- weak
- weakW2S3 [wi:k] adj▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(physical)¦2¦(likely to break)¦3¦(character)¦4¦(without power)¦5¦(without interest)¦6¦(without energy)¦7¦(not good at doing something)¦8¦(money)¦9¦(argument/idea)¦10¦(drink)¦11¦(light/sound)¦12 weak points/spots13 weak at the knees14 weak moment15 the weak/weakest link16 weak verb17 weak consonant/syllable▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; : Old Norse; Origin: veikr]1.) ¦(PHYSICAL)¦not physically strong▪ The illness left her feeling weak .▪ Poor light produces weak plants.be too weak to do sth▪ She's too weak to feed herself.weak with/from▪ Nina was weak with hunger .▪ The animal was weak from loss of blood.weak heart/lungs etc▪ My grandfather had a weak heart.2.) ¦(LIKELY TO BREAK)¦unable to support much weight▪ a weak bridgetoo weak to do sth▪ The branch was too weak to support his weight.3.) ¦(CHARACTER)¦easily influenced by other people - used to show disapproval▪ a weak indecisive man4.) ¦(WITHOUT POWER)¦not having much power or influenceweak leader/ruler/king etc▪ a weak and ineffective president▪ The party was left weak and divided.▪ The country is in a weak position economically.5.) ¦(WITHOUT INTEREST)¦without the power to interest or amuse people▪ The play is well acted but the plot is weak.▪ a weak joke6.) ¦(WITHOUT ENERGY)¦done without energy or confidence▪ He managed a weak smile .7.) ¦(NOT GOOD AT DOING SOMETHING)¦not good at a particular skill or subject, or in a particular area of activity or knowledgeweak in▪ New Zealand was weak in defense.weak on▪ She speaks quite fluently but she's weak on grammar.▪ Be honest about your weak points (=your faults or the things you do not do well) .8.) ¦(MONEY)¦not financially successfulweak currency/economy etc▪ The pound was weak against the dollar.9.) ¦(ARGUMENT/IDEA)¦not likely to make people believe that something is true or right▪ She's washing her hair? That sounds like a weak excuse !▪ There are some weak points in her argument.▪ The defence lawyer clearly knew that his case was weak.10.)¦(DRINK)¦weak tea, beer etc contains a lot of water and has little taste≠ ↑strong11.) ¦(LIGHT/SOUND)¦difficult to see or hear= ↑faint▪ a weak radio signal▪ He had only a weak light to see by.12.) weak points/spotsthe parts of something that can easily be attacked or criticized▪ Check your house for weak spots where a thief could enter.13.) weak at the kneesfeeling strange because of strong emotions▪ His smile made her go weak at the knees .14.) weak momenta time when you can be persuaded more easily than usual▪ Dave caught me at a weak moment and I lent him £10.15.) the weak/weakest linkthe person or thing in a situation that is less strong, skilful etc than the others▪ Goalkeeper Gouter proved to be the weakest link.16.) weak verbtechnical a verb that forms regular past tenses≠ strong verb17.) weak consonant/syllableone that is not emphasized>weakly adv▪ "I'm sorry," she said, smiling weakly.▪ He sank down weakly beside her.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬WORD FOCUS: weakperson: puny, feeble, weedy (BrE), frail, fragile, powerless, vulnerablething: fragile, delicate, flimsy, rickety, badly made, jerry-built▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
