Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3once in a while → see once

4worth your while → see worth

▸  while away PHRASAL VERB If you while away the time in a particular way, you spend time in that way, because you are waiting for something else to happen, or because you have nothing else to do. □ [V P n] Miss Bennett whiled away the hours watching old films. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS while CONJ ➊3

though:He's very attractive, though certainly not a ladykiller.

although:Although the shooting has stopped for now, the destruction left behind is enormous.

despite the fact that:She criticized the film despite the fact that she hadn't seen it.

whilst ◆◇◇ / ^h wa I lst/ CONJ Whilst means the same as the conjunction while . [mainly BRIT , FORMAL or LITERARY ]

whim / ^h w I m/ (whims ) N‑VAR [oft on/at N ] A whim is a wish to do or have something which seems to have no serious reason or purpose behind it, and often occurs suddenly. □  We decided, more or less on a whim, to sail to Morocco. □ [+ of ] The premium can increase at the whim of the insurers.

whim|per / ^h w I mpə ^r / (whimpers , whimpering , whimpered )

1 VERB If someone whimpers , they make quiet unhappy or frightened sounds, as if they are about to start crying. □ [V ] She lay at the bottom of the stairs, whimpering in pain. □ [V -ing] He made another pathetic whimpering sound. ● N‑COUNT Whimper is also a noun. □  David's crying subsided to a whimper.

2 VERB If someone whimpers something, they say it in an unhappy or frightened way. □ [V with quote] 'Let me go,' she whimpered. 'You're hurting me.' □ [V n] She whimpered something inaudible.

whim|si|cal / ^h w I mz I k ^ə l/ ADJ A whimsical person or idea is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than serious and practical. □  McGrath remembers his offbeat sense of humor, his whimsical side.

whim|sy / ^h w I mzi/ also whimsey N‑UNCOUNT Whimsy is behaviour which is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than having any serious reason or purpose behind it.

whine / ^h wa I n/ (whines , whining , whined )

1 VERB If something or someone whines , they make a long, high-pitched noise, especially one which sounds sad or unpleasant. □ [V ] He could hear her dog barking and whining in the background. □ [V ] The engines whined. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Whine is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the whine of air-raid sirens.

2 VERB If you say that someone is whining , you mean that they are complaining in an annoying way about something unimportant. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + about ] They come to me to whine about their troubles. □ [V that] …children who whine that they are bored. □ [V with quote] 'Why can't you tell me?' I whined.

whinge / ^h w I ndʒ/ (whinges , whingeing or whinging , whinged ) VERB If you say that someone is whingeing , you mean that they are complaining in an annoying way about something unimportant. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] All she ever does is whinge and complain. [Also V with quote]

whing|er / ^h w I ndʒə ^r / (whingers ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a whinger , you are critical of them because they complain about unimportant things all the time. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

whin|ny / ^h w I ni/ (whinnies , whinnying , whinnied ) VERB When a horse whinnies , it makes a series of high-pitched sounds, usually not very loudly. □ [V ] The girl's horse whinnied. ● N‑COUNT Whinny is also a noun. □  With a terrified whinny, the horse shied.

whip ◆◇◇ / ^h w I p/ (whips , whipping , whipped )

1 N‑COUNT A whip is a long thin piece of material such as leather or rope, fastened to a stiff handle. It is used for hitting people or animals.