Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

whelp / ^h we lp/ (whelps ) N‑COUNT A whelp is a young animal, especially a young dog or wolf. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

when ◆◆◆ / ^h we n/

1 ADV You use when to ask questions about the time at which things happen. □  When are you going home? □  When is the press conference? □  When were you in this house last? □  'I'll be there this afternoon.'—'When?'

2 CONJ If something happens when something else is happening, the two things are happening at the same time. □  You can even track how many calories you burn when sleeping. □  Mustard is grown in the field when weeds are there.

3 CONJ You use when to introduce a clause in which you mention something which happens at some point during an activity, event, or situation. □  When I met the Gills, I had been gardening for nearly ten years.

4 CONJ You use when to introduce a clause where you mention the circumstances under which the event in the main clause happened or will happen. □  When he brought Imelda her drink she gave him a genuine, sweet smile of thanks. □  I'll start to think about it when I have to write my report.

5 CONJ You use when after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause where you mention the time at which something happens. □  I asked him when he'd be back to pick me up. □  I don't know when the decision was made.

6 PRON You use when to introduce a clause which specifies or refers to the time at which something happens. □  He could remember a time when he had worked like that himself. □  In 1973, when he lived in Rome, his sixteen-year-old son was kidnapped.

7 CONJ You use when to introduce the reason for an opinion, comment, or question. □  How can I love myself when I look like this?

8 CONJ You use when in order to introduce a fact or comment which makes the other part of the sentence rather surprising or unlikely. □  Our mothers sat us down to read and paint, when all we really wanted to do was to make a mess.

whence / ^h we ns/ ADV Whence means from where. [LITERARY or OLD-FASHIONED ] □  No one ordered him back whence he came.

when|ever ◆◇◇ / ^h wene və ^r /

1 CONJ You use whenever to refer to any time or every time that something happens or is true. □  She always called at the house whenever she was in the area. □  You can have my cottage whenever you like. □  I recommend that you avoid processed foods whenever possible.

2 CONJ You use whenever to refer to a time that you do not know or are not sure about. □  He married Miss Vancouver in 1963, or whenever it was.

where ◆◆◆ / ^h weə ^r /

1 ADV You use where to ask questions about the place something is in, or is coming from or going to. □  Where did you meet him? □  Where's Anna? □  Where are we going? □  'You'll never believe where Julie and I are going.'—'Where?'

2 CONJ You use where after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause in which you mention the place in which something is situated or happens. □  He knew where Henry Carter had gone. □  If he's got something on his mind he knows where to find me. □  Ernest Brown lives about a dozen blocks from where the riots began. ● PRON Where is also a relative pronoun. □  …available at the travel agency where you book your holiday. □  Wanchai boasts the Academy of Performing Arts, where everything from Chinese Opera to Shakespeare is performed.