(1) the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century
(2) The discovery of a child's body in the river has shocked the community.
(3) Researchers in this field have made some important new discoveries .

(1) precise details/instructions/measurements
(2) Can you give a more precise definition of the word?
(3) I can be reasonably precise about the time of the incident.

(1) the layout of streets
(2) the magazine's attractive new page layout
(3) He tried to recall the layout of the farmhouse...

(1) These days we have more money and more leisure to enjoy it.
(2) leisure activities/interests/pursuits
(3) Spend the afternoon at leisure in the town centre.

(1) Heavy reliance on one client is risky when you are building up a business.
(2) Such learning methods encourage too great a reliance upon the teacher.
(3) The study programme concentrates more on group work and places less reliance on (= depends less on) lectures.

(1) a main/major/minor road
(2) a country/mountain road
(3) They live just along/up/down the road (= further on the same road) .

(1) water meadows (= near a river)
(2) The children ran free across the meadow.
(3) They have roped off part of the meadow.

(1) The arrow pierced his shoulder.
(2) He pierced another hole in his belt with his knife.
(3) to have your ears/nose, etc. pierced (= to have a small hole made in your ears/nose so that you can wear jewellery there)

(1) stable prices
(2) a stable relationship
(3) This ladder doesn't seem very stable.

(1) We should have had a proper discussion before voting.
(2) Please follow the proper procedures for dealing with complaints.
(3) Nothing is in its proper place.

(1) trade and cultural exchanges with China
(2) the old Corn exchange
(3) to exchange ideas/news/information

(1) Stop crying and don't be such a baby.
(2) He changed to another job and we were left holding the baby.
(3) baby carrots

(1) The government cannot afford to be indifferent to public opinion.
(2) an indifferent meal
(3) The festival has the usual mixture of movies─ good, bad and indifferent .

(1) Bob spent fifteen months alone on his yacht. Ann, meanwhile, took care of the children on her own.
(2) The doctor will see you again next week. meanwhile, you must rest as much as possible.
(3) Stress can be extremely damaging to your health. Exercise, meanwhile, can reduce its effects.

(1) He was executed for treason.
(2) The prisoners were executed by firing squad.
(3) They drew up and executed a plan to reduce fuel consumption.

(1) There was nowhere near enough for everybody.
(2) We've nearly run out of paper. Do you think there's enough for today?
(3) ‘He's a politician, remember. ’ ‘enough said. ’

(1) You should allow a little time after a meal for the food to digest.
(2) He paused, waiting for her to digest the information.
(3) a monthly news digest

(1) The origin of pebble stove in China and several development phases are reviewed.
(2) When he had heard the quotation, it was a pebble.
(3) Now now! Don't take so many biscuits; You are not the only pebble on the beach.

(1) Roses will always have thorns but with care they can be avoided.
(2) ...the shade of a thorn bush.
(3) ...the thorn and bramble thickets.

(1) Poverty and ignorance are the enemies of progress.
(2) behind enemy lines (= the area controlled by the enemy)
(3) enemy forces/aircraft/territory

(1) He can't help thinking it's all just "pie in the sky" talk.
(2) Her silk shirtdress was sky-blue, the colour of her eyes.
(3) Suddenly a bolt of lightning crackled through the sky.

(1) Give the cardboard two or three coats of varnish to harden it.
(2) Their action can only serve to harden the attitude of landowners.
(3) The varnish takes a few hours to harden.

(1) She patted the dog on the head.
(2) He patted his sister's hand consolingly.
(3) pat your face dry with a soft towel.

(1) Why should they get first call on the best property?
(2) He called me over the Tannoy.
(3) I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend...

(1) The leaves had been raked into a pile.
(2) First rake the soil smooth.
(3) (figurative)She raked a comb through her hair.

(1) She held the bird gently in cupped hands.
(2) He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
(3) He's nice enough but not really my cup of tea.

(1) Authorities say an underground explosion in a mine claimed the life of one Pennsylvania miner Monday.
(2) The union is formed to protect the rights and interest of miner.
(3) If you plan on being a blacksmith, you should probably already be a miner.

(1) a senior officer/manager/lecturer, etc.
(2) a senior partner in a law firm
(3) a senior post/position

(1) The road was partially blocked by a fallen tree.
(2) a society for the blind and partially sighted (= people who can see very little) .
(3) Lisa is deaf in one ear and partially blind.

(1) religious beliefs/faith
(2) religious education (= education about religion)
(3) religious instruction (= instruction in a particular religion)

(1) a leaking pipe
(2) The roof was leaking.
(3) The tank had leaked a small amount of water.

(1) He's a giant of a man.
(2) the multinational oil giants
(3) literary giants

(1) The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident.
(2) Her gaze drifted around the room.
(3) I didn't intend to be a teacher─I just drifted into it.

(1) If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it .
(2) The decision could be one he lives to regret .
(3) ‘I've had a wonderful life, ’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing. ’

(1) We're open till 6 o'clock.
(2) Can't you wait till we get home?
(3) Just wait till you see it. It's great.

(1) (British English)My car does 35 miles to the gallon.
(2) (North Amercian English)My car gets 35 miles to the gallon.
(3) a 20-mile drive to work

(1) He was bleeding from a gash on his head.
(2) My ex-wife is bleeding me for every penny I have.
(3) Keep the paint fairly dry so that the colours don't bleed into each other.

(1) No conversion from analogue to digital data is needed.
(2) a metric conversion table (= showing how to change metric amounts into or out of another system)
(3) a firm which specializes in house conversions (= turning large houses into several smaller flats/apartments)

(1) an art/a picture gallery
(2) the National gallery
(3) Relatives of the victim watched from the public gallery as the murder charge was read out in court.

(1) adventure/detective/love, etc. stories
(2) a story about time travel
(3) Shall I tell you a story ?