en|crus|ta|tion /e nkrʌste I ʃ ə n/ (encrustations ) N‑VAR An encrustation is a hard and thick layer on the surface of something that has built up over a long period of time.
en|crust|ed / I nkrʌ st I d/ ADJ If an object is encrusted with something, its surface is covered with a layer of that thing. □ [+ with ] …a blue uniform coat that was thickly encrusted with gold loops.
en|crypt / I nkr I pt/ (encrypts , encrypting , encrypted ) VERB If a document or piece of information is encrypted , it is written in a special code, so that only certain people can read it. □ [be V -ed] Account details are encrypted to protect privacy. □ [V n] …a program that will encrypt the information before sending. □ [V -ed] …encrypted signals. ● en|cryp|tion / I nkr I pʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] □ It is currently illegal to export this encryption technology from the U.S.
en|cum|ber / I nkʌ mbə r / (encumbers , encumbering , encumbered ) VERB If you are encumbered by something, it prevents you from moving freely or doing what you want. □ [V n] Lead weights and air cylinders encumbered the divers as they walked to the shore. □ [be V -ed + with ] It is still labouring under the debt burden that it was encumbered with in the 1980s. ● en|cum|bered ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ [+ with/by ] The rest of the world is less encumbered with legislation.
en|cum|brance / I nkʌ mbrəns/ (encumbrances ) N‑COUNT An encumbrance is something or someone that encumbers you. [FORMAL ] □ Magdalena considered the past an irrelevant encumbrance.
-ency → see -ence
en|cyc|li|cal / I ns I kl I k ə l/ (encyclicals ) N‑COUNT An encyclical is an official letter written by the Pope and sent to all Roman Catholic bishops, usually in order to make a statement about the official teachings of the Church.
en|cy|clo|pedia / I nsa I kləpiː diə/ (encyclopedias ) also encyclopaedia N‑COUNT An encyclopedia is a book or set of books in which facts about many different subjects or about one particular subject are arranged for reference, usually in alphabetical order.
en|cy|clo|pedic / I nsa I kləpiː d I k/ also encyclopaedic ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as encyclopedic , you mean that it is very full, complete, and thorough in the amount of knowledge or information that it has. □ He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of drugs. □ …an almost overwhelmingly encyclopaedic volume.
end ◆◆◆ /e nd/ (ends , ending , ended )
1 N‑SING The end of something such as a period of time, an event, a book, or a film is the last part of it or the final point in it. □ [+ of ] The £5 banknote was first issued at the end of the 18th century. □ [+ of ] The report is expected by the end of the year. □ You will have the chance to ask questions at the end.
2 VERB When a situation, process, or activity ends , or when something or someone ends it, it reaches its final point and stops. □ [V ] The meeting quickly ended and Steve and I left the room. □ [V n] Talks have resumed to try to end the fighting. ● end|ing N‑SING □ [+ of ] …depression after the loss of a job or the ending of a relationship.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An end to something or the end of it is the act or result of stopping it so that it does not continue any longer. □ [+ to ] The French government today called for an end to the violence. □ I was worried she would walk out or bring the interview to an end. □ [+ of ] Francis fined him two weeks' wages and said: 'That's the end of the matter.'
4 VERB If you say that someone or something ends a period of time in a particular way, you are indicating what the final situation was like. You can also say that a period of time ends in a particular way. □ [V n prep/adv] The markets ended the week on a quiet note. □ [V prep] The evening ended with a dramatic display of fireworks. [Also V n + by , V n v-ing]
5 VERB If a period of time ends , it reaches its final point. □ [V ] Its monthly reports usually come out about three weeks after each month ends. □ [V ] The first figure shows sales for week ending July 27.
6 VERB If something such as a book, speech, or performance ends with a particular thing or the writer or performer ends it with that thing, its final part consists of the thing mentioned. □ [V + with/on ] His statement ended with the words: 'Pray for me.'. □ [V + with/on ] The book ends on a lengthy description of Hawaii. □ [V n + with ] Dawkins ends his discussion with a call for liberation. □ [V with quote] The memo ends: 'Please give this matter your most urgent attention.'
7 VERB If a situation or event ends in a particular way, it has that particular result. □ [V + in ] The incident could have ended in tragedy. □ [V + with ] Our conversations ended with him saying he would try to be more understanding. □ [V adv/adj] Shares ended 1.7 per cent firmer on the Frankfurt exchange.
8 N‑COUNT The two ends of something long and narrow are the two points or parts of it that are furthest away from each other. □ [+ of ] The company is planning to place surveillance equipment at both ends of the tunnel. □ A typical fluorescent lamp is a tube with metal electrodes at each end.
9 N‑COUNT The end of a long, narrow object such as a finger or a pencil is the tip or smallest edge of it, usually the part that is furthest away from you. □ [+ of ] He tapped the ends of his fingers together. □ [+ of ] She let the long cone of ash hang at the end of her cigarette.