Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

5 PHRASAL VERB If you write off a plan or project, you accept that it is not going to be successful and do not continue with it. □ [V P n] We decided to write off the rest of the day and go shopping. □ [V n P ] The prices were much higher. So we decided to write that off.

6 → see also write-off

▸  write out

1 PHRASAL VERB When you write out something fairly long such as a report or a list, you write it on paper. □ [V P n] We had to write out a list of ten jobs we'd like to do. □ [V n P ] The application form is important. Sit down and write it out properly.

2 PHRASAL VERB If a character in a drama series is written out , he or she is taken out of the series. □ [be V -ed P + of ] After twice being arrested for drugs offences, he was written out of the show. [Also V n P ]

3 → see write 7

▸  write up

1 PHRASAL VERB If you write up something that has been done or said, you record it on paper in a neat and complete form, usually using notes that you have made. □ [V P n] He wrote up his visit in a report of over 600 pages. □ [V n P ] Mr Sadler conducted interviews, and his girlfriend wrote them up.

2 → see also write-up

wri te-in (write-ins ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] In the US, a write-in is a vote that you make by writing the candidate's name on the ballot paper. □  When Republican write-ins were included, Johnson's margin of victory was only 330 votes.

wri te-off (write-offs )

1 N‑COUNT Something such as a vehicle that is a write-off has been so badly damaged in an accident that it is not worth repairing. [BRIT ] □  The car was a write-off, but everyone escaped unharmed.

2 N‑COUNT A write-off is the decision by a company or government to accept that they will never recover a debt or an amount of money that has been spent on something. □ [+ of ] Mr James persuaded the banks to accept a large write-off of debt.

3 N‑SING If you describe a plan or period of time as a write-off , you mean that it has been a failure and you have achieved nothing. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ for ] Today was really a bit of a write-off for me.

writ|er ◆◆◇ /ra I tə ^r / (writers )

1 N‑COUNT A writer is a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job. □  Turner is a writer and critic. □  …detective stories by American writers. □  …novelist and travel writer Paul Theroux.

2 N‑COUNT The writer of a particular article, report, letter, or story is the person who wrote it. □ [+ of ] No-one is to see the document without the permission of the writer of the report. SYNONYMS writer NOUN 1

author:…Jill Phillips, author of the book 'Give Your Child Music'.

novelist:…a romantic novelist.

columnist:…the gossip columnists' favourite target.

hack:…tabloid hacks, always eager to find victims in order to sell newspapers. COLLOCATIONS writer NOUN 1

noun + writer : comedy, crime, food, travel; woman

adjective + writer : aspiring, prolific; freelance

wri te-up (write-ups ) N‑COUNT A write-up is an article in a newspaper or magazine, in which someone gives their opinion of something such as a film, restaurant, or new product. □  The show received a good write-up. □ [+ of ] The guide book contains a short write-up of each hotel.

writhe /ra I ð/ (writhes , writhing , writhed ) VERB If you writhe , your body twists and turns violently backwards and forwards, usually because you are in great pain or discomfort. □ [V ] He was writhing in agony. □ [V adv/prep] The shark was writhing around wildly, trying to get free.

writ|ing ◆◆◇ /ra I t I ŋ/ (writings )