highly critical (=i'ery critical) The judge was highly critical of the Los Angeles Police Department.
scathing /'akeidiij/ {adj\ criticizing someone or something very strongly, because you think they are completely wrong or of very low quality
scathing attack/comments etc Her new
book is a scathing attack on American imperialism in Central America. + about 'The New York Times' was particularly scathing about his performance.
В someone who criticizes
critic /'kritik/ [n C] someone who criticizes a person, such as a politician or business leader, or their plans or methods, especially in public: The Prime Minister answered his critics in a televised speech.
165
CRITICIZE
+ of critics of nuclear power
CROWD
if you mean 'when there are a lot of people travelling, shopping etc', go
to busy/not busy
a large number of people together in a public place
crowd /kraod/ [n C] a large number of people together in one place: I don't often go to football games because I don't like big crowds. + of a crowd of angry protesters crowds of people/shoppers/tourists etc The exhibition is expected to attract huge crowds of visitors.
horde I hordes ho:rd( z)/ [n] a large crowd of people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you + of A horde of screaming kids ran out of the building. I She was chased by hordes of reporters and camera crews.
mob mDb||marb/ [n С] a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to controclass="underline" The mob set fire to cars and buildings.
+ of A mob of 200 rioters caused millions of pounds worth of damage.
when a place is full of people
crowded ''kraod^d/ [adj] so full of people
that it is difficult to move or to find a place to sit or stand: The train was really crowded. I James walked into the crowded bar.
+ with It was two weeks before Christmas and the mail was crowded with shoppers.
packed /'paekt/ [adj] informal so full of people that there is almost no space left: The club is so popular that it's packed by 9 o'clock. I A bomb exploded this morning in a packed department store in the city centre.
+ with St Peter's Square was packed with tourists.
jam-packed (=completely full) The stadium Li'as absolutely jam-packed.
overcrowded .,эоуэг'кга(к1^Ц [adj) а
CROWD
place that is overcrowded has too many people in it and is unpleasant and
uncomfortable: The buses were all filthy and overcrowded. I overcrowded prisons
be swarming with /bi: swo:rrTHi] wiа/ if
a place is swarming with people, it is so crowded with them that it is difficult to move or to go where you want to go - use this especially about people you disapprove of or when you are annoyed that a place is so crowded: The place was swarming with noisy kids.
when a crowd fills a place
crowd kraod/ [u I/T] if people crowd a place, they fill it and move around in it: Shoppers and tourists crowded the market square every day. + around {also round British) Fans crowded around the entrance, hoping to see the band as they arrived.
/ill jfil' [u T) if a lot of people fill a place, there are so many of them that there is no room for any more: An audience of over 50,000 had filled the arena.
when people come together to make a crowd
gather /^жаэг/ |u I] if people gather, they
meet or come together and become a crowd: By the time the President arrived, a large crowd had gathered. + around/at/in etc Angry workers were gathering around the steps of the City Hall.
form b:rm \v I] if a crowd forms, more and more people join a group of people who are already watching or listening to something: A crowd was beginning to form at the scene of the accident.
congregate /'koogr^geitl'kain-' [v II if
people congregate in a place, a large number of them meet there, especially regularly in the same place, and at the same time
+ at/in/around etc On Friday evening, teenagers would congregate outside the bars on the main street.
when a crowd separates
166
disperse drsp3:rs/ [и I] if a crowd disperses, people begin to move away from it: Once the ambulance left, the crowd began to disperse.
break up/breik 'лр/ [phrasal verb I] if а crowd breaks up. people start to leave and move away in small groups: When the police arrived. the crowd broke up very quickly.
CRUEL
unkind _ ^attack
Л r
see
BAD a|so ^^ VIOLENT
J V
threaten describing
people
Ц cruel people
cruel "kruiol, \adj\ someone who is cruel deliberately causes pain and does not care if other people suffer: Children can sometimes be very cruel.
it is cruel to do stk I think it's cruel to keep dogs locked up inside all day. cruelly [acM Women prisoners were treated especially cruelly.
гтич'! - ?4i» i|..■? n • .'■(. lirsi: t't'Uc I - ci'lld» ■' - i и U'lust
ruthless /"ruiBbs, [adj] so determined to get what you want that you do not care how much other people suffer: These men are ruthless terrorists and will kill anyone who tries to stop them. I the ruthless dictator, Adolj Hitler