Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - present

~1 adj 1 be present a) to be in a particular place  (How many people were present at the meeting yesterday? | small amounts of gas present in the atmosphere) b) to be felt strongly or remembered for a long time  (The memory of her brother's death a year ago is still present in her mind.) 2 only before noun happening or existing now  (What is your present address? | Usually I'd advise you to wait, but in the present situation I think it's best to act without delay.) 3 only before noun technical related to a verb that shows an existing state or action  (`He wants' and `They are coming' are examples of verbs in the present tense.) 4 all present and correct BrE also all present and accounted for AmE used to say that everyone who is supposed to be in a place, at a meeting etc is now here 5 present company excepted used when you are saying something rude about someone to tell the people you are with that you do not mean to include them in the statement  (Women are never satisfied with anything! Present company excepted, of course.)  (- see also presently) ~2 v 1 »GIVE« to give something to someone, especially at a formal or official occasion  (present sb with sth)  (David's manager presented him with the award for best sales in the region.) 2 »CAUSE STH TO HAPPEN« to cause something to happen or exist  (Slippery floors in the work area present a hazard to employees. | present sb with sth)  (His resignation presents us with a tricky situation. | present a problem/difficulty)  (This equation should present no problems if you know some basic trigonometry.) 3 »SHOW« to offer or show information about something in a particular way  (The movie presents its characters in a way that I find difficult to believe in. | Tobacco companies are trying to present a more favorable image.) 4 »A SPEECH« to give a speech in which you offer an idea, plan etc to be considered or accepted  (present sth to sb)  (The team is presenting its report to the board on Tuesday.) 5 »DOCUMENT/TICKET« to show something such as an official document or ticket to someone in an official position  (You must present your passport to the customs officer.) 6 »THEATRE/CINEMA« to give a performance in a theatre, cinema, etc, or broadcast a programme on television or radio  (This evening PBS presents the first of a six-part historical drama about the Civil War.) 7 »TELEVISION/RADIO« BrE if you present a television or radio programme, you introduce its different parts  (Tonight's edition of Newsnight, presented by Jeremy Paxman.) 8 sth presents itself if a situation, opportunity etc presents itself, it suddenly happens or exists  (As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I'm going to talk to Mr. Boyer about that job.) 9 »FORMALLY INTRODUCE SB« to introduce someone formally, especially to someone of a very high rank  (I was presented to the Queen in 1964.) 10 present arms a command to soldiers to hold their weapons upright in front of their bodies as a greeting to a person of high rank 11 present your apologies/compliments etc formal used to greet someone, apologize to them etc very politely  (Mrs. Gottlieb presents her apologies and regrets she will not be able to attend.) ~3 n something you give someone on a special occasion or to thank them for something; gift  (One of my Japanese students gave me a beautiful fan as a present. | birthday/Christmas present)  (Christmas presents under the tree) ~4 n 1 the time that we are experiencing now  (You have to stop worrying about the past and start thinking about the present! | no time like the present (=used to say that if you are going to do something at all, you should do it now))  ("I was thinking of asking Maura to marry me." "Do it! There's no time like the present!") 2 technical the form of a verb that shows what exists or is happening now  (- see also historic present) 3 at present at this time; now  (Ms. Hellman is busy at present, can she ring you later?)  (- see presently)