{
    "term": "what",
    "partOfSpeech": "pronoun, determiner",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used in questions to ask for particular information about somebody/something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What is your name?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What *(= what job)* does he do?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What time is it?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What kind of music do you like?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the thing or things that; whatever",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What you need is a good meal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Nobody knows what will happen next."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I spent what little time I had with my family."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "used to say that you think that something is especially good, bad, etc.",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What awful weather!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What a beautiful house!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "and other things of the same type",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's full of old toys, books and what not."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "despite any problems or difficulties you may have",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He promised to support her come what may."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be punished/punish somebody severely",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'll give her what for if she does that again."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to emphasize your opinion",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Is he stupid or what?"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used when you are not sure about something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I don't know if he's a teacher or what."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Are we going now or what?"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to express surprise at what somebody has just said",
            "labels": "(North American English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘He's getting married.’ ‘Say what?’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to show that you think something is not important, especially after somebody has criticized you for it",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘He's fifteen years younger than you!’ ‘So what?’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "So what if nobody else agrees with me?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used when you have not heard or have not understood something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What? I can't hear you."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to show that you have heard somebody and to ask what they want",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Mummy!’ ‘What?’ ‘I'm thirsty.’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "used to express surprise or anger",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘It will cost $500.’ ‘What?’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘I asked her to marry me.’ ‘**You what?**’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to make a suggestion",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What about a trip to France?"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Suggestions and advice"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to introduce somebody/something into the conversation",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What about you, Joe? Do you like football?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used instead of a name that you cannot remember",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She's just gone out with old what-d'you-call-him."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "for what purpose or reason?",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What is this tool for?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What did you do that for *(= why did you do that)*?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘I need to see a doctor.’ ‘What for?’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "what would happen if?",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What if the train is late?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What if she forgets to bring it?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used when admitting that something is true, to ask why it should be considered important",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Yes, I wrote the article. What of it?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to suggest that something you have heard is a stupid idea or does not make sense",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They dropped their best player. What's all that about?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "(know) what things are useful, important, etc.",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She certainly knows what's what."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to ask why somebody is behaving in a strange way",
            "labels": "(North American English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What's with you? You haven't said a word all morning."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to ask the reason for something",
            "labels": "(North American English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What's with all this walking? Can't we take a cab?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to list the various reasons for something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What with the cold weather and my bad leg, I haven't been out for weeks."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɒt/",
                "audio": "wh/what/what__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wʌt/",
                "audio": "wh/what/what__us_1_rr.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod."
}