sailed on. | fishing boats riding/lying at anchor (=floating and held by their anchors) | The ship dropped anchor (=lowered the anchor) at Plymouth.* **2** a person or thing that provides support and a feeling of safety **3** *AmE* an ANCHORPERSON $\rightarrow$ see also SHEET ANCHOR
**anchor²** *v* **1** [I] to stop sailing and lower the anchor **2** [T] to fix firmly in position: *to anchor the roof of a house* **3** [T] *especially AmE* to serve as an anchorperson of: *She anchors the top-rated news show.*
**an‧chor‧age** /ˈæŋkərɪdʒ/ *n* **1** [C] a place where ships may anchor **2** [C;U] a means of making firm: *Rub the door with sandpaper to provide anchorage for the next coat of paint.*
**Anchorage** the largest city in Alaska, US, which is a port and a centre of the oil and gas industries
**an‧chor‧per‧son** /ˈæŋkəˌpɜːsən||ˈæŋkərˌpɜːrsən/ *also* **-man** /-mən, ˈmæn/ *masc.*, **-woman** /-ˌwʊmən/ *fem.* — *n* *especially AmE* a broadcaster, usually on television, who is in charge of a news broadcast and appears on it to connect one part of the broadcast with the next
**an‧cho‧vy** /ˈæntʃəvi||ˈæntʃəʊvi/ *n pl.* **-vies** or **-vy** [C;U] a small strong-tasting fish: *The pizza was decorated with slices of anchovy. | anchovy paste*
**an‧cient¹** /ˈeinfənt/ *adj* **1** [A] in or of times long ago: *ancient Rome and Greece | a course in ancient history* **2** having existed for a very long time: *ancient customs/ruins* **3** *usually humor* (of people or objects) very old: *my ancient car | My grandparents are rather ancient.*
Ancient can be used to talk about the people of civilizations long ago: *the ancient Romans*. But it is usually derogatory or humorous when used of a living person with the meaning 'very old': *the ancient caretaker of the building*. $\rightarrow$ see OLD (USAGE)
**ancient²** *n old use* an old man
**ˌAncient 'Mariner** the main character in the poem *The Rime of the Ancient Mariner* by Samuel Taylor COLERIDGE. The Ancient Mariner is an old SAILOR who shoots and kills an