Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

al|lu|vial /əluː viəl/ ADJ Alluvial soils are soils which consist of earth and sand left behind on land which has been flooded or where a river once flowed. [TECHNICAL ]

a ll-wea ther ADJ [ADJ n] All-weather sports take place on an artificial surface instead of on grass. □  …all-weather racing. □  …an all-weather tennis court.

ally ◆◆◇ (allies , allying , allied ) The noun is pronounced /æ la I /. The verb is pronounced /əla I /. 1 N‑COUNT A country's ally is another country that has an agreement to support it, especially in war. □  Washington would not take such a step without its allies' approval. □ [+ of ] It was assumed that Germany would not want to bring such a powerful ally of Britain into the war.

2 N‑PLURAL The Allies were the armed forces that fought against Germany and Japan in the Second World War.

3 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as your ally , you mean that they help and support you, especially when other people are opposing you. □ [+ of ] He is a close ally of the Prime Minister.

4 VERB If you ally yourself with someone or something, you give your support to them. □ [V pron-refl + with ] He will have no choice but to ally himself with the new movement.

5 → see also allied

SUFFIX -ally

is added to adjectives ending in -ic to form adverbs that indicate how something is done or what something relates to. For example, if something is done enthusiastically , it is done in an enthusiastic way.

alma ma|ter /æ lmə mɑː tə ^r , - me I tə ^r / (alma maters )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu with poss] Your alma mater is the school or university which you went to. [FORMAL ]

2 N‑SING A school or college's alma mater is its official song. [AM ]

al|ma|nac /ɔː lmənæk/ (almanacs ) also almanack

1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An almanac is a book published every year which contains information about the movements of the planets, the changes of the moon and the tides, and the dates of important anniversaries.

2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An almanac is a book published every year which contains information about events connected with a particular subject or activity, and facts and statistics about that activity.

al|ma|nack /ɔː lmənæk/ (almanacks ) → see almanac

al|mighty /ɔː lma I ti/

1 N‑PROPER The Almighty is another name for God. You can also refer to Almighty God . □  Adam sought guidance from the Almighty.

2 EXCLAM People sometimes say God Almighty or Christ Almighty to express their surprise, anger, or horror. These expressions could cause offence. [FEELINGS ]

3 ADJ [ADJ n] Almighty means very serious or great in extent. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □  I had the most almighty row with the waitress.

al|mond /ɑː mənd/ (almonds )

1 N‑VAR Almonds are pale oval nuts. They are often used in cooking. □  …sponge cake flavoured with almonds.

2 → see also sugared almond

3 N‑VAR An almond or an almond tree , is a tree on which almonds grow. □  On the left was a plantation of almond trees.

al|most ◆◆◆ /ɔː lmoʊst/ ADV [ADV before v] You use almost to indicate that something is not completely the case but is nearly the case. □  The couple had been dating for almost three years. □  Storms have been hitting almost all of Britain recently. □  The effect is almost impossible to describe. □  The arrested man will almost certainly be kept at this police station. □  He contracted Spanish flu, which almost killed him.

alms /ɑː mz/ N‑PLURAL Alms are gifts of money, clothes, or food to poor people. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

alms|house /ɑː mzhaʊs/ (almshouses ) also alms-house N‑COUNT Almshouses are houses in Britain which were built and run by charities to provide accommodation for poor or old people who could not afford to pay rent.