tolerate

Everyday

1. To allow something you do not like or agree with, without stopping it. tree →
2. To put up with something unpleasant without complaining. tree →
3. To be able to take something without being harmed, like a plant tolerating frost or a body tolerating a medicine. tree →

In the lessons

In school rules: «bullying will not be tolerated» means it will be stopped. In citizenship lessons, tolerating other people's beliefs means respecting differences. In science, some plants tolerate salt or drought. Phrases: «will not be tolerated», «tolerate noise», «can tolerate», «zero tolerance».

Examples

• Bullying will not be tolerated at our school. tree →
• I can't tolerate loud noise when I'm reading. tree →
• Cactus plants tolerate dry weather. tree →
• We should tolerate different opinions. tree →
• Some people can't tolerate milk. tree →
• The teacher tolerated a little chatter during art. tree →
• Camels can tolerate great heat. tree →

Note

Nouns: «tolerance» (being respectful of differences; also an allowed range in measuring) and «toleration». Adjective: «tolerant». Opposite: «intolerant». In maths and technology, «tolerance» means how far a measurement may be off, like ±1 mm.