quad|ru|ped /kwɒ drʊped/ (quadrupeds ) N‑COUNT A quadruped is any animal with four legs. [FORMAL ]
quad|ru|ple /kwɒ druː p ə l/ (quadruples , quadrupling , quadrupled )
1 VERB If someone quadruples an amount or if it quadruples , it becomes four times bigger. □ [V n] Norway has quadrupled its exports to the E.U… □ [V ] The price has quadrupled in the last few years.
2 PREDET If one amount is quadruple another amount, it is four times bigger. □ They could sell their merchandise for quadruple the asking price.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use quadruple to indicate that something has four parts or happens four times. □ …a quadruple murder.
quad|ru|plet /kwɒ drʊplət, kwɒdruː -/ (quadruplets ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Quadruplets are four children who are born to the same mother at the same time.
quaff /kwɒ f/ (quaffs , quaffing , quaffed ) VERB If you quaff an alcoholic drink, you drink a lot of it in a short time. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] He's quaffed many a glass of champagne in his time.
quag|mire /kwæ gma I ə r / (quagmires )
1 N‑COUNT A quagmire is a difficult, complicated, or unpleasant situation which is not easy to avoid or escape from. □ [+ of ] His people had fallen further and further into a quagmire of confusion.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A quagmire is a soft, wet area of land which your feet sink into if you try to walk across it. □ Rain had turned the grass into a quagmire.
quail /kwe I l/ (quails or quail , quails , quailing , quailed )
1 N‑COUNT A quail is a type of small bird which is often shot and eaten.
2 VERB If someone or something makes you quail , they make you feel very afraid, often so that you hesitate. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] The very words make many of us quail. □ [V + at ] Kearon was no shrinking violet, but even he quailed at being handed 10lb of high explosive.
quaint /kwe I nt/ (quainter , quaintest ) ADJ Something that is quaint is attractive because it is unusual and old-fashioned. □ …a small, quaint town with narrow streets. ● quaint|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ This may seem a quaintly old-fashioned idea. ● quaint|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the quaintness of the rural north.
quake /kwe I k/ (quakes , quaking , quaked )
1 N‑COUNT A quake is the same as an earthquake . □ The quake destroyed mud buildings in many remote villages.
2 VERB If you quake , you shake, usually because you are very afraid. □ [V + with ] I just stood there quaking with fear. □ [V ] Her shoulders quaked.
3 PHRASE If you are quaking in your boots or quaking in your shoes , you feel extremely nervous or afraid.
Quak|er /kwe I kə r / (Quakers ) N‑COUNT A Quaker is a person who belongs to a Christian group called the Society of Friends.
quali|fi|ca|tion /kwɒ l I f I ke I ʃ ə n/ (qualifications )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your qualifications are the examinations that you have passed. □ Lucy wants to study medicine but needs more qualifications.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Qualification is the act of passing the examinations you need to work in a particular profession. □ Following qualification, he worked as a social worker.
3 N‑COUNT The qualifications you need for an activity or task are the qualities and skills that you need to be able to do it. □ Responsibility and reliability are necessary qualifications.
4 N‑VAR A qualification is a detail or explanation that you add to a statement to make it less strong or less general. □ The empirical evidence considered here is subject to many qualifications. ● PHRASE If something is stated or accepted without qualification , it is stated or accepted as it is, without the need for any changes. □ The government conceded to their demands almost without qualification.
quali|fied ◆◇◇ /kwɒ l I fa I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is qualified has passed the examinations that they need to pass in order to work in a particular profession. □ Demand has far outstripped supply of qualified teachers.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you give someone or something qualified support or approval, your support or approval is not total because you have some doubts. □ The government has given qualified support to the idea.
3 PHRASE If you describe something as a qualified success , you mean that it is only partly successful. □ Even as a humanitarian mission it has been only a qualified success. SYNONYMS qualified ADJ 1
trained: Mr. Koutab is an American-trained lawyer.
competent: Most adults do not feel competent to deal with a medical emergency involving a child.
experienced: It's a team packed with experienced and mature professionals.
quali|fi|er /kwɒ l I fa I ə r / (qualifiers )
1 N‑COUNT A qualifier is an early round or match in some competitions. The players or teams who are successful are able to continue to the next round or to the main competition. □ Last week Wales lost 5-1 to Romania in a World Cup qualifier.
2 N‑COUNT In grammar, a qualifier is a word or group of words that comes after a noun and gives more information about the person or thing that the noun refers to.