Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ n] If you open or spread something wide , you open or spread it as far as possible or to the fullest extent. □  'It was huge,' he announced, spreading his arms wide. □  His eyes were wide in disbelief.

4 ADJ [as ADJ as ] You use wide to talk or ask about how much something measures from one side or edge to the other. □  …a corridor of land 10 kilometres wide. □  The road is only one track wide. □  …a desk that was almost as wide as the room.

5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use wide to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people. □  The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels, apartments and holiday homes. □  The proposed constitution gives him much wider powers than his predecessor. ●  wide|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □  He published widely in scientific journals. □  He was widely travelled.

6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use wide to say that something is found, believed, known, or supported by many people or throughout a large area. □  The case has attracted wide publicity. □  I suspect this book will have the widest appeal of all. ●  wide|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  At present, no widely approved vaccine exists for malaria.

7 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wide difference or gap between two things, ideas, or qualities is a large difference or gap. □  Research shows a wide difference in tastes around the country. ●  wide|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV adj] □  The treatment regime may vary widely depending on the type of injury.

8 ADJ [ADJ n] Wider is used to describe something which relates to the most important or general parts of a situation, rather than to the smaller parts or to details. □  He emphasised the wider issue of superpower cooperation.

9 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something such as a shot or punch is wide , it does not hit its target but lands to the right or left of it. □  Nearly half the missiles landed wide.

10wide awake

11far and wide → see far

12wide of the mark → see mark

13wide open → see open

-wide /-wa I d/ COMB -wide combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something exists or happens throughout the place or area that the noun refers to. □  …a Europe-wide conference on security and cooperation. □  Is the problem one that's industry-wide? ● COMB [n ADV , ADV after v] -wide also combines to form adverbs. □  Employers want to be sure recruits understand business Europe-wide.

wi de-angle le ns (wide-angle lenses ) N‑COUNT A wide-angle lens is a lens which allows you to photograph a wider view than a normal lens.

wi de awa ke ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are wide awake , you are completely awake. □  I could not relax and still felt wide awake.

wi de boy (wide boys ) N‑COUNT A wide boy is a man, especially a young man, who has a lot of money but who earns it in a dishonest or illegal way. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

wi de-eyed ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as wide-eyed , you mean that they are inexperienced and innocent, and may be easily impressed. □  Her wide-eyed innocence soon exposes the pretensions of the art world.

wid|en /wa I d ^ə n/ (widens , widening , widened )

1 VERB If you widen something or if it widens , it becomes greater in measurement from one side or edge to the other. □ [V n] He had an operation last year to widen a heart artery. □ [V ] The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.