2 VERB If your resolve weakens or if something weakens it, you become less determined or less certain about taking a particular course of action that you had previously decided to take. □ [V ] Jennie weakened, and finally relented. □ [V n] The verdict hasn't weakened his resolve to fight the charges against him.
3 VERB If something weakens you, it causes you to lose some of your physical strength. □ [V n] Malnutrition obviously weakens the patient.
4 VERB If something weakens an object, it does something to it which causes it to become less firm and more likely to break. □ [V n] A bomb blast had weakened an area of brick on the back wall.
wea k-knee d ADJ If you describe someone as weak-kneed , you mean that they are unable or unwilling to do anything because they are influenced by a strong emotion such as fear. [INFORMAL ] □ He would need all his authority to keep the weak-kneed volunteers from bolting.
weak|ling /wiː kl I ŋ/ (weaklings ) N‑COUNT If you describe a person or an animal as a weakling , you mean that they are physically weak. [DISAPPROVAL ]
weak|ness /wiː knəs/ (weaknesses )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you have a weakness for something, you like it very much, although this is perhaps surprising or undesirable. □ [+ for ] Stephen himself had a weakness for cats. □ His one weakness, apart from aeroplanes, is ice cream.
2 → see also weak
weal /wiː l/ (weals ) N‑COUNT A weal is a swelling made on someone's skin by a blow, especially from something sharp or thin such as a sword or whip. [BRIT ] in AM, use welt
wealth ◆◇◇ /we lθ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Wealth is the possession of a large amount of money, property, or other valuable things. You can also refer to a particular person's money or property as their wealth . □ Economic reform has brought relative wealth to peasant farmers.
2 N‑SING If you say that someone or something has a wealth of good qualities or things, you are emphasizing that they have a very large number or amount of them. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] …such a wealth of creative expertise.
wealthy /we lθi/ (wealthier , wealthiest ) ADJ Someone who is wealthy has a large amount of money, property, or valuable possessions. □ …a wealthy international businessman. ● N‑PLURAL The wealthy are people who are wealthy. □ …a measure to raise income taxes on the wealthy.
wean /wiː n/ (weans , weaning , weaned )
1 VERB When a baby or baby animal is weaned , its mother stops feeding it milk and starts giving it other food, especially solid food. □ [V n] When would be the best time to start weaning my baby? □ [V n + off ] Phil took the labrador home and is weaning him off milk on to meat.
2 VERB If you wean someone off a habit or something they like, you gradually make them stop doing it or liking it, especially when you think is bad for them. □ [V n + from ] It has been good for him to be gradually weaned from depending on me.
weap|on ◆◆◇ /we pən/ (weapons )
1 N‑COUNT A weapon is an object such as a gun, a knife, or a missile, which is used to kill or hurt people in a fight or a war. □ …nuclear weapons.
2 N‑COUNT A weapon is something such as knowledge about a particular subject, which you can use to protect yourself or to get what you want in a difficult situation. □ I attack politicians with the one weapon they don't have, a sense of humor.
weap|on|ize /we pəna I z/ (weaponizes , weaponizing , weaponized ) in BRIT, also use weaponise VERB If a substance or material is weaponized , it is used as a weapon or made into a weapon. If an area is weaponized , it is used as a location for weapons. □ [V n] They were close to weaponizing ricin - a lethal plant toxin. □ [V n] …the plan to weaponize outer space.
wea|pon|ry /we pənri/ N‑UNCOUNT Weaponry is all the weapons that a group or country has or that are available to it. □ …rich nations, armed with superior weaponry.
wea pons-grade ADJ [ADJ n] Weapons-grade substances such as uranium or plutonium are of a quality which makes them suitable for use in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. □ …equipment which can produce weapons-grade uranium.
wea p|ons of mass de|stru c|tion N‑PLURAL Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons.
wear ◆◆◇ /weə r / (wears , wearing , wore , worn )
1 VERB When you wear something such as clothes, shoes, or jewellery, you have them on your body or on part of your body. □ [V n] He was wearing a brown uniform. □ [V n] I sometimes wear contact lenses. □ [V n] She can't make her mind up what to wear.
2 VERB If you wear your hair or beard in a particular way, you have it cut or styled in that way. □ [V n prep/adv] She wore her hair in a long braid. □ [V n] He wore a full moustache.
3 VERB If you wear a particular expression, that expression is on your face and shows the emotions that you are feeling. □ [V n] When we drove through the gates, she wore a look of amazement.
4 N‑UNCOUNT You use wear to refer to clothes that are suitable for a certain time or place. For example, evening wear is clothes suitable for the evening. □ The shop stocks an extensive range of beach wear.
5 N‑UNCOUNT Wear is the amount or type of use that something has over a period of time. □ You'll get more wear out of a hat if you choose one in a neutral colour.