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billed

v. · adj.
US //ˈbɪɫd// UK //bˈɪld// billed
  1. 1 sent an invoice (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    sent a document asking for payment for work or goods.

    the past tense of 'bill', meaning to present a statement of charges for services rendered or goods supplied.

    Example

    The law firm billed the client for three hours of legal advice.

    Example

    The consultancy billed the corporation for the full amount of the project despite the significant delays in the final delivery phase.

    Usage

    Often used with 'for' to indicate the service or item being charged.

  2. 2 advertised or described (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    described or advertised someone as being a certain way.

    to have advertised or publicised someone or something in a particular way, often as a headline act.

    Example

    The movie was billed as the most exciting thriller of the year.

    Example

    The keynote speaker was billed as a visionary leader, though her presentation failed to offer any concrete solutions to the current crisis.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the passive voice followed by 'as'.

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  1. 3 having a specific beak (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    having a certain type of beak or bill.

    possessing a beak of a specified shape, size, or colour; almost exclusively used in hyphenated compounds.

    Example

    The platypus is a strange, duck-billed animal from Australia.

    Example

    Ornithologists noted that the yellow-billed variety of the species was significantly more aggressive during the nesting season than its counterparts.

    Usage

    Usually appears as the second part of a compound adjective, such as 'short-billed' or 'orange-billed'.

    • beaked

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