to use something
use /ju:z/ T] to use something for a purpose: Do you mind if I use your phone? I Are we allowed to use a dictionary in the test? I I use the library a lot. use sth to do sth Use a calculator to check your answers. I some techniques you can use to help yourself relax use sth _for doing sth We use the shed for storing our firewood. use sth as sth We decided to use the second bedroom as a junk room.
with /wi6, wi0/ [preposition] if you do something with a spoon, a hammer etc, you use a spoon, hammer etc to do it: Beat the egg with a fork. I Do you have anything I can open the bottle with?
make use о/ Sth /,meik ju:s ov (sth)/ to
use something that is available, especially something that can help you or give you an advantage: Not enough people are making use of the company's fitness centre.
make good/full use of sth While she was at college, she made good use of all the computing facilities.
to use an amount of fuel, water, food etc
use ju:z [v T! to use an amount of something: It's a big car and it uses a lot of gas. I You'll need to use at least two cans of paint.
consume /bn'sju:m||-'su:m/ [v T] formal to use fuel, energy, water, and other natural products - use this especially to talk about the amount of fuel, energy etc used by people in generaclass="underline" The US imports 45% of the oil that it consumes, I industrialized countries which consume natural resources in huge quantities consumption /кэп'члтррп (n U] the amount of fuel, energy etc that people use: The government is urging people to reduce their water consumption.
to use something again
recycle /.rii'saik^l/ [u T] to put bottles, newspapers, cans etc through a process so that they can be used for making new bottles, newspapers etc: new techniques for recycling plastics recycled \adj] AI! our envelopes are made from recycled paper.
re-use /,ri:'ju:z/ [u Tj to use something again after you have used it before: The supermarket encourages shoppers to reuse plastic bags.
when a seat, room, machine etc is being used
be in use /bi: in ju:s; if a room or machine is in use, it is being used by someone at the present time, so no-one else can use it: The meeting room is in use at the moment, so we'll have to go somewhere else. I All the photocopiers are in use. Could you come back later?
Qbe taken /bi: teikon especially spoken
use this about a seat on a train, in a theatre etc that someone else has already bought or arranged to use, even if they are not there at the moment: Is this seat taken? I I'm sorry, you can't sit there. It's taken.
When you see IS, go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section.
not being used
unused Anju:zd^/ (iadj] not being used at
the present time: After Grandad died, his car sat unused in the garage. I Farmers were paid special subsidies for unused fields.
disused ,dis'ju:zd4' [adj only before noun] especially british a disused factory, mine, railway etc is old and is not used any more: The drugs were found in a disused warehouse.
when something is not being used, so you can use it
available /a'veilatvl [adj] something useful that is available is ready to be used and you can use it if you want to: They built the shelter using old wood and plastic - just whatever was available. I IVe had filled all the available space, so there was nowhere to store the books.
free fri: [adj] use this about a chair, room, table etc that you can use because no-one else is using it: The office next door is free if you need somewhere to work. I There's just one free table, over there in the corner.
em
this about buildings inat no-one is using: Fire broke out in a vacant office block early this morning. I The house has been empty for over a year.
Spare ,/spеэг/ |adj only before noun] a spare tyre/pen/key etc a tyre, key etc which you are not using at the moment, but which you keep in case the one you are using breaks, gets lost etc: W/e keep a spare key in the garage. I Do you have a spare pen I could borrow?
Iptu/vacant /'empti, veikant/ [adj] use is about buildinqs that no-one is usina:
officially allowed to be used
valid /'vaelijd/ [adj] if a ticket, passport etc is valid, you can legally use it and it will be officially accepted: My passport is valid for 10 years. I Do you have a valid driver's license?
what something can be used for
use ju:s [n С often plural] one of the ways in which something can be used: The land has been developed for tourism and other recreational uses. I the industrial uses of hydrogen «
be for bi: b:r [phrasa/ verb Tj to be used for doing a particular job: This cream is for removing make-up. I What's that switch for?
Function is used especially in technical or scientific writing.
/unction /Тлцкрп [n C] the purpose for which something is intended to be used + of The main function of the bars is to protect the driver's legs.
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to use something in the wrong way
misuse /mis'ju:z/ [vT] to use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose: The word 'schizophrenia' is frequently misused. I Po/iticians misused public money on entertaining their business friends.
misuse /mis'ju:s/ [n C/U] when something is used in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose: Opponents of genetic engineering see it as a misuse of scientific knowledge.
abuse /a'bjuiz/ [и T] to use something for а bad purpose, especially in a way that is unfair or that harms other people: Local politicians abused their privileges to make themselves rich. I people who abuse the welfare system abuse /s'bjuis/ [n C/U] when something is