to |
1. part. A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive. | |
I want to leave. | |
He asked me what to do. | |
I don’t know how to say it. | |
I have places to go and people to see. | |
2. part. As above, with the verb implied. | |
"Did you visit the museum?" "I wanted to, but it was closed.". | |
If he hasn't read it yet, he ought to. | |
3. part. A particle used to create phrasal verbs. | |
I have to do laundry today. | |
4. prep. Indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at. | |
We are walking to the shop. | |
5. prep. Used to indicate purpose. | |
He devoted himself to education. | |
They drank to his health. | |
6. prep. Used to indicate result of action. | |
His face was beaten to a pulp. | |
7. prep. Used after an adjective to indicate its application. | |
similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking. | |
8. prep. (obsolete,) As a. | |
With God to friend (with God as a friend); with The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe); lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice); t | |
9. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate a ratio or comparison. | |
one to one = 1:1 | |
ten to one = 10:1. | |
I have ten dollars to your four. | |
10. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation. | |
Three squared or three to the second power is nine. | |
Three to the power of two is nine. | |
Three to the second is nine. | |
11. prep. Used to indicate the indirect object. | |
I gave the book to him. | |
12. prep. (time) Preceding. | |
ten to ten = 9:50; We're going to leave at ten to (the hour). | |
13. prep. Used to describe what something consists of or contains. | |
Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it. | |
There's a lot of sense to what he says. | |
14. prep. (Canada, UK, Newfoundland, West Midlands) At. | |
Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y. | |
15. adv. Toward a closed, touching or engaging position. | |
Please push the door to. | |
16. adv. (nautical) Into the wind. | |
17. adv. misspelling of too | |
break |
1. v. (transitive, intransitive) To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly. | |
If the vase falls to the floor, it might break. | |
In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car. | |
2. v. (transitive, intransitive) To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain. | |
His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest. | |
She broke her neck. | |
He slipped on the ice and broke his leg. | |
3. v. To divide (something, often money) into smaller units. | |
Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me? | |
The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers. | |
4. v. To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of. | |
Her child's death broke Angela. | |
Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war. | |
The interrogator hoped to break her to get her testimony against her accomplices. | |
5. v. To turn an animal into a beast of burden. | |
You have to break an elephant before you can use it as an animal of burden. | |
6. v. (intransitive) To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief. | |
My heart is breaking. | |
7. v. To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate. | |
I've got to break this habit I have of biting my nails. | |
to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey | |
I had won four games in a row, but now you've broken my streak of luck. | |
8. v. To ruin financially. | |
The recession broke some small businesses. | |
9. v. To violate, to not adhere to. | |
When you go to Vancouver, promise me you won't break the law. | |
He broke his vows by cheating on his wife. | |
break one's word | |
Time travel would break the laws of physics. | |
10. v. (intransitive, of a fever) To pass the most dangerous part of the illness; to go down, in terms of temperature. | |
Susan's fever broke at about 3 AM, and the doctor said the worst was over. | |
11. v. (intransitive, of a spell of settled weather) To end. | |
The forecast says the hot weather will break by midweek. | |
12. v. (intransitive, of a storm) To begin; to end. | |
We ran to find shelter before the storm broke. | |
Around midday the storm broke, and the afternoon was calm and sunny. | |
13. v. (intransitive, of morning, dawn, day etc.) To arrive. | |
Morning has broken. | |
The day broke crisp and clear. | |
14. v. (transitive, gaming slang) To render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage. | |
Changing the rules to let white have three extra queens would break chess. | |
I broke the RPG by training every member of my party to cast fireballs as well as use swords. | |
15. v. (transitive, intransitive) To stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether. | |
On the hottest day of the year the refrigerator broke. | |
Did you two break the trolley by racing with it? | |
16. v. (specifically, in programming) To cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly; to cause a regression. | |
Adding 64-bit support broke backward compatibility with earlier versions. | |
17. v. To cause (a barrier) to no longer bar. | |
break a seal | |
18. v. (specifically) To cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible. | |
19. v. (specifically) To open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination or the like. | |
20. v. To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce. | |
The cavalry were not able to break the British squares. | |
21. v. (intransitive) To burst forth; to make its way; to come into view. | |
22. v. (intransitive) To interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily. | |
Let's break for lunch. | |
23. v. To interrupt (a fall) by inserting something so that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath. | |
He survived the jump out the window because the bushes below broke his fall. | |
24. v. (transitive, ergative) To disclose or make known an item of news, etc. | |
The newsman wanted to break a big story, something that would make him famous. | |
I don't know how to break this to you, but your cat is not coming back. | |
In the latest breaking news... | |
When news of their divorce broke, ... | |
25. v. (intransitive, of a sound) To become audible suddenly. | |
26. v. To change a steady state abruptly. | |
His coughing broke the silence. | |
His turning on the lights broke the enchantment. | |
With the mood broken, what we had been doing seemed pretty silly. | |
27. v. (copulative, informal) To suddenly become. | |
Things began breaking bad for him when his parents died. | |
The arrest was standard, when suddenly the suspect broke ugly. | |
28. v. (intransitive) Of a male voice, to become deeper at puberty. | |
29. v. (intransitive) Of a voice, to alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men generally to go up, in women sometimes to go down; to crack. | |
His voice breaks when he gets emotional. | |
30. v. To surpass or do better than (a specific number), to do better than (a record), setting a new record. | |
He broke the men's 100-meter record. | |
I can't believe she broke 3 under par! | |
The policeman broke sixty on a residential street in his hurry to catch the thief. | |
31. v. (sports): | |
32. v. (transitive, tennis) To win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver. | |
He needs to break serve to win the match. | |
33. v. (intransitive, billiards, snooker, pool) To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement. | |
Is it your or my turn to break? | |
34. v. (transitive, backgammon) To remove one of the two men on (a point). | |
35. v. (transitive military, most often in the passive tense) To demote, to reduce the military rank of. | |
36. v. To end (a connection), to disconnect. | |
The referee ordered the boxers to break the clinch. | |
The referee broke the boxers' clinch. | |
I couldn't hear a thing he was saying, so I broke the connection and called him back. | |
37. v. (intransitive, of an emulsion) To demulsify. | |
38. v. (intransitive, sports) To counter-attack | |
39. v. (transitive, obsolete) To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate. | |
40. v. (intransitive) To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength. | |
41. v. (intransitive, obsolete) To fail in business; to become bankrupt. | |
42. v. To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of. | |
to break flax | |
43. v. To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss. | |
44. v. (intransitive) To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait. | |
to break into a run or gallop | |
45. v. (intransitive, archaic) To fall out; to terminate friendship. | |
off |
1. adv. In a direction away from the speaker or object. | |
He drove off in a cloud of smoke. | |
2. adv. Into a state of non-operation; into a state of non-existence. | |
Please switch off the light when you leave. | |
die off | |
3. adv. So as to be removed or separated. | |
He bit off more than he could chew. | |
Some branches were sawn off. | |
4. adj. Inoperative, disabled. | |
All the lights are off. | |
5. adj. Rancid, rotten. | |
This milk is off! | |
6. adj. (cricket) In, or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs; the right side for a right-handed batsman. | |
7. adj. Less than normal, in temperament or in result. | |
sales are off this quarter | |
8. adj. Circumstanced (as in well off, better off, poorly off). | |
9. adj. Started on the way. | |
off to see the wizard | |
And they're off! Whatsmyname takes an early lead, with Remember The Mane behind by a nose. | |
10. adj. Far; off to the side. | |
the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse | |
11. adj. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from a post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent. | |
He took an off day for fishing. an off year in politics; the off season | |
12. adj. (of a dish on a menu) Presently unavailable. | |
— I'll have the chicken please. | |
— Sorry, chicken's off today. | |
13. adj. Right-hand (in relation to the side of a horse or a vehicle). | |
14. prep. Used to indicate movement away from a position on | |
I took it off the table. | |
Come off the roof! | |
15. prep. (colloquial) Out of the possession of. | |
He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him. | |
16. prep. Away from or not on. | |
He's off the computer, but he's still on the phone. | |
Keep off the grass. | |
17. prep. Disconnected or subtracted from. | |
We've been off the grid for three days now. | |
He took 20% off the list price. | |
18. prep. Distant from. | |
We're just off the main road. | |
The island is 23 miles off the cape. | |
19. prep. No longer wanting or taking. | |
He's been off his feed since Tuesday. | |
He's off his meds again. | |
20. prep. Placed after a number (of products or parts, as if a unit), in commerce or engineering(topics, en, Engineering). | |
Tantalum bar 6 off 3/8" Dia × 12" — Atom, Great Britain Atomic Energy Authority, 1972 | |
samples submitted … 12 off Thermistors type 1K3A531 … — BSI test report for shock and vibration testing, 2000 | |
I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off. | |
21. v. (transitive, slang) To kill. | |
He got in the way so I had him offed. | |
22. v. (transitive, Singapore, Philippines) To switch off. | |
Can you off the light? | |
23. n. (rare) Beginning; starting point. | |
He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off. | |
to |
1. part. A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive. | |
I want to leave. | |
He asked me what to do. | |
I don’t know how to say it. | |
I have places to go and people to see. | |
2. part. As above, with the verb implied. | |
"Did you visit the museum?" "I wanted to, but it was closed.". | |
If he hasn't read it yet, he ought to. | |
3. part. A particle used to create phrasal verbs. | |
I have to do laundry today. | |
4. prep. Indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at. | |
We are walking to the shop. | |
5. prep. Used to indicate purpose. | |
He devoted himself to education. | |
They drank to his health. | |
6. prep. Used to indicate result of action. | |
His face was beaten to a pulp. | |
7. prep. Used after an adjective to indicate its application. | |
similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking. | |
8. prep. (obsolete,) As a. | |
With God to friend (with God as a friend); with The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe); lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice); t | |
9. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate a ratio or comparison. | |
one to one = 1:1 | |
ten to one = 10:1. | |
I have ten dollars to your four. | |
10. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation. | |
Three squared or three to the second power is nine. | |
Three to the power of two is nine. | |
Three to the second is nine. | |
11. prep. Used to indicate the indirect object. | |
I gave the book to him. | |
12. prep. (time) Preceding. | |
ten to ten = 9:50; We're going to leave at ten to (the hour). | |
13. prep. Used to describe what something consists of or contains. | |
Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it. | |
There's a lot of sense to what he says. | |
14. prep. (Canada, UK, Newfoundland, West Midlands) At. | |
Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y. | |
15. adv. Toward a closed, touching or engaging position. | |
Please push the door to. | |
16. adv. (nautical) Into the wind. | |
17. adv. misspelling of too | |
snatch |
1. v. To grasp and remove quickly. | |
He snatched up the phone. | |
She snatched the letter out of the secretary's hand. | |
2. v. (intransitive) To attempt to seize something suddenly. | |
to snatch at a rope | |
3. v. To take or seize hastily, abruptly, or without permission or ceremony. | |
to snatch a kiss | |
4. v. (transitive, informal) To steal. | |
Someone has just snatched my purse! | |
5. v. (transitive, informal, figurative, by extension) To take (a victory) at the last moment. | |
6. v. (transitive, informal) To do something quickly in the limited time available. | |
He snatched a sandwich before catching the train. | |
He snatched a glimpse of her while her mother had her back turned. | |
7. n. A quick grab or catch. | |
The leftfielder makes a nice snatch to end the inning. | |
8. n. (weightlifting) A competitive weightlifting event in which a barbell is lifted from the platform to locked arms overhead in a smooth continuous movement. | |
9. n. A piece of some sound, usually music or conversation. | |
I heard a snatch of Mozart as I passed the open window. | |
10. n. (vulgar slang) The vulva. | |
11. n. (dated) A brief period of exertion. | |
12. n. (dated) A catching of the voice. | |
13. n. (dated) A hasty snack; a bite to eat. | |
14. n. (dated) A quibble. | |
15. n. The handle of a scythe; a snead. | |
away |
1. adv. From a place, hence. | |
He went away on vacation. | |
2. adv. Aside; off; in another direction. | |
3. adv. From a state or condition of being; out of existence. | |
4. adv. (as imperative, by ellipsis) Come away; go away; take away. | |
5. adv. On; in continuance; without intermission or delay. | |
sing away | |
6. adv. Without restraint. | |
You've got questions? Ask away! | |
7. adv. Being so engaged for the entire time. | |
That's where tourists go to hear great Cuban bands and dance the night away. | |
8. adv. At a distance in time or space. | |
Christmas is only two weeks away. | |
9. interj. (Northern England) come on!; go on! | |
10. adj. Not here, gone, absent, unavailable, traveling; on vacation. | |
The master is away from home. | |
Would you pick up my mail while I'm away. | |
11. adj. (following the noun modified) At a specified distance in space, time, or figuratively. | |
He's miles away by now. | |
Spring is still a month away. | |
12. adj. (chiefly sports) Not on one's home territory. | |
Entrance for away supporters. | |
Next, they are playing away in Dallas. | |
13. adj. (baseball, following the noun modified) Out. | |
Two men away in the bottom of the ninth. | |
14. adj. misspelling of aweigh | |