▸ ease up
1 PHRASAL VERB If something eases up , it is reduced in degree, speed, or intensity. □ [V P ] The rain had eased up.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you ease up , you start to make less effort. □ [V P ] He told supporters not to ease up even though he's leading in the presidential race.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you ease up on someone or something, your behaviour or attitude towards them becomes less severe or strict. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P + on ] Officials have eased up on the press restrictions. COLLOCATIONS ease NOUN 2
adjective + ease : apparent, comparative, consummate, relative VERB
4
ease + noun : burden, congestion, pain, pressure
noun + ease : pain, tension; rain
ease + adverb : gradually, slightly, somewhat
5
ease + adverb : gently, slowly
easel /iː z ə l/ (easels ) N‑COUNT An easel is a wooden frame that supports a picture which an artist is painting or drawing.
easi|ly ◆◇◇ /iː z I li/
1 ADV [oft ADV n/adj] You use easily to emphasize that something is very likely to happen, or is very likely to be true. [EMPHASIS ] □ It could easily be another year before the economy starts to show some improvement.
2 ADV [ADV after v] You use easily to say that something happens more quickly or more often than is usual or normal. □ He had always cried very easily.
3 → see also easy
east ◆◆◆ /iː st/ also East
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] The east is the direction which you look towards in the morning in order to see the sun rise. □ [+ of ] …the vast swamps which lie to the east of the River Nile. □ The principal range runs east to west.
2 N‑SING The east of a place, country, or region is the part which is in the east. □ [+ of ] …a village in the east of the country.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you go east , you travel towards the east. □ To drive, go east on Route 9.
4 ADV Something that is east of a place is positioned to the east of it. □ [+ of ] …just east of the center of town.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] The east edge, corner, or part of a place or country is the part which is towards the east. □ …a low line of hills running along the east coast.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] East is used in the names of some countries, states, and regions in the east of a larger area □ He had been on safari in East Africa with his son.
7 ADJ An east wind is a wind that blows from the east.
8 N‑SING The East is used to refer to the southern and eastern part of Asia, including India, China, and Japan. □ Every so often, a new martial art arrives from the East.
9 → see also Far East , Middle East
east|bound /iː stbaʊnd/ ADJ [ADJ n] Eastbound roads or vehicles lead to or are travelling towards the east. [FORMAL ] □ He caught an eastbound train to Tottenham Court Road.
East|er /iː stə r / (Easters ) N‑VAR [oft N n] Easter is a Christian festival when Jesus Christ's return to life is celebrated. It is celebrated on a Sunday in March or April. □ 'Happy Easter,' he yelled. □ …the first Easter morning.
E a st|er egg (Easter eggs ) N‑COUNT An Easter egg is an egg made of chocolate that is given as a present at Easter. In some countries, Easter eggs are hidden and children then look for them.
east|er|ly /iː stə r li/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An easterly point, area, or direction is to the east or towards the east. □ He progressed slowly along the coast in an easterly direction.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An easterly wind is a wind that blows from the east. □ …the cold easterly winds from Scandinavia.
east|ern ◆◆◇ /iː stə r n/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Eastern means in or from the east of a region, state, or country. □ …Eastern Europe. □ …France's eastern border with Germany.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Eastern means coming from or associated with the people or countries of the East, such as India, China, or Japan. □ In many Eastern countries massage was and is a part of everyday life.
3 → see also Middle Eastern
east|ern|er /iː stə r nə r / (easterners ) N‑COUNT An easterner is a person who was born in or who lives in the eastern part of a place or country, especially an American from the East Coast of the USA. [mainly AM ]
east|ern|most /iː stə r nmoʊst/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] The easternmost part of an area or the easternmost place is the one that is farthest towards the east. [FORMAL ]
E a st|er Su n|day N‑UNCOUNT Easter Sunday is the Sunday in March or April when Easter is celebrated.
E a st Ge r|man (East Germans ) ADJ East German means relating to or belonging to the former German Democratic Republic, or to its people, language, or culture. ● N‑COUNT East Germans were people from the German Democratic Republic.
east|ward /iː stwə r d/ also eastwards ADV [usu ADV after v, oft n ADV ] Eastward or eastwards means towards the east. □ A powerful snow storm is moving eastward. □ They were pressing on eastwards towards the city's small airfield. ● ADJ Eastward is also an adjective. □ …the eastward expansion of London.