2 is also added to a noun to form a plural. For example, in 'her beloved cats ', the letter s at the end of the word ' cats ' shows that there is more than one cat.
-'s Pronounced /-s/ after the consonant sounds /p, t, k, f/ or /θ/, and /- I z/ after the consonant sounds /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ/ or /dʒ/. After other sounds -'s is pronounced /-z/. A final -s' is pronounced in the same way as a final -s . 1 -'s is added to nouns to form possessives. However, with plural nouns ending in '-s', and sometimes with names ending in '-s', you form the possessive by adding -'. □ …the chairman's son. □ …women's rights. □ …a boys' boarding-school. □ …Sir Charles' car.
2 -'s is the usual spoken form of 'is'. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'he is' and 'she is' can be shortened to 'he's' and 'she's'.
3 -'s is the usual spoken form of 'has', especially where 'has' is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'It has gone' can be shortened to 'It's gone'.
4 -'s is sometimes added to numbers, letters, and abbreviations to form plurals, although many people think you should just add '-s'. □ …new strategies for the 1990's. □ …p's and q's.
Sab|bath /sæ bəθ/ N‑PROPER [oft N n] The Sabbath is the day of the week when members of some religious groups do not work. The Jewish Sabbath is on Saturday and the Christian Sabbath is on Sunday. □ …a religious man who kept the Sabbath.
sab|bati|cal /səbæ t I k ə l/ (sabbaticals ) N‑COUNT [oft on N ] A sabbatical is a period of time during which someone such as a university teacher can leave their ordinary work and travel or study. □ He took a year's sabbatical from the Foreign Office. □ He's been on sabbatical writing a novel.
sa|ber /se I bə r / → see sabre
sa|ble /se I b ə l/ (sables ) N‑COUNT A sable is a small furry animal with valued fur. ● N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Sable is the fur of a sable. □ …a full-length sable coat.
sabo|tage /sæ bətɑːʒ/ (sabotages , sabotaging , sabotaged )
1 VERB [usu passive] If a machine, railway line, or bridge is sabotaged , it is deliberately damaged or destroyed, for example in a war or as a protest. □ [be V -ed] The main pipeline supplying water was sabotaged by rebels. ● N‑UNCOUNT Sabotage is also a noun. □ The bombing was a spectacular act of sabotage.
2 VERB If someone sabotages a plan or a meeting, they deliberately prevent it from being successful. □ [V n] He accused the opposition of trying to sabotage the election.
sabo|teur /sæ bətɜː r / (saboteurs ) N‑COUNT A saboteur is a person who deliberately damages or destroys things such as machines, railway lines, and bridges in order to weaken an enemy or to make a protest. In Britain, people who try to stop blood sports such as fox hunting are also referred to as saboteurs . □ The saboteurs had planned to bomb buses and offices.
sa|bre /se I bə r / (sabres ) in AM, use saber N‑COUNT A sabre is a heavy sword with a curved blade that was used in the past by soldiers on horseback.
sa bre-rattling in AM, use saber-rattling N‑UNCOUNT If you describe a threat, especially a threat of military action, as sabre-rattling , you do not believe that the threat will actually be carried out. □ It is too early to say whether the threats are mere sabre-rattling.
sac /sæ k/ (sacs ) N‑COUNT A sac is a small part of an animal's body, shaped like a little bag. It contains air, liquid, or some other substance. □ The lungs consist of millions of tiny air sacs.
sac|cha|rin /sæ kər I n/ also saccharine N‑UNCOUNT Saccharin is a very sweet chemical substance that some people use instead of sugar, especially when they are trying to lose weight.
sac|cha|rine /sæ kər I n, -riːn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You describe something as saccharine when you find it unpleasantly sweet and sentimental. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a saccharine sequel to the Peter Pan story.
sa|chet /sæ ʃe I , [AM ] sæʃe I / (sachets ) N‑COUNT A sachet is a small closed plastic or paper bag, containing a small quantity of something. □ [+ of ] …individual sachets of instant coffee.
sack ◆◇◇ /sæ k/ (sacks , sacking , sacked )
1 N‑COUNT A sack is a large bag made of rough woven material. Sacks are used to carry or store things such as vegetables or coal. □ [+ of ] …a sack of potatoes.
2 VERB If your employers sack you, they tell you that you can no longer work for them because you have done something that they did not like or because your work was not good enough. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] He had sacked the teacher as soon as he heard of her misconduct. ● N‑SING Sack is also a noun. □ People who make mistakes can be given the sack the same day.
3 N‑SING Some people refer to bed as the sack . [INFORMAL ]
sack|cloth /sæ kklɒθ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sackcloth is rough woven material that is used to make sacks. □ He kept the club wrapped in sackcloth.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about sackcloth or sackcloth and ashes you are referring to an exaggerated attempt by someone to show that they are sorry for doing something wrong.
sack|ful /sæ kfʊl/ (sackfuls ) N‑COUNT A sackful is the amount of something that a sack contains or could contain. □ [+ of ] …a sackful of presents.
sack|ing /sæ k I ŋ/ (sackings )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sacking is rough woven material that is used to make sacks.