Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ [ADJ n] An aggregate amount or score is made up of several smaller amounts or scores added together. □  Their previous four wins had provided an aggregate score of 12-7 in their favour. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Aggregate is also a noun. □  The highest aggregate came in the third round where Leeds and Middlesbrough drew 4-4.

2 N‑COUNT An aggregate is a number of people or things that are being considered as a single thing. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …society viewed as an aggregate of individuals.

ag|gres|sion /əgre ʃ ^ə n/ (aggressions )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Aggression is a quality of anger and determination that makes you ready to attack other people. □  Aggression is by no means a male-only trait.

2 N‑VAR Aggression is violent and attacking behaviour. □  The raid was an unjustifiable act of aggression.

ag|gres|sive ◆◇◇ /əgre s I v/

1 ADJ An aggressive person or animal has a quality of anger and determination that makes them ready to attack other people. □  Some children are much more aggressive than others. □  Aggressive behaviour is a sign of emotional distress. ●  ag|gres|sive|ly ADV □  They'll react aggressively. ●  ag|gres|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Her aggressiveness made it difficult for him to explain his own feelings.

2 ADJ People who are aggressive in their work or other activities behave in a forceful way because they are very eager to succeed. □  He is respected as a very aggressive and competitive executive. ●  ag|gres|sive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  …countries noted for aggressively pursuing energy efficiency.

ag|gres|sor /əgre sə ^r / (aggressors ) N‑COUNT The aggressor in a fight or battle is the person, group, or country that starts it. □  They have been the aggressors in this conflict.

ag|grieved /əgriː vd/ ADJ If you feel aggrieved , you feel upset and angry because of the way in which you have been treated. □ [+ at ] I really feel aggrieved at this sort of thing.

ag|gro /æ groʊ/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Aggro is the difficulties and problems that are involved in something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  Simply phone the ticket hot-line and all that aggro will be a thing of the past.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Aggro is aggressive or violent behaviour. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  They could see there wasn't going to be any aggro and they left us to it.

aghast /əgɑː st, əgæ st/ ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If you are aghast , you are filled with horror and surprise. [FORMAL ] □  She watched aghast as his life flowed away. [Also + at ]

ag|ile /æ dʒa I l, [AM ] -dʒ ^ə l/

1 ADJ Someone who is agile can move quickly and easily. □  At 20 years old he was not as agile as he is now. ●  agil|ity /ədʒ I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □  She blinked in surprise at his agility.

2 ADJ If you have an agile mind, you think quickly and intelligently. □  She was quick-witted and had an extraordinarily agile mind. ●  agil|ity N‑UNCOUNT □  His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.

ag|ing /e I dʒ I ŋ/ → see age , ageing

agi|tate /æ dʒ I te I t/ (agitates , agitating , agitated )

1 VERB If people agitate for something, they protest or take part in political activity in order to get it. □ [V + for ] The women who worked in these mills had begun to agitate for better conditions. [Also V , V for n to-inf]

2 VERB If you agitate something, you shake it so that it moves about. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] All you need to do is gently agitate the water with a finger or paintbrush.