Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 N‑SING The apex of an organization or system is the highest and most important position in it. □  At the apex of the party was its central committee.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The apex of something is its pointed top or end. □  …the apex of the pyramid.

Apex /e I peks/ also APEX N‑SING [usu N n] An Apex or an Apex ticket is a ticket for a journey by air or rail which costs less than the standard ticket, but which you have to book a specified period in advance. □  The Apex fare is £195 return.

apha|sia /əfe I ziə, -ʒə/ N‑UNCOUNT Aphasia is a mental condition in which people are often unable to remember simple words or communicate. [MEDICAL ]

aphid /e I f I d/ (aphids ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Aphids are very small insects which live on plants and suck their juices.

apho|rism /æ fər I zəm/ (aphorisms ) N‑COUNT An aphorism is a short witty sentence which expresses a general truth or comment. [FORMAL ] □  'What if they gave a war and nobody came?' was one of his generation's favored aphorisms.

aph|ro|disi|ac /æ frəd I ziæk/ (aphrodisiacs ) N‑COUNT An aphrodisiac is a food, drink, or drug which is said to make people want to have sex. □  Asparagus is reputed to be an aphrodisiac.

apiece /əpiː s/

1 ADV If people have a particular number of things apiece , they have that number each. □  He and I had two fish apiece. □  The winners got $23,250 apiece.

2 ADV If a number of similar things are for sale at a certain price apiece , that is the price for each one of them. □  Entire roast chickens were sixty cents apiece.

aplen|ty /əple nti/ ADV [n ADV ] If you have something aplenty , you have a lot of it. [LITERARY ] □  There were problems aplenty at work.

aplomb /əplɒ m/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with N ] If you do something with aplomb , you do it with confidence in a relaxed way. [FORMAL ]

apoca|lypse /əpɒ kəl I ps/ N‑SING The apocalypse is the total destruction and end of the world.

apoca|lyp|tic /əpɒ kəl I pt I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to the total destruction of something, especially of the world. □  …the reformer's apocalyptic warnings that the nation was running out of natural resources.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to or involving predictions about future disasters and the destruction of the world. □  …a gloomy and apocalyptic vision of a world hastening towards ruin.

apoc|ry|phal /əpɒ kr I f ^ə l/ ADJ An apocryphal story is one which is probably not true or did not happen, but which may give a true picture of someone or something.

apo|gee /æ pədʒiː/ N‑SING The apogee of something such as a culture or a business is its highest or its greatest point. [FORMAL ]

apo|liti|cal /e I pəl I t I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ Someone who is apolitical is not interested in politics. □  As a musician, you cannot be apolitical.

2 ADJ If you describe an organization or an activity as apolitical , you mean that it is not linked to a particular political party. □  …the normally apolitical European Commission.

apolo|get|ic /əpɒ lədʒe t I k/ ADJ If you are apologetic , you show or say that you are sorry for causing trouble for someone, for hurting them, or for disappointing them. □  The hospital staff were very apologetic but that couldn't really compensate. □  'I don't follow football,' she said with an apologetic smile. ●  apolo|geti|cal|ly /əpɒ lədʒe t I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □  'It's of no great literary merit,' he said, almost apologetically.

apo|lo|gia /æ pəloʊ dʒiə/ (apologias ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An apologia is a statement in which you defend something that you strongly believe in, for example a way of life, a person's behaviour, or a philosophy. [FORMAL ] □  The left have seen the work as an apologia for privilege and property.

apolo|gise /əpɒ lədʒa I z/ → see apologize