wide

Universal Words adjective, adverb, noun adjective (wider, widest) from one side to the other 1 measuring a lot from one side to the other: a wide river / road * Sam has a wide mouth. * a jacket with wide lapels * Her face broke into a wide grin. OPPNARROW seealsoWIDTH 2 measuring a particular distance from one side to the other: How wide is that stream? * It's about 2 metres wide. * The road was just wide enough for two vehicles to pass. large number / amount 3 including a large number or variety of different people or things; covering a large area: a wide range / choice / variety of goods * Her music appeals to a wide audience. * Jenny has a wide circle of friends. * a manager with wide experience of industry * It's the best job in the whole wide world. * The incident has received wide coverage in the press. * The festival attracts people from a wide area. difference / gap 4 very big: There are wide variations in prices. general 5 (only used in the comparative and superlative) general; not only looking at details: wider issues / aims / problems * We are talking about education in its widest sense. * We need to consider the problem of vandalism within a wider context. eyes 6 fully open: She stared at him with wide eyes. not close 7 ~ (of sth) far from the point aimed at: Her shot was wide (of the target). -wide 8 (in adjectives and adverbs) happening or existing in the whole of a country, etc: a nationwide search * We need to act on a Europe-wide scale. IDIOMS give sb/sth a wide berth to not go too near sb/sth; to avoid sb/sth: He gave the dog a wide berth. wide of the mark not accurate: Their predictions turned out to be wide of the mark. adverb (comparative wider, no superlative) as far or fully as possible: The door was wide open. * He stood with his legs wide apart. * In a few seconds she was wide awake. * Open your mouth wide. IDIOMS see CASTv., FARadv. noun (sport) a ball that has been BOWLED (= thrown) where the BATSMAN or BATTER cannot reach it ______________________________ WHICHWORD? wide / broad These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns: wide ~ broad ~ street shoulders river back area smile range range variety agreement choice outline Wide is the word most commonly used to talk about something that measures a long distance from one side to the other. Broad is more often used to talk about parts of the body. It is used in more formal or written language to describe the features of the countryside, etc: a broad river * a broad stretch of meadowland. Both wide and broad can be used to describe something that includes a large variety of different people or things: a wide/broad range of products. Broad, but not wide, can be used to mean 'general' or 'not detailed': All of us are in broad agreement on this matter. ______________________________