Plural only for types and instances.. Plural only for types and instances.. to keep a supply of something, especially money, for future use; to place something aside, especially money, f
Trang 1sack ["sAk] 1 n a bag or pouch
made of paper, cloth, etc 2 n the
contents of Q
sacred ["se krId] adj holy; blessed.
(Adv: sacredly.)
sacred cow something that is
regarded by some people with
such respect and veneration that
they do not like it being criticized
by anyone in any way
sacrifice ["sA kr@ faIs] 1 n giving
up something; not having
some-thing that is wanted or needed
(Plural only for types and
instances.) 2 n something that is
offered to a god or spirit 3 tv to
take the life of a creature as in W
4 tv to give up something of
value [for someone else’s benefit]
sad ["sAd] 1 adj not happy; feeling
sorrow (Adv: sadly Comp: sadder;
sup: saddest.) 2 adj unfortunate;
[of something] not bringing
pleas-ure (Adv: sadly Comp: sadder;
sup: saddest.)
sadden ["sAd n] 1 iv to become
sad 2 tv to cause someone to
become sad
saddle ["sAd l] 1 n a leather seat
that fits on the back of a horse or
other animal that carries people
2 n a bicycle or motorcycle seat.
3 tv to place Q on a horse or a
similar animal
saddle someone with something to
give someone something
undesir-able, annoying, or difficult to deal
with (Informal.)
sadness ["sAd n@s] n sorrow;
hav-ing feelhav-ings of gloom or
depres-sion; a lack of happiness (No plural.)
safe ["sef] 1 n a solid, sturdy, steel
or iron box—with a strong lock— that money, jewelry, papers, or other valuable objects are kept in
for protection 2 adj not
danger-ous; not risky; not causing or
cre-ating danger (Adv: safely Comp:
safer; sup: safest.) 3 adj protected;
secure (Adv: safely Comp: safer; sup: safest.)
→ play it safe
→ to be on the safe side
→ to be safe
safe and sound safe and whole or
healthy
safeguard ["sef gard] 1 n
some-thing that protects someone or
something from danger 2 tv to
protect someone or something from danger; to keep someone or something safe
safekeeping ["sef "kip IN] n
keep-ing someone or somethkeep-ing safe; a place or state where something is safe (No plural.)
→ for safekeeping
safety ["sef ti] 1 n the state of
being safe; freedom from harm or
danger (No plural.) 2 the adj use
of Q
safety belt ["sef ti bElt] n a seat
belt; a set of straps that extend across one’s lap from the top of one’s shoulder across the body to the opposite hip
safe(ty)-deposit box ["sef (ti) d@
"paz @t "baks] n a metal box that
is used for holding valuable items 516
S
Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc
Trang 2and is locked in a large safe or
vault
sag ["sAg] iv to bend, hang, or
curve downward
sage advice very good and wise
advice
said ["sEd] past tense and past
par-ticiple ofsay
sail ["sel] 1 n a sheet of cloth that
is stretched on a mast of a ship to
catch the energy of the wind 2 iv.
to travel by boat or ship on the
water 3 iv [for a ship or boat] to
travel on the water 4 iv to glide
through the air the way a boat
moves through water 5 tv to
steer a boat or ship on the water
6 tv to cause something to glide
through the air
→ smooth sailing
sail into someone or something 1.
to crash into someone or
some-thing with a boat or ship 2 to
crash into someone or something
sail (right) through something 1.
to travel through something in a
boat or ship 2 to go through
something very quickly and easily
(Figurative.)
sailboat ["sel bot] n a boat that has
at least one sail and that moves by
the power of the wind
sailor ["se l#] 1 n someone who
works on a boat or a ship 2 n.
someone who is in the navy
sake ["sek] [someone’s] benefit,
demands, or welfare
→ for someone’s or something’ssake
→ for the sake of someone or
something
salad ["sAl @d] n a dish of mixed
vegetables, especially lettuce, or
other food mixed with vegetables,
usually with a sauce called salad dressing.
→ toss a salad
salary ["sAl (@) ri] n the amount of
money that someone is paid for working (Compare to wage.)
sale ["sel] 1 n the exchange of a
product or service for money; an
act of selling 2 n a special event
where products or services are sold for less money than normal
→ for sale
→ on sale
→ put somethingup (for sale)
sales n the amount of products or
services sold during a certain period of time (Treated as plural, but not countable.)
salesclerk ["selz kl#k] n someone
who works in a store, helping cus-tomers and selling products
salesman ["selz m@n] n., irreg.
someone whose job is selling things; a man whose job is selling things (Plural: salesmen.)
salesmen ["selz m@n] plural of
salesman
salespeople ["selz pi p@l] a plural
ofsalesperson
salesperson ["selz p# s@n] n.,
irreg someone whose job is selling
things (Plural: salespeopleor
salespersons.)
saleswoman ["selz wU m@n] n.,
irreg a woman whose job is selling
things (Plural: saleswomen.)
saleswomen ["selz wI m@n] plural
ofsaleswoman
salmon ["sAm @n] 1 n., irreg a
large food fish with soft, pale pink
salmon
517
Trang 3flesh (Plural: salmon.) 2 n the
meat of Q (No plural.)
salt ["sOlt] 1 n a white substance
used to season or preserve food
and to melt snow and ice (No
plu-ral.) 2 n a chemical substance
made by combining an acid with a
metal (Plural only for types and
instances.) 3 tv to season
some-thing by putting Q on it 4 tv to
cover something with Q
→ back to the salt mines
→ rub salt in a wound
→ take somethingwith a grain of salt
→ take somethingwith a pinch of
salt
→ worth one’ssalt
salt of the earth the most worthy
of people; a very good or worthy
person
salt something away 1 to store and
preserve food by salting it 2 to
store something; to place
some-thing in reserve (Figurative.)
salt water ["sOlt "wat #] 1 n water
with a high salt content, such as
that found in the oceans (No
plu-ral.) 2 saltwater the adj use of
Q
salted ["sOl tId] adj [of food]
hav-ing salt added
salty ["sOl ti] adj tasting like salt;
having salt (Adv: saltily Comp:
saltier; sup: saltiest.)
salute [s@ "lut] 1 tv to show
respect for someone by bringing
the right hand to one’s head 2 n.
an act of moving the hand to the
head as in Q
same ["sem] 1 adj not different;
being the identical person or
thing 2 adj being exactly like
someone or something else; not
different from someone or some-thing else; alike
→ amount to the same thing (as something)
→ by the same token
→ cast in the same mold
→ cut from the same cloth
→ in the same boat
→ in the same breath
→ speak the same language
→ tarred with the same brush
the same as someone or something
identical to someone or some-thing
sameness ["sem n@s] n the quality
of being the same; the degree of being very similar to someone or something (No plural.)
sample ["sAm p@l] 1 n a small
portion of something that shows
what the rest of it is like 2 tv to
take, try, or taste a small portion
of something
sanctuary ["sANk tSu Er i] 1 n a
sacred or holy building; a holy
place of worship 2 n a place of
safety or preservation, especially for birds and other wild animals
sand ["sAnd] 1 n very tiny
parti-cles of rock or seashells, such as are found on beaches and in deserts (Plural only for types and
instances.) 2 tv to rub something
with sandpaper to make it smooth;
to smooth something with
sand-paper 3 tv to put or sprinkle Q
on a surface, such as an icy street
→ bury one’shead in the sand
→ hide one’shead in the sand
sandpaper ["sAnd pe p#] n a
paper lightly coated with sand particles, used to polish or smooth
a surface (Plural only for types and instances.)
salt
518
Trang 4the sands of time the accumulated
tiny amounts of time; time
repre-sented by the sand in an hourglass
sandwich ["sAnd wItS] 1 n two
pieces of bread with some kind of
food in between 2 tv to put
someone or something tightly
between or among other persons
or objects
sane ["sen] 1 adj having a healthy
mind; not crazy (Adv: sanely.
Comp: saner; sup: sanest.) 2 adj.
rational; sensible; having or
show-ing common sense (Adv: sanely.
Comp: saner; sup: sanest.)
sang ["sAN] past tense ofsing
sanitary ["sAn @ tEr i] 1 adj very
clean; not dangerous to one’s
health (Adv: sanitarily.) 2 adj.
used for the disposal of waste that
is harmful to health
sanitation [sAn @ "te S@n] n the
study and practice of preserving
the health of the public, especially
concerning the removal of waste
(No plural.)
sanity ["sAn @ ti] n sound mental
health (No plural.)
sank ["sANk] a past tense ofsink
sap ["sAp] 1 n a fluid in a tree that
carries important nutrients to its
parts (No plural.) 2 tv to take
away someone’s or something’s
strength or energy
sarcasm ["sar kAz @m] n the use of
words that have the opposite
meaning from what is said (No
plural.)
sarcastic [sar "kAs tIk] adj using
sarcasm; using irony; mocking
(Adv: sarcastically [ Ik li].)
sardine [sar "din] n a small, edible
fish, usually sold in flat cans
→ packed (in) like sardines
sat ["sAt] past tense and past
par-ticiple ofsit
Satan ["set n] n the devil satellite ["sAt @ laIt] 1 n a natural
body of rock and minerals that orbits around a planet; a moon
2 n a spacecraft that orbits a planet 3 adj dependent on
some-thing else that has more power
satin ["sAt n] 1 n a soft, silky,
smooth cloth that is shiny on one side (Plural only for types and
instances.) 2 adj made from Q satisfaction [sAt Is "fAk S@n] n a
feeling that one is content; fulfill-ment (Plural only for types and instances.)
satisfactory [sAt Is "fAk t@ ri] adj.
adequate; meeting certain needs or
requirements (Adv: satisfactorily.)
satisfy ["sAt Is faI] 1 tv to make
someone content; to please some-one; to make someone happy with
something 2 tv to meet or fulfill
certain needs or requirements
Saturday ["sAt # de] Go to day.
sauce ["sOs] n a liquid that is put
on food to add flavor (Plural only for types and instances.)
saucer ["sO s#] n a small dish that
cups are set on
sausage ["sO sIdZ] 1 n a food
made of chopped meat mixed with spices (in the United States) (No
plural.) 2 n a food made of Q
stuffed into a thin tube of animal intestine or artificial material and
made into segments 3 adj made
with Q
sausage
519
Trang 5savage ["sAv IdZ] 1 adj wild; not
tamed; not civilized; primitive
(Adv: savagely.) 2 adj fierce;
ready to fight; violent; vicious
(Adv: savagely.) 3 n someone
who is wild, not tamed, and not
civilized
save ["sev] 1 tv to make someone
or something safe from harm or
danger; to rescue someone or
something 2 tv to keep a supply
of something, especially money,
for future use; to place something
aside, especially money, for future
use 3 tv not to spend something;
not to use something; to reserve
something 4 tv to cause
thing to be unnecessary (for
some-one); to prevent the need (for
someone) to do something
→ scrimp and save
save something for a rainy day to
reserve something—usually
money—for some future need
save something up (for something)
to accumulate an amount of
money for the purchase of
some-thing
save the day to produce a good
result when a bad result was
expected
save up (for something) to
accu-mulate something for some
pur-pose
saved by the bell rescued from a
difficult or dangerous situation
just in time by something that
brings the situation to a sudden
end
savings ["sev INz] n money that is
saved for future use; money that is
set aside, especially in a bank
account, for future use (Treated as plural, but not countable.)
savings account ["sev INz @
"kaUnt] n a bank account that is intended for saving money over a long period of time
saw ["sO] 1 past tense ofsee 2 n a
cutting tool with a thin blade that
is notched with tiny, sharp teeth
3 iv., irreg to cut with W (Past
tense: sawed; past participle: sawed
or sawn.) 4 tv., irreg to cut
some-thing with W
sawn ["sOn] a past participle ofsaw.
say ["se] 1 tv., irreg to pronounce
words; to speak words (Past tense and past participle: said.) 2 tv.,
irreg to state something; to
declare something; to express something in words (The object can be a clause with that U.) 3 n.
a role of authority or influence [in making a decision] (No plural.)
→ drop in (to say hello)
→ on someone’ssay-so
say grace to say a prayer of
grati-tude before a meal
scale ["skel] 1 n a series of
num-bers at different levels, used for measuring something 2 n the relation between a measurement
on a map or design compared to the actual measurement it corre-sponds to 3 n a series of musical notes, from low notes to high notes or from high notes to low notes 4 n the size or extent of something, especially as compared
to something else or an average (No plural.) 5 n a device that measures how much something weighs (Singular or plural with the same meaning.) 6 n one of savage
520
Trang 6the small, thin pieces of hardened
skin on the bodies of most fish
and snakes 7 n a flake of
some-thing, especially dead skin 8 tv.
to climb something 9 tv to
remove Y from a fish
→ tip the scales at something
scale something down to make
something smaller by a certain
amount
scalp ["skAlp] n the skin and any
hair growing on it on the top and
back of the head
scan ["skAn] 1 tv to examine
something closely and carefully, as
though one were searching for
something 2 tv to look through
something quickly and carelessly;
to glance at something; to read
through something quickly 3 tv.
to put a picture or a text into a
computer file by placing the
pic-ture or book on a scanner
scandal ["skAn d@l] n an event that
causes disgrace; an instance of
actions that are not legal, moral, or
ethical and that become known by
other people
scanner ["skAn #] n a machine
that converts a page of a book or a
picture to an image that can be
stored, viewed, or changed on a
computer
scapegoat ["skep got] 1 n
some-one who is blamed for the
mis-takes of others; someone who
takes the blame for the mistakes of
others 2 tv to blame someone for
the mistakes of others
→ make someonethe scapegoat for
something
scar ["skar] 1 n a mark that is left
on the surface of something, such
as skin, that has been torn, cut, burned, or otherwise damaged
2 tv to cause someone or
some-thing to have Q
scarce ["skErs] adj rare; hard to
find (Adv: scarcely Comp: scarcer; sup: scarcest.)
→ (as) scarce as hens’ teeth
scarcer than hens’ teeth Go to
(as) scarce as hens’ teeth.
scare ["skEr] 1 tv to cause
some-one to feel fear or fright; to cause someone to be afraid 2 n a bad fright; an instance of being afraid;
a feeling of fear
scare someone or something off to
frighten someone or some crea-ture away
scared ["skErd] adj feeling fright;
filled with fear
scarf ["skarf] n., irreg a long strip
of cloth that is wrapped around the neck or face for decoration or
to keep warm when it is cold (Plural: scarves.)
scarves ["skarvz] plural ofscarf.
scary ["skEr i] adj causing fear;
fill-ing one with fear; causfill-ing one to
be afraid (Adv: scarily Comp: scarier; sup: scariest.)
scatter ["skAt #] 1 tv to cause
each person or thing in a group to move in a different direction 2 tv
to spread things—such as seeds, papers, ashes, etc.—over a wide
area by throwing them 3 iv [for
each person or thing in a group] to move in a different direction
scene ["sin] 1 n all that can be seen from one place 2 n the
place where something happens; a setting 3 n a division of an act of
scene
521
Trang 7a play; an incident in a movie or
play 4 n a display of emotion or
action, especially an angry or
vio-lent action
→ arrive (up)on the scene (of
something)
→ burst onto the scene
→ burst (up)on the scene
scenery ["sin (@) ri] 1 n the
natu-ral surroundings—trees,
moun-tains, valleys—of an area (No
plural.) 2 n the things that are
built or bought and put on a stage
to represent the place where the
action of a play takes place (No
plural.)
→ achange of scenery
scent ["sEnt] 1 n a smell; an
aroma; an odor; the way someone
or something smells 2 tv to sense
the smell of someone or
some-thing
schedule ["skE dZ@l] 1 n a list
showing the times that events are
supposed to happen 2 tv to put
someone or something on Q
→ ahead of schedule
→ behind schedule
scheme ["skim] 1 n a plan; a
method for doing something; a
way of doing something, possibly
dishonestly 2 iv to plot; to make
plans, especially dishonest ones
scheme against someone or
some-thing to plot or conspire against
someone or something
scholar ["skal #] 1 n someone
who studies a subject thoroughly
2 n a student; a pupil 3 n
some-one who has a scholarship
scholarly ["skal # li] 1 adj
con-cerning scholarship and
school-work 2 adj having a lot of
knowledge about a certain subject
scholarship ["skal # SIp] 1 n.
knowledge that a person receives
by studying; evidence of one’s
knowledge (No plural.) 2 n a
sum of money given by an organi-zation to a student for school fees
or other expenses related to study-ing
school ["skul] 1 n a building for education and instruction 2 n all
the people who work at or attend a school; all the people who teach or
study at a school 3 n a group of fish that swim together 4 n the
education system; participation in the education system (No plural.)
→ from the old school
→ grammar school
→ high school
→ primary school
→ public school
→ tell tales out of school
school of thought a particular
philosophy or way of thinking about something
schoolchild ["skul tSaIld] n., irreg.
a child of school age, especially a child in grades kindergarten through eighth grade; a child who attends school (Plural: school-children.)
schoolchildren ["skul tSIl drIn]
plural ofschoolchild
schoolroom ["skul rum] n a room
in a school building, especially one where students are taught
schoolteacher ["skul titS #] n.
someone who teaches in a school
schoolwork ["skul w#k] n work
that a student must do for a class; the assigned projects that a stu-scenery
522
Trang 8dent must do (No plural See also
homework.)
science ["saI @ns] 1 n a system of
knowledge obtained by testing and
proving facts that describe the way
something acts, functions, or
exists (No plural.) 2 n a kind of
study that results in a system of
knowledge obtained by testing and
proving facts that describe the way
something acts, functions, or
exists
scientific [saI @n "tIf Ik] 1 adj.
using the laws or facts of a science
(Adv: scientifically [ Ik li].)
2 adj of or about science (Adv:
scientifically [ Ik li].)
scientist ["saI @n tIst] n someone
who is skilled in a science;
some-one who works in a science
scissors ["sIz #z] n a set of two
sharp blades that have handles on
one end and are connected in the
middle (Treated as singular or
plural Number is expressed with
pair(s) of scissors.)
scold ["skold] 1 tv to speak angrily
to someone who has done
some-thing wrong 2 n someone who
speaks as in Q
scolding ["skol dIN] n speaking
angrily to someone as
punish-ment
scoop ["skup] 1 n a shovellike
utensil or tool 2 n the contents
of Q
scope ["skop] n the range of
some-thing; the limit of somesome-thing; the
extent of something (No plural.)
score ["skor] 1 n the number of
points that a person or team has
received in a game or contest; the
number of points that a person
has received on a test 2 n a
writ-ten piece of music for instruments
or voices 3 n a group of twenty things 4 tv to earn one or more points in a game or contest 5 tv.
to cut lines or grooves into a sur-face; to cut a surface with a series
of lines 6 tv to earn a certain number of points on a test 7 iv to
achieve [a level of performance in
academic grades] 8 iv to earn [a
point in a game or contest]
→ know the score
scour something off ((of ) some-thing) to clean something off
something by rubbing with a rough object
scour something out to clean
something out by rubbing with a rough object
scout around (for someone or something) to look around for
someone or something
scout someone or something up to
search for and find someone or something
scowl ["skaUl] 1 n a frown; an angry look 2 iv to look angry; to
frown
scrap ["skrAp] 1 n a small piece of
something, especially a small piece
of something that is left over from
a larger piece, especially of food or
cloth 2 n material, such as metal,
that can be reused (No plural.)
3 tv to throw something away
that is no longer wanted, needed,
or able to be used
scrape ["skrep] 1 tv to damage
something by rubbing a sharp or
rough object against it 2 tv to
remove something by rubbing
scrape
523
Trang 9with a sharp or rough object 3 iv.
to rub with force against
some-thing else 4 n damage or injury
to an object or the skin caused by
rubbing something sharp or rough
against it 5 n the sound that is
made when a rough object rubs
hard against something else
→ bow and scrape
→ have a scrape (with someone or
something)
scrape by (on something) and
scrape by (with something) to
manage just to survive with
some-thing
scrape by (something) to manage
just to move by something
scrape by (with something) Go to
scrape by (on something).
scrape something away (from
something) to scratch or rasp
something off something
scrape something off ((of )
some-one or something) to rub or stroke
something off someone or
some-thing
scrape something out to empty
something by scraping
scrape something out (of
some-thing) to remove something by
scraping
scrape the bottom of the barrel
to select from among the worst; to
choose from what remains
scrape through (something) 1 to
move through something,
scrap-ing or rubbscrap-ing the sides 2 to
sur-vive something just barely; to pass
a test just barely
scratch ["skrAtS] 1 tv to damage
an object’s surface by causing a
sharp object to make a cut or tear
in it; to make a cut or tear in the surface of something with a sharp
object 2 tv to remove something
from the surface of something using a sharp object to cut or tear into it 3 tv to rub a location of the body that itches with one’s fin-gers, fingernails, or a sharp object
4 iv to rub [a part of the body that itches] 5 n a cut, tear, or
damage as in Q
→ make somethingfrom scratch
→ not up to scratch
→ start from scratch
scratch someone or something out
to mark off or cross out the name
of someone or something
scratch someone or something up
to damage or mar someone or something by scratching
scratch the surface to just begin
to find out about something; to examine only the superficial aspects of something
scream ["skrim] 1 iv [for
some-one] to make a very loud noise, especially when hurt, afraid, excited, surprised, or filled with emotion 2 iv to speak very loudly; to talk in a very loud voice
3 tv to say something in a very
loud voice (The object can be a clause with that U.) 4 n a very
loud noise, especially made by someone who is hurt, afraid, excited, surprised, or filled with emotion
→ apiercing scream
scream bloody murder Go to cry bloody murder.
screen ["skrin] 1 n a mesh made
of thin wires crossing each other
2 n a piece of cloth stretched over
scrape by (on something)
524
Trang 10a frame, used to block, protect, or
separate someone or something
from someone or something else
3 n a large white surface that
movies are projected onto 4 n.
the glass part of a television set or
computer monitor on which
images are seen 5 tv to
deter-mine if someone will be allowed
to speak or meet with someone
else 6 tv to show a movie; to
make a movie available to the
pub-lic
screw ["skru] 1 n a piece of metal,
similar to a nail, having a sharp
ridge W wrapped around its shaft
(A screw has a flat or rounded
head that has a single groove or
two crossed grooves.) 2 tv to
fas-ten something to something else
with Q 3 tv to twist Q into
wood or metal with a screwdriver
4 tv to turn the lid, cap, or top of
a container to close it tightly
screw something down to secure
something to the floor or a base by
the use of screws
screw up one’s courage to build
up one’s courage
screwdriver ["skru draI v#] n a
common tool used to tighten and
loosen screws
scribble ["skrIb @l] 1 tv to draw or
write something quickly or in a
messy way, especially so that it is
hard to recognize or read (The
object can be a clause with that
U.) 2 iv to draw or write quickly
or in a messy way so that the result
is hard to recognize or read 3 n.
marks or words that are hard to
recognize or read because they
were drawn or written quickly or
in a messy way
scrimp and save to be very
thrifty; to live on very little money, often in order to save up for some-thing
script ["skrIpt] 1 n a document
containing the words of a play,
movie, or speech 2 n a way of
writing in which the letters of a word are joined together
scripture ["skrIp tS#] n holy
writ-ings; one or more holy writings (Plural only for types and instances Singular or plural with the same meaning.)
scrub ["skr^b] 1 tv to clean or
wash the surface of someone or
something by rubbing 2 tv to
remove something from
some-thing by rubbing 3 iv to clean or
wash [oneself] by rubbing, usually with a stiff brush, cloth, or
sponge 4 n an area of small trees
and low bushes; a collection of small trees and bushes (No plu-ral.)
scrub someone or something down
to clean someone or something thoroughly by rubbing
scrub someone or something off to
clean someone or something by rubbing
scrub something off ((of ) some-thing) to clean something off
something by scrubbing
scrub something out to clean out
the inside of something by rub-bing or brushing
scrub something out (of some-thing) to clean something out of
something by scrubbing scrub something out (of something)
525