(~s)
1.
A ~ of a disaster, accident, or illness is someone who continues to live afterwards in spite of coming close to death.
Officials said there were no ~s of the plane crash.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
2.
A ~ of a very unpleasant experience is a person who has had such an experience, and who is still affected by it.
This book is written with ~s of child sexual abuse in mind.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
3.
A person’s ~s are the members of their family who continue to live after they have died. (AM)
The compensation bill offers the miners or their ~s as much as $100,000 apiece.
N-COUNT: usu pl, usu poss N, N of
4.
If you describe someone as a ~, you approve of the fact that they are able to carry on with their life even though they experience many difficulties.
Above all Susie is a great ~, with a bright, indomitable spirit.
N-COUNT approval