I. EXISTING OR HAPPENING NOW
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to describe things and people that exist now, rather than those that existed in the past or those that may exist in the future.
He has brought much of the ~ crisis on himself...
It has been skilfully renovated by the ~ owners...
No statement can be made at the ~ time.
= current
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
The ~ is the period of time that we are in now and the things that are happening now.
...his struggle to reconcile the past with the ~.
...continuing right up to the ~...
Then her thoughts would switch to the ~.
N-SING: the N
3.
In grammar, the ~ tenses of a verb are the ones that are used to talk about things that happen regularly or situations that exist at this time. The simple ~ tense uses the base form or the ‘s’ form of a verb, as in ‘I play tennis twice a week’ and ‘He works in a bank’.
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
A situation that exists at ~ exists now, although it may change.
There is no way at ~ of predicting which individuals will develop the disease...
At ~ children under 14 are not permitted in bars.
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
5.
The ~ day is the period of history that we are in now.
...Western European art from the period of Giotto to the ~ day.
= today
PHRASE: prep PHR
6.
Something that exists or will be done for the ~ exists now or will continue for a while, although the situation may change later.
The ministers had expressed the unanimous view that sanctions should remain in place for the ~.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
II. BEING SOMEWHERE
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If someone is ~ at an event, they are there.
The president was not ~ at the meeting...
Nearly 85 per cent of men are ~ at the birth of their children...
The whole family was ~.
? absent
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ at n
2.
If something, especially a substance or disease, is ~ in something else, it exists within that thing.
This special form of vitamin D is naturally ~ in breast milk...
? absent
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ in n
III. GIFT
(~s)
A ~ is something that you give to someone, for example at Christmas or when you visit them.
The carpet was a wedding ~ from the Prime Minister...
I bought a birthday ~ for my mother...
This book would make a great Christmas ~.
= gift
N-COUNT
IV. VERB USES
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ someone with something such as a prize or document, or if you ~ it to them, you formally give it to them.
The mayor ~ed him with a gold medal at an official city reception...
Prince Michael of Kent ~ed the prizes...
The group intended to ~ this petition to the parliament.
VERB: V n with n, V n, V n to n
~ation
Then came the ~ation of the awards by the Queen Mother.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
2.
If something ~s a difficulty, challenge, or opportunity, it causes it or provides it.
This ~s a problem for many financial consumers...
Public policy on the family ~s liberals with a dilemma.
VERB: V n, V n with n
3.
If an opportunity or problem ~s itself, it occurs, often when you do not expect it.
Their colleagues insulted them whenever the opportunity ~ed itself...
VERB: V pron-refl
4.
When you ~ information, you give it to people in a formal way.
We spend the time collating and ~ing the information in a variety of chart forms...
We ~ed three options to the unions for discussion...
In effect, Parsons ~s us with a beguilingly simple outline of social evolution.
VERB: V n, V n to n, V n with n
~ation (~ations)
...a fair ~ation of the facts to a jury...
N-VAR: oft N of n
5.
If you ~ someone or something in a particular way, you describe them in that way.
The government has ~ed these changes as major reforms...
In Europe, Aga Khan III ~ed himself in a completely different light.
VERB: V n as n, V n in n
6.
The way you ~ yourself is the way you speak and act when meeting new people.
...all those tricks which would help him to ~ himself in a more confident way in public.
VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv
7.
If someone or something ~s a particular appearance or image, that is how they appear or try to appear.
The small group of onlookers ~ed a pathetic sight...
In ~ing a more professional image the party risks losing its individuality.
...~ing a calm and dignified face to the world at large.
VERB: V n, V n, V n to n
8.
If you ~ yourself somewhere, you officially arrive there, for example for an appointment.
She was told to ~ herself at the Town Hall at 11.30 for the induction ceremony...
VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv
9.
If someone ~s a programme on television or radio, they introduce each item in it. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use host , introduce )
She ~s a monthly magazine programme on the BBC.
VERB: V n
10.
When someone ~s something such as a production of a play or an exhibition, they organize it.
The Lyric Theatre is ~ing a new production of ‘Over the Bridge’.
VERB: V n
11.
If you ~ someone to someone else, often an important person, you formally introduce them.
Fox stepped forward, welcomed him in Malay, and ~ed him to Jack...
Allow me to ~ my wife’s cousin, Mr Zachary Colenso.
= introduce
VERB: V n to n, V n
12.
see also ~ation