Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ If you look at someone with an accusing expression or speak to them in an accusing tone of voice, you are showing that you think they have done something wrong. □  The accusing look in her eyes conveyed her sense of betrayal. ●  ac|cus|ing|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  'Where have you been?' he asked Blake accusingly.

2 → see also accuse

ac|cus|tom /əkʌ stəm/ (accustoms , accustoming , accustomed )

1 VERB If you accustom yourself or another person to something, you make yourself or them become used to it. [FORMAL ] □ [V pron-refl + to ] The team has accustomed itself to the pace of first division rugby. □ [V n + to ] Shakespeare has accustomed us to a mixture of humor and tragedy in the same play.

2 → see also accustomed

ac|cus|tomed /əkʌ stəmd/

1 ADJ If you are accustomed to something, you know it so well or have experienced it so often that it seems natural, unsurprising, or easy to deal with. □ [+ to ] I was accustomed to being the only child at a table full of adults.

2 ADJ When your eyes become accustomed to darkness or bright light, they adjust so that you start to be able to see things, after not being able to see properly at first. □ [+ to ] My eyes were becoming accustomed to the gloom.

3 ADJ You can use accustomed to describe an action that someone usually does, a quality that they usually show, or an object that they usually use. □  He took up his accustomed position with his back to the fire. □  Fred acted with his accustomed shrewdness. □  His cap was missing from its accustomed peg. USAGE accustomed

Don’t say that someone is ‘ accustomed to do ’ something or ‘ used to do ’ something. You can say that someone is accustomed to doing something or used to doing something. □  The manager is accustomed to working late. □  I'm used to getting up early.

ace ◆◇◇ /e I s/ (aces )

1 N‑COUNT An ace is a playing card with a single symbol on it. In most card games, the ace of a particular suit has either the highest or the lowest value of the cards in that suit. □ [+ of ] …the ace of hearts.

2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] If you describe someone such as a sports player as an ace , you mean that they are very good at what they do. [JOURNALISM ] □  …the motor-racing ace. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Ace is also an adjective. □  …an ace horror-film producer.

3 ADJ If you say that something is ace , you think that it is good and you like it a lot. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □  …a really ace film.

4 N‑COUNT In tennis, an ace is a serve which is so fast that the other player cannot reach the ball.

5 PHRASE If you say that someone holds all the aces , you mean that they have all the advantages in a contest or situation.

acer|bic /əsɜː ^r b I k/ ADJ Acerbic humour is critical and direct. [FORMAL ] □  He was acclaimed for his acerbic wit and repartee.

acer|bity /əsɜː ^r b I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Acerbity is a kind of bitter, critical humour. [FORMAL ]

ac|etate /æ s I te I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Acetate is a shiny artificial material, sometimes used for making clothes or records.

acetic acid /əsiː t I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Acetic acid is a colourless acid. It is the main substance in vinegar.

ac|etone /æ s I toʊn/ N‑UNCOUNT Acetone is a type of solvent.

acety|lene /əse t I liːn/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Acetylene is a colourless gas which burns with a very hot bright flame. It is often used in lamps and for cutting and welding metal.

ache /e I k/ (aches , aching , ached )

1 VERB If you ache or a part of your body aches , you feel a steady, fairly strong pain. □ [V adv/prep] Her head was throbbing and she ached all over. □ [V ] My leg still aches when I sit down. □ [V -ing] The weary walkers soothed their aching feet in the sea.