1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu n N ] Quotient is used when indicating the presence or degree of a characteristic in someone or something. □ Being rich doesn't actually increase your happiness quotient. □ [+ of ] The island has a high quotient of clergymen.
2 intelligence quotient → see IQ
Quran /kɔːrɑː n/ also Koran , Qur'an N‑PROPER The Quran is the holy book on which the religion of Islam is based.
Quran|ic /kɔːræ n I k/ also Koranic , Qur'anic ADJ [ADJ n] Quranic is used to describe something which belongs or relates to the Quran.
QWER|TY /kwɜː r ti/ also Qwerty , qwerty ADJ [ADJ n] A QWERTY keyboard on a typewriter or computer is the standard English language keyboard, on which the top line of keys begins with the letters q, w, e, r, t, and y.
Rr
R , r /ɑː r / (R's, r's )
1 N‑VAR R is the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet.
2 → see also three Rs
3 In the United States, some cinema films are marked R to show that children under 17 years old are only allowed to see them if an adult is with them.
rab|bi /ræ ba I / (rabbis ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A rabbi is a Jewish religious leader, usually one who is in charge of a synagogue, one who is qualified to teach Judaism, or one who is an expert on Jewish law.
rab|bini|cal /ræb I n I k ə l/ or rabbinic /ræb I n I k/ ADJ Rabbinical or rabbinic refers to the teachings of Jewish religious teachers and leaders. □ …early rabbinic scholars.
rab|bit /ræ b I t/ (rabbits , rabbiting , rabbited ) N‑COUNT A rabbit is a small furry animal with long ears. Rabbits are sometimes kept as pets, or live wild in holes in the ground.
▸ rabbit on PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If you describe someone as rabbiting on , you do not like the way they keep talking for a long time about something that is not very interesting. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P + about ] What are you rabbiting on about?
rab|ble /ræ b ə l/ N‑SING A rabble is a crowd of noisy people who seem likely to cause trouble. □ [+ of ] He seems to attract a rabble of supporters more loyal to the man than to the cause.
ra bble-rouser (rabble-rousers ) N‑COUNT A rabble-rouser is a clever speaker who can persuade a group of people to behave violently or aggressively, often for the speaker's own political advantage. [DISAPPROVAL ]
ra bble-rousing N‑UNCOUNT Rabble-rousing is encouragement that a person gives to a group of people to behave violently or aggressively, often for that person's own political advantage. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Critics have accused him of rabble-rousing.
rab|id /ræ b I d, re I b-/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use rabid to describe someone who has very strong and unreasonable opinions or beliefs about a subject, especially in politics. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The party has distanced itself from the more rabid nationalist groups in the country. ● rab|id|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV -ed] □ Mead calls the group 'rabidly right-wing'.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A rabid dog or other animal has the disease rabies.
ra|bies /re I biːz/ N‑UNCOUNT Rabies is a serious disease which causes people and animals to go mad and die. Rabies is particularly common in dogs.
rac|coon /rækuː n/ (raccoons or raccoon ) also racoon N‑COUNT A raccoon is a small animal that has dark-coloured fur with white stripes on its face and on its long tail. Raccoons live in forests in North and Central America and the West Indies.
race ◆◆◆ /re I s/ (races , racing , raced )
1 N‑COUNT A race is a competition to see who is the fastest, for example in running, swimming, or driving. □ The first Le Mans 24-hour motor race was won by André Lagache and René Léonard.
2 VERB If you race , you take part in a race. □ [V ] In the 10 years I raced in Europe, 30 drivers were killed. □ [V n] They may even have raced each other–but not regularly. [Also V + against ]
3 N‑PLURAL The races are a series of horse races that are held in a particular place on a particular day. People go to watch and to bet on which horse will win. □ The high point of this trip was a day at the races.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A race is a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other for power or control. □ The race for the White House begins in earnest today.
5 → see also arms race , rat race
6 N‑VAR A race is one of the major groups which human beings can be divided into according to their physical features, such as the colour of their skin. □ The College welcomes students of all races, faiths, and nationalities.
7 → see also human race , race relations
8 VERB If you race somewhere, you go there as quickly as possible. □ [V adv/prep] He raced across town to the State House building.
9 VERB If something races towards a particular state or position, it moves very fast towards that state or position. □ [V prep/adv] Do they realize we are racing towards complete economic collapse?
10 VERB If you race a vehicle or animal, you prepare it for races and make it take part in races. □ [V n] He still raced sports cars as often as he could.
11 VERB If your mind races , or if thoughts race through your mind, you think very fast about something, especially when you are in a difficult or dangerous situation. □ [V ] I made sure I sounded calm but my mind was racing. □ [V adv/prep] Bits and pieces of the past raced through her mind.