transcription, транскрипция: [ leɪt ]
( later, latest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Late means near the end of a day, week, year, or other period of time.
It was late in the afternoon...
She had to work late at night...
His autobiography was written late in life...
The case is expected to end late next week...
≠ early
ADV : ADV with cl , ADV prep / n
•
Late is also an adjective.
The talks eventually broke down in late spring...
He was in his late 20s.
...the late 1960s.
ADJ : ADJ n
2.
If it is late , it is near the end of the day or it is past the time that you feel something should have been done.
It was very late and the streets were deserted...
We’ve got to go now. It’s getting late.
ADJ : v-link ADJ
• late‧ness
A large crowd had gathered despite the lateness of the hour.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
Late means after the time that was arranged or expected.
Steve arrived late...
The talks began some fifteen minutes late...
We got up late.
ADV : ADV after v , oft amount ADV
•
Late is also an adjective.
His campaign got off to a late start...
We were a little late...
The train was 40 minutes late...
He’s a half hour late.
ADJ : oft amount ADJ
• late‧ness
He apologised for his lateness.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
Late means after the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
We went to bed very late...
He married late.
ADV : ADV after v
•
Late is also an adjective.
They had a late lunch in a cafe...
He was a very late developer.
ADJ : ADJ n
5.
You use late when you are talking about someone who is dead, especially someone who has died recently.
...my late husband.
...the late Mr Parkin.
ADJ : det ADJ
6.
Someone who is late of a particular place or institution lived or worked there until recently. ( FORMAL )
...Cousin Zachary, late of Bellevue Avenue.
...Strobe Talbott, late of Time magazine.
ADJ : v-link ADJ of n
7.
see also later , latest
8.
If you say better late than never when someone has done something, you think they should have done it earlier.
It’s been a long time coming but better late than never.
CONVENTION
9.
If you say that someone is doing something late in the day , you mean that their action or behaviour may not be fully effective because they have waited too long before doing it.
I’d left it all too late in the day to get anywhere with these strategies.
PHRASE : PHR after v , PHR with cl
10.
If an action or event is too late , it is useless or ineffective because it occurs after the best time for it.
It was too late to turn back...
We realized too late that we were caught like rats in a trap.
PHRASE : v-link PHR , PHR with v
11.
a late night: see night