(~s, siding, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of something is a position to the left or right of it, rather than in front of it, behind it, or on it.
On one ~ of the main entrance there’s a red plaque.
...a photograph with me in the centre and Joe and Ken on each ~ of me.
...the nations on either ~ of the Pacific...
There’s nothing but woods on the other ~ of the highway...
There has been a build-up of troops on both ~s of the border...
PC Dacre knocked on Webb’s door and, opening it, stood to one ~.
N-COUNT: usu prep N of n
2.
The ~ of an object, building, or vehicle is any of its flat surfaces which is not con~red to be its front, its back, its top, or its bottom.
We put a notice on the ~ of the box.
...a van bearing on its ~ the name of a company...
There was a stone staircase against the ~ of the house...
A carton of milk lay on its ~.
N-COUNT: usu with poss
3.
The ~s of a hollow or a container are its in~ vertical surfaces.
The rough rock walls were like the ~s of a deep canal...
Line the base of the dish with greaseproof paper and lightly grease the ~s.
N-COUNT
4.
The ~s of an area or surface are its edges.
Park on the ~ of the road.
...a small beach on the north ~ of the peninsula...
= edge
N-COUNT: usu prep N of n
5.
The two ~s of an area, surface, or object are its two halves.
She turned over on her stomach on the other ~ of the bed...
The major centre for language is in the left ~ of the brain.
= half
N-COUNT: usu prep N of n
6.
The two ~s of a road are its two halves on which traffic travels in opposite directions.
It had gone on to the wrong ~ of the road and hit a car coming in the other direction.
N-COUNT
7.
If you talk about the other ~ of a town or of the world, you mean a part of the town or of the world that is very far from where you are.
He saw the ship that was to transport them to the other ~ of the world...
Are you working on this ~ of the city?
N-COUNT: with supp
8.
Your ~s are the parts of your body between your front and your back, from under your arms to your hips.
His arms were limp at his ~s...
They had laid him on his ~.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
9.
If someone is by your ~ or at your ~, they stay near you and give you comfort or support.
He was constantly at his wife’s ~...
N-COUNT: usu sing, by/at poss N
10.
The two ~s of something flat, for example a piece of paper, are its two flat surfaces. You can also refer to one ~ of a piece of paper filled with writing as one ~ of writing.
The new copiers only copy onto one ~ of the paper...
Fry the chops until brown on both ~s...
N-COUNT
11.
One ~ of a tape or record is what you can hear or record if you play the tape or record from beginning to end without turning it over.
We want to hear ~ A...
N-COUNT
12.
Side is used to describe things that are not the main or most important ones of their kind.
She slipped in and out of the theatre by a ~ door.
...a prawn curry with a lentil ~ dish.
? main
ADJ: ADJ n
13.
The different ~s in a war, argument, or negotiation are the groups of people who are opposing each other.
Both ~s appealed for a new ceasefire...
...the elections which his ~ lost...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
14.
The different ~s of an argument or deal are the different points of view or positions involved in it.
...those with the ability to see all ~s of a question...
N-COUNT: usu N of n
15.
If one person or country ~s with another, they support them in an argument or a war. If people or countries ~ against another person or country, they support each other against them.
There has been much speculation that America might be siding with the rebels...
VERB: V with/against n
16.
In sport, a ~ is a team. (BRIT; in AM, use team )
Italy were definitely a better ~ than Germany...
= team
N-COUNT: usu with supp
17.
A particular ~ of something such as a situation or someone’s character is one aspect of it.
He is in charge of the civilian ~ of the UN mission...
It shows that your child can now see the funny ~ of things...
N-COUNT: usu supp N
18.
The mother’s ~ and the father’s ~ of your family are your mother’s relatives and your father’s relatives.
So was your father’s ~ more well off?
N-COUNT: usu supp N
19.
see also -~d , siding
20.
If two people or things are ~ by ~, they are next to each other.
We sat ~ by ~ on two wicker seats...
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
21.
If people work or live ~ by ~, they work or live closely together in a friendly way.
...areas where different nationalities have lived ~ by ~ for centuries...
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
22.
If you say that someone has let the ~ down, you mean that they have embarrassed their family or friends by behaving badly or not doing well at something. (BRIT)
Brown was constantly letting the ~ down.
PHRASE: V inflects
23.
If something moves from ~ to ~, it moves repeatedly to the left and to the right.
She was shaking her head from ~ to ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v
24.
If you are on someone’s ~, you are supporting them in an argument or a war.
He has the Democrats on his ~...
Some of the younger people seem to be on the ~ of reform.
PHRASE: PHR after v
25.
If something is on your ~ or if you have it on your ~, it helps you when you are trying to achieve something.
The law is not on their ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR
26.
If you get on the wrong ~ of someone, you do something to annoy them and make them dislike you. If you stay on the right ~ of someone, you try to please them and avoid annoying them.
I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong ~ of him...
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
27.
If you say that something is on the small ~, you are saying politely that you think it is slightly too small. If you say that someone is on the young ~, you are saying politely that you think they are slightly too young.
He’s quiet and a bit on the shy ~.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR politeness
28.
If someone does something on the ~, they do it in addition to their main work.
...ways of making a little bit of money on the ~.
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
29.
If you put something to one ~ or put it on one ~, you temporarily ignore it in order to concentrate on something else.
In order to maintain profit margins health and safety regulations are often put to one ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
30.
If you take someone to one ~ or draw them to one ~, you speak to them privately, usually in order to give them advice or a warning.
He took Sabrina to one ~ and told her about the safe.
PHRASE: V inflects
31.
If you take ~s or take someone’s ~ in an argument or war, you support one of the ~s against the other.
We cannot take ~s in a civil war...
PHRASE: V inflects
32.
to look on the bright ~: see bright
the other ~ of the coin: see coin
to err on the ~ of something : see err
to be on the safe ~: see safe
someone’s ~ of the story: see story