{
    "term": "word",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a single unit of language that means something and can be spoken or written",
            "sensetop": "word for something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Do not write more than 200 words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you know the words to this song?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What's the Spanish word for ‘table’?",
                    "contextForm": "word for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was a true friend **in all senses of the word**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Tell me what happened **in your own words**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could hear every word they were saying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "without speaking/uttering a word"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He couldn't **find the words** to thank her enough."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Words fail me** *(= I cannot express how I feel)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are no words to say how sorry we are."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can't remember her exact words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Angry **is not the word for it**—I was furious."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can never put my feelings into words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Necessary’ is one of the most commonly misspelt words in English."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Technology’ comes from the Greek word ‘techne’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Window’ derives from a Norse word meaning ‘eye of the wind’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Bold words denote chapter headings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "By emphasizing particular words you can change the meaning."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't waffle in your essay just to get the right word count."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He chatters away at about 200 words per minute."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He enunciated the word with extreme care."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She kept shouting the word ‘No!’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He types 80 words per minute."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She uses big words to impress people."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He uses lots of long words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She whispered the word to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wrote down a few key words to help him remember what to say."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His exact words were, ‘There's nothing we can do about it.’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "How is this word pronounced?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I couldn't find the right word to express the concept."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I daren't even mention the word ‘money’ to him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I find even everyday words difficult to spell."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I found several misspelled words and grammatical errors."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I knew he'd been drinking because he was slurring his words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I misheard the word ‘sick’ as ‘thick’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm not sure what he said but the word sounded like ‘bull’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a slang word meaning ‘boy’ or ‘person’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "People who overeat are not addicts in the true sense of the word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rearrange the letters to form a word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had memorized all the words to the song."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He looked the word up in the dictionary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She deleted ‘girl’ and substituted the word ‘woman’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She used loaded words like ‘bully’ when describing his actions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was so furious, he almost spat the words out: ‘You idiot!’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Spanish has no word for ‘understatement’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The audience mouthed the words to all the songs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book uses simple words and pictures to explain complex processes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The children are asked to think of rhyming words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The look in her eyes filled in the unspoken words in her sentence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word ‘synergy’ combines ‘synthesis’ and ‘energy’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The same word can carry numerous meanings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The students had to retell the story in their own words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word ‘cruise’ conjures up images of a luxury."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word ‘e-commerce’ was coined to refer to business done over the internet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word has two meanings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The words at the end of the lines all rhyme."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These students have very poor word-recognition skills."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We didn't say a single word to each other all day."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We never heard anyone say an unkind word about her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We recall the words of Martin Luther King, ‘Free at last’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What's a word beginning with ‘c’ that means ‘a small wood’?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What's the French word for ‘snail’?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Words can't express how happy I am."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You can't always find the right word when you're translating."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You said we were about to make a big mistake, and never was a truer word spoken!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a more polite word for the same thing"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a word that is often misused"
                },
                {
                    "text": "words describing body parts"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word ‘politics’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘city’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was angry when I read these words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The joke depended on the two meanings of the word 'star'."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The use of the word 'organic' is prohibited on products not covered by the Organic Foods Production Act."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["two-letter", "three-letter", "etc."],
                "verb + word": ["have", "use", "mention"],
                "word + verb": [
                    "mean something",
                    "signify something",
                    "refer to something"
                ],
                "word + noun": ["game", "puzzle", "identification"],
                "preposition": ["in somebody’s words", "word for", "word in"],
                "phrases": [
                    "in all senses of the word",
                    "in other words",
                    "in so many words"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a thing that you say; a remark or statement",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**Have a word with** Pat and see what she thinks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Could I have a quick word with you *(= speak to you quickly)*?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**A word of warning**: read the instructions very carefully."
                },
                {
                    "text": "words of love/encouragement"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She left **without a word** *(= without saying anything)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I don't believe a word of his story *(= I don't believe any of it)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a man **of few words** *(= who doesn’t talk very much)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'd like to say a few words about future plans."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Remember—**not a word to** *(= don't tell)* Peter about any of this."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **never breathed a word** of this to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've been married twenty years and there's **never** been **a cross word** between us *(= we have never argued or been angry with each other)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Thank you for those kind words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but the words stuck in his throat."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her last words were for her children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had some harsh words to say about her colleagues."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her parting words were ‘I'll be back’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her teacher's words echoed in her ears."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His words conjured up a strange picture in her mind."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her words were drowned out by the roar of the engine."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was nervous, and his words came out in a rush."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He whispered a few words of prayer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I don't believe a word of what she said."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I let my words hang in the air. Maggie was no fool: she must realize I meant it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I listened to his words of wisdom."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've had a few words with John, and he's quite happy for you to stay."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The words lingered in his mind long after they were spoken."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Those were her very words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't breathe a word to anyone about what I've told you!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "And now a word from our sponsors…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A word to the wise: just because it's a bargain doesn't mean you have to buy it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He tried to calm her with soothing words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words about who I am."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Despite all their fine words, the council have never done anything to improve road safety."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Despite his brave words, I don't believe he can save the factory from closure."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Every word he utters is considered sacred."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His words faded to silence as he saw she didn't believe him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her words fell into the silence like stones."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He chose his words carefully when commenting on her work."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She whispered words of comfort in his ear."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He never says a harsh word about his experiences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the immortal words of Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She felt angry at how the journalist had twisted her words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had blurted the words out before he realized it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She could feel her temper boiling as his words sank in."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He ruined her self-confidence with a few well-chosen words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Seconds after uttering the fateful words ‘this is easy!’ he crashed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Nobody's uttered a word to me about it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "No polite words of gratitude came."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In her speech she echoed the President's words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a word of advice/​caution"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government's promises on nurses' pay turned out to be weasel words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mark my words, this film will win an Oscar."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She instantly regretted her words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has given us a warning, and we should heed his words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was charmed by his friendly smile and polite words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I usually exchange a few words with him when I see him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I want to say a few words about Christina."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Those mocking words haunted me for years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They exchanged whispered words of love."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The manager had a quiet word with Alison, and she gave him no more problems."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The advertising uses words and images to influence the public."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He hasn't a good word to say for anybody."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They show charity in word and deed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She said the magic word, ‘Abracadabra!’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the truth behind his words"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Repeat the words after me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You simply haven't understood a word I've said."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She left without a word of thanks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her choice of words is significant."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are hardly words to describe how we all feel."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I don't have a bad word to say about her."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["quick", "quiet"],
                "verb + a word": ["have"],
                "preposition": ["word with"],
                "phrases": ["a word in somebody’s ear"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a promise or guarantee that you will do something or that something will happen or is true",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**I give you my word** that this won't happen again."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I give you my **word of honour** *(= my sincere promise)*…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We never doubted her word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We only **have his word for it** that the cheque is in the post."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **keep your word** *(= do what you promised)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He promised to help and **was as good as his word** *(= did what he promised)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's a **man of his word** *(= he does what he promises)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I trusted her not to **go back on her word** *(= break her promise)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can't prove it—you'll have to **take my word for it** *(= believe me)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You needn't worry about him not paying you back—he's a man of his word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I give you my word of honour I will not forget what I owe you."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was as good as her word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She won't go to the police. You can take my word for it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They claimed that the minister had gone back on her word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We only have his word for it that he wasn't there that night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You can trust me. You know I always keep my word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You gave me your word of honour."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We only have her word for it that she sent the payment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "True to his word, he returned next day."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She gave him her solemn word that she would give up drugs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He gave me a promise, and I'm willing to trust his word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Once he has made a promise, he never goes back on his word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm sorry I doubted your word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If it's your word against the police officer's, the jury are going to believe him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I haven't seen his work, but I'll take his word for it that it's finished."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She gave me her word of honour that she wouldn't tell anyone."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["solemn"],
                "verb + word": ["give somebody", "be as good as", "be true to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "have somebody’s word for something",
                    "a man of his word",
                    "a woman of her word"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a piece of information or news",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "There's been no word from them since before Christmas."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **sent word** that she would be late."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If **word gets out** about the affair, he will have to resign."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Word has it that** she's leaving."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**The word is** they've split up."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He likes to **spread the word** about the importance of healthy eating."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Word that he had died spread fast."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We soon got word of his arrival."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We didn't get word of her arrest until the next day."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word on the street is there's going to be a takeover."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Health workers spread the word about the benefits of immunization."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He sent word to his family that his captors were treating him well."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + word": ["bring", "send", "get"],
                "word + verb": ["get out", "leak", "leak out"],
                "preposition": ["word about", "word of"],
                "phrases": ["the word on the street is", "what’s the word?"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "the Bible and its teachings",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Religion and festivals"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to argue with somebody or speak rudely to them",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be a subject or an idea that people think is bad or morally wrong",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Profit is not a dirty word around here."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Work is a dirty word to Frank."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be so surprised, confused, etc. that you do not know what to say",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Feelings"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "in a way that cannot be expressed in words",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We were bored beyond words."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "because people tell each other and not because they read about it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The news spread by word of mouth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The restaurant does not advertise, but relies on word of mouth for custom."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to admit that what you said was wrong",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "When he told her she would fail, she swore she would make him eat his words."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "people sometimes say Famous last words! when they think somebody is being too confident about something that is going to happen",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Everything's under control.’ ‘Famous last words!’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "from the very beginning",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "(not) to be able to say anything because somebody else is speaking too much",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "When Mary starts talking, no one else can get a word in edgeways."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I wanted to tell you that she'd phoned, but you were talking so much I couldn't get a word in edgeways."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't get a word in."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to listen with great attention to somebody you admire",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The journalists hung on his every word as he spoke of his ordeal."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to speak to somebody privately about something",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Can I have a word in your ear about tomorrow's presentation?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have an argument with somebody",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We've had words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Words were exchanged."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to introduce an explanation of something",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They asked him to leave—in other words he was fired."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They're letting me go—in other words, I've been sacked."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "(not) in exactly the same words as somebody says were used",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Did she say she was sorry?’ ‘Not in so many words.’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He didn't approve of the plan and said so in as many words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They told me in so many words that I was no longer needed."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used for giving a very short, usually negative, answer or comment",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Would you like to help us?’ ‘In a word, no.’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "using very simple language",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Could you say that again in words of one syllable?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the last comment or decision about something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He always has to **have the last word** in any argument."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I’m willing to wait one more week, and that’s my final word on the subject."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Chairman always has the last word on financial decisions."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the most recent, fashionable, advanced, etc. thing",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "These apartments are the last word in luxury."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to tell somebody to say nothing about something and keep it secret",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to never say anything good about somebody/something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Nobody had a good word to say about him."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to say something in a direct way even though it might offend other people",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They were severely criticized by the chairman, who was not a man to mince his words."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He doesn't mince his words when he talks about his ex-boss."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to emphasize that a particular word or phrase is the most important one in a sentence",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was in love with her—‘was’ being the operative word."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He seemed nice. But ‘seemed’ was the operative word."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the humorous use of a word or phrase that can have two different meanings",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "what is published in books, newspapers, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the power of the printed word"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to praise somebody to somebody else in order to help them get a job, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If you run into the boss, put in a good word for me!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to suggest that somebody has said something when in fact they have not",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He felt after the interview that the police officers had been trying to put words into his mouth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to give an order; to make a request",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Just say the word, and I'll go."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to believe exactly what somebody says or promises",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He said I could stay at his house any time, so I took him at his word."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to say what somebody else was going to say",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was about to say we should cancel the trip, but she took the words right out of my mouth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "extremely funny, silly, ridiculous, etc.",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a bitter argument over a period of time between two or more people or groups",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the political war of words over tax"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to choose your words carefully so that you say exactly what you mean",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He spoke slowly, weighing his words."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to show that you are surprised about something",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "in exactly the same words or (when translated) words with exactly the same meaning",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She repeated their conversation word for word to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a word-for-word translation"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He repeated word for word what the boy had said to him."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "somebody’s promise can be relied on completely",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to show that you are giving the general meaning of what somebody has said rather than the exact words",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He told me to leave—or words to that effect."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "language expressed in writing rather than in speech",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the permanence of the written word"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɜːd/",
                "audio": "wo/word/word__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɜːrd/",
                "audio": "wo/word/word__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch woord and German Wort, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin verbum ‘word’."
}