Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

banquet noun [C ]
a large formal meal for many people, often followed by speeches in honour of
someone
Medieval banquets are held in the castle once a month.
banqueting noun [U ]
The dinner is to be held in the banqueting hall/suite.
conquer verb [T ]
1. to take control or possession of foreign land, or a group of people, by force
The Spanish conquered the New World in the 16th century.
The English were conquered by the Normans in 1066.
conquer verb [T ]
2. to deal with or successfully fight against a problem or an unreasonable fear
He has finally conquered his fear of spiders.
It may be many years before this dreadful disease is conquered.
conqueror noun [C ]
someone who has conquered a country or its people

conquest noun
1. [C or U] when someone conquers a country, area or situation

conquest noun
2. [C] HUMOROUS someone you have had sex with but probably not a relationship
I was determined not to become just another of his conquests.
conquistador noun [C ] OLD USE
one of the Spanish people who travelled to America in the 16th century and took
control of Mexico and Peru

delinquency noun
1. [U] behaviour, especially of a young person, that is is illegal or not acceptable to
most people
There is a high rate of juvenile delinquency in this area.
delinquency noun
2. [C] FORMAL an action that is illegal or not acceptable
His past delinquencies have made it difficult for him to get a job.
delinquent noun [C ]
a person, usually young, who behaves in a way that is illegal or not acceptable to
most people
juvenile delinquents
delinquent adjective
1. being or behaving in ways that are illegal or not acceptable
delinquent teenagers
They are carrying out research on the causes of delinquent behaviour among
young people.
delinquent adjective
2. US FORMAL late (in paying money owed)
She has been delinquent in paying her taxes.
enquire verb [I or T ] UK
to inquire
enquiry noun [C or U ] UK
inquiry

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Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

inquest noun [C ]
1. an official process to discover the cause of someone's death
An inquest is always held if murder is suspected.
inquest noun [C ]
2. an examination of or discussion about the reasons for someone's or something's
failure
an inquest into the department's poor performance
inquire , UK ALSO enquire verb [I or T ]
to ask for information
Shall I inquire about the price of tickets?
[+ question word] She rang up to inquire when her car would be ready.
[+ speech] "Where are we going?" he inquired politely.
inquirer , UK ALSO enquirer noun [C ] FORMAL
someone who asks about something
inquiring , UK ALSO enquiring adjective
(of someone's behaviour) always wanting to learn new things, or (of someone's
expression) wanting to know something
You have a very inquiring mind, don't you?
He gave her an inquiring look.
inquiringly, UK ALSO enquiringly adverb
She looked at her mother inquiringly.
inquiry , UK ALSO enquiry noun QUESTION
1. [C or U] (the process of asking) a question
I've been making inquiries about/into the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
FORMAL Inquiry into the matter is pointless - no one will tell you anything.
inquiry , UK ALSO enquiry noun PROCESS
2. [C] an official process to discover the facts about something bad that has
happened
a judicial inquiry
Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government's handling of the
epidemic.
inquisition noun [C ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING
a period of asking questions in a detailed and unfriendly way
The police subjected him to an inquisition that lasted 12 hours.
inquisitive adjective
wanting to discover as much as you can about things, sometimes in a way that
annoys people
an inquisitive child
an inquisitive mind
She could see inquisitive faces looking out from the windows next door.
inquisitively adverb
The mouse looked around the room inquisitively.
inquisitiveness noun [U ]
inquisitor noun [C ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING
someone who asks a lot of questions
The prime minister found himself arraigned before the media inquisitors.
inquisitorial adjective FORMAL DISAPPROVING
asking a lot of questions, especially in a way that makes you feel annoyed

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Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

an inquisitorial manner
inquorate adjective MAINLY UK FORMAL
(of a meeting) not having enough people present and so unable to make any
official decisions

manqu adjective FORMAL

relinquish verb [T ] FORMAL
1. to give up something such as a responsibility or claim
He has relinquished his claim to the throne.
She relinquished control of the family investments to her son.
relinquish verb [T ] FORMAL
2. to unwillingly stop holding or keeping something
She relinquished her hold/grip on the steering wheel.
tranquil adjective
calm and peaceful and without noise, violence, worry, etc.
She stared at the tranquil surface of the water.
The hotel is in a tranquil rural setting.
A spasm of pain crossed his normally tranquil features.
tranquilly adverb

tranquillity , US USUALLY tranquility noun [U ]

a peaceful calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc.; the quality of being
tranquil
living in peace and tranquillity
I love the tranquillity of the countryside.
tranquillize , USUSUALLY tranquilize , UK USUALLY tranquillise verb [T ]
to make an animal or person become unconscious or calm, especially with a drug
a tranquillizing drug
The dogs were tranquillized with a dart gun and taken to a shelter.
tranquillizer , US USUALLY tranquilizer , UK USUALLY tranquilliser noun [C ]
a drug used to make a person or animal calmer
She was on tranquillizers for a long time after her son died.
unqualified adjective PERSON
1. An unqualified person does not have the qualifications needed for a particular
job.

unqualified adjective COMPLETE

2. not limited in any way; to the largest degree possible
We achieved a lot but I wouldn't say that the project has been an unqualified
success.
The proposal has the unqualified support of the entire committee.
unquestionable adjective
obvious and impossible to doubt

unquestionably adverb
unquestioned adjective
accepted as true or right by everyone, or trusted and respected by everyone
He's the unquestioned leader in his field (= no one would say that he is not the
leader).
unquestioning adjective MAINLY DISAPPROVING
Unquestioning obedience is total, and given without thinking, asking questions, or

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Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

doubting
Like all tyrannical leaders, he demanded unquestioning obedience from his
followers.
unquestioningly adverb

unquiet adjective LITERARY

troubled and anxious; not peaceful or calm
One can only hope that his unquiet spirit found some peace in the grave.

unquote
vanquish verb [T ] LITERARY
to defeat an opponent, especially in war
Napoleon was vanquished at the battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The vanquished army surrendered their weapons.

court of inquiry noun [C + sing/pl verb ] UK

a group of people, often with specialist knowledge or skill, who have been brought
together in order to examine the causes of an accident

Directory Enquiries noun [U + sing/pl verb ] UK (US Directory Assistance)

a service which you can telephone in order to find out someone's telephone
number

the Inquisition noun [S ]

in the past, an official organization in the Roman Catholic Church whose purpose
was to find and punish people who opposed its beliefs
juvenile delinquent noun [C ]
a young person who commits crimes

juvenile delinquency noun [U ]

the Norman Conquest noun [S ]
the defeat of England by Norman soldiers in the 11th century

the Spanish Inquisition noun [S + sing/pl verb ]

an organization within the Roman Catholic Church, that existed from 1542 to
1834, and which was established to punish people whose religious beliefs were
considered wrong

inquire , UK ALSO enquire verb [I or T ]

to ask for information
Shall I inquire about the price of tickets?
[+ question word] She rang up to inquire when her car would be ready.
[+ speech] "Where are we going?" he inquired politely.
inquirer , UK ALSO enquirer noun [C ] FORMAL
someone who asks about something

inquiring , UK ALSO enquiring adjective

(of someone's behaviour) always wanting to learn new things, or (of someone's
expression) wanting to know something
You have a very inquiring mind, don't you?
He gave her an inquiring look.
inquiringly, UK ALSO enquiringly adverb
She looked at her mother inquiringly.
inquiry , UK ALSO enquiry noun QUESTION
1. [C or U] (the process of asking) a question
Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

I've been making inquiries about/into the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
FORMAL Inquiry into the matter is pointless - no one will tell you anything.
inquiry , UK ALSO enquiry noun PROCESS
2. [C] an official process to discover the facts about something bad that has
happened
a judicial inquiry
Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government's handling of the
epidemic.
tranquillity , US USUALLY tranquility noun [U ]
a peaceful calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc.; the quality of being
tranquil
living in peace and tranquillity
I love the tranquillity of the countryside.
tranquillize , USUSUALLY tranquilize , UK USUALLY tranquillise verb [T ]
to make an animal or person become unconscious or calm, especially with a drug
a tranquillizing drug
The dogs were tranquillized with a dart gun and taken to a shelter.
tranquillize , USUSUALLY tranquilize , UK USUALLY tranquillise verb [T ]
to make an animal or person become unconscious or calm, especially with a drug
a tranquillizing drug
The dogs were tranquillized with a dart gun and taken to a shelter.
tranquillizer , US USUALLY tranquilizer , UK USUALLY tranquilliser noun [C ]
a drug used to make a person or animal calmer
She was on tranquillizers for a long time after her son died.
tranquillizer , US USUALLY tranquilizer , UK USUALLY tranquilliser noun [C ]
a drug used to make a person or animal calmer
She was on tranquillizers for a long time after her son died.

Cambridge University Press 2008