se l|ler's ma r|ket N‑SING When there is a seller's market for a particular product, there are fewer of the products for sale than people who want to buy them, so buyers have little choice and prices go up. Compare buyer's market . [BUSINESS ]
se ll|ing point (selling points ) N‑COUNT A selling point is a desirable quality or feature that something has which makes it likely that people will want to buy it. [BUSINESS ]
se ll|ing price (selling prices ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The selling price of something is the price for which it is sold. [BUSINESS ]
se ll-off (sell-offs ) also selloff N‑COUNT The sell-off of something, for example an industry owned by the state or a company's shares, is the selling of it. [BUSINESS ] □ The privatisation of the electricity industry–the biggest sell-off of them all.
Sel|lo|tape /se ləte I p/ (Sellotapes , Sellotaping , Sellotaped )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sellotape is a clear sticky tape that you use to stick paper or card together or onto a wall. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] in AM, use Scotch tape 2 VERB If you Sellotape one thing to another, you stick them together using Sellotape. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] □ [V n adv/prep] I sellotaped the note to his door. in AM, use tape
se ll-out (sell-outs ) also sellout
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft N n] If a play, sports event, or other entertainment is a sell-out , all the tickets for it are sold. □ Their concert there was a sell-out.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe someone's behaviour as a sell-out , you disapprove of the fact that they have done something which used to be against their principles, or given in to an opposing group. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ For some, his decision to become a Socialist candidate at Sunday's election was simply a sell-out.
se ll-through ADJ [ADJ n] A sell-through video is a film on video that you can buy.
selves /se lvz/ Selves is the plural of self .
se|man|tic /s I mæ nt I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Semantic is used to describe things that deal with the meanings of words and sentences. □ He did not want to enter into a semantic debate.
se|man|tics /s I mæ nt I ks/ N‑UNCOUNT Semantics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings of words and sentences.
sema|phore /se məfɔː r / N‑UNCOUNT Semaphore is a system of sending messages by using two flags. You hold a flag in each hand and move your arms to various positions representing different letters of the alphabet.
sem|blance /se mbləns/ N‑UNCOUNT If there is a semblance of a particular condition or quality, it appears to exist, even though this may be a false impression. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] At least a semblance of normality has been restored to parts of the country.
se|men /siː men/ N‑UNCOUNT Semen is the liquid containing sperm that is produced by the sex organs of men and male animals.
se|mes|ter /s I me stə r / (semesters ) N‑COUNT In colleges and universities in some countries, a semester is one of the two main periods into which the year is divided.
semi /se mi/ (semis )
1 N‑COUNT A semi is a semi-detached house. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] In a sporting competition, the semis are the semi-finals. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He reached the semis after beating Lendl in the quarterfinal.
PREFIX semi-
forms nouns and adjectives that refer to people and things that are partly, but not completely, in a particular state. For example, if you are semiconscious , you are partly, but not completely, conscious.
se mi-a nnual ADJ [usu ADJ n] A semi-annual event happens twice a year. [AM ] □ …the semi-annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund. in BRIT, usually use biannual
semi|breve /se mibriːv/ (semibreves ) N‑COUNT A semibreve is a musical note that has a time value equal to two half notes. [BRIT ] in AM, use whole note
se mi-circle (semi-circles ) also semicircle N‑COUNT A semi-circle is one half of a circle, or something having the shape of half a circle. □ They stood in a semi-circle round the teacher's chair and answered questions.
se mi-ci rcular also semicircular ADJ Something that is semi-circular has the shape of half a circle. □ …a semi-circular amphitheatre.
se mi-co lon (semi-colons ) in AM, usually use semicolon N‑COUNT A semi-colon is the punctuation mark; which is used in writing to separate different parts of a sentence or list or to indicate a pause.
semi|con|duc|tor /se mikəndʌ ktə r / (semiconductors ) also semi-conductor N‑COUNT A semiconductor is a substance used in electronics whose ability to conduct electricity increases with greater heat.
se mi-deta ched ADJ A semi-detached house is a house that is joined to another house on one side by a shared wall. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a semi-detached house in Highgate. ● N‑SING Semi-detached is also a noun. □ It was an ordinary, post-war semi-detached.
se mi-final (semi-finals ) in AM, usually use semifinal N‑COUNT A semi-final is one of the two matches or races in a competition that are held to decide who will compete in the final. □ The Canadian canoeist won the first semi-final in 35.595 sec. ● N‑PLURAL The semi-finals is the round of a competition in which these two matches or races are held. □ He was beaten in the semi-finals by Chris Dittmar.
se mi-fi nalist (semi-finalists ) in AM, usually use semifinalist N‑COUNT A semi-finalist is a player, athlete, or team that is competing in a semi-final.
semi|nal /se m I n ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Seminal is used to describe things such as books, works, events, and experiences that have a great influence in a particular field. [FORMAL ] □ …author of the seminal book 'Animal Liberation'.