Sty·gi·an /'stɪdʒiən/ adj lit unpleasantly dark: the Stygian gloom
style¹ /stail/ n 1 [C;U] a general manner of doing something which is typical or representative of a person or group, a time in history etc: the modern style of architecture | a painting in the style of Picasso | Some people have criticized the Prime Minister's style of leadership. 2 [C;U] a) the particular choice of words or manner of expression used by or typical of a writer or speaker: The letter is written in a formal style. | He is supposed to be a great writer, but I don't like his style. b) a habitual way of spelling, of using PUNCTUATION, of using capital letters etc: Our house style (=in our company) is to use -ize rather than -ise. 3 [C] a type or sort, especially of goods: They sell every style of mirror. | a new style garlic press 4 [U] apprec high quality, skill, or grace in performance, manner, social behaviour, or appearance: He has great style: he wears hand-made clothes, drives a beautiful car, and goes to the best parties. | He performed the violin solo with a beautiful sense of style. 5 [C;U] fashion, especially in clothes: 70s styles look very odd today. | jackets in the latest style | Long hair is definitely out of style at the moment. 6 [S] infml someone's characteristic way of behaving; what someone would do: I wouldn't tell lies to you; that's not my style. 7 [C] tech a correct title: The eldest son of an earl takes the style 'Lord'. 8 the centre part of a flower below the STIGMA → see picture at FLOWER 9 in style so as to cause admiration by being fashionable and spending a lot of money: When they got married they decided to do it in style, and gave a big party. 10 -style a) in the manner of the stated person, place etc: He wears his hair long, hippie-style. | I like my hamburgers served American-style. b) like the stated thing in appearance only: a leather-style briefcase (=not made of real leather) → see also HAIRSTYLE, LIFESTYLE, cramp someone's style (CRAMP) ~~less adj
style² v [T] 1 to arrange or form in a certain (good) pattern, shape etc; DESIGN: This sofa was styled in Italy. | The dress is carefully styled for maximum comfort. | She's having her hair styled by a famous hairdresser. 2 [+obj+n] to give (a title) to: He styles himself 'Lord'. → see also SELF-STYLED
'styling ,brush n a heated brush used, especially by women, to give shape to the hair
'styling _mousse_ n a light substance, like FOAM, used on the hair to help it keep its style
styl·ish /'stailif/ adj aprec fashionable; ELEGANT: He's a stylish dresser. —ly adv —ness n [U]
stylist /'stailʃst/ n 1 (often in comb.) a person who develops or arranges styles of appearance: a hair stylist (=who cuts and arranges people's hair) 2 a person who carefully develops a good style of writing
styl·ist·tic /star'listik/ adj of style, especially in writing or art: Note the stylistic differences between the genuine painting and the forgery. ~~ally /kli/ adv
styl·is·tics /star'listɪks/ n [U] the study of style in written or spoken language
styl-ize also -ise BrE /'stailarz/ v [T] (in art or description) to treat or present (something) in a fixed often less detailed style, rather than exactly as it is in real life: Playing cards are marked with stylized (representations of) hearts, diamonds etc
sty·lus /'stæləs/ n 1 a needle-like instrument, with a diamond or other hard jewel on the end, that picks up the sound signals from a record in a RECORD PLAYER 2 a pointed instrument used in ancient times for writing on WAX
sty·mie /'staimi/ v [T] infmi to prevent from taking action or being put into action; stop; THWART: His plan for improving the business was stymied by a lack of funds.
styp·tic /'stɪptɪk/ n, adj tech (a substance) which stops bleeding
Sty•ro•foam, styrofoam /'staiere,feum/ AmE trademark a soft light plastic material that prevents heat or cold from passing through it, used especially to make containers; POLY-STYRENE (especially BrE): a Styrofoam cup
Sty·ron, William /'staiərən/ (1925-) a US writer known especially for his novels such as the Confessions of Nat Turner (1967), which deals with RACISM, and for which he won a Pulitzer prize, and Sophie's Choice (1979), which is about the HOLOCAUST and was made into a successful film
Styx, the /stiks/ in Greek MYTHOLOGY a river in HADES. The souls of dead people were carried across it in a boat by CHARON.
suave /swɑːv/ adj sometimes derog having or showing very good smooth manners, especially in an insincere way ︷ly adv —suavity, ~ness n [U]
sub¹ /sΔb/ n infml 1 a SUBMARINE 2 (especially in sport) a SUBSTITUTE: England brought on their sub in the second half. 3 BrE for SUBSCRIPTION 4 BrE an amount of money paid to someone from their wages before the usual day of payment 5 a SUBEDITOR 6 AmE a SUBMARINE SANDWICH: usually just get a sub for lunch. | a sub shop
sub² v -bb- infrml 1 [I(for)] to act as a SUBSTITUTE 2 [T] BtE to give a SUB to 3 [T] to SUBEDIT
sub- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
sub-al-tern /'sʌbəltənləsə'boiltən/ n BrE an army officer lower in rank than a captain
sub-aq-ua /sʌb ˈækwə/ adj [A] BrE for underwater sports, such as skin diving (SKIN-DIVE): a sub-aqua club
sub·a·tom·ic /,sAbə'tomik↔ ‖-tɑː-/ adj tech smaller than an atom: subatomic particles
sub·com·mit·tee /'sʌbkkə,mɪti/ n [C+sing./pl.v] a smaller group formed from a larger committee to deal with a certain matter in more detail
sub·com·pact /,sʌb'kɒmpækt‖-ˈkɑːm-/ n AmE a car that is smaller than a COMPACT
sub-con-scious¹ /sʌbˈkɒnʃəsɪl-ˈkɑːn-/ adj [no comp.] (or thoughts, feelings etc) not fully known or understood by the conscious mind; present at a hidden level of the mind ︷ly adv
subconscious² also unconscious n [the] the level at which one's mind works without one being conscious of it having thoughts and feelings that one does not actively know about → see CONSCIOUS (USAGE)
sub-conti-nent /sʌbˈkɒntʃnəntˈl-ˈkɑːn-/ n a large mass o land not quite large enough to be called a CONTINENT: the Indian subcontinent (=includes India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh)
sub·con·ti·nen·tal /,s $ \Delta $bkont $ \delta $nentl·l-kain-/ n, adj AmE (a person) of a subcontinent, especially the Indian subcontinent
USAGE American English uses subcontinental when referring to people from the Indian subcontinent, and Asian or Oriental for people from East or Southeast Asia. British English generally uses Asian for all of these.
sub·contract /ˌsʌb kənˈtrækt/ -ˈkɑːntrækt/ v [T(to)] to hire someone else to do (work which one has agreed to do): Our building firm is very busy at the moment, so we're subcontracting the roofing to another company.
sub-con-trac-tor /,s $ \Delta $b $ \Delta $k $ \Delta $n'traekt $ \Delta $r | - 'ka:ntraek- / n a per son or firm that has had work subcontracted to it
sub-cul-ture /'sʌbˌkʌltʃər/ n (the behaviour, beliefs, and customs of) a particular group of people within a society often a group whose behaviour is disapproved of by most people: the drug subculture of the big cities
sub·cu·ta·ne·ous /,sAbkju:'teinies·/ adj tech beneath the skin: subcutaneous fat ︷ly adv
sub·di·vide /ˌsʌbdʒˈvaɪd/ v [T(into)] to divide (something that is already divided) into smaller parts: The house is being subdivided into flats.
sub·di·vi·sion /'sʌbdʒvɪzən/ n 1 [C;U] (a part which results from) the act of subdividing 2 [C] AmE an area of land that has been subdivided for building houses on
sub·due /səb'djuːˈlɪˈduː/ v [T] to gain control of, especially by defeating: She tried to subdue her anger. | Napoleon subdued much of Europe.
sub·dued /səb'djuːdɪl-ˈduːd/ adj 1 below usual brightness loudness etc; gentle: subdued lighting | a subdued voice 2 unnaturally or unusually quiet in behaviour: You seem very subdued tonight: is anything worrying you?
sub·ed·it /sʌbˈedʒt/ also sub infmi — v [T] to examine and put right (others' writing) as a subeditor
sub-ed-i-tor /sʌbˈedʒtər/ also sub infm/ — n a person whose