early - earlier - earliest
early [adj only before noun| We're spending two weeks in Malaysia in early May. I a man in his earfy thirties (^between 30 and 33 years old) I the
story of her early life in India.
В a speech or piece of writing that comes at the
beginning
Introduction. |intrcVdAkpn |n C] a short
part at the beginning of a book or speech, explaining what it is about: You'll understand ihe poems better if you read the introduction first.
+ to Scott's introduction to his novel 'Ivanhoe'
introductory ,'jntra'dAkuri* [adj] introductory remark / paragraph / sentence
things that someone says or writes at the beginning of a book, speech etc to explain what it is about: Write an introductory paragraph giving the background to your research.
BEHAVE
POUTl— STUPID
N P
see
also ✓ \
sensible dcscmbinc
people
II to behave in a particular way
behave /bi'heiv [и I] the way someone behaves is the things that they do and say. and the effects these have on other people: How does Sam behave at school? behave well/badly/unreasonably etc I'm not going to talk to him until he starts
behaving reasonably.
behave as if The next time I saw him, Frank behoved as if nothing had happened
behave Uke sb/sth Oh, be quietf You're behauing /ike a two-year-old. f behave towards sb William was behaving very strangely toioards me.
be hi: be rude/helpful/silly etc to
behave in a rude, helpful, or silly etc way: Don 't be so rude! i The waiter was really friendly and helpful. I Stop being silly I I
Why is she being so nice to us9
act iekt [u Ij to behave in a particular way. especially in a way that seems unusual, surprising, or annoying to other people act strangely/stupidly/oddly etc Tina s been acting Dery strangely lately act Uke sb/sth He has been accused of acting like a dictator. act as if She acts as if she owns the place and we're her servants.
react /ri'aekt/ [и I] to say or do something because of what another person has said or done, or because of something that has happened: Нош did she react when you told her the news?
react angrily/violently/calmly Parents reacted angrily when the school asked them to keep their children at home.
treat tri:t [и Tj to behave towards someone or deal with someone in a particular way treat sb well/badly Amy's treated him really badly - no wonder he's upset. treat sb like sb/sth Гт sick of my parents treating me (ike с child. treat sb with respect! contempt! kindness Doug/as was treated with much more respect after his promotion.
treatment tri:ttri3nt, [n U] the way that a person, organization etc treats someone: Harper described the treatment he had received in prison. + of We're shocked by the government's treatment of young homeless people, special/preferential treatment (=when one person is treated better than everyone else) Although I was the boss's daughter, I didn't get preferential treatment,
0 to behave well
О be have bi'heiV [и I] hspd-iai .lv skhhn to do what people tell you and not cause any trouble - use this especially about children: If you two don't behave. I'm taking you straight home.
behave yourself (=behave well) Make sure you behave yourselves when we uisit Grandma.
67
BEHAVE
good /god, a child who is good does not cause trouble and does what he or she is
told to do: / was always very good at school. I He's a good little boy. I Bye now Jessie. Be good.
well-behaved wel bi'heivd< Iadj\
someone who is well-behaved does not cause any trouble and does what other
people tell them to do - use this especially about children, pets, or large groups of people: Can I bring my dog? She's very well-behaved. I The crowd was noisy but well-behaved.
be on your best behaviour british behavior american .bi: on jo:1 best
bi'heivjor to make a special effort to behave well by doing and saying the right things and being very polite, because you know other people are watching you. Dinner was very formal with everyone on their best behaviour.
to behave badly
behave badly 'bi.heiv 'baedli. to be rude.
unhelpful, or unpleasant and not do what you are told to do: I knew I'd behaved very badly and I was sorry. I The kids behaved so badly that I was embarrassed.
misbehave misbi'heiv [и I] if children
misbehave, they deliberately behave badly by being noisy, fighting etc: Kids often misbehave when they are bored or tired. I We neuer dared to misbehcue in Miss Dill's classes.
t
to behave badly by being very active and noisy: Dun'ng his parents' divorce. Robert began actino up in class.
act UD /,агкt 'лр [phrasal verb I] ini ormai
the way someone behaves
BEHAVE
behaviour british behavior amf.rican
Don't say 'behaviours' or 'a behaviour'. Jtehaviour is an uncountable noun.