makeer /ˈmeɪkər/ n 1 a) (often in comb.) a person who makes something: a mapmaker | a filmmaker | a troublemaker b) also makers pl. —a firm that makes something: My watch has gone wrong; I'm sending it back to the makers. 2 (often cap.) God: (euph) He's gone to meet his maker. (=has died)
make·shift /'meɪkʃɪft/ adj, n (being) something made or used in the case of a sudden or urgent need, because there is nothing better: a makeshift shelter
make-up n 1 [C usually sing.;U] powder, paint etc, worn on the face, either by actors or (especially by women) for improving one's appearance: eye make-up | stage make-up → see also MAKE UP 2 [C usually sing.] a combination of members or qualities, especially in a person's character: The make-up of the crew is five Englishmen, two Americans, and an Australian. | You won't get him to change his behaviour at his age; it's in his make-up. → see also MAKE UP 3 [C usually sing.] the way in which the print, pictures etc, in a newspaper or on a page are arranged 4 [C] AmE an examination taken to replace one that was missed: I've got a make-up in Algebra for the test I missed when I was sick.
'make-weight n a person or thing added, invited etc only in order to make up a total value, number etc, not for any value of its or their own
'make-work n [U] AmE work which is not important but which keeps people busy: The substitute teacher gave the students a lot of make-work in order to keep them quiet.
making /'meɪkɪŋ/ n 1 [U] (usually in comb.) the process or business of producing something by work or activity, especially with the hands: shoemaking | dressmaking | filmmaking equipment | a lawmaking body 2 [the+of] a means of gaining great improvement or success: Hard work will be the making of him. → compare UNDOING 3 in the making a) in the process of being made: The film is still in the making. b) ready to be produced: There's a fortune in the making for anyone willing to work hard.
mak·ings /'meɪkɪŋz/ n [the P+of] everything that is necessary for developing (into): She has the makings of a good doctor. The story has all the makings of a great movie.
mal→ see WORD FORMATION TABLE
Mal·a·bar Coast, the /,mæləba: 'kəust‖-ba;r-/ the south-west coast of India, which produces COCONUTs, rice, and SPICES
mal-a-chite /'mæləkait/ n [U] a decorative green stone
mal·ad·just·ed /ˌmæləˈdʒʌstʃd/ adj not having a good relationship with or attitude to other people or to one's surroundings, so that one is unhappy, dissatisfied with life etc; not WELL-ADJUSTED: a home for maladjusted children ---ment n [U]
mal·ad·min·i·stra·tion /,mæləd,minə'streifən/ n [U] lack of proper care (and perhaps honesty) in carrying out duties, usually by someone in an official position
mal·a·droit /,mæl'drɪt/ adj fml not skilful in action or behaviour; awkward: The chairman was criticized for his maladroit handling of the press conference. ︷ly adv ︸ness n [U]
mal·a·dy /'mæləd/ n fml/ or lit 1 something that is wrong with a system or organization 2 especially old use an illness
Mal·a·ga /'mæləg/ a city and port in the south of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. It is a popular place for tourists, and the area around Malaga, the Costa del Sol, is also a popular place for older British people to go and live after they have finished working.
ma·laise /məˈlerz/ n 1 [U] a feeling of illness without any particular pain or appearance of disease 2 [C usually sing.;U] a general but not clearly expressed feeling of worry, dissatisfaction, and lack of confidence, especially shown in lack of activity: The underlying social malaise in this country is causing a steady decline in production and trade.
Mal-a-mud, Ber-nard /'maeləmud, 'b3:nədlibər'na:rd/ (1914–86) a US writer who often wrote about Jewish life and customs. His books include the novels The Fixer and Dubin's Lives, and a collection of short stories, The Magic Barrel.
Mal-a-prop, Mrs /'mæləprɒpəl-prɑːp/ a character in the 18th century play The Rivals by Richard SHERIDAN. She is known for the funny way that she wrongly uses words, saying a word that sounds similar to the one she intended to use, but means something completely different. This type of mistake is known as a MALAPROPISM because of her.
mal·a·prop·is·m /'mæləpropizəml-pruː-/ n an often amusing misuse of a word, such that the word incorrectly used sounds similar to the intended word but means something quite different
ma·lar·i·a /mə'leəriə/ n [U] a common disease of hot countries, spread by the bite of certain mosquitoes (MOSQUITO), which causes attacks of fever and coldness in turn which may be repeated periodically for many years —larial adj
ma·lar·key /məˈlaːkɪl-ər-/ n [U] infml a speech or piece of writing which tries to deceive or be impressive to people but actually says little: Everything he said was just a load of malarkey.
Ma·la·wi /mə'la:wi/ a country in East Africa, surrounded by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Population: 11,651,239 (2003). Capital: Lilongwe. —Malawian n, adj
Ma·lay¹ /mə'leɪ/mə'leɪ, 'meileɪ/ n·1 [C] someone from the largest population group in Malaysia 2 [U] the language of these people
Malay² adj from or connected with Malaysia
Ma·lay·a /mə'leɪə/ the former name of the Malay PENINSULA or West Malaysia, now a part of Malaysia
Ma·lay·an /məˈleɪən/ also Malay n 1 [C] a person from Malaysia 2 [U] the language of Malaysia
Ma·lay·si·a /mə'leizəl-3ə, -fə/ a country in southeast Asia made up of 13 states. Eleven of these are on the Malay PENINSULA and the other two, Sabah and Sarawak, are on the island of Borneo. Population: 23,092,940 (2003). Capital: Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is an important producer of rubber, and it has also developed many other industries, including clothes, cars, and electrical goods. It is a member of the British Commonwealth. —Malaysian n, adj
Mal·coim X /,mælkəm 'eks/ (1925–65) a African-American leader in the US who worked to improve the social and economic position of African Americans. He became a member of the BLACK MUSLIMS in 1952, and spoke publicly about the need for African Americans to live separately from white Americans, and he encouraged them to use violence to protect themselves. In 1964, he left the Black Muslims and established the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was murdered in 1965 while making a speech in Harlem, New York City.
mai·con·tent /'maelkəntent/ mælkən'tent/ n fm/ a dissatisfied person who is likely to make trouble
Maldives, the /'mɒldɪvz, -divz, -darvz/ [plural] a country made up of a group of small islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka, which are known for their beautiful beaches. Population: 329,684 (2003). Capital: Malé. The Maldives are threatened by the process of GLOBAL WARMING, because the land is very flat and, if the sea level rises much, the islands could disappear. —Maldivian /mɔːlˈdiviən/ n. adj
male¹ /meɪl/ adj 1 (typical) of the sex that does not give birth to young: a male monkey | a male-voice choir | male characteristics | a magazine with a predominantly male readership 2 (of a flower or plant) not producing fruit 3 tech made to fit into a hollow part: a male plug → see FEMALE (USAGE), FEMININE (USAGE) ︷ness n [U]
male $ ^{2} $ n a male person or animal: In most birds the male is bigger and more brightly coloured than the female.
male 'chauvinist n derog a man who holds strongly to unreasoned opinions about the way men and women should behave and the parts they should play in life, especially believing that men are better than women: My boss is a male chauvinist who thinks no woman could do his job. | a male chauvinist pig who expects his wife to stay at home doing housework while he goes out and has fun
mal-e-dic-tion /,maelʷ'dɪkʃən/ n especially fml or lit a curse
mal·e·fac·tor /'mælʃfæktər/ n especially fml or lit a person who
does evil things, especially a criminal → compare BENEFACTOR
ma·lef·i·cent /ma'lef'sənt/ adj fml or lit doing or able to do evil —-cence n [U]
male 'menopause n [S] a time in a man's life, when he is in his 40s or early 50s, when he wonders how much he has achieved. He may have emotional problems at this time similar to those faced by some women when they become