3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] The wardrobe in a theatre company is the actors' and actresses' costumes. □ In the wardrobe department were rows of costumes.
-ware /-weə r / COMB -ware combines with nouns to refer to objects that are made of a particular material or that are used for a particular purpose in the home. □ …boxes of cheap glassware.
ware|house /weə r haʊs/ (warehouses ) N‑COUNT A warehouse is a large building where raw materials or manufactured goods are stored until they are exported to other countries or distributed to shops to be sold.
wa re|house club (warehouse clubs ) N‑COUNT A warehouse club is a large shop which sells goods at reduced prices to people who pay each year to become members of the organization that runs the shop.
ware|hous|ing /weə r haʊz I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Warehousing is the act or process of storing large quantities of goods so that they can be sold or used at a later date. □ All donations go towards the cost of warehousing.
wares /weə r z/ N‑PLURAL Someone's wares are the things that they sell, usually in the street or in a market. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Vendors displayed their wares in baskets or on the ground.
war|fare /wɔː r feə r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT Warfare is the activity of fighting a war. □ …the threat of chemical warfare.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Warfare is sometimes used to refer to any violent struggle or conflict. □ Much of the violence is related to gang warfare. □ At times party rivalries have broken out into open warfare.
wa r game (war games )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] War games are military exercises that are carried out for the purpose of training, and that are designed to imitate a real war as closely as possible.
2 N‑COUNT A war game is a game in which model soldiers are used to recreate battles that happened in the past. War games can also be played on computers.
war|head /wɔː r hed/ (warheads ) N‑COUNT A warhead is the front part of a bomb or missile where the explosives are carried. □ …nuclear warheads.
war|horse /wɔː r hɔː r s/ (warhorses ) also war-horse , war horse N‑COUNT You can refer to someone such as an old soldier or politician who is still active and aggressive as a warhorse .
war|like /wɔː r la I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Warlike people seem aggressive and eager to start a war. □ The Scythians were a fiercely warlike people.
war|lord /wɔː r lɔː r d/ (warlords ) N‑COUNT If you describe a leader of a country or organization as a warlord , you are critical of them because they have achieved power by behaving in an aggressive and violent way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He had been a dictator and a warlord who had oppressed and degraded the people of the South. □ He was the most feared warlord during the Liberian civil war.
warm ◆◆◇ /wɔː r m/ (warmer , warmest , warms , warming , warmed )
1 ADJ Something that is warm has some heat but not enough to be hot. □ Because it was warm, David wore only a white cotton shirt. □ Dissolve the salt in the warm water.
2 ADJ Warm clothes and blankets are made of a material such as wool which protects you from the cold. □ They have been forced to sleep in the open without food or warm clothing. ● warm|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □ Remember to wrap up warmly on cold days. □ …warmly dressed.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Warm colours have red or yellow in them rather than blue or green, and make you feel comfortable and relaxed. □ The basement hallway is painted a warm yellow.
4 ADJ A warm person is friendly and shows a lot of affection or enthusiasm in their behaviour. □ She was a warm and loving mother. □ I would like to express my warmest thanks to the doctors. ● warm|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ New members are warmly welcomed. □ He greeted me warmly.
5 VERB If you warm a part of your body or if something hot warms it, it stops feeling cold and starts to feel hotter. □ [V n] The sun had come out to warm his back. □ [V n] She went to warm her hands by the log fire.
6 VERB If you warm to a person or an idea, you become fonder of the person or more interested in the idea. □ [V + to ] Those who got to know him better warmed to his openness and honesty.
▸ warm down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you warm down after doing a physical activity, you do special exercises to help relax your muscles and joints. □ [V P ] He always warms down after training.
2 → see also warm-down
▸ warm up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you warm something up or if it warms up , it gets hotter. □ [V n P ] He blew on his hands to warm them up. □ [V P n] All that she would have to do was warm up the pudding. □ [V P ] The weather had warmed up.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you warm up for an event such as a race, you prepare yourself for it by doing exercises or by practising just before it starts. □ [V P ] In an hour the drivers will be warming up for the main event.
3 → see also warm-up
4 PHRASAL VERB When a machine or engine warms up or someone warms it up , it becomes ready for use a little while after being switched on or started. □ [V P ] He waited for his car to warm up. □ [V P n] We spent a frustrating five minutes while the pilot warmed up the engines. [Also V n P ]