manager: …a retired bank manager.
director: She served on the board of directors of a local bank.
MD: He's going to be the MD of the Park Lane company.
chief executive office: On his father's death he became chief executive officer of the company.
CEO: Then I was approached for the merger and the CEO job.
chairperson: She's the chairperson of the safety committee.
ex|ecu|tor / I gze kjʊtə r / (executors ) N‑COUNT An executor is someone whose name you write in your will when you want them to be responsible for dealing with your affairs after your death. [LEGAL ]
ex|egesis /e ks I dʒiː s I s/ (exegeses /e ks I dʒiː siːz/) N‑VAR An exegesis is an explanation and interpretation of a piece of writing, especially a religious piece of writing, after very careful study. [FORMAL ] □ …the kind of academic exegesis at which Isaacs excels. □ [+ of ] …a substantial exegesis of his work.
ex|em|plar / I gze mplɑː r / (exemplars )
1 N‑COUNT An exemplar is someone or something that is considered to be so good that they should be copied or imitated. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.
2 N‑COUNT An exemplar is a typical example of a group or class of things. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] One of the wittiest exemplars of the technique was M.C. Escher.
ex|em|pla|ry / I gze mpləri/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as exemplary , you think they are extremely good. □ Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An exemplary punishment is unusually harsh and is intended to stop other people from committing similar crimes. □ He demanded exemplary sentences for those behind the violence.
ex|em|pli|fy / I gze mpl I fa I / (exemplifies , exemplifying , exemplified ) VERB If a person or thing exemplifies something such as a situation, quality, or class of things, they are a typical example of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The room's style exemplifies Conran's ideal of 'beauty and practicality'.
ex|empt / I gze mpt/ (exempts , exempting , exempted )
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone or something is exempt from a particular rule, duty, or obligation, they do not have to follow it or do it. □ [+ from ] Men in college were exempt from military service.
2 VERB To exempt a person or thing from a particular rule, duty, or obligation means to state officially that they are not bound or affected by it. □ [V n + from ] South Carolina claimed the power to exempt its citizens from the obligation to obey federal law. [Also V n] ● ex|emp|tion / I gze mpʃ ə n/ (exemptions ) N‑VAR □ [+ from ] …the exemption of employer-provided health insurance from taxation.
ex|er|cise ◆◆◇ /e ksə r sa I z/ (exercises , exercising , exercised )
1 VERB If you exercise something such as your authority, your rights, or a good quality, you use it or put it into effect. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They are merely exercising their right to free speech. □ [V n] Britain has warned travellers to exercise prudence and care. ● N‑SING Exercise is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the exercise of political and economic power. □ [+ of ] Leadership does not rest on the exercise of force alone.
2 VERB When you exercise , you move your body energetically in order to get fit and to remain healthy. □ [V ] She exercises two or three times a week. □ [V n] Exercising the body does a great deal to improve one's health. ● N‑UNCOUNT Exercise is also a noun. □ Lack of exercise can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion.
3 VERB If a movement or activity exercises a part of your body, it keeps it strong, healthy, or in good condition. □ [V n] They call rowing the perfect sport. It exercises every major muscle group.
4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Exercises are a series of movements or actions which you do in order to get fit, remain healthy, or practise for a particular physical activity. □ I do special neck and shoulder exercises.
5 N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft on N ] Exercises are military activities and operations which are not part of a real war, but which allow the armed forces to practise for a real war. □ General Powell predicted that in the future it might even be possible to stage joint military exercises.
6 N‑COUNT An exercise is a short activity or piece of work that you do, for example in school, which is designed to help you learn a particular skill. □ Try working through the opening exercises in this chapter.
7 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe an activity as an exercise in a particular quality or result, you mean that it has that quality or result, especially when it was not intended to have it. □ [+ in ] As an exercise in stating the obvious, this could scarcely be faulted. □ Think what a waste of taxpayers' money the whole exercise was.
8 VERB If something exercises you or your mind, you think or talk about it a great deal, especially because you are worried or concerned about it. □ [V n] This has been a major problem exercising the minds of scientists around the world. COLLOCATIONS exercise VERB 1
exercise + noun : authority, control, influence, jurisdiction, power; caution, discretion, restraint; right NOUN 2
noun + exercise : breathing, relaxation