case
[1] ( cases plural ) (INSTANCES AND OTHER ABSTRACT MEANINGS)
1 n-count A particular case is a particular situation or incident, especially one that you are using as an individual example or instance of something.
oft in N, N of n
Surgical training takes at least nine years, or 11 in the case of obstetrics..., One of the effects of dyslexia, in my case at least, is that you pay tremendous attention to detail..., The Honduran press published reports of eighteen cases of alleged baby snatching.
oft in N, N of n
Surgical training takes at least nine years, or 11 in the case of obstetrics..., One of the effects of dyslexia, in my case at least, is that you pay tremendous attention to detail..., The Honduran press published reports of eighteen cases of alleged baby snatching.
2 n-count A case is a person or their particular problem that a doctor, social worker, or other professional is dealing with.
...the case of a 57-year-old man who had suffered a stroke..., Some cases of arthritis respond to a gluten-free diet..., Child protection workers were meeting to discuss her case.
...the case of a 57-year-old man who had suffered a stroke..., Some cases of arthritis respond to a gluten-free diet..., Child protection workers were meeting to discuss her case.
3 n-count If you say that someone is a sad case or a hopeless case, you mean that they are in a sad situation or a hopeless situation.
adj N
I knew I was going to make it<endash>that I wasn't a hopeless case.
→ basket case
→ nutcase
adj N
I knew I was going to make it<endash>that I wasn't a hopeless case.
→ basket case
→ nutcase
4 n-count A case is a crime or mystery that the police are investigating.
Mr. Hitchens said you have solved some very unusual cases.
Mr. Hitchens said you have solved some very unusual cases.
5 n-count The casefor or against a plan or idea consists of the facts and reasons used to support it or oppose it.
usu sing, oft N for/against n
He sat there while I made the case for his dismissal..., Both these facts strengthen the case against hanging..., She argued her case.
usu sing, oft N for/against n
He sat there while I made the case for his dismissal..., Both these facts strengthen the case against hanging..., She argued her case.
6 n-count In law, a case is a trial or other legal inquiry.
It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case..., The case was brought by his family, who say their reputation has been damaged by allegations about him.
→ test case
It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case..., The case was brought by his family, who say their reputation has been damaged by allegations about him.
→ test case
7 You say in any case when you are adding something which is more important than what you have just said, but which supports or corrects it.
♦ in any case phrase PHR with cl (emphasis) (=anyway, besides)
The concert was booked out, and in any case, most of the people gathered in the square could not afford the price of a ticket.
♦ in any case phrase PHR with cl (emphasis) (=anyway, besides)
The concert was booked out, and in any case, most of the people gathered in the square could not afford the price of a ticket.
8 You say in any case after talking about things that you are not sure about, to emphasize that your next statement is the most important thing or the thing that you are sure about.
♦ in any case phrase PHR with cl (emphasis) (=at any rate)
Either he escaped, or he came to grief. In any case, he was never seen again.
♦ in any case phrase PHR with cl (emphasis) (=at any rate)
Either he escaped, or he came to grief. In any case, he was never seen again.
9 If you do something in case or just in case a particular thing happens, you do it because that thing might happen.
♦ in case/just in case phrase
In case anyone was following me, I made an elaborate detour...
♦ in case/just in case phrase
In case anyone was following me, I made an elaborate detour...
10 If you do something or have something in case of a particular thing, you do it or have it because that thing might happen or be true.
♦ in case of sth prep-phrase PHR n
Many shops along the route have been boarded up in case of trouble.
♦ in case of sth prep-phrase PHR n
Many shops along the route have been boarded up in case of trouble.
11 You use in case in expressions like `in case you didn't know' or `in case you've forgotten' when you are telling someone in a rather irritated way something that you think is either obvious or none of their business.
♦ in case phrase PHR with cl (feelings) She's nervous about something, in case you didn't notice...
♦ in case phrase PHR with cl (feelings) She's nervous about something, in case you didn't notice...
12 You say in that case or in which case to indicate that what you are going to say is true if the possible situation that has just been mentioned actually exists.
♦ in that/which case phrase PHR with cl
Members are concerned that a merger might mean higher costs, in which case they would oppose it.
♦ in that/which case phrase PHR with cl
Members are concerned that a merger might mean higher costs, in which case they would oppose it.
13 You can say that you are doing something just in case to refer vaguely to the possibility that a thing might happen or be true, without saying exactly what it is.
♦ just in case phrase PHR with cl
I guess we've already talked about this but I'll ask you again just in case.
♦ just in case phrase PHR with cl
I guess we've already talked about this but I'll ask you again just in case.
14 You say as the case may be or whatever the case may be to indicate that the statement you are making applies equally to the two or more alternatives that you have mentioned.
♦ as/whatever the case may be phrase
They know how everything works<endash>or doesn't work, as the case may be.
♦ as/whatever the case may be phrase
They know how everything works<endash>or doesn't work, as the case may be.
15 If you say that a task or situation is a case of a particular thing, you mean that it consists of that thing or can be described as that thing.
♦ a case of phrase
It's not a case of whether anyone would notice or not.
♦ a case of phrase
It's not a case of whether anyone would notice or not.
16 If you say that something is a case in point, you mean that it is a good example of something you have just mentioned.
♦ a case in point phrase
In many cases religious persecution is the cause of people fleeing their country. A case in point is colonial India.
♦ a case in point phrase
In many cases religious persecution is the cause of people fleeing their country. A case in point is colonial India.
17 If you say that something is the case, you mean that it is true or correct.
♦ to be the case phrase V inflects
You'll probably notice her having difficulty swallowing. If this is the case, give her plenty of liquids..., Consumers had hoped the higher prices would mean more goods in stores. But that was not the case.
♦ to be the case phrase V inflects
You'll probably notice her having difficulty swallowing. If this is the case, give her plenty of liquids..., Consumers had hoped the higher prices would mean more goods in stores. But that was not the case.
18 If you say that someone is on the case, you mean that they are aware of a particular problem and are trying to resolve it.
♦ on the case phrase
The CompuServe management is on the case now, and it looks as if things will return to normal soon.
♦ on the case phrase
The CompuServe management is on the case now, and it looks as if things will return to normal soon.
Translation English - Cobuild Collins Dictionary 
case [2] ( cases plural ) (CONTAINERS)
1 n-count A case is a container that is specially designed to hold or protect something.
oft n N
...a black case for his spectacles.
→ attaché case
→ bookcase
→ briefcase
→ packing case
→ pillowcase
→ showcase
oft n N
...a black case for his spectacles.
→ attaché case
→ bookcase
→ briefcase
→ packing case
→ pillowcase
→ showcase
2 n-count A case is a suitcase.
3 n-count A caseof wine or other alcoholic drink is a box containing a number of bottles, usually twelve, which is sold as a single unit.
oft N of n
oft N of n
Translation English - Cobuild Collins Dictionary
case [3] ( cases plural ) (GRAMMAR TERM)
1 n-count In the grammar of many languages, the case of a group such as a noun group or adjective group is the form it has which shows its relationship to other groups in the sentence.
→ accusative
→ nominative
→ accusative
→ nominative
2
→ lower case
→ upper case
→ lower case
→ upper case
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