feature: The spacious gardens are a special feature of this property.
point: The most interesting point about the village was its religion.
side: Anxiety has a mental and a physical side.
factor: Physical activity is an important factor in maintaining fitness.
facet: The caste system shapes nearly every facet of Indian life.
as|pen /æ spən/ (aspens ) N‑VAR An aspen is a tall tree with leaves that move a lot in the wind.
as|per|ity /æspe r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with N ] If you say something with asperity , you say it impatiently and severely. [FORMAL ] □ 'I told you Preskel had no idea,' remarked Kemp with some asperity.
as|per|sions /əspɜː r ʃ ə nz, [AM ] -ʒ ə nz/ PHRASE If you cast aspersions on someone or something, you suggest that they are not very good in some way. [FORMAL ]
as|phalt /æ sfælt, -fɔːlt/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Asphalt is a black substance used to make the surfaces of things such as roads and playgrounds.
as|phyxia /æsf I ksiə/ N‑UNCOUNT Asphyxia is death or loss of consciousness caused by being unable to breathe properly. [MEDICAL ] □ Death was due to asphyxia through smoke inhalation.
as|phyxi|ate /æsf I ksie I t/ (asphyxiates , asphyxiating , asphyxiated ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is asphyxiated , they die or lose consciousness because they are unable to breathe properly. □ [be V -ed] Three people were asphyxiated in the crush for last week's train. ● as|phyxia|tion /æsf I ksie I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ A post mortem examination found that she died from asphyxiation.
as|pic /æ sp I k/ N‑UNCOUNT Aspic is a clear shiny jelly made from meat juices. It is used in making cold savoury meat dishes. □ …cold chicken in aspic.
as|pir|ant /əspa I rənt, æ sp I rənt/ (aspirants )
1 N‑COUNT Someone who is an aspirant to political power or to an important job has a strong desire to achieve it. [FORMAL ] □ …the young aspirant to power.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Aspirant means the same as aspiring . [FORMAL ] □ …aspirant politicians.
as|pi|ra|tion /æ sp I re I ʃ ə n/ (aspirations ) N‑VAR Someone's aspirations are their desire to achieve things. □ …the needs and aspirations of our pupils. □ …the republic's aspiration to statehood.
as|pi|ra|tion|al /æ sp I re I ʃən ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as aspirational , you mean that they have strong hopes of moving to a higher social status. [JOURNALISM ] □ …the typical tensions of an aspirational household.
2 ADJ If you describe a product as aspirational , you mean that it is bought or enjoyed by people who have strong hopes of moving to a higher social class. [JOURNALISM ] □ Fine music, particularly opera, has become aspirational, like fine food or foreign travel.
as|pire /əspa I ə r / (aspires , aspiring , aspired )
1 VERB If you aspire to something such as an important job, you have a strong desire to achieve it. □ [V + to ] …people who aspire to public office. □ [V to-inf] They aspired to be gentlemen, though they fell far short of the ideal.
2 → see also aspiring
as|pi|rin /æ sp I r I n/ (aspirins or aspirin ) N‑VAR Aspirin is a mild drug which reduces pain and fever.
as|pir|ing /əspa I ə r I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you use aspiring to describe someone who is starting a particular career, you mean that they are trying to become successful in it. □ Many aspiring young artists are advised to learn by copying the masters.
2 → see also aspire
ass /æ s/ (asses )
1 N‑COUNT An ass is an animal which is related to a horse but which is smaller and has long ears.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an ass , you think that they are silly or do silly things. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was generally disliked and regarded as a pompous ass.
3 N‑COUNT Your ass is your bottom. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE ] in BRIT, use arse , bum
4 PHRASE Saying that someone can kiss your ass is a very rude way of expressing anger or disagreement. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE , FEELINGS ]
5 a pain in the ass → see pain
as|sail /əse I l/ (assails , assailing , assailed )
1 VERB If someone assails you, they criticize you strongly. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day.
2 VERB If someone assails you, they attack you violently. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed + by ] Her husband was assailed by a young man with a knife in a Glasgow park.
3 VERB [usu passive] If you are assailed by something unpleasant such as fears or problems, you are greatly troubled by a large number of them. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed] She is assailed by self-doubt and emotional insecurity.
as|sail|ant /əse I lənt/ (assailants ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's assailant is a person who has physically attacked them. [FORMAL ] □ Other party-goers rescued the injured man from his assailant.
as|sas|sin /əsæ s I n/ (assassins ) N‑COUNT An assassin is a person who assassinates someone. □ He saw the shooting and memorised the number of the assassin's car.