Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - present

I. [c red]EXISTING OR HAPPENING NOW Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. You use present to describe things and people that exist now, rather than those that existed in the past or those that may exist in the future. He has brought much of the present crisis on himself... It has been skilfully renovated by the present owners... No statement can be made at the present time. = current ADJ: ADJ n 2. The present is the period of time that we are in now and the things that are happening now. ...his struggle to reconcile the past with the present. ...continuing right up to the present... Then her thoughts would switch to the present. N-SING: the N 3. In grammar, the present tenses of a verb are the ones that are used to talk about things that happen regularly or situations that exist at this time. The simple present tense uses the base form or the ‘s’ form of a verb, as in ‘I play tennis twice a week’ and ‘He works in a bank’. ADJ: ADJ n 4. A situation that exists at present exists now, although it may change. There is no way at present of predicting which individuals will develop the disease... At present children under 14 are not permitted in bars. PHRASE: PHR with cl/group 5. The present day is the period of history that we are in now. ...Western European art from the period of Giotto to the present day. = today PHRASE: prep PHR 6. Something that exists or will be done for the present exists now or will continue for a while, although the situation may change later. The ministers had expressed the unanimous view that sanctions should remain in place for the present. PHRASE: PHR with cl II. [c red]BEING SOMEWHERE Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If someone is present at an event, they are there. The president was not present at the meeting... Nearly 85 per cent of men are present at the birth of their children... The whole family was present. ? absent ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ at n 2. If something, especially a substance or disease, is present in something else, it exists within that thing. This special form of vitamin D is naturally present in breast milk... ? absent ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ in n III. [c red]GIFT (presents) A present is something that you give to someone, for example at Christmas or when you visit them. The carpet was a wedding present from the Prime Minister... I bought a birthday present for my mother... This book would make a great Christmas present. = gift N-COUNT IV. [c red]VERB USES (presents, presenting, presented) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you present someone with something such as a prize or document, or if you present it to them, you formally give it to them. The mayor presented him with a gold medal at an official city reception... Prince Michael of Kent presented the prizes... The group intended to present this petition to the parliament. VERB: V n with n, V n, V n to n • presentation Then came the presentation of the awards by the Queen Mother. N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n 2. If something presents a difficulty, challenge, or opportunity, it causes it or provides it. This presents a problem for many financial consumers... Public policy on the family presents liberals with a dilemma. VERB: V n, V n with n 3. If an opportunity or problem presents itself, it occurs, often when you do not expect it. Their colleagues insulted them whenever the opportunity presented itself... VERB: V pron-refl 4. When you present information, you give it to people in a formal way. We spend the time collating and presenting the information in a variety of chart forms... We presented three options to the unions for discussion... In effect, Parsons presents us with a beguilingly simple outline of social evolution. VERB: V n, V n to n, V n with n • presentation (presentations) ...a fair presentation of the facts to a jury... N-VAR: oft N of n 5. If you present someone or something in a particular way, you describe them in that way. The government has presented these changes as major reforms... In Europe, Aga Khan III presented himself in a completely different light. VERB: V n as n, V n in n 6. The way you present yourself is the way you speak and act when meeting new people. ...all those tricks which would help him to present himself in a more confident way in public. VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv 7. If someone or something presents a particular appearance or image, that is how they appear or try to appear. The small group of onlookers presented a pathetic sight... In presenting a more professional image the party risks losing its individuality. ...presenting a calm and dignified face to the world at large. VERB: V n, V n, V n to n 8. If you present yourself somewhere, you officially arrive there, for example for an appointment. She was told to present herself at the Town Hall at 11.30 for the induction ceremony... VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv 9. If someone presents a programme on television or radio, they introduce each item in it. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use host, introduce) She presents a monthly magazine programme on the BBC. VERB: V n 10. When someone presents something such as a production of a play or an exhibition, they organize it. The Lyric Theatre is presenting a new production of ‘Over the Bridge’. VERB: V n 11. If you present someone to someone else, often an important person, you formally introduce them. Fox stepped forward, welcomed him in Malay, and presented him to Jack... Allow me to present my wife’s cousin, Mr Zachary Colenso. = introduce VERB: V n to n, V n 12. see also presentation