- wide
- [[t]wa͟ɪd[/t]]
♦wider, widest1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is wide measures a large distance from one side or edge to the other.
All worktops should be wide enough to allow plenty of space for food preparation.
...a wide-brimmed sunhat.
Ant:2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A wide smile is one in which your mouth is stretched because you are very pleased or amused.It brought a wide smile to his face and laughter to his eyes...
His face broke into a wide grin.
Syn:Derived words:3) ADJ: usu v n ADJ, v-link ADJ, also ADJ n If you open or spread something wide, you open or spread it as far as possible or to the fullest extent.Open your mouth wide...
`It was huge,' he announced, spreading his arms wide...
His eyes were wide in disbelief...
He fell over this time, flat on his back with his legs wide.
4) ADJ: amount ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than, how ADJ You use wide to talk or ask about how much something measures from one side or edge to the other....a corridor of land 10 kilometres wide...
The road is only one track wide.
...a desk that was almost as wide as the room...
Stand tall with your feet slightly wider than shoulder distance apart.
5) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n You use wide to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people.The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels, apartments and holiday homes...
The proposed constitution gives him much wider powers than his predecessor.
...a major event which brought together a wide range of interest groups.
Syn:Ant:Derived words:widely ADV-GRADED usu ADV after vHe published widely in scientific journals...
He was widely travelled.
6) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n You use wide to say that something is found, believed, known, or supported by many people or throughout a large area.The case has attracted wide publicity...
I suspect this book will have the widest appeal of all...
As pope he won wide support for his strict orthodoxy.
Syn:Derived words:widely ADV-GRADED ADV with vAt present, no widely approved vaccine exists for malaria.
...the group which is widely blamed for having planted the bomb.
7) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A wide difference or gap between two things, ideas, or qualities is a large difference or gap.Research shows a wide difference in tastes around the country...
There are wide variations caused by different academic programme structures.
Syn:Derived words:widely ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV adjThe treatment regime may vary widely depending on the type of injury.
...children from widely different backgrounds.
8) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Wider is used to describe something which relates to the most important or general parts of a situation, rather than to the smaller parts or to details.He emphasised the wider issue of superpower cooperation...
Oakley locates housework in the wider context of economic, social and political structures.
Syn:broader9) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If something such as a shot or punch is wide, it does not hit its target but lands to the right or left of it.The shot was wide anyway...
Nearly half the missiles landed wide.
English dictionary. 2008.
