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seven

US //ˈsɛvən// UK //sˈɛvən// sev·en
  1. 1 the number 7 (num.)
    A1 Beginner

    the number 7.

    the cardinal number between six and eight.

    Example

    There are seven days in a week, starting with Monday.

    Example

    The team consists of seven specialists, each responsible for a different stage of the manufacturing process.

  2. 2 the figure or digit (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the written symbol 7.

    the graphic symbol or digit representing the number seven.

    Example

    The lucky number on his jersey was a large red seven.

    Example

    The accountant noted that the handwritten seven looked remarkably like a one, leading to a significant error in the final tally.

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  1. 3 playing cards (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a playing card with seven symbols on it.

    a playing card in a standard deck bearing seven pips.

    Example

    He needed a seven of hearts to win the card game.

    Example

    She discarded a seven, hoping her opponent wasn't collecting that particular rank for a sequence.

  2. 4 soft drink (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a short name for the lemon-lime soda 7 Up.

    a colloquial shortening for the carbonated soft drink brand 7 Up.

    Example

    I'll have a burger and a large seven with no ice, please.

    Example

    The waiter returned with a seven, though the customer had technically asked for a generic lemon-lime soda.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is highly informal and specific to certain regions; most speakers will simply say the full brand name.
Origin

PIE word *septḿ̥ From Middle English seven, from Old English seofon (“seven”), from Proto-West Germanic sebun (“seven”), from Proto-Germanic sebun (“seven”), from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥ (“seven”). Cognate with Scots seiven (“seven”), West Frisian sân (“seven”), Saterland Frisian soogen (“seven”), Low German söven (“seven”), Dutch zeven (“seven”), German sieben (“seven”), Danish syv (“seven”), Norwegian sju (“seven”), Icelandic sjö (“seven”), Latin septem (“seven”), Ancient Greek ἑπτά (heptá, “seven”), Russian семь (semʹ), Sanskrit सप्त (saptá).

Idioms3 entries

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