Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

am|biva|lent /æmb I vələnt/ ADJ If you say that someone is ambivalent about something, they seem to be uncertain whether they really want it, or whether they really approve of it. □ [+ about ] She remained ambivalent about her marriage. □  He maintained an ambivalent attitude to the Church throughout his long life. ●  am|biva|lence /æmb I vələns/ (ambivalences ) N‑VAR □ [+ about/towards ] I've never lied about my feelings, including my ambivalence about getting married again.

am|ble /æ mb ^ə l/ (ambles , ambling , ambled ) VERB When you amble , you walk slowly and in a relaxed manner. □ [V adv/prep] Slowly they ambled back to the car. □ [V adv/prep] We ambled along in front of the houses.

am|bro|sia /æmbroʊ ziə, [AM ] -ʒiə/ N‑UNCOUNT In Greek mythology, ambrosia is the food of the gods.

am|bu|lance /æ mbjʊləns/ (ambulances ) N‑COUNT [oft by N ] An ambulance is a vehicle for taking people to and from hospital.

am|bu|lance|man /æ mbjʊlənsmæn/ (ambulancemen ) N‑COUNT An ambulanceman is a man who drives an ambulance or takes care of people in an ambulance on the way to hospital. [BRIT ] in AM, use ambulance driver

am|bush /æ mbʊʃ/ (ambushes , ambushing , ambushed )

1 VERB If a group of people ambush their enemies, they attack them after hiding and waiting for them. □ [V n] The Guatemalan army says rebels ambushed and killed 10 patrolmen.

2 N‑VAR An ambush is an attack on someone by people who have been hiding and waiting for them. □  A policeman has been shot dead in an ambush.

3 PHRASE If someone is lying in ambush , they are hiding and waiting for someone, usually to attack them. □  The gunmen, lying in ambush, opened fire, killing the driver.

ame|lio|rate /əmiː liəre I t/ (ameliorates , ameliorating , ameliorated ) VERB If someone or something ameliorates a situation, they make it better or easier in some way. [FORMAL ]

amen /ɑː me n, e I -/ CONVENTION Amen is said by Christians at the end of a prayer.

ame|nable /əmiː nəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are amenable to something, you are willing to do it or accept it. □ [+ to ] Mazarin had been amenable to the idea.

amend /əme nd/ (amends , amending , amended )

1 VERB If you amend something that has been written such as a law, or something that is said, you change it in order to improve it or make it more accurate. □ [V n] The president agreed to amend the constitution and allow multi-party elections. □ [V -ed] …the amended version of the Act.

2 PHRASE If you make amends when you have harmed someone, you show that you are sorry by doing something to please them. □  He wanted to make amends for causing their marriage to fail.

amend|ment ◆◇◇ /əme ndmənt/ (amendments )

1 N‑VAR An amendment is a section that is added to a law or rule in order to change it. □  …an amendment to the defense bill.

2 N‑COUNT An amendment is a change that is made to a piece of writing. SYNONYMS amendment NOUN 1

adjustment:Compensation could be made by adjustments to taxation.

revision:An addition to earlier revisions of the questionnaire is the job requirement exercise.

amen|ity /əmiː n I ti, [AM ] -me n-/ (amenities ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Amenities are things such as shopping centres or sports facilities that are provided for people's convenience, enjoyment, or comfort. □  The hotel amenities include health clubs, conference facilities, and banqueting rooms.

Am|er|asian /əme re I ʒ ^ə n/ (Amerasians ) N‑COUNT People who have one American parent and one Asian parent are sometimes referred to as Amerasians . □  …discrimination against Amerasians. ● ADJ Amerasian is also an adjective. □  …an Amerasian boy.