Выбрать главу

WEAK

if you mean 'not brave', 90 to

brave/not brave 5

opposite strong see also break

physically weak

weak /wi:k/ lad)] someone who is weak is not strong enough to lift heavy things or do a lot of physical work, especially because they are ilclass="underline" When you have flu, you feel tired and weak for a long time. 1 weak muscles + /гош/with The soldiers were weak from hunger and exhaustion. weakness [n U) The symptoms of the illness are a sore throat, weakness, and dizziness.

/rail frei); lad)] someone who is frail is thin and weak, especially because they are old: a frail 85-year-old lady 1 He lay in

bed, looking very frail.

puny /'pjumi/ [adj] especially written a man or boy who is puny is small and thin, and looks very weak: Pete was a puny little lad. I His wife was such a big strong woman, she made him look puny.

weedy /'wi:di/ [adj] british informal a man

or boy who is weedy is thin and looks weak: a weedy young man with glasses

It is rude to describe someone as weedy.

E3 not powerful

weak /wi:k/ [adjl a weak leader, manager, or government does not have clear ideas about what should be done, and is too easily influenced by other people: Weak management led to the failure of the business.

weakness In U] The President has often been accused of weakness.

В easy to attack or harm

take a short cat (=use a short cut) Lets take a short cut across the field.

vulnerable /\л1пэгэМ/ [adj] someone who is vulnerable can easily be harmed

or attacked: a small vulnerable child in need of protection 1 Wild animals are most vulnerable when they are asleep.

de/e nee less british de/enseless ameri can ,drfensl3s/ (ad;| not strong enough to protect yourself against an attack: This was a horrible crime against a defenceless old man. i The UN has condemned the latest bombing of defenseless civilians.

to make someone or

something weak

weaken , wi:km [и T] to make someone or something weak: Her long illness had weakened her. I The city's defences had been weakened by enemy shelling.

WEAPON

something that you use to fight

ARMY

war

explooe

DESTROY

\ t

see also

attack

shoot

KILL

l \

with

HURT/M|URE

D a weapon

weapon 'wepsn [n C] something that

you use to fight with, such as a gun, bomb, or knife: Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up! I Police have Dot yet found the murder weapon, nuclear/chemical/conventional weapons (-atom bombs, poisonous gases, or ordinary weapons) a treaty to reduce the number of nuclear weapons

You can also use arms before a noun, like an adjective: a major US arms manufacturer I discussions about arms control

ammunition /жт$ш,|>п/ [n U) bullets

and other things that are fired from large

arms /a:rmz, [n plural] weapons used for fighting wars: Eu ropean govern men ts have been supplying arms to the rebels.

Aor small guns: The soldiers kept on firing until they had no more ammunition. I Police have found a store of guns, ammunition, and explosives used by the terrorists.

round of ammunition (=a single bullet or similar object) Sixteen pistols and 150 rounds of ammunition were stolen.

having weapons

armed ;'a:rmd/ [adj] someone who is armed is carrying a gun or other weapon: An armed gang stole jewellery worth £40,000. t Do you think that the British police should be armed? I armed guards

having no weapons

unarmed / ,\n'a:rmd[adj] someone who is unarmed is not carrying a gun or other weapon: It was later discovered that the hijacker was unarmed. I He had ordered his men to fire on unarmed demonstrators.

to get or provide

weapons

arm /a:rm/ {u T] to provide someone with weapons: The rebels were trained, armed, and financed by foreign governments. I The country does not have sufficient funds to arm its troops. arm yoursel/ witK sth IVe armed ourselves with whatever we could find - sticks, knives, bricks.

arms race ; a:rmz re IS/ [n singular) when

countries keep producing or buying more

HOT

* г

see also

i

environment

DRY

and more powerful weapons because each one wants to be the most powerfuclass="underline" The situation is dangerous and could start an arms race in Asia. I We have to halt the nuclear arms race.

WEATHER

WET

COLD

weather

weather /'wedэг/ [n U] if you talk about the weather, you say whether it is hot or cold outside or whether it is raining, snowing. windy etc: What was the weather

like or, your vacation? I We wunf to

have a picnic on Saturday, but it depends on the weather. hot/warm/wet etc weather a period of warm sunny weather I I don 't like going to work on my bike in wet weather, weather forecast (=a report on television or radio, saying what the weather will be like) Here is the weather forecast for central Europe.

Qlt it, [pronoun] spoken you can use it when you are saying what the weather is like: What's it like in Spain at this time of year? Is ir really hot? it's lovely/nice/aw/ul etc Isn't it nice today?

it's cold/sunny/cloudy etc The weather forecast says it's going to be cloudy

tomorrow.

climate 'klaim^t/ [n CI the usual weather conditions in a particular country or area: Queens/ancf has a warm tropical climate. I flowers that will not grow in a cold climate

good weather

good weather /gud veto'/ (n UJ

weather that is sunny and warm: We go to Greece every Easter, and we usually get good weather.