9 VERB If someone presents a programme on television or radio, they introduce each item in it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] She presents a monthly magazine programme on the BBC. in AM, usually use host , introduce 10 VERB When someone presents something such as a production of a play or an exhibition, they organize it. □ [V n] The Lyric Theatre is presenting a new production of 'Over the Bridge'.
11 VERB If you present someone to someone else, often an important person, you formally introduce them. □ [V n + to ] Fox stepped forward, welcomed him, and presented him to Jack. □ [V n] Allow me to present my cousin, Mr Zachary Colenso.
12 → see also presentation
pre|sent|able /pr I ze ntəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you say that someone looks presentable , you mean that they look fairly tidy or attractive. □ She managed to make herself presentable in time for work. □ …wearing his most presentable suit.
2 ADJ If you describe something as presentable , you mean that it is acceptable or quite good. [mainly BRIT ] □ His score of 29 had helped Leicestershire reach a presentable total.
pres|en|ta|tion /pre z ə nte I ʃ ə n, [AM ] priː zen-/ (presentations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Presentation is the appearance of something, which someone has worked to create. □ Her recipes were clear and her presentation simple. □ Check the presentation. Get it properly laid out with a title page.
2 N‑COUNT A presentation is a formal event at which someone is given a prize or award. □ He received his award at a presentation in London yesterday.
3 N‑COUNT When someone gives a presentation , they give a formal talk, often in order to sell something or get support for a proposal. □ She gave bosses a Powerpoint presentation of what she planned to do.
4 → see also present ➍
pre sent-da y also present day ADJ [ADJ n] Present-day things, situations, and people exist at the time in history we are now in. □ Even by present-day standards these were large aircraft. □ …a huge area of northern India, stretching from present-day Afghanistan to Bengal.
pre|sent|er /pr I ze ntə r / (presenters ) N‑COUNT A radio or television presenter is a person who introduces the items in a particular programme. [mainly BRIT ] □ Most people think being a television presenter is exciting. in AM, usually use host , anchor
pre|sen|ti|ment /pr I ze nt I mənt/ (presentiments ) N‑COUNT [usu N that] A presentiment is a feeling that a particular event, for example someone's death, will soon take place. [FORMAL ] □ I had a presentiment that he represented a danger to me. □ [+ of ] He had a presentiment of disaster.
pres|ent|ly /pre z ə ntli/
1 ADV [ADV before v] If you say that something is presently happening, you mean that it is happening now. □ She is presently developing a number of projects. □ The island is presently uninhabited.
2 ADV You use presently to indicate that something happened quite a short time after the time or event that you have just mentioned. [WRITTEN ] □ Presently, a young woman in a white coat came in.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you say that something will happen presently , you mean that it will happen quite soon. [FORMAL ] □ 'Just take it easy,' David said. 'You'll feel better presently.'
pre s|ent pa r|ti|ci|ple (present participles ) N‑COUNT In grammar, the present participle of a verb is the form which ends in '-ing'. Present participles are used to form continuous tenses, as in 'She was wearing a neat blue suit'. They are often nouns, as in 'I hate cooking' and 'Cooking can be fun'. Many of them can be used like an adjective in front of a noun, as in 'their smiling faces'.
pre s|ent pe r|fect ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, the present perfect tenses of a verb are the ones used to talk about things which happened before the time you are speaking or writing but are relevant to the present situation, or things that began in the past and are still happening. The simple present perfect tense uses 'have' or 'has' and the past participle of the verb, as in 'They have decided what to do'.
pres|er|va|tion|ist /pre zə r ve I ʃən I st/ (preservationists ) N‑COUNT A preservationist is someone who takes action to preserve something such as old buildings or an area of countryside.
pre s|er|va |tion or|der (preservation orders ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a preservation order is an official order that makes it illegal for anyone to alter or destroy something such as an old building or an area of countryside. □ The entire city is under a preservation order.
pre|serva|tive /pr I zɜː r vət I v/ (preservatives ) N‑VAR A preservative is a chemical that prevents things from decaying. Some preservatives are added to food, and others are used to treat wood or metal. □ Nitrates are used as preservatives in food manufacture.
pre|serve ◆◇◇ /pr I zɜː r v/ (preserves , preserving , preserved )
1 VERB If you preserve a situation or condition, you make sure that it remains as it is, and does not change or end. □ [V n] We will do everything to preserve peace. □ [V n] …an effort to fit in more students while preserving standards. ● pres|er|va|tion /pre zə r ve I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the preservation of the status quo.
2 VERB If you preserve something, you take action to save it or protect it from damage or decay. □ [V n] We need to preserve the forest. □ [V -ed] …perfectly preserved medieval houses. ● pres|er|va|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the preservation of buildings of architectural or historic interest.
3 VERB If you preserve food, you treat it in order to prevent it from decaying so that you can store it for a long time. □ [V n] I like to make puree, using only enough sugar to preserve the plums. □ [V -ed] …preserved ginger in syrup.