(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Exact means correct in every detail. For example, an ~ copy is the same in every detail as the thing it is copied from.
I don’t remember the ~ words...
The ~ number of protest calls has not been revealed...
It’s an ~ copy of the one which was found in Ann Alice’s room.
= precise
? approximate
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
Try to locate ~ly where the smells are entering the room...
Both drugs will be ~ly the same...
Barton couldn’t remember ~ly.
= precisely
? approximately
ADV: usu ADV with cl/group, also ADV after v
2.
You use ~ before a noun to emphasize that you are referring to that particular thing and no other, especially something that has a particular significance.
I hadn’t really thought about it until this ~ moment...
It may be that you will feel the ~ opposite of what you expected.
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
~ly
These are ~ly the people who do not vote...
He knew ~ly what he was doing.
= precisely, just
ADV: ADV n/wh
3.
If you describe someone as ~, you mean that they are very careful and detailed in their work, thinking, or methods.
Formal, ~ and obstinate, he was also cold, suspicious, touchy and tactless.
= meticulous
ADJ
4.
When someone ~s something, they demand and obtain it from another person, especially because they are in a superior or more powerful position. (FORMAL)
Already he has ~ed a written apology from the chairman of the commission...
VERB: V n from/for n
5.
If someone ~s revenge on a person, they have their revenge on them.
She uses the media to help her ~ a terrible revenge.
VERB: V n
6.
If something ~s a high price, it has a bad effect on a person or situation.
The sheer physical effort had ~ed a heavy price...
The strain of a violent ground campaign will ~ a toll on troops.
VERB: V n, V n on n
7.
see also ~ly
8.
You say to be ~ to indicate that you are slightly correcting or giving more detailed information about what you have been saying.
A small number–five, to be ~–have been bad...
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group