5 reign of terror → see reign
ter|ror|ise /te rəra I z/ → see terrorize
ter|ror|ism /te rər I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Terrorism is the use of violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to do something. [DISAPPROVAL ]
ter|ror|ist ◆◇◇ /te rər I st/ (terrorists ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A terrorist is a person who uses violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve political aims. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ One person was killed and three were wounded in terrorist attacks. SYNONYMS terrorist NOUN
freedom fighter: He calls himself a freedom fighter.
bomber: Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.
revolutionary: The revolutionaries laid down their arms and their leaders went into voluntary exile.
guerrilla: The guerrillas threatened to kill their hostages.
ter|ror|ize /te rəra I z/ (terrorizes , terrorizing , terrorized ) in BRIT, also use terrorise VERB If someone terrorizes you, they keep you in a state of fear by making it seem likely that they will attack you. □ [V n] Bands of gunmen have hijacked food shipments and terrorized relief workers.
ter|ry /te ri/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Terry or terry cloth is a type of fabric which has a lot of very small loops covering both sides. It is used especially for making things like towels and babies' nappies. □ …a terry nappy.
terse /tɜː r s/ (terser , tersest ) ADJ A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly. □ He issued a terse statement. ● terse|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'It's too late,' he said tersely.
ter|tiary /tɜː r ʃəri, [AM ] -ʃieri/
1 ADJ Tertiary means third in order, third in importance, or at a third stage of development. [FORMAL ] □ He must have come to know those philosophers through secondary or tertiary sources.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Tertiary education is education at university or college level. [BRIT ] □ …institutions of tertiary education. in AM, use higher education
te r|tiary se c|tor (tertiary sectors ) N‑COUNT The tertiary sector consists of industries which provide a service, such as transport and finance. [BUSINESS ] □ The proportion of the labour force in the tertiary sector is increasing.
TESL /te s ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT TESL is the teaching of English to people who live in an English-speaking country, but whose first language is not English. TESL is an abbreviation for 'teaching English as a second language'.
TESOL /tiː sɒl/ N‑UNCOUNT TESOL is the teaching of English to people whose first language is not English. TESOL is an abbreviation for 'teaching English to speakers of other languages'.
test ◆◆◆ /te st/ (tests , testing , tested )
1 VERB When you test something, you try it, for example by touching it or using it for a short time, in order to find out what it is, what condition it is in, or how well it works. □ [be V -ed] The drug must first be tested in clinical trials to see if it works on other cancers.
2 N‑COUNT A test is a deliberate action or experiment to find out how well something works. □ …the banning of nuclear tests.
3 VERB If you test someone, you ask them questions or tell them to perform certain actions in order to find out how much they know about a subject or how well they are able to do something. □ [V n] They are not really testing pupils; they are testing the teachers. □ [V pron-refl] She decided to test herself with a training run in London.
4 N‑COUNT A test is a series of questions that you must answer or actions that you must perform in order to show how much you know about a subject or how well you are able to do something. □ Out of a total of 2,602 pupils, only 922 passed the test. □ She had sold her bike, taken a driving test and bought a car.
5 VERB If you test someone, you deliberately make things difficult for them in order to see how they react. □ [V n] She may be testing her mother to see how much she can take before she throws her out.
6 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If an event or situation is a test of a person or thing, it reveals their qualities or effectiveness. □ [+ of ] It is a commonplace fact that holidays are a major test of any relationship.
7 VERB [usu passive] If you are tested for a particular disease or medical condition, you are examined or go through various procedures in order to find out whether you have that disease or condition. □ [be V -ed + for ] My doctor wants me to be tested for diabetes. □ [be V -ed] Girls in an affected family can also be tested to see if they carry the defective gene.
8 N‑COUNT A medical test is an examination of a part of your body in order to check that you are healthy or to find out what is wrong with you. □ If necessary, X-rays and blood tests will also be used to aid diagnosis.
9 N‑COUNT A test is a sports match between two international teams, usually in cricket, rugby union, or rugby league. [BRIT ]
10 → see also acid test , breath test , litmus test , means test , testing , test match
11 PHRASE If you put something to the test , you find out how useful or effective it is by using it. □ The Liverpool team are now putting their theory to the test.
12 PHRASE If new circumstances or events put something to the test , they put a strain on it and indicate how strong or stable it really is. □ Sooner or later, life will put the relationship to the test.