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weight
which prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly 2 [C] BrE infml derog (used especially by children to other children) a) a person who is physically weak and usually very thin and tall b) a person of weak character 3 [the+S] infml cigarettes or (something made of) tobacco 4 [U] old-fash slang CANNABIS; MARIJUANA
weed^2 v [I;T] to remove weeds from (a place where crops or flowers grow): I spent the morning weeding (the garden).
weed sbdy./sthg. <=> out phr v [T] to get rid of (people or things of unacceptable quality) in order to improve something: weed out incompetent operators from the workforce
weed-kill-er /'wi:d,kɪlə/ n [U] a poison used for killing weeds
weeds /wi:dz/ n [P] old use black clothes worn at a funeral and sometimes for a period of time after that: wearing her widow's weeds
Weed Whacker AmE trademark a type of machine for cutting WEEDS (=unwanted garden plants) and in places that a LAWN MOWER cannot reach. You hold the machine in your hand and move it just above the ground, and a strong spinning plastic string cuts the grass. In the UK there is a similar machine called a STRIMMER.
weed-y /'wi:di/ adj infml derog 1 a) thin and physically weak b) weak in character 2 full of WEEDS: a weedy garden
—iness n [U]
Wee 'Frees, the a humorous name for the members of the FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, a small Christian group with churches mainly in the Highlands of Scotland
week /wi:k/ n 1 a period of seven days (and nights), usually measured in Britain from Monday to Sunday, but in the US and sometimes in Britain measured from Sunday to Saturday: Wednesday is the third day of the week. | The flight to Accra goes twice a week. | I'll see you next week. | The training programme lasts three weeks. 2 also working week — the period of time during which one works in any seven days, for example in a factory or office: She works a 35-hour week. | The five-day week is usual in most firms.
CULTURAL NOTE Most people in Britain and the US work from Monday to Friday and work between 35 and 40 hours in total.
3 (Monday, Tuesday etc) week also a week on (Monday, Tuesday etc) — especially BrE a week after (the stated day): She'll be here tomorrow week. | She's coming on Sunday week/a week on Sunday. 4 (a) week last/next/this/on (Monday/Tuesday etc) a week before or after (the stated day): It happened a week last Monday. | He's arriving two weeks next Saturday. 5 week after week also week in week out —continuously for many weeks: He lay in bed week after week.
week-day /'wi:kdeɪ/ n any day of the week except Sunday and usually Saturday: I only work on weekdays, not at weekends.
week-end^1 /,wi:k'end, 'wi:kend||'wi:kend/ n 1 Saturday and Sunday, especially when considered as a holiday from work: I don't work at weekends. | a weekend cottage | We're going for a long weekend (=Saturday, Sunday, and also Friday and/or Monday) to Paris. 2 this period of time with the addition of Friday evening from the time of stopping work
In British English at is used with weekend: I don't work at weekends. | What are you doing at the weekend? In American English on is usually used: I don't work weekends / on weekends. | What are you doing on the weekend?
weekend^2 v [I+adv/prep] to spend the weekend: We're week-ending on the coast.
week-end-er /,wi:k'endə ||'wi:kən-/ n a person spending one or more weekends in a particular place: They don't live here; they're only weekenders.
week-ly^1 /'wi:kli/ adj, adv (happening or appearing) once a week or every week: a weekly visit/magazine | the President's weekly radio talk | Are you paid weekly or monthly? | twice-weekly flights to Hong Kong
weekly^2 n a magazine or newspaper which appears once a week
week-night /'wi:knaɪt/ n a night not at the weekend
wee-nie /'wi:ni/ n AmE infml WIENER: a weenie roast
wee-ny /'wi:ni/ BrE || weeney, ween-sie /'wi:nzi/ AmE — adj infml extremely small -> see also TEENY WEENY
weep /wi:p/ v wept /wept/ 1 [(over, for);T] fml or lit to cry tears: When he heard the news he broke down and wept. | She wept bitter tears over her lost youth. -> compare CRY 2 [I] to lose liquid from a part of the body, especially because of illness: The wound is weeping.
weep-ing /'wi:pɪŋ/ adj [A no comp.] (of a tree) with the branches hanging down: a weeping willow
weep-y /'wi:pi/ adj infml 1 tending to cry, or crying often; TEARFUL: not very well, and feeling weepy 2 (of a story, film etc) that makes one sad
Wee-ta-bix /'wi:təbɪks/ trademark a type of breakfast CEREAL made from wheat, which is sold in the UK
wee-vil /'wi:vəl/ n a small BEETLE which spoils grain, seeds etc, by feeding on them
Wee Wil-lie Win-kie /,wi: ,wɪli 'wɪŋki/ a character in a NURSERY RHYME (=an old song or poem for young children) who runs through the town wearing his NIGHTGOWN (=a loose dress worn in bed):
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown.
weft /weft/ also woof n [the+S] tech the threads of a material woven across the downward set of threads -> compare WARP
weigh /weɪ/ v 1 [L+n] to have the stated weight: It weighs six kilos. | I weigh less than I used to. 2 [T] to find the weight of, especially by using a machine: Have you weighed yourself lately? 3 [T(against)] to consider or compare carefully in order to form a judgment or make a decision: He weighed the ideas in his mind. | You have to weigh the costs of the new system against the benefits it will bring. -> see also WEIGH UP 4 [I+adv/prep, especially with] fml to be important (to) or have influence (on): Her evidence weighed quite strongly with the judge. | a new argument that weighed heavily in her favour 5 [T] naut to raise (an ANCHOR)
weigh sbdy./sthg. <=> down phr v [T(with) often pass.] to make or cause to feel heavy (with a load): I was weighed down with the shopping. | The branches of the trees were weighed down by snow. | (fig.) weighed down with grief/with debts
weigh in phr v [I] 1 [at] (of a BOXER or JOCKEY) to have one's weight tested before a fight or horse-race: The champion weighed in at just under 13 stone. 2 [with] infml to join in a fight or argument: He weighed in (with information) to prove the point.
weigh on sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] to cause worry or great difficulty: His responsibilities weighed on him. | The burden of debt weighs heavily on these developing countries.
weigh sthg. <=> out phr v [T] to measure in amounts by weight: The shopkeeper weighed out half a pound of coffee beans and ground them up.
weigh sthg./sbdy. up phr v [T] to (try to) form an opinion or judgment about, especially by balancing opposing facts, influences etc: We're just weighing up the advantages and disadvantages.
weigh-bridge /'weɪ,brɪdʒ/ n a machine for weighing vehicles and their loads, including a flat area onto which the vehicles are driven
weight^1 /weɪt/ n 1 [C;U] the heaviness of something, especially as measured by a certain system; amount that something weighs: Can you guess the weight of this sack? | It's two kilos in weight. (=it weighs two kilos) | She's lost weight/put on weight (=got thinner/fatter) since I last saw her. | My husband has a bit of a weight problem. 2 [C] a piece of metal that has a known heaviness and a) can be balanced against something else in order to measure its heaviness or b) is lifted by people who want to develop large muscles or are competing in competitions -> see also WEIGHT LIFTING 3 [C] (something with) a large amount of weight: He's got a bad back so he can't lift weights. 4 [U] a system of standard measures of weight: metric weight 5 [C(on, off)] (something that causes) a feeling of worry or anxiety: The loss of the money has been a weight on my mind. | They've finally sold my house: that's a great weight off my mind. 6 [U] the value, importance, or influence that someone or something has: I don't attach any weight to these