AWL4I 23rd Sept
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
ab nor mal
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BrE / æbˈnɔːml /
NAmE / æbˈnɔːrml /
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
different from what is usual or expected, especially in a way that is
worrying, harmful or not wanted
abnormal levels of sugar in the blood
They thought his behaviour was abnormal.
The ship was blown off course by abnormal weather conditions.
normal
ab nor mal ly / BrE æbˈnɔːməli ; NAmE æbˈnɔːrməli / adverb
abnormally high blood pressure
© Oxford University Press, 2010
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ab • stract adjective, noun, verb
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE ˈæbstrækt ; NAmE ˈæbstrækt /
1 based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation
abstract knowledge/principles
The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.
compare concrete adj. ( 2 )
2 existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical reality
We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.
3 ( of art ) not representing people or things in a realistic way, but expressing the artist's
ideas about them
the work of American abstract expressionists like Mark Rothko
compare figurative ( 2 ) , representational
ab • stract • ly / BrE ˈæbstræktli ; NAmE ˈæbstræktli / adverb
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE ˈæbstrækt ; NAmE ˈæbstrækt /
1 an abstract work of art
Kandinsky's first pure abstracts are marked by their wild colour.
2 a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document
summary
in the ˈabstract
in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation
Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases.
I'm just talking in the abstract now.
verb
VERB FORMS
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE æbˈstrækt ; NAmE æbˈstrækt /
1 ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from somewhere
She abstracted the main points from the argument.
a plan to abstract 8 million gallons of water from the river
2 ~ sth ( technical ) to make a written summary of a book, etc.
© Oxford University Press, 2010
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
ab strac tion
•
•
BrE / æbˈstrækʃn /
NAmE / æbˈstrækʃn /
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
1 [ countable , uncountable ] ( formal ) a general idea not based on any
particular real person, thing or situation; the quality of being abstract
2 [ uncountable ] ( formal ) the state of thinking deeply about sth and not
paying attention to what is around you
She was gazing in abstraction at the far corner of the room.
3 [ uncountable , countable ] ( technical ) the action of removing sth
from sth else; the process of being removed from sth else
water abstraction from rivers
© Oxford University Press, 2010
aca • dem • ic adjective, noun
BrE / ˌækəˈdemɪk /
NAmE / ˌækəˈdemɪk /
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
THESAURUS
EXAMPLE BANK
1 [ usually before noun ] connected with education, especially studying in
schools and universities
The students return in October for the start of the new academic year.
high/low academic standards
an academic career
The enrolment criteria are geographical rather than academic.
2 [ usually before noun ] involving a lot of reading and studying rather
than practical or technical skills
academic subjects/qualifications
3 good at subjects involving a lot of reading and studying
She wasn't very academic and hated school.
4 not connected to a real or practical situation and therefore not important
It is a purely academic question.
The whole thing's academic now—we can't win anyway.
aca • dem • ic • al • ly / BrE ˌækəˈdemɪkli ; NAmE ˌækəˈdemɪkli / adverb
You have to do well academically to get into medical school.
He wasn't very well qualified academically but had a lot of experience.
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
a person who teaches and/or does research at a university or college
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
acad emy
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BrE / əˈkædəmi /
NAmE / əˈkædəmi /
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
( pl. acad emies )
1 a school or college for special training
the Royal Academy of Music
a police/military academy
2 ( usually Academy ) a type of official organization which aims to
encourage and develop art, literature, science, etc
the Royal Academy of Arts
3 a secondary school in Scotland
4 a private school in the US
5 a secondary school in England which receives some of its money from a
private business or person instead of from the government
© Oxford University Press, 2010
•
ab nor mal
•
•
BrE / æbˈnɔːml /
NAmE / æbˈnɔːrml /
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
different from what is usual or expected, especially in a way that is
worrying, harmful or not wanted
abnormal levels of sugar in the blood
They thought his behaviour was abnormal.
The ship was blown off course by abnormal weather conditions.
normal
ab nor mal ly / BrE æbˈnɔːməli ; NAmE æbˈnɔːrməli / adverb
abnormally high blood pressure
© Oxford University Press, 2010
•
•
•
ab • stract adjective, noun, verb
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE ˈæbstrækt ; NAmE ˈæbstrækt /
1 based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation
abstract knowledge/principles
The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.
compare concrete adj. ( 2 )
2 existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical reality
We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.
3 ( of art ) not representing people or things in a realistic way, but expressing the artist's
ideas about them
the work of American abstract expressionists like Mark Rothko
compare figurative ( 2 ) , representational
ab • stract • ly / BrE ˈæbstræktli ; NAmE ˈæbstræktli / adverb
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE ˈæbstrækt ; NAmE ˈæbstrækt /
1 an abstract work of art
Kandinsky's first pure abstracts are marked by their wild colour.
2 a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document
summary
in the ˈabstract
in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation
Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases.
I'm just talking in the abstract now.
verb
VERB FORMS
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
/ BrE æbˈstrækt ; NAmE æbˈstrækt /
1 ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from somewhere
She abstracted the main points from the argument.
a plan to abstract 8 million gallons of water from the river
2 ~ sth ( technical ) to make a written summary of a book, etc.
© Oxford University Press, 2010
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
ab strac tion
•
•
BrE / æbˈstrækʃn /
NAmE / æbˈstrækʃn /
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
1 [ countable , uncountable ] ( formal ) a general idea not based on any
particular real person, thing or situation; the quality of being abstract
2 [ uncountable ] ( formal ) the state of thinking deeply about sth and not
paying attention to what is around you
She was gazing in abstraction at the far corner of the room.
3 [ uncountable , countable ] ( technical ) the action of removing sth
from sth else; the process of being removed from sth else
water abstraction from rivers
© Oxford University Press, 2010
aca • dem • ic adjective, noun
BrE / ˌækəˈdemɪk /
NAmE / ˌækəˈdemɪk /
adjective
WORD ORIGIN
THESAURUS
EXAMPLE BANK
1 [ usually before noun ] connected with education, especially studying in
schools and universities
The students return in October for the start of the new academic year.
high/low academic standards
an academic career
The enrolment criteria are geographical rather than academic.
2 [ usually before noun ] involving a lot of reading and studying rather
than practical or technical skills
academic subjects/qualifications
3 good at subjects involving a lot of reading and studying
She wasn't very academic and hated school.
4 not connected to a real or practical situation and therefore not important
It is a purely academic question.
The whole thing's academic now—we can't win anyway.
aca • dem • ic • al • ly / BrE ˌækəˈdemɪkli ; NAmE ˌækəˈdemɪkli / adverb
You have to do well academically to get into medical school.
He wasn't very well qualified academically but had a lot of experience.
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
a person who teaches and/or does research at a university or college
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
acad emy
•
BrE / əˈkædəmi /
NAmE / əˈkædəmi /
noun
WORD ORIGIN
EXAMPLE BANK
( pl. acad emies )
1 a school or college for special training
the Royal Academy of Music
a police/military academy
2 ( usually Academy ) a type of official organization which aims to
encourage and develop art, literature, science, etc
the Royal Academy of Arts
3 a secondary school in Scotland
4 a private school in the US
5 a secondary school in England which receives some of its money from a
private business or person instead of from the government
© Oxford University Press, 2010
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