Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

6 VERB When you answer the telephone, you pick it up when it rings. When you answer the door, you open it when you hear a knock or the bell. □ [V n] She answered her phone on the first ring. □ [V n] A middle-aged woman answered the door. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Answer is also a noun. □  I knocked at the front door and there was no answer.

7 N‑COUNT An answer to a problem is a solution to it. □ [+ to ] There are no easy answers to the problems facing the economy. □  Prison is not the answer for most young offenders.

8 N‑COUNT Someone's answer to a question in a test or quiz is what they write or say in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for. The answer to a question is the fact that was asked for. □  Simply marking an answer wrong will not help the pupil to get future examples correct. [Also + to ]

9 VERB When you answer a question in a test or quiz, you write or say something in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for. □ [V n] To obtain her degree, she answered 81 questions over 10 papers.

10 N‑COUNT [oft in N to n] Your answer to something that someone has said or done is what you say or do in response to it or in defence of yourself. □  In answer to speculation that she wouldn't finish the race, she boldly declared her intention of winning it.

11 VERB If you answer something that someone has said or done, you respond to it. □ [V n + with ] He answered her smile with one of his own. □ [V n] That statement seemed designed to answer criticism of allied bombing missions. [Also V n + by ]

12 VERB If something answers a need or purpose, it satisfies it, because it has the right qualities. □ [V n] We provide specially designed shopping trolleys to answer the needs of parents with young children.

13 VERB If someone or something answers a particular description or answers to it, they have the characteristics described. □ [V n] Two men answering the description of the suspects tried to enter Switzerland. □ [V + to ] The Japanese never built any aircraft remotely answering to this description.

▸  answer back PHRASAL VERB If someone, especially a child, answers back , they speak rudely to you when you speak to them. □ [V P ] She was punished by teachers for answering back. □ [V n P ] I always answered him back when I thought he was wrong.

▸  answer for

1 PHRASAL VERB If you have to answer for something bad or wrong you have done, you are punished for it. □ [V P n] He must be made to answer for his terrible crimes.

2 PHRASE If you say that someone has a lot to answer for , you are saying that their actions have led to problems which you think they are responsible for.

an|swer|able /ɑː nsərəb ^ə l, æ n-/

1 ADJ If you are answerable to someone, you have to report to them and explain your actions. □ [+ to ] Councils should be answerable to the people who elect them.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are answerable for your actions or for someone else's actions, you are considered to be responsible for them and if necessary must accept punishment for them. □ [+ for ] He must be made answerable for these terrible crimes.

a n|swer|ing ma|chine (answering machines ) N‑COUNT An answering machine is the same as an answerphone .

an|swer|phone /ɑː nsə ^r foʊn, æ n-/ (answerphones ) N‑COUNT An answerphone is a device which you connect to your telephone and which records telephone calls while you are out. [mainly BRIT ]

ant /æ nt/ (ants ) N‑COUNT Ants are small crawling insects that live in large groups.

ant|acid /æntæ s I d/ (antacids ) N‑VAR Antacid is a substance that reduces the level of acid in the stomach.