2 VERB If you tempt someone, you offer them something they want in order to encourage them to do what you want them to do. □ [V n prep/adv] …a million dollar marketing campaign to tempt American tourists back to Britain. □ [V n to-inf] Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford. □ [V n + into ] The bank will offer a current account and try to tempt customers into switching.
3 → see also tempted
4 PHRASE If someone says that something they say or do is tempting fate or is tempting providence , they mean they are worried that it may cause the good luck they have had so far to end. □ As soon as you start to talk about never having played on a losing side, it is tempting fate.
temp|ta|tion /tempte I ʃ ə n/ (temptations ) N‑VAR If you feel you want to do something or have something, even though you know you really should avoid it, you can refer to this feeling as temptation . You can also refer to the thing you want to do or have as a temptation . □ Will they be able to resist the temptation to buy?
tempt|ed /te mpt I d/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If you say that you are tempted to do something, you mean that you would like to do it. □ I'm very tempted to sell my house.
tempt|ing /te mpt I ŋ/ ADJ If something is tempting , it makes you want to do it or have it. □ In the end, I turned down Raoul's tempting offer of the Palm Beach trip. ● tempt|ing|ly ADV □ The good news is that prices are still temptingly low.
tempt|ress /te mptrəs/ (temptresses ) N‑COUNT If you describe a woman as a temptress , you mean that she uses her female charm to encourage men to have sexual relations with her.
ten ◆◆◆ /te n/ (tens )
1 NUM Ten is the number 10. □ Over the past ten years things have changed.
2 → see also Number Ten
3 ten a penny → see penny
ten|able /te nəb ə l/ ADJ If you say that an argument, point of view, or situation is tenable , you believe that it is reasonable and could be successfully defended against criticism. □ This argument is simply not tenable.
te|na|cious /t I ne I ʃəs/
1 ADJ If you are tenacious , you are very determined and do not give up easily. □ He is regarded at the BBC as a tenacious and persistent interviewer. ● te|na|cious|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □ In spite of his illness, he clung tenaciously to his job.
2 ADJ If you describe something such as an idea or belief as tenacious , you mean that it has a strong influence on people and is difficult to change or remove. □ …a remarkably tenacious belief that was to dominate future theories of military strategy.
te|nac|ity /t I næ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you have tenacity , you are very determined and do not give up easily. □ Talent, hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.
ten|an|cy /te nənsi/ (tenancies ) N‑VAR Tenancy is the use that you have of land or property belonging to someone else, for which you pay rent. □ [+ of ] His father took over the tenancy of the farm 40 years ago.
ten|ant /te nənt/ (tenants )
1 N‑COUNT A tenant is someone who pays rent for the place they live in, or for land or buildings that they use.
2 → see also sitting tenant
tench /te ntʃ/ (tench ) N‑VAR Tench are dark green European fish that live in lakes and rivers.
tend ◆◆◇ /te nd/ (tends , tending , tended )
1 VERB If something tends to happen, it usually happens or it often happens. □ [V to-inf] A problem for manufacturers is that lighter cars tend to be noisy.
2 VERB If you tend towards a particular characteristic, you often display that characteristic. □ [V + towards ] Artistic and intellectual people tend towards left-wing views. [Also V + to ]
3 VERB You can say that you tend to think something when you want to give your opinion, but do not want it to seem too forceful or definite. [VAGUENESS ] □ [V to-inf] I tend to think that Members of Parliament by and large do a good job.
4 VERB If you tend someone or something, you do what is necessary to keep them in a good condition or to improve their condition. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] For years he tended her in her painful illness.
5 VERB If you tend to someone or something, you pay attention to them and deal with their problems and needs. □ [V + to ] In our culture, girls are brought up to tend to the needs of others.
ten|den|cy ◆◇◇ /te ndənsi/ (tendencies )
1 N‑COUNT A tendency is a typical or repeated habit, action or belief. □ [+ to ] She has a tendency to glance around to see if there's someone more important to talk to. □ [+ towards ] …the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years.
2 N‑COUNT A tendency is a part of your character that makes you behave in an unpleasant or worrying way. □ [+ to ] He is spoiled, arrogant and has a tendency towards snobbery. SYNONYMS tendency NOUN 2
inclination: He set out to follow his artistic inclinations.
bent: His bent for natural history directed him towards his first job.
leaning: Many companies are wary of their socialist leanings.
penchant: He had a penchant for playing jokes on people.