- high
- I UK [haɪ] / US
adjective
Word forms "high":
adjective high comparative higher superlative highest
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Collocations:
High is used for talking about things that are a long way from the ground, or about things whose top parts are a long way from the ground: a high shelf ♦ a high window ♦ the world's highest mountain
Tall is used about people or things that measure more than is usual from their bottom to their top, especially things that are more high than wide, like a person or a tree: a tall lamp-post ♦ a tall thin bottle ♦ the tallest boy in the class You always use tall when you describe the height of a person: My brother is taller than me.1) large in size from the top to the groundvery high mountains
the highest (= tallest) building
The fence is too high to climb over.
a) in a position a long way above the groundbeautiful sunny weather with just a few high clouds
The boiling point of water is lower at high altitudes.
the highest shelf
b) if a river is high, the water is above its usual level, for example because of heavy rainThe river is so high that only small boats can pass under the bridge.
c) used in measurements of how big or how far above the ground an object is. This is called heightSome of the waves are fifteen feet high.
How high is that ceiling?
2) large in amounthigh prices/temperatures/wages
This is an area of high unemployment.
Interest rates are very high.
Casualties were highest near the centre of the earthquake.
high risk of something:Music was being played at high volume.
the high twenties/nineties etc:The risk of the disease spreading is high.
a high level/incidence of something:temperatures in the high twenties (= between 27 and 30 degrees)
high number/volume/proportion of something:The pipes contain a high level of lead.
A high proportion of the population are immigrants.
a) used for describing a country's money when it is more valuable than the money of other countriesA high yen makes Japanese exports more expensive.
The Euro edged higher against the dollar.
b) containing a lot of somethinghigh in:Ice cream is very high in calories.
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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with high
▪ costs, degree, expectations, expectations, hopes, hopes, incidence, level, prices, proportion, rate, taxes, unemployment, volume, wages3)a) very good, or excellenthigh standard:high quality:They expect high standards of care.
high opinion/regard/esteem:They're known for the high quality of their products.
She has a very high opinion of herself.
I have the highest regard for him.
b) if you have high hopes or expectations, you hope or expect that something very good will happenThey have high hopes for this week's game.
I think their expectations were too high.
4) important compared to other people or things, especially in a particular system or organizationhigh position/status/rank:What is the highest rank in the army?
high priority:Teachers no longer enjoy the high social status they once had.
Both parties are giving high priority to education in their campaigns.
5)a) informal affected by a drug that makes the user feel happy, excited, or relaxedhigh on:He was high on cocaine.
b) very happy or excitedhigh on:in high spirits:The players were high on the emotion of it all.
The children have been in high spirits all day.
6) a high sound is near the upper end of a range of sounds. For example, the song of a bird is a high sound, but a cow or a large drum makes a low sounda high note/key
Women's voices are usually higher than men's.
See:7) high winds are very strong8) [only before noun] used in some expressions for referring to the greatest, strongest, or most extreme example or part of somethinghigh summer:high fashion:Major football tournaments should not really be played in high summer.
high drama (= exciting events):In the 1980s this was high fashion.
high politics/finance:It was a day of high drama.
This is high politics played for high stakes.
a new TV drama series set in the world of high finance
9) a high latitude is an area of the Earth that is a long way north or south of the equator10)a) old-fashioned cheese or meat that is high has developed a very strong flavour and smellb) used humorously about anything that has an unpleasant smellThese socks are a bit high.
•high on the list (of priorities)
= high on the agenda — important and likely to be dealt with soonThe new library will be high on the agenda.
on/for high days and holidays
— British on or for special occasionsThe drawing room is used only on high days and holidays.
See:leave I
II UK [haɪ] / US adverb
Word forms "high":
comparative higher superlative highest
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1)a) a long distance above the ground or above a particular positiona first-class hotel built high on the hillside
high above:The eagle soared high into the air.
the sound of war planes flying high above the city
b) reaching up a long waypiled/stacked high:She stretched her arms up high.
Books were piled high all around.
2) to or at an important positionShe rose high in the company.
A colonel ranks higher than a major.
3) near the upper end of a range of soundsI can't sing that high.
•look/search high and low
— to search very thoroughlyI've searched high and low but without success.
- run high
III UK [haɪ] / US noun
Word forms "high":
singular high plural highs1) [countable] a period or situation in which something reaches its highest levelreach a high:a new/all-time/record high:Temperatures today are expected to reach a high of 30 degrees.
Attendances at football matches are at an all-time high.
2) [uncountable] a high temperature in an oven or heating systemPut the mixture in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds.
3)a) [countable] a feeling of great happiness or excitementon a high:They've experienced both the highs and the lows of married life.
The kids are on a high for days when the exams are over.
b) a feeling produced by drugs or alcoholThe painkillers gave me an amazing high.
4) High used in the names of high schoolsHe went to North Berwick High.
•- on high
English dictionary. 2014.
