GRE /dʒiː ɑːr iː / N‑PROPER The GRE is the examination which you have to pass to be able to join most graduate degree courses in the United States. GRE is an abbreviation for 'Graduate Record Examination'.
grease /griː s/ (greases , greasing , greased )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Grease is a thick, oily substance which is put on the moving parts of cars and other machines in order to make them work smoothly. □ …grease-stained hands.
2 VERB If you grease a part of a car, machine, or device, you put grease on it in order to make it work smoothly. □ [V n] I greased front and rear hubs and adjusted the brakes.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Grease is an oily substance that is produced by your skin. □ His hair is thick with grease.
4 N‑UNCOUNT Grease is animal fat that is produced by cooking meat. You can use grease for cooking. □ He could smell the bacon grease.
5 VERB If you grease a dish, you put a small amount of fat or oil around the inside of it in order to prevent food sticking to it during cooking. □ [V n] Grease two sturdy baking sheets and heat the oven to 400 degrees. □ [V -ed] Place the frozen rolls on a greased baking tray.
6 → see also elbow grease
grease|paint /griː spe I nt/ N‑UNCOUNT Greasepaint is an oily substance used by actors as make-up.
grease|proof pa|per /griː spruːf pe I pə r / N‑UNCOUNT Greaseproof paper is a special kind of paper which does not allow fat or oil to pass through it. It is mainly used in cooking or to wrap food. [BRIT ] in AM, use wax paper
greasy /griː si, -zi/ (greasier , greasiest ) ADJ Something that is greasy has grease on it or in it. □ …the problem of greasy hair. □ He propped his elbows upon a greasy counter.
grea sy spoon (greasy spoons ) N‑COUNT A greasy spoon is a small, cheap, unattractive café that serves mostly fried food. [INFORMAL ]
great ◆◆◆ /gre I t/ (greater , greatest , greats )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use great to describe something that is very large. Great is more formal than big . □ The room had a great bay window. □ …a great hall as long and high as a church.
2 ADJ Great means large in amount or degree. □ I'll take great care of it. □ Benjamin Britten did not live to a great age.
3 ADJ You use great to describe something that is important, famous, or exciting. □ …the great cultural achievements of the past. □ America can be great again. ● great|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ A nation must take certain risks to achieve greatness.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can describe someone who is successful and famous for their actions, knowledge, or skill as great . □ Wes Hall was once one of the West Indies' great cricketers. □ …the great George Padmore. ● great|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness.
5 N‑PLURAL The greats in a particular subject or field of activity are the people who have been most successful or famous in it. [JOURNALISM ] □ …all the greats of Hollywood. □ …cycling's all-time greats.
6 N‑PLURAL The greats of popular modern music are records that have been successful and that continue to be popular. [JOURNALISM ] □ …a medley of rock'n'roll greats.
7 ADJ If you describe someone or something as great , you approve of them or admire them. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ Arturo has this great place in Cazadero. □ They're a great bunch of guys. □ I think she's great.
8 ADJ If you feel great , you feel very healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic. □ I feel just great.
9 ADJ You use great in order to emphasize the size or degree of a characteristic or quality. [EMPHASIS ] □ …a great big Italian wedding. □ …her sense of colour and great eye for detail.
10 EXCLAM You say great in order to emphasize that you are pleased or enthusiastic about something. [FEELINGS ] □ Oh great! That'll be good for Fergus.
11 EXCLAM You say great in order to emphasize that you are angry or annoyed about something. [FEELINGS ] □ 'Oh great,' I thought. 'Just what I need.'
12 N‑COUNT Great is used as part of the name of a species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is smaller and has different characteristics. □ …the great white shark.
13 → see also greater
PREFIX great-
is used before some nouns that refer to relatives. Nouns formed in this way refer to a relative who is a further generation away from you. For example, your great-aunt is the aunt of one of your parents.
Great Brit|ain /gre I t br I t ə n/ N‑PROPER Great Britain is the island consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales, which together with Northern Ireland makes up the United Kingdom.
great|coat /gre I tkoʊt/ (greatcoats ) also great coat N‑COUNT A greatcoat is a long thick coat that is worn especially as part of a uniform. □ …an army greatcoat.
great|er /gre I tə r /
1 Greater is the comparative of great .
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Greater is used with the name of a large city to refer to the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban area. □ …Greater London.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Greater is used with the name of a country to refer to a larger area which includes that country and other land which used to belong to it, or which some people believe should belong to it. □ …greater Syria.