6 CONVENTION You say why not in order to agree with what someone has suggested. [FORMULAE ] □ 'Want to spend the afternoon with me?'—'Why not?'
7 EXCLAM People say ' Why! ' at the beginning of a sentence when they are surprised, shocked, or angry. [mainly AM , FEELINGS ] □ Why hello, Tom.
8 the whys and wherefores → see wherefores
Wic|ca /w I kə/ N‑PROPER Wicca is a pagan religion that practises witchcraft.
wick /w I k/ (wicks )
1 N‑COUNT The wick of a candle is the piece of string in it which burns when it is lit.
2 N‑COUNT The wick of a paraffin lamp or cigarette lighter is the part which supplies the fuel to the flame when it is lit.
wick|ed /w I k I d/
1 ADJ You use wicked to describe someone or something that is very bad and deliberately harmful to people. □ She described the shooting as a wicked attack. □ She flew at me, shouting how wicked and evil I was.
2 ADJ If you describe someone or something as wicked , you mean that they are rather naughty, but in a way that you find attractive or enjoyable. □ She had a wicked sense of humour.
wick|er /w I kə r / N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Wicker is long thin sticks, stems, or reeds that have been woven together to make things such as baskets and furniture. □ …a wicker basket.
wicker|work /w I kə r wɜː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Wickerwork is the same as wicker .
wick|et ◆◇◇ /w I k I t/ (wickets )
1 N‑COUNT In cricket, a wicket is a set of three upright sticks with two small sticks on top of them at which the ball is bowled. There are two wickets on a cricket pitch.
2 N‑COUNT In cricket, a wicket is the area of grass in between the two wickets on the pitch.
3 N‑COUNT In cricket, when a wicket falls or is taken, a batsman is out.
wicket|keeper /w I k I tkiːpə r / (wicketkeepers ) also wicket-keeper N‑COUNT A wicketkeeper is the player in a cricket team who stands behind the wicket in order to stop balls that the batsman misses or to catch balls that the batsman hits.
wide ◆◆◆ /wa I d/ (wider , widest )
1 ADJ Something that is wide measures a large distance from one side or edge to the other. □ All worktops should be wide enough to allow plenty of space for food preparation. □ …a wide-brimmed sunhat.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wide smile is one in which your mouth is stretched because you are very pleased or amused. □ It brought a wide smile to his face and laughter to his eyes. ● wide|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He was grinning widely, waving to her as he ran.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ n] If you open or spread something wide , you open or spread it as far as possible or to the fullest extent. □ 'It was huge,' he announced, spreading his arms wide. □ His eyes were wide in disbelief.
4 ADJ [as ADJ as ] You use wide to talk or ask about how much something measures from one side or edge to the other. □ …a corridor of land 10 kilometres wide. □ The road is only one track wide. □ …a desk that was almost as wide as the room.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use wide to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people. □ The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels, apartments and holiday homes. □ The proposed constitution gives him much wider powers than his predecessor. ● wide|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □ He published widely in scientific journals. □ He was widely travelled.
6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use wide to say that something is found, believed, known, or supported by many people or throughout a large area. □ The case has attracted wide publicity. □ I suspect this book will have the widest appeal of all. ● wide|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ At present, no widely approved vaccine exists for malaria.
7 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wide difference or gap between two things, ideas, or qualities is a large difference or gap. □ Research shows a wide difference in tastes around the country. ● wide|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV adj] □ The treatment regime may vary widely depending on the type of injury.
8 ADJ [ADJ n] Wider is used to describe something which relates to the most important or general parts of a situation, rather than to the smaller parts or to details. □ He emphasised the wider issue of superpower cooperation.
9 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something such as a shot or punch is wide , it does not hit its target but lands to the right or left of it. □ Nearly half the missiles landed wide.
10 wide awake
11 far and wide → see far
12 wide of the mark → see mark
13 wide open → see open
-wide /-wa I d/ COMB -wide combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something exists or happens throughout the place or area that the noun refers to. □ …a Europe-wide conference on security and cooperation. □ Is the problem one that's industry-wide? ● COMB [n ADV , ADV after v] -wide also combines to form adverbs. □ Employers want to be sure recruits understand business Europe-wide.
wi de-angle le ns (wide-angle lenses ) N‑COUNT A wide-angle lens is a lens which allows you to photograph a wider view than a normal lens.
wi de awa ke ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are wide awake , you are completely awake. □ I could not relax and still felt wide awake.