ASBO /æ zboʊ / (ASBOs ) N‑COUNT An ASBO is a legal order restricting the activities or movements of someone who has repeatedly behaved in a way that upsets or annoys other people. ASBO is an abbreviation for 'anti-social behaviour order'. [BRIT ] □ Breach of an ASBO is a criminal offence.
as|cend /əse nd/ (ascends , ascending , ascended )
1 VERB If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] Mrs Clayton had to hold Lizzie's hand as they ascended the steps. □ [V prep/adv] Then we ascend steeply through forests of rhododendron. [Also V ]
2 VERB If a staircase or path ascends , it leads up to a higher position. [WRITTEN ] [Also V , V n]
3 VERB If something ascends , it moves up, usually vertically or into the air. [WRITTEN ] □ [V ] Keep the drill steady while it ascends and descends.
4 VERB If someone ascends to an important position, they achieve it or are appointed to it. When someone ascends a throne, they become king, queen, or pope. [FORMAL ]
5 → see also ascending
as|cend|ancy /əse ndənsi/ also ascendency N‑UNCOUNT If one group has ascendancy over another group, it has more power or influence than the other group. [FORMAL ] □ Although geographically linked, the two provinces have long fought for political ascendancy.
as|cend|ant /əse ndənt/ PHRASE If someone or something is in the ascendant , they have or are getting more power, influence, or popularity than other people or things. [FORMAL ] □ Radical reformers are once more in the ascendant.
as|cend|ency /əse ndənsi/ → see ascendancy
as|cend|ing /əse nd I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If a group of things is arranged in ascending order, each thing is bigger, greater, or more important than the thing before it. □ Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.
2 → see also ascend
as|cen|sion /əse nʃ ə n/
1 N‑SING [with poss] In some religions, when someone goes to heaven, you can refer to their ascension to heaven. □ …the two-day holiday marking the Prophet's ascension to heaven.
2 N‑SING [with poss] The ascension of a person to a high rank or important position is the act of reaching this position. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ to ] …50 years after his ascension to the Cambodian throne.
as|cent /əse nt/ (ascents )
1 N‑COUNT An ascent is an upward journey, especially when you are walking or climbing. □ [+ of ] He led the first ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain.
2 N‑COUNT An ascent is an upward slope or path, especially when you are walking or climbing. □ It was a tough course over a gradual ascent before the big climb of Bluebell Hill.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft poss N ] An ascent is an upward, vertical movement. □ Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.
4 N‑SING The ascent of a person to a more important or successful position is the process of reaching this position. [WRITTEN ]
5 N‑SING In some religions, when someone goes to heaven, you can refer to their ascent to heaven.
as|cer|tain /æ sə r te I n/ (ascertains , ascertaining , ascertained ) VERB If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] It is always vital to ascertain the cause of a continual headache. □ [V that] Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him. □ [V wh] Take time to ascertain what services your bank is providing, and at what cost.
as|cet|ic /əse t I k/ (ascetics ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] An ascetic person has a way of life that is simple and strict, usually because of their religious beliefs. ● N‑COUNT An ascetic is someone who is ascetic.
as|ceti|cism /əse t I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Asceticism is a simple, strict way of life with no luxuries or physical pleasures.
ascor|bic acid /æskɔː r b I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. [TECHNICAL ]
as|cribe /əskra I b/ (ascribes , ascribing , ascribed )
1 VERB If you ascribe an event or condition to a particular cause, you say or consider that it was caused by that thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] An autopsy eventually ascribed the baby's death to sudden infant death syndrome.
2 VERB If you ascribe a quality to someone, you consider that they possess it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] We do not ascribe a superior wisdom to government or the state.
3 VERB If you ascribe something such as a quotation or a work of art to someone, you say that they said it or created it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] He mistakenly ascribes the expression 'survival of the fittest' to Charles Darwin.
asexu|al /e I se kʃuəl/
1 ADJ Something that is asexual involves no sexual activity. □ Their relationship was totally asexual. □ …asexual reproduction. ● asexu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ Many fungi can reproduce asexually.
2 ADJ Asexual creatures and plants have no sexual organs. □ …asexual parasites.
3 ADJ Someone who is asexual is not sexually attracted to other people. □ It is another unfortunate myth of our culture that older people are asexual.
ash /æ ʃ/ (ashes )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Ash is the grey or black powdery substance that is left after something is burnt. You can also refer to this substance as ashes . □ A cloud of volcanic ash is spreading across wide areas of the Philippines. □ He brushed the cigarette ash from his sleeve.