15 PHRASE If someone is out and about , they are going to a lot of different places, often as part of their job. □ They often saw me out and about. USAGE about
Don’t use an -ing
form in 'about to
' sentences. Don’t say, for example, ‘
abou t-fa ce (about-faces ) N‑COUNT An about-face is a complete change of attitude or opinion. □ Few observers believe the president will do an about-face and start spending more.
abou t-tu rn (about-turns ) N‑COUNT An about-turn is the same as an about-face . [BRIT ] in AM, use about-face
above ◆◆◇ /əbʌ v/
1 PREP If one thing is above another one, it is directly over it or higher than it. □ He lifted his hands above his head. □ Apartment 46 was a quiet apartment, unlike the one above it. □ He was staring into the mirror above him. ● ADV [ADV after v, from ADV ] Above is also an adverb. □ A long scream sounded from somewhere above. □ …a picture of the new plane as seen from above.
2 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] In writing, you use above to refer to something that has already been mentioned or discussed. □ Several conclusions could be drawn from the results described above. ● N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] Above is also a noun. □ For additional information, contact any of the above. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Above is also an adjective. □ For a copy of their brochure, write to the above address.
3 PREP If an amount or measurement is above a particular level, it is greater than that level. □ The temperature crept up to just above 40 degrees. □ Victoria Falls has had above average levels of rainfall this year. □ Government spending is planned to rise 3 per cent above inflation. ● ADV Above is also an adverb. □ Banks have been charging 25 percent and above for unsecured loans.
4 PREP If you hear one sound above another, it is louder or clearer than the second one. □ Then there was a woman's voice, rising shrilly above the barking.
5 PREP If someone is above you, they are in a higher social position than you or in a position of authority over you. □ I married above myself–rich county people. ● ADV [from ADV ] Above is also an adverb. □ The police officers admitted beating the student, but said they were acting on orders from above.
6 PREP If you say that someone thinks they are above something, you mean that they act as if they are too good or important for it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I'm not above doing my own cleaning.
7 PREP If someone is above criticism or suspicion, they cannot be criticized or suspected because of their good qualities or their position. □ He was a respected academic and above suspicion.
8 PREP If you value one person or thing above any other, you value them more or consider that they are more important. □ …his tendency to put the team above everything.
9 over and above → see over ➋
10 above the law → see law
11 above board → see board USAGE above
Don’t use ‘above’ in front of a number when you are talking about a quantity or number of things or people. For example, don’t say '
abo ve-the-li ne pro|mo |tion (above-the-line promotions ) N‑VAR Above-the-line promotion is the use of promotional methods that cannot be directly controlled by the company selling the goods or service, such as television or press advertising. Compare below-the-line promotion . [BUSINESS ] □ For maternity clothing retailers, most above-the-line promotion is conducted through focused sources such as mother and baby magazines.
ab|ra|ca|dab|ra /æ brəkədæ brə/ EXCLAM Abracadabra is a word that someone says when they are performing a magic trick in order to make the magic happen.
abrade /əbre I d/ (abrades , abrading , abraded ) VERB To abrade something means to scrape or wear down its surface by rubbing it. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] My skin was abraded and very tender.
abra|sion /əbre I ʒ ə n/ (abrasions ) N‑COUNT An abrasion is an area on a person's body where the skin has been scraped. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] He had severe abrasions to his right cheek.
abra|sive /əbre I s I v/
1 ADJ Someone who has an abrasive manner is unkind and rude. □ His abrasive manner has won him an unenviable notoriety.
2 ADJ An abrasive substance is rough and can be used to clean hard surfaces. □ …a new all-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner.
abreast /əbre st/
1 ADV [ADV after v] If people or things walk or move abreast , they are next to each other, side by side, and facing in the same direction. □ The steep pavement was too narrow for them to walk abreast.
2 PHRASE If you are abreast of someone or something, you are level with them or in line with them. □ As he drew abreast of the man he pretended to stumble.
3 PHRASE If you keep abreast of a subject, you know all the most recent facts about it. □ He will be keeping abreast of the news.
abridged /əbr I dʒd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An abridged book or play has been made shorter by removing some parts of it. □ This is an abridged version of her new novel.
abroad ◆◇◇ /əbrɔː d/ ADV [ADV after v, n ADV , be ADV , from ADV ] If you go abroad , you go to a foreign country, usually one which is separated from the country where you live by an ocean or a sea. □ I would love to go abroad this year, perhaps to the South of France. □ …public opposition here and abroad. □ About 65 per cent of its sales come from abroad. SYNONYMS abroad ADV