apoca|lypse /əpɒ kəl I ps/ N‑SING The apocalypse is the total destruction and end of the world.
apoca|lyp|tic /əpɒ kəl I pt I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to the total destruction of something, especially of the world. □ …the reformer's apocalyptic warnings that the nation was running out of natural resources.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to or involving predictions about future disasters and the destruction of the world. □ …a gloomy and apocalyptic vision of a world hastening towards ruin.
apoc|ry|phal /əpɒ kr I f ə l/ ADJ An apocryphal story is one which is probably not true or did not happen, but which may give a true picture of someone or something.
apo|gee /æ pədʒiː/ N‑SING The apogee of something such as a culture or a business is its highest or its greatest point. [FORMAL ]
apo|liti|cal /e I pəl I t I k ə l/
1 ADJ Someone who is apolitical is not interested in politics. □ As a musician, you cannot be apolitical.
2 ADJ If you describe an organization or an activity as apolitical , you mean that it is not linked to a particular political party. □ …the normally apolitical European Commission.
apolo|get|ic /əpɒ lədʒe t I k/ ADJ If you are apologetic , you show or say that you are sorry for causing trouble for someone, for hurting them, or for disappointing them. □ The hospital staff were very apologetic but that couldn't really compensate. □ 'I don't follow football,' she said with an apologetic smile. ● apolo|geti|cal|ly /əpɒ lədʒe t I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ 'It's of no great literary merit,' he said, almost apologetically.
apo|lo|gia /æ pəloʊ dʒiə/ (apologias ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An apologia is a statement in which you defend something that you strongly believe in, for example a way of life, a person's behaviour, or a philosophy. [FORMAL ] □ The left have seen the work as an apologia for privilege and property.
apolo|gise /əpɒ lədʒa I z/ → see apologize
apolo|gist /əpɒ lədʒ I st/ (apologists ) N‑COUNT An apologist is a person who writes or speaks in defence of a belief, a cause, or a person's life. [FORMAL ] □ 'I am no apologist for Hitler,' observed Pyat.
apolo|gize /əpɒ lədʒa I z/ (apologizes , apologizing , apologized ) in BRIT, also use apologise VERB When you apologize to someone, you say that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them. You can say ' I apologize ' as a formal way of saying sorry. □ [V + for ] I apologize for being late. □ [V ] Costello later apologized, saying he'd been annoyed by the man. □ [V + to ] He apologized to the people who had been affected. [Also V with quote]
apol|ogy /əpɒ lədʒi/ (apologies )
1 N‑VAR An apology is something that you say or write in order to tell someone that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them. □ We received a letter of apology. □ He made a public apology for the team's performance.
2 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] If you offer or make your apologies , you apologize. [FORMAL ] □ When Mary finally appeared, she made her apologies to Mrs Madrigal.
3 PHRASE If you say that you make no apologies for what you have done, you are emphasizing that you feel that you have done nothing wrong. □ Union officials made no apologies for the threatened chaos.
apo|plec|tic /æ pəple kt I k/ ADJ If someone is apoplectic , they are extremely angry about something. [FORMAL ] □ It's enough to make them choke with apoplectic rage.
apo|plexy /æ pəpleksi/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Apoplexy is a stroke. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT Apoplexy is extreme anger. [FORMAL ] □ He has already caused apoplexy with his books on class and on war.
apos|ta|sy /əpɒ stəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone is accused of apostasy , they are accused of abandoning their religious faith, political loyalties, or principles. [FORMAL ] □ …a charge of apostasy.
apos|tate /əpɒ ste I t/ (apostates ) N‑COUNT An apostate is someone who has abandoned their religious faith, political loyalties, or principles. [FORMAL ]
apos|tle /əpɒ s ə l/ (apostles )
1 N‑COUNT The apostles were the followers of Jesus Christ who went from place to place telling people about him and trying to persuade them to become Christians.
2 N‑COUNT An apostle of a particular philosophy, policy, or cause is someone who strongly believes in it and works hard to promote it. □ [+ of ] Her mother was a dedicated apostle of healthy eating.
Ap|os|tol|ic /æ pɒstɒ l I k/
1 ADJ Apostolic means belonging or relating to a Christian religious leader, especially the Pope. □ The work would be done by an apostolic administrator appointed by Rome.
2 ADJ Apostolic means belonging or relating to the early followers of Christ and to their teaching. □ He saw his vocation as one of prayer and apostolic work.
apos|tro|phe /əpɒ strəfi/ (apostrophes ) N‑COUNT An apostrophe is the mark ' when it is written to indicate that one or more letters have been left out of a word, as in 'isn't' and 'we'll'. It is also added to nouns to form possessives, as in 'Mike's car'.
apoth|ecary /əpɒ θ I kri, [AM ] -keri/ (apothecaries ) N‑COUNT An apothecary was a person who prepared medicines for people. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
apoth|eo|sis /əpɒ θioʊ s I s/
1 N‑SING If something is the apotheosis of something else, it is an ideal or typical example of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The Oriental in Bangkok is the apotheosis of the grand hotel.