INDEX:
1. a man
2. for men
3. typical of men
4. what you call a man when you speak to him
RELATED WORDS
a young man : ↑ YOUNG (4)
men and women in general : ↑ PERSON/PEOPLE
: ↑ FATHER , ↑ GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND , ↑ WOMAN , ↑ ADULT , ↑ CHILD , ↑ SEX , ↑ CHARACTER
◆◆◆
1. a man
▷ man /mæn/ [countable noun]
an adult male person :
▪ There were two men and a woman in the car.
▪ He had a very successful business and died a rich man.
▪ You wouldn’t understand how she feels -- you’re a man!
▷ guy informal also bloke British informal /gaɪ, bləʊk/ [countable noun]
a man :
▪ Dave’s a really nice guy.
▪ Is he the guy who used to live next door to you?
▪ That Simon seems like a decent bloke.
▪ He bought the car from a bloke at his office.
▷ gentleman /ˈdʒentlmən/ [countable noun]
a man - use this as a polite way of talking about a man :
▪ Can you serve this gentleman please, Sarah?
▪ Mr Marks, an elderly gentleman, was travelling with his daughter.
ladies and gentlemen
used in speeches
▪ Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Dr Nelson Mandela.
▷ the boys informal also the lads British informal /ðə ˈbɔɪz, ðə ˈlædz/ [plural noun]
a group of men who are very friendly with each other or who work together or play in a team together :
▪ I won’t be home until late -- I’m going out for a drink with the boys.
▪ The lads played really well -- we were unlucky not to win the game.
▷ male /meɪl/ [countable noun]
a man - use this especially when talking about characteristics that are typical of men and not of women :
▪ The film is a brilliant analysis of the typical American male.
▪ Haemophilia is a condition found only in males.
▷ male /meɪl/ [adjective]
a male person is a man or a boy - use this especially when talking about jobs and work :
▪ Most of the science teachers are male.
▪ Salaries have increased for both male and female graduates.
▪ The Health Service needs more male nurses.
▷ new man /ˌnjʊː ˈmænˌnuː-/ [countable noun]
a man who does not behave in a traditional male way or have traditionally male attitudes towards women, for example one who stays at home to look after the children or is happy to show his feelings :
▪ I wouldn’t say Tom was exactly a new man - he just enjoys looking after kids more than I do.
▪ He considered himself to be a New Man, sensitive about things such as PMS and bad hair days.
2. for men
▷ man’s /mænz/
designed for men :
a man’s watch/suit/shirt etc
▪ She was barefoot and wearing a man’s shirt over her jeans.
men’s shoes/clothes/magazines etc
▪ a shop selling handmade men’s shoes
▷ male /meɪl/ [adjective]
for men - use this about jobs or activities that men usually do or places that are for men only :
▪ More women are entering traditionally male jobs like engineering.
▪ male pursuits such as football and golf
all-male
▪ For the first time women are being allowed into this previously all-male school.
male-only
▪ the male-only setting of the St Andrews Sporting Club
3. typical of men
▷ masculine /ˈmæskjɑlɪn, ˈmæskjɑlən/ [adjective]
masculine behaviour or attitudes are considered to be more typical of a man than of a woman :
▪ He wanted to say he was sorry but his masculine pride wouldn’t let him.
▪ Violence is an extreme form of traditionally masculine behaviour.
▷ virile /ˈvɪraɪlǁˈvɪrəl/ [adjective]
looking or behaving in a way that is typical of a man, by being strong, full of energy etc, and therefore sexually attractive :
▪ The girls were all gazing adoringly at his muscular, virile young body.
▪ Craig was a younger and more virile version of his father.
virility /vɪˈrɪləti, vəˈrɪləti/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Reports have shown that the older a man gets, the more obsessed he is with his virility.
▷ manly /ˈmænli/ [adjective]
having the qualities that people expect and admire in a man, such as being brave and strong :
▪ In the portrait, the King looked manly and in control.
▪ He was bronzed and athletic, with manly features and a steady gaze.
manliness [uncountable noun]
▪ In the past, manliness was equated with silence about personal feelings.
▷ macho /ˈmætʃəʊǁˈmɑː-/ [adjective]
a man who is macho behaves in a way that he thinks a man is expected to behave, for example by being brave, treating women badly, or not showing emotion :
▪ On the outside he may seem to be very macho but inside he’s very sensitive.
▪ He’s far too macho to drink mineral water.
▷ man /mæn/ [countable noun]
a man who is brave and strong - use this especially when you are criticizing someone for not being like this :
▪ Any other soldier would have told him to pull himself together and be a man.
a real man
▪ A real man wouldn’t be scared of commitment.
he-man
a very brave, strong man
▪ a he-man like Arnold Schwarzenegger
be man enough to do something
be brave and strong enough to do something
▪ Are you man enough to admit that you’ve been lying?
manhood /ˈmænhʊd/ [uncountable noun]
▪ In an effort to prove his manhood he had taken to stealing cars and drinking alcohol.
▷ laddish /ˈlædɪʃ/ [adjective]
relating to young men who behave in a typically male way, for example men who drink a lot of alcohol and spend a lot of time thinking or talking about sex :
▪ The amount of laddish humour on TV these days can get a bit tedious.
▪ He most famously played the part of Gary, the laddish flatmate in ‘Men Behaving Badly’.
4. what you call a man when you speak to him
▷ sir /səʳ, strong sɜːʳ/ formal
used especially in formal letters or when speaking to customers, when you do not know a man’s name :
▪ I’m sorry sir, we’re not serving chicken tonight. Can I recommend the fish?
Dear Sir
▪ Dear Sir, I am writing to apply for the position of Sales Executive advertised in yesterday’s ‘Times’.
▷ Mr British /Mr. American /ˈmɪstəʳ/
used before a man’s family name when you are speaking or writing to him and want to be polite :
▪ Mr Elstone, please may I borrow your pen?
▪ Dear Mr. Pritchard, I am writing to remind you that your rent is now two months overdue.
▷ mate British informal /buddy American informal /meɪt, ˈbʌdi/
use this to talk to a man in a friendly way. Mate and buddy are also often used when talking to a man you do not know, when you are annoyed with him :
▪ You look like you need a drink, mate.
▪ ‘Can I borrow your car’ - ‘No chance, mate.’
▪ It’s good to see you, buddy! How’ve you been?
▪ Hey, buddy! That’s my parking space you took.
▷ mister /ˈmɪstəʳ/ American spoken
use this when you call out to a man and you do not know his name :
▪ Hey, Mister! Look out!