(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is someone who you know well and like, but who is not related to you.
I had a long talk about this with my best ~...
She never was a close ~ of mine.
...Sara’s old ~, Ogden.
N-COUNT
2.
If you are ~s with someone, you are their ~ and they are yours.
I still wanted to be ~s with Alison...
We remained good ~s...
Sally and I became ~s.
N-PLURAL: oft N with n
3.
The ~s of a country, cause, organization, or a famous politician are the people and organizations who help and support them.
...The Friends of Birmingham Royal Ballet.
N-PLURAL; N-IN-NAMES
4.
If one country refers to another as a ~, they mean that the other country is not an enemy of theirs.
The president said that Japan is now a ~ and international partner.
= ally
N-COUNT
5.
If you make ~s with someone, you begin a ~ship with them. You can also say that two people make ~s.
He has made ~s with the kids on the street...
He had made a ~ of both girls.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR with n