ˈɑ:ftə prep., conj., adv., & adj. --prep. 1 a
following in
time; later
than (after
six months; after
midnight;
day after day). b US in specifying time (a
quarter after eight). 2 (with
causal force) in
view of (something
that happened
shortly before) (after
your behaviour tonight what do
you expect?). 3 (with
concessive force) in
spite of (after
all my efforts I'm no better off). 4
behind (shut
the door after you). 5 in
pursuit or
quest of (run after
them;
inquire after
him;
hanker after
it; is after a job). 6
about,
concerning (asked after
her; asked after her health). 7 in
allusion to (named him William after the prince). 8 in
imitation of (a
person,
word, etc.) (a
painting after Rubens; 'aesthete' is formed after 'athlete'). 9
next in
importance to (the
best book on the
subject after mine). 10
according to (after a fashion). --conj. in or at a time later than that
when (left after
they arrived). --adv. 1 later in time (soon after; a
week after). 2 behind in
place (followed on after;
look before and after). --adj. 1 later, following (in after years). 2 Naut. nearer the stern (after cabins; after mast; after-peak). øafter all 1 in spite of all that
has happened or has
been said etc. (after all, what
does it matter?). 2 in spite of one's exertions, expectations, etc. (they
tried for an
hour and
failed after all; so you
have come after all!). after-care
care of a
patient after a stay in
hospital or of a person on
release from prison. after-damp choking
gas left after an
explosion of
firedamp in a mine. after-effect an
effect that follows after an
interval or after the
primary action of
something. after-image an
image retained by a sense-organ,
esp. the
eye, and producing a
sensation after the
cessation of the
stimulus. after one's
own heart see HEART. after-taste a
taste remaining or recurring after
eating or drinking. after you a
formula used in
offering precedence. [OE ófter f. Gmc]