te st-tube ba by (test-tube babies ) also test tube baby N‑COUNT A test-tube baby is a baby that develops from an egg which has been removed from the mother's body, fertilized, and then replaced in her womb in order that it can continue developing.
tes|ty /te sti/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone as testy , you mean that they easily become impatient or angry. [mainly LITERARY ] □ Ben's getting a little testy in his old age. ● tes|ti|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement.
teta|nus /te tənəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Tetanus is a serious painful disease caused by bacteria getting into wounds. It makes your muscles, especially your jaw muscles, go stiff.
tetchy /te tʃi/ (tetchier , tetchiest ) ADJ If you say that someone is tetchy , you mean they are bad-tempered and likely to get angry suddenly without an obvious reason. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ You always get tetchy when you're hungry. □ He was in a particularly tetchy mood yesterday.
teth|er /te ðə r / (tethers , tethering , tethered )
1 PHRASE If you say that you are at the end of your tether , you mean that you are so worried, tired, and unhappy because of your problems that you feel you cannot cope. □ She was jealous, humiliated, and emotionally at the end of her tether.
2 N‑COUNT A tether is a rope or chain which is used to tie an animal to a post or fence so that it can only move around within a small area.
3 VERB If you tether an animal or object to something, you attach it there with a rope or chain so that it cannot move very far. □ [V n + to ] The officer dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree. [Also V n]
Teu|ton|ic /tjuːtɒ n I k, [AM ] tuː-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Teutonic means typical of or relating to German people. [FORMAL ] □ The coach was a masterpiece of Teutonic engineering.
Tex-Mex /te ksme ks/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use Tex-Mex to describe things such as food or music that combine typical elements from Mexico and the south-western United States. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ …Tex-Mex restaurants.
text ◆◇◇ /te kst/ (texts , texting , texted )
1 N‑SING The text of a book is the main part of it, rather than the introduction, pictures, or notes. □ The text is precise and informative.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Text is any written material. □ The manuscript consisted of 500 pages of typed text.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The text of a speech, broadcast, or recording is the written version of it. □ [+ of ] A text of his speech had been circulated to all of the bishops.
4 N‑COUNT A text is a book or other piece of writing, especially one connected with science or learning. □ Her text is believed to be the oldest surviving manuscript by a female physician.
5 N‑COUNT A text is a written or spoken passage, especially one that is used in a school or university for discussion or in an examination. □ His early plays are set texts in universities.
6 N‑COUNT A text is the same as a text message . □ He sent a text to his boss insisting that he had done nothing wrong.
7 VERB If you text someone, you send them a text message on a mobile phone. □ [V n] Mary texted me when she got home. SYNONYMS text NOUN
2
words: Can you hear the words on the album?
wording: The wording is so vague that no one actually knows what it means.
content: The letter's contents were not disclosed.
5
passage: He reads a passage from Milton.
extract: Read this extract from an information booklet about the work of an airline cabin crew.
excerpt: …an excerpt from her new novel.
text|book /te kstbʊk/ (textbooks ) also text book
1 N‑COUNT A textbook is a book containing facts about a particular subject that is used by people studying that subject. □ …a chemistry textbook.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that something is a textbook case or example, you are emphasizing that it provides a clear example of a type of situation or event. [EMPHASIS ] □ The house is a textbook example of medieval domestic architecture.
tex|tile /te ksta I l/ (textiles )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Textiles are types of cloth or fabric, especially ones that have been woven. □ …the Scottish textile industry.
2 N‑PLURAL [no det] Textiles are the industries concerned with the manufacture of cloth. □ Another 75,000 jobs will be lost in textiles and clothing.
text|ing /te kst I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Texting is the same as text messaging .
te xt mes|sage (text messages ) N‑COUNT A text message is a written message that you send using a mobile phone.
te xt mes|sag|ing N‑UNCOUNT Text messaging is sending written messages using a mobile phone.
text|phone /te kstfoʊn/ (textphones ) N‑COUNT A textphone is a telephone with a screen and a keyboard, designed for people with hearing problems.
tex|tu|al /te kstʃuəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Textual means relating to written texts, especially literary texts. □ …close textual analysis of Shakespeare.
tex|ture /te kstʃə r / (textures )
1 N‑VAR The texture of something is the way that it feels when you touch it, for example how smooth or rough it is. □ Aloe Vera is used in moisturisers to give them a wonderfully silky texture.
2 N‑VAR The texture of something, especially food or soil, is its structure, for example whether it is light with lots of holes, or very heavy and solid. □ This cheese has an open, crumbly texture with a strong flavour.