M Flashcards
mansion
mansion [ˈmæn. t ʃ ə n] noun countable [mansions] < > a very large expensive house • The street is lined with enormous mansions where the rich and famous live. Thesaurus+: ↑Houses and homes • The mansion is set in 90 acres of beautiful, unspoilt countryside. • He told me he owned a mansion in Spain and I fell for it. • The mansion had an atmosphere of genteel elegance and decay.
manslaughter
manslaughter [ˈmænˌslɔː.tə r ] [-ˌslɑː.t ̬ɚ] noun uncountable legal the crime of killing a person by someone who did not intend to do it or who cannot be responsible for their actions • She was sentenced to five years imprisonment for manslaughter. • He denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
maple
maple [ˈmeɪ.pl ̩] noun countable or uncountable [maples] a type of large tree which grows in northern areas of the world, or the wood of this tree • a maple leaf • maple trees
mar
mar [mɑː r ] [mɑːr] [-rr-] slightly formal verb transitive [marring marred mars] to spoil something, making it less perfect or less enjoyable • Sadly, the text is marred by careless errors. • It was a really nice day, marred only by a little argument in the car on the way home. • I hope the fact that Louise isn’t coming won’t mar your enjoyment of the evening.
marble
marble [ˈmɑː.bl ̩] [ˈmɑːr-] noun ROCK 1. uncountable a type of very hard rock which has a pattern of lines going through it, feels cold and becomes smooth and shiny when cut and polished • a marble floor/statue Thesaurus+: ↑Types of rock ↑Precious and semi-precious stones GLASS BALL 2. countable a small ball usually made of coloured or transparent glass which is used in children’s games Thesaurus+: ↑Toys and dolls 3. marbles uncountable a children’s game in which small round glass balls are rolled along the floor Thesaurus+: ↑Children’s games
martyr
martyr [ˈmɑː.tə r ] [ˈmɑːr.t ̬ɚ] noun countable [martyrs] 1. a person who suffers very much or is killed because of their political or religious beliefs, and is often admired because of it • a Christian/Islamic/religious martyr • She fought against racism all her life and died a martyr to the cause. Thesaurus+: ↑Followers of religious groups 2. disapproving someone who tries to get sympathy from others when they have a problem or too much work, usually having caused the problem or chosen to do the work themselves • She offers to do extra work, then plays the martyr! Thesaurus+: ↑Unpleasant people in general ↑Unpleasant men Idiom: a martyr to something verb transitive often passive to kill someone because of their religious or political beliefs
massacre
massacre [ˈmæs.ə.kə r ] [-kɚ] noun countable [massacres] 1. < > an act of killing a lot of people • He ordered the massacre of 2, 000 women and children. Thesaurus+: ↑Murder and attempted murder ↑Killing 2. informal a bad defeat, especially in sport • The changes to the team come after their 7-2 massacre in the final. Thesaurus+: ↑Winning and defeating ↑Scoring, winning and losing in sport • Of course, she was using the term ‘massacre’ in the figurative sense. • The massacre was a crime against humanity. • The perpetrators of the massacre must be brought to justice as war criminals. verb transitive 1. to kill many people in a short period of time • Hundreds of civilians were massacred in the raid. Thesaurus+: ↑Murder and attempted murder ↑Killing 2. informal to defeat an opponent very badly in a competition or election • England was massacred 5-0 by France in the semi-final.
masterpiece
masterpiece [ˈmɑː.stə.piːs] [ˈmæs.tɚ-] noun countable [masterpieces] 1. (also masterwork) a work of art such as a painting, film or book which is done or made with great skill, and is often a person’s greatest work • ‘The Last Supper’ is widely regarded as Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. See also chef d’oeuvre Thesaurus+: ↑Success and achievements ↑Higher and lower points of achievement ↑Failures 2. a skilful or clever example of something • Her press conference was a masterpiece of media manipulation.
mat
mat [mæt] noun countable [mats] FLOOR 1. < > a small piece of strong material which covers and protects part of a floor • Wipe your feet on the mat before you come inside. See also doormat Thesaurus+: ↑Carpets, rugs and other floor coverings • The dog lay drooling on the mat. • The electrician must have called (round) this morning when we were out - there’s a note on the door mat. • There was a rush mat by the entrance. TABLE 2. a small piece of cloth, cardboard or plastic which is put on a surface such as a table to protect it • a beer mat • a place mat
meadow
meadow [ˈmed.əʊ] [-oʊ] noun countable or uncountable [meadows] a field with grass and often wild flowers in it • There was a path through the meadow to the village.
menace
menace [ˈmen.ɪs] noun [menaces] 1. countable usually singular something that is likely to cause harm • Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone. • Dogs running loose are a public menace. • the menace of industrial pollution Thesaurus+: ↑Dangers and threats 2. uncountable a dangerous quality that makes you think someone is going to do something bad • He had a slight air of menace which I found unsettling. • He spoke with a hint of menace. Thesaurus+: ↑Dangers and threats 3. countable a person, especially a child, who is very annoying Thesaurus+: ↑Unpleasant people in general ↑Unpleasant men 4. demand money with menaces UK legal to demand money using threats • He was accused of unlawfully demanding money with menaces. Thesaurus+: ↑Dangers and threats verb transitive slightly formal If someone or something menaces a person or thing, they threaten seriously to harm it • Hurricane Hugo menaced the US coast for a week.
mend
mend [mend] mainly UK verb transitive [mends mending mended] < > to repair something that is broken or damaged • Could you mend this hole in my shirt? • I’ve left my watch at the jeweller’s to be mended. • The plumber came to mend the burst pipe. • The country’s president is seeking to mend relations with the United States. Thesaurus+: ↑Correcting and mending ↑Editing and compiling • A man’s coming to mend the boiler this afternoon. • I thought I could mend the radio myself, but I’ve had to admit defeat. • Never try to mend a broken machine without disconnecting it from the electricity supply. • He wants me to mend his shirt for him, but I’m not going to! • He can mend anything - he’s so good with his hands. Idioms: mend your fences ▪ mend your ways noun countable a place in a piece of clothing where a repair has been made
mercy
mercy [ˈmɜː.si] [ˈmɝː-] noun KINDNESS 1. < > uncountable kindness and forgiveness shown towards someone you have authority over • She appealed to the judge to have mercy on her husband. • The prisoners pleaded for mercy. • The gunmen showed no mercy, killing innocent men and women. Thesaurus+: ↑Lenient and merciful 2. be at the mercy of sb/sth < > to be in a situation where someone or something has complete power over you • Poor people are increasingly at the mercy of money-lenders. Thesaurus+: ↑Weakness and vulnerability • He begged for mercy as the blows fell on him. • Fishermen are always at the mercy of the forces of nature. • They begged for mercy. • He bowed down before the king and begged for mercy. EVENT/SITUATION 3. only singular an event or situation which you are grateful for because it stops something unpleasant • After months of suffering, his death was a mercy. • They were on a mercy mission to take food to the refugees when they were attacked.
mere
< > used to emphasize that something is not large or important • The plane crashed mere minutes after take-off. • It cost a mere twenty dollars. • The mere thought of it makes me ill. Thesaurus+: ↑Of little or less importance ↑Merely and barely ↑Almost • It took a mere five minutes for the world champion to dispose of his opponent. • His tumultuous triumph 5 years ago now seems a mere footnote in history. • The committee is a mere appendage of the council and has no power of its own. • She had that indefinable something that went beyond mere sex appeal. • A thousand pounds is a mere bagatelle to him.
merely
merely [ˈmɪə.li] [ˈmɪr-] adverb < > used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying and nothing more • I wasn’t complaining, I merely said that I was tired. • The medicine won’t cure her - it merely stops the pain. Thesaurus+: ↑Merely and barely ↑Almost • The minister’s speech had merely fogged the issue. • He called the new building unoriginal and said that it merely aped the classical traditions. • She didn’t reply - she merely smiled that insinuating smile. • Of his origins he said very little, merely mentioning in parenthesis that his background was poor. • Patriarchy has not disappeared - it has merely changed form.
merger
merger [ˈmɜː.dʒə r ] [ˈmɝː.dʒɚ] noun countable [mergers] < > when two or more companies join together • She’s an attorney who advises companies about mergers and takeovers. • The merger of these two companies would create the world’s biggest accounting firm. Thesaurus+: ↑Mergers and takeovers • The merger proved to be very lucrative for both companies. • The shareholders seem to think that the executive board is overstating the case for a merger. • Announcement of the merger is expected to ramp up share prices over the next few days. • Following the merger, he was retired with a generous pension. • Shareholders will be voting on the proposed merger of the companies next week.
merit
merit [ˈmer.ɪt] noun countable or uncountable [merits] 1. formal the quality of being good and deserving praise • an entertaining film with little artistic merit • Her ideas have merit. • Brierley’s book has the merit of being both informative and readable. Thesaurus+: ↑Deserving and deserved 2. the merits of sth the advantages something has compared to something else • We discussed the merits of herbal tea. Thesaurus+: ↑Advantage and disadvantage 3. on your (own) merits according to the qualities you have or have shown, without considering any other information or comparing you to someone else • The committee say they will consider/judge each applicant on his or her own merits.
metre
metre UK , US meter [ˈmiː.tə r ] [-t ̬ɚ] noun [metres] MEASUREMENT 1. < > countable (written abbreviation m) a unit of measurement equal to 100 centimetres • The bomb shelter has concrete walls that are three metres thick. • a 15-metre yacht • She won the 100 metres (= a race run over this distance) at the Olympics. • He is 1m 75 tall. • The price of water rose to 48p per cubic metre (= a unit of volume equal to 1000 litres) . • The room is six metres square. Thesaurus+: ↑Measurements of length and distance • The women’s 200 metre event will be followed by the men’s 100 metres. • The river froze to a depth of over a metre. • There’s a drop of two metres from the window to the ground. • We are currently flying at an altitude of 15 000 metres. • The boat is ten metres in length. POETRY 2. countable or uncountable specialized the regular arrangement of syllables in poetry according to the number and type of beats in a line • He composes poems in a classical style and in strict metre. • Many hymns have a firm, regular metre. Thesaurus+: ↑Poetry Seealso: meter
midst
midst [mɪdst], [mɪtst] noun uncountable formal 1. the middle of a group of people or things • She caught sight of Johnny in their midst (= among them) , laughing and talking. Thesaurus+: ↑Between 2. in the midst of sth in the middle of an event, situation or activity • I’m afraid I’m too busy - I’m in the midst of writing up a report. • The country is in the midst of an economic crisis.
mildly
mildly [ˈmaɪld.li] adverb 1. slightly • I was mildly surprised to see him here. Thesaurus+: ↑Some and quite ↑Tender and gentle ↑Kind and thoughtful 2. in a gentle way • “I think you’ve made a mistake,” he said mildly.
mingle
mingle [ˈmɪŋ.gl ̩] verb [mingles mingling mingled] MIX 1. intransitive or transitive to mix or combine, or be mixed or combined • The excitement of starting a new job is always mingled with a certain apprehension. • The two flavours mingle well. Thesaurus+: ↑Mixing and mixtures ↑Variety and mixtures ↑Connecting and combining ↑Groups and collections of things BE WITH 2. intransitive to move around and talk to other people at a social event • You’ve been talking to Roger all evening - you really ought to be mingling with the other guests.
mist
mist [mɪst] noun countable or uncountable [mists] 1. < > thin fog produced by very small drops of water collecting in the air just above an area of ground or water • The mountain villages seem to be permanently shrouded in mist. • The early-morning mist soon lifted/cleared. Thesaurus+: ↑Clouds, dew, fog and steam 2. a thin layer of liquid on the surface of something which makes it difficult to see • UK There’s always a mist on the bathroom mirror/windows when I’ve had a shower. • Through a mist of tears, I watched his train pull out of the station. Thesaurus+: ↑Opaque • The river is often cloaked in mist in the early morning. • A mist drifted in from the marshes. • The car lights glowed dully through the mist. • The graveyard looked ghostly, enveloped in mist. • The morning mist had lifted and the sun was starting to come through.
misty
misty [ˈmɪs.ti] adjective [mistier mistiest] WEATHER 1. < > In misty weather, there is mist in the air which makes it difficult to see into the distance • The morning will start off misty. Thesaurus+: ↑Clouds, dew, fog and steam ↑Wet weather and wetness • It was a damp, misty morning. • He watched the misty wraiths of moisture making patterns on the window pane. • It stayed misty until late in the morning. GLASS 2. describes glass or a similar surface that is covered with a mist which makes it difficult to see through • The windscreen is all misty.
moan
moan [məʊn] [moʊn] verb intransitive [moans moaning moaned] SOUND 1. to make a long low sound of pain, suffering or another strong emotion • He moaned with pain before losing consciousness. • “Let me die,” he moaned. Thesaurus+: ↑Sounds made by humans with their mouths COMPLAIN 2. informal disapproving to make a complaint in an unhappy voice, usually about something which does not seem important to other people • Thelma’s always moaning (about something), and forgets how lucky she actually is. • + speech “I don’t like potatoes,” he moaned. • + (that) First she moans (that) she’s too hot, and then that she’s too cold.
