time zone
1456
'time zone n any of the 24 parts, each about 15° wide, into
which the Earth is divided for the purpose of keeping time.
Each time zone is usually one hour different from those on
either side.
tim·id /'tɪmɪd/ adj afraid; lacking courage or confidence: a
timid deer/young girl —ly adv —ity /ɪ'mɪdɪti/ n [U]
tim·ing /'taɪmɪŋ/ n [U] the choosing of exactly the right
moment to do something so as to get the best effect: I don't
think much of their timing – introducing a new brand of
suntan oil in November. | The batsman's/dancer's timing is
perfect.
tim·o·rous /'tɪmərəs/ adj fml easily frightened; nervous and
lacking confidence —ly adv —ness n [U]
tim·pa·ni /'tɪmpəni/ n [(the)U+sing./pl. v] a set of KETTLEDRUMS
tim·pa·nist /'tɪmpənɪst/ n a person who plays a KETTLEDRUM
tin¹ /tɪn/ n 1 [U] a soft whitish metal that is a simple
substance (ELEMENT), is easily shaped, and is used to cover
metal objects with a protective shiny surface: a tin
box 2 [C(of)] BrE || can especially AmE → a small closed metal
container in which food or drink is sold: a tin of beans | a
sardine tin 3 [C] a metal container in which food is a)
stored: a biscuit tin b) cooked (especially BrE) || pan especially
AmE): a bread tin | a roasting tin
tin² BrE || can especially AmE — v -nn- [T] to preserve (especially
food) by packing it in tins: tinned fruit/meat
tinc·ture /'tɪŋktʃər/ n [C;U (of)] tech a medical substance
mixed with alcohol: tincture of iodine
tin·der /'tɪndər/ n [U] material that burns easily, used espe-
cially for lighting fires: The plants are as dry as tinder/are
tinder-dry after the long hot summer.
tin·der·box /'tɪndəbɒks||-dərbɑːks/ n 1 a box containing
tinder, a FLINT, and steel, used in former times instead of
matches for providing a flame 2 a very dangerous uncon-
trollable place or situation: Racial tension was high, and the
southern states were a real tinderbox.
tine /taɪn/ n tech a point or narrow pointed part of a fork, a
deer's ANTLERS etc
,tin 'ear n [S] AmE infml a lack of ability to tell the difference
between different musical notes: He tries to play the piano
but he's got a tin ear.
tin·foil /'tɪnfɔɪl/ also aluminum foil AmE — n [U] a very
thin bendable sheet of shiny metal, used as a protective
wrapping, especially for covering food before cooking it
ting /tɪŋ/ v [I;T] to (cause to) make a high clear ringing sound
—ting n: The glass went 'ting' as I tapped it with my knife.
ting-a-ling /ˌtɪŋə'lıŋ/ n infml a high clear ringing sound,
especially as made by a small bell
tinge¹ /tɪnd/ v [T(with) usually pass.] 1 to give a slight degree of
a colour to (an object or colour): black hair tinged with
grey 2 to give a slight degree of a quality to: Her admiration
for him was tinged with jealousy.
tinge² n [S(of)] a slight degree (of a colour or quality): There
was a tinge of sadness in her voice.
tin·gle /'tɪŋɡəl/ v [I(with)] to feel a slight, not unpleasant,
stinging sensation: My cheeks tingled with the cold. —tingle n
[S] I felt a tingle of excitement. —gly adj
,tin 'god n infml derog someone not very important who
behaves, or is admired, as though they were more important
than they really are
,tin 'hat n infml a metal hat worn by modern soldiers for
protection; HELMET
tin·ker¹ /'tɪŋkər/ n 1 [C] a person who travels from place to
place mending metal pots, pans etc 2 [S(with)] an act of
tinkering 3 [C] BrE infml a disobedient or annoying young
child 4 tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor the first words of a
children's RHYME which is said in order to find out what job
one will have when one grows up or what the job of one's
husband will be
tinker² v [I+adv/prep, especially with] to work without a fixed plan
or useful results, making small changes, especially when
trying to repair or improve something: He's been tinkering
with that engine for hours, but it still won't go. | She spent the
afternoon tinkering about in the garden shed. | It's no use just
tinkering with the problem; we've got to make some fundamen-
tal changes.
Tin·ker·bell /'tɪŋkəbel||-ər-/, a FAIRY (=an imaginary crea-
ture who looks like a small person but has wings and can do
magic) who helps PETER PAN in the play and book Peter Pan
by J. M. BARRIE. She talks to Peter Pan by making bell-like
sounds.
Tin·ker·toys /'tɪŋkətɔɪz||-ər-/ trademark a type of US toy
consisting of different-sized coloured sticks and wooden
pieces shaped like wheels, which can be joined together to
make models of buildings, cars etc
tin·kle¹ /'tɪŋkəl/ v [I;T] 1 to (cause to) make light metallic
sounds: little tinkling bells | The drops of water tinkled into
the metal fountain. 2 euph infml to URINATE (used of or by
children): Do you need to tinkle, dear?
tinkle² n [C usually sing.] 1 a tinkling sound 2 BrE infml a
telephone call: I'll give you a tinkle tomorrow. 3 euph infml
an act of urinating (URINATE); used of or by children
,Tin 'Man, the a character from the book and film The
Wizard of Oz. He is made of metal and does not have a heart,
but in the story goes to see the Wizard of Oz to ask him to
give him a heart.
tin·ni·tus /'tɪnɪtəs/ n [U] med an illness in which you hear
noises, especially ringing, in your ears
tin·ny /'tɪni/ adj 1 of, like, or containing tin. 2 having a thin
metallic sound: a cheap stereo that gives a tinny sound 3 infml
(especially of something metal) cheaply and badly made
—ness n [U]
'tin ,opener BrE || can opener especially AmE → n:a tool for
opening tins
,Tin Pan 'Alley n [U] infml the people who produce popular
music and their way of life
tin·plate /'tɪnpleɪt/ n [U] very thin sheets of iron or steel
covered with tin
'tin-pot adj [A] infml worthless and unimportant, but perhaps
thinking oneself to be important: a tin-pot dictator
tin·sel /'tɪnsəl/ n [U] 1 very thin sheets, lengths, or threads
of shiny material used for decorations, especially at Christ-
mas 2 something showy that is really cheap or worthless:
the tinsel and glamour of Hollywood —ly adj
Tin·sel·town /'tɪnsəлтаʊn/ a humorous informal name for
HOLLYWOOD, which is used to give the idea that people in
Hollywood care only about GLAMOUR and the way things
look, and not about anything serious
'tin ,shears n [P] AmE for SNIPS
tint¹ /tɪnt/ n especially lit or tech a pale or delicate shade of a
colour; slight degree of a colour: The painting glowed with
beautiful autumn tints. | She has had red tints put in her hair.
tint² v [T] to give a slight or delicate colour to: a sports car
with tinted glass in all the windows | She has had her hair
tinted (blue).
tin·tack /'tɪntæk/ n a short nail made of iron covered with
tin
Tin·ta·gel /tɪn'tædʒəl/ an ancient castle on the north coast
of Cornwall, where, according to old stories, King ARTHUR
lived → see also ARTHURIAN LEGEND
Tin·tin /'tɪntɪn/ the main character in the CARTOON books by
the Belgian writer HERGÉ which were later made into CAR-
TOON films. Tintin is a young man whose hair has a long
TUFT that sticks up at the front. He has many exciting
adventures with his dog Snowy, trying to solve crimes and
catch criminals.
tin·tin·nab·u·la·tion /ˌtɪntɪnæbjʊ'leɪʃən/ n [C;U] tech &
pomp the sound or ringing of bells
Tin·to·ret·to /ˌtɪntə'retəʊ/ (1518-94) an Italian artist born in
Venice, known especially for his religious paintings and his
PORTRAITS (=pictures of people)
tin·type /'tɪntaɪp/ n a photograph made by an old process
which used tin instead of paper as a substance on which to
develop the picture
ti·ny /'taɪni/ adj extremely small: a tiny baby/room/profit
Tiny Tim /ˌtaɪni 'tɪm/ a character in the story A CHRISTMAS
CAROL (1843) by Charles DICKENS. He is the young son of
Bob CRATCHIT, who works for SCROOGE, and is very ill and
cannot walk. At the end of the book, he says 'God bless us
every one!'
tip¹ /tɪp/ n [(of)] 1 the usually pointed end of something