(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A ~ of something is a solid piece of it.
The potter shaped and squeezed the ~ of clay into a graceful shape.
...a ~ of wood...
They used to buy ten kilos of beef in one ~.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
2.
A ~ on or in someone’s body is a small, hard swelling that has been caused by an injury or an illness.
I’ve got a ~ on my shoulder...
Howard had to have cancer surgery for a ~ in his chest.
N-COUNT
3.
A ~ of sugar is a small cube of it.
‘No sugar,’ I said, and Jim asked for two ~s.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
see also sugar ~
4.
see also ~ sum
5.
If you say that you have a ~ in your throat, you mean that you have a tight feeling in your throat because of a strong emotion such as sorrow or gratitude.
I stood there with a ~ in my throat and tried to fight back tears...
PHRASE: Ns inflect, usu PHR after v