■ adjective ( ~er , ~est )
1》 physically powerful.
↘great in power, influence, or ability.
2》 done with or exerting great force.
↘(of language or actions) forceful and extreme.
3》 able to withstand force, pressure, or wear.
↘secure, stable, or firmly established.
↘(of a market) having steadily high or rising prices.
4》 great in intensity or degree: ~ competition for land.
↘(of something seen or heard) not soft or muted.
↘pungent and full-flavoured.
↘(of a solution or drink) containing a large proportion of a substance.
5》 used after a number to indicate the size of a group: a hostile crowd several thousands ~.
6》 Grammar denoting a class of verbs in Germanic languages that form the past tense and past participle by a change of vowel within the stem rather than by addition of a suffix (e.g. swim , swam , swum ).
Phrases
come on ~ informal behave aggressively or assertively.
going ~ informal continuing to be healthy, vigorous, or successful.
~ on
1》 good at.
2》 possessing large quantities of.
~ meat Brit. ideas or language likely to be found unacceptably forceful or extreme.
one's ~ point something at which one excels.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
Origin
OE, of Gmc origin; related to string .