wri te-off (write-offs )
1 N‑COUNT Something such as a vehicle that is a write-off has been so badly damaged in an accident that it is not worth repairing. [BRIT ] □ The car was a write-off, but everyone escaped unharmed.
2 N‑COUNT A write-off is the decision by a company or government to accept that they will never recover a debt or an amount of money that has been spent on something. □ [+ of ] Mr James persuaded the banks to accept a large write-off of debt.
3 N‑SING If you describe a plan or period of time as a write-off , you mean that it has been a failure and you have achieved nothing. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ for ] Today was really a bit of a write-off for me.
writ|er ◆◆◇ /ra I tə r / (writers )
1 N‑COUNT A writer is a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job. □ Turner is a writer and critic. □ …detective stories by American writers. □ …novelist and travel writer Paul Theroux.
2 N‑COUNT The writer of a particular article, report, letter, or story is the person who wrote it. □ [+ of ] No-one is to see the document without the permission of the writer of the report. SYNONYMS writer NOUN 1
author: …Jill Phillips, author of the book 'Give Your Child Music'.
novelist: …a romantic novelist.
columnist: …the gossip columnists' favourite target.
hack: …tabloid hacks, always eager to find victims in order to sell newspapers. COLLOCATIONS writer NOUN 1
noun + writer : comedy, crime, food, travel; woman
adjective + writer : aspiring, prolific; freelance
wri te-up (write-ups ) N‑COUNT A write-up is an article in a newspaper or magazine, in which someone gives their opinion of something such as a film, restaurant, or new product. □ The show received a good write-up. □ [+ of ] The guide book contains a short write-up of each hotel.
writhe /ra I ð/ (writhes , writhing , writhed ) VERB If you writhe , your body twists and turns violently backwards and forwards, usually because you are in great pain or discomfort. □ [V ] He was writhing in agony. □ [V adv/prep] The shark was writhing around wildly, trying to get free.
writ|ing ◆◆◇ /ra I t I ŋ/ (writings )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Writing is something that has been written or printed. □ [+ on ] 'It's from a notebook,' the sheriff said, 'And there's writing on it.' □ If you have a complaint about your holiday, please inform us in writing.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to any piece of written work as writing , especially when you are considering the style of language used in it. □ The writing is brutally tough and savagely humorous. □ It was such a brilliant piece of writing.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Writing is the activity of writing, especially of writing books for money. □ She had begun to be a little bored with novel writing. □ …activities to help prepare children for writing.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] Your writing is the way that you write with a pen or pencil, which can usually be recognized as belonging to you. □ It was a little difficult to read your writing. □ I think it's due to being left handed that he's got terrible writing.
5 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] An author's writings are all the things that he or she has written, especially on a particular subject. □ Althusser's writings are focused mainly on France. □ [+ of ] The pieces he is reading are adapted from the writings of Michael Frayn.
6 PHRASE If you say that the writing is on the wall , you mean that there are clear signs that a situation is going to become very difficult or unpleasant. □ After two defeats, the writing is on the wall for the manager.
wri t|ing desk (writing desks ) N‑COUNT A writing desk is a piece of furniture with drawers, an area for keeping writing materials, and a surface on which you can rest your paper while writing.
wri t|ing pa|per (writing papers ) N‑VAR Writing paper is paper for writing letters on. It is usually of good, smooth quality.
writ|ten ◆◇◇ /r I t ə n/
1 Written is the past participle of write .
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A written test or piece of work is one which involves writing rather than doing something practical or giving spoken answers. □ Learners may have to take a written exam before they pass their driving test.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A written agreement, rule, or law has been officially written down. □ The newspaper broke a written agreement not to sell certain photographs.
4 to be written all over someone's face → see face ➊
wri t|ten wo rd N‑SING You use the written word to refer to language expressed in writing, especially when contrasted with speech or with other forms of expression such as painting or film. □ Even in the 18th century, scholars continued to give primacy to the written word.
wrong ◆◆◇ /rɒ ŋ, [AM ] rɔː ŋ/ (wrongs , wronging , wronged )
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say there is something wrong , you mean there is something unsatisfactory about the situation, person, or thing you are talking about. □ Pain is the body's way of telling us that something is wrong. □ Nobody seemed to notice anything wrong. □ [+ with ] What's wrong with him?