sing a song/tune/hymn They sat together and sang songs. ' All the /ami7y sang Happy Birthday' as Dad came in. sing sb a song/tune Come on, David. sing us a songf
sing to sb She sat in a corner, singing softly to her baby.
sing along (=sing with someone who is already singing) Sing along if you know the words.
singing - sang - have sung
hum turn [u I/T] to make musical sounds with your voice, but with your mouth closed. Carole hummed to herself as she worked. I He walked along, humming a tune.
humming - hummed - have hummed
whistle 'wis^l [u I/T] to make musical
sounds by blowing air out between your lips: Sam was painting the door, whistling softly as he worked. whistle a song/tune You've been whistling that tune all day.
В someone who sings
singer \ujor [n C| someone who sings, especially as their job: He's a really good singer.
opera/jazz/blues/rock singer Jodie dreamed of being a rock singer. lead singer (=the main singer in a pop group) Mick dagger, the lead singer with the Rolling Stones
choir kwaior [п C] a large group of singers who regularly sing in a church or school or with an orchestra (=large group of musicians): I used to be in the school choir.
El something that you sing
song /sdi]|so:i]/[n C] a short piece of music with words for singing: It's one of Bob Dylan's most famous songs. I an old
Beatles song ! The song was originally written by Schubert.
h(jmn him [n Cj a religious song that people sing in church
SIT
^ see also stand, Lit
II to be sitting in a chair, on the floor etc
sit sit/ Ju I] to be in a chair, on the floor etc, with the weight of your body resting on your bottom, not on your feet: It was a lovely day, and we sat outside in the sun. I Billy was sitting on the edge of the desk, swinging his legs, sit at a desk/table/bar/counter / used to spend all day sitting at a desk.
sit back {—sit and lean back against something) Just sit back and relax. sit up (=sit with your back straight) /t's better for your back if you sit up straight.
sit still (=sit quietly without moving) I wish you children would sit still for 10 minutes.
sitting - sat - have sat
Sit: which preposition? You sit on something with a flat surface, such as the floor, a bed or table, a sofa or bench, or a plain chair or stool. You sit in a comfortable chair or armchair. You sit at a desk, table, or bar (meaning that you sit
facing it, for example to work or to eat a meal). And you sit in front of a television, computer, or fire.
Sit up /.sit 'лр, [phrasal verb 1] to move your body so that you are sitting, after you have been lying down: The day after the operation, he was allowed to sit up in bed. I Anna sat up at once, looking startled.
В to sit after you have been standing
sit down /.sir daon [phrasal verb 1) to sit
on a chair, bed, floor etc, after you have been standing: Come in and sit down. + in/on/next to/beside etc Fay sat do an
SIT
on the edge of the bed.
sit sit [и I] to sit down after you have been standing
+ in/on/next to/beside etc Come and sit next to me. I Let's go and sit by the window.
sitting - sat - have sat
В a place where you can sit
seat si:t {n Cj something you can sit on. especially in a bus, train, plane, theatre etc: Our seats were right at the front of the bus. 1 He leaned back in his seat and lit a cigarette, back/front seat (=in a car)
place /pleis/ |n С] a seat - use this especially to talk about whether seats are available: There are still some places at the back of the hail. I Are there any places left on tonights flight to Rio?
chair /Сеэг/ [n С] a piece of furniture for one person to sit on: He sat down in his favourite chair by the fireplace.
You say sit on a chair if it is a plain piece of furniture with a hard seat. You say sit in a chair if it is a comfortable piece of furniture with a soft seat.
i j
so/a/couch "saofa, kaotJV [n CI a comfortable piece of furniture which is big enough for two or three people to sit on: Roy was lying on the sofa. I Come and sit with me on the couch.
armchair /a:rmtfey, a:rm'tjea'./ In CI а large comfortable chair with parts at the sides where you can rest your arms: Dad was dozing in the armchair.
bench /bentJ/ [n C] a long hard seat made of wood or metal that several people can sit on, which does not have a back or arms
stool /stu:l In CJ a seat for one person, which has three or four legs and has no back or arms: a bar stool
ш what you say to tell someone to sit
Qsit down sit daon/ spoken Sit down.
/ have something to tell you. I Will you sit down and finish your breakfast!
Qhave a seat/take a seat /haev э
682
si:t, ,teik э 'si:t/ spoken say this when telling someone politely to sit down: Have a seat - the dentist won't be long.
SITUATION
what is happening in a particular place or at a particular time
see also place
Situation sitjucipn (л С usually singular] the combination of all the things that are happening in a particular place and at a particular time, especially when this is causing problems: With no rain for six months, the situation was becoming desperate. 1 I tried to explain the situation to my boss.
economic/political situation The economic situation in the US is getting better.
a dijficult/awkward/tricky situation It s
a rather difficult situation - I need to borrow some money, but I don't want my parents to know. be in a situation It's good to be able to talk to other people who are in the same situation as yourself.