(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you talk about the ~ of a person or thing, you are talking about the state that they are in, especially how good or bad their physical state is.
He remains in a critical ~ in a California hospital...
The two-bedroom chalet is in good ~...
You can’t drive in that ~.
N-SING: also no det, with supp
2.
The ~s under which something is done or happens are all the factors or circumstances which directly affect it.
This change has been timed under laboratory ~s...
The mild winter has created the ideal ~s for an ant population explosion.
N-PLURAL: usu with supp
3.
The ~s in which people live or work are the factors which affect their comfort, safety, or health.
People are living in appalling ~s...
He could not work in these ~s any longer...
N-PLURAL: usu with supp
4.
A ~ is something which must happen or be done in order for something else to be possible, especially when this is written into a contract or law.
...economic targets set as a ~ for loan payments.
...terms and ~s of employment...
Egypt had agreed to a summit subject to certain ~s.
= requirement
N-COUNT: with supp
5.
If someone has a particular ~, they have an illness or other medical problem.
Doctors suspect he may have a heart ~.
= complaint, disorder
N-COUNT: usu with supp
6.
If someone is ~ed by their experiences or environment, they are influenced by them over a period of time so that they do certain things or think in a particular way.
We are all ~ed by early impressions and experiences...
You have been ~ed to believe that it is weak to be scared...
I just feel women are ~ed into doing housework.
...a ~ed response.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, be V-ed to-inf, be V-ed into -ing/n, V-ed
~ing
Because of social ~ing, men don’t expect themselves to be managed by women.
N-UNCOUNT
7.
To ~ your hair or skin means to put something on it which will keep it in good ~.
...a protein which is excellent for ~ing dry and damaged hair.
VERB: V n
8.
If you say that someone is in no ~ to do something, you mean that they are too ill, upset, or drunk to do it.
She was clearly in no ~ to see anyone.
= unfit
PHRASE: v-link PHR, usu PHR to-inf
9.
When you agree to do something on ~ that something else happens, you mean that you will only do it if this other thing also happens.
He spoke to reporters on ~ that he was not identified.
PHRASE
10.
If someone is out of ~, they are unhealthy and unfit, because they do not do enough exercise.
He was too out of ~ to clamber over the top.
= unfit
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
11.
in mint ~: see mint