-Definition of
summit noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
summit
noun
/ˈsʌmɪt/
/ˈsʌmɪt/
.
enlarge image
.
. the highest point of something, especially the top of a mountain
We reached the summit at noon.
This path leads to the summit.
(figurative) the summit of his career
Wordfinder
Extra Examples
TOPICS GeographyC1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
.
. an official meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more
governments at which they discuss important matters
a summit in Moscow
a summit conference
sink
verb
/sɪŋk/
/sɪŋk/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
in water/mud, etc.
.
. [intransitive] to go down below the surface or towards the bottom of a liquid or
soft substance
The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.
The submarine sank after an explosion.
We're sinking!
sink into something The wheels started to sink into the mud.
The little boat sank beneath the waves.
Extra Examples
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
boat
.
. [transitive] sink something to damage a boat or ship so that it goes below the
surface of the sea, etc.
The battleship was sunk by a torpedo.
Bombs sank all four carriers.
Five brothers all died when their ship was sunk.
TOPICS War and conflictB1
fall/sit down
. [intransitive] + adv./prep. (of a person) to move downwards, especially by falling or sitting
downSYNONYM collapse
I sank into an armchair.
She sank back into her seat, exhausted.
The old man had sunk to his knees.
Extra Examples
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
move downwards
. [intransitive] (of an object) to move slowly downwards
The sun was sinking in the west.
The sun had sunk below the horizon.
The foundations of the building are starting to sink.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
become weaker
. [intransitive] to decrease in amount, volume, strength, etc.
The pound has sunk to its lowest recorded level against the dollar.
He is clearly sinking fast (= getting weaker quickly and will soon die).
Extra Examples
TOPICS Change, cause and effectC1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
of voice
. [intransitive] to become quieterSYNONYM fade
Her voice sank to a whisper.
dig in ground
. [transitive] sink something to make a deep hole in the groundSYNONYM drill
to sink a well/shaft/mine
. [transitive] sink something (+ adv./prep.) to place something in the ground by digging
to sink a post into the ground
SEE ALSO sunken
prevent success
. [transitive] sink something/somebody (informal) to prevent somebody or somebody’s
plans from succeeding
I think I've just sunk my chances of getting the job.
If the car breaks down, we'll be sunk (= have serious problems).
TOPICS Difficulty and failureC2
ball
. [transitive] sink something to hit a ball into a hole in golf or snooker
He sank a 12-foot putt to win the match.
TOPICS Sports: other sportsC2
alcohol
. [transitive] sink something (British English, informal) to drink something quickly,
especially a large amount of alcohol
They sank three pints each in 10 minutes.
depression
noun
/dɪˈpreʃn/
/dɪˈpreʃn/
. [uncountable] a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious
and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to sleep, etc.
She was diagnosed as having clinical depression.
She suffered from severe depression after losing her job.
Wordfinder
SEE ALSO postnatal depression, post-partum depression
Extra Examples
TOPICS IllnessB2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. [uncountable, countable] the state of feeling very sad and without hope
There was a feeling of gloom and depression in the office when the news of the
job cuts was announced.
Extra Examples
TOPICS FeelingsB2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. [countable, uncountable] a period when there is little economic activity and many
people are poor or without jobs
The country was in the grip of (an) economic depression.
the great Depression of the 1930s
He grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Extra Examples
TOPICS MoneyC1, Social issuesC1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. [countable] (formal) a part of a surface that is lower than the parts around
itSYNONYM hollow
Rainwater collects in shallow depressions on the ground.
From the air, the photos show a shallow depression on the planet's surface.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. [countable] (specialist) a weather condition in which the pressure of the air becomes
lower, often causing rain
an atmospheric depression moving east from the Atlantic
COMPARE anticycloneTOPICS WeatherC2
exploded
adjective
/ɪkˈspləʊdɪd/
/ɪkˈspləʊdɪd/
(specialist)
enlarge image
. (of a drawing or diagram) showing the parts of something separately but also
showing how they are connected to each other
an exploded diagram of a plane
starry
adjective
/ˈstɑːri/
/ˈstɑːri/
[usually before noun]
. (of the sky) full of stars
a beautiful starry night
. looking like a star
starry flowers
. (of eyes) shining like stars
Check pronunciation: starry
cluster
noun
/ˈklʌstə(r)/
/ˈklʌstər
a group of things of the same type that grow or appear close together
The telescope is focused on a dense cluster of stars at the edge of the galaxy.
The plant bears its flowers in clusters.
a leukaemia cluster (= an area where there are more cases of the disease than you would
expect)
a group of people, animals or things close together
a cluster of spectators
a little cluster of houses
(phonetics) a group of consonants that come together in a word or phrase, for example /str/ at the
beginning of string
a consonant cluster
tilt
verb
/tɪlt/
/tɪlt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
. [intransitive, transitive] to move, or make something move, into a position with one side or
end higher than the otherSYNONYM tip
(+ adv./prep.) Suddenly the boat tilted to one side
The seat tilts forward, when you press this lever.
tilt something (+ adv./prep.) His hat was tilted slightly at an angle.
She tilted her head back and looked up at me with a smile.
Extra Examples
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. [transitive, intransitive] tilt (something/somebody) (in favour of/away from
something/somebody) to make something/somebody change slightly so that one
particular opinion, person, etc. is preferred or more likely to succeed than another; to
change in this way
The conditions may tilt the balance in favour of the Kenyan runners.
Popular opinion has tilted in favour of the socialists.
halves
/hɑːvz/
/hævz/
. PLURAL OF half
grid
noun
/ɡrɪd/
/ɡrɪd/
Idioms
. a pattern of straight lines, usually crossing each other to form squares
New York’s grid of streets
. a frame of metal or wooden bars that are parallel or cross each otherSEE ALSO cattle
grid
.
. a pattern of squares on a map that are marked with letters or numbers to help
you find the exact position of a place
The grid reference is C8.
.
. (especially British English) a system of electric wires or pipes carrying gas, for
sending power over a large area
the national grid (= the electricity supply in a country)
the development of the country’s electricity grid
Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system.
SEE ALSO national grid
(also starting grid)
. (in motor racing) a pattern of lines marking the starting positions for the racing
cars
The 20-year-old didn't get the best of starts off the grid.
(often the Grid)
. [singular] (computing) a number of computers that are linked together using the
internet so that they can share power, data, etc. in order to work on difficult
problems
Idioms
off the grid
. (especially North American English) not using the public supplies of electricity, gas, water,
etc.
The mountain cabin is entirely off the grid.
You can produce your own power and live off the grid.
surplus
noun
/ˈsɜːpləs/
/ˈsɜːrplʌs/
[countable, uncountable]
. an amount that is extra or more than you need
food surpluses
in surplus Wheat was in surplus that year.
SEE ALSO army surplus
Extra Examples
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
. the amount by which the amount of money received is greater than the amount of
money spent
a surplus of £400 million
in surplus The balance of payments was in surplus last year (= the value of
exports was greater than the value of imports).
sustain
verb
OPAL W
/səˈsteɪn/
/səˈsteɪn/
Verb Forms
. sustain somebody/something to provide enough of what somebody/something
needs in order to live or exist
Which planets can sustain life?
I only had a little chocolate to sustain me on my walk.
The love and support of his family sustained him during his time in prison.
When she lost her job they could no longer sustain their expensive lifestyle.
The soil was so badly eroded it could no longer sustain crop production.
.
. sustain something to make something continue for some time without becoming
lessSYNONYM maintain
She managed to sustain everyone's interest until the end of her speech.
Kangaroos can sustain high speeds over long distances.
the sustaining pedal of a piano (= that allows a note to continue sounding for a
long time)
This relationship would be very difficult to sustain.
. sustain something (formal) to experience something badSYNONYM suffer
to sustain damage/an injury/a defeat
The company sustained losses of millions of dollars.
TOPICS IllnessC2
. sustain something to provide evidence to support an opinion, a theory,
etc.SYNONYM uphold
The evidence is not detailed enough to sustain his argument.
TOPICS Opinion and argumentC2
. sustain something (formal) to support a weight without breaking or
fallingSYNONYM bear
The ice will not sustain your weight.
. sustain something (law) to decide that a claim, etc. is true or
legally validSYNONYM uphold
The court sustained his claim that the contract was illegal.
Objection sustained! (= said by a judge when a lawyer makes an objection in
court)
comprise
verb
OPAL W
/kəmˈpraɪz/
/kəmˈpraɪz/
not used in the progressive tenses(formal)
Verb Forms
(also be comprised of)
. to have somebody/something as parts or membersSYNONYM consist
of
comprise something The collection comprises 327 paintings.
a DVD box set comprising seasons 4 and 5
be comprised of somebody/something The committee is comprised of
representatives from both the public and private sectors.
The main meaning of comprise is ‘have somebody/something as parts or members’.
You can use it in two forms: as comprise with an object: The country comprises 20
states. Or you can use it in the passive form be comprised of somebody/something,
which has the same meaning: The country is comprised of twenty states. Sometimes you
may see the active form ‘comprise of’ but this is considered incorrect: The property
comprises of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
. comprise something to be the parts or members that form
somethingSYNONYM make up
Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty.
basin
noun
/ˈbeɪsn/
/ˈbeɪsn/
(also washbasin)
. (both especially British English)
(also sink North American English, British English)
(also especially North American English washbowl)
.a large bowl that has taps and is fixed to the wall in a bathroom,
used for washing your hands and face in
He washed his hands in the basin.
She filled the basin with warm soapy water.
. a large round bowl for holding liquids or (in British English) for preparing foods in; the
amount of liquid, etc. in a basin
a pudding basin
. an area of land around a large river with streams running down into it
the Amazon Basin
TOPICS GEOGRAPHYC2
. (specialist) a place where the earth’s surface is lower than in other areas of the world
the Pacific Basin
. a sheltered area of water providing a safe harbour for boats
a yacht basin
glacier
noun
/ˈɡlæsiə(r)/
/ˈɡleɪʃər/
enlarge image
. a slow-moving mass or river of ice, formed from snow on mountains or near the
North Pole or South Pole
tide
noun
/taɪd/
/taɪd/
Idioms
. [countable, uncountable] a regular rise and fall in the level of the sea, caused by
the pull of the moon and sun; the flow of water that happens as the sea rises and
falls
the ebb and flow of the tide
The tide is in/out.
Is the tide coming in or going out?
The body was washed up on the beach by the tide
harbour
noun
/ˈhɑːbə(r)/
/ˈhɑːrbər/
(US English harbor)
[countable, uncountable]
enlarge image
. an area of water on the coast, protected from the open sea by strong walls,
where ships can shelter
Several boats lay at anchor in the harbour.
to enter/leave harbour
the harbour front/mouth/wall
(figurative) She felt as though she'd reached a safe harbour after sailing in a
vast, unfriendly sea.
