Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Ameri|can /əme r I kən/ (Americans )

1 ADJ American means belonging or relating to the United States of America, or to its people or culture. □  …the American Ambassador at the United Nations. □  …the influence of American television and movies.

2 → see also Latin American

3 N‑COUNT An American is a person who comes from the United States of America. □  The Nobel Prize for medicine was won by two Americans.

Ameri|ca|na /əme r I kɑː nə/ N‑UNCOUNT Objects that come from or relate to America are referred to as Americana , especially when they are in a collection. □  …1950s Americana.

Ame ri|can foo t|ball (American footballs ) in AM, use football 1 N‑UNCOUNT American football is a game similar to rugby that is played by two teams of eleven players using an oval-shaped ball. Players try to score points by carrying the ball to their opponents' end of the field, or by kicking it over a bar fixed between two posts. [BRIT ]

2 N‑COUNT An American football is an oval-shaped ball used for playing American football. [BRIT ]

Ame ri|can I n|dian (American Indians ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] American Indian people or things belong to or come from one of the native peoples of America. [mainly BRIT ] ● N‑COUNT An American Indian is someone who is American Indian. [in AM, use Indian , Native American ]

Ameri|can|ism /əme r I kən I zəm/ (Americanisms ) N‑COUNT An Americanism is an expression that is typical of people living in the United States of America.

Ameri|cani|za|tion /əme r I kəna I ze I ʃ ^ə n/ in BRIT, also use Americanisation N‑UNCOUNT Americanization is the process by which people or countries become more and more similar to Americans and the United States. □  …the Americanization of French culture.

Ameri|can|ized /əme r I kəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use Americanised ADJ If someone is Americanized , they do things in a way that is typical of the United States. □  He is getting very Americanized.

Ameri|ca|no /əme r I kɑː noʊ/ (Americanos ) also americano N‑UNCOUNT Americano is strong coffee with hot water added. ● N‑COUNT An Americano is a cup of Americano.

Am|er|in|dian /æ mər I ndiən/ (Amerindians ) Amerindian means the same as American Indian .

am|ethyst /æ məθ I st/ (amethysts )

1 N‑VAR Amethysts are clear purple stones, sometimes used to make jewellery. □  The necklace consisted of amethysts set in gold. □  …rows of amethyst beads.

2 COLOUR Amethyst is used to describe things that are pale purple in colour. □  …as the colours changed from green to amethyst. □  …amethyst glass. WORD HISTORY amethyst

Amethyst comes from Greek amethustos meaning 'not drunk'. It was thought in ancient times that anyone wearing or touching an amethyst would not become drunk. Wine goblets were sometimes carved from amethyst.

ami|abil|ity /e I miəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Amiability is the quality of being friendly and pleasant. [WRITTEN ] □  I found his amiability charming.

ami|able /e I miəb ^ə l/ ADJ Someone who is amiable is friendly and pleasant to be with. [WRITTEN ] ●  ami|ably ADV [ADV with v] □  We chatted amiably about old friends.

ami|cable /æ m I kəb ^ə l/ ADJ When people have an amicable relationship, they are pleasant to each other and solve their problems without quarrelling. □  The meeting ended on reasonably amicable terms. ●  ami|cably /æ m I kəbli/ ADV [ADV with v] □  He hoped the dispute could be settled amicably.

amid ◆◇◇ /əm I d/ The form amidst is also used, but is more literary. 1 PREP If something happens amid noises or events of some kind, it happens while the other things are happening. □  A senior leader cancelled a trip to Britain yesterday amid growing signs of a possible political crisis.

2 PREP If something is amid other things, it is surrounded by them. [LITERARY ]