(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
When someone makes an ~ at a public event or in a broadcast, they take part in it.
It was the president’s second public ~ to date...
Keegan made 68 ~s in two seasons for Southampton, scoring 37 times.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft supp N
2.
Someone’s or something’s ~ is the way that they look.
She used to be so fussy about her ~...
N-SING: with supp
3.
The ~ of someone or something in a place is their arrival there, especially when it is unexpected.
The sudden ~ of a few bags of rice could start a riot.
N-SING: with supp, oft N of n
4.
The ~ of something new is its coming into existence or use.
Fears are growing of a cholera outbreak following the ~ of a number of cases in the city.
N-SING: with supp, oft N of n
5.
If something has the ~ of a quality, it seems to have that quality.
We tried to meet both children’s needs without the ~ of favoritism or unfairness...
N-SING: with supp
6.
If something is true to all ~s, from all ~s, or by all ~s, it seems from what you observe or know about it that it is true.
He was a small and to all ~s an unassuming man.
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
7.
If you keep up ~s, you try to behave and dress in a way that people expect of you, even if you can no longer afford it.
His parents’ obsession with keeping up ~s haunted his childhood.
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you put in an ~ at an event, you go to it for a short time although you may not really want to, but do not stay.
= show your face
PHRASE: V inflects