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1[countable] the part of the face that sticks out above the mouth, used for breathing and smelling things He broke his nose in the fight. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. He pressed his nose up against the window. He blew his nose (= cleared it by blowing strongly into a handkerchief). a stuffed-up/runny nose Stop picking your nose! (= removing dried mucus from it with your finger) Topic CollocationsPhysical AppearanceA person may be described as having:eyes
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a pointy/a Roman/an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy beard
- a full/thin goatee
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil mustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/small/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/ginger/gray hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/center part
- a long/short/thick/slender/ (disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/round/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/ (informal) (often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/ (informal) (disapproving) flabby thighs/calves
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/slim/slender/hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
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- 2-nosed (in adjectives) having the type of nose mentioned red-nosed large-nosed see hard-nosed
- 3[countable] the front part of a plane, spacecraft, etc. Heat detectors are fitted in the nose of the missile.
- 4[singular] a nose for something a special ability for finding or recognizing something synonym instinct As a journalist, she has always had a nose for a good story.
- 5[singular] a sense of smell a dog with a good nose
- 6[singular] (of wine) a characteristic smell synonym bouquet Idioms
- 1to be guided by your sense of smell
- 2to go straight forward The garage is a mile ahead up the hill—just follow your nose.
- 3to act according to what seems right or reasonable, rather than following any particular rules
- 1if something is under someone's nose, it is very close to them but they cannot see it I searched everywhere for the letter and it was under my nose all the time!
- 2if something happens under someone's nose, they do not notice it even though it is not being done secretly The police didn't know the drug ring was operating right under their noses.
to do something when you are angry that is meant to harm someone else but that also harms you
to be reading something and giving it all your attention Peter always has his nose in a book.
used to say that someone is not upset or annoyed about something because it does not affect them in a bad way
to avoid doing anything wrong or illegal Since leaving prison, he's managed to keep his nose clean.
to try not to become involved in things that do not concern you
to work hard for a long period of time without stopping
to make someone do everything you want; to control someone completely
to behave in a way that suggests that you think that you are better than someone or that something is not good enough for you synonym look down on somebody/something
exactly The budget should hit the $136 billion target on the nose.
to pay much too much money for something
very obvious
to try to become involved in something that does not concern you He's always poking his nose into other people's business.
a polite way of referring to the fact that a woman is going to the bathroom I'm just going to powder my nose.
to upset or annoy someone, especially by not giving them enough attention
to keep reminding someone in an unkind way of their past mistakes
to make a rude sign with your thumb on your nose; to show that you have no respect for someone or something The company just thumbs its nose at the legislation on pollution.
to refuse something, especially because you do not think that it is good enough for you
in a way that is unfriendly and suggests that you think that you are better than other people
Check pronunciation: nose