correctly: 'What do you think Jenny will do next?' 'It's hard to tell.' ◊ I could tell that he had enjoyed the evening. ◊ You can never tell what he's going to say next. ◊ I can't tell the difference between Dan's sisters. 4 [T] (used about a thing) to give information to sb: This book will tell you all you need to know. 5 [I] to not keep a secret: Promise you won't tell! 6 [I] ~ (on sb/sth) to have a noticeable effect: I can't run as fast as I could – my age is beginning to tell!
IDM all told with everyone or everything counted and included
(I'll) tell you what (informal) used to introduce a suggestion: I'll tell you what – let's ask Diane to take us.
I told you (so) (informal) I warned you that this would happen
tell A and B apart → APART
tell the time to read the time from a clock or watch
PHR V tell sb off (for sth/for doing sth) to speak to sb angrily because they have done sth wrong: The teacher told me off for not doing my homework.
tell on sb to tell a parent, teacher, etc. about sth bad that sb has done
telling /'telɪŋ/ adj. 1 showing, without intending to, what sb/sth is really like: The number of homeless people is a telling comment on today's society.
2 having a great effect: That's quite a telling argument.
telltale /'telteɪl/ adj. giving information about sth secret or private: He said he was fine, but there were telltale signs of worry on his face.
tellurium /te'ljuəriəm/ noun [U] (symbol Te) (CHEMISTRY) a chemical element. Tellurium is a shiny silver-white substance that breaks easily, found in SULPHIDE ORES. ◊ For more information on the periodic table of elements, look at pages R34-5.
telly /'teli/ (pl. tellies) (BrE, informal) = TELEVISION
telnet /'telnet/ noun [U] (COMPUTING) a computer system which allows you to use data and programs on another computer; a connection made using this system ► telnet verb (telnetting; telnetted) [T]
temp¹ /temp/ noun [C] (informal) a temporary employee, especially in an office, who works somewhere for a short period of time when sb else is ill or on holiday ► temp verb [I]
temp² abbr. temperature: temp 15°C
temper /'tempə(r)/ noun 1 [C,U] if you have a temper you get angry very easily: Be careful of Paul. He's got quite a temper! ◊ You must learn to control your temper. 2 [C] the way you are feeling at a particular time: It's no use talking to him when he's in a bad temper. SYN mood
IDM in a temper feeling very angry and not controlling your behaviour
keep/lose your temper to stay calm/to become angry ► look at bad-tempered
temperament /'temprəmənt/ noun [C,U] a person's character, especially as it affects the way they behave and feel: to have an artistic/a fiery/a calm temperament
temperamental /temprə'mentl/ adj. often and suddenly changing the way you behave or feel
temperate /'tempərət/ adj. (used about a climate) not very hot and not very cold
temperature ► /'temprətʃə(r)/ noun 1 [C,U] how hot or cold sth is: Heat the oven to a temperature of 200°C. ◊ a high/low temperature ◊ an increase in temperature 2 [C] how hot or cold a person's body is
IDM have a temperature (HEALTH) (used about a person) to be hotter than normal because you are ill
take sb's temperature (HEALTH) to measure the
temperature of sb's body with a special instrument (a thermometer)
template /'templert/ noun [C] 1 a shape cut out of a hard material, used as a model for producing exactly the same shape many times in another material 2 a thing that is used as a model for producing other similar examples: If you need to write a lot of similar letters, set up a template on your computer.
temple /'templ/ noun [C] 1 (RELIGION) a building where people pray to a god or gods: a Buddhist/ Hindu temple 2 (ANATOMY) one of the flat parts on each side of your FOREHEAD ► picture on page 80
tempo /'tempəʊ/ noun (pl. tempos /'tempəʊz/) 1 [sing., U] the speed of an activity or event 2 [C,U] (MUSIC) the speed of a piece of music: a fast/slow tempo
temporary ► /'temprəri/ adj. lasting for a short time; not permanent: a temporary job ◊ This arrangement is only temporary.
► temporarily /'temprərəli/ adv.
tempt /tempt/ verb [T] ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth); ~ sb (to do sth) to try to persuade or attract sb to do sth, even if it is wrong: His dream of riches had tempted him into a life of crime. ◊ She was tempted to stay in bed all morning.
temptation /temp'teɪʃn/ noun 1 [U] a feeling that you want to do sth, even if you know that it is wrong: I managed to resist the temptation to tell him what I really thought. ◊ She wanted a cigarette badly, but didn't give in to temptation. 2 [C] a thing that attracts you to do sth wrong or silly: All that money is certainly a big temptation.
tempting /'temptɪŋ/ adj. attractive in a way that makes you want to do or have sth: a tempting offer
ten /ten/ number 10
tenacious /tə'neɪʃəs/ adj. not likely to give up or let sth go; determined ► tenacity /tə'næsəti/ noun [U]
tenancy /'tenənsi/ noun [C,U] (pl. tenancies) the use of a room, flat, building or piece of land, for which you pay rent to the owner: a six-month tenancy ◊ It says in the tenancy agreement that you can't keep pets.
tenant /'tenənt/ noun [C] a person who pays money (rent) to the owner of a room, flat, building or piece of land so that they can live in it or use it: They had evicted their tenants for non-payment of rent.
◊ tenant farmers (= ones who do not own their own farms) ► look at landlady, landlord
tend ► /tend/ verb 1 [I] ~ to do sth to usually do or be sth: Women tend to live longer than men.
◊ There tends to be a lot of heavy traffic on that road.
◊ My brother tends to talk a lot when he's nervous.
2 [I] used for giving your opinion in a polite way: I tend to think that we shouldn't interfere. 3 [I,T] (formal) ~ (to) sb/sth to look after sb/sth: Paramedics tended (to) the injured.
tendency ► /'tendənsi/ noun [C] (pl. tendencies) a ~ (to do sth/towards sth) something that a person or thing usually does; a way of behaving: They both have a tendency to be late for appointments. ◊ The dog began to show vicious tendencies. ◊ She seems to have a tendency towards depression.
tender¹ /'tendə(r)/ adj. 1 kind and loving: tender words/looks/kisses 2 (used about food) soft and easy to cut or bite; not tough: The meat should be nice and