1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A kit is a group of items that are kept together, often in the same container, because they are all used for similar purposes. □ …a well-stocked first aid kit.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Kit is special clothing and equipment that you use when you take part in a particular activity, especially a sport. [mainly BRIT ] □ I forgot my gym kit.
3 N‑COUNT A kit is a set of parts that can be put together in order to make something. □ Her popular pot holder is also available in do-it-yourself kits.
4 PHRASE If someone gets their kit off or takes their kit off , they take off all their clothes. If they keep their kit on , they do not take off all their clothes, even though people may be expecting them to. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I don't like taking my kit off on screen.
▸ kit out PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If someone or something is kitted out , they have everything they need at a particular time, such as clothing, equipment, or furniture. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed P + with ] She was kitted out with winter coat, skirts, jumpers. □ [be V -ed P + in ] The place is kitted out in upmarket Italian cafe style.
kit|bag /k I tbæg/ (kitbags ) N‑COUNT A kitbag is a long narrow bag, usually made of canvas, in which soldiers or sailors keep their clothing and personal possessions. [mainly BRIT ]
kitch|en ◆◆◇ /k I tʃ I n/ (kitchens )
1 N‑COUNT A kitchen is a room that is used for cooking and for household jobs such as washing dishes.
2 → see also soup kitchen
ki tch|en ca bi|net (kitchen cabinets ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Journalists sometimes refer to the unofficial advisers of a prime minister or president as that person's kitchen cabinet , especially if they disapprove of the influence that the advisers seem to have. [DISAPPROVAL ]
kitch|en|ette /k I tʃ I ne t/ (kitchenettes ) N‑COUNT A kitchenette is a small kitchen, or a part of a larger room that is used for cooking.
ki tch|en ga r|den (kitchen gardens ) N‑COUNT A kitchen garden is a garden, or part of a garden, in which vegetables, herbs, and fruit are grown.
kite /ka I t/ (kites )
1 N‑COUNT A kite is an object, usually used as a toy, which is flown in the air. It consists of a light frame covered with paper or cloth and has a long string attached which you hold while the kite is flying.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone is as high as a kite , you mean that they are very excited or that they are greatly affected by alcohol or drugs.
Kite|mark /ka I tmɑː r k/ N‑SING In Britain, the Kitemark is a symbol which is put on products that have met certain standards of safety and quality. [BRIT ]
kith and kin /k I θ ən k I n/ N‑PLURAL You can refer to your friends and family as your kith and kin .
kitsch /k I tʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to a work of art or an object as kitsch if it is showy and thought by some people to be in bad taste. □ …a hideous ballgown verging on the kitsch. ● ADJ Kitsch is also an adjective. □ Blue and green eyeshadow has long been considered kitsch.
kit|ten /k I t ə n/ (kittens ) N‑COUNT A kitten is a very young cat.
kit|ty /k I ti/ (kitties )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A kitty is an amount of money gathered from several people, which is meant to be spent on things that these people will share or use together. □ You haven't put any money in the kitty for three weeks.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A kitty is the total amount of money which is bet in a gambling game, and which is taken by the winner or winners. □ Each month the total prize kitty is £13.5 million.
kiwi /kiː wiː/ (kiwis )
1 N‑COUNT A kiwi is the same as a kiwi fruit .
2 N‑COUNT A kiwi is a type of bird that lives in New Zealand. Kiwis cannot fly.
3 N‑COUNT People who come from New Zealand are sometimes referred to as Kiwis . This use could cause offence. [BRIT , AUSTRALIAN ]
ki wi fruit (kiwi fruit or kiwi fruits ) N‑VAR A kiwi fruit is a fruit with a brown hairy skin and green flesh.
KKK /ke I ke I ke I / N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] KKK is an abbreviation for Ku Klux Klan.
Klans|man /klæ nzmən/ (Klansmen ) N‑COUNT A Klansman is a man who is a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Kleen|ex /kliː neks/ (Kleenex ) N‑COUNT A Kleenex is a piece of soft tissue paper that is used as a handkerchief. [TRADEMARK ] □ …a box of Kleenex.
klep|to|ma|ni|ac /kle ptəme I niæk/ (kleptomaniacs ) N‑COUNT A kleptomaniac is a person who cannot control their desire to steal things, usually because of a medical condition.
kludge /klʌ dʒ/ (kludges ) N‑COUNT You can refer to an unsophisticated but fairly effective solution to a problem as a kludge . Kludge is used especially to talk about solutions to computing problems.
klutz /klʌ ts/ (klutzes ) N‑COUNT You can refer to someone who is very clumsy or who seems stupid as a klutz . [mainly AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
km (kms or km ) also km. km is a written abbreviation for kilometre .
knack /næ k/ (knacks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A knack is a particularly clever or skilful way of doing something successfully, especially something which most people find difficult. □ [+ of/for ] He's got the knack of getting people to listen.
knack|er /næ kə r / (knackers ) N‑COUNT A knacker is someone who buys up old horses and then kills them for their meat, bones, or leather. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The vet suggested that the knacker would collect JoJo, and even pay her for him.