whichwhich /wɪtʃ/ ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun 
Which book are you looking for? Which are the most important crops? Miranda was sure it was one of them, but was not sure which.which of I don’t know which of us was the more scared.2used after a noun to show what thing or things you mean: Did you see the letter which came today? Now they were driving by the houses which Andy had described.3used, after a comma in writing, to add more information about the thing, situation, or event you have just mentioned: The house, which was completed in 1856, was famous for its huge marble staircase. One of the boys kept laughing, which annoyed Jane intensely. He was educated at the local grammar school, after which he went on to Cambridge. She may have missed the train, in which case (=if this has happened) she won’t arrive for another hour.4don’t know/can’t tell etc which is which if you do not know which is which, you cannot see the difference between two very similar people or things: The twins are so alike I can never tell which is which.
WORD ORIGINwhich
Origin:
Old English hwilcLongman Language Activatorways of asking about direction
spoken use this to ask someone the general direction that something is in, that someone is travelling in etc: · Which way are you going? Maybe we can share a cab.· "Excuse me, which way is the Natural History Museum?" "That way. Keep walking and you'll see it on the left."
use this when you when you want to know exact details about which direction something is in, about which direction someone is travelling in etc: · Which direction do we take once we reach the top of the hill?
to ask someone the way to a place, especially when you have already started your journey: · He looked suspicious when we asked him how to get to the border.· Maggie stopped the first person she saw and asked them the way to the hospital.· I've got no idea where we are - we'll have to stop and ask the way.
to ask for instructions on how to get somewhere, either before you start a journey or after you have started it: · Some people stopped as they passed, asking for directions.ask for directions to: · I asked for directions to the town hall and made my way there on foot.
spoken use this to ask the way to somewhere: · Can you tell me the way to the harbor, please?· Excuse me, buddy - do you know the way to the beach?
spoken used especially when you know that someone knows the way to that place: how do I get to: · How do I get to the station from here?how do I get there/back/home etc: · I've got her address but how do I get there?
spoken used especially when you have already started going somewhere and want to know if you are going the right way: · "Is this the right way to the Science Museum?" "No, you're going in the wrong direction."
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She may have missed the train, in which case (=if this has happened) she won’t arrive for another hour.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Thompson had two strategies, neither of which seems to have worked very well. Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns.
She may have missed the train, in which case (=if this has happened) she won’t arrive for another hour. (=how much)· The report focused on the use of speed cameras, particularly the extent to which they reduced accidents.
Thompson had two strategies, neither of which seems to have worked very well. (=something that belongs to you) She just wanted a place to call her own.
She just wanted a place to call her own. Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► know which side your bread is buttered on► which came first, the chicken or the egg?► see which way the wind is blowing
1used to ask or talk about one or more members of a group of people or things, when you are uncertain about it or about them: - People were running every which way when the fire started.
- Dendrov branched every which way, a forest of tangled stags' horns.
- He shook his head in wonder and his hair went every which way.
- His hair, dyed tomato red for a new movie, sticks up every which way.
- I have tried every which way to get it back down on the bottom.
- I tried blanching and not blanching, cutting them every which way and freezing whole.
- Instead the field lines would be going every which way.
- Martin put a couple of slick fakes on cornerback Larry Brown, turning and twisting him every which way.
- They went every which way and there seemed no end to them.
- Dendrov branched every which way, a forest of tangled stags' horns.
- He shook his head in wonder and his hair went every which way.
- His hair, dyed tomato red for a new movie, sticks up every which way.
- I have tried every which way to get it back down on the bottom.
- I tried blanching and not blanching, cutting them every which way and freezing whole.
- Instead the field lines would be going every which way.
- Martin put a couple of slick fakes on cornerback Larry Brown, turning and twisting him every which way.
- They went every which way and there seemed no end to them.
Which book are you looking for? Which are the most important crops? Miranda was sure it was one of them, but was not sure which.which of I don’t know which of us was the more scared.2used after a noun to show what thing or things you mean: Did you see the letter which came today? Now they were driving by the houses which Andy had described.3used, after a comma in writing, to add more information about the thing, situation, or event you have just mentioned: The house, which was completed in 1856, was famous for its huge marble staircase. One of the boys kept laughing, which annoyed Jane intensely. He was educated at the local grammar school, after which he went on to Cambridge. She may have missed the train, in which case (=if this has happened) she won’t arrive for another hour.4don’t know/can’t tell etc which is which if you do not know which is which, you cannot see the difference between two very similar people or things: The twins are so alike I can never tell which is which.