gym|nas|tics /dʒ I mnæ st I ks/ The form gymnastic is used as a modifier. 1 N‑UNCOUNT Gymnastics consists of physical exercises that develop your strength, co-ordination, and ease of movement. □ …the British Amateur Gymnastics Association.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Gymnastic is used to describe things relating to gymnastics. □ …gymnastic exercises.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [adj N ] You can use gymnastics to refer to activities which require skills such as speed and adaptability. □ Hers is the kind of voice that excels at vocal gymnastics.
gy|nae|col|ogy /ga I n I kɒ lədʒi/ in AM, use gynecology N‑UNCOUNT Gynaecology is the branch of medical science which deals with women's diseases and medical conditions. ● gy|nae|colo|gist (gynaecologists ) N‑COUNT □ Gynaecologists at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital have successfully used the drug on 60 women. ● gy|nae|co|logi|cal /ga I n I kəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □ Breast examination is a part of a routine gynaecological examination.
gyp|sum /dʒ I psəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Gypsum is a soft white substance which looks like chalk and which is used to make plaster of Paris.
gyp|sy /dʒ I psi/ (gypsies ) also gipsy N‑COUNT A gypsy is a member of a race of people who travel from place to place, usually in caravans, rather than living in one place. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Gypsy is also an adjective. □ …the largest gypsy community of any country.
gy|rate /dʒa I re I t, [AM ] dʒa I re I t/ (gyrates , gyrating , gyrated )
1 VERB If you gyrate , you dance or move your body quickly with circular movements. □ [V ] The woman began to gyrate to the music. □ [V -ing] …a room stuffed full of gasping, gyrating bodies. ● gy|ra|tion /dʒa I re I ʃ ə n/ (gyrations ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] □ Prince continued his enthusiastic gyrations on stage.
2 VERB To gyrate means to turn round and round in a circle, usually very fast. □ [V prep] The aeroplane was gyrating about the sky in a most unpleasant fashion. [Also V ]
3 VERB If things such as prices or currencies gyrate , they move up and down in a rapid and uncontrolled way. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V adv/prep] Interest rates began to gyrate up towards 20 per cent in 1980 and then down and up again. [Also V ] ● gy|ra|tion N‑COUNT [usu pl] □ …the gyrations of the currency markets.
gy|ro|scope /dʒa I rəskoʊp/ (gyroscopes ) N‑COUNT A gyroscope is a device that contains a disc turning on an axis that can turn freely in any direction, so that the disc maintains the same position whatever the position or movement of the surrounding structure.
Hh
H , h /e I tʃ/ (H's, h's ) N‑VAR H is the eighth letter of the English alphabet.
ha /hɑː / also hah
1 EXCLAM Ha is used in writing to represent a noise that people make to show they are surprised, annoyed, or pleased about something. □ Ha! said Wren. Think I'd trust you?
2 → see also ha ha
ha. ha. is a written abbreviation for hectare .
ha|beas cor|pus /he I biəs kɔː r pəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Habeas corpus is a law that states that a person cannot be kept in prison unless they have first been brought before a court of law, which decides whether it is legal for them to be kept in prison.
hab|er|dash|er /hæ bə r dæʃə r / (haberdashers )
1 N‑COUNT A haberdasher or a haberdasher's is a shop where small articles for sewing are sold. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A haberdasher is a shopkeeper who makes and sells men's clothes. [AM ] in BRIT, use tailor 3 N‑COUNT A haberdasher or a haberdasher's is a shop where men's clothes are sold. [AM ] in BRIT, use tailor , tailor's
hab|er|dash|ery /hæ bə r dæʃəri/ (haberdasheries )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Haberdashery is small articles for sewing, such as buttons, zips, and thread, which are sold in a haberdasher's shop. [BRIT ] in AM, use notions 2 N‑UNCOUNT Haberdashery is men's clothing sold in a shop. [AM ]
3 N‑COUNT A haberdashery is a shop selling haberdashery.
hab|it ◆◇◇ /hæ b I t/ (habits )
1 N‑VAR A habit is something that you do often or regularly. □ [+ of ] He has an endearing habit of licking his lips when he's nervous. □ Many people add salt to their food out of habit, without even tasting it first. □ …a survey on eating habits in the U.K.
2 N‑COUNT A habit is an action which is considered bad that someone does repeatedly and finds it difficult to stop doing. □ [+ of ] Break the habit of eating too quickly by putting your knife and fork down after each mouthful. □ After twenty years as a chain smoker Mr Nathe has given up the habit.
3 N‑COUNT A drug habit is an addiction to a drug such as heroin or cocaine. □ She became a prostitute in order to pay for her cocaine habit.
4 N‑COUNT A habit is a piece of clothing shaped like a long loose dress, which a nun or monk wears.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone is a creature of habit , you mean that they usually do the same thing at the same time each day, rather than doing new and different things.
6 PHRASE If you are in the habit of doing something, you do it regularly or often. If you get into the habit of doing something, you begin to do it regularly or often. □ They were in the habit of giving two or three dinner parties a month. □ I got into the habit of calling in on Gloria on my way home from work.