word-vault
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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "what",
"partOfSpeech": "pronoun, determiner",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "a1",
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used in questions to ask for particular information about somebody/something",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "What is your name?"
},
{
"text": "What *(= what job)* does he do?"
},
{
"text": "What time is it?"
},
{
"text": "What kind of music do you like?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "the thing or things that; whatever",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "What you need is a good meal."
},
{
"text": "Nobody knows what will happen next."
},
{
"text": "I spent what little time I had with my family."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "used to say that you think that something is especially good, bad, etc.",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "What awful weather!"
},
{
"text": "What a beautiful house!"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "and other things of the same type",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "It's full of old toys, books and what not."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "despite any problems or difficulties you may have",
"examples": [
{
"text": "He promised to support her come what may."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to be punished/punish somebody severely",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I'll give her what for if she does that again."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used to emphasize your opinion",
"cefr": "c1",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Is he stupid or what?"
}
],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "used when you are not sure about something",
"cefr": "c1",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I don't know if he's a teacher or what."
},
{
"text": "Are we going now or what?"
}
],
"topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to express surprise at what somebody has just said",
"labels": "(North American English, informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "‘He's getting married.’ ‘Say what?’"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to show that you think something is not important, especially after somebody has criticized you for it",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "‘He's fifteen years younger than you!’ ‘So what?’"
},
{
"text": "So what if nobody else agrees with me?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used when you have not heard or have not understood something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What? I can't hear you."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "used to show that you have heard somebody and to ask what they want",
"examples": [
{
"text": "‘Mummy!’ ‘What?’ ‘I'm thirsty.’"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "used to express surprise or anger",
"examples": [
{
"text": "‘It will cost $500.’ ‘What?’"
},
{
"text": "‘I asked her to marry me.’ ‘**You what?**’"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used to make a suggestion",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "What about a trip to France?"
}
],
"topics": ["Suggestions and advice"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "used to introduce somebody/something into the conversation",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "What about you, Joe? Do you like football?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used instead of a name that you cannot remember",
"examples": [
{
"text": "She's just gone out with old what-d'you-call-him."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "for what purpose or reason?",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What is this tool for?"
},
{
"text": "What did you do that for *(= why did you do that)*?"
},
{
"text": "‘I need to see a doctor.’ ‘What for?’"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "what would happen if?",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What if the train is late?"
},
{
"text": "What if she forgets to bring it?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used when admitting that something is true, to ask why it should be considered important",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Yes, I wrote the article. What of it?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to suggest that something you have heard is a stupid idea or does not make sense",
"examples": [
{
"text": "They dropped their best player. What's all that about?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "(know) what things are useful, important, etc.",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "She certainly knows what's what."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to ask why somebody is behaving in a strange way",
"labels": "(North American English, informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What's with you? You haven't said a word all morning."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to ask the reason for something",
"labels": "(North American English, informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What's with all this walking? Can't we take a cab?"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to list the various reasons for something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "What with the cold weather and my bad leg, I haven't been out for weeks."
}
]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/wɒt/",
"audio": "wh/what/what__gb_1.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/wʌt/",
"audio": "wh/what/what__us_1_rr.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod."
}