2 VERB If something propels you into a particular activity, it causes you to do it. □ [V n prep] It was a shooting star that propelled me into astronomy in the first place. □ [be V -ed] He is propelled by both guilt and the need to avenge his father.
pro|pel|lant /prəpe lənt/ (propellants )
1 N‑VAR Propellant is a substance that causes something to move forwards. □ …a propellant for nuclear rockets.
2 N‑VAR Propellant is a gas that is used in spray cans to force the contents out of the can when you press the button. □ By 1978, in the U.S.A., the use of CFCs in aerosol propellants was banned.
pro|pel|ler /prəpe lə r / (propellers ) N‑COUNT A propeller is a device with blades which is attached to a boat or aircraft. The engine makes the propeller spin round and causes the boat or aircraft to move. □ …a fixed three-bladed propeller.
pro|pen|sity /prəpe ns I ti/ (propensities ) N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] A propensity to do something or a propensity for something is a natural tendency that you have to behave in a particular way. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] Mr Bint has a propensity to put off decisions to the last minute.
prop|er ◆◇◇ /prɒ pə r /
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use proper to describe things that you consider to be real and satisfactory rather than inadequate in some way. □ Two out of five people lack a proper job. □ I always cook a proper evening meal.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The proper thing is the one that is correct or most suitable. □ The Supreme Court will ensure that the proper procedures have been followed. □ He helped to put things in their proper place.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a way of behaving is proper , you mean that it is considered socially acceptable and right. □ In those days it was not thought entirely proper for a woman to be on the stage.
4 ADJ [n ADJ ] You can add proper after a word to indicate that you are referring to the central and most important part of a place, event, or object and want to distinguish it from other things which are not regarded as being important or central to it. □ A distinction must be made between archaeology proper and science-based archaeology.
prop|er|ly ◆◇◇ /prɒ pə r li/
1 ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If something is done properly , it is done in a correct and satisfactory way. □ You're too thin. You're not eating properly. □ There needs to be a properly informed public debate.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If someone behaves properly , they behave in a way that is considered acceptable and not rude. □ He's a spoilt brat and it's about time he learnt to behave properly.
pro p|er nou n (proper nouns ) also proper name N‑COUNT A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, organization, or thing. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Examples are 'Margaret', 'London', and 'the United Nations'. Compare common noun .
prop|er|tied /prɒ pə r tid/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Propertied people own land or property. [FORMAL ] □ …the propertied classes.
prop|er|ty ◆◆◇ /prɒ pə r ti/ (properties )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] Someone's property is all the things that belong to them or something that belongs to them. [FORMAL ] □ Richard could easily destroy her personal property to punish her for walking out on him. □ Security forces searched thousands of homes, confiscating weapons and stolen property.
2 N‑VAR A property is a building and the land belonging to it. [FORMAL ] □ This vehicle has been parked on private property.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The properties of a substance or object are the ways in which it behaves in particular conditions. □ A radio signal has both electrical and magnetic properties. SYNONYMS property NOUN 1
possessions: She had tidied away her possessions.
assets: By the end of 1989 the group had assets of 3.5 billion francs.
belongings: I collected my belongings and left.
proph|ecy /prɒ f I si/ (prophecies ) N‑VAR A prophecy is a statement in which someone says they strongly believe that a particular thing will happen. □ …Biblical prophecy.
proph|esy /prɒ f I sa I / (prophesies , prophesying , prophesied ) VERB If you prophesy that something will happen, you say that you strongly believe that it will happen. □ [V that] He prophesied that within five years his opponent would either be dead or in prison. □ [V n] She prophesied a bad ending for the expedition. [Also V ]
proph|et /prɒ f I t/ (prophets )
1 N‑COUNT A prophet is a person who is believed to be chosen by God to say the things that God wants to tell people. □ …the sacred name of the Holy Prophet of Islam.
2 N‑COUNT A prophet is someone who predicts that something will happen in the future. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] I promised myself I'd defy all the prophets of doom and battle back to fitness.
pro|phet|ic /prəfe t I k/ ADJ If something was prophetic , it described or suggested something that did actually happen later. □ This ominous warning soon proved prophetic.
prophy|lac|tic /prɒ f I læ kt I k/ (prophylactics )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Prophylactic means concerned with preventing disease. [MEDICAL ] □ Vaccination and other prophylactic measures can be carried out.
2 N‑COUNT A prophylactic is a substance or device used for preventing disease. [MEDICAL ] □ The region began to use quinine successfully as a prophylactic.