(1) a vacuum pump (= one that creates a vacuum )
(2) vacuum-packed foods (= in a package from which most of the air has been removed)
(3) His resignation has created a vacuum which cannot easily be filled.

(1) a debate that has split the country down the middle
(2) The committee split over government subsidies.
(3) She split the class into groups of four.

(1) He rescued a child from drowning.
(2) They were eventually rescued by helicopter.
(3) The house was rescued from demolition.

(1) There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. nevertheless, it is important that we try.
(2) Our defeat was expected but it is disappointing nevertheless.
(3) Most marriages fail after between five and nine years. nevertheless, people continue to get married.

(1) [不可数名词]She laughed to cover up her feeling of awkwardness.
(2) Have I come at an awkward time?
(3) This box is very awkward for one person to carry.

(1) an obscure German poet
(2) He was born around 1650 but his origins remain obscure.
(3) I found her lecture very obscure.

(1) a voluntary agreement
(2) Attendance on the course is purely voluntary.
(3) to pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund

(1) a mild form of the disease
(2) a mild punishment/criticism
(3) It's safe to take a mild sedative.

(1) manufactured goods
(2) a news story manufactured by an unscrupulous journalist
(3) Vitamins cannot be manufactured by our bodies.

(1) She's been banned from leaving Greece while the allegations are investigated.
(2) (British English)He was banned from driving for six months.
(3) There is to be a total ban on smoking in the office.

(1) ...80 million gallons of water a day.
(2) ...a gasoline tax of 4.3 cents a gallon.
(3) One fifth of a gallon or four fifths of a quart of liquor.

(1) an awards/opening ceremony
(2) a wedding/marriage ceremony
(3) Please don't stand on ceremony (= Please be natural and relaxed) with me.

(1) a beer/wine barrel
(2) They got through two barrels of beer.
(3) Oil prices fell to $9 a barrel.

(1) dressed in violet
(2) violet eyes
(3) The light was beginning to drain from a violet sky.

(1) a shallow dish
(2) They were playing in the shallow end (= of the swimming pool) .
(3) These fish are found in shallow waters around the coast.

(1) They use puppets to capture the imagination of younger audiences.
(2) The article captured the mood of the nation.
(3) The attack was captured on film by security cameras.

(1) He has high moral principles.
(2) I refuse to lie about it; it's against my principles .
(3) Stick to your principles and tell him you won't do it.

(1) He enjoyed a round of golf on a Sunday morning.
(2) The country club has a golf course.
(3) golf isn't his cup of tea.

(1) It'll cost you five grand!
(2) She finally learned to drive at the grand old age of 70.
(3) He described himself grandly as a ‘landscape architect ’.

(1) 6 subtracted from 9 is 3.
(2) Mandy subtracted the date of birth from the date of death...
(3) We have subtracted $25 per adult to arrive at a basic room rate.

(1) Which has spots, the leopard or the tiger?
(2) The male bird has a red spot on its beak.
(3) (British English)She was wearing a black skirt with white spots.

(1) a small town set in a valley
(2) a wooded valley
(3) the valley floor

(1) Use the formula to calculate the volume of the container.
(2) Benefit is calculated on the basis of average weekly earnings.
(3) You'll need to calculate how much time the assignment will take.

(1) He stood up, stretched and yawned.
(2) A crevasse yawned at their feet.
(3) (figurative)There's a yawning gap between rich and poor.

(1) an urgent appeal for information
(2) a problem that requires urgent attention
(3) ‘Can I see you for a moment? ’ ‘Is it urgent? ’

(1) a bachelor of Arts/Engineering/Science
(2) an eligible bachelor (= one that many people want to marry, especially because he is rich)
(3) a confirmed bachelor (= a person who does not intend to marry; often used in newspapers to refer to a homosexual man)

(1) The world champion was humbled last night in three rounds.
(2) a humbling experience
(3) He was humbled by her generosity.

(1) There were over 500 applicants for the job.
(2) Work with HR manager to interview and assess the applicant.
(3) The replacement of the signature of the applicant or insured people by sales person is forbidden.

(1) a first-year undergraduate
(2) an undergraduate course/student/degree
(3) Economics undergraduates are probably the brightest in the university.

(1) The true consequences will only be known several years hence.
(2) We suspect they are trying to hide something, hence the need for an independent inquiry.
(3) ...the much larger peacekeeping force that is meant to be fully deployed five months hence.

(1) delicately balanced flavours
(2) a delicate problem
(3) The delicate surgical operation took five hours.

(1) They decorated the room with flowers and balloons.
(2) The cake was decorated to look like a car.
(3) I hate decorating.

(1) She emphasized that their plan would mean sacrifices and hard work.
(2) He emphasized how little was known about the disease.
(3) It should be emphasized that this is only one possible explanation.

(1) air/freight/road transport
(2) the government's transport policy
(3) Applicants must have their own transport.

(1) They bundled her into the back of a car.
(2) He was bundled off to boarding school.
(3) We bundled out onto the street.

(1) All donations will be gratefully received.
(2) He nodded gratefully.
(3) I would be grateful if you could send the completed form back as soon as possible.

(1) He is in custody awaiting trial .
(2) Her latest novel is eagerly awaited.
(3) A warm welcome awaits all our guests.

(1) a test of both oral and written French
(2) oral evidence
(3) He was interested in oral history (= history that is collected from interviews with people who have personal knowledge of past events).

(1) vacant properties
(2) The seat next to him was vacant.
(3) (especially North American English)a vacant lot (= a piece of land in a city that is not being used)

(1) We are looking for someone who is reliable and hard-working.
(2) a reliable friend
(3) My car's not as reliable as it used to be.