qui|et|en /kwa I ət ə n/ (quietens , quietening , quietened )
1 VERB If you quieten someone or something, or if they quieten , you make them become less noisy, less active, or silent. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] She tried to quieten her breathing. □ [V ] A man shouted and the dogs suddenly quietened. in AM, usually use quiet 2 VERB To quieten fears or complaints means to persuade people that there is no good reason for them. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] The President has been working hard to quieten such fears, assuring investors that he has no wish to change current policies. in AM, usually use quiet
▸ quieten down PHRASAL VERB If someone or something quietens down or if you quieten them down , they become less noisy or less active. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P ] The labour unrest which swept the country last week has quietened down. □ [V n P ] Somehow I managed to quieten her down. □ [V P n] Tom's words before the match might also have quietened down our own supporters. in AM, usually use quiet down
qui|etude /kwa I ətjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Quietude is quietness and calm. [FORMAL ]
quiff /kw I f/ (quiffs ) N‑COUNT If a man has a quiff , his hair has been combed upwards and backwards from his forehead. [mainly BRIT ] □ I attempted a classic rock and roll quiff.
quill /kw I l/ (quills )
1 N‑COUNT A quill is a pen made from a bird's feather. □ She dipped a quill in ink, then began to write.
2 N‑COUNT A bird's quills are large, stiff feathers on its wings and tail.
3 N‑COUNT The quills of a porcupine are the long sharp points on its body.
quilt /kw I lt/ (quilts )
1 N‑COUNT A quilt is a thin cover filled with feathers or some other warm, soft material, which you put over your blankets when you are in bed. □ …an old patchwork quilt.
2 N‑COUNT A quilt is the same as a duvet . [BRIT ]
quilt|ed /kw I lt I d/ ADJ Something that is quilted consists of two layers of fabric with a layer of thick material between them, often decorated with lines of stitching which form a pattern. □ …a quilted bedspread.
quince /kw I ns/ (quinces ) N‑VAR A quince is a hard yellow fruit. Quinces are used for making jelly or jam.
qui|nine /kw I niː n, [AM ] kwa I na I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Quinine is a drug that is used to treat fevers such as malaria.
quinoa /kiː nwɑː/ N‑UNCOUNT Quinoa is the small round seeds of a South American plant, eaten as a grain and popular as a health food.
quin|tes|sence /kw I nte s ə ns/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The quintessence of something is the most perfect or typical example of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He was the quintessence of all that Eva most deeply loathed.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The quintessence of something is the aspect of it which seems to represent its central nature. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …an old stone cottage, the quintessence of rural England.
quin|tes|sen|tial /kw I nt I se nʃ ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Quintessential means representing a perfect or typical example of something. [FORMAL ] □ Everybody thinks of him as the quintessential New Yorker. ● quin|tes|sen|tial|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ It is a familiar, and quintessentially British, ritual.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Quintessential means representing the central nature of something. [FORMAL ] □ …the quintessential charm of his songs.
quin|tet /kw I nte t/ (quintets )
1 N‑COUNT A quintet is a group of five singers or musicians singing or playing together.
2 N‑COUNT A quintet is a piece of music written for five instruments or five singers.
quip /kw I p/ (quips , quipping , quipped )
1 N‑COUNT A quip is a remark that is intended to be amusing or clever. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ about ] The commentators make endless quips about the female players' appearance.
2 VERB To quip means to say something that is intended to be amusing or clever. [WRITTEN ] □ [V with quote] 'He'll have to go on a diet,' Ballard quipped. □ [V that] The chairman quipped that he would rather sell his airline than his computer systems.
quirk /kwɜː r k/ (quirks )
1 N‑COUNT [adj N ] A quirk is something unusual or interesting that happens by chance. □ [+ of ] It was almost a quirk of fate he and Foy should have been in charge.
2 N‑COUNT A quirk is a habit or aspect of a person's character which is odd or unusual. □ Brown was fascinated by people's quirks and foibles.
quirky /kwɜː r ki/ (quirkier , quirkiest ) ADJ Something or someone that is quirky is rather odd or unpredictable in their appearance, character, or behaviour. □ We've developed a reputation for being quite quirky and original. ● quirki|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] You will probably notice an element of quirkiness in his behaviour.
quis|ling /kw I zl I ŋ/ (quislings ) N‑COUNT A quisling is someone who helps an enemy army that has taken control of their country. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
quit ◆◇◇ /kw I t/ (quits , quitting ) The form quit is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you quit your job, you choose to leave it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] He quit his job as an office boy in Athens. □ [V ] He figured he would quit before Johnson fired him.