Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

atone|ment /ətoʊ nmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT If you do something as an atonement for doing something wrong, you do it to show that you are sorry. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] He is working for the world's poor as a personal atonement for his part in the war.

atop /ətɒ p/ PREP If something is atop something else, it is on top of it. [AM , also BRIT , LITERARY ] □  Under the newspaper, atop a sheet of paper, lay an envelope.

A to Z /e I tə ze d, [AM ] - ziː / (A to Zs )

1 N‑COUNT An A to Z is a book of maps showing all the streets and roads in a particular city and its surrounding towns. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ]

2 N‑SING An A to Z of a particular subject is a book or programme which gives information on all aspects of it, arranging it in alphabetical order. □ [+ of ] An A to Z of careers gives helpful information about courses.

atrium /e I triəm/ (atriums ) N‑COUNT An atrium is a part of a building such as a hotel or shopping centre, which extends up through several floors of the building and often has a glass roof.

atro|cious /ətroʊ ʃəs/

1 ADJ If you describe something as atrocious , you are emphasizing that its quality is very bad. [EMPHASIS ] □  The food here is atrocious. ●  atro|cious|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v] □  He had written the note from memory, word perfect, and spelled atrociously.

2 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour or their actions as atrocious , you mean that it is unacceptable because it is extremely violent or cruel. □  The judge said he had committed atrocious crimes against women.

3 ADJ If you say that weather conditions are atrocious , you mean they are very bad, for example that it is extremely cold, wet, or windy.

atroc|ity /ətrɒ s I ti/ (atrocities ) N‑VAR An atrocity is a very cruel, shocking action. □  Those who committed this atrocity should be tried and punished.

at|ro|phy /æ trəfi/ (atrophies , atrophying , atrophied ) VERB If a muscle or other part of the body atrophies , it decreases in size or strength, often as a result of an illness. [FORMAL ]

at|tach ◆◇◇ /ətæ tʃ/ (attaches , attaching , attached )

1 VERB If you attach something to an object, you join it or fasten it to the object. □ [be V -ed + to ] The gadget can be attached to any vertical surface. □ [V n] The astronauts will attach a motor that will boost the satellite into its proper orbit. □ [V -ed] For further information, please contact us on the attached form.

2 VERB If someone attaches himself or herself to you, they join you and stay with you, often without being invited to do so. □ [V pron-refl + to ] Natasha attached herself to the film crew filming at her orphanage.

3 VERB If people attach a quality to someone or something, or if it attaches to them, people consider that they have that quality. □ [V n + to ] The authorities attached much significance to his visit. □ [V + to ] …the magic that still attaches to the word 'spy'. □ [V -ed] …the stigma attached to mental illness.

4 VERB If you attach conditions to something such as an agreement, you state that specific things must be done before the agreement is valid. □ [V n + to ] Banks do have the right to attach conditions to loans.

5 VERB In computing, if you attach a file to a message that you send to someone, you send it with the message but separate from it. □ [V n + to ] It is possible to attach executable program files to e-mail.

6 → see also attached

7no strings attached → see string SYNONYMS attach VERB 1

stick:Clip the token and stick it on your card.

bind:Bind the ends of the cord together with thread.

join:The link is used to join the two ends of the chain.

fix:It is fixed on the wall.