Words / B2

uh-LURJ-ik/əˈlɜːdʒɪk/

Allergic means having an allergy: allergic to peanuts; an allergic reaction. Allergy is the noun (already in the dictionary); hypersensitive is a clinical twin; allergic to can be informal for “strongly opposed”. An allergic reaction in the medical notes still needs the named allergen. Mix-up: allergic vs algae; elegant; do not write allergic for a dislike with no immune response in the source.

Meaning

Having an allergy (allergic to); also strongly opposed to something in informal writing.

Examples

• “An allergic reaction in the medical notes still needs the named allergen, the biology paper said.”
• “Allergic to delay featured in the minutes, which is the informal-opposed sense — still keep the medical sense for science papers.”

Good to know

allergic to; an allergic reaction / rash. Noun: allergy (already in B1). Close: hypersensitive. Informal: allergic to + abstract noun. Trap: a dislike with no immune evidence. Biology and PSHE. Having an allergy — name the allergen.

Near in meaning

hypersensitive, intolerant, reactive

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