Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wealthy /we lθi/ (wealthier , wealthiest ) ADJ Someone who is wealthy has a large amount of money, property, or valuable possessions. □  …a wealthy international businessman. ● N‑PLURAL The wealthy are people who are wealthy. □  …a measure to raise income taxes on the wealthy.

wean /wiː n/ (weans , weaning , weaned )

1 VERB When a baby or baby animal is weaned , its mother stops feeding it milk and starts giving it other food, especially solid food. □ [V n] When would be the best time to start weaning my baby? □ [V n + off ] Phil took the labrador home and is weaning him off milk on to meat.

2 VERB If you wean someone off a habit or something they like, you gradually make them stop doing it or liking it, especially when you think is bad for them. □ [V n + from ] It has been good for him to be gradually weaned from depending on me.

weap|on ◆◆◇ /we pən/ (weapons )

1 N‑COUNT A weapon is an object such as a gun, a knife, or a missile, which is used to kill or hurt people in a fight or a war. □  …nuclear weapons.

2 N‑COUNT A weapon is something such as knowledge about a particular subject, which you can use to protect yourself or to get what you want in a difficult situation. □  I attack politicians with the one weapon they don't have, a sense of humor.

weap|on|ize /we pəna I z/ (weaponizes , weaponizing , weaponized ) in BRIT, also use weaponise VERB If a substance or material is weaponized , it is used as a weapon or made into a weapon. If an area is weaponized , it is used as a location for weapons. □ [V n] They were close to weaponizing ricin - a lethal plant toxin. □ [V n] …the plan to weaponize outer space.

wea|pon|ry /we pənri/ N‑UNCOUNT Weaponry is all the weapons that a group or country has or that are available to it. □  …rich nations, armed with superior weaponry.

wea pons-grade ADJ [ADJ n] Weapons-grade substances such as uranium or plutonium are of a quality which makes them suitable for use in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. □  …equipment which can produce weapons-grade uranium.

wea p|ons of mass de|stru c|tion N‑PLURAL Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons.

wear ◆◆◇ /weə ^r / (wears , wearing , wore , worn )

1 VERB When you wear something such as clothes, shoes, or jewellery, you have them on your body or on part of your body. □ [V n] He was wearing a brown uniform. □ [V n] I sometimes wear contact lenses. □ [V n] She can't make her mind up what to wear.

2 VERB If you wear your hair or beard in a particular way, you have it cut or styled in that way. □ [V n prep/adv] She wore her hair in a long braid. □ [V n] He wore a full moustache.

3 VERB If you wear a particular expression, that expression is on your face and shows the emotions that you are feeling. □ [V n] When we drove through the gates, she wore a look of amazement.

4 N‑UNCOUNT You use wear to refer to clothes that are suitable for a certain time or place. For example, evening wear is clothes suitable for the evening. □  The shop stocks an extensive range of beach wear.

5 N‑UNCOUNT Wear is the amount or type of use that something has over a period of time. □  You'll get more wear out of a hat if you choose one in a neutral colour.

6 N‑UNCOUNT Wear is the damage or change that is caused by something being used a lot or for a long time. □  …a large, well-upholstered armchair which showed signs of wear.

7 VERB If something wears , it becomes thinner or weaker because it is constantly being used over a long period of time. □ [V ] The stone steps, dating back to 1855, are beginning to wear. □ [V adj] Your horse needs new shoes if the shoe has worn thin or smooth.