Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

chap|ter ◆◆◇ /tʃæ ptə ^r / (chapters )

1 N‑COUNT A chapter is one of the parts that a book is divided into. Each chapter has a number, and sometimes a title. □  As we shall see in Chapter 9, there is a totally different explanation. □  I took the title of this chapter from one of my favorite books.

2 N‑COUNT [adj N ] A chapter in someone's life or in history is a period of time during which a major event or series of related events takes place. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ in ] This had been a particularly difficult chapter in the country's recent history. □ [+ of ] …one of the most dramatic chapters of recent British politics.

cha p|ter house (chapter houses )

1 N‑COUNT A chapter house is the building or set of rooms in the grounds of a cathedral where the members of the clergy hold their meetings.

2 N‑COUNT In a university or college, a chapter house is the place where a fraternity or sorority lives or meets. [AM ]

char /tʃɑː ^r / (chars , charring , charred )

1 VERB If food chars or if you char it, it burns slightly and turns black as it is cooking. □ [V ] Toast hazelnuts on a baking sheet until the skins char. □ [V n] Halve the peppers and char the skins under a hot grill. ●  char|ring N‑UNCOUNT □  The chops should be cooked over moderate heat to prevent excessive charring.

2 → see also charred

chara|banc /ʃæ rəbæŋ/ (charabancs ) N‑COUNT A charabanc is a large old-fashioned coach with several rows of seats. Charabancs were used especially for taking people on trips or on holiday. [BRIT ]

char|ac|ter ◆◆◇ /kæ r I ktə ^r / (characters )

1 N‑COUNT The character of a person or place consists of all the qualities they have that make them distinct from other people or places. □  Perhaps there is a negative side to his character that you haven't seen yet. □ [+ of ] The character of this country has been formed by immigration.

2 N‑SING [oft in N ] If something has a particular character , it has a particular quality. □  The financial concessions granted to British Aerospace were, he said, of a precarious character. □  The state farms were semi-military in character.

3 N‑SING You can use character to refer to the qualities that people from a particular place are believed to have. □  Individuality is a valued and inherent part of the British character.

4 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] You use character to say what kind of person someone is. For example, if you say that someone is a strange character , you mean they are strange. □  It's that kind of courage and determination that makes him such a remarkable character. □  What a sad character that Nigel is.

5 N‑VAR Your character is your personality, especially how reliable and honest you are. If someone is of good character , they are reliable and honest. If they are of bad character , they are unreliable and dishonest. □  He's begun a series of personal attacks on my character. □  Mr Bartman was a man of good character.

6 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has character , you mean that they have the ability to deal effectively with difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situations. [APPROVAL ] □  She showed real character in her attempts to win over the crowd. □  I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character.

7 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that a place has character , you mean that it has an interesting or unusual quality which makes you notice it and like it. [APPROVAL ] □  An ugly shopping centre stands across from one of the few buildings with character.