wʌn adj., n., & pron. --adj. 1
single and integral in
number. 2 (with a
noun implied) a single
person or
thing of
the kind expressed or implied (one of the
best; a
nasty one). 3 a
particular but
undefined,
esp. as contrasted
with another (that is one
view; one thing
after another). b colloq. (as an emphatic) a
noteworthy example of (that is one
difficult question). 4
only such (the one
man who can do it). 5 forming a
unity (one and undivided). 6
identical; the
same (of one opinion). --n. 1 a the lowest
cardinal number. b a thing numbered with
it. 2 unity; a
unit (one is
half of
two;
came in ones and twos). 3 a single thing or person or example (often referring to a noun previously expressed or implied: the
big dog and the
small one). 4 colloq. an
alcoholic drink (have a
quick one;
have one on me). 5 a story or
joke (the one
about the frog). --pron. 1 a person of a specified kind (loved ones; like one possessed). 2
any person, as representing
people in
general (one is bound to
lose in the end). 3 I, me (one
would like to help). °Often regarded as an
affectation. øall one (often foll. by to) a
matter of
indifference. at one in
agreement.
for one
being one, even if the only one (I for one do
not believe it). for one thing as a single
consideration, ignoring others. one another
each the
other or others (as a
formula of
reciprocity:
love one another). one-armed
bandit colloq. a
fruit machine worked by a long
handle at the
side. one by one singly, successively. one
day 1 on an
unspecified day. 2 at
some unspecified
future date. one-horse 1 using a single
horse. 2 colloq. small,
poorly equipped. one-liner colloq. a single
brief sentence,
often witty or
apposite. one-man involving,
done, or operated by only one man. one-night
stand 1 a single
performance of a
play etc. in a
place. 2 colloq. a
sexual liaison lasting only one
night. one-off colloq.
made or done as the only one; not repeated. one or two see
OR(1). one-piece (of a bathing-suit etc.) made as a single
garment. one-sided 1 favouring one side in a
dispute;
unfair,
partial. 2 having or occurring on one side only. 3 larger or
more developed on one side. one-sidedly in a one-sided
manner. one-sidedness the
act or
state of being one-sided. one-time former. one-to-one with one
member of one
group corresponding to one of another. one-track
mind a mind preoccupied with one
subject. one-two colloq. 1
Boxing the
delivery of two punches in quick
succession. 2
Football etc. a
series of
reciprocal passes
between two advancing players. one-up colloq. having a particular
advantage. one-upmanship colloq. the art of maintaining a
psychological advantage. one-way allowing
movement or
travel in one
direction only. [OE an f. Gmc]