Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ Unwashed people or objects are dirty and need to be washed. □  Leftover food and unwashed dishes cover the dirty counters.

2 PHRASE The unwashed or the great unwashed is a way of referring to poor or ordinary people. [HUMOROUS ] □  A scowling man briskly led the Queen away from the great unwashed.

un|wa|ver|ing /ʌnwe I vər I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe a feeling or attitude as unwavering , you mean that it is strong and firm and does not weaken. □  She has been encouraged by the unwavering support of her family. □  His attitude was unwavering.

un|wel|come /ʌnwe lkəm/

1 ADJ An unwelcome experience is one that you do not like and did not want. □  The media has brought more unwelcome attention to the Royal Family. □  A colleague made unwelcome sexual advances towards her.

2 ADJ If you say that a visitor is unwelcome , you mean that you did not want them to come. □  …an unwelcome guest. □  She was, quite deliberately, making him feel unwelcome.

un|wel|com|ing /ʌnwe lkəm I ŋ/

1 ADJ If someone is unwelcoming , or if they behave in an unwelcoming way, they are unfriendly or hostile when you visit or approach them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  His manner was cold and unwelcoming. □  Both women were unwelcoming, making little attempt to put Kathryn at her ease.

2 ADJ If you describe a place as unwelcoming , you mean that it looks unattractive or difficult to live or work in. □  My room was cold and unwelcoming.

un|well /ʌ nwe l/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unwell , you are ill. □  He had been riding in Hyde Park, but felt unwell as he was being driven back to his office late this afternoon.

un|whole|some /ʌ nhoʊ lsəm/

1 ADJ Unwholesome food or drink is not healthy or good for you. □  The fish were unwholesome and old.

2 ADJ If you describe someone's feelings or behaviour as unwholesome , you are critical of them because they are unpleasant or unnatural. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  My desire to be rich was an insane, unwholesome, oppressive desire.

un|wieldy /ʌnwiː ldi/

1 ADJ If you describe an object as unwieldy , you mean that it is difficult to move or carry because it is so big or heavy. □  They came panting up to his door with their unwieldy baggage.

2 ADJ If you describe a system as unwieldy , you mean that it does not work very well as a result of it being too large or badly organized. □  His firm must contend with the unwieldy Russian bureaucracy. □  …an unwieldy legal system.

un|will|ing /ʌ nw I l I ŋ/

1 ADJ [usu v-link, usu ADJ to-inf] If you are unwilling to do something, you do not want to do it and will not agree to do it. □  Initially the government was unwilling to accept the defeat. □  For months I had been either unwilling or unable to go through with it. ●  un|will|ing|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] □  …their unwillingness to accept responsibility for mistakes.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use unwilling to describe someone who does not really want to do the thing they are doing. □  A youthful teacher, he finds himself an unwilling participant in school politics. ●  un|will|ing|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  My beard had started to grow, and I had unwillingly complied with the order to shave it off. □  Unwillingly, she moved aside.

un|wind /ʌ nwa I nd/ (unwinds , unwinding , unwound )

1 VERB When you unwind , you relax after you have done something that makes you tense or tired. □ [V ] It helps them to unwind after a busy day at work.