6
PHRASE
You use
cause and effect
to talk about the way in which one thing is caused by another. □
…fundamental laws of biological cause and effect.
7
PHRASE
If you say that something is
in a good cause
or
for a good cause
, you mean that it is worth doing or giving to because it will help other people, for example by raising money for charity. □
The Raleigh International Bike Ride is open to anyone who wants to raise money for a good cause.
COLLOCATIONS
cause
NOUN
1
noun + cause
: root
adjective + cause
: underlying; common, likely
4
adjective + cause
: hopeless, lost; noble, worthy
VERB
2
cause+ noun
: controversy, offence, outrage; chaos, damage, harm, havoc; delay, disruption; problem, trouble; death, injury, pain
SYNONYMS
cause
NOUN
1
origin:Their medical problems are basically physical in origin.
source:Renewable sources of energy must be used where practical.
root:We got to the root of the problem.
VERB
2
produce:The talks are aimed at producing a new world trade treaty.
create:Criticizing will only destroy a relationship and create feelings of failure.
lead to:This discovery led on to studies of the immune system.
generate:…the excitement generated by the changes in the world of education.
provoke:His election success has provoked a shocked reaction.
'cause
/kə
z/ also
cause
CONJ
'Cause
is an informal way of saying
because
. □
30 families are suffering 'cause they're out of work.
cause cé|lè|bre
/koʊ
z se
I
le
brə/ (causes célèbres
) also
cause celebre
N‑COUNT
A
cause célèbre
is an issue, person, or criminal trial that has attracted a lot of public attention and discussion. [FORMAL
] □
The trial became a cause celebre in Paris and internationally.
cause|way
/kɔː
zwe
I
/ (causeways
) N‑COUNT
A
causeway
is a raised path or road that crosses water or wet land.
caus|tic
/kɔː
st
I
k/
1
ADJ
Caustic
chemical substances are very powerful and can dissolve other substances. □
…caustic cleaning agents.
□
Remember that this is caustic; use gloves or a spoon.
2
ADJ
A
caustic
remark is extremely critical, cruel, or bitter. [FORMAL
] □
His abrasive wit and caustic comments were an interviewer's nightmare.
cau
s|tic so
da
N‑UNCOUNT
Caustic soda
is a powerful chemical substance used to make strong soaps and clean drains.
cau|ter|ize
/kɔː
təra
I
z/ (cauterizes
, cauterizing
, cauterized
)
in BRIT, also use cauterise
VERB
If a doctor
cauterizes
a wound, he or she burns it with heat or with a chemical in order to close it up and prevent it from becoming infected. □ [V
n]
He cauterized the wound with a piece of red-hot iron.
cau|tion
/kɔː
ʃ
ə
n/ (cautions
, cautioning
, cautioned
)
1
N‑UNCOUNT
Caution
is great care which you take in order to avoid possible danger. □
Extreme caution should be exercised when buying part-worn tyres.
□
The Chancellor is a man of caution.
2
VERB
If someone
cautions
you, they warn you about problems or danger. □ [V
+ against
]
Tony cautioned against misrepresenting the situation.
□ [V
n + against/about
]
The statement clearly was intended to caution Seoul against attempting to block the council's action again.
□ [V
that]
But experts caution that instant gratification comes at a price.
[Also V
n that, V
n to-inf] ● N‑UNCOUNT
Caution
is also a noun. □
There was a note of caution for the Treasury in the figures.
