vain+effort+or+attempt
1vain — [[t]ve͟ɪn[/t]] vainer, vainest 1) ADJ: ADJ n A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended. The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule... I was singing in a vain effort to… …
2vain — [veın] adj [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin vanus empty, vain ] 1.) someone who is vain is too proud of their good looks, abilities, or position used to show disapproval = ↑conceited ▪ Men can be just as vain as women. see usage note …
3vain — [ veın ] adjective * 1. ) someone who is vain is very proud and thinks they are very attractive or special: CONCEITED: He was vain about his looks, spending hours in the gym. 2. ) unsuccessful or useless: a vain attempt/bid/effort: They made a… …
4vain */ — UK [veɪn] / US adjective Word forms vain : adjective vain comparative vainer superlative vainest 1) showing disapproval someone who is vain is very proud and thinks they are very attractive or special He was vain about his looks, spending hours… …
5effort */*/*/ — UK [ˈefə(r)t] / US [ˈefərt] noun Word forms effort : singular effort plural efforts Metaphor: When you put a lot of effort into doing something, it is like using a part of your body. Does she have the backbone to stand up to them? Or will she… …
6vain — adjective 1 someone who is vain is very proud of their good looks, abilities, or position; conceited 2 in vain without success in spite of your efforts: I tried in vain to get Sue to come with us. 3 vain attempt/hope/effort etc an attempt, hope… …
7effort — noun 1 physical/mental energy needed to do sth ADJECTIVE ▪ considerable ▪ hard ▪ It took a whole day of hard effort to knock down the wall. ▪ constant, sustained ▪ …
8attempt */*/*/ — I UK [əˈtempt] / US noun [countable] Word forms attempt : singular attempt plural attempts 1) an effort to do something one last desperate attempt The government has made no attempt to avert the crisis. attempt on: an attempt on the world record… …
9vain — adj. Vain is used with these nouns: ↑attempt, ↑effort, ↑hope …
10abortion — n. 1. Miscarriage, premature labor, premature delivery. 2. Failure, disappointment, want of success, vain effort or attempt …
