eco nomy-class sy n|drome N‑UNCOUNT Economy-class syndrome is a serious medical condition caused by blood clots in the legs moving up to the lungs; used especially in connection with long-haul flights. □ Lemon juice can help to prevent economy-class syndrome by improving blood circulation.
eco|sys|tem /iː koʊs I stəm, [AM ] e kə-/ (ecosystems ) N‑COUNT An ecosystem is all the plants and animals that live in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the forest ecosystem.
eco|tar|ian /iː kəʊteə riən, [AM ] e kə-/ (ecotarians ) N‑COUNT An ecotarian is a person who eats only food that has been produced in a way that does not harm the environment. □ Strictly speaking, you don’t have to be a vegetarian or a vegan to be an ecotarian. ● ADJ Ecotarian is also an adjective. □ We try to follow an ecotarian diet.
eco|tec|ture /iː kəʊtektʃə, [AM ] e kə-/ N‑UNCOUNT Ecotecture is a type of architecture with designs based on ecological principles such as sustainability and environmental impact.
e co-tou rism N‑UNCOUNT Eco-tourism is the business of providing holidays and related services which are not harmful to the environment of the area. [BUSINESS ] ● eco-tourist (eco-tourists ) N‑COUNT □ …an environmentally sensitive project to cater for eco-tourists.
e co-wa rrior (eco-warriors ) N‑COUNT An eco-warrior is someone who spends a lot of time working actively for environmental causes. [BRIT , JOURNALISM ]
ecru /e I kruː/ COLOUR Something that is ecru is pale, creamy-white in colour.
ec|sta|sy /e kstəsi/ (ecstasies )
1 N‑VAR Ecstasy is a feeling of very great happiness. □ …a state of almost religious ecstasy.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Ecstasy is an illegal drug which makes people feel happy and energetic.
3 PHRASE If you are in ecstasy about something, you are very excited about it. If you go into ecstasies , you become very excited. □ My father was in ecstasy when I won my scholarship. □ She went into ecstasies over actors.
ec|stat|ic /ekstæ t I k/
1 ADJ If you are ecstatic , you feel very happy and full of excitement. □ [+ about ] His wife gave birth to their first child, and he was ecstatic about it. □ They were greeted by the cheers of an ecstatic crowd. ● ec|stati|cal|ly /ekstæ t I kli/ ADV □ We are both ecstatically happy.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use ecstatic to describe reactions that are very enthusiastic and excited. For example, if someone receives an ecstatic reception or an ecstatic welcome, they are greeted with great enthusiasm and excitement. □ They gave an ecstatic reception to the speech.
ec|top|ic /ektɒ p I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg becomes implanted outside a woman's womb, for example in one of her fallopian tubes.
ecu|meni|cal /iː kjʊme n I k ə l, e k-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ecumenical activities, ideas, and movements try to unite different Christian Churches. [FORMAL ] □ …ecumenical church services.
ecu|men|ism / I kjuː me n I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Ecumenism is the belief that the different Christian Churches should be as united as possible, and can also be used to refer to actions based on this belief. [FORMAL ]
ec|ze|ma /e ksmə, [AM ] I gziː mə/ N‑UNCOUNT Eczema is a skin disease which makes your skin itch and become sore, rough, and broken.
ed. (eds ) ed. is a written abbreviation for editor .
SUFFIX -ed
is added to verbs to make the past tense and past participle. Past participles formed are often used as adjectives that indicate that something has been affected in some way. For example, cooked food is food that has been cooked.
eddy /e di/ (eddies ) N‑COUNT An eddy is a movement in water or in the air which goes round and round instead of flowing in one continuous direction.
edge ◆◆◇ /e dʒ/ (edges , edging , edged )
1 N‑COUNT The edge of something is the place or line where it stops, or the part of it that is furthest from the middle. □ [+ of ] We were on a hill, right on the edge of town. □ She was standing at the water's edge.
2 N‑COUNT The edge of something sharp such as a knife or an axe is its sharp or narrow side. □ [+ of ] …the sharp edge of the sword.
3 VERB If someone or something edges somewhere, they move very slowly in that direction. □ [V prep/adv] He edged closer to the phone, ready to grab it.
4 N‑SING The edge of something, especially something bad, is the point at which it may start to happen. □ [+ of ] They have driven the rhino to the edge of extinction.
5 N‑SING If someone or something has an edge , they have an advantage that makes them stronger or more likely to be successful than another thing or person. □ [+ over ] The three days France have to prepare could give them the edge over England.
6 N‑SING If you say that someone or something has an edge , you mean that they have a powerful quality. □ Featuring new bands gives the show an edge. □ [+ of ] Greene's stories had an edge of realism.
7 N‑SING If someone's voice has an edge to it, it has a sharp, bitter, or emotional quality. □ [+ of ] But underneath the humour is an edge of bitterness. [Also + to ]
8 → see also cutting edge , knife-edge , leading edge
9 PHRASE If you or your nerves are on edge , you are tense, nervous, and unable to relax. □ My nerves were constantly on edge.