I.GUIDE TO THE DICTIONARY ENTRIES
1. Definitions
One of the features of the Collins COBUILD Advanced Dictionary of American English, English/Japanese is that the definitions are written in full sentences, using vocabulary and grammatical structures that occur naturally with the word being explained. This enables us to give a lot of information about the way a word or meaning is used by speakers of the language. Whenever possible, words are explained using simpler and more common words. This gives us a natural defining vocabulary with most words in our definitions being among the 2,500 commonest words of English. A Japanese translation is given for each sense of each word. For example, the verb bask has two senses, each of which has a Japanese translation:
If you bask in the sunshine, you lie somewhere sunny and enjoy the heat.
If you bask in someone's approval, favor, or admiration, you greatly enjoy their positive reaction toward you.
An individual sense of an English word may have more than one Japanese translation. For example, the noun, jealousy has two different Japanese translations.
2. Information about collocates and structure
In our definitions, we show the typical collocates of a word:that is, the other words that are used with the word we are defining. For example, the definition of meaning 1 of the adjective
savory says:
Savory food has a salty or spicy flavor rather than a sweet one.
This shows that you use the adjective
savory to describe food, rather than other things.
Meaning 1 of the verb
wag says:
When a dog wags its tail, it repeatedly waves its tail from side to side.
This shows that the subject of meaning 1 of
wag refers to a dog, and the object of the verb is 'tail'.
Information about Japanese collocations, if any, is given before the translation.
Abstention is a formal act of not voting either for or against a proposal:(投票の)棄権
3. Information about grammar
The definitions also give information about the grammatical structures in which a word is used. For example, meaning 1 of the adjective
candid says:
When you are candid about something or with someone, you speak honestly.
This shows that you use
candid with the preposition “about” with something and “with” with someone.
Other definitions show other kinds of structure. Meaning 1 of the verb
soften says:
If you soften something or if it softens, it becomes less hard, stiff, or firm.
This shows that the verb is used both transitively and intransitively. In the transitive use, you have a human subject and a non-human object. In the intransitive use, you have a non-human subject.
Finally, meaning 1 of
compel says:
If a situation, a rule, or a person compels you to do something, they force you to do it.
This shows you what kinds of subject and object to use with
compel, and it also shows that you typically use the verb in a structure with a to-infinitive.
4. Information about context and usage
In addition to information about collocation and grammar, definitions also can be used to convey your evaluation of something, for example to express your approval or disapproval. For example, here is the definition of
unhelpful:
If you say that someone or something is unhelpful, you mean that they do not help you or improve a situation, and may even make things worse.
In this definition, the expressions “if you say that”, and “you mean that” indicate that these words are used subjectively, rather than objectively.
5. Other kinds of definition
We sometimes explain grammatical words and other function words by paraphrasing the word in context. For example, meaning 3 of
through says:
To go through a town, area, or country means to travel across it or in it.
In many cases, it is impossible to paraphrase the word, and so we explain its function instead. For example, the definition of
unfortunately says:
You can use unfortunately to introduce or refer to a statement when you consider that it is sad or disappointing, or when you want to express regret.
Lastly, some definitions are expressed as if they are cross-references. For example:
rd. is a written abbreviation for road.
e-commerce is the same as a e-business.
If you need to know more about the words
road or
e-business, you look at those entries.
6. Style and Usage
Some words or meanings are used mainly by particular groups of people, or in particular social contexts. In this dictionary, where relevant, the definitions also give information about the kind of people who are likely to use a word or expression, and the type of social situation in which it is used.
In terms of geographical diversity, this dictionary focuses on American and British English using evidence from the Bank of English™. Where relevant, the American or British form is shown at its equivalent word or meaning.
This information is usually placed at the end of the definition, in small capitals and within square brackets. If more than one type of information is provided, they are given in a list. The Japanese translation of this information is provided after the Japanese translation of the sense.
7. Geographical labels
- [AM] (アメリカ英語):used mainly by speakers and writers in the USA, and in other places where American English is used or taught. Where relevant the British equivalent is provided.
- [BRIT] (イギリス英語):used mainly by speakers and writers in Britain, and in other places where British English is used or taught. Where relevant the American equivalent is provided.
Other geographical labels are used in the text to refer to English as it is spoken in other parts of the world, e.g. AUSTRALIAN, NORTHERN ENGLISH, SCOTTISH.
8. Style labels
- [BUSINESS] (ビジネス用語):used mainly when talking about the field of business, e.g. annuity
- [COMPUTING] (コンピュータ用語):used mainly when talking about the field of computing, e.g. chat room
- [DIALECT] (方言、地域特有の言葉):used in some dialects of English, e.g. ain't
- [FORMAL] (形式ばった言葉):used mainly in official situations, or by political and business organizations, or when speaking or writing to people in authority, e.g. gracious
- [HUMOROUS] (ユーモラスな言葉):used mainly to indicate that a word or expression is used in a humorous way, e.g. gents
- [INFORMAL] (くだけた言葉):used mainly in informal situations, conversations, and personal letters, e.g. pep talk
- [JOURNALISM] (マスコミ用語):used mainly in journalism, e.g. glass ceiling
- [LEGAL] (法律用語):used mainly in legal documents, in law courts, and by the police in official situations, e.g. manslaughter
- [LITERARY] (文学的表現):used mainly in novels, poetry, and other forms of literature, e.g. plaintive
- [MEDICAL] (医学用語):used mainly in medical texts, and by doctors in official situations, e.g. psychosis
- [MILITARY] (軍事用語):used mainly when talking or writing about military terms, e.g. armor
- [OFFENSIVE] (侮辱的な言葉):likely to offend people, or to insult them; words labeled OFFENSIVE should therefore usually be avoided, e.g. cripple
- [OLD-FASHIONED] (時代遅れで、現代では一般的に使われない語):generally considered to be old-fashioned, and no longer in common use, e.g. dashing
- [SPOKEN] (話し言葉):used mainly in speech rather than in writing, e.g. pardon
- [TECHNICAL] (専門技術用語):used mainly when talking or writing about objects, events, or processes in a specialist subject, such as business, science, or music, e.g. biotechnology
- [TRADEMARK] (商標):used to show a designated trademark, e.g. hoover
- [VULGAR] (下品・無礼な言葉):used mainly to describe words which could be considered taboo by some people; words labeled VULGAR should therefore usually be avoided, e.g. bloody
- [WRITTEN] (書き言葉):used mainly in writing rather than in speech, e.g. avail