Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Wedded means the same as married . [FORMAL ] □  He proposed she become his lawfully wedded wife.

wed|ding ◆◇◇ /we d I ŋ/ (weddings ) N‑COUNT A wedding is a marriage ceremony and the party or special meal that often takes place after the ceremony. □  Most Britons want a traditional wedding. □  …a wedding present. □  …the couple's 22nd wedding anniversary.

we d|ding band (wedding bands ) N‑COUNT A wedding band is the same as a wedding ring .

we d|ding cake (wedding cakes ) N‑VAR A wedding cake is a large cake, usually decorated with icing, that is served at a wedding reception.

we d|ding dress (wedding dresses ) N‑COUNT A wedding dress is a special dress that a woman wears at her wedding.

we d|ding ring (wedding rings ) N‑COUNT A wedding ring is a ring that you wear to show that you are married.

wedge /we dʒ/ (wedges , wedging , wedged )

1 VERB If you wedge something, you force it to remain in a particular position by holding it there tightly or by fixing something next to it to prevent it from moving. □ [V n] I shut the shed door and wedged it with a log of wood. □ [V n adj] We slammed the gate after them, wedging it shut with planks.

2 VERB If you wedge something somewhere, you fit it there tightly. □ [V n prep] Wedge the plug into the hole.

3 N‑COUNT A wedge is an object with one pointed edge and one thick edge, which you put under a door to keep it firmly in position.

4 N‑COUNT A wedge of something such as fruit or cheese is a piece of it that has a thick triangular shape.

5 PHRASE If someone drives a wedge between two people who are close, they cause ill feelings between them in order to weaken their relationship. □  I started to feel Toby was driving a wedge between us.

6 PHRASE If you say that something is the thin end of the wedge , you mean that it appears to be unimportant at the moment, but that it is the beginning of a bigger, more harmful development. [BRIT ] □  I think it's the thin end of the wedge when you have armed police permanently on patrol.

wed|lock /we dlɒk/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Wedlock is the state of being married. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

2 PHRASE If a baby is born in wedlock , it is born while its parents are married. If it is born out of wedlock , it is born at a time when its parents are not married. [FORMAL ]

Wednes|day /we nzde I , -di/ (Wednesdays ) N‑VAR Wednesday is the day after Tuesday and before Thursday. □  Come and have supper with us on Wednesday, if you're free. □  Did you happen to see her leave last Wednesday? □  David always collects Alistair from school on Wednesdays. □  On a Wednesday afternoon, the shop was shut.

wee /wiː / (wees , weeing , weed )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Wee means small in size or extent. [SCOTTISH , INFORMAL ] □  He just needs to calm down a wee bit.

2 VERB To wee means to urinate. Wee is an informal word used especially by children. [BRIT ] □ [V ] He said he wanted to wee. ● N‑VAR Wee is also a noun. □  The baby has done a wee in his potty.

weed /wiː d/ (weeds , weeding , weeded )

1 N‑COUNT A weed is a wild plant that grows in gardens or fields of crops and prevents the plants that you want from growing properly. □  …a garden overgrown with weeds.

2 N‑VAR Weed is a plant that grows in water and usually forms a thick floating mass. There are many different kinds of weed. □  Large, clogging banks of weed are the only problem.

3 VERB If you weed an area, you remove the weeds from it. □ [V n] Caspar was weeding the garden. □ [V ] Try not to walk on the flower beds when weeding or hoeing. ●  weed|ing N‑UNCOUNT □  She taught me to do the weeding.