C

(253 words)

cabin

noun [ C ] a small room where you sleep in a ship

calculated

adjective planned or arranged in order to produce a particular effect:

It was a cruel, calculated crime with absolutely no justification.
[ + to infinitive ] a calculated attempt to deceive voters

calf

noun [ C ] 腿肚子：

She’s been unable to play since January because of a torn calf muscle.

call it a day

informal to stop what you are doing because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough:

I’m getting a bit tired now – let’s call it a day.
After 14 years living and working in this country, she thinks it’s time to call it a day.

call sb names

起外号：

Tom’s worried that if he wears glasses at school the other children will call him names.

call for sth

to demand that something happens:

Members have called for his resignation.

call sth up

to find and show information on a computer screen:

You can use the search facility to call up all the occurrences of a particular word in a document.

capitalism

noun [ U ]

资本主义

capitalist/capitalistic

adjective based on the system of capitalism:

资本主义的：

a capitalist economy/country

be on/in the cards

to be likely to happen:

“So you think they’ll get married next year?” “I think it’s on the cards.”

care

noun [ C or U ] a feeling of worry or anxiety:

She seemed weighed down by all her cares.
Lean back in a hot bath and forget all the cares of the day.
Johnson seemed without a care in the world.

carefree

adjective having no problems or not being worried about anything:

I remember my carefree student days.

cargo

noun [ C or U ] the goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or other large vehicle:

a cargo ship/plane
The ship was carrying a cargo of wood.

carriage

noun [ C ] 马车：

a horse-drawn carriage

carrot

noun [ C ] informal something that is offered to someone in order to encourage them to do something

carry

verb [ T ] to have something as a part, quality, or result:

All cigarette packets carry a government health warning.
Our cars carry a twelve-month guarantee.
His speech carried so much conviction that I had to agree with him.
In some countries, murder carries the death penalty.
I’m afraid my opinion doesn’t carry any weight with (= influence) my boss.

[ T ] to support the weight of something without moving or breaking:

The weight of the cathedral roof is carried by two rows of pillars.

carve

verb [ I or T ]

to make something by cutting into especially wood or stone, or to cut into the surface of stone, wood, etc.:

This totem pole is carved from/out of a single tree trunk.
He carved her name on a tree.
Some of the tunnels in the cliff are natural, some were carved out (= cut into the rock) by soldiers for defensive purposes.

case

noun [ S ] arguments, facts, and reasons in support of or against something:

There’s a good case for/against bringing in new regulations.
The case against cigarette advertising is becoming stronger all the time.
She’s very busy so don’t overstate the case – just give her the facts.

casserole

noun [ C or U ] 西式乱炖:

lamb casserole

cast

ACTORS

verb [ T ] to choose actors to play particular parts in a play, film, or show:

He was often cast as the villain.
In her latest movie she was cast against type (= played a different character than the one she usually played or might be expected to play).

LIGHT

[ T usually + adv/prep ] to send light or shadow (= an area of darkness) in a particular direction:

The moon cast a white light into the room.
The tree cast a shadow over/on his face.
figurative Her arrival cast a shadow over/on the party (= made it less pleasant).

cast doubt/suspicion on sb/sth

to make people feel less sure about or have less trust in something or someone:

New evidence has cast doubt on the guilty verdict.

cast your mind back

to try to remember:

If you cast your mind back, you might recall that I never promised to go.

cast a/your vote

to vote:

All the votes in the election have now been cast and the counting has begun.

cast a spell

to use words thought to be magic, especially in order to have an effect on someone:

The old woman cast a spell on the prince and he turned into a frog.
figurative When I was 17, jazz cast its spell on me (= I started to like it very much).

casual

adjective [ before noun ] not regular or fixed:

casual labour/labourers/workers
casual sex

casualty

INJURED

noun [ C ] a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war:

The train was derailed but there were no casualties, police said.
The rebels suffered heavy casualties.
So far, only one casualty has been rescued from the scene of the explosion.

HOSPITAL

[ U ] uk us emergency room the part of a hospital where people who are hurt in accidents or suddenly become ill are taken for urgent treatment:

She had to be rushed to casualty.

catastrophe

noun [ C ] a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction:

They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.

catch

verb [ I or T ] to stick somewhere, or to make something stick somewhere:

The sleeve of my jacket (got) caught on the door handle and ripped.
Her hair got caught (up) in her hairdryer.

get caught up in sth

to become involved in something, often without wanting to:

They were having an argument and somehow I got caught up in it.

catch on

informal to understand, especially after a long time:

He doesn’t take hints very easily, but he’ll catch on (to what you’re saying) eventually.

catch sb’s eye

to get someone’s attention, especially by looking at them:

I tried to catch the waiter’s eye, so we could order.

to be attractive or different enough to be noticed by someone:

It was the unusual colour of his jacket that caught my eye.

catch up with sb

If something bad that you have done or that has been happening to you catches up with you, it begins to cause problems for you:

His lies will catch up with him one day.

cause

noun [ U ] a reason to feel something or to behave in a particular way:

He’s never given me any cause for concern.

caution

verb [ T ] formal  to warn someone:

The newspaper cautioned its readers against buying shares without getting good advice first.

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results:

I threw caution to the wind and bought the most expensive one.

ceiling

noun [ C usually singular ] an upper limit, usually relating to money:

They have imposed/set a ceiling on pay rises.

centre of attention

the person or thing that everyone is most interested in and pays most attention to:

She’s the centre of attention everywhere she goes.

certainty

noun [ C ] something that is very likely to happen:

Joan will win – that’s a certainty.
[ + to infinitive ] Joan is a certainty to win.

challenge

noun [ C or U ] asking if something is true or legal:

The result of the vote poses a serious challenge to the government’s credibility.
Because of the way this research was conducted, its findings are open to challenge.

champion

noun [ C ] a person who enthusiastically supports, defends, or fights for a person, belief, right, or principle:

She has long been a champion of prisoners’ rights/the disabled/free speech.

(the) chances are

informal it is likely:

Chances are (that) they’ll be late anyway.

by any chance

used to ask a question or request in a polite way:

Are you Hungarian, by any chance?
Could you lend me a couple of pounds, by any chance?
You wouldn’t, by any chance, have a calculator on you, would you?

chancellor

noun [ C ] a person in a position of the highest or high rank, especially in a government or university:

Helmut Kohl became the first Chancellor of a united Germany in 1990.
A former politician has been appointed Chancellor of the university.

channel

noun [ C ] a way of communicating with people or getting something done:

We must open the channels of communication between the two countries.
The government pursued every diplomatic/official channel to free the hostages.
Complaints should be made through the proper/usual channels.

character

noun [ C ] a person, especially when you are describing a particular quality that they have:

She’s a curious character – I don’t really know what to think of her.
There were one or two strange-looking characters hanging around the bar.

characteristic

adjective typical of a person or thing:

With the hospitality so characteristic of these people, they opened their house to over 50 guests.
She behaved with characteristic dignity.
The creamy richness is characteristic of the cheese from this region.

charisma

noun [ U ] a special power that some people have naturally that makes them able to influence other people and attract their attention and admiration:

On screen Garbo had this great charisma so that you couldn’t take your eyes off her.
How did a man of so little personal charisma get to be prime minister?

charismatic

adjective used to describe a person who has charisma:

Few were able to resist this charismatic and persuasive leader.

charity

noun [ U ] formal the quality of being kind to people and not judging them in a severe way

charm

noun [ C ]

an object or saying that is thought to have magical powers, such as the ability to bring good luck:

He keeps a rabbit’s paw as a lucky/good luck charm.

verb [ T often passive ]

to attract someone or persuade someone to do something because of your charm:

We were charmed by his boyish manner.

chase

verb [ T ] to try to get something that is difficult to get or achieve:

It’s depressing how many people there are chasing so few jobs.
After years of chasing her dreams, she finally got a part in a film.

cheer

noun [ C ] a loud shout of approval or encouragement:

Her speech was received with cheers and a standing ovation.
His victory in the 400 metres earned him the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
Three cheers for the winning team!

cheer sb on

to shout loudly in order to encourage someone in a competition:

As the runners went by, we cheered them on.

chest

noun [ C ] 木箱；宝箱:

Her books and clothes were packed into chests and shipped across to Canada.

get sth off your chest

informal to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time:

敞开心扉：

I had spent two months worrying about it and I was glad to get it off my chest.

chill

COLD

noun [ S ] a feeling of cold:

There was a chill in the air this morning.

BAD FEELING

[ S ] a sudden unpleasant feeling, especially of fear:

I suddenly realized, with a chill of apprehension, the danger ahead.

have a chip on your shoulder

informal to seem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people:

He’s got a chip on his shoulder about not having been to university.

chip (sth) in

informal to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together:

凑钱，凑份子：

They all chipped in £100 and bought their mother a trip to Greece.

chop sth down

to cut through something to make it fall down:

Most of the diseased trees were chopped down last year.

chronic

adjective (especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time:

chronic diseases/conditions
chronic arthritis/pain
a chronic invalid
There is a chronic shortage of teachers.

circle

verb [ I or T ] to move in a circle, often around something:

The plane circled for an hour before receiving permission to land.
Security staff circled the grounds of the house with guard dogs every hour.

circuit

noun

VISITS

[ C ] a regular pattern of visits or the places visited:

They first met each other on the tennis circuit (= while at different tennis competitions).
He was a familiar figure on the lecture circuit.

TRACK

[ C ] something shaped approximately like a circle, especially a route, path, or sports track that starts and ends in the same place:

They test the car tyres on a motor racing circuit.
We made a leisurely circuit of the city walls.

CLOSED SYSTEM

[ C ] a closed system of wires or pipes through which electricity or liquid can flow:

A defect was found in the water-cooling/electrical circuit.

circular

adjective A circular argument is one that keeps returning to the same points and is not effective.

circulation

noun [ C usually singular ] the number of people that a newspaper or magazine is regularly sold to:

The paper has a circulation of 150,000.

[ U ] the movement of blood around the body:

Exercise helps to improve circulation.

civilian

noun [ C ]

a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces:

The bomb killed four soldiers and three civilians.
Bombing civilians is a crime against humanity.

adjective

relating to a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces:

The army has been criticized for attacking the unarmed civilian population.
We are aware of the reports of civilian casualties.
The country insists that its nuclear research programme is purely civilian.

clap

noun [ C ] a sudden loud noise made by thunder:

There was a clap of thunder and then it started to pour with rain.

clarity

noun [ U ] the quality of being clear and easy to understand:

There has been a call for greater clarity in this area of the law.

clash

FIGHT verb

verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] to fight or argue:

Students clashed with police after demonstrations at five universities.
The government and the opposition parties have clashed over the cuts in defence spending.

NOT ATTRACTIVE

[ I not continuous ] If colours or styles clash, they look ugly or wrong together:

I like red and orange together, though lots of people think they clash.

HAPPEN TOGETHER

[ I not continuous ] uk If two events clash, they happen at the same time in a way that is not convenient:

Her party clashes with my brother’s wedding, so I won’t be able to go.

Fight noun

[ C ] a fight or argument between people:

Rioters hurled rocks and bottles in clashes with police at the weekend.
There were violent clashes between the police and demonstrators in the city centre.

noun [ C usually singular ] a situation in which people’s opinions or qualities are very different from and opposed to each other:

a clash of opinions/loyalties/personalities

classical

adjective traditional in style or form, or based on methods developed over a long period of time:

Does she study classical ballet or modern ballet?
He is one of our greatest classical actors.

classification

noun [ U ] the act or process of dividing things into groups according to their type:

Do you understand the system of classification used in ornithology?

​[ C ] a group that something is divided into

clean

adjective honest or fair, or showing that you have not done anything illegal:

a good clean fight/contest
The judge took the defendant’s clean record (= the absence of previous involvement in crime) into account when passing sentence.
I’ve always had a clean driving licence.
It was a clean tackle.

clean sth out

to take everything out of a room, car, container, etc. and clean the inside of it:

I found these photos while I was cleaning out my cupboards.

steer/stay/keep clear

to avoid something or someone:

His parents warned him to steer clear of trouble.

cliché

noun [ C or U ] a saying or remark that is very often made and is therefore not original and not interesting:

My wedding day – and I know it’s a cliché – was just the happiest day of my life.

clichéd

adjective often said, used, or done, and therefore not original and not interesting:

He made some clichéd remark.
It might sound clichéd, but knowing that you’re doing something worthwhile makes a big difference.

click

verb

MAKE SOUND

[ I or T ] to make a short, sharp sound, or to make something do this:

The door clicked shut behind her.
Can you hear that strange clicking noise?
uk Paul clicked his fingers (= moved his thumb against his middle finger to make a short sharp sound) to attract the waiter’s attention.
Soldiers click their heels (= bring them sharply together) when they stand to attention.

BECOME FRIENDLY

[ I ] informal to become friendly or popular:

Liz and I really clicked the first time we met.
The new daytime soap opera has yet to show signs that it’s clicking with the television audience.

BECOME CLEAR

[ I ] informal to be understood, or become clear suddenly:

Suddenly everything clicked and I realized where I’d met him.
[ + question word ] As he talked about his schooldays, it suddenly clicked where I had met him before.
[ + that ] So it’s finally clicked that you’re going to have to get yourself a job, has it?
In the last act of the play, everything clicks into place.

climate

noun [ C ] the general development of a situation, or the situation, feelings, and opinions that exist at a particular time:

the political/social climate
I don’t think we should expand our business in the current economic climate.
Terrorism creates a climate of fear.

cling

verb [ I + adv/prep ] to stick onto or hold something or someone tightly, or to refuse to stop holding it, him, or her:

We got so wet that our clothes clung to us.
They clung together in terror as the screams grew louder.
One little girl was clinging onto a cuddly toy.
She clung to the handrail as she walked down the slippery steps.

cling (on) to sth

to try very hard to keep something:

He clung on to power for another ten years.

clinical

adjective disapproving expressing no emotion or feelings:

She seems to have a very clinical attitude towards her children.

close

END

verb [ I or T ] to (cause something to) end:

The play closed with the tragic death of both hero and heroine.
She closed the meeting with a short speech.
The pound closed at (= was worth) $1.47 at the end of the day’s trading.

CAREFUL

adjective looking at or listening to someone or something very carefully:

Police are paying close attention to the situation.
Take a closer look at this photograph.

close in

to gradually get nearer to someone, usually in order to attack them:

The advancing soldiers closed in on the town.
The hunt chased the fox until it was too tired and weak to run and then closed in for the kill.

closed

adjective not wanting to accept new ideas, people, customs, etc.:

You have such a closed mind.
The setting of the novel is the closed world of banking.

behind closed doors

If something happens behind closed doors, it is hidden or kept secret from public view:

The deal was negotiated behind closed doors.

closure

noun [ C ] the fact of a business, organization, etc. stopping operating:

factory/branch closures
Many elderly people will be affected by the library closures.

cloud

verb [ T ] to make someone confused, or make something more difficult to understand:

When it came to explaining the lipstick on his collar, he found that drink had clouded (= confused) his memory.

be on cloud nine

informal to be extremely happy and excited:

“Was Helen pleased about getting that job?” “Pleased? She was on cloud nine!”

clutch

verb [ I or T ] to take or try to take hold of something tightly, usually in fear, worry, or pain:

Silent and pale, she clutched (onto) her mother’s hand.
Clutching the money to his chest, he hurried to the bank.
He collapsed, clutching his stomach.

sb’s clutches

[ plural ] humorous the control of someone:

He is in/has fallen into the clutches of that woman.

coastline

noun [ C or U ] the particular shape of the coast, especially as seen from above, from the sea, or on a map

coherence

noun [ U ] the situation when the parts of something fit together in a natural or reasonable way:

There was no coherence between the first and the second half of the movie.

coherent

adjective

If an argument, set of ideas, or a plan is coherent, it is clear and carefully considered, and each part of it connects or follows in a natural or reasonable way.

If someone is coherent, you can understand what that person says:

When she calmed down, she was more coherent (= able to speak clearly and be understood).

coin

verb [ T ] to invent a new word or expression, or to use one in a particular way for the first time:

Allen Ginsberg coined the term “flower power”.

coincide

verb [ I ] to happen at or near the same time:

I timed my holiday to coincide with the children’s.
If the heavy rain had coincided with an extreme high tide, serious flooding would have resulted.
We timed our trip to coincide with my cousin’s wedding.

​to be the same or similar:

Our views coincide on a range of subjects.
If our schedules coincide, we’ll go to Spain together.

collapse

verb [ I ] (of people and business) to suddenly be unable to continue or work correctly:

Lots of people lost their jobs when the property market collapsed.
Talks between management and unions have collapsed.
Share prices collapsed (= became lower suddenly) after news of poor trading.

collect yourself/your thoughts

formal to get control of your feelings and thoughts, especially after shock, surprise, or laughter:

I was so stunned by what he’d said I had to collect myself before I could reply.

colour

INTEREST

noun [ U ] interesting or exciting qualities or details:

We added your story for a bit of local colour.
Michael was there so that added a bit of colour to the evening’s proceedings.

RACE

noun [ C or U ] the natural colour of a person’s skin which shows which race they belong to:

She felt she had not been given the job because of her colour.
There should be no discrimination on the grounds of color.

INFLUENCE

verb [ T often passive ] If something colours your opinion of something, it influences your opinion in a negative way:

I’m sure my views on marriage are coloured by my parents’ divorce.
I’m trying not to let my judgment be coloured by that one incident.

combat

noun [ C or U ] a fight, especially during a war:

There was fierce combat between the two sides.
No one knew how many troops had died in combat.
The soldiers were engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
armed combat (= fighting with weapons)
unarmed combat (= fighting without weapons)

verb [ T ] to try to stop something unpleasant or harmful from happening or increasing:

to combat crime/terrorism/inflation/disease
The government is spending millions of dollars in its attempt to combat drug abuse.
I have to combat this constant desire to eat chocolate.

come

verb [ L ] to change or develop so as to be in a different position or condition:

Those pictures will have to come down (= be removed from the wall).
He pulled the knob and it just came off (in his hand).
How many times have you come off that horse?
Two of his teeth came out after he got hit in the face.
Can you get this cork to come out of the bottle?
When does the heating come on (= start working)?
[ + adj ] A wire has come loose at the back.
The door came open for no apparent reason.
The roses are just coming into bloom.
My shoelaces came undone.

come to do sth

to start to do something:

I’ve come to like her over the months.
It used to hold paper bags, but gradually came to be used for magazines.
How did that phrase come to mean (= develop so that it means) that?

come about

to happen, or start to happen:

How did the problem come about in the first place?

come across

If an idea or emotion comes across in writing, film, music, or when someone is speaking, it is expressed clearly and people notice it:

What comes across in his later poetry is a great sense of sadness.

come along

EXIST

to start to exist:

I gave up climbing when my first child came along.

DEVELOP

If something is coming along, it is developing or improving:

Hassan’s English is really coming along.

come apart

to separate into several pieces:

I picked up the book and it came apart in my hands.
My boots are coming apart at the seams.

come between sb

If something comes between two people, it harms their relationship:

Don’t let one little quarrel come between you.

come down to sth

If a situation or decision comes down to something, that is the thing that influences it most:

What it all comes down to is your incredible insecurity.
It all comes down to money in the end.
[ + question word ] Eventually our choice of hotel will come down to how much we can afford.

come in

informal to become involved in a situation, story, or plan:

We need expert advice, and that’s where you come in.

come in for sth

to receive blame or criticism:

The director has come in for a lot of criticism over his handling of the affair.

come in useful

UK to be useful and help someone to do or achieve something:

You should keep that paint – it might come in useful one day.

come into sth

If someone comes into money, property, or a title, they receive it as a result of the death of a relation:

She came into a bit of money when her grandfather died.

come on/along

to make progress:

Your piano playing has really come on since I last heard you play.
How’s your English coming on?

come out

BECOME KNOWN

If something comes out, it becomes known publicly after it has been kept secret:

After her death, it came out that she’d lied about her age.
When the truth came out, there was public outrage.

to tell people that you are gay, often after having kept this secret for some time

BE REMOVED

If dirt or a mark comes out, it disappears from something when it is cleaned:

Did the red wine stain come out?

BE SAID

If something you say comes out in a particular way, that is how you say it:

I didn’t mean to be rude – it just came out like that.
When I tried to tell her that I loved her it came out all wrong.

come out of sth

If something comes out of a process or event, it is one of the results:

I hope something good can come out of this mess.

come over

UK to seem to be a particular type of person:

I watched the interview and felt he came over as quite arrogant.
I think she comes over as very nervous.
He doesn’t come over as particularly trustworthy.
He came over as very knowledgeable.

come round/around

to change your opinion of something, often influenced by another person’s opinion:

He’ll come round to my point of view, given a bit of time.
Do you still dislike your office, or have you come round to thinking it’s all right?

come through

If a piece of information or a document comes through, you receive it:

Have the test results come through yet?
My visa still hasn’t come through.

come to light

If facts come to light, they become known publicly:

Fresh evidence has recently come to light that suggests that he didn’t in fact commit the murder.

come under fire

to be criticized:

The government has come under fire for its decision to close the mines.

come by sth

to get something, using effort, by chance or in a way that has not been explained:

Cheap organic food is still difficult to come by.
I’d like to know how she came by that black eye.

comfort

FOR SADNESS

noun [ C or U ] the state of feeling better after feeling sad or worried, or something that makes you feel better in this way:

I’ve got to take an exam too, if it’s any comfort (= if it makes you feel better to know that we share the same problem or bad luck).
I know she goes out a lot at night, but I draw/take comfort from the fact that she’s always with friends.
He’s a great comfort to his mother.

ENOUGH MONEY

[ U ] the state of having a pleasant life with enough money for everything that you need:

He could retire now and live in comfort for the rest of his life.

verb [ T ]

to make someone feel better when they are sad or worried:

The girl’s mother was at home today, being comforted by relatives.

comfortable

adjective having enough money for a good standard of living:

They’re not fabulously rich or anything, but they’re quite comfortable.

comforting

adjective

making you feel less sad or worried:

I found her words very comforting.
Hot soup is very comforting on a cold winter’s day.

command

noun

[ U ] control over someone or something and responsibility for him, her, or it:

Colonel Sailing has command over/is in command of the Guards Regiment.
Lee took command of the Confederate Army in 1862.
The soldiers were under the command of a tough sergeant major.

commander/Commander

noun [ C ] an officer who is in charge of a military operation, or an officer of a particular rank in many countries’ naval forces:

Commander Phillips/James Phillips
[ as form of address ] Yes, Commander.

commemorate

verb [ T ] to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event, especially by a public ceremony or by making a statue or special building:

Gathered all together in this church, we commemorate those who lost their lives in the war.
A statue has been built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birthday.

commence

verb [ I or T ] to begin something:

We will commence building work in August of next year.
Shall we let the meeting commence?
[ + -ing verb ] Unfortunately, he commenced speaking before all the guests had finished eating.

no comment

used to say that you do not want to answer someone’s question

commercial

adjective [ before noun ] used to refer to radio or television paid for by advertisements that are broadcast between and during programmes

commit

verb [ I or T ] to promise or give your loyalty, time, or money to a particular principle, person, or plan of action:

Like so many men, he has problems committing himself to a relationship.
The government must commit itself to improving healthcare.
Once we have committed to this course of action there is no going back.

committed

adjective loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in:

a committed socialist/Christian/teacher

comparative comfort/freedom/silence, etc.

a situation that is comfortable, free, silent, etc. when compared to another situation or what is normal:

I enjoyed the comparative calm of his flat after the busy office.

compensate

verb [ I ] to provide something good or useful in place of something or to make someone feel better about something that has failed or been lost or missed:

Nothing will ever compensate for his lost childhood.
His enthusiasm more than compensates for his lack of experience.
I took her swimming to compensate for having missed out on the cinema.
We were late and I was driving fast to compensate.

complex

noun [ C ] a particular anxiety or unconscious fear that a person has, especially as a result of an unpleasant experience that they have had in the past or because they have a low opinion of their own worth:

an inferiority complex
I think he’s got a complex about being bald.
Don’t go on about her weight – you’ll give her a complex!

complexion

noun [ C ] the natural appearance of the skin on a person’s face, especially its colour or quality:

a dark/fair complexion
a healthy/clear/spotty complexion

complexity

noun [ U ] the state of having many parts and being difficult to understand or find an answer to:

a problem of great complexity

complication

noun [ C ] an extra medical problem that makes it more difficult to treat an existing illness:

If there are no complications, the doctor says that she’ll be able to come home within two weeks.

compliment

noun [ C ] a remark that expresses approval, admiration, or respect:

He complained that his husband never paid him any compliments anymore.
I take it as a compliment (= I am pleased) when people say I look like my mother.
Are you fishing for (= trying to get) compliments?

[ S ] an action that expresses approval or respect:

You should take it as a compliment when I fall asleep in your company – it means I’m relaxed.
Thank you so much for your help – I hope one day I’ll be able to return/repay the compliment (= do something good for you).

with your compliments

formal If you give something to someone with your compliments, you give it to that person free:

We enclose a copy of our latest brochure, with our compliments.

complimentary

adjective If tickets, books, etc. are complimentary, they are given free, especially by a business.

composition

noun [ U ] the process or skill of writing music:

At music school I studied piano and composition.

​[ C ] the way that people or things are arranged in a painting or photograph:

a group composition

[ U ] the parts, substances, etc. that something is made of:

the composition of the atmosphere

compromise

verb [ T ] to risk having a harmful effect on something:

We would never compromise the safety of our passengers.

compulsive

adjective doing something a lot and unable to stop doing it:

a compulsive liar/thief/eater
compulsive gambling
a compulsive eating disorder

​If a film, play, sports event, book, etc. is compulsive, it is so interesting or exciting that you do not want to stop watching or reading it:

I always find programmes about hospitals compulsive viewing.
Her latest book is compulsive reading/a compulsive read.

conceal

verb [ T ] to prevent something from being seen or known about:

The listening device was concealed in a pen.
I tried to conceal my surprise when she told me her age.
Is there something you’re concealing from me?
Her brave smile concealed a deep hurt.
Her saintly manner concealed a devious mind.

concede

verb [ T ] to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true:

[ + (that) ] The government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.
[ + speech ] “Well okay, perhaps I was a little hard on her,” he conceded.

conceited

adjective disapproving too proud of yourself and your actions and abilities:

Without wishing to sound conceited, I am the best salesperson in the company.

conceive

IMAGINE

verb [ I or T ] to imagine something:

I think my uncle still conceives of me as a four-year-old.
He couldn’t conceive of a time when he would have no job.
[ + question word ] I can’t conceive (= it is too shocking to imagine) how anyone could behave so cruelly.
[ + that ] I find it hard to conceive (= it is too shocking to imagine) that people are still treated so badly.

INVENT

[ T ] to invent a plan or an idea:

He conceived the plot for this film while he was still a student.
The exhibition was conceived by the museum’s director.

BECOME PREGNANT

[ I or T ] to become pregnant, or to cause a baby to begin to form:

Do you know exactly when you conceived?
The baby was conceived in March, so will be born in December.

concentration

noun [ C or U ] a large number or amount of something in the same place:

There is a heavy concentration of troops in the area.

conception

noun [ C or U ] an idea of what something or someone is like, or a basic understanding of a situation or a principle:

People from different cultures have different conceptions of the world.
She has a conception of people as being basically good.
I thought the book’s writing was dreadful, and its conception (= the ideas on which it was based) even worse.
He has absolutely no conception of how a successful business should run.

concerned

adjective [ after verb ] involved in something or affected by it:

I’d like to thank everyone concerned for making the occasion run so smoothly.
It was quite a shock for all/everyone concerned.
Her job is something concerned with computers.
I’m not very good where money is concerned (= when dealing with money).

concession

noun

SOMETHING ALLOWED

[ C or U ] something that is allowed or given up, often in order to end a disagreement, or the act of allowing or giving this:

Both sides involved in the conflict made some concessions in yesterday’s talks.
He stated firmly that no concessions will be made to the terrorists.

LOWER PRICE

[ C ] UK a reduction in the usual price of something, made available to students, old people, etc.:

You can get travel concessions if you are under 26.

conclusion

noun [ C ] the final part of something:

Be careful not to introduce new ideas in the conclusion of your essay.

jump to conclusions

to guess the facts about a situation without having enough information:

Don’t jump to conclusions! Perhaps it was his daughter he was dancing with.

conclusive

adjective proving that something is true, or ending any doubt:

They had conclusive evidence/proof of her guilt.
a conclusive argument

conclusively

adverb without any doubt:

It is impossible to demonstrate/prove conclusively that the factory is responsible for the pollution.

condemn

verb [ T ] to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moral reasons:

The terrorist action has been condemned as an act of barbarism and cowardice.
The film was condemned for its sexism.

condition

verb [ T ] to train or influence a person or animal mentally so that they do or expect a particular thing without thinking about it:

a conditioned reflex/response
[ + to infinitive ] Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell.
Women were conditioned to expect lower wages than men.

conduct yourself

to behave in a particular way, especially in a public or formal situation, or to organize the way in which you live in a particular way:

How should I conduct myself at these dinners? I know nothing about etiquette.

in confidence

If you tell something to someone in confidence, you do not want them to tell anyone else.

confine

verb [ T ] to limit an activity, person, or problem in some way:

Let’s confine our discussion to the matter in question, please!
Please confine your use of the phone to business calls.
By closing the infected farms we’re hoping to confine the disease to the north of the region (= stop it from spreading to other areas).

[ T usually passive ] to keep someone closed in a place, often by force:

The hostages had been confined for so long that they couldn’t cope with the outside world.

confront

verb [ T ] to face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person:

As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way.
It’s an issue we’ll have to confront at some point, no matter how unpleasant it is.
I thought I would stay calm, but when I was confronted with/by the TV camera, I got very nervous.
We were confronted with a lot of problems when we tried to buy a house in Germany.

confrontation

noun [ C or U ] a fight or argument:

Some couples seem to like confrontation, but Josh and I hardly ever argue.
There were violent confrontations between police and demonstrators.

conjunction

noun formal conjuncture the situation in which events or conditions combine or happen together:

An unfortunate conjunction of circumstances led to his downfall.
There is a team of writers working in conjunction (with each other) on the book.

connect

verb [ T ] to consider or show a person or thing to be related to someone or something else:

She’s an actress I connect with the theatre rather than films.
Police are connecting the break-in with other recent thefts in the area.
Nobody connected her with the thefts.
He has been connected with the local church all his life.

conscience

noun [ C or U ] the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for:

a guilty conscience
a question/matter of conscience
You didn’t do anything wrong – you should have a clear conscience (= not feel guilty).
My conscience would really bother me if I wore a fur coat.
uk He’s got no conscience at all (= does not feel guilty) about leaving me to do the housework.
A sense of guilt was deeply embedded in my conscience.
The charity used photos of starving children in an attempt to jolt the public conscience .
Dan’s mentioning Julia pricked my conscience and I gave her a call.
He salves his conscience by giving money to charity.

conscious

adjective determined and intentional:

He’s obviously making a conscious effort to be nice to me at the moment.
It wasn’t a conscious decision to lose weight. It just happened.

consecutive

adjective Consecutive events, numbers, etc. follow one after another without an interruption:

This is the fifth consecutive weekend that I’ve spent working.
Unemployment has risen again for the third consecutive month.
We have visited your mother for five consecutive Christmases.

consensus

noun [ S or U ] a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people:

The general consensus in the office is that he can’t do his job.
Could we reach a consensus on this matter? Let’s take a vote.
We were unable to reach a consensus about membership fees.

consent

verb [ I ] formal to agree to do something, or to allow someone to do something:

[ + to infinitive ] Very reluctantly, I’ve consented to lend her my car.
My aunt never married because her father wouldn’t consent to her marriage.

consider

verb [ T ] to care about or respect other people or their feelings and wishes:

Did you consider your mother and how she’s going to feel about you leaving?
She never considers anyone but herself – she’s totally selfish!

consideration

noun [ U ] behaviour that is kind and considers people’s feelings:

You have no consideration for others!
Turn your music down and show a little consideration for the neighbours!
We didn’t publish the details, out of consideration for the victim’s family.

consistent

adjective

NOT CHANGING

always behaving or happening in a similar, especially positive, way:

There has been a consistent improvement in her attitude.
Her work is sometimes good, but the problem is she’s not consistent.
There has been a consistent increase in burglaries round here.

AGREEING

[ after verb ] in agreement with other facts or with typical or previous behaviour, or having the same principles as something else:

What the witness said in court was not consistent with the statement he made to the police.
We do not consider his behaviour to be consistent with the holding of a high-ranking job.
The figures are not consistent with his argument.
His remarks are not consistent with the role of a head teacher.

consistently

adverb in a way that does not change:

The company has consistently underrated the importance of a well-trained workforce.
In newspaper articles she consistently criticized those in authority who overstepped their limits.

constant

adjective staying the same, or not getting less or more:

We ran at a fairly constant speed.
The fridge keeps food at a constant temperature.

constitution

noun [ C ] the general state of someone’s health:

He has a very strong constitution.

constitutional

adjective allowed by or contained in a constitution:

Such a policy would not be constitutional.
Freedom of speech should be a constitutional right.
There is a growing movement to divest the monarchy of its remaining constitutional power.
He again urged passage of a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion.
Several members of the party have resurrected the idea of constitutional change.

constrain

verb [ T often passive ] to control and limit something:

The country’s progress was constrained by a leader who refused to look forward.

constraint

noun [ C ] something that controls what you do by keeping you within particular limits:

The constraints of politeness wouldn’t allow her to say what she really thought about his cooking.
Financial constraints on the company are preventing them from employing new staff.

consultation

noun

[ C ] a meeting to discuss something or to get advice:

After consultations with our accountants, we’ve decided how to cut costs within the company.

[ U ] the process of discussing something with someone in order to get their advice or opinion about it:

He made the decision in consultation with his parents and teachers.

be consumed by/with sth

to have so much of a feeling that it affects everything you do:

He was consumed with jealousy.
As a teenager, I was consumed by passion for the boy next door.

contain

verb [ T often in negatives ] to control or hide a strong emotion, such as excitement or anger:

She could no longer contain her anger and started yelling at him.
humorous Contain yourself! It’s not that exciting.

contemplate

verb [ I or T ] to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way:

[ + -ing verb ] I’m contemplating going abroad for a year.
They were contemplating a move to California.
It’s too awful/horrific/dangerous to contemplate.

contempt

noun [ U ] a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or something:

At school she had complete contempt for all her teachers.
You should treat those remarks with the contempt that they deserve.
She’s beneath contempt (= I have no respect for her)!
The boy shows utter contempt for authority and is virtually uncontrollable.

content

noun [ S ] the amount of a particular substance contained in something:

Chocolate has a high fat content.

continental

adjective of or relating to continents:

Geologists map past and future continental drift.
continental waters

continuity

noun [ U ] the fact of something continuing for a long period of time without being changed or stopped:

There has been no continuity in that class – they’ve had six different teachers.

contraception

noun [ U ] (the use of) any of various methods intended to prevent a woman becoming pregnant:

They offer impartial advice on contraception.
What is the most reliable form/method of contraception?

contraceptive

noun [ C ] any of various devices or drugs intended to prevent pregnancy:

The clinic provides a free supply of contraceptives upon request.

contract

verb

BECOME ILL

[ T ] formal to catch or become ill with a disease:

He contracted malaria while he was travelling.

AGREEMENT

[ I or T ] to make a legal agreement with someone to do work or to have work done for you:

[ + to infinitive ] Our company was contracted to build shelters for the homeless.

contradiction

noun [ C or U ] the fact of something being the complete opposite of something else or very different from something else, so that one of them must be wrong:

You say that you’re good friends and yet you don’t trust him. Isn’t that a contradiction?

contradictory

adjective If two or more facts, pieces of advice, etc. are contradictory, they are very different from each other:

I keep getting contradictory advice – some people tell me to keep it warm and some tell me to put ice on it.

contrast

verb [ T ] to compare two people or things in order to show the differences between them:

If you contrast some of her early writing with her later work, you can see just how much she improved.

​
[ I ] If one thing contrasts with another, it is very different from it:

The styles of the two film makers contrast quite dramatically.
The tartness of the lemons contrasts with the sweetness of the honey.

conversion

noun [ C or U ] the process of converting something from one thing to another:

Solar power is the conversion of the sun’s energy into heat and electricity.

[ C or U ] a process in which someone changes to a new religion or belief:

Her conversion to Buddhism/Islam was a very gradual process.
He used to be very right-wing, but he’s undergone something of a conversion recently.

convert

verb [ I or T ] to change to a new religion, belief, opinion, etc., or to make someone do this:

He converted to (= started believing in) Catholicism when he got married.
I used to hate exercise, but my sister has converted me (to it).

convict

verb [ T usually passive ] to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of a crime:

He has twice been convicted of robbery/arson.

conviction

noun

CRIME

[ C or U ] the fact of officially being found to be guilty of a particular crime, or the act of officially finding someone guilty:

Since it was her first conviction for stealing, she was given a less severe sentence.
He has a long record of previous convictions for similar offences.
The conviction of the three demonstrators has caused public outrage locally.

OPINION

[ C or U ] a strong opinion or belief:

religious/moral convictions
a deep/strong/lifelong conviction
[ + that ] It’s my personal conviction that all rapists should be locked away for life.

cookie

noun [ C ] a piece of information stored on your computer about internet documents that you have looked at

cool

adjective unfriendly or not showing kindness or interest in something or someone:

She was decidedly cool towards me.
I got a rather cool reception/welcome this evening. What do you think I’ve done wrong?

keep a cool head

to stay calm in a difficult situation:

I don’t know how you manage to keep such a cool head in such a hectic, stressful office!

coolness

noun [ U ]

CALM

the ability to stay calm and act in a reasonable way even in difficult situations:

Her coolness in an emergency was admirable.

UNFRIENDLINESS

behaviour that shows no warm feelings or friendliness:

I noticed a certain coolness between your parents.

coral

noun [ U ] a substance like rock, formed in the sea by groups of particular types of small animal, often used in jewellery:

a coral bracelet/necklace

core

noun

IMPORTANT PART

[ S or U ] the basic and most important part of something:

The lack of government funding is at the core of the problem.
Hardline rightwingers form the core of the movement.
The core of our workforce comes from local families.

CENTRE

[ C ] the hard central part of some fruits, such as apples, that contains the seeds:

Don’t throw your apple core on the floor!

(just) around the corner

not far away, or going to happen soon:

There’s a great restaurant just around the corner.
I’m feeling a little depressed at the moment, but I’m sure good times are just around the corner.

corpse

noun [ C ] a dead body, usually of a person

The corpse was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
Most of the corpses were badly burned, making identification almost impossible.
The corpse had lain preserved in the soil for almost two millennia.

corresponding

adjective similar to, connected with, or caused by something else:

Company losses were 50 percent worse than in the corresponding period last year.
As the course becomes more difficult, there’s usually a corresponding drop in attendance.

counselling

noun [ U ] the job or process of listening to someone and giving that person advice about their problems:

a counselling service
The couple had no premarital counselling and rushed into marriage without much thought for the future.

counsellor

noun [ C ] someone who is trained to listen to people and give them advice about their problems:

The college now has a counsellor to help students with both personal and work problems.
a marriage guidance counsellor

count

CONSIDER

verb [ I or T ] to consider or be considered as:

I count myself fortunate to have had such a good education.
I’ve had three jobs in the last five years, but one of them was unpaid, so it doesn’t count (= cannot be considered as a real job).
I’ve always counted Sophia among my closest friends.
I didn’t think his grudging remarks really counted as an apology.

NUMBER

noun [ C ] the act of counting, or the total number of things counted:

Having done a quick count, I find I’ve planted 25 different ferns.
The current head count (= total number of people) is about 31,500 employees.
We had 450 members at the last count (= when they were last counted).

lose count

to not be able to remember how many times something has happened:

I’ve lost count of how many times she’s been late for work this month.

count sb in

informal to include someone in an activity or arrangement:

算上某人：

“Do you want to go swimming with us tomorrow?” “Yes, count me in.”

count towards sth

to be part of what is needed to complete or achieve something:

The work that the students do during the year will count towards their final grade.

counter

adverb in a way that opposes something:

Bob’s decision not to take the job ran counter to his family’s expectations.

the country

all the people who live in a country:

The whole country celebrated the signing of the peace treaty.

coup

noun [ C ] a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army:

a military coup

pluck up your courage

also pluck up (the) courage to do sth

to force yourself to be brave enough to do something, although you are frightened or worried about it:

鼓起勇气：

He finally plucked up courage to ask her to marry him.
I’d love to do a parachute jump, but I can’t pluck up the/enough courage.

courteous

adjective polite and showing respect:

Although she often disagreed with me, she was always courteous.

cover sth up

to stop people discovering the truth about something bad:

The company tried to cover up its employment of illegal immigrants.

crack

noun [ C ] a very narrow space between parts of something:

Cracks had appeared in the dry ground.
We peered through the crack in the floorboards.

crack down

to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more severe way:

The library is cracking down on people who lose their books.

crack up

informal to become mentally ill:

I think she’s cracking up.

crack (sb) up

informal to suddenly laugh a lot, or to make someone suddenly laugh a lot:

I took one look at her and cracked up.
There’s something about that guy’s face that just cracks me up.

at the crack of dawn

very early in the morning, especially at the time when the sun first appears:

We’ll have to leave at the crack of dawn.

crackdown

noun [ C ] a situation in which someone starts to deal with bad or illegal behaviour in a more severe way:

There has been a series of government crackdowns on safety in factories.
The police are having a crackdown on cyclists without lights.
The company is having a crackdown on personal internet use.
The school has started a crackdown on pupils who turn up late.

crave

verb [ T ] to have a very strong feeling of wanting something:

Many young children crave attention.

craving

noun [ C ] a strong feeling of wanting something:

I have a craving for chocolate.

be crawling with sth

informal to be completely covered with or full of a particular type of thing:

After the bomb scare, the airport was crawling with police.

credibility

noun [ U ] the fact that someone can be believed or trusted:

His arrest for lewd behaviour seriously damaged his credibility as a religious leader.
He complained that we had tried to undermine his credibility within the company.
A mistake like that will do his credibility a lot of harm.
The result of the vote poses a serious challenge to the government’s credibility.
With five consecutive defeats, the manager has lost all credibility.

creep

verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually in order to avoid being noticed:

She turned off the light and crept through the door.
Someone was creeping around outside my window.
The spider crept up the wall.
The traffic was creeping along at a snail’s pace.

cricket

noun [ C ] 蝈蝈

crisp

adjective

HARD

Crisp paper or cloth is stiff and smooth:

a crisp new £5 note/a crisp white tablecloth

COLD

Crisp weather is cold, dry, and bright:

a wonderful crisp spring morning

critical

adjective giving opinions or judgments on books, plays, films, etc.:

She has written a major critical appraisal/study of Saul Bellow’s novels.
His last film won/received critical acclaim (= was praised by film critics).
Studying has certainly sharpened my critical faculties.
Despite his great commercial success he still yearns for critical approval.
He has written a long critical piece evaluating the exhibition.

cross your fingers

also keep your fingers crossed

to hope that things will happen in the way that you want them to:

She has her exam this morning so cross your fingers.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather stays nice.

cross sb’s path/cross paths with sb

to meet someone, especially by chance:

I hope I don’t cross his path/cross paths with him again.

crude

adjective

SIMPLE

simple and not skilfully done or made:

a crude device/weapon
The constructed a crude shelter from branches.
The boxes were used as a crude table and chairs.

RUDE

rude and offensive:

a crude remark/comment

crumble

verb [ I or T ] to break, or cause something to break, into small pieces:

She nervously crumbled the bread between her fingers.
The cliffs on which the houses are built are starting to crumble.

crush

PRESS

verb [ T ] to press something very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed:

The package had been badly crushed in the post.
Add three cloves of crushed garlic.
His arm was badly crushed in the car accident.

LIKING

noun [ C ] informal a strong but temporary feeling of liking someone:

She has a crush on one of her teachers at school.

PRESS

noun [ S ] a crowd of people forced to stand close together:

I had to struggle through the crush to get to the door.
uk You can come in our car, but it’ll be a bit of a crush (= there will be a lot of people in it).

cry

noun [ C ] the noise that a bird or animal makes:

an eagle’s cry

cry out

to shout or make a loud noise because you are frightened, hurt, etc.:

She cried out in pain as the bullet grazed her shoulder.

cry out for sth

to need a particular thing very much:

The country is crying out for a change in leadership.

cry your eyes out

to cry a lot:

I was so upset that day, I cried my eyes out.

crystal

noun [ U ] 水晶：

a crystal vase

crystal clear

very easy to understand:

The evidence is now crystal clear.
She made it crystal clear that she was in charge.

cultivate

verb [ T ] to try to develop and improve something:

She has cultivated an image as a tough negotiator.

cunning

adjective Cunning people are clever at planning something so that they get what they want, especially by tricking other people, or things that are cleverly made for a particular purpose:

a cunning plan/ploy
He’s a very cunning man.

curb

verb [ T ] to control or limit something that is not wanted:

The government should act to curb tax evasion.
He is someone who finds it difficult to curb his fleshly desires.
You really need to curb your spending.
The police are trying to curb under-age drinking.

cushion

noun [ C ] something that makes the effects of a bad situation less severe:

You should aim to build up a cushion of money in case of emergencies.

custody

CARE

the legal right or duty to care for someone or something, especially a child after its parents have separated or died:

The court awarded/granted/gave custody of the child to the father.
The mother got/received custody of the child.
The parents were given joint custody.

PRISON

the state of being kept in prison, especially while waiting to go to court for trial:

The suspect is now in custody.
uk You will be remanded in custody until your trial.

not be cut out for sth

to not be the right type of person for something:

I’m not cut out for an office job.

cutlery

noun [ U ] uk us usually silverware

knives, forks, and spoons used for eating food

餐具

cynical

adjective disapproving believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere:

She has a pretty cynical view of men.
I’ve always been deeply cynical about politicians.