12 PHRASE If you do something for want of something else, you do it because the other thing is not available or not possible. □ [+ of ] Many of them had gone into teaching for want of anything better to do.
▸ want out PHRASAL VERB If you want out , you no longer want to be involved in a plan, project, or situation that you are part of. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] We've had enough, John. We want out.
wa nt ad (want ads ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The want ads in a newspaper or magazine are small advertisements, usually offering things for sale or offering jobs. [mainly AM ]
want|ing /wɒ nt I ŋ/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you find something or someone wanting , they are not of as high a standard as you think they should be. □ He analysed his game and found it wanting. [Also + in ]
wan|ton /wɒ ntən/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wanton action deliberately causes harm, damage, or waste without having any reason to. □ …this unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment.
2 ADJ If someone describes a woman as wanton , they disapprove of her because she clearly enjoys sex or has sex with a lot of men. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the idea that only wanton women have sexual passions.
WAP /wæ p/ N‑UNCOUNT WAP is a system which allows devices such as mobile phones to connect to the internet. WAP is an abbreviation for 'Wireless Application Protocol'.
war ◆◆◆ /wɔː r / (wars )
1 N‑VAR A war is a period of fighting or conflict between countries or states. □ He spent part of the war in the National Guard. □ They've been at war for the last fifteen years.
2 N‑VAR War is intense economic competition between countries or organizations. □ The most important thing is to reach an agreement and to avoid a trade war.
3 N‑VAR If you make war on someone or something that you are opposed to, you do things to stop them succeeding. □ [+ against ] She has been involved in the war against organised crime. □ [+ on ] …if the United States is to be successful in its war on corruption.
4 → see also civil war , Cold War , council of war , warring
5 PHRASE If a country goes to war , it starts fighting a war. □ Do you think this crisis can be settled without going to war?
6 PHRASE If two people, countries, or organizations have a war of words , they criticize each other because they strongly disagree about something. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ with ] Animal rights activists have been engaged in a bitter war of words with zoos. [Also + between ]
7 to lose the battle but win the war → see battle
war|ble /wɔː r b ə l/ (warbles , warbling , warbled )
1 VERB When a bird warbles , it sings pleasantly. □ [V ] The bird continued to warble. □ [V n] A flock of birds was already warbling a cheerful morning chorus.
2 VERB If someone warbles , they sing in a high-pitched, rather unsteady voice. □ [V ] She warbled as she worked. □ [V n] …singers warbling 'Over the Rainbow'.
war|bler /wɔː r blə r / (warblers ) N‑COUNT Warblers are a family of small birds that have a pleasant song.
wa r chest (war chests ) N‑COUNT A war chest is a fund to finance a project such as a political campaign. □ Governor Caperton has the largest campaign war chest.
ward /wɔː r d/ (wards , warding , warded )
1 N‑COUNT A ward is a room in a hospital which has beds for many people, often people who need similar treatment. □ A toddler was admitted to the emergency ward with a wound in his chest.
2 N‑COUNT A ward is a district which forms part of a political constituency or local council. □ [+ of ] …the marginal wards of Reading Kentwood and Tilehurst West.
3 N‑COUNT A ward or a ward of court is a child who is the responsibility of a person called a guardian, or of a court of law, because their parents are dead or because they are believed to be in need of protection. □ [+ of ] Alex was made a ward of court.
▸ ward off PHRASAL VERB To ward off a danger or illness means to prevent it from affecting you or harming you. □ [V P n] She may have put up a fight to try to ward off her assailant. □ [V P n] Mass burials are now under way in an effort to ward off an outbreak of cholera. [Also V n P ]
war|den /wɔː r d ə n/ (wardens )
1 N‑COUNT A warden is a person who is responsible for a particular place or thing, and for making sure that the laws or regulations that relate to it are obeyed. □ [+ at ] He was a warden at the local parish church. □ Game wardens were appointed to enforce hunting laws in New Hampshire.
2 → see also traffic warden
3 N‑COUNT The warden of a prison is the person in charge of it. [AM ] □ A new warden took over the prison. in BRIT, use governor
war|der /wɔː r də r / (warders ) N‑COUNT A warder is someone who works in a prison supervising the prisoners. [BRIT ] in AM, use guard
ward|robe /wɔː r droʊb/ (wardrobes )
1 N‑COUNT A wardrobe is a tall cupboard or cabinet in which you can hang your clothes.
2 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's wardrobe is the total collection of clothes that they have. □ Her wardrobe consists primarily of huge cashmere sweaters and tiny Italian sandals.