Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A beleaguered person, organization, or project is experiencing a lot of difficulties, opposition, or criticism. [FORMAL ] □  There have been seven coup attempts against the beleaguered government.

2 ADJ A beleaguered place or army is surrounded by its enemies. [FORMAL ] □  The rebels continue their push towards the beleaguered capital.

bel|fry /be lfri/ (belfries ) N‑COUNT The belfry of a church is the top part of its tower, where the bells are.

Bel|gian /be ldʒ ^ə n/ (Belgians ) ADJ Belgian means belonging or relating to Belgium or to its people. ● N‑COUNT A Belgian is a person who comes from Belgium.

be|lie /b I la I / (belies , belying , belied )

1 VERB If one thing belies another, it hides the true situation and so creates a false idea or image of someone or something. □ [V n] Her looks belie her 50 years.

2 VERB If one thing belies another, it proves that the other thing is not true or genuine. □ [V n] The facts of the situation belie his testimony.

be|lief ◆◇◇ /b I liː f/ (beliefs )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Belief is a feeling of certainty that something exists, is true, or is good. □ [+ in ] … a traditional eastern belief in reincarnation. □ [+ in ] …a belief in personal liberty.

2 N‑PLURAL Your religious or political beliefs are your views on religious or political matters. □  He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.

3 N‑SING [usu N that] If it is your belief that something is the case, it is your strong opinion that it is the case. □  It is our belief that improvements in health care will lead to a stronger economy.

4 PHRASE You use beyond belief to emphasize that something is true to a very great degree or that it happened to a very great degree. [EMPHASIS ] □  We are devastated, shocked beyond belief.

5 PHRASE You use contrary to popular belief to introduce a statement that is the opposite to what is thought to be true by most ordinary people. □  Contrary to popular belief, bread is not the best thing for birds.

6 PHRASE If you do one thing in the belief that another thing is true or will happen, you do it because you think, usually wrongly, that it is true or will happen. □  Civilians had broken into the building, apparently in the belief that it contained food.

be|lie f sys|tem (belief systems ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false. □  …the belief systems of various ethnic groups.

be|liev|able /b I liː vəb ^ə l/ ADJ Something that is believable makes you think that it could be true or real. □  This book is full of believable, interesting characters.

be|lieve ◆◆◆ /b I liː v/ (believes , believing , believed )

1 VERB If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true, but you are not sure. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Experts believe that the coming drought will be extensive. □ [V that] I believe you have something of mine. □ [V ] The main problem, I believe, lies elsewhere. □ [V n to-inf] We believe them to be hidden here in this apartment. □ [V so ] 'You've never heard of him?'—'I don't believe so.' [Also V n adj]

2 VERB If you believe someone or if you believe what they say or write, you accept that they are telling the truth. □ [V n] He did not sound as if he believed her. □ [V n] Don't believe what you read in the papers.

3 VERB If you believe in fairies, ghosts, or miracles, you are sure that they exist or happen. If you believe in a god, you are sure of the existence of that god. □ [V + in ] I don't believe in ghosts. □ [V + in ] Do you believe in magic? [Also V ]