2 PHRASAL VERB When you see someone off , you go with them to the station, airport, or port that they are leaving from, and say goodbye to them there. □ [V n P ] Dad had planned a steak dinner for himself after seeing Mum off on her plane. [Also V P n (not pron)]
▸ see through
1 PHRASAL VERB If you see through someone or their behaviour, you realize what their intentions are, even though they are trying to hide them. □ [V P n] I saw through your little ruse from the start.
2 → see also see-through
▸ see to PHRASAL VERB If you see to something that needs attention, you deal with it. □ [V P n] While Franklin saw to the luggage, Sara took Eleanor home. USAGE see
If you are talking about the present, you usually use can see
. Don’t say ‘
seed ◆◆◇ /siː d/ (seeds , seeding , seeded )
1 N‑VAR A seed is the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant grows. □ I sow the seed in pots of soil-based compost. □ …sunflower seeds.
2 VERB If you seed a piece of land, you plant seeds in it. □ [V n] Men mowed the wide lawns and seeded them. □ [V pron-refl] The primroses should begin to seed themselves down the steep hillside. □ [V -ed] …his newly seeded lawns.
3 N‑PLURAL You can refer to the seeds of something when you want to talk about the beginning of a feeling or process that gradually develops and becomes stronger or more important. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] He raised questions meant to plant seeds of doubts in the minds of jurors.
4 N‑COUNT In sports such as tennis or badminton, a seed is a player who has been ranked according to his or her ability. □ …He is Wimbledon's top seed and the world No.1.
5 VERB [usu passive] When a player or a team is seeded in a sports competition, they are ranked according to their ability. □ [be V -ed adv/prep] In the UEFA Cup the top 16 sides are seeded for the first round. □ [V -ed ord] He could be seeded second at the French Open. □ [V -ed] The top four seeded nations are through to the semi-finals.
6 PHRASE If vegetable plants go to seed or run to seed , they produce flowers and seeds as well as leaves. □ If unused, winter radishes run to seed in spring.
7 PHRASE If you say that someone or something has gone to seed or has run to seed , you mean that they have become much less attractive, healthy, or efficient. □ He was a big man in his forties; once he had a lot of muscle but now he was running to seed.
seed|bed /siː dbed/ (seedbeds ) also seed-bed
1 N‑COUNT A seedbed is an area of ground, usually with specially prepared earth, where young plants are grown from seed.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a place or a situation as a seedbed when it seems likely that a particular type of thing or person will develop in that place or situation. □ [+ for/of ] TV is using radio as a seedbed for ideas.
see d capi|tal N‑UNCOUNT Seed capital is an amount of money that a new company needs to pay for the costs of producing a business plan so that they can raise further capital to develop the company. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ for ] I am negotiating with financiers to raise seed capital for my latest venture.
see d corn N‑UNCOUNT Seed corn is money that businesses spend at the beginning of a project in the hope that it will eventually produce profits. [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ The scheme offers seed corn finance with loans at only 4% interest.
seed|less /siː dləs/ ADJ A seedless fruit has no seeds in it. □ …seedless grapes.
seed|ling /siː dl I ŋ/ (seedlings ) N‑COUNT A seedling is a young plant that has been grown from a seed.
see d mon|ey N‑UNCOUNT Seed money is money that is given to someone to help them start a new business or project. [BUSINESS ]
seedy /siː di/ (seedier , seediest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or place as seedy , you disapprove of them because they look dirty and untidy, or they have a bad reputation. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Frank ran dodgy errands for a seedy local villain. □ We were staying in a seedy hotel close to the red light district. ● seedi|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the atmosphere of seediness and decay about the city.
see ing-e ye dog (seeing-eye dogs ) also Seeing Eye dog , seeing eye dog N‑COUNT A seeing-eye dog is a dog that has been trained to lead a blind person. [AM ] in BRIT, use guide dog
seek ◆◇◇ /siː k/ (seeks , seeking , sought )
1 VERB If you seek something such as a job or a place to live, you try to find one. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They have had to seek work as labourers. □ [V n] Four people who sought refuge in the Italian embassy have left voluntarily. □ [be V -ed + for ] Candidates are urgently sought for the post of Conservative Party chairman.
2 VERB When someone seeks something, they try to obtain it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The prosecutors have warned they will seek the death penalty. □ [V n] Haemophiliacs are seeking compensation for being given contaminated blood.
3 VERB If you seek someone's help or advice, you contact them in order to ask for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Always seek professional legal advice before entering into any agreement. □ [V n + from ] The couple have sought help from marriage guidance counsellors.
4 VERB If you seek to do something, you try to do it. [FORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] He also denied that he would seek to annex the country.