jury
n. · v. · adj.-
1 legal group (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Lawa group of ordinary people who listen to the facts of a court case and decide if someone is guilty.
a body of people, typically twelve, sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court.
ExampleThe jury took three days to decide that the man was not guilty.
ExampleAfter deliberating for nearly forty-eight hours, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all counts.
UsageUsually takes a singular verb in American English and can take a singular or plural verb in British English.
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2 competition judges (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea group of people who judge a competition or contest.
a committee or panel of judges appointed to award prizes or rank participants in a competition.
ExampleThe international jury awarded the top prize to a young pianist from Poland.
ExampleThe film festival jury faced a difficult decision given the high calibre of entries in the documentary category this year.
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3 theatre audience (n.) C2 Proficiency Slang Theatrethe people watching the first night of a play, whose reaction decides if it is a success.
the audience at a first-night performance, regarded as the final judges of the production's quality and commercial viability.
ExampleThe director was nervous about how the jury would react to the new ending.
ExampleThe playwright stood at the back of the stalls, anxiously gauging the mood of the jury as the first act drew to a close.
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4 to judge (v.) C1 Advanced Academicto judge something using a panel of experts or a jury.
to evaluate or select through the process of a jury, often used in the context of art exhibitions or academic competitions.
ExampleOnly the best paintings will be juried into the national exhibition.
ExampleThe student's portfolio was juried by a panel of senior faculty members before she was admitted to the advanced programme.
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5 temporary repair (adj.) C2 Proficiency Technicalused to describe a temporary fix or repair made quickly in an emergency.
describing a temporary or makeshift contrivance, particularly in a nautical context for emergency repairs.
ExampleThe sailors built a jury mast after the main one broke during the storm.
ExampleWith the rudder damaged, the crew had to rig a jury steering system to keep the vessel on course until they reached the nearest port.
UsageAlmost always used as an attributive adjective before the noun it modifies.
From Middle English jure, from Anglo-Norman juree, from Medieval Latin iūrāta, from Latin iūrō (“I swear or take an oath”).
Early 1600s, of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately from Old French ajurie, from Latin adiūtō. Alternatively, perhaps ultimately from Frankish *garu (“ready, prepared”), related to Middle English yore, ȝare, from Old English ġeoro, ġearu (“ready, prompt, prepared, quick”), related to gear.