avo|ca|do /æ vəkɑː doʊ/ (avocados ) in BRIT, also use avocado pear N‑VAR Avocados are pear-shaped vegetables, with hard skins and large stones, which are usually eaten raw.
avo|ca|tion /æ voʊke I ʃ ə n/ (avocations ) N‑VAR Your avocation is a job or activity that you do because you are interested in it, rather than to earn your living. [FORMAL ] □ He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation.
avoid ◆◆◇ /əvɔ I d/ (avoids , avoiding , avoided )
1 VERB If you avoid something unpleasant that might happen, you take action in order to prevent it from happening. □ [V n] The pilots had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster. □ [V v-ing] Women have to dress modestly, to avoid being harassed by the locals.
2 VERB If you avoid doing something, you choose not to do it, or you put yourself in a situation where you do not have to do it. □ [V v-ing] Swann managed to avoid learning that lesson for a long time. □ [V n] He was always careful to avoid embarrassment.
3 VERB If you avoid a person or thing, you keep away from them. When talking to someone, if you avoid the subject, you keep the conversation away from a particular topic. □ [V n] She eventually had to lock herself in the toilets to avoid him.
4 VERB If a person or vehicle avoids someone or something, they change the direction they are moving in, so that they do not hit them. □ [V n] The driver had ample time to brake or swerve and avoid the woman.
avoid|able /əvɔ I dəb ə l/ ADJ Something that is avoidable can be prevented from happening. □ The tragedy was entirely avoidable.
avoid|ance /əvɔ I dəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Avoidance of someone or something is the act of avoiding them. □ [+ of ] …the avoidance of stress.
avow /əvaʊ / (avows , avowing , avowed ) VERB If you avow something, you admit it or declare it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …a public statement avowing neutrality. [Also V with quote]
avowed /əvaʊ d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you are an avowed supporter or opponent of something, you have declared that you support it or oppose it. [FORMAL ] □ She is an avowed vegetarian.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An avowed belief or aim is one that you have declared formally or publicly. [FORMAL ] □ …the council's avowed intention to stamp on racism.
avun|cu|lar /əvʌ ŋkjʊlə r / ADJ [usu ADJ n] An avuncular man or a man with avuncular behaviour is friendly and helpful towards someone younger. [FORMAL ] □ He began to talk in his most gentle and avuncular manner.
await ◆◇◇ /əwe I t/ (awaits , awaiting , awaited )
1 VERB If you await someone or something, you wait for them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He's awaiting trial, which is expected to begin early next year.
2 VERB Something that awaits you is going to happen or come to you in the future. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] A nasty surprise awaited them in Rosemary Lane.
awake /əwe I k/ (awakes , awaking , awoke , awoken )
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] Someone who is awake is not sleeping. □ I don't stay awake at night worrying about that. □ Nightmares kept me awake all night.
2 PHRASE Someone who is wide awake is fully awake and unable to sleep. □ I could not relax and still felt wide awake.
3 VERB When you awake or when something awakes you, you wake up. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] At midnight he awoke and listened to the radio for a few minutes. □ [V n] The sound of many voices awoke her with a start. [Also V to-inf]
awak|en /əwe I kən/ (awakens , awakening , awakened )
1 VERB To awaken a feeling in a person means to cause them to start having this feeling. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] The aim of the cruise was to awaken an interest in and an understanding of foreign cultures.
2 VERB When you awaken , or when something or someone awakens you, you wake up. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] Unfortunately, Grandma always seems to awaken at awkward moments. □ [V n] He was snoring when Desmond awakened him.
awak|en|ing /əwe I kən I ŋ/ (awakenings )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The awakening of a feeling or realization is the start of it. □ [+ of ] …the awakening of national consciousness in people.
2 PHRASE If you have a rude awakening , you are suddenly made aware of an unpleasant fact.
award ◆◆◇ /əwɔː r d/ (awards , awarding , awarded )
1 N‑COUNT An award is a prize or certificate that a person is given for doing something well. □ She presented a bravery award to schoolgirl Caroline Tucker.
2 N‑COUNT In law, an award is a sum of money that a court decides should be given to someone. □ …workmen's compensation awards.
3 N‑COUNT A pay award is an increase in pay for a particular group of workers. □ …this year's average pay award for teachers of just under 8%.
4 VERB If someone is awarded something such as a prize or an examination mark, it is given to them. □ [be V -ed n] She was awarded the prize for both films. □ [V n n] For his dedication the Mayor awarded him a medal of merit. [Also V n to n]
5 VERB To award something to someone means to decide that it will be given to that person. □ [V n + to ] We have awarded the contract to a British shipyard. □ [V n n] A High Court judge had awarded him £6 million damages.