3
You must put very
much after the person or thing that you like. Don’t say, for example, ‘
-like /-la I k/ COMB [usu ADJ n] -like combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe something as being similar to the thing referred to by the noun. □ …beautiful purple-red petunia-like flowers. □ …a tiny worm-like creature.
like|able /la I kəb ə l/ also likable ADJ Someone or something that is likeable is pleasant and easy to like. □ He was an immensely likeable chap.
like|li|hood /la I klihʊd/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The likelihood of something happening is how likely it is to happen. □ [+ of ] The likelihood of infection is minimal.
2 N‑SING [N that] If something is a likelihood , it is likely to happen. □ The likelihood is that your child will not develop diabetes.
3 PHRASE If you say that something will happen in all likelihood , you mean that it will probably happen. □ In all likelihood, the committee will have to interview every woman who's worked with Thomas.
like|ly ◆◆◆ /la I kli/ (likelier , likeliest )
1 ADJ You use likely to indicate that something is probably the case or will probably happen in a particular situation. □ Experts say a 'yes' vote is still the likely outcome. □ If this is your first baby, it's far more likely that you'll get to the hospital too early. □ Francis thought it likely John still loved her. ● ADV Likely is also an adverb. □ Profit will most likely have risen by about £25 million. □ Very likely he'd told them he had American business interests.
2 ADJ If someone or something is likely to do a particular thing, they will very probably do it. □ In the meantime the war of nerves seems likely to continue. □ Adolescents who watched more than two hours of TV a day were much more likely to be overweight.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A likely person, place, or thing is one that will probably be suitable for a particular purpose. □ At one point he had seemed a likely candidate to become Prime Minister. □ We aimed the microscope at a likely looking target.
4 CONVENTION You can say not likely as an emphatic way of saying 'no', especially when someone asks you whether you are going to do something. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ 'How about having a phone out here?'—'Not likely!' SYNONYMS likely ADJ 1
probable: It is probable that the medication will suppress the symptoms.
expected: Their expected time of arrival is 6 o'clock.
anticipated: The long-anticipated study drew criticism from the tobacco industry.
li ke-minded ADJ [usu ADJ n] Like-minded people have similar opinions, ideas, attitudes, or interests. □ …the opportunity to mix with hundreds of like-minded people.
lik|en /la I kən/ (likens , likening , likened ) VERB If you liken one thing or person to another thing or person, you say that they are similar. □ [be V -ed + to ] The pain is often likened to being drilled through the side of the head.
like|ness /la I knəs/ (likenesses )
1 N‑SING If two things or people have a likeness to each other, they are similar to each other. □ [+ to ] These myths have a startling likeness to one another. □ [+ between ] There might be a likeness between their features, but their eyes were totally dissimilar.
2 N‑COUNT [with poss] A likeness of someone is a picture or sculpture of them. □ [+ of ] The museum displays wax likenesses of every U.S. president.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu adj N ] If you say that a picture of someone is a good likeness , you mean that it looks just like them. □ [+ of ] She says the artist's impression is an excellent likeness of her abductor.
like|wise /la I kwa I z/
1 ADV [ADV with v] You use likewise when you are comparing two methods, states, or situations and saying that they are similar. □ All attempts by the Socialists to woo him back were spurned. Similar overtures from the right have likewise been rejected.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you do something and someone else does likewise , they do the same or a similar thing. □ He lent money, made donations and encouraged others to do likewise.
lik|ing /la I k I ŋ/
1 N‑SING If you have a liking for something or someone, you like them. □ [+ for ] She had a liking for good clothes. □ [+ to ] Mrs Jermyn took a great liking to him.
2 PHRASE [with too/not enough ] If something is, for example, too fast for your liking , you would prefer it to be slower. If it is not fast enough for your liking , you would prefer it to be faster. □ She's asking far too many personal questions for my liking.
3 PHRASE If something is to your liking , it suits your interests, tastes, or wishes. □ London was more to his liking than Rome.
li|lac /la I lək/ (lilacs or lilac )
1 N‑VAR A lilac or a lilac tree is a small tree which has sweet-smelling purple, pink, or white flowers in large, cone-shaped groups. □ Lilacs grew against the side wall. □ …a twig of lilac. ● N‑VAR Lilacs are the flowers which grow on this tree. □ …a vase of tulips, lilies, lilacs and primroses. □ Her hair smelt of lilac.