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afraid
similarity, or connection: The French and Italian languages have many affinities (with each other). 2 [S(for, to, between)] a strong feeling of shared interests (with someone): He feels a strong affinity for/to her. | There is a great affinity between them.
af'finity ,card also af,finity 'credit card, charity card n a type of CREDIT CARD which lets the user send a small sum of money to a particular CHARITY every time the card is used
af·firm /ə'fɜːm||-ɜːrm/ v fm 1 [T] to declare (usually again, or in answer to a question or doubt): The minister affirmed the government's intention to reduce taxes. | [+that] She affirmed that she was telling the truth. → compare DENY 2 [I] to promise to tell the truth in a court of law, but without mentioning God or religion in the promise —-ation /ˌæfə'meɪʃən||ˌæfər-/ n [C,U]
af·fir·ma·tive /ə'fɜːmətɪv||-ɜːr-/ n, adj often fm (a statement) saying or meaning 'yes': The answer to my request was a strong affirmative. | an affirmative answer | She answered in the affirmative. → opposite NEGATIVE —-ly adv
af.firmative 'action n [U] the practice or principle, when choosing people for a job or an education course, of favouring people who are often treated unfairly especially because of their sex or race; POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION. Affirmative action is a political subject in the US about which many people feel very strongly: The company is an affirmative action employer. | UCLA's affirmative action program → compare REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
af·fix¹ /ə'fɪks/ v [T(to)] fm to fix, fasten, or stick: A stamp should be affixed to the envelope.
af·fix² /'æfɪks/ n a group of letters or sounds added to the beginning of a word (PREFIX) or to the end of a word (SUFFIX) to change its meaning or its use (as in 'un tie', 'mis understood', 'kind ness', 'quick ly')
Af·fleck, Ben /'æflek/
(1972–) a US actor who has appeared in films such as Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, and Dogma. He and actor Matt Damon wrote Good Will Hunting, for which they each won an Oscar in 1997.
af·flict /ə'flɪkt/ v [T(with)] often pass.] to cause to suffer in the body or mind; trouble: afflicted with bad eyesight | one of the major problems currently afflicting third world countries
af·flic·tion /ə'flɪkʃən/ n [C,U] fm (something that causes) suffering or unhappiness: the afflictions of old age
af·flu·ent /'æfluənt/ adj having plenty of money or other possessions; wealthy: an affluent society/family —-ence n [U]
af·ford /ə'fɔːd||-ɔːrd/ v [T] 1 (usually with can, could, able to) to be able to buy or pay for: Thanks to the success of the business, we can afford a holiday/a new car this year. 2 (usually with can, could, able to) to be able to spend, give, do etc without serious loss or damage: I can't afford three weeks away from work. | I just can't afford the time. | [+to-v] We can't afford to lose such an important member of the staff/to upset such an important customer. 3 fm or lit to provide; give: The top-floor windows afforded a magnificent view of the whole city. | [+obj(I)+obj(O)] The tree afforded us shelter from the rain. —-able adj: rents affordable to students living on grants
af·for·est /ə'fɔːrɪst||ə'fɔːr-, ə'fɑːr-/ v [T] to plant (hills etc) with trees in order to make a forest → opposite DISAFFOREST, DEFOREST —-ation /ˌæfə'reɪʃən||əˌfɔːr-, əˌfɑːr-/ n [U]
af·fray /ə'freɪ/ n especially law a fight or noisy quarrel in a public place, between small groups
af·fri·cate /'æfrɪkət / n tech a consonant sound consisting of a PLOSIVE (such as /t/ or /d/) that is immediately followed by a FRICATIVE pronounced in the same part of the mouth (such as /ʃ/ or /ʒ/): The word 'church' contains the affricate /tʃ/.
af·front¹ /ə'frʌnt/ v [T often pass.] to be rude to or hurt the feelings of, especially intentionally or in public; offend
affront² n [(to)] an act, remark etc that is rude to someone or hurts their feelings, especially when intentional or in public; INSULT: an affront to one's dignity/pride
Af·ghan /'æfgæn/ n 1 also Af·gha·ni /æf'gɑːni/ someone who comes from Afghanistan 2 Afghan hound a tall thin dog, originally used for hunting, with a pointed nose and very long silky hair → see picture at DOG 3 a warm cover for a bed made of wool knitted (KNIT) in colourful patterns
Af·ghan·is·tan /æf'gænɪstɑːn, -stæn||-stæn/ a country in Asia that is west of Pakistan and east of Iran. Population: 28,717,213 (2003). Capital: Kabul. Afghanistan is known as a place where there have been many wars. In 1979, the Soviet Union INVADED Afghanistan (=entered it by force in order to take control). The Mujahedin, supported by the US, fought against the Soviet Union. After the Soviet soldiers left in 1989, there was a CIVIL WAR (=war between different groups of people from the same country), and in 1996 the Taliban took control of large parts of the country. The Taliban allowed Osama Bin Laden, who was responsible for the September 11 attacks in the US, to establish military bases in Afghanistan. The US believed that al-Qaeda fighters were being trained at these bases. When the Taliban refused to say where Osama Bin Laden was, the US attacked the country in 2001. After the Taliban were defeated, a new government was established, with Hamid Karzai as its leader. → see also TALIBAN
a·fi·cio·na·do /əˌfɪʃə'nɑːdəʊ/ n pl. -dos Sp someone who is keenly interested in a particular activity or subject; FAN; DEVOTEE: aficionados of football | a cinema aficionado
a·field /ə'fiːld/ adv far away, especially from home; to or at a great distance: Don't go too far afield or you'll get lost. | We get a lot of tourists from Europe, and some from even further afield.
a·fire /ə'faɪər/ adj, adv [F(with)] on fire: He set the house afire. | (fig.) afire with enthusiasm
a·flame /ə'fleɪm/ adj, adv [F(with)] on fire; ABLAZE: The house was aflame. | (fig.) The gardens were aflame with red and orange leaves.
AFL-CIO, the /ˌeɪ ˌef ˌel ˌsiː aɪ 'əʊ/ abbrev. for: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations; a large and powerful organization of TRADE UNIONS in the US. There is a similar organization in the UK called the TUC
a·float /ə'fləʊt/ adj, adv [F] 1 floating on water; at sea: Help me get the boat afloat. | How long did you spend afloat? (=on a ship) 2 covered with water; flooded 3 out of debt: The company somehow managed to keep/stay afloat.
a·foot /ə'fʊt/ adj, adv [F] 1 (especially of something bad) being prepared or in operation: There is a plan afoot to pull down the old building. | There is some strange business afoot. 2 old use moving, especially on foot
a·fore·said /əˌfɔːsed||ə'fɔːr-/ also a·fore·men·tioned /əˌfɔːmenənd||ə'fːr-/ adj [A] law mentioned or named before or already: The car belongs to the aforesaid Ms Jones. | [also n, the+C, pl.] The aforementioned was/were present at the trial.
a·fore·thought /ə'fɔːθɔːt||ə'fɔːr-/ adj law → see with malice aforethought (MALICE)
a for·ti·o·ri /ˌeɪ fɔːti'ɔːraɪ, -rɪl-; fɔːr-/ adv Lat for a still stronger reason; even more certainly: If you can afford a car then, a fortiori, you can afford a bicycle.
a·foul /ə'faʊl/ adv run afoul of to bring one into opposition or disagreement with: His proposal runs afoul of government plans to curb expenditure on education.
A4 /ˌeɪ 'fɔːr/ n [U] a standard size of paper in the EU (European Union), which is 21 centimetres by 29.7 centimetres. In Europe, A4 is the most commonly used size of paper for business letters and PHOTOCOPY machines: Please type your cover letter on a sheet of A4 and send it to the Human Resources Department.
a·fraid /ə'freɪd/ adj [F] 1 [(of, for)] full of fear; frightened: There's no need to be afraid. | Don't be afraid of the dog. | He was afraid for his job. (=afraid that he might lose it) | [+to-v] I was afraid to go out of the house at night. | [+that] They were afraid that the police would catch them. → see FRIGHTENED (USAGE) 2 [(of)] unwilling to do something, especially because of worry about possible results: I didn't tell her because I was afraid of upsetting her. | [+to-v] Don't be afraid to ask for help. | (apprec) They're not afraid of hard work.