(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
The different ~s of something are the different parts it contains.
The exchange of prisoners of war was one of the key ~s of the UN’s peace plan.
= constituent, component
N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp
2.
A particular ~ of a situation, activity, or process is an important quality or feature that it has or needs.
Fitness has now become an important ~ in our lives.
= factor
N-COUNT: with supp
3.
When you talk about ~s within a society or organization, you are referring to groups of people who have similar aims, beliefs, or habits.
...criminal ~s within the security forces.
...the hooligan ~.
N-COUNT: usu pl, supp N
4.
If something has an ~ of a particular quality or emotion, it has a certain amount of this quality or emotion.
These reports clearly contain ~s of propaganda.
N-COUNT: usu sing, N of n
5.
An ~ is a substance such as gold, oxygen, or carbon that consists of only one type of atom.
? compound
N-COUNT
6.
The ~ in an electric fire or water heater is the metal part which changes the electric current into heat.
N-COUNT: usu sing
7.
You can refer to the weather, especially wind and rain, as the ~s.
The area where most refugees are waiting is exposed to the ~s.
N-PLURAL: the N
8.
If you say that someone is in their ~, you mean that they are in a situation they enjoy.
My stepmother was in her ~, organizing everything...
PHRASE: v-link PHR