you ng gu n (young guns ) N‑COUNT [oft plural] You can use young guns to talk about people, especially young men, who have lots of energy and talent, and are becoming very successful. [JOURNALISM ] □ He may have been eclipsed by the young guns, but his films are still very popular.
young|ish /jʌ ŋ I ʃ/ ADJ A youngish person is fairly young. □ …a smart, dark-haired, youngish man.
young|ster ◆◇◇ /jʌ ŋstə r / (youngsters ) N‑COUNT Young people, especially children, are sometimes referred to as youngsters . □ Other youngsters are not so lucky. □ I was only a youngster in 1935. SYNONYMS youngster NOUN
adolescent: Young adolescents are happiest with small groups of close friends.
youth: …gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops.
teenager: As a teenager he attended Tulse Hill Senior High School.
juvenile: The number of juveniles in the general population has fallen.
your ◆◆◆ /jɔː r , jʊə r / Your is the second person possessive determiner. Your can refer to one or more people. 1 DET A speaker or writer uses your to indicate that something belongs or relates to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. □ Emma, I trust your opinion a great deal. □ I left all of your messages on your desk. □ If you are unable to obtain the information you require, consult your telephone directory.
2 DET In spoken English and informal written English, your is sometimes used to indicate that something belongs to or relates to people in general. □ Pain-killers are very useful in small amounts to bring your temperature down. □ I then realized how possible it was to overcome your limitations.
3 DET In spoken English, a speaker sometimes uses your before an adjective such as 'typical' or 'normal' to indicate that the thing referred to is a typical example of its type. □ Stan Reilly is not really one of your typical Brighton Boys.
you're /jɔː r , jʊə r / You're is the usual spoken form of 'you are'. □ Go to him, tell him you're sorry. □ I think you're expecting too much of me.
yours ◆◇◇ /jɔ ː r z, jʊə r z/ Yours is the second person possessive pronoun. Yours can refer to one or more people. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses yours to refer to something that belongs or relates to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. □ I'll take my coat upstairs. Shall I take yours, Roberta? □ I believe Paul was a friend of yours. □ If yours is a high-stress job, it is important that you learn how to cope.
2 CONVENTION People write yours , yours sincerely , or yours faithfully at the end of a letter before they sign their name. □ With best regards, Yours, George. □ Yours faithfully, Michael Moore, London Business School.
3 yours truly → see truly
your|self ◆◆◇ /jɔː r se lf, jʊə r -/ (yourselves ) Yourself is the second person reflexive pronoun. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses yourself to refer to the person that they are talking or writing to. Yourself is used when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same person as the subject of the verb. □ Have the courage to be honest with yourself and about yourself. □ Your baby depends on you to look after yourself properly while you are pregnant. □ Treat yourselves to a massage to help you relax at the end of the day.
2 PRON You use yourself to emphasize the person that you are referring to. [EMPHASIS ] □ They mean to share the business between them, after you yourself are gone, Sir. □ I've been wondering if you yourselves have any idea why she came.
3 PRON You use yourself instead of 'you' for emphasis or in order to be more polite when 'you' is the object of a verb or preposition. [POLITENESS ] □ A wealthy man like yourself is bound to make an enemy or two along the way.
4 by yourself → see by
youth ◆◆◇ /juː θ/ (youths /juː ðz/)
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's youth is the period of their life during which they are a child, before they are a fully mature adult. □ In my youth my ambition had been to be an inventor. □ …the comic books of my youth.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Youth is the quality or state of being young. □ Gregory was still enchanted with Shannon's youth and joy and beauty. □ The team is now a good mixture of experience and youth.
3 N‑COUNT Journalists often refer to young men as youths , especially when they are reporting that the young men have caused trouble. □ …gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops.
4 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] The youth are young people considered as a group. □ [+ of ] He represents the opinions of the youth of today.
you th club (youth clubs ) N‑COUNT A youth club is a club where young people can go to meet each other and take part in various leisure activities. Youth clubs are often run by a church or local authority. □ …the youth club disco.
youth|ful /juː θfʊl/ ADJ Someone who is youthful behaves as if they are young or younger than they really are. □ I'm a very youthful 50. □ …youthful enthusiasm and high spirits.
you th hos|tel (youth hostels ) N‑COUNT A youth hostel is a place where people can stay cheaply when they are travelling.
you th work|er (youth workers ) N‑COUNT A youth worker is a person whose job involves providing support and social activities for young people, especially young people from poor backgrounds. [mainly BRIT ]
you've /juːv/ You've is the usual spoken form of 'you have', especially when 'have' is an auxiliary verb. □ Now you've got your degree, what will you do? □ Many of the fruits you've tasted on your holidays can be found in supermarkets.