re|spect|able /r I spe ktəb ə l/
1 ADJ Someone or something that is respectable is approved of by society and considered to be morally correct. □ He came from a perfectly respectable middle-class family. ● re|spect|ably /r I spe ktəbli/ ADV □ She's respectably dressed in jeans and sweatshirt. ● re|spect|abil|ity /r I spe ktəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ This theory finally achieved respectability in the 20th century.
2 ADJ You can say that something is respectable when you mean that it is good enough or acceptable. □ …investments that offer respectable rates of return.
re|spect|ed /r I spe kt I d/ ADJ [oft adv ADJ ] Someone or something that is respected is admired and considered important by many people. □ [+ for ] He is highly respected for his novels and plays.
re|spect|er /r I spe ktə r / (respecters )
1 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a respecter of something such as a belief or idea, you mean that they behave in a way which shows that they have a high opinion of it. □ [+ of ] Ford was a respecter of proprieties and liked to see things done properly.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is no respecter of a rule or tradition, you mean that the rule or tradition is not important to them. □ Accidents and sudden illnesses are no respecters of age.
re|spect|ful /r I spe ktfʊl/ ADJ If you are respectful , you show respect for someone. □ The children in our family are always respectful to their elders. ● re|spect|ful|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ 'You are an artist,' she said respectfully.
re|spec|tive /r I spe kt I v/ ADJ [ADJ n] Respective means relating or belonging separately to the individual people you have just mentioned. □ Steve and I were at very different stages in our respective careers.
re|spec|tive|ly /r I spe kt I vli/ ADV Respectively means in the same order as the items that you have just mentioned. □ Their sons, Ben and Jonathan, were three and six respectively.
res|pi|ra|tion /re sp I re I ʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Your respiration is your breathing. [MEDICAL ] □ His respiration grew fainter throughout the day.
2 → see also artificial respiration
res|pi|ra|tor /re sp I re I tə r / (respirators )
1 N‑COUNT A respirator is a device that allows people to breathe when they cannot breathe naturally, for example because they are ill or have been injured. □ She was so ill that she was put on a respirator.
2 N‑COUNT A respirator is a device you wear over your mouth and nose in order to breathe when you are surrounded by smoke or poisonous gas.
res|pira|tory /re spərətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Respiratory means relating to breathing. [MEDICAL ] □ …people with severe respiratory problems.
res|pite /re spa I t, -p I t/
1 N‑SING A respite is a short period of rest from something unpleasant. [FORMAL ] □ [+ from ] It was some weeks now since they had had any respite from shellfire.
2 N‑SING A respite is a short delay before a very unpleasant or difficult situation which may or may not take place. [FORMAL ] □ Devaluation would only give the economy a brief respite.
re s|pite ca re N‑UNCOUNT Respite care is short-term care that is provided for very old or very sick people so that the person who usually cares for them can have a break. □ …respite care for their very ill child for short periods.
re|splend|ent /r I sple ndənt/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as resplendent , you mean that their appearance is very impressive and expensive-looking. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] Bessie, resplendent in royal blue velvet, was hovering beside the table.
re|spond ◆◆◇ /r I spɒ nd/ (responds , responding , responded )
1 VERB When you respond to something that is done or said, you react to it by doing or saying something yourself. □ [V + to ] They are likely to respond positively to the President's request for aid. □ [V + with ] The army responded with gunfire and tear gas. □ [V with quote] 'Are you well enough to carry on?'—'Of course,' she responded scornfully. □ [V that] The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs responded that the protection of refugees was a matter for an international organization.
2 VERB When you respond to a need, crisis, or challenge, you take the necessary or appropriate action. □ [V + to ] This modest group size allows our teachers to respond to the needs of each student.
3 VERB If a patient or their injury or illness is responding to treatment, the treatment is working and they are getting better. □ [V + to ] I'm pleased to say that he is now doing well and responding to treatment. SYNONYMS respond VERB 1
answer: I knew Ben was lying when he answered me.
reply: Grace was too terrified to reply.
retort: Was he afraid, he was asked. 'Afraid of what?' he retorted.
re|spond|ent /r I spɒ ndənt/ (respondents ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A respondent is a person who replies to something such as a survey or set of questions. □ 60 percent of the respondents said they disapproved of the president's performance.
re|sponse ◆◆◇ /r I spɒ ns/ (responses ) N‑COUNT [oft in N ] Your response to an event or to something that is said is your reply or reaction to it. □ [+ to/from ] There has been no response to his remarks from the government. COLLOCATIONS response NOUN
adjective + response : direct, immediate, overwhelming, swift; angry, emotional, lukewarm, positive; appropriate, immune, initial, official