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sev|er|al ◆◆◆ /se vrəl/ DET Several is used to refer to an imprecise number of people or things that is not large but is greater than two. □  I had lived two doors away from this family for several years. □  Several blue plastic boxes under the window were filled with record albums. □  Several hundred students gathered on campus. ● QUANT Several is also a quantifier. □ [+ of ] Several of the delays were caused by the new high-tech baggage system. ● PRON Several is also a pronoun. □  No one drug will suit or work for everyone and sometimes several may have to be tried. SYNONYMS several DET

some:He went to fetch some books.

a few:I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.

a handful:One spring morning a handful of potential investors assembled in Quincy.

sev|er|ance /se vərəns/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Severance from a person or group, or the severance of a connection, involves the ending of a relationship or connection. [FORMAL ] □ [+ from ] …his bitter sense of severance from his family. □ [+ of ] …the complete severance of diplomatic relations.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Severance pay is a sum of money that a company gives to its employees when it has to stop employing them. [BUSINESS ] □  We were offered 13 weeks' severance pay.

se|vere ◆◆◇ /s I v I ə ^r / (severer , severest )

1 ADJ You use severe to indicate that something bad or undesirable is great or intense. □  …a business with severe cash flow problems. □  Steve passed out on the floor and woke up blinded and in severe pain. □  Shortages of professional staff are very severe in some places. ●  se|vere|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  Much of Britain was severely affected by blizzards. □  An aircraft overshot the runway and was severely damaged. ●  se|ver|ity /s I ve r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Several treatments are used to lessen the severity of the symptoms.

2 ADJ Severe punishments or criticisms are very strong or harsh. □  This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary. ●  se|vere|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  …a campaign to try to change the law to punish dangerous drivers more severely. ●  se|ver|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The Bishop said he was sickened by the severity of the sentence. SYNONYMS severe ADJ

1

serious:The government still face very serious difficulties.

critical:Its day-to-day finances are in a critical state.

terrible:Tens of thousands of people suffered terrible injuries.

grave:I have grave doubts that the documents tell the whole story.

2

strict:My parents were very strict.

harsh:…the cold, harsh cruelty of her husband.

cruel:…struggling to survive in a cruel world with which they cannot cope.

sew /soʊ / (sews , sewing , sewed , sewn )

1 VERB When you sew something such as clothes, you make them or repair them by joining pieces of cloth together by passing thread through them with a needle. □ [V n] She sewed the dresses on the sewing machine. □ [V n with on ] Anyone can sew on a button, including you. □ [V ] Mrs Roberts was a dressmaker, and she taught her daughter to sew. [Also V n prep]