Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

1 N‑UNCOUNT Autonomy is the control or government of a country, organization, or group by itself rather than by others. □  Activists stepped up their demands for local autonomy last month.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Autonomy is the ability to make your own decisions about what to do rather than being influenced by someone else or told what to do. [FORMAL ] □  Each of the area managers enjoys considerable autonomy in the running of his own area.

auto|pi|lot /ɔː toʊpa I lət/ (autopilots ) → see automatic pilot

autop|sy /ɔː tɒpsi/ (autopsies ) N‑COUNT An autopsy is an examination of a dead body by a doctor who cuts it open in order to try to discover the cause of death.

autumn ◆◇◇ /ɔː təm/ (autumns ) N‑VAR Autumn is the season between summer and winter when the weather becomes cooler and the leaves fall off the trees. [BRIT ] □  We are always plagued by wasps in autumn. □  A final vote will take place next autumn. □  …in the autumn of 2000. □  Her hair was the colour of autumn leaves. in AM, usually use fall

autum|nal /ɔːtʌ mn ^ə l/

1 ADJ Autumnal means having features that are characteristic of autumn. [LITERARY ] □  …the autumnal colours of the trees.

2 ADJ Autumnal means happening in autumn. □  …the autumnal equinox.

aux|ilia|ry /ɔːgz I ljəri, [AM ] -ləri/ (auxiliaries )

1 N‑COUNT An auxiliary is a person who is employed to assist other people in their work. Auxiliaries are often medical workers or members of the armed forces. □  Nursing auxiliaries provide basic care, but are not qualified nurses.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Auxiliary staff and troops assist other staff and troops. □  The government's first concern was to augment the army and auxiliary forces.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] Auxiliary equipment is extra equipment that is available for use when necessary. □  …an auxiliary motor. □  …auxiliary fuel tanks.

4 N‑COUNT In grammar, an auxiliary or auxiliary verb is a verb which is used with a main verb, for example to form different tenses or to make the verb passive. In English, the basic auxiliary verbs are 'be', 'have', and 'do'. Modal verbs such as 'can' and 'will' are also sometimes called auxiliaries.

avail /əve I l/ (avails , availing , availed )

1 PHRASE If you do something to no avail or to little avail , what you do fails to achieve what you want. [WRITTEN ] □  His efforts were to no avail.

2 VERB If you avail yourself of an offer or an opportunity, you accept the offer or make use of the opportunity. [FORMAL ] □ [V pron-refl + of ] Guests should feel at liberty to avail themselves of your facilities.

avail|able ◆◆◆ /əve I ləb ^ə l/

1 ADJ If something you want or need is available , you can find it or obtain it. □  The amount of money available to buy books has fallen by 17%. □ [+ for ] There are three small boats available for hire. ●  avail|abil|ity /əve I ləb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the easy availability of guns.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is available is not busy and is therefore free to talk to you or to do a particular task. □ [+ for ] Mr Leach is on holiday and was not available for comment.

ava|lanche /æ vəlɑːntʃ, -læntʃ/ (avalanches )

1 N‑COUNT An avalanche is a large mass of snow that falls down the side of a mountain.

2 N‑SING You can refer to a very large quantity of things that all arrive or happen at the same time as an avalanche of them. □ [+ of ] …an avalanche of publicity

avant-garde /æ vɒŋ gɑː ^r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Avant-garde art, music, theatre, and literature is very modern and experimental. □  …avant-garde concert music. ● N‑SING Avant-garde is also a noun. □  He was an enthusiast for the avant-garde.