ADJ
[ADJ
n] If you make a
sworn
statement or declaration, you swear that everything that you have said in it is true. □
The allegations against them were made in sworn evidence to the inquiry.
3
ADJ
[ADJ
n] If two people or two groups of people are
sworn
enemies, they dislike each other very much. □
It somehow seems hardly surprising that Ms Player is now his sworn enemy.
swot
/swɒ
t/ (swots
, swotting
, swotted
)
1
VERB
If you
swot
, you study very hard, especially when you are preparing for an examination. [BRIT
, INFORMAL
] □ [V
+ for
]
They swotted for their A levels.
[Also V
]
2
N‑COUNT
If you call someone a
swot
, you disapprove of the fact that they study extremely hard and are not interested in other things. [BRIT
, INFORMAL
, DISAPPROVAL
]
swum
/swʌ
m/
Swum
is the past participle of
swim
.
swung
/swʌ
ŋ/
Swung
is the past tense and past participle of
swing
.
syba|rit|ic
/s
I
bər
I
t
I
k/ ADJ
[usu ADJ
n] Someone who has a
sybaritic
way of life spends a lot of time relaxing in a luxurious way. [FORMAL
]
syca|more
/s
I
kəmɔː
r
/ (sycamores
) N‑VAR
A
sycamore
or a
sycamore tree
is a tree that has yellow flowers and large leaves with five points. ● N‑UNCOUNT
Sycamore
is the wood of this tree. □
The furniture is made of sycamore, beech and leather.
syco|phan|cy
/s
I
kəfænsi, [AM
] -fənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT
Sycophancy
is the quality or action of being sycophantic. [FORMAL
, DISAPPROVAL
]
syco|phant
/s
I
kəfænt, [AM
] -fənt/ (sycophants
) N‑COUNT
A
sycophant
is a person who behaves in a sycophantic way. [FORMAL
, DISAPPROVAL
] □
…a dictator surrounded by sycophants, frightened to tell him what he may not like.
syco|phan|tic
/s
I
kəfæ
nt
I
k/ ADJ
If you describe someone as
sycophantic
, you disapprove of them because they flatter people who are more important and powerful than they are in order to gain an advantage for themselves. [DISAPPROVAL
] □
…his clique of sycophantic friends.
syl|la|ble
/s
I
ləb
ə
l/ (syllables
) N‑COUNT
A
syllable
is a part of a word that contains a single vowel sound and that is pronounced as a unit. So, for example, 'book' has one syllable, and 'reading' has two syllables. □
We children called her Oma, accenting both syllables.
syl|la|bus
/s
I
ləbəs/ (syllabuses
)
1
N‑COUNT
You can refer to the subjects that are studied in a particular course as the
syllabus
. [mainly BRIT
] □
…the GCSE history syllabus.
2
N‑COUNT
A
syllabus
is an outline or summary of the subjects to be covered in a course. [mainly AM
]
syl|van
/s
I
lvən/ ADJ
[usu ADJ
n]
Sylvan
is used to describe things that have an association with woods and trees. [LITERARY
]
sym|bio|sis
/s
I
mbioʊ
s
I
s, -ba
I
-/
1
N‑UNCOUNT
Symbiosis
is a close relationship between two organisms of different kinds which benefits both organisms. [TECHNICAL
] □
…the link between bacteria, symbiosis, and the evolution of plants and animals.
2
N‑UNCOUNT
Symbiosis
is any relationship between different things, people, or groups that benefits all the things or people concerned. □ [+ of
]
…the cosy symbiosis of the traditional political parties.
sym|bi|ot|ic
/s
I
mbiɒ
t
I
k, -ba
I
-/ ADJ
[usu ADJ
n] A
symbiotic
relationship is one in which organisms, people, or things exist together in a way that benefits them all. □
…fungi that have a symbiotic relationship with the trees of these northwestern forests.
sym|bol
◆◇◇ /s
I
mb
ə
l/ (symbols
)
1
N‑COUNT
Something that is a
symbolof
a society or an aspect of life seems to represent it because it is very typical of it. □
To them, the monarchy is the special symbol of nationhood.
□
She was put under house arrest but remained a powerful symbol in the election.
2
N‑COUNT
A
symbolof
something such as an idea is a shape or design that is used to represent it. □
I frequently use sunflowers as symbols of strength.