pho |to op|por|tu|nity (photo opportunities ) N‑COUNT If a politician or other public figure arranges a photo opportunity , they invite the newspapers and television to photograph them doing something which they think will interest or impress the public.
pho |to shoot (photo shoots ) also photo-shoot N‑COUNT A photo shoot is an occasion when a photographer takes pictures, especially of models or famous people, to be used in a newspaper or magazine. □ …a long day of interviews and photo-shoots.
photo|syn|the|sis /fo uθoʊs I nθəs I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Photosynthesis is the way that green plants make their food using sunlight. [TECHNICAL ]
phras|al verb /fre I z ə l vɜː r b/ (phrasal verbs ) N‑COUNT A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and an adverb or preposition, for example 'shut up' or 'look after', which together have a particular meaning.
phrase ◆◇◇ /fre I z/ (phrases , phrasing , phrased )
1 N‑COUNT A phrase is a short group of words that people often use as a way of saying something. The meaning of a phrase is often not obvious from the meaning of the individual words in it. □ He used a phrase I hate: 'You have to be cruel to be kind.'
2 N‑COUNT A phrase is a small group of words which forms a unit, either on its own or within a sentence. □ It is impossible to hypnotise someone simply by saying a particular word or phrase.
3 VERB If you phrase something in a particular way, you express it in words in that way. □ [V n adv] I would have phrased it quite differently. □ [V n + as ] They phrased it as a question.
4 PHRASE If someone has a particular turn of phrase , they have a particular way of expressing themselves in words. □ …Schwarzkopf's distinctive turn of phrase.
5 to coin a phrase → see coin SYNONYMS phrase NOUN 1
expression: She used some very coarse expressions.
saying: We also realize the truth of that old saying: Charity begins at home.
proverb: An old proverb says, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'.
idiom: Proverbs and idioms may become worn with over-use.
phra se book (phrase books ) N‑COUNT A phrase book is a book used by people travelling to a foreign country. It has lists of useful words and expressions, together with the translation of each word or expression in the language of that country. □ We bought a Danish phrase book.
phra|seol|ogy /fre I ziɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT If something is expressed using a particular type of phraseology , it is expressed in words and expressions of that type. □ This careful phraseology is clearly intended to appeal to various sides of the conflict.
phras|ing /fre I z I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT The phrasing of something that is said or written is the exact words that are chosen to express the ideas in it. □ [+ of ] The phrasing of the question was vague.
phre|nol|ogy /fr I nɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Phrenology is the study of the size and shape of people's heads in the belief that you can find out about their characters and abilities from this. ● phre|nolo|gist (phrenologists ) N‑COUNT □ Queen Victoria had her own personal phrenologist.
physi|cal ◆◆◇ /f I z I k ə l/ (physicals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Physical qualities, actions, or things are connected with a person's body, rather than with their mind. □ …the physical and mental problems caused by the illness. □ The attraction between them is physical. ● physi|cal|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ You may be physically and mentally exhausted after a long flight. □ …people who cannot physically use a telephone.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Physical things are real things that can be touched and seen, rather than ideas or spoken words. □ All he needed was a little room, a physical and spiritual place to call home. □ …physical evidence to support the story. ● physi|cal|ly ADV □ …physically cut off from every other country.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Physical means relating to the structure, size, or shape of something that can be touched and seen. □ …the physical characteristics of the terrain.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Physical means connected with physics or the laws of physics. □ …the physical laws of combustion and thermodynamics.
5 ADJ Someone who is physical touches people a lot, either in an affectionate way or in a rough way. □ We decided that in the game we would be physical and aggressive.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Physical is used in expressions such as physical love and physical relationships to refer to sexual relationships between people. □ It had been years since they had shared any meaningful form of physical relationship.
7 N‑COUNT A physical is a medical examination, done in order to see if someone is fit and well enough to do a particular job or to join the army. □ Bob failed his physical. SYNONYMS physical ADJ 2
materiaclass="underline" Every room must have been stuffed with material things.
reaclass="underline" No, it wasn't a dream. It was real.
tangible: There should be some tangible evidence that the economy is starting to recover.
phy si|cal edu|ca |tion N‑UNCOUNT Physical education is the school subject in which children do physical exercises or take part in physical games and sports.
physi|cal|ity /f I z I kæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to the physicality of something such as an artist's or a musician's work, you mean that their energy and enthusiasm is obvious in the work they produce. □ [+ of ] There's not another guitarist to rival the sheer physicality of his work.
phy si|cal sci |ence (physical sciences ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The physical sciences are branches of science such as physics, chemistry, and geology that are concerned with natural forces and with things that do not have life.