ci|gar /s I gɑː r / (cigars ) N‑COUNT Cigars are rolls of dried tobacco leaves which people smoke. □ He was sitting alone smoking a big cigar.
ciga|rette ◆◇◇ /s I gəre t/ (cigarettes ) N‑COUNT Cigarettes are small tubes of paper containing tobacco which people smoke. □ He went out to buy a packet of cigarettes.
ciga|re tte butt (cigarette butts ) in BRIT, also use cigarette end N‑COUNT A cigarette butt or a cigarette end is the part of a cigarette that you throw away when you have finished smoking it.
ciga|re tte hold|er (cigarette holders ) also cigarette-holder N‑COUNT A cigarette holder is a narrow tube that you can put a cigarette into in order to hold it while you smoke it.
ciga|re tte light|er (cigarette lighters ) N‑COUNT A cigarette lighter is a device which produces a small flame when you press a switch and which you use to light a cigarette or cigar.
cig|gy /s I gi/ (ciggies ) also ciggie N‑COUNT A ciggy is a cigarette. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
C -in-C N‑SING A C-in-C is the same as a commander-in-chief .
cinch /s I ntʃ/ N‑SING If you say that something is a cinch , you mean that you think it is very easy to do. [INFORMAL ] □ It sounds difficult, but compared to full-time work it was a cinch.
cin|der block /s I ndə r blɒk/ (cinder blocks ) also cinderblock N‑COUNT [oft N n] A cinder block is a large grey brick made from coal cinders and cement which is used for building. [AM ] in BRIT, use breeze-block
Cinderella /s I ndəre lə/ (Cinderellas ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft N n] If you describe a person or organization as a Cinderella , you mean that they receive very little attention and that they deserve to receive more. □ [+ of ] It is a Cinderella of charities, and needs more help.
cin|ders /s I ndə r z/ N‑PLURAL Cinders are the black pieces that are left after something such as wood or coal has burned away. □ The wind sent sparks and cinders flying.
cine /s I ni/ ADJ [ADJ n] Cine is used to refer to things that are used in or connected with the making or showing of films. □ …a cine camera. □ …a cine projector.
cin|ema ◆◇◇ /s I n I mə/ (cinemas )
1 N‑COUNT A cinema is a place where people go to watch films for entertainment. [mainly BRIT ] □ The country has relatively few cinemas. in AM, usually use movie theater , movie house 2 N‑SING You can talk about the cinema when you are talking about seeing a film in a cinema. [mainly BRIT ] □ I can't remember the last time we went to the cinema. in AM, usually use the movies 3 N‑UNCOUNT Cinema is the business and art of making films. □ Contemporary African cinema has much to offer in its vitality and freshness.
cin|emat|ic /s I n I mæ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Cinematic means relating to films made for the cinema. □ …a genuine cinematic masterpiece.
cin|ema|tog|ra|pher /s I n I mətɒ grəfə r / (cinematographers ) N‑COUNT A cinematographer is a person who decides what filming techniques should be used during the shooting of a film.
cin|ema|tog|ra|phy /s I n I mətɒ grəfi/ N‑UNCOUNT Cinematography is the technique of making films for the cinema. □ …an admirer of Arthur Jafa's breathtaking cinematography.
cin|na|mon /s I nəmən/ N‑UNCOUNT Cinnamon is a sweet spice used for flavouring food.
ci|pher /sa I fə r / (ciphers ) also cypher N‑COUNT A cipher is a secret system of writing that you use to send messages. □ …converting their messages into ciphers. □ During World War II he worked as a cipher clerk.
cir|ca /sɜː r kə/ PREP Circa is used in front of a particular year to say that this is the approximate date when something happened or was made. [FORMAL ] □ The story tells of a runaway slave girl in Louisiana, circa 1850.
cir|cle ◆◆◇ /sɜː r k ə l/ (circles , circling , circled )
1 N‑COUNT A circle is a shape consisting of a curved line completely surrounding an area. Every part of the line is the same distance from the centre of the area. □ The flag was red, with a large white circle in the centre. □ I wrote down the number 46 and drew a circle around it.
2 N‑COUNT A circle of something is a round flat piece or area of it. □ [+ of ] Cut out 4 circles of pastry. □ [+ of ] …a circle of yellow light.
3 N‑COUNT A circle of objects or people is a group of them arranged in the shape of a circle. □ [+ of ] The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones. □ We stood in a circle holding hands.
4 VERB If something circles an object or a place, or circles around it, it forms a circle around it. □ [V n] This is the ring road that circles the city. □ [V + around/round ] …the long curving driveway that circled around the vast clipped lawn.
5 VERB If an aircraft or a bird circles or circles something, it moves round in a circle in the air. □ [V ] The plane circled, awaiting permission to land. □ [V adv/prep] There were two helicopters circling around. □ [V n] …like a hawk circling prey.
6 VERB To circle around someone or something, or to circle them, means to move around them. □ [V + around/round ] Emily kept circling around her mother. □ [V n] The silent wolves would track and circle them.