I. rave 1 /reɪv/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: raver 'to wander, talk wildly' ]
1 . rave about/over something to talk about something you enjoy or admire in an excited way SYN enthuse :
Now I understand why travelers rave about Lapland.
The customers were raving over our homemade chili.
2 . to talk in an angry, uncontrolled, or crazy way
rave at
He started raving at me
rave on British English :
Lisa raved on about how awful it all was.
He was still ranting and raving the next morning.
II. rave 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a big event where people dance to loud music with a strong beat and often take drugs:
an all-night rave
rave music
rave parties
⇨ ↑ raver
2 . strong praise for a new play, book etc:
The play got raves from the critics.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ party a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing etc:
We’re having a party for Sarah’s 40th birthday.
|
I met my boyfriend at a party.
▪ get-together an informal party:
Christmas is the perfect time for a family get-together.
▪ ball a large formal party where people dance:
the end of term ball
▪ rave a large party which is held outside or in an empty building, where people dance to music and take illegal drugs
▪ reception a large formal party, especially one after a wedding or to welcome an important person:
The wedding reception is at a nearby hotel.
|
a reception for the Thai Foreign Minister
|
They attended a White House reception to mark the Queen’s visit.
▪ function a large formal or official party:
He has been asked to play at many corporate functions (=an official party held by a company) .
▪ celebration a party or special event that is organized in order to celebrate something:
the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations
|
It was a 21st birthday celebration which Mary would never forget.
▪ bash informal a party, especially a big one that a lot of famous people go to – used especially in journalism:
the star’s birthday bash
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a picture of him at a Hollywood bash
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a showbiz bash
▪ do British English informal a party:
We’re having a do to celebrate Margaret’s birthday.
▪ dinner party a party where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening meal:
I met him at a dinner party.
▪ house-warming (party) a party that you have when you move into a new house:
We’re having a house-warming next week.
▪ cocktail party ( also drinks party British English ) a party that people go to in order to talk and have a drink together for a few hours
▪ fancy-dress party British English , costume party American English a party where people dress in special clothes, for example to look like a famous person or a character in a story
▪ hen party especially British English a social event just before a wedding, for a woman who is getting married and her female friends
▪ stag night British English , bachelor party American English a social event just before a wedding, for a man who is getting married and his male friends
▪ baby/wedding shower American English an event at which people give presents to a woman who is going to have a baby or get married
III. rave 3 BrE AmE adjective
rave reviews/notices/reports strong praise for a new play, book etc, especially in a newspaper or magazine
win/receive/earn rave reviews
The performance earned them rave reviews from critics.