se lf-respe cting ADJ [ADJ n] You can use self-respecting with a noun describing a particular type of person to indicate that something is typical of, or necessary for, that type of person. □ He died as any self-respecting gangster should–in a hail of bullets.
se lf-restrai nt N‑UNCOUNT If you show self-restraint , you do not do something even though you would like to do it, because you think it would be better not to.
se lf-ri ghteous ADJ If you describe someone as self-righteous , you disapprove of them because they are convinced that they are right in their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour and that other people are wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He is critical of the monks, whom he considers narrow-minded and self-righteous. ● self-righteousness N‑UNCOUNT □ …her smug self-righteousness.
se lf-ri sing flour N‑UNCOUNT Self-rising flour is flour that makes cakes rise when they are cooked because it has chemicals added to it. [AM ] in BRIT, use self-raising flour
se lf-ru le N‑UNCOUNT Self-rule is the same as self-government . □ The agreement gives the territory limited self-rule.
se lf-sa crifice N‑UNCOUNT Self-sacrifice is the giving up of what you want so that other people can have what they need or want. □ I thanked my parents for all their self-sacrifice on my behalf.
se lf-sa crificing ADJ Someone who is self-sacrificing gives up what they want so that other people can have what they need or want. □ He was a generous self-sacrificing man.
se lf-same also selfsame ADJ [ADJ n] You use self-same when you want to emphasize that the person or thing mentioned is exactly the same as the one mentioned previously. [EMPHASIS ] □ You find yourself worshipped by the self-same people who beat you up at school.
se lf-sa tisfaction N‑UNCOUNT Self-satisfaction is the feeling you have when you are self-satisfied. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He tried hard not to smile in smug self-satisfaction.
se lf-sa tisfied ADJ If you describe someone as self-satisfied , you mean that they are too pleased with themselves about their achievements or their situation and they think that nothing better is possible. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She handed the cigar back to Jason with a self-satisfied smile.
se lf-see king ADJ If you describe someone as self-seeking , you disapprove of them because they are interested only in doing things which give them an advantage over other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He said that democracy would open the way for self-seeking politicians to abuse the situation.
se lf-se rvice ADJ A self-service shop, restaurant, or garage is one where you get things for yourself rather than being served by another person.
se lf-se rving ADJ If you describe someone as self-serving , you are critical of them because they are only interested in what they can get for themselves. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …corrupt, self-serving politicians.
se lf-sta nding
1 ADJ An object or structure that is self-standing is not supported by other objects or structures. □ …self-standing plastic cases.
2 ADJ A company or organization that is self-standing is independent of other companies or organizations. [BUSINESS ] □ Five separate companies, all operating as self-standing units, are now one.
se lf-stu dy N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Self-study is study that you do on your own, without a teacher. □ Individuals can enrol on self-study courses in the university's language institute.
se lf-sty led ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone as a self-styled leader or expert, you disapprove of them because they claim to be a leader or expert but they do not actually have the right to call themselves this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Two of those arrested are said to be self-styled area commanders.
se lf-suffi ciency N‑UNCOUNT Self-sufficiency is the state of being self-sufficient.
se lf-suffi cient
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a country or group is self-sufficient , it is able to produce or make everything that it needs. □ [+ in ] This enabled the country to become self-sufficient in sugar. □ Using traditional methods poor farmers can be virtually self-sufficient.
2 ADJ Someone who is self-sufficient is able to live happily without anyone else. □ Although she had various boyfriends, she was, and remains, fiercely self-sufficient.
se lf-suppo rting ADJ Self-supporting is used to describe organizations, schemes, and people who earn enough money to not need financial help from anyone else. □ The income from visitors makes the museum self-supporting.
se lf-sustai ning ADJ A self-sustaining process or system is able to continue by itself without anyone or anything else becoming involved. □ Asia's emerging economies will be on a self-sustaining cycle of growth.
se lf-tau ght ADJ If you are self-taught , you have learned a skill by yourself rather than being taught it by someone else such as a teacher at school. □ …a self-taught musician.
se lf-wi ll N‑UNCOUNT Someone's self-will is their determination to do what they want without caring what other people think. □ She had a little core of self-will.
se lf-wi lled ADJ Someone who is self-willed is determined to do the things that they want to do and will not take advice from other people. □ He was very independent and self-willed.
se lf-wo rth N‑UNCOUNT Self-worth is the feeling that you have good qualities and have achieved good things. □ Try not to link your sense of self-worth to the opinions of others.
sell ◆◆◆ /se l/ (sells , selling , sold )
1 VERB If you sell something that you own, you let someone have it in return for money. □ [V n] I sold everything I owned except for my car and my books. □ [V n + to ] His heir sold the painting to the London art dealer Agnews. □ [V n + for ] The directors sold the business for £14.8 million. □ [V ] It's not a very good time to sell at the moment. [Also V n n, V to n]