Watford 1556
much water: watery soup/coffee/potatoes 2 very pale in colour: a watery sun 3 [A] especially lit under the water: The sailors came to a watery grave. (=were drowned)
Wat·ford /'wɒtfəd||'wɑːtfərd/ a town on the northwestern edge of London → see also NORTH OF WATFORD
Wat·ling Street /'wɒtlɪŋ ˌstriːt||'wɑː-/ a long ROMAN ROAD that started in Dover in the southeast of England, passed through London, and then went northwest to end near the modern town of Shrewsbury
WATS /wɒts||wɑːts/ abbrev. for Wide Area Telephone Service; a telephone service for which people pay a fixed amount for making as many long-distance calls as they wish within a large area such as the US: a WATS line
Wat·son, Dr /'wɒtsən||'wɑː-/ one of the main characters in Sir Arthur CONAN DOYLE's stories about Sherlock HOLMES. Watson is Holmes's friend and helps him in his work, but he is much less intelligent than Holmes. Most people know the expression 'Elementary, my dear Watson', which Holmes is supposed to say to Watson when he is explaining how easy it is to understand something about a crime, which Watson has not noticed or does not understand. This expression is often used in films about Holmes and Watson, but was never actually used in the original books.
Watson, James (1928-) a US scientist who, together with Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA, the substance that carries GENETIC information in the cells of plants, animals, and humans. They won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for their work. → see photo on page A36
Watson, Tom (1949-) a US GOLFER, one of the most successful players of the 1970s and 1980s. He won the British Open five times, and the US Masters Tournament twice.
watt /wɒt||wɑːt/ n a measure of electrical power: A kilowatt is 1000 watts.
Watt, James (1736-1819) a British engineer who made important improvements to the STEAM ENGINE, although he did not actually invent it, as some people wrongly believe. The measure of electrical power, the watt, is named after him.
watt·age /'wɒtɪdʒ||'wɑː-/ n [S;U] power in watts: an electric heater with a wattage of three kilowatts
wat·tle /'wɒtl||'wɑːtł/ n 1 [U] a mixture of thin sticks woven over thicker poles to form a fence or wall 2 [U] AustrE an Australian plant (ACACIA) with yellow flowers 3 [C] the red flesh growing from the head or throat of some birds, such as the TURKEY
,wattle and 'daub n [U] a mixture of WATTLE with mud or clay, used especially in former times to make the walls of houses
Waugh, Eve·lyn /wɔː, 'iːvlən/ (1903-66) a British writer known especially for his novels about UPPER-CLASS English people in the period between World War I and World War II. His early books, such as Decline and Fall, are very funny SATIRES on English UPPER-CLASS society, but his later books, such as BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, are much more serious.
Waugh, Steve /stiːv/ (1965-) an Australian CRICKETER who was the CAPTAIN of the Australian Test cricket team from 1997 to 2004. He is considered to be one of the best and most determined cricketers ever, and the Australian cricket team was the best in the world while he was captain.
WAV /wæv/ n. [U] tech abbrev. for waveform audio; a type of computer FILE that contains sound
wave¹ /weɪv/ v 1 [I](&) to move (one's hand or something held in one's hand) as a signal, especially in greeting: The President waved at the crowd from the steps of the plane. | Wave to your father. | She waved her hand as she left. | The conjurer waved his magic wand. 2 [T(to)] to express by waving the hand: They waved goodbye. | [+obj(i)+obj(o)] She waved us goodbye. | (fig.) You can wave goodbye to your chances of getting that job. (=it is now impossible that you will get it) 3 [T+obj+adv/prep] to direct (a person) to move with a wave of the hand: The policeman waved the traffic on. | She waved him away impatiently and went on with her work. 4 [I] to move in the air, backwards and forwards, or up and down, without moving from one place: The flag waved in the breeze. 5 [I;T] to (cause to) lie or grow in regular curves: Her hair waves naturally.
wave sthg. aside phr v [T] to refuse to consider or treat as unimportant (especially ideas, suggestions etc): She waved his protests aside.
wave² n 1 a raised moving part on the surface of a large body of water, especially the sea, which is one of a number at even distances from each other: The waves crashed/pounded against the rocks. | The little boat vanished beneath the waves. (=sank) 2 a movement of the hand in waving: With a wave of the hand he was gone. | Give your father a wave. 3 [(of)] a particular feeling or pattern of behaviour or activity that suddenly begins to happen in an uncontrollable way, and is often passed on from person to person: I felt a wave of nausea. | A wave of panic/indignation swept through the crowd. | The Group was responsible for a wave of terrorist bombings. | a crime wave → see also HEATWAVE 4 a form in which some types of ENERGY such as light and sound, move: radio waves → see also LONG WAVE, MEDIUM WAVE, SHORT WAVE 5 an evenly curved part of the hair: a natural/permanent wave → compare CURL; see also MEXICAN WAVE
Wave n AmE infml a woman who is a member of a US navy VOLUNTEER¹ group
'wave band n a set of sound waves of similar lengths, used especially for broadcasting radio programmes
wave·length /'weɪvlɛŋθ/ n 1 the distance between one WAVE and another 2 a radio signal sent out on radio waves that are a particular distance apart 3 (not) on the same wavelength (dis)agreeing completely about all or the stated matters: My mother-in-law and I are not on the same wavelength.
wa·ver /'weɪvər/ v [I] to be uncertain or unsteady in movement or decision: The flame wavered and then went out. | He wavered between accepting and refusing. | She never wavered in her loyalty to us. —er n —ingly adv
wav·y /'weɪvi/ adj in the shape of waves; having regular curves: wavy lines —iness n [U]
wax¹ /wæks/ n [U] a solid material made of fats or oils which changes to a thick liquid when melted by heat: candle wax wax in the ears (=a natural substance) → see also BEESWAX
wax² v [T] to put wax on (e.g. a wooden floor), especially as a polish
wax³ v 1 [I] (especially of the moon) to grow gradually larger after being small or incomplete: The moon waxes and wanes each month. 2 [L+adj] old use or humor (of a person) to become: The king waxed merry. | He waxed eloquent as he described his plans.
Wax, Ruby (1953-) a US COMEDIAN who works in the UK, and is known for talking very loudly and saying rude, shocking and embarrassing things in an amusing way
'waxed ,paper also 'wax ,paper n [U] especially AmE paper which has a thin covering of wax to prevent it getting wet, used for wrapping food
wax·en /'wæksən/ adj 1 fml or lit very pale, as if ill: a waxen face 2 old use made of wax
wax-works /'wækswɜːks||-wɜːrks/ n pl. waxworks (a place where one can see) models of human beings made in wax: Madame Tussaud's in London is one of the most famous waxworks.
wax·y /'wæksi/ adj (pale) like wax —iness n [U]
way¹ /weɪ/ n 1 [C] the (right) road, path etc, to follow in order to reach a place: Is this the way out? | Can you tell me the way to the library? | If you lose your way, ask a policeman. | It's getting late; we must be on our way. (=we must leave) | The pilgrims were on the/their way to (=travelling towards) Canterbury. | (fig.) The new hospital is well on the way to being finished. (=is almost finished) | (fig.) They claim to be leading the way in the fight against terrorism. 2 [C] a direction: Which way is the house from here? Come this way. (=in this direction) 3 [(the)S] also ways especially AmE — the distance in space or time to be travelled in order to reach a place or point: We were a long way from home. | A woman sat down beside me as we started, and she chattered nonstop the whole way. | Christmas is still a long way off. | (fig.) Prices vary all the way from £5 to £50. | (fig.) I'm with you all the way. (=agree with and support you completely) 4 [C] a method or manner of doing something: Do it this way. | These vegetables can be cooked in several different ways.