suf|fuse /səfjuː z/ (suffuses , suffusing , suffused )
1 VERB If something, especially a colour or feeling, suffuses a person or thing, it gradually spreads over or through them. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] A dull red flush suffused Selby's face.
2 VERB If something such as a book, film, or piece of music is suffused with a quality, it is full of that quality. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + with ] This book is suffused with Shaw's characteristic wry Irish humour.
Sufi /suː fi/ (Sufis ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Sufi is a member of a very spiritual group of Muslims. □ …the teachings of the Sufi mystics.
sug|ar ◆◇◇ /ʃʊ gə r / (sugars , sugaring , sugared )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sugar is a sweet substance that is used to make food and drinks sweet. It is usually in the form of small white or brown crystals. □ …bags of sugar. □ Ice cream is high in fat and sugar.
2 → see also caster sugar , confectioners' sugar , demerara sugar , granulated sugar , icing sugar
3 N‑COUNT If someone has one sugar in their tea or coffee, they have one small spoon of sugar or one sugar lump in it. □ How many sugars do you take? □ …a mug of tea with two sugars.
4 VERB If you sugar food or drink, you add sugar to it. □ [V n] He sat down and sugared and stirred his coffee.
5 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sugars are substances that occur naturally in food. When you eat them, the body converts them into energy. □ Plants produce sugars and starch to provide themselves with energy.
6 to sugar the pill → see pill
su g|ar beet (sugar beets ) N‑VAR Sugar beet is a crop with a large round root. It is grown for the sugar which can be obtained from this root.
su g|ar bowl (sugar bowls ) N‑COUNT A sugar bowl is a small bowl in which sugar is kept.
su g|ar cane also sugarcane N‑UNCOUNT Sugar cane is a tall tropical plant. It is grown for the sugar that can be obtained from its thick stems.
su gar-coa ted
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sugar-coated food is covered with a sweet substance made of sugar. □ Some sugar-coated cereals are 50% sugar.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as a story as sugar-coated , you disapprove of it because it appears to be pleasant or attractive but in fact describes something very unpleasant. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a sugar-coated view of a boy's introduction to sex.
su g|ar dad|dy (sugar daddies ) also sugar-daddy N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A woman's sugar daddy is a rich older man who gives her money and presents in return for her company, affection, and usually sexual intercourse. [INFORMAL ] □ Actor John Goodman played Melanie Griffith's sugar daddy in the film.
su g|ared a l|mond (sugared almonds ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sugared almonds are nuts which have been covered with a hard sweet coating.
su g|ar lump (sugar lumps ) also sugar-lump N‑COUNT Sugar lumps are small cubes of sugar. You put them in cups of tea and coffee.
sug|ary /ʃʊ gəri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sugary food or drink contains a lot of sugar. □ Sugary canned drinks rot your teeth. □ …sugary tea.
sug|gest ◆◆◆ /sədʒe st, [AM ] səgdʒ-/ (suggests , suggesting , suggested )
1 VERB If you suggest something, you put forward a plan or idea for someone to think about. □ [V n] He suggested a link between class size and test results of seven-year-olds. □ [V that] I suggest you ask him some specific questions about his past. □ [V + to ] I suggested to Mike that we go out for a meal with his colleagues. □ [V wh] No one has suggested how this might occur. □ [V with quote] 'Could he be suffering from amnesia?' I suggested. □ [V v-ing] So instead I suggested taking her out to dinner for a change.
2 VERB If you suggest the name of a person or place, you recommend them to someone. □ [V n] Could you suggest someone to advise me how to do this? □ [V wh to-inf] They can suggest where to buy one.
3 VERB If you suggest that something is the case, you say something which you believe is the case. □ [V that] I'm not suggesting that is what is happening. □ [V that] It is wrong to suggest that there are easy alternatives. □ [V that] Their success is conditional, I suggest, on this restriction.
4 VERB If one thing suggests another, it implies it or makes you think that it might be the case. □ [V that] Earlier reports suggested that a meeting would take place on Sunday. □ [V n] Its hairy body suggests a mammal.
5 VERB If one thing suggests another, it brings it to your mind through an association of ideas. □ [V n] This onomatopoeic word suggests to me the sound a mousetrap makes when it snaps shut. USAGE suggest
Don’t use the name of a person directly after suggest
. If you want to say who the suggestion is for, use to
. Don’t say, for example '
sug|gest|ible /sədʒe st I b ə l, [AM ] səgdʒ-/ ADJ Someone who is suggestible can be easily influenced by other people. □ …highly suggestible and compliant individuals.
sug|ges|tion ◆◇◇ /sədʒe stʃ ə n, [AM ] səgdʒ-/ (suggestions )
1 N‑COUNT If you make a suggestion , you put forward an idea or plan for someone to think about. □ The dietitian was helpful, making suggestions as to how I could improve my diet. □ [+ of ] Perhaps he'd followed her suggestion of a stroll to the river. [Also + for ]