(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Suspicion or a ~ is a belief or feeling that someone has committed a crime or done something wrong.
There was a ~ that this runner attempted to avoid the procedures for dope testing...
The police said their ~s were aroused because Mr Owens had other marks on his body...
Scotland Yard had assured him he was not under ~...
N-VAR: oft N that, N of n, under N, on N of n
2.
If there is ~ of someone or something, people do not trust them or consider them to be reliable.
...the traditional British ~ of psychotherapy...
He may have had some ~s of Michael Foster, the editor of the journal...
N-VAR: oft N of n
3.
A ~ is a feeling that something is probably true or is likely to happen.
I have a sneaking ~ that they are going to succeed...
N-COUNT: oft N that
4.
A ~ of something is a very small amount of it. (WRITTEN)
...large blooms of white with a ~ of pale pink.
= hint
N-SING: usu N of n