{
    "term": "ceremony",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions",
            "sensetop": "at a ceremonyin a ceremonyceremony for somebody/somethingceremony to do something",
            "labels": "(especially North American English)(informal)(informal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "More than 1 000 people **attended the ceremony**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an **awards/opening ceremony**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **wedding/marriage/graduation ceremony**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a religious/civil ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The priest had travelled from Australia to **perform the ceremony**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was last seen in public at the **closing ceremony** of the Commonwealth Games",
                    "contextForm": "at a ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Who officiated at the ceremony?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were married in a simple ceremony.",
                    "contextForm": "in a ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The villagers **held a** memorial **ceremony** for those who lost their lives in the war.",
                    "contextForm": "ceremony for somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There will be a special ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the battle.",
                    "contextForm": "ceremony to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many dignitaries were present at the ceremony."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a same-sex commitment ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a special ceremony to mark the end of the war"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an official ceremony to welcome the new director"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the Japanese tea ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the guest of honour at the ceremony"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Religion and festivals", "Life stages"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["brief", "short", "quiet"],
                "verb + ceremony": ["conduct", "officiate", "officiate at"],
                "ceremony + verb": [
                    "take place",
                    "commemorate something",
                    "honour/​honor somebody/​something"
                ],
                "preposition": [
                    "at a/​the ceremony",
                    "during a/​the ceremony",
                    "in a/​the ceremony"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "formal behaviour; traditional actions and words used on particular formal occasions",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The royal guests were welcomed with pomp and ceremony."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was buried with great ceremony in the Abbey."
                },
                {
                    "text": "With due ceremony, he took the oath to become president."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + ceremony": ["stand on"],
                "preposition": ["without ceremony"],
                "phrases": ["pomp and ceremony", "with great ceremony"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to behave formally",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Please don't stand on ceremony *(= Please be natural and relaxed)* with me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I won't stand on ceremony."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "in a very rough or informal way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He found himself pushed without ceremony out of the house and the door slammed in his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was done quickly and without ceremony."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Without ceremony, the woman slammed the door shut in my face."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈserəməni/",
                "audio": "ce/ceremony/ceremony__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈserəməʊni/",
                "audio": "ce/ceremony/ceremony__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia ‘religious worship’, (plural) ‘ritual observances’."
}