1 ADJ [ADJ n] Cervical means relating to the cervix. [MEDICAL ] □ …the number of women dying from cervical cancer.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Cervical means relating to the neck. [MEDICAL ] □ …the discs in the upper cervical spine.
cer|vix /sɜː r v I ks/ (cervixes or cervices /sə r va I siːz/) N‑COUNT The cervix is the entrance to the womb. [MEDICAL ]
ces|sa|tion /sese I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] The cessation of something is the stopping of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He would not agree to a cessation of hostilities.
cess|pit /se sp I t/ (cesspits ) N‑COUNT A cesspit is a hole or tank in the ground into which waste water and sewage flow.
cess|pool /se spuːl/ (cesspools ) N‑COUNT A cesspool is the same as a cesspit .
ce|ta|cean /s I te I ʃ ə n/ (cetaceans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Cetaceans are animals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
cet|era → see etcetera
cf. cf. is used in writing to introduce something that should be considered in connection with the subject you are discussing. □ For the more salient remarks on the matter, cf. Isis Unveiled, Vol. I.
CFC /siː ef siː / (CFCs ) N‑COUNT CFCs are gases that were widely used in the past in things such as aerosols and refrigerators and can cause damage to the ozone layer. CFC is an abbreviation for 'chlorofluorocarbon'.
CFS /siː ef e s/ N‑UNCOUNT CFS is an abbreviation for chronic fatigue syndrome .
CGI /siː dʒiː a I / N‑UNCOUNT CGI is a type of computer technology that is used to make special effects in cinema and on television. CGI is an abbreviation for computer-generated imagery . □ He tried to limit the use of CGI in the film, instead building sets.
ch. (chs ) N‑VAR Ch. is a written abbreviation for chapter .
cha-cha /tʃɑː tʃɑː/ (cha-chas ) N‑COUNT A cha-cha is a Latin American dance with small fast steps.
chafe /tʃe I f/ (chafes , chafing , chafed )
1 VERB If your skin chafes or is chafed by something, it becomes sore as a result of something rubbing against it. □ [V n] My shorts were chafing my thighs. □ [V + against ] His wrists began to chafe against the cloth strips binding them. □ [V ] The messenger bent and scratched at his knee where the strapping chafed.
2 VERB [no passive] If you chafe at something such as a restriction, you feel annoyed about it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + at ] He had chafed at having to take orders from another. □ [V + under ] He was chafing under the company's new ownership. [Also V + against ]
chaff /tʃɑː f, tʃæ f/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Chaff is the outer part of grain such as wheat. It is removed before the grain is used as food.
2 PHRASE If you separate the wheat from the chaff or sort the wheat from the chaff , you decide which people or things in a group are good or important and which are not. □ It isn't always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff.
chaf|finch /tʃæ f I ntʃ/ (chaffinches ) N‑COUNT A chaffinch is a small European bird. Male chaffinches have reddish-brown fronts and grey heads.
cha|grin /ʃæ gr I n, [AM ] ʃəgr I n/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] Chagrin is a feeling of disappointment, upset, or annoyance, perhaps because of your own failure. [FORMAL , WRITTEN ] □ Much to his father's chagrin, Al had no taste for further education.
cha|grined /ʃæ gr I nd, [AM ] ʃəgr I nd/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are chagrined by something, it disappoints, upsets, or annoys you, perhaps because of your own failure. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ by ] The chair of the committee did not appear chagrined by the compromises and delays.
chain ◆◇◇ /tʃe I n/ (chains , chaining , chained )
1 N‑COUNT A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line. □ His open shirt revealed a fat gold chain. □ The dogs were leaping and growling at the full stretch of their chains.
2 N‑PLURAL [in N ] If prisoners are in chains , they have thick rings of metal round their wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping. □ He'd spent four and a half years in windowless cells, much of the time in chains.
3 VERB If a person or thing is chained to something, they are fastened to it with a chain. □ [be V -ed + to ] The dog was chained to the leg of the one solid garden seat. □ [V n + to ] She chained her bike to the railings. □ [V -ed] We were sitting together in our cell, chained to the wall. ● PHRASAL VERB Chain up means the same as chain . □ [V n P ] I'll lock the doors and chain you up. □ [V -ed P ] All the rowing boats were chained up. [Also V P n]
4 N‑COUNT A chain of things is a group of them existing or arranged in a line. □ [+ of ] …a chain of islands known as the Windward Islands. □ Students tried to form a human chain around the parliament.
5 N‑COUNT A chain of shops, hotels, or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person or company. □ …a large supermarket chain. □ [+ of ] …Italy's leading chain of cinemas.
6 N‑SING A chain of events is a series of them happening one after another. □ [+ of ] …the bizarre chain of events that led to his departure in January 1938.