pret|ti|fy /pr I t I fa I / (prettifies , prettifying , prettified ) VERB To prettify something, especially something that is not beautiful, means to make it appear pretty. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] …just a clever effort to prettify animal slaughter. □ [V -ed] It presented an intolerably prettified view of the countryside.
pret|ty ◆◆◇ /pr I ti/ (prettier , prettiest )
1 ADJ If you describe someone, especially a girl, as pretty , you mean that they look nice and are attractive in a delicate way. □ She's a very charming and very pretty girl. ● pret|ti|ly /pr I t I li/ ADV □ She smiled again, prettily. ● pret|ti|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Her prettiness had been much admired.
2 ADJ A place or a thing that is pretty is attractive and pleasant, in a charming but not particularly unusual way. □ Whitstable is still a very pretty little town. ● pret|ti|ly ADV □ The living-room was prettily decorated. ● pret|ti|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …shells of quite unbelievable prettiness.
3 ADV [ADV adj/adv] You can use pretty before an adjective or adverb to mean 'quite' or 'rather'. [INFORMAL ] □ I had a pretty good idea what she was going to do. □ Pretty soon after my arrival I found lodgings.
4 PHRASE Pretty much or pretty well means 'almost'. [INFORMAL ] □ His new government looks pretty much like the old one. SYNONYMS pretty ADJ 1
attractive: He's a very attractive man.
beautifuclass="underline" She was a very beautiful woman.
lovely: You all look really lovely.
pret|zel /pre ts ə l/ (pretzels ) N‑COUNT A pretzel is a small, crisp, shiny biscuit, which has salt on the outside. Pretzels are usually shaped like knots or sticks.
pre|vail /pr I ve I l/ (prevails , prevailing , prevailed )
1 VERB If a proposal, principle, or opinion prevails , it gains influence or is accepted, often after a struggle or argument. □ [V ] We hope that common sense would prevail. □ [V + over ] Political and personal ambitions are starting to prevail over economic interests.
2 VERB If a situation, attitude, or custom prevails in a particular place at a particular time, it is normal or most common in that place at that time. □ [V ] A similar situation prevails in America. □ [V -ing] How people bury their dead says much about the prevailing attitudes toward death.
3 VERB If one side in a battle, contest, or dispute prevails , it wins. □ [V ] He appears to have the votes he needs to prevail. □ [V + over/against ] I do hope he will prevail over the rebels.
4 VERB If you prevail upon someone to do something, you succeed in persuading them to do it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + upon/on ] We must, each of us, prevail upon our congressman to act.
pre|vail|ing /pr I ve I l I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] The prevailing wind in an area is the type of wind that blows over that area most of the time. □ The direction of the prevailing winds should be taken into account.
preva|lent /pre vələnt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A condition, practice, or belief that is prevalent is common. □ This condition is more prevalent in women than in men. □ The prevalent view is that interest rates will fall. ● preva|lence N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the prevalence of asthma in Britain and western Europe.
pre|vari|cate /pr I væ r I ke I t/ (prevaricates , prevaricating , prevaricated ) VERB If you prevaricate , you avoid giving a direct answer or making a firm decision. □ [V ] British ministers continued to prevaricate. ● pre|vari|ca|tion /pr I væ r I ke I ʃ ə n/ (prevarications ) N‑VAR □ After months of prevarication, the political decision had at last been made.
pre|vent ◆◆◇ /pr I ve nt/ (prevents , preventing , prevented )
1 VERB To prevent something means to ensure that it does not happen. □ [V n] These methods prevent pregnancy. □ [V n + from ] Further treatment will prevent cancer from developing. □ [V n v-ing] We recognized the possibility and took steps to prevent it happening. ● pre|ven|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the prevention of heart disease. □ …crime prevention.
2 VERB To prevent someone from doing something means to make it impossible for them to do it. □ [V n + from ] He said this would prevent companies from creating new jobs. □ [V n v-ing] The police have been trying to prevent them carrying weapons. [Also V n]
pre|vent|able /pr I ve ntəb ə l/ ADJ Preventable diseases, illnesses, or deaths could be stopped from occurring. □ Forty-thousand children a day die from preventable diseases.
pre|ven|ta|tive /pr I ve ntət I v/ ADJ [ADJ n] Preventative means the same as preventive .
pre|ven|tive /pr I ve nt I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Preventive actions are intended to help prevent things such as disease or crime. □ Too much is spent on expensive curative medicine and too little on preventive medicine.
pre|view /priː vjuː/ (previews , previewing , previewed )
1 N‑COUNT A preview is an opportunity to see something such as a film, exhibition, or invention before it is open or available to the public. □ [+ of ] He had gone to see the preview of a play. □ [+ of ] …a sneak preview of the type of car that could be commonplace within ten years.