Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

a ll-comers also all comers N‑PLURAL You use all-comers to refer to everyone who wants to take part in an activity, especially a competition. □  This is her second season offering residential courses for all-comers.

al|le|ga|tion ◆◇◇ /æ l I ge I ʃ ^ə n/ (allegations ) N‑COUNT An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong. □  The company has denied the allegations. □ [+ of ] Allegations of brutality and theft have been levelled at the army. COLLOCATIONS allegation NOUN

noun + allegation : abuse, assault, harassment, racism, rape; bribery, corruption, doping, fraud

adjective + allegation : baseless, false, unfounded, unsubstantiated, untrue; credible, true; unproven; lurid

verb + allegation : deny, dismiss, refute, reject; investigate; make

al|lege /əle dʒ/ (alleges , alleging , alleged ) VERB If you allege that something bad is true, you say it but do not prove it. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] They alleged that the fires were caused by defective machinery. □ [be V -ed to-inf] The accused is alleged to have killed a man. □ [be V -ed that] It was alleged that the restaurant discriminated against black customers. [Also V with quote]

al|leged ◆◆◇ /əle dʒd/ ADJ [ADJ n] An alleged fact has been stated but has not been proved to be true. [FORMAL ] □  They have begun a hunger strike in protest at the alleged beating. ●  al|leg|ed|ly /əle dʒ I dli/ ADV □  His van allegedly struck the two as they were crossing a street. SYNONYMS alleged ADJ

apparent:There is at last an apparent end to the destructive price war.

ostensible:The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information.

supposed:…when the rule of law is broken by its supposed guardians.

putative:…a putative father.

al|le|giance /əliː dʒ ^ə ns/ (allegiances ) N‑VAR Your allegiance is your support for and loyalty to a particular group, person, or belief. □ [+ to ] My allegiance to Kendall and his company ran deep.

al|le|gori|cal /æ l I gɒ r I k ^ə l, [AM ] -gɔː r-/ ADJ An allegorical story, poem, or painting uses allegory. □  Every Russian knows the allegorical novel The Master And Margarita.

al|le|go|ry /æ l I gəri, [AM ] -gɔːri/ (allegories )

1 N‑COUNT An allegory is a story, poem, or painting in which the characters and events are symbols of something else. Allegories are often moral, religious, or political. □ [+ of ] The book is a kind of allegory of Latin American history.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Allegory is the use of characters and events in a story, poem, or painting to represent other things. □  The poem's comic allegory was transparent.

al|le|gro /əle groʊ/ (allegros ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An allegro is a piece of classical music that should be played quickly and in a lively way.

a ll-embra cing ADJ Something that is all-embracing includes or affects everyone or everything. □  His hospitality was instantaneous and all-embracing.

al|ler|gen /æ lə ^r dʒen/ (allergens ) N‑COUNT An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in someone. [TECHNICAL ]

al|ler|gic /əlɜː ^r dʒ I k/

1 ADJ If you are allergic to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it. □ [+ to ] I'm allergic to cats.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you have an allergic reaction to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it. □  Soya milk can cause allergic reactions in some children.

al|ler|gist /æ lə ^r dʒ I st/ (allergists ) N‑COUNT An allergist is a doctor who specializes in treating people with allergies.