personal

per|son|al1 [ `pɜrsənl ] adjective ***

▸ 1 your own

▸ 2 private

▸ 3 aimed at one person

▸ 4 with direct relationship

▸ 5 done by someone themselves

1. ) usually before noun used about your own opinions or feelings:

My own personal view is that boxing should be banned.

Choosing a new car is a matter of personal preference.

a ) used about events or experiences in your life:

her own personal tragedy

Most writers use personal experience as the basis for their novels.

b ) used about things that you own:

Many of her personal belongings had been stolen.

Every scrap of personal property was removed from his pockets.

c ) used about services or objects that you do not share with anyone else:

I've decided to hire a personal trainer.

He has his own personal telephone in his bedroom.

2. ) private and not known or available to most people:

This is a personal matter and does not concern you.

a personal conversation/letter

for personal reasons: She quit her job for personal reasons.

personal problems (=ones concerning your relationships or health): He's had a few personal problems recently.

a ) someone's personal life the part of someone's life relating to things such as their sexual and family relationships, instead of their job:

My personal life is not the issue here.

3. ) aimed at one particular person, in an unfriendly or offensive way:

He saw her comments as a personal attack.

a ) get personal INFORMAL to start being deliberately unkind or insulting:

Let's not get personal about this.

4. ) only before noun involving a direct relationship between two people who know each other:

The two leaders had a good personal relationship.

Sue and Harry are close personal friends.

personal chemistry (=strong feelings when two people have a very special close relationship): the unique personal chemistry between twins

5. ) done by a person directly, instead of by a representative:

The Dixie Chicks will be making a personal appearance at the awards ceremony.

the president's personal involvement in the project

a ) used for describing something that is friendly and shows your personality:

Her visit to my office was a nice personal touch.

personal

per|son|al 2 [ `pɜrsənl ] noun

1. ) personal or personal ad count a short advertisement put in a newspaper or magazine by someone who is looking for friendship or a sexual or romantic relationship

2. ) the personals plural a list of private advertisements or messages in a newspaper or magazine