1589
wordsmith
from this: a ball of knitting wool | a wool suit 3 pull the
wool over someone's eyes to trick someone by hiding the
facts -> see also COTTON WOOL, DYED-IN-THE-WOOL, WIRE
WOOL
**Woolf, Virginia** /wʊlf/ (1882-1941) a British writer and CRITIC
who was an important member of the BLOOMSBURY GROUP
and is admired by FEMINISTS. Her novels, such as *To the
Lighthouse* and *The Waves*, use the style called STREAM OF
CONSCIOUSNESS, and she is regarded as one of the most
important English writers of the 20th century.
**wool-gath-er-ing** /'wʊlˌgæðərɪŋ/ *n* [U] thinking of other
things instead of what is being done, especially when this
leads to not hearing other people or doing things wrong;
being ABSENT-MINDED
**Wool-ie's** /'wʊlɪz/ *BrE* an informal name for WOOLWORTH'S
**Wool-ite** /'wʊlaɪt/ *trademark* a type of liquid DETERGENT used
in the US for washing delicate clothes, especially clothes
made from wool or silk
**wool-len** usually **woolen** *AmE* /'wʊlən/ *adj* **1** made of wool: *a
woollen coat* **2** [A] of the production or sale of materials
made of wool: *woollen manufacturers*
**wool-lens** usually **woolens** *AmE* /'wʊlənz/ *n* [P] clothes made
of wool, especially knitted (KNIT) -> see also WOOLLY
**wool-ly**¹ also **wooly** *AmE* /'wʊli/ *adj* **1** of or like wool,
especially with a soft surface: *woolly socks* **2** *derog* (of people
or their thoughts) showing a lack of clear thinking: *His ideas
are a bit woolly.* —**liness** *n* [U]
**woolly**² also **wooly** *AmE* — *n* [usually pl.] *infml*, especially *BrE* a
garment made of wool, especially knitted (KNIT): *winter wool-
lies*
**woolly-'headed** also **,woolly-'minded** *adj* *derog* tending
not to think clearly or have firm ideas
**woolly 'liberal** *n*, especially *BrE* *derog* a LEFT-WING person who
is considered to be rather weak and whose ideas are not clear
or LOGICAL. People who describe other people as woolly
liberals are usually RIGHT-WING and disapprove of their ideas.
**wool-sack** /'wʊlsæk/ *n* [the+S] **1** the seat in the British
parliament on which the Lord Chancellor sits in the House
of Lords **2** the position of being Lord Chancellor
**Wool-worth's** /'wʊlwːθs||-wɜːrθs/ *trademark* a large store in
many UK cities and towns. It sells many different types of
goods at low prices, including sweets, toys, writing paper,
and things for your house. In the UK, Woolworth's is
informally called Woolie's. Until 1997 Woolworth's also had
stores in many US cities, but they are now all closed.
**Woos-ter, Ber-tie** /'wʊstə, 'wu:-, 'bɜːti||'bɜːr-/ a charac-
ter in the many humorous stories by P. G. WODEHOUSE. He is
a rich, rather stupid UPPER CLASS English man, who depends
on his servant JEEVES to get him out of trouble.
**woo-zy** /'wuːzi/ *adj* *infml* **1** having an unsteady feeling in the
head; DIZZY **2** unclear; confused —**ziness** *n* [U]
**wop** /wɒp||wɑːp/ *n* *taboo* *derog* a foreigner, especially an Italian
(considered extremely offensive)
**Worces-ter** /'wʊstə/ a city in west central England, famous
for its CHINA (=plates, cups etc made from baked clay) and for
its CATHEDRAL -> see also ROYAL WORCESTER
**Worcester 'sauce** *BrE* || **Worcestershire 'sauce** *AmE*
*trademark* a dark-brown liquid with a strong taste, made from
VINEGAR, SPICES, and SOY. Worcester sauce is often used for
preparing meat and strong-tasting dishes, and is sometimes
added to a drink of TOMATO juice.
**Worces-ter-shire** /'wʊstəʃɜːr||-tər-/ a COUNTY in west cen-
tral England
**word**¹ /wɜːd||wɜːrd/ *n* **1** [C] (a written representation of)
one or more sounds which can be spoken to represent an
idea, object, action etc; the smallest unit of spoken language
which has meaning and can stand alone: 'Good' and 'good-
ness' are *words*, but '-ness' is not a *word*. | How do you
pronounce this *word*? | I was trying to tell her what it was, but
I couldn't think of the *word* (for it). | What's the French *word*
for 'dog'? | Sometimes it is hard to *put your feelings into
words*. (=to express them clearly) | I couldn't *find words* to
describe it. (=it was too wonderful, strange etc) | Tell me what
happened *in your own words*. (=not copying what anyone
else has said) | *Words fail me!* (=I can't describe or answer
that, especially because of surprise or shock) | *Tired/angry/*
pleased *isn't the word for the way I feel*. (=that word doesn't
describe the strength of feeling) | He's a *man of few words*.
(=he doesn't say much) | I know the tune of the song, but I
*don't know the words*. **2** [S] a short remark or statement: *In
a word, no*. | I *don't believe a word of it*. (=I don't believe it
at all) | This is secret information so *don't say/breathe a
word* (=say anything) about this to anyone. | The headmis-
tress *always has/gets the final/last word* (=makes the last
decision) on matters of school policy. **3** [S] also *words pl.* — a
short speech or conversation: *Can I have a few words with
you/a word with you?* | *A word in your ear...* (=Let me give
you some advice or information...) | We *exchanged a few
words*. | *A word of praise from you would be much
appreciated*. | (euph) I hear that *words passed between them/
that they had words*. (=that they had an argument) **4** [U(of)]
a message or piece of news: *There's been no word from her for
weeks*. | Word of his success soon *got around*. (=spread) | [+that]*
The word is that the election will be in June*. | He sent word*
that he wanted to see me. **5** [the+S] the right word; PASSWORD:*
He gave the word and they let him in. **6** [C usually sing.] an
order: *On the word of command/On his word they all moved
forward*. -> see also *say the word* (SAY) **7** [S] a promise: *I
give you my word* (=I promise) *I'll go*. | I *kept my word* to
her. | You can trust him; he's a *man of his word*. (=always
keeps promises) -> see also *be as good as one's word*
(GOOD) **8** *by word of mouth* by speaking and not by
writing: *The orders were passed on by word of mouth*. **9** *from
the word go* from the beginning **10** *get a word in edge-
ways infml* to get a chance to speak: *He talks so much that no
one else can get a word in edgeways*. **11** *in other words*
expressing the same thing in different words; which is the
same as saying: *Your performance in the exam did not reach
the required standard – in other words, you failed*. **12** (not)
**in so many words** (not) expressed with that meaning but only
suggested: 'Did she say she liked him?' 'Not *in so many words*,
(but. . .)' **13** *put words in(to) someone's mouth* **a)** to tell
someone what to say **b)** *derog* to suggest or claim, falsely,
that someone has said a particular thing **14** *take someone
at their word* to act on the belief that someone means what
they said: *He says call in on him any time, but he doesn't
expect you to take him at his word*. **15** *take someone's word
for it* to accept what someone says as correct: *I can't give you
the exact figures; you'll just have to take my word for
it*. **16** *take the words out of someone's mouth* to say
something that someone else was going to say, before they
have had time or a chance to speak **17** (upon) **my word**!
*old-fash* (an expression of surprise) **18** *word for word* **a)** in
exactly the same words: *Tell me what she said, word for
word*. **b)** also *word by word* — giving a word in a foreign
language for each word, rather than giving the meaning of
whole phrases and sentences: *a word-for-word translation* ->
see also FOUR-LETTER WORD, GOOD WORD, LAST WORD, PLAY
ON WORDS, *a word to the wise* (WISE), *eat one's words* (EAT)
**word**² *v* [T+obj+adv/prep] to express in words: *She worded the
explanation well*. | *a carefully worded contract*
**Word** *trademark* a popular type of computer SOFTWARE used for
word processing (=typing letters, reports etc and storing
information), produced by the MICROSOFT Corporation
**'word ,blindness** *n* [U] -> see DYSLEXIA
**word-ing** /'wɜːdɪŋ||'wɜːr-/ *n* [U] the words and phrases
chosen to express something: *The exact wording of a legal
contract can be extremely important*.
**word-less** /'wɜːdləs||'wɜːrd-/ *adj* without words; silent or
unspoken: *Her look was a wordless question*. —**ly** *adv*
—**ness** *n* [U]
**word-'perfect** *BrE* || **letter-perfect** *AmE* — *adj* repeating or
remembering every word with complete correctness: *She
rehearsed the speech until she was word-perfect*.
**Word-per-fect** /ˌwɜːdˈpɜːfɪkt||wɜːrdpɜːr-/ *trademark* a
popular type of computer SOFTWARE used for WORD
PROCESSING, produced by the Canadian Corel company
**word-play** /'wɜːdpleɪ||'wɜːrd-/ *n* [U] joking about word
meanings; punning (PUN)
**'word ,processor** *n* a small computer used especially for
ordinary office jobs, such as typing letters and reports,
storing information etc —**ing** *n* [U]
**word-smith** /'wɜːdsmɪθ||'wɜːrd-/ *n* someone who is clever
at using language