Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 VERB If you ad-lib something in a play or a speech, you say something which has not been planned or written beforehand. □ [V n] He began comically ad-libbing a script. □ [V n] He's good at ad-libbing his way out of trouble. □ [V ] He is rather disjointed when he ad-libs. □ [V -ed] …ad-libbed phrases.

2 N‑COUNT An ad-lib is something which is said without having been planned or written beforehand. □  Every time I fluffed a line Lenny got me out of trouble with a brilliant ad-lib. ● ADV [ADV after v] Ad lib is also an adverb. □  I spoke from the pulpit ad lib.

ad|man /æ dmæn/ (admen ) N‑COUNT An adman is someone who works in advertising. [INFORMAL ]

ad|min /æ dm I n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Admin is the activity or process of organizing an institution or organization. [INFORMAL ] □  I have two assistants who help with the admin.

ad|min|is|ter /ædm I n I stə ^r / (administers , administering , administered )

1 VERB If someone administers something such as a country, the law, or a test, they take responsibility for organizing and supervising it. □ [V n] The plan calls for the U.N. to administer the country until elections can be held. [Also V n to n]

2 VERB If a doctor or a nurse administers a drug, they give it to a patient. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Paramedics are trained to administer certain drugs. [Also V n + to ]

ad|min|is|tra|tion ◆◆◇ /ædm I n I stre I ʃ ^ə n/ (administrations )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Administration is the range of activities connected with organizing and supervising the way that an organization or institution functions. □  Too much time is spent on administration. □  …a master's degree in business administration.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The administration of something is the process of organizing and supervising it. □ [+ of ] Standards in the administration of justice have degenerated.

3 N‑SING [usu n N ] The administration of a company or institution is the group of people who organize and supervise it. □  … a member of the college administration.

4 N‑COUNT You can refer to a country's government as the administration ; used especially in the United States. SYNONYMS administration NOUN 2

management:The dispute is about the management of the mining industry.

government:The first four years of government were completely disastrous.

control:The restructuring involves Mr Ronson giving up control of the company.

running:…the committee in charge of the day-to-day running of the party.

ad|min|is|tra|tive /ædm I n I strət I v, [AM ] -stre I t-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Administrative work involves organizing and supervising an organization or institution. □  Other industries have had to sack managers to reduce administrative costs.

ad|min|is|tra|tor /ædm I n I stre I tə ^r / (administrators ) N‑COUNT An administrator is a person whose job involves helping to organize and supervise the way that an organization or institution functions.

ad|mi|rable /æ dm I rəb ^ə l/ ADJ An admirable quality or action is one that deserves to be praised and admired. □  Beyton is an admirable character. ●  ad|mi|rably /æ dm I rəbli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □  Peter had dealt admirably with the sudden questions about Keith.

ad|mi|ral /æ dmərəl/ (admirals ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE An admiral is a senior officer in a navy. □  …Admiral Hodges.

Ad|mi|ral|ty /æ dmərəlti/ N‑PROPER In Britain, the Admiralty is the government department that is in charge of the navy.