3 N‑COUNT A universal is a principle that applies in all cases or a characteristic that is present in all members of a particular class. □ There are no economic universals.
u ni|ve r|sal ba nk (universal banks ) N‑COUNT A universal bank is a bank that offers both banking and stockbroking services to its clients. [BUSINESS ] □ …universal banks offering a wide range of services.
uni|ver|sal|ly /juː n I vɜː r səli/
1 ADV [usu ADV -ed/adj] If something is universally believed or accepted, it is believed or accepted by everyone with no disagreement. □ …a universally accepted point of view. □ The scale of the problem is now universally recognised.
2 ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] If something is universally true or available, it is true or available everywhere in the world or in all situations. □ The disadvantage is that it is not universally available.
uni|verse ◆◇◇ /juː n I vɜː r s/ (universes )
1 N‑COUNT The universe is the whole of space and all the stars, planets, and other forms of matter and energy in it. □ Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft with poss] If you talk about someone's universe , you are referring to the whole of their experience or an important part of it. □ Good writers suck in what they see of the world, re-creating their own universe on the page.
uni|ver|sity ◆◆◆ /juː n I vɜː r s I ti/ (universities ) N‑VAR ; N‑COUNT A university is an institution where students study for degrees and where academic research is done. □ Patrick is now at London University. □ They want their daughter to go to university, but they are also keen that she get a summer job. □ The university refused to let the controversial politician speak on campus.
un|just /ʌ ndʒʌ st/ ADJ If you describe an action, system, or law as unjust , you think that it treats a person or group badly in a way that they do not deserve. □ The attack on Charles was deeply unjust. □ He spent 25 years campaigning against racist and unjust immigration laws. ● un|just|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ She was unjustly accused of stealing money and then given the sack.
un|jus|ti|fi|able /ʌ ndʒʌst I fa I əb ə l, ʌndʒʌ st I fa I əb ə l/ ADJ If you describe an action, especially one that harms someone, as unjustifiable , you mean there is no good reason for it. □ Using these missiles to down civilian aircraft is simply immoral and totally unjustifiable. ● un|jus|ti|fi|ably ADV □ The press invade people's privacy unfairly and unjustifiably every day.
un|jus|ti|fied /ʌ ndʒʌ st I fa I d/ ADJ If you describe a belief or action as unjustified , you think that there is no good reason for having it or doing it. □ Your report was based upon wholly unfounded and totally unjustified allegations. □ The commission concluded that the police action was unjustified.
un|kempt /ʌ nke mpt/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as unkempt , you mean that they are untidy, and not looked after carefully or kept neat. □ His hair was unkempt and filthy. □ …the unkempt grass. □ …an unkempt old man.
un|kind /ʌnka I nd/ (unkinder , unkindest )
1 ADJ If someone is unkind , they behave in an unpleasant, unfriendly, or slightly cruel way. You can also describe someone's words or actions as unkind . □ [+ to ] All last summer he'd been unkind to her. □ No one has an unkind word to say about him. □ Without wishing to be unkind, she's not the most interesting company. ● un|kind|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Several viewers commented unkindly on her dress sense. □ 'He's a bit of an eccentric old fatty,' Thomas thought, unkindly. ● un|kind|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] He realized the unkindness of the remark and immediately regretted having hurt her with it.
2 ADJ If you describe something bad that happens to someone as unkind , you mean that they do not deserve it. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ to ] The weather was unkind to those pipers who played in the morning. □ …a shared conviction that some unkind fate or chance is keeping them apart.
un|know|able /ʌ nnoʊ əb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unknowable , you mean that it is impossible for human beings to know anything about it. [WRITTEN ] □ Any investment in shares is a bet on an unknowable future flow of profits. □ The specific impact of the greenhouse effect is unknowable.
un|know|ing /ʌ nnoʊ I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person as unknowing , you mean that they are not aware of what is happening or of what they are doing. □ Some governments have been victims and perhaps unknowing accomplices in the bank's activities.
un|know|ing|ly /ʌ nnoʊ I ŋli/ ADV [ADV with v] If someone does something unknowingly , they do it without being aware of it. □ …if people unknowingly move into more contaminated areas of the river. □ You may be contributing unknowingly to the suffering of animals.
un|known ◆◇◇ /ʌ nnoʊ n/ (unknowns )
1 ADJ If something is unknown to you, you have no knowledge of it. □ An unknown number of demonstrators were arrested. □ How did you expect us to proceed on such a perilous expedition, through unknown terrain? □ The motive for the killing is unknown. ● N‑COUNT An unknown is something that is unknown. □ The length of the war is one of the biggest unknowns.
2 ADJ An unknown person is someone whose name you do not know or whose character you do not know anything about. □ Unknown thieves had forced their way into the apartment. □ [+ to ] I could not understand how someone with so many awards could be unknown to me.