chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



Search Tips & Abbreviations

Search results for 'write':

write verb (past tense wrote , past participle written , present participle writing) 1 tr & intr to mark or produce (letters, symbols, numbers, words, sentences, etc) on a surface, especially paper, usually using a pen or pencil. 2 a to compose or create (a book or music, etc) in manuscript, typescript or on computer, etc; b to be the author or composer of (a book or music, etc). 3 intrans to compose novels or contribute articles to newspapers, etc, especially as a living. 4 to inscribe or engrave (a surface). 5 to make or fill in (a document or form, etc). 6 tr & intr to compose (a letter, etc) • I must write to him. 7 to say or express in a letter, article or book, etc. 8 to put up-to-date information in (a diary, etc). 9 to include (a condition, etc) in a contract, or will, etc. 10 to underwrite (an insurance policy). 11 to fill (pages or sheets, etc) with writing. 12 to display clearly • Guilt was written all over his face. 13 to decree or foretell. 14 computing to transfer (data) to a memory or storage device.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon writan.

write something down 1 to put it down or record it in writing. 2 to reduce its accounting value. See also write-down.

write down to someone to write in a simplified style for their benefit.

write in to write a letter formally to an organization, TV programme, etc.

write off to write and send a letter of request • I wrote off for a catalogue.

write something off 1 to damage a vehicle (in a crash) beyond repair. See also write-off. 2 to cancel (a debt). 3 to discontinue (a project, etc) because it is likely to fail. 4 to dismiss something as being of no importance.

write something out 1 to write it in full; to copy or transcribe it. 2 to remove a character or scene from a film or serial, etc.

write something up 1 to write or rewrite it in a final form. 2 to bring (a diary or accounts, etc) up to date. 3 to write about it or review it, especially approvingly. See also write-up.