{
    "term": "possession",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "something that you own or have with you at a particular time",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Prisoners were allowed no personal possessions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "One of Jane's most **prized possessions** was her photo album."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The ring is one of her most treasured possessions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please make sure you have all your possessions with you when leaving the plane."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He carried all his worldly possessions in an old suitcase."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The sports car was her proudest possession."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "belongings",
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["family", "personal", "private"],
                "verb + possession": ["acquire", "have", "collect"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the state of having or owning something",
            "sensetop": "possession of somethingin somebody's possessionin possession of something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The possession of a passport is essential for foreign travel.",
                    "contextForm": "possession of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They had exclusive possession of the property as tenants."
                },
                {
                    "text": "On her father's death, she **came into possession** of *(= received)* a vast fortune."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You cannot legally **take possession** of the property *(= start using it after buying it)* until three weeks after the contract is signed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The manuscript is just one of the treasures in their possession.",
                    "contextForm": "in somebody's possession"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The gang was caught in possession of stolen goods.",
                    "contextForm": "in possession of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "drug possession"
                },
                {
                    "text": "weapons/firearms possession"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["exclusive", "sole", "illegal"],
                "verb + possession": ["gain", "get", "obtain"],
                "possession + noun": ["order"],
                "preposition": ["in possession of something", "in your possession"],
                "phrases": ["in full possession of something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the state of having control of the ball",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **win/get/lose possession** of the ball"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The home team had most of the possession in the first half."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The team was struggling to retain possession of the ball."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "the state of having illegal drugs or weapons with you at a particular time",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was charged with possession."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They were charged with unlawful possession of firearms."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Crime and punishment"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a country that is controlled or governed by another country",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The former colonial possessions are now independent states."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the country's overseas possessions"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "the situation when somebody’s mind is believed to be controlled by the Devil or by an evil spirit",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you already have or control something, it is difficult for somebody else to take it away from you, even if they have the legal right to it",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pəˈzeʃn/",
                "audio": "po/possession/possession__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pəˈzeʃn/",
                "audio": "po/possession/possession__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, from Latin possessio(n-), from the verb possidere, from potis ‘able, capable’ + sedere ‘sit’."
}