high

high1 [ haı ] adjective ***

▸ 1 being a long way up

▸ 2 large in amount

▸ 3 very good/excellent

▸ 4 important

▸ 5 happy/excited

▸ 6 about sounds

▸ 7 winds: very strong

▸ 8 best/most extreme

▸ 9 far from equator

▸ 10 with strong flavor/smell

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) large in size from the top to the ground:

very high mountains

the highest (=tallest) building

The fence is too high to climb over.

a ) in a position a long way above the ground:

beautiful sunny weather with just a few high clouds

The boiling point of water is lower at high altitudes.

the highest shelf

b ) if a river is high, the water is above its usual level, for example because of heavy rain:

The river is so high that only small boats can pass under the bridge.

c ) used in measurements of how big or how far above the ground an object is. This is called height:

Some of the waves are fifteen feet high.

How high is that ceiling?

─ opposite LOW

2. ) large in amount:

high prices/temperatures/wages

This is an area of high unemployment.

Interest rates are very high.

Casualties were highest near the center of the earthquake.

music being played at high volume

high risk of something: The risk of the disease spreading is high.

the high twenties/nineties etc.: temperatures in the high twenties (=between 27 and 30 degrees)

high number/volume/proportion of something: A high proportion of the population are immigrants.

a high level/incidence of something: The pipes contain a high level of lead.

a ) used for describing a country's money when it is more valuable than the money of other countries:

A high yen makes Japanese exports more expensive.

The Euro edged higher against the dollar.

b ) high in containing a lot of something:

Ice-cream is very high in calories.

─ opposite LOW

3. ) very good or excellent:

high standard: They expect high standards of care.

high quality: They're known for the high quality of their products.

high opinion/regard/esteem: She has a very high opinion of herself.

I have the highest regard for him.

a ) if you have high hopes or EXPECTATIONS, you hope or expect that something very good will happen:

They have high hopes for this week's game.

I think their expectations were too high.

─ opposite LOW

4. ) important compared to other people or things, especially in a particular system or organization:

Field Marshal is the highest rank in the army.

high position/status/rank: Teachers no longer enjoy the high social status they once had.

high priority: Both parties are giving a high priority to education in their campaigns.

a ) high on the list (of priorities) or high on the agenda important and likely to be dealt with soon:

The new library will be high on the agenda.

─ opposite LOW

5. ) INFORMAL affected by a drug that makes the user feel happy, excited, or relaxed:

high on: He was high on cocaine.

a ) very happy or excited:

high on: The players were high on the emotion of it all.

in high spirits: The children have been in high spirits all day.

6. ) a high sound is near the upper end of a range of sounds. For example, the song of a bird is a high sound, but a cow or a large drum makes a low sound:

a high note/key

Women's voices are usually higher than men's.

=> HIGH-PITCHED

─ opposite LOW

7. ) high winds are very strong

8. ) only before noun used in some expressions for referring to the greatest, strongest, or most extreme example or part of something:

high summer: Major football tournaments should not really be played in high summer.

be on high alert: Their soldiers were on high alert all along the border.

high fashion: In the 1980s this was high fashion.

high drama (=exciting events): It was a day of high drama.

high politics/finance: This is high politics played for high stakes.

a new TV drama series set in the world of high finance

9. ) a high LATITUDE is an area of the Earth that is a long way north or south of the EQUATOR

10. ) OLD-FASHIONED cheese or meat that is high has developed a very strong flavor and smell

1

a ) used humorously about anything that has an unpleasant smell:

These socks are a bit high.

have a high old time OLD-FASHIONED

to enjoy yourself a lot

a high color

someone who has a high color has a pink or red face

it's high time to do something SPOKEN

used for saying that something should be done soon, because it is already past the time when it should have been done:

It's high time we got a raise in pay!

=> LEAVE1

high

high 2 [ haı ] adverb ***

1. ) a long distance above the ground, or above a particular position:

a first-class hotel built high on the hillside

The eagle soared high into the air.

high above: the sound of war planes flying high above the city

a ) reaching up a long way:

She stretched her arms up high.

piled/stacked high: Books were piled high all around.

─ opposite LOW

2. ) to or at an important position:

She rose high in the company.

A colonel ranks higher than a major.

─ opposite LOW

3. ) near the upper end of a range of sounds:

I can't sing that high.

─ opposite LOW

look/search/seek high and low

to search very thoroughly

run high

if emotions are running high, people are angry or emotional about something

high

high 3 [ haı ] noun

1. ) count a period or situation in which something reaches its highest level:

reach a high: Temperatures today are expected to reach a high of 105 degrees.

a new/all-time/record high: Attendances at football matches are at an all-time high.

─ opposite LOW

2. ) uncount a high temperature in an oven or heating system:

Put the mixture in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds.

─ opposite LOW

3. ) count a feeling of great happiness or excitement:

They've experienced both the highs and the lows of married life.

on a high: The kids are on a high for days when the exams are over.

a ) a feeling produced by drugs or alcohol:

The pain-killers gave me an amazing high.

─ opposite LOW

4. ) High used in the names of HIGH SCHOOLS:

He went to Central High.

on high

1. ) LITERARY in heaven:

God on high

2. ) HUMOROUS used for talking about people with power or authority:

We're waiting for instructions from on high.