we ll-mea nt also well meant ADJ A well-meant decision, action, or comment is intended to be helpful or kind but is unsuccessful or causes problems. □ Any decision taken by them now, however well-meant, could complicate the peace process. □ …a well-meant experiment gone wrong.
well|ness /we lnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Your wellness is how healthy you are, and how well and happy you feel.
we ll-ni gh also well nigh ADV [ADV adj] Well-nigh means almost, but not completely or exactly. □ Finding a rug that's just the colour, size and price you want can be well-nigh impossible.
we ll-o ff also well off ADJ Someone who is well-off is rich enough to be able to do and buy most of the things that they want. [INFORMAL ] □ My grandparents were quite well-off. ● N‑PLURAL The well-off are people who are well-off. □ …higher tax rates on the well-off.
we ll-oi led ADJ [ADJ n] Journalists sometimes refer to a system or organization that is operating very efficiently as a well-oiled machine. □ …a well-oiled publicity machine.
we ll-pai d also well paid ADJ If you say that a person or their job is well-paid , you mean that they receive a lot of money for the work that they do. □ Kate was well paid and enjoyed her job. □ I have an interesting, well-paid job, with opportunities to travel.
we ll-prese rved also well preserved
1 ADJ If you describe a middle-aged or old person as well-preserved , you mean that they look good for their age. □ Annie is a well-preserved 50-year-old.
2 ADJ A well-preserved object or building does not show any signs of its age. □ …well-preserved fossils.
well-read /we l re d/ also well read ADJ A well-read person has read a lot of books and has learned a lot from them. □ He was clever, well-read and interested in the arts.
we ll-rou nded → see rounded
we ll-spo ken also well spoken ADJ A well-spoken person speaks in a polite correct way and with an accent which is considered socially acceptable. □ I remember her as a quiet, hard-working and well-spoken girl.
we ll-thu mbed ADJ A book or magazine that is well-thumbed is creased and marked because it has been read so often.
we ll-ti med also well timed ADJ A well-timed action or comment is done or made at the most appropriate or suitable time. □ He built the company through a string of well-timed acquisitions. □ One well-timed word from you will be all it needs.
we ll-to-do ADJ A well-to-do person is rich enough to be able to do and buy most of the things that they want. □ …a rather well-to-do family of diamond cutters. □ …two well-educated girls from well-to-do homes. ● N‑PLURAL The well-to-do are people who are well-to-do. □ …a firm that installed stereo equipment in homes of the well-to-do.
we ll-tra velled in AM, use well-traveled ADJ A well-travelled person has travelled a lot in foreign countries.
we ll-trie d also well tried ADJ A well-tried treatment, product, or method is one that has been used many times before and so is known to work well or to be successful. □ There are a number of well-tried remedies which are perfectly safe to take.
we ll-tro dden
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A well-trodden path is used regularly by a large number of people, and therefore looks worn and is easy to see. □ He made his way along a well-trodden path towards the shed.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use well-trodden , especially in expressions such as a well-trodden path and well-trodden ground , to indicate that a plan or course of action has been tried by a lot of people and so the result of it is easy to predict. □ Political power has long been a well-trodden path to personal wealth. □ These working parties will be going over well-trodden ground.
we ll ve rsed also well-versed ADJ If someone is well versed in a particular subject, they know a lot about it. □ [+ in ] Page is well versed in many styles of jazz.
we ll-wisher (well-wishers ) also wellwisher N‑COUNT [usu pl] Well-wishers are people who hope that a particular person or thing will be successful, and who show this by their behaviour. □ The main street was lined with well-wishers.
we ll-wo rn also well worn
1 ADJ A well-worn expression, remark, or idea has been used so often that it no longer seems to have much meaning or to be interesting. □ To use a well-worn cliche, it is packed with information.
2 ADJ A well-worn object or piece of clothing has been worn or used so frequently that it looks rather old and untidy. □ …well-worn brown shoes.
wel|ly /we li/ (wellies ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Wellies are long rubber boots which you wear to keep your feet dry. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
welsh /we lʃ/ → see welch
Welsh
1 ADJ Welsh means belonging or relating to Wales, or to its people, language, or culture. ● N‑PLURAL The Welsh are the people of Wales.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Welsh is the language that is spoken in some parts of Wales.
Welsh|man /we lʃmən/ (Welshmen ) N‑COUNT A Welshman is a man who was born in Wales and considers himself to be Welsh.
welt /we lt/ (welts ) N‑COUNT A welt is a mark which is made on someone's skin, usually by a blow from something such as a whip or sword.
wel|ter /we ltə r / QUANT A welter of something is a large quantity of it which occurs suddenly or in a confusing way. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] …patients with a welter of confusing symptoms. □ [+ of ] …the welter of publicity that followed his engagement.