Akademik

sort out
verb
1. arrange or order by classes or categories (Freq. 3)
-

How would you classify these pottery shards—are they prehistoric?

• Syn: ↑classify, ↑class, ↑sort, ↑assort, ↑separate
• Derivationally related forms:
↑assortment (for: ↑assort), ↑sort (for: ↑sort), ↑sorter (for: ↑sort), ↑sorting (for: ↑sort), ↑class (for: ↑class), ↑classificatory (for: ↑classify), ↑class (for: ↑classify), ↑classification (for: ↑classify), ↑classifier (for: ↑classify)
• Hypernyms: ↑categorize, ↑categorise
• Hyponyms:
↑unitize, ↑unitise, ↑catalogue, ↑catalog, ↑isolate, ↑refer, ↑reclassify, ↑size, ↑dichotomize, ↑dichotomise, ↑pigeonhole, ↑stereotype, ↑stamp, ↑group, ↑grade, ↑count, ↑number
• Entailment: ↑compare
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

2. make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear (Freq. 2)
-

Could you clarify these remarks?

-

Clear up the question of who is at fault

• Syn:
↑clear, ↑clear up, ↑shed light on, ↑crystallize, ↑crystallise, ↑crystalize, ↑crystalise, ↑straighten out, ↑enlighten, ↑illuminate, ↑elucidate
• Derivationally related forms: ↑elucidative (for: ↑elucidate), ↑lucidity (for: ↑elucidate), ↑elucidation (for: ↑elucidate), ↑illumination (for: ↑illuminate)
• Hypernyms: ↑clarify, ↑clear up, ↑elucidate
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

3. punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience
-

The teacher disciplined the pupils rather frequently

• Syn: ↑discipline, ↑correct
• Derivationally related forms: ↑corrigible (for: ↑correct), ↑corrective (for: ↑correct), ↑correction (for: ↑correct), ↑discipline (for: ↑discipline)
• Hypernyms: ↑punish, ↑penalize, ↑penalise
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s somebody

* * *

sort out [phrasal verb]
1 sort (something) out or sort out (something)
1 a : to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking

I'm trying to sort out [=find out, figure out] a way to do it.

1 b : to find an answer or solution for (something)

He's still trying to sort out his problems.

We need to get these problems sorted out as soon as possible.

1 c
◇ If something sorts itself out, it stops being a problem without anyone having to do anything.

They decided to wait until things sorted themselves out.

2 sort (someone) out or sort out (someone)
2 a : to solve the problems of (someone)

They're still trying to sort their son out. [=trying to sort out their son's problems]

I just need a little more time to sort myself out.

2 b Brit, informal : to deal with (someone who is causing problems) in a forceful way

I told my brother they were bullying me, and he promised to sort them out (for me).

— see also ↑sort 1 (above), 2
• • •
Main Entry: ↑sort

Useful english dictionary. 2012.