(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you say that something is a ~ or in a ~, you think that it is in an untidy state.
The house is a ~...
Linda can’t stand ~.
N-SING: also no det
2.
If you say that a situation is a ~, you mean that it is full of trouble or problems. You can also say that something is in a ~.
I’ve made such a ~ of my life.
...the many reasons why the economy is in such a ~...
N-VAR
3.
A ~ is something liquid or sticky that has been accidentally dropped on something.
I’ll clear up the ~ later.
N-VAR
4.
The ~ at a military base or military barracks is the building in which members of the armed forces can eat or relax.
...a party at the officers’ ~...
N-COUNT: usu sing