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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "tell",
"partOfSpeech": "verb",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "a1",
"verbForms": {
"presentSimple": {
"iYouWeThey": "tell",
"heSheIt": "tells"
},
"pastSimple": "told",
"pastParticiple": "told",
"ingForm": "telling"
},
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "to give information to somebody by speaking or writing",
"sensetop": "tell something to somebodytell somebody somethingtell somebody about somethingtell somebody/yourself (that)…tell somebody where, what, etc…tell somebody + speech",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "He told the news to everybody he saw.",
"contextForm": "tell something to somebody"
},
{
"text": "He told everybody he saw the news.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody something"
},
{
"text": "Did she tell you her name?"
},
{
"text": "**What did I tell you**? *(= you should have listened to my advice)*"
},
{
"text": "‘Come closer,’ she said, ‘I want to **tell you something**’."
},
{
"text": "Why wasn't I told about the accident?",
"contextForm": "tell somebody about something"
},
{
"text": "They’ve told us (that) they’re not coming.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody/yourself (that)…"
},
{
"text": "I **told** him **straight** *(= in a direct way)* that I wasn't voting for him."
},
{
"text": "He later told the court that he had returned the money."
},
{
"text": "I **kept telling myself** (that) everything was OK."
},
{
"text": "Are you telling me you didn't have any help with this? *(= I don't believe what you have said)*"
},
{
"text": "Tell me where you live.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody where, what, etc…"
},
{
"text": "‘I'm ready to go now,’ he told her.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody + speech"
},
{
"text": "'We hope that there will be some progress,' he told reporters."
},
{
"text": "I tried to tell them but they wouldn't let me."
},
{
"text": "I was going to tell you—I just didn't get around to it."
},
{
"text": "I hate to tell you this but I've broken your phone."
},
{
"text": "I never told him about the money."
},
{
"text": "No one had told her of the dangers."
},
{
"text": "She told me bluntly it was my own fault."
},
{
"text": "Did anyone tell you what happened?"
},
{
"text": "The government refused to tell them anything about its investigation."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adverb": ["bluntly", "curtly", "flatly"],
"verb + tell": ["want to", "be going to", "try to"],
"preposition": ["about", "of", "to"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "to give information about something",
"sensetop": "tell somebody somethingtell somebody how, where, etc…tell somebody (that)…",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The advertisement told us very little about the product.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody something"
},
{
"text": "This gauge tells you how much fuel you have left.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody how, where, etc…"
},
{
"text": "The sound of his breathing told her (that) he was asleep.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody (that)…"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "to express something in words",
"sensetop": "tell somethingtell somebody how, what, etc…tell somebody something",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "to **tell stories/jokes/lies**",
"contextForm": "tell something"
},
{
"text": "Are you sure you're **telling the truth**?"
},
{
"text": "**I can't tell you** how happy I am.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody how, what, etc…"
},
{
"text": "We'd go fishing and she'd tell me stories.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody something"
},
{
"text": "All of them had an interesting story to tell."
},
{
"text": "He told the story to all his friends."
},
{
"text": "She is always telling lies."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "to let somebody know a secret",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Promise you won't tell."
},
{
"text": "‘Who are you going out with tonight?’ ‘**That would be telling**!’ *(= it's a secret)*"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 5,
"definition": "to order or advise somebody to do something",
"sensetop": "tell somebody/yourself to do somethingtell somebody somethingtell somebodytell somebody what, when, etc…tell somebody (that)…",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "He was told to sit down and wait.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody/yourself to do something"
},
{
"text": "There was a sign telling motorists to slow down."
},
{
"text": "I kept telling myself to keep calm."
},
{
"text": "I specifically told you to be here on time."
},
{
"text": "Do what I tell you.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody something"
},
{
"text": "Children must **do as they're told**.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody"
},
{
"text": "Don't tell me what to do!",
"contextForm": "tell somebody what, when, etc…"
},
{
"text": "The doctor told me (that) I should eat less fat.",
"contextForm": "tell somebody (that)…"
}
],
"collocations": {
"adverb": ["firmly", "sternly"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 6,
"definition": "to know, see or judge something correctly",
"sensetop": "tell (that)…tell how, if, etc…",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "I think he's happy. **It's hard to tell**."
},
{
"text": "**As far as I can tell**, she's enjoying the course."
},
{
"text": "‘That's not an original.’ ‘How can you tell?’"
},
{
"text": "I could tell (that) he was angry from his expression.",
"contextForm": "tell (that)…"
},
{
"text": "The only way to tell if you like something is by trying it.",
"contextForm": "tell how, if, etc…"
},
{
"text": "**It's too early to tell** how popular this service will be."
},
{
"text": "It's impossible to tell exactly where the problem is."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 7,
"definition": "to recognize the difference between one thing or person and another",
"sensetop": "tell somethingtell A from Btell A and B aparttell which, what, etc…",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "It was hard to **tell the difference between** the two versions.",
"contextForm": "tell something"
},
{
"text": "Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?",
"contextForm": "tell A from B"
},
{
"text": "Can you tell this copy from the original?"
},
{
"text": "It's difficult to **tell them apart**.",
"contextForm": "tell A and B apart"
},
{
"text": "The kittens look exactly alike—how can you **tell which is which**?",
"contextForm": "tell which, what, etc…"
},
{
"text": "I couldn't tell who was meant to be the chairman."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 8,
"definition": "to have an effect on somebody/something, especially a bad one",
"sensetop": "tell (on somebody)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The strain was beginning to tell on the rescue team."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "with all people, etc. counted and included",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There are 52 people coming, all told."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that you know or can guess what somebody is going to say, especially because it is typical of them",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Don't tell me you were late again!"
}
],
"topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to hear people talking about something",
"labels": "(old-fashioned or formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I've often heard tell of such things."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to tell somebody the true facts about a situation, especially when these are not known by other people",
"examples": [
{
"text": "If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that something you have just said is not true or correct",
"labels": "(British English, informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "We first met in 2006, no, I tell a lie, it was 2007."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when it is surprising or difficult to believe",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "It isn't cheap, I can tell you!"
},
{
"text": "I'm telling you, that's exactly what she said."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to introduce a suggestion",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I'll tell you what—let's stay in instead."
}
],
"topics": ["Suggestions and advice"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used when something bad has happened, to remind somebody that you warned them about it and they did not listen to you",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "a way of referring to somebody talking publicly, usually for money, about a past sexual relationship with somebody famous",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that somebody told you something but you do not want to say who it was",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to survive a difficult or dangerous experience so that you can tell others what really happened",
"examples": [],
"topics": ["Danger"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to give some information that is different from what you expect or have been told",
"examples": [
{
"text": "These drugs are widely believed to be effective medications. The data, however, tell a different story."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to introduce a question",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Tell me, have you had lunch yet?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that you understand what somebody is talking about and have had the same experience",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "‘I get so annoyed with Steve!’ ‘Tell me about it. He drives me crazy.’"
}
],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to tell somebody that you do not believe what they have said",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to explain itself, without needing any further explanation or comment",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Her face told its own story."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to tell somebody about something that another person has done wrong",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to tell somebody/know some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "After winning several Oscars, Nick Park can tell you a thing or two about making animated films."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to read the time from a clock, etc.",
"examples": [
{
"text": "She's only five—she hasn't learnt to tell the time yet."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to make it clear to somebody that you will no longer accept their bad behaviour",
"labels": "(British English, informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering you",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that it is impossible to know what happened or will happen",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There's no telling how they'll react."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation",
"labels": "(saying)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used when admitting something",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "To tell the truth, I fell asleep in the middle of her talk."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "you can never be sure, for example because things are not always what they appear to be",
"labels": "(saying)",
"examples": [],
"topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "I completely agree with you",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/tel/",
"audio": "te/tell/tell__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/telz/",
"audio": "te/tell/tells__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/təʊld/",
"audio": "to/tell/told__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈtelɪŋ/",
"audio": "te/tell/telling__gb_1.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/tel/",
"audio": "te/tell/tell__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/telz/",
"audio": "te/tell/tells__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/təʊld/",
"audio": "to/tell/told__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈtelɪŋ/",
"audio": "te/tell/telling__us_1.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "Old English tellan ‘relate, count, estimate’, of Germanic origin; related to German zählen ‘reckon, count’, erzählen ‘recount, relate’, also to tale."
}