3 PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with your work or with other people, you manage to do or understand all your work, or to do or understand it as well as other people. □ [V P + with ] Penny tended to work through her lunch hour in an effort to keep up with her work. □ [V P ] Life is tough for kids who aren't keeping up in school.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with what is happening, you make sure that you know about it. □ [V P + with ] She did not bother to keep up with the news. [Also V P ]
5 PHRASAL VERB If you keep something up , you continue to do it or provide it. □ [V n P ] I was so hungry all the time that I could not keep the diet up for longer than a month. □ [V P n] They risk losing their homes because they can no longer keep up the repayments.
6 PHRASAL VERB If you keep something up , you prevent it from growing less in amount, level, or degree. □ [V n P ] There will be a major incentive among TV channels to keep standards up. □ [V P n] Opposition forces are keeping up the pressure against the government.
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keep|er /kiː pə r / (keepers )
1 N‑COUNT In football, the keeper is the same as the goalkeeper . [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT In American football, a keeper is a play in which the quarterback keeps the ball. [AM ]
3 N‑COUNT A keeper at a zoo is a person who takes care of the animals.
4 PHRASE If you say that you are not someone 's keeper , you mean that you are not responsible for what they do or for what happens to them.
kee p-fi t also keep fit N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Keep-fit is the activity of keeping your body in good condition by doing special exercises. [mainly BRIT ]
keep|sake /kiː pse I k/ (keepsakes ) N‑COUNT A keepsake is a small present that someone gives you so that you will not forget them.
keg /ke g/ (kegs ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A keg is a small barrel used for storing something such as beer or other alcoholic drinks.
kelp /ke lp/ N‑UNCOUNT Kelp is a type of flat brown seaweed.
ken /ke n/ PHRASE If something is beyond your ken , you do not have enough knowledge to be able to understand it. □ The subject matter was so technical as to be beyond the ken of the average layman.
ken|nel /ke n ə l/ (kennels )
1 N‑COUNT A kennel is a small building made especially for a dog to sleep in. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use doghouse 2 N‑COUNT Kennels or a kennels or a kennel is a place where dogs are bred and trained, or looked after when their owners are away. □ The guard dog was now in kennels as it was not aggressive.
Ken|yan /ke njən/ (Kenyans )
1 ADJ Kenyan means belonging or relating to Kenya, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Kenyan is a Kenyan citizen, or a person of Kenyan origin.
kept /ke pt/ Kept is the past tense and past participle of keep .
kerb /kɜː r b/ (kerbs ) N‑COUNT The kerb is the raised edge of a pavement which separates it from the road. [BRIT ] □ Stewart stepped off the kerb. in AM, use curb
ke rb-crawling N‑UNCOUNT Kerb-crawling is the activity of driving slowly along the side of a road in order to find and hire a prostitute. [BRIT ]
ker|chief /kɜː r tʃ I f/ (kerchiefs ) N‑COUNT A kerchief is a piece of cloth that you can wear on your head or round your neck. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
ker|fuf|fle /kə r fʌ f ə l/ N‑SING A kerfuffle is a lot of argument, noisy activity, or fuss. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ There was a bit of a kerfuffle during the race when a dog impeded the leading runners.
ker|nel /kɜː r n ə l/ (kernels )
1 N‑COUNT The kernel of a nut is the part that is inside the shell.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The kernel of something is the central and most important part of it. □ [+ of ] The kernel of the film is James Franco's relationship with his ill father.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A kernel of something is a small element of it. □ [+ of ] For all I know, there may be a kernel of truth in what he says.
kero|sene /ke rəsiːn/ N‑UNCOUNT Kerosene is a clear, strong-smelling liquid which is used as a fuel, for example in heaters and lamps. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use paraffin
kes|trel /ke strəl/ (kestrels ) N‑COUNT A kestrel is a small bird of prey.
ketch /ke tʃ/ (ketches ) N‑COUNT A ketch is a type of sailing ship that has two masts.
ketch|up /ke tʃʌp/ in AM, also use catsup N‑UNCOUNT Ketchup is a thick, cold sauce, usually made from tomatoes, that is sold in bottles.
ket|tle /ke t ə l/ (kettles )
1 N‑COUNT A kettle is a covered container that you use for boiling water. It has a handle, and a spout for the water to come out of. [mainly BRIT ] □ I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea. ● N‑COUNT A kettle of water is the amount of water contained in a kettle. □ [+ of ] Pour a kettle of boiling water over the onions. [in AM, use teakettle ]
2 N‑COUNT A kettle is a metal pot for boiling or cooking things in. [mainly AM ] □ Put the meat into a small kettle. in BRIT, use pan
3 PHRASE If you say that something is a different kettle of fish , you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about. [INFORMAL ] □ Playing for the reserve team is a totally different kettle of fish.