(~er, ~est)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ is wide.
His shoulders were ~ and his waist narrow...
The hills rise green and sheer above the ~ river.
...a ~ expanse of green lawn.
? narrow
ADJ
2.
A ~ smile is one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused.
He greeted them with a wave and a ~ smile.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
Charles grinned ~ly.
ADV
3.
You use ~ to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people.
A ~ range of issues was discussed.
...a ~ coalition of workers, peasants, students and middle class professionals.
= wide
? narrow
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
This gives children a more ~ly based education.
ADV: ADV with v
4.
You use ~ to describe a word or meaning which covers or refers to a wide range of different things.
The term Wissenschaft has a much ~er meaning than the English word ‘science’.
...restructuring in the ~ sense of the word.
= general
? narrow
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
We define education very ~ly and students can study any aspect of its consequences for society.
ADV: ADV with v
5.
You use ~ to describe a feeling or opinion that is shared by many people, or by people of many different kinds.
The agreement won ~ support in the US Congress.
...a film with ~ appeal.
= widespread
? limited
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
The new law has been ~ly welcomed by road safety organisations.
ADV: ADV with v
6.
A ~ description or idea is general rather than detailed.
These documents provided a ~ outline of the Society’s development...
In ~ terms, this means that the closer you live to a school, the more likely it is that your child will get a place there.
= general
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
There are, ~ly speaking, three ways in which this is done...
Broadly, it makes connections between ideas about healing and how they link to plants.
ADV: ADV with v, ADV with cl/group
7.
A ~ hint is a very obvious hint.
They’ve been giving ~ hints about what to expect.
? subtle
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
He hinted ~ly that he would like to come.
ADV
8.
A ~ accent is strong and noticeable.
...a Briton who spoke in a ~ Yorkshire accent.
ADJ
9.
see also ~ly
10.
in ~ daylight: see daylight