Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - look

I. [c red]USING YOUR EYES OR YOUR MIND (looks, looking, looked) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Please look at category 14 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. If you look in a particular direction, you direct your eyes in that direction, especially so that you can see what is there or see what something is like. I looked down the hallway to room number nine... She turned to look at him... He looked away, apparently enraged... If you look, you’ll see what was a lake. VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V • Look is also a noun. Lucille took a last look in the mirror... Assisi has a couple of churches that are worth a look if you have time. N-SING 2. If you look at a book, newspaper, or magazine, you read it fairly quickly or read part of it. You’ve just got to look at the last bit of Act Three. VERB: V at n • Look is also a noun. A quick look at Monday’s British newspapers shows that there’s plenty of interest in foreign news. N-SING: oft N at n 3. If someone, especially an expert, looks at something, they examine it, and then deal with it or say how it should be dealt with. Can you look at my back? I think something’s wrong. VERB: V at n, also V • Look is also a noun. The car has not been running very well and a mechanic had to come over to have a look at it. N-SING: usu N at n 4. If you look at someone in a particular way, you look at them with your expression showing what you are feeling or thinking. She looked at him earnestly. ‘You don’t mind?’ VERB: V at n adv/prep • Look is also a noun. He gave her a blank look, as if he had no idea who she was... Sally spun round, a feigned look of surprise on her face. N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft adj N, N of n 5. If you look for something, for example something that you have lost, you try to find it. I’m looking for a child. I believe your husband can help me find her... I had gone to Maine looking for a place to work... I looked everywhere for ideas... Have you looked on the piano? VERB: V for n, V for n, V prep/adv for n, V prep/adv • Look is also a noun. Go and have another look. N-SING 6. If you are looking for something such as the solution to a problem or a new method, you want it and are trying to obtain it or think of it. The working group will be looking for practical solutions to the problems faced by doctors... = seek VERB: V for n 7. If you look at a subject, problem, or situation, you think about it or study it, so that you know all about it and can perhaps consider what should be done in relation to it. Next term we’ll be looking at the Second World War period... He visited Florida a few years ago looking at the potential of the area to stage a big match. = examine, consider VERB: V at n, V at n • Look is also a noun. A close look at the statistics reveals a troubling picture. N-SING: oft N at n 8. If you look at a person, situation, or subject from a particular point of view, you judge them or consider them from that point of view. Brian had learned to look at her with new respect... It depends how you look at it. VERB: V at n prep/adv, V at n prep/adv 9. You say look when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important. Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it... Now, look, here is how things stand. CONVENTION 10. You can use look to draw attention to a particular situation, person, or thing, for example because you find it very surprising, significant, or annoying. Hey, look at the time! We’ll talk about it tonight. All right?... Look what a mess you’ve made of your life. VERB: only imper, V at n, V wh 11. If something such as a building or window looks somewhere, it has a view of a particular place. The castle looks over private parkland... VERB: V prep • Look out means the same as look. We sit on the terrace, which looks out on the sea. PHRASAL VERB: V P prep 12. If you are looking to do something, you are aiming to do it. We’re not looking to make a fortune. VERB: V to-inf 13. If you say or shout ‘look out!’ to someone, you are warning them that they are in danger. ‘Look out!’ somebody shouted, as the truck started to roll toward the sea. EXCLAM 14. to look down your nose at someone: see nose II. [c red]APPEARANCE (looks, looking, looked) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You use look when describing the appearance of a person or thing or the impression that they give. Sheila was looking miserable... He does not look the most reliable of animals... They look like stars to the naked eye... He looked as if he was going to smile... Everybody in the club looked to be fourteen years old. V-LINK: V adj, V n, V like n, V like/as if, V to-inf • -looking She was a very peculiar-looking woman. COMB in ADJ 2. If someone or something has a particular look, they have a particular appearance or expression. She had the look of someone deserted and betrayed... When he came to decorate the kitchen, Kenneth opted for a friendly rustic look... N-SING: with supp 3. When you refer to someone’s looks, you are referring to how beautiful or ugly they are, especially how beautiful they are. I never chose people just because of their looks. ...a young woman with wholesome good looks. N-PLURAL 4. You use look when indicating what you think will happen in the future or how a situation seems to you. He had lots of time to think about the future, and it didn’t look good... Britain looks set to send a major force of over 100 tanks and supporting equipment... So far it looks like Warner Brothers’ gamble is paying off... The Europeans had hoped to win, and, indeed, had looked like winning... The team had stormed into a two-goal lead and looked to be cruising to a third round place. V-LINK: V adj, V adj, it V like/as if, V like -ing/n, V to-inf 5. You use expressions such as by the look of him and by the looks of it when you want to indicate that you are giving an opinion based on the appearance of someone or something. He was not a well man by the look of him... By the look of things, Mr Stone and company will stay busy. PHRASE 6. If you don’t like the look of something or someone, you feel that they may be dangerous or cause problems. I don’t like the look of those clouds. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 7. If you ask what someone or something looks like, you are asking for a description of them. PHRASE: V inflects