(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If you say, for example, that silence ~s in a place or confusion ~s in a situation, you mean that the place is silent or the situation is confused. (WRITTEN)
Confusion ~ed about how the debate would end...
A relative calm ~ed over the city.
VERB: V, V over n
2.
When a king or queen ~s, he or she rules a country.
...Henry II, who ~ed from 1154 to 1189.
...George III, Britain’s longest ~ing monarch.
VERB: V, V-ing
•
Reign is also a noun.
...Queen Victoria’s ~.
N-COUNT: with poss
3.
If you say that a person ~s in a situation or area, you mean that they are very powerful or successful.
Connors ~ed as the world No. 1 for 159 consecutive weeks...
Coco Chanel ~ed over fashion for half a century.
VERB: V, V over n
•
Reign is also a noun.
...a new book celebrating Havergal’s ~ as artistic director of the Citizens’ Theatre.
N-COUNT: with poss
4.
Someone or something that ~s supreme is the most important or powerful element in a situation or period of time.
The bicycle ~ed supreme as Britain’s most popular mode of transport...
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
A ~ of terror is a period during which there is a lot of violence and killing, especially by people who are in a position of power.
The commanders accused him of carrying out a ~ of terror.
PHRASE