Lesson 126 - (Fast Longman Dictionary)
Autor: Jefferson Acácio | Publicado: 2011-04-28T20:28:00-07:00

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING 



ad‧ver‧tis‧ing&nbsp;[uncountable]the activity or business of advertising things on television, in newspapers etc:
advertising aimed at 18-25 year olds
a career in advertising
television/radio/newspaper advertising
Both candidates are spending millions on television advertising.advertising campaign/strategy
the advertising slogan 'Come alive with Pepsi'

Topics

Business Basics 



busi‧ness1
buying or selling goods or services&nbsp;[uncountable] the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services[↪&nbsp;commerce,&nbsp;trade]:
Students on the course learn about all aspects of business.
We do business with a number of Italian companies.
Vanessa decided to go into business as an art-dealer.set up/start up in business
The scheme offers free advice to people wanting to set up in business.In order to stay in business, you must do better than your competitors.the advertising/music/fashion etc business
Carl began in the music business by running a recording studio.business activities/interests etc
He has a wide range of business interests.2
company&nbsp;[countable] an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service:
She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business.
They don't know how to run a business.
The company began as a small family business&nbsp;(=owned and controlled by one family).Owners of small businesses&nbsp;(=that employ only a few people) will be hit hardest by these tax changes.big business&nbsp;(=large and powerful companies in general)
Does big business have more control over our everyday lives than our elected governments?the business community&nbsp;(=people who work in business generally)
the international business community3
how much work a company has&nbsp;[uncountable] the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes:
We're now doing twice as much business as we did last year.
Exports account for 72% of overall business.business is good/bad/slow etc
Business is slow during the summer.drum up business&nbsp;(=try to get more work for you or your company)
Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.4
for your job&nbsp;[uncountable] work that you do as part of your job:
She's in New York this week on business&nbsp;(=for her work).
Hi Maggie! Is this phone call business or pleasure?business trip/meeting etc
We discussed the idea over a business lunch.
useful business contacts5
what someone should be involved in&nbsp;[uncountable]
a)&nbsp;if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it:
It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from.
It's none of your business how much I weigh.
'Who's that girl you were with?' ' Mind your own business&nbsp;(=Don't ask questions about something that does not concern you)!'
Are you going out with Kate tonight? 'That's my business'&nbsp;(=it doesn't concern you, so don't ask me questions about it).b)&nbsp;if it is someone's business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do it
it is the business of somebody to do something
It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.6
things to be dealt with&nbsp;[uncountable] things that need to be done or discussed:
Okay, let's get down to business&nbsp;(=start doing or discussing something).
'Is there any other business?' the chairman asked.7
matter&nbsp;[singular] a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards
a serious/strange/funny etc business
Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business.
Tanya found the whole business ridiculous.8
&nbsp;be in businessa)&nbsp;to be involved in business activities:
The company has been in business for over thirty years.b)&nbsp;spoken to have all that you need to start doing something:
I've just got to buy the paint and then we're in business.9
&nbsp;(go) out of business if a company goes out of business, or something puts it out of business, it stops operating, especially because of financial problems:
Higher interest rates will drive small firms out of business.10
&nbsp;be back in business to be working or operating in a normal way again:
The band are back in business after a long break.11
&nbsp;somebody was (just) minding their own business spokenused to say that someone was not doing anything unusual or wrong at the time when something unfair or bad happened to them:
I was driving along, minding my own business, when the police stopped my car.12
&nbsp;go about your business to do the things that you normally do:
The street was full of ordinary people going about their business.13
&nbsp;make it your business to do something to make a special effort to do something:
Ruth made it her business to get to know the customers.14
&nbsp;mean business informal to be serious about doing something even if it involves harming someone:
The border is guarded by troops who mean business.15
&nbsp;unfinished business something you need to discuss further with someone or a situation that has not yet reached a satisfactory solution:
The sudden death of a loved one can often leave the bereaved with an agonising sense of unfinished business.16
&nbsp;business is business spoken used to say that profit is the most important thing to consider:
We can't afford to employ someone who isn't good at the job - business is business.17
&nbsp;business as usual when someone or something is still working or operating normally when you think they might not be:
Despite last night's scare, it was business as usual in the White House today.18
&nbsp;have no business doing something/have no business to do something to do something you should not be doing:
He was drunk and had no business driving.19
&nbsp;not be in the business of doing something to not be intending to do something because you think it is a bad idea:
I'm not in the business of selling my best players.20
&nbsp;and all that business spoken informal and other things of the same general kind:
She handles the publicity and all that business.21
&nbsp;(it's) the business British English informal used to say that something is very good or works well:
Have you seen David's new car? It's the business!22
&nbsp;do the business British English informal
a)&nbsp;to do what you are expected to do or what people want you to do:
Come on, then, and do the business.b)&nbsp;to have sex➔ big business
&nbsp;; ➔ funny business&nbsp;at&nbsp;funny&nbsp;(3)
&nbsp;; ➔ like nobody's business&nbsp;at&nbsp;nobody1&nbsp;(2)
&nbsp;; ➔ monkey business&nbsp;at&nbsp;monkey1&nbsp;(3),show businessWORD FOCUS: company&nbsp;
similar words: firm,&nbsp;business
a big company: corporation,&nbsp;multinational,&nbsp;conglomerate
an Internet company: dot-com
a company that is owned by a larger company: subsidiary,&nbsp;affiliate
abbreviations used in company names: Ltd&nbsp;(Limited)
Co.&nbsp;(Company)
Corp.&nbsp;(Corporation)
PLC&nbsp;(Public Limited Company) British English,&nbsp;Pty.&nbsp;(Proprietary) used in Australia and South Africa
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Business Management


man‧age‧ment1&nbsp;[uncountable] the activity of controlling and organizing the work that a company or organization does
good/bad management
good management and co-operation with staff
a lack of management skills
a management consultant
management training courses2&nbsp;[singular, U also + plural verb British English] the people who are in charge of a company or organization:
The management has agreed to the policy.
The shareholders demanded a change in management.
management decisions
The factory is under new management.
senior/top management
It is difficult to retain top management.
a member of the senior management teammiddle management&nbsp;(=the people in charge of small groups within an organization)3&nbsp;[uncountable] the way that people control and organize different situations that happen in their lives or their work
management of
careful management of the economy
traffic management
The successful applicant will have experience in project management.
courses in time management
crisis management&nbsp;(=when you deal with an unusually difficult or dangerous situation)

Companies&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;




com‧pa‧ny&nbsp;plural&nbsp;companies1
business&nbsp;[C also + plural verb British English] a business organization that makes or sells goods or services&nbsp;[=&nbsp;business,&nbsp;firm]COLLOCATIONS&nbsp;
run a companyset up/start a companyjoin a company&nbsp;(=become an employee)a company goes bust/bankrupt&nbsp;(=stops doing business because it has lost too much money)record/oil/insurance/phone etc companymultinational company&nbsp;(=one that has offices in different countries)company policycompany director/executive

Which company do you work for?
The company are hoping to expand their operations abroad.
In ten years, Jeff went from working in the mailroom to&nbsp;running&nbsp;thecompany.
The&nbsp;company&nbsp;was&nbsp;set up&nbsp;just after the war. Insurance companies investigated 43,000 cases of fraud last year.I called the&nbsp;phone company&nbsp;about the bill.an independent&nbsp;record companya&nbsp;multinational company&nbsp;specializing in sports equipmentthe&nbsp;company policy&nbsp;on the use of email for private purposesThe&nbsp;company directors&nbsp;have awarded themselves a massive pay increase.➔ limited company,&nbsp;parent company,&nbsp;public company2
other people&nbsp;[uncountable] when you are with other people and not alone:
The two men enjoy each other's company.
Rita's husband is away for the week, so I thought I'd go over and keepher company&nbsp;(=be with her so that she doesn't feel lonely).
Come over for dinner - I could use the company&nbsp;(=would like to be with people).
James is good company&nbsp;(=a cheerful person who is enjoyable to be with).
as company
Bessie was glad to have the dog as company.in somebody's company&nbsp;(=with someone)
I felt nervous in the company of such an important man.in company with somebody&nbsp;(=together with another person or group)
He's performing in company with saxophonist Ernie Watts.3
guests&nbsp;[uncountable] people who are visiting you in your home:
It looks like the Hammills have company.
We're expecting company this evening.4
friends&nbsp;[uncountable] your friends or the group of people you spend time with:
People judge you by the company you keep&nbsp;(=the people you spend time with).
Things began to go wrong when he got into bad company.5
performers&nbsp;[countable] a group of actors, dancers, or singers who work together:
a theatre company
a touring company
the Kirov Ballet Company6
&nbsp;be in good company used to tell someone who has made a mistake that they should not be embarrassed because some important or respected people have made the same mistake:
If you can't program the video recorder, you're in good company.7
GROUP&nbsp;[uncountable] formal a group of people who are together in the same place, often for a particular purpose or for social reasons:
He glanced around at the assembled company.
Some jokes are just not appropriate to tell in mixed company&nbsp;(=in a group of both men and women).
in company&nbsp;(=when surrounded by other people, especially at a social occasion)
Parents should teach their children how to behave in company.8
&nbsp;somebody and company informal used after a person's name to mean that person and their friends:
This has not stopped Senator Biden and company from trying to make it an issue in the election.9
army&nbsp;[countable] a group of about 120 soldiers who are usually part of a larger group10
&nbsp;two's company, three's a crowd used to suggest that two people would rather be alone together than have other people with them&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Offices





of‧fice1
building&nbsp;[countable] a building that belongs to a company or organization, with rooms where people can work at desks:
The department occupies an office just a mile from the White House.main/head office&nbsp;(=the most important office)
The head office is in Edinburgh.
Did you go to the office&nbsp;(=the office where you work) today?at the office
Have a nice day at the office.local/regional office
The agency has a network of regional offices.office staff/workers/equipment etc
Office staff need well-designed desks and chairs.
the increased demand for office space2
room&nbsp;[countable] a room where someone has a desk and works, on their own or with other people:
the manager's office
Sorry, Ann's not in her office right now.
Dan shares an office with Lisa.3
&nbsp;office hoursa)&nbsp;the time between about 9:00 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon, when people in offices are working:
Can you phone again during office hours?b)&nbsp;American English the time during the day or week when students can meet with their teacher in the teacher's office:
Professor Lee's office hours are from 2 to 4 on Mondays and Thursdays.4
job&nbsp;[uncountable and countable] an important job or position with power, especially in government:
the office of Presidentin office
She was celebrating ten years in office.
A provisional military government took office&nbsp;(=started in an important job or position).hold office&nbsp;(=have a particular important job or position)
Trujillo held office as finance minister.
a five year term of office&nbsp;(=period of time working in an important job)5
&nbsp;Office used in the names of some government departments:
the Foreign Office
the Office of the District Attorney6
place for information&nbsp;[countable] a room or building where people go to ask for information, buy tickets etc
information/ticket etc office
the tourist office
Is there a lost property office?➔ box office,&nbsp;post office,&nbsp;registry office7
doctor&nbsp;[countable] American English the place where a doctor or&nbsp;dentistexamines or treats people&nbsp;[=&nbsp;surgery&nbsp;British English]8
&nbsp;somebody's good offices/the good offices of somebodyformal help given by someone who has authority or can influence people
through the good offices of somebody
I managed to obtain a visa through the good offices of a friend in the Service.WORD FOCUS: doctor&nbsp;
similar words: physician especially AmE,&nbsp;GP British English,&nbsp;consultant,&nbsp;registrar
a doctor who does operations: surgeon
a doctor who treats mental illnesses: psychiatrist,&nbsp;psychotherapist,&nbsp;shrinkinformal
a doctor who treats people's teeth: dentist,&nbsp;orthodontist
a doctor who treats animals: vet,&nbsp;veterinarian especially AmE
someone who is training to be a doctor: medical student,&nbsp;intern American English
the place where you go to see your doctor: surgery British English,&nbsp;officeAmerican English


Trade





trade1
buying/selling&nbsp;[uncountable] the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods within a country or between countries&nbsp;[=&nbsp;commerce]
trade between
There has been a marked increase in trade between East and West.
 international trade agreements
unfair trade practicestrade in
Trade in ivory has been banned since 1990.the arms/drug/slave etc trade&nbsp;(=the buying and selling of weapons, drugs etc)➔ balance of trade,&nbsp;free trade&nbsp;➔ trade war&nbsp;at&nbsp;war&nbsp;(3)2
&nbsp;the hotel/tourist etc trade the business done by companies, hotels etc[↪&nbsp;industry]:
Working on Saturdays is usual in the retail trade.3
amount of business&nbsp;[uncountable] British English business activity, especially the amount of goods or products that are sold&nbsp;[=&nbsp;business]:
A lot of pubs nowadays do most of their trade at lunchtimes.passing trade&nbsp;(=customers who go into a shop when they are passing it, not regular customers)
Souvenir shops rely mainly on passing trade.
➔ do a roaring trade&nbsp;at&nbsp;roaring&nbsp;(3)4
an exchange of things&nbsp;[singular] American English
a)&nbsp;when you exchange something you have for something that someone else has:
Let's make a trade - my frisbee for your baseball.b)&nbsp;when a player on a sports team is exchanged for a player from another team:
The Celtics star demanded a trade after talks with management broke down.5
&nbsp;the trade a particular kind of business, and the people who are involved in it:
I could get Ron to look at your car for you; he works in the trade.6
job/work&nbsp;[uncountable and countable] a particular job, especially one needing special skill with your hands:
Brian insisted that his sons learn a trade.
My grandfather was a plumber by trade&nbsp;(=that was his job).tools of your trade&nbsp;(=the things that you need to do your job)

Employment


em‧ploy‧ment&nbsp;[uncountable]1 the condition of having a paid job:
She was offered employment in the sales office.
terms and conditions of employment
employment opportunities/prospects
The employment prospects for science graduates are excellent.
Steve's still looking for full-time employment.
the needs of women who combine paid employment and care for their families
in employment
21.7% of all those in employment were in part-time jobs.2 the act of paying someone to work for you
employment of
Mexican law prohibits the employment of children under 14.3 the number of people who have jobs&nbsp;[≠&nbsp;unemployment]:
Nationwide employment now stands at 95%.
full employment&nbsp;(=a situation in which everyone has a job)
Many economists consider full employment an unrealistic goal.4 formal the use of a particular object, method, skill etc to achieve something
employment of
Was the employment of force justified?
Conditions of Employment&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

con‧di‧tion1
situation&nbsp;conditions&nbsp;[plural] the situation in which people live or work, especially the physical things that affect the quality of their lives:
Conditions in the prison were atrocious.living/working conditions
an attempt to improve living conditions for the working classes
 Poor working conditions lead to demoralized and unproductive employees.in appalling/overcrowded/dreadful etc conditions
These children work 70 metres below ground in appalling conditions.
In May, staff went on strike, demanding better pay and conditions.2
weather&nbsp;conditions&nbsp;[plural] the weather at a particular time, especially when you are considering how this affects people:
The conditions during the first half of the match were appalling.cold/windy/icy etc conditions
In cold conditions you'll need a sleeping bag with a hood.
the worsening weather conditions3
things affecting situation&nbsp;conditions&nbsp;[plural] all the things that affect the way something happens
under ... conditions
Under normal conditions, people will usually do what requires least effort.
Under these conditions, the fire can be rapidly controlled.
Profits increased by £1.5m, despite the difficult economic conditions.
The combination of rain and greasy surfaces made driving conditions treacherous.4
state&nbsp;[singular, uncountable] the state that something is in, especially how good or bad its physical state is
in (a) good/poor/excellent/terrible etc condition
The car has been well maintained and is in excellent condition.
The house was in a terrible condition.condition of
The condition of nuclear plants is a matter of great concern.5
health/fitness&nbsp;[singular, uncountable] how healthy or fit you are:
She is being treated at Walton Hospital, where her condition is described as 'satisfactory'.in (a) critical/stable/satisfactory condition
One of the victims was in a critical condition after suffering severe burns.physical/mental condition
If you are uncertain about your physical condition, check with your doctor before trying these exercises.
'I'm so out of condition&nbsp;(=unfit),' she panted.
an athlete in peak conditionin no condition to do something&nbsp;(=too drunk, ill, or upset to be able to do something)
I was in no condition to cope with a train journey.
Mark can't possibly drive home in that condition&nbsp;(=when he is so drunk, ill, or upset).6
agreement/contract&nbsp;[countable] something that you must agree to in order for something to happen, especially when this is included in a contractCOLLOCATIONS&nbsp;
lay down/impose/set conditions&nbsp;(=say what must be done)strict conditionmeet/satisfy/fulfil a condition&nbsp;(=do what has been agreed)terms and conditions&nbsp;(=what a contract says must be done)on condition that/on one condition&nbsp;(=only if a particular thing is agreed to)subject to conditions&nbsp;(=if particular things are agreed to)

She&nbsp;laid down&nbsp;only one&nbsp;condition: that her name not be revealed.

condition for
There were strict conditions for letting us use their information.
The bank agreed to extend the loan if&nbsp;certain conditions&nbsp;were&nbsp;met.
A statement of your terms and conditions of employment can be found in the Personnel Handbook.
He was released on bail&nbsp;on condition that&nbsp;he did not go within half a mile of his mother's address.
The application was approved, subject to certain conditions.7
for something to happen&nbsp;[countable] something that must exist or happen first, before something else can happen
condition for/of
Our goal is to create the conditions for a lasting peace.
Investment is a necessary condition of economic growth.8
illness&nbsp;[countable] an illness or health problem that affects you permanently or for a very long time:
People suffering from this condition should not smoke.heart/lung etc condition
She has a serious heart condition.
Was he being treated for any medical condition?9
situation of group&nbsp;[singular] formal the situation or state of a particular group of people, especially when they have problems and difficulties:
the condition of the poor in our cities
All my paintings are ultimately about the human condition.10
never&nbsp;on no condition never:
On no condition should untrained personnel use the equipment.

 Labour Relations, Unions


labour British English&nbsp;; labor&nbsp;American English1
work&nbsp;[uncountable] work, especially physical work:
The garage charges £30 an hour for labour.
Many women do hard manual labour&nbsp;(=work with their hands).
Workers withdrew their labour&nbsp;(=protested by stopping work) for twenty-four hours.➔ hard labour2
workers&nbsp;[uncountable] all the people who work for a company or in a countryCOLLOCATIONS&nbsp;
skilled labour&nbsp;(=workers who have special skills)unskilled labour&nbsp;(=workers who have no special skills)casual labour&nbsp;(=workers who do jobs that are not permanent)cheap labourchild labourslave labourlabour costslabour shortagelabour market&nbsp;(=all the people available to work)

a shortage of&nbsp;skilled labor
&nbsp;Wages for&nbsp;unskilled labour&nbsp;are very low.
&nbsp;small commercial farmers who depend on a&nbsp;casual labour&nbsp;supply
These countries are a source of cheap labour.the use of child labour&nbsp;produce grown by&nbsp;slave laborWe need to reduce our labour costs. Labour shortages&nbsp;have forced the Japanese into making heavy use of industrial robots.&nbsp;the changing role of mothers in the&nbsp;labour market➔ labour force,&nbsp;labour market3
baby&nbsp;[singular, uncountable] the process of giving birth to a baby
in labour
Meg was in labour for ten hours.
Diane went into labour at 2 o'clock.
a long/short/difficult labour
The labour pains were unbearable.
labour ward/room&nbsp;(=a room in a hospital where women give birth)4
&nbsp;a labour of love something that is hard work but that you do because you want to5
&nbsp;somebody's labours formal a period of hard work:
After several hours gardening we sat down to admire the results of our labours.

Wages&nbsp;

wage1&nbsp;[singular] also wages&nbsp;[plural] money you earn that is paid according to the number of hours, days, or weeks that you work&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;salary]:
He earns a good wage.
wage increase also&nbsp;wage rise British English
The wage increases will come into effect in June.daily/weekly etc wage
a weekly wage of $250wage levels/rates&nbsp;(=fixed amounts of money paid for particular jobs)➔&nbsp;see usage note pay22
&nbsp;a living wage money you earn for work that is enough to pay for the basic things that you need to live:
The church no longer paid a living wage.3
&nbsp;wage freeze an action taken by a company, government etc to stop wages increasing4
&nbsp;wage claim the amount of money asked for by workers as an increase in wagesWORD CHOICE&nbsp;

pay, salary, wages, wage, income, feePay&nbsp;is the money that you earn by working•&nbsp;The pay is much better in the private sector.•&nbsp;people on low pay•&nbsp;pay negotiationsSomeone's&nbsp;salary&nbsp;is the money they are paid every month by their employer, especially someone in a profession, such as a teacher or a lawyer•&nbsp;Some managers earn annual salaries of over £80,000.Use&nbsp;wages&nbsp;to refer to the money that someone is paid every week by their employer, especially someone who works in a factory or a shop•&nbsp;Some companies pay higher wages than others.!!&nbsp;Do not use&nbsp;wages&nbsp;before a noun. Use&nbsp;wage•&nbsp;wage earnersSomeone's&nbsp;income&nbsp;is all the money that they receive regularly, for work or for any other reason•&nbsp;families on low incomes•&nbsp;Rent from the old farm was their only source of income.Use&nbsp;fee&nbsp;to refer to the money paid to a lawyer, doctor, or similar qualified worker for a piece of work they have done•&nbsp;Your accountant's fees are too high.•&nbsp;legal fees

Finance


fi‧nance1&nbsp;[uncountable] the management of money by governments, large organizations etc:
leasing and other forms of business finance
Russia's finance minister
the world of high finance&nbsp;(=financial activities involving very large amounts of money)2
&nbsp;finances&nbsp;[plural] the money that an organization or person has, and the way that they manage it:
concerns about the company's finances
She refused to answer questions about her personal finances.3&nbsp;[uncountable] money provided by a bank or other institution to help buy or do something
finance for
We need to raise finance for further research.

Banking


bank‧ing&nbsp;[uncountable]the business of a bank:
the international banking system 

Insurance&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
in‧sur‧ance1&nbsp;[uncountable] an arrangement with a company in which you pay them money, especially regularly, and they pay the costs if something bad happens, for example if you become ill or your car is damaged&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;assurance,&nbsp;third party insurance]:
Your father took out insurance to cover the mortgage.
health/car/travel etc insuranceinsurance against
insurance against loss of income due to unemploymentinsurance on/for
Do you have insurance on your house and its contents?claim (for) something on your insurance&nbsp;(=get an insurance company to pay for something)
We can probably claim the damage on our insurance.➔ life insurance2&nbsp;[uncountable] the business of providing insurance:
My brother works in insurance.
insurance company/group etc
the insurance industry3&nbsp;[uncountable] British English the money that you pay regularly to an insurance company&nbsp;[=&nbsp;insurance premium]
insurance on
How much is the insurance on your car?4&nbsp;[singular, uncountable] protection against something bad happening
insurance against
An extra lock on the door is an added insurance against burglars.
Loans&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

loan1&nbsp;[countable] an amount of money that you borrow from a bank etcCOLLOCATIONS&nbsp;
take out a loan&nbsp;(=borrow money)repay/pay off/pay back a loan&nbsp;(=give back money you have borrowed)make a loan American English&nbsp;(=give someone a loan)bank loan&nbsp;(=money lent by a bank)car/home loan&nbsp;(=a loan to buy a car etc)personal loan&nbsp;(=money lent to an individual)business loan&nbsp;(=money lent to a business)student loan&nbsp;(=money lent to students to pay for university)interest-free loan&nbsp;(=a loan on which you only repay the amount you borrowed)loan repayment
loan of
a loan of £60,000
I had to take out a loan to buy my car.
It'll be years before we've&nbsp;paid off the loan.
The organization was allowed to make loans to private businesses.
&nbsp;I'll get a&nbsp;bank loan&nbsp;if necessary.&nbsp;The average&nbsp;home loan&nbsp;is now almost triple what it was at the beginning of the Eighties.&nbsp;An&nbsp;interest-free loan&nbsp;fund is available for students who find themselves in unforeseen financial difficulty.&nbsp;They were unable to keep up with their&nbsp;loan repayments.2&nbsp;[singular] when you lend something to someone
loan of
Thanks for the loan of your camera.3
&nbsp;on loan (from somebody/something) if something or someone is on loan, they have been borrowed:
The book I wanted was out on loan.
paintings on loan from the Louvre
Cantona initially went on loan to Leeds United.

Stocks and Shares


stock1
in a shop&nbsp;[uncountable and countable] a supply of a particular type of thing that a shop has available to sell:
We have a huge stock of quality carpets on sale.
Buy now while stocks last!
out of stock/in stock&nbsp;(=unavailable or available in a particular shop)
I'm sorry, that swimsuit is completely out of stock in your size.2
financea)&nbsp;[countable] especially American English a share in a company:
the trading of stocks and sharesb)&nbsp;[uncountable] the total value of all of a company's shares3
amount available&nbsp;[countable] the total amount of something that is available to be used in a particular area:
Cod stocks in the North Atlantic have dropped radically.
the stock of housing in rural areas4
supplies&nbsp;[countable] a supply of something that you keep and can use when you need to
stock of
He keeps a stock of medicines in the cupboard.
The country has been building up its stock of weapons.5
&nbsp;take stock (of something) to think carefully about the things that have happened in a situation in order to decide what to do next:
While in hospital, Jeremy took stock of his life.6
cooking&nbsp;[uncountable and countable] a liquid made by boiling meat or bones and vegetables, which is used to make soups or to add flavour to other dishes:
chicken stock
vegetable stock7
gun&nbsp;[countable] the part of a gun that you hold or put against your shoulder, usually made of wood8
animals&nbsp;[uncountable] farm animals, especially cattle&nbsp;[=&nbsp;livestock]9
&nbsp;the stocksa)&nbsp;a wooden structure in a public place to which criminals were fastened by their feet or hands in the pastb)&nbsp;a wooden structure in which a ship is held while it is being built10
&nbsp;somebody's stock is high/low if someone's stock is high or low, they are very popular or very unpopular:
Simon's stock is high in the network news business.11
&nbsp;stock of jokes/knowledge/courage etc the jokes, knowledge etc that someone knows or has:
John seems to have an inexhaustible stock of funny stories.12
&nbsp;be of Scottish/Protestant/good etc stock to belong to a family that in the past lived in Scotland, were Protestants, were respected etc13
flower&nbsp;[countable] a plant with pink, white, or light purple flowers and a sweet smell14
plant&nbsp;[countable] a thick part of a stem onto which another plant can be added so that the two plants grow together15
actors&nbsp;[countable] American English a stock company&nbsp;(2)
Occupations&nbsp;

oc‧cu‧pa‧tion1&nbsp;[countable] a job or profession:
Please state your name, address and occupation.
professional and managerial occupations
manual occupations➔&nbsp;see usage note job2&nbsp;[uncountable] when a large group of people enter a place and take control of it, especially by military force
occupation of
the German occupation of Franceunder occupation
The area is under occupation&nbsp;(=controlled by a foreign army).3&nbsp;[countable] a way of spending your time&nbsp;[=&nbsp;pastime]:
One of my childhood occupations was collecting stamps.4&nbsp;[uncountable] when someone lives or stays in a building or place:
When the first scientists came to the region they found little evidence of human occupation.WORD CHOICE:&nbsp;

job, work, post, position, occupation, profession, careerYour&nbsp;job&nbsp;is the work that you do regularly in order to earn money, especially when you work for a company or public organization•&nbsp;My last job was with a computer firm.•&nbsp;He finally got a job in a supermarket.Work&nbsp;is used in a more general way to talk about activities that you do to earn money, either working for a company or for yourself•&nbsp;Will you go back to work when you've had the baby?•&nbsp;I started work when I was 18.!!&nbsp;Do not say 'what is your job?' or 'what is your work?'. Say&nbsp;what do you do?&nbsp;or&nbsp;what do you do for a living?Post and&nbsp;position&nbsp;are more formal words for a job in a company or organization. They are used especially in job advertisements and when you are talking about someone moving to a different job•&nbsp;This post would suit a recent graduate.•&nbsp;He left last summer for a teaching position in Singapore.Use&nbsp;occupation&nbsp;to talk about the kind of work that someone usually does, for example if they are a teacher, lawyer, driving instructor etc. Occupation is used mainly on official forms•&nbsp;State your name, age, and occupation in the box below.!!&nbsp;Do not use&nbsp;occupation&nbsp;to talk about your own job•&nbsp;I am an accountant. (NOT My occupation is an accountant).A&nbsp;profession&nbsp;is a kind of work for which you need special training and a good education, for example teaching, law, or medicine•&nbsp;the legal professionYour&nbsp;career&nbsp;is the type of work that you do or hope to do for most of your life•&nbsp;I'm interested in a career in television.•&nbsp;His career is more important to him than his family. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
ANIMALS 



an‧i‧mal&nbsp;[countable]1 a living creature such as a dog or cat, that is not an insect, plant, bird, fish, or person:
furry little animalswild/domestic/farm animals
cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals
The cosmetics have not been tested on animals.
Beth is an animal lover&nbsp;(=someone who likes animals).2 any living creature that is not a plant or a person:
He can't stand cruelty to animals of any sort.
the animal welfare movement in Britain
the enormous diversity of the animal kingdom3 any living creature, including people:
Man is a highly intelligent animal.4 informal someone who behaves in a cruel, violent, or very rude way:
Football hooligans are just animals.5
&nbsp;a (very/completely/entirely) different animal informal something that is very different from the thing you have mentioned:
Writing e-mail is a very different animal from all other forms of writing.6
&nbsp;a political/social animal etc informal someone who is interested in politics, in meeting other people etc:
He is simply not a social animal.



as‧tron‧o‧my&nbsp;[uncountable]the scientific study of the stars and planets&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;astrology]WORD FOCUS: space&nbsp;
vehicles used in space: spaceship,&nbsp;spacecraft,&nbsp;rocket,&nbsp;(space) shuttle,&nbsp;probe,&nbsp;satellite,&nbsp;space station
someone who travels in space: astronaut,&nbsp;cosmonaut Russian
parts of a rocket's journey: countdown,&nbsp;launch,&nbsp;blast-off/take-off/lift-off,leaving the earth's atmosphere,&nbsp;going into orbit,&nbsp;re-entering the earth's atmosphere,splashdown/touchdown
places and things in space: planet,&nbsp;moon,&nbsp;star,&nbsp;sun,&nbsp;satellite,&nbsp;solar system,constellation,&nbsp;galaxy,&nbsp;universe,&nbsp;the cosmos,&nbsp;black hole,&nbsp;quasar,&nbsp;comet,&nbsp;meteor,asteroid
the study of space: astronomyspace



bi‧ol‧o‧gy&nbsp;[uncountable]1 the scientific study of living things:
a degree in biology2 the scientific laws that control the life of a particular type of animal, plant etc:
the biology of bacteria


bird&nbsp;[countable]1 a creature with wings and feathers that can usually fly. Many birds sing and build nests, and female birds lay eggs.:
wild birds
The dawn was filled with the sound of birds.
a flock of birds&nbsp;(=a group of birds flying together)a wooden bird cage2 British English informal a word meaning a young woman, which some people think is offensive3
&nbsp;the birds and the bees the facts about sex - used humorously or to children4
&nbsp;a little bird told me (something) informal used to say that you know something, but you will not say how you found out:
A little bird told me that you've got engaged.5
&nbsp;birds of a feather (flock together) informal used to say that two or more people have similar attitudes, beliefs etc6
&nbsp;give somebody the birda)&nbsp;American English informal to make a very rude sign at someone by holding your middle finger upb)&nbsp;British English to show strong disapproval of someone who is performing or speaking in public by shouting, making rude noises etc7
&nbsp;a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush) used to say that it is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get more8
&nbsp;the bird has flown informal used to say that the person you are looking for has already left or escaped9
&nbsp;be (strictly) for the birds old-fashioned informal to be silly, useless, or not practical10
&nbsp;wise/wily/funny/weird etc old bird old-fashioned informal a person who seems wise, funny etc11
&nbsp;do bird British English old-fashioned informal to serve a prison sentence&nbsp;[=&nbsp;do time]

fish&nbsp;plural&nbsp;fish or fishes1&nbsp;[countable] an animal that lives in water, and uses itsfins and tail to swim:
Ronny caught three huge fish this afternoon.
Over 1,500 different species of fish inhabit the waters around the reef.
The stonefish is the most deadly of all fishes.The lake is well stocked with fish&nbsp;(=fish have been put into the lake).
freshwater/saltwater/tropical fisha shoal/school of fish&nbsp;(=a large group of fish swimming together)2&nbsp;[uncountable] the flesh of a fish used as food&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;seafood]:
One usually drinks white wine with fish.3
&nbsp;(be/feel) like a fish out of water to feel uncomfortable because you feel you do not belong in a place or situation:
I felt like a fish out of water in my new school.4
&nbsp;there are plenty more fish in the sea used to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are other people they can have a relationship with5
&nbsp;neither fish nor fowl neither one thing nor another6
&nbsp;have other/bigger fish to fry informal to have other things to do, especially more important things7
&nbsp;odd fish/queer fish British English old-fashioned someone who is slightly strange or crazy8
&nbsp;cold fish an unfriendly person who seems to have no strong feelings9
&nbsp;a big fish in a little/small pond someone who is important in or who has influence over a very small area



in‧sect&nbsp;[countable]a small creature such as a fly or ant, that has six legs, and sometimes wings:
an insect bite
flying insects
Don't forget to bring insect repellant&nbsp;(=a chemical to keep insects away)

mi‧crobe&nbsp;[countable]an extremely small living thing which you can only see if you use a microscope. Some microbes can cause diseases


plant1
living thing&nbsp;[countable] a living thing that has leaves and roots and grows in earth, especially one that is smaller than a tree:
Don't forget to water the plants.
a potato plant
the forest's plant life&nbsp;(=plants)➔ houseplant2
factory&nbsp;[countable] a factory or building where an industrial process happens:
a huge chemical plant➔ power plant3
machinery&nbsp;[uncountable] British English heavy machinery that is used in industrial processes:
a plant hire business4
something hidden&nbsp;[countable usually singular] something illegal or stolen that is hidden in someone's clothes or possessions to make them seem guilty of a crime5
person&nbsp;[countable] someone who is put somewhere or sent somewhere secretly to find out informationWORD FOCUS: garden&nbsp;
parts of a garden: lawn,&nbsp;flowerbed,&nbsp;hedge,&nbsp;patio,&nbsp;rockery,&nbsp;pond,&nbsp;greenhouse,&nbsp;compost heap,&nbsp;kitchen garden
things you do in the garden: cut the grass/mow the lawn,&nbsp;weed the flowerbeds,sow seeds,&nbsp;plant&nbsp;flowers/bushes/trees,&nbsp;water the plants,&nbsp;cut back/prune roses and other bushes,&nbsp;trim the hedge

chem‧is‧try&nbsp;[uncountable]1 the science that is concerned with studying the structure of substances and the way that they change or combine with each other&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;biochemistry,&nbsp;biology,physics]2 if there is chemistry between two people, they like each other and find each other attractive
chemistry between
It's obvious that there's a very real chemistry between them.3 the way substances combine in a particular process, thing, person etc:
a person's body chemistry

com‧pound&nbsp;[countable]1 technical a substance containing atoms from two or more elements:
man-made organic compounds
compound of
Sulphur dioxide is a compound of sulphur and oxygen.2 a combination of two or more parts, substances, or qualities
compound of
Teaching is a compound of several different skills.
Brush on a damp-proofing compound.3 an area that contains a group of buildings and is surrounded by a fence or wall:
a prison compound4 technical a noun, adjective etc that is made up of two or more words. The noun 'flower shop' and the adjective 'self-made' are compounds

el‧e‧ment&nbsp;[countable]1
part one part or feature of a whole system, plan, piece of work etc, especially one that is basic or important
element of
Honesty is a vital element of her success.element in
the primary element in the country's economyimportant/key/essential/vital etc element
Besides ability, the other essential element in political success is luck.
Business and management elements are built into the course.2
&nbsp;element of surprise/truth/risk/doubt etc an amount, usually small, of a quality or feeling:
There is an element of truth in your argument.3
chemistry a simple chemical substance such as carbon or oxygen that consists of atoms of only one kind&nbsp;➔ compound1&nbsp;(1)4
people a group of people who form part of a larger group, especially when the rest of the group does not approve of them&nbsp;[↪&nbsp;faction]:
the hard-line communist elements in the party5
&nbsp;the elements&nbsp;[plural] the weather, especially bad weather:
sailors battling against the elements6
heating the part of a piece of electrical equipment that produces heat7
&nbsp;the elements of something the most simple things that you have to learn first about a subject:
She doesn't even know the basic elements of politeness.8
earth/air/fire/water one of the four substances (earth, air, fire, and water) from which people used to believe that everything was made9
&nbsp;be in your element to be in a situation that you enjoy, because you are good at it:
Graham was in his element, building a fire and cooking the steaks.10
&nbsp;be out of your element to be in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy:
She was out of her element in this dull little town.


earth1
world also&nbsp;Earth&nbsp;[singular, uncountable] theplanet that we live on:
the planet Earth
the earth
The earth revolves around the sun.the earth's surface/atmosphere/crust etc
71% of the earth's surface is sea.on earth
the origin of life on Earth2
soil&nbsp;[uncountable] the substance that plants grow in&nbsp;[=&nbsp;soil]
soft/bare/damp etc earth
footprints in the wet earth
a lump of earth3
land&nbsp;[uncountable] the hard surface of the world, as opposed to the sea or air[=&nbsp;ground]:
The earth shook.
They watched the kite fall back to earth.➔&nbsp;see usage note ground14
&nbsp;what/why/how etc on earth ...? spoken used to ask a question when you are very surprised or angry:
What on earth did you do that for?5
&nbsp;cost/pay/charge the earth informal to cost etc a very large amount of money:
It must have cost the earth!6
&nbsp;the biggest/tallest/most expensive etc ... on earth the biggest etc example of something that exists:
the most powerful man on earth7
religion&nbsp;[uncountable] used in religion to refer to the time when people are alive as opposed to being in heaven or hell:
Jesus' time on earth
➔ move heaven and earth&nbsp;at&nbsp;heaven&nbsp;(9)
&nbsp;➔ hell on earth&nbsp;athell1&nbsp;(2)8
&nbsp;come back/down to earth (with a bump) to stop behaving or living in a way that is not practical:
She soon brought him back down to earth.9
&nbsp;no ... /nothing on earth used to emphasize that you mean nothing at all:
Nothing on earth would have persuaded me to go.
There's no reason on earth why you should tell him.10
&nbsp;look/feel etc like nothing on earth British English to look or feel very strange:
The next morning I felt like nothing on earth.11
electricity&nbsp;[countable usually singular] British English a wire that makes a piece of electrical equipment safe by connecting it with the ground&nbsp;[=&nbsp;groundAmerican English]12
animal's home&nbsp;[countable] the hole where a wild animal such as a fox lives[↪&nbsp;den,&nbsp;lair]13
&nbsp;go to earth British English to hide in order to escape from someone who is chasing you&nbsp;[=&nbsp;go to ground]14
&nbsp;run somebody/something to earth British English to find someone, especially by looking in many places➔ down-to-earth
&nbsp;➔ promise somebody the moon/the earth&nbsp;atpromise1&nbsp;(3)
&nbsp;➔ the salt of the earth&nbsp;at&nbsp;salt1&nbsp;(2)WORD CHOICE:&nbsp;

ground, land, earth, soil, floorThe ground&nbsp;is the surface that you walk on when you are outdoors•&nbsp;There were a few flakes of snow on the ground.•&nbsp;an area of muddy groundland is an area of ground that is owned or controlled by someone•&nbsp;They were on his land.•&nbsp;land set aside for housingIt is also the part of the earth's surface that is not covered in water•&nbsp;animals that live on landearth or&nbsp;soil is the soft substance that covers the ground and that plants grow in•&nbsp;Green shoots peeped through the earth.•&nbsp;fertile soilThe Earth or&nbsp;earth is also the planet that we live on.The&nbsp;floor is the surface that you walk on when you are indoors•&nbsp;There's mud all over the floor!


ge‧ol‧o‧gy&nbsp;[uncountable]the study of the rocks, soil etc that make up the Earth, and of the way they have changed since the Earth was formed—geologist noun&nbsp;[countable]—geological adjective—geologically adverb


me‧te‧o‧rol‧o‧gy&nbsp;[uncountable]the scientific study of weather conditions—meteorologist noun&nbsp;[countable]
The storms have baffled meteorologists in the United States.—meteorological adjective:
satellites that provide meteorological data to the National Weather Service


o‧cean‧og‧ra‧phy&nbsp;[uncountable]the scientific study of the ocean—oceanographer noun&nbsp;[countable]

maths&nbsp;[uncountable]British English informal mathematics&nbsp;[=&nbsp;math&nbsp;American English]
the new maths teacher
maths lessons
She got top marks in maths and chemistry.


number1
number&nbsp;[countable] a word or sign that represents an amount or a quantity[↪&nbsp;numeral,&nbsp;figure]:
They wrote various numbers on a large sheet of paper.
Five was her lucky number.
an even number&nbsp;(=2, 4, 6, 8, 10 etc)an odd number&nbsp;(=1, 3, 5, 7, 9 etc)
round number&nbsp;(=a number ending in 0)
A million pounds seemed a suitably round number.be good/bad/no good with numbers informal&nbsp;(=to be good, bad etc at calculating things using numbers)➔ cardinal number,&nbsp;ordinal number,&nbsp;prime number,&nbsp;whole number2
phone&nbsp;[countable] a phone number:
My new number is 502-6155.

somebody's home/office/work number
I gave him my home number.mobile/fax number
What's your mobile number?
Sorry, you have the wrong number.3
in a set/list&nbsp;[countable] a number used to show the position of something in an ordered set or list:
Answer question number 4.
a number 17 bus➔ E number among their own number.18
grammar&nbsp;[uncountable] technical the form of a word, depending on whether one thing or more than one thing is being talked about:
'Horses' is plural in number, while 'horse' is singular.


sta‧tis‧tic1
&nbsp;statisticsa)&nbsp;[plural] a set of numbers which represent facts or measurements:
the official crime statistics

statistics for
statistics for injuries at work
 Statistics show that 50% of new businesses fail in their first year.b)&nbsp;[uncountable] the science of collecting and examining such numbers:
Statistics is a branch of mathematics.2&nbsp;[singular] a single number which represents a fact or measurement:
The statistic comes from a study recently conducted by the British government.3
&nbsp;a statistic informal if someone is just a statistic, they are just another example of someone who has died because of a particular type of accident or disease:
We can't let these boys become just another statistic.—statistical adjective:
statistical evidence—statistically adverb:
The variation is not statistically significant.


phys‧ics&nbsp;[uncountable]the science concerned with the study of physical objects and substances, and of natural forces such as light, heat, and movement

e‧lec‧tri‧ci‧ty&nbsp;[uncountable]1 the power that is carried by wires, cables etc, and is used to provide light or heat, to make machines work etc:
The farm was very isolated, but it had electricity.
the electricity supply
the electricity bill2 a feeling of excitement


op‧tics&nbsp;[uncountable]the scientific study of light and the way we see