wel|come ◆◆◇ /we lkəm/ (welcomes , welcoming , welcomed )
1 VERB If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere. □ [V n] Several people came by to welcome me. □ [V n adv/prep] She was there to welcome him home from war. □ [V -ing] The delegates received a welcoming speech by the President. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Welcome is also a noun. □ There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.
2 CONVENTION You use welcome in expressions such as welcome home , welcome to London , and welcome back when you are greeting someone who has just arrived somewhere. [FORMULAE ] □ Welcome to Washington. □ Welcome back, Deborah–It's good to have you here.
3 VERB If you welcome an action, decision, or situation, you approve of it and are pleased that it has occurred. □ [V n] She welcomed this move but said that overall the changes didn't go far enough. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Welcome is also a noun. □ Environmental groups have given a guarded welcome to the Prime Minister's proposal.
4 ADJ If you describe something as welcome , you mean that people wanted it and are happy that it has occurred. □ This was certainly a welcome change of fortune.
5 VERB If you say that you welcome certain people or actions, you are inviting and encouraging people to do something, for example to come to a particular place. □ [V n] We would welcome your views about the survey.
6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is welcome in a particular place, you are encouraging them to go there by telling them that they will be liked and accepted. □ New members are always welcome. □ [+ in ] I told him he wasn't welcome in my home.
7 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If you tell someone that they are welcome to do something, you are encouraging them to do it by telling them that they are allowed to do it. □ You are welcome to visit the hospital at any time.
8 ADJ If you say that someone is welcome to something, you mean that you do not want it yourself because you do not like it and you are very willing for them to have it. □ [+ to ] If women want to take on the business world, they are welcome to it as far as I'm concerned.
9 → see also welcoming
10 PHRASE If you make someone welcome or make them feel welcome, you make them feel happy and accepted in a new place.
11 PHRASE If you say that someone outstays their welcome or overstays their welcome , you mean that they stay somewhere longer than they are wanted or expected to. □ After the kindness that had been shown to him, he didn't want to outstay his welcome.
12 CONVENTION You say ' You're welcome ' to someone who has thanked you for something in order to acknowledge their thanks in a polite way. [FORMULAE ] □ 'Thank you for the information.'—'You're welcome.'
wel|com|ing /we lkəm I ŋ/ ADJ If someone is welcoming or if they behave in a welcoming way, they are friendly to you when you arrive somewhere, so that you feel happy and accepted. □ When we arrived at her house Susan was very welcoming.
weld /we ld/ (welds , welding , welded ) VERB To weld one piece of metal to another means to join them by heating the edges and putting them together so that they cool and harden into one piece. □ [V n + to ] It's possible to weld stainless steel to ordinary steel. □ [V n with together ] They will also be used on factory floors to weld things together. □ [V ] Where did you learn to weld? [Also V n] ● weld|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ All the welding had been done from inside the car. □ …welding equipment.
weld|er /we ldə r / (welders ) N‑COUNT A welder is a person whose job is welding metal.
wel|fare ◆◇◇ /we lfeə r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The welfare of a person or group is their health, comfort, and happiness. □ I do not think he is considering Emma's welfare. □ [+ of ] He was the head of a charity for the welfare of children.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Welfare services are provided to help with people's living conditions and financial problems. □ Child welfare services are well established and comprehensive. □ He has urged complete reform of the welfare system.
3 N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, welfare is money that is paid by the government to people who are unemployed, poor, or sick. □ States are making deep cuts in welfare. SYNONYMS welfare NOUN 1
wellbeing: I'm concerned for her wellbeing.
good: Furlaud urged him to resign for the good of the country.
interests: Did those directors act in the best interests of their club?
health: Caffeine is bad for your health.
happiness: I think mostly she was looking for happiness.
we l|fare sta te N‑SING In Britain and some other countries, the welfare state is a system in which the government provides free social services such as health and education and gives money to people when they are unable to work, for example because they are old, unemployed, or sick.
well
➊ DISCOURSE USES
➋ ADVERB USES
➌ PHRASES
➍ ADJECTIVE USE
➎ NOUN USES
➏ VERB USES
➊ well ◆◆◆ /we l/ Well is used mainly in spoken English. → Please look at category 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 ADV You say well to indicate that you are about to say something. □ Well, I don't like the look of that.