mere
gb/mˈɪɹ/ us/mˈɪɹ/
B2
Inglese
~ 2700
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
B2
property
1
small or unimportant
Used to say that something is only what is said and not more important or bigger than that.
Schema d'uso:
a mere [number/amount/noun]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mere' with 'mere' as in 'lake' from older English; also may overuse it in casual speech where 'just' or 'only' would sound more natural.
Sinonimi
only (More general and common; can be used in more contexts without the connotation of smallness or insignificance.)
|
just (Informal and very common; similar meaning but less formal than 'mere'.)
Contrari
significant (Highlights that something has importance or value, opposite of 'mere' in this sense.)
Collocazioni
a mere child
|a mere formality
|a mere fraction
|a mere handful
|a mere coincidence
Temi
description
|comparison
|emphasis
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- She lost the race by a mere second.
- It’s a mere formality before we start the project.
- He’s a mere child, but already very wise.
- The repairs cost a mere fifty dollars.
- The delay was caused by a mere oversight.
Esempi per chi studia
- The book costs a mere five dollars.
- He is a mere boy.
- It is a mere game, not real life.
- We waited a mere ten minutes.
- It is a mere formality before the meeting.
Sostantivo
archaic
C2
entity
2
lake or pond (archaic)
An old word for a lake or pond.
Errore comune:
Learners may not realize this meaning is old-fashioned and rarely used except in poetry or historical contexts.
Sinonimi
lake (Modern, general word for a large body of water inland.)
|
pond (Smaller than most lakes, often artificial.)
Contrari
land (Opposite in that it is solid ground rather than water.)
Collocazioni
shimmering mere
|fishing in the mere
Temi
nature
Esempi
- The castle overlooked a tranquil mere.
- They set sail across the mere at dawn.
- Mist hung low over the still mere.
Esempi per chi studia
- The village is next to a mere.
- A swan swims in the mere.
- The castle is near the mere.
Grammatica
Forma base
mere
IPA
GB/mˈɪɹ/
US/mˈɪɹ/
Sillabe e accento
mere (1 sillaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (mere)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: mere
- Comparative: merer
- Superlative: merest
Noun
- Base: mere
- Plural: meres
Famiglia di parole
Forms
meres
noun
merer
adjective
merest
adjective
Core family
merely
adverb B1
Espressioni
by no means/mere coincidence
1/bˈaɪ nˈoʊ mənzmɚ koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
fixed phrase
not accidental or unplanned
Used to say that something is not just chance but has a reason behind it.
Esempi
- It was by no mere coincidence that they met again.
- Her success was by no mere coincidence; she worked hard for it.
the merest
1/ðə mˈɛɹɪst/
fixed phrase
smallest possible amount
Used to say that something is the smallest possible amount or degree of something.
Esempi
- He won by the merest fraction of a second.
- She gave the merest hint of a smile.