Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

as|phyxi|ate /æsf I ksie I t/ (asphyxiates , asphyxiating , asphyxiated ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is asphyxiated , they die or lose consciousness because they are unable to breathe properly. □ [be V -ed] Three people were asphyxiated in the crush for last week's train. ●  as|phyxia|tion /æsf I ksie I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □  A post mortem examination found that she died from asphyxiation.

as|pic /æ sp I k/ N‑UNCOUNT Aspic is a clear shiny jelly made from meat juices. It is used in making cold savoury meat dishes. □  …cold chicken in aspic.

as|pir|ant /əspa I rənt, æ sp I rənt/ (aspirants )

1 N‑COUNT Someone who is an aspirant to political power or to an important job has a strong desire to achieve it. [FORMAL ] □  …the young aspirant to power.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Aspirant means the same as aspiring . [FORMAL ] □  …aspirant politicians.

as|pi|ra|tion /æ sp I re I ʃ ^ə n/ (aspirations ) N‑VAR Someone's aspirations are their desire to achieve things. □  …the needs and aspirations of our pupils. □  …the republic's aspiration to statehood.

as|pi|ra|tion|al /æ sp I re I ʃən ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you describe someone as aspirational , you mean that they have strong hopes of moving to a higher social status. [JOURNALISM ] □  …the typical tensions of an aspirational household.

2 ADJ If you describe a product as aspirational , you mean that it is bought or enjoyed by people who have strong hopes of moving to a higher social class. [JOURNALISM ] □  Fine music, particularly opera, has become aspirational, like fine food or foreign travel.

as|pire /əspa I ə ^r / (aspires , aspiring , aspired )

1 VERB If you aspire to something such as an important job, you have a strong desire to achieve it. □ [V + to ] …people who aspire to public office. □ [V to-inf] They aspired to be gentlemen, though they fell far short of the ideal.

2 → see also aspiring

as|pi|rin /æ sp I r I n/ (aspirins or aspirin ) N‑VAR Aspirin is a mild drug which reduces pain and fever.

as|pir|ing /əspa I ə r I ŋ/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you use aspiring to describe someone who is starting a particular career, you mean that they are trying to become successful in it. □  Many aspiring young artists are advised to learn by copying the masters.

2 → see also aspire

ass /æ s/ (asses )

1 N‑COUNT An ass is an animal which is related to a horse but which is smaller and has long ears.

2 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an ass , you think that they are silly or do silly things. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  He was generally disliked and regarded as a pompous ass.

3 N‑COUNT Your ass is your bottom. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE ] in BRIT, use arse , bum

4 PHRASE Saying that someone can kiss your ass is a very rude way of expressing anger or disagreement. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE , FEELINGS ]

5a pain in the ass → see pain

as|sail /əse I l/ (assails , assailing , assailed )

1 VERB If someone assails you, they criticize you strongly. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day.

2 VERB If someone assails you, they attack you violently. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed + by ] Her husband was assailed by a young man with a knife in a Glasgow park.

3 VERB [usu passive] If you are assailed by something unpleasant such as fears or problems, you are greatly troubled by a large number of them. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed] She is assailed by self-doubt and emotional insecurity.

as|sail|ant /əse I lənt/ (assailants ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's assailant is a person who has physically attacked them. [FORMAL ] □  Other party-goers rescued the injured man from his assailant.