C

(163 words)

call

ASK TO COME

verb [ I or T ] to ask someone to come to you:

She called me over to where she was sitting.
She called me over and showed me the report.
I keep the bedroom door open in case the children call (for) me in the night.
I thought I heard my daughter calling for me.
I was called to an emergency meeting this morning.
He was called to the phone.
At school she was always being called into the headteacher’s office.
He called me into his office and asked me to explain my decision.
You can’t just call people across the office and expect them to come running!

DECIDE ON

[ T ] to decide officially to have a particular event or take particular action:

The managing director has called a meeting to discuss pay levels.
The papers are predicting that the prime minister will call an election in the spring.
It’s reckoned that the unions will call a strike if management will not agree to their demands.
They had to call a halt to (= end) the match because of the heavy rain.

DEMAND

noun [ C ] a demand for something to happen:

Management have so far ignored the union’s calls for stricter safety regulations.

VISIT

[ C ] a short visit, especially an official one made by someone whose job is connected with health:

Doctor Seward is out on a call this morning.
The nurse has got a few calls to make this afternoon.

call on sb

to ask someone in a formal way to do something:

They’re calling on all men and boys over the age of 14 to join the army.
formal I now call on everyone to raise a glass to the happy couple.

campaign

noun [ C ]

a planned group of especially political, business, or military activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim:

The protests were part of their campaign against the proposed building development in the area.
This is the latest act of terrorism in a long-standing and bloody campaign of violence.
The endless public appearances are an inevitable part of an election campaign.
She’s the campaign organizer for the Labour Party.
The government have just launched (= begun) their annual Christmas campaign to stop drunken driving.
a controversial new advertising campaign

a group of connected actions or movements that forms part of a war:

战役：

a bombing campaign

verb [ I ]

to organize a series of activities to try to achieve something:

[ + to infinitive ] They’ve been campaigning for years to get him out of prison.
He’s spending a lot of his time at the moment campaigning for/on behalf of the Conservative Party.
They’re busy campaigning against the building of a new motorway near here.

cancellation

noun [ C or U ]

the act of deciding that an organized event will not happen or of stopping an order for something:

Many trains are subject to cancellation because of the flooding.
The theatre tickets were sold out, so we waited to see if there were any cancellations (= unwanted returned tickets).

cap

verb [ T often passive ] to put a limit on the amount of money that can be charged or spent in connection with a particular activity:

High spending councils have all been (rate/charge) capped.
Our mortgage is capped at 8.75 percent for five years.

to cap it all (off)

used when you mention something in addition to all the other (bad) things that have happened:

It’s been a terrible week and now, to cap it all, I’ve got a cold.

capability

noun [ C or U ] the ability to do something:

These tests are beyond the capability of an average twelve-year-old.
[ + to infinitive ] With the new machines we finally have the capability (= power) to do the job properly.

capacity

noun [ S ] formal a particular position or job:

She guides tourists at the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home in her capacity as a National Park Service ranger.
She was speaking in her capacity as a novelist, rather than as a television presenter.

capture

verb [ T ] INTEREST

If something captures your imagination or attention, you feel very interested and excited by it:

The American drive to land a man on the Moon captured the imagination/attention of the whole world.

noun [ S or U ]

They witnessed the capture of the city by rebel troops.

take care of sth

to deal with something:

If you can see to the drinks for the party, I’ll take care of the food.
All the travel arrangements have been taken care of.
No, you paid for dinner last time, let me take care of (= pay for) it.

I couldn’t care less

UK informal us I could care less

used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone:

“Mike’s really fed up about it.” “I couldn’t care less.”

carriage

noun UK also coach, US car

any of the separate parts of a train in which the passengers sit:

火车车厢；

a railway carriage

carry

verb [ T ] to take something from one person or thing and give it to another person or thing:

Malaria is a disease carried by mosquitoes.

catch on

to become fashionable or popular:

I wonder if the game will ever catch on with young people?

catch up

to reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else:

Will Western industry ever catch up with Japanese innovations?
He was off school for a while and is finding it hard to catch up.

cater

verb [ I or T ] to provide, and sometimes serve, food:

I’m catering for twelve on Sunday – the whole family is coming.
Which firm will be catering at the wedding reception?
us Who catered your party?

cater for sb/sth

mainly UK US usually cater to sb/sth

to provide what is wanted or needed by someone or something:

The club caters for children between the ages of four and twelve.
Schools often fail to cater for the needs of gifted children.
It is a resort that clearly caters for the well-off.
This section of the bookstore caters for minority interests.
The college caters for deaf and visually-impaired students.

cater to sb/sth

often disapproving to satisfy a need or desire that is unusual or unacceptable:

Why should you cater to his every whim?
This legislation simply caters to racism.

cause

noun [ C ] a socially valuable principle that is strongly supported by some people:

They are fighting for a cause – the liberation of their people.
I’ll sponsor you for £10 – it’s all in a good cause.
Her study has considerably advanced the cause of equal rights.
Environment protesters have made common cause with local people to stop the motorway being built.
He has always shown great dedication to the cause.
Vegetarianism is one cause she does not espouse.
He has probably done more to further the cause of interracial harmony than any other person.

caution

noun [ U ] great care and attention:

We need to proceed with/exercise caution (= be careful in taking action, making decisions, etc.)
They treated the story of his escape with (some/great/extreme) caution (= thought that it might not be true).

central

adjective [ before noun ] controlled or organized in one main place:

central authorities
the US central bank
central planning

cereal

noun [ C or U ] a plant that is grown to produce grain（谷粒）:

谷物：

cereal crops

know/say for certain

to know or say something without doubt:

I don’t know for certain if she’s coming.
I can’t say for certain how long I’ll be there.

changeable

adjective often changing:

The weather in Britain is notoriously changeable.
His moods are very changeable.

chaotic

adjective in a state of chaos:

The house is a bit chaotic at the moment – we’ve got all these extra people staying and we’re still decorating.
He’s a chaotic sort of a person – always trying to do twenty things at once.

character

noun

PERSON

[ C ] informal someone whose behaviour is different from most people’s, especially in a way that is interesting or funny:

Ted’s quite a character/a real character – he’s 70 now and still riding that motorbike.

MARK

[ C ] a letter, number, or other mark or sign used in writing or printing, or the space one of these takes:

a string of characters (= a line of marks)
The address was written in Chinese/Japanese characters (= systems of writing).
The computer screen on this laptop is 66 characters (= spaces) wide.

charge

noun [ C ] specialized law a formal police statement saying that someone is accused of a crime:

The 19-year-old will be appearing in court on Thursday where she will face criminal charges.
He has been arrested on a charge of murder.
The police brought a charge of theft against him.
The police have had to drop (= stop) charges against her because they couldn’t find any evidence.
He claimed he had been arrested on a trumped-up (= false) charge.

chatty

adjective informal

liking to talk a lot in a friendly, informal way

If a piece of writing is chatty, it is informal:

a chatty letter/style

cheap

adjective disapproving used to describe goods that are both low in quality and low in price:

I bought some cheap wine for cooking with.
He bought some cheap shoes that fell apart after a couple of months.

check up on sb

to try to discover what someone is doing in order to be certain that that person is doing what they should be doing:

My mum checks up on me most evenings to see that I’ve done my homework.

check sth out

EXAMINE

informal to examine something or get more information about it in order to be certain that it is true, safe, or suitable:

We’ll need to check out his story.

GO TO SEE

informal to go to a place in order to see what it is like:

I’m going to check out that new club.

chilly

adjective literary chill (of weather, conditions in a room, or parts of the body) cold:

The bathroom gets chilly in the winter.
I felt a bit chilly so I put on a jacket.
a chilly October day

cholesterol

noun [ U ] a substance containing a lot of fat that is found in the body tissue and blood of all animals, thought to be part of the cause of heart disease if there is too much of it:

胆固醇

chore

noun [ C ] a job or piece of work that is often boring or unpleasant but needs to be done regularly:

I’ll go shopping when I’ve done my chores (= done the jobs in or around the house).
I find writing reports a real chore (= very boring).

the cinema

mainly uk us usually the movies

the business of making films:

He was well known for his work in the cinema.

civil

adjective [ before noun ] not military or religious, or relating to the ordinary people of a country:

Helicopters are mainly used for military rather than civil use.
After ten years of military dictatorship, the country now has a civil government.
We weren’t married in church, but we had a civil ceremony in a registry office.

civilization

[ U ] mainly humorous a place that has comfortable living conditions:

How does it feel to be back in civilization after all those weeks in a tent?

claim

noun [ C ] a statement that something is true or is a fact, although other people might not believe it:

He said the police assaulted him while he was in custody, a claim that the police deny.
[ + that ] The government’s claim that it would reduce taxes proved false.
Can you give any evidence to support your claim?
He made wild claims about being able to cure cancer.
Many experts remain sceptical about his claims.
I suspect his claims are not all they seem – he tends to exaggerate.

clarification

noun [ C or U ] an explanation or more details that makes something clear or easier to understand:

Some further clarification of your position is needed.

clarify

verb [ T ] to make something clear or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation:

Could you clarify the first point please? I don’t understand it completely.
The position of all shareholders will be clarified next month when we finalize our proposals.

class

verb [ T ] to consider someone or something to belong to a particular group because of their qualities:

I’m 17, but I’m still classed as a child when I travel by bus.
I would class her among/with the top ten American novelists.

classify

verb [ T ] to divide things or people into groups according to their type, or to say which group or type something or someone belongs to:

The books in the library are classified by/according to subject.
Biologists classify animals and plants into different groups.
children who are classified as overweight

clean (sb/sth) up

to make a person or place clean and tidy:

We’ll go out as soon as I’ve cleaned up the kitchen.
I need to clean up (= clean myself or the place where I am) before we go out.
Clean yourself up a bit before dinner.

cleaner’s

[ C ] a shop where clothes that cannot be washed in an ordinary washing machine are cleaned:

干洗店：

Could you pick up my suit from the cleaner’s for me, please?

clear

adjective not covered or blocked by anything:

We have a clear view of the ocean from our hotel window.
The journey was quite quick because the road was clear (= there was not much traffic on it).
I always like to leave my desk clear (= with no work on it) at the end of the day.

crystal clear

extremely clear:

crystal clear water

clear sth away

to make a place tidy by removing things from it or putting them where they should be:

I want you to clear all these toys away before bedtime.

clinical

adjective used to refer to medical work or teaching that relates to the examination and treatment of ill people:

临床的：

clinical tests/training
the Department of Clinical Medicine
Clinical trials of the new drug may take five years.

round/around the clock

all day and all night:

Doctors and nurses worked round the clock to help those injured in the train crash.
She needed round-the-clock nursing.

close

adjective, adverb having only a small difference:

The election results were so close they had to vote again.
He came second in the race, but it was very close.
The youngest boys are so close in age they look like twins.
Both children bear a very close resemblance to their father.

close sth off

to put something across the entrance of a place to stop people from entering:

Police quickly closed off the area.

closely

adverb

CAREFULLY

carefully and paying attention to details:

Pollution levels are closely monitored.
He looked again more closely at the marks.

NEAR

not far in time or position:

The Swiss boat is in the lead, followed closely by the French.

closeness

noun [ U ]

NEAR

being close in position or time

RELATIONSHIP

the quality of knowing someone very well, liking them a lot, and wanting to spend a lot of time together:

A special closeness is supposed to exist between twins.

clutch

noun [ C usually singular ] the pedal or handle in a vehicle that is used to operate the engine’s clutch:

离合器：

Push the clutch in, put the car into gear, rev the engine, and then gently let the clutch out.

coal

noun [ C or U ] 煤：

How much coal was mined here?
a burning/red hot coal

code

noun [ C ] a set of rules that are accepted as general principles, or a set of written rules that say how people in a particular organization or country should behave:

Clinics will be subject to a new code of conduct and stronger controls by local authorities.

collaborate

verb [ I ] to work with someone else for a special purpose:

Two writers collaborated on the script for the film.
A German company collaborated with a Swiss firm to develop the product.
The British and Italian police collaborated in catching the terrorists.

collaboration

noun [ C or U ] the situation of two or more people working together to create or achieve the same thing:

The two playwrights worked in close collaboration (with each other) on the script.
The new airport is a collaboration between two of the best architects in the country.

with flying colours/colors

If you do something such as pass an exam with flying colours, you do it very successfully.

column

noun [ C ] any vertical block of words or numbers:

Add the column of figures and divide the sum by three.

come first

to be the most important person or thing to someone:

Her family will always come first with her.

how come?

informal used to ask how or why something has happened:

So how come you missed the train?
“We had to stop in Birmingham.” “How come?”

informal used to ask about the reason for something:

So how come you got an invitation and not me?
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go swimming tomorrow.” “How come?”

come across

to behave in a way that makes people believe that you have a particular characteristic:

She comes across really well (= creates a positive image) on television.
He comes across as a bit of a bore in interview.

come off

informal to happen as planned, or to succeed:

There was some sort of property deal that didn’t come off.
I tried telling a few jokes but they didn’t come off (= no one laughed).

come on

to start to happen or work:

The heating comes on at six in the morning.

come over

to come to a place, move from one place to another, or move towards someone:

Come over here!
Is your family coming over from Greece for the wedding?

come over sb

to influence someone suddenly to behave in a particular way:

I’m sorry! That was a stupid thing to say – I don’t know what came over me.
humorous He gave you a present! What‘s come over him?

come round/around

to become conscious again after an accident or operation:

She hasn’t come round from the anaesthetic yet.

come under sth

EXPERIENCE

If you come under something, you suddenly experience or suffer it:

Our armies have come under heavy bombardment.
The government is coming under pressure to change the law.

IN A BOOK

If a piece of information comes under a particular part of a list, book, or collection of things, you can find it in that part:

Swimming pools usually come under “leisure centres” in the phone directory.

come up

APPEAR

If information comes up on a computer screen, it appears there.

BECOME AVAILABLE

If a job or opportunity comes up, it becomes available:

A position has come up in the accounts department.

HAPPEN

to happen, usually unexpectedly:

I’ve got to go – something has just come up at home and I’m needed there.

come up against sth

to have to deal with a problem:

If you come up against difficulties, let me know and I’ll help out.

comfort

noun [ C usually plural ] something that makes your life easy and pleasant:

After the trip, it was nice getting back to a few home comforts.
She’s always liked her creature comforts (= the type of pleasure found in the house, for example warmth, food, etc.).

command

noun [ C ] an instruction to a computer to perform a particular action

commodity

noun [ C ] a substance or product that can be traded, bought, or sold:

The country’s most valuable commodities include tin and diamonds.
the international commodities market

in common with sb/sth

in the same way as someone or something:

In common with many mothers, she feels torn between her family and her work.

commonly

adverb often or usually:

Elbow injuries are commonly found among tennis players.

commute

verb [ I ] to make the same journey regularly between work and home:

It’s exhausting commuting from Brighton to London every day.

be good company

to be pleasant and entertaining to be with:

You’ll like Rosie – she’s good company.

comparable

adjective similar in size, amount, or quality to something else:

The girls are of comparable ages.
Our prices are comparable to/with those in other shops.
The two experiences aren’t comparable.

comparative

adjective comparing different things:

She’s carrying out a comparative study of health in inner cities and rural areas.

comparatively

adverb as compared to something else:

We couldn’t afford it and yet we’re comparatively well off (= we are richer than most people).
Comparatively speaking, this machine is easy to use.

compare notes

If two people compare notes, they tell each other what they think about something they have both done:

We’d both been out with the same man at different points in our lives so it was interesting to compare notes.

compatible

adjective able to exist, live, or work successfully with something or someone else:

It was when we started living together that we found we just weren’t compatible.
Such policies are not compatible with democratic government.
Are their two blood groups compatible (= can blood from one person be given to the other person)?

compelled

adjective [ after verb ] having to do something, because you are forced to or feel it is necessary:

[ + to infinitive ] He felt compelled to report the incident.

compensate

verb [ T ] to pay someone money in exchange for something that has been lost or damaged or for some problem:

Victims of the crash will be compensated for their injuries.

competence/competency

noun [ C or U ] the ability to do something well:

Her competence as a teacher is unquestionable.
He reached a reasonable level of competence in his English.

competent

adjective able to do something well:

a competent secretary/rider/cook
I wouldn’t say he was brilliant but he is competent at his job.

compile

verb [ T ] to collect information from different places and arrange it in a book, report, or list:

We’re compiling some facts and figures for a documentary on the subject.
It took years to compile the dictionary.
She compiled a list of all the wine producers in the region.

completion

noun [ U ] the act of finishing something that you are doing or making:

You’ll be paid on completion of the project.
The road repair work is nearing completion (= almost finished).

complex

noun [ C ] a large building with various connected rooms or a related group of buildings:

a shopping/sports and leisure complex
us They live in a large apartment complex.
The hotel complex was a honeycomb of rooms and courtyards .
The Council plans to knock the library down and replace it with a hotel complex.
The office complex has an on-site nursery.
They’re building a new sports complex on the waterside.

complicate

verb [ T ] to make something more difficult to deal with, do, or understand:

It will only complicate the situation if we invite his old girlfriend as well.
The rescue operation has been complicated by bad weather.
These new rules have complicated the tax system even further.

complication

noun [ C or U ] something that makes a situation more difficult, or the act of doing this:

Dave couldn’t find his passport at the airport and then there were further complications when Fiona lost her baggage.
If any complications arise, let me know and I’ll help.

compliment

verb [ T ] to praise or express admiration for someone:

I was just complimenting Robert on his wonderful food.
I must compliment you on your handling of a very difficult situation.

comply

verb [ I ] formal to act according to an order, set of rules, or request:

He’s been ordered to have the dog destroyed because it’s dangerous, but he refuses to comply.
There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations.

component

noun [ C ] a part that combines with other parts to form something bigger:

The course has four main components: business law, finance, computing and management skills.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are an essential component of a healthy diet.
The control of inflation is a key component of the government’s economic policy.

comprehensive

adjective complete and including everything that is necessary:

We offer you a comprehensive training in all aspects of the business.
Is this list comprehensive or are there some names missing?
He has written a fully comprehensive guide to Rome.
If you are a young, inexperienced driver, it is worth having comprehensive insurance.
We gave the house a comprehensive spring clean.

comprehensively

adverb completely:

a comprehensively illustrated book
The plan was comprehensively rejected.

comprise

verb [ T, L only + noun, not continuous ] formal

to have things or people as parts or members; to consist of:

The course comprises a class book, a practice book, and a CD.

concentrate

verb [ T usually passive or I, usually + adv/prep ] to bring or come together in a large number or amount in one particular area:

Most of the country’s population is concentrated in the north.
In the dry season, the animals tend to concentrate in the areas where there is water.

concern

verb [ T ] to cause worry to someone:

The state of my father’s health concerns us greatly.
[ + that ] It concerns me that he hasn’t been in contact.

be concerned with sth/sb

to be about a particular thing or person:

Today’s lesson is concerned with punctuation.

conclude

verb

FINISH

[ I or T ] to end a speech, meeting, or piece of writing:

She concluded the speech by reminding us of our responsibility.
The concert concluded with a rousing chorus.

JUDGE

[ T ] to judge or decide something after thinking carefully about it:

[ + that ] The jury concluded from the evidence that the defendant was innocent.
The discussions continued late into the night, but nothing was concluded.

concrete

adjective clear and certain, or real and existing in a form that can be seen or felt:

They think she killed her husband, but they have no concrete evidence.
We have a general idea of what we want, but nothing concrete at the moment.
It is sometimes easier to illustrate an abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
I have a suspicion that he’s having an affair, though I don’t have any concrete proof.

condition

noun [ C ] an arrangement that must exist before something else can happen:

One of the conditions in the contract is that we don’t build on the land.
We’re not in a position to make/set any conditions – we’ll have to accept what they offer us.
Under the conditions of the agreement, she must vacate the house on 12 July.

confidential

adjective secret, often in a formal, business, or military situation:

All information will be treated as strictly confidential.
Someone has leaked confidential government information to the press.

congestion

noun [ U ]

The (traffic) congestion in the city gets worse during the summer.
This spray helps to ease nasal congestion.

conquer

verb [ T ] to take control or possession of foreign land, or a group of people, by force:

The Spanish conquered the New World in the 16th century.
The English were conquered by the Normans in 1066.

conscientious

adjective putting a lot of effort into your work:

a conscientious student

conscious

adjective wake, thinking, and knowing what is happening around you:

He’s still conscious but he’s very badly injured.
She’s out of the operating theatre, but she’s not fully conscious yet.

consciousness

noun [ U ] the state of understanding and realizing something:

[ + that ] Her consciousness that she’s different makes her feel uneasy.
Working in an unemployment office had helped to raise his political consciousness.
He shows no consciousness that others might find him boring.
Does she have any consciousness of how rude other people find her?

consent

noun [ U ] permission or agreement:

They can’t publish your name without your consent.
You can only come on the trip if your parents give their consent.

of little/no consequence

not of any/much consequence

not important:

The money was of little consequence to Tony.

conservation

noun [ U ] carefully using valuable natural substances that exist in limited amounts in order to make certain that they will be available for as long a time as possible:

the conservation of coal/gas/oil reserves
Energy conservation reduces your fuel bills and helps the environment.

conservative

adjective not usually liking or trusting change, especially sudden change:

a conservative society/outlook
Older people tend to be more conservative and a bit suspicious of anything new.

consider

verb [ T ] to give attention to a particular subject or fact when judging something else:

You’ve got to consider the time element when planning the whole project.
[ + question word ] If you consider how long he’s been learning the piano, he’s not very good.

all things considered

Someone might say that something is good all things considered to mean it was generally good although the situation was not perfect:

总得来说：

I think the party was great, all things considered – I mean we didn’t have much time to get ready, but it still went well.

constitute

verb

BE CONSIDERED AS

[ L only + noun, not continuous ] formal to be or be considered as something:

This latest defeat constitutes a major setback for the Democrats.
The long-term unemployed now constitute a sort of underclass.
The publishers claim that the book constitutes ‘the first sequential exposition of events and thus of the history of the revolution’.
The takeover of the embassy constitutes a blatant violation of international law.
They felt that our discussions with other companies constituted a breach of our agreement.
Her refusal to sell the house constituted a major blow to our plans.

FORM PART OF

[ L not continuous ] to form or make something:

Women constitute about ten percent of Parliament.
The under-18s constitute nearly 25 percent of the town’s population.

constructive

adjective If advice, criticism, or actions are constructive, they are useful and intended to help or improve something:

She criticized my writing, but in a way that was very constructive.
If you don’t have anything constructive to say, it’s better to say nothing.

consult

verb [ T ] to get information or advice from a person, book, etc. with special knowledge on a particular subject:

If the symptoms get worse, consult your doctor.
I’m not quite sure how to get there – I’d better consult a map.

[ I or T ] to discuss something with someone before you make a decision:

Why didn’t you consult me about this?
This afternoon the president was consulting with his advisers.

consume

verb [ T ] to use fuel, energy, or time, especially in large amounts:

Our high living standards cause our current population to consume 25 percent of the world’s oil.

consumption

noun [ U ] the amount used or eaten:

As a nation, our consumption of junk food is horrifying.
We need to cut down on our fuel consumption by having fewer cars on the road.

contact

noun [ U ] the fact of two people or things touching each other:

Don’t let that glue come into contact with your skin.
Have you been in contact with (= touched or been very near) anyone with the disease?
He hates physical contact of any kind – he doesn’t even like to shake your hand.

contestant

noun [ C ] someone who competes in a contest:

In tonight’s quiz, our contestants have come from all over the country.

context

noun [ C ] the text or speech that comes immediately before and after a particular phrase or piece of text and helps to explain its meaning:

In this exercise, a word is blanked out and you have to guess what it is by looking at the context.

continual

adjective happening repeatedly, usually in an annoying or not convenient way:

I’ve had continual problems with this car ever since I bought it.
I’m sorry – I can’t work with these continual interruptions.

continually

adverb

They argue continually.

contradict

verb [ I or T ] 反驳:

If you’re both going to lie, at least stick to the same story and don’t contradict each other!
He kept contradicting himself when we were arguing – I think he was a bit confused.
How dare you contradict (me)!
Recent evidence has contradicted established theories on this subject.

contrary

adjective opposite:

a contrary point of view
Contrary to all our expectations, he found a well-paid job and a nice girlfriend.

to the contrary

saying or showing the opposite:

For a long time it was thought to be a harmless substance, but we now have proof/evidence to the contrary.

contribute

verb [ I or T ] to write articles for a newspaper, magazine, or book:

She contributes to several magazines.

controversy

noun [ C or U ] a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people:

There was a big controversy surrounding/over the use of drugs in athletics.
The policy has caused fierce/heated controversy ever since it was introduced.
Where do you put the emphasis in the word ‘controversy’?
Her latest book has engendered a lot of controversy.
The mayor and the city council are anxious to avoid getting entangled in the controversy.
Reports in today’s newspapers have added fuel to the controversy .
Overhanging the controversy is the question of how much the government knew about the arms deal.
The government proposal to test 14-year-olds has been causing controversy in the staffroom.

convenience

noun [ C ] a device or machine, usually in the house, that operates quickly and needs little effort:

The house has every modern convenience.

convention

noun

MEETING

[ C ] a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest, or a large meeting for a political party:

the national Democratic convention
Where are they holding their party convention?
Amid all the razzle-dazzle of the party convention, it was easy to forget about the real political issues.
The Democrats have chosen the Texas state treasurer as the keynote speaker at their convention.

CUSTOM

[ C or U ] a usual or accepted way of behaving, especially in social situations, often following an old way of thinking or a custom in one particular society:

They defied/flouted/broke with convention by giving up their jobs and becoming self-sufficient.
Convention dictates that it is the man who asks the woman to marry him and not the other way round.
In many countries it is the/a convention to wear black at funerals.

convey

verb [ T ] formal to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people:

His poetry conveys a great sense of religious devotion.
Please convey our condolences to the family.
[ + question word ] I tried to convey in my speech how grateful we all were for his help.
You don’t want to convey the impression that we’re not interested.
No report can convey the unspeakable suffering that this war has caused.
Words alone cannot convey the untold misery endured by people in these refugee camps.

convincing

adjective able to make you believe that something is true or right:

a convincing argument/explanation
convincing evidence
The end of the book wasn’t very convincing.

cool

adjective

calm and not worried or frightened; not influenced by strong feeling of any kind:

He was very cool when we broke the window, and didn’t shout or get mad.
Stay/Keep cool (= do not become angry or excited).

noun

[ U ] informal a person’s ability to stay calm and not become angry or excited:

keep your cool
He really lost his cool when he heard about what happened.

coolness

noun [ U ] the quality of being slightly cold:

There’s a slight coolness in the air – do you think it’s going to rain?

corporate

adjective [ before noun ] relating to a large company:

corporate finance
a corporate merger
corporate executives

corrupt

BAD

adjective dishonestly using your position or power to get an advantage, especially for money:

Both companies are under investigation for corrupt practices.
The whole system was corrupt – every official she approached wanted money before helping her.

MAKE BAD

verb [ T ] to make someone or something become dishonest or immoral:

The study claimed that violence on television corrupts the minds of children.

corruption

noun [ U ] illegal, bad, or dishonest behaviour, especially by people in positions of power:

The film is about a young police officer and his struggle to expose corruption in the force.
Political corruption is widespread throughout the country.
He resigned from the committee in disgust at the corruption.

cosmopolitan

adjective usually approving containing or having experience of people and things from many different parts of the world:

New York is a highly cosmopolitan city.

counterpart

noun [ C ] a person or thing that has the same purpose as another one in a different place or organization:

The prime minister is to meet his European counterparts to discuss the war against drugs.

countless

adjective very many, or too many to be counted:

There are countless arguments against this ridiculous proposal.
I’ve heard it played countless times on the radio.

courageous

adjective having or showing courage:

It was a courageous decision to resign in protest at the company’s pollution record.
It was courageous of her to challenge the managing director’s decision.

course

noun

DEVELOPMENT

[ S ] the often gradual development of something, or the way something happens, or a way of doing something:

Did the scandal have any effect on the course of the election?
In the course of (= during) the interview it became clear that he was not the right person for the job.
What would be an appropriate course (of action) in such a situation?
If our rivals are spending more on advertising, we’ll have to follow the same course.
The defendants are also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

DIRECTION

[ C usually singular, U ] the direction in which a vehicle, especially an aircraft, spacecraft, or ship, moves, or the path along which a river flows:

The pilot avoided a collision by changing course.
Changing the course of the river would cause serious environmental damage to the whole valley.
figurative The debate completely changed course after Liz made her speech.

*Krypton’s destruction sent a shock wave that knocked my pod off course and into the Phantom Zone.

cover

REPORT

verb [ T ] to report the news about a particular important event:

She’s covering the American election for BBC television.
The story wasn’t covered on the national news.
He was in Greece covering the Olympics.
He was sent to Russia to cover the elections there.

PROTECT

[ T ] to protect someone against loss, damage, accident, or having something stolen, by having insurance:

Does your travel insurance cover you against/for the loss or theft of cash?

BE ENOUGH

to be enough money to pay for something:

The selling price barely covered the cost of the raw materials.
Would £50 cover your expenses?

PROTECTION

noun [ U ] shelter or protection in an unpleasant or dangerous situation:

We took cover from the storm in a bus shelter.
The burglar broke into the house under cover of darkness.

uk us coverage [ U ] financial protection so that you get money if something bad happens:

I’ve got £20,000 worth of cover for the contents of my house.
Do you have cover for accidental damage?

coverage

noun [ U ]

REPORT

media the reporting of a particular important event or subject:

What did you think of the BBC’s election coverage?
There’s a good arts coverage in the newspaper, but not much political commentary.
I can remember watching live TV coverage of the first lunar landing, so that dates me.
The wedding received extensive coverage in the newspapers.
Sometimes it seems that press coverage of an event is inversely proportional to its true importance.
Satellite technology offers the opportunity, as never before, for continuous television coverage of major international events.