I. re ‧ form 1 /rɪˈfɔːm $ -ɔːrm/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ form , ↑ formation , ↑ transformation , ↑ reformer , ↑ reform , ↑ reformation , ↑ reformist , ↑ transformer , ↑ formlessness ; verb : ↑ form , ↑ reform , ↑ transform ; adjective : reformed, ↑ reformist , ↑ formless ; adverb : ↑ formlessly ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: reformer , from Latin reformare , from formare 'to form' ]
1 . [transitive] to improve a system, law, organization etc by making a lot of changes to it, so that it operates in a fairer or more effective way:
plans to radically reform the tax system
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to change your behaviour and become a better person, or to make someone do this:
Greeley says he’s a genuinely reformed character.
a reformed criminal
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THESAURUS
■ to change something
▪ change to make someone or something different:
Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to change the situation.
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Being at college has changed her – she’s much more confident now.
▪ alter especially written tochange something so that it is better or more suitable:
You can alter the colour and size of the image using a remote control.
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Can we alter the date of the meeting?
▪ adapt to change something slightly in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How much would it cost to adapt the existing equipment?
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You can adapt the recipe to suit your own requirements.
▪ adjust to make small changes in the position or level of something in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How do you adjust the volume on the television?
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He adjusted his tie in the mirror.
▪ modify especially written to make small changes to something such as a piece of equipment, a set of ideas, or a way of behaving in order to improve it or use it in a different way:
He’s modified his opinions since then.
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a modified version of the original program.
▪ reform to change a law, system, organization etc so that it is fairer or more effective:
plans to reform the tax system
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Health care needs to be completely reformed.
▪ revise to change a plan, idea, law etc because of new information and ideas:
In July, China revised the rules for foreign investment.
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The findings could force the scientists to revise their ideas about climate change.
▪ reorganize to change the way that a system or organization works:
We’ve had to reorganize our database
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During the 1980s, the government reorganized the civil service.
▪ restructure to make big changes to the way something is organized, especially a large political or economic system or a big company, in order to make it more effective:
The company has been restructured from top to bottom.
II. reform 2 W2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ form , ↑ formation , ↑ transformation , ↑ reformer , ↑ reform , ↑ reformation , ↑ reformist , ↑ transformer , ↑ formlessness ; verb : ↑ form , ↑ reform , ↑ transform ; adjective : reformed, ↑ reformist , ↑ formless ; adverb : ↑ formlessly ]
a change or changes made to a system or organization in order to improve it
reform of
a reform of the legal system
economic/political/educational reform
The government announced a much-needed programme of economic reform.
Reforms were made to revive the economy.
far-reaching/sweeping/radical reforms
The Prime Minister is calling for sweeping reforms of the NHS.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + reform
▪ economic reform
The Prime Minister has promised to push ahead with economic reform.
▪ political/democratic/constitutional reform
He stressed that democratic reform could not be achieved overnight.
▪ tax reform
The Chancellor's proposals for tax reform met strong resistance in the Commons.
▪ education reform
Teachers say the government's education reforms are causing stress.
▪ a major reform
He called for a major reform of the drug laws.
▪ radical reform (=very big and important changes)
His government adopted a policy of radical reform.
▪ fundamental reform (=changes to the most basic and important parts of something)
He wants fundamental reform of the EU's agricultural policy.
▪ far-reaching/sweeping reforms (=reforms that affect many things or have a great effect)
The new government instituted a series of far-reaching reforms.
■ verbs
▪ make/carry out reforms
They haven't made any real reforms.
▪ introduce reforms
They increased pressure on the government to introduce political reforms.
▪ push through reforms (=make them happen)
He has so far failed to push through much-needed economic reforms.
▪ implement reforms (=carry out planned reforms)
Much will depend on how local managers implement the reforms.
■ phrases
▪ a package/programme of reforms
A package of reforms was approved by the National Assembly on April 12.
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THESAURUS
▪ change noun [uncountable and countable] a situation in which someone or something becomes different, or the act of making something different:
There was a sudden change in the weather.
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We are living in a period of great change.
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He was told to make some slight changes to his essay.
▪ alteration noun [uncountable and countable] a change, especially a small one that happens naturally or gradually, or one that is made in order to improve something:
I noticed a slight alteration in her behaviour.
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They had to make some alterations to their original theory.
▪ reform noun [uncountable and countable] a change made to a system or law in order to improve it:
He called for a reform of our outdated voting system.
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Many people opposed the economic reforms.
▪ shift noun [countable] a change, especially in people’s attitudes or in the way they do things, or in the position of someone or something:
a shift in public opinion about the war
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There has been a noticeable shift in government policy on education.
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There needs to be a major shift away from road transport to rail transport.
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After he died, there was a dramatic shift in the balance of power.
▪ swing a big change, especially in someone’s opinions or moods:
There has been a big swing toward the Democrats (=many more people are supporting them) .
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The drug can cause mood swings.
▪ fluctuation noun [uncountable and countable] a change in something - used when something changes often:
fluctuations in the value of the dollar
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temperature fluctuations
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fluctuations in his mood
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There has been some fluctuation in productivity levels.