(1) a linen tablecloth
(2) (British English)a linen cupboard
(3) (North Amercian English)a linen closet

(1) Robin never really liked him at all...
(2) There were no roads at all...
(3) The general was an unattractive man to all but his most ardent admirers...

(1) a crisp white shirt
(2) white bread
(3) a set of perfect white teeth

(1) My hobbies include reading and painting.
(2) He needs more help with his reading.
(3) Are you any good at map reading?

(1) The man fired several shots from his pistol.
(2) Someone took a shot at the car.
(3) We heard some shots in the distance.

(1) The FBI has been called in to investigate.
(2) (informal)‘What was that noise? ’ ‘I'll go and investigate. ’
(3) Police are investigating possible links between the murders.

(1) Headaches may be a sign of stress.
(2) There is no sign of John anywhere.
(3) Call the police at the first sign of trouble.

(1) She was wearing a new coat.
(2) Do I have to wear a tie?
(3) Was she wearing a seat belt?

(1) the party's elder statesman
(2) Hamilton is a great statesman and political thinker.
(3) Derek Fisher is the elder statesman of the team, drafted in 1996 by the Lakers.

(1) (British English)a single honours degree (= for which you study only one subject)
(2) He sent her a single red rose.
(3) a single-sex school (= for boys only or for girls only)

(1) A trade agreement was concluded between the two countries.
(2) They concluded a treaty with Turkey.
(3) ‘Anyway, she should be back soon, ’ he concluded.

(1) Critics say his paintings are worthless.
(2) a worthless individual
(3) Constant rejections made him feel worthless.

(1) Designs and manufactures turbine engine test cells and wind tunnels.
(2) The article analyzes exist quality problems on national turbine welding diaphragm, also puts forward practicable methods.
(3) What are the main parts of the turbine proper?

(1) the blades of a propeller
(2) rotor blades on a helicopter
(3) Many of these tools have sharp blades, so be careful.

(1) a strong desire for power
(2) enough money to satisfy all your desires
(3) She felt an overwhelming desire to return home.

(1) Is that book yours?
(2) Is she a friend of yours?
(3) My hair is very fine. yours is much thicker.

(1) The noise kept him awake...
(2) Reggie was being kept busy behind the bar...
(3) keep away from the doors while the train is moving...

(1) The colleges grouped together to offer a wider range of courses.
(2) We all grouped around the tree for a photograph.
(3) The children grouped themselves around their teacher.

(1) the smell of rotten vegetables
(2) The fruit is starting to go rotten .
(3) rotten floorboards

(1) She tried to seize the gun from him.
(2) He seized her by the arm.
(3) She seized hold of my hand.

(1) a warm breeze
(2) Wash the blouse in warm soapy water.
(3) It's nice and warm in here.

(1) We've got visitors coming this weekend.
(2) Do you get many visitors?
(3) She's a frequent visitor to the US.

(1) to hammer out a compromise
(2) Our team was hammered 5-1.
(3) He hammered the ball into the net.

(1) The grass was wet with early morning dew.
(2) The dew gathered on the leaves.
(3) The dew fell and the flowers closed.

(1) She looked at him with contempt .
(2) I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves.
(3) His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for) .

(1) Suddenly she glimpsed the truth about her sister.
(2) He'd glimpsed her through the window as he passed.
(3) The programme gives us a rare glimpse of a great artist at work.

(1) The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
(2) These are the courses presently available.
(3) presently, the door opened again and three men stepped out.

(1) to break/crack a code (= to understand and read the message)
(2) It's written in code .
(3) Tap your code number into the machine.

(1) I have to make a phone call .
(2) The phone rang and Pat answered it.
(3) They like to do business by phone/over the phone .

(1) a twin-engined speedboat
(2) I switched/turned the engine off.
(3) a diesel/petrol engine

(1) a grassy slope
(2) The town is built on a slope .
(3) the eastern slopes of the Andes

(1) Which way is west?
(2) Rain is spreading from the west.
(3) He lives to the west of (= further west than) the town.

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

(1) She refuses to face reality .
(2) You're out of touch with reality.
(3) The reality is that there is not enough money to pay for this project.

(1) He is a master of disguise.
(2) (figurative)A vote for the Liberal Democrats is just a Labour vote in disguise .
(3) The star travelled in disguise (= wearing a disguise ) .

(1) He's easily distracted.
(2) I get bored easily.
(3) It's easily the best play I've seen this year.

(1) a cry of pain
(2) She was clearly in a lot of pain .
(3) He felt a sharp pain in his knee.

(1) The southern part of the country was slow to industrialize.
(2) [不可数名词]the rapid industrialization of Japan
(3) an industrialized country

(1) His father was an actor in the Cantonese Opera Company...
(2) You have to be a very good actor to play that part.
(3) If the new actor is no good, kick him out.

(1) a piece of information
(2) a source of information
(3) to collect/gather/obtain/receive information