jewel
[countable] 1
a valuable stone, such as a diamond ?synonym gem 2
jewels [plural] jewellery or other objects made with valuable stones and used for decoration She loved dressing up and wearing priceless jewels. 3
a very small stone used in the machinery of a watch 4
something or someone that is very valuable, attractive, or important He introduced her to Budapest, a jewel of a city. 5
the jewel in the crown
the best or most valuable part of something
Puddings are the jewel in the crown of British cookery. ?see also crown jewel lizard
[countable]
a type of reptile that has four legs and a long tail mermaiden [countable]
in stories, a woman who has a fish's tail instead of legs and who lives in the sea musician [countable]
someone who plays a musical instrument, especially very well or as a job a talented young musician nest
[countable] 1
?BIRDS?
a place made or chosen by a bird to lay its eggs in and to live in
a bird's nest In May the females build a nest and lay their eggs. Young eagles are ready to leave the nest after only two months. 2
?INSECTS/ANIMALS?
a place where insects or small animals live a field mouse's nest 3
leave/fly the nest
to leave your parents' home and start living somewhere else when you are an adult Both daughters were of an age where they wanted to fly the nest. 4
nest of spies/thieves/intrigue etc
a place where people are secretly doing a lot of illegal or dishonest things 5
nest of tables/boxes etc
a set of tables etc that fit inside each other
?see also feather your nest atfeather2 (1), mare's nest atmare(2), love nest nightingale [countable]
a small bird that sings very beautifully, especially at night nip
past tense and past participle nipped present participle nipping 1
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] British English informal to go somewhere quickly or for a short time
?synonym popHave we time to nip down the pub for a quick drink?Another car nipped in (=moved quickly into a space) in front of me.I've got to nip home and change my clothes. 2
[intransitive and transitive] to bite someone or something lightly She gently nipped the lobe of his ear. nip at
The fish swam all around her and nipped at her legs. 3
nip something in the bud
to prevent something from becoming a problem by stopping it as soon as it starts Try to nip this kind of bad behaviour in the bud. 4
[transitive] British English to suddenly and quickly press something tightly between two fingers, edges, or surfaces
?see also pinch Sally nipped her cheeks to make them look less pale. He nipped his finger in the door. 5
[intransitive and transitive] written if cold weather or the wind nips at part of your body or at a plant, it hurts or damages it nip at
The frost nipped at our fingers. nip something ? off phrasal verb
to remove a small part of something, especially a plant, by pressing it tightly between your finger and thumb
She nipped off a dead flower. Opal
[uncountable and countable]
a type of white stone with changing colours in it, often used in jewellery outright 1
clearly and directly, without trying to hide your feelings or intentions If she asked me outright , I'd tell her. 2
clearly and completely
She won outright. They rejected the deal outright . 3
buy/own something outright
to own something such as a house completely because you have paid the full price with your own money 4
immediately and without any delay
The passenger was killed outright . They fired her outright. Pang
[countable]
a sudden feeling of pain, sadness etc
pang of jealousy/guilt/remorse/regret She felt a sudden pang of guilt. hunger pangs petal
[countable]
one of the coloured parts of a flower that are shaped like leaves rose petals The flower has seven petals. Pluck 1
?PULL SOMETHING?
[transitive] written to pull something quickly in order to remove it pluck something from/off etc something
He plucked a couple of plastic bags from the roll. Reaching up, she plucked an apple off the tree. 2
pluck your eyebrows
to make your eyebrows the shape you want, by pulling out some of the hairs 3
?TAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING AWAY?
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take someone away from a place or situation that is dangerous or unpleasant in a quick and unexpected way pluck somebody/something from/out of something
Some refugee children were plucked out of the country in a number of mercy missions.
She was plucked from obscurity (=made suddenly famous) by a Hollywood film producer. Three survivors were plucked to safety after being in the sea for 7 hours. 4
?CHICKEN?
[transitive] to pull the feathers off a dead chicken or other bird before cooking it 5
pluck up (the) courage (to do something)
to force yourself to be brave and do something you are afraid of doing He finally plucked up enough courage to ask her out.
6
?MUSIC?
[intransitive and transitive] to pull the strings of a musical instrument pluck at
Someone was plucking at the strings of an old guitar. 7
pluck something out of the air
also pluck something out of thin air
to say or suggest a number, name etc that you have just thought of, without thinking about it carefully
I'm plucking a figure out of the air here, but let's say it'll cost about $15,000. pluck at something phrasal verb
to pull something quickly several times with your fingers, especially because you are nervous or to attract attention
Kitty's hands plucked at her black cotton skirt. The little boy plucked at her sleeve. Prince [countable] 1
the son of a king, queen, or prince ?see also princess Prince William 2
a male ruler of a small country or state Prince Rainier of Monaco 3
the prince of something/a prince among something literary the man who is best at something the prince of sculptors ruby
plural rubies 1
[countable] a red jewel 2
also ?ruby ?red
[uncountable] a dark red colour
?ruby adjective sincerity [uncountable]
when someone is sincere and really means what they are saying
I don't doubt her sincerity, but I think she's got her facts wrong. May I say in all sincerity that we could not have achieved this much without your help and support. Soar
[intransitive] 1
?AMOUNTS/PRICES ETC? to increase quickly to a high level
?opposite plummetHer temperature soared.The price of petrol has soared in recent weeks.soaring unemployment 2
?IN THE SKY?
a) to fly, especially very high up in the sky, floating on air currents She watched the dove soar above the chestnut trees. b) to go quickly upwards to a great height The ball soared to left field. 3
?SPIRITS/HOPES?
if your spirits (=the way you are feeling, for example happy, sad etc) or hopes soar, you begin to feel very happy or hopeful
Adam's smile sent her spirits soaring . 4
?LOOK TALL?
[not in progressive] if buildings, trees, towers etc soar, they look very tall and impressive Here the cliffs soar a hundred feet above the sea. a soaring skyscraper Soul 1
?SOMEBODY'S SPIRIT?
[countable] the part of a person that is not physical, and that contains their character, thoughts, and feelings. Many people believe that a person's soul continues to exist after they have died
?see also spirit the immortality of the soul It was as if those grey eyes could see into the very depths of her soul . in somebody's soul
the restlessness deep in his soul the souls of the dead 2
?PERSON?
[countable]used in particular phrases to mean 'a person'
happy/sensitive/brave/simple etc soul He is really quite a sensitive soul. not a (living) soul (=no one) I promise I won't tell a soul . not a soul in sight/not a soul to be seen The night was dark and still, and there was not a soul in sight. poor (old) soul (=used to show pity for someone) The poor old soul had fallen and broken her hip. 3
?MUSIC? also soul music
[uncountable] a type of popular music that often expresses deep emotions, usually performed by black singers and musicians
He listens to a lot of soul. a soul band 4
?SENSE OF BEAUTY?