- high
- high1 W1S1 [haı] adj comparative higher superlative highest↑high, ↑low▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(from bottom to top)¦2¦(above ground)¦3¦(large number)¦4¦(good standard)¦5¦(containing a lot)¦6¦(rank/position)¦7¦(advanced)¦8 high opinion/regard/praise etc9 high priority10 high hopes/expectations11¦(sound)¦12 high point13 high ground14 high spirits15¦(happy/excited)¦16¦(drugs)¦17¦(sea/river)¦18 it is high time somebody did something19¦(time)¦20 high wind21 high alert22 high life/living23 high drama/adventure24 end/finish/begin etc (something) on a high note25 high principles/ideals26 high and mighty27 be/get on your high horse28¦(food)¦29 high days and holidays30 high complexion/colouring31 in high dudgeon32¦(language)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: heah]1.) ¦(FROM BOTTOM TO TOP)¦measuring a long distance from the bottom to the top≠ ↑low▪ This is the highest mountain in Japan.▪ The camp was surrounded by a high fence.100 feet/30 metres etc high▪ Waves of up to 40 metres high were recorded.▪ a ten-foot high statue▪ How high is the Eiffel Tower?chest/waist/knee etc high(=as high as your chest etc)▪ The grass was knee-high.see usage note ↑big12.) ¦(ABOVE GROUND)¦in a position that is a long way, or a longer way than usual, above the ground, floor etc≠ ↑low▪ The apartment had spacious rooms with high ceilings.▪ a high shelf▪ high altitudes▪ The sun was already high in the sky.▪ High up among the clouds, we saw the summit of Everest.3.) ¦(LARGE NUMBER)¦a high amount, number, or level is large, or larger than usual≠ ↑low▪ Temperatures remained high for the rest of the week.▪ Lower-paid workers often cannot afford the high cost of living in the capital.high level/degree/rate etc (of sth)▪ High levels of car use mean our streets are more congested than ever.▪ high crime rates▪ high interest rateshigh price/charge/tax etc▪ If you want better public services, you'll have to pay higher taxes - it's as simple as that.▪ The train was approaching at high speed .high proportion/percentage etc (of sth)(=a very large part of a number)▪ A high proportion of women with children under five work full-time.4.) ¦(GOOD STANDARD)¦a high standard, quality etc is very good≠ ↑low▪ a high performance computerhigh quality▪ a range of high quality goods at low prices▪ Our aim is to provide the highest quality service to all our customers.high standard(=very good levels of work, achievement, behaviour etc)▪ The general standard of the entries was very high.▪ Our guests expect us to maintain high standards .5.) ¦(CONTAINING A LOT)¦containing a lot of a particular substance or quality≠ ↑lowhigh in sth▪ Choose foods that are high in fiber and low in calories.a high sugar/salt/fibre etc content▪ Red meat tends to have a high fat content.6.) ¦(RANK/POSITION)¦having an important position in society or within an organization≠ ↑low▪ a high rank in the US Navy▪ the City's highest honourhigh up(=in a powerful position)▪ someone high up in the CIAhigh office(=an important position)▪ Both of them held high office in the Anglican Church.high society(=rich people of the highest social class)7.) ¦(ADVANCED)¦ [only before noun]advanced and often complicated▪ We can offer all the benefits of the latest high technology .▪ the world of high financethe higher animals/mammals/organisms etc(=animals etc that are more intelligent or advanced than others)8.) high opinion/regard/praise etcstrong approval of someone or something, or an expression of strong approval▪ I've always had a high opinion of her work.hold sb/sth in high esteem/regard(=respect them very much)▪ As an educationalist, he was held in very high esteem.▪ Romsey earned high praise from his boss.9.) high priority also high on the list/agendaimportant and needing to be done or dealt with quickly▪ Most people feel that education needs to be given higher priority.▪ Arms control is high on the agenda.10.) high hopes/expectationswhen someone hopes or expects that something will be very good or successful▪ My expectations of the place were never very high, but I didn't think it would be this bad.have high hopes/expectations▪ Like many young actors, I had high hopes when I first started out.11.) ¦(SOUND)¦near or above the top of the range of sounds that humans can hear≠ ↑low▪ I always had difficulty reaching the high notes (=when singing) .▪ a high squeaky voice12.) high point also high spotBrE an especially good part of an activity or event▪ The visit to the ancient capital city was one of the high points of the tour.13.) high grounda) an area of land that is higher than the area surrounding it▪ Villagers herded the livestock to high ground to keep them safe during the floods.b) a better, more moral, or more powerful position in an argument or competition▪ Neither side in this conflict can claim the moral high ground .14.) high spiritsfeelings of happiness and energy, especially when you are having fun▪ It was a bright sunny day and we set off in high spirits .▪ I don't think they intended any harm - it was just high spirits.15.) ¦(HAPPY/EXCITED)¦ [not before noun]happy and excited▪ I was still high from the applause they'd given me.16.) ¦(DRUGS)¦ [not before noun]behaving in a strange and excited way as the result of taking drugshigh on▪ Most people there were high on cocaine.get high(=take a drug to make yourself high)▪ Steve was as high as a kite (=strongly affected by drugs or alcohol) .17.) ¦(SEA/RIVER)¦having risen to a high level≠ ↑low▪ The river is at its highest in spring.18.) it is high time sb did sthused to say that something should be done now▪ It's high time you got a job.19.) ¦(TIME)¦the middle or the most important part of a particular period of time▪ high summerhigh noon(=12 o'clock in the middle of the day)20.) high winda strong wind21.) high alerta situation in which people are told to be ready because there is a strong possibility of an attack or of something dangerous happeningput/place sb on high alert▪ Troops were put on high alert.22.) high life/livingthe enjoyable life that rich and fashionable people have▪ We're all stuck here, while he's off living the high life in New York.23.) high drama/adventurevery exciting events or situations▪ a life with moments of high drama24.) end/finish/begin etc (sth) on a high noteto end, finish something etc in a successful way▪ The team finished their tour on a high note in Barbados.25.) high principles/idealsideas about personal behaviour based on the belief that people should always behave in an honest and morally good way▪ a man of high moral principles26.) high and mightytalking or behaving as if you think you are better or more important than other people▪ Don't get high and mighty with me.27.) be/get on your high horseto give your opinion about something in a way that shows you think you are definitely right and that other people are wrong▪ If she'd get down off her high horse for a moment, she might realize there's more than one point of view here.28.) ¦(FOOD)¦BrE cheese, meat etc that is high is not fresh and has a strong smell or taste29.) high days and holidaysBrE special occasions30.)high complexion/colouringBrE a naturally pink or red face31.) in high dudgeonformal in an angry or offended way - often used humorously32.) ¦(LANGUAGE)¦a) high style/registerBrE a very formal style of language, especially used in literatureb) high German/Dutch etca form of a language used for formal purposes that is often different from the ordinary form used by most people→↑highly▬▬▬▬▬▬▬HINT sense 1Do not use high to describe people, animals, trees, plants, and narrow things of above average height. Use tall: You're getting very tall (NOT You're getting very high). |tall buildings (NOT high buildings)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬high 2high2 adv▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(above the ground)¦2¦(value/cost/amount)¦3¦(sound)¦4¦(achievement)¦5 (leave somebody/something) high and dry6 look/search high and low▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(ABOVE THE GROUND)¦at or to a level high above the ground, the floor etc≠ ↑low▪ He kicked the ball high into the air, over the heads of the crowd.high above/into etc▪ Hotel Miramar is situated high above the bay.▪ A ski lift whisks you high into the mountains.2.) ¦(VALUE/COST/AMOUNT)¦at or to a high value, cost, amount etc≠ ↑low▪ If prices shoot up any higher, no-one be able to afford to live in the area.▪ Tom scored higher than anyone else in the class.3.) ¦(SOUND)¦with a high sound▪ A strange cry rang high into the night.4.) ¦(ACHIEVEMENT)¦at or to a high rank or level of achievement, especially within a company≠ ↑low▪ It seems that the higher you rise, the less time you have to actually do your job.▪ My parents always encouraged me to aim high .5.) (leave sb/sth) high and drya) if someone is left high and dry, they are left without any help or without the things that they needb) if a boat, area etc is left high and dry, it is left on land because the water that surrounded it has gone down▪ The once-thriving port of Rye was left high and dry as sea levels retreated.6.) look/search high and lowto try to find someone or something by looking everywhere▪ We looked high and low for Sandy but couldn't find her.high 3high3 n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(number/amount)¦2¦(excitement)¦3¦(drugs)¦4¦(weather)¦5¦(school)¦6 from on high7 on high▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(NUMBER/AMOUNT)¦the highest price, number, temperature etc that has ever been recorded, or that has been recorded within a particular period of time▪ Highs of 40°C were recorded in the region last summer.a new/record/ten-year etc high▪ The price of oil reached a new high this week.2.) ¦(EXCITEMENT)¦ informala feeling of great happiness or excitement▪ They're bound to be on a high after such an incredible victory.▪ the emotional highs and lows of a new romance3.) ¦(DRUGS)¦a feeling of pleasure or excitement produced by some drugs4.) ¦(WEATHER)¦an area of high ↑pressure that affects the weather5.) ¦(SCHOOL)¦a short form of ↑high school, used in the name of a school▪ Benjamin Franklin High6.) from on highfrom someone in a position of authority - used humorously▪ An order came from on high.7.) on high formala)at a high temperature as measured by an electric ↑oven etc▪ Microwave on high for 8 minutes.b) formal in a high place or heaven▪ An angel came from on high.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
