Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

ab|sen|tee /æ bs ^ə ntiː / (absentees )

1 N‑COUNT An absentee is a person who is expected to be in a particular place but who is not there.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Absentee is used to describe someone who is not there to do a particular job in person. □  Absentee fathers will be forced to pay child maintenance.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] In elections in the United States, if you vote by absentee ballot or if you are an absentee voter, you vote in advance because you will be away. [AM ]

ab|sen|tee|ism /æ bs ^ə ntiː I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Absenteeism is the fact or habit of frequently being away from work or school, usually without a good reason.

ab|sen|tia /æbse ntiə, [AM ] -se nʃə/ PHRASE If something is done to you in absentia , it is done to you when you are not present. [FORMAL ] □  He was tried in absentia and sentenced to seven years in prison.

a bsent-mi nded ADJ Someone who is absent-minded forgets things or does not pay attention to what they are doing, often because they are thinking about something else. □  In his later life he became even more absent-minded. ●  absent-mindedly ADV [ADV with v] □  Elizabeth absent-mindedly picked a thread from his lapel.

ab|sinthe /æ bs I nθ/ N‑UNCOUNT Absinthe is a very strong alcoholic drink that is green and tastes bitter.

ab|so|lute ◆◇◇ /æ bsəluːt/ (absolutes )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Absolute means total and complete. □  It's not really suited to absolute beginners. □  A sick person needs absolute confidence and trust in a doctor.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use absolute to emphasize something that you are saying. [EMPHASIS ] □  About 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider. □  I think it's absolute nonsense.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] An absolute ruler has complete power and authority over his or her country. □  He ruled with absolute power.

4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Absolute is used to say that something is definite and will not change even if circumstances change. □  They had given an absolute assurance that it would be kept secret.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] An amount that is expressed in absolute terms is expressed as a fixed amount rather than referring to variable factors such as what you earn or the effects of inflation. □  In absolute terms British wages remain low by European standards.

6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Absolute rules and principles are believed to be true, right, or relevant in all situations. □  There are no absolute rules.

7 N‑COUNT An absolute is a rule or principle that is believed to be true, right, or relevant in all situations.

8 → see also decree absolute SYNONYMS absolute ADJ 1

complete:It shows a complete lack of understanding by management.

total:There was an almost total lack of management control.

sheer:His music is sheer delight.

unalloyed:…an occasion of unalloyed joy.

ab|so|lute|ly ◆◆◇ /æ bsəluː tli/

1 ADV [usu ADV adj/adv, oft ADV with v] Absolutely means totally and completely. [EMPHASIS ] □  Jill is absolutely right. □  I absolutely refuse to get married. □  There is absolutely no difference!

2 ADV Some people say absolutely as an emphatic way of saying yes or of agreeing with someone. They say absolutely not as an emphatic way of saying no or of disagreeing with someone. [EMPHASIS ] □  'It's worrying, isn't it?'—'Absolutely.' SYNONYMS absolutely ADV 1

completely:Dozens of flats had been completely destroyed.

totally:Young people want something totally different from the old ways.

fully:I don't fully agree with that.

wholly:For urban areas this approach was wholly inadequate.

utterly:Such an allegation is utterly without foundation.