AWL4I 23rd Sept

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Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

ab

•

nor

•

mal

BrE / æbˈnɔːml /

NAmE / æbˈnɔːrml /

adjective

WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK

different from what is usual or expected, especially in a way that is worrying, harmful or not wanted

abnormal levels of sugar in the blood

They thought his behaviour was abnormal.

The ship was blown off course by abnormal weather conditions.

normal

ab • nor • mal • ly / BrE æbˈnɔːməli ; NAmE æbˈnɔːrməli / adverb abnormally high blood pressure

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adjective

WORDORIGIN

EXAMPLE BANK

/ BrE ˈæbstrækt ; NAmE ˈæbstrækt /

1 based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation

abstract knowledge/principles

The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.

compare concrete adj. ( 2 )

2 existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical reality We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.

3 ( of art ) not representing people or things in a realistic way, but expressing the artist's ideas about them

the work of American abstract expressionists like Mark Rothko

compare figurative ( 2 ) , representational

ab • stract • ly / BrE ˈæbstræktli ; NAmE ˈæbstræktli / adverb

Kandinsky's first pure abstracts are marked by their wild colour. 2 a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document

summary

in the ˈabstract

in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases.

I'm just talking in the abstract now. verb

VERBFORMS

WORDORIGIN

EXAMPLE BANK

/ BrE æbˈstrækt ; NAmE æbˈstrækt /

1 ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from somewhere She abstracted the main points from the argument.

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ab

•

strac

•

tion

BrE / æbˈstrækʃn /

NAmE / æbˈstrækʃn /

noun

1

[ countable , uncountable ] ( formal ) a general idea not based on any particular real person, thing or situation; the quality of being abstract

2

[ uncountable ] ( formal ) the state of thinking deeply about sth and not paying attention to what is around you

She was gazing in abstraction at the far corner of the room.

3

[ uncountable , countable ] ( technical ) the action of removing sth from sth else; the process of being removed from sth else

water abstraction from rivers

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aca • dem • ic adjective, noun

1 [ usually before noun ] connected with education, especially studying in schools and universities

The students return in October for the start of the new academic year. high/low academic standards

an academic career

The enrolment criteria are geographical rather than academic.

2 [ usually before noun ] involving a lot of reading and studying rather than practical or technical skills

academic subjects/qualifications

3 good at subjects involving a lot of reading and studying

She wasn't very academic and hated school.

4 not connected to a real or practical situation and therefore not important

It is a purely academic question.

The whole thing's academic now—we can't win anyway.

aca • dem • ic • al • ly / BrE ˌækəˈdemɪkli ; NAmE ˌækəˈdemɪkli / adverb You have to do well academically to get into medical school.

He wasn't very well qualified academically but had a lot of experience. noun

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acad

•

emy

BrE / əˈkædəmi /

NAmE / əˈkædəmi /

noun

WORD ORIGIN EXAMPLE BANK ( pl. acad • emies )

1

a school or college for special training

the Royal Academy of Music a police/military academy

2

( usually Academy ) a type of official organization which aims to encourage and develop art, literature, science, etc

the Royal Academy of Arts

3

a secondary school in Scotland

4

a private school in the US

5

a secondary school in England which receives some of its money from a private business or person instead of from the government