Oxford Basic American Dictionary

the arts [ plural ] things like films, plays, and literature How much money does the government spend on the arts?

[ count , usually singular ] a skill, or something that needs skill

the art of letter writing

arts [ plural ] the subjects you can study in school or college which are not science subjects, for example history or languages

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. ar • ter • y / ' artsri / noun [ count ] ( plural ar . ter . ies )

( biology ) one of the tubes in your body that carry blood away from your heart to other parts of your body

—Look at vein . ,

—Look at the picture at body .

ar • thri • tis / ar' eraitss / noun [noncount]

( health ) a disease that causes pain when you bend your arms, fingers, knees, etc.

ar • ti • choke / ' art3|tjouk /

[count]

a green vegetable with a lot of thick pointed leaves that looks like a flower. You eat the bottom part of the leaves and its center when it is cooked.

ar .ti .cle Ф / 'ш-ш/ noun

[ count ]

a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine

Did you read the article about young fashion designers?

a thing

Many of the articles in the store are half price. articles of clothing (= things like skirts, coats, and pants )

( english language arts ) the words "a" and "an" (called the indefinite article ), or "the" (called the definite article )

ar.ti.fi .cial Ф / .arte'fijl/ adjective

not natural or real, but made by people artificial flowers

These drinks contain no artificial colors or flavors. ►ar • ti • fi • cial • ly / |arts ' fifsli / adverb ar • ti • fi • cial in • tel • li • gence

/ |arts 'fijl in' telsd₃sns / noun [ noncount ] ( abbreviation AI )

( computers ) the study of the way in which computers can copy the way humans think

art . ist Ф / 'artist / noun [ count ]

( art ) a person who makes art, especially paintings or

drawings

Andy Warhol was a famous American artist. ar .tis .tic Ф / ar'tistik/ adjective (art)

good at painting, drawing, or making other things connected with art

He's very artistic — his drawings are excellent.

connected with art

the artistic director of the theater

aS Ф / sz; sez / conjunction, preposition

while something else is happening

Just as I was leaving the house, the phone rang.

as ... as words that you use to compare people or things; the same amount

Paul is as tall as his father. I don't have as many clothes as you do. I'd like it done as soon as possible .

used to say that someone or something has a particular job or purpose

She works as a secretary for a big company. I used my shoe as a hammer.

in the same way Please do as I tell you!

( formal ) because

As she was sick, she didn't go to school.

ASAP ( also asap ) / |ei es ei pi ; eisrep /

abbreviation ( informal )

as soon as possible

I'd like the report on my desk ASAP.

as • cend / s send / verb ( as . cend, as. cend . ing, as cend ed ) ( formal )

to go up

The results are arranged in ascending order (= from the lowest to the highest ) . —ANTONYM descend ► as • cent / s 'sent / noun [ count ] the first ascent of Mount Everest —ANTONYM descent

ash / re/ / noun [ noncount ]

the gray powder that is left after something has completely

burned

cigarette ash

a .shamed Ф / s feimd / adjective

feeling sorry and unhappy because you have done something wrong, or because you are not as good as other people

I felt ashamed about lying to my parents. She was ashamed of her old clothes.

a • shore / s for / adverb