(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: The form '~ of' can also be used as a preposition. This form is more usual in American English.
1.
The ~ of something is the part which surrounds or encloses the rest of it.
...the ~ of the building...
Cook over a fairly high heat until the ~s are browned.
? inside
N-COUNT: usu the N, oft N of n
•
Outside is also an adjective.
...high up on the ~ wall.
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
If you are ~, you are not inside a building but are quite close to it.
‘Was the car inside the garage?’—‘No, it was still ~.’...
Outside, the light was fading rapidly...
The shouting ~ grew louder.
? inside
ADV: be ADV, ADV after v, n ADV, ADV with cl
•
Outside is also a preposition.
The victim was ~ a shop when he was attacked.
? inside
PREP
•
Outside is also an adjective.
...the ~ temperature.
...an ~ toilet.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
If you are ~ a room, you are not in it but are in the passage or area next to it.
She’d sent him ~ the classroom...
He stood in the narrow hallway just ~ the door.
? inside
PREP
•
Outside is also an adverb.
They heard voices coming from ~ in the corridor...
? inside
ADV: ADV after v, n ADV
4.
When you talk about the ~ world, you are referring to things that happen or exist in places other than your own home or community.
...a side of Morris’s character she hid carefully from the ~ world...
It’s important to have ~ interests.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Outside is also an adverb.
The scheme was good for the prisoners because it brought them ~ into the community.
ADV: ADV after v
5.
People or things ~ a country, town, or region are not in it.
...an old castle ~ Budapest...
The number of warships stationed ~ European waters roughly doubled.
? in
PREP: n/-ed PREP n
•
Outside is also a noun.
Peace cannot be imposed from the ~ by the United States or anyone else.
N-SING: the N
6.
On a road with two separate carriageways, the ~ lanes are the ones which are closest to its centre.
It was travelling in the ~ lane at 78mph.
? inside
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
Outside people or organizations are not part of a particular organization or group.
The company now makes much greater use of ~ consultants.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Outside is also a preposition.
He is hoping to recruit a chairman from ~ the company.
PREP
8.
Outside a particular institution or field of activity means in other fields of activity or in general life.
...the largest merger ever to take place ~ the oil industry.
PREP
9.
Something that is ~ a particular range of things is not included within it.
She is a beautiful boat, but way, way ~ my price range...
= beyond
? within
PREP
10.
Something that happens ~ a particular period of time happens at a different time from the one mentioned.
They are open ~ normal daily banking hours.
PREP
11.
You use at the ~ to say that you think that a particular amount is the largest possible in a particular situation, or that a particular time is the latest possible time for something to happen.
Give yourself forty minutes at the ~.
PHRASE: PHR with cl, amount PHR