1 VERB If you eject someone from a place, you force them to leave. □ [V n] Officials used guard dogs to eject the protesters. □ [be V -ed + from ] He was ejected from a restaurant. ● ejec|tion / I dʒe kʃ ə n/ (ejections ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …the ejection of hecklers from the meeting.
2 VERB To eject something means to remove it or push it out forcefully. □ [V n] He aimed his rifle, fired a single shot, then ejected the spent cartridge.
3 VERB When a pilot ejects from an aircraft, he or she leaves the aircraft quickly using an ejector seat, usually because the plane is about to crash. □ [V + from ] The pilot ejected from the plane and escaped injury. [Also V ]
eje c|tor seat (ejector seats ) N‑COUNT An ejector seat is a special seat which can throw the pilot out of a fast military aircraft in an emergency.
eke /iː k/ (ekes , eking , eked ) PHRASE If you eke a living or eke out an existence , you manage to survive with very little money. □ [+ off ] That forced peasant farmers to try to eke a living off steep hillsides. □ He was eking out an existence on a few francs a day.
▸ eke out PHRASAL VERB If you eke out something, you make your supply of it last as long as possible. □ [V P n] Many workers can only eke out their redundancy money for about 10 weeks. [Also V n P ]
elabo|rate (elaborates , elaborating , elaborated ) The adjective is pronounced / I læ bərət/. The verb is pronounced / I læ bəre I t/. 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use elaborate to describe something that is very complex because it has a lot of different parts. □ …an elaborate research project. □ …an elaborate ceremony that lasts for eight days.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Elaborate plans, systems, and procedures are complicated because they have been planned in very great detail, sometimes too much detail. □ …elaborate efforts at the highest level to conceal the problem. □ …an elaborate management training scheme for graduates. ● elabo|rate|ly ADV □ It was clearly an elaborately planned operation.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Elaborate clothing or material is made with a lot of detailed artistic designs. □ He is known for his elaborate costumes. ● elabo|rate|ly ADV □ …elaborately costumed dolls.
4 VERB If you elaborate a plan or theory, you develop it by making it more complicated and more effective. □ [V n] His task was to elaborate policies to make a market economy compatible with a clean environment. ● elabo|ra|tion / I læ bəre I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the elaboration of specific policies and mechanisms.
5 VERB If you elaborate on something that has been said, you say more about it, or give more details. □ [V + on ] A spokesman declined to elaborate on a statement released late yesterday. □ [V ] Would you care to elaborate?
élan /e I lɑː n/ also elan N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone does something with élan , you mean that they do it in an energetic and confident way. [LITERARY ]
elapse / I læ ps/ (elapses , elapsing , elapsed ) VERB When time elapses , it passes. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] Forty-eight hours have elapsed since his arrest.
elas|tic / I læ st I k/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Elastic is a rubber material that stretches when you pull it and returns to its original size and shape when you let it go. Elastic is often used in clothes to make them fit tightly, for example round the waist. □ …a piece of elastic.
2 ADJ Something that is elastic is able to stretch easily and then return to its original size and shape. □ Beat it until the dough is slightly elastic.
3 ADJ If ideas, plans, or policies are elastic , they are able to change to suit new circumstances or conditions as they occur. □ …an elastic interpretation of the rules of boxing. □ The period of conversion was elastic, in some cases lasting over twenty years
elas|ti|cat|ed / I læ st I ke I t I d/ ADJ If a piece of clothing or part of a piece of clothing is elasticated , elastic has been sewn or woven into it to make it fit better and to help it keep its shape. [BRIT ] □ …a pink silk jacket with an elasticated waist. in AM, use elasticized
ela s|tic ba nd (elastic bands ) N‑COUNT An elastic band is a thin circle of very stretchy rubber that you can put around things in order to hold them together. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use rubber band
elas|tici|ty /iː læst I s I ti, I læ st-/ N‑UNCOUNT The elasticity of a material or substance is its ability to return to its original shape, size, and condition after it has been stretched. □ Daily facial exercises help her to retain the skin's elasticity.
Elas|to|plast / I læ stəplɑːst/ (Elastoplasts )
1 N‑VAR Elastoplast is a type of sticky tape that you use to cover small cuts on your body. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] in AM, use Band-Aid 2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to an Elastoplast solution to a problem, you mean that you disapprove of it because you think that it will only be effective for a short period. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is only an Elastoplast solution to a far greater constitutional problem. in AM, use Band-Aid
elat|ed / I le I t I d/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are elated , you are extremely happy and excited because of something that has happened. □ I was elated that my second heart bypass had been successful.
ela|tion / I le I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Elation is a feeling of great happiness and excitement about something that has happened. □ His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.
el|bow /e lboʊ/ (elbows , elbowing , elbowed )