Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

5 PHRASE If you cannot tell the difference between two things, you can say that you do not know which is which . □  They all look so alike to me that I'm never sure which is which.

6any which way → see way

7every which way → see way

which|ever / ^h w I tʃe və ^r /

1 DET You use whichever in order to indicate that it does not matter which of the possible alternatives happens or is chosen. □  Israel offers automatic citizenship to all Jews who want it, whatever colour they are and whichever language they speak. ● CONJ Whichever is also a conjunction. □  We will gladly exchange your goods, or refund your money, whichever you prefer.

2 DET You use whichever to specify which of a number of possibilities is the right one or the one you mean. □  …learning to relax by whichever method suits you best. ● CONJ Whichever is also a conjunction. □  Fishing is from 6 am to dusk or 10.30pm, whichever is sooner.

whiff / ^h w I f/ (whiffs )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If there is a whiff of a particular smell, you smell it only slightly or only for a brief period of time, for example as you walk past someone or something. □ [+ of ] He caught a whiff of her perfume.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A whiff of something bad or harmful is a slight sign of it. □ [+ of ] Not a whiff of scandal has ever tainted his private life.

Whig / ^h w I g/ (Whigs )

1 N‑COUNT A Whig was a member of a British political party in the 18th and 19th centuries that was in favour of political and social changes. [BRIT ]

2 N‑COUNT In the American Revolution, a Whig was an American who supported the revolution against the British. [AM ]

3 N‑COUNT A Whig was a member of an American political party in the 19th century that wanted to limit the powers of the President. [AM ]

while

➊ CONJUNCTION USES

➋ NOUN AND VERB USES

➊ while ◆◆◆ / ^h wa I l/ The form whilst is also used in formal or literary English, especially British English. 1 CONJ If something happens while something else is happening, the two things are happening at the same time. □  Racing was halted for an hour while the track was repaired. □  Her parents could help with child care while she works.

2 CONJ If something happens while something else happens, the first thing happens at some point during the time that the second thing is happening. □  The two ministers have yet to meet, but may do so while in New York. □  Never apply water to a burn while the casualty is still in contact with electric current.

3 CONJ You use while at the beginning of a clause to introduce information which contrasts with information in the main clause. □  The first two services are free, while the third costs £35.00.

4 CONJ You use while , before making a statement, in order to introduce information that partly conflicts with your statement. □  While the numbers of such developments are relatively small, the potential market is large. □  While the news, so far, has been good, there may be days ahead when it is bad.

➋ while ◆◆◇ / ^h wa I l/ (whiles , whiling , whiled )

→ Please look at categories 3 and 4 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.

1 N‑SING A while is a period of time. □  They walked on in silence for a while. □  He was married a little while ago. □  Working at low intensity means that you can continue to perform the activity for a long while.

2 PHRASE You use all the while in order to say that something happens continually or that it happens throughout the time when something else is happening. □  All the while the people at the next table watched me eat.