wide (wider comparative) (widest superlative )
1 adj Something that is wide measures a large distance from one side or edge to the other., (Antonym: narrow)
All worktops should be wide enough to allow plenty of space for food preparation., ...a wide-brimmed sunhat.
2 adj A wide smile is one in which your mouth is stretched because you are very pleased or amused.
usu ADJ n
(=broad)
It brought a wide smile to his face and laughter to his eyes...
widely adv ADV after v
He was grinning widely, waving to her as he ran.
3 adj If you open or spread something wide, you open or spread it as far as possible or to the fullest extent.
usu v n ADJ, v-link ADJ, also ADJ n
`It was huge,' he announced, spreading his arms wide..., His eyes were wide in disbelief...
4 adj You use wide to talk or ask about how much something measures from one side or edge to the other.
amount ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than, how ADJ
...a corridor of land 10 kilometres wide..., The road is only one track wide., ...a desk that was almost as wide as the room...
5 adj You use wide to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people.
usu ADJ n
(=broad) (Antonym: narrow)
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels, apartments and holiday homes..., The proposed constitution gives him much wider powers than his predecessor.
widely adv usu ADV after v
He published widely in scientific journals..., He was widely travelled.
6 adj You use wide to say that something is found, believed, known, or supported by many people or throughout a large area.
usu ADJ n
(=extensive)
The case has attracted wide publicity..., I suspect this book will have the widest appeal of all...
widely adv ADV with v
At present, no widely approved vaccine exists for malaria.
7 adj A wide difference or gap between two things, ideas, or qualities is a large difference or gap.
usu ADJ n
Research shows a wide difference in tastes around the country...
widely adv ADV after v, ADV adj
The treatment regime may vary widely depending on the type of injury.
8 adj Wider is used to describe something which relates to the most important or general parts of a situation, rather than to the smaller parts or to details.
ADJ n
He emphasised the wider issue of superpower cooperation...
9 adj If something such as a shot or punch is wide, it does not hit its target but lands to the right or left of it.
usu v-link ADJ
Nearly half the missiles landed wide.
10 →
wide awake →
awake →
far and wide →
far →
wide of the mark →
mark →
wide open →
open
-wide
-wide combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something exists or happens throughout the place or area that the noun refers to. comb in adj
...a Europe-wide conference on security and cooperation..., Is the problem one that's industry-wide?
-wide also combines to form adverbs., comb in adv n ADV, ADV with cl, ADV after v
Employers want to be sure recruits understand business Europe-wide...
wide-angle lens (wide-angle lenses plural )A wide-angle lens is a lens which allows you to photograph a wider view than a normal lens. n-count
wide awake
If you are wide awake, you are completely awake. adj usu v-link ADJ
I could not relax and still felt wide awake.
wide boy (wide boys plural )A wide boy is a man, especially a young man, who has a lot of money but who earns it in a dishonest or illegal way.
(mainly BRIT)
INFORMAL n-count
(disapproval)
wide-eyed
If you describe someone as wide-eyed, you mean that they are inexperienced and innocent, and may be easily impressed. adj usu ADJ n
Her wide-eyed innocence soon exposes the pretensions of the art world.
wide-ranging
If you describe something as wide-ranging, you mean it deals with or affects a great variety of different things. adj
...a package of wide-ranging economic reforms...
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a computer system which links documents and pictures into a database that is stored in computers in many different parts of the world and that people everywhere can use. The abbreviations WWW and the Web are often used. (COMPUTING) n-proper the N
