up|wind /ʌ pw I nd/ ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If something moves upwind , it moves in the opposite direction to the wind. If something is upwind , the wind is blowing away from it. □ …riding a bike upwind. □ [+ of ] The rich went to live in the west of London, upwind of the smell of people and industry. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upwind is also an adjective. □ …big trees at the forest's upwind edge.
ura|nium /jʊre I niəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is used to produce nuclear energy and weapons.
ur|ban ◆◇◇ /ɜː r bən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Urban means belonging to, or relating to, a town or city. □ Most of the population is an urban population. □ Most urban areas are close to a park. □ …urban planning. SYNONYMS urban ADJ
civic: …the businessmen and civic leaders of Manchester.
metropolitan: …the metropolitan district of Miami.
municipaclass="underline" …the municipal library.
ur|bane /ɜː r be I n/ ADJ Someone who is urbane is polite and appears comfortable in social situations. □ She describes him as urbane and charming. □ In conversation, he was suave and urbane. ● ur|ban|ity /ɜː r bæ n I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Fearey had all the charm and urbanity of the trained diplomat.
ur|bani|za|tion /ɜː r bəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ in BRIT, also use urbanisation N‑UNCOUNT Urbanization is the process of creating towns in country areas.
ur|ban|ized /ɜː r bəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use urbanised 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An urbanized country or area has many buildings and a lot of industry and business. □ Britain is still far from being the most urbanised landmass in Europe. □ All the nice areas in Florida are becoming more and more urbanized.
2 ADJ An urbanized population consists of people who live and work in a town.
u r|ban my th (urban myths ) or urban legend N‑COUNT An urban myth is a strange or surprising story which many people believe, but which is not actually true.
ur|chin /ɜː r tʃ I n/ (urchins )
1 N‑COUNT An urchin is a young child who is dirty and poorly dressed. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ We were in the bazaar with all the little urchins watching us.
2 → see also sea urchin
Urdu /ʊə r duː, ɜː r -/ N‑UNCOUNT Urdu is an official language of Pakistan. Urdu is also spoken in India.
urge ◆◆◇ /ɜː r dʒ/ (urges , urging , urged )
1 VERB If you urge someone to do something, you try hard to persuade them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] They urged parliament to approve plans for their reform programme.
2 VERB If you urge someone somewhere, you make them go there by touching them or talking to them. □ [V n prep/adv] He slipped his arm around her waist and urged her away from the window. □ [V n] 'Come on, Grace,' he was urging her, 'don't wait, hurry up.'
3 VERB If you urge a course of action, you strongly advise that it should be taken. □ [V n + on ] He urged restraint on the security forces. □ [V n] We urge vigorous action to be taken immediately.
4 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] If you have an urge to do or have something, you have a strong wish to do or have it. □ He had an urge to open a shop of his own.
▸ urge on PHRASAL VERB If you urge someone on , you encourage them to do something. □ [V n P ] She had a strong and supportive sister who urged her on. □ [V P n] Visitors remember a lean, cheerful figure on horseback urging on his men.
ur|gent ◆◇◇ /ɜː r dʒ ə nt/
1 ADJ If something is urgent , it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. □ There is an urgent need for food and water. □ He had urgent business in New York. ● ur|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The urgency of finding a cure attracted some of the best minds in medical science. □ It is a matter of utmost urgency. ● ur|gent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Red Cross officials said they urgently needed bread and water. □ The money was most urgently required.
2 ADJ If you speak in an urgent way, you show that you are anxious for people to notice something or to do something. □ His voice was low and urgent. □ His mother leaned forward and spoke to him in urgent undertones. ● ur|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] She was surprised at the urgency in his voice. ● ur|gent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ They hastened to greet him and asked urgently, 'Did you find it?'
uri|nal /jʊra I n ə l, [AM ] jʊ r I n ə l/ (urinals ) N‑COUNT A urinal is a bowl fixed to the wall of a men's public toilet for men to urinate in.
uri|nary /jʊə r I nəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Urinary means belonging to or related to the parts of a person's body through which urine flows. [MEDICAL ] □ …urinary tract infections.
uri|nate /jʊə r I ne I t/ (urinates , urinating , urinated ) VERB When someone urinates , they get rid of urine from their body.
urine /jʊə r I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Urine is the liquid that you get rid of from your body when you go to the toilet.
URL /juː ɑːr e l/ (URLs ) N‑COUNT A URL is an address that shows where a particular page can be found on the World Wide Web. URL is an abbreviation for 'Uniform Resource Locator'. [COMPUTING ] □ [+ for ] The URL for Collins dictionaries is http://www.collinsdictionary.com.