Beneath formal 1
in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something
?synonym underneathThe dolphins disappeared beneath the waves.Jo enjoyed feeling the warm sand beneath her feet.He was standing on the bridge looking at the river beneath.Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow. see usage note under 2
covered by something
Shiona shivered beneath the bedclothes. Suddenly Cranston pulled out a large handgun from beneath his robes. 3
used to say that someone's real character or feelings are not shown because their appearance or behaviour is different
?synonym underneathDave sensed that something more sinister lay beneath the woman's cheerful exterior.She tried to keep calm but beneath the surface she was angry. 4
not good enough or suitable for someone
She acts as if even speaking to us is beneath her. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough) . I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad you have no respect for the person involved) . 5
in a lower, less important rank or job than someone else ?synonym below bloom
[intransitive] 1
if a plant or a flower blooms, its flowers appear or open 2
to become happier, healthier, or more successful in a way that is very noticeable She was positively blooming the last time I saw her. Breast 1
[countable]?WOMAN'S BODY?
one of the two round raised parts on a woman's chest that produce milk when she has a baby
These bras are specially designed for women with large breasts. breast milk breast cancer bare-breasted/small-breasted etc 2
?CHEST?
[countable] written the part of your body between your neck and your stomach Dick cradled her photograph against his breast. 3
?BIRD?
[countable]the front part of a bird's body, below its neck
a robin with a red breast red-breasted/white-breasted etc red-breasted geese 4
?MEAT?
[uncountable] meat that comes from the front part of the body of a bird such as a chicken turkey breast 5
?CLOTHES?
[countable usually singular] the part of a jacket, shirt etc that covers the top part of your chest ?see also double-breasted, single-breasted 6
make a clean breast of it/things
to admit that you have done something wrong 7
?EMOTIONS?
[countable] literary where your feelings of sadness, love, anger, fear etc come from a troubled breast
?see also beat your breast atbeat1 (31), chimney breast bride
[countable]
a woman at the time she gets married or just after she is married ?see also groom You may kiss the bride. Bridegroom
also groom [countable]
a man at the time he gets married, or just after he is married bubble
[intransitive] 1
to produce bubbles
Heat the cheese until it bubbles. bubble up
The cola bubbled up when I unscrewed the lid. 2
to make the sound that water makes when it boils bubble away
The water was bubbling away on the stove. 3
also bubble over to be excited bubble with
Mary was bubbling over with excitement. 4
also bubble away/up
if a feeling or activity bubbles, it continues to exist
Resentment was still bubbling inside her. Speculation has been bubbling away for months that he plans to resign. Bud
[countable] 1
a young tightly rolled up flower or leaf before it opens rose buds in bud (=having buds but no flowers yet) come into bud (=start to produce buds) 2
spoken especially American English buddy Hey, bud, how's it going?
?see also cotton bud, taste bud, nip something in the bud atnip1 (3) butterfly
plural butterflies [countable] 1
a type of insect that has large wings, often with beautiful colours 2
have/get butterflies (in your stomach)
informal to feel very nervous before doing something I always get butterflies before an exam. 3
the butterfly
a way of swimming by lying on your front and moving your arms together over your head while your legs move up and down 4
someone who usually moves on quickly from one activity or person to the next Gwen's a real social butterfly . Chamberlain [countable]
an important official who managed the house of a king or queen in the past chill 1
[intransitive and transitive] if you chill something such as food or drink, or if it chills, it becomes very cold but does not freeze
a glass of chilled white wine Spoon the mixture into a pudding basin and chill for at least two hours. The longer this salad chills, the better the flavour. 2
also chill out
[intransitive] informal to relax completely instead of feeling angry, tired, or nervous
'Hold it! Just chill for a second, won't you!' I spent the afternoon chilling out in front of the TV. 3
[transitive]to make someone very cold
The wind blew across her body, chilling her wet skin. chilled to the bone/marrow (=extremely cold) Come and sit by the fire - you look chilled to the bone. 4
[transitive] literary to suddenly frighten someone, especially by seeming very cruel or violent
The anger in his face chilled her. chill somebody to the bone/chill somebody to the marrow/chill somebody's blood (=frighten somebody a lot) He jerked his head round and saw something that chilled his blood. Coral
[uncountable]
a hard red, white, or pink substance formed from the bones of very small sea creatures, which is often used to make jewellery crimson 1
deep red in colour
The leaves turn crimson in autumn. a crimson dress 2
if you go crimson, your face becomes red because you are very angry or embarrassed go/turn/flush/blush crimson The boy blushed crimson. crimson with
Her face was crimson with embarrassment.
?crimson noun [uncountable] crystal 1
[uncountable] very high quality clear glass a set of six crystal glasses 2
[countable] a small regular-shaped piece of a substance, formed naturally when this substance becomes solid
ice crystals copper sulphate crystals 3
[uncountable and countable] rock that is clear, or a piece of this 4
[countable] American English the clear cover on a clock or watch cynic
[countable]
someone who is not willing to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something
Even hardened cynics believe the meeting is a step towards peace.
?cynicism / -s?z?m / noun [uncountable] daffodil [countable]
a tall yellow spring flower with a tube-shaped part in the middle
daisy
plural daisies [countable] 1
a white flower with a yellow centre 2
be pushing up (the) daisies to be dead - used humorously
?see also fresh as a daisy atfresh(11) delicate 1
needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure
There's something I have to speak to you about - it's a delicate matter . delicate negotiations 2
easily damaged or broken
?synonym fragiledelicate hand-cut glassThe sun can easily damage a child's delicate skin . 3
old-fashioned someone who is delicate is hurt easily or easily becomes ill a delicate child 4
a part of the body that is delicate is attractive and graceful
Her wrists and ankles were slim and delicate. her delicate features 5
made skilfully and with attention to the smallest details a plate with a delicate pattern of leaves 6
a taste, smell, or colour that is delicate is pleasant and not strong The wine has a dry delicate flavour. a delicate pink
?delicately adverb ?see also indelicate dove
[countable] 1
a kind of small white pigeon (=bird) often used as a sign of peace 2
someone in politics who prefers peace and discussion to war ?opposite hawk ebb
[intransitive] 1
if the tide ebbs, it flows away from the shore 2
also ebb away