answer

answer
an|swer1 W1S1 [ˈa:nsə US ˈænsər] n
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1¦(reply)¦
2¦(test/competition etc)¦
3¦(invitation/letter etc)¦
4¦(problem)¦
5¦(on the phone)¦
6¦(at the door)¦
7 have/know all the answers
8 somebody's answer to something
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[: Old English; Origin: andswaru]
1.) ¦(REPLY)¦ [U and C]
something you say when you reply to a question that someone has asked you
▪ You don't have to give them an answer now.
▪ Every time I ask him about it, I get a different answer.
answer to
▪ These are important questions, and we want answers to them.
▪ She's still waiting for an answer from the school.
▪ The honest answer was that I didn't know.
▪ He was never able to get a straight answer about why it happened.
▪ It's impossible for me to give you a definite answer at this time.
▪ The short answer is that it can't be done.
▪ In answer to your question , yes, you can go.
▪ If it's money you want, the answer is no !
2.) ¦(TEST/COMPETITION ETC)¦
something that you write or say in reply to a question in a test or competition
answer to
▪ What was the answer to question 4?
the right/wrong/correct/incorrect answer
▪ Score two points for each correct answer.
3.) ¦(INVITATION/LETTER ETC)¦
a written reply to a letter, invitation, advertisement etc
answer to
▪ Did you ever get an answer to your letter?
4.) ¦(PROBLEM)¦
a way of dealing with a problem
simple/easy/obvious answer
▪ There is no simple answer.
answer to
▪ The police do not have an answer to rising crime.
▪ Some people think cars should be banned from the city, but I don't think that's the answer.
be the answer to sb's problems/worries etc
▪ If he could get a job it'd be the answer to all his worries.
5.) ¦(ON THE PHONE)¦ [singular, U usually in negative]
if you get an answer when you call someone on the phone, they pick up the phone and talk to you
▪ I tried calling him all day but couldn't get an answer.
6.) ¦(AT THE DOOR)¦ [singular, U usually in negative]
if you get an answer when you knock on a door, someone opens it and talks to you
▪ I tried knocking on her door, but there was no answer .
7.) have/know all the answers informal
to be very sure that you know everything about a situation, especially when you do not
▪ He acts like he has all the answers.
8.) sb's answer to sth
written someone or something that is considered to be just as good as a more famous person or thing
▪ The Space Needle is Seattle's answer to the Eiffel Tower.
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COLLOCATES for sense 1
give (somebody) an answer
get/receive an answer
wait for an answer
an honest/straight answer
a definite answer (=when you say definitely yes or no)
the short/simple answer is ... spoken
in answer to somebody's question
the answer is yes/no spoken
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answer 2
answer2 W2S1 v
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1¦(reply)¦
2¦(test)¦
3 answer the phone/a call/the door
4¦(letter)¦
5 answer criticism/charges/accusations etc
6¦(react to something)¦
7¦(deal with a problem)¦
8 answer a need
9 answer a description
Phrasal verbs
　answer back
　answer for somebody/something
　answer to somebody/something
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1.) ¦(REPLY)¦ [I and T]
to say something to someone as a reply when they have asked you a question, made a suggestion etc
▪ She thought for a moment before answering.
▪ He still hadn't answered my question .
▪ 'Why don't you just leave?' 'I'd like to,' she answered, 'but I have nowhere else to go.'
answer (that)
▪ When questioned, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about the robbery.
▪ How much was it? Come on, answer me.
2.) ¦(TEST)¦ [I and T]
to write or say the answer to a question in a test or competition
▪ Answer as many questions as possible in the time provided.
3.) answer the phone/a call/the door
to pick up the telephone and speak when it rings or open the door when someone knocks or rings the bell
4.) ¦(LETTER)¦ [T]
if you answer a letter or advertisement, you write a letter to the person who has written it
▪ Simon got the job by answering an advert in the paper.
5.) answer criticism/charges/accusations etc
to explain why you did something when people are criticizing you - used in news reports
▪ How do you answer the criticism that your government has done nothing to help the homeless?
6.) ¦(REACT TO SOMETHING)¦ [I and T]
to do something as a reaction to criticism or an attack
= ↑respond
▪ The army answered by firing into the crowd.
7.) ¦(DEAL WITH A PROBLEM)¦ [T]
to be a way of dealing with or solving a problem
▪ 'You can borrow my car if you like.' 'Well, that answers one problem.'
8.) answer a need
to provide something that is needed
▪ Our transportation system is designed to answer the needs of the city's commuters.
9.) answer a description
if someone answers a description, they match that description
▪ A man answering the police's description was seen entering the building.
answer back phr v
to reply in a rude way to someone that you are supposed to obey
answer sb back
▪ Don't answer me back young man!
answer for / [answer for sb/sth] phr v
1.) to explain to people in authority why you did something wrong or why something happened, and be punished if necessary
▪ Their coach must answer for the team's poor performance.
2.) have a lot to answer for informal
to be responsible for causing a lot of trouble
3.) can't answer for sb
spoken used to say that you cannot make a decision for someone who is not there, or give their opinion
▪ I'm sure John will help us - I can't really answer for the others.
answer to / [answer to sb/sth] phr v
1.) to give an explanation to someone, especially about something that you have done wrong
▪ Phipps answers to me and me alone.
2.) answer to the name of sth
to be called a particular name - used humorously
▪ a well-dressed young woman answering to the name of Suzanne

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:
(especially to a question), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / , , , , , , , , , / , , , , , , , , / , , , , , , , ,


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