1
Chapter 1 The River + The Valley introduction
Chapter 1 The River + The Valley introduction
web
1 [singular] the Web
the system on the Internet that allows you to find and use information that is held on computers all over the
world [= the World Wide Web]
on the web a guide to the best education-related sites on the Web
2 [countable] a net of thin threads made by a SPIDER to catch insects:
He watched a spider spinning its web.
3 [countable usually singular] a closely related set of things that can be very complicated
a web of intrigue/deceit/deception/lies etca tangled web of relationships
4 [countable] a piece of skin that connects the toes of ducks and some other birds, and helps them to swim
well
tangled also tangled up
1 twisted together in an untidy mass: He had hair like tangled string.
2 complicated or not easy to understand: the tangled web of local politics; tangled emotions
valley [countable]
an area of lower land between two lines of hills or mountains, usually with a river flowing through it: the
San Fernando valley
bleeding [uncountable]
the condition of losing blood from your body: Use pressure to control the bleeding.
severe/heavy bleeding (=when someone is losing a lot of blood)
bleeding [only before noun] British English spoken not polite
an offensive way of emphasizing something when you are angry: Get your bleeding hands off my car!
bleeding heart also bleeding heart liberal [countable]
informal someone who feels sympathy for poor people or criminals, in a way that you think is not practical
or helpful
hillside [countable]the sloping side of a hill
hilltop [countable]the top of a hill
shock wave
1 [uncountable and countable] a very strong wave of air pressure or heat from an explosion, EARTHQUAKE
etc: The shock wave from the blast blew out 22 windows in the courthouse.
2 shock waves strong feelings of shock that people feel when something bad happens unexpectedly - used
especially in news reports: The child's murder sent shock waves through the neighborhood.
1
2
Chapter 1 The River + The Valley introduction
wooded
having woods or covered with trees: the wooded hills of Northern Virginia
thickly/heavily/densely etc wooded a thickly wooded area
forested
forested areas are covered in forests
thickly/heavily/densely etc forested heavily forested terrain
splash
1 [countable] the sound of a liquid hitting something or being moved around quickly:
Rachel fell into the river with a loud splash.
2 [countable] a mark made by a liquid splashing onto something else
splash of There were splashes of paint all over my clothes.
3 splash of colour a small area of bright colour
4 make a splash informal to do something that gets a lot of public attention:
Russell's new show made a big splash in New York.
5 [singular] a small amount of liquid added to a drink
splash of a cup of coffee with a splash of brandy
estuary plural estuaries [countable]
the wide part of a river where it goes into the sea: the Thames estuary
creeppast tense and past participle crept
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
1 to move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attention
creep into/over/around etc Johann would creep into the gallery to listen to the singers.
2 if something such as an insect, small animal, or car creeps, it moves slowly and quietly [↪ crawl]
creep down/along/away etc a caterpillar creeping down my arm
3 to gradually enter something and change it
creep in/into/over etc Funny how religion is creeping into the environmental debate.
4 if a plant creeps, it grows or climbs up or along a particular place
creep up/over/around etc ivy creeping up the walls of the building
5 if mist, clouds etc creep, they gradually fill or cover a place
creep into/over etc Fog was creeping into the valley.
6 British English informal to be insincerely nice to someone, especially someone in authority, in order to
gain an advantage for yourself
creep (up) to somebody I'm not the kind of person to creep to anybody.
7 somebody/something makes my flesh creep
used to say that someone or something makes you feel strong dislike or fear:
His glassy stare made my flesh creep.
creep up on somebody/something phrasal verb
to surprise someone by walking up behind them silently: Don't yell - let's creep up on them and scare them.
2