Studio Classroom 2008.01.08

en·cy·clo·pe·di·a noun [count]

a book or set of books giving information about a lot of different subjects or one particular subject:
an encyclopedia of science

a walking encyclopedia

someone who knows a lot about many different things

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ac·cess2 verb [transitive]

1 to get information, especially from a computer:
The database allows you to access the sales figures in a number of ways.

2 FORMAL to get to and enter a place:
The road is closed but can be accessed by emergency vehicles.

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un·do (past tense un·did / ndd /; past participle un·done / ndn /) verb

1 [transitive] to open, untie, or remove something so that it no longer closes, fastens, or connects another thing:
He quickly undid the screws that held the lid on.
I can't undo my belt.

2 [transitive] to have the effect of changing something back into its original, usually worse state:
She warned that one mistake could undo all their achievements.

2a. [intransitive or transitive] COMPUTING to give a computer an instruction to ignore the last change you made to a document

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screw1 / skru / noun [count] (螺釘)

1 a thin pointed piece of metal used for fastening one thing to another. It has a raised twisted part on it called a thread. You push and turn it with a screwdriver instead of hitting it with a hammer like a nail:
I took out the screws to get the door off.
Two screws hold the blade in position.

2 [usually singular] IMPOLITE an act of having sex

2a. a sexual partner

3 MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL a prison GUARD. This word is used especially by prisoners.

have a screw loose INFORMAL

to be slightly crazy

put the screws on someone INFORMAL

to put more pressure on someone to do something, for example by threatening them

a turn of the screw

an occasion when someone puts more pressure on someone else to do something

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par·tic·i·pate / prtspet / verb [intransitive]

to take part in something:
a 50% saving on room rates at all participating hotels
participate in: The rebels have agreed to participate in the peace talks.

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cover your tracks

to hide any evidence that you were somewhere or did something

keep track of something

to have all the information you need about something:
We need a system to keep track of all our expenses.

lose track (e.g.: keep track of time or lose track of time)

to forget something or not have all the information you need:
I've lost track of how many times he called last week.

make tracks INFORMAL

to leave a place:
It's getting late – I think we'd better make tracks.

off track

unlikely to be successful or correct

on the right/wrong track

doing or thinking the right/wrong things:
The figures show we are on the right track.

on track

doing or saying things that are likely to be successful or correct:
Vanessa got back on track and won the match.
on track to do something: We're right on track to create two million new jobs.

stop (dead) in your tracks

to suddenly stop, for example because you are surprised

stop something in its tracks

to suddenly make something stop:
The new administration plans to stop the reform process in its tracks.

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