STRAIGHT


Meaning of STRAIGHT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ streɪt ]

( straighter, straightest, straights)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.

A straight line or edge continues in the same direction and does not bend or curve.

Keep the boat in a straight line...

Using the straight edge as a guide, trim the cloth to size...

There wasn’t a single straight wall in the building.

ADJ

Straight is also an adverb.

Stand straight and stretch the left hand to the right foot...

ADV : ADV after v

2.

Straight hair has no curls or waves in it.

Grace had long straight dark hair which she wore in a bun.

ADJ : usu ADJ n

3.

You use straight to indicate that the way from one place to another is very direct, with no changes of direction.

The ball fell straight to the feet of Klinsmann...

He finished his conversation and stood up, looking straight at me...

Straight ahead were the low cabins of the motel.

ADV : ADV prep / adv

4.

If you go straight to a place, you go there immediately.

As always, we went straight to the experts for advice...

ADV : ADV prep / adv

5.

If you give someone a straight answer, you answer them clearly and honestly.

What a shifty arguer he is, refusing ever to give a straight answer.

ADJ : ADJ n

Straight is also an adverb.

I lost my temper and told him straight that I hadn’t been looking for any job.

ADV : ADV after v

6.

Straight means following one after the other, with no gaps or intervals.

They’d won 12 straight games before they lost.

ADJ : ADJ n

Straight is also an adverb.

He called from Weddington, having been there for 31 hours straight.

ADV : n ADV

7.

A straight choice or a straight fight involves only two people or things.

It’s a straight choice between low-paid jobs and no jobs...

ADJ : ADJ n

8.

If you describe someone as straight , you mean that they are normal and conventional, for example in their opinions and in the way they live.

Dorothy was described as a very straight woman, a very strict Christian who was married to her job.

ADJ

9.

If you describe someone as straight , you mean that they are heterosexual rather than homosexual. ( INFORMAL )

His sexual orientation was a lot more gay than straight...

≠ gay

ADJ : usu v-link ADJ

Straight is also a noun.

...a standard of sexual conduct that applies equally to gays and straights.

N-COUNT

10.

A straight drink, especially an alcoholic drink, has not had another liquid such as water added to it.

...a large straight whiskey without ice...

= neat

ADJ : ADJ n , v n ADJ

11.

On a racetrack, a straight is a section of the track that is straight, rather than curved.

I went to overtake him on the back straight on the last lap.

N-COUNT

see also home straight

12.

If you get something straight , you make sure that you understand it properly or that someone else does. ( SPOKEN )

Let’s get things straight. I didn’t lunch with her.

PHRASE : V inflects

13.

If a criminal is going straight , they are no longer involved in crime.

PHRASE : V inflects

14.

If something keeps people on the straight and narrow , it helps to keep them living an honest or healthy life.

All her efforts to keep him on the straight and narrow have been rewarded.

PHRASE : PHR after v

15.

a straight face: see face

to set the record straight: see record

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.