3 NUM K or k is sometimes used to represent the number 1000, especially when referring to sums of money. [INFORMAL ] □ I used to make over 40k.
ka|bob /kəbɒ b/ (kabobs ) → see kebab
kaf|tan /kæ ftæn/ (kaftans ) → see caftan
Kal|ash|ni|kov /kəlæ ʃn I kɒf/ (Kalashnikovs ) N‑COUNT A Kalashnikov is a type of rifle that is made in Russia.
kale /ke I l/ N‑UNCOUNT Kale is a vegetable that is similar to a cabbage.
ka|lei|do|scope /kəla I dəskoʊp/ (kaleidoscopes )
1 N‑COUNT A kaleidoscope is a toy in the shape of a tube with a small hole at one end. If you look through the hole and turn the other end of the tube, you can see a pattern of colours which changes as you turn the tube round.
2 N‑SING You can describe something that is made up of a lot of different and frequently changing colours or elements as a kaleidoscope . □ [+ of ] …the vivid kaleidoscope of colours displayed in the plumage of the peacock.
ka|lei|do|scop|ic /kəla I dəskɒ p I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe something as kaleidoscopic , you mean that it consists of a lot of very different parts, such as different colours, patterns, or shapes. □ …a kaleidoscopic study of the shifting ideas and symbols of French nationhood.
ka|mi|ka|ze /kæ m I kɑː zi/ ADJ [ADJ n] If someone such as a soldier or terrorist performs a kamikaze act, they attack the enemy knowing that they will be killed doing it. □ …kamikaze pilots ready to bomb nuclear installations.
kan|ga|roo /kæ ŋgəruː / (kangaroos ) N‑COUNT A kangaroo is a large Australian animal which moves by jumping on its back legs. Female kangaroos carry their babies in a pouch on their stomach.
kan|ga|roo court (kangaroo courts ) N‑COUNT If you refer to a court or a meeting as a kangaroo court , you disapprove of it because it is unofficial or unfair, and is intended to find someone guilty. [DISAPPROVAL ]
ka|put /kəpʊ t/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that something is kaput , you mean that it is completely broken, useless, or finished. [INFORMAL ] □ 'What's happened to your car?'—'It's kaput.' □ He finally admitted that his film career was kaput.
kara|oke /kæ rioʊ ki/ N‑UNCOUNT Karaoke is a form of entertainment in which a machine plays the tunes of songs, and people take it in turns to sing the words.
ka|ra|te /kərɑː ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Karate is a Japanese sport or way of fighting in which people fight using their hands, elbows, feet, and legs.
kar|ma /kɑː r mə/ N‑UNCOUNT In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, karma is the belief that your actions in this life affect all your future lives.
kart /kɑː r t/ (karts ) N‑COUNT A kart is the same as a go-kart .
kay|ak /ka I æk/ (kayaks ) N‑COUNT A kayak is a narrow boat like a canoe, used by the Inuit people and in the sport of canoeing.
ka|zoo /kəzuː / (kazoos ) N‑COUNT A kazoo is a small musical instrument that consists of a pipe with a hole in the top. You play the kazoo by blowing into it while making sounds.
KB KB is a written abbreviation for kilobyte or kilobytes .
Kbps also kbps Kbps is a unit for measuring the speed of a modem. Kbps is a written abbreviation for 'kilobits per second'. [COMPUTING ] □ …a 28.8 Kbps modem.
ke|bab /kəbæ b, [AM ] -bɑː b/ (kebabs ) in AM, also use kabob N‑VAR A kebab is pieces of meat or vegetables grilled on a long thin stick, or slices of grilled meat served in pitta bread.
ked|geree /ke dʒəriː/ N‑UNCOUNT Kedgeree is a cooked dish consisting of rice, fish, and eggs.
keel /kiː l/ (keels , keeling , keeled )
1 N‑COUNT The keel of a boat is the long, specially shaped piece of wood or steel along the bottom of it.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is on an even keel , you mean that they are working or progressing smoothly and steadily, without any sudden changes. □ Jason had helped him out with a series of loans, until he could get back on an even keel.
▸ keel over PHRASAL VERB If someone keels over , they collapse because they are tired or ill. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] He then keeled over and fell flat on his back.
keen ◆◇◇ /kiː n/ (keener , keenest )
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ that, ADJ to-inf] If you are keen on doing something, you very much want to do it. If you are keen that something should happen, you very much want it to happen. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ on ] You're not keen on going, are you? □ I'm very keen that the European Union should be as open as possible to trade from Russia. □ She's still keen to keep in touch. □ [+ for ] I am not keen for her to have a bicycle. ● keen|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] □ …Doyle's keenness to please. □ [+ for ] …a keenness for the idea of a co-ordinated approach to development.
2 ADJ If you are keen on something, you like it a lot and are very enthusiastic about it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ on ] I got quite keen on the idea. ● keen|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ for ] …his keenness for the arts.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use keen to indicate that someone has a lot of enthusiasm for a particular activity and spends a lot of time doing it. □ She was a keen amateur photographer. [Also + on ]
4 ADJ If you describe someone as keen , you mean that they have an enthusiastic nature and are interested in everything that they do. □ He's a very keen student and works very hard. ● keen|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the keenness of the students.