Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

un|less ◆◆◇ /ʌnle s/ CONJ You use unless to introduce the only circumstances in which an event you are mentioning will not take place or in which a statement you are making is not true. □  Unless you are trying to lose weight to please yourself, it's hard to stay motivated. □  We cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease.

un|like ◆◇◇ /ʌ nla I k/

1 PREP If one thing is unlike another thing, the two things have different qualities or characteristics from each other. □  This was a foreign country, so unlike San Jose. □  She was unlike him in every way except for her coal black eyes.

2 PREP You can use unlike to contrast two people, things, or situations, and show how they are different. □  Unlike aerobics, walking entails no expensive fees for classes or clubs.

3 PREP If you describe something that a particular person has done as being unlike them, you mean that you are surprised by it because it is not typical of their character or normal behaviour. □  It was so unlike him to say something like that, with such intensity, that I was astonished. □  'We'll all be arrested!' Thomas yelled, which was most unlike him.

un|like|ly ◆◆◇ /ʌnla I kli/ (unlikelier , unlikeliest ) ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ to-inf] If you say that something is unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true, you believe that it will not happen or that it is not true, although you are not completely sure. □  A military coup seems unlikely. □  As with many technological revolutions, you are unlikely to be aware of it. □  It's now unlikely that future parliaments will bring back the death penalty. □  In the unlikely event of anybody phoning, could you just scribble a message down?

un|lim|it|ed /ʌnl I m I t I d/ ADJ If there is an unlimited quantity of something, you can have as much or as many of that thing as you want. □  An unlimited number of copies can still be made from the original. □  You'll also have unlimited access to the swimming pool.

un|list|ed /ʌ nl I st I d/

1 ADJ If a person or their phone number is unlisted , the number is not listed in the phone book, and the phone company will refuse to give it to people who ask for it. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use ex-directory 2 ADJ An unlisted company or unlisted stock is not listed officially on a stock exchange. [BUSINESS ] □  Its shares are traded on the Unlisted Securities Market.

un|lis|ten|able /ʌ nl I s ^ə nəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe music as unlistenable , you mean that is very poor in quality. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  The early stuff is mostly unlistenable.

un|lit /ʌ nl I t/

1 ADJ An unlit fire or cigarette has not been made to start burning.

2 ADJ An unlit street or building is dark because there are no lights switched on in it.

un|load /ʌ nloʊ d/ (unloads , unloading , unloaded )

1 VERB If you unload goods from a vehicle, or you unload a vehicle, you remove the goods from the vehicle, usually after they have been transported from one place to another. □ [V n + from ] Unload everything from the boat and clean it thoroughly. □ [V n] They were reported to be unloading trucks filled with looted furniture.

2 VERB If someone unloads investments, they get rid of them or sell them. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] Since March, he has unloaded 1.3 million shares.

un|lock /ʌ nlɒ k/ (unlocks , unlocking , unlocked )

1 VERB If you unlock something such as a door, a room, or a container that has a lock, you open it using a key. □ [V n] He unlocked the car and threw the coat on to the back seat.