quasi- /kwe I za I -/ COMB Quasi- is used to form adjectives and nouns that describe something as being in many ways like something else, without actually being that thing. □ The flame is a quasi-religious emblem of immortality.
qua|ver /kwe I və r / (quavers , quavering , quavered )
1 VERB If someone's voice quavers , it sounds unsteady, usually because they are nervous or uncertain. □ [V ] Her voice quavered and she fell silent. ● N‑COUNT Quaver is also a noun. □ [+ in ] There was a quaver in Beryl's voice.
2 N‑COUNT A quaver is a musical note that is half as long as a crotchet. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use eighth note
quay /kiː / (quays ) N‑COUNT A quay is a long platform beside the sea or a river where boats can be tied up and loaded or unloaded. □ Jack and Stephen were waiting for them on the quay.
quay|side /kiː sa I d/ (quaysides ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A quayside is the same as a quay . □ A large group had gathered on the quayside to see them off.
quea|sy /kwiː zi/ (queasier , queasiest ) ADJ If you feel queasy or if you have a queasy stomach, you feel rather ill, as if you are going to be sick. [INFORMAL ] □ He was very prone to seasickness and already felt queasy. ● quea|si|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The food did nothing to stifle her queasiness.
queen ◆◆◇ /kwiː n/ (queens )
1 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A queen is a woman who rules a country as its monarch. □ …Queen Victoria. □ She met the Queen last week.
2 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A queen is a woman who is married to a king. □ The king and queen had fled.
3 N‑COUNT [n N ] If you refer to a woman as the queen of a particular activity, you mean that she is well-known for being very good at it. □ [+ of ] …the queen of crime writing.
4 → see also beauty queen
5 N‑COUNT In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece. It can be moved in any direction.
6 N‑COUNT A queen is a playing card with a picture of a queen on it. □ [+ of ] …the queen of spades.
7 N‑COUNT A queen or a queen bee is a large female bee which can lay eggs.
queen|ly /kwiː nli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use queenly to describe a woman's appearance or behaviour if she looks very dignified or behaves as if she is very important. □ She was a queenly, organizing type.
Quee n Mo th|er N‑PROPER The Queen Mother is the mother of a ruling king or queen.
quee n-size also queen-sized ADJ [ADJ n] A queen-size bed is larger than a double bed, but smaller than a king-size bed.
queer /kw I ə r / (queerer , queerest , queers )
1 ADJ Something that is queer is strange. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ If you ask me, there's something a bit queer going on.
2 N‑COUNT People sometimes call homosexual men queers . [INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE ] ● ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Queer is also an adjective. □ …queer men.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Queer means relating to homosexual people, and is used by some homosexuals. □ …contemporary queer culture.
quell /kwe l/ (quells , quelling , quelled )
1 VERB To quell opposition or violent behaviour means to stop it. □ [V n] Troops eventually quelled the unrest.
2 VERB If you quell an unpleasant feeling such as fear or anger, you stop yourself or other people from having that feeling. □ [V n] The Information Minister is trying to quell fears of a looming oil crisis.
quench /kwe ntʃ/ (quenches , quenching , quenched ) VERB If someone who is thirsty quenches their thirst , they lose their thirst by having a drink. □ [V n] He stopped to quench his thirst at a stream.
queru|lous /kwe rʊləs/ ADJ Someone who is querulous often complains about things. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ A querulous male voice said, 'Look, are you going to order, or what?'
que|ry /kw I ə ri/ (queries , querying , queried )
1 N‑COUNT A query is a question, especially one that you ask an organization, publication, or expert. □ [+ about ] While she was off work, the Manager of the firm phoned her many times with queries about accounts and customers.
2 VERB If you query something, you check it by asking about it because you are not sure if it is correct. □ [V n] It's got a number you can ring to query your bill.
3 VERB To query means to ask a question. □ [V with quote] 'Is there something else?' Ryle queried as Helen stopped speaking. □ [V wh] One of the journalists queried whether sabotage could have been involved. [Also V n]
quest /kwe st/ (quests ) N‑COUNT [N to-inf] A quest is a long and difficult search for something. [LITERARY ] □ [+ for ] My quest for a better bank continues. ● PHRASE If you go in quest of something, you try to find or obtain it. □ [+ of ] He went on to say that he was going to New York in quest of peace.
quest|ing /kwe st I ŋ/ VERB [only cont] If you are questing for something, you are searching for it. [LITERARY ] □ [V + for ] He had been questing for religious belief from an early age. □ [V -ing] …his questing mind and boundless enthusiasm.