while

while
1 /waIl/ conjunction
1 during the time that something is happening: They arrived while we were having dinner. | He got malaria while travelling in Africa.
2 if something happens while something else is happening, it happens at the same time as it: He was so tired he fell asleep while reading the newspaper.
3 used to emphasize the difference between two situations, activities etc: That region has plenty of natural resources while this one has none.
4 used to show that you partly agree with, or accept something but not completely: While she is a likeable girl she can be extremely difficult to work with.
2 noun a while a period of time, especially a short one: Can you wait a while or do you have to leave right now? | a short/little while: Bob's only been working here a short while. | for a while: He sat for a while, thinking about what Janine had said to him. | quite a while (=a fairly long time) | all the while (=all the time) —see also: once in a while once 1 (8), it's worth your while worth 1 (5) 3 verb while away the hours/evening/days etc to spend time in a pleasant and lazy way: We whiled away the summer evenings talking and drinking wine.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • While — While, n. [AS. hw[=i]l; akin to OS. hw[=i]l, hw[=i]la, OFries. hw[=i]le, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. w[=i]la, hw[=i]la, hw[=i]l, Icel. hv[=i]la a bed, hv[=i]ld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • While — and whilst are conjunctions whose primary meaning is during the time that . An example is::The days were hot while we were on vacation.:I read a magazine whilst I was waiting. While and whilst can nowadays legitimately be used in the contrastive… …   Wikipedia

  • While — While, conj. 1. During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep. While I have time and space. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • While as — While While, conj. 1. During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep. While I have time and space. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • While — While, prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [1913 Webster] I may be conveyed into your chamber; I ll lie under your bed while midnight. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • While — While, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whiled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whiling}.] To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; usually followed by away. [1913 Webster] The lovely lady whiled the hours away. Longfellow.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • While — While, v. i. To loiter. [R.] Spectator. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • while — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwīl; akin to Old High German hwīla time, Latin quies rest, quiet Date: before 12th century 1. a period of time especially when short and marked by the occurrence of an action or a condition ;… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • while — See: AFTER A WHILE or IN A WHILE, ALL THE TIME(1), EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ONCE IN A WHILE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • while — See: AFTER A WHILE or IN A WHILE, ALL THE TIME(1), EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ONCE IN A WHILE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • While My Guitar Gently Weeps — Song by The Beatles from the album The Beatles Released 22 November 1968 (1968 11 22) Recorded 5 September 1968 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”