1515
Updike, John
unwilling helper (=who helped, but without eagerness) | an unwilling student | [F+to-v] I'm unwilling to lend him any more money after what happened last time. —ly adv: He unwillingly gave his consent.
un·wind /ʌnˈwaɪnd/ v -wound /ʌnˈwand/ 1 [I;T] to come undone or undo (something that has been wound round): She unwound the wool from the ball. 2 [I] infml to stop being nervous; RELAX, especially after a period of great effort and pressure: She found it hard to unwind after a busy day at work. → compare UNBEND
un·wise /ʌnˈwaɪz/ adj not based on good judgment: It's unwise to keep medicines in a place that can be reached by children. —unwisely adv
un·wit·ting /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/ adj [A] fml not knowing or not intended: She was their unwitting accomplice. (=she did not know she was helping them) | an unwitting insult —ly adv
un·wont·ed /ʌnˈwəʊntɪd/ adj [A] fml not usual or expected; UNACCUSTOMED: He arrived with unwonted punctuality.
un·world·ly /ʌnˈwɜːldliː-ɜːr-/ adj not concerned with or experienced in the ways of society
un·writ·ten law /ˌʌnrɪtn ˈlɔː/ also ,unwritten 'rule n a custom followed as a rule, though not formally or officially stated: the unwritten law that women and children are saved first from a sinking ship
un·zip /ʌnˈzɪp/ v -pp- [T] to open by undoing a ZIP (fastener): She unzipped her dress.
up¹ /ʌp/ adv 1 from below towards a higher position; away from the floor, the ground, or the bottom: My pen fell on the floor and I picked it up. | Can you lift that box up onto the shelf for me? | The boy climbed up to a higher branch on the tree. | We swam a long way under water and then came up for air. | Hang the picture up on the wall. | It gets hot quickly when the sun comes up. (=appears above the horizon) | Up you come! 2 at or in a higher position; above: John's up in his bedroom. | The plane was flying 30,000 feet up. | We stayed in a little town up in the mountains. 3 into an upright or raised position: Everyone stood up when the teacher came in. | He turned up his collar to keep his neck dry. | They're putting up (=building) a new factory. 4 in or towards the north: He's flying up to Scotland from London. | They live up North. → compare DOWN 5 along; towards (and as far as): He came right up (to me) and asked my name. | He walked up to her. | Let's go up the road for something to eat. 6 so as to increase in loudness, strength, level of activity etc: Could you turn the radio up a bit, please. | Speak up! I can't hear you. | Competition between these companies is really hotting up. 7 (so as to be) completely finished: The money's all used up. | The party ended up with a song. | He won't eat up his vegetables. | He bought up all the flowers in the shop. 8 so as to be all in small pieces: I tore up the newspaper. | They divided up the money. | The plane hit the mountainside and broke up on impact. 9 firmly; tightly; so as to be closed, covered, or joined: She tied up the parcel. | He nailed up the door so they couldn't open it. 10 so as to be together: Please add up/count up these figures. | We collected up the fallen apples. 11 (so as to be) on top: I turned the board right side up. 12 into consideration; so as to receive attention: I'd like to bring up the question of the exam timetable. | The report has thrown up a number of unexpected problems. 13 above and including: Power was lost from the tenth floor up. | Children of 12 and up can enter without a guardian. 14 up and down a) higher and lower: She was jumping up and down. | (fig.) 'How's your father?' 'Rather up and down, you know.' (=sometimes well, sometimes ill) b) backwards and forwards: I could hear him in his bedroom walking up and down. → see also UPS AND DOWNS 15 up to a) as far as; to and including: Up to ten people (=any number between one and ten) can sleep in this tent. | Everyone has his part to play, from the office boy up to the President. | (fig.) He's up to his ears/eyes/neck (=very deeply) in debt. b) also up till — until: He was here up to a moment ago. c) (usually in questions or negatives) good, well, or clever enough for: Michael's not really up to that job. | [+v-ing] My German isn't up to translating that letter. | Do you feel up to going out, or have you still got a headache? d) the duty or responsibility of (someone): 'Shall we go out?' 'It's up to you.' (=You must decide.) e) infml doing (something bad): The children are very quiet; I wonder what they're up to/getting up to! 16 Up (with) ... infml We want or approve of: Up the workers! → compare DOWN
up² prep 1 to or in a higher place in; upwards; by way of: He climbed up the hill/the stairs/the ladder. | The water got up my nose. 2 to or at the top or far end of: Her office is up those stairs. | They live just up the road. (=further along the road from here) 3 against the direction of the current of: sailing up the Seine 4 BrE nonstandard to; up to; at: I'm going up the West End tonight. | He's up the pub. 5 up and down a) higher and lower; on: I was up and down the stairs all day answering the door. b) backwards and forwards; along: His eyes moved up and down the rows of people, looking for his son's face. 6 Up yours! taboo slang (used for expressing great dislike for or annoyance at a person)
up³ adj [no comp.] 1 [A] directed or going up: We caught the up train. (=to London etc; compare the down train) | the up escalator 2 [F] (of a road) being repaired; with a broken surface: 'Road Up' (=on a sign) 3 [F] (of a computer system) in operation; working → opposite DOWN 4 [F] being at a higher level, e.g. in price, level or quantity; from a smaller to a larger amount: The price of stamps has gone up (=increased) again. | Inflation is up by 2%. | Profits are up on (=compared with) last year. 5 out of bed: Are you up yet? 6 [F usually in questions and negatives] (in tennis and similar games) (of a ball) having hit the ground only once before being hit back 7 [F] infml charged with an offence; in court: He's up before the judge for stealing. → see also HAVE UP 8 be (well) up in/on infml to know a lot about 9 up against having to face or deal with: We've come up against a problem. | We're really up against it (=in serious difficulty) now. 10 up and about infml out of bed (again) and able to walk → compare out and about (OUT) 11 up for a) intended or being considered for: The house is up for sale. | This subject will be up for discussion at the next meeting. b) able and willing to do or experience; in the MOOD for: Are you up for a game of cards? | I don't think I'm up for his jokes tonight. 12 What's up? infml (of something bad or unwelcome) What's happening? What's the matter?: What's up? Why are they crying?
up⁴ v -pp- infml 1 [T] to raise; increase: They've upped their offer by a further 5%. 2 [I] (used followed by and for adding force to the account of a surprising action): Without saying another word, he upped and left.
up- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
,up-and-'coming adj [A] apprec showing signs of likely future success or popularity: an up-and-coming young opera singer | an up-and-coming neighbourhood → compare UPCOMING
,up-and-'under n (in RUGBY) a high kick forwards followed by a rush to the place where the ball lands
,up-and-'up n on the up-and-up infml a) BrE improving; succeeding b) AmE honest
U·pan·ish·ads, the /uːˈpænʃædz, -ædzluːˈpɑːnɪʃɑːdz/ n [plural] a collection of ancient holy books containing the main principles of Hindu religion and PHILOSOPHY → see also RIG-VEDA, VEDA
up·beat /ˈʌpbiːt/ adj infml cheerful and full of hope: The film had a very upbeat ending. → compare DOWNBEAT
up·braid /ˌʌpˈbreɪd/ v [T(wh)] fml to speak angrily to (someone) because they have done something wrong
up·bring·ing /ˈʌpˌbrɪŋŋ/ n [S] the care, training, and education that someone receives, especially from their parents, when they are growing up: a strict upbringing | The children had an easy-going upbringing. → see also BRING UP
up·chuck /ˈʌptʃʌk/ v [T;I] AmE infml for VOMIT
up·com·ing /ˈʌpˌkʌmɪŋ/ adj [A] about to happen: the upcoming elections → compare UP-AND-COMING
,up-'country adj, adv 1 in or from the inner parts of a country, away from the coast 2 from an area with few people, towns etc, and without the manners and qualities that are thought typical of city people
up·date /ˌʌpˈdeɪt/ v [T] 1 to make more modern or up-to-date: an updated model of this popular car 2 [(on)] to supply with the latest information: The minister's advisers updated her on the situation. —update /ˈʌpdeɪt/ n: a computer file update
Up·dike, John /ˈʌpdaɪk/ (1932–) a US writer known for his