**cowl**   320
**cowl** /kaʊl/ *n* **1** a loose head covering (a HOOD) for the whole of the head except the face, worn especially by MONKS **2** a metal chimney-top cover that is moved by the wind to allow smoke to escape **3** a cover for an engine; cowling**cow·lick** /'kaʊ,lɪk/ *n especially AmE* a small mass of hair that stands up from the head
**cowl·ing** /'kaʊlɪŋ/ *also* **cowl** *n* a removable metal cover for an aircraft engine $\rightarrow$ see picture at AIRCRAFT**,cowl 'neck** *also* **,cowl 'neckline** *n* the neck of an article of clothing which falls in folds at the front
**cow·man** /'kaʊmən/ *n* **pl. -men** /-mən/ **1** *BrE* a man employed to look after cows; COWHERD **2** *AmE* a man who owns a RANCH (=land on which cows are raised)**co-work·er** /'kəʊ,wɜ:kəʳ $ -wɜ:r-/ *n* a fellow-worker
**cow·pat** /'kaʊpæt/ *BrE* || **'cow chip, cow·pat·ty** /'kaʊpæti/ *AmE* — *n* euph a flat lump of cow DUNG**cow·poke** /'kaʊpəʊk/ *n AmE infml* a COWBOY
**cow·pox** /'kaʊpɒks $ -pɑ:ks/ *n* [U] a disease of the cow which, when given to humans, protects them against SMALLPOX**cow·punch·er** /'kaʊpʌntʃəʳ $ -ər/ *n AmE infml* a COWBOY
**cow·rie, cowry** /'kaʊri/ *n* a shiny brightly marked tropical shell, formerly used as money in parts of Africa and Asia
**cow·shed** /'kaʊʃed/ *also* **cow·house** /-haʊs/ *n* a building to which cows are taken to be milked or in which they live in winter**cow·slip** /'kaʊ,slɪp/ *n* a small European wild plant of the PRIMROSE family which has sweet-smelling yellow flowers
**cox** /kɒks $ kɑ:ks/ *also* **cox·swain** /'kɒksən, -sweɪn $ 'kɑ:k-/ *fml — n* a person who guides and controls a rowing boat, especially in races $\rightarrow$ see also BOX AND COX —**cox** *v* [I;T]**Cox Ar·quette, Court·ney** /kɒks ɑ:'keti $ kɑ:ks ɑ:r-, 'kɔ:tnill 'kɔ:rt-/ (1964-) a US actress known especially for appearing as the character Monica Geller in the television programme *Friends*. She has also appeared in several films, such as the *Scream* series.**cox·comb** /'kɒkskəʊm $ 'kɑ:ks-/ *n* **1** *old use* a foolish man who spends too much time and money on his clothes and appearance **2** a COCKSCOMB**Cox's** /'kɒksɪz $ 'kɑ:k-/ *n* a popular type of English apple, whose full name is 'Cox's orange pippin'
**coy** /kɔɪ/ *adj* showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence, especially in order to attract interest or to avoid dealing with something difficult: *She gave him a coy smile. | Don't be so coy—I know you'd like to do the job really.* —**coy·ly** *adv* —**coy·ness** *n* [U]**coy·ote** /'kɔɪ-əʊt, kɔɪ'əʊti $ 'kaɪ-əʊt, kaɪ'əʊti/ *n* a wild dog that lives in west of North America and Mexico
**coy·pu** /'kɔɪpu:/ *n* **pl. -pus** *or* **-pu** a large water rat of South America, kept on fur farms for its valuable fur called NUTRIA**coz·en** /'kʌzən/ *v* [T] *old use* to trick; deceive
**co·zy** /'kəʊzi/ *adj AmE* for COSY —**zi·ly** *adv* —**zi·ness** *n* [U]
**coz·zie** /'kɒzi $ 'kɑ:-/ *n BrE infml* a SWIMMING COSTUME**CP** /,si: 'pi:/ *abbrev. for* COMMUNIST PARTY
**CPA** /,si: pi: 'eɪ/ *n AmE abbrev. for* Certified Public Accountant; an ACCOUNTANT who has passed all their examinations; CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT *BrE***C++** /,si: plʌs 'plʌs/ *n* [U] a language used for writing computer programs, especially programs that have pictures, sound, VIDEO etc in them. It is based on an earlier computer language called 'C'.**CPR** /,si: pi: 'ɑ:ʳ/ *n* [U] *abbrev. for* cardiopulmonary resuscitation; the act of breathing into someone's mouth and pressing several times on their chest, to make them breathe again after their heart stops beating $\rightarrow$ compare ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION**CPRE, the** /,si: pi: ɑ: 'i:/ *abbrev. for* the Council for the Protection of Rural England; an organization whose aim is to prevent farmers and DEVELOPERS (=companies that build houses, offices, shops, or roads) from destroying the countryside in England**CPS, the** /,si: pi: 'es/ *abbrev. for* the CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE
**CPU** /,si: pi: 'ju:/ *n abbrev. for* the part of a computer that controls and organizes all its activities; CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
**crab¹** /kræb/ *n* **1** [C] a sea animal with a flattened shell-covered body and five pairs of legs, of which the front pair are large powerful PINCERS **2** [U] the flesh of this animal cooked as food: *crab salad* $\rightarrow$ see also CRABS**crab²** *v* **-bb-** [I(about)] *infml* to complain in a bad-tempered way; GRUMBLE
**'crab ,apple also crab** *n* (the tree that produces) a small sour apple, often used to make jelly
**crab·bed** /'kræbɪd/ *adj* **1** *BrE* (of writing) difficult to read because the letters are too close together **2** *old-fash* crabby —**-ly** *adv* —**-ness** *n* [U]**crab·by** /'kræbi/ *adj infml* bad-tempered; IRRITABLE
**crab·grass** /'kræbgrɑ:s $ -græs/ *n* [U] a type of rough grass that grows easily in LAWNS and is difficult to get rid of**crabs** /kræbz/ *n* [(the) P] the condition of having a kind of LOUSE (crab louse) in the hair around the sexual organs**crab·wise** /'kræbwaɪz/ *also* **crab·ways** /-weɪz/ *adv* sideways, especially in an awkward manner
**crack¹** /kræk/ *v* **1** [I;T] to (cause to) break without dividing into separate parts; split: *Don't pour hot water into the glass or it will crack. | The window was cracked but not broken.* $\rightarrow$ see BREAK (USAGE) **2** [I;T(OPEN)] to (cause to) break open: *to crack nuts | I cracked two eggs into a frying-pan.* **3** [I;T] to (cause to) make a sudden loud sharp sound: *The whip cracked threateningly.* **4** [I] (of a person’s voice) to change suddenly in level, loudness etc: *His voice cracked with emotion.* **5** [I;T] to (cause to) hit with a sudden hard blow: *The boy fell and cracked his head against the wall.* **6** [I(UP)] to lose control or effectiveness as a result of difficulties or pressure; fail: *The whole political system is beginning to crack up. | The prisoner is refusing to give information, but he may crack under torture.* **7** [T] *infml* to make (a joke) **8** [T] to discover the secret of (a CODE) **9** [T] *infml* to open (a bottle) for drinking **10 crack a smile** *AmE infml* to smile, especially after being upset or angry **11 crack open the books** *AmE infml* to begin studying **12 cracked up to be** *infml* generally believed to be or regarded as being: *This pub isn't all it's cracked up to be — the beer's terrible.* **13 get cracking** —*infml* **a)** to start working hard at something **b)** to go or leave quickly**crack down** *phr v [I(on)]* to take strong and severe action to deal with something bad: *The police are cracking down on illegal gambling.* $\rightarrow$ see also CRACKDOWN**crack on** *phr v BrE infml [I(with)]* to continue working very hard (on something)
**crack up** *phr v infml* **1** [I] to suffer a sudden and complete loss of physical or especially mental strength and ability: *Now, where did I put those papers this time? I think I must be cracking up!* $\rightarrow$ see also CRACKUP **2** [I] to laugh: *We cracked up when he did his George Bush imitation.* **3** [T(crack sbdy. $\leftrightarrow$ up)] to cause to laugh: *She really cracks me up with her bored housewife jokes.***crack²** *n* **1** a line of division caused by splitting; very thin mark or opening caused by breaking, but not into separate parts: *There's a crack in this cup/in the window. | Small cracks were found in the aircraft's wings.* | (fig.) *The door was opened just a crack.* **2** a loud sharp sound: *a crack of thunder | the crack of a pistol* **3** a sudden sharp blow, especially caused accidentally: *I got a nasty crack on the head when I went through that low door* **4** [(at usually sing.)] *infml* an attempt: *I've never done this before, but I'll have a crack (at it).* **5** [(about)] a clever quick joke or remark: *He's always making cracks about my big feet.* **6** a sudden change in the level or loudness of the voice **7 at the crack of dawn** *very early in the morning* **8 the crack of doom** *old-fash, often humor* the end of the world **9 a fair crack of the whip** *BrE infml* a fair chance of doing something $\rightarrow$ see also paper over the cracks (PAPER)**crack³** *adj* [A] of very high quality or skill: *a crack commando unit | a crack shot/marksman (=someone who always hits what they shoot at)***crack⁴** *also* **,crack co'caine** *n* [U] *slang* an extremely pure...
