- keen
- [[t]ki͟ːn[/t]]
♦♦♦keener, keenest, keens, keening, keened1) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, ADJ on -ing/n, ADJ that, ADJ to-inf If you are keen on doing something, you very much want to do it. If you are keen that something should happen, you very much want it to happen. [mainly BRIT]
You're not keen on going, are you?...
Both companies were keen on a merger...
I'm very keen that the European Community should be as open as possible to trade from Russia...
She's still keen to keep in touch...
I am not keen for her to have a bicycle.
Derived words:keenness N-UNCOUNT oft N to-inf...Doyle's keenness to please.
...the country's keenness for better economic ties with China.
2) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ on n If you are keen on something, you like it a lot and are very enthusiastic about it. [mainly BRIT]I got quite keen on the idea...
I wasn't too keen on physics and chemistry.
Derived words:keenness N-UNCOUNT...his keenness for the arts.
3) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n, v-link ADJ on n/-ing You use keen to indicate that someone has a lot of enthusiasm for a particular activity and spends a lot of time doing it.She was a keen amateur photographer.
4) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone as keen, you mean that they have an enthusiastic nature and are interested in everything that they do.He's a very keen student and works very hard...
You're all very keen.
Syn:Derived words:keenness N-UNCOUNT...the keenness of the students.
5) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A keen interest or emotion is one that is very intense.He had retained a keen interest in the progress of the work.
...his keen sense of loyalty.
Derived words:keenly ADV-GRADED ADV adj, ADV with vShe remained keenly interested in international affairs...
This is a keenly awaited project.
6) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n If you are a keen supporter of a cause, movement, or idea, you support it enthusiastically.He's been a keen supporter of the Labour Party all his life...
He is a keen advocate of park-and-ride schemes.
7) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n If you say that someone has a keen mind, you mean that they are very clever and aware of what is happening around them.They described him as a man of keen intellect...
Mr Walsh has a keen appreciation of the priorities of the electorate...
I can see you have a keen sense of humour.
Derived words:keenly ADV-GRADED ADV adj, ADV with vThey're keenly aware that whatever they decide will set a precedent.
8) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you have a keen eye or ear, you are able to notice things that are difficult to detect....an amateur artist with a keen eye for detail...
Brand's keen ear caught the trace of an accent.
Syn:Derived words:9) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ on n If you are keen on someone, you find them sexually attractive and want to get to know them better. [BRIT, INFORMAL]Mick has always been very keen on Carla.
10) ADJ-GRADED A keen fight or competition is one in which the competitors are all trying very hard to win, and it is not easy to predict who will win.There is expected to be a keen fight in the local elections.
Derived words:keenly ADV-GRADEDThe 1994 contest should be very keenly fought.
11) ADJ-GRADED Keen prices are low and competitive. [mainly BRIT]The company negotiates very keen prices with their suppliers.
Derived words:keenly ADV-GRADED ADV -edThe shops also offer a keenly priced curtain-making service.
12) VERB If someone keens, they cry out or make sounds to express their sorrow at someone's death. [LITERARY]He tossed back his head and keened...
[V-ing] Someone was making a low, keening noise.
Syn:13) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n (emphasis) If you say that someone is mad keen on something, you are emphasizing that they are very enthusiastic about it. [BRIT, INFORMAL]So you're not mad keen on science then?...
She was mad keen to go.
...a mad keen golfer.
English dictionary. 2008.
