sick
♦ sick /s'ɪk/ (sicker sickest)
1 [ADJ]
If you are sick, you are ill. Sick usually means physically ill, but it can sometimes be used to mean mentally ill.
He's very sick. He needs medication...
She found herself with two small children, a sick husband, and no money...
[N-PLURAL] the N
The sick are people who are sick.
There were no doctors to treat the sick.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you are sick, the food that you have eaten comes up from your stomach and out of your mouth. If you feel sick, you feel as if you are going to be sick.
She got up and was sick in the handbasin...
The very thought of food made him feel sick...
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sick is vomit. (BRIT INFORMAL)
4 [ADJ] v-link ADJ of n/-ing
If you say that you are sick of something or sick and tired of it, you are emphasizing that you are very annoyed by it and want it to stop. (INFORMAL)
I am sick and tired of hearing all these people moaning...
= fed up
5 [ADJ]
If you describe something such as a joke or story as sick, you mean that it deals with death or suffering in an unpleasantly humorous way.
...a sick joke about a cat...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft it PHR that
If you say that something or someone makes you sick, you mean that they make you feel angry or disgusted. (INFORMAL)
It makes me sick that people commit offences and never get punished...
7 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are off sick, you are not at work because you are ill.
When we are off sick, we only receive half pay.
8 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that you are worried sick, you are emphasizing that you are extremely worried. (INFORMAL)
He was worried sick about what our mothers would say.sick bay (sick bays)
also sick-bay
[N-COUNT] also prep N
A sick bay is an area, especially on a ship or navy base, or in Britain in a school or university, where medical treatment is given and where beds are provided for people who are ill.
...a free 16-bed sick bay for students needing continuous care...sick build|ing syn|drome
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sick building syndrome is a group of conditions, including headaches, sore eyes, and tiredness, which people who work in offices may experience because the air there is not healthy to breathe.sick leave
[N-UNCOUNT] oft on N
Sick leave is the time that a person spends away from work because of illness or injury. (BUSINESS)
I have been on sick leave for seven months with depression.sick note (sick notes)
[N-COUNT]
A sick note is an official note signed by a doctor which states that someone is ill and needs to stay off work for a particular period of time.sick pay
[N-UNCOUNT]
When you are ill and unable to work, sick pay is the money that you get from your employer instead of your normal wages. (BUSINESS)
They are not eligible for sick pay.
1 [ADJ]
If you are sick, you are ill. Sick usually means physically ill, but it can sometimes be used to mean mentally ill.
He's very sick. He needs medication...
She found herself with two small children, a sick husband, and no money...
[N-PLURAL] the N
The sick are people who are sick.
There were no doctors to treat the sick.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you are sick, the food that you have eaten comes up from your stomach and out of your mouth. If you feel sick, you feel as if you are going to be sick.
She got up and was sick in the handbasin...
The very thought of food made him feel sick...
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sick is vomit. (BRIT INFORMAL)
4 [ADJ] v-link ADJ of n/-ing
If you say that you are sick of something or sick and tired of it, you are emphasizing that you are very annoyed by it and want it to stop. (INFORMAL)
I am sick and tired of hearing all these people moaning...
= fed up
5 [ADJ]
If you describe something such as a joke or story as sick, you mean that it deals with death or suffering in an unpleasantly humorous way.
...a sick joke about a cat...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft it PHR that
If you say that something or someone makes you sick, you mean that they make you feel angry or disgusted. (INFORMAL)
It makes me sick that people commit offences and never get punished...
7 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are off sick, you are not at work because you are ill.
When we are off sick, we only receive half pay.
8 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that you are worried sick, you are emphasizing that you are extremely worried. (INFORMAL)
He was worried sick about what our mothers would say.sick bay (sick bays)
also sick-bay
[N-COUNT] also prep N
A sick bay is an area, especially on a ship or navy base, or in Britain in a school or university, where medical treatment is given and where beds are provided for people who are ill.
...a free 16-bed sick bay for students needing continuous care...sick build|ing syn|drome
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sick building syndrome is a group of conditions, including headaches, sore eyes, and tiredness, which people who work in offices may experience because the air there is not healthy to breathe.sick leave
[N-UNCOUNT] oft on N
Sick leave is the time that a person spends away from work because of illness or injury. (BUSINESS)
I have been on sick leave for seven months with depression.sick note (sick notes)
[N-COUNT]
A sick note is an official note signed by a doctor which states that someone is ill and needs to stay off work for a particular period of time.sick pay
[N-UNCOUNT]
When you are ill and unable to work, sick pay is the money that you get from your employer instead of your normal wages. (BUSINESS)
They are not eligible for sick pay.