2 N‑COUNT A gas cylinder is a cylinder-shaped container in which gas is kept under pressure. □ …oxygen cylinders.
3 N‑COUNT In an engine, a cylinder is a cylinder-shaped part in which a piston moves backwards and forwards. □ …a 2.5 litre, four-cylinder engine.
cy|lin|dri|cal /s I l I ndr I k ə l/ ADJ Something that is cylindrical is in the shape of a cylinder. □ …a cylindrical aluminium container. □ It is cylindrical in shape.
cym|bal /s I mb ə l/ (cymbals ) N‑COUNT A cymbal is a flat circular brass object that is used as a musical instrument. You hit it with a stick or hit two cymbals together, making a loud noise.
cyn|ic /s I n I k/ (cynics ) N‑COUNT A cynic is someone who believes that people always act selfishly. □ I have come to be very much of a cynic in these matters.
cyni|cal /s I n I k ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as cynical , you mean they believe that people always act selfishly. □ …his cynical view of the world. ● cyni|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ As one former customer said cynically, 'He's probably pocketed the difference!'
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are cynical about something, you do not believe that it can be successful or that the people involved are honest. □ [+ about ] It's hard not to be cynical about reform.
cyni|cal|ly /s I n I kli/
1 ADV If you say that someone is cynically doing something, you mean they are doing it to benefit themselves and they do not care that they are deceiving, harming, or using people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He accused the mainstream political parties of cynically exploiting this situation.
2 → see also cynical
cyni|cism /s I n I s I zəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Cynicism is the belief that people always act selfishly. □ I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Cynicism about something is the belief that it cannot be successful or that the people involved are not honourable. □ [+ about ] This talk betrays a certain cynicism about free trade.
cy|pher /sa I fə r / → see cipher
cy|press /sa I prəs/ (cypresses ) N‑VAR A cypress or a cypress tree is a type of conifer .
Cyp|ri|ot /s I priət/ (Cypriots )
1 ADJ Cypriot means belonging or relating to Cyprus, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Cypriot is a Cypriot citizen, or a person of Cypriot origin.
Cy|ril|lic /s I r I l I k/ also cyrillic ADJ [ADJ n] The Cyrillic alphabet is the alphabet that is used to write some Slavonic languages, such as Russian and Bulgarian.
cyst /s I st/ (cysts ) N‑COUNT A cyst is a growth containing liquid that appears inside your body or under your skin. □ He had a minor operation to remove a cyst.
cyst|ic fi|bro|sis /s I st I k fa I broʊ s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Cystic fibrosis is a serious disease of the glands which usually affects children and can make breathing difficult.
cys|ti|tis /s I sta I t I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Cystitis is a bladder infection. [MEDICAL ] □ …an attack of cystitis.
czar /zɑː r / → see tsar
cza|ri|na /zɑːriː nə/ → see tsarina
czar|ist /zɑː r I st/ → see tsarist
Czech /tʃe k/ (Czechs )
1 ADJ Czech means belonging or relating to the Czech Republic, or to its people, language, or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Czech is a person who comes from the Czech Republic.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Czech is the language spoken in the Czech Republic.
Czecho|slo|vak /tʃe kəsloʊ væk/ (Czechoslovaks )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Czechoslovak means belonging or relating to the former state of Czechoslovakia.
2 N‑COUNT A Czechoslovak was a person who came from Czechoslovakia.
Czecho|slo|va|kian /tʃe kəsləvæ kiən/ (Czechoslovakians )
1 ADJ Czechoslovakian means the same as Czechoslovak .
2 N‑COUNT A Czechoslovakian was a person who came from Czechoslovakia.
Dd
D , d /diː / (D's, d's ) N‑VAR D is the fourth letter of the English alphabet.
d' /d-/ → see d'you
-'d Pronounced /-d/ after a vowel sound and /-əd/ after a consonant sound. 1 -'d is a spoken form of 'had', especially when 'had' is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'you had' can be shortened to 'you'd'.
2 -'d is a spoken form of 'would'. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'I would' can be shortened to 'I'd'.
D.A. /diː e I / (D.A.s ) N‑COUNT A D.A. is a District Attorney . [AM ]
dab /dæ b/ (dabs , dabbing , dabbed )
1 VERB If you dab something, you touch it several times using quick, light movements. If you dab a substance onto a surface, you put it there using quick, light movements. □ [V n] She arrived weeping, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. □ [V n prep/adv] She dabbed iodine on the cuts on her forehead. □ [V + at ] He dabbed at his lips with the napkin. [Also V ]
2 N‑COUNT A dab of something is a small amount of it that is put onto a surface. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a dab of glue.
3 N‑VAR A dab is a small flat fish with rough scales.