Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

4 VERB If someone or something brightens a situation or the situation brightens , it becomes more pleasant, enjoyable, or favourable. □ [V n] That does not do much to brighten the prospects of kids in the city. □ [V ] It is undeniable that the economic picture is brightening. ● PHRASAL VERB Brighten up means the same as brighten . □ [V P n] His cheerful face brightens up the dullest of days. [Also V P ]

5 VERB When a light brightens a place or when a place brightens , it becomes brighter or lighter. □ [V ] The sky above the ridge of mountains brightened. □ [V n] The late afternoon sun brightened the interior of the church.

6 VERB If the weather brightens , it becomes less cloudy or rainy, and the sun starts to shine. □ [V ] By early afternoon the weather had brightened. ● PHRASAL VERB Brighten up means the same as brighten . □ [V P ] Hopefully it will brighten up, or we'll be coming back early.

▸  brighten up → see brighten 3 , brighten 4 , brighten 6

bri ght li ghts N‑PLURAL If someone talks about the bright lights , they are referring to life in a big city where you can do a lot of enjoyable and exciting things and be successful. □ [+ of ] The bright lights of Hollywood beckon many.

bri ght spark (bright sparks ) N‑COUNT If you say that some bright spark had a particular idea or did something, you mean that their idea or action was clever, or that it seemed clever but was silly in some way. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  'Why not give out one of the cybercafe's email addresses?' suggested one bright spark. □  Some bright spark turned the heating off last night!

brill /br I l/ ADJ If you say that something is brill , you are very pleased about it or think that it is very good. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  What a brill idea!

bril|liant ◆◇◇ /br I liənt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A brilliant person, idea, or performance is extremely clever or skilful. □  She had a brilliant mind. □  Her brilliant performance had earned her two Golden Globes. ●  bril|liant|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  It is a very high quality production, brilliantly written and acted. ●  bril|liance N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □  He was a deeply serious musician who had shown his brilliance very early.

2 ADJ You can say that something is brilliant when you are very pleased about it or think that it is very good. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □  If you get a chance to see the show, do go–it's brilliant. □  My sister's given me this brilliant book. ●  bril|liant|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □  It's extremely hard working together but on the whole it works brilliantly.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A brilliant career or success is very successful. □  He served four years in prison, emerging to find his brilliant career in ruins. □  The raid was a brilliant success. ●  bril|liant|ly ADV □  The strategy worked brilliantly.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] A brilliant colour is extremely bright. □  …a brilliant white open-necked shirt. ●  bril|liant|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □  Many of the patterns show brilliantly coloured flowers. ●  bril|liance N‑UNCOUNT □  …an iridescent blue butterfly in all its brilliance.