circumnavigate
242
words to express an idea, especially when trying to avoid
answering a difficult question directly —tory /-'lɒkjətəri,
-lə'kju:təri||-'lɑ:kjətɔ:ri/ adj
cir·cum·nav·i·gate /ˌsɜ:kəm'nævɪgeɪt||ˌsɜ:r-/ v [T] fml to
sail completely round (the Earth, an island etc) —gation
/ˌsɜ:kəmnævɪ'geɪʃn||sɜ:r-/ n [C;U]
cir·cum·scribe /'sɜ:kəmskraɪb||'sɜ:r-/ v [T] 1 [often pass.]
fml to keep within narrow limits; RESTRICT: His activities have
been severely circumscribed since his illness. 2 tech to draw a
line round: to circumscribe a square by drawing a circle
round it —scription /ˌsɜ:kəm'skrɪpʃn||sɜ:r-/ n [U]
cir·cum·spect /'sɜ:kəmspekt||'sɜ:r-/ adj (of a person or an
action) acting or done after careful thought; CAUTIOUS: I'm
surprised he got married in such a hurry – he's usually pretty
circumspect. —ly adv —spection
/ˌsɜ:kəm'spekʃn||ˌsɜ:r-/ n [U]
cir·cum·stance /'sɜ:kəmstəns, -stəns||'sɜ:r-/ n 1 [C usually
pl.] a fact, condition, or event concerned with and influenc-
ing another event, person, or course of action: We can't
judge what he did until we know all the circumstances. | This
rule can only be waived in exceptional circumstances. | The
level of the fine depends on the circumstances of the case. |
They have been living in reduced circumstances (=with very
little money) since she lost her job. 2 [U] the combination of
facts, conditions, or events that influence your action,
regarded as being outside your control: Force of circum-
stance compelled us to close the business. | a victim of circum-
stance 3 [U] formal and usually official ceremony: the pomp
and circumstance of a royal wedding 4 in/under no cir-
cumstances never; whatever happens: Under no circum-
stances must you leave the house. 5 in/under the
circumstances considering the situation at a particular
time: I wanted to leave but then my uncle died, so under the
circumstances I decided to stay. | The result was the best that
could be expected in the circumstances.
cir·cum·stan·tial /ˌsɜ:kəm'stænʃəl ||ˌsɜ:r-/ adj 1 . (of
information, especially concerning a crime) based on or
dealing with related circumstances, but not really proving
anything; INCIDENTAL: You can't convict him merely on cir-
cumstantial evidence. 2 fml (of a description) containing all
the details: a circumstantial account of the visit —ly adv
cir·cum·vent /ˌsɜ:kəm'vent||ˌsɜ:r-/ v [T] to avoid or defeat
(as if) by passing round, especially as the result of cleverness:
The company opened an office abroad in order to circumvent
the tax laws. —vention /'venʃn/ n [U]
cir·cus /'sɜ:kəs||'sɜ:r-/ n 1 (a performance by) a travelling
group of people and animals who entertain the public with
acts of skill and daring. Circuses are generally considered to
be entertainment for children. They include performances by
CLOWNS and wild animals such as lions, tigers, and
elephants. The RINGMASTER introduces all the acts. A circus
will usually stay in an area for a few days and then move on
to another town. 2 the place, usually covered with a tent,
where this performance takes place, with seats round a ring
in the middle 3 BrE a round open area where a number of
streets join together: Oxford Circus 4 derog a noisy badly
behaved meeting etc 5 (in ancient Rome) a space sur-
rounded by seats for the public in which fights, races etc
took place
cirque /sɜ:k||sɜ:rk/ n tech a steep-sided bowl-shaped hollow
on a mountain side, originally formed by ice
cir·rho·sis /sɪ'rəʊsɪs/ n [U] med a very serious disease of the
LIVER which often leads to death. Cirrhosis of the liver is
often caused by drinking too much alcohol.
cir·rus /'sɪrəs/ n [U] light feathery white cloud very high up
→ compare CUMULUS, NIMBUS
Cirrus trademark a type of service that allows people to get
money from their bank account by using any of the CASH
MACHINES that have a Cirrus sign on it. Cirrus is used by
banks in many different countries.
CIS /ˌsi: aɪ 'es/ n abbrev. for the Commonwealth of Independ-
ent States; the name given to a group of states of which the
largest is Russia
cis·sy /'sɪsi/ n, adj SISSY
Cis·ter·cian /sɪ'stɜ:ʃən||-ɜ:r-/ n a MONK (=member of an
all-male Christian religious group) belonging to a group that
started in France in 1098. The Cistercians follow the rules of
St Benedict, which include little sleep, hard work, and not
eating, but they do this even more strictly than the Benedic-
tines. —Cistercian adj: a Cistercian monastery
cis·tern /'sɪstən||-ərn/ n a container with a pipe leading in
and out, used for storing water, especially for a TOILET
cit·a·del /'sɪtəděl, -del/ n 1 a strong heavily armed fort,
usually in, near, or above a city, built to be a last place of
safety and defence in time of war 2 fml or lit a place where
something is kept safe or kept in existence; STRONGHOLD: the
last citadel of freedom
ci·ta·tion /saɪ'teɪʃn/ n 1 [C(for)] an official statement con-
cerning a person's qualities or actions, especially bravery in
battle 2 [C] a short passage taken from something written or
spoken; QUOTATION 3 [U] the act of citing or being cited
cite /saɪt/ v [T] 1 to mention, especially as an example in a
statement, argument etc; QUOTE: The minister cited the latest
crime figures as proof of the need for more police. 2 to call
(someone) to appear before a court of law; give a SUMMONS
to: He was cited in a divorce case. 3 [(for)] fml to mention as
worthy of praise; COMMEND: cited for bravery in an official
report
Cit·i·bank /'sɪtɪbæŋk/ trademark a very large US bank, with
branches in many countries and its main offices in New
York City
Cit·i·group /'sɪtɪgru:p/ trademark a banking and financial
services company with offices in many parts of the world
cit·i·zen /'sɪtɪzən/ n 1 a person who lives in a particular
city or town, especially one who has voting or other rights
there 2 a person who belongs to a particular country by birth
or by being naturalized (NATURALIZE), who gives loyalty to it,
and expects protection from it, whether or not he/she actu-
ally lives there: She's a British citizen but lives in India. | She
became a US citizen after living there for several years. →
compare ALIEN, NATIONAL, SUBJECT; see also CITIZENSHIP
Citizen Kane /ˌsɪtɪzən 'keɪn/ a famous US film made in
1941 by Orson WELLES, and thought by some people to be
the greatest film ever made. It tells the story of the life of a
very rich businessman who owned several important news-
papers. Orson Welles was the DIRECTOR, writer, and main
actor in the film. → see Feature on page A32
cit·i·zen·ry /'sɪtɪzənri/ n [U+sing./pl. v] old use all the citizens
in a place
Citizens Ad'vice Bureau, the abbrev. CAB a British
organization supported by the government which gives free
advice to ordinary people about legal, financial, and other
problems. Most towns and cities in the UK have a Citizens
Advice Bureau, and most of the people who work for it are
VOLUNTEERS (=they are not paid for their work).
citizen's ar'rest n an act by someone who is not a police
officer of arresting (ARREST) a person who has done some-
thing illegal: Peter clapped his hand on the man's shoulder
and said 'I am making a citizen's arrest.'
'Citizens' Band n [U] → see CB
Citizen's 'Charter, the a statement by John Major's
Conservative government of the standards of service which
the public has a right to expect from British government
departments and organizations. In July 1999 Tony Blair's
Labour government replaced the Citizen's Charter with the
Service First programme in order to improve PUBLIC SERVICES
cit·i·zen·ship /'sɪtɪzənʃɪp/ n [U] the rights of a citizen;
state of being a citizen: After eight years in the country he
applied for citizenship. | Canadian citizenship
cit·ric ac·id /ˌsɪtrɪk 'æsɪd/ n [U] a weak acid obtained from
the juice of some fruits, especially LEMON and LIME juice
Cit·ro·ën /'sɪtrəʊæn, 'sɪtrən||ˌsɪtrə'en/ trademark a French
company that makes cars, or a car made by this company. →
see also DEUX CHEVAUX
cit·ron /'sɪtrən/ n 1 [C] a pale yellow thick-skinned fruit like
a LEMON 2 [U] the preserved skin of this fruit, used for
giving a special taste to cakes
cit·ro·nel·la /ˌsɪtrə'nelə/ n [U] a plant similar to grass which
is used to produce citronella oil which smells of LEMONS and
is used to keep insects away
cit·rus¹ /'sɪtrəs/ also 'citrus tree n any of several types of
prickly trees of the orange family grown in warm countries
for their juicy fruit