co|gno|scen|ti /kɒ njəʃe nti/ N‑PLURAL [oft n N ] The cognoscenti are the people who know a lot about a particular subject. [FORMAL ] □ She has an international reputation among film cognoscenti.
co|hab|it /koʊhæ b I t/ (cohabits , cohabiting , cohabited ) VERB If two people are cohabiting , they are living together and have a sexual relationship, but are not married. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] In Italy people hardly ever cohabit. □ [V + with ] …a study of 616 adults who have cohabited with a partner during the past ten years. □ [V ] The number of couples who cohabit is rising dramatically. ● co|habi|ta|tion /koʊhæ b I te I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ The decline in marriage has been offset by a rise in cohabitation.
co|here /koʊh I ə r / (coheres , cohering , cohered ) VERB If the different elements of a piece of writing, a piece of music, or a set of ideas cohere , they fit together well so that they form a united whole. □ [V ] The various elements of the novel fail to cohere. □ [V + with ] This coheres with Peel's championing of alternative music. □ [V ] The empire could not cohere as a legitimate whole.
co|her|ence /koʊh I ə rəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Coherence is a state or situation in which all the parts or ideas fit together well so that they form a united whole. □ The anthology has a surprising sense of coherence.
co|her|ent /koʊh I ə rənt/
1 ADJ If something is coherent , it is well planned, so that it is clear and sensible and all its parts go well with each other. □ He has failed to work out a coherent strategy for modernising the service. □ The President's policy is perfectly coherent. ● co|her|ence N‑UNCOUNT □ The campaign was widely criticised for making tactical mistakes and for a lack of coherence.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is coherent , they express their thoughts in a clear and calm way, so that other people can understand what they are saying. □ He's so calm when he answers questions in interviews. I wish I could be that coherent. ● co|her|ence N‑UNCOUNT □ She lost consciousness and when she came round she still lacked coherence and focus.
co|he|sion /koʊhiː ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If there is cohesion within a society, organization, or group, the different members fit together well and form a united whole. □ [+ of ] The cohesion of the armed forces was rapidly breaking down.
co|he|sive /koʊhiː s I v/ ADJ Something that is cohesive consists of parts that fit together well and form a united whole. □ Huston had assembled a remarkably cohesive and sympathetic cast.
co|hort /koʊ hɔː r t/ (cohorts ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A person's cohorts are their friends, supporters, or associates. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Drake and his cohorts were not pleased with my appointment.
coiffed /kwɑː ft/ ADJ [usu adv ADJ ] If someone has neatly coiffed hair, their hair is very carefully arranged. [FORMAL ] □ Her hair was perfectly coiffed.
coif|fure /kwɑːfjʊə r / (coiffures ) N‑COUNT A person's coiffure is their hairstyle. [FORMAL ] □ …her immaculate golden coiffure.
coif|fured /kwɑːfjʊə r d/ ADJ [usu adv ADJ ] Coiffured means the same as coiffed . [FORMAL ]
coil /kɔ I l/ (coils , coiling , coiled )
1 N‑COUNT A coil of rope or wire is a length of it that has been wound into a series of loops. □ [+ of ] Tod shook his head angrily and slung the coil of rope over his shoulder. □ The steel arrives at the factory in coils.
2 N‑COUNT A coil is one loop in a series of loops. □ Pythons kill by tightening their coils so that their victim cannot breathe.
3 N‑COUNT A coil is a thick spiral of wire through which an electrical current passes.
4 N‑COUNT The coil is a contraceptive device used by women. It is fitted inside a woman's womb, usually for several months or years.
5 VERB If you coil something, you wind it into a series of loops or into the shape of a ring. If it coils around something, it forms loops or a ring. □ [V n] He turned off the water and began to coil the hose. □ [V -ed] A huge rattlesnake lay coiled on the blanket. ● PHRASAL VERB Coil up means the same as coil . □ [V n P ] Once we have the wire, we can coil it up into the shape of a spring. □ [V -ed P ] Her hair was coiled up on top of her head. [Also V P n]
coiled /kɔ I ld/ ADJ [ADJ n] Coiled means in the form of a series of loops. □ …a heavy coiled spring. □ …special coiled kettle flexes.
coin /kɔ I n/ (coins , coining , coined )
1 N‑COUNT A coin is a small piece of metal which is used as money. □ …50 pence coins. □ …Frederick's gold coin collection.
2 VERB If you coin a word or a phrase, you are the first person to say it. □ [V n] Jaron Lanier coined the term 'virtual reality' and pioneered its early development.
3 PHRASE You say ' to coin a phrase ' to show that you realize you are making a pun or using a cliché. □ Fifty local musicians have, to coin a phrase, banded together to form the Jazz Umbrella.
4 PHRASE You use the other side of the coin to mention a different aspect of a situation. □ Low pay is the other side of the coin of falling unemployment.
coin|age /kɔ I n I dʒ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Coinage is the coins which are used in a country. □ …the world's finest collection of medieval European coinage.