rea dy-to-wea r ADJ [ADJ n] Ready-to-wear clothes are made in standard sizes so that they fit most people, rather than being made specially for a particular person. □ In 1978 he launched his first major ready-to-wear collection for the Austin Reed stores.
re|affirm /riː əfɜː r m/ (reaffirms , reaffirming , reaffirmed ) VERB If you reaffirm something, you state it again clearly and firmly. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He reaffirmed his commitment to the country's economic reform programme. □ [V that] The government has reaffirmed that it will take any steps necessary to maintain law and order.
re|affor|esta|tion /riː əfɒr I ste I ʃ ə n, [AM ] -fɔːr-/ N‑UNCOUNT Reafforestation is the same as reforestation . [mainly BRIT ]
re|agent /rie I dʒənt/ (reagents ) N‑COUNT A reagent is a substance that is used to cause a chemical reaction. Reagents are often used in order to indicate the presence of another substance. [TECHNICAL ]
real ◆◆◆ /riː l/
1 ADJ Something that is real actually exists and is not imagined, invented, or theoretical. □ No, it wasn't a dream. It was real. □ Legends grew up around a great many figures, both real and fictitious.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is real to someone, they experience it as though it really exists or happens, even though it does not. □ [+ to ] Whitechild's life becomes increasingly real to the reader.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A material or object that is real is natural or functioning, and not artificial or an imitation. □ …the smell of real leather. □ Who's to know if they're real guns or not?
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use real to describe someone or something that has all the characteristics or qualities that such a person or thing typically has. □ …his first real girlfriend. □ The only real job I'd ever had was as manager of the local cafe.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use real to describe something that is the true or original thing of its kind, in contrast to one that someone wants you to believe is true. □ This was the real reason for her call. □ Her real name had been Miriam Pinckus.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use real to describe something that is the most important or typical part of a thing. □ When he talks, he only gives glimpses of his real self. □ The smart executive has people he can trust doing all the real work.
7 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use real when you are talking about a situation or feeling to emphasize that it exists and is important or serious. [EMPHASIS ] □ Global warming is a real problem. □ The prospect of civil war is very real. □ There was never any real danger of the children being affected.
8 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use real to emphasize a quality that is genuine and sincere. [EMPHASIS ] □ I thought we were the team who showed real determination to win.
9 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use real before nouns to emphasize your description of something or someone. [mainly SPOKEN , EMPHASIS ] □ 'It's a fabulous deal, a real bargain.'
10 ADJ [ADJ n] The real cost or value of something is its cost or value after other amounts have been added or subtracted and when factors such as the level of inflation have been considered. □ …the real cost of borrowing. ● PHRASE You can also talk about the cost or value of something in real terms . □ In real terms the cost of driving is cheaper than a decade ago.
11 ADV [ADV adj/adv] You can use real to emphasize an adjective or adverb. [AM , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ He is finding prison life 'real tough'.
12 PHRASE If you say that someone does something for real , you mean that they actually do it and do not just pretend to do it. □ The action scenes were just good acting. We didn't do it for real.
13 PHRASE If you think that someone or something is very surprising, you can ask if they are for real . [AM , INFORMAL ] □ Is this guy for real?
14 PHRASE If you say that a thing or event is the real thing , you mean that it is the thing or event itself, rather than an imitation or copy. □ The counterfeits sell for about $20 less than the real thing.
rea l a le (real ales ) N‑VAR Real ale is beer which is stored in a barrel and is pumped from it without the use of carbon dioxide. [mainly BRIT ]
rea l es|tate
1 N‑UNCOUNT Real estate is property in the form of land and buildings, rather than personal possessions. [mainly AM ] □ By investing in real estate, he was one of the richest men in the United States.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Real estate businesses or real estate agents sell houses, buildings, and land. [AM ] □ …the real estate agent who sold you your house. in BRIT, use estate agency , estate agents
re|align /riː əla I n/ (realigns , realigning , realigned ) VERB If you realign your ideas, policies, or plans, you organize them in a different way in order to take account of new circumstances. □ [V n] Pardew hopes to realign his team with more British players. [Also V ]
re|align|ment /riː əla I nmənt/ (realignments ) N‑VAR If a company, economy, or system goes through a realignment , it is organized or arranged in a new way. □ [+ of ] …a realignment of the existing political structure.
re|al|ise /riː əla I z/ → see realize
re|al|ism /riː əl I zəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT When people show realism in their behaviour, they recognize and accept the true nature of a situation and try to deal with it in a practical way. [APPROVAL ] □ It was time now to show more political realism.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If things and people are presented with realism in paintings, stories, or films, they are presented in a way that is like real life. [APPROVAL ] □ Greene's stories had an edge of realism that made it easy to forget they were fiction.