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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | writan 'to scratch, draw, write' |
1
book/article/poem etc
a) [intransitive and transitive] to produce a new book, article, poem etc : 
He wrote some very famous books.Who wrote 'Harry Potter'? I can't come with you - I have an essay to write.
He wrote some very famous books.Who wrote 'Harry Potter'?I can't come with you - I have an essay to write.b) [intransitive] someone who writes earns money by writing books, plays, articles etc : Sean decided he wanted to write, and quit his job.
Sean decided he wanted to write, and quit his job.2 to write a letter to someone
letter
[intransitive and transitive]3 to form letters or numbers with a pen or pencil :
form words
[intransitive and transitive]4 to state something in a book, letter, advertisement etc, or on a label
state something
[transitive]5 to write a piece of music or a song : Mozart wrote the music. The song was originally written by Leonard Cohen.
music/song
[transitive]Mozart wrote the music.The song was originally written by Leonard Cohen.6TD to make a program for a computer to use : He writes software programs for financial institutions.
computer program
[transitive]He writes software programs for financial institutions.7TD if a computer writes something, it records it on a disk or in its memory
a computer records something
[intransitive and transitive]8 to write information on a cheque, form etc : Wouldn't it be easier if I just wrote a cheque for the lot? The doctor wrote me a prescription for sleeping pills.
cheque/document etc
also write out [transitive]Wouldn't it be easier if I just wrote a cheque for the lot?The doctor wrote me a prescription for sleeping pills.9 if a pen writes, it works properly : Do any of these pens write?
pen
[intransitive]Do any of these pens write?10 to show very clearly what you are feeling or thinking : He had guilt written all over his face. I know you're lying, Tyrell - it's written all over your face.
have something/be written all over your face
He had guilt written all over his face.I know you're lying, Tyrell - it's written all over your face.11 to show a particular quality or fact very clearly : This awful film has 'career-killer' written all over it for the actors involved.
have something written all over it
This awful film has 'career-killer' written all over it for the actors involved.12 not particularly good or special : The hotel was good, but the food was nothing to write home about.
nothing to write home about
informalThe hotel was good, but the food was nothing to write home about.13 used to say that someone knows a lot about a subject or is very good at an activity : Motorola wrote the book on quality control.
somebody wrote the book on something
spokenMotorola wrote the book on quality control.14 used to mean that you cannot stop what happens next in a situation, especially when it is bad
that's all she wrote
American English spokenWORD FOCUS: write WORD FOCUS: write
quickly: jot down, dash off
in a way that is difficult to read: scribble, scrawl
write information on an official form: fill in/fill out
write a word correctly: spell
start to write: put pen to paper
WORD FOCUS: write quickly: jot down, dash off
in a way that is difficult to read: scribble, scrawl
write information on an official form: fill in/fill out
write a word correctly: spell
start to write: put pen to paper
write away for something
phrasal verbI've written away for their free catalog.write back
phrasal verbI sent them a card once, but they never wrote back.write something ↔ down
phrasal verb1 to write something on a piece of paper : This is the address. Do you want to write it down?
This is the address. Do you want to write it down?2 to officially say that a debt no longer has to be paid, or officially accept that you cannot get back money you have spent or lost [= write off]
write in
phrasal verb1 to write a letter to an organization to give an opinion, ask for information etc : If you would like a copy of our fact sheet, please write in, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
If you would like a copy of our fact sheet, please write in, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.2 to write a piece of information in the space provided for it on a form or document : Provide some space for students to write in their hobbies.
write something ↔ in
Provide some space for students to write in their hobbies.3 to add someone's name to the official list on your voting form, to show that you want to vote for them : The campaign to write in Johnson for governor failed.
write somebody ↔ in
American EnglishPPVThe campaign to write in Johnson for governor failed.write something into something
phrasal verbIt was written into his contract that he had to make two records a year.write off
phrasal verb1 to write a letter to a company or organization asking them to send you goods or information [= send off, write away]
2 to decide that someone or something is useless, unimportant, or a failure [= dismiss]
write somebody/something ↔ off
write somebody/something ↔ off as After six months of work, we eventually wrote the project off as a non-starter.
➔ write-offAfter six months of work, we eventually wrote the project off as a non-starter.3 to officially say that a debt no longer has to be paid, or officially accept that you cannot get back money you have spent or lost : The United States agreed to write off debts worth billions of dollars. The Inland Revenue wrote off £900 million in unpaid taxes.
write something ↔ off
BFThe United States agreed to write off debts worth billions of dollars.The Inland Revenue wrote off £900 million in unpaid taxes.4 to make an official record of the amount of money that you have spent on things relating to your business, in order to reduce the amount of tax that you have to pay
write something ↔ off
5 to damage a vehicle so badly that it can never be used again : At thirteen he stole a car and wrote it off. ➔ write-off
write something ↔ off
British EnglishTTCAt thirteen he stole a car and wrote it off.write somebody/something ↔ out
phrasal verb1 to write something on paper, especially in a neat and clear way, including all the necessary details : The children were asked to choose their favourite poem and write it out in their best handwriting.
The children were asked to choose their favourite poem and write it out in their best handwriting.2 to write information on a cheque or a form : She calmly wrote out a check for $500 and handed it to Will.
She calmly wrote out a check for $500 and handed it to Will.3 to remove a character from a regular radio or television programme, by making him or her leave or die in the story
write somebody/something ↔ out of It was revealed last week that Alma is being written out of the series.
It was revealed last week that Alma is being written out of the series.write something ↔ up
phrasal verb1 to write a report, article etc using notes that you made earlier : I have to write up my report before the meeting.
I have to write up my report before the meeting.2 to write something on a wall, board etc where people can see it : The teacher repeated the word, and then wrote it up on the blackboard.
The teacher repeated the word, and then wrote it up on the blackboard.3TCN if something is written up in a newspaper, magazine etc, someone describes what it is like and gives their opinion of it : We're going to a Spanish restaurant that was written up in Time Out's good food guide.
be written up
We're going to a Spanish restaurant that was written up in Time Out's good food guide.