ca se hi s|to|ry (case histories ) N‑COUNT A person's case history is the record of past events or problems that have affected them, especially their medical history. □ I took her to a homoeopath, who started by taking a very long and detailed case history.
ca se law N‑UNCOUNT Case law is law that has been established by following decisions made by judges in earlier cases. [LEGAL ]
case|load /ke I sloʊd/ (caseloads ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The caseload of someone such as a doctor, social worker, or lawyer is the number of cases that they have to deal with. □ Social workers say the average caseload is 32 families per employee.
case|ment /ke I smənt/ (casements ) N‑COUNT A casement or a casement window is a window that opens by means of hinges, usually at the side. [WRITTEN ]
case-se nsitive ADJ In computing, if a written word such as a password is case-sensitive , it must be written in a particular form, for example using all capital letters or all small letters, in order for the computer to recognize it. [COMPUTING ]
ca se study (case studies ) N‑COUNT A case study is a written account that gives detailed information about a person, group, or thing and their development over a period of time. □ [+ of ] …a large case study of malaria in West African children.
case|work /ke I swɜː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Casework is social work that involves actually dealing or working with the people who need help.
case|worker /ke I swɜː r kə r / (caseworkers ) N‑COUNT A caseworker is someone who does casework.
cash ◆◆◇ /kæ ʃ/ (cashes , cashing , cashed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Cash is money in the form of notes and coins rather than cheques. □ …two thousand pounds in cash.
2 → see also hard cash , petty cash
3 N‑UNCOUNT Cash means the same as money, especially money which is immediately available. [INFORMAL ] □ …a state-owned financial-services group with plenty of cash.
▸ cash in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone cashes in on a situation, you are criticizing them for using it to gain an advantage, often in an unfair or dishonest way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P + on ] Residents said local gang leaders had cashed in on the violence to seize valuable land.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you cash in something such as an insurance policy, you exchange it for money. □ [V P n] Avoid cashing in a policy early as you could lose out heavily. □ [V P n] He did not cash in his shares. [Also V n P ]
ca sh-and-ca rry (cash-and-carries ) N‑COUNT A cash-and-carry is a large shop where you can buy goods in larger quantities and at lower prices than in ordinary shops. Cash-and-carries are mainly used by people in business to buy goods for their shops or companies.
ca sh card (cash cards ) also cashcard N‑COUNT A cash card is a card that banks give to their customers so that they can get money out of a cash dispenser. [BRIT ]
ca sh cow (cash cows ) N‑COUNT In business, a cash cow is a product or investment that steadily continues to be profitable. [BUSINESS ]
ca sh crop (cash crops ) N‑COUNT A cash crop is a crop that is grown in order to be sold. □ Cranberries have become a major cash crop.
ca sh desk (cash desks ) N‑COUNT A cash desk is a place in a large shop where you pay for the things you want to buy. [BRIT ] in AM, use cashier's desk
ca sh dis|pens|er (cash dispensers ) N‑COUNT A cash dispenser is a machine built into the wall of a bank or other building, which allows people to take out money from their bank account using a special card. [BRIT ] in AM, use ATM
cash|ew /kæ ʃuː, kæʃuː / (cashews ) N‑COUNT A cashew or a cashew nut is a curved nut that you can eat.
ca sh flow also cashflow N‑UNCOUNT The cash flow of a firm or business is the movement of money into and out of it. [BUSINESS ] □ Some construction firms fell into administration after suffering cashflow problems.
cash|ier /kæʃ I ə r / (cashiers ) N‑COUNT A cashier is a person who customers pay money to or get money from in places such as shops or banks.
cash|ie r's check (cashier's checks ) N‑COUNT A cashier's check is one which a cashier signs and which is drawn on a bank's own funds. [AM ]
cash|ie r's desk (cashier's desks ) N‑COUNT A cashier's desk is the same as a cash desk . [AM ]
cash|less /kæ ʃləs/ ADJ Cashless payments are made using cards or electronic methods rather than physical money. □ The school café uses a cashless system.
cash|mere /kæ ʃm I ə r , [AM ] kæ ʒm I r/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Cashmere is a kind of very fine, soft wool. □ …a big soft cashmere sweater.
cash|point /kæ ʃpɔ I nt/ (cashpoints ) N‑COUNT A cashpoint is the same as a cash dispenser . [BRIT ] in AM, use ATM
ca sh reg|is|ter (cash registers ) N‑COUNT A cash register is a machine in a shop, pub, or restaurant that is used to add up and record how much money people pay, and in which the money is kept.
ca sh-starved ADJ [usu ADJ n] A cash-starved company or organization does not have enough money to operate properly, usually because another organization, such as the government, is not giving them the money that they need. [BUSINESS , JOURNALISM ] □ …cash-starved councils forced to cut back on vital services.
ca sh-strapped ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a person or organization is cash-strapped , they do not have enough money to buy or pay for the things they want or need. [JOURNALISM ] □ …cash-strapped students.