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asleep
many Shakespeare plays, and in films such as *The Thirty-Nine Steps* (1935) and *A Passage to India* (1984). She also appeared in the television programme *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984).
**Ashcroft, John** (1942-) the Attorney General of the US since 2001, under President George W. Bush. He is known for his very CONSERVATIVE views.
**Ash-down, Paddy** /'æʃdaʊn/ (1941-) a British politician who was the leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1988 to 1999. He had been a soldier before becoming a politician. His official title is Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon.
**Ashe, Arthur** /æʃ/ (1943-93) a US tennis player who, in 1975, was the first black man to win the men's SINGLES competition at WIMBLEDON. He died after receiving blood infected with the AIDS virus.
**ash-en** /'æʃən/ *adj* of the colour of ash; pale grey: *His ashen face showed how shocked he was.*
**ash-es** /'æʃɪz/ *n* [P] the remains of a dead body after it has been cremated (CREMATE): *Her ashes were scattered over the sea.*
**Ashes, the** the name given to the competition between the English and Australian cricket teams: *England have retained the Ashes for the third year running.*
**Ash-ke-na-zy, Vlad-i-mir** /ˌæʃkə'nɑːzi, 'vlædəmɪr/ (1937-) a PIANIST and CONDUCTOR (=someone who directs a group of musicians) who was born in the former Soviet Union. He was musical DIRECTOR of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London from 1987 to 1994.
**Ash-ley, Lau-ra** /'æʃli, 'lɔːrə/ (1925-85) a Welsh designer of flowery dress materials, WALLPAPER, and clothes, who started the company called LAURA ASHLEY in the 1960s.
**Ash-mo-le-an Mu-se-um, the** /ˌæʃˌməʊliən mjuː'zɪəm||ˌmju-/ also the **Ashmolean** a famous MUSEUM of ancient history and ARCHAEOLOGY in Oxford, England, which also contains important collections of paintings, jewellery, historical documents etc
**a-shore** /ə'ʃɔːr/ *adv* on, onto, or to the shore: *Passengers may go ashore at Kingston.*
**ash-ram** /'æʃræm/ *n* **1** a place where a Hindu holy man lives alone **2** a house where people live together practising Hinduism. They are often connected with the HIPPIE movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
**Ash-ton, Fred-er-ick** /'æʃtən, 'fredərɪk/ (1904-88) a British dancer and CHOREOGRAPHER who helped to make BALLET more popular in the UK. He was director of the ROYAL BALLET from 1963 to 1970.
**ash-tray** /'æʃtreɪ/ *n* a small dish for tobacco ash
**Ash 'Wednesday** the first day of Lent, when some Christians put ashes on their foreheads as a sign of PENITENCE
**ash-y** /'æʃi/ *adj* **1** covered with ash **2** grey; ASHEN
**A-sia** /'eɪʃə, -ʒəl-ʒə, -ʃə/ the world's largest CONTINENT (=one of the seven main areas of land), which includes the countries of the Middle East and the countries between the Ural Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, such as India, China, Japan, and part of Russia
**Asia 'Minor** the name for the main part of Turkey east of the SEA OF MARMARA, which is used especially when talking about the history and ARCHAEOLOGY of this area. ➔ see also ANATOLIA
**A-sian¹** /'eɪʃn, 'eɪʒn||ˈeɪʒn, 'eɪʃn/ *n* **1** BrE someone from Asia, especially India or Pakistan **2** AmE someone from Asia, especially Japan, China, Korea etc
**A-sian²** *adj* from Asia or related to Asia
**Asian-A'merican** *n* [C] an American citizen whose family was originally from Asia
**Asian 'flu** *n* [U] a variety of INFLUENZA (=flu) which spread from Asia to become a worldwide EPIDEMIC in 1957
**A-si-at-ic** /ˌeɪʃi'ætɪk, -zi-, -ʒi-||-ʒi-, -ʃi-/ *adj* from or connected with Asia: *Asiatic societies*
**a-side¹** /ə'saɪd/ *adv* **1** to the side: *She stepped aside to let them pass.* | (fig.) *Let's leave that problem aside for the moment.* **2** aside from especially AmE **a)** except for: *Everything was quiet, aside from the occasional sound of a car in the distance.* **b)** as well as: *I didn't accept the job because it was badly paid and aside from that, it wasn't very interesting.*
**aside²** *n* **1** words spoken by an actor to those watching a play, and not intended to be heard by the other characters in the play **2** a remark in a low voice not intended to be heard by everyone present **3** a remark made or story told during a speech but which is not part of the main subject
**A-side** /'eɪ, saɪd/ *n* the side of a POP record that has the main song on it. The other side is called the B-SIDE.
**As-i-mov, Isaac** /'æsɪmɒv||'æsəma:v/ (1920-92) a US scientist and writer, born in Russia, and best known for writing SCIENCE FICTION (=stories about life in the future and imaginary developments in science)
**as-i-nine** /'æsɪnaɪn/ *adj* extremely foolish; stupid: *What an asinine remark!*
**ask** /ɑːsk||æsk/ *v* **1** [I,T [about]] to request (information) from (someone); put a question to (someone), or call for an answer to (a question): *She asked about his new job.* | *'Have you seen my pen?' she asked.* | *Don't ask so many questions.* | *'Where's Tom?' 'Don't ask me!'* (=I don't know) | *'What crazy scheme has he got in mind now?' 'You may well ask!'* (=That is a good question because it certainly is something crazy) | *'I think he likes her.' 'If you ask me he's in love.'* | *'Do you know of a good dentist?' 'No. You'll have to ask around.'* (=ask a lot of people) | [+Wh-] *The committee asked whether the minister knew about these facts.* | [+obj+wh-] *Ask him where to go/who he is/if he'd like a drink.* | *Might I ask what you are doing in my bedroom?* | [+obj||+obj(cl)] *Ask him his name.* **2** [I,T[for]] to make a request for (something) or to (someone): *If you need any help, just ask.* | *She asked (me) for a drink.* | *He asked my advice.* | *They asked permission (to go).* | [+to-v] *I asked to see the manager.* | [+obj+to-v] *She asked him to wake her at 6 o'clock.* | [+that] (fml) *He asked that they (should) be allowed to leave.* | *She asked him if he would lend her his car.* | *I think the job's yours for the asking.* (=if you show that you want it) | [+obj||(+obj/cl)] *Can I ask you a favour?* (=ask you to do something for me) | *I'm not asking the world* (=asking for something unreasonable), *I only want five minutes of your time.* ➔ see ORDER (USAGE), REQUEST (USAGE) **3** [T[for, of]] to expect or demand (something) from someone: *They're asking a lot of money for their house.* | *You're asking a lot/too much (of them) if you expect them to work at the weekend.* **4** [T[to, for]] to invite: *I've asked some friends to tea/for dinner.* | *I asked her in/up/down for a drink.* | *He wanted to ask her out* (=to go out with her socially) *but he didn't have the courage to do it.* | [+obj+to-v] *Let's ask them to stay for the weekend.* | *'Are you going to the party?' 'No, I haven't been asked.'* **5** Ask, and it shall be given you *quote a phrase from the Bible, now often used humorously*
**USAGE** Compare **ask**, **inquire**, **question**, and **interrogate**. **Ask** is the usual verb for questions: *'Where do you live?' he asked.* | *He asked a question.* **Inquire** (or **enquire** in British English) has the same meaning but is more formal, and is not followed by a noun or pronoun object: *'Where do you live?' he inquired.* | *He inquired where they lived.* To **question** a person is to ask them many questions, especially officially, and to **interrogate** suggests that the person is being held by force and asked questions which they are unwilling to answer, for example by the police or an enemy.
**ask after sbdy.** *phr v* [T] to ask about the health of; ask for news of: *'My mother asked after you.' 'How kind of her!'*
**ask for sthg.** *phr v* [T] infml to behave in a way that is likely to bring (a bad result): *Letting the children play with those matches was just asking for trouble!* ➔ compare head for (HEAD)
**a-skance** /ə'skæns, ə'skɑ:ns||ə'skæns/ *adv* **look askance (at)** to look (at) or regard with disapproval or distrust
**a-skew** /ə'skju:/ *adv* not properly straight: *The soldier's cap was slightly askew.*
**'asking price** *n* the price that a seller asks for his/her goods: *Did you get the asking price for your house?*
**a-slant** /ə'slɑ:nt||ə'slænt/ *adj, adv* [F] at an angle; not straight or level
**a-sleep** /ə'sli:p/ *adj* [F] **1** sleeping: *He was sound/fast asleep.* (=completely asleep) ➔ opposite AWAKE **2** (of an arm or leg that has been in one position too long) unable to feel; NUMB ➔ see also go to sleep (SLEEP¹) **3** fall asleep **a)** to go into a state of sleep **b)** euph to die