one

Universal Words number, determiner, pronoun number, determiner 1 the number 1: Do you want one or two? * There's only room for one person. * One more, please! * a one-bedroomed apartment * I'll see you at one (= one o'clock). 2 used in formal language or for emphasis before hundred, thousand, etc., or before a unit of measurement: It cost one hundred and fifty pounds. * He lost by less than one second. 3 used for emphasis to mean 'a single' or 'just one': There's only one thing we can do. 4 a person or thing, especially when they are part of a group: One of my friends lives in Brighton. * One place I'd really like to visit is Bali. 5 used for emphasis to mean 'the only one' or 'the most important one': He's the one person I can trust. * Her one concern was for the health of her baby. * It's the one thing I can't stand about him. 6 used when you are talking about a time in the past or the future, without actually saying which one: I saw her one afternoon last week. * One day (= at some time in the future) you'll understand. 7 the same: They all went off in one direction. 8 (spoken, especially AmE) used for emphasis instead of a or an: That was one hell of a game! * She's one snappy dresser. 9 used with a person's name to show that the speaker does not know the person SYNACERTAIN: He worked as an assistant to one Mr Ming. IDIOMS as one (formal) in agreement; all together: We spoke as one on this matter. (be) at one (with sb/sth) (formal) to feel that you completely agree with sb/sth, or that you are part of sth: a place where you can feel at one with nature for one used to emphasize that a particular person does sth and that you believe other people do too: I, for one, would prefer to postpone the meeting. get sth in one to understand or guess sth immediately: 'Oh, so she's his sister!' 'Got it in one!' get one over (on) sb/sth (informal) to get an advantage over sb/sth: I'm not going to let them get one over on me! go one better (than sb/sth) to do sth better than sb else or than you have done before SYNOUTDO: She did well this year and next year she hopes to go one better. in one used to say that sb/sth has different roles, contains different things or is used for different purposes: She's a mother and company director in one. * It's a public relations office, a press office and a private office all in one. seealsoALL-IN-ONE one after another / the other first one person or thing, and then another, and then another, up to any number or amount: The bills kept coming in, one after another. one and all (old-fashioned, informal) everyone: Happy New Year to one and all! one and only used to emphasize that sb is famous: Here he is, the one and only Van Morrison! one and the same used for emphasis to mean 'the same': I never realized Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine were one and the same (= the same person). one by one separately and in order: I went through the items on the list one by one. one or two a few: We've had one or two problems-nothing serious. one up (on sb) having an advantage over sb moreatALLpron., MINORITY, NUMBERn., SQUAREn. pronoun 1 used to avoid repeating a noun, when you are referring to sb/sth that has already been mentioned, or that the person you are speaking to knows about: I'd like an ice cream. Are you having one, too? * Our car's always breaking down. But we're getting a new one soon. * She was wearing her new dress, the red one. * My favourite band? Oh, that's a hard one (= a hard question). * What made you choose the one rather than the other? * (BrE) How about those ones over there? 2 used when you are identifying the person or thing you are talking about: Our house is the one next to the school. * The students who are most successful are usually the ones who come to all the classes. 3 ~ of a person or thing belonging to a particular group: It's a present for one of my children. * We think of you as one of the family. 4 ~ (to do sth) a person of the type mentioned: 10 o'clock is too late for the little ones. * He ached to be home with his loved ones. * She was never one to criticize. 5 (formal) used to mean 'people in general' or 'I', when the speaker is referring to himself or herself: One should never criticize if one is not sure of one's facts. * One gets the impression that they disapprove. HELPNOTE This use of one is very formal and now sounds old-fashioned. It is much more usual to use you for 'people in general' and I when you are talking about yourself. 6 (a one) (old-fashioned, especially BrE) a person whose behaviour is amusing or surprising: Oh, you are a one! 7 the ~ about sth the joke: Have you heard the one about the Englishman, the Irishman and the Scotsman? IDIOMS be (a) one for (doing) sth to be a person who enjoys sth, or who does sth often or well: I've never been a great one for fish and chips. ______________________________ GRAMMARPOINT one One/ones is used to avoid repeating a countable noun, but there are some times when you should not use it, especially in formal speech or writing: 1 After a possessive (my, your, Mary's, etc.), some, any, both or a number, unless it is used with an adjective: We'd like to exchange our home with a British family's (home). * We'd like to exchange our home with that of a British family. * _..._w_i_t_h_ _a_ _B_r_i_t_i_s_h_ _f_a_m_i_l_y_'_s_ _o_n_e. * My cheap camera takes better pictures than his expensive one. * 'Did you get any postcards?' 'Yes, I bought four/four nice ones.' * _I_ _b_o_u_g_h_t_ _f_o_u_r_ _o_n_e_s. 2 It can be left out after superlatives, this, that, these, those, either, neither, another, which, etc.: 'Here are the designs. Which (one) do you prefer?' 'I think that (one) looks the most original.' 3 These ones and those ones are not used in AmE, and are unusual in BrE: Do you prefer these designs or those? 4 It is never used to replace uncountable nouns and is unusual with abstract countable nouns: The Scottish legal system is not the same as the English system, is better than ...as the English one. ______________________________