Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 N‑COUNT [n N ] An ache is a steady, fairly strong pain in a part of your body. □  Poor posture can cause neck ache, headaches and breathing problems.

3 → see also backache , headache , heartache , stomach ache

4 VERB If you ache for something or your heart aches , you want something very much, and feel very unhappy because you cannot have it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + for ] … couples aching for a child □ [V ] It was quite an achievement to keep smiling when his heart must have been aching.

5 PHRASE You can use aches and pains to refer in a general way to any minor pains that you feel in your body. □  It seems to ease all the aches and pains of a hectic and tiring day.

achiev|able /ətʃiː vəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you say that something you are trying to do is achievable , you mean that it is possible for you to succeed in doing it. □  A 50% market share is achievable. □  It is often a good idea to start with smaller, easily achievable goals.

achieve ◆◆◇ /ətʃiː v/ (achieves , achieving , achieved ) VERB If you achieve a particular aim or effect, you succeed in doing it or causing it to happen, usually after a lot of effort. □ [V n] There are many who will work hard to achieve these goals. □ [V n] We have achieved what we set out to do. COLLOCATIONS achieve VERB

achieve+ noun : goal, objective, result, success; feat, grade, growth; fame, status

noun + achieve : pupil, student; company

achieve+ adverb : consistently, easily

achieve|ment ◆◇◇ /ətʃiː vmənt/ (achievements )

1 N‑COUNT An achievement is something which someone has succeeded in doing, especially after a lot of effort. □  Reaching this agreement so quickly was a great achievement.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Achievement is the process of achieving something. □ [+ of ] Only the achievement of these goals will bring lasting peace. COLLOCATIONS achievement NOUN 1

noun + achievement : career, lifetime; landmark

adjective + achievement : major, notable, outstanding, remarkable; academic, educational, sporting; crowning, personal, proud

verb + achievement : celebrate, honour; acknowledge, recognize SYNONYMS achievement NOUN 1

accomplishment:By any standards, the accomplishments of the past year are extraordinary.

feat:A racing car is an extraordinary feat of engineering.

coup:The sale is a big coup for the auction house.

achiev|er /ətʃiː və ^r / (achievers ) N‑COUNT A high achiever is someone who is successful in their studies or their work, usually as a result of their efforts. A low achiever is someone who achieves less than those around them. □  High achievers will receive cash bonuses.

Achilles heel /ək I liːz hiː l/ N‑SING [usu poss N ] Someone's Achilles heel is the weakest point in their character or nature, where it is easiest for other people to attack or criticize them. □  Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.

Achilles ten|don /ək I liːz te ndən/ (Achilles tendons ) N‑COUNT Your Achilles tendon or your Achilles is the tendon inside the back of your leg just above your heel.

ach|ing|ly /e I k I ŋli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv] You can use achingly for emphasis when you are referring to things that create feelings of wanting something very much, but of not being able to have it. [WRITTEN , EMPHASIS ] □  …three achingly beautiful ballads.

achy /e I ki/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you feel achy , your body hurts. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □  I feel achy all over.

acid ◆◇◇ /æ s I d/ (acids )

1 N‑VAR An acid is a chemical substance, usually a liquid, which contains hydrogen and can react with other substances to form salts. Some acids burn or dissolve other substances that they come into contact with. □  …citric acid.