common
♦♦♦ com|mon /k'ɒmən/ (commoner commonest commons)
1 [ADJ]
If something is common, it is found in large numbers or it happens often.
His name was Hansen, a common name in Norway...
Oil pollution is the commonest cause of death for seabirds...
It was common practice for prisoners to carve objects from animal bones to pass the time.
≠ uncommon, rare
● commonly [ADV] ADV with v
Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
2 [ADJ] oft ADJ to n
If something is common to two or more people or groups, it is done, possessed, or used by them all.
Moldavians and Romanians share a common language...
Such behaviour is common to all young people.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
When there are more animals or plants of a particular species than there are of related species, then the first species is called common.
...the common house fly.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Common is used to indicate that someone or something is of the ordinary kind and not special in any way.
Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
5 [ADJ] oft with brd-neg, ADJ n
Common decency or common courtesy is the decency or courtesy which most people have. You usually talk about this when someone has not shown these characteristics in their behaviour to show your disapproval of them.
He didn't have the common courtesy to ask permission.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use common to describe knowledge, an opinion, or a feeling that is shared by people in general.
It is common knowledge that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.
● commonly [ADV] ADV -ed
A little adolescent rebellion is commonly believed to be healthy.
7 [ADJ]
If you describe someone or their behaviour as common, you mean that they show a lack of taste, education, and good manners.
She might be a little common at times, but she was certainly not boring.
≠ refined
8 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A common is an area of grassy land, usually in or near a village or small town, where the public is allowed to go.
We are warning women not to go out on to the common alone.
...Wimbledon Common.
9 [N-PROPER-COLL]
The Commons is the same as the House of Commons. The members of the House of Commons can also be referred to as the Commons.
The Prime Minister is to make a statement in the Commons this afternoon...
The Commons has spent over three months on the bill.
10
see also lowest common denominator
11 [PHRASE] oft PHR with n
If two or more things have something in common, they have the same characteristic or feature.
The oboe and the clarinet have got certain features in common...
In common with most Italian lakes, access to the shores of Orta is restricted.
12 [PHRASE] usu have n PHR, oft PHR with n
If two or more people have something in common, they share the same interests or experiences.
He had very little in common with his sister.
13
common ground: see ground
the common touch: see touchcom|mon cold (common colds)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
The common cold is a mild illness. If you have it, your nose is blocked or runny and you have a sore throat or a cough.com|mon cur|ren|cy
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you say that an idea or belief has become common currency, you mean it is widely used and accepted.
The story that she was trapped in a loveless marriage became common currency.com|mon de|nomi|na|tor (common denominators)
1 [N-COUNT]
In mathematics, a common denominator is a number which can be divided exactly by all the denominators in a group of fractions.
2 [N-COUNT]
A common denominator is a characteristic or attitude that is shared by all members of a group of people.
I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
3
see also lowest common denominatorcom|mon land (common lands)
[N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Common land is land which everyone is allowed to use.com|mon law
also common-law
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Common law is the system of law which is based on judges' decisions and on custom rather than on written laws.
Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
A common law relationship is regarded as a marriage because it has lasted a long time, although no official marriage contract has been signed.
...his common law wife.com|mon mar|ket (common markets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A common market is an organization of countries who have agreed to trade freely with each other and make common decisions about industry and agriculture. (BUSINESS)
...the Central American Common Market.
2 [N-PROPER] the N
The Common Market is the former name of the European Union. Some people still refer to the European Union as the Common Market.com|mon noun (common nouns)
[N-COUNT]
A common noun is a noun such as `tree', `water', or `beauty' that is not the name of one particular person or thing. Compare proper noun.com|mon room (common rooms)
also common-room
[N-COUNT]
A common room is a room in a university or school where people can sit, talk, and relax. (mainly BRIT)com|mon sense
also commonsense
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your common sense is your natural ability to make good judgments and to behave in a practical and sensible way.
Use your common sense...
...a common-sense approach.com|mon stock
[N-UNCOUNT]
Common stock refers to the shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to vote at the company's meetings and to receive part of the company's profits after the holders of preferred stock have been paid. (AM BUSINESS; in BRIT use ordinary shares)
The company priced its offering of 2.7 million shares of common stock at 20 cents a share.
see also preferred stocklow|est com|mon de|nomi|na|tor (lowest common denominators)
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you describe a plan or policy as the lowest common denominator, you are critical of it because it has been deliberately made too simple so that nobody will disagree.
Although the plan received unanimous approval, this does not mean that it represents the lowest common denominator.
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that something is designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator, you are critical of it because it is designed to be liked by the majority of people.
Tabloid newspapers pander to the lowest common denominator.
3 [N-COUNT]
In mathematics, the lowest common denominator is the smallest number that all the numbers on the bottom of a particular group of fractions can be divided into. (TECHNICAL)
1 [ADJ]
If something is common, it is found in large numbers or it happens often.
His name was Hansen, a common name in Norway...
Oil pollution is the commonest cause of death for seabirds...
It was common practice for prisoners to carve objects from animal bones to pass the time.
≠ uncommon, rare
● commonly [ADV] ADV with v
Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
2 [ADJ] oft ADJ to n
If something is common to two or more people or groups, it is done, possessed, or used by them all.
Moldavians and Romanians share a common language...
Such behaviour is common to all young people.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
When there are more animals or plants of a particular species than there are of related species, then the first species is called common.
...the common house fly.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Common is used to indicate that someone or something is of the ordinary kind and not special in any way.
Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
5 [ADJ] oft with brd-neg, ADJ n
Common decency or common courtesy is the decency or courtesy which most people have. You usually talk about this when someone has not shown these characteristics in their behaviour to show your disapproval of them.
He didn't have the common courtesy to ask permission.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use common to describe knowledge, an opinion, or a feeling that is shared by people in general.
It is common knowledge that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.
● commonly [ADV] ADV -ed
A little adolescent rebellion is commonly believed to be healthy.
7 [ADJ]
If you describe someone or their behaviour as common, you mean that they show a lack of taste, education, and good manners.
She might be a little common at times, but she was certainly not boring.
≠ refined
8 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A common is an area of grassy land, usually in or near a village or small town, where the public is allowed to go.
We are warning women not to go out on to the common alone.
...Wimbledon Common.
9 [N-PROPER-COLL]
The Commons is the same as the House of Commons. The members of the House of Commons can also be referred to as the Commons.
The Prime Minister is to make a statement in the Commons this afternoon...
The Commons has spent over three months on the bill.
10
see also lowest common denominator
11 [PHRASE] oft PHR with n
If two or more things have something in common, they have the same characteristic or feature.
The oboe and the clarinet have got certain features in common...
In common with most Italian lakes, access to the shores of Orta is restricted.
12 [PHRASE] usu have n PHR, oft PHR with n
If two or more people have something in common, they share the same interests or experiences.
He had very little in common with his sister.
13
common ground: see ground
the common touch: see touchcom|mon cold (common colds)
[N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
The common cold is a mild illness. If you have it, your nose is blocked or runny and you have a sore throat or a cough.com|mon cur|ren|cy
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you say that an idea or belief has become common currency, you mean it is widely used and accepted.
The story that she was trapped in a loveless marriage became common currency.com|mon de|nomi|na|tor (common denominators)
1 [N-COUNT]
In mathematics, a common denominator is a number which can be divided exactly by all the denominators in a group of fractions.
2 [N-COUNT]
A common denominator is a characteristic or attitude that is shared by all members of a group of people.
I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
3
see also lowest common denominatorcom|mon land (common lands)
[N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Common land is land which everyone is allowed to use.com|mon law
also common-law
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Common law is the system of law which is based on judges' decisions and on custom rather than on written laws.
Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
A common law relationship is regarded as a marriage because it has lasted a long time, although no official marriage contract has been signed.
...his common law wife.com|mon mar|ket (common markets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A common market is an organization of countries who have agreed to trade freely with each other and make common decisions about industry and agriculture. (BUSINESS)
...the Central American Common Market.
2 [N-PROPER] the N
The Common Market is the former name of the European Union. Some people still refer to the European Union as the Common Market.com|mon noun (common nouns)
[N-COUNT]
A common noun is a noun such as `tree', `water', or `beauty' that is not the name of one particular person or thing. Compare proper noun.com|mon room (common rooms)
also common-room
[N-COUNT]
A common room is a room in a university or school where people can sit, talk, and relax. (mainly BRIT)com|mon sense
also commonsense
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your common sense is your natural ability to make good judgments and to behave in a practical and sensible way.
Use your common sense...
...a common-sense approach.com|mon stock
[N-UNCOUNT]
Common stock refers to the shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to vote at the company's meetings and to receive part of the company's profits after the holders of preferred stock have been paid. (AM BUSINESS; in BRIT use ordinary shares)
The company priced its offering of 2.7 million shares of common stock at 20 cents a share.
see also preferred stocklow|est com|mon de|nomi|na|tor (lowest common denominators)
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you describe a plan or policy as the lowest common denominator, you are critical of it because it has been deliberately made too simple so that nobody will disagree.
Although the plan received unanimous approval, this does not mean that it represents the lowest common denominator.
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that something is designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator, you are critical of it because it is designed to be liked by the majority of people.
Tabloid newspapers pander to the lowest common denominator.
3 [N-COUNT]
In mathematics, the lowest common denominator is the smallest number that all the numbers on the bottom of a particular group of fractions can be divided into. (TECHNICAL)