Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - sentence

~1 n 1 a group of words that usually contains a subject and a v, expresses a complete idea or asks a question, and that, when written in English, begins with a capital letter and ends with a full­stop1 (1) 2 a punishment that a judge gives to someone who has been declared guilty of a crime  (a six year prison sentence | heavy/light sentence (=long or short time in prison) | life sentence (=very long time in prison))  (a life sentence for murder | death sentence (=punishment by death) | serve a sentence (=spend time in prison as a punishment)) 3 pass/pronounce sentence to officially state what a punishment will be ~2 v T often passive if a judge sentences someone found guilty of a crime, they officially and legally give them a punishment  (Sanchez was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in the crime.)