Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

asy |lum seek|er (asylum seekers ) N‑COUNT An asylum seeker is a person who is trying to get asylum in a foreign country. □  Fewer than 7% of asylum seekers are accepted as political refugees.

asym|met|ric /e I s I me tr I k/ ADJ Asymmetric means the same as asymmetrical .

asym|met|ri|cal /e I s I me tr I k ^ə l/ ADJ Something that is asymmetrical has two sides or halves that are different in shape, size, or style. □  …asymmetrical shapes.

asym|me|try /e I s I mətri/ (asymmetries ) N‑VAR Asymmetry is the appearance that something has when its two sides or halves are different in shape, size, or style. □ [+ of ] …the asymmetry of Van de Velde's designs of this period.

asymp|to|mat|ic /e I s I mptəmæ t I k/ ADJ If someone with a disease is asymptomatic , it means that they do not show any symptoms of the disease. [MEDICAL ] □  I have patients who are HIV-positive and asymptomatic.

at ◆◆◆ /ət, STRONG æt/ In addition to the uses shown below, at is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. At is also used in phrasal verbs such as 'keep on at' and 'play at'. 1 PREP You use at to indicate the place or event where something happens or is situated. □  We had dinner at a restaurant in Attleborough. □  I didn't like being alone at home. □  Hamstrings are supporting muscles at the back of the thigh. □  The announcement was made at a news conference in Peking.

2 PREP If someone is at school or college, or at a particular school or college, they go there regularly to study. □  He was shy and nervous as a boy, and unhappy at school. □  I majored in psychology at Hunter College.

3 PREP If you are at something such as a table, a door, or someone's side, you are next to it or them. □  Graham was already at the door. □  At his side was a beautiful young woman. □  He gave the girl at the desk the message.

4 PREP When you are describing where someone or something is, you can say that they are at a certain distance. You can also say that one thing is at an angle in relation to another thing. □  The two journalists followed at a discreet distance. □  The tree was leaning at a low angle from the ground.

5 PREP If something happens at a particular time, that is the time when it happens or begins to happen. □  The funeral will be carried out this afternoon at 3.00. □  He only sees her at Christmas and Easter.

6 PREP If you do something at a particular age, you do it when you are that age. □  Blake emigrated to Australia with his family at 13. □  Mary Martin has died at her home in California at the age of seventy-six.

7 PREP You use at to express a rate, frequency, level, or price. □  I drove back down the highway at normal speed. □  Check the oil at regular intervals, and have the car serviced regularly. □  The submarine lies at a depth of 6,000 feet in the Barents Sea.

8 PREP You use at before a number or amount to indicate a measurement. □  …as unemployment stays pegged at three million.

9 PREP If you look at someone or something, you look towards them. If you direct an object or a comment at someone, you direct it towards them. □  He looked at Michael and laughed. □  The crowds became violent and threw petrol bombs at the police.

10 PREP You can use at after verbs such as 'smile' or 'wave' and before nouns referring to people to indicate that you have put on an expression or made a gesture which someone is meant to see or understand. □  She opened the door and stood there, frowning at me. □  We waved at the staff to try to get the bill.