supplement
supplement: n. & v. --n.
1 a thing or part added to remedy deficiencies (dietary supplement).
2 a part added to a book etc. to provide further information.
3 a separate section, esp. a colour magazine, added to a newspaper or periodical.
4 Geom. the amount by which an angle is less than 180Û (cf. COMPLEMENT). --v.tr. provide a supplement for. øøsupplemental adj. supplementally adv. supplementation n. [ME f. L supplementum (as SUB-, plere fill)]

system
system: n.
1 a complex whole; a set of connected things or parts; an organized body of material or immaterial things.
2 a set of devices (e.g. pulleys) functioning together.
3 Physiol. a a set of organs in the body with a common structure or function (the digestive system). b the human or animal body as a whole.
4 a method; considered principles of procedure or classification. b classification.
5 orderliness.
6 a a body of theory or practice relating to or prescribing a particular form of government, religion, etc. b (prec. by the) the prevailing political or social order, esp. regarded as oppressive and intransigent.
7 a method of choosing one's procedure in gambling etc.
8 Computing a group of related hardware units or programs or both, esp. when dedicated to a single application.
9 one of seven general types of crystal structure. 10 a major group of geological strata (the Devonian system). 11 Physics a group of associated bodies moving under mutual gravitation etc. 12 Mus. the braced staves of a score. øget a thing out of one's system colloq. be rid of a preoccupation or anxiety. systems analysis the analysis of a complex process or operation in order to improve its efficiency, esp. by applying a computer system. øøsystemless adj. [F systëme or LL systema f. Gk sustema -atos (as SYN-, histemi set up)]

servant
servant: n.
1 a person who has undertaken (usu. in return for stipulated pay) to carry out the orders of an individual or corporate employer, esp. a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant.
2 a devoted follower, a person willing to serve another (a servant of Jesus Christ). øyour humble servant Brit. archaic a formula preceding a signature or expressing ironical courtesy. your obedient servant Brit. a formula preceding a signature, now used only in certain formal letters. [ME f. OF (as SERVE)]

surplus
surplus: n. & adj. --n.
1 an amount left over when requirements have been met.
2 a an excess of revenue over expenditure in a given period, esp. a financial year (opp. DEFICIT). b the excess value of a company's assets over the face value of its stock. --adj. exceeding what is needed or used. øsurplus value Econ. the difference between the value of work done and wages paid. [ME f. AF surplus, OF s(o)urplus f. med.L superplus (as SUPER-, + plus more)]

seen
seen: past part. of SEE(1).

sample
sample: n. & v. --n.
1 a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
2 a small amount of fabric, food, or other commodity, esp. given to a prospective customer.
3 a specimen, esp. one taken for scientific testing or analysis.
4 an illustrative or typical example. --v.tr.
1 take or give samples of.
2 try the qualities of.
3 get a representative experience of. øsample bag Austral. an (orig. free) bag of advertisers' samples. [ME f. AF assample, OF essample EXAMPLE]

sterling
sterling: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or in British money (pound sterling).
2 (of a coin or precious metal) genuine; of standard value or purity.
3 (of a person or qualities etc.) of solid worth; genuine, reliable (sterling work). --n. British money (paid in sterling). østerling area a group of countries with currencies tied to British sterling and holding reserves mainly in sterling. sterling silver silver of 92Ì% purity. øøsterlingness n. [prob. f. late OE steorling (unrecorded) f. steorra star + -LING(1) (because some early Norman pennies bore a small star): recorded earlier in OF esterlin]

sailcloth
sailcloth: n.
1 canvas for sails.
2 a canvas-like dress material.

slavery
slavery: n.
1 the condition of a slave.
2 exhausting labour; drudgery.
3 the custom of having slaves.

status
status: n.
1 rank, social position, relation to others, relative importance (not sure of their status in the hierarchy).
2 a superior social etc. position (considering your status in the business).
3 Law a person's legal standing which determines his or her rights and duties, e.g. citizen, alien, commoner, civilian, etc.
4 the position of affairs (let me know if the status changes). østatus symbol a possession etc. taken to indicate a person's high status. [L, = standing f. stare stand]

situation
situation: n.
1 a place and its surroundings (the house stands in a fine situation).
2 a set of circumstances; a position in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs (came out of a difficult situation with credit).
3 an employee's position or job.
4 a critical point or complication in a drama. øsituation comedy a comedy in which the humour derives from the situations the characters are placed in. situations vacant (or wanted) headings of lists of employment offered and sought. øøsituational adj. [ME f. F situation or med.L situatio (as SITUATE)]

spavin
spavin: n. Vet. a disease of a horse's hock with a hard bony tumour or excrescence. øblood (or bog) spavin a distension of the joint by effusion of lymph or fluid. bone spavin a deposit of bony substance uniting the bones. øøspavined adj. [ME f. OF espavin, var. of esparvain f. Gmc]

smocking
smocking: n. an ornamental effect on cloth made by gathering the material tightly into pleats, often with stitches in a honeycomb pattern.

southern
southern: adj. esp. Geog.
1 of or in the south; inhabiting the south.
2 lying or directed towards the south (at the southern end). øSouthern Cross a southern constellation in the shape of a cross. Southern hemisphere the half of the earth below the equator. southern lights the aurora australis. Southern States the States in the south, esp. the south-east, of the US. øøsouthernmost adj. [OE sutherne (as SOUTH, -ERN)]

shopping
shopping: n.
1 (often attrib.) the purchase of goods etc. (shopping expedition).
2 goods purchased (put the shopping on the table). øshopping centre an area or complex of shops, with associated facilities.

series
series: n. (pl. same.
1 a number of things of which each is similar to the preceding or in which each successive pair are similarly related; a sequence, succession, order, row, or set.
2 a set of successive games between the same teams.
3 a set of programmes with the same actors etc. or on related subjects but each complete in itself.
4 a set of lectures by the same speaker or on the same subject.
5 a a set of successive issues of a periodical, of articles on one subject or by one writer, etc., esp. when numbered separately from a preceding or following set (second series). b a set of independent books in a common format or under a common title or supervised by a common general editor.
6 Philately a set of stamps, coins, etc., of different denominations but issued at one time, in one reign, etc.
7 Geol. a a set of strata with a common characteristic. b the rocks deposited during a specific epoch.
8 Mus. an arrangement of the twelve notes of the chromatic scale as a basis for serial music.
9 Electr. a a set of circuits or components arranged so that the current passes through each successively. b a set of batteries etc. having the positive electrode of each connected with the negative electrode of the next. 10 Chem. a set of elements with common properties or of compounds related in composition or structure. 11 Math. a set of quantities constituting a progression or having the several values determined by a common relation. øarithmetical (or geometrical) series a series in arithmetical (or geometrical) progression. in serie.
1 in ordered succession.
2 Electr. (of a set of circuits or components) arranged so that the current passes through each successively. [L, = row, chain f. serere join, connect]

summary
summary: n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) a brief account; an abridgement. --adj.
1 dispensing with needless details or formalities; brief (a summary account).
2 Law (of a trial etc.) without the customary legal formalities (summary justice). øsummary conviction a conviction made by a judge or magistrates without a jury. summary jurisdiction the authority of a court to use summary proceedings and arrive at a judgement. summary offence an offence within the scope of a summary court. øøsummarily adv. summariness n. [ME f. L summarium f. L summa SUM]

saccule
saccule: n. a small sac or cyst. øøsaccular adj. [L sacculus (as SAC)]

squintystatics
statics: n.pl. (usu. treated as sing..
1 the science of bodies at rest or of forces in equilibrium (opp. DYNAMICS).
2 = STATIC. [STATIC n. in the same senses + -ICS]

streamer
streamer: n.
1 a long narrow flag.
2 a long narrow strip of ribbon or paper, esp. in a coil that unrolls when thrown.
3 a banner headline.
4 (in pl.) the aurora borealis or australis.

should
should: v.aux. (3rd sing. should) past of SHALL, used esp..
1 in reported speech, esp. with the reported element in the 1st person (I said I should be home by evening). ° Cf. WILL(1), WOULD, now more common in this sense, esp. to avoid implications of sense 2.
2 a to express a duty, obligation, or likelihood; = OUGHT(1) (I should tell you; you should have been more careful; they should have arrived by now). b (in the 1st person) to express a tentative suggestion (I should like to say something).
3 a expressing the conditional mood in the 1st person (cf. WOULD) (I should have been killed if I had gone). b forming a conditional protasis or indefinite clause (if you should see him; should they arrivetell them where to go).
4 expressing purpose = MAY, MIGHT(1) (in order that we should not worry).

showdown
showdown: n.
1 a final test or confrontation; a decisive situation.
2 the laying down face up of the players' cards in poker.

serious
serious: adj.
1 thoughtful, earnest, sober, sedate, responsible, not reckless or given to trifling (has a serious air; a serious young person).
2 important, demanding consideration (this is a serious matter).
3 not slight or negligible (a serious injury; a serious offence).
4 sincere, in earnest, not ironical or joking (are you serious?).
5 (of music and literature) not merely for amusement (opp. LIGHT(2) 5a).
6 not perfunctory (serious thought).
7 not to be trifled with (a serious opponent).
8 concerned with religion or ethics (serious subjects). øøseriousness n. [ME f. OF serieux or LL seriosus f. L serius]

spider
spider: n. & v. --n.
1 a any eight-legged arthropod of the order Araneae with a round unsegmented body, many of which spin webs for the capture of insects as food. b any of various similar or related arachnids, e.g. a red spider.
2 any object comparable to a spider, esp. as having numerous or prominent legs or radiating spokes.
3 Brit. a radiating series of elastic ties used to hold a load in place on a vehicle etc. --v.intr.
1 move in a scuttling manner suggestive of a spider (fingers spidered across the map).
2 cause to move or appear in this way.
3 (as spidering adj.) spiderlike in form, manner, or movement (spidering streets). øspider crab any of various crabs of the family Majidae with a pear-shaped body and long thin legs. spider monkey any S. American monkey of the genus Ateles, with long limbs and a prehensile tail. spider plant any of various house plants with long narrow striped leaves. øøspiderish adj. [OE spithra (as SPIN)]

sequoia
sequoia: n. a Californian evergreen coniferous tree, Sequoia sempervirens, of very great height. [mod.L genus-name, f. Sequoiah, the name of a Cherokee]

small
small: adj., n., & adv. --adj.
1 not large or big.
2 slender; thin.
3 not great in importance, amount, number, strength, or power.
4 not much; trifling (a small token; paid small attention).
5 insignificant; unimportant (a small matter; from small beginnings).
6 consisting of small particles (small gravel; small shot).
7 doing something on a small scale (a small farmer).
8 socially undistinguished; poor or humble.
9 petty; mean; ungenerous; paltry (a small spiteful nature). 10 young; not fully grown or developed (a small child). --n.
1 the slenderest part of something (esp. small of the back).
2 (in pl.) Brit. colloq. small items of laundry, esp. underwear. --adv. into small pieces (chop it small). øfeel (or look) small be humiliated; appear mean or humiliated. in a small way unambitiously; on a small scale. no small considerable; a good deal of (no small excitement about it). small arms portable firearms, esp. rifles, pistols, light machine-guns, sub-machine-guns, etc. small bee.
1 a trifling matter; something unimportant.
2 weak beer. small-bore (of a firearm) with a narrow bore, in international and Olympic shooting usu. .22 inch calibre (5.6 millimetre bore). small capital a capital letter which is of the same dimensions as the lower-case letters in the same typeface minus ascenders and descenders, as THIS. small chang.
1 money in the form of coins as opposed to notes.
2 trivial remarks. small circle see CIRCLE . small claims court Brit. a local tribunal in which claims for small amounts can be heard and decided quickly and cheaply without legal representation. small craft a general term for small boats and fishing vessels. small fr.
1 young children or the young of various species.
2 small or insignificant things or people. small hours the early hours of the morning after midnight. small intestine see INTESTINE . small letter (in printed material) a lower-case letter. small mercy a minor concession, benefit, etc. (be grateful for small mercies). small potatoes an insignificant person or thing. small prin.
1 printed matter in small type.
2 inconspicuous and usu. unfavourable limitations etc. in a contract. small profits and quick returns the policy of a cheap shop etc. relying on large trade. small-scale made or occurring in small amounts or to a lesser degree. small slam see SLAM(2) ). small-sword a light tapering thrusting-sword, esp. hist. for duelling. small talk light social conversation. small-time colloq. unimportant or petty. small-timer colloq. a small-time operator; an insignificant person. small-town relating to or characteristic of a small town; unsophisticated; provincial. small wonder not very surprising. øøsmallish adj. smallness n. [OE smól f. Gmc]

semblance
semblance: n.
1 the outward or superficial appearance of something (put on a semblance of anger).
2 resemblance. [ME f. OF f. sembler f. L similare, simulare SIMULATE]

station
station: n. & v. --n.
1 a a regular stopping place on a railway line, with a platform and usu. administrative buildings. b these buildings (see also bus stationcoach station).
2 a place or building etc. where a person or thing stands or is placed, esp. habitually or for a definite purpose.
3 a a designated point or establishment where a particular service or activity is based or organized (police station; polling station). b US a subsidiary post office.
4 an establishment involved in radio or television broadcasting.
5 a a military or naval base esp. hist. in India. b the inhabitants of this.
6 position in life; rank or status (ideas above your station).
7 Austral. & NZ a large sheep or cattle farm.
8 Bot. a particular place where an unusual species etc. grows. --v.tr.
1 assign a station to.
2 put in position. østation-bill Naut. a list showing the prescribed stations of a ship's crew for various drills or in an emergency. station break US a pause between broadcast programmes for an announcement of the identity of the station transmitting them. station hand Austral. a worker on a large sheep or cattle farm. station house US a police station. station-keeping the maintenance of one's proper relative position in a moving body of ships etc. station of the cross RC Ch. a each of a series of usu. 14 images or pictures representing the events in Christ's passion before which devotions are performed in some churches. b each of these devotions. station pointer Naut. a ship's navigational instrument, often a three-armed protractor, for fixing one's place on a chart from the angle in the horizontal plane between two land- or sea-marks. station sergeant Brit. the sergeant in charge of a police station. station-wagon an estate car. [ME, = standing, f. OF f. L statio -onis f. stare stand]

square
square: n., adj., adv., & v. --n.
1 an equilateral rectangle.
2 a an object of this shape or approximately this shape. b a small square area on a game-board. c a square scarf. d an academic cap with a stiff square top; a mortarboard.
3 a an open (usu. four-sided) area surrounded by buildings, esp. one planted with trees etc. and surrounded by houses. b an open area at the meeting of streets. c Cricket a closer-cut area at the centre of a ground, any strip of which may be prepared as a wicket. d an area within barracks etc. for drill. e US a block of buildings bounded by four streets.
4 the product of a number multiplied by itself (81 is the square of 9).
5 an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument for obtaining or testing right angles.
6 sl. a conventional or old-fashioned person, one ignorant of or opposed to current trends.
7 a square arrangement of letters, figures, etc.
8 a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.
9 a unit of 100 sq. ft. as a measure of flooring etc. 10 US a square meal (three squares a day). --adj.
1 having the shape of a square.
2 having or in the form of a right angle (table with square corners).
3 angular and not round; of square section (has a square jaw).
4 designating a unit of measure equal to the area of a square whose side is one of the unit specified (square metre).
5 (often foll. by with) a level, parallel. b on a proper footing; even, quits.
6 a (usu. foll. by to) at right angles. b Cricket on a line through the stumps at right angles to the wicket.
7 having the breadth more nearly equal to the length or height than is usual (a man of square frame).
8 properly arranged; in good order, settled (get things square).
9 (also all square) a not in debt, with no money owed. b having equal scores, esp. Golf having won the same number of holes as one's opponent. c (of scores) equal. 10 fair and honest (his dealings are not always quite square). 11 uncompromising, direct, thorough (was met with a square refusal). 12 sl. conventional or old-fashioned, unsophisticated, conservative (cf. sens.
6 of n.). 13 Mus. (of rhythm) simple, straightforward. --adv.
1 squarely (sat square on his seat).
2 fairly, honestly (play square). --v.
1 tr. make square or rectangular, give a rectangular cross-section to (timber etc.).
2 tr. multiply (a number) by itself (3 squared is 9).
3 tr. & intr. (usu. foll. by to, with) adjust; make or be suitable or consistent; reconcile (the results do not square with your conclusions).
4 tr. mark out in squares.
5 tr. settle or pay (a bill etc.).
6 tr. place (one's shoulders etc.) squarely facing forwards.
7 tr. colloq. a pay or bribe. b secure the acquiescence etc. of (a person) in this way.
8 tr. (also absol.) make the scores of (a match etc.) all square.
9 intr. assume the attitude of a boxer. 10 tr. Naut. a lay (yards) at right angles with the keel making them at the same time horizontal. b get (dead-eyes) horizontal. c get (ratlines) horizontal and parallel to one another. øback to square one colloq. back to the starting-point with no progress made. get square with pay or compound with (a creditor). on the square adj.
1 colloq. honest, fair.
2 having membership of the Freemasons. --adv. colloq. honestly, fairly (can be trusted to act on the square). out of square not at right angles. perfect square = square number. square accounts with see ACCOUNT . square away US tidy up. square-bashing Brit. Mil. sl. drill on a barrack-square. square brackets brackets of the form []. square-built of comparatively broad shape. square the circl.
1 construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution).
2 do what is impossible. square dance a dance with usu. four couples facing inwards from four sides. square deal a fair bargain, fair treatment. squared paper paper marked out in squares, esp. for plotting graphs. square-eyed joc. affected by or given to excessive viewing of television. square leg Cricke.
1 the fielding position at some distance on the batsman's leg side and nearly opposite the stumps.
2 a fielder in this position. square meal a substantial and satisfying meal. square measure measure expressed in square units. square number the square of an integer e.g. 1, 4, 9, 16. square of.
1 US assume the attitude of a boxer.
2 Austral. placate or conciliate.
3 mark out in squares. square peg in a round hole see PEG . square piano an early type of piano, small and oblong in shape. square-rigged with the principal sails at right angles to the length of the ship and extended by horizontal yards slung to the mast by the middle (opp. fore-and-aft rigged). square root the number that multiplied by itself gives a specified number (3 is the square root of 9). square sail a four-cornered sail extended on a yard slung to the mast by the middle. square-shouldered with broad and not sloping shoulders (cf. round-shouldered). square-toe.
1 (of shoes or boots) having square toes.
2 wearing such shoes or boots.
3 formal, prim. square up settle an account etc. square up t.
1 move towards (a person) in a fighting attitude.
2 face and tackle (a difficulty etc.) resolutely. square wave Physics a wave with periodic sudden alternations between only two values of quantity. øøsquarely adv. squareness n. squarer n. squarish adj. [ME f. OF esquare, esquarr÷, esquarrer, ult. f. EX-(1) + L quadra square]

seat
seat: n. & v. --n.
1 a thing made or used for sitting on; a chair, stool, saddle, etc.
2 the buttocks.
3 the part of the trousers etc. covering the buttocks.
4 the part of a chair etc. on which the sitter's weight directly rests.
5 a place for one person in a theatre, vehicle, etc.
6 the occupation of a seat.
7 esp. Brit. a the right to occupy a seat, esp. as a Member of the House of Commons. b a member's constituency.
8 the part of a machine that supports or guides another part.
9 a site or location of something specified (a seat of learning; the seat of the emotions). 10 a country mansion, esp. with large grounds. 11 the manner of sitting on a horse etc. --v.tr.
1 cause to sit.
2 a provide sitting accommodation for (the cinema seats 500). b provide with seats.
3 (as seated adj.) sitting.
4 put or fit in position. øbe seated sit down. by the seat of one's pants colloq. by instinct rather than logic or knowledge. seat-belt a belt securing a person in the seat of a car or aircraft. take a (or one's) seat sit down. øøseatless adj. [ME f. ON sóti (= OE gesete f. Gmc)]

standing
standing: n. & adj. --n.
1 esteem or repute, esp. high; status, position (people of high standing; is of no standing).
2 duration (a dispute of long standing).
3 length of service, membership, etc. --adj.
1 that stands, upright.
2 a established, permanent (a standing rule). b not made, raised, etc., for the occasion (a standing army).
3 (of a jump, start, race, etc.) performed from rest or from a standing position.
4 (of water) stagnant.
5 (of corn) unreaped.
6 (of a stallion) that stands at stud.
7 Printing (formerly, of type) not yet distributed after use. øall standin.
1 Naut. without time to lower the sails.
2 taken by surprise. in good standing fully paid-up as a member etc. leave a person standing make far more rapid progress than he or she. standing committee see COMMITTEE . standing joke an object of permanent ridicule. standing order an instruction to a banker to make regular payments, or to a newsagent etc. for a regular supply of a periodical etc. standing orders the rules governing the manner in which all business shall be conducted in a parliament, council, society, etc. standing ovation a rousing ovation conferred by an audience risen from their seats. standing rigging rigging which is fixed in position. standing-room space to stand in. standing wave Physics the vibration of a system in which some particular points remain fixed while others between them vibrate with the maximum amplitude (cf. travelling wave).

subordinate
subordinate: adj., n., & v. --adj. (usu. foll. by to) of inferior importance or rank; secondary, subservient. --n. a person working under another's control or orders. --v.tr. (usu. foll. by to.
1 make subordinate; treat or regard as of minor importance.
2 make subservient. øsubordinate clause a clause serving as an adjective, adverb, or noun in a main sentence because of its position or a preceding conjunction. øøsubordinately adv. subordination n. subordinative adj. [med.L subordinare, subordinat- (as SUB-, L ordinare ordain)]

scholarship
scholarship: n.
1 a academic achievement; learning of a high level. b the methods and standards characteristic of a good scholar (shows great scholarship).
2 payment from the funds of a school, university, local government, etc., to maintain a student in full-time education, awarded on the basis of scholarly achievement.

shingles
shingles: n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) an acute painful viral inflammation of the nerve ganglia, with a skin eruption often forming a girdle around the middle of the body. [ME f. med.L cingulus f. L cingulum girdle f. cingere gird]

slippy
slippy: adj. (slippier, slippiest) colloq. slippery. ølook (or be) slippy Brit. look sharp; make haste. øøslippiness n.

slogan
slogan: n.
1 a short catchy phrase used in advertising etc.
2 a party cry; a watchword or motto.
3 hist. a Scottish Highland war-cry. [Gael. sluagh-ghairm f. sluagh army + gairm shout]

suite
suite: n.
1 a set of things belonging together, esp.: a a set of rooms in a hotel etc. b a sofa, armchairs, etc., of the same design.
2 Mus. a a set of instrumental compositions, orig. in dance style, to be played in succession. b a set of selected pieces from an opera, musical, etc., arranged to be played as one instrumental work.
3 a set of people in attendance; a retinue. [F (as SUIT)]

seabed
seabed: n. the ground under the sea; the ocean floor.

solution
solution: n.
1 the act or a means of solving a problem or difficulty.
2 a the conversion of a solid or gas into a liquid by mixture with a liquid solvent. b the state resulting from this (held in solution).
3 the act of dissolving or the state of being dissolved.
4 the act of separating or breaking.
5 = rubber solution (see RUBBER(1) )). øsolution set Math. the set of all the solutions of an equation or condition. [ME f. OF f. L solutio -onis (as SOLVE)]

spaniel
spaniel: n.
1 a a dog of any of various breeds with a long silky coat and drooping ears. b any of these breeds.
2 an obsequious or fawning person. [ME f. OF espaigneul Spanish (dog) f. Rmc Hispaniolus (unrecorded) f. Hispania Spain]

stationary
stationary: adj.
1 remaining in one place, not moving (hit a stationary car).
2 not meant to be moved; not portable (stationary troops; stationary engine).
3 not changing in magnitude, number, quality, efficiency, etc. (stationary temperature).
4 (of a planet) having no apparent motion in longitude. østationary air air remaining in the lungs during ordinary respiration. stationary bicycle a fixed exercise-machine resembling a bicycle. stationary point Math. a point on a curve where the gradient is zero. stationary wave = standing wave. øøstationariness n. [ME f. L stationarius (as STATION)]

spread
spread: v. & n. --v. (past and past part. spread.
1 tr. (often foll. by out) a open or extend the surface of. b cause to cover a larger surface (spread butter on bread). c display to the eye or the mind (the view was spread out before us).
2 intr. (often foll. by out) have a wide or specified or increasing extent (on every side spread a vast desert; spreading trees).
3 intr. & tr. become or make widely known, felt, etc. (rumours are spreading; spread a little happiness).
4 tr. a cover the surface of (spread the wall with paint; a meadow spread with daisies). b lay (a table). --n.
1 the act or an instance of spreading.
2 capability of expanding (has a large spread).
3 diffusion (spread of learning).
4 breadth, compass (arches of equal spread).
5 an aircraft's wing-span.
6 increased bodily girth (middle-aged spread).
7 the difference between two rates, prices, etc.
8 colloq. an elaborate meal.
9 a sweet or savoury paste for spreading on bread etc. 10 a bedspread. 11 printed matter spread across two facing pages or across more than one column. 12 US a ranch with extensive land. øspread eagl.
1 a representation of an eagle with legs and wings extended as an emblem.
2 hist. a person secured with arms and legs spread out, esp. to be flogged. spread-eagle v.tr. (usu. as spread-eagled adj..
1 place (a person) in this position.
2 defeat utterly.
3 spread out. --adj. US bombastic, esp. noisily patriotic. spread oneself be lavish or discursive. spread one's wings see WING . øøspreadable adj. spreader n. [OE -spródan f. WG]

superiority
superiority: n. the state of being superior. øsuperiority complex Psychol. an undue conviction of one's own superiority to others.

surroundingsociety
society: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the sum of human conditions and activity regarded as a whole functioning interdependently.
2 a social community (all societies must have firm laws).
3 a a social mode of life. b the customs and organization of an ordered community.
4 Ecol. a plant community.
5 a the socially advantaged or prominent members of a community (society would not approve). b this, or a part of it, qualified in some way (is not done in polite society).
6 participation in hospitality; other people's homes or company (avoids society).
7 companionship, company (avoids the society of such people).
8 an association of persons united by a common aim or interest or principle (formed a music society). øSociety of Friends see QUAKER . Society of Jesus see JESUIT . øøsocietal adj. (esp. in sense 1). societally adv. [F soci÷t÷ f. L societas -tatis f. socius companion]

script
script: n. & v. --n.
1 handwriting as distinct from print; written characters.
2 type imitating handwriting.
3 an alphabet or system of writing (the Russian script).
4 the text of a play, film, or broadcast.
5 an examinee's set of written answers.
6 Law an original document as distinct from a copy. --v.tr. write a script for (a film etc.). [ME, = thing written, f. OF escri(p)t f. L scriptum, neut. past part. of scribere write]

shrink
shrink: v. & n. --v. (past shrank; past part. shrunk or (esp. as adj.) shrunken.
1 tr. & intr. make or become smaller; contract, esp. by the action of moisture, heat, or cold.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by from) a retire; recoil; flinch; cower (shrank from her touch). b be averse from doing (shrinks from meeting them).
3 (as shrunken adj.) (esp. of a face, person, etc.) having grown smaller esp. because of age, illness, etc. --n.
1 the act or an instance of shrinking; shrinkage.
2 sl. a psychiatrist (from 'head-shrinker'). øshrinking violet an exaggeratedly shy person. shrink into oneself become withdrawn. shrink on slip (a metal tyre etc.) on while expanded with heat and allow to tighten. shrink-resistant (of textiles etc.) resistant to shrinkage when wet etc. shrink-wrap (-wrapped, -wrapping) enclose (an article) in (esp. transparent) film that shrinks tightly on to it. øøshrinkable adj. shrinker n. shrinkingly adv. shrink-proof adj. [OE scrincan: cf. skrynka to wrinkle]

steady
steady: adj., v., adv., int., & n. --adj. (steadier, steadiest.
1 firmly fixed or supported or standing or balanced; not tottering, rocking, or wavering.
2 done or operating or happening in a uniform and regular manner (a steady pace; a steady increase).
3 a constant in mind or conduct; not changeable. b persistent.
4 (of a person) serious and dependable in behaviour; of industrious and temperate habits; safe; cautious.
5 regular, established (a steady girlfriend).
6 accurately directed; not faltering (a steady hand; a steady eye).
7 (of a ship) on course and upright. --v.tr. & intr. (-ies, -ied) make or become steady (steady the boat). --adv. steadily (hold it steady). --int. as a command or warning to take care. --n. (pl. -ies) colloq. a regular boyfriend or girlfriend. øgo steady (often foll. by with) colloq. have as a regular boyfriend or girlfriend. steady down become steady. steady-going staid; sober. steady on! a call to take care. steady state an unvarying condition, esp. in a physical process, e.g. of the universe having no beginning and no end. øøsteadier n. steadily adv. steadiness n. [STEAD = place, + -Y(1)]

strength
strength: n.
1 the state of being strong; the degree or respect in which a person or thing is strong.
2 a a person or thing affording strength or support. b an attribute making for strength of character (patience is your great strength).
3 the number of persons present or available.
4 a full complement (below strength). øfrom strength from a strong position. from strength to strength with ever-increasing success. in strength in large numbers. on the strength of relying on; on the basis of. the strength of the essence or main features of. øøstrengthless adj. [OE strengthu f. Gmc (as STRONG)]

shelves
shelves: pl. of SHELF.

secret
secret: adj. & n. --adj.
1 kept or meant to be kept private, unknown, or hidden from all or all but a few.
2 acting or operating secretly.
3 fond of, prone to, or able to preserve secrecy.
4 (of a place) hidden, completely secluded. --n.
1 a thing kept or meant to be kept secret.
2 a thing known only to a few.
3 a mystery.
4 a valid but not commonly known or recognized method of achieving or maintaining something (what's their secret?; correct breathing is the secret of good health).
5 RC Ch. a prayer concluding the offertory of the mass. øin secret secretly. in (or in on) the secret among the number of those who know it. keep a secret not reveal it. secret agent a spy acting for a country. secret ballot a ballot in which votes are cast in secret. secret police a police force operating in secret for political purposes. secret service a government department concerned with espionage. secret society a society whose members are sworn to secrecy about it. øøsecretly adv. [ME f. OF f. L secretus (adj.) separate, set apart f. secernere secret- (as SE-, cernere sift)]

shellysurgery
surgery: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the branch of medicine concerned with treatment of injuries or disorders of the body by incision, manipulation or alteration of organs etc., with the hands or with instruments.
2 Brit. a a place where a doctor, dentist, etc., treats patients. b the occasion of this (the doctor will see you after surgery).
3 Brit. a a place where an MP, lawyer, or other professional person gives advice. b the occasion of this. [ME f. OF surgerie f. L chirurgia f. Gk kheirourgia handiwork, surgery f. kheir hand + erg- work]

simulationsequencerstockpilersmoke
smoke: n. & v. --n.
1 a visible suspension of carbon etc. in air, emitted from a burning substance.
2 an act or period of smoking tobacco (had a quiet smoke).
3 colloq. a cigarette or cigar (got a smoke?).
4 (the Smoke) Brit. & Austral. colloq. a big city, esp. London. --v.
1 intr. a emit smoke or visible vapour (smoking ruins). b (of a lamp etc.) burn badly with the emission of smoke. c (of a chimney or fire) discharge smoke into the room.
2 a intr. inhale and exhale the smoke of a cigarette or cigar or pipe. b intr. do this habitually. c tr. use (a cigarette etc.) in this way.
3 tr. darken or preserve by the action of smoke (smoked salmon).
4 tr. spoil the taste of in cooking.
5 tr. a rid of insects etc. by the action of smoke. b subdue (insects, esp. bees) in this way.
6 tr. archaic make fun of.
7 tr. bring (oneself) into a specified state by smoking. øgo up in smoke colloq.
1 be destroyed by fire.
2 (of a plan etc.) come to nothing. no smoke without fire rumours are not entirely baseless. smoke-bal.
1 a puff-ball.
2 a projectile filled with material emitting dense smoke, used to conceal military operations etc. smoke bomb a bomb that emits dense smoke on exploding. smoke-bush = smoke-plant. smoked glass glass darkened with smoke. smoke-dried cured in smoke. smoke-ho Austral. & NZ colloq. = SMOKO. smoke ou.
1 drive out by means of smoke.
2 drive out of hiding or secrecy etc. smoke-plant (or -tree) any ornamental shrub of the genus Cotinus, with feathery smokelike fruit-stalks. smoke-ring smoke from a cigarette etc. exhaled in the shape of a ring. smoke-room Brit. = SMOKING-ROOM. smoke-stone cairngorm. smoke-tunnel a form of wind-tunnel using smoke filaments to show the motion of air. øøsmokable adj. (also smokeable). [OE smoca f. weak grade of the stem of smeocan emit smoke]

seasoning
seasoning: n. condiments added to food.

since
since: prep., conj., & adv. --prep. throughout, or at a point in, the period between (a specified time, event, etc.) and the time present or being considered (must have happened since yesterday; has been going on since June; the greatest composer since Beethoven). --conj.
1 during or in the time after (what have you been doing since we met?; has not spoken since the dog died).
2 for the reason that, because; inasmuch as (since you are drunk I will drive you home).
3 (ellipt.) as being (a more useful, since better designed, tool). --adv.
1 from that time or event until now or the time being considered (have not seen them since; had been healthy ever since; has since been cut down).
2 ago (happened many years since). [ME, reduced form of obs. sithence or f. dial. sin (f. sithen) f. OE siththon]

supposedly
supposedly: adv. as is generally supposed.

surrealism
surrealism: n. a 20th-c. movement in art and literature aiming at expressing the subconscious mind, e.g. by the irrational juxtaposition of images. øøsurrealist n. & adj. surrealistic adj. surrealistically adv. [F surr÷alisme (as SUR-(1), REALISM)]

salvagersympathy
sympathy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a the state of being simultaneously affected with the same feeling as another. b the capacity for this.
2 (often foll. by with) a the act of sharing or tendency to share (with a person etc.) in an emotion or sensation or condition of another person or thing. b (in sing. or pl.) compassion or commiseration; condolences.
3 (often foll. by for) a favourable attitude; approval.
4 (in sing. or pl.; often foll. by with) agreement (with a person etc.) in opinion or desire.
5 (attrib.) in support of another cause (sympathy strike). øin sympathy (often foll. by with.
1 having or showing or resulting from sympathy (with another).
2 by way of sympathetic action (working to rule in sympathy). [L sympathia f. Gk sumpatheia (as SYN-, pathes f. pathos feeling)]

spontaneous
spontaneous: adj.
1 acting or done or occurring without external cause.
2 voluntary, without external incitement (made a spontaneous offer of his services).
3 Biol. (of structural changes in plants and muscular activity esp. in young animals) instinctive, automatic, prompted by no motive.
4 (of bodily movement, literary style, etc.) gracefully natural and unconstrained.
5 (of sudden movement etc.) involuntary, not due to conscious volition.
6 growing naturally without cultivation. øspontaneous combustion the ignition of a mineral or vegetable substance (e.g. a heap of rags soaked with oil, a mass of wet coal) from heat engendered within itself, usu. by rapid oxidation. spontaneous generation the supposed production of living from non-living matter as inferred from the appearance of life (due in fact to bacteria etc.) in some infusions; abiogenesis. spontaneous suggestion suggestion from association of ideas without conscious volition. øøspontaneity n. spontaneously adv. spontaneousness n. [LL spontaneus f. sponte of one's own accord]

sport
sport: n. & v. --n.
1 a a game or competitive activity, esp. an outdoor one involving physical exertion, e.g. cricket, football, racing, hunting. b such activities collectively (the world of sport).
2 (in pl.) Brit. a a meeting for competing in sports, esp. athletics (school sports). b athletics.
3 amusement, diversion, fun.
4 colloq. a a fair or generous person. b a person behaving in a specified way, esp. regarding games, rules, etc. (a bad sport at tennis). c Austral. a form of address, esp. between males. d US a playboy.
5 Biol. an animal or plant deviating suddenly or strikingly from the normal type.
6 a plaything or butt (was the sport of Fortune). --v.
1 intr. divert oneself, take part in a pastime.
2 tr. wear, exhibit, or produce, esp. ostentatiously (sported a gold tie-pin).
3 intr. Biol. become or produce a sport. øhave good sport be successful in shooting, fishing, etc. in sport jestingly. make sport of make fun of, ridicule. the sport of kings horse-racing (less often war, hunting, or surfing). sports car an open, low-built fast car. sports coat (or jacket) a man's jacket for informal wear. sports writer a person who writes (esp. as a journalist) on sports. øøsporter n. [ME f. DISPORT]

scaffold
scaffold: n. & v. --n.
1 a hist. a raised wooden platform used for the execution of criminals. b a similar platform used for drying tobacco etc.
2 = SCAFFOLDING.
3 (prec. by the) death by execution. --v.tr. attach scaffolding to (a building). øøscaffolder n. [ME f. AF f. OF (e)schaffaut, earlier escadafaut: cf. CATAFALQUE]

substitute
substitute: n. & v. --n.
1 a (also attrib.) a person or thing acting or serving in place of another. b an artificial alternative to a natural substance (butter substitute).
2 Sc. Law a deputy. --v.
1 intr. & tr. (often foll. by for) act or cause to act as a substitute; put or serve in exchange (substituted for her mother; substituted it for the broken one).
2 tr. (usu. foll. by by, with) colloq. replace (a person or thing) with another.
3 tr. Chem. replace (an atom or group in a molecule) with another. øøsubstitutable adj. substitutability n. substitution n. substitutional adj. substitutionary adj. substitutive adj. [ME f. L substitutus past part. of substituere (as SUB-, statuere set up)]

selector
selector: n.
1 a person who selects, esp. one who selects a representative team in a sport.
2 a device that selects, esp. a device in a vehicle that selects the required gear.

starting
starting: n. in senses of START v. østarting-block a shaped rigid block for bracing the feet of a runner at the start of a race. starting-gate a movable barrier for securing a fair start in horse-races. starting-handle Brit. Mech. a crank for starting a motor engine. starting pistol a pistol used to give the signal for the start of a race. starting-point the point from which a journey, process, argument, etc. begins. starting post the post from which competitors start in a race. starting price the odds ruling at the start of a horse-race. starting stall a compartment for one horse at the start of a race.

specialty
specialty: n. (pl. -ies.
1 esp. US = SPECIALITY.
2 Law an instrument under seal; a sealed contract. [ME f. OF (e)specialt÷ (as SPECIAL)]

seise
seise: var. of SEIZE 9.

showing
showing: n.
1 the act or an instance of showing.
2 a usu. specified quality of performance (made a poor showing).
3 the presentation of a case; evidence (on present showing it must be true). [OE sceawung (as SHOW)]

search
search: v. & n. --v.
1 tr. look through or go over thoroughly to find something.
2 tr. examine or feel over (a person) to find anything concealed.
3 tr. a probe or penetrate into. b examine or question (one's mind, conscience, etc.) thoroughly.
4 intr. (often foll. by for) make a search or investigation.
5 intr. (as searching adj.) (of an examination) thorough; leaving no loopholes.
6 tr. (foll. by out) look probingly for; seek out. --n.
1 an act of searching.
2 an investigation. øin search of trying to find. right of search a belligerent's right to stop a neutral vessel and search it for prohibited goods. search me! colloq. I do not know. search-party a group of people organized to look for a lost person or thing. search warrant an official authorization to enter and search a building. øøsearchable adj. searcher n. searchingly adv. [ME f. AF sercher, OF cerchier f. LL circare go round (as CIRCUS)]

suitable
suitable: adj. (usu. foll. by to, for) well fitted for the purpose; appropriate. øøsuitability n. suitableness n. suitably adv. [SUIT + -ABLE, after agreeable]