(~er, ~est, ~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Sweet food and drink contains a lot of sugar.
...a mug of ~ tea...
If the sauce seems too ~, add a dash of red wine vinegar.
ADJ
~ness
Florida oranges have a natural ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
Sweets are small ~ things such as toffees, chocolates, and mints. (BRIT; in AM, use candy )
N-COUNT
3.
A ~ is something ~, such as fruit or a pudding, that you eat at the end of a meal, especially in a restaurant. (BRIT; in AM, use dessert )
The ~ was a mousse flavoured with whisky.
= dessert
N-VAR
4.
A ~ smell is a pleasant one, for example the smell of a flower.
She’d baked some bread which made the air smell ~.
ADJ
5.
If you describe something such as air or water as ~, you mean that it smells or tastes pleasantly fresh and clean.
I gulped a breath of ~ air.
ADJ
6.
A ~ sound is pleasant, smooth, and gentle.
Her voice was as soft and ~ as a young girl’s.
...the ~ sounds of Mozart.
ADJ
~ly
He sang much more ~ly than he has before.
ADV: usu ADV with v
7.
If you describe something as ~, you mean that it gives you great pleasure and satisfaction. (WRITTEN)
There are few things quite as ~ as revenge.
? bitter
ADJ
8.
If you describe someone as ~, you mean that they are pleasant, kind, and gentle towards other people.
How ~ of you to think of me!
ADJ
~ly
I just smiled ~ly and said no.
ADV: usu ADV with v
9.
If you describe a small person or thing as ~, you mean that they are attractive in a simple or unsophisticated way. (INFORMAL)
...a ~ little baby girl...
The house was really ~.
= cute
ADJ
10.
see also ~ly , ~ness
11.
a ~ tooth: see tooth