native speaker (=someone who was born in the country where a language is spoken, so that is the language they usually use) All our English teachers are native speakers.
В the way someone speaks
pronunciation /pra.nAnsi'eiJ^n/ [n singular] the way someone says the words and
sounds of a language: Gianni has problems with his grammar but his pronun ciation is very good.
A\ Don't write 'pronounciation'. The correct spelling is pronunciation
accent aeks^ntH'seksent/ [n C) the way someone speaks a language, which shows which country or which part of a country they come from, and which sometimes shows which social class they come from: She speaks Spanish with a Mexican accent. I I knew from his accent that he was Scottish.
a strong/broad accent (=an accent that is easy to notice) Her companion had a strong French accent, an upper-class accent (=typical of people from a high social class)
Speech spiitj, In U] the way someone speaks, especially when this is affected by illness, drugs etc: He was drunk, and his speech slow and unclear. speech impediment (=a permanent speech problem, which makes it difficult to pronounce certain sounds) She was born with a slight speech impediment.
spoken, not written
Spoken /Чрэокэп/. [adj usually before noun] spoken language is produced with the voice, not written down: This book will help you with both spoken and written English.
oral /"э:гэI/ [adj usually before noun] using
spoken language rather than written language - use this especially about tests and exams
oral test/exam VJe had a 15-minute oral exam in German.
unable to speak
can't speak /,kamt 'spi;k||,kaent-/ to be unable to speak because you are too ill, weak, frightened, or shocked: I was so terrified. I couldn't speak
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SPEAK
lose your voice /Ju:z p:r 'vdisI to become unable to speak because of illness, or because you have been using your voice too much: All that shouting has made her lose her voice.
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SPECIAL
dumb d,\m/!adj] permanently unable to speak: Martin was born deaf and dumb.
/L Dumb is not used by doctors, and is often considered offensive.
SPECIAL
unique ju:'ni:k [cdj] so special and unusual that it is the only one of its kind - use this especially about things or people that you think are extremely good: It was a unique achievement - no-one has ever won the championship five times before. I The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to see all of the artist's work.
special
special 'spepl; |adj] something that is special is different from other things, for example because it is better, more important. or intended for a particular purpose: They have special meals for children. I United Airlines is offering a special $299 return fare to London. I I made a special effort to be nice to him. + for Today is a very special day for her. special occasion (=a wedding, birthday, or other time when people celebrate something) He has a dark suit, tuhich he only wears on special occasions. something special about sb/sth (=some- thing good about a person, place etc which makes you like them very much} There's something special about the countryside in this part of France.
specially spepli MW specially designed/made/built/chosen/trained/ prepared etc designed, made, built etc for a special purpose: а neu; range of beauty products specially designed for
teenagers I Customs officers use spe daily trained dogs to search for drugs.
particular .por'tik$br [adj only before noun) use this to say that something is clearly different or separate from other things of the same kind, or that something is more important than other things: Each flower has its own particular smell. 1 Is there any particular reason why you want to go back to Japan? I Each class will focus on one particular aspect of American culture.
be of particular interest/importance
see also unusual, different,
festival5 and special days
(=be especially interesting or important to a particular person or group) This discovery is of particular interest to scientists studying the origins of the universe.
SPEND
to spend money or time
look here for ...
spend money spend time
SHOP— MONEY
\ я
see also
iг ^
BUY GAMBLING
to use money to buy things
spend spend [v T] to use money to buy things
spend Ј5/$10 etc I bought two skirts and a T-shirt and I only spent $50. spend £5/$ 10 etc on sth We spend about £85 a week on food. I The government should spend more on education. I She spends far too much money on clothes. spend money on doing sth Carrie spends most of her money on travelling to school.
spending - spent - have spent
Ж Don't say 'I spent $50 for this jacket'. Say I spent $50 on this jacket
pay £5/$ 10 etc for sth pei (Ј5/$io
etc) for (sth)/ [phrasa/ verb T] to spend £5. $10 etc in order to buy something: They paid over $100 each for tickets. I The set meal costs £15 but you have to pay extra for wine.
Ж Use pay for to talk about what you must pay for something because that is what it costs Compare: We pay more for food than people in America (^because food is more expensive here), i French people spend more on food than British people
(-they choose to spend more of their money on food).
qblow hbo [и t] spoke n to spend a lot of money on something expensive and enjoyable, especial.у something that you do not really need
blow Ј50/$100 etc on sth We blew
$3000 on a trip to Barbados,
blow the lot British blow it all amlrican
(-spend everything) He won £500,000 in the National Lottery. but he's blown the lot.
blowing - blew ~ have blown
to spend less money
CUt down /. к л t daon [phrasal verb I/T] to reduce the amount of money that you regularly spend: He's spending much more than he can afford - hell have to cut down.
+ on She's already cut down on going out and buying clothes. but she still doesn't have enough money.