(~s)
1.
A ~ is a difficult, complicated, or unpleasant situation which is not easy to avoid or escape from.
His people had fallen further and further into a ~ of confusion...
N-COUNT: usu sing with supp
2.
A ~ is a soft, wet area of land which your feet sink into if you try to walk across it.
Rain had turned the grass into a ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing