(1) the relative merits of the two plans
(2) the position of the sun relative to the earth
(3) They now live in relative comfort (= compared with how they lived before) .

(1) a blanket of fog/snow/cloud
(2) (figurative)The trial was conducted under a blanket of secrecy.
(3) a blanket ban on tobacco advertising

(1) We flew home via Dubai.
(2) I heard about the sale via Jane.
(3) The news programme came to us via satellite.

(1) a velvet dress
(2) velvet curtains/drapes
(3) ...a charcoal-gray overcoat with a velvet collar...

(1) A molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
(2) [只用于名词前] molecular structure/biology
(3) ...the hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

(1) a 200-hectare farm
(2) a farm worker/labourer
(3) farm buildings/machinery

(1) a peacock feather
(2) a feather pillow (= one containing feathers)
(3) ...a hat that she had made herself from black ostrich feathers.

(1) To whom it may concern … (= used for example, at the beginning of a public notice or of a job reference about sb's character and ability)
(2) Everyone who was directly concerned in (= had some responsibility for) the incident has now resigned.
(3) The individuals concerned have some explaining to do.

(1) That's mine.
(2) He's a friend of mine (= one of my friends) .
(3) She wanted one like mine (= like I have) .

(1) less butter/time/importance
(2) He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer.
(3) We have less to worry about now.

(1) The camera is guaranteed for twelve months.
(2) twelve men voted for the motion and three against it.
(3) The clock was striking twelve.

(1) She's tall and thin.
(2) tall chimneys
(3) the tallest building in the world

(1) The accident could have been prevented.
(2) He is prevented by law from holding a licence.
(3) Nothing would prevent him from speaking out against injustice.

(1) a diamond pin
(2) He supports the group and wears its pin on his lapel.
(3) a 2-pin plug

(1) Wipe your feet on the mat before you come in, please.
(2) a judo/an exercise mat
(3) a beer mat

(1) My assistant will now demonstrate the machine in action.
(2) a senior research assistant
(3) a sales assistant in a department store

(1) pots and pans
(2) a pot of jam
(3) a yogurt pot

(1) Prices did not alter significantly during 2004.
(2) He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him.
(3) It doesn't alter the way I feel.

(1) The european Builders Confederation has a membership of over 350,000 building companies.
(2) She is to stand as a Member of the european Parliament.
(3) Integrating the pound with other european currencies could cause difficulties.

(1) I don't know if I can come but I'll try.
(2) What are you trying to do?
(3) I tried hard not to laugh.

(1) He postponed his trip at the eleventh hour.
(2) This church was built in the eleventh century.
(3) He arrived there at the eleventh hour.

(1) We got the bus back to Tange for 30 cents...
(2) Great clouds of black smoke were rising for several hundred feet or so.
(3) We drove on for a few miles...

(1) nowadays most kids prefer watching TV to reading.
(2) nowadays it's acceptable for women to be ambitious. But it wasn't then...
(3) I don't see much of Tony nowadays.

(1) He struck off the branch with a single chop of the ax.
(2) To me, Cleave is an ax skill.
(3) With a swoop of his shining ax , the third tree fell.

(1) Water freezes at 0˚C.
(2) It's so cold that even the river has frozen.
(3) The cold weather had frozen the ground.

(1) a coil of copper wire
(2) a wire basket
(3) The box was fastened with a rusty wire.

(1) herds of elephants/elephant herds
(2) a baby elephant
(3) Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away once more.

(1) a pair of skis
(2) ski boots
(3) the ski slopes

(1) I've spoken to the manager about it.
(2) The President refused to speak to the waiting journalists.
(3) (especially North American English)Can I speak with you for a minute?

(1) a republican government/movement
(2) [不可数名词]a strong commitment to republicanism
(3) ...the nations that had adopted the republican form of government.

(1) road users
(2) computer software users
(3) a user manual

(1) The telephone roused me from my sleep at 6 a.m.
(2) Nicky roused her with a gentle nudge.
(3) A lot of people were roused to action by the appeal.

(1) European unity
(2) a plea for unity within the party
(3) unity of purpose

(1) a relatively inexpensive hotel
(2) ...a variety of good inexpensive restaurants.
(3) Several Linux productivity applications are also free or inexpensive, potentially saving even more money.

(1) All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
(2) Is cold meat and salad OK for lunch?
(3) a side salad (= a small bowl of salad served with the main course of a meal)

(1) The candidates' experience and qualifications will be taken into consideration when the decision is made.
(2) Taking everything into consideration, the event was a great success.
(3) a small sum in consideration of your services

(1) Tack the cord around the cushion.
(2) Inflate your life jacket by pulling sharply on the cord.
(3) A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

(1) The journey would be dangerous in the extreme.
(2) extremes of cold, wind or rain
(3) It's embarrassing the extremes he'll go to in order to impress his boss.

(1) illegal immigrants
(2) immigrant communities/families/workers
(3) ...immigrant visas.

(1) Rennie had eaten his tea in the canteen.
(2) ...a school canteen.
(3) ...a full canteen of water.