(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ substance or object stays the same shape whether it is in a container or not.
...the potential of greatly reducing our ~ waste problem...
He did not eat ~ food for several weeks.
? liquid
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
A ~ is a substance that stays the same shape whether it is in a container or not.
Solids turn to liquids at certain temperatures.
...the decomposition of ~s.
? liquid
N-COUNT
3.
A substance that is ~ is very hard or firm.
The snow had melted, but the lake was still frozen ~...
The concrete will stay as ~ as a rock.
ADJ
4.
A ~ object or mass does not have a space inside it, or holes or gaps in it.
...a tunnel carved through 50ft of ~ rock.
...a ~ mass of colour...
The car park was absolutely packed ~ with people.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
5.
If an object is made of ~ gold or ~ wood, for example, it is made of gold or wood all the way through, rather than just on the outside.
...~ wood doors.
...~ pine furniture.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
A structure that is ~ is strong and is not likely to collapse or fall over.
Banks are built to look ~ to reassure their customers...
The car feels very ~.
ADJ
~ly
Their house, which was ~ly built, resisted the main shock.
ADV: ADV with v
~ity
...the ~ity of walls and floors.
N-UNCOUNT
7.
If you describe someone as ~, you mean that they are very reliable and respectable.
Mr Zuma had a ~ reputation as a grass roots organiser.
ADJ approval
~ly
Graham is so ~ly consistent.
ADV
~ity
He had the proverbial ~ity of the English.
N-UNCOUNT
8.
Solid evidence or information is reliable because it is based on facts.
We don’t have good ~ information on where the people are...
He has a ~ alibi.
ADJ
9.
You use ~ to describe something such as advice or a piece of work which is useful and reliable.
The CIU provides churches with ~ advice on a wide range of subjects...
All I am looking for is a good ~ performance...
ADJ
~ly
She’s played ~ly throughout the spring.
ADV: ADV with v
10.
You use ~ to describe something such as the basis for a policy or support for an organization when it is strong, because it has been developed carefully and slowly.
...Washington’s attempt to build a ~ international coalition.
= strong
ADJ
~ly
The Los Alamos district is ~ly Republican...
So far, majority public opinion is ~ly behind the government.
ADV: ADV adj/prep, ADV with v
~ity
...doubts over the ~ity of European backing for the American approach.
N-UNCOUNT
11.
If you do something for a ~ period of time, you do it without any pause or interruption throughout that time.
We had worked together for two ~ years.
ADJ: ADJ n, -ed ADJ
~ly
People who had worked ~ly since Christmas enjoyed the chance of a Friday off.
ADV: ADV with v
12.
see also rock-~