noun + allegation : abuse, assault, harassment, racism, rape; bribery, corruption, doping, fraud
adjective + allegation : baseless, false, unfounded, unsubstantiated, untrue; credible, true; unproven; lurid
verb + allegation : deny, dismiss, refute, reject; investigate; make
al|lege /əle dʒ/ (alleges , alleging , alleged ) VERB If you allege that something bad is true, you say it but do not prove it. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] They alleged that the fires were caused by defective machinery. □ [be V -ed to-inf] The accused is alleged to have killed a man. □ [be V -ed that] It was alleged that the restaurant discriminated against black customers. [Also V with quote]
al|leged ◆◆◇ /əle dʒd/ ADJ [ADJ n] An alleged fact has been stated but has not been proved to be true. [FORMAL ] □ They have begun a hunger strike in protest at the alleged beating. ● al|leg|ed|ly /əle dʒ I dli/ ADV □ His van allegedly struck the two as they were crossing a street. SYNONYMS alleged ADJ
apparent: There is at last an apparent end to the destructive price war.
ostensible: The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information.
supposed: …when the rule of law is broken by its supposed guardians.
putative: …a putative father.
al|le|giance /əliː dʒ ə ns/ (allegiances ) N‑VAR Your allegiance is your support for and loyalty to a particular group, person, or belief. □ [+ to ] My allegiance to Kendall and his company ran deep.
al|le|gori|cal /æ l I gɒ r I k ə l, [AM ] -gɔː r-/ ADJ An allegorical story, poem, or painting uses allegory. □ Every Russian knows the allegorical novel The Master And Margarita.
al|le|go|ry /æ l I gəri, [AM ] -gɔːri/ (allegories )
1 N‑COUNT An allegory is a story, poem, or painting in which the characters and events are symbols of something else. Allegories are often moral, religious, or political. □ [+ of ] The book is a kind of allegory of Latin American history.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Allegory is the use of characters and events in a story, poem, or painting to represent other things. □ The poem's comic allegory was transparent.
al|le|gro /əle groʊ/ (allegros ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An allegro is a piece of classical music that should be played quickly and in a lively way.
a ll-embra cing ADJ Something that is all-embracing includes or affects everyone or everything. □ His hospitality was instantaneous and all-embracing.
al|ler|gen /æ lə r dʒen/ (allergens ) N‑COUNT An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in someone. [TECHNICAL ]
al|ler|gic /əlɜː r dʒ I k/
1 ADJ If you are allergic to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it. □ [+ to ] I'm allergic to cats.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you have an allergic reaction to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it. □ Soya milk can cause allergic reactions in some children.
al|ler|gist /æ lə r dʒ I st/ (allergists ) N‑COUNT An allergist is a doctor who specializes in treating people with allergies.
al|ler|gy /æ lə r dʒi/ (allergies ) N‑VAR If you have a particular allergy , you become ill or get a rash when you eat, smell, or touch something that does not normally make people ill. □ Food allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms.
al|le|vi|ate /əliː vie I t/ (alleviates , alleviating , alleviated ) VERB If you alleviate pain, suffering, or an unpleasant condition, you make it less intense or severe. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Nowadays, a great deal can be done to alleviate back pain. ● al|le|via|tion /əliː vie I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Their energies were focussed on the alleviation of the refugees' misery.
al|ley /æ li/ (alleys )
1 N‑COUNT An alley is a narrow passage or street with buildings or walls on both sides.
2 → see also blind alley , bowling alley
a l|ley cat (alley cats ) N‑COUNT An alley cat is a cat that lives in the streets of a town, is rather fierce, and is usually not owned by anyone.
alley|way /æ liwe I / (alleyways ) also alley-way N‑COUNT An alleyway is the same as an alley .
al|li|ance ◆◇◇ /əla I əns/ (alliances )
1 N‑COUNT An alliance is a group of countries or political parties that are formally united and working together because they have similar aims. □ The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in N with n] An alliance is a relationship in which two countries, political parties, or organizations work together for some purpose. □ [+ with/between ] The trend has led to the formation of alliances between online-only retailers and traditional shops.
al|lied ◆◇◇ /æ la I d, [AM ] əla I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Allied forces or troops are armies from different countries who are fighting on the same side in a war. □ …the approaching Allied forces.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Allied countries, troops, or political parties are united by a political or military agreement. □ …forces from three allied nations. [Also + to ]