ban ◆◆◇ /bæ n/ (bans , banning , banned )
1 VERB To ban something means to state officially that it must not be done, shown, or used. □ [V n] It was decided to ban smoking in all offices later this year. □ [V -ed] …a banned substance. ● ban|ning (bannings ) N‑VAR □ No reason was given for the banning of the magazine. □ Opposition groups see the bannings as the latest stage of a government clampdown.
2 N‑COUNT A ban is an official ruling that something must not be done, shown, or used. □ [+ on ] The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
3 VERB If you are banned from doing something, you are officially prevented from doing it. □ [be V -ed + from ] He was banned from driving for three years. [Also V n]
ba|nal /bənɑː l, -næ l/ ADJ If you describe something as banal , you do not like it because you think that it is so ordinary that it is not at all effective or interesting. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Bland, banal music tinkled discreetly from hidden loudspeakers. ● N‑SING You can refer to banal things as the banal . □ The allegations ranged from the banal to the bizarre. ● ba|nal|ity /bənæ l I ti/ (banalities ) N‑VAR □ …the banality of life. □ Neil's ability to utter banalities never ceased to amaze me. WORD HISTORY banal
In Old French, the word banal referred to the mill or bakery that was owned by the local lord and that all his tenants had to use. The word came to mean 'common to everyone' and from that, 'commonplace' or 'ordinary'.
ba|na|na /bənɑː nə, -næ n-/ (bananas )
1 N‑VAR Bananas are long curved fruit with yellow skins. □ …a bunch of bananas.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is behaving in a silly or crazy way, or if they become extremely angry, you can say that they are going bananas . [INFORMAL ] □ Adamson's going to go bananas on this one.
ba|na |na peel (banana peels ) N‑COUNT A banana peel is the same as a banana skin . [AM ]
ba|na |na re|pu b|lic (banana republics ) N‑COUNT Small, poor countries that are politically unstable are sometimes referred to as banana republics . [OFFENSIVE ]
ba|na |na skin (banana skins ) in AM, use banana peel 1 N‑COUNT The thick yellow or green covering of a banana is called a banana skin . [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT If an important or famous person slips on a banana skin , they say or do something that makes them look stupid and causes them problems. [mainly BRIT , JOURNALISM ] □ …waiting for the government to slip on this week's banana skin.
ba|na |na spli t (banana splits ) N‑COUNT A banana split is a kind of dessert. It consists of a banana cut in half along its length, with ice cream, nuts, and sauce on top.
band ◆◆◇ /bæ nd/ (bands , banding , banded )
1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A band is a small group of musicians who play popular music such as jazz, rock, or pop. □ He was a drummer in a rock band. □ Local bands provide music for dancing.
2 → see also one-man band
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A band is a group of musicians who play brass and percussion instruments. □ Bands played German marches.
4 → see also brass band
5 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A band of people is a group of people who have joined together because they share an interest or belief. □ Bands of criminals have been roaming some neighborhoods. □ …a small but growing band of Japanese companies taking their first steps into American publishing.
6 N‑COUNT A band is a flat, narrow strip of cloth which you wear round your head or wrists, or which forms part of a piece of clothing. □ Almost all hospitals use a wrist-band of some kind with your name and details on it.
7 → see also armband waistband
8 N‑COUNT A band is a strip of something such as colour, light, land, or cloth which contrasts with the areas on either side of it. □ …bands of natural vegetation between strips of crops. □ A band of light glowed in the space between floor and door.
9 N‑COUNT A band is a strip or loop of metal or other strong material which strengthens something, or which holds several things together. □ Surgeons placed a metal band around the knee cap to help it knit back together. □ …a strong band of flat muscle tissue.
10 → see also elastic band , rubber band
11 N‑COUNT A band is a range of numbers or values within a system of measurement. □ …a tax band of 20p in the pound on the first £2,000 of taxable income.
12 → see also waveband
13 → see also wedding band
▸ band together PHRASAL VERB If people band together , they meet and act as a group in order to try and achieve something. □ [V P ] Women banded together to protect each other. COLLOCATIONS band NOUN 1
noun + band : heavy metal, indie, jazz, pop, punk, rock; backing, tribute
verb + band : form, join, play in
adjective + band : live
band|age /bæ nd I dʒ/ (bandages , bandaging , bandaged )
1 N‑COUNT A bandage is a long strip of cloth which is wrapped around a wounded part of someone's body to protect or support it. □ We put some ointment and a bandage on his knee. □ His chest was swathed in bandages.