true: I think he's a true genius.
authentic: She has authentic charm whereas most people simply have nice manners.
a c|tual bodi|ly ha rm N‑UNCOUNT Actual bodily harm is a criminal offence in which someone gives another person a minor injury.
ac|tu|al|ity /æ ktʃuæ l I ti/ (actualities )
1 PHRASE You can use in actuality to emphasize that what you are saying is true, when it contradicts or contrasts with what you have previously said. [EMPHASIS ] □ In actuality, we've found that leaders appreciate the training.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Actuality is the state of really existing rather than being imagined. □ It exists in dreams rather than actuality.
ac|tu|al|ly ◆◆◆ /æ ktʃuəli/
1 ADV [ADV before v] You use actually to indicate that a situation exists or happened, or to emphasize that it is true. [EMPHASIS ] □ One afternoon, I grew bored and actually fell asleep for a few minutes. □ Interest is only payable on the amount actually borrowed.
2 ADV You use actually when you are correcting or contradicting someone. [EMPHASIS ] □ No, I'm not a student. I'm a doctor, actually. □ 'So it's not a family show then?'—'Well, actually, I think that's exactly what it is.'
3 ADV You can use actually when you are politely expressing an opinion that other people might not have expected from you. [POLITENESS ] □ 'Do you think it's a good idea to socialize with one's patients?'—'Actually, I do, I think it's a great idea.'
4 ADV You use actually to introduce a new topic into a conversation. □ Well actually, John, I rang you for some advice. SYNONYMS actually ADV 1
really: What was really going on?
indeed: He did indeed keep important documents inside his hat.
in fact: We've had a pretty bad time while you were away. In fact, we very nearly split up this time.
genuinely: He was genuinely surprised. USAGE actually
Don’t use actually when you want to say that something is happening now. Use at present , at the moment , or right now . □ He’s in a meeting at the moment .
ac|tu|ari|al /æ ktʃueə riəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Actuarial means relating to the work of an actuary. □ The company's actuarial report is available on demand.
ac|tu|ary /æ ktʃuəri, [AM ] -tʃueri/ (actuaries ) N‑COUNT An actuary is a person who is employed by insurance companies to calculate how much they should charge their clients for insurance.
ac|tu|ate /æ ktʃue I t/ (actuates , actuating , actuated )
1 VERB If a person is actuated by an emotion, that emotion makes them act in a certain way. □ [be V -ed] They were actuated by desire.
2 VERB If something actuates a device, the device starts working. □ [V n] The flow of current actuates the signal.
acu|ity /ækjuː I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Acuity is sharpness of vision or hearing, or quickness of thought. [FORMAL ] □ We work on improving visual acuity.
acu|men /æ kjʊmen, [AM ] əkjuː mən/ N‑UNCOUNT Acumen is the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions. □ His sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top.
acu|pres|sure /æ kjʊpreʃə r / N‑UNCOUNT Acupressure is the treatment of pain by a type of massage in which pressure is put on certain areas of a person's body.
acu|punc|ture /æ kjʊpʌŋktʃə r / N‑UNCOUNT Acupuncture is the treatment of a person's illness or pain by sticking small needles into their body at certain places.
acu|punc|tur|ist /æ kjʊpʌŋktʃər I st/ (acupuncturists ) N‑COUNT An acupuncturist is a person who performs acupuncture.
acute /əkjuː t/
1 ADJ You can use acute to indicate that an undesirable situation or feeling is very severe or intense. □ The report has caused acute embarrassment to the government. □ The labour shortage is becoming acute.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An acute illness is one that becomes severe very quickly but does not last very long. Compare chronic . [MEDICAL ] □ …a patient with acute rheumatoid arthritis.
3 ADJ If a person's or animal's sight, hearing, or sense of smell is acute , it is sensitive and powerful. □ In the dark my sense of hearing becomes so acute.
4 ADJ An acute angle is less than 90°. Compare obtuse angle.
5 ADJ [ADJ n, n ADJ ] An acute accent is a symbol that is placed over vowels in some languages in order to indicate how that vowel is pronounced or over one letter in a word to indicate where it is stressed. You refer to a letter with this accent as, for example, e acute . For example, there is an acute accent over the letter 'e' in the French word 'café'.
acute|ly /əkjuː tli/
1 ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] If you feel or notice something acutely , you feel or notice it very strongly. □ He was acutely aware of the odour of cooking oil.
2 ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] If a feeling or quality is acutely unpleasant, it is extremely unpleasant. □ It was an acutely uncomfortable journey back to London.
ad ◆◇◇ /æ d/ (ads ) N‑COUNT An ad is an advertisement. [INFORMAL ] □ She replied to a lonely hearts ad.
AD /e I diː / You use AD in dates to indicate the number of years or centuries that have passed since the year in which Jesus Christ is believed to have been born. Compare BC . □ The cathedral was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1136 AD. □ The Roman Empire was divided in the fourth century AD.
ad|age /æ d I dʒ/ (adages ) N‑COUNT An adage is something which people often say and which expresses a general truth about some aspect of life. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …the old adage, 'Every baby brings its own love'.