- of */*/*/
- UK [əv] / US
strong UK [ɒv] / US [ɑv]
preposition
1) connected with or part of someone/something used for saying who or what has a particular feature, aspect, or quality
We were impressed by the size of the building.
the colour of the sky
I don't remember the name of the street.
the smell of unwashed clothes
2) saying which specific thinga) used for saying which specific thing belonging to a more general type you are referring toI had a feeling of duty towards him.
She seemed to like the idea of having children.
the month of April
the city of Rome
Todd has the annoying habit of questioning everything I say.
b) used for giving a specific age, amount, value etcShe met Charles at the age of 20.
She was a young girl of no more than 13.
Lynn earns a salary of thirty thousand pounds a year.
Teachers have been asking for a pay rise of 4 per cent.
3) saying who or what does somethinga) used after nouns that refer to actions for saying who or what does the actionthe shouts of excited children
This is clearly the work of more than one person.
the arrival of our train
b) used after nouns that refer to actions for saying who or what is affected by the actionthe baptism of children
The removal of the machine parts took several hours.
4) saying who something belongs to used for saying who something belongs tothe property of the residents
They ended up living in the house of Jeanne's oldest brother.
5) showing or describing someone/something concerning or showing someone or somethingShe had a photograph of him beside her bed.
It was a tale of war and bravery.
a history of Russia
Jerry kept thinking of the last time they'd met.
I reminded her of her duty to her family.
6) saying what something is part of used for saying what something is part ofHe moved to the far side of the bed.
a pain in the back of my head
She sat on the edge of her chair.
The roof of the church was damaged.
7) containing or consisting of somethinga) used for saying what something containsHe handed her a glass of water.
a box of chocolates
a bag of nuts
b) used for saying what type of thing is in a particular quantity or groupa kilo of rice
millions of insects
a collection of poems
a swarm of bees
a succession of temporary jobs
a pair of sunglasses
c) used for talking about individual pieces of a substancea grain of sugar/sand
a slice of cake
a piece of wood/ice
a sheet of paper
d) used for saying what group a particular person or thing is fromShe's one of my best friends.
Three of us went on holiday together.
Several of the flats cannot even be lived in.
8) in names or titles used after names and titles for talking about the relationship between a person and a place or organizationHe listed the kings and queens of England.
the President of Syria
the treasurer of the club
9) describing materials or fabrics used for saying what substance is used for making somethinga suit of lightweight wool
He was wearing a shirt of soft pink cotton.
instruments made of stainless steel
10) in dates used for giving dates and periods of timethe 27th of November
the last month of the year
11) in descriptions of feelings used after some adjectives for saying a person or thing that a feeling is directed towardsYou should be ashamed of yourself!
I'm tired of their constant arguing.
Maya ought to be proud of him.
12) linking one noun describing another used for saying what type of person or thing has been described by another nounHe was an angel of a child.
We had a hell of a time trying to find a parking space.
13) saying who has a quality used for saying which person behaves in a particular way in a situationit was nice/sweet/stupid etc of someone:It was nice of you to help me.
It was stupid of me to think they would agree.
14) giving the cause of something used for saying what causes somethingthe beneficial effects of red wine
He died of lung cancer.
As a result of pollution, many species have died out.
15) saying what quality someone has used for mentioning a quality that someone or something hasHe was a man of great charm.
The research will be of great interest to many people.
Our conversation was of little importance.
16) created by someone used for saying who wrote a book or play, produced a work of art etcthe wonderful paintings of Picasso
the plays of Harold Pinter
17) linking a time and an event used for describing when something happens in relation to something elseShe didn't invite him till the evening of the party.
Eva's father died the day of his 70th birthday.
18) American giving the time used in saying the time to mean a particular number of minutes before the hourIt's twenty of two (= 1.40).
It's a quarter of nine (= 8.45).
19) describing relationships used for saying who has a particular relationship with someone elseLori is the daughter of my father's sister.
He was having an affair with the wife of a diplomat.
a good friend of mine
20) saying what happened during a period of time used for saying what type of activity or situation lasts for a particular period of timeWe had weeks of problems with the new computer system.
Twelve years of peace were followed by two years of war.
21) indicating the best, biggest etc used for saying the period of time for which someone or something is the biggest, best, most important etcReynolds was named businessman of the year in 1998.
the most popular film of the summer
•more/less/much of a something
— used for describing the importance of a quality that something hasIt was really more of a comment than a question.
Jet travel has made moving from place to place less of an ordeal.
Getting tickets for Tuesday shouldn't be much of a problem.
of a weekend/Sunday etc
— British used for saying that you often do something at weekends/on Sundays etcI generally do the gardening of a Sunday.
English dictionary. 2014.
