elixir
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e·lix·ir /ɪˈlɪksər/ n [(for)] *lit* something with a magical power to cure; PANACEA: *Don't imagine that lowering inflation is an elixir for all our economic ills.* | *the elixir of life* (=something giving unending life)
E·liz·a·be·than /ɪˌlɪzəbiːθən/ *adj* from or typical of the period when Elizabeth I was queen of England (1558-1603): *Elizabethan drama* —**Elizabethan** *n*: *The Earl of Essex was a famous Elizabethan.*
E·liz·a·beth 1, Queen /ɪˌlɪzəbəθ ðə ˈfɜːst|ˈfɜːrst/ (1533-1603) the queen of England from 1558 until her death. She never married, and is sometimes called 'the Virgin Queen'. She is thought of as a very strong woman and an effective ruler. While she was queen, England's power in the world increased, and her navy defeated the Spanish ARMADA (=a large force of fighting ships). The period is sometimes called 'the Elizabethan age', and is thought of as a great period in English history. ➔ see also MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
Elizabeth II, Queen /ɪˌlɪzəbəθ ðə sekənd/ (1926-) the British queen since 1952, and also head of the British COMMONWEALTH. She is married to the DUKE OF EDINBURGH and they have four children. She is the most respected member of the British royal family because she is seen as someone who works hard and is very serious about her responsibilities. She is known to be interested in horse racing, and she owns several RACEHORSES. She also keeps CORGIS (=small dogs with short legs) as pets. ➔ see colour photo on page A34
elk *n* *pl.* **elks** a very large European and Asian deer with very big flat ANTLERS (=branching horns), similar to the N American MOOSE
Elk /elk/ *n* **1** the Elks [P] an organization for men which does CHARITY work, and with groups in many small towns and cities in the US. Its official name is the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. **2** [C] a member of this organization
El·land Road /ˌelənd ˈrəʊd/ the FOOTBALL GROUND in Leeds where Leeds United play
El·ling·ton, Duke /ˈelɪŋtən/ (1899-1974) a US JAZZ composer and piano player, who was also a very successful band leader
el·lipse /ɪˈlɪps/ *n* the curved shape that is seen when one looks at a circle sideways
el·lip·sis /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/ *n* *pl.* **-ses** /-siːz/ [C;U(əʊ)] (an example of) the leaving out of a word or words from a sentence when the meaning can be understood without them: *There is an ellipsis of 'was' in the following sentence: 'In the accident the child was hurt and the mother killed.'* (=was killed)
el·lip·ti·cal /ɪˈlɪptɪkəl/ also **el·lip·tic** /-tɪk/ *adj* **1** having the shape of an ellipse: *The Earth's path round the sun is elliptical.* **2** having the quality of ellipsis **3** *fml* (of speech or writing) difficult to understand because more is meant than is actually said: *an elliptical remark* ➔ compare CRYPTIC —**-ly** /-kli/ *adv*
El·lis, Brett Eas·ton /ˈels, bret ˈiːstən/ (1964-), an Ameri can writer best known for the NOVEL *American Psycho* (1989), about a serial killer. The descriptions of murder in the book caused a lot of argument and criticism which upset Ellis. His other books, including *Less Than Zero* and *Glamorama*, have been widely praised.
Ellis, Perry (1940-86) an American fashion DESIGNER who was known for his designs for CASUAL (=informal) clothes. His company still produces clothes.
Ellis, Ruth (1926-55) the last woman to be executed in Britain. Her death in July 1955 made many people angry, especially those opposed to the DEATH PENALTY. Ellis shot and killed her lover.
'Ellis, Island a small island close to New York City, which for over 50 years (1892-43) was the main centre for dealing with people arriving in the US who wanted to settle in the country as IMMIGRANTS. Millions of people, mostly from Europe, passed through Ellis Island to become US citizens. ➔ see picture on page A48
El·li·son, Lar·ry /ˈelɪsən, ˈlæri/ (1944-) a US computer scientist and businessman who started the Oracle computer company, which produces SOFTWARE
elm /elm/ *n* [C;U] (the hard heavy wood of) any of several large tall broad-leaved trees ➔ see also DUTCH ELM DISEASE
El Ni·ño /el ˈniːnjəʊ/ *a* change in the weather that happens every three to seven years, caused by a rise in the temperature of a large area of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America. El Niño has severe effects on the weather in many parts of the world, and can cause DROUGHT (=complete lack of rain) in some places and heavy rain and violent storms in other places.
el·o·cu·tion /ˌeləkjuːʃən/ *n* [U] the art of good clear speaking in public, with proper attention to the control of the voice and the making of the sounds. People sometimes take elocution lessons to rid themselves of a non-standard way of speaking.
e·lon·gate /ɪˈlɒŋɡeɪt|ɪˈlɔːŋ-/ *v* [T] to make (something) longer (in space but not time): *This picture you've painted isn't like me — the face is too elongated.* —**-gation** /ˌɪlɒŋˈɡeɪʃn|ɪˌlɔːŋ-/ *n* [C;U]
e·lope /ɪˈləʊp/ *v* [I(with)] to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental approval: *She eloped with her lover.* | *She and her lover eloped.* —**-ment** *n* [C;U]
el·o·quent /ˈeləkwənt/ *adj* **1** *apprec* able to express ideas and opinions readily and well, so that the hearers are influenced: *an eloquent speaker* | *an eloquent appeal for support for the strike* **2** *fml* expressing or showing something very strongly though without words: *These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.* —**-ly** *adv* —**-quence** *n* [U]
El Pas·o /el ˈpæsəʊ/ *a* city in Texas in the US, next to the Rio Grande and the border with Mexico
Els, Ernie /els/ (1969-) a South African GOLFER who has won many of GOLF's most important competitions, including the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002. He is sometimes referred to in the newspapers and on television as 'The Big Easy'.
El Sal·va·dor /el ˈsælvədɔːr/ *a* country in central America, between Guatemala and Honduras, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Population: 6,470,379 (2003). Capital: San Salvador. People from El Salvador are called Salvadoreans.
else /els/ *adv* **1** (after question words and some PRO NOUNS) **a)** besides; also: *I've said I'm sorry. What else* (=what more) *can I say?* | *Who else* (=which other person or people) *did you see?* | *Does anyone else want to look at this book?* | *I don't know the answer. You'll have to ask someone else.* **b)** apart from that; otherwise; instead: *Everyone else but me* (=every other person) *has gone to the party.* | *It's not in the cupboard. Where else could it be?* | *She was wearing someone else's coat.* (=not her own) **2** **or else** **a)** or otherwise; or if not: *You must pay £100 or else go to prison.* | *The book must be here, or else you've lost it.* **b)** (used for expressing a threat): *Do what I tell you - or else!*
else·where /elsˈweər, ˈelsweər||ˈelsweər/ *adv* at, in, from, or to another place: *tourists from France, Italy, and elsewhere* | *They were dissatisfied with this supplier, and decided to take their business elsewhere.* (=to buy from some where else)
Els·tree /ˈelstri/ also **Elstree Studios** *a* British film STUDIO (=place where films are made) in north London that was especially important between the 1920s and the 1980s ➔ see also PINEWOOD
ELT /ˌiː el ˈtiː/ *n* [U] especially *BrE* abbrev. for English Language Teaching; the teaching of the English language to people whose first language is not English
El·ton, Ben /ˈeltən/ (1962-) a British COMEDIAN and writer, known for talking very fast and for being one of the inventors of ALTERNATIVE COMEDY in the 1980s, a style of comedy that avoids SEXIST and RACIST jokes, and is very political. He has also written NOVELS, plays, and humorous