(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a container made of thin paper or plastic, for example one that is used in shops to put things in that a customer has bought.
N-COUNT
•
A ~ of things is the amount of things contained in a ~.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
2.
A ~ is a strong container with one or two handles, used to carry things in.
She left the hotel carrying a shopping ~.
N-COUNT
•
A ~ of things is the amount of things contained in a ~.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
3.
A ~ is the same as a hand~ .
N-COUNT
4.
If you have ~s under your eyes, you have folds of skin there, usually because you have not had enough sleep.
N-PLURAL
5.
If you say there is ~s of something, you mean that there is a large amount of it. If you say that there are ~s of things, you mean that there are a large number of them. (BRIT INFORMAL)
...a hotel with ~s of character.
= heaps of
QUANT: QUANT of pl-n/n-uncount emphasis
6.
see also bum ~ , carrier ~ , mixed ~ , shoulder-~ , sleeping ~ , tea ~
7.
If you say that something is in the ~, you mean that you are certain that you will get it or achieve it. (INFORMAL)
‘I’ll get the Republican nomination,’ he assured me. ‘It’s in the ~.’
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
8.
to let the cat out of the ~: see cat