(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a child who will grow up to be a man.
I knew him when he was a little ~...
He was still just a ~.
N-COUNT
2.
You can refer to a young man as a ~, especially when talking about relationships between ~s and girls.
...the age when girls get interested in ~s.
N-COUNT
3.
Someone’s ~ is their son. (INFORMAL)
Eric was my cousin Edward’s ~...
I have two ~s.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
4.
You can refer to a man as a ~, especially when you are talking about him in an affectionate way. (INFORMAL)
...the local ~ who made President...
‘Come on ~s’, he shouted to the sailors.
= lad
N-COUNT: with supp feelings
5.
see also backroom ~ , blue-eyed ~ , bully-~ , head ~ , messenger ~ , office ~ , old ~ , stable ~ , Teddy ~
6.
Some people say ‘~’ or ‘oh ~’ in order to express feelings of excitement or admiration. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
Oh Boy! Just think what I could tell him.
EXCLAM feelings