sandpit
1226
sand·pit /'sænd,pɪt/ n especially BrE a hollow place in the
ground or an enclosed space containing sand for children to
play in → compare SANDBOX
San·dring·ham /'sændrɪŋəm/ also ,Sandringham
'House a large house in Norfolk in the east of England,
where the British royal family lives for part of the year,
especially around Christmas
sands /sændz/ n [P] 1 a stretch of sand: across the burning
sands of the desert | golden sands 2 fml or lit moments in time,
as if measured by sand in an HOURGLASS, considered as
passing quickly: The sands of his life are fast running out.
(=he will soon die)
sand·shoe /'sændʃu:/ n BrE a light cloth shoe such as a
PLIMSOLL
sand·stone /'sændstəʊn/ n [U] soft rock formed by sand
fixed in a natural cement
sand·storm /'sændstɔ:mɪl-:rm/ n a windstorm in which
sand from a desert is blown about
'sand trap n AmE for BUNKER
sand·wich¹ /'sænwɪdʒ||'sændwɪtʃ, -'sænwɪtʃ/ n 1 two
pieces of bread, usually spread with butter, and with some
other usually cold food between them. Many people have
sandwiches for their midday meal and there are often sand-
wich bars in city centres: a cheese/jam sandwich → see also
CLUB SANDWICH, OPEN SANDWICH 2 BrE a cake of two flat
parts with JAM or cream between them
sandwich² v [T+obj+adv/prep, especially between] to fit or place
tightly or with difficulty between two other things: Our car
was sandwiched between two big trucks. | I'm very busy but
I'll try to sandwich that job in between visitors.
'sandwich board n a pair of large advertising signs for
hanging at the front and back over the shoulders of a person
(sandwich man) who walks about in public. Sandwich boards
are sometimes seen which say 'The end of the world is NIGH'
(=coming soon). These are carried by religious people trying
to warn others that they should believe in God because the
world will soon end.
'sandwich course n BrE a course of study in an industrial
or professional subject at a college or university which
includes periods of usually three or six months spent work-
ing for a company
sand·y /'sændi/ adj 1 consisting of sand or having sand on
the surface: a sandy beach | My towel's all sandy! 2 (espe-
cially of hair) yellowish-brown —iness n [U]
sane /seɪn/ adj 1 healthy in mind; not mad: He's been
certified sane. → opposite INSANE 2 apprec based on or
showing good reasonable thinking; sensible: a very sane
solution to a delicate problem → see also SANITY —ly adv
San·fo·rized /'sænfəraɪzd/ AmE trademark cloth that is Sanfor-
ized has been treated so that it will not SHRINK (=become
smaller) when you wash it: Is this cotton Sanforized? | I only
buy Sanforized shirts.
San Fran·cis·co /ˌsæn fræn'sɪskəʊ/ a city and port in
California, US known for being a very beautiful city, built on
hills next to a BAY (=an area of sea that curves inwards
towards the land) on the Pacific Ocean. Its famous areas
include Chinatown, where many people live whose families
originally came from China, the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, and
the prison island of ALCATRAZ. It is also known for its CABLE
CARS and for having a large HOMOSEXUAL population. The
city is close to the SAN ANDREAS FAULT, and was almost
destroyed by the great EARTHQUAKE and fire of 1906. → see
also BERKELEY, SILICON VALLEY, STANFORD
,San Fran,cisco 'Giants, the a Major League Baseball
team based in San Francisco, California. Their home STADIUM
is the SBC Park, and they have won National League
PENNANTS many times and the World Series CHAMPIONSHIPS
five times.
sang /sæŋ/ past tense of SING
sang·froid /ˌsɒŋ'frwɑ:ɪl,sɔ:ŋ-/ n [U] Fr calm courage; great
self-control during danger or difficulty
san·gri·a /sæŋ'gri:ə, sæn-, 'sæŋgriə/ n [U] a Spanish cold
drink made from red wine, fruit juice, and water
san·gui·na·ry /'sæŋgwɪnərl-nerɪ/ adj lit marked by, or fond
of, much wounding and killing
san·guine /'sæŋgwɪn/ adj fml quietly hopeful; expecting the
best —ly adv
san·i·ta·ri·um /ˌsænɪ'teərɪəm/ n pl. -riums or -ria /-rɪə/ AmE
for SANATORIUM
san·i·ta·ry /'sænɪtərɪl-terɪ/ adj 1 [A] of or for health, espe-
cially the treatment or removal of human waste substances,
dirt, or infection: sanitary fittings, such as lavatories and
bidets | The local sanitary inspector will check that the
restaurant's kitchens are clean. 2 clean; free from danger to
health: It's not sanitary to let flies come near food. → see also
INSANITARY
'sanitary ,towel also pad, 'sanitary ,napkin AmE — n a
soft pad worn between a woman's legs during her PERIOD to
take up the flow of MENSTRUAL blood → compare TAMPON
san·i·ta·tion /ˌsæn'teɪʃən/ n, [U] the use of means for
protecting public health, especially by the removing and
treatment of waste
,sani'tation ,worker n AmE for DUSTMAN
san·i·tize also -tise BrE /'sænɪtaɪz/ v [T] 1 usually derog to
make less unpleasant, dangerous, strongly expressed etc, in
order not to offend people: to sanitize a report 2 to clean
thoroughly; to make SANITARY
san·i·ty /'sænɪti/ n [U] the quality of being SANE: to question
someone's sanity → opposite INSANITY
sank /sæŋk/ past tense of SINK
San Ma·ri·no /ˌsæn mə'ri:nəʊ/ a very small country in
northeast Italy, known for being one of the smallest coun-
tries in the world. Population: 28,119 (2003). Capital: San
Marino.
San Quent·in /sæn 'kwentɪn/ a large prison in the town of
San Quentin, in California, US: He's doing 10-20 in San
Quentin.
San·skrit /'sænskrɪt/ adj, n [U] an ancient language of India.
Sanskrit is an INDO-EUROPEAN language, and the holy books
of the Hindu religion are written in Sanskrit. The modern
languages of northern India, such as Hindi and Punjabi,
developed from Sanskrit. —Sanskrit adj
sans ser·if /ˌsæn 'serɪʃ, ˌsænz-/ n [U] (in printing) letters
without SERIFS and with all strokes of equal thickness
San·ta Claus /'sæntə klɔ:z||'sænti klɔ:z, 'sæntə-/ also
Santa n 1 an imaginary old man with red clothes and a
long white BEARD. Children believe that he comes down the
CHIMNEY to bring them presents at Christmas. In British
English he is also called Father Christmas. 2 someone
dressed as Santa Claus → see Feature on page A10
CULTURAL NOTE In the US and the UK, parents tell their
young children that Santa Claus (who is also called Father
Christmas in the UK), will come down the chimney to put
presents in their CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS or, in the US,
under the CHRISTMAS TREE, if they have been good. If
they have been bad, they are told they will get coal or
ASHES. Before Christmas, children usually write a letter to
Santa to tell him what things they would like to be given
for Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve they leave
something for him to eat or drink. When the children are
asleep, their parents put the presents out. Parents say
that Santa lives at the North Pole, where he and his elves
(ELF) make toys for children during the year. On Christmas
Eve he flies to the houses of all the good children in the
world in a SLEIGH that is pulled by REINDEER who can fly.
Children usually stop believing in Santa Claus when they
are about eight or nine years old. People think of Santa
Claus as a very kind happy character who laughs a lot,
saying 'Ho ho ho'! He is often used to represent
Christmas, and cards, Christmas tree decorations, toys
etc are often designed to look like him. → see also
Cultural Note at CHRISTMAS
San·ta Fe /ˌsæntə 'feɪ/ the capital city of New Mexico
which is a popular place for tourists to visit and is known for
the important part that Mexicans and Native Americans have
played in its history and CULTURE
,Santa Fe 'Trail, the an important road in the West of the
US, starting in Missouri and ending in Santa Fe, which was
used in the 19th century by American SETTLERS (=people
going to live in areas where not many people have been
before)