Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 → see also airworthy , creditworthy , newsworthy , noteworthy , praiseworthy , seaworthy , trustworthy

wotWot is sometimes used in writing to represent what , to show that someone is speaking very informally or that they are being humorous. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  'Cor, wot brilliant prizes!'

would ◆◆◆ /wəd, STRONG wʊd/ Would is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. In spoken English, would is often abbreviated to 'd . 1 MODAL You use would when you are saying what someone believed, hoped, or expected to happen or be the case. □  No one believed he would actually kill himself. □  Would he always be like this? □  He expressed the hope that on Monday elementary schools would be reopened. □  A report yesterday that said unemployment would continue to rise.

2 MODAL You use would when saying what someone intended to do. □  The statement added that these views would be discussed by both sides. □  George decided it was such a rare car that he would only use it for a few shows.

3 MODAL You use would when you are referring to the result or effect of a possible situation. □  Ordinarily it would be fun to be taken to fabulous restaurants. □  It would be wrong to suggest that police officers were not annoyed by acts of indecency. □  It would cost very much more for the four of us to go from Italy.

4 MODAL You use would , or would have with a past participle, to indicate that you are assuming or guessing that something is true, because you have good reasons for thinking it. □  You wouldn't know him. □  His fans would already be familiar with Caroline. □  It was half seven; her mother would be annoyed because he was so late.

5 MODAL You use would in the main clause of some 'if' and 'unless' sentences to indicate something you consider to be fairly unlikely to happen. □  If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope. □  A policeman would not live one year if he obeyed these regulations.

6 MODAL You use would to say that someone was willing to do something. You use would not to indicate that they refused to do something. □  They said they would give the police their full cooperation. □  She indicated that she would help her boss. □  He wouldn't say where he had picked up the information.

7 MODAL You use would not to indicate that something did not happen, often in spite of a lot of effort. □  He kicked, pushed, and hurled his shoulder at the door. It wouldn't open. □  The battery got flatter and flatter, until it wouldn't turn the engine at all.

8 MODAL You use would , especially with 'like', 'love', and 'wish', when saying that someone wants to do or have a particular thing or wants a particular thing to happen. □  Right now, your mom would like a cup of coffee. □  Ideally, she would love to become pregnant again. □  He wished it would end.

9would rather → see rather

10 MODAL You use would with 'if' clauses in questions when you are asking for permission to do something. □  Do you think it would be all right if I opened a window? □  Mr. Cutler, would you mind if I asked a question?

11 MODAL You use would , usually in questions with 'like', when you are making a polite offer or invitation. [POLITENESS ] □  Would you like a drink? □  Perhaps you would like to pay a visit to London.