word-vault

{ "term": "big", "partOfSpeech": "adjective", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "large in size, degree, amount, etc.", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "a big man/house/increase" }, { "text": "This shirt isn't big enough." }, { "text": "It's the world's biggest computer company." }, { "text": "He had this **great big** grin on his face." }, { "text": "The lobster's claws are **bigger than** human hands." }, { "text": "The festival is **getting bigger** every year." }, { "text": "Her smile **grew bigger**." }, { "text": "They were earning big money." }, { "text": "The news came as a big blow." }, { "text": "He was a big man—tall and broad-shouldered." }, { "text": "He was a short man with great big glasses." }, { "text": "This house is rather big for us. We need something smaller." }, { "text": "There's been a big increase in prices." }, { "text": "We were hoping the show would be a really big success." }, { "text": "The whole story is just a big fat lie." } ], "collocations": { "verbs": ["be", "look", "seem"], "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"], "phrases": ["big fat", "great big"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "older", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "my big brother" }, { "text": "You're a big girl now." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "important; serious", "labels": "(rather informal)(informal)", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "It's a big decision to have to make." }, { "text": "You are making a big mistake." }, { "text": "Unemployment is a **big problem** in the region." }, { "text": "This legislation will make a **big difference**." }, { "text": "The **big question** is: why did they do it?" }, { "text": "Housing is a **big issue** in London." }, { "text": "a potentially big drawback" }, { "text": "She took the stage for her **big moment**." }, { "text": "It doesn't **get bigger** than the World Cup Final!" }, { "text": "Tonight is the biggest match of his career." }, { "text": "Do you really think we can take on the **big boys** *(= compete with the most powerful people)*?" } ], "collocations": { "verbs": ["be", "look", "seem"], "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"], "phrases": ["big fat", "great big"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "b2", "examples": [ { "text": "They're full of big ideas." } ], "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "popular with the public; successful", "sensetop": "big in…", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "Orange is the big colour this year." }, { "text": "The band's very big in Japan.", "contextForm": "big in…" } ], "topics": ["Success"] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "enthusiastic about somebody/something", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I'm a big fan of hers." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "doing something often or to a large degree", "examples": [ { "text": "a big eater/drinker/spender" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "kind or generous", "sensetop": "big of somebody", "labels": "(usually ironic)", "examples": [ { "text": "He gave me an extra five pounds for two hours' work. I thought ‘That's big of you’." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be/become too proud of yourself; to behave as if you are more important than you really are", "examples": [], "topics": ["Personal qualities"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "an important and powerful person, especially in an organization", "labels": "(informal, humorous)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that you are not impressed by something", "labels": "(informal, ironic)", "examples": [ { "text": "So he earns more than me. Big deal!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the most important person or thing", "labels": "(North American English, informal, humorous)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "an important person (in a small community)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "an offensive term for a weak man, who is not brave or confident", "labels": "(British English, informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the ability to keep moving ahead of your competitors, especially in politics", "labels": "(especially North American English, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "In politics, momentum is known as the big mo." }, { "text": "He's picking up a lot of support and **has the big mo**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "an important person", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the situation as a whole", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Right now forget the details and take a look at the big picture." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the use or threat of force or power", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The authorities used quiet persuasion instead of the big stick." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the three, four, etc. most important countries, people, companies, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "She works for one of the Big Six." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that somebody has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to show your approval of somebody by clapping your hands; to be applauded in this way", "examples": [ { "text": "Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big hand to our special guests tonight." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to have more important or more interesting things to do", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to be bad at keeping secrets", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to talk too much, especially about your own abilities and achievements", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [], "topics": ["Personal qualities"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "on a large/small scale", "examples": [ { "text": "The new delivery service has taken off in a big way." }, { "text": "Many people are investing in a small way in the stock market." }, { "text": "He then started spending money in a big way." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make something seem more important than it really is", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used when you realize that you have said something that you should not have said", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a person or thing that people think will be very popular or successful soon", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "She has been talked up as the next big thing in British tennis." }, { "text": "Everyone is trying to guess what the next big thing in street fashion is going to be." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that something is not important or not a problem", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "If I don't win it's no big deal." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "so important to the economy of a country that when it finds itself in financial trouble, the government or central bank must act to save it", "examples": [ { "text": "Shouldering the huge costs of rescuing banks that are too big to fail has been left to taxpayers." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/bɪɡ/", "audio": "bi/big/big__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/bɪɡ/", "audio": "bi/big/big__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin." }