seda|tive /se dət I v/ (sedatives )
1 N‑COUNT A sedative is a medicine or drug that calms you or makes you sleep. □ They use opium as a sedative, rather than as a narcotic.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Something that has a sedative effect calms you or makes you sleep. □ Amber bath oil has a sedative effect.
sed|en|tary /se dəntəri, [AM ] -teri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who has a sedentary lifestyle or job sits down a lot of the time and does not take much exercise. □ Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease.
sedge /se dʒ/ (sedges ) N‑VAR Sedge is a plant that looks like grass and grows in wet ground.
sedi|ment /se d I mənt/ (sediments ) N‑VAR Sediment is solid material that settles at the bottom of a liquid, especially earth and pieces of rock that have been carried along and then left somewhere by water, ice, or wind. □ Many organisms that die in the sea are soon buried by sediment.
sedi|men|tary /se d I me ntəri, [AM ] -teri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediment left by water, ice, or wind.
se|di|tion /s I d I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Sedition is speech, writing, or behaviour intended to encourage people to fight against or oppose the government. □ Government officials charged him with sedition.
se|di|tious /s I d I ʃəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A seditious act, speech, or piece of writing encourages people to fight against or oppose the government. □ He fell under suspicion for distributing seditious pamphlets.
se|duce /s I djuː s, [AM ] -duː s/ (seduces , seducing , seduced )
1 VERB If something seduces you, it is so attractive that it makes you do something that you would not otherwise do. □ [V n] The view of lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors. □ [V n + into ] Clever advertising would seduce more people into smoking. ● se|duc|tion /s I dʌ kʃ ə n/ (seductions ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The country had resisted the seductions of mass tourism.
2 VERB If someone seduces another person, they use their charm to persuade that person to have sex with them. □ [V n] She has set out to seduce Stephen. ● se|duc|tion N‑VAR □ Her methods of seduction are subtle.
se|duc|er /s I djuː sə r , [AM ] -duː s-/ (seducers ) N‑COUNT A seducer is someone, usually a man, who seduces someone else. □ [+ of ] He is proud of his reputation as a seducer of young women.
se|duc|tive /s I dʌ kt I v/
1 ADJ Something that is seductive is very attractive or makes you want to do something that you would not otherwise do. □ It's a seductive argument. ● se|duc|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □ …his seductively simple assertion.
2 ADJ A person who is seductive is very attractive sexually. □ …a seductive woman. ● se|duc|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ She was looking seductively over her shoulder.
se|duc|tress /s I dʌ ktrəs/ (seductresses ) N‑COUNT A seductress is a woman who seduces someone. □ Few males can resist a self-confident seductress.
see ◆◆◆ /siː / (sees , seeing , saw , seen )
1 VERB [no cont] When you see something, you notice it using your eyes. □ [V n] You can't see colours at night. □ [V n v-ing] I saw a man making his way towards me. □ [V ] She can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. □ [V that] As he neared the farm, he saw that a police car was parked outside it. □ [V wh] Did you see what happened?
2 VERB If you see someone, you visit them or meet them. □ [V n] Mick wants to see you in his office right away. □ [V n] You need to see a doctor.
3 VERB [no cont] If you see an entertainment such as a play, film, concert, or sports game, you watch it. □ [V n] He had been to see a Semi-Final of the FA Cup. □ [V n] It was one of the most amazing films I've ever seen.
4 VERB [no cont] If you see that something is true or exists, you realize by observing it that it is true or exists. □ [V that] I could see she was lonely. □ [V wh] A lot of people saw what was happening but did nothing about it. □ [V n v-ing] You see young people going to school inadequately dressed for the weather. □ [V ] My taste has changed a bit over the years as you can see. □ [be V -ed to-inf] The army must be seen to be taking firm action.
5 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you see what someone means or see why something happened, you understand what they mean or understand why it happened. □ [V wh] Oh, I see what you're saying. □ [V n] I really don't see any reason for changing it. □ [V that] Now I see that I was wrong.
6 VERB If you see someone or something as a certain thing, you have the opinion that they are that thing. □ [V n + as ] She saw him as a visionary, but her father saw him as a man who couldn't make a living. □ [V n + as ] Others saw it as a betrayal. □ [V n + as ] I don't see it as my duty to take sides. □ [V it ] As I see it, Llewelyn has three choices open to him. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Women are sometimes seen to be less effective as managers.
7 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you see a particular quality in someone, you believe they have that quality. If you ask what someone sees in a particular person or thing, you want to know what they find attractive about that person or thing. □ [V n + in ] Frankly, I don't know what Paul sees in her. □ [V + in ] Young and old saw in him an implacable opponent of apartheid.