~ 1
■ verb ( ~s , ~ting ; past and past participle ~ )
1》 put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.
↘( be ~ ) be situated in a specified place or position.
↘represent (a story) as happening at a specified time or in a specified place.
↘mount a precious stone in (a piece of jewellery).
↘ Printing arrange (type or text) as required.
↘prepare (a table) for a meal by placing cutlery, crockery, etc., on it.
↘( ~ something to ) add (music) to a written work.
↘ Sailing put (a sail) up in position to catch the wind.
2》 put, bring, or place into a specified state: the hostages were ~ free.
↘instruct (someone) to do something.
↘give someone (a task): the problem we have been ~.
↘establish as (an example or record).
↘decide on or fix (a time, value, or limit).
3》 adjust (a device) as required.
4》 harden into a solid, semi-solid, or fixed state.
↘arrange (damp hair) into the required style.
↘put (a broken or dislocated bone or limb) into the correct position for healing.
↘(of a hunting dog) adopt a rigid attitude indicating the presence of game.
5》 (of the sun, moon, etc.) appear to move towards and below the earth's horizon as the earth rotates.
6》 (of a tide or current) take or have a specified direction or course.
7》 chiefly N. Amer. start (a fire).
8》 (of blossom or a tree) form into or produce (fruit).
9》 informal or dialect sit.
10》 (of a dancer) acknowledge one's partner using the steps prescribed.
Phrases
~ one's heart (or hopes ) on have a strong desire for or to do.
~ out one's stall display or show off one's abilities or attributes.
~ sail hoist the sails of a boat.
↘begin a voyage.
~ one's teeth clench one's teeth together.
↘become resolute.
~ the wheels in motion begin a process or put a plan into action.
Phrasal verbs
~ about
1》 start doing something with vigour or determination.
2》 Brit. informal attack (someone).
~ someone against cause someone to be in opposition or conflict with.
~ something ( off ) against off~ something against.
~ someone apart give someone an air of unusual superiority.
~ something apart separate something and keep it for a special purpose.
~ something aside
1》 save or keep something for a particular purpose.
↘remove land from agricultural production.
2》 annul a legal decision or order.
~ someone/thing back
1》 delay or impede the progress of someone or something.
2》 informal cost someone a particular amount of money.
~ something by save something for future use.
~ someone down Brit. stop and allow someone to alight from a vehicle.
~ something down record something in writing or as an authoritative rule or principle.
~ forth begin a journey or trip.
~ something forth state or describe something in writing or speech.
~ forward archaic start on a journey.
~ in (of something unwelcome) begin and seem likely to continue.
~ something in insert something, especially a sleeve, into a garment.
~ off begin a journey.
~ something off
1》 cause a bomb or alarm to go off.
2》 serve as decorative embellishment to.
~ on (or upon ) attack (someone) violently.
~ someone/thing on (or upon ) cause or urge a person or animal to attack.
~ out
1》 begin a journey.
2》 aim or intend to do something.
~ something out arrange or display something in a particular order or position.
~ to begin doing something vigorously.
~ someone up
1》 establish someone in a particular capacity or role.
2》 informal restore or enhance the health of someone.
3》 informal make an innocent person appear guilty of something.
~ something up
1》 place or erect something in position.
2》 establish a business, institution, etc.
3》 begin making a loud sound.
Origin
OE ~tan , of Gmc origin; related to sit .
————————
~ 2
■ noun
1》 a group or collection of things belonging or used together or resembling one another.
↘a group of people with common interests or occupations: the literary ~.
↘ Brit. a group of pupils or students of the same average ability in a subject who are taught together.
↘(in tennis, darts, and other games) a group of games counting as a unit towards a match.
↘(in jazz or popular music) a sequence of songs or pieces constituting or forming part of a live show or recording.
↘a group of people making up the required number for a country dance.
↘ Mathematics & Logic a collection of distinct entities regarded as a unit, being either individually specified or (more usually) satisfying specified conditions.
2》 the way in which something is ~, disposed, or positioned.
↘(also dead ~ ) a hunting dog's act of indicating the presence of game.
↘a warp or bend in wood, metal, etc., caused by continued strain or pressure.
3》 a radio or television receiver.
4》 a collection of scenery, stage furniture, etc., used for a scene in a play or film.
5》 a cutting, young plant, or bulb used in the propagation of new plants.
↘a young fruit that has just formed.
6》 the last coat of plaster on a wall.
7》 Printing the width of letters in a particular typeface.
↘the width of a piece of type.
8》 variant spelling of ~t .
9》 Snooker another term for plant (in sense 4).
10》 Austral./NZ informal a grudge.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ting , ~ted ) Brit. group (pupils or students) in ~s.
Phrases
make a dead ~ at Brit. make a determined attempt to win the affections of. [by assoc. with hunting (see dead ~ above).]
Origin
ME: partly from OFr. ~te , from L. secta 'sect', partly from ~ 1 .
————————
~ 3
■ adjective
1》 fixed or arranged in advance.
↘(of a restaurant menu) offered at a fixed price with a limited choice of dishes.
↘(of a book) prescribed for study.
↘having a conventional or predetermined wording; formulaic.
2》 firmly fixed and unchanging.
3》 ready, prepared, or likely to do something: we're all ~ for tonight!
↘( ~ against ) firmly opposed to.
↘( ~ on ) determined to do.
Origin
OE, past participle of ~ 1 .