I. NOUN USES
(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The ~s of a container such as a bottle, box, or room are the things that are inside it.
Empty the ~s of the pan into the sieve...
Sandon Hall and its ~s will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on October 6.
N-PLURAL: usu with supp, oft N of n
2.
If you refer to the ~ or ~s of something such as a book, speech, or television programme, you are referring to the subject that it deals with, the story that it tells, or the ideas that it expresses.
She is reluctant to discuss the ~ of the play...
The letter’s ~s were not disclosed.
N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, usu N of n
3.
The ~s of a book are its different chapters and sections, usually shown in a list at the beginning of the book.
There is no initial list of ~s.
N-PLURAL
4.
The ~ of something such as an educational course or a programme of action is the elements that it consists of.
Previous students have had nothing but praise for the course ~ and staff...
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n
5.
You can use ~ to refer to the amount or proportion of something that a substance contains.
Sunflower margarine has the same fat ~ as butter...
N-SING: n N
II. ADJECTIVE AND VERB USES
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Please look at category 4 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If you are ~ with something, you are willing to accept it, rather than wanting something more or something better.
I’m perfectly ~ with the way the campaign has gone...
Not ~ with rescuing one theatre, Sally Green has taken on another.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ to-inf, ADJ with n/-ing
2.
If you are ~, you are fairly happy or satisfied.
He says his daughter is quite ~.
ADJ: v-link ADJ
3.
If you ~ yourself with something, you accept it and do not try to do or have other things.
He wisely ~ed himself with his family and his love of nature...
Most manufacturers ~ themselves with updating existing models.
VERB: V pron-refl with n, V pron-refl with/by -ing
4.
to your heart’s ~: see heart