(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a strong belief or opinion.
It is our firm ~ that a step forward has been taken...
Their religious ~s prevented them from taking up arms.
= belief
N-COUNT: usu N that
2.
If you have ~, you have great confidence in your beliefs or opinions.
‘We shall, sir,’ said Thorne, with ~.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
If something carries ~, it is likely to be true or likely to be believed.
Nor did his denial carry ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
4.
If someone has a ~, they have been found guilty of a crime in a court of law.
He will appeal against his ~...
N-COUNT