es|pio|nage /e spiənɑːʒ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Espionage is the activity of finding out the political, military, or industrial secrets of your enemies or rivals by using spies. [FORMAL ] □ The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage. □ …industrial espionage.
2 → see also counter-espionage
es|pla|nade /e spləne I d, [AM ] -nɑː d/ (esplanades ) N‑COUNT The esplanade , usually in a town by the sea, is a wide, open road where people walk for pleasure.
es|pous|al / I spaʊ z ə l/ N‑SING A government's or person's espousal of a particular policy, cause, or belief is their strong support of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the leadership's espousal of the popular causes of reform and nationalism.
es|pouse / I spaʊ z/ (espouses , espousing , espoused ) VERB If you espouse a particular policy, cause, or belief, you become very interested in it and give your support to it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] She ran away with him to Mexico and espoused the revolutionary cause.
es|pres|so /espre soʊ/ (espressos ) N‑UNCOUNT Espresso coffee is made by forcing steam or boiling water through ground coffee beans. □ …Italian espresso coffee. ● N‑COUNT An espresso is a cup of espresso coffee.
es|prit de corps /espriː də kɔː r / N‑UNCOUNT Esprit de corps is a feeling of loyalty and pride that is shared by the members of a group who consider themselves to be different from other people in some special way. [FORMAL ]
espy / I spa I / (espies , espying , espied ) VERB If you espy something, you see or notice it. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] Here, from a window, did Guinevere espy a knight standing in a woodman's cart.
Esq. Esq. is used after men's names as a written abbreviation for esquire . □ …Harold T. Cranford Esq.
es|quire / I skwa I ə r , [AM ] e skwa I r/ N‑TITLE Esquire is a formal title that can be used after a man's name if he has no other title, especially on an envelope that is addressed to him. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
es|say /e se I / (essays )
1 N‑COUNT An essay is a short piece of writing on one particular subject written by a student. □ [+ about ] We asked Jason to write an essay about his hometown and about his place in it.
2 N‑COUNT An essay is a short piece of writing on one particular subject that is written by a writer for publication. □ [+ on ] …Thomas Malthus's essay on population.
es|say|ist /e se I I st/ (essayists ) N‑COUNT An essayist is a writer who writes essays for publication.
es|sence /e s ə ns/ (essences )
1 N‑UNCOUNT The essence of something is its basic and most important characteristic which gives it its individual identity. □ [+ of ] The essence of consultation is to listen to, and take account of, the views of those consulted. □ [+ of ] …the essence of life. ● PHRASE You use in essence to emphasize that you are talking about the most important or central aspect of an idea, situation, or event. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Though off-puttingly complicated in detail, local taxes are in essence simple. ● PHRASE If you say that something is of the essence , you mean that it is absolutely necessary in order for a particular action to be successful. [FORMAL ] □ Speed was of the essence in a project of this type.
2 N‑VAR Essence is a very concentrated liquid that is used for flavouring food or for its smell. □ …a few drops of vanilla essence.
es|sen|tial ◆◆◇ / I se nʃ ə l/ (essentials )
1 ADJ Something that is essential is extremely important or absolutely necessary to a particular subject, situation, or activity. □ It was absolutely essential to separate crops from the areas that animals used as pasture. □ As they must also sprint over short distances, speed is essential. □ Jordan promised to trim the city budget without cutting essential services.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The essentials are the things that are absolutely necessary for the situation you are in or for the task you are doing. □ [+ for ] The flat contained the basic essentials for bachelor life.
3 ADJ The essential aspects of something are its most basic or important aspects. □ Most authorities agree that play is an essential part of a child's development. □ In this trial two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
4 N‑PLURAL The essentials are the most important principles, ideas, or facts of a particular subject. □ [+ of ] …the essentials of everyday life, such as eating and exercise. SYNONYMS essential ADJ 1
vitaclass="underline" The port is vital to supply relief to millions of drought victims.
necessary: We will do whatever is necessary to stop them.
criticaclass="underline" He says setting priorities is of critical importance.
cruciaclass="underline" …the most crucial election campaign for years.
indispensable: …the indispensable guide for any traveller in France.
key: Education is likely to be a key issue in the next election.
es|sen|tial|ly ◆◇◇ / I se nʃəli/
1 ADV You use essentially to emphasize a quality that someone or something has, and to say that it is their most important or basic quality. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Great writers, composers and scientists are essentially quite different from ordinary people. □ Essentially, vines and grapes need water, heat and light.
2 ADV [ADV with v] You use essentially to indicate that what you are saying is mainly true, although some parts of it are wrong or more complicated than has been stated. [FORMAL , VAGUENESS ] □ His analysis of urban use of agricultural land has been proved essentially correct. □ Essentially, the West has only two options.