mo|bile ◆◇◇ /moʊ ba I l, [AM ] -b ə l/ (mobiles )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use mobile to describe something large that can be moved easily from place to place. □ …the four hundred seat mobile theatre.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are mobile , you can move or travel easily from place to place, for example because you do not have a physical disability or because you have your own transport. □ I'm still very mobile. ● mo|bil|ity /moʊb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Two cars gave them the freedom and mobility to go their separate ways.
3 ADJ In a mobile society, people move easily from one job, home, or social class to another. □ Our mobile society forces many people to move away from family and friends. □ …young, mobile professionals. ● mo|bil|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ Prior to the nineteenth century, there were almost no channels of social mobility.
4 N‑COUNT A mobile is a decoration which you hang from a ceiling. It usually consists of several small objects which move as the air around them moves.
5 N‑COUNT A mobile is the same as a mobile phone .
6 → see also upwardly mobile
mo |bile ho me (mobile homes ) N‑COUNT A mobile home is a large caravan that people live in and that usually remains in the same place, but which can be pulled to another place using a car or van.
mo |bile pho ne (mobile phones ) N‑COUNT A mobile phone is a phone that you can carry with you and use to make or receive calls wherever you are. [BRIT ] in AM, use cellular phone , cellphone
mo|bi|lize /moʊ b I la I z/ (mobilizes , mobilizing , mobilized ) in BRIT, also use mobilise 1 VERB If you mobilize support or mobilize people to do something, you succeed in encouraging people to take action, especially political action. If people mobilize , they prepare to take action. □ [V n] The best hope is that we will mobilize international support and get down to action. □ [V ] Faced with crisis, people mobilized. ● mo|bi|li|za|tion /moʊ b I la I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the rapid mobilization of international opinion in support of the revolution.
2 VERB If you mobilize resources, you start to use them or make them available for use. □ [V n] If you could mobilize the resources, you could get it done. ● mo|bi|li|za|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the mobilisation of resources for education.
3 VERB If a country mobilizes , or mobilizes its armed forces, or if its armed forces mobilize , they are given orders to prepare for a conflict. [JOURNALISM or MILITARY ] □ [V ] Sudan even threatened to mobilize in response to the ultimatums. □ [V n] India is now in a better position to mobilise its forces. ● mo|bi|li|za|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ …a demand for full-scale mobilisation to defend the republic.
mob|ster /mɒ bstə r / (mobsters ) N‑COUNT A mobster is someone who is a member of an organized group of violent criminals.
moc|ca|sin /mɒ kəs I n/ (moccasins ) N‑COUNT Moccasins are soft leather shoes which have a low heel and a raised join round the top of the front part.
mock /mɒ k/ (mocks , mocking , mocked )
1 VERB If someone mocks you, they show or pretend that they think you are foolish or inferior, for example by saying something funny about you, or by imitating your behaviour. □ [V n] I thought you were mocking me. □ [V with quote] 'I'm astonished, Benjamin,' she mocked.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use mock to describe something which is not real or genuine, but which is intended to be very similar to the real thing. □ 'It's tragic!' swoons Jeffrey in mock horror.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Mocks are practice exams that you take as part of your preparation for real exams. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ She went from a D in her mocks to a B in the real thing.
mock|ery /mɒ kəri/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If someone mocks you, you can refer to their behaviour or attitude as mockery . □ Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
2 N‑SING If something makes a mockery of something, it makes it appear worthless and foolish. □ [+ of ] This action makes a mockery of the Government's continuing protestations of concern.
mock|ing /mɒ k I ŋ/ ADJ A mocking expression or mocking behaviour indicates that you think someone or something is stupid or inferior. □ She gave a mocking smile. □ Behind the mocking laughter lurks a growing sense of unease.
mocking|bird /mɒ k I ŋbɜː r d/ (mockingbirds ) N‑COUNT A mockingbird is a grey bird with a long tail which is found in North America. Mockingbirds are able to copy the songs of other birds.
mo ck-up (mock-ups ) N‑COUNT A mock-up of something such as a machine or building is a model of it which is used in tests or to show people what it will look like. □ [+ of ] There's a mock-up of the high street where the Goodwins go shopping.
mod /mɒ d/ (mods ) N‑COUNT Mods are young people in Britain who wear a special kind of neat clothes, ride motor scooters, and like soul music. Many young people were mods in the early 1960s.
mod|al /moʊ d ə l/ (modals ) N‑COUNT In grammar, a modal or a modal auxiliary is a word such as 'can' or 'would' which is used with a main verb to express ideas such as possibility, intention, or necessity. [TECHNICAL ]
mo d co ns N‑PLURAL Mod cons are the modern facilities in a house that make it easy and pleasant to live in. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The house is spacious with all mod cons, handy for the station and has a garden.
mode /moʊ d/ (modes )