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at|trib|ute (attributes , attributing , attributed ) The verb is pronounced /ətr I bjuːt/. The noun is pronounced /æ tr I bjuːt/. 1 VERB If you attribute something to an event or situation, you think that it was caused by that event or situation. □ [V n + to ] Women tend to attribute their success to external causes such as luck.

2 VERB If you attribute a particular quality or feature to someone or something, you think that they have got it. □ [V n + to ] People were beginning to attribute superhuman qualities to him.

3 VERB [usu passive] If a piece of writing, a work of art, or a remark is attributed to someone, people say that they wrote it, created it, or said it. □ [be V -ed + to ] This, and the remaining frescoes, are not attributed to Giotto.

4 N‑COUNT An attribute is a quality or feature that someone or something has. □  Cruelty is a normal attribute of human behaviour.

at|tri|tion /ətr I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Attrition is a process in which you steadily reduce the strength of an enemy by continually attacking them. [FORMAL ] □  The rebels have declared a cease-fire in their war of attrition against the government.

at|tuned /ətjuː nd, [AM ] ətuː nd/

1 ADJ If you are attuned to something, you can understand and appreciate it. □  He seemed unusually attuned to people's feelings.

2 ADJ If your ears are attuned to a sound, you can hear it and recognize it quickly. □ [+ to ] Their ears were still attuned to the sounds of the London suburb.

atypi|cal /e I t I p I k ^ə l/ ADJ Someone or something that is atypical is not typical of its kind. □  The economy of the province was atypical because it was particularly small.

auber|gine /oʊ bə ^r ʒiːn/ (aubergines ) N‑VAR An aubergine is a vegetable with a smooth, dark purple skin. [BRIT ] in AM, use eggplant

auburn /ɔː bə ^r n/ COLOUR Auburn hair is reddish brown.

auc|tion ◆◇◇ /ɔː kʃ ^ə n/ (auctions , auctioning , auctioned )

1 N‑VAR [oft for/at N , N n] An auction is a public sale where goods are sold to the person who offers the highest price. □  He bought the picture at auction in London some years ago.

2 VERB If something is auctioned , it is sold in an auction.

▸  auction off PHRASAL VERB If you auction off something, you sell it to the person who offers the most money for it, often at an auction. □ [be V -ed P ] Her dresses will be auctioned off for charity. □ [V n P ] We later auctioned it off to raise money for Jamie's foundation.

auc|tion|eer /ɔː kʃən I ə ^r / (auctioneers ) N‑COUNT An auctioneer is a person in charge of an auction.

auda|cious /ɔːde I ʃəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is audacious takes risks in order to achieve something. □  …an audacious plan to win the presidency.

audac|ity /ɔːdæ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Audacity is audacious behaviour. □  I was shocked at the audacity and brazenness of the gangsters.

audible /ɔː d I b ^ə l/ ADJ A sound that is audible is loud enough to be heard. □  The Colonel's voice was barely audible. ●  audibly /ɔː d I bli/ ADV □  Hugh sighed audibly.

audi|ence ◆◆◇ /ɔː diəns/ (audiences )

1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The audience at a play, concert, film, or public meeting is the group of people watching or listening to it. □  He was speaking to an audience of students at the Institute for International Affairs.

2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The audience for a television or radio programme consists of all the people who watch or listen to it. □  The concert will be relayed to a worldwide television audience.

3 → see also studio audience