2 VERB If you quit an activity or quit doing something, you stop doing it. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] A nicotine spray can help smokers quit the habit. □ [V v-ing] I was trying to quit smoking at the time.
3 VERB If you quit a place, you leave it completely and do not go back to it. □ [V n] …the idea that humans might one day quit the earth to colonise other planets.
4 PHRASE If you say that you are going to call it quits , you mean that you have decided to stop doing something or being involved in something. □ They raised $630,000 through listener donations, and then called it quits. SYNONYMS quit VERB 1
step down/aside: Many would prefer him to step aside in favour of a younger man.
resign: A hospital administrator has resigned over claims he lied to get the job.
leave: I am leaving to concentrate on writing fiction.
quite ◆◆◆ /kwa I t/
1 ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV before v] You use quite to indicate that something is the case to a fairly great extent. Quite is less emphatic than 'very' and 'extremely'. [VAGUENESS ] □ I felt quite bitter about it at the time. □ Well, actually it requires quite a bit of work and research. □ I was quite a long way away, on the terrace.
2 ADV [ADV before v] You use quite to emphasize what you are saying. [EMPHASIS ] □ It is quite clear that we were firing in self defence. □ That's a general British failing. In the U.S.A. it's quite different.
3 ADV [ADV before v] You use quite after a negative to make what you are saying weaker or less definite. [VAGUENESS ] □ Something here is not quite right. □ After treatment he was able to continue but he was never quite the same.
4 PREDET You use quite in front of a noun group to emphasize that a person or thing is very impressive or unusual. [APPROVAL ] □ 'Oh, he's quite a character,' Sean replied. □ It's quite a city, Boston.
5 ADV You can say ' quite ' to express your agreement with someone. [SPOKEN , FORMULAE ] □ 'And if you buy the record it's your choice isn't it.'—'Quite'. SYNONYMS quite ADV 1
rather: I grew up in rather unusual circumstances.
fairly: Both ships are fairly new.
somewhat: He concluded that Oswald was somewhat odd.
reasonably: I can dance reasonably well. USAGE quite
You can use quite
in front of a
, followed by an adjective and a noun. Don’t say, for example, ‘
quit|ter /kw I tə r / (quitters ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is not a quitter , you mean that they continue doing something even though it is very difficult. □ He won't resign because he's not a quitter.
quiv|er /kw I və r / (quivers , quivering , quivered )
1 VERB If something quivers , it shakes with very small movements. □ [V ] Her bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down her cheeks.
2 VERB If you say that someone or their voice is quivering with an emotion such as rage or excitement, you mean that they are strongly affected by this emotion and show it in their appearance or voice. □ [V + with ] Cooper arrived, quivering with rage. ● N‑COUNT Quiver is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I felt a quiver of panic.
quix|ot|ic /kw I ksɒ t I k/ ADJ If you describe someone's ideas or plans as quixotic , you mean that they are imaginative or hopeful but unrealistic. [FORMAL ] □ He has always lived his life by a hopelessly quixotic code of honour.
quiz /kw I z/ (quizzes , quizzing , quizzed )
1 N‑COUNT A quiz is a game or competition in which someone tests your knowledge by asking you questions. □ We'll have a quiz at the end of the show.
2 VERB If you are quizzed by someone about something, they ask you questions about it. □ [be V -ed + about ] He was quizzed about his income, debts and eligibility for state benefits. □ [V n + about ] Sybil quizzed her about life as a working girl.
quiz|master /kw I zmɑːstə r , -mæs-/ (quizmasters ) N‑COUNT A quizmaster is the person who asks the questions in a game or quiz on the television or radio. [mainly BRIT ]
quiz|zi|cal /kw I z I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you give someone a quizzical look or smile, you look at them in a way that shows that you are surprised or amused by their behaviour. □ He gave Robin a mildly quizzical glance. ● quiz|zi|cal|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ She looked at him quizzically.
quo /kwoʊ / → see quid pro quo , status quo
quoit /kɔ I t, [AM ] kwɔ I t/ (quoits )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Quoits is a game which is played by throwing rings over a small post. Quoits is usually played on board ships.
2 N‑COUNT A quoit is a ring used in the game of quoits.
Quon|set hut /kwɒ ns I t hʌt/ (Quonset huts ) N‑COUNT A Quonset hut is a military hut made of metal. The walls and roof form the shape of a semi-circle. [AM ] in BRIT, use Nissen hut
quor|ate /kwɔː re I t/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] When a committee is quorate , there are enough people present for it to conduct official business and make decisions. [BRIT ] □ The session was technically quorate.
quor|um /kwɔː rəm/ N‑SING A quorum is the minimum number of people that a committee needs in order to carry out its business officially. When a meeting has a quorum, there are at least that number of people present. □ …enough deputies to make a quorum.