gene therapy 576
'gene ,therapy n [U] a way of treating certain diseases by adding to the body a GENE that it does not have
ge-net-ic /dʒə'netɪk/ adj of GENES or GENETICS: genetic defects →-ally /-kli/ adv
ge,netically-'modified adj genetically modified crops, seeds etc have been developed by changing the plant's genetic structure, for example in order to help the plant avoid diseases or produce larger crops. There is a lot of disagreement among scientists and ordinary people about the advantages and disadvantages of genetically-modified food.
ge,netic 'code n the arrangement of GENES which controls the way a living thing develops
ge,netic engin'eering n [U] the changing of the nature of a creature or of its organs, cells etc by the artificial changing of its GENES
ge,netic 'fingerprint also DNA fingerprint n the pattern of genetic information which is different for each person, used to show a person's IDENTITY and used especially to show whether a person is guilty of a crime
ge,netic 'fingerprinting n [U] the process of using genetic fingerprints to show who a person is and whether they are guilty of a crime: The murderer was caught through genetic fingerprinting.
ge-net-i-cist /dʒə'netɪsɪst/ n a person who studies genetics
ge-net-ics /dʒə'netɪks/ n [U] the study of how living things develop according to the effects of those substances passed on in the cells from the parents → see also GENE, HEREDITY
Ge-ne-va /dʒə'ni:və/ a city in Switzerland which is the main base for the RED CROSS, the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, and several other important international organizations. It is on the shore of Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Europe.
Ge,neva Con'vention, the a set of agreements that establish rules for how people should be treated during wars, especially if they are wounded or taken prisoner. The Geneva Convention was first written at Geneva, Switzerland, in the 19th century and was accepted by most countries. It has been changed several times at later international meetings.
Gen·ghis Khan /ˌdʒeŋɡɪs 'kɑ:n, ˌɡeŋ-/ (?1160–1227) the ruler of the Mongol people in China, who was a successful military and political leader. He took control of northern India and sent his armies as far west as the Black Sea. He is regarded as a very cruel leader, and people who have very RIGHT-WING political opinions are sometimes humorously described as being 'to the right of Genghis Khan'.
ge-ni-al /'dʒi:niəl/ adj cheerful, friendly, and good-tempered: He's a genial man. | He greeted us with a genial smile. →-ly adv →-ity /ˌdʒi:ni'ælɪti/ n [U]
ge-nie /'dʒi:ni/ also djinn n pl. -nies or -nii /-niaɪ/ a magical spirit in Arab fairy stories, often contained in a bottle or oil lamp. He becomes the slave of the person who rubs the lamp and makes him appear: Aladdin rubbed his lamp, and the genie appeared.
gen-i-tal /'dʒenɪtl/ adj of or having an effect on the sex organs: genital herpes →-ly adv: genitally transmitted
gen-i-tals /'dʒenɪtlz/ also gen·i·ta·li·a /ˌdʒenɪ'teɪliə/ tech n [P] the outer sex organs
gen-i-tive /'dʒentɪv/ n tech a particular form of a noun in certain languages, such as Latin and Greek, which shows that the noun is a possessor or an origin → compare POSSESSIVE →-genitive adj
ge-ni-us /'dʒi:niəs/ n 1 [U] great and rare powers of thought, skill, or imagination: There's genius in the way this was painted. | Rembrandt's self-portraits are works of genius. 2 [C] a person of very great ability or very high INTELLIGENCE: Einstein was a genius. 3 [S(for)] a special ability or skill; TALENT: She has a genius for saying the wrong thing. 4 [C] someone who has the stated influence, usually a bad influence, over someone else: He was her evil genius leading her into a life of crime against her will. → see also I have nothing to declare but my genius (DECLARE)
Genius is a very strong word. It is only used of very rare ability or of the person who has it: Einstein had genius/was a genius. Talent is less strong. It is used of
special ability: a young actress with a lot of talent/She has a talent for music. | He's one of the bright young talents in music today.
gen·o·cide /'dʒenəsaɪd/ n [U] the killing of a whole group of people, especially a whole race
ge·nome /'dʒi:nəʊm/ n tech the total of all the GENES that are found in one type of living thing: the human genome
gen·re /'ʒɒnrə|'ʒɑ:nrə/ n Fr. 1 a class of works of art, literature, or music marked by a particular style, form, or subject: Many of his finest works belong to the genre of nature poetry. | What genre of films do you like? 2 fml a sort or kind
gent /dʒent/ n infml or humor a gentleman: You're a real gent! | What are you drinking tonight, gents? → see also CITY GENT, GENTS
gen·teel /ˌdʒen'ti:l/ adj 1 showing unnaturally polite manners, especially so as to appear socially important: She always talks in such a genteel voice when she's on the phone. | They live in genteel poverty. (=though poor, they try to appear of a higher social class). 2 old use of a high social class →-ly /ˌdʒen'ti:l-li/ adv
gen·tian /'dʒenʃən/ n a plant with blue flowers which grows in some mountainous areas
gen·tile /'dʒentaɪl/ n, adj [A] (sometimes cap.) (a person who is) not Jewish; this word is used especially by those Jewish people who think it is important to marry someone of their own race or religion: Their daughter married a gentile.
gen·til·i·ty /ˌdʒen'tɪləti/ n [U] the quality of being genteel
gen·tle /'dʒentl/ adj not rough, violent, or severe in movement, character etc; soft: Be gentle when you brush the baby's hair. | A gentle breeze stirred the leaves. | a gentle rebuke | The slope is quite gentle. (≠not steep) →-tly adv: 'Don't cry,' he said gently. | Careful when you lift that desk — gently does it! (=be gentle) →-ness n [U]
gen·tle·folk /'dʒentl̩fəʊk/ also gentlefolks n [P] old use people of high social class; GENTRY
gen·tle·man /'dʒentlmən/ n pl. -men /-mən/ 1 a man who behaves well towards others and who can be trusted to keep his promises and always act honourably: He was a perfect gentleman and looked the other way while she took off her wet clothes. | I wouldn't do business with him – he's no gentleman. 2 polite a man: Say thank you to the kind gentleman, Billy. | Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
USAGE Lady and gentleman can be used as a respectful way of speaking about a woman or a man. The words are used especially in the person's presence: Mr Smith, there's a gentleman/lady here to see you. Shall I show him/her in? or when speaking to a gathering of people: Ladies and gentlemen I'd like to introduce our speaker for this evening. In other cases woman and man are the usual words: Is the director a man or a woman? | the first woman prime minister | I met a very interesting man/woman on the train. → see also FEMALE (USAGE)
gen·tle·man·at·'arms n pl. gentlemen-at-arms a man who is one of a group who guard a king or queen on important occasions
gen·tle·man 'farmer n BrE a man of high social class who has a farm for pleasure rather than profit
gen·tle·man·ly /'dʒentlmənli/ adj fair, kind, and honourable in behaviour; typical of a gentleman
gen·tle·man's a·gree·ment n an unwritten agreement made between people who trust each other
'gen·tle·man's club n a club which does not usually allow women members
CULTURAL NOTE Gentlemen's clubs are usually old, well established, and in a pleasant part of a city. They often have a library, a bar, and a restaurant. These clubs are associated especially with UPPER-CLASS men.
gen·tle·man's 'gen·tle·man n a VALET
gen·tle 'sex also fair sex n [the+sing./pl. v] the female sex; women
gen·tle·wom·an /'dʒentlˌwʊmən/ n pl. -women /ˌwɪmɪn/ old use a woman of high social class; lady
gen·tri·fi·ca·tion /ˌdʒentrɪfɪ'keɪʃən/ n [U] infml the process