ermine noun
/ˈɜː.mɪn/
/ˈɝː-/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]
/ˈɝː-/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]expensive white fur with black spots that is the winter fur of the stoat (= a small mammal "">) and is used to decorate formal clothes worn by kings, queens, judges, etc.
throne event or thing."">noun
/θrəʊn//θroʊn/ n [plural forms."">C]
/θroʊn/ n [plural forms."">C]the special chair used by a ruler, especially a king or queen
the throne
the state of being a ruler
Elizabeth II ascended/came to the throne (= became queen of Britain) when her father died.
Queen Victoria was "">on the throne (= was queen) at that time.
Charles is next in line to the throne (= will become king next).
crammed adjective
/kræmd/ adj
very full of people or things
a crammed train/room
The platform was crammed with/crammed full of people trying to board the train.
clad adjective
/klæd/ adj literary
(of people) dressed, or (of things) covered
A strange figure appeared in the doorway, clad in white.
an ivy-clad wall
an armour-clad vehicle
obstruct verb
/əbˈstrʌkt/ v [T]
•
to block a road, passage, entrance, etc. so that nothing can go along it, or to prevent something from happening correctly by putting difficulties in its way
After the earthquake many roads were obstructed by collapsed buildings.
Her view of the stage was obstructed by a pillar.
An accident is obstructing traffic on the M11.
•
to try to stop something from happening or developing
to obstruct a police investigation
He got five years in prison for withholding evidence and obstructing the course of justice.
yawn verb
/jɔːn//jɑːn/ v [I]
/jɑːn/ v [I]to open the mouth wide and take a lot of air into the lungs and slowly send it out, usually when tired or bored
I can't stop yawning - I must be tired.
etiquette noun
/ˈet.ɪ.ket//ˈet ̬.ɪ.kət/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]
/ˈet ̬.ɪ.kət/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]the set of rules or customs which control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations
(Social) etiquette dictates that men cannot sit while women are standing.
Diplomatic etiquette forbids calling for the death of a national leader.
monarch noun
/ˈmɒn.ək//ˈmɑː.nɚk/ n [plural forms."">C]
/ˈmɑː.nɚk/ n [plural forms."">C]a king or queen
a hereditary monarch
Britain's head of state is a constitutional monarch (= only has very limited powers).
monarchic
adjective /məˈnɑː.kɪk/ pronunciation symbol"">/-ˈnɑːr-/ adj(also monarchical )formal
sputter verb (SOUND)
/ˈspʌt.ər//ˈspʌt ̬.ɚ/ v
/ˈspʌt ̬.ɚ/ v[I or object."">T] to make several quick explosive sounds
The car sputtered once or twice and then stopped.
sputter noun /ˈspʌt.ər/ pronunciation symbol"">/ˈspʌ.ɚ/ n [plural forms."">C]vexed.
sputter verb (ACTIVITY)
/ˈspʌt.ər//ˈspʌt ̬.ɚ/ v
/ˈspʌt ̬.ɚ/ v[I] literary If an activity sputters, it is weak and varied, and does not make people feel confident about it
Russia's presidential campaign sputtered to an uneasy close on Monday.
sputternoun "">/ˈspʌt.ər/ pronunciation symbol"">/ˈspʌ.ɚ/ n [plural forms."">C]
timid adjective
/ˈtɪm.ɪd/ adj
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened
parentof__eg__is__examp__firstchild"">Lucy is a rather timid child.
My horse is a bit timid and is easily frightened by traffic.
timidity
noun/tɪˈmɪd.ɪ.ti/ pronunciation symbol"">/-ə.i/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]
pronunciation symbol"">/-ə.i/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]timidly
adverb/ˈtɪm.ɪd.li/ adv
"Um, excuse me," he said timidly.
inquiry event or thing."">noun (QUESTION)
(UK also) /ɪnˈkwaɪə.ri/ pronunciation symbol"">/ˈɪŋ.kwɚ.i/ n
enquiry
pronunciation symbol"">/ˈɪŋ.kwɚ.i/ n[C or noun with no plural form. Cannot be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U] (the process of asking) a question
I've been making inquiries about/into the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
in serious writing, or for communicating with people in a serious or polite way.">formal Inquiry into the matter is pointless - no one will tell you anything.
inquiry noun (PROCESS)
(UK also) /ɪnˈkwaɪə.ri/ pronunciation symbol"">/ˈɪŋ.kwɚ.i/ n
enquiry
pronunciation symbol"">/ˈɪŋ.kwɚ.i/ n[C] an official process to discover the facts about something bad that has happened
a judicial inquiry
Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government's handling of the epidemic.
hasten verb
/ˈheɪ.sən/ v formal
•
[T] You hasten something by acting in order to make it happen sooner
I was grateful for his letter which hastened the course of the enquiry.
There is little doubt that poor medical treatment hastened her death.
•
[+ to infinitive] If you hasten to do something, you quickly do it
The president hastened to reassure his people that he was in perfect health.
•
[+ to infinitive] If you hasten to say something, you want to make it clear
It was an unfortunate decision and I hasten to say it had nothing to do with me.
"People round here dress so badly - except you, Justin," she hastened to add.
insubordination noun
/ˌɪn.səˌbɔː.dɪˈneɪ.ʃən//-ˌbɔːr-/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U] someone or something."">disapproving
/-ˌbɔːr-/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U] someone or something."">disapprovingrefusing to obey orders from people in authority
an act of insubordination
Several officers were arrested for insubordination.
bulky adjective
/ˈbʌl.ki/ adj
too big and taking up too much space
bulky equipment
almanac noun
/ˈɔːl.mə.næk/, /ˈæl-//ˈɑːl-/, /ˈæl-/ n [C]
/ˈɑːl-/, /ˈæl-/ n [C]a book published every year that contains facts and information such as important days, times of the sun rising and going down or changes in the moon
treat experience."">verb (DEAL WITH)
/triːt/ v
[T usually + adverb or preposition] to behave towards someone or deal with something in a particular way
My parents treated us all the same when we were kids.
He treated his wife very badly.
It's wrong to treat animals as if they had no feelings.
I treat remarks like that with the contempt that they deserve.
treat experience."">verb (GIVE MEDICAL CARE)
/triːt/ v
[T] to use drugs, exercises, etc. to cure a person of a disease or heal an injury
He is being treated for a rare skin disease.
Western medicine tends to treat the symptoms and not the cause.
thrifty adjective
/ˈθrɪf.ti/ adj
showing a careful use of money, especially by avoiding waste
They have plenty of money now, but they still tend to be thrifty.
thriftily
adverb."">adverb/ˈθrɪf.tɪ.li/ adv
thriftiness
noun /ˈθrɪf.tɪ.nəs/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]promptly information about a verb, adjective or other adverb."">adverb
/ˈprɒmp t.li//ˈprɑːmp t-/ adv
/ˈprɑːmp t-/ advquickly, without delay, or at the arranged time
We'll have to leave fairly promptly (= on time) if we want to catch that train.
We try to answer readers' letters as promptly (= quickly) as we can.
She promised she'd keep it secret and promptly (= immediately after) went and told Ben!
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