[ weɪ ]
■ noun
1》 a method, style, or manner of doing something.
↘the typical manner in which someone behaves or in which something happens.
↘ formal or Scottish a person's occupation or line of business.
2》 [in place names ] a road, track, path, or street.
↘a route or means taken in order to reach, enter, or leave a place.
↘the route along which someone or something is travelling or would travel if unobstructed: Martin blocked her ~.
↘a specified direction.
↘( one's ~ ) used with a verb and adverbial phrase to intensify the force of an action or to denote movement or progress: I shouldered my ~ to the bar.
↘forward motion or momentum of a ship or boat through water.
3》 the distance in space or time between two points.
4》 informal a particular area or locality: I was down your ~ last night.
5》 a particular aspect of something.
↘a specified condition or state.
6》 ( ~s ) parts into which something divides or is divided.
7》 ( ~s ) a sloping structure down which a new ship is launched.
■ adverb informal at or to a considerable distance or extent (used before an adverb or preposition for emphasis).
↘ chiefly N. Amer. much.
↘ US informal really (used for emphasis). [shortening of a~ .]
Phrases
across ( Brit. also over ) the ~ nearby, especially on the opposite side of the street.
by the ~ incidentally.
by ~ of
1》 via.
2》 as a form of.
3》 by means of.
come one's ~ happen or become available to one.
get (or have ) one's (own) ~ get or do what one wants in spite of opposition.
give ~
1》 yield.
2》 (of a support or structure) be unable to carry a load or withstand a force and collapse or break.
3》 Brit. allow someone or something to be or go first.
4》 ( give ~ to ) be replaced or superseded by.
go all (or the whole ) ~ informal have full sexual intercourse with someone.
go out of one's ~ make a special effort to do something.
go one's own ~ act independently or as one wishes, especially against contrary advice.
go one's ~
1》 (of events, circumstances, etc.) be favourable to one.
2》 leave.
have a ~ with have a particular talent for dealing with or ability in.
have a ~ with one have a charming and persuasive manner.
have one's ~ with humorous have sex with.
in a ~ (or in some ~s or in one ~ ) to a certain extent.
in no ~ not at all.
lead the ~ go first along a route to show someone the ~.
↘be a pioneer.
my ~ or the high~ N. Amer. informal said to assert the view that there is no alternative (apart from leaving) but to accept the speaker's opinions or policies.
one ~ and another taking most aspects into account.
one ~ or the other (or one ~ and another ) used to indicate that something is the case for any of various reasons.
↘by some means.
↘whichever of two given alternatives is the case.
on the (or its ) ~ about to arrive or happen.
on the (or one's ) ~ out informal
1》 going out of fashion or favour.
2》 dying.
the other ~ round (or around ; Brit. also about ) in the opposite position or direction.
↘the opposite of what is expected or supposed.
out of the ~
1》 (of a place) remote.
2》 dealt with or finished.
↘(of a person) no longer an obstacle to someone's plans.
3》 [usu. with negative ] unusual or exceptional.
that ~ euphemistic homosexual.
~ back (also ~ back when ) informal long ago.
the ~ of the Cross
1》 the journey of Jesus to the place of his crucifixion.
2》 the suffering and self-sacrifice of a Christian.
the ~ of the world the manner in which people typically behave or things typically happen.
~s and means the methods and resources for achieving something.
~ to go N. Amer. informal used to express pleasure, approval, or excitement.
Origin
OE weg , of Gmc origin, from a base meaning 'move, carry'.