po le po|si |tion (pole positions ) N‑UNCOUNT When a racing car is in pole position , it is in front of the other cars at the start of a race.
po le vault N‑SING The pole vault is an athletics event in which athletes jump over a high bar, using a long flexible pole to help lift themselves up.
po le vault|er (pole vaulters ) N‑COUNT A pole vaulter is an athlete who performs the pole vault.
po|lice ◆◆◆ /pəliː s/ (polices , policing , policed )
1 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The police are the official organization that is responsible for making sure that people obey the law. □ The police are also looking for a second car. □ Police say they have arrested twenty people following the disturbances. □ I noticed a police car shadowing us.
2 → see also secret police
3 N‑PLURAL Police are men and women who are members of the official organization that is responsible for making sure that people obey the law. □ More than one hundred police have ringed the area.
4 VERB If the police or military forces police an area or event, they make sure that law and order is preserved in that area or at that event. □ [V n] …the tiny U.N. observer force whose job it is to police the border. □ [V -ed] The march was heavily policed. ● po|lic|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the policing of public places.
5 → see also community policing
6 VERB If a person or group in authority polices a law or an area of public life, they make sure that what is done is fair and legal. □ [V n] …Imro, the self-regulatory body that polices the investment management business. ● po|lic|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ Policing of business courses varies widely. SYNONYMS police VERB
4
controclass="underline" …measures to control illegal mining.
patroclass="underline" Prison officers continued to patrol the grounds within the jail.
guard: …the heavily guarded courtroom.
6
monitor: Officials had not been allowed to monitor the voting.
oversee: …the agreement to set up a commission to oversee the peace process.
supervise: University teachers have refused to supervise students' examinations.
po|li ce co n|sta|ble (police constables ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A police constable is a police officer of the lowest rank. [BRIT ] □ A police constable is handling all inquiries. □ …Police Constable David Casey. in AM, use police officer
po|li ce dog (police dogs ) N‑COUNT A police dog is a working dog which is owned by the police.
po|li ce force (police forces ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A police force is the police organization in a particular country or area. □ …the South Wales police force.
police|man ◆◇◇ /pəliː smən/ (policemen ) N‑COUNT A policeman is a man who is a member of the police force.
po|li ce of|fic|er ◆◇◇ (police officers ) N‑COUNT A police officer is a member of the police force. □ …a meeting of senior police officers.
po|li ce sta te (police states ) N‑COUNT A police state is a country in which the government controls people's freedom by means of the police, especially secret police. [DISAPPROVAL ]
po|li ce sta|tion (police stations ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] A police station is the local office of a police force in a particular area. □ Two police officers arrested him and took him to Kensington police station.
police|woman /pəliː swʊmən/ (policewomen ) N‑COUNT A policewoman is a woman who is a member of the police force.
poli|cy ◆◆◆ /pɒ l I si/ (policies )
1 N‑VAR A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions, especially in politics, economics, or business. □ …plans which include changes in foreign policy and economic reforms. □ …the U.N.'s policy-making body.
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] An official organization's policy on a particular issue or towards a country is their attitude and actions regarding that issue or country. □ [+ on ] …the government's policy on repatriation. □ [+ of ] …the corporation's policy of forbidding building on common land.
3 N‑COUNT [usu N n] An insurance policy is a document which shows the agreement that you have made with an insurance company. [BUSINESS ] □ You are advised to read the small print of household and motor insurance policies. COLLOCATIONS policy NOUN
1
noun + policy : energy, immigration, privacy
adjective + policy : economic, fiscal, foreign, monetary
verb + policy : change, develop, influence; tighten
2
noun + policy : government
verb + policy : adopt, implement, pursue, support
3
verb + policy : take out; renew SYNONYMS policy NOUN 1
procedure: The White House said there would be no change in procedure.
plan: …a detailed plan of action for restructuring the group.
protococlass="underline" …minor breaches of protocol.
policy|holder /pɒ l I sihoʊldə r / (policyholders ) also policy-holder N‑COUNT A policyholder is a person who has an insurance policy with an insurance company. [BUSINESS ] □ The first 10 per cent of legal fees will be paid by the policy-holder.