Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 VERB If you wonder at something, you are very surprised about it or think about it in a very surprised way. □ [V + at ] Walk down Castle Street, admire our little jewel of a cathedral, then wonder at the castle. □ [V that] We all wonder that you're still alive.

3 N‑SING If you say that it is a wonder that something happened, you mean that it is very surprising and unexpected. □  It's a wonder that it took almost ten years. □  The wonder is that Olivier was not seriously hurt.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Wonder is a feeling of great surprise and pleasure that you have, for example when you see something that is very beautiful, or when something happens that you thought was impossible. □  'That's right!' Bobby exclaimed in wonder. 'How did you remember that?'

5 N‑COUNT A wonder is something that causes people to feel great surprise or admiration. □ [+ of ] …a lecture on the wonders of space and space exploration. □ [+ of ] …the wonder of seeing his name in print.

6 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer, for example, to a young man as a wonder boy, or to a new product as a wonder drug, you mean that they are believed by many people to be very good or very effective. □  He was hailed as the wonder boy of American golf.

7 PHRASE You can say ' I wonder ' if you want to be very polite when you are asking someone to do something, or when you are asking them for their opinion or for information. [POLITENESS ] □  I was just wondering if you could help me.

8 PHRASE If you say ' no wonder ', ' little wonder ', or ' small wonder ', you mean that something is not surprising. □  No wonder my brother wasn't feeling well. □  Under such circumstances, it is little wonder that they experience difficulties.

9 PHRASE You can say ' No wonder ' when you find out the reason for something that has been puzzling you for some time. □  Brad was Jane's brother! No wonder he reminded me so much of her!

10 PHRASE If you say that a person or thing works wonders or does wonders , you mean that they have a very good effect on something. □  A few moments of relaxation can work wonders. COLLOCATIONS wonder NOUN 5

adjective + wonder : architectural, natural; one-hit

verb + wonder : discover, experience, explore; perform

won|der|ful ◆◆◇ /wʌ ndə ^r fʊl/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as wonderful , you think they are extremely good. □  The cold, misty air felt wonderful on his face. □  It's wonderful to see you. □  I've always thought he was a wonderful actor. ●  won|der|ful|ly ADV □  It's a system that works wonderfully well.

wonder|land /wʌ ndə ^r lænd/ N‑UNCOUNT Wonderland is an imaginary world that exists in fairy stories.

won|der|ment /wʌ ndə ^r mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Wonderment is a feeling of great surprise and pleasure. [LITERARY ] □  His big blue eyes opened wide in wonderment.

won|drous /wʌ ndrəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as wondrous , you mean it is strange and beautiful or impressive. [LITERARY ] □  We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.

won|ky /wɒ ŋki/ ADJ If something is wonky , it is not straight or level. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  The wheels keep going wonky.

wont /woʊ nt, [AM ] wɔː nt/

1 ADJ If someone is wont to do something, they often or regularly do it. [WRITTEN ] □  Both have committed their indiscretions, as human beings are wont to do.

2 PHRASE If someone does a particular thing as is their wont , they do that thing often or regularly. [WRITTEN ] □  Paul woke early, as was his wont.

won't /woʊ nt/ Won't is the usual spoken form of 'will not'. □  His parents won't let him come.

woo /wuː / (woos , wooing , wooed )