mathematics |
1. n. An abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure, change and the relationships between these concepts. | |
2. n. A person's ability to count, calculate, and use different systems of mathematics at differing levels. | |
My mathematics is always improving. | |
obsolete |
1. adj. (of words, equipment, etc.) No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected (often by preference for something newer, which replaces the subject). | |
It is speculated that, within a few years, the Internet's speedy delivery of news worldwide will make newspapers obsolete. | |
2. adj. (biology) Imperfectly developed; not very distinct. | |
3. v. (transitive, US) To cause to become obsolete. | |
This software component has been obsoleted. | |
We are in the process of obsoleting this product. | |
a |
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group. | |
There was a man here looking for you yesterday. | |
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word. | |
I've seen it happen a hundred times. | |
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003) | |
We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London. | |
4. art. The same; one. | |
We are of a mind on matters of morals. | |
5. art. Any, every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope; also used with a negative to indicate not a single one.Lindberg, Christine A. (2007) | |
A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties. | |
He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head? | |
6. art. Used before plural nouns modified by few, good many, couple, great many, etc. | |
7. art. Someone or something like; similar to; Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it. | |
The center of the village was becoming a Times Square. | |
8. prep. (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto. | |
Stand a tiptoe. | |
9. prep. To do with separation; In, into. | |
Torn a pieces. | |
10. prep. To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by. | |
I brush my teeth twice a day. | |
11. prep. (obsolete) To do with method; In, with. | |
12. prep. (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In. | |
A God’s name. | |
13. prep. To do with status; In. | |
King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18) | |
To set the people a worke. | |
14. prep. (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing. | |
1964, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’ | |
The times, they are a-changin'. | |
15. prep. (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in. | |
1611, King James Bible, Hebrews 11-21 | |
Jacob, when he was a dying | |
16. prep. (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into. | |
17. v. (archaic, or slang) Have. | |
I'd a come, if you'd a asked. | |
18. pron. (obsolete, outside, England, and Scotland dialects) He. | |
19. interj. A meaningless syllable; ah. | |
20. prep. (archaic, slang) Of. | |
The name of John a Gaunt. | |
21. adv. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
22. adj. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
set |
1. v. To put (something) down, to rest. | |
Set the tray there. | |
2. v. To attach or affix (something) to something else, or in or upon a certain place. | |
I have set my heart on running the marathon. | |
3. v. To put in a specified condition or state; to cause to be. | |
4. v. (transitive, dated) To cause to stop or stick; to obstruct; to fasten to a spot. | |
to set a coach in the mud | |
5. v. To determine or settle. | |
to set the rent | |
6. v. To adjust. | |
I set the alarm at 6 a.m. | |
7. v. To punch (a nail) into wood so that its head is below the surface. | |
8. v. To arrange with dishes and cutlery, to set the table. | |
Please set the table for our guests. | |
9. v. To introduce or describe. | |
I’ll tell you what happened, but first let me set the scene. | |
10. v. To locate (a play, etc.); to assign a backdrop to. | |
He says he will set his next film in France. | |
11. v. To compile, to make (a puzzle or challenge). | |
This crossword was set by Araucaria. | |
12. v. To prepare (a stage or film set). | |
13. v. To fit (someone) up in a situation. | |
14. v. To arrange (type). | |
It was a complex page, but he set it quickly. | |
15. v. To devise and assign (work) to. | |
The teacher set her students the task of drawing a foot. | |
16. v. (transitive, volleyball) To direct (the ball) to a teammate for an attack. | |
17. v. (intransitive) To solidify. | |
The glue sets in four minutes. | |
18. v. To render stiff or solid; especially, to convert into curd; to curdle. | |
to set milk for cheese | |
19. v. (intransitive) Of a heavenly body, to disappear below the horizon of a planet, etc, as the latter rotates. | |
The moon sets at eight o'clock tonight. | |
20. v. (transitive, bridge) To defeat a contract. | |
21. v. (obsolete, now followed by "out", as in set out) To begin to move; to go forth. | |
22. v. (transitive, botany) To produce after pollination. | |
to set seed | |
23. v. (intransitive, of fruit) To be fixed for growth; to strike root; to begin to germinate or form. | |
24. v. (intransitive, Southern US, Midwestern US, dialects) To sit (be in a seated position). | |
He sets in that chair all day. | |
25. v. To hunt game with the aid of a setter. | |
26. v. (hunting, ambitransitive) Of a dog, to indicate the position of game. | |
The dog sets the bird. | |
Your dog sets well. | |
27. v. (obsolete) To apply oneself; to undertake earnestly; to set out. | |
28. v. To fit music to words. | |
29. v. To place plants or shoots in the ground; to plant. | |
to set pear trees in an orchard | |
30. v. To become fixed or rigid; to be fastened. | |
31. v. To have a certain direction of motion; to flow; to move on; to tend. | |
The current sets to the north; the tide sets to the windward. | |
32. v. To place or fix in a setting. | |
to set a precious stone in a border of metal | |
to set glass in a sash | |
33. v. To put in order in a particular manner; to prepare. | |
to set (that is, to hone) a razor | |
to set a saw | |
34. v. To extend and bring into position; to spread. | |
to set the sails of a ship | |
35. v. To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the keynote. | |
to set a psalm | |
36. v. To reduce from a dislocated or fractured state. | |
to set a broken bone | |
37. v. (masonry) To lower into place and fix solidly, as the blocks of cut stone in a structure. | |
38. v. (obsolete) To wager in gambling; to risk. | |
39. v. To adorn with something infixed or affixed; to stud; to variegate with objects placed here and there. | |
40. v. (obsolete) To value; to rate; used with at. | |
41. v. To establish as a rule; to furnish; to prescribe; to assign. | |
to set a good example; to set lessons to be learned | |
42. v. (Scotland) To suit; to become. | |
It sets him ill. | |
43. n. A punch for setting nails in wood. | |
nail set | |
44. n. A device for receiving broadcast radio waves (or, more recently, broadcast data); a radio or television. | |
television set | |
45. n. (alt form, sett): a hole made and lived in by a badger. | |
46. n. (alt form, sett): pattern of threads and yarns. | |
47. n. (alt form, sett): piece of quarried stone. | |
48. n. (horticulture) A small tuber or bulb used instead of seed, particularly onion sets and potato sets. | |
49. n. The amount the teeth of a saw protrude to the side in order to create the kerf. | |
50. n. (obsolete, rare) That which is staked; a wager; hence, a gambling game. | |
51. n. (engineering) Permanent change of shape caused by excessive strain, as from compression, tension, bending, twisting, etc. | |
the set of a spring | |
52. n. (piledriving) A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile when the latter cannot otherwise be reached by the weight, or hammer. | |
53. n. (printing, dated) The width of the body of a type. | |
54. n. A young oyster when first attached. | |
55. n. Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any locality. | |
56. n. A series or group of something. (Note the similar meaning in Etymology 2, Noun) | |
57. n. (colloquial) The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit. | |
the set of a coat | |
58. n. The camber of a curved roofing tile. | |
59. adj. Fixed in position. | |
60. adj. Rigid, solidified. | |
61. adj. Ready, prepared. | |
on your marks, get set, go!; on your marks, set, go! | |
62. adj. Intent, determined (to do something). | |
set on getting to his destination | |
63. adj. Prearranged. | |
a set menu | |
64. adj. Fixed in one’s opinion. | |
collection |
1. n. A set of items or amount of material procured or gathered together. | |
The attic contains a remarkable collection of antiques, oddities, and random junk. | |
The asteroid belt consists of a collection of dust, rubble, and minor planets. | |
2. n. Multiple related objects associated as a group. | |
He has a superb coin collection. | |
3. n. The activity of collecting. | |
Collection of trash will occur every Thursday. | |
4. n. (topology, analysis) A set of sets. | |
5. n. A gathering of money for charitable or other purposes, as by passing a contribution box for donations. | |
6. n. (law) Debt collection. | |
7. n. (obsolete) The act of inferring or concluding from premises or observed facts; also, that which is inferred. | |
8. n. (UK) The jurisdiction of a collector of excise. | |
9. n. (in the UK, Oxford University) A set of college exams generally taken at the start of the term. | |
10. n. The quality of being collected; calm composure. | |
of |
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion. | |
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off". | |
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.). | |
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.). | |
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage. | |
5. prep. (North America, Scotland, Ireland) Before (the hour); to. | |
What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three. | |
6. prep. Expressing separation. | |
7. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.) | |
Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband. | |
8. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.) | |
He seemed devoid of human feelings. | |
9. prep. (obsolete) (Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.) | |
10. prep. Expressing origin. | |
11. prep. (Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.) | |
The word is believed to be of Japanese origin. | |
12. prep. (Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation); from, out of, as an expression of. | |
The invention was born of necessity. | |
13. prep. (following an intransitive verb) (Indicates the source or cause of the verb.) | |
It is said that she died of a broken heart. | |
14. prep. (following an adjective) (Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.) | |
I am tired of all this nonsense. | |
15. prep. Expressing agency. | |
16. prep. (following a passive verb) (Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).) | |
I am not particularly enamoured of this idea. | |
17. prep. (Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase) (see also 'Possession' senses below). | |
The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties. | |
18. prep. (following an adjective) (Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.) | |
It was very brave of you to speak out like that. | |
19. prep. Expressing composition, substance. | |
20. prep. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) (Used to indicate the material or substance used.) | |
Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic. | |
21. prep. (directly following a noun) (Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.) | |
She wore a dress of silk. | |
22. prep. (Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.) | |
What a lot of nonsense! | |
23. prep. (Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.) | |
Welcome to the historic town of Harwich. | |
24. prep. (Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second); "which is also". | |
I'm not driving this wreck of a car. | |
25. prep. Introducing subject matter. | |
26. prep. (Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-ma | |
I'm always thinking of you. | |
27. prep. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) (Introduces its subject matter); about, concerning. | |
He told us the story of his journey to India. | |
28. prep. (following an adjective) (Introduces its subject matter.) | |
This behaviour is typical of teenagers. | |
29. prep. Having partitive effect. | |
30. prep. (following a number or other quantitive word) (Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment); "from among". | |
Most of these apples are rotten. | |
31. prep. (following a noun) (Indicates a given part.) | |
32. prep. (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of. | |
On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort. | |
33. prep. (Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).) | |
He is a friend of mine. | |
34. prep. Expressing possession. | |
35. prep. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above. | |
He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century. | |
36. prep. Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it. | |
The owner of the nightclub was arrested. | |
37. prep. Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; (the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this inter | |
Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames. | |
38. prep. Forming the "objective genitive". | |
39. prep. (Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.) | |
She had a profound distrust of the police. | |
40. prep. Expressing qualities or characteristics. | |
41. prep. (now archaic, or literary) (Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier); in respect to, as regards. | |
My companion seemed affable and easy of manner. | |
42. prep. (Indicates a quality or characteristic); "characterized by". | |
Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain. | |
43. prep. (Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.) | |
We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%. | |
44. prep. (US, informal considered incorrect by some) (Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives mod | |
It's not that big of a deal. | |
45. prep. Expressing a point in time. | |
46. prep. (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. | |
Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river. | |
47. prep. (UK dialectal, chiefly in negative constructions) For (a given length of time). | |
I've not tekken her out of a goodly long while. | |
48. prep. (after a noun) (Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.) | |
After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off. | |
objects |
1. n. plural of object | |
2. v. third-person singular present indicative of object | |