Tra từ better - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

bet·ter [better betters bettered bettering] adjective, adverb, noun, verb BrE [ˈbetə(r)] NAmE [ˈbetər]
adjective (comparative of good)
1. of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as sth else
• We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.
• Her work is getting better and better.
•He is in a much better mood than usual.
•The meal couldn't have been better.
•There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.
•If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all).
2. more able or skilled
• She's far better at science than her brother.
3. more suitable or appropriate
• Can you think of a better word than ‘nice’?
• It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems.
•You'd be better going by bus.
4. less ill/sick or unhappy
• She's a lot better today.
• His leg was getting better.
•You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep.
5. fully recovered after an illness; in good health again
•Don't go back to work until you are better.
see also ↑well _adj.
Rem: Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example better luck next time is at luck.
more at discretion is the better part of valour at ↑discretion, two heads are better than one at ↑head _n., the best/better part of sth at ↑part _n., prevention is better than cure at ↑prevention

Word Origin:
Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to ↑best.

Thesaurus:
better adj.
•Her new movie is much better than her last one.
superior • • preferable •
Opp: worse
better than sb/sth
superior/preferable to sb/sth
far/greatly/vastly/infinitely better/superior/preferable

Example Bank:
•Charles VII was a bad king, and Charles VIII was no better.
•Did you hurt yourself? Come here and let me kiss it better.
•Don't worry. The doctor will soon make you better.
•His latest book is a darned sight better than the one before.
•I hope you get better soon.
•I thought it better to tackle him outside of business hours.
•The new situation is no better than the old.
•There's nothing better than a nice juicy peach!
•We must make our inner cities better to live and work in.
•He was in a much better mood than usual.
•Her new movie is much better than her last one.
•Her work is getting better and better.
•I might not be a brilliant cook, but that meal's a darn sight better than anything you could do.
•I think he's a hundred times better as a teacher than Mr. White
•If you only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing.
•The weather should get better towards the end of the week.
•There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.
•Your work is getting better all the time.
Idioms: ↑better off ▪ bigger/smaller/faster/slower the better ▪ ↑for better or worse ▪ ↑get the better of somebody ▪ ↑had best ▪ ↑no better than ▪ ↑so much the worse ▪ ↑that's better

adverb (comparative of well)
1. in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly
• She sings much better than I do.
• Sound travels better in water than in air.
•People are better educated now.
2. more; to a greater degree
• You'll like her when you know her better.
• A cup of tea? There's nothing I'd like better!
•Fit people are better able to cope with stress.
3. used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do
•The money could be better spent on more urgent cases.
•Some things are better left unsaid.
•You'd do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else.
Rem: Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns, adjectives and verbs in the idioms, for example better the devil you know is at devil.

Word Origin:
Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to ↑best.

Grammar Point:
should / ought / had better
Should and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to do, but should is much more common: ▪ You should take the baby to the doctor’s. ◇ ▪ I ought to give up smoking. In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to: ▪ Should we call the doctor?
Had better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening now: ▪ We’d better hurry or we’ll miss the train.
You form the past by using should have or ought to have: ▪ She should have asked for some help. ◇ ▪ You ought to have been more careful.
The forms should not or shouldn’t (and ought not to or oughtn’t to, which are rare in NAmE and formal in BrE) are used to say that something is a bad idea or the wrong thing to do: ▪ You shouldn’t drive so fast.
The forms should not have or shouldn’t have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or oughtn’t to have are used to talk about the past: ▪ I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.

noun
1. singular, uncountable something that is better
•the better of the two books
• I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better).
2. your bettersplural (old-fashioned)people who are more intelligent or more important than you
more at a change for the better/worse at ↑change _n., your elders and betters at ↑elder _n., think (the) better of sb at ↑think _v.

Word Origin:
Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to ↑best.

verb
1. often passive ~ sth to be better or do sth better than sb/sth else
•The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.
2. ~ yourself to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc
•Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to ↑best.

Thesaurus:
get better verb
1. I
•Things got better after my husband found a job.
improve • • pick up • • progress • • advance • |informal look up • • come along/on •
Opp: get worse
things get better/improve/pick up/progress/are looking up/are coming along
technology is getting better/improves/progresses/advances
2. I
•He is finally getting better after a long illness.
recover • • heal • • get well • • shake sth off • • pull through • |formal recuperate • • convalesce •
Opp: get worse
recover/recuperate from sth
gradually get better/recover/heal

Example Bank:
•His early work has never really been bettered.
•Their success that season could not be bettered.