mistake: Jonathan says it was his mistake.
slip: We must be well prepared, there must be no slips.
blunder: He made a tactical blunder by announcing it so soon.
oversight: William was angered and embarrassed by his oversight.
er|satz /eə r zæts/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as ersatz , you dislike it because it is not genuine and is a poor imitation of something better. [WRITTEN , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an ersatz Victorian shopping precinct.
erst|while /ɜː r st h wa I l/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use erstwhile to describe someone that used to be the type of person indicated, but no longer is. [FORMAL ] □ He fled to America with Phyllis Burton, an erstwhile friend of his wife's.
eru|dite /e rʊda I t, [AM ] e rjə-/ ADJ If you describe someone as erudite , you mean that they have or show great academic knowledge. You can also use erudite to describe something such as a book or a style of writing. [FORMAL ] □ He was never dull, always erudite and well informed. □ …an original and highly erudite style.
eru|di|tion /e rʊd I ʃ ə n, [AM ] e rjə-/ N‑UNCOUNT Erudition is great academic knowledge. [FORMAL ] □ His erudition was apparently endless.
erupt / I rʌ pt/ (erupts , erupting , erupted )
1 VERB When a volcano erupts , it throws out a lot of hot, melted rock called lava, as well as ash and steam. □ [V ] The volcano erupted, devastating a large area. ● erup|tion / I rʌ pʃ ə n/ (eruptions ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …the volcanic eruption of Tambora in 1815.
2 VERB If violence or fighting erupts , it suddenly begins or gets worse in an unexpected, violent way. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V ] Heavy fighting erupted there today after a two-day cease-fire. ● erup|tion N‑COUNT □ [+ of ] …this sudden eruption of violence.
3 VERB When people in a place suddenly become angry or violent, you can say that they erupt or that the place erupts . [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + into/in ] In Los Angeles, the neighborhood known as Watts erupted into riots. [Also V ]
4 VERB You say that someone erupts when they suddenly have a change in mood, usually becoming quite noisy. □ [V + into ] Then, without warning, she erupts into laughter. [Also V ] ● erup|tion N‑COUNT □ [+ of ] …an eruption of despair.
5 VERB If your skin erupts , sores or spots suddenly appear there. □ [V + in/into ] At the end of the second week, my skin erupted in pimples. [Also V ] ● erup|tion N‑COUNT □ [+ of ] …eruptions of adolescent acne.
es|ca|late /e skəle I t/ (escalates , escalating , escalated ) VERB If a bad situation escalates or if someone or something escalates it, it becomes greater in size, seriousness, or intensity. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V ] Both unions and management fear the dispute could escalate. □ [V + into ] The protests escalated into five days of rioting. □ [V n] Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict. ● es|ca|la|tion /e skəle I ʃ ə n/ (escalations ) N‑VAR □ The threat of nuclear escalation remains. □ [+ of ] …a sudden escalation of violence.
es|ca|la|tor /e skəle I tə r / (escalators ) N‑COUNT An escalator is a moving staircase on which people can go from one level of a building to another.
es|ca|lope /e skəlɒp, [AM ] I skɑː ləp/ (escalopes ) N‑COUNT An escalope is a thin slice of meat without a bone. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use scallop , cutlet
es|ca|pade /e skəpe I d/ (escapades ) N‑COUNT An escapade is an exciting and rather dangerous adventure. □ …the scene of Robin Hood's escapades.
es|cape ◆◆◇ / I ske I p/ (escapes , escaping , escaped )
1 VERB [no passive] If you escape from a place, you succeed in getting away from it. □ [V + from ] A prisoner has escaped from a jail in northern England. □ [V + to ] They are reported to have escaped to the other side of the border. □ [V ] He was fatally wounded as he tried to escape. ● es|caped ADJ □ Officers mistook Stephen for an escaped prisoner.
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's escape is the act of escaping from a particular place or situation. □ The man made his escape.
3 VERB You can say that you escape when you survive something such as an accident. □ [V n] The two officers were extremely lucky to escape serious injury. □ [V adj] The man's girlfriend managed to escape unhurt. □ [V prep] He narrowly escaped with his life when he was attacked by a bear. ● N‑COUNT Escape is also a noun. □ I hear you had a very narrow escape on the bridge.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something is an escape , it is a way of avoiding difficulties or responsibilities. □ But for me television is an escape. □ [+ from ] …an escape from the depressing realities of wartime.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use escape to describe things which allow you to avoid difficulties or problems. For example, an escape route is an activity or opportunity that lets you improve your situation. An escape clause is part of an agreement that allows you to avoid having to do something that you do not want to do. □ [+ from ] We all need the occasional escape route from the boring, routine aspects of our lives. □ [+ for ] This is a wonderful escape clause for dishonest employers everywhere.