Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

woozy /wuː zi/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you feel woozy , you feel rather weak and unsteady and cannot think clearly. [INFORMAL ] □  The fumes made them woozy.

word ◆◆◆ /wɜː ^r d/ (words , wording , worded )

1 N‑COUNT A word is a single unit of language that can be represented in writing or speech. In English, a word has a space on either side of it when it is written. □  The words stood out clearly on the page. □  The word 'ginseng' comes from the Chinese word 'Shen-seng'. □  …swear words.

2 N‑PLURAL [oft with poss] Someone's words are what they say or write. □  I was devastated when her words came true. □ [+ of ] The words of the young woman doctor echoed in his ears.

3 N‑PLURAL The words of a song consist of the text that is sung, in contrast to the music that is played. □  Can you hear the words on the album?

4 N‑SING If you have a word with someone, you have a short conversation with them. [SPOKEN ] □ [+ with ] I think it's time you had a word with him. □  James, could I have a quiet word?

5 N‑COUNT If you offer someone a word of something such as warning, advice, or praise, you warn, advise, or praise them. □ [+ of ] A word of warning. Don't stick too precisely to what it says in the book.

6 N‑SING If you say that someone does not hear, understand, or say a word , you are emphasizing that they hear, understand, or say nothing at all. [EMPHASIS ] □  I can't understand a word she says. □  Not a word was spoken.

7 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] If there is word of something, people receive news or information about it. □ [+ from ] There is no word from the authorities on the reported attack. □  Word has been spreading fast of the incidents on the streets.

8 N‑SING If you give your word , you make a sincere promise to someone. □  …an adult who gave his word the boy would be supervised. □  He simply cannot be trusted to keep his word.

9 N‑SING If someone gives the word to do something, they give an order to do it. □  I want nothing said about this until I give the word.

10 VERB To word something in a particular way means to choose or use particular words to express it. □ [V n adv/prep] If I had written the letter, I might have worded it differently. ●  -worded COMB □  …a strongly-worded statement. □  …a carefully-worded speech.

11 → see also code word , four-letter word , play on words , printed word , spoken word , wording , written word

12 PHRASE If you say that people consider something to be a dirty word , you mean that they disapprove of it. □  So many people think feminism is a dirty word.

13 PHRASE If you do something from the word go , you do it from the very beginning of a period of time or situation. □  It's essential you make the right decisions from the word go.

14 PHRASE You can use in their words or in their own words to indicate that you are reporting what someone said using the exact words that they used. □  Even the Assistant Secretary of State had to admit that previous policy did not, in his words, produce results.

15 PHRASE You use in a word to indicate that you are giving a summary of what you have just been saying, or are giving a reply, in as brief a way as possible. □  'Shouldn't he be given the leading role?'—'In a word–No.'

16 PHRASE If someone has the last word or the final word in a discussion, argument, or disagreement, they are the one who wins it or who makes the final decision. □  She does like to have the last word in any discussion. □  The final word will still come from the Secretary of State.