Keep as a phrasal verb

keep somebody at something - to force someone to continue to work hard and not let them stop

keep back - to deliberately not tell someone all that you know about something: I got the feeling he was keeping something back.

keep somebody/something down -to prevent the size, cost, or quantity of something from increasing or being too great: We need to keep costs down.

keep from something - to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening: His ex-wife had kept him from seeing his children. I hope I haven't kept you from your work.

keep somebody in - to make someone stay in hospital because they are too ill to go home: They kept her in overnight for observation.

keep on - to continue doing something, or to do something many times: You just have to keep on trying. synonym go on

keep n

1.the cost of providing food and a home for someone

earn your keep (=do things in return for the things that are provided for you) It's time you got a job and started earning your keep.

2. informal for ever: Marriage ought to be for keeps.

keeping n

1.matching something or suitable in a particular situation: In keeping with tradition, everyone wore black.

2 not matching something or not suitable in a particular situation: The cheerful cover of the book is out of keeping with the sad story told inside it.

3 in somebody's keeping: being looked after or guarded by someone

write v t/i

1 a) to produce a new book, article, poem etc: He wrote some very famous books. Who wrote 'Harry Potter'?I can't come with you - I have an essay to write

well/badly/poorly etc written The article is very well written.

b) someone who writes earns money by writing books, plays, articles etc: Sean decided he wanted to write, and quit his job.

write for: Maureen Dowd writes for the New York Time.

2. to write a letter to someone: I've written to my MP, and to the city council.

3 to state something in a book, letter, advertisement etc, or on a label: Isabella wrote that she was dying, and asked him to visit her for the last time.

3 to write a piece of music or a song: Mozart wrote the music. The song was originally written by Leonard Cohen.

4. write out: to write information on a cheque, form etc: Wouldn't it be easier if I just wrote a cheque for the lot? The doctor wrote me a prescription for sleeping pills.

have something/be written all over your face- to show very clearly what you are feeling or thinking: He had guilt written all over his face. I know you're lying, Tyrell - it's written all over your face.

have something written all over it -to show a particular quality or fact very clearly: This awful film has 'career-killer' written all over it for the actors involved.

nothing to write home about- informal not particularly good or special: The hotel was good, but the food was nothing to write home about.

somebody wrote the book on something- spoken used to say that someone knows a lot about a subject or is very good at an activity: Motorola wrote the book on quality control.

write back - to reply to a letter that someone sent you, by writing a letter to them: I sent them a card once, but they never wrote back.

write something down - to write something on a piece of paper.

writing n

1 words that have been written or printed: What does the writing on the back say? a T-shirt with Japanese writing on it

2 books, poems, articles etc, especially those by a particular writer or about a particular subject: Some of his most powerful writing is based on his childhood experiences.

3 the activity of writing books, stories etc: In 1991 she retired from politics and took up writing as a career.a short story that stands out as a brilliant piece of writing a class in creative writing (=a subject studied at school or college, where you write your own stories, poems etc) travel/feminist/scientific etc writing

4 the particular way that someone writes with a pen or pencil - synonym handwriting: Your writing is very neat.

5 the skill of writing: At this age we concentrate on the children's reading and writing skills.

6 in writing- if you get something in writing, it is official proof of an agreement, promise etc: Could you put that in writing, please?

7 writings [plural] the books, stories etc that an important writer has written: Darwin's scientific writings.

commit v t\i

1 to do something wrong or illegal: Women commit fewer crimes than men. commit murder/rape/arson etc Brady committed a series of brutal murders.

commit suicide - to kill yourself deliberately

2 to say that someone will definitely do something or must do something

commit somebody to doing something - He has clearly committed his government to continuing down the path of economic reform.

commit somebody to something - Meeting them doesn't commit us to anything.

3 to give someone your love or support in a serious and permanent way: Anna wants to get married, but Bob’s not sure he wants to commit.

4 to decide to use money, time, people etc for a particular purpose: commit something to something -A lot of money has been committed to this project.

5 British English to send someone to be tried in a court of law: The two men were committed for trial at Bristol Crown Court.

6 to order someone to be put in a hospital or prison: commit somebody to something - The judge committed him to prison for six months.

committed adj

1.willing to work very hard at something: The party has a core of committed supporters.

search n

1an attempt to find someone or something: search for - Bad weather is hampering the search for survivors.

2 a series of actions done by a computer to find information: a computerized search of 10,000 medical journals A search found 46 websites. an online search perform/run/do a search Do a search on 'rabbit' and see what it brings up.

3 in search of something- looking for something: Mark went in search of water.

4 an attempt to find an explanation or solution: search for - the search for a cure

search v, t/i

1 to try to find someone or something by looking very carefully: It was too dark to search further. The area was thoroughly searched.

2 to use a computer to find information: Search the Web for cheap flights.

3 if someone in authority searches you or the things you are carrying, they look for things you might be hiding: He was searched by the guards for weapons.

4 to try to find an explanation or solution: Scientists are still searching for a cure. She paused, searching for inspiration.

5 to examine something carefully in order to find something out, decide something etc: Anya searched his face anxiously.

search out - to find something by searching: We were too tired to search out extra blankets.

searching adj

1 intended to find out all the facts about something: searching questions/investigation/examination etc Interviewees need to be ready for some searching questions.

2 searching look/glance/gaze: a look from someone who is trying to find out as much as possible about someone else's thoughts and feelings: She avoided his long searching look.

gain v t/i

1 to obtain or achieve something you want or need: gain control/power: Radical left-wing parties gained control of local authorities. After gaining independence in 1957, it was renamed 'Ghana'. gain a degree/qualification etc He gained a doctorate in Chemical Engineering.

2 to gradually get more and more of a quality, feeling etc, especially a useful or valuable one: She has gained a reputation as a good communicator. Many of his ideas have gained popular support. an opportunity to gain experience in a work environment The youngsters gradually gain confidence in their abilities.

3to get an advantage from a situation, opportunity, or event: There is much to be gained from seeking expert advice early.

4 to increase in weight, speed, height, or value: Carrie's gained a lot of weight recently. The dollar has gained 8% against the yen.

gain access/entry/admittance etc (to something): to manage to enter a place, building, or organization: New ramps will help the disabled gain better access. methods used by burglars to gain entry to houses

gain an understanding/insight/impression etc: to learn or find out about something: We are hoping to gain a better understanding of the underlying process. This enabled me to gain an overall impression of the school.

gain ground: to make steady progress and become more popular, more successful etc: The anti-smoking lobby has steadily gained ground in the last decade.

gain time: to deliberately do something to give yourself more time to think - opposite lose time

gain n

1 an advantage or improvement, especially one achieved by planning or effort: The party made considerable gains at local elections.

gain in: substantial gains in efficiency, gain from: the potential gains from improved marketing, gain to/for: There are obvious gains for the student.

2 an increase in the amount or level of something - opposite loss: Retail sales showed a gain of 0.4%.The Democratic Party needed a net gain of only 20 votes. Eating too many fatty goods could cause weight gain.

3 financial profit, especially when this seems to be the only thing someone is interested in: financial/economic/capital etc gain They are seeking to realize the maximum financial gain.

ill-gotten gains -money or advantages obtained dishonestly - used humorously

earn v t/i

1 to receive a particular amount of money for the work that you do: He earns nearly £20,000 a year. You don't earn much money being a nurse. He did all sorts of jobs to earn a living. I was the only person in the house who was earning. She was earning good money at the bank. Chris will pay - he's earning a fortune.

2 to make a profit from business or from putting money in a bank etc: The movie earned £7 million on its first day. You could earn a higher rate of interest elsewhere.

3a) to do something or have qualities that make you deserve something: I think you've earned a rest. He soon earned the respect of the players. He hopes to earn a place in the Olympic team. The company has earned a reputation for reliability.

b) if your actions or qualities earn you something, they make you deserve to have it: That performance earned her an Oscar as Best Actress.

4 earn your/its keep: a) to do jobs in return for being given a home and food: We older children were expected to earn our keep. b) to be useful enough to be worth the time or money spent: These aircraft are still earning their keep.

hard-earned adj earned or achieved after a lot of effort: hard-earned money/cash etc Don't be too quick to part with your hard-earned cash.

well-earned adj something that is well-earned is something you deserve because you have worked hard: a well-earned rest,a well-earned drink

deal n

1 an agreement or arrangement, especially in business or politics, that helps both sides involved: They made a deal to sell the land to a property developer.

deal with rumors that the company had struck a deal with Microsoft to market its products, deal between Twelve US soldiers were released after a deal between the army and the guerillas.

2 a great deal ￚsynonym a lot: It took a great deal of time and effort. His work has been attracting a great deal of attention.

a great deal more/less etc (=a lot more, less etc) He knew a good deal more than I did. She's married to a man a good deal older than herself.

3 treatment of a particular type that is given or received: a better/fairer etc deal a better deal for nurses The prime minister promised farmers a new deal (=a new and fairer system). a rough/raw deal (= unfair treatment ) Women tend to get a raw deal from employers.

Deal v t/i

1 deal something out to give playing cards to each of the players in a game: Whose turn is it to deal?

2 to buy and sell illegal drugs: Many users end up dealing to support their habit.

deal a blow (to somebody/something) to cause harm to someone or something - used in news reports deal a heavy/severe/serious etc blow The sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the local tourism industry. This will deal a blow to consumer confidence.

deal in - to buy and sell a particular type of product

deal in shares/securities etc investors dealing in stocks and shares deal in drugs/stolen goods etc He then began dealing in heroin. deal in antiques/second-hand books etc

deal something out - to give playing cards to each of the players in a game: I began dealing out the cards.

3 to do business with someone or have a business connection with someone: Most travel agents do not deal directly with these companies.

4 to succeed in controlling your feelings about an emotional problem so that it does not affect your life ￚ synonym cope with: How's he dealing with the whole thing?

dealing n

1 dealings [plural] the business activities or relationships that someone is involved in: an investigation of his financial dealings

2 the activity of buying, selling, or doing business with people: penalties for drug dealing plain/honest/fair dealing (=a particular way of doing business) a reputation for fair dealing

develop v t/i

1 to grow or change into something bigger, stronger, or more advanced, or to make someone or something do this: Knowledge in the field of genetics has been developing very rapidly. Corsica has developed its economy around the tourist industry.

2 to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time: Scientists are developing new drugs to treat arthritis. She should have developed her own style instead of copying him. Researchers are developing technology for the US military.

3 to start to have a feeling or quality that then becomes stronger: He had developed a certain affection for me. develop a sense/awareness/knowledge of something The children are beginning to develop a sense of responsibility. It was in college that he developed a taste for (=started to like) rugby football.

4 if you develop a skill or ability, or if it develops, it becomes stronger or more advanced: The course is designed to help students develop their speaking skills.

5 if you develop a disease or illness, or if it develops, you start to have it: Some alcoholics develop liver disease. Pneumonia can develop very quickly.

developed adj

1.a developed country is one of the rich countries of the world with many industries, comfortable living for most people, and usually an elected government: under developed energy consumption in the developed world developed countries/nations The charity works with children in less developed countries.

2 a developed sense, system etc, is better, larger, or more advanced than others: Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell. plants with well developed root systems Labour has a more fully developed programme for the unemployed.

Developing adj

1a developing country is a poor country that is trying to increase its industry and trade and improve life for its people: developing countries/nations aid to developing countries poverty and hunger in the developing world developing economies/markets the developing economies in Eastern Europe

2growing or changing: the growth of the developing embryo, a developing crisis in Washington

Study verb

1. [intransitive and transitive]to spend time reading, going to classes etc in order to learn about a subject

I've been studying English for 6 years.

I can't study with that music playing all the time.

Study at

Stephen is currently studying at Exeter University.

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