sad|dle /sæ d ə l/ (saddles , saddling , saddled )
1 N‑COUNT A saddle is a leather seat that you put on the back of an animal so that you can ride the animal.
2 → see also side-saddle
3 VERB If you saddle a horse, you put a saddle on it so that you can ride it. □ [V n] Why don't we saddle a couple of horses and go for a ride? ● PHRASAL VERB Saddle up means the same as saddle . □ [V P ] I want to be gone from here as soon as we can saddle up. □ [V P n] She saddled up a horse.
4 N‑COUNT A saddle is a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.
5 VERB If you saddle someone with a problem or with a responsibility, you put them in a position where they have to deal with it. □ [V n + with ] The war devastated the economy and saddled the country with a huge foreign debt.
saddle|bag /sæ d ə lbæg/ (saddlebags ) also saddle-bag N‑COUNT A saddlebag is a bag fastened to the saddle of a bicycle or motorcycle, or the saddle of a horse.
sad|dler /sæ dlə r / (saddlers ) N‑COUNT A saddler is a person who makes, repairs, and sells saddles and other equipment for riding horses.
sad|dlery /sæ dləri/ N‑UNCOUNT Saddles and other leather goods made by a saddler can be referred to as saddlery .
saddo /sæ doʊ/ (saddos ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] If you say that someone is a saddo , you do not have any respect for them and think their behaviour or ideas are ridiculous. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
sad|ism /se I d I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sadism is a type of behaviour in which a person obtains pleasure from hurting other people and making them suffer physically or mentally. □ Psychoanalysts tend to regard both sadism and masochism as arising from childhood deprivation. ● sad|ist /se I d I st/ (sadists ) N‑COUNT □ The man was a sadist who tortured animals and people.
sa|dis|tic /səd I st I k/ ADJ A sadistic person obtains pleasure from hurting other people and making them suffer physically or mentally. □ The prisoners rioted against mistreatment by sadistic guards.
sado-masochism /se I doʊ mæ sək I zəm/ also sadomasochism N‑UNCOUNT Sado-masochism is the enjoyment of hurting people and being hurt. □ [+ of ] …the sado-masochism of the Marquis de Sade. ● sado-masochist (sado-masochists ) N‑COUNT □ …an island resort where sado-masochists can act out their sexual fantasies.
sado-masochistic /se I doʊ mæsək I st I k/ also sadomasochistic ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is sado-masochistic is connected with the practice of sado-masochism. □ …a sado-masochistic relationship.
s.a.e. /e s e I iː / (s.a.e.s ) N‑COUNT An s.a.e. is an envelope on which you have stuck a stamp and written your own name and address. You send it to an organization so that they can reply to you in it. s.a.e. is an abbreviation for 'stamped addressed envelope' or 'self addressed envelope'. [BRIT ] □ Send an s.a.e. for a free information pack. in AM, use SASE
sa|fa|ri /səfɑː ri/ (safaris ) N‑COUNT [oft on N ] A safari is a trip to observe or hunt wild animals, especially in East Africa. □ He'd like to go on safari to photograph snakes and tigers.
sa|fa |ri park (safari parks ) N‑COUNT A safari park is a large enclosed area of land where wild animals, such as lions and elephants, live freely. People can pay to drive through the park and look at the animals. [BRIT ]
sa|fa |ri suit (safari suits ) N‑COUNT A safari suit is a casual suit made from a light-coloured material such as linen or cotton. Safari suits are usually worn in hot weather.
safe ◆◆◇ /se I f/ (safer , safest , safes )
1 ADJ Something that is safe does not cause physical harm or danger. □ Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city. □ Most foods that we eat are safe for birds. □ …a safe and reliable birth control option.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a person or thing is safe from something, they cannot be harmed or damaged by it. □ [+ from ] In the future people can go to a football match knowing that they are safe from hooliganism.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are safe , you have not been harmed, or you are not in danger of being harmed. □ Where is Sophy? Is she safe? ● safe|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ All 140 guests were brought out of the building safely by firefighters.
4 ADJ A safe place is one where it is unlikely that any harm, damage, or unpleasant things will happen to the people or things that are there. □ Many refugees have fled to safer areas. ● safe|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ The banker keeps the money tucked safely under his bed.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] If people or things have a safe journey, they reach their destination without harm, damage, or unpleasant things happening to them. □ …the U.N. plan to deploy 500 troops to ensure the safe delivery of food and other supplies. ● safe|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adv] □ The space shuttle returned safely today from a 10-day mission.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] If you are at a safe distance from something or someone, you are far enough away from them to avoid any danger, harm, or unpleasant effects. □ I shall conceal myself at a safe distance from the battlefield.
7 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something you have or expect to obtain is safe , you cannot lose it or be prevented from having it. □ We as consumers need to feel confident that our jobs are safe before we will spend spare cash.