3 PHRASE If you run the gauntlet , you go through an unpleasant experience in which a lot of people criticize or attack you. □ [+ of ] The trucks tried to drive to the British base, running the gauntlet of marauding bands of gunmen.
4 PHRASE If you throw down the gauntlet to someone, you say or do something that challenges them to argue or compete with you. □ Luxury car firm Jaguar has thrown down the gauntlet to competitors by giving the best guarantee on the market.
gauze /gɔː z/ N‑UNCOUNT Gauze is a type of light, soft cloth with tiny holes in it. □ Strain the juice through a piece of gauze or a sieve.
gauzy /gɔː zi/ ADJ [ADJ n] Gauzy material is light, soft, and thin, so that you can see through it. □ …thin, gauzy curtains.
gave /ge I v/ Gave is the past tense of give .
gav|el /gæ v ə l/ (gavels ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft poss N ] A gavel is a small wooden hammer that the person in charge of a law court, an auction, or a meeting bangs on a table to get people's attention.
gawd /gɔː d/ EXCLAM Gawd is used to represent the word 'God' pronounced in a particular accent or tone of voice, especially to show that someone is bored, irritated, or shocked. [INFORMAL , WRITTEN ] □ I thought, oh my gawd!
gawk /gɔː k/ (gawks , gawking , gawked ) VERB To gawk at someone or something means to stare at them in a rude, stupid, or unthinking way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + at ] The youth continued to gawk at her and did not answer. □ [V ] Tens of thousands came to gawk.
gawky /gɔː ki/ ADJ If you describe someone, especially a young person, as gawky , you mean they are awkward and clumsy. □ …a gawky lad with spots.
gawp /gɔː p/ (gawps , gawping , gawped ) VERB To gawp means the same as to gawk . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V + at ] At weekends the roads are jammed with holiday-makers coming to gawp at the parade. □ [V ] Thorpe could only stand and gawp.
gay ◆◆◇ /ge I / (gays , gayer , gayest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A gay person is homosexual. □ The quality of life for gay men has improved over the last two decades. □ …the gay community. ● N‑PLURAL Gays are homosexual people, especially homosexual men. □ More importantly, gays have proved themselves to be style leaders. ● gay|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …Mike's admission of his gayness.
2 ADJ A gay person is fun to be with because they are lively and cheerful. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ I am happy and free, in good health, gay and cheerful.
3 ADJ A gay object is brightly coloured and pretty to look at. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ I like gay, relaxing paintings. SYNONYMS gay ADJ 2
cheerfuclass="underline" They are both very cheerful in spite of their colds.
happy: Her face relaxed into a happy smile.
jolly: She was a jolly, kindhearted woman.
merry: He was much loved for his merry nature.
joyfuclass="underline" We're a very joyful people; we're very musical people and we love music.
gaze /ge I z/ (gazes , gazing , gazed )
1 VERB If you gaze at someone or something, you look steadily at them for a long time, for example because you find them attractive or interesting, or because you are thinking about something else. □ [V + at ] She stood gazing at herself in the mirror. □ [V + at ] Sitting in his wicker chair, he gazed reflectively at the fire.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu with poss] You can talk about someone's gaze as a way of describing how they are looking at something, especially when they are looking steadily at it. [WRITTEN ] □ She felt increasingly uncomfortable under the woman's steady gaze. □ The interior was shielded from the curious gaze of passersby.
3 PHRASE If someone or something is in the public gaze , they are receiving a lot of attention from the general public. □ You won't find a couple more in the public gaze than Michael and Lizzie.
ga|zebo /gəziː boʊ, [AM ] -ze I -/ (gazebos ) N‑COUNT A gazebo is a small building with open sides. Gazebos are often put up in gardens so that people can sit in them to enjoy the view.
ga|zelle /gəze l/ (gazelles ) N‑COUNT A gazelle is a type of small African or Asian deer. Gazelles move very quickly and gracefully.
ga|zette /gəze t/ (gazettes )
1 N‑COUNT [n N ] Gazette is often used in the names of newspapers. □ …the Arkansas Gazette.
2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] In Britain, a gazette is an official publication in which information such as honours, public appointments, and important decisions are announced.
gaz|et|teer /gæ z I t I ə r / (gazetteers ) N‑COUNT A gazetteer is a book or a part of a book which lists and describes places.
ga|zump /gəzʌ mp/ (gazumps , gazumping , gazumped ) VERB [usu passive] If you are gazumped by someone, they agree to sell their house to you, but then sell it to someone else who offers to pay a higher price. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] While we carry out searches, we may be gazumped by someone offering a higher price. ● ga|zump|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ During the 1980s property boom, gazumping was common.
GB /dʒiː biː / N‑PROPER GB is an abbreviation for Great Britain .