Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - dream

(dreams, dreaming, dreamed, dreamt) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Note: American English uses the form 'dreamed' as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either 'dreamed' or 'dreamt'. 1. A dream is an imaginary series of events that you experience in your mind while you are asleep. He had a dream about Claire... I had a dream that I was in an old study, surrounded by leather books. N-COUNT 2. When you dream, you experience imaginary events in your mind while you are asleep. Ivor dreamed that he was on a bus... She dreamed about her baby. VERB: V that, V about/of n, also V 3. You can refer to a situation or event as a dream if you often think about it because you would like it to happen. He had finally accomplished his dream of becoming a pilot... My dream is to have a house in the country... = ambition N-COUNT: usu with supp 4. If you often think about something that you would very much like to happen or have, you can say that you dream of it. As a schoolgirl, she had dreamed of becoming an actress... For most of us, a brand new designer kitchen is something we can only dream about... I dream that my son will attend college and find a good job. VERB: V of/about n/-ing, V of/about n/-ing, V that 5. You can use dream to describe something that you think is ideal or perfect, especially if it is something that you thought you would never be able to have or experience. ...a dream holiday to Jamaica. ADJ: ADJ n 6. If you describe something as a particular person’s dream, you think that it would be ideal for that person and that he or she would like it very much. Greece is said to be a botanist’s dream... N-SING: poss N 7. If you say that something is a dream, you mean that it is wonderful. (INFORMAL) N-SING: a N 8. You can refer to a situation or event that does not seem real as a dream, especially if it is very strange or unpleasant. When the right woman comes along, this bad dream will be over. N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp 9. If you say that you would not dream of doing something, you are emphasizing that you would never do it because you think it is wrong or is not possible or suitable for you. I wouldn’t dream of making fun of you... VERB: with neg, V of -ing/n c darkgreen]emphasis 10. If you say that you never dreamed that something would happen, you are emphasizing that you did not think that it would happen because it seemed very unlikely. I never dreamed that I would be able to afford a home here... Who could ever dream of a disaster like this?... VERB: with brd-neg, V that, V of n c darkgreen]emphasis 11. see also pipe dream, wet dream 12. If you say that you are in a dream, you mean that you do not concentrate properly on what you are doing because you are thinking about other things. All day long I moved in a dream. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 13. If you say that someone does something like a dream, you think that they do it very well. If you say that something happens like a dream, you mean that it happens successfully without any problems. She cooked like a dream... PHRASE: PHR after v 14. If you describe someone or something as the person or thing of your dreams, you mean that you consider them to be ideal or perfect. This could be the man of my dreams. PHRASE: n PHR 15. If you say that you could not imagine a particular thing in your wildest dreams, you are emphasizing that you think it is extremely strange or unlikely. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we could win. PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR with cl c darkgreen]emphasis 16. If you describe something as being beyond your wildest dreams, you are emphasizing that it is better than you could have imagined or hoped for. She had already achieved success beyond her wildest dreams. PHRASE: n PHR, PHR after v, v-link PHR c darkgreen]emphasis