period

[pɪriəd]

noun

1. an amount of time. E.g.: a time period of 30 years, hastened the period of time of his recovery, Picasso's blue period [Syn: time period, period of time]

2. a unit of geological time during which a system of rocks formed. E.g.: ganoid fishes swarmed during the earlier geological periods [Syn: geological period]

3. the interval taken to complete one cycle of a regularly repeating phenomenon.

4. a stage in the history of a culture having a definable place in space and time. E.g.: a novel from the Victorian period [Syn: historic period, historical period]

n (thing)

   period, periodical

adj

   periodic, periodical

adv

   periodically

Collocations from the ACL

adj+n: brief period, earlier period, entire period, extended period, given period, historical period, initial period, short period, whole period.

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policy

[pɑləsi]

noun

1. written contract or certificate of insurance. E.g.: you should have read the small print on your policy [Syn: insurance policy, insurance]

2. a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government. E.g.: they debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation

3. a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group. E.g.: it was a policy of retribution

n (thing)

   policy

Collocations from the ACL

adj+n: current policy, economic policy, educational policy, effective policy, environmental policy, foreign policy, key policy, national policy, public policy, social policy.

n+n: government policy, security policy.

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principle

[prɪnsəpəl]

noun

1. (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature). E.g.: the principles of internal-combustion engines [Syn: rationale]

2. a basic truth or law or assumption. E.g.: the principles of democracy

3. a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system. E.g.: the principle of the conservation of mass, the principle of jet propulsion [Syn: rule]

4. a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct. E.g.: their principles of composition characterized all their works [Syn: rule]

n (thing)

   principle

adj

   principled

opposite

   unprincipled

Collocations from the ACL

adj+n: basic principle, established principle, ethical principle, fundamental principle, general principle, guiding principle, key principle, main principle, moral principle, organising principle, underlying principle.

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proceed

[prəsid]

verb

1. follow a procedure or take a course. [Syn: go, move]

2. continue a certain state, condition, or activity. [Syn: continue, go on, go along, keep]

n (thing)

   procedure, proceedings

verb

   proceed

verb forms

   proceeded, proceeding, proceeds

adj

   procedural

Collocations from the ACL

v+n: adopt (a) procedure, describe (a) procedure, follow (a) procedure, use (a) procedure.

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process

[prɑses]

verb

1. perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information. E.g.: The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech

noun

1. a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states. E.g.: events now in process, the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls

2. (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents. E.g.: the process of thinking [Syn: cognitive process, mental process, operation, cognitive operation]

3. a particular course of action intended to achieve a result. E.g.: it was a process of trial and error [Syn: procedure]

n (thing)

   process

verb

   process

verb forms

   processed, processes, processing

adj

   processed

Collocations from the ACL

adj+n: complex process, continuous process, creative process, democratic process, developmental process, due process, dynamic process, evolutionary process, natural process, ongoing process, slow process, underlying process.

n+n: assessment process, learning process, thinking process, thought process, information processing.

v+n: process data, process information, begin (a) process, describe (a) process, start (a) process.

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require

[rikwaɪɜr]

verb

1. require as useful, just, or proper. E.g.: success usually requires hard work [Syn: necessitate, ask, postulate, need, take, involve, call for, demand]

2. have need of. [Syn: want, need]

3. make someone do something. [Syn: command, compel]

4. consider obligatory; request and expect. E.g.: We require our secretary to be on time [Syn: ask, expect]

n (thing)

   requirement

verb

   require

verb forms

   required, requires, requiring

adj

   required

Collocations from the ACL

adj+n: functional requirement, legal requirement, minimum requirement.

v+n: require consideration, require knowledge, require resources, meet (a) requirement.

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