3 N‑UNCOUNT Assurance is insurance that provides cover in the event of death. [BRIT ] □ …endowment assurance.
4 → see also life assurance
as|sure /əʃʊə r / (assures , assuring , assured )
1 VERB If you assure someone that something is true or will happen, you tell them that it is definitely true or will definitely happen, often in order to make them less worried. □ [V n that] He hastened to assure me that there was nothing traumatic to report. □ [V n with quote] 'Are you sure the raft is safe?' she asked anxiously. 'Couldn't be safer,' Max assured her confidently. □ [V n + of ] Government officials recently assured Hindus of protection.
2 → see also assured
3 VERB To assure someone of something means to make certain that they will get it. □ [V n + of ] Real Madrid's 2-1 victory has all but assured them of the title. □ [V n n] Ways must be found to assure our children a decent start in life.
4 PHRASE You use phrases such as I can assure you or let me assure you to emphasize the truth of what you are saying. [EMPHASIS ] □ I can assure you that the animals are well cared for.
as|sured ◆◇◇ /əʃʊə r d/
1 ADJ Someone who is assured is very confident and relaxed. □ He was infinitely more assured than in his more recent parliamentary appearances. ● as|sur|ed|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ This a lyrical work written with the authority and assuredness of an experienced writer.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something is assured , it is certain to happen. □ Our victory is assured; nothing can stop us.
3 ADJ If you are assured of something, you are certain to get it or achieve it. □ [+ of ] Laura Davies is assured of a place in Europe's team.
4 PHRASE If you say that someone can rest assured that something is the case, you mean that it is definitely the case, so they do not need to worry about it. [EMPHASIS ] □ Their parents can rest assured that their children's safety will be of paramount importance.
as|sur|ed|ly /əʃʊə r I dli/ ADV [ADV before v] If something is assuredly true, it is definitely true. □ He is, assuredly, not alone in believing they will win. □ The government most assuredly does believe in organic farming.
as|ter|isk /æ stər I sk/ (asterisks ) N‑COUNT An asterisk is the sign *. It is used especially to indicate that there is further information about something in another part of the text.
astern /əstɜː r n/ ADV [be ADV ] Something that is astern is at the back of a ship or behind the back part. [TECHNICAL ]
as|ter|oid /æ stərɔ I d/ (asteroids ) N‑COUNT An asteroid is one of the very small planets that move around the sun between Mars and Jupiter.
asth|ma /æ smə, [AM ] æ z-/ N‑UNCOUNT Asthma is a lung condition which causes difficulty in breathing.
asth|mat|ic /æsmæ t I k, [AM ] æz-/ (asthmatics )
1 N‑COUNT People who suffer from asthma are sometimes referred to as asthmatics . □ I have been an asthmatic from childhood and was never able to play any sports. ● ADJ Asthmatic is also an adjective. □ One child in ten is asthmatic.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Asthmatic means relating to asthma. □ …asthmatic breathing.
astig|ma|tism /əst I gmət I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone has astigmatism , the front of their eye has a slightly irregular shape, so they cannot see properly.
aston|ish /əstɒ n I ʃ/ (astonishes , astonishing , astonished ) VERB If something or someone astonishes you, they surprise you very much. □ [V n] Her dedication constantly astonishes me.
aston|ished /əstɒ n I ʃt/ ADJ [ADJ to-inf, ADJ that] If you are astonished by something, you are very surprised about it. □ They were astonished to find the driver was a six-year-old boy.
aston|ish|ing /əstɒ n I ʃ I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is astonishing is very surprising. □ …an astonishing display of physical strength. ● aston|ish|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv] □ Isabella was an astonishingly beautiful young woman.
aston|ish|ment /əstɒ n I ʃmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Astonishment is a feeling of great surprise. □ I spotted a shooting star which, to my astonishment, was bright green in colour. □ 'What?' Meg asked in astonishment.
astound /əstaʊ nd/ (astounds , astounding , astounded ) VERB If something astounds you, you are very surprised by it. □ [V n] He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. [Also V ]
astound|ed /əstaʊ nd I d/ ADJ [ADJ to-inf, ADJ that] If you are astounded by something, you are very shocked or surprised that it could exist or happen. □ [+ by ] I was astounded by its beauty. □ [+ at ] I was astounded at the kindness of the gesture.
astound|ing /əstaʊ nd I ŋ/ ADJ If something is astounding , you are shocked or amazed that it could exist or happen. □ The results are quite astounding. ● astound|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv] □ …astoundingly blue eyes.
as|tra|khan /æ strəkæn/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Astrakhan is black or grey curly fur from the skins of lambs. It is used for making coats and hats. □ …a coat with an astrakhan collar.
as|tral /æ strəl/ ADJ Astral means relating to the stars. [FORMAL ]
astray /əstre I /
1 PHRASE If you are led astray by someone or something, you behave badly or foolishly because of them. □ The judge thought he'd been led astray by older children.
2 PHRASE If someone or something leads you astray , they make you believe something which is not true, causing you to make a wrong decision. □ We drove east to Rostock, where my map led me astray.