# self

/ˈsɛɫf/ (US) · /sˈɛlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/self
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. personality or identity

noun · CEFR B2

your basic personality or the qualities that make you who you are.

For teachers: the essential qualities of an individual's character, personality, or disposition that distinguish them from others.

- After a long holiday, she finally felt like her old self again.
- The therapist encouraged him to explore his inner self to better understand the motivations behind his recurring anxieties.

### 2. personal interest

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

thinking only about what is good for you.

For teachers: the pursuit of personal advantage or self-interest, often to the exclusion of others.

- He was a man driven entirely by self and greed.
- The philosopher argued that every human action is ultimately rooted in a fundamental concern for the self.

### 3. biological tissue

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

cells or tissues that belong to your own body rather than a foreign source.

For teachers: any molecule, cell, or tissue of an organism's own, distinguished by the immune system from foreign or 'nonself' material.

- The immune system must be able to distinguish between self and foreign invaders.
- Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune response fails to recognise self and begins attacking its own healthy tissues.

### 4. myself

pronoun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal

a funny way of saying 'me' or 'myself'.

For teachers: used as a reflexive pronoun referring to the speaker; typically restricted to humorous or mock-formal contexts.

- I shall treat my noble self to a large piece of cake.
- The invitation was addressed to 'your good self', which gave the formal event a slightly old-fashioned and playful tone.

### 5. to self-pollinate

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to fertilize a plant using its own pollen.

For teachers: to fertilize a flower or plant using pollen from the same individual or strain.

- Some garden peas are designed to self before the flower even opens.
- The researcher attempted to self the hybrid plants to see if the desired traits would remain stable in the next generation.

### 6. uniform colour

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having only one solid colour without any patterns or other shades.

For teachers: having a single, uniform nature or character throughout, particularly regarding colour or composition.

- She preferred the self-coloured fabric because it looked more elegant.
- The breeder aimed to produce a self-coloured tulip, free from the streaks and variations common in that particular variety.

## Examples

- She felt like her old self again after the long vacation.
- Writing in a journal every morning helps him connect with his inner self and understand his true feelings.
- The philosopher argued that the concept of a stable self is an illusion, suggesting instead that our identity is a constantly shifting collection of experiences and memories.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.