Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

all

2 adverb
     
all2 S1 W1
1 [always + adjective/adverb/preposition] completely:
You shouldn't be sitting here by yourself, all alone.
a strange woman, dressed all in black
If people want more freedom of choice, then I'm all for it (=I strongly support it).
'It was a dreadful experience.' 'Never mind, it's all over (=completely finished) now.'
2

all over (something)

a) everywhere on an object or surface:
There were bits of paper all over the floor.
He has cuts all over his legs.
She ached all over (=her whole body ached).
b) everywhere in a place:
Antique clocks from all over the world are on display.
People came from all over the country.
They're putting up new offices all over the place.
3

all the better/easier/more etc

used to emphasize how much better, easier etc something is than it would be in a different situation:
Clayton's achievement is all the more remarkable when you consider his poor performance last season.
The job was made all the easier by having the proper tools.
4

all but

almost completely:
Britain's coal industry has all but disappeared.
His left arm was all but useless.
5

all too

used to mean 'very' when talking about a bad situation:
All too often it's the mother who gets blamed for her children's behaviour.
In these conditions it was all too easy to make mistakes.
6

all along

informal all the time from the beginning while something was happening:
Chapman had known all along that the plan wouldn't work.
We had to admit that Dad had been right all along.
7

one all/two all etc

DS used when giving the score of a game in which both players or teams have scored the same number of points:
The game ended one-all.
8

all told

including everything or everyone:
a project costing £10,000, all told
9

it's all up (with somebody)

informal British English used to say that someone's success or happiness has ended:
If someone tells the police, then it'll be all up with me.
10

be not all there

informal someone who is not all there seems stupid or slightly crazy
11

be all smiles/innocence/sweetness etc

to be showing a lot of a particular quality or type of behaviour:
The mayor and mayoress were all smiles and kisses during the grand ceremony.
12

be all over somebody

informal to be trying to kiss someone and touch them, especially in a sexual way:
Before I could speak, he was all over me.
13 spoken very:
You're getting me all confused.
14 spoken

that's somebody all over

used to say that a particular way of behaving is typical of someone:
He was late of course, but that's Tim all over!
15 spoken

be all in

British English to be very tired
16 spoken

somebody was all ...

American English used to report what someone said or did, when telling a story:
He drove me home, and he was all, 'I love this car ... it's like a rocket.'
17 spoken

not all that

not very:
It doesn't sound all that good, does it?
I don't think it matters all that much.
18 spoken

somebody/something is not all that

used to say that someone or something is not very attractive or desirable:
I don't know why you keep chasing her around. She's not all that.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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