(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a suggestion about something that is made in an indirect way.
The Minister gave a strong ~ that the government were thinking of introducing tax concessions for mothers...
I’d dropped a ~ about having an exhibition of his work up here...
N-COUNT: oft N that
•
If you take a ~, you understand something that is suggested to you indirectly.
‘I think I hear the telephone ringing.’—‘Okay, I can take a ~.’
PHRASE: V inflects
2.
If you ~ at something, you suggest it in an indirect way.
She suggested a trip to the shops and ~ed at the possibility of a treat of some sort...
The President ~ed he might make some changes in the government.
VERB: V at n, V that
3.
A ~ is a helpful piece of advice, usually about how to do something.
Here are some helpful ~s to make your journey easier...
= tip
N-COUNT: usu supp N
4.
A ~ of something is a very small amount of it.
She added only a ~ of vermouth to the gin...
= trace
N-SING: N of n