Whig / h w I g/ (Whigs )
1 N‑COUNT A Whig was a member of a British political party in the 18th and 19th centuries that was in favour of political and social changes. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT In the American Revolution, a Whig was an American who supported the revolution against the British. [AM ]
3 N‑COUNT A Whig was a member of an American political party in the 19th century that wanted to limit the powers of the President. [AM ]
while
➊ CONJUNCTION USES
➋ NOUN AND VERB USES
➊ while ◆◆◆ / h wa I l/ The form whilst is also used in formal or literary English, especially British English. 1 CONJ If something happens while something else is happening, the two things are happening at the same time. □ Racing was halted for an hour while the track was repaired. □ Her parents could help with child care while she works.
2 CONJ If something happens while something else happens, the first thing happens at some point during the time that the second thing is happening. □ The two ministers have yet to meet, but may do so while in New York. □ Never apply water to a burn while the casualty is still in contact with electric current.
3 CONJ You use while at the beginning of a clause to introduce information which contrasts with information in the main clause. □ The first two services are free, while the third costs £35.00.
4 CONJ You use while , before making a statement, in order to introduce information that partly conflicts with your statement. □ While the numbers of such developments are relatively small, the potential market is large. □ While the news, so far, has been good, there may be days ahead when it is bad.
➋ while ◆◆◇ / h wa I l/ (whiles , whiling , whiled )
→ Please look at categories 3 and 4 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 N‑SING A while is a period of time. □ They walked on in silence for a while. □ He was married a little while ago. □ Working at low intensity means that you can continue to perform the activity for a long while.
2 PHRASE You use all the while in order to say that something happens continually or that it happens throughout the time when something else is happening. □ All the while the people at the next table watched me eat.
3 once in a while → see once
4 worth your while → see worth
▸ while away PHRASAL VERB If you while away the time in a particular way, you spend time in that way, because you are waiting for something else to happen, or because you have nothing else to do. □ [V P n] Miss Bennett whiled away the hours watching old films. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS while CONJ ➊3
though: He's very attractive, though certainly not a ladykiller.
although: Although the shooting has stopped for now, the destruction left behind is enormous.
despite the fact that: She criticized the film despite the fact that she hadn't seen it.
whilst ◆◇◇ / h wa I lst/ CONJ Whilst means the same as the conjunction while . [mainly BRIT , FORMAL or LITERARY ]
whim / h w I m/ (whims ) N‑VAR [oft on/at N ] A whim is a wish to do or have something which seems to have no serious reason or purpose behind it, and often occurs suddenly. □ We decided, more or less on a whim, to sail to Morocco. □ [+ of ] The premium can increase at the whim of the insurers.
whim|per / h w I mpə r / (whimpers , whimpering , whimpered )
1 VERB If someone whimpers , they make quiet unhappy or frightened sounds, as if they are about to start crying. □ [V ] She lay at the bottom of the stairs, whimpering in pain. □ [V -ing] He made another pathetic whimpering sound. ● N‑COUNT Whimper is also a noun. □ David's crying subsided to a whimper.
2 VERB If someone whimpers something, they say it in an unhappy or frightened way. □ [V with quote] 'Let me go,' she whimpered. 'You're hurting me.' □ [V n] She whimpered something inaudible.
whim|si|cal / h w I mz I k ə l/ ADJ A whimsical person or idea is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than serious and practical. □ McGrath remembers his offbeat sense of humor, his whimsical side.
whim|sy / h w I mzi/ also whimsey N‑UNCOUNT Whimsy is behaviour which is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than having any serious reason or purpose behind it.
whine / h wa I n/ (whines , whining , whined )
1 VERB If something or someone whines , they make a long, high-pitched noise, especially one which sounds sad or unpleasant. □ [V ] He could hear her dog barking and whining in the background. □ [V ] The engines whined. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Whine is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the whine of air-raid sirens.
2 VERB If you say that someone is whining , you mean that they are complaining in an annoying way about something unimportant. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + about ] They come to me to whine about their troubles. □ [V that] …children who whine that they are bored. □ [V with quote] 'Why can't you tell me?' I whined.
whinge / h w I ndʒ/ (whinges , whingeing or whinging , whinged ) VERB If you say that someone is whingeing , you mean that they are complaining in an annoying way about something unimportant. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] All she ever does is whinge and complain. [Also V with quote]