The meaning of Observance

noun

The action of celebrating an important day or event.

Usage examples:

The birth of his son was a cause for celebration

noun

A special social event, such as a party, when you celebrate something

Usage examples:

There were lively new year celebrations all over town., such good news calls for (= deserves) a cel…

adjective

Relating to or used for formal religious or public events.

Usage examples:

A ceremonial occasion

noun

The system of rules and procedures to be observed at a formal or religious occasion.

Usage examples:

The procedure was conducted with all due ceremonial

adjective

Related to, used in, or involving a ceremony (= a fixed set of formal acts performed on important social or religious occasions)

Usage examples:

A marine honour guard flanks the president during ceremonial events at the white house., the men we…

noun

A formal religious or public occasion, especially one celebrating a particular event, achievement, or anniversary.

Usage examples:

The winners were presented with their prizes at a special ceremony

noun

A way in which something is usually done.

Usage examples:

To attract the best patrons the movie houses had to ape the conventions and the standards of theatres

noun

A way of doing something or appearing that is considered usual and correct

Usage examples:

[ c ] literary conventions, [ u ] he flouted convention by wearing sneakers with his tuxedo., the d…

noun

A large, formal meeting of people who work in the same industry or belong to the same organization or profession

Usage examples:

A convention of shopping center developers, hold/host a convention madrid will host next year's con…

noun

A traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time.

Usage examples:

The old english custom of dancing round the maypole

adjective

Made or done to order; custom-made.

Usage examples:

A custom guitar

noun

A way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time among a group of people

Usage examples:

[ c ] it was a time-honored custom of the club that blue chairs were reserved for senior members on…

noun

A detailed inspection or study.

Usage examples:

An examination of marketing behaviour

noun

The act or process of carefully looking at someone or something to learn about its condition or to discover facts

Usage examples:

[ c ] you have to have a physical examination/exam in order to get life insurance., [ u ] the evide…

noun

The process of checking something carefully in order to discover new information or prove particular facts

Usage examples:

Examination of sth the review includes a detailed examination of city records., close/comprehensive…

verb

Look at closely or with interest.

Usage examples:

Rose eyed him warily

noun

Each of a pair of globular organs of sight in the head of humans and vertebrate animals.

Usage examples:

My cat is blind in one eye

noun

A thing resembling an eye in appearance, shape, or relative position.

Usage examples:

In that box are six infrared eyes logging the position of your features so it can build up a pictur…

noun

A day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons.

Usage examples:

Traditional jewish festivals

noun

An organized set of special events, such as musical performances or plays, usually happening in one place, or a special day or period, usually in memory of a religious event, with its own social activities, food, or ceremonies

Usage examples:

A film/food/music festival, the festival of eid al-adha/hanukkah/diwali, a solstice festival

preposition

Coming after or as a result of.

Usage examples:

Police are hunting for two men following a spate of robberies in the area

noun

A body of supporters or admirers.

Usage examples:

He attracted a worldwide following

adjective

Next in time.

Usage examples:

The following day there was a ceremony in st peter's square

noun

The visible shape or configuration of something.

Usage examples:

The form, colour, and texture of the tree

verb

Variant spelling of forme.

combining form

Having the form of.

Usage examples:

Cruciform

noun

The rigid observance of convention or etiquette.

Usage examples:

The formality of life in an english public school

noun

Something done because it follows the usual or accepted way of doing things, although it may not be important

Usage examples:

[ c ] there were only a few legal formalities to be finished, and he would be free to leave the cou…

noun

Something official that must be done before something else can happen or be done

Usage examples:

It is essential to observe all the formalities when setting up a business., complete/go through the…

noun

A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

Usage examples:

He has an annoying habit of interrupting me

verb

Be dressed or clothed.

Usage examples:

A boy habited as a serving lad

noun

A particular act or way of acting that you tend to do regularly

Usage examples:

[ u ] judy is in the habit of sleeping late on sundays., [ u ] i have the habit of checking my e-ma…

verb

Pay attention to; take notice of.

Usage examples:

He should have heeded the warnings

noun

Careful attention.

Usage examples:

If he heard, he paid no heed

verb

Present participle of heed

Usage examples:

The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines.,…

verb

Regard with great respect.

Usage examples:

They honoured their parents in all they did

noun

High respect; great esteem.

Usage examples:

His portrait hangs in the place of honour

noun

The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.

Usage examples:

I must as a matter of honour avoid any taint of dishonesty

noun

Careful examination or scrutiny.

Usage examples:

On closer inspection it looked like a fossil

noun

The act of looking at something carefully in order to discover information

Usage examples:

[ u ] at first she suspected that the letter was a forgery, but on closer inspection (= looked at m…

noun

The act of looking at something carefully to check its quality or condition

Usage examples:

Carry out/make an inspection normally you will carry out an inspection of the goods as soon as poss…

noun

The action or fact of owning, maintaining, or protecting something.

Usage examples:

The keeping of dogs

verb

Have or retain possession of.

Usage examples:

Return one copy to me, keeping the other for your files

noun

Doing something you promised or had scheduled

Usage examples:

We all get together for dinner once a month, in keeping with (= following) family tradition.

adjective

Having a specified appearance.

Usage examples:

A young-looking american

verb

Direct one's gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction.

Usage examples:

People were looking at him

adverb

Having a stated type of appearance

Usage examples:

An odd-looking man, a linen shirt is casual looking.

verb

Submit to the authority of (someone) or comply with (a law).

Usage examples:

I always obey my father

verb

Present participle of obey

Usage examples:

The soldiers refused to obey (orders)., to obey the rules of international law, falling objects obe…

verb

To act according to what you have been asked or ordered to do by someone in authority, or to behave according to a rule, law, or instruction

Usage examples:

The soldiers refused to obey (orders)., to obey the rules of international law

noun

The action or process of closely observing or monitoring something or someone.

Usage examples:

She was brought into hospital for observation

noun

A remark made about something you have noticed

Usage examples:

She made an interesting observation about the poet’s intentions., he was admitted to the hospital f…

noun

A room, set of rooms, or building used as a place for commercial, professional, or bureaucratic work.

Usage examples:

An office job

noun

A place in a building where a business is carried on by people working at desks (= special tables) used for writing and for holding telephones and computers

Usage examples:

An office building, i didn’t leave the office until nearly 8 o’clock., the doctor’s office was fill…

noun

A room or building in which people work, especially sitting at desks with computers, phones, etc., as a part of a business or other organization

Usage examples:

The meeting is at their offices in san diego., local/regional/overseas office it would be so much e…

noun

An act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.

Usage examples:

Don giovanni had its first performance in 1787

noun

The act of doing something, such as your job

Usage examples:

If the accident happened during the performance of his regular duties, he’s covered by disability i…

noun

How successful an investment, company, etc. is and how much profit it makes

Usage examples:

The fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future., good/…

noun

The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it.

Usage examples:

The principles and practice of teaching

verb

Us spelling of practise.

verb

Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it.

Usage examples:

I need to practise my french

noun

Practice, as distinguished from theory.

Usage examples:

Modern political praxis is now thoroughly permeated with a productivist ethos

noun

The process of using a theory or something that you have learned in a practical way

Usage examples:

She is interested in both the theory and praxis of criminology.

noun

A religious or other solemn ceremony or act.

Usage examples:

The rite of communion

noun

A set of fixed words and actions, often said and done as part of a religious ceremony

Usage examples:

The marriage rite

noun

A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

Usage examples:

Ancient fertility rituals

adjective

Relating to or done as a religious or solemn rite.

Usage examples:

Ritual burial

noun

A set of actions or words performed in a regular way, often as part of a religious ceremony

Usage examples:

[ c ] my morning ritual includes reading the newspaper while i drink my coffee.

noun

Critical observation or examination.

Usage examples:

The policy came under scrutiny last month

noun

The careful and detailed examination of something

Usage examples:

Will the candidates stand up under all that scrutiny?

noun

The careful and detailed examination of something in order to get information about it

Usage examples:

Be subjected to/come under scrutiny the figures are likely to come under close scrutiny.

noun

The action of helping or doing work for someone.

Usage examples:

Millions are involved in voluntary service

verb

A system supplying a public need such as transport, communications, or utilities such as electricity and water.

Usage examples:

A regular bus service

noun

The help provided to a customer by someone who works in esp. a restaurant or store

Usage examples:

The service in this restaurant is terrible – i’ve been waiting fifteen minutes., [ u ] she was give…

noun

The transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

Usage examples:

Members of different castes have by tradition been associated with specific occupations

noun

A way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time, or the practice of following behavior and beliefs that have been so established

Usage examples:

[ c ] it is a western tradition for brides to wear white., [ u ] the dinka people are cattle-farmer…

noun

The action of using something or the fact of being used.

Usage examples:

A survey of water usage

noun

The way in which words are used by the people who speak and write a particular language, or an example of such use

Usage examples:

[ c ] we use african-american, which is the current preferred usage., the study tracks credit card …

noun

The process of using something

Usage examples:

The software allows marketers to track the usage patterns of each customer., the plan offers unlimi…

noun

The action of inspecting or looking at something.

Usage examples:

The owner may allow viewing by appointment

verb

Look at or inspect.

Usage examples:

The public can view the famous hall with its unique staircase

noun

An occasion for a special look at an exhibition, film, etc.

Usage examples:

We've been invited to a private viewing, before the exhibition opens.

verb

Look at or observe attentively over a period of time.

Usage examples:

Lucy watched him go

noun

A small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.

Usage examples:

My watch had stopped

noun

An act or instance of carefully observing someone or something over a period of time.

Usage examples:

The security forces have been keeping a close watch on our activities