7 VERB A river or canal that empties into a lake, river, or sea flows into it. □ [V + into ] The Washougal empties into the Columbia River near Portland.
8 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Empties are bottles or containers which no longer have anything in them.
e mpty-ha nded ADJ [ADJ after v] If you come away from somewhere empty-handed , you have failed to get what you wanted. □ Delegates from the warring sides held a new round of peace talks but went away empty-handed.
e mpty-hea ded ADJ If you describe someone as empty-headed , you mean that they are not very intelligent and often do silly things.
emu /iː mjuː/ (emus or emu ) N‑COUNT An emu is a large Australian bird which cannot fly.
emu|late /e mjʊle I t/ (emulates , emulating , emulated ) VERB If you emulate something or someone, you imitate them because you admire them a great deal. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Sons are traditionally expected to emulate their fathers. ● emu|la|tion /e mjʊle I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …a role model worthy of emulation.
emul|si|fi|er / I mʌ ls I fa I ə r / (emulsifiers ) N‑VAR An emulsifier is a substance used in food manufacturing which helps to combine liquids of different thicknesses.
emul|si|fy / I mʌ ls I fa I / (emulsifies , emulsifying , emulsified ) VERB When two liquids of different thicknesses emulsify or when they are emulsified , they combine. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V ] Coffee oils emulsify and give the coffee its rich, velvety texture. □ [V n] Whisk the cream into the mixture to emulsify it. □ [V -ing] Beeswax acts as an emulsifying agent. □ [V -ed] …emulsified oil.
emul|sion / I mʌ lʃ ə n/ (emulsions )
1 N‑VAR Emulsion or emulsion paint is a water-based paint, which is not shiny when it dries. It is used for painting walls and ceilings. □ …an undercoat of white emulsion paint. □ …a matt emulsion.
2 N‑VAR An emulsion is a liquid or cream which is a mixture of two or more liquids, such as oil and water, which do not naturally mix together.
PREFIX en-
is added to words to form verbs that describe the process of putting someone into a particular state, condition, or place, or to form adjectives and nouns that describe that process or those states and conditions. For example, if something enriches your life, it makes your life better or more enjoyable.
en|able ◆◇◇ / I ne I b ə l/ (enables , enabling , enabled )
1 VERB If someone or something enables you to do a particular thing, they give you the opportunity to do it. □ [V n to-inf] The new test should enable doctors to detect the disease early. ● en|abling ADJ □ Researchers describe it as an enabling technology.
2 VERB To enable something to happen means to make it possible for it to happen. □ [V n to-inf] The hot sun enables the grapes to reach optimum ripeness. □ [V n] The working class is still too small to enable a successful socialist revolution.
3 VERB To enable someone to do something means to give them permission or the right to do it. □ [V n to-inf] The republic's legislation enables young people to do a form of alternative service. ● en|abling ADJ [ADJ n] □ Some protection for victims must be written into the enabling legislation. SYNONYMS enable VERB 1
allow: She said this would allow more effective planning.
permit: This method of cooking also permits heat to penetrate from both sides.
facilitate: The new airport will facilitate the development of tourism.
let: I can't let myself be distracted by those things.
en|act / I næ kt/ (enacts , enacting , enacted )
1 VERB When a government or authority enacts a proposal, they make it into a law. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V n] The authorities have failed so far to enact a law allowing unrestricted emigration.
2 VERB If people enact a story or play, they perform it by acting. □ [V n] She often enacted the stories told to her by her father.
3 VERB [usu passive] If a particular event or situation is enacted , it happens; used especially to talk about something that has happened before. [JOURNALISM ] □ [be V -ed] It was a scene which was enacted month after month for eight years.
en|act|ment / I næ ktmənt/ (enactments )
1 N‑VAR The enactment of a law is the process in a parliament or other law-making body by which the law is agreed upon and made official. [TECHNICAL ] □ [+ of ] We support the call for the enactment of a Bill of Rights.
2 N‑VAR The enactment of a play or story is the performance of it by an actor or group of actors. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The main building was also used for the enactment of mystery plays.
enam|el / I næ m ə l/ (enamels )
1 N‑VAR [oft N n] Enamel is a substance like glass which can be heated and put onto metal, glass, or pottery in order to decorate or protect it. □ …a white enamel saucepan on the oil stove. □ …enamel baths.
2 N‑VAR [oft N n] Enamel is a hard, shiny paint that is used especially for painting metal and wood. □ …enamel polymer paints.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Enamel is the hard white substance that forms the outer part of a tooth.
enam|elled / I næ m ə ld/ in AM, use enameled ADJ [ADJ n] An enamelled object is decorated or covered with enamel. □ …enamelled plates.