Affectations - English meaning

noun

The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.

Usage examples:

The surface tension of water is increased, and even the density of air surrounding the earth ebbs a…

verb

Express (an opinion or grievance) publicly.

Usage examples:

A meeting in which long-standing grievances were aired

noun

The mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe

Usage examples:

Let’s go outside for some fresh air., keith kicked the football high in the air., air travel, you c…

idiom

False ways of behaving that are intended to make other people feel that you are important and belong to a high social class

Usage examples:

He was always putting on airs and graces., she's got no reason to give herself airs and graces.

noun

The quality of being made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally.

Usage examples:

Vigorous debates about the authenticity of the original and the artificiality of the copy

noun

The quality of being made by people, often as a copy of something natural

Usage examples:

As a designer he loves artificiality, like these brightly embellished trees laden with synthetic fr…

noun

The quality of not being real or sincere

Usage examples:

Soap operas use complex characters to distract us from the artificiality of the genre., there was a…

noun

The quality of being impressive and imposing in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so.

Usage examples:

It had a grandiosity of scale and opulence that set it apart from neighbouring cities

noun

The quality of not expressing genuine feelings.

Usage examples:

He had no patience for anything that smacked of insincerity or hypocrisy

noun

The action or practice of pretending to feel something that you do not really feel, or not meaning what you say

Usage examples:

There’s often a bit of insincerity in these speeches., jane detected the insincerity in his voice.

noun

The pretentious or showy display of wealth and luxury, designed to impress.

Usage examples:

The office was spacious, but without any trace of ostentation

noun

A show of wealth, possessions, or power intended to attract admiration or notice

verb

Present or constitute (a problem or danger).

Usage examples:

The sheer number of visitors is posing a threat to the area

verb

Puzzle or perplex (someone) with a question or problem.

Usage examples:

We have thus posed the mathematician and the historian

noun

A way of standing or sitting, especially in order to be photographed, painted, or drawn.

Usage examples:

Photographs of boxers in ferocious poses

noun

Behaviour that is intended to impress or mislead.

Usage examples:

A masking of fear with macho posturing

verb

Behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead.

Usage examples:

A billionaire posturing as a hero of the working class

noun

Behaviour or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest, or to make people believe something that is not true

Usage examples:

His writing has been dismissed as mere intellectual posturing.

noun

An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.

Usage examples:

His anger is masked by a pretence that all is well

noun

A way of behaving that is intended to deceive people

Usage examples:

She made absolutely no pretence of being interested., they kept up (= continued) a pretence of norm…

noun

A claim or assertion of a claim to something.

Usage examples:

His pretensions to the imperial inheritance

verb

Apply tension to (an object) during manufacture or prior to some other process.

Usage examples:

The safety system pretensions the seat belts

noun

The appearance of being more important or more serious than there is reason for

Usage examples:

[ u ] leonard’s paintings have a real freedom from pretension., [ c usually pl ] he has no pretensi…

noun

A claim or assertion of a claim to something.

Usage examples:

His pretensions to the imperial inheritance

verb

Apply tension to (an object) during manufacture or prior to some other process.

Usage examples:

The safety system pretensions the seat belts

noun

The quality of trying to make yourself appear or sound more important or clever than you are

Usage examples:

I couldn't believe the pretentiousness of the book., her writing tends towards abstraction and pret…

noun

The character or quality of being a snob.

Usage examples:

The worst aspects of english class snobbery

noun

Behaviour and opinions that are typical of a snob

Usage examples:

She accused me of snobbery because i sent my sons to a private school.

noun

Unfriendly behaviour towards other people because you think that you are better than them

Usage examples:

She has annoyed the press with her snootiness., the employees there all have an air of snootiness.

noun

The quality of thinking that you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important

Usage examples:

His comments indicate a certain superciliousness.