commit

♦♦ com|mit /kəm'ɪt/ (commits committing committed)

1 [VERB] V n, V n
If someone commits a crime or a sin, they do something illegal or bad.
I have never committed any crime...
This is a man who has committed murder.
2 [VERB] V n
If someone commits suicide, they deliberately kill themselves.
There are unconfirmed reports he tried to commit suicide.
3 [VERB] V n to/for n/-ing, V n
If you commit money or resources to something, you decide to use them for a particular purpose.
They called on Western nations to commit more money to the poorest nations...
He should not commit American troops without the full consent of Congress.
4 [VERB] V pron-refl to -ing/n, V pron-refl, V to n, also V n to n
If you commit yourself to something, you say that you will definitely do it. If you commit yourself to someone, you decide that you want to have a long-term relationship with them.
I would advise people to think very carefully about committing themselves to working Sundays...
I'd like a friendship that might lead to something deeper, but I wouldn't want to commit myself too soon...
You don't have to commit to anything over the phone.
● committed [ADJ] oft ADJ to n/-ing
He said the government remained committed to peace.
...a committed socialist.
5 [VERB] with brd-neg, V pron-refl on n, V pron-refl
If you do not want to commit yourself on something, you do not want to say what you really think about it or what you are going to do.
It isn't their diplomatic style to commit themselves on such a delicate issue...
She didn't want to commit herself one way or the other.
6 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed to n, also be V-ed
If someone is committed to a hospital, prison, or other institution, they are officially sent there for a period of time.
Arthur's drinking caused him to be committed to a psychiatric hospital.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed for n
In the British legal system, if someone is committed for trial, they are sent by magistrates to stand trial in a crown court.
He is expected to be committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
8 [VERB] V n to n, V n to n
If you commit something to paper or to writing, you record it by writing it down. If you commit something to memory, you learn it so that you will remember it.
She had not committed anything to paper about it...
I'll repeat that so you can commit it to memory.

white-collar

white-collar

also white collar
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
White-collar workers work in offices rather than doing physical work such as making things in factories or building things.
White-collar workers now work longer hours.
≠ blue-collar
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
White-collar crime is committed by people who work in offices, and involves stealing money secretly from companies or the government, or getting money in an illegal way.

estate

♦♦ es|tate /ɪst'eɪt/ (estates)

1 [N-COUNT]
An estate is a large area of land in the country which is owned by a person, family, or organization.
...a shooting party on Lord Wyville's estate in Yorkshire.
2 [N-COUNT]
People sometimes use estate to refer to a housing estate or an industrial estate. (BRIT)
He used to live on the estate.
3 [N-COUNT] oft poss N
Someone's estate is all the money and property that they leave behind them when they die. (LEGAL)
His estate was valued at $150,000.
4
see also housing estate, industrial estate,

es|tate agen|cy (estate agencies)

[N-COUNT]
An estate agency is a company that sells houses and land for people. (BRIT)

es|tate agent (estate agents)

[N-COUNT]
An estate agent is someone who works for a company that sells houses and land for people. (BRIT; in AM, use Realtor, real estate agent)

es|tate car (estate cars)

[N-COUNT]
An estate car is a car with a long body, a door at the rear, and space behind the back seats. (BRIT; in AM, use station wagon)

hous|ing es|tate (housing estates)

[N-COUNT]
A housing estate is a large number of houses or flats built close together at the same time. (BRIT)

in|dus|trial es|tate (industrial estates)

[N-COUNT]
An industrial estate is an area which has been specially planned for a lot of factories. (BRIT; in AM, use industrial park)

real es|tate

1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Real estate is property in the form of land and buildings, rather than personal possessions. (mainly AM)
By investing in real estate, he was one of the richest men in the United States.
= property
2 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
Real estate businesses or real estate agents sell houses, buildings, and land. (AM; in BRIT, use estate agency, estate agents)
...the real estate agent who sold you your house.

trad|ing es|tate (trading estates)

[N-COUNT] oft in names
A trading estate is the same as an industrial estate. (BRIT)

aggressive

♦ The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English

♦♦ The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

♦♦♦ The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

♦ ag|gres|sive /əgr'esɪv/

1 [ADJ]
An aggressive person or animal has a quality of anger and determination that makes them ready to attack other people.
#Some children are much more aggressive than others...
#Aggressive behaviour is a sign of emotional distress.
= belligerent
● aggressively [ADV]
#They'll react aggressively.
● aggressiveness [N-UNCOUNT]
#Her aggressiveness made it difficult for him to explain his own feelings.
= aggression
2 [ADJ]
People who are aggressive in their work or other activities behave in a forceful way because they are very eager to succeed.
#He is respected as a very aggressive and competitive executive...
● aggressively [ADV] usu ADV with v
#...countries noted for aggressively pursuing energy efficiency.