(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
An ~ is a time when something happens, or a case of it happening.
I often think fondly of an ~ some years ago at Covent Garden...
Mr Davis has been asked on a number of ~s.
N-COUNT
2.
An ~ is an important event, ceremony, or celebration.
Taking her with me on official ~s has been a challenge...
It will be a unique family ~.
N-COUNT: usu supp N
3.
An ~ for doing something is an opportunity for doing it. (FORMAL)
It is an ~ for all the family to celebrate...
It is always an important ~ for setting out government policy.
N-COUNT: N for n/-ing
4.
To ~ something means to cause it. (FORMAL)
He argued that the release of hostages should not ~ a change in policy.
VERB: V n
5.
see also sense of ~
6.
If you have ~ to do something, it is necessary for you to do it.
We have had ~ to deal with members of the group on a variety of charges.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to-inf
7.
If something happens on ~, it happens sometimes, but not very often.
He translated not only from the French but also, on ~, from the Polish.
= ~ally
PHRASE: N inflects, PHR with cl
8.
If you say that someone rose to the ~, you mean that they did what was necessary to successfully overcome a difficult situation.
Inverness, however, rose to the ~ in the second half, producing some of the best football they have played for some time.
PHRASE: V inflects