Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

ab|hor /æbhɔː ^r / (abhors , abhorring , abhorred ) VERB If you abhor something, you hate it very much, especially for moral reasons. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He was a man who abhorred violence and was deeply committed to reconciliation.

ab|hor|rence /æbhɒ rəns, [AM ] -hɔː r-/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's abhorrence of something is their strong hatred of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] They are anxious to show their abhorrence of racism.

ab|hor|rent /æbhɒ rənt, [AM ] -hɔː r-/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is abhorrent to you, you hate it very much or consider it completely unacceptable. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] Racial discrimination is abhorrent to my council and our staff.

abide /əba I d/ (abides , abiding , abided )

1 PHRASE If you can't abide someone or something, you dislike them very much. □  I can't abide people who can't make up their minds.

2 → see also abiding , law-abiding

▸  abide by PHRASAL VERB If you abide by a law, agreement, or decision, you do what it says you should do. □ [V P n] They have got to abide by the rules.

abid|ing /əba I d I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] An abiding feeling, memory, or interest is one that you have for a very long time. □  He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.

abil|ity ◆◆◇ /əb I l I ti/ (abilities )

1 N‑SING [N to-inf, oft with poss] Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it. □  The public never had faith in his ability to handle the job. □  He has the ability to bring out the best in others.

2 N‑VAR [oft with poss] Your ability is the quality or skill that you have which makes it possible for you to do something. □  Her drama teacher spotted her ability. □  They repeatedly questioned his leadership abilities. □  Does the school cater for all abilities?

3 PHRASE If you do something to the best of your abilities or to the best of your ability , you do it as well as you can. □  I take care of them to the best of my abilities.

SUFFIX -ability

replaces -able at the end of adjectives to form nouns that refer to a particular state or quality. For example, reliability is the state or quality of being reliable.

ab|ject /æ bdʒekt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use abject to emphasize that a situation or quality is extremely bad. [EMPHASIS ] □  Both of them died in abject poverty. □  This scheme was an abject failure. ●  ab|ject|ly ADV □  Both have failed abjectly.

ab|jure /æbdʒʊə ^r / (abjures , abjuring , abjured ) VERB If you abjure something such as a belief or way of life, you state publicly that you will give it up or that you reject it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …a formal statement abjuring military action.

ablaze /əble I z/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Something that is ablaze is burning very fiercely. □  Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a place is ablaze with lights or colours, it is very bright because of them. □ [+ with ] The chamber was ablaze with light.

able ◆◆◆ /e I b ^ə l/ (abler /e I blə ^r /, ablest /e I bl I st/)

1 PHRASE If you are able to do something, you have skills or qualities which make it possible for you to do it. □  The older child should be able to prepare a simple meal. □  The company say they're able to keep pricing competitive. □  They seemed able to work together very efficiently.

2 PHRASE If you are able to do something, you have enough freedom, power, time, or money to do it. □  You'll be able to read in peace. □  It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.