(~er, ~est, ~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ measures a very small distance from one side to the other, especially compared to its length or height.
...through the town’s ~ streets...
She had long, ~ feet.
...the ~ strip of land joining the peninsula to the rest of the island.
? wide
ADJ
~ness
...the ~ness of the river mouth.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
2.
If something ~s, it becomes less wide.
The wide track ~s before crossing another stream.
VERB: V
3.
If your eyes ~ or if you ~ your eyes, you almost close them, for example because you are angry or because you are trying to concentrate on something. (WRITTEN)
Coggins’ eyes ~ed angrily. ‘You think I’d tell you?’...
He paused and ~ed his eyes in concentration.
? widen
VERB: V, V n
4.
If you describe someone’s ideas, attitudes, or beliefs as ~, you disapprove of them because they are restricted in some way, and often ignore the more important aspects of an argument or situation.
...a ~ and outdated view of family life...
= limited
? broad
ADJ disapproval
~ly
They’re making judgments based on a ~ly focused vision of the world.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj
~ness
...the ~ness of their mental and spiritual outlook.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
5.
If something ~s or if you ~ it, its extent or range becomes smaller.
Most recent opinion polls suggest that the gap between the two main parties has ~ed...
Senate negotiators further ~ed their differences over the level of federal spending for anti-drug programs.
? widen
VERB: V, V n
~ing
...a ~ing of the gap between rich members and poor.
N-SING
6.
If you have a ~ victory, you succeed in winning but only by a small amount.
Delegates have voted by a ~ majority in favour of considering electoral reform.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
She ~ly failed to win enough votes...
ADV
~ness
The ~ness of the government’s victory reflected deep division within the Party.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
7.
If you have a ~ escape, something unpleasant nearly happens to you.
Two police officers had a ~ escape when separatists attacked their vehicles.
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
Five firemen ~ly escaped death when a staircase collapsed beneath their feet.
ADV: ADV with v
8.
on the straight and ~: see straight