ga|lac|tic /gəlæ kt I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Galactic means relating to galaxies.
gal|axy /gæ ləksi/ (galaxies ) also Galaxy
1 N‑COUNT A galaxy is an extremely large group of stars and planets that extends over many billions of light years. □ Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy.
2 N‑PROPER The Galaxy is the extremely large group of stars and planets to which the Earth and the Solar System belong. □ The Galaxy consists of 100 billion stars.
3 N‑SING If you talk about a galaxy of people from a particular profession, you mean a group of them who are all famous or important. □ [+ of ] He is one of a small galaxy of Dutch stars on German television.
gale /ge I l/ (gales )
1 N‑COUNT A gale is a very strong wind. □ …forecasts of fierce gales over the next few days.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to the loud noise made by a lot of people all laughing at the same time as a gale of laughter or gales of laughter. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] This was greeted with gales of laughter from the audience.
ga le-fo rce ADJ [ADJ n] A gale-force wind is a very strong wind.
gall /gɔː l/ (galls , galling , galled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has the gall to do something, you are criticizing them for behaving in a rude or disrespectful way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She had the gall to suggest that I might supply her with information about what Steve was doing.
2 VERB If someone's action galls you, it makes you feel very angry or annoyed, often because it is unfair to you and you cannot do anything about it. □ [V n that] It must have galled him that Bardo thwarted each of these measures. □ [V n] It was their serenity which galled her most. ● gall|ing ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ It was especially galling to be criticised by this scoundrel.
3 N‑COUNT A gall is a growth on the surface of a plant that is caused by an insect, disease, fungus, or injury.
gal|lant /gæ lənt/ Also pronounced /gəlæ nt/ for meaning 3 . 1 ADJ If someone is gallant , they behave bravely and honourably in a dangerous or difficult situation. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ The gallant soldiers lost their lives so that peace might reign again. ● gal|lant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The town responded gallantly to the War.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A gallant effort or fight is one in which someone tried very hard to do something difficult, although in the end they failed. [WRITTEN , APPROVAL ] □ He died at the age of 82, after a gallant fight against illness.
3 ADJ If a man is gallant , he is kind, polite, and considerate towards women. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Douglas was a complex man, thoughtful, gallant, and generous. ● gal|lant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He gallantly kissed Marie's hand as we prepared to leave.
gal|lant|ry /gæ ləntri/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Gallantry is bravery shown by someone who is in danger, for example when they are fighting in a war. [FORMAL ] □ For his gallantry he was awarded a Victoria Cross.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Gallantry is kind, polite, and considerate behaviour towards other people, especially women. [FORMAL ] □ It's that time of year again, when thoughts turn to romance and gallantry.
ga ll blad|der (gall bladders ) N‑COUNT Your gall bladder is the organ in your body which contains bile and is next to your liver.
gal|leon /gæ liən/ (galleons ) N‑COUNT A galleon is a sailing ship with three masts. Galleons were used mainly in the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries.
gal|lery ◆◇◇ /gæ ləri/ (galleries )
1 N‑COUNT A gallery is a place that has permanent exhibitions of works of art in it. □ …an art gallery. □ …the National Gallery.
2 N‑COUNT A gallery is a privately owned building or room where people can look at and buy works of art. □ The painting is in the gallery upstairs.
3 N‑COUNT A gallery is an area high above the ground at the back or at the sides of a large room or hall. □ A crowd already filled the gallery.
4 N‑COUNT The gallery in a theatre or concert hall is an area high above the ground that usually contains the cheapest seats. □ They had been forced to find cheap tickets in the gallery. ● PHRASE If you play to the gallery , you do something in public in a way which you hope will impress people. □ …but I must tell you that in my opinion you're both now playing to the gallery.
gal|ley /gæ li/ (galleys )
1 N‑COUNT On a ship or aircraft, the galley is the kitchen.
2 N‑COUNT In former times, a galley was a ship with sails and a lot of oars, which was often rowed by slaves or prisoners.
Gal|lic /gæ l I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Gallic means the same as French . You sometimes use Gallic to describe ideas, feelings, or actions that you think are very typical of France and French people. □ The proposal has provoked howls of Gallic indignation.
gal|li|vant /gæ l I vænt/ (gallivants , gallivanting , gallivanted ) VERB Someone who is gallivanting around goes to a lot of different places looking for amusement and entertainment. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V prep/adv] A girl's place is in the home, not gallivanting around and filling her head with nonsense. [Also V ]
gal|lon /gæ lən/ (gallons ) N‑COUNT A gallon is a unit of measurement for liquids that is equal to eight pints. In Britain, it is equal to 4.564 litres. In America, it is equal to 3.785 litres. □ [+ of ] …80 million gallons of water a day. □ …a gasoline tax of 4.3 cents a gallon.