ASA, the
eight. **2** in the way or manner that: *Do as I say!* | *He was late, as usual.* | *David, as you know (=and you know this), is a photographer. | As I said in my last letter, I am taking the exam in July.* **3** while; when: *He saw her as he was getting off the bus.* | *As the election approached, the violence got worse.* **4** because: *As she has no car, she can't get there easily.* **5** though: *Improbable as it seems, it's true.* | *Tired as I was, I tried to help them.* | *(especially AmE)* *As popular as he is (=even though he is popular) the President has not been able to get his own way on every issue.* **6** (with **so** or **such** showing a result): *so cold as to make swimming impossible | such an expression on his face as left no doubt of his decision* $\rightarrow$ see also SO$^1$, SUCH$^1$ **7** (showing a purpose): *He ran away so as not to be caught.* **8** as against in comparison with: *Our profits this year amount to £20,000 as against £15,000 last year.* **9** as for sometimes *derog* (used when starting to talk about a new subject, connected with what came before) when we speak of; concerning: *You can have a bed; as for him, he'll have to sleep on the floor.* **10 as if/though a)** as it would be if (something were true): *I couldn't move my legs. It was as if they were stuck to the floor. | Why doesn't she buy us a drink? It isn't as if she has no money. (=she has plenty of money)* **b)** in a way that suggests that (something is true): *He shook his head as if to say 'don't trust her'. | We've missed the bus. It looks as if (=it seems) we'll have to walk.* **c)** (showing a strong negative): *'He's gone.' 'As if I cared!' (=I don't care at all)* **11 as it is a)** in reality; in the situation that actually exists: *We had hoped to finish it today, but as it is we probably won't finish until tomorrow.* **b)** already: *Don't say anything else; you're in enough trouble as it is.* **12 as it were** as one might say; in a sort of way: *He is, as it were, a modern Sherlock Holmes.* **13 as of/from** starting from (the time stated): *As of today, you are in charge of the office.* **14 as to a)** (used especially when speaking of arguments and decisions) on the subject of; concerning: *He's very uncertain as to whether it's the right job for him.* **b)** according to; by: *correctly placed as to size and colour* **15 as yet** *fml* (with negatives) until now: *I have received no answer from them as yet.* $\rightarrow$ see also **as long as (LONG$^2$)**, **as often as not (OFTEN)** and **so far**
> In comparisons, the usual form is *He's not **as** old **as** I am*. In American English, however, the first *as* in such comparisons is sometimes left out: *He's old as the hills. | She turned red as a beet.*
**ASA, the** /,eɪ es 'eɪ/ *abbrev. for* the ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY
**asap** /,eɪ es eɪ 'piː, 'ætsæp/ *abbrev. for* as soon as possible
**as·bes·tos** /æs'bestəs, æz-/ $n$ [U] a soft grey mineral that is used as a building material (especially when made into solid sheets against fire and heat) and for other industrial purposes, such as protecting things. In recent years, asbestos used in building has been found to be harmful to humans.
**ASBO** /,eɪ es biː 'əʊ/ *abbrev. for* anti-social behaviour order; an official order which local authorities (LOCAL AUTHORITY) or the police can ask a court of law to give to someone who has been found guilty of behaviour which is harmful to other people in their local area. The order tells the person who receives it that they must not do certain things. If they do not obey the order, they will be more strongly punished and sometimes sent to prison. The British government introduced ASBOs in 1999 to try to stop crimes such as VANDALISM (=deliberately damaging things, especially public property) and GANGS (=groups of young people who spend time together) behaving in a rude or violent way to other people.
**as·cend** /ə'send/ $v$ [$I;T$] *often fml* to climb; go, come, or move from a lower up to a higher level: *The stairs ascended in a graceful curve. | He ascended the stairs. | Victoria ascended the throne (=became queen) in 1837.* | *an ascending scale of (musical) notes* $\rightarrow$ opposite DESCEND
**as·cen·dan·cy, -dency** /ə'sendənsi/ $n$ [U(over, in)] a position of power, influence, or control: *He slowly gained ascendancy over/in the group.*
**as·cen·dant$^1$, -dent** /ə'sendənt/ $n$ **in the ascendant** having a controlling influence: *During this period, the radical wing of the party was in the ascendant.*
**ascendant$^2$, -dent** *adj fml* **1** rising **2** greater in influence: *ascendant power*
**as·cen·sion** /ə'senʃən/ $n$ [U] *fml* the process of ascending
**As'cension Day** $n$ [C;U] a Christian holy day on the Thursday 40 days after Easter, when Christians remember Christ's ascent to heaven (the Ascension)
**as·cent** /ə'sent/ $n$ **1** [C;U] the act or process of going up: *We made a successful ascent of the mountain.* | *(fig.) the ascent of man from his original state to modern civilization* **2** [C] a way up; upward slope, path etc: *a steep ascent* $\rightarrow$ opposite DESCENT
**as·cer·tain** /ˌæsə'teɪn‖ˌæsər-/ $v$ [T] *fml* to discover (the truth about something); to make certain: *to ascertain the facts | [+that] I ascertained that he was dead. | [+wh-] The police are trying to ascertain exactly who was at the party.* **-able** *adj*
**as·cet·ic** /ə'setɪk/ $n, adj$ (a person) avoiding physical pleasures and comforts, generally for religious reasons: *the ascetic life of Buddhist monks* **-ally** /kli/ *adv* **-ism** /ə'setɪsɪzəm/ $n$ [U]
**ASCII** /'æski/ $n$ *abbrev. for* American Standard Code for Information Interchange; a set of 128 letters, numbers, and signs which are used to make the exchange of information between a computer and other DATA PROCESSING equipment easy
**as·cot** /'æskɒt‖-kət/ $n$ *AmE for* CRAVAT
**Ascot** $\rightarrow$ see ROYAL ASCOT
**as·cribe** /ə'skraɪb/ $v$
**ascribe sthg. to sthg./sbdy.** [T] to believe (something) to be the result or work of: *He ascribes his success to luck. | This song is often ascribed to Bach.* **-cribable** *adj [+to]*
**As·da** /'æzdə/ *trademark* a group of British SUPERMARKETS which sells clothes, food and many things for the home
**ASEAN** /'æsi,æn/ *abbrev. for* Association of South-East Asian Nations; an association whose aim is to encourage the economic growth, social progress, and cultural development of southeast Asia. Its members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
**a·sep·tic** /eɪ'septɪk, ə-/ *adj tech* (of a wound or its covering) free from bacteria; clean
**a·sex·u·al** /eɪ'sekʃuəl/ *adj* **1** without sex or sexual organs **2** having no interest in sexual relations; without sexuality **-ly** *adv: to reproduce asexually* **-ity** /,eɪsekʃu'æləti/ $n$ [U]
**As·gard** /'æsgɑːd‖-ɑːrd/ in Norse MYTHOLOGY, the home of the gods and of people who died bravely in battle $\rightarrow$ see also VALHALLA
**ash$^1$** /æʃ/ *also* **ashes** *pl. — n* [U] **1** the soft grey powder that remains after something has been burnt: *cigarette ash | The house burnt to ashes.* $\rightarrow$ see also ASHES **2 ashes to ashes, dust to dust** a phrase used as part of a Christian prayer at a funeral, usually spoken as the dead person is about to be buried
**ash$^2$** $n$ [C;U] (the hard wood of) a forest tree common in Britain and throughout North America
**ASH** /æʃ/ *abbrev. for* Action on Smoking and Health; a British organization that opposes smoking and the tobacco industry. It tries to influence the government to put high taxes on tobacco and to make laws that restrict smoking, cigarette advertising etc.
**Ash, Ma·ry Kay** /'meəri keɪ/ (1915-2001) a US BUSINESSWOMAN who started a COSMETICS company that operates in many countries. The company uses saleswomen (SALESWOMAN) who sell directly to customers, rather than in shops, and successful saleswomen are given pink CADILLACS (=a type of expensive car).
**a·shamed** /ə'ʃeɪmd/ *adj* [F] **1 [(of)]** feeling shame or guilt because of something done: *You ought to be ashamed of yourself/of your behaviour. | He was ashamed of having lied to her. | [+that] He was ashamed that he had lied. | [+to-v] This disgraceful behaviour made me ashamed to be British!* **2 [(of)]** feeling foolish or uncomfortable because of something: *He was ashamed of his dirty old clothes. | You shouldn't worry about failing the exam - it's nothing to be ashamed of.* **3 [+to-v]** unwilling to do something because of fear that it might bring shame: *I was too ashamed to tell her I had failed.* **-ly** /ə'ʃeɪmədli/ *adv*
**ash·can** /'æʃkæn/ $n$ *AmE old-fash* a DUSTBIN
**Ash·croft, Dame Peg·gy** /'æʃkrɒft‖-ɔːft, 'pegi/ (1907-91) a popular British actress who appeared in the theatre in