1 N‑COUNT A muffler is the same as a scarf . [OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑COUNT A muffler is a device on a car exhaust that makes it quieter. [AM ] in BRIT, use silencer
mug /mʌ g/ (mugs , mugging , mugged )
1 N‑COUNT A mug is a large deep cup with straight sides and a handle, used for hot drinks. □ He spooned instant coffee into two of the mugs. ● N‑COUNT A mug of something is the amount of it contained in a mug. □ [+ of ] He had been drinking mugs of coffee to keep himself awake.
2 VERB If someone mugs you, they attack you in order to steal your money. □ [V n] I was walking out to my car when this guy tried to mug me. ● mug|ging (muggings ) N‑VAR □ Bank robberies, burglaries and muggings are reported almost daily in the press.
3 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a mug , you mean that they are stupid and easily deceived by other people. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He's a mug as far as women are concerned.
4 PHRASE If you say that an activity is a mug's game , you mean that it is not worth doing because it does not give the person who is doing it any benefit or satisfaction. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ I used to be a very heavy gambler, but not any more. It's a mug's game.
5 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's mug is their face. [INFORMAL ] □ He managed to get his ugly mug on TV.
mug|ger /mʌ gə r / (muggers ) N‑COUNT A mugger is a person who attacks someone violently in a street in order to steal money from them.
mug|gy /mʌ gi/ (muggier , muggiest ) ADJ Muggy weather is unpleasantly warm and damp. □ It was muggy and overcast.
mu g shot (mug shots ) N‑COUNT A mug shot is a photograph of someone, especially a photograph of a criminal which has been taken by the police. [INFORMAL ]
mul|berry /mʌ lbəri, [AM ] -beri/ (mulberries ) N‑VAR A mulberry or a mulberry tree is a tree which has small purple berries which you can eat. ● N‑COUNT Mulberries are the fruit of a mulberry tree.
mulch /mʌ ltʃ/ (mulches , mulching , mulched )
1 N‑VAR A mulch is a layer of something such as old leaves, small pieces of wood, or manure which you put on the soil round plants in order to protect them and help them to grow.
2 VERB To mulch plants means to put a mulch round them to protect them and help them to grow. □ [V n + with ] In May, mulch the bed with garden compost. [Also V n]
mule /mjuː l/ (mules )
1 N‑COUNT A mule is an animal whose parents are a horse and a donkey.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A mule is a shoe or slipper which is open around the heel.
mull /mʌ l/ (mulls , mulling , mulled ) VERB If you mull something, you think about it for a long time before deciding what to do. [AM ] □ [V n] Last month, a federal grand jury began mulling evidence in the case. □ [V ] Do you know why he was mulling and hesitating?
▸ mull over PHRASAL VERB If you mull something over , you think about it for a long time before deciding what to do. □ [V P n] McLaren had been mulling over an idea to make a movie. □ [V n P ] I'll leave you alone here so you can mull it over.
mul|lah /mʊ lə, mʌ lə/ (mullahs ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A mullah is a Muslim who is a religious teacher or leader.
mulled /mʌ ld/ ADJ [ADJ n] Mulled wine has sugar and spice added to it and is then heated.
mul|let /mʌ l I t/ (mullets or mullet ) N‑VAR A mullet is a small sea fish that people cook and eat. ● N‑UNCOUNT Mullet is this fish eaten as food.
PREFIX multi-
forms adjectives that refer to something that consists of many things of a particular kind. For example, a multi-coloured object has many different colours.
multi|col|oured /mʌ ltikʌlə r d/ also multi-coloured in AM, use multicolored or multi-colored ADJ [usu ADJ n] A multicoloured object has many different colours. □ …a sea of multicoloured umbrellas.
multi|cul|tur|al /mʌ ltikʌ ltʃərəl/ also multi-cultural ADJ [usu ADJ n] Multicultural means consisting of or relating to people of many different nationalities and cultures. □ …children growing up in a multicultural society.
multi|cul|tur|al|ism /mʌ ltikʌ ltʃərəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Multiculturalism is a situation in which all the different cultural or racial groups in a society have equal rights and opportunities, and none is ignored or regarded as unimportant.
mu lti-fa ceted also multifaceted ADJ [usu ADJ n] Multi-faceted means having a variety of different and important features or elements. □ Webb is a multi-faceted performer. □ Her job is multi-faceted.
multi|fari|ous /mʌ lt I feə riəs/ ADJ If you describe things as multifarious , you mean that they are many in number and of many different kinds. [LITERARY ] □ Spain is a composite of multifarious traditions and people. □ The reasons for closure are multifarious.
multi|lat|er|al /mʌ ltilæ tər ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Multilateral means involving at least three different groups of people or nations. □ Many want to abandon the multilateral trade talks.
mu lti-level ma r|ket|ing N‑UNCOUNT Multi-level marketing is a marketing technique which involves people buying a product, then earning a commission by selling it to their friends. The abbreviation MLM is also used. □ …multi-level marketing schemes.
multi|lin|gual /mʌ ltil I ŋgw ə l/ also multi-lingual