3
above
abler teacher/a more able teacher than he is. [also n, the+P] to
assist the less able among us → see also ABLY; see COULD
(USAGE)
able-'bodied adj physically strong and active, especially as
opposed to being DISABLED —able-bodied n [the+P]
able 'seaman || also able-bodied 'seaman AmE— n a
naval rank → see TABLE 3
a·blu·tion /ə'bluːʃən/ n [C;U] fml the washing of the hands or
body as part of a religious ceremony
a·blu·tions /ə'bluːʃənz/ n [P] pomp or humor the act of wash-
ing oneself: to perform one's ablutions
a·bly /'eɪbli/ adv in an able manner; skilfully: She controlled
the meeting very ably.
ABM /ˌeɪ biː 'em/ n abbrev. for antiballistic missile; a weapon
used for defence against MISSILES
ab·ne·ga·tion /ˌæbnɪ'geɪʃən/ also self-abnegation n [U]
fml lack of concern for one's own wishes; SELF-DENIAL
ab·norm·al /æb'nɔːrməl||'nɔːr-/ adj different from what is
expected, usual, or average, especially in a bad or undesirable
way; not NORMAL: Is the child abnormal in any way? |
abnormal behaviour | abnormal levels of radiation in the
area of the power station —ly adv: It was abnormally hot.
—ity /ˌæbnɔːr'mælɪti||-nər-/ n [C;U]
ab·o /'æbəʊ/ n pl. abos AustrE taboo derog an Australian AB-
ORIGINE
a·board /ə'bɔːrd||-ɔːrd/ adv, prep on or into (a ship, train,
aircraft, bus etc): The boat is ready to leave. All aboard. | The
plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard. → compare on
board (BOARD¹)
a·bode¹ /ə'bəʊd/ past tense of ABIDE
abode² n [C usually sing.] lit, humor, or law the place where one
lives; one's home: Welcome to my humble abode | a person
of/with no fixed abode
a·bol·ish /ə'bɒlɪʃ||ə'bɑː-/ v [T] to bring to an end by law;
stop: Slavery was abolished in the US in the 19th century. | a
government plan to abolish state pensions —ition
/ˌæbə'lɪʃən/ n [U] They campaigned for the abolition of
capital punishment.
a·bo·li·tion·ist /ˌæbə'lɪʃənɪst/ n someone who wants or
tries to abolish something. The word is used especially to
describe the people who wanted to abolish SLAVERY in Britain
in the 18th century and in the US in the 19th century,
before and during the Civil War.
A-bomb /'eɪ bɒm||bɑːm/ n [C] old-fash an ATOM BOMB
a·bom·i·na·ble /ə'bɒmɪnəbəl, -mənə||ə'bɑː-/ adj causing
great dislike; hateful: abominable treatment of prisoners |
(infml) The food in this hotel is abominable. —bly adv
a,bominable 'snowman n 1 a YETI 2 an evil character
made of snow in an American television story for children
a·bom·i·nate /ə'bɒmɪneɪt||ə'bɑː-/ v [T not in progressive forms]
fml to hate very much; ABHOR
a·bom·i·na·tion /əˌbɒmɪ'neʃən||əbɑː-/ n 1 [U] great
hatred; DISGUST 2 [C] something deeply offensive or hateful
ab·o·rig·i·nal¹ /ˌæbə'rɪdʒənəl/ adj [A] of or concerning
people or living things that have existed in a place from the
earliest times; INDIGENOUS: an aboriginal civilization
aboriginal² n an aborigine
ab·o·rig·i·ne /ˌæbə'rɪdʒəni/ n a member of the group of
people that has lived in Australia from the earliest times
a·bort /ə'bɔːrt||-ɔːrt/ v 1 [T] to cause (a child) to be born too
soon, or to end (a PREGNANCY) too soon, so that the child
cannot live: The doctor had to abort the baby/the preg-
nancy. 2 [I;T] usually miscarry AmE — to give birth too early to
(a dead child) → compare MISCARRY 3 [I;T] tech to end
before the expected time because of some trouble: The space
flight had to be aborted because of difficulties with the compu-
ter.
a·bor·tion /ə'bɔːʃən||ə'bɔːr-/ n 1 [C;U] the act of stopping
the development of a child inside a woman, especially by a
medical operation and usually before the 21st week: She had
an abortion. | Is abortion legal in your country? | drugs used
to induce abortion | anti-abortion groups → compare MISCAR-
RIAGE, STILLBIRTH; see also BACK-STREET ABORTION 2 [C] rare
a badly formed creature produced by an abortion 3 [C] a
plan or arrangement which goes wrong before it can
develop properly
**CULTURAL NOTE** Although abortion has been legal in the
US since 1973 and in the UK since 1967, many people
still disagree about whether it should be legal, and about
whether it is morally right. Some people are PRO-CHOICE
and believe that a woman has the right to choose whether
or not to have an abortion. Other people are PRO-LIFE or
anti-abortion, and believe that an unborn baby has the
right to be born and that abortion is murder. → see also
ROE VS. WADE
a·bor·tion·ist /ə'bɔːʃənɪst||ə'bɔːr-/ n a person, especially
not a doctor, who gets money for doing abortions
a·bor·tive /ə'bɔːtɪv||ə'bɔːr-/ adj failing to reach the result
that was intended; unsuccessful: an abortive attempt to build
a railway | an abortive takeover bid —ly adv
a·bound /ə'baʊnd/ v [I] fml to exist in large numbers or great
quantity: Theories/Questions abound as to the reasons for the
President's decision.
abound in/with sthg. phr v [T] to have in large numbers or
great quantity: The country abounds in valuable minerals.
a·bout¹ /ə'baʊt/ prep 1 on the subject of: a book about lions |
talking about their holidays | Something should be done about
unemployment. | She feels very strongly about this. → see ON
(USAGE) 2 also around especially AmE — here and there in; in all
parts of: They walked about the streets. | books lying about the
room → see ROUND (USAGE) 3 in the character of: There's
something about her that I really don't like. 4 lit, especially BrE
surrounding: the high walls about the prison 5 fml on the
body of: He had a gun hidden about his person. (=in his
clothes) 6 busy or concerned with (an activity): going about
one's day-to-day business | Do the shopping now, and while
you're about it get me that book from the library. | Bring me
a drink – and be quick about it! 7 what/how about? a)
what news or plans have you concerning?: What about Jack?
We can't just leave him here. b) (making a suggestion):
How/What about a drink?
In spoken English (it's) about can be used to
introduce something you want to discuss: About that
money, you owe me, Dan. | It's about your husband, Mrs
Williams. I'm afraid he's been in an accident.
about² adv 1 also around especially AmE — here and there; in all
directions or places: They always go about together. | papers
lying about on the floor | There are a lot of colds about at the
moment. (=many people have colds just now) 2 also around
especially AmE — somewhere near: Is there anybody
about? 3 also around especially AmE — a little more or less than:
about five miles/ten years | This year's profits are about the
same as last year's. 4 infml almost: I'm about ready. | That
looks about right. 5 fml so as to face the opposite way: The
ship turned about and left the battle. → see also just about
(JUST¹); see ROUND³ (USAGE)
about³ adj 1 [F] out of bed; active: The doctor told me I'd be
up and about again very soon. → see also out and about
(OUT¹) 2 be about to to be just ready to; be going to: We
were about to start, when it rained. 3 not about to infml
especially AmE very unwilling to: I'm not about to lend you any
more money.
a,bout-'turn especially BrE || a'bout-,face especially AmE— n [C
usually sing.] 1 a change to the opposite position, opinion, or
course of action: The government has done a complete about-
turn in its policy on military spending. 2 (also interj) (a
military order to) turn round and face in the opposite direc-
tion
a·bove¹ /ə'bʌv/ prep 1 higher than; over: We flew above the
clouds. | There's nothing in this shop (at/for) above £5. | Raise
your arms above your head. | 500 feet above sea level | The
town's birthrate was well above the national average. →
opposite BELOW 2 to a greater degree than: The company
values hard work above good ideas. | respected above all
others 3 to be praised for a dedication: above and beyond
the call of duty (=much greater than usual or
expected) 4 higher in rank or power than: A general is above
a major. → opposite BELOW 5 too good, proud, or honest
for: Her behaviour was above suspicion. | They're not above a