PHRASE
If someone has done something very stupid, rude, or selfish, you can say that they
take the cake
or that what they have done
takes the cake
, to emphasize your surprise at their behaviour. [AM
, EMPHASIS
]
in BRIT, use take the biscuit7the icing on the cake
→ see
icing
caked
/ke
I
kt/ ADJ
If something is
cakedwith
mud, blood, or dirt, it is covered with a thick dry layer of it. □ [+ with/in
]
Her shoes were caked with mud.
● COMB
[usu ADJ
n]
Caked
is also a combining form. □
…herds of mud-caked cattle and sheep.
ca
ke mix
(
cake mixes
) N‑VAR
Cake mix
is a powder that you mix with eggs and water or milk to make a cake. You bake the mixture in the oven.
ca
ke pan
(
cake pans
) N‑COUNT
A
cake pan
is a metal container that you bake a cake in. [AM
]
in BRIT, usually use cake tin
ca
ke tin
(
cake tins
) N‑COUNT
A
cake tin
is a metal container that you bake a cake in. [BRIT
]
in AM, usually use cake pan
cake|walk
/ke
I
kwɔːk/ N‑SING
If you say that something is
a cakewalk
, you mean that it is very easy to do or achieve. □
Fittipaldi's victory was a cakewalk.
cal
/kæ
l/ (cals
) N‑COUNT
[usu pl, num N
]
Cals
are units of measurement for the energy value of food.
Cal
is an abbreviation for 'calorie'. □
…325 cals per serving.
cal|a|mar|i
/kæ
ləmɑ
ːr
I
/ N‑UNCOUNT
Calamari
is squid that has been prepared for eating, usually by cutting it into rings, dipping it in a mixture of flour, milk, and eggs, and frying it.
cala|mine
/kæ
ləma
I
n/ N‑UNCOUNT
[oft N
n]
Calamine
is a liquid that you can put on your skin when it is sore or itchy. □
…calamine lotion.
ca|lami|tous
/kəlæ
m
I
təs/ ADJ
If you describe an event or situation as
calamitous
, you mean it is very unfortunate or serious. [FORMAL
] □
…the calamitous state of the country.
ca|lam|ity
/kəlæ
m
I
ti/ (calamities
) N‑VAR
A
calamity
is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress. [FORMAL
] □
He described drugs as the greatest calamity of the age.
□
It could only end in calamity.
cal|ci|fied
/kæ
ls
I
fa
I
d/ ADJ
Body tissue that is
calcified
has become hard because of the presence of substances called calcium salts. □
…calcified tissue.
cal|cium
/kæ
lsiəm/ N‑UNCOUNT
Calcium
is a soft white element which is found in bones and teeth, and also in limestone, chalk, and marble.
cal|cu|lable
/kæ
lkjʊləb
ə
l/ ADJ
Calculable
amounts or consequences can be calculated.
cal|cu|late
/kæ
lkjʊle
I
t/ (calculates
, calculating
, calculated
)
1
VERB
If you
calculate
a number or amount, you discover it from information that you already have, by using arithmetic, mathematics, or a special machine. □ [V
n]
From this you can calculate the total mass in the Galaxy.
□ [V
that]
We calculate that the average size farm in Lancaster County is 65 acres.
[Also V
wh]
2
VERB
If you
calculate
the effects of something, especially a possible course of action, you think about them in order to form an opinion or decide what to do. □ [V
n]
I believe I am capable of calculating the political consequences accurately.
□ [V
that]
He is calculating that the property market will be back on its feet within two years.
WORD HISTORY
calculate
Calculate
comes from the Latin word calculare
meaning 'count using small stones', from calculus
, meaning 'stone'. The Romans used small stones to count with.
cal|cu|lat|ed
/kæ
lkjʊle
I
t
I
d/
1
ADJ
If something is
calculatedto
have a particular effect, it is specially done or arranged in order to have that effect. □
Their movements were calculated to terrify landowners into abandoning their holdings.
2
ADJ
If you say that something is not
calculatedto
have a particular effect, you mean that it is unlikely to have that effect. □
Such a statement was hardly calculated to deter future immigrants.