Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

we ◆◆◆ /w I , STRONG wiː/ We is the first person plural pronoun. We is used as the subject of a verb. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses we to refer both to himself or herself and to one or more other people as a group. You can use we before a noun to make it clear which group of people you are referring to. □  We ordered another bottle of champagne. □  We students outnumbered our teachers.

2 PRON We is sometimes used to refer to people in general. □  We need to take care of our bodies.

3 PRON A speaker or writer may use we instead of 'I' in order to include the audience or reader in what they are saying, especially when discussing how a talk or book is organized. [FORMAL ] □  We will now consider the raw materials from which the body derives energy.

weak ◆◆◇ /wiː k/ (weaker , weakest )

1 ADJ If someone is weak , they are not healthy or do not have good muscles, so that they cannot move quickly or carry heavy things. □  I was too weak to move or think or speak. □  His arms and legs were weak. ●  weak|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  'I'm all right,' Max said weakly, but his breathing came in jagged gasps. ●  weak|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Symptoms of anaemia include weakness, fatigue and iron deficiency.

2 ADJ If someone has an organ or sense that is weak , it is not very effective or powerful, or is likely to fail. □  Until the beating, Cantanco's eyesight had been weak, but adequate. □  She tired easily and had a weak heart.

3 ADJ If you describe someone as weak , you mean that they are not very confident or determined, so that they are often frightened or worried, or easily influenced by other people. □  You have been conditioned to believe that it is weak to be scared. ●  weak|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Many people felt that admitting to stress was a sign of weakness.

4 ADJ If you describe someone's voice or smile as weak , you mean that it not very loud or big, suggesting that the person lacks confidence, enthusiasm, or physical strength. □  His weak voice was almost inaudible. ●  weak|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  He smiled weakly at reporters.

5 ADJ If an object or surface is weak , it breaks easily and cannot support a lot of weight or resist a lot of strain. □  The owner said the bird may have escaped through a weak spot in the aviary. □  Swimming is helpful for bones that are porous and weak.

6 ADV A weak physical force does not have much power or intensity. □  The molecules in regular liquids are held together by relatively weak bonds. ●  weak|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v] □  The mineral is weakly magnetic.

7 ADJ If individuals or groups are weak , they do not have any power or influence. □  The council was too weak to do anything about it. ● N‑PLURAL The weak are people who are weak. □  He voiced his solidarity with the weak and defenceless. ●  weak|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  It made me feel patronised, in a position of weakness.

8 ADJ A weak government or leader does not have much control, and is not prepared or able to act firmly or severely. □  The changes come after mounting criticism that the government is weak and indecisive. □  The chief editorial writer also blames weak leadership for the current crisis. ●  weak|ly ADV □  …the weakly-led movement for reform. ●  weak|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Officials fear that he might interpret the emphasis on diplomacy as a sign of weakness.