(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If someone such as a lawyer or a politician ~s a person or group of people, they act on behalf of that person or group.
...the politicians we elect to ~ us...
VERB: V n
2.
If you ~ a person or group at an official event, you go there on their behalf.
The general secretary may ~ the president at official ceremonies.
VERB: V n
3.
If you ~ your country or town in a competition or sports event, you take part in it on behalf of the country or town where you live.
My only aim is to ~ Britain at the Olympics.
VERB: V n
4.
If a group of people or things is well ~ed in a particular activity or in a particular place, a lot of them can be found there.
Women are already well ~ed in the area of TV drama...
In New Mexico all kinds of cuisines are ~ed.
V-PASSIVE: be adv V-ed, be V-ed
5.
If you say that something ~s a change, achievement, or victory, you mean that it is a change, achievement, or victory. (FORMAL or WRITTEN)
These developments ~ed a major change in the established order.
V-LINK: V n
6.
If a sign or symbol ~s something, it is accepted as meaning that thing.
...a black dot in the middle of the circle is supposed to ~ the source of the radiation.
= symbolize
VERB: no cont, V n
7.
To ~ an idea or quality means to be a symbol or an expression of that idea or quality.
We believe you ~ everything British racing needs.
= embody
VERB: no cont, no passive, V n
8.
If you ~ a person or thing as a particular thing, you describe them as being that thing.
The popular press tends to ~ him as an environmental guru.
= portray
VERB: V n as n