think
1444
to have helped you 11 think the world of to care about very
much: He may get angry sometimes, but really he thinks the
world of you.
think sthg. ↔ out/through phr v [T] to consider carefully
and in detail, especially so that all the possible results of an
action are understood in advance; reach a decision about
(something) after much careful thought: I don't think the
government has really thought out/thought through all the
consequences of this decision. → see also THOUGHT-OUT
think sthg. ↔ over phr v [T] to consider seriously: Your offer
is very attractive, but I need to think it over before I can let you
know my decision.
think sthg. ↔ up phr v [T] to invent (especially an idea):
The prisoners tried to think up a plan for escape.
think² n [S(about)] infml an act of thinking, especially about a
difficulty or question: Let me have a think about this. | If
you think I'm going to lend you £5 you've got another think
coming. (=you'll have to think of someone else to ask,
because I certainly won't lend you £5)
think-a-ble /'θɪŋkəbəl/ adj [F] able to be thought about or
considered: At that time, it would not have been thinkable to
openly criticize the government. → compare POSSIBLE
Think-er, The /'θɪŋkər/ a SCULPTURE by Auguste RODIN of a
man sitting and thinking with his elbow on his knee and his
chin on his hand
think-ing¹ /'θɪŋkɪŋ/ n [U] 1 the act of using one's mind to
produce thoughts and ideas: I've been doing some thinking
and I've decided to change my job. 2 a way of thinking about
something; opinion; judgment: What's the Administration's
thinking on this matter? | To my way of thinking (=in my
opinion), they are making a serious mistake. 3 put on one's
thinking cap infml to think seriously about something → see
also WISHFUL THINKING
thinking² adj [A] apprec thoughtful; able to think, especially
clearly and seriously: All thinking people agree that some-
thing must be done about world hunger. | plans to develop a
thinking computer
'think tank n [C+sing./pl. v] a committee of people experienced
in a particular subject, established by an organization, gov-
ernment etc, to develop ideas and advise on matters related
to that subject
thin-ner /'θɪnər/ n [U] a liquid, such as TURPENTINE, added to
paint to make it spread more easily
,thin-'skinned adj sometimes derog sensitive; (too) easily
offended; TOUCHY
third /θɜːd||θɜːrd/ determiner, adv, n, pron 1 3rd → see TABLE 1
2 [C(in)] the third and usually lowest class of British univer-
sity degree: She got a third in Chemistry. → see Cultural Note
at DEGREE
,third 'base n (in BASEBALL) the third of the four BASES
which a player must touch before gaining a point (RUN)
,third 'class n fml for THIRD
'third-degree adj [A] (of a burn) of the highest level of
seriousness
,third de'gree, the n [S] infml hard questioning and/or
rough treatment of a person in order to obtain information
or a statement of guilt: The police gave the suspect the third
degree.
,Third 'Man, The (1949) a film directed by Carol Reed and
written by Graham GREENE, which is set in Vienna at the end
of World War II. It tells the story of a writer who is trying to
find his friend Harry Lime (played by Orson WELLES), who
has become a criminal. The music from the film, which is
played on a ZITHER, is very well-known.
,third 'party n tech or law 1 a person other than the two main
people concerned in an agreement, contract, law case
etc 2 a person not named in an insurance agreement, but
who will be protected by the insurance if an accident
happens
,third 'person, the n [S] 1 a form of a verb or PRONOUN
that is used for showing the person or thing that is being
spoken about: 'He', 'she', 'it', and 'they' are third person
pronouns. | 'They are' is the third person plural of 'to be'. 2 a
way of telling a story in which the teller uses the third
person: The story was written in the third person; it began 'He
was born in...'. → compare FIRST PERSON, SECOND PERSON
,third-'rate adj of very poor quality; INFERIOR
Third Read-ing /ˌθɜːd ˈriːdɪŋ||ˌθɜːrd-/ n the third and final
occasion when a BILL (=a suggested new law) is read out loud
in the British Parliament or the US Congress → see Cultural
Note at BILL
,Third 'Reich, the the period of Nazi government in Ger-
many, led by Adolf HITLER, from 1933 to 45 → see also REICH
,Third 'World, the the poorer countries of the world that
are not industrially developed, including most of Africa and
parts of Asia and of Central and South America. Some
people think this expression is offensive, and the Third
World can also be called the South. → compare FIRST WORLD
—Third-World adj: Third-World economies
thirst¹ /θɜːst||θɜːrst/ n 1 [S;U] a sensation of dryness in the
mouth caused by the need to drink; desire for drink: After
running five miles we had quite a thirst. | He quenched
(=satisfied) his thirst with a large glass of beer. | A long,
thirst-quenching drink. 2 [U] lack of drink, especially for a
long period: The soldiers died of thirst in the
desert. 3 [(the)S+for] a strong desire; CRAVING: the thirst for
excitement/knowledge
thirst²
thirst for/after sthg. phr v [T] lit to have a strong desire for:
Our people thirst for independence.
thirst-y /'θɜːsti||'θɜːr-/ adj 1 feeling thirsty: Salty food makes
you thirsty. | (fig.) The fields are thirsty for rain. 2 [A] causing
thirst: Chopping logs is thirsty work. 3 [F+for] having a
strong desire for: She was thirsty for power. —ily adv
thir-teen /ˌθɜːtiːn ||ˌθɜːr-/ determiner, n, pron (the number) 13:
This number is thought to be unlucky by many people. →
see TABLE 1 —teenth determiner, n, pron, adv
,Thirteenth A'mendment, the an addition to the US
Constitution which ended SLAVERY in the US. It was passed
by Congress in 1865, after the Civil War.
thir-ties /'θɜːtiiz||'θɜːr-/ n [P] 1 [the] also '30s — the 1930s
(=the years from 1930 to 1939): The film is set in the thirties
during the Depression.
CULTURAL NOTE When people in the US and UK think of
the thirties, they think of the Great Depression, when the
economies of Europe, the US, and other countries failed.
Millions of people lost their jobs and many became
extremely poor. Dust storms and a lack of rain caused
severe problems for farmers in an area of the south
central US. Much of the TOPSOIL blew away in the wind,
nothing would grow, and the area became known as the
Dustbowl. Many people left this area hoping to find jobs
somewhere else. When they think of the thirties,
Americans often think of the long lines that people waited
in to get bread or soup, because they had nothing else to
eat.
2 in his/her/their thirties aged from 30 to 39: Most of my
colleagues are in their thirties. 3 [the] the numbers from 30
to 39
thir-ty /'θɜːti||'θɜːrti/ determiner, n, pron (the number) 30. For
many young people, thirty is the age at which they think
one begins to grow old. → see TABLE 1; see also thirty
pieces of silver (SILVER) —tieth determiner, n, pron, adv
,Thirty-nine 'Articles, the [P] a set of 39 statements
which form the main beliefs of the Church of England. They
were written in 1571 and people who become priests in the
church must first formally accept these beliefs.
'thirty ,something n 1 the age range of 30–39 2 a person
of this age, especially one who is seen as being successful in
their profession, having a young family, middle-class, well-
educated, and perhaps a YUPPIE: a party for thirty somethings
,Thirty 'Year 'Rule, the the name given to a law in
Britain, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia that says that
the official documents of a government will not be printed
for the public to read until thirty years after they were
written
,Thirty Years' 'War, the a European war fought mainly in
Germany between 1618 and 1648. It led to the Habsburg
and the Holy Roman Empire losing power in Europe.
this¹ /ðɪs/ determiner pl. these /ðiːz/ 1 being the person, thing,
idea etc, which is understood or (about to be) mentioned: