2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A used car has already had one or more owners. □ Would you buy a used car from this man? □ His only big purchase has been a used Ford.
use|ful ◆◆◇ /juː sfʊl/
1 ADJ If something is useful , you can use it to do something or to help you in some way. □ [+ for ] The slow cooker is very useful for people who go out all day. □ [+ in ] Hypnotherapy can be useful in helping you give up smoking. □ The police gained a great deal of useful information about the organization. ● use|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the problems to which computers could be usefully applied. □ We need to find ways of dealing creatively and usefully with our feelings. ● use|ful|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] His interest lay in the usefulness of his work, rather than in any personal credit.
2 PHRASE If an object or skill comes in useful , it can help you achieve something in a particular situation. □ The accommodation is some distance from the clubhouse, so a hire car comes in useful. SYNONYMS useful ADJ 1
helpfuclass="underline" The following information may be helpful to readers.
effective: Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism.
valuable: The experience was very valuable.
beneficiaclass="underline" …vitamins which are beneficial to our health.
worthwhile: The President's trip to Washington this week seems to have been worthwhile.
use|less /juː sləs/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is useless , you cannot use it. □ He realised that their money was useless in this country. □ Computers would be useless without software writers. ● use|less|ly ADV □ His right arm hung rather uselessly. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The car had rusted almost to the point of uselessness.
2 ADJ If something is useless , it does not achieve anything helpful or good. □ She knew it was useless to protest. □ …a useless punishment which fails to stop people trafficking. ● use|less|ly ADV □ Uselessly, he checked the same pockets he'd checked before. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the uselessness of their research.
3 ADJ If you say that someone or something is useless , you mean that they are no good at all. [INFORMAL ] □ Their education system is useless. □ [+ at ] He was useless at any game with a ball.
4 ADJ If someone feels useless , they feel bad because they are unable to help someone or achieve anything. □ She sits at home all day, watching TV and feeling useless. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the sense of uselessness and the boredom of empty days.
Use|net /juː znet/ N‑UNCOUNT Usenet is a computer network that links newsgroups on the internet. [COMPUTING ]
user ◆◇◇ /juː zə r / (users ) N‑COUNT A user is a person or thing that uses something such as a place, facility, product, or machine. □ Beach users have complained about people walking their dogs on the sand. □ [+ of ] …a regular user of Holland's health-care system. □ [+ of ] …a user of electric current, such as an electric motor, a lamp, or a toaster.
u ser-frie ndly ADJ If you describe something such as a machine or system as user-friendly , you mean that it is well designed and easy to use. □ This an entirely computer operated system which is very user-friendly. □ …user-friendly libraries.
u ser group (user groups ) N‑COUNT A user group is a group of people with the same interests, who use a particular product or service. □ PLATFORM is an alliance of more than 80 rail user groups. □ There is always someone else online in the patient user group.
user|name /juː zə r ne I m/ (usernames ) N‑COUNT Your username is the name that you use when accessing a particular computer, program, website, or service. □ I typed in my username and password and the screen was just blank.
ush|er /ʌ ʃə r / (ushers , ushering , ushered )
1 VERB If you usher someone somewhere, you show them where they should go, often by going with them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] I ushered him into the office. □ [V n prep/adv] They were quickly ushered away.
2 N‑COUNT An usher is a person who shows people where to sit, for example at a wedding or at a concert. □ He did part-time work as an usher in a theatre.
3 N‑COUNT An usher is a person who organizes people who are attending a law court in Britain.
▸ usher in PHRASAL VERB If one thing ushers in another thing, it indicates that the other thing is about to begin. [FORMAL ] □ [V P n] …a unique opportunity to usher in a new era of stability.
USMC /juː es em siː / also U.S.M.C. N‑PROPER USMC is an abbreviation for United States Marine Corps .
USN /juː es e n/ also U.S.N. N‑PROPER USN is an abbreviation for United States Navy .
USP /ju ː es pi ː/ (USPs ) N‑COUNT The USP of a product or service is a particular feature of it which can be used in advertising to show how it is different from, and better than, other similar products or services. USP is an abbreviation for 'Unique Selling Point'. [BUSINESS ] □ Fabulous lake views are the USP of this single-storey home.
usu. usu. is a written abbreviation for usually .
usu|al ◆◆◇ /juː ʒuəl/