Книга - Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary
Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary
Collins Dictionaries
Optimised for colour tablets. The images in this e-book are not suitable for viewing on black and white e-ink devices.For children aged 8 and over, this dictionary contains full sentence definitions, examples, synonyms and parts of speech, as well as spelling and grammar tips, word histories, colourful pictures, and two informative supplements.Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary has been especially designed to support the language and literacy needs of children aged 8-10.Written in a clear, straightforward style, it places words within a context familiar to the student.It extends and reinforces key dictionary skills by showing parts of speech (for example, whether a word is a noun or verb) and other forms of a word (for example plural forms as well as adjectival forms).Numbered definitions show multiple uses. Pronunciation help is given for difficult or easily confusable words. Synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposite words) are given to build vocabulary, and spelling and grammar tips help children to use words with confidence.The clear layout ensures that the dictionary is an easy-to-use reference tool. Colour illustrations and photographs add extra meaning and information.The Word Wizard contains information on parts of speech, prefixes, suffixes and punctuation, plus help to improve spelling and writing. It also has information on shapes, numbers, fractions and angles, along with pictures.The Earth and Space is a fact-filled section where children can learn about the planets, the continents, the world’s mountains, rivers, and oceans, and the flags of some nations of the world.
Copyright (#ulink_72fdfbd4-c817-5880-b5b6-e6ad0ae0110b)
Published by Collins
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Westerhill Road
Bishopbriggs
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Second Edition 2015
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010, 2015
eBook Edition © March 2015 ISBN 978-0-00-758365-2
Version: 2015-01-27
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.
Contents
Cover (#u1467f442-c568-508f-9cf9-32e87200d5ff)
Title Page (#u00b0aef4-551a-52ec-beec-b625b784fd53)
Copyright (#ulink_ecb0d9ca-9dbd-5db8-ba24-56b9c0f221ea)
Using this dictionary (#ulink_6f8be2e0-1fd7-54dc-a9dd-9cd02abcb5f3)
Dictionary A-Z (#uf2a8e431-aece-521f-9634-f59982d47df4)
Aa (#ulink_76fc6ce5-e4e3-5e34-9a41-f7711b0ac250)
Bb (#ulink_6947552d-be59-5ea9-b82e-7d48b667c9ab)
Cc (#ulink_7d4a7517-9557-5000-b907-5e16c916dbbb)
Dd (#ulink_e6c2b08d-09dd-5c42-8064-b7d6c4d3ff3d)
Ee (#litres_trial_promo)
Ff (#litres_trial_promo)
Gg (#litres_trial_promo)
Hh (#litres_trial_promo)
Ii (#litres_trial_promo)
Jj (#litres_trial_promo)
Kk (#litres_trial_promo)
Ll (#litres_trial_promo)
Mm (#litres_trial_promo)
Nn (#litres_trial_promo)
Oo (#litres_trial_promo)
Pp (#litres_trial_promo)
Qq (#litres_trial_promo)
Rr (#litres_trial_promo)
Ss (#litres_trial_promo)
Tt (#litres_trial_promo)
Uu (#litres_trial_promo)
Vv (#litres_trial_promo)
Ww (#litres_trial_promo)
Xx (#litres_trial_promo)
Yy (#litres_trial_promo)
Zz (#litres_trial_promo)
Word Wizard (#litres_trial_promo)
2D shapes (#litres_trial_promo)
3D shapes and angles (#litres_trial_promo)
Numbers and fractions (#litres_trial_promo)
Time (#litres_trial_promo)
Parts of speech (#litres_trial_promo)
Prepositions (#litres_trial_promo)
Prefixes (#litres_trial_promo)
Suffixes (#litres_trial_promo)
Where words come from (#litres_trial_promo)
Tips for tricky words (#litres_trial_promo)
Punctuation (#litres_trial_promo)
The Earth and Space (#litres_trial_promo)
The Solar System (#litres_trial_promo)
The Earth (#litres_trial_promo)
The Moon (#litres_trial_promo)
Continents (#litres_trial_promo)
Mountains, rivers, and oceans (#litres_trial_promo)
Flags of the world (#litres_trial_promo)
Index (#litres_trial_promo)
Picture credits (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Using this dictionary (#ulink_0286f11e-3769-56a1-8c70-928f39868d2a)
A dictionary helps you to find out what a word means and how to spell it correctly. The words in a dictionary are arranged in alphabetical order.
How to find a word
Think of the first letter in the word you want to look up. Once you know this, there is more than one way to find your word in the dictionary:
• You can use the Index (#litres_trial_promo) at the back of the ebook which lists all of the dictionary words in alphabetical order. Scroll through the Index until you find the letter your word begins with, then look down the words until you find the one you are looking for. You can then follow the link to the entry in the dictionary.
• You can use the Contents (#ud51cc703-19ae-5f8b-9e7b-2459f5780074) page at the front of the book, which has a link to every letter in the dictionary. Follow the link to the letter your word begins with, then look through the entries in this letter until you find the word you are looking for.
Finding your way around the dictionary
1. The headword is the word you are looking up.
2. After the headword there can be other forms of the word, such as plural nouns, verb tenses, and comparative and superlative adjectives.
3. The part of speech tells you what type of word the headword is, such as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or pronoun.
4. The definition tells you what the word means.
5. If the headword has more than one meaning, each meaning has a different number.
6. Sometimes there is an example to show how the word is used.
7. A pronunciation shows you how to say a difficult word.
8. A word history tells you where a word originally came from.
9. Some entries have a related word, such as a noun, adjective, or adverb made from the headword.
10. Synonyms, or words that you can use instead, are given for some words.
11. Antonyms, or words that have the opposite meaning, are given for some words.
Other features of this dictionary
• Some headwords can be spelt in more than one way.
medieval; also spelt mediaeval
age ages, ageing or aging, aged
• Sometimes definitions include a label, such as FORMAL, INFORMAL, or TRADEMARK. This tells you a little more about the word or how it is used.
mum mums
NOUN INFORMAL mother
• Sometimes a photo or an illustration is included.
mollusc molluscs
NOUN an animal with a soft body and no backbone. Snails, slugs, clams and mussels are all molluscs.
• Grammar and spelling tips provide extra information on the spelling or use of words.
different
ADJECTIVE If one thing is different from another, it is not like it.
There are two es in different.
• Some definitions tell you where to find more information at another headword.
convex
ADJECTIVE A convex surface bulges outwards, rather than being level or curving inwards.
See concave (#ulink_6a54f3e0-99f0-5472-877b-20192812085d)
ANTONYM: concave
Extra help for you
Word Wizard (#litres_trial_promo) is a special section after the A-Z to help you with your writing. It contains information on things like parts of speech, prefixes, suffixes, and punctuation. It also tells you how you can improve your spelling. There are interesting facts about where some words come from. It even has information on shapes, numbers, fractions, and angles, along with pictures.
The Earth and Space (#litres_trial_promo) is a fact-filled section with colourful pictures. This is where to look if you want to know more about the Solar System, the Earth, the Moon, the continents, and the world’s mountains, rivers, and oceans. There are also pages showing you the flags of some of the nations of the world.
Aa (#ulink_a4a95f48-1a4f-5bba-b033-a913bb4f2132)
a an
ADJECTIVE A and an are used when you talk about one of something. A is used when the next sound is a consonant: a car, a dog. An is used when the next sound is a vowel (a, e, i, o or u): an apple, an elephant.
abacus abacuses
NOUN a frame with beads that slide along rods, used for counting
[from Greek abax meaning board covered with sand for doing sums on]
abandon abandons, abandoning, abandoned
VERB If you abandon someone or something, you leave them or give them up for good. • He abandoned all hope of catching the train on time.
abbey abbeys
NOUN a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live
abbreviation abbreviations
NOUN a short form of a word or phrase • N is an abbreviation for North.
abdomen abdomens
NOUN the front part of your body below your chest, containing your stomach and intestines
abdominal ADJECTIVE
ability abilities
NOUN If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.
able
ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you can do it.
ANTONYM: unable
abnormal
ADJECTIVE not normal or usual
abnormally ADVERB
aboard
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If you are aboard a plane or a ship you are on it.
Aborigine Aborigines
NOUN someone descended from the people who were living in Australia before the European settlers arrived
about
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London
2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • about two o’clock
PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.
above
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If one thing is above another, it is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.
ANTONYM: below
abroad
ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.
abscess abscesses
NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus
abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled
VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use ropes to go down it.
absent
ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you are not there.
ANTONYM: present
absolute
ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute darkness
2 having total power • an absolute ruler
absolutely
ADVERB If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.
absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed
VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.
absorbent
ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks up liquids easily.
abstract
ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.
2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.
3 In grammar, abstract nouns refer to qualities or ideas, rather than physical objects, for example happiness.
See noun (#litres_trial_promo)
absurd
ADJECTIVE Something that is absurd is stupid or ridiculous.
abuse abuses, abusing, abused
Said “ab-yooss” NOUN 1 cruel treatment of someone
2 rude and unkind remarks
Said “ab-yooz” VERB 3 To abuse someone is to treat them cruelly.
4 If you abuse someone, you speak to them in a rude and insulting way.
abysmal
ADJECTIVE very bad
abysmally ADVERB
academic academics
ADJECTIVE 1 Academic work is done in school, college and university.
NOUN 2 someone who teaches or does research in a college or university
academy academies
NOUN 1 a school or college, usually one that specializes in a particular subject • the Royal Academy of Arts
2 an organization of scientists, writers, artists or musicians
accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated
VERB To accelerate is to speed up.
ANTONYM: decelerate
acceleration
NOUN the rate at which the speed of something increases
accent accents
NOUN a way of pronouncing a language • She had an Australian accent.
accept accepts, accepting, accepted
VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes to it or you take it from someone. • She accepted our invitation to the party.
2 If you accept a situation, you realize that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.
acceptable
ADJECTIVE satisfactory
access
NOUN If you have access to a place, you may enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.
accessible
ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach was accessible by a narrow path.
2 Books that are accessible are easy to understand.
accident accidents
NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed
PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.
accidental
ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has not been planned.
accidentally ADVERB
accommodation
NOUN a place where you can live, work or sleep
accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied
VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.
2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.
accomplice accomplices
NOUN a person who helps someone else to commit a crime
accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished
VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.
according to
PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.
account accounts, accounting, accounted
NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something
2 money that you keep at a bank
PHRASE 3 On account of means because of. • He couldn’t play football, on account of a sore throat.
VERB 4 To account for something is to explain it. • The bad weather accounts for the cancellation of the barbecue.
accountant accountants
NOUN someone whose job is to look after the financial affairs of people and companies
accumulate accumulates, accumulating, accumulated
VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.
accumulation NOUN
accurate
ADJECTIVE absolutely correct
accuracy NOUN
accuse accuses, accusing, accused
VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong, you say they have done it.
accusation NOUN
ace aces
NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.
2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.
ADJECTIVE 3 INFORMAL good or skilful • an ace squash player
ache aches, aching, ached
NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain
VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.
achieve achieves, achieving, achieved
VERB If you achieve something, you are successful at doing it or at making it happen.
The i comes before the e in achieve.
acid acids
NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.
ANTONYM: alkali
ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it tastes sharp or bitter.
ANTONYM: alkaline
[from Latin acidus meaning sour]
acid rain
NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil
acknowledge acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged
VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.
2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognized them, by waving or saying hello.
3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.
acne
NOUN a skin disease that causes spots on the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.
acorn acorns
NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees
acquaintance acquaintances
NOUN someone you know slightly but not well
acre acres
NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.
acrobat acrobats
NOUN an entertainer who performs difficult gymnastic acts
[from Greek akrobates meaning someone who walks on tiptoe]
acrobatic ADJECTIVE
acrobatics PLURAL NOUN
acronym acronyms
NOUN a word made up of the initial letters of a phrase • NATO is an acronym, and stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
across
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you go across a place, you go from one side of it to the other. • We walked across Hyde Park.
2 Something that is situated across a road or river is on the other side of it.
act acts, acting, acted
VERB 1 If you act, you do something. • We have to act quickly in an emergency.
2 If you act in a particular way, you behave in that way. • You’re acting like a baby.
3 If you act in a play or film, you play a role in it.
NOUN 4 a single thing someone does • The rescue was a brave act.
5 An Act of Parliament is a law passed by the government.
6 Stage plays are divided into parts called acts.
action actions
NOUN 1 something you do for a particular purpose
2 a physical movement, such as jumping
active
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things.
2 In grammar the active, or the active voice, is the form of the verb in which the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the action, rather than having it done to them. For example, the sentence The dog bit Ben is in the active voice. In the passive voice the subject is acted upon: Ben was bitten by the dog.
ANTONYM: passive
activity activities
NOUN 1 a situation in which a lot of things are happening at the same time • There was a great deal of activity in the hall as we got ready for the school play.
2 something you do for pleasure, such as gymnastics or music
actor actors
NOUN a man or woman whose job is performing in plays or films
actress actresses
NOUN a woman whose profession is acting
actual
ADJECTIVE real, rather than imaginary or guessed at • You guessed I was eleven – my actual age is twelve.
actually ADVERB
acute
ADJECTIVE 1 severe or intense • She had an acute pain in her arm.
2 In mathematics, an acute angle measures less than 90 degrees.
3 Someone who is acute is intelligent.
AD
ADJECTIVE You use AD in dates to show the number of years after the birth of Jesus Christ.
[an abbreviation of the Latin Anno Domini meaning the year of Our Lord]
adapt adapts, adapting, adapted
VERB 1 If you adapt to something, you get used to it.
2 If you adapt something, you change it so that it can be used in a new way.
adaptable
ADJECTIVE If you are adaptable, you change easily in a new situation or to suit new circumstances.
add adds, adding, added
VERB 1 If you add something to a number of things, you put it with those things. • Each girl added more wood to the pile.
2 If you add numbers together, or add them up, you work out the total. • Two and three added together are five (2 + 3 = 5).
adder adders
NOUN a small, poisonous snake
addiction addictions
NOUN If you have an addiction to something, you cannot stop doing it or wanting it.
addition additions
NOUN 1 the process of adding two or more numbers together
2 something that is added to something else • The addition of sugar would improve the taste of these plums.
additional
ADJECTIVE extra or more
additive additives
NOUN something that is added to something else, such as food
address addresses, addressing, addressed
NOUN 1 Your address is the number of the house where you live, together with the name of the street and the town or village.
VERB 2 If someone addresses a letter to you, they write your name and address on it.
3 If you address a group of people, you speak to them formally.
There are two ds and two ss in address.
adenoids
PLURAL NOUN small lumps of flesh at the back of the throat
adequate
ADJECTIVE just enough for what is needed
SYNONYMS: enough, satisfactory, sufficient
adhesive adhesives
NOUN 1 a substance used to stick things together, such as glue
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is adhesive, it sticks to other things.
adjective adjectives
NOUN a word that adds to the description of a noun. For example, large and old are both adjectives.
adjust adjusts, adjusting, adjusted
VERB 1 If you adjust something, you change its position or alter it in some other way. • She adjusted her pillow to make herself more comfortable.
2 If you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it.
adjustment NOUN
administration administrations
NOUN the work of managing and supervising an organization
admiral admirals
NOUN a senior officer in the navy
admire admires, admiring, admired
VERB If you admire someone or something, you respect and approve of them.
admirer NOUN
admission admissions
NOUN 1 If you are allowed admission to a place, you may go into it.
2 If you make an admission, you confess to something or agree that it is true.
admit admits, admitting, admitted
VERB 1 If you admit something, you agree that it is true.
2 If you admit to something, you agree that you did something you shouldn’t have done.
3 To admit someone or something to a place is to allow them to enter it.
admittance
NOUN the right to enter somewhere • There will be no admittance to the party after eight o’clock.
adolescent adolescents
NOUN a young person who is no longer a child, but is not yet an adult
[from Latin adolescere meaning to grow up]
adolescence NOUN
adopt adopts, adopting, adopted
VERB If someone adopts a child, they take them into their family as their son or daughter by a legal process.
[from Latin adoptare meaning to choose for oneself]
adorable
ADJECTIVE loveable and attractive
adore adores, adoring, adored
VERB If you adore someone, you feel deep love and admiration for them.
adoration NOUN
adult adults
NOUN a mature and fully developed person or animal
advance advances, advancing, advanced
VERB 1 To advance is to move forward.
NOUN 2 An advance is progress in something. • There have been many scientific advances in the past century.
PHRASE 3 If you do something in advance of something, you do it beforehand. • We booked our holiday well in advance.
advanced
ADJECTIVE If something is advanced, it is at a high level, or ahead in development or progress. • The children in the top group do advanced maths exercises.
advantage advantages
NOUN 1 a benefit, or something that puts you in a better position • The advantage of e-mail is that it is quicker than the post.
PHRASE 2 If you take advantage of someone, you treat them unfairly for your own benefit.
3 If you take advantage of something, you make use of it.
adventure adventures
NOUN something that is exciting, and perhaps even dangerous
adverb adverbs
NOUN a word that tells you how, when, where or why something happens or something is done. For example, she walked slowly, he came yesterday, they live here.
[from Latin adverbium meaning added word]
advert
NOUN an abbreviation for advertisement
advertise advertises, advertising, advertised
VERB If you advertise something, you tell people about it in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV.
advertisement advertisements
NOUN a notice in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV about a job or things for sale
advice
NOUN a suggestion from someone about what you should do
The noun advice ends in ce.
advisable
ADJECTIVE If it is advisable to do something, it is a sensible thing to do and will probably give the results that you want. • It is advisable to wear a helmet when cycling.
advise advises, advising, advised
VERB If you advise someone to do something, you tell them you think they should do it.
The verb advise ends in se.
aerial aerials
NOUN 1 a piece of wire for receiving television or radio signals
ADJECTIVE 2 happening in the air • We watched the aerial displays at the RAF airshow.
aero-
PREFIX to do with the air, for example aeroplane
[from Greek aer meaning air]
aerobics
NOUN a type of fast physical exercise that increases the oxygen in your blood and strengthens your heart and lungs
aerobic ADJECTIVE
aeroplane aeroplanes
NOUN a vehicle with wings and engines that enable it to fly
aerosol aerosols
NOUN a small, metal container in which liquid is kept under pressure so that it can be forced out as a spray
affair affairs
NOUN 1 an event or series of events • The wedding was a happy affair.
2 If something is your own affair, then it is your concern only.
affect affects, affecting, affected
VERB When something affects someone or something, it causes them to change. • Computers affect our lives in many ways.
affection
NOUN a feeling of love and fondness for someone
affectionate ADJECTIVE
affluent
ADJECTIVE People who are affluent have a lot of money and possessions.
afford affords, affording, afforded
VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.
2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.
afloat
ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.
afraid
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.
SYNONYM: scared
2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.
after
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event • She left just after breakfast. • Soon after, he went to work.
PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. • They ran after her.
afternoon afternoons
NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six o’clock
afterwards
ADVERB after an event or time • We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.
again
ADVERB happening one more time • The film was so good that we went to see it again.
SYNONYM: once more
against
PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on • He leaned the ladder against the wall.
2 in opposition to • France played against England.
age ages, ageing or aging, aged
NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.
2 a particular period in history • the Iron Age
PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. • He’s been talking for ages.
VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.
Ageing and aging are both correct spellings.
agency agencies
NOUN an organization or business that provides special services • detective agency • advertising agency
agenda agendas
NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
agent agents
NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people • a travel agent
2 someone who works for their country’s secret service
aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated
VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.
2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.
aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN
aggressive
ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence • Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.
SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile
agile
ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily • He is as agile as a cat.
agilely ADVERB agility NOUN
agitated
ADJECTIVE worried and anxious
agitation NOUN
ago
ADVERB in the past • She bought her flat three years ago.
agony
NOUN very great physical or mental pain
SYNONYMS: suffering, torment
agree agrees, agreeing, agreed
VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.
2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.
agreeable
ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable
2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.
agreeably ADVERB
agreement agreements
NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.
agriculture
NOUN farming
ahead
ADVERB 1 in front • He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.
2 more advanced than someone or something else • Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.
3 in the future • I can’t think that far ahead.
aid aids
NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need
2 something that makes a job easier • The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.
ailment ailments
NOUN a minor illness
aim aims, aiming, aimed
VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.
2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.
SYNONYMS: intend, mean
NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. • The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.
SYNONYMS: goal, objective
aimless
ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.
aimlessly ADVERB
air
NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earth’s atmosphere
2 the space around things or above the ground • The balloons floated up into the air.
3 used to refer to travel in aircraft • My uncle often travels by air.
air conditioning
NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building
aircraft
NOUN any vehicle that can fly
air force air forces
NOUN the part of a country’s armed services that fights using aircraft
airline airlines
NOUN a company that provides air travel
airmail
NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air • He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.
airport airports
NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes
airtight
ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.
aisle aisles
NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves • The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.
ajar
ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.
alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed
NOUN 1 a feeling of fear and worry • The cat sprang back in alarm.
2 an automatic device used to warn people of something • The burglar alarm went off accidentally.
VERB 3 If something alarms you, it makes you worried and anxious.
album albums
NOUN 1 a CD, cassette or record with a number of songs on it
2 a book in which you keep a collection of things, such as photographs or stamps
alcohol
NOUN the name for drinks such as beer, wine and spirits
alert alerts, alerting, alerted
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are alert, you are paying full attention to what is happening.
SYNONYMS: vigilant, watchful
VERB 2 If you alert someone to a problem or danger, you warn them of it.
algebra
NOUN a branch of mathematics in which symbols and letters are used to represent unknown numbers
alias aliases
NOUN a false name
alibi alibis
NOUN If you have an alibi, you have evidence proving you were somewhere else when a crime was committed.
alien aliens
NOUN 1 In science fiction, an alien is a creature from outer space.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is alien to you seems strange because it is not part of your normal experience. • The desert is an alien environment to many people.
[from Latin alienus meaning foreign]
alight alights, alighting, alighted
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is alight is burning.
VERB 2 If something alights somewhere, it lands there.
3 If someone alights from a vehicle, they get out of it.
alike
ADJECTIVE 1 Things that are alike are very similar in some way.
ADVERB 2 If people or things are treated alike, they are treated the same.
alive
ADJECTIVE If someone or something is alive, they are living.
alkali alkalis
NOUN a chemical substance sometimes used in cleaning materials. Alkalis can neutralize acids.
ANTONYM: acid
alkaline ADJECTIVE
all
ADJECTIVE, NOUN OR ADVERB 1 the whole of something • She told us all about it. • He ate all the chocolate.
ADVERB 2 also used to show that both sides in a game or contest have the same score • The final score was three points all.
Allah
PROPER NOUN the Muslim name for God
allege alleges, alleging, alleged
VERB If you allege that something is true, you say it’s true, but you cannot prove it.
allergy allergies
NOUN If you have an allergy to something, it makes you ill to eat or touch it.
allergic ADJECTIVE
alley alleys
NOUN a narrow street or passageway between buildings
alliance alliances
NOUN a group of countries, organizations or people who have similar aims and who work together to achieve them
alligator alligators
NOUN a large, scaly reptile, similar to a crocodile
[from Spanish el lagarto meaning lizard]
alliteration
NOUN the use of several words together that begin with the same letter or sound. For example, the slithery snake slid silently across the sand.
allotment allotments
NOUN a piece of land that people rent to grow fruit and vegetables on
allow allows, allowing, allowed
VERB If someone allows you to do something, they let you do it.
all right
ADJECTIVE 1 If something is all right, it is satisfactory, but not especially good. • Do you like mushrooms? They’re all right.
2 If someone is all right, they are safe and not harmed.
3 You say all right if you agree to something. • Will you help? All right.
ally allies
NOUN a person or a country that helps and supports another
SYNONYMS: friend, partner
almond almonds
NOUN an oval edible nut, cream in colour
almost
ADVERB very nearly • I have almost as many points as you.
SYNONYMS: just about, practically
alone
ADJECTIVE not with other people or things
along
PREPOSITION 1 moving forward • We strolled along the road.
2 from one end of something to the other • The cupboards stretched along the wall.
alongside
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB next to something • We tied our boat alongside the jetty.
aloud
ADVERB When you read aloud, you read so that people can hear you.
alphabet alphabets
NOUN all the letters used to write words in a language. The letters of an alphabet are written in a special order.
alphabetical
ADJECTIVE If something is in alphabetical order, it is arranged according to the letters of the alphabet.
alphabetically ADVERB
already
ADVERB If you have done something already, you did it earlier. • Josh has already gone to bed.
also
ADVERB in addition to something that has just been mentioned • I bought an ice cream, and I also bought a drink.
altar altars
NOUN a holy table in a church or temple
alter alters, altering, altered
VERB If something alters, or if you alter it, it changes.
alternate alternates, alternating, alternated
Said “ol-ter-nut” ADJECTIVE 1 If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one in every two days.
Said “ol-ter-nayt” VERB 2 If two things alternate, they regularly happen one after the other.
alternative alternatives
NOUN something you can do or have instead of something else • Is there an alternative to meat on the menu?
although
CONJUNCTION in spite of the fact that • He wasn’t well-known in America, although he had made a film there.
altitude altitudes
NOUN height above sea level • The mountain range reaches an altitude of 1330 metres.
altogether
ADVERB 1 completely or entirely • The car got slower, then stopped altogether.
2 in total – used of amounts • I have two cats and two dogs. That’s four pets altogether.
aluminium
NOUN a silvery-white, lightweight metal
always
ADVERB 1 all the time • He’s always late.
2 forever • I’ll always remember this day.
a.m.
a.m. is used to show times in the morning
[an abbreviation of the Latin ante meridiem meaning before noon]
am
VERB a present tense of be
amateur amateurs
NOUN someone who does something without being paid for it • He began playing football as an amateur, but now he is a professional.
amaze amazes, amazing, amazed
VERB If something amazes you, it surprises you very much.
SYNONYMS: astonish, astound
amazement NOUN
amazing
ADJECTIVE If something is amazing, it is very surprising.
amazingly ADVERB
ambassador ambassadors
NOUN a person sent to a foreign country as the representative of their own government
amber
NOUN 1 a hard, yellowish-brown substance from trees, used in making jewellery
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE 2 an orange-brown colour
ambiguous
ADJECTIVE If something is ambiguous, it can have more than one meaning.
ambiguously ADVERB ambiguity NOUN
ambition ambitions
NOUN If you have an ambition to do something, you want very much to do it.
amble ambles, ambling, ambled
VERB If you amble, you walk along in a slow, relaxed way.
ambulance ambulances
NOUN a vehicle for taking sick and injured people to hospital
ambush ambushes, ambushing, ambushed
NOUN 1 a surprise attack
VERB 2 If one group of people ambushes another, they hide and lie in wait, and then make a surprise attack.
ammonia
NOUN a strong-smelling, colourless liquid or gas, often used in cleaning substances
ammunition
NOUN anything that can be fired from a gun or other weapon, for example bullets and shells
amoeba amoebas or amoebae
NOUN a tiny living organism that has only one cell. An amoeba reproduces by dividing into two.
among or amongst
PREPOSITION 1 surrounded by
2 in the company of • He was among friends.
3 between more than two • The money will be divided among seven charities.
amount amounts
NOUN how much there is of something • You need a large amount of flour for this recipe.
amphibian amphibians
NOUN a creature that lives partly on land and partly in water, for example a frog or a newt
amphibious ADJECTIVE
amplify amplifies, amplifying, amplified
VERB If you amplify a sound, you make it louder.
amplifier NOUN
amputate amputates, amputating, amputated
VERB If a surgeon amputates part of the body, such as an arm or a leg, they cut it off.
amputation NOUN
amuse amuses, amusing, amused
VERB 1 If something amuses you, you think it is funny.
2 If you amuse yourself, you find things to do that stop you from being bored.
amused ADJECTIVE amusing ADJECTIVE
amusement amusements
NOUN 1 the feeling you have when you think that something is funny or you have pleasure
2 a mechanical device used for entertainment, at a fair for example
3 Amusements are ways of passing the time pleasantly.
an
ADJECTIVE An is used instead of a in front of words that begin with the vowels a, e, i, o, or u. • an apple • an egg
anaemia
NOUN a medical condition in which there are too few red cells in the blood. It makes you feel tired and look pale.
anaemic ADJECTIVE
anaesthetic anaesthetics; also spelt anesthetic
NOUN a substance that stops you feeling pain. A general anaesthetic stops you from feeling pain in the whole of your body by putting you to sleep. A local anaesthetic makes just one part of your body go numb.
anagram anagrams
NOUN a word or phrase formed by changing the order of the letters of another word or phrase. For example, draw is an anagram of ward and dear is an anagram of read.
analogue
ADJECTIVE An analogue watch or clock shows the time with pointers that move round a dial.
ANTONYM: digital
analogy analogies
NOUN a comparison between two things that are similar in some ways
analyse analyses, analysing, analysed
VERB If you analyse something, you investigate it carefully to understand it or to find out what it consists of.
anatomy anatomies
NOUN the study of the structure of bodies, both animal and human, to find out how they work
anatomical ADJECTIVE
ancestor ancestors
NOUN a member of your family who lived many years ago • He could trace his ancestors back 700 years.
[from Latin antecessor meaning one who goes before]
anchor anchors, anchoring, anchored
NOUN 1 a heavy, hooked object at the end of a chain. It is dropped from a boat into the water to keep the boat from floating away.
VERB 2 If you anchor something, you hold it down firmly.
ancient
ADJECTIVE Things that are ancient existed or happened a very long time ago.
ANTONYM: modern
and
CONJUNCTION You use and to link two or more parts of a sentence together. • Let’s go to the cinema and then have pizza.
anecdote anecdotes
NOUN a short, sometimes entertaining story about a person or an event
angel angels
NOUN a being who, some people believe, lives in heaven and acts as a messenger for God
[from Greek angelos meaning messenger]
anger
NOUN the strong feeling you get about something unfair or cruel
SYNONYMS: fury, rage, wrath
angle angles
NOUN 1 the distance between two lines at the point where they join together. Angles are measured in degrees. • an angle of 90 degrees
2 the direction from which you look at something • He painted pictures of the garden from all angles.
angry angrier, angriest
ADJECTIVE very annoyed
SYNONYMS: furious, cross
anguish
NOUN great suffering
animal animals
NOUN any living being that is not a plant
animation animations
NOUN a way of making films using drawings that appear to move when you watch them
animated ADJECTIVE
ankle ankles
NOUN the joint that connects your foot to your leg
annihilate annihilates, annihilating, annihilated
VERB If someone or something annihilates someone or something else, they destroy them completely.
annihilation NOUN
anniversary anniversaries
NOUN a date that is remembered because something special happened on that date in a previous year • We celebrated Mum and Dad’s twelfth wedding anniversary.
announce announces, announcing, announced
VERB If you announce something, you tell people about it publicly or officially. • They announced the team on Friday morning.
SYNONYM: make known
announcement NOUN
annoy annoys, annoying, annoyed
VERB If someone or something annoys you, they make you angry or impatient.
SYNONYMS: bother, irritate
annoyance NOUN
annual annuals
ADJECTIVE 1 happening once a year • our annual sports day
NOUN 2 a book that is published once a year for children
anonymous
ADJECTIVE If something is anonymous, nobody knows who is responsible for it. • The charity received an anonymous donation.
anorak anoraks
NOUN a warm, waterproof jacket, usually with a hood
[an Eskimo word]
anorexia
NOUN a psychological illness in which the person refuses to eat
[from Greek an + orexis meaning no appetite]
another
ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN one more person or thing
answer answers, answering, answered
VERB 1 If you answer someone, you reply to them in speech or writing.
NOUN 2 the reply you give when you answer someone • I received an answer to my letter.
3 a solution to a problem
ant ants
NOUN Ants are small insects that live in large groups.
antagonize antagonizes, antagonizing, antagonized
VERB If you antagonize someone, you upset them and make them feel angry.
Antarctic
NOUN the area around the South Pole
antelope antelopes
NOUN a hoofed animal, similar to a deer
antenna antennae or antennas
NOUN 1 one of the two long, thin parts attached to the head of an insect or other animal, which it uses to feel with. The plural is antennae.
2 In Australian, New Zealand and American English, an antenna is a radio or television aerial. The plural is antennas.
anthem anthems
NOUN usually a song of celebration, and sometimes a religious song
anther anthers
NOUN the part of the stamen in a flower where the pollen matures
anthology anthologies
NOUN a collection of writings by various authors, published in one book
[from Greek anthologia meaning flower gathering]
anti-
PREFIX against or opposite • an antimalaria tablet
ANTONYM: pro-
antibiotic antibiotics
NOUN a drug or chemical used in medicine to kill bacteria and cure infections
anticipate anticipates, anticipating, anticipated
VERB If you anticipate an event, you are expecting it and are getting prepared for it.
anticipation NOUN
anticlimax anticlimaxes
NOUN If something is an anticlimax, it disappoints you because it is not as exciting as you expected, or because it occurs after something that was more exciting.
anticlockwise
ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB moving in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock
ANTONYM: clockwise
antidote antidotes
NOUN a chemical substance that works against the effects of a poison
antique antiques
NOUN an object from the past that is collected because of its value or beauty
antiseptic
ADJECTIVE Something that is antiseptic can kill some germs.
antler antlers
NOUN Antlers are the branched horns on the top of a male deer’s head.
antonym antonyms
NOUN a word that means the opposite of another word • Happy is the antonym of sad.
anxiety anxieties
NOUN nervousness or worry
anxious
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are anxious, you are nervous or worried.
2 If you are anxious to do something, you very much want to do it. • She was anxious to pass her ballet exam.
any
ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN 1 one, some or several • Have you any sausages?
2 even the smallest amount or even one • She can’t eat nuts of any kind.
3 no matter which or what • I’m so thirsty, any drink will do.
anybody
PRONOUN any person
anyhow
ADVERB 1 in any case • It’s still early, but I’m going to bed anyhow.
2 in a careless way • They were all shoved in anyhow.
anyone
PRONOUN any person • I won’t tell anyone.
anything
PRONOUN any object, event, situation or action • Can you see anything?
anyway
ADVERB in any case • It’s raining, but I’m going out anyway.
anywhere
ADVERB in, at or to any place • Can you see him anywhere? • We haven’t got anywhere to play.
apart
ADVERB OR ADJECTIVE 1 When something is apart from something else, there is a space or a distance between them. • The gliders landed about seventy metres apart.
ADVERB 2 If you take something apart, you separate it into pieces.
apartment apartments
NOUN a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building
ape apes, aping, aped
NOUN 1 a large animal similar to a monkey, but without a tail. Apes include chimpanzees and gorillas.
VERB 2 If you ape someone’s speech or behaviour, you imitate it.
apex apexes or apices
NOUN The apex of something is its pointed top. • the apex of a cone
SYNONYM: vertex
apologize apologizes, apologizing, apologized; also spelt apologise
VERB When you apologize to someone, you say you are sorry for something you have said or done.
apology NOUN
apostrophe apostrophes
NOUN 1 a punctuation mark (‘) used to show that one or more letters have been missed out of a word, for example he’s for he is
2 Apostrophes are also used with -s at the end of a noun to show that what follows belongs to or relates to the noun. If the noun already has an -s at the end, for example because it is plural, the apostrophe comes after the s. For example, my brother’s books (one brother), my brothers’ books (more than one brother).
apparatus
NOUN the equipment used for a particular task • The firefighters wore breathing apparatus.
apparent
ADJECTIVE 1 An apparent situation seems to exist, although you cannot be certain of it.
2 clear and obvious • It was apparent they would get on well together.
apparently ADVERB
appeal appeals, appealing, appealed
VERB 1 If you appeal for something, you make an urgent request for it. • The police appealed for witnesses to come forward.
2 If something or someone appeals to you, you find them attractive or interesting.
NOUN 3 a formal or serious request • an appeal for funds to help people in need
appear appears, appearing, appeared
VERB 1 When something appears, it moves from somewhere you could not see to somewhere you can see it. • The sun appeared from behind the clouds.
2 If something appears to be a certain way, it seems or looks that way.
appearance appearances
NOUN 1 Someone’s or something’s appearance is the way they look to other people.
2 If a person makes an appearance in a film or a show, they take part in it.
3 The appearance of something is the time it begins to exist.
appendicitis
NOUN a painful illness in which a person’s appendix becomes infected
appendix appendices or appendixes
NOUN 1 Your appendix is a small, closed tube forming part of your digestive system.
2 extra information that comes at the end of a book
When appendix means the body part, the plural is appendixes. When it means the part of a book, the plural is appendices.
appetite appetites
NOUN a desire to eat
[from Latin appetere meaning to desire]
appetizing
ADJECTIVE When food is appetizing, it looks or smells good and you want to eat it.
applause
NOUN the sound of people clapping to show their enjoyment or approval of something
apple apples
NOUN a round fruit with smooth skin and firm white flesh
appliance appliances
NOUN any machine in your home that you use to do a job like cleaning or cooking. For example, a toaster is a kitchen appliance.
application applications
NOUN If you make an application for something, you make a formal request, usually in writing.
apply applies, applying, applied
VERB 1 If you apply for something, you ask for it formally, usually by writing a letter. • My brother is applying for jobs.
2 If you apply something to a surface, you put it on or rub it into the surface. • She applied sun cream to her face.
3 If you apply yourself to a task, you give it all of your attention.
appoint appoints, appointing, appointed
VERB If a person appoints someone to a job or position, they formally choose them for it. • The teacher appointed Sunita as team captain.
appointment appointments
NOUN an arrangement you have with someone to meet them
appreciate appreciates, appreciating, appreciated
VERB If you appreciate something that someone has done for you, you are grateful to them for it.
apprehensive
ADJECTIVE If you are apprehensive about something, you feel worried and unsure about it.
apprentice apprentices
NOUN someone who works with another person for a length of time to learn that person’s job or skill
approach approaches, approaching, approached
VERB If you approach something, you come near or nearer to it.
appropriate
ADJECTIVE suitable or acceptable for a particular situation
approval
NOUN If you ask for approval for something that you want to do, you ask for agreement with your plans.
approve approves, approving, approved
VERB 1 If you approve of something or someone, you think they are acceptable or good.
SYNONYMS: favour, like
2 If someone approves a plan or idea, they agree to it. • The council approved plans for the new swimming pool.
SYNONYMS: agree to, permit
approximate
ADJECTIVE near but not exactly right • What was the approximate time you arrived?
apricot apricots
NOUN a small, soft, yellowish-orange fruit
April
NOUN the fourth month of the year. April has 30 days.
apron aprons
NOUN a piece of clothing worn over the front of normal clothing to protect it
aquarium aquaria or aquariums
NOUN a glass tank filled with water in which fish and other aquatic animals or plants are kept
aquatic
ADJECTIVE An aquatic animal or plant lives in water.
aqueduct aqueducts
NOUN a bridge with many arches, which carries a water supply over a valley
arable
ADJECTIVE Arable land is used for growing crops.
arc arcs
NOUN 1 a smoothly curving line
2 In geometry, an arc is a section of the circumference of a circle.
arcade arcades
NOUN a covered passageway where there are shops or market stalls
arch arches, arching, arched
NOUN 1 a structure that has a curved top, supported on either side by a pillar or wall
VERB 2 If something arches, or if you arch it, it forms a curved line or shape. • The cat arched its back.
archaeology; also spelt archeology
NOUN the study of the past by digging up and examining the remains of things such as buildings, tools, and pots
[from Greek arkhaios meaning ancient]
archbishop archbishops
NOUN a bishop of the highest rank in a Christian Church • the Archbishop of Canterbury
archery
NOUN a sport in which people shoot at a target with a bow and arrow
architect architects
NOUN a person who designs buildings
architecture
NOUN the art or practice of designing buildings
arctic
NOUN 1 The Arctic is the region north of the Arctic Circle.
ADJECTIVE 2 very cold indeed • You need specially warm clothes for arctic conditions.
are
VERB a present tense of be
area areas
NOUN 1 a particular part of a place, country, or the world • a built-up area of the city
SYNONYMS: district, region, zone
2 the measurement of a flat surface • The area of the playground is 1500 square metres (1500 m2).
arena arenas
NOUN a place where sports and other public events take place
[from Latin harena meaning sand, because of the sandy centre of an amphitheatre where gladiators fought]
aren’t
VERB a contraction of are not
argue argues, arguing, argued
VERB 1 If you argue with someone about something, you disagree with them about it, sometimes in an angry way.
2 If you argue that something is true, you give reasons why you think that it is.
argument arguments
NOUN a talk between people who do not agree
arid
ADJECTIVE Arid land is very dry because there has been very little rain.
ANTONYM: fertile
arise arises, arising, arose, arisen
VERB When something such as an opportunity or a problem arises, it begins to exist.
aristocrat aristocrats
NOUN someone whose family has a high social rank, and who has a title such as Lord or Lady
aristocratic ADJECTIVE aristocracy NOUN
arithmetic
NOUN the part of mathematics that is to do with the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of numbers
[from Greek arithmos meaning number]
arithmetical ADJECTIVE
arithmetically ADVERB
arm arms, arming, armed
NOUN 1 the part of your body between your shoulder and your wrist
PLURAL NOUN 2 Arms are weapons used in a war.
VERB 3 If a country arms itself, it prepares for war.
armada armadas
NOUN a large fleet of warships • The Spanish Armada was the fleet sent to destroy the English in 1588.
armchair armchairs
NOUN a large chair with a support on each side for your arms
armistice armistices
NOUN In war, an armistice is an agreement to stop fighting.
armour
NOUN 1 In the past, armour was metal clothing worn for protection in battle.
2 In modern warfare, tanks are often referred to as armour.
army armies
NOUN a large group of soldiers who are trained to fight on land
aroma aromas
NOUN a strong, pleasant smell
[a Greek word meaning spice]
aromatic ADJECTIVE
around
PREPOSITION 1 situated at various points in a place or area • There are several post boxes around the town.
2 from place to place inside an area • We walked around the stalls at the summer fair.
3 surrounding or encircling a place or object • We were sitting around the table.
4 at approximately the time or place mentioned • The jumble sale began around noon.
arrange arranges, arranging, arranged
VERB 1 If you arrange to do something, or arrange something for someone, you make plans for it or make it possible. • I arranged to meet him later. • Dad arranged a trip to the circus for us.
2 If you arrange objects, you set them out in a particular way. • We arranged the books in alphabetical order.
array arrays
NOUN 1 a large number of different things displayed together
2 a mathematical way of grouping. For example, 3 × 2 is shown as ::: and 2 × 3 is shown as ⋮⋮.
arrest arrests, arresting, arrested
VERB 1 If the police arrest someone, they take them to a police station because they believe they may have committed a crime.
NOUN 2 An arrest is the act of arresting someone.
arrive arrives, arriving, arrived
VERB 1 When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.
2 When you arrive at a decision you make up your mind.
arrival NOUN
arrogant
ADJECTIVE Arrogant people behave as if they are better than other people.
arrow arrows
NOUN a long, thin weapon with a sharp point at one end, shot from a bow
arsenal arsenals
NOUN a place where weapons and ammunition are stored or produced
arsenic
NOUN a strong, dangerous poison that can kill
arson
NOUN the crime of deliberately setting fire to something, especially a building
art arts
NOUN 1 the creation of objects, such as paintings and sculptures, that are thought to be beautiful or that express a particular idea • He wanted to take art classes to learn how to draw and paint well.
2 Art is also used to refer to the objects themselves. • We saw lots of interesting paintings and sculptures at the art exhibition.
3 something that needs special skills or ability • I would like to master the art of sewing.
artery arteries
NOUN the tubes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body
See vein (#litres_trial_promo)
arterial ADJECTIVE
arthritis
NOUN a condition in which the joints in someone’s body become painful, and sometimes swollen
arthritic ADJECTIVE
article articles
NOUN 1 a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine
2 a particular item • an article of clothing
artificial
ADJECTIVE Something artificial is created by people rather than occurring naturally.
ANTONYM: natural
artillery
NOUN 1 Artillery consists of large, powerful guns and rockets.
2 The artillery is the branch of an army that uses these weapons.
artist artists
NOUN a person who draws or paints or produces other works of art
as
CONJUNCTION 1 at the same time that • We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.
2 because • As I like school I get there early.
PHRASE 3 You use as if or as though when you are giving an explanation for something. • Shane walked past as if he didn’t know me.
ascend ascends, ascending, ascended
VERB FORMAL If someone or something ascends, they move or lead upwards. • We ascended the stairs to the second floor.
ANTONYM: descend
ash ashes
NOUN the grey or black powdery remains of anything that has been burnt • We put the ashes from the bonfire on the compost heap.
ashamed
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are ashamed, you feel embarrassed or guilty.
2 If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them.
ashore
ADVERB If someone or something comes ashore, they come on to the land from the sea or a river.
aside
ADVERB If you move something aside, you move it to one side. • She closed the book and laid it aside.
ask asks, asking, asked
VERB 1 If you ask someone something, you put a question to them.
2 If you ask someone to do something, you tell them you want them to do it. • We asked him to do his card trick.
3 If you ask for something, you say you would like to have it. • She asked for a drink of water.
4 If you ask someone to come or go somewhere, you invite them there.
asleep
ADJECTIVE If you are asleep, your eyes are closed and your whole body is resting.
aspect aspects
NOUN one of many ways of seeing or thinking about something
aspirin aspirins
NOUN 1 a white drug used to relieve pain, fever and colds
2 a small white tablet of this drug
ass asses
NOUN another word for donkey
assassinate assassinates, assassinating, assassinated
VERB If someone assassinates an important person, they murder them.
assassination NOUN
assault assaults
NOUN a violent attack on someone
[from Latin assalire meaning to leap upon]
assemble assembles, assembling, assembled
VERB 1 If people assemble, they gather together. • We assembled in the playground to watch the display.
2 If you assemble something, you fit the parts of it together. • It took us ages to assemble the model car.
assembly assemblies
NOUN a group of people who have gathered together for a meeting
assess assesses, assessing, assessed
VERB If you assess something, you consider it carefully and make a judgement about it. • She tried to assess how much further they had to walk.
SYNONYMS: judge, size up
asset assets
NOUN 1 If someone or something is an asset, they are useful or helpful. • He’s an asset to the school.
2 The assets of a person or a company are all the things they own that could be sold to raise money.
assignment assignments
NOUN a job you are given to do
assist assists, assisting, assisted
VERB If you assist someone, you help them to do something.
assistant assistants
NOUN someone who helps another person to do their job
associate associates, associating, associated
VERB 1 If you associate with someone, you spend time with them.
2 If you associate one thing with another, you make a connection between them.
association associations
NOUN 1 an organization for people who have similar interests, jobs or aims
2 An association between two things is a link you make in your mind between them.
assorted
ADJECTIVE Assorted things are a mixture of various sorts of something. They may be different colours, sizes and shapes.
assortment assortments
NOUN a group of similar things that are different sizes, shapes and colours • There was an amazing assortment of toys in the shop.
assume assumes, assuming, assumed
VERB 1 If you assume that something is true, you believe it, even if you have not thought carefully about it.
2 If you assume responsibility for something, you decide to do it. • I assumed responsibility for feeding the hamster.
assure assures, assuring, assured
VERB If you assure someone of something, you say something to make them less worried about it. • I assured him that I wouldn’t be late.
asterisk asterisks
NOUN a symbol (*) used in writing and printing to draw attention to something that is explained somewhere else, usually at the bottom of the page
asteroid asteroids
NOUN one of the large number of very small planets that move around the sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars
asthma
NOUN a disease of the chest that causes wheezing and difficulty in breathing
[from Greek azein meaning to breathe hard]
asthmatic ADJECTIVE
astonish astonishes, astonishing, astonished
VERB If something astonishes you, it surprises you very much.
astonished ADJECTIVE astonishing ADJECTIVE
astonishingly ADVERB astonishment NOUN
astrology
NOUN the study of the sun, moon and stars in the belief that their movements can influence people’s lives
astronaut astronauts
NOUN a person who operates a spacecraft
[from Greek astron meaning star and nautes meaning sailor]
astronomy
NOUN the scientific study of stars and planets
astronomer NOUN
at
PREPOSITION 1 where someone or something is • John waited for me at the bus stop.
2 the direction something is going in • I threw the snowball at my brother.
3 when something happens • The party starts at six o’clock.
ate
VERB the past tense of eat (#litres_trial_promo)
atheist atheists
NOUN someone who does not believe in any form of God
athlete athletes
NOUN a person who is very good at sport and who takes part in sporting competitions
athletics
NOUN sporting events such as running, long jump and discus
Atlantic
NOUN the ocean that separates North and South America from Europe and Africa
atlas atlases
NOUN a book of maps
[from the giant Atlas in Greek mythology, who supported the sky on his shoulders]
atmosphere atmospheres
NOUN 1 gases that surround a planet
2 the general mood of a place • There was a friendly atmosphere at the party.
atom atoms
NOUN the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction
atrocity atrocities
NOUN an extremely shocking and cruel act
attach attaches, attaching, attached
VERB If you attach something to something else, you join or fasten the two things together.
attachment attachments
NOUN 1 a feeling of love and affection for someone
2 a file attached to an e-mail
attack attacks, attacking, attacked
VERB 1 If someone attacks another person or animal, they use violence in order to hurt or kill them. • The lion attacked the zebra in order to kill it for food.
2 In a game such as football or hockey, players attack to get the ball into a position from which a goal can be scored.
NOUN 3 violent, physical action against someone
attempt attempts, attempting, attempted
VERB 1 If you attempt to do something, you try to do it.
NOUN 2 the act of trying to do something • He made a brave attempt to help.
attend attends, attending, attended
VERB 1 If you attend school, church or hospital, you go there regularly.
2 If you attend an event, you are present at it.
attend to
VERB If you attend to something, you deal with it. • We should attend to our homework before going to the park.
attendant attendants
NOUN someone whose job is to help people in a place such as a museum or shop
attention
NOUN the thought or care that you give to someone or something • I paid a lot of attention to my homework.
attentive
ADJECTIVE When you are attentive, you pay close attention.
attentively ADVERB
attic attics
NOUN a room at the top of a house immediately below the roof
attitude attitudes
NOUN the way you think about someone or something and behave towards them • I’m not going in that shop again. I don’t like their attitude.
attract attracts, attracting, attracted
VERB 1 If something attracts people, it interests them and makes them want to go to it.
2 If someone attracts you, you like them and are interested in them.
3 When magnetic materials are attracted to a magnet, they are pulled towards it.
attraction attractions
NOUN 1 If you feel an attraction for someone, you like them very much.
2 somewhere people like to visit for interest or pleasure, such as a fun fair or a stately home
3 A force of attraction pulls magnetic materials towards a magnet.
attractive
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is attractive is good-looking or has an exciting personality.
2 If something is attractive, it is interesting.
aubergine aubergines
NOUN a dark purple, pear-shaped vegetable. It is also called an eggplant.
auburn
ADJECTIVE a red-brown hair colour
auction auctions, auctioning, auctioned
NOUN 1 a public sale in which goods are sold to the person who offers the highest price
VERB 2 to sell something in an auction
audible
ADJECTIVE If something is audible, you can hear it.
audience audiences
NOUN 1 the group of people who are watching or listening to a performance
2 a private or formal meeting with an important person • The winners of the bravery awards had an audience with the Queen.
audition auditions
NOUN a short performance by an actor or musician, so that a director can decide whether they are suitable for a part in a play or a film, or for a place in an orchestra
auditorium auditoriums or auditoria
NOUN the part of a theatre or concert hall where the audience sits
August
NOUN the eighth month of the year. August has 31 days.
aunt aunts
NOUN Your aunt is the sister of your mother or father, or the wife of your uncle.
author authors
NOUN The author of a book is the person who wrote it.
authority authorities
NOUN 1 the power to tell other people what to do • The teacher had the authority to give me detention.
2 an organization that controls public interests • the local health authority
3 Someone who is an authority on something, knows a lot about it.
authorize authorizes, authorizing, authorized
VERB If someone authorizes something, they give official permission for it.
authorization NOUN
auto-
PREFIX 1 self or same • autobiography
2 self-propelling • automatic car
autobiography autobiographies
NOUN an account of someone’s life that they have written themselves
autobiographical ADJECTIVE
autograph autographs
NOUN the signature of a famous person
[from Greek auto meaning self and graphos meaning written]
automatic automatics
ADJECTIVE 1 An automatic machine is programmed to perform tasks without needing a person to operate it.
NOUN 2 a car in which the gears change automatically as the car’s speed changes
autumn autumns
NOUN the season between summer and winter, when the leaves fall off the trees • I love the golden colours of the trees in autumn.
available
ADJECTIVE 1 If something is available, it is easy to get or to buy.
2 A person who is available is ready for work or free to talk to.
avalanche avalanches
NOUN a huge mass of snow and ice that falls down a mountainside
avenue avenues
NOUN a street, especially one with trees along it
average averages
NOUN 1 a result obtained by adding several amounts together and then dividing the total by the number of different amounts • If I shared 36 sweets between four children, the average would be nine sweets per child.
ADJECTIVE 2 standard or usual • The average teenager is interested in pop music.
SYNONYMS: normal, ordinary, typical
PHRASE 3 You say on average when mentioning what usually happens in a situation. • Men are, on average, taller than women.
aviary aviaries
NOUN a large cage or group of cages in which birds are kept
aviation
NOUN the science of flying aircraft
avocado avocados
NOUN a pear-shaped fruit with dark green skin, soft greenish-yellow flesh, and a large stone
avoid avoids, avoiding, avoided
VERB 1 If you avoid someone or something, you keep away from them. • To avoid him, she went home the other way.
2 If you avoid doing something, you make an effort not to do it.
SYNONYMS: dodge, shirk
awake
ADJECTIVE Someone who is awake is not sleeping.
award awards, awarding, awarded
NOUN 1 a prize or certificate for doing something well
VERB 2 If someone awards you something, they give it to you formally or officially. • He was awarded the prize for fastest runner.
aware
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are aware of something, you know about it.
2 If you are aware of something, you can see, hear, smell or feel it.
away
ADVERB 1 moving from a place • I saw them walk away from the house.
2 at a distance from a place • The nearest supermarket is 12 kilometres away.
3 in its proper place • He put his CDs away.
4 not at home, school or work • My friend’s been away from school for a week.
awe
NOUN FORMAL a feeling of great respect mixed with amazement, and sometimes slight fear • Looking up at the mountains, we felt a sense of awe.
awful
ADJECTIVE very unpleasant or very bad • Isn’t the weather awful?
SYNONYMS: dreadful, terrible
awkward
ADJECTIVE 1 difficult to deal with • an awkward situation
2 clumsy and uncomfortable • The large bag was awkward to carry.
[from Old Norse ofugr meaning turned the wrong way]
axe axes
NOUN a tool with a handle and a sharp blade, used for chopping wood
axis axes
NOUN 1 an imaginary line through the middle of something, around which it moves • The earth turns on its axis.
2 one of the two sides of a graph
axle axles
NOUN the long bar that connects a pair of wheels on a vehicle
Bb (#ulink_1434220a-b1fe-5066-8200-ff7d7a82d89e)
babble babbles, babbling, babbled
VERB If someone babbles, they talk in a quick and confused way that is difficult to understand.
baboon baboons
NOUN an African monkey with a pointed face, large teeth and a long tail
baby babies
NOUN a child in the first year or two of its life
baby-sit baby-sits, baby-sitting, baby-sat
VERB If you baby-sit for someone, you look after their children while they are out.
bachelor bachelors
NOUN a man who has never been married
back backs, backing, backed
ADVERB 1 When people or things move back, they move in the opposite direction to the one they are facing.
2 When you go back to a place or situation, you return to it. • She went back to sleep.
NOUN 3 the rear part of your body
ADJECTIVE 4 The back parts of something are the ones at the rear. • the dog’s back legs
VERB 5 If a building backs on to something, the back of it faces in that direction.
backbone backbones
NOUN the column of linked bones along the middle of the back of a human and other vertebrates
background backgrounds
NOUN 1 the things in a picture or scene that are less noticeable than the main things
2 the kind of home you come from, and your education and experience
backstroke
NOUN a style of swimming movement on your back
backward
ADJECTIVE If you take a backward look, you look behind you.
backwards
ADVERB 1 If you move backwards, you move to a place behind you.
2 If you do something backwards, you do it opposite to the usual way. • He told them to count backwards from 20 to 5.
bacon
NOUN meat from the back or sides of a pig, which has been salted or smoked
bacteria
PLURAL NOUN very tiny organisms that can cause disease
[from Greek bakterion meaning little rod; some bacteria are rod-shaped]
bacterial ADJECTIVE
bad worse, worst
ADJECTIVE 1 Bad things are harmful or upsetting. • I have some bad news.
SYNONYMS: distressing, grave, terrible
2 not enough or of poor quality • We thought the film was very bad.
3 Bad food is not fresh.
SYNONYMS: rotten, decayed
badge badges
NOUN a piece of plastic or metal with a design or message on it that you can pin to your clothes
badger badgers, badgering, badgered
NOUN 1 a nocturnal mammal that has a white head with two black stripes on it
VERB 2 If you badger someone, you keep asking them questions or pestering them to do something.
badly worse, worst
ADVERB 1 not well, poorly • The script was badly written.
2 seriously • She was badly hurt in the accident.
badminton
NOUN a game in which two or four players use rackets to hit a feathered object, called a shuttlecock, over a high net
bag bags
NOUN a container for carrying things in
[From Old Norse baggi meaning bundle]
baggage
NOUN Your baggage is all the suitcases, holdalls and bags that you take with you when you travel.
bagpipes
PLURAL NOUN a musical instrument played by squeezing air out of a leather bag and through pipes
baguette baguettes
NOUN a long, thin French loaf of bread
bail bails
NOUN 1 In cricket, the bails are the two small pieces of wood placed on top of the stumps to form the wicket.
2 a sum of money paid to a court to allow an accused person to go free until the time of the trial • The accused man was released on bail.
bait baits, baiting, baited
NOUN 1 a small amount of food placed on a hook, or in a trap, to attract and catch a fish or wild animal
VERB 2 If you bait a hook or a trap, you put some food on it to catch a fish or wild animal.
bake bakes, baking, baked
VERB 1 When you bake food, you cook it in an oven without using extra liquid or fat.
2 If you bake earth or clay, you heat it until it becomes hard.
baker bakers
NOUN a person who makes and sells bread and cakes
balance balances, balancing, balanced
VERB 1 When someone or something balances, they remain steady and do not fall over.
2 used in mathematics when weighing and comparing two weights. If two weights are equal, they balance.
NOUN 3 the state of being upright and steady • She lost her balance and fell.
4 the amount of money in someone’s bank account
balcony balconies
NOUN 1 a platform on the outside of a building, with a wall or railing round it
2 an area of upstairs seats in a theatre or cinema
bald balder, baldest
ADJECTIVE A bald person has little or no hair on their head.
[from Middle English ballede meaning having a white patch]
bale bales, baling, baled
NOUN 1 a large bundle of something, such as paper or hay, tied tightly
VERB 2 If you bale water from a boat, you remove it using a container; also spelt bail.
ball balls
NOUN 1 a round object used in games such as tennis, soccer, and hockey
2 The ball of your foot or thumb is the rounded part where your toes join your foot or your thumb joins your hand.
ballad ballads
NOUN 1 a long song or poem that tells a story
2 a slow, romantic pop song
ballerina ballerinas
NOUN a female ballet dancer
ballet
NOUN a type of artistic dancing based on precise steps
[from Italian balletto meaning little dance]
balloon balloons
NOUN 1 a small bag made of thin rubber that you blow into until it becomes larger. Balloons are often used as party decorations.
2 a large, strong bag filled with gas or hot air, that travels through the air carrying passengers in a basket underneath it • They went on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
ballpoint ballpoints
NOUN a pen with a small, metal ball at the writing point
bamboo
NOUN a tall tropical grass with hard, hollow stems used for making furniture
ban bans, banning, banned
VERB 1 If you ban something, you forbid it to be done.
SYNONYMS: forbid, prohibit
NOUN 2 If there is a ban on something, it is not allowed.
banana bananas
NOUN a long, curved fruit with a yellow skin
band bands
NOUN 1 a group of musicians who play jazz or pop music together
2 a group of people who share a common purpose
3 a narrow strip of something used to hold things together • She tied her hair back with an elastic band.
bandage bandages
NOUN a strip of cloth wrapped round a wound to protect it
bang bangs, banging, banged
NOUN 1 a sudden, short, loud noise
2 a hard, painful bump against something
VERB 3 If you bang something, you hit it or put it down violently so that it makes a loud noise.
4 If you bang a part of your body against something, you accidentally bump it.
banish banishes, banishing, banished
VERB 1 If someone is banished, they are sent away and never allowed to return.
2 If you banish something from your thoughts, you try not to think about it.
banishment NOUN
banister banisters
NOUN a rail supported by posts up the side of a staircase
banjo banjos or banjoes
NOUN a musical instrument, like a small guitar with a round body
bank banks, banking, banked
NOUN 1 a business that looks after people’s money
2 the raised ground along the edge of a river or lake
VERB 3 If you bank on something happening, you rely on it. • I know we said we’d go swimming, but don’t bank on it.
banner banners
NOUN 1 a long strip of cloth with a message or slogan on it • We saw banners advertising the fair.
ADJECTIVE 2 A banner headline is a headline printed right across the page of a newspaper.
banquet banquets
NOUN a grand, formal dinner, often followed by speeches
[from Old French banquet, originally meaning little bench]
baptism baptisms
NOUN the ceremony in which someone has water sprinkled on them, or they are immersed in water, as a sign that they have become a Christian
baptize baptizes, baptizing, baptized; also spelt baptise
VERB When a church official baptizes someone, they sprinkle water on them, or immerse them in water, as a sign that they have become a Christian.
bar bars, barring, barred
NOUN 1 a long, straight piece of metal
VERB 2 If you bar someone’s way, you stop them going somewhere by standing in front of them.
NOUN 3 a counter or room where alcoholic drinks are served
4 a piece of something made in a rectangular shape • a bar of soap
barbecue barbecues
NOUN 1 a grill with a charcoal fire on which you cook food, usually outdoors
2 an outdoor party where you eat food cooked on a barbecue
[from a Caribbean word meaning framework]
barber barbers
NOUN a man who cuts men’s hair
bar chart bar charts
NOUN a kind of graph where the information is shown in rows or bars
bar code bar codes
NOUN a pattern of lines and numbers on something that is for sale, so that the price can be read by a machine
bare barer, barest
ADJECTIVE 1 If a part of your body is bare, it is not covered by any clothing. • bare feet
SYNONYMS: naked, uncovered
2 If something is bare, it is not covered or decorated with anything. • bare wooden floors
3 The bare minimum, or the bare essentials, means the very least that is needed.
barely
ADVERB If you barely manage to do something, you only just succeed in doing it.
bargain bargains, bargaining, bargained
NOUN 1 an agreement in which two people or groups discuss and agree what each will do, pay or receive
2 something that is sold at a low price and that is good value • The apples are a bargain at this price.
VERB 3 When people bargain with each other, they discuss and agree terms about what each will do, pay or receive.
barge barges, barging, barged
NOUN 1 a boat with a flat bottom used for carrying heavy loads, especially on canals
VERB 2 INFORMAL If you barge into a place, you push into it in a rough or rude way.
bark barks, barking, barked
VERB 1 When a dog barks, it makes a short, loud noise, once or several times.
NOUN 2 the tough material that covers the outside of a tree
barley
NOUN a cereal that is grown for food and is also used for making beer and whisky
bar mitzvah
NOUN A Jewish boy’s bar mitzvah is a ceremony that takes place on his 13th birthday, after which he is regarded as an adult.
barn barns
NOUN a large farm building used for storing crops or animal food
[from Old English beren meaning barley room]
barnacle barnacles
NOUN a small shellfish that fixes itself to rocks and to the bottom of boats
barometer barometers
NOUN an instrument that measures air pressure and shows when the weather is changing
barrel barrels
NOUN 1 a wooden container with rounded sides and flat ends
2 The barrel of a gun is the long tube through which the bullet is fired.
barricade barricades, barricading, barricaded
NOUN 1 a temporary barrier put up to stop people getting past
VERB 2 If you barricade yourself inside a room or building, you put something heavy against the door to stop people getting in.
[from Old French barriquer meaning to block with barrels]
barrier barriers
NOUN a fence or wall that prevents people or animals getting from one area to another
barrister barristers
NOUN a lawyer who is qualified to represent people in the higher courts
barrow barrows
NOUN 1 another word for wheelbarrow
2 a large cart from which fruit or other goods are sold in the street
base bases, basing, based
NOUN 1 the lowest part of something • The waves crashed at the base of the cliffs.
2 The base of a triangle or a square-shaped pyramid is the bottom.
3 a place where part of an army, navy or air force works from
VERB 4 If you base one thing on another, you develop from it. • She based the film on a true story.
5 If you are based somewhere, you live there or work from there. • My dad is based in Cardiff, but spends a lot of time abroad.
baseball
NOUN a team game played with a bat and a ball. It is popular in the USA.
basement basements
NOUN a room or set of rooms below the level of the street • My aunt lives in the basement of our house.
basic
ADJECTIVE 1 The basic aspects of something are the most necessary ones. • The basic ingredients of bread are flour, yeast and water.
2 having only the essentials, and no extras or luxuries
basically ADVERB
basin basins
NOUN 1 a round, wide container which is open at the top
2 A river basin is a bowl of land from which water runs into the river.
basis bases
NOUN If something is the basis of something else, it is the main principle on which it is based, and from which other points and ideas can be developed.
bask basks, basking, basked
VERB If you bask in hot weather, you lie in the sun and enjoy the warmth.
basket baskets
NOUN a container made of thin strips of wood or metal woven together • a shopping basket
basketball
NOUN a game in which two teams try to score goals by throwing a large ball through one of two circular nets that are suspended high up at each end of the basketball court
bass basses
NOUN 1 a man with a very deep singing voice
ADJECTIVE 2 In music, a bass instrument produces a very deep sound. • a bass guitar
bassoon bassoons
NOUN a large woodwind instrument
bat bats, batting, batted
NOUN 1 a specially shaped piece of wood with a handle, used for hitting a ball in games such as table tennis or cricket
2 a small animal like a mouse with leathery wings. Bats fly at night and sleep hanging upside down.
VERB 3 If you are batting in cricket, baseball or rounders, it is your turn to hit the ball.
batch batches
NOUN A batch of things is a group of things that are all the same or are being dealt with at the same time. • They delivered the first batch of books at the start of term.
bath baths
NOUN a long container that you fill with water and sit in to wash yourself
bathe bathes, bathing, bathed
VERB When you bathe in a sea, river or lake, you swim or play there.
bathroom bathrooms
NOUN a room with a bath or shower, a washbasin and often a toilet in it
baton batons
NOUN 1 a light, thin stick that a conductor uses to direct an orchestra or choir
2 a short stick passed from one runner to another at the changeover in a relay race
battalion battalions
NOUN an army unit consisting of three or more companies
batter batters, battering, battered
NOUN 1 a mixture of flour, eggs and milk, used to make pancakes, or to coat food before frying it
VERB 2 When someone or something batters someone or something, they hit them many times. • The waves battered the sides of the ship.
battery batteries
NOUN a device for storing energy and producing electricity, for example in a torch or a car
battle battles
NOUN a fight between armed forces, or a struggle between two people or groups with different aims
battlefield battlefields
NOUN a place where a battle has been fought or is being fought
battlements
PLURAL NOUN the top part of a castle where there are openings through which arrows or guns could be fired
battleship battleships
NOUN a large fighting ship carrying powerful guns
bawl bawls, bawling, bawled
VERB If someone bawls, they shout or cry loudly.
bay bays, baying, bayed
NOUN 1 part of the coastline where the land curves
2 a space or an area used for a particular purpose • a loading bay
3 a tree with dark green leaves. The leaves are used for flavouring food.
VERB 4 When a dog or a wolf bays, it makes a deep, howling sound.
PHRASE 5 If you keep something at bay, you stop it hurting you. • Try eating an orange to keep a cold at bay.
bayonet bayonets
NOUN a sharp blade that can be fixed to the end of a rifle
bazaar bazaars
NOUN 1 an area with many small shops and stalls, especially in Eastern countries
2 a sale to raise money for charity • a Christmas bazaar
[from Persian bazar meaning market]
BC
ADJECTIVE You use BC to show the dates before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is an abbreviation for before Christ.
be am, is, are; being; was, were; been
VERB 1 You can use be with the present participle of other verbs. • Look! I am riding on my own!
2 You can also use be to say that something will happen. • I will be nine in November.
3 You use be to say more about something or somebody. • His name is Tom.
beach beaches
NOUN an area of sand or pebbles beside the sea
beacon beacons
NOUN In the past, a beacon was a light or fire on a hill, which acted as a signal or warning.
bead beads
NOUN 1 a small, shaped piece of glass, stone or wood with a hole through the middle. Beads are strung together with others to make necklaces or bracelets.
2 a drop of liquid • beads of perspiration
beak beaks
NOUN the hard part of a bird’s mouth that sticks out. It is used for pecking up food and for carrying things such as twigs.
beam beams, beaming, beamed
NOUN 1 a long, thick bar of wood or metal, especially one that supports a roof
2 a band of light that shines from something such as a torch or the sun
VERB 3 If you beam, you smile broadly.
bean beans
NOUN the seed or pod of a plant, eaten as a vegetable or used for other purposes • runner beans • coffee beans • soya beans
bear bears, bearing, bore, borne
NOUN 1 a large, strong, wild mammal with thick fur and sharp claws • polar bear • grizzly bear
VERB 2 If someone or something bears something, they carry it or support its weight. • The ice wasn’t thick enough to bear their weight.
3 If something bears a mark or typical feature, it has it. • The room bore all the signs of a violent struggle.
4 If you bear something difficult, you accept it and are able to deal with it. • The loneliness was hard to bear.
beard beards
NOUN the hair that grows on the lower part of a man’s face
beast beasts
NOUN 1 an old-fashioned word for a large, wild animal
2 INFORMAL If you call someone a beast, you mean that they are cruel or spiteful.
beat beats, beating, beat, beaten
VERB 1 If someone or something beats someone or something else, they hit them hard and repeatedly. • The rain was beating against the window.
2 If you beat someone in a race or game, you defeat them or do better than them.
3 When your heart beats, it pumps blood with a regular rhythm.
NOUN 4 the main rhythm of a piece of music or poetry
beautiful
ADJECTIVE very attractive or pleasing
SYNONYM: lovely
beauty beauties
NOUN 1 the quality of being beautiful • the beauty of the stars on a clear night
2 The beauty of an idea or a plan is what makes it attractive or worth doing. • The beauty of going in September is that the sea will be warmer for swimming.
beaver beavers
NOUN a mammal with a big, flat tail and webbed hind feet. Beavers build dams.
because
CONJUNCTION 1 Because is used with other words to give the reason for something. • I went home because I was tired.
PHRASE 2 Because of is used with a noun that gives the reason for something. • I had to stay late because of detention.
beckon beckons, beckoning, beckoned
VERB If you beckon to someone, you make a sign to them with your hand, asking them to come to you.
become becomes, becoming, became, become
VERB If someone or something becomes something else, they start feeling or being that thing. • I became more and more angry.
[from Old English becuman meaning to happen]
bed beds
NOUN 1 a piece of furniture that you lie on when you sleep
2 an area of ground in a garden which has been dug and prepared for planting
3 The bed of the sea or a river is the bottom of it.
bedraggled
ADJECTIVE If a person or animal is bedraggled, they are wet, dirty and messy.
bedroom bedrooms
NOUN a room for sleeping in
bedtime bedtimes
NOUN the time when you go to bed
bee bees
NOUN a winged insect that makes honey. Many types of bee live in large groups.
beech beeches
NOUN a tree with a smooth, grey trunk and shiny leaves
beef
NOUN the meat of a cow, bull or ox
beehive beehives
NOUN a specially designed structure in which bees are kept so that their honey can be collected
been
VERB the past participle of be (#ulink_7945d8a8-f211-58da-a469-315b6c509627)
beer beers
NOUN an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavoured with hops
beetle beetles
NOUN a flying insect with hard wings that cover its body when it is not flying
[from Old English bitan meaning to bite]
beetroot beetroots
NOUN a round, dark red root vegetable
before
ADVERB, PREPOSITION OR CONJUNCTION If something happens before, it happens earlier than something else. • Can I see you before you go?
ANTONYM: after
beg begs, begging, begged
VERB 1 When people beg, they ask for food or money, because they are very poor.
2 If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously to do it. • David begged his dad to take him to the cinema.
began
VERB the past tense of begin (#ulink_b38c845c-52d0-598d-850d-f4f0ed059127)
begin begins, beginning, began, begun
VERB If you begin something, you start it.
beginner beginners
NOUN someone who has just started to learn something
SYNONYM: learner
beginning beginnings
NOUN The beginning of something is when or where it starts.
begun
VERB the past participle of begin (#ulink_91c2a7fd-35b8-5846-9149-a541aeeccc2b)
behalf
PHRASE If you do something on behalf of someone or something, you do it for them or in their name. • We did the sponsored swim on behalf of various charities.
behave behaves, behaving, behaved
VERB 1 If you behave in a particular way, you act in that way. • He knew that he’d behaved badly.
2 If you behave yourself, you act correctly or properly.
behind
PREPOSITION 1 at the back of • The moon disappeared behind a cloud.
2 supporting someone • The whole school was behind him in the competition.
ADVERB 3 If you stay behind, you remain after other people have gone.
4 If you leave something behind, you do not take it with you.
beige
ADJECTIVE a cream-brown colour
being
VERB the present participle of be (#ulink_7945d8a8-f211-58da-a469-315b6c509627)
belch belches, belching, belched
VERB 1 If you belch, you make a sudden noise in your throat because air has risen up from your stomach.
2 If something belches smoke or fire, it sends it out in large amounts. • Smoke belched from the factory chimneys.
NOUN 3 the noise you make when you belch
belief beliefs
NOUN If you have a belief in something, you are certain that it is right or true.
believe believes, believing, believed
VERB 1 If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true.
2 If you believe someone, you accept that they are telling the truth.
bell bells
NOUN 1 a cup-shaped metal object with a piece inside it called a clapper that hits the side and makes a ringing sound
2 an electrical device that you can ring or buzz to get attention
bellow bellows, bellowing, bellowed
VERB If a human or other animal bellows, they shout very loudly or make a very loud, deep noise like a roar.
belly bellies
NOUN the part of your body, especially your stomach, that holds and digests food
belong belongs, belonging, belonged
VERB 1 If something belongs to you, it is yours and you own it.
2 If you belong to a group, you are a member of it.
3 If something belongs in a particular place, that is where it should be. • That book belongs on the top shelf.
belongings
PLURAL NOUN Your belongings are all the things that you own.
below
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If something is below something else, it is in a lower position. • We could hear music coming up from the flat two floors below.
ANTONYM: above
2 If something is below a particular amount or level, it is less than it. • below average rainfall
ANTONYM: above
belt belts
NOUN a strip of leather or cloth that you fasten round your waist to hold your trousers or skirt up
bench benches
NOUN a long seat that two or more people can sit on
bend bends, bending, bent
VERB 1 When you bend something, you use force to make it curved or angular.
2 When you bend, you move your head and shoulders forwards and downwards. • I bent over to pick up my glasses.
NOUN 3 a curved part of something • a bend in the road
beneath
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB FORMAL underneath
benefit benefits, benefiting, benefited
NOUN 1 the advantage that something brings to people • the benefit of a good education
VERB 2 If you benefit from something, it helps you. • He’ll benefit from some extra tuition.
[from Latin benefactum meaning good deed]
bent
ADJECTIVE curved or twisted out of shape
bereaved
ADJECTIVE FORMAL You say that someone is bereaved when a close relative of theirs has recently died.
bereavement NOUN
berry berries
NOUN a small, round fruit that grows on bushes or trees
berserk
ADVERB If somebody goes berserk, they lose control of themselves and become extremely violent.
[from Icelandic berserkr meaning a Viking who wore a shirt made from the skin of a bear and who worked himself into a mad frenzy before going into battle]
berth berths
NOUN 1 a space in a harbour where a ship stays when it is being loaded or unloaded
2 In a boat or caravan, a berth is a bed.
PHRASE 3 If you give someone or something a wide berth, you avoid them because they are unpleasant or dangerous.
beside
PREPOSITION If one thing is beside another thing, it is next to it.
besides
ADVERB also or in addition to
best
ADJECTIVE 1 the superlative of good and well • That was one of the best films I’ve ever seen.
ANTONYM: worst
ADVERB 2 The thing that you like best is the thing that you prefer to everything else.
bet bets, betting, bet
VERB If you bet on the result of an event, you will win money if what you bet on happens and lose money if it does not.
betray betrays, betraying, betrayed
VERB If you betray someone who trusts you, you tell people something secret about them.
better
ADJECTIVE 1 the comparative of good and well • I am feeling better today.
2 If you are better after an illness, you are no longer ill.
SYNONYM: cured
between
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If something is between two other things, it is situated or happens in the space or time that separates them. • He was head teacher between 1989 and 2000.
2 A relationship or a difference between two people or two things is one that involves them both. • the difference between frogs and toads
beware
VERB If you tell someone to beware of something, you are warning them that it might be dangerous or harmful.
bewilder bewilders, bewildering, bewildered
VERB If something bewilders you, it confuses and muddles you so that you can’t understand.
bewilderment NOUN
beyond
PREPOSITION 1 If something is beyond a certain place, it is on the other side of it. • Beyond the mountains was the secret valley.
2 If something is beyond you, you cannot do it or understand it.
bi-
PREFIX added to a word to mean two or twice. For example, someone who is bilingual can speak two languages.
bib bibs
NOUN a piece of cloth or plastic put under a baby’s chin to protect its clothes from stains
Bible Bibles
NOUN the sacred book of the Christian religion • I read about Noah and the Ark in the Bible.
bibliography bibliographies
NOUN a list of books or articles
bicycle bicycles
NOUN a two-wheeled vehicle that you ride by pushing two pedals with your feet
bid bids, bidding, bid
VERB If you bid for something, you offer to buy it for a certain sum of money. • He bid for an old bike at the auction.
big bigger, biggest
ADJECTIVE large or important
ANTONYMS: small, tiny, little
bike bikes
NOUN an abbreviation for bicycle
bikini bikinis
NOUN a small, two-piece swimming costume worn by women
bilingual
ADJECTIVE involving or using two languages • bilingual street signs
[from Latin bis meaning two and lingua meaning tongue]
bill bills
NOUN 1 a written statement of how much is owed for goods or services • a phone bill
2 a formal statement of a proposed new law that is discussed and then voted on in Parliament
3 A bill can be a piece of paper money. • a dollar bill
4 A bird’s bill is its beak.
billiards
NOUN a game in which a long stick called a cue is used to move balls on a table
billion billions
NOUN a thousand million • You can write one billion like this: 1,000,000,000.
billow billows, billowing, billowed
VERB 1 When things made of cloth billow, they swell out and flap slowly in the wind.
2 When smoke or cloud billows, it spreads upwards and outwards.
NOUN 3 a large wave
billy goat billy goats
NOUN a male goat
bin bins
NOUN a container, especially one that you put rubbish in
binary
ADJECTIVE The binary system is a number system used when working with computers. It uses only two digits, 0 and 1.
bind binds, binding, bound
VERB 1 If you bind something, you tie rope or string round it so that it is held firmly.
2 If you bind a wound, you wrap bandages round it.
3 When a book is bound, the pages are joined together and a cover is put on.
bingo
NOUN a game in which players aim to match the numbers that someone calls out with the numbers on the card they have been given
binoculars
PLURAL NOUN an instrument with lenses for both eyes, which you look through in order to see objects far away • They used binoculars for bird watching.
biodegradable
ADJECTIVE Biodegradable materials can be broken down naturally, and so they are not dangerous to the environment.
biography biographies
NOUN the history of someone’s life, written by someone else
biology
NOUN the study of living things
[from Greek bios + logos meaning life study]
birch birches
NOUN a tall, deciduous tree with thin branches and thin bark
bird birds
NOUN an egg-laying animal with feathers, two wings, two legs and a beak
birth births
NOUN Your birth was when you were born.
birthday birthdays
NOUN Your birthday is the anniversary of the date on which you were born.
birthmark birthmarks
NOUN a mark on your skin that has been there since you were born
biscuit biscuits
NOUN a small, flat cake that is crisp and usually sweet
bisect bisects, bisecting, bisected
VERB to divide a line or an area in half
bishop bishops
NOUN a high-ranking clergyman in some Christian Churches
bison
NOUN a large, hairy animal, related to cattle, with a large head and shoulders. Bison used to be very common on the prairies in North America, but they are now almost extinct.
bit bits
VERB 1 the past tense of bite • She bit into the toast.
NOUN 2 A bit of something is a small amount of it.
PHRASE 3 INFORMAL A bit means slightly or to a small extent. • That’s a bit difficult.
bitch bitches
NOUN a female dog
bite bites, biting, bit, bitten
VERB If you bite something, you cut into it with your teeth.
bitter bitterest
ADJECTIVE 1 A bitter taste is sharp and unpleasant.
2 A bitter wind is extremely cold.
3 If you are bitter about something, you feel angry and resentful.
bizarre
ADJECTIVE very strange and weird
SYNONYMS: odd, peculiar
black blacker, blackest
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE the darkest possible colour, like the sky at night when there is no light
blackberry blackberries
NOUN a small, soft black fruit that grows on brambles
blackbird blackbirds
NOUN a common European bird, the male of which has black feathers and a yellow beak
blackboard blackboards
NOUN a dark-coloured board in a classroom, which teachers write on using chalk
blackcurrant blackcurrants
NOUN Blackcurrants are very small, dark, purple fruits that grow in bunches on bushes.
black hole black holes
NOUN the empty space made by the collapse of a star
bladder bladders
NOUN the part of your body where urine is held until it leaves your body
blade blades
NOUN 1 the sharp part of a knife, axe or saw
2 a single piece of grass
blame blames, blaming, blamed
VERB If someone blames a person for something bad that has happened, they believe that person caused it.
SYNONYM: accuse
blank blanker, blankest
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is blank has nothing on it. • a blank sheet of paper
2 If you look blank, your face shows no feeling or interest.
blanket blankets
NOUN a large rectangle of thick cloth that is put on a bed to keep people warm
[from Old French blancquete meaning little white thing]
blare blares, blaring, blared
VERB to make a loud, unpleasant noise • The radio blared from the flat below.
blast blasts, blasting, blasted
VERB 1 When people blast a hole in something, they make a hole with an explosion. • They’re using dynamite to blast away rocks.
NOUN 2 a big explosion, especially one caused by a bomb
blaze blazes, blazing, blazed
NOUN 1 a large, hot fire
VERB 2 If something blazes, it burns or shines brightly. • The fire blazed in the fireplace.
blazer blazers
NOUN a kind of jacket, often in the colours of a school or sports team
bleach bleaches, bleaching, bleached
NOUN 1 a chemical that is used to make material white or to clean thoroughly and kill germs
VERB 2 If you bleach material or hair, you make it white, usually by using a chemical.
bleak bleaker, bleakest
ADJECTIVE 1 If a place is bleak, it is cold, bare and exposed to the wind. • a bleak mountain top
2 If a situation is bleak, it is bad and seems unlikely to improve.
bleat bleats, bleating, bleated
VERB When sheep or goats bleat, they make a high-pitched cry.
bleed bleeds, bleeding, bled
VERB When you bleed, you lose blood as a result of an injury. • My hand bled a lot after I cut it.
blend blends, blending, blended
VERB 1 When you blend substances, you mix them together to form a single substance. • Blend the butter with the sugar.
2 When colours or sounds blend, they combine in a pleasing way.
bless blesses, blessing, blessed or blest
VERB When a priest blesses people or things, he or she asks God to give his protection to them.
[from Old English bloedsian meaning to sprinkle with sacrificial blood]
blew
VERB the past tense of blow (#ulink_9de41e6e-41f5-5144-a6c8-d3d043452cf0)
blind blinds, blinding, blinded
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is blind cannot see.
VERB 2 If something blinds you, it stops you seeing, either for a short time or permanently.
NOUN 3 a roll of cloth or paper that you pull down over a window to keep out the light
blindfold blindfolds
NOUN a strip of cloth tied over someone’s eyes to stop them seeing
blink blinks, blinking, blinked
VERB When you blink, you close your eyes quickly for a moment.
bliss
NOUN a state of complete happiness
blissful ADJECTIVE blissfully ADVERB
blister blisters
NOUN a small bubble on your skin containing watery liquid, caused by a burn or rubbing
blizzard blizzards
NOUN a heavy snowstorm with strong winds
bloated
ADJECTIVE Something that is bloated is much larger than normal, often because there is a lot of liquid or gas inside it.
block blocks, blocking, blocked
NOUN 1 a large building containing flats or offices
2 In a town, a block is an area of land with streets on all its sides.
3 a large, rectangular, three-dimensional piece of something
VERB 4 If someone or something blocks a road or channel, they put something across it so that nothing can get through.
SYNONYM: obstruct
block capitals
PLURAL NOUN large upper-case letters. THESE ARE BLOCK CAPITALS.
block graph block graphs
NOUN another name for bar chart
blog blogs, blogging, blogged
NOUN 1 a person’s online diary that they put on the internet so that other people can read it
VERB 2 If you blog about something, you write about it in a blog. • He blogs about cooking and restaurants.
blonde blondes
ADJECTIVE 1 Blonde hair is pale yellow in colour. The spelling blond is used when referring to men.
NOUN 2 A blonde or blond is a person with pale yellow hair.
blood
NOUN the red liquid that is pumped by the heart round the bodies of human beings and other vertebrates
bloodstream
NOUN the flow of blood through your body
bloodthirsty
ADJECTIVE Someone who is bloodthirsty enjoys using or watching violence.
bloom blooms, blooming, bloomed
NOUN 1 a flower on a plant
VERB 2 When a plant blooms, it produces flowers.
blossom blossoms, blossoming, blossomed
NOUN 1 all the flowers that appear on a tree before the fruit
VERB 2 When a tree blossoms, it produces flowers.
blot blots
NOUN a mark made by a drop of liquid, especially ink
blouse blouses
NOUN a light shirt, worn by a girl or a woman
blow blows, blowing, blew, blown
VERB 1 When the wind blows, the air moves.
2 If you blow, you send a stream of air from your mouth.
3 If you blow your nose, you force air out of it through your nostrils in order to clear it.
NOUN 4 If you receive a blow, someone or something hits you.
blow up
VERB 1 If something blows up, it is destroyed by an explosion.
2 If you blow up a balloon or a tyre, you fill it with air.
blubber
NOUN the layer of fat beneath the skin of animals such as whales and seals that protects them from the cold
blue bluer, bluest
ADJECTIVE OR NOUN the colour of the sky on a clear, sunny day
bluebell bluebells
NOUN a woodland plant with blue, bell-shaped flowers
bluff bluffs, bluffing, bluffed
NOUN 1 an attempt to make someone believe that you will do something when you do not really intend to do it
VERB 2 If you are bluffing, you are trying to make someone believe that you are in a strong position when you are not.
[from Dutch bluffen meaning to boast]
blunder blunders, blundering, blundered
NOUN 1 a silly mistake
VERB 2 If you blunder, you make a silly mistake.
blunt blunter, bluntest
ADJECTIVE 1 A blunt object has a rounded point or edge, rather than a sharp one. • My pencil was blunt so I could not write with it.
2 If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think, without trying to be polite.
SYNONYMS: outspoken, straightforward
blur
NOUN If something is a blur, you can’t see it clearly. • The mountain was a blur through the mist.
blurb blurbs
NOUN the description of a book printed on the back cover
blurt out blurts out, blurting out, blurted out
VERB If you blurt out something, you say it suddenly, after trying to keep it a secret.
blush blushes, blushing, blushed
VERB If you blush, your face becomes red, because you are embarrassed or ashamed.
[from Old English blyscan meaning to glow]
boa boas
NOUN a large snake that kills its prey by coiling round it and crushing it
boar boars
NOUN 1 a male wild pig
2 a male domestic pig used for breeding
board boards, boarding, boarded
NOUN 1 a long, flat piece of wood
2 a flat piece of wood, plastic or cardboard, which is used for a particular purpose • a chessboard • a surfboard
3 the group of people who control a company or organization • My mum is on the board of governors.
4 the meals provided when you stay in a hotel or guesthouse • The price includes full board.
VERB 5 If you board a ship or aircraft, you get on it or in it.
PHRASE 6 If you are on board a ship or aircraft, you are on it or in it.
Do not confuse board with bored.
boarder boarders
NOUN 1 a pupil who lives at school during term
2 a lodger
boast boasts, boasting, boasted
VERB If you boast, you talk proudly about what you have or what you can do.
SYNONYM: brag
boat boats
NOUN a small vehicle for travelling across water
body bodies
NOUN 1 Your body is all of you, from your head to your feet.
2 You can say body when you mean just the main part of a human or other animal, not counting head, arms and legs.
bodyguard bodyguards
NOUN a person employed to protect someone
bog bogs
NOUN an area of wet, spongy ground
boil boils, boiling, boiled
VERB 1 When a hot liquid boils, or when you boil it, it starts to bubble and to give off steam.
2 When you boil food, you cook it in boiling water.
boiler boilers
NOUN a piece of equipment that burns fuel to provide hot water
boisterous
ADJECTIVE Someone who is boisterous is noisy and lively.
SYNONYMS: loud, rowdy
boisterously ADVERB
bold bolder, boldest
ADJECTIVE 1 brave or confident • He was bold enough to ask for her autograph.
2 clear and noticeable • The sign was painted in bold colours.
[from Old Norse ballr meaning dangerous or terrible]
bollard bollards
NOUN a short, thick post used to stop vehicles from entering a road
bolt bolts, bolting, bolted
NOUN 1 a metal object that screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together
VERB 2 If you bolt one thing to another, you fasten them together using a bolt. • They bolted the chair to the floor.
3 If you bolt a door or window, you slide a metal bar across in order to fasten it.
bomb bombs, bombing, bombed
NOUN 1 a container filled with material that explodes when it hits something or when it is set off by a timer
VERB 2 If you bomb something, you attack it with a bomb.
[from Greek bombos meaning a booming sound]
bond bonds
NOUN a close relationship between people • the bond between mothers and babies
bone bones
NOUN the hard parts that form the framework of a person’s or animal’s body
bonfire bonfires
NOUN a large fire made outdoors, to burn rubbish or to celebrate something
[from bone + fire – bones were used as fuel in the Middle Ages]
bonnet bonnets
NOUN 1 the metal cover over a car’s engine
2 a baby’s or woman’s hat tied under the chin
bonus bonuses
NOUN 1 an amount of money added to a person’s usual pay
2 a good thing that you get in addition to something else
bony bonier, boniest
ADJECTIVE Bony people or animals are very thin, with not much flesh covering their bones.
book books, booking, booked
NOUN 1 a number of pages held together inside a cover
VERB 2 When you book something, you arrange to have it or use it at a particular time. • Mum booked two rooms at the hotel.
bookcase bookcases
NOUN a piece of furniture where you keep books
booklet booklets
NOUN a small book with a paper cover
boom booms, booming, boomed
NOUN 1 a deep, echoing sound
2 a fast increase in something • There has been a boom in the sale of sun cream this summer.
VERB 3 If something booms, it makes a loud booming sound. • We heard the foghorn boom in the distance.
boomerang boomerangs
NOUN a curved, wooden missile that can be thrown so that it returns to the thrower. Boomerangs were traditionally used as weapons by Australian Aborigines.
boost boosts, boosting, boosted
VERB If someone boosts something, they improve or increase it. • The teacher boosted Juliet’s confidence when she praised her story.
boot boots
NOUN 1 strong shoes that come up over your ankle, and sometimes your calf
2 the covered space in a car, usually at the back, for carrying things in
booth booths
NOUN 1 a small, partly-enclosed area • a telephone booth
2 a stall where you can buy things, for example at a market or a fair
border borders
NOUN 1 the dividing line between two countries
2 a strip or band round the edge of something
3 flower beds round the edges of a garden
borderline borderlines
NOUN If someone or something is on the borderline, they are on the division between two different categories.
bore bores, boring, bored
VERB 1 If something bores you, you find it dull and uninteresting.
2 If you bore a hole in something, you make it using a tool such as a drill.
3 the past tense of bear
NOUN 4 someone or something that bores you
bored
ADJECTIVE If you are bored, you are miserable because you have nothing interesting to do.
Do not confuse bored with board.
boring
ADJECTIVE dull and uninteresting
ANTONYM: interesting
born
VERB When an animal such as a human baby is born, it comes out of its mother’s body and starts to live.
borrow borrows, borrowing, borrowed
VERB If you borrow something that belongs to someone else, they let you have it for a period of time. • I borrowed a book from my friend.
boss bosses, bossing, bossed
NOUN 1 Someone’s boss is the person in charge of the place where they work.
VERB 2 If someone bosses you, they keep telling you what to do.
bossy bossier, bossiest
ADJECTIVE If you are bossy, you like to order other people around.
botany
NOUN the study and classification of plants
both
ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN Both is used when saying something about two things or two people. • You can both come to my party.
bother bothers, bothering, bothered
VERB 1 If you don’t bother to do something, you don’t do it because it takes too much effort or it’s not important.
2 If something bothers you, you are worried about it.
3 If you are not bothered about something, you don’t care about it.
4 If you bother someone, you interrupt them when they are busy.
NOUN 5 trouble, fuss or difficulty • Mum’s having a bit of bother with the car.
bottle bottles, bottling, bottled
NOUN 1 a glass or plastic container for keeping liquids in
VERB 2 If you bottle something, you put it in a bottle to store it.
bottom bottoms
NOUN 1 the lowest part of something • It sank to the bottom of the pond.
2 Your bottom is the part of your body that you sit on.
bottomless
ADJECTIVE If something is bottomless, it has no bottom or it is very deep.
bough boughs
Rhymes with “cow” NOUN a large branch of a tree
bought
VERB the past tense and past participle of buy (#ulink_a2acaa34-e422-598c-9fff-d7dc01b9a79d)
Do not confuse bought with brought.
boulder boulders
NOUN a large, rounded rock
bounce bounces, bouncing, bounced
VERB When an object bounces, it springs back from something after hitting it. • The ball bounced high off the ground.
bound bounds, bounding, bounded
ADJECTIVE 1 If you say that something is bound to happen, you mean that it is certain to happen. • He’s bound to find out.
NOUN 2 a large leap
VERB 3 When humans or other animals bound, they move quickly with large leaps.
boundary boundaries
NOUN the limit of an area
bouquet bouquets
NOUN an attractively arranged bunch of flowers
bout bouts
NOUN 1 something that lasts for a short period of time • I had a bout of flu.
2 a boxing or wrestling match
boutique boutiques
NOUN a small shop that sells fashionable clothes
bow bows, bowing, bowed
Rhymes with “now” VERB 1 When you bow, you bend your body or lower your head as a sign of respect or greeting.
NOUN 2 the movement you make when you bow
3 the front part of a ship
Rhymes with “low” NOUN 4 a knot with two loops and two loose ends • The ribbon was tied in a bow.
5 a long, thin piece of wood with horsehair strings stretched along it, used to play some stringed instruments, such as the violin and the cello
6 a long, flexible piece of wood used for shooting arrows
bowel bowels
NOUN the tubes leading from your stomach, through which waste passes before it leaves your body
[from Latin botellus meaning little sausage]
bowl bowls, bowling, bowled
NOUN 1 a round container with a wide, uncovered top, used for holding liquid or for serving food • a bowl of soup
2 the hollow, rounded part of something • a toilet bowl
VERB 3 When you bowl in cricket and rounders, you throw the ball towards the batsman.
bowling
NOUN a game in which you roll a heavy ball down a narrow track towards a set of wooden objects called pins, and try to knock them down
bowls
NOUN a game in which the players try to roll large wooden balls as near as possible to a small ball
box boxes, boxing, boxed
NOUN 1 a container with a firm base and sides, and usually a lid
VERB 2 If someone boxes, they fight according to special rules.
boxer boxers
NOUN 1 a person who boxes
2 a medium-sized, smooth-haired dog with a flat face
Boxing Day
NOUN the day after Christmas Day
boy boys
NOUN a male child
boyfriend boyfriends
NOUN Someone’s boyfriend is the man or boy with whom they are having a romantic relationship.
bra bras
NOUN a piece of underwear worn by a woman to support her breasts
brace braces, bracing, braced
NOUN 1 an object fixed to something to straighten or support it • I wore a brace on my teeth for two years.
PLURAL NOUN 2 Braces are elastic straps worn over the shoulders to hold trousers up.
VERB 3 If you brace yourself, you stiffen your body to steady yourself. • We braced ourselves as the bus went round the corner.
4 If you brace yourself for something unpleasant, you prepare yourself to deal with it.
bracelet bracelets
NOUN a chain or band worn around someone’s wrist as an ornament
[from Old French bracel meaning little arm]
bracken
NOUN a plant like a large fern that grows on hills and in woods
bracket brackets
NOUN a pair of written marks, ( ), { } or [ ], placed round a word or sentence that is not part of the main text, or to show that the items inside the brackets belong together
brag brags, bragging, bragged
VERB If you brag, you boast about something.
Braille
NOUN a system of printing for blind people in which letters are represented by raised dots that can be felt with the fingers
brain brains
NOUN the organ inside your head that controls your body and enables you to think and feel
brainstorm brainstorms
NOUN 1 a clever idea that you think of suddenly
2 If you have a brainstorm, you become confused and cannot think clearly.
brainy brainier, brainiest
ADJECTIVE clever and good at learning things
brake brakes, braking, braked
NOUN 1 a device for making a vehicle stop or slow down
VERB 2 When drivers brake, they make a vehicle stop or slow down by using its brakes.
bramble brambles
NOUN a wild, trailing bush with thorns, which produces blackberries
branch branches, branching, branched
NOUN 1 part of a tree that grows out from the trunk
2 A branch of a business or organization is one of its offices or shops.
VERB 3 A road that branches off from another road splits off from it to lead in a different direction.
brand brands
NOUN a particular kind or make of something
brandy
NOUN a strong, alcoholic drink, often drunk after a meal
[from Dutch brandewijn meaning burnt wine]
brass
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE 1 a yellow-coloured metal made from copper and zinc
2 In an orchestra, the brass section consists of instruments such as trumpets and trombones.
brave braver, bravest; braves, braving, braved
ADJECTIVE 1 A brave person is willing to do dangerous things and does not show any fear.
SYNONYMS: courageous, daring
VERB 2 If you brave an unpleasant or dangerous situation, you face up to it in order to do something. • We braved the snow to go to the party.
[from Italian bravo meaning courageous or wild]
brawl brawls, brawling, brawled
NOUN 1 a rough fight
VERB 2 When people brawl, they take part in a rough fight.
bread
NOUN a very common food made from flour, and baked in an oven
breadth breadths
NOUN the distance between two sides of something • I can swim the breadth of the pool.
See width (#litres_trial_promo)
break breaks, breaking, broke, broken
VERB 1 When an object breaks, or when you break it, it becomes damaged or separates into pieces.
2 If you break a rule or promise, you fail to keep it.
3 To break a record means to do better than the previous recorded best. • She broke the record for the long jump.
NOUN 4 a short period during which you rest or do something different
break down
VERB When a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working.
break up
VERB When schools break up, the term ends. • We break up on Thursday.
breakable
ADJECTIVE easy to break
breakdown breakdowns
NOUN If there is a breakdown in a system, it stops working.
breakfast breakfasts
NOUN the first meal of the day
breast breasts
NOUN A woman’s breasts are the two soft, fleshy parts on her chest, which produce milk after she has had a baby.
breast-feed breast-feeds, breast-feeding, breast-fed
VERB If a woman breast-feeds her baby, she feeds it with milk from her breasts.
breath breaths
NOUN 1 the air you take into your lungs and let out again when you breathe • He took a deep breath before jumping into the pool.
PHRASE 2 If you are out of breath, you are breathing with difficulty after doing something energetic.
breathe breathes, breathing, breathed
VERB When you breathe, you take air into your lungs and let it out again.
breathless
ADJECTIVE If you are breathless, you are breathing very fast or with difficulty. • I was breathless after running to catch the bus.
breathlessly ADVERB
breathlessness NOUN
breed breeds, breeding, bred
NOUN 1 a particular type of animal. For example, an Alsatian is a breed of dog.
VERB 2 Someone who breeds animals or plants keeps them in order to produce more animals or plants with particular qualities. • He used to breed dogs for the police.
3 When animals breed, they produce young.
SYNONYM: reproduce
breeze breezes
NOUN a gentle wind
breezy ADJECTIVE
brewery breweries
NOUN a place where beer is made, or a company that makes beer
bribe bribes, bribing, bribed
NOUN 1 a gift or money given to an official to persuade them to allow you to do something
VERB 2 If someone bribes someone else, they give them a bribe.
brick bricks
NOUN a rectangular block of baked clay used in building
bride brides
NOUN a woman who is getting married or who has just got married
bridegroom bridegrooms
NOUN a man on or near his wedding day
bridesmaid bridesmaids
NOUN a woman or girl who helps a bride on her wedding day
bridge bridges
NOUN 1 a structure built over a river, road or railway so that vehicles and people can cross
2 a card game for four players
bridle bridles
NOUN a set of straps round a horse’s head and mouth, which the rider uses to control the horse
brief briefer, briefest; briefs, briefing, briefed
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is brief lasts only a short time. • We only had time for a brief visit.
VERB 2 When you brief someone on a task, you give them all the necessary instructions or information about it.
briefcase briefcases
NOUN a small, flat case for carrying papers
bright brighter, brightest
ADJECTIVE 1 strong and startling • a bright light
SYNONYMS: brilliant, dazzling
2 clever • That’s a bright idea.
SYNONYMS: intelligent, quick
brighten brightens, brightening, brightened
VERB If something brightens, it becomes brighter.
brighten up
VERB If you brighten up something, you make it look brighter and more attractive.
brilliant
ADJECTIVE 1 A brilliant person is extremely clever.
2 INFORMAL Something that is brilliant is extremely good or enjoyable.
3 A brilliant colour or light is extremely bright.
brim brims
NOUN 1 the wide part of a hat that sticks outwards from the head
2 If a container is filled to the brim, it is filled right to the top.
bring brings, bringing, brought
VERB If you bring something or someone with you when you go to a place, you take them with you.
bring up
VERB When someone brings up children, they look after them while they grow up.
brink
NOUN 1 the edge of a deep hole, cliff or ravine
PHRASE 2 If you are on the brink of something, you are about to do it. • They were on the brink of discovering a cure for the common cold.
brisk brisker, briskest
ADJECTIVE 1 quick and energetic • a brisk walk
2 If someone’s manner is brisk, it shows that they want to get things done quickly and efficiently.
briskly ADVERB briskness NOUN
bristle bristles, bristling, bristled
NOUN 1 Bristles are strong animal hairs used to make brushes.
VERB 2 If the hairs on an animal’s body bristle, they rise up because it is frightened.
bristly ADJECTIVE
brittle
ADJECTIVE An object that is brittle is hard but breaks easily.
broad broader, broadest
ADJECTIVE 1 A broad river is wide.
2 The broad outline of a story gives the main points, but no details.
broadband
NOUN a digital system for sending data to and from televisions, computers and telephones • What is the broadband speed like here?
broadcast broadcasts, broadcasting, broadcast
NOUN 1 a programme or announcement on radio or television
VERB 2 When someone broadcasts something, they send it out by radio waves, so that it can be seen on television or heard on radio.
broccoli
NOUN a vegetable with green stalks and green or purple flower buds
brochure brochures
NOUN a booklet that gives information about a product or a service • holiday brochure
broke
VERB 1 the past tense of break (#ulink_858bc80a-6be7-559a-a95a-b34bab610fd8)
ADJECTIVE 2 If you are broke, you have no money.
broken
ADJECTIVE A broken object is damaged in some way.
bronchitis
NOUN an illness in which the tubes connecting your windpipe to your lungs become infected, making you cough
brontosaurus brontosauruses
NOUN a very large, plant-eating dinosaur
bronze
NOUN a yellowish-brown metal that is a mixture of copper and tin
brooch brooches
Rhymes with “coach” NOUN a piece of jewellery with a pin at the back for attaching to clothes
brood broods, brooding, brooded
NOUN 1 a family of baby birds
VERB 2 If you brood about something, you are worried about it and can’t stop thinking about it.
brook brooks
NOUN a stream
broom brooms
NOUN a long-handled brush
brother brothers
NOUN Your brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as you.
brother-in-law brothers-in-law
NOUN Someone’s brother-in-law is the brother of their husband or wife, or their sister’s husband.
brought
VERB the past tense and past participle of bring (#ulink_3962f5df-e41d-5062-bd32-d36471979b5a)
Do not confuse brought with bought.
brown browner, brownest
ADJECTIVE OR NOUN the colour of earth or wood
Brownie Brownies
NOUN a junior member of the Girl Guides
bruise bruises, bruising, bruised
NOUN 1 a purple mark that appears on your skin after something has hit it
VERB 2 If something bruises you, it hits you so that a bruise appears on your skin.
brunette brunettes
NOUN a girl or a woman with dark brown hair
brush brushes, brushing, brushed
NOUN 1 an object with bristles. There are brushes for cleaning things, painting or tidying your hair.
VERB 2 If you brush something, you clean it or tidy it with a brush.
Brussels sprout Brussels sprouts
NOUN a vegetable that looks like a tiny cabbage
brutal
ADJECTIVE Brutal behaviour is violent and cruel.
brutally ADVERB brutality NOUN
bubble bubbles, bubbling, bubbled
NOUN 1 a ball of air in a liquid
VERB 2 When a liquid bubbles, bubbles form in it.
buck bucks, bucking, bucked
NOUN 1 the male of various animals, including deer and rabbits
VERB 2 If a horse bucks, it jumps into the air with all four feet off the ground.
bucket buckets
NOUN a deep, round container with an open top and a handle
buckle buckles, buckling, buckled
NOUN 1 a fastening on the end of a belt or strap
VERB 2 If you buckle a belt or strap, you fasten it.
3 If metal buckles, it crumples up.
bud buds
NOUN a small, tight swelling on a tree or plant, which develops into a flower or leaf
Buddhist
NOUN someone who follows the religious teachings of Buddha, who taught in India in the fifth century. Buddhists believe that the way to end suffering is by overcoming our desires.
Buddhism NOUN
budgerigar budgerigars
NOUN a small, brightly-coloured pet bird. Budgerigars originated in Australia.
[an Australian Aboriginal name, from budgeri + gar meaning good cockatoo]
budget budgets, budgeting, budgeted
NOUN 1 a plan showing how much money will be available and how it will be spent
VERB 2 If you budget for something, you plan how you use your money carefully, so as to be able to afford what you want.
buffalo buffaloes
NOUN 1 a wild animal like a large cow with long curved horns
2 another word for bison
buffet buffets
NOUN 1 a café at a station or on a train
2 a meal at which people serve themselves
bug bugs, bugging, bugged
NOUN 1 a small insect, especially one that causes damage
2 an infection or virus that makes you ill
3 a small error in a computer programme that stops it working properly
VERB 4 If a place is bugged, tiny microphones are hidden there to pick up what people are saying.
build builds, building, built
VERB If you build something, you make it from all its parts.
builder builders
NOUN a person whose job is to build buildings
building buildings
NOUN a structure with walls and a roof
bulb bulbs
NOUN 1 the glass part of an electric lamp
2 an onion-shaped root from which a flower or plant grows. Tulips and daffodils are grown from bulbs.
[from Greek bolbos meaning onion]
bulge bulges, bulging, bulged
VERB 1 If something bulges, it swells out.
NOUN 2 a lump on a normally flat surface
bulk bulks
NOUN 1 a large mass of something
PHRASE 2 If you buy something in bulk, you buy it in large quantities.
bulky bulkier, bulkiest
ADJECTIVE Something that is bulky is large and heavy and sometimes difficult to move.
bull bulls
NOUN the male of some animal species including cattle, elephants and whales
bulldozer bulldozers
NOUN a powerful tractor with a broad blade in front, which is used for moving earth or knocking things down
bullet bullets
NOUN a small piece of metal fired from a gun
bulletin bulletins
NOUN a short news report on radio or television
bullion
NOUN gold or silver bars
bullock bullocks
NOUN a young male bull that is reared for meat
bully bullies, bullying, bullied
NOUN 1 someone who uses their strength or power to hurt or frighten other people
VERB 2 If someone bullies you into doing something, they make you do it by using force or threats.
[a sixteenth-century word meaning fine fellow or hired ruffian]
bump bumps, bumping, bumped
VERB 1 If you bump into something, you knock into it accidentally.
NOUN 2 a soft noise made by something knocking into something else
3 a raised, uneven part of a surface
SYNONYMS: bulge, lump
bumper bumpers
NOUN a bar on the front or back of a vehicle that protects it if it bumps into something
bumpy bumpier, bumpiest
ADJECTIVE Something that is bumpy has a rough, uneven surface. • a bumpy road
bun buns
NOUN a small, round bread roll or cake
bunch bunches
NOUN a group of things together • a bunch of flowers
bundle bundles, bundling, bundled
NOUN 1 a number of things tied together or wrapped up in a cloth
VERB 2 If you bundle someone or something somewhere, you push them there quickly and roughly.
bungalow bungalows
NOUN a one-storey house
[from Hindi bangla meaning house]
bunk bunks
NOUN a bed fixed to a wall in a ship or caravan
bunk beds
PLURAL NOUN two beds fixed together, one above the other
buoy buoys
NOUN a floating object anchored to the bottom of the sea, marking a channel or warning of danger
buoyancy
NOUN Something that has buoyancy is able to float in liquid or in the air.
buoyant
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is buoyant is able to float.
2 Someone who is buoyant is lively and cheerful.
burden burdens
NOUN a heavy load
burger burgers
NOUN a flat fried cake of meat, vegetables or cheese, served in a bread roll
burglar burglars
NOUN someone who breaks into buildings and steals things
burgle VERB
burn burns, burning, burned or burnt
VERB 1 If something is burning, it is on fire.
2 To burn something means to damage or destroy it with fire.
3 People often burn fuel, such as coal, to keep warm.
NOUN 4 A burn is an injury caused by fire or by something hot.
You can write either burned or burnt as the past form of burn.
burqa burqas; also spelt burka
Said “bur-ka” NOUN a long garment worn by some Muslim women in public, covering everything except the eyes
burrow burrows, burrowing, burrowed
NOUN 1 a tunnel or hole in the ground dug by a small animal
VERB 2 When an animal burrows, it digs a burrow.
burst bursts, bursting, burst
VERB 1 When something bursts, or when you burst it, it splits open suddenly.
2 When you burst into a room, you enter suddenly and with force.
NOUN 3 A burst of something is a sudden short period of it. • a burst of applause
bury buries, burying, buried
VERB 1 If you bury something, you put it in a hole in the ground and cover it with earth.
2 If something is buried under something, it is covered by it. • My trainers were buried under a pile of clothes.
bus buses
NOUN a large motor vehicle that carries passengers
[from Latin omnibus meaning for all]
bush bushes
NOUN 1 a large plant, smaller than a tree and with a lot of woody branches
2 In Australia and South Africa, an uncultivated area outside a town or city is called the bush.
3 In New Zealand, the bush is land covered by rainforest.
bushy bushier, bushiest
ADJECTIVE Bushy hair or fur grows very thickly. • My dad has bushy eyebrows.
business businesses
NOUN 1 work relating to the buying and selling of goods and services
2 an organization that produces or sells goods, or provides a service
SYNONYMS: company, firm, organization
busker buskers
NOUN someone who sings or plays music in public places for money
bus stop bus stops
NOUN a place where the bus stops regularly for passengers to get on or off, usually marked with a sign
busy busier, busiest
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are busy, you are doing something and are not free to do anything else. • She was too busy to come to the cinema with us.
2 A busy place is full of people doing things or moving about.
but
CONJUNCTION 1 used to introduce an idea that is opposite to what has gone before • I love cooking, but I hate washing up afterwards.
2 used when you apologize for something • Sorry, but I can’t come to play tomorrow.
PREPOSITION 3 except • There was nothing to eat but potatoes.
butcher butchers
NOUN a shopkeeper who prepares and sells meat
butter
NOUN a soft, fatty food made from cream, which is spread on bread and used in cooking
buttercup buttercups
NOUN a wild plant with bright yellow flowers
butterfly butterflies
NOUN a type of insect with large, colourful wings. Butterflies develop from caterpillars.
buttocks
PLURAL NOUN Your buttocks are the part of your body that you sit on.
[from Old English buttuc meaning rounded slope]
button buttons, buttoning, buttoned
NOUN 1 a small, hard round object sewn on to clothing such as shirts • My new jeans fasten with buttons instead of a zip.
2 a small object on a piece of equipment that you press to make it work • You must push the button down to switch the video on.
VERB 3 If you button a garment, you fasten it using its buttons.
buy buys, buying, bought
VERB If you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.
buzz buzzes, buzzing, buzzed
VERB If something buzzes, it makes a humming sound, like a bee.
buzzer buzzers
NOUN a device that makes a buzzing sound. Buzzers are used to attract attention. • I pressed the door buzzer but nobody was home.
by
PREPOSITION 1 used to show who or what has done something • The announcement was made by the head teacher.
2 used to show how something is done • He cheered us up by taking us to the cinema.
3 next to or near to • They live by the park.
4 before a particular time • We should finish by tea time.
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 5 going past • We drove by her house.
bypass bypasses
NOUN a road that takes traffic around the edge of a town instead of through the middle • The centre of town is much quieter since they built the bypass.
byte bytes
NOUN a unit of storage in a computer
Cc (#ulink_4d17061e-b2e8-5d90-895c-de8dda13b927)
cab cabs
NOUN 1 a taxi
2 The cab is where the driver sits in a lorry, bus or train.
cabbage cabbages
NOUN a large, green, leafy vegetable
cabin cabins
NOUN 1 a room in a ship where a passenger sleeps
2 a small wooden house, usually in the country
cabinet cabinets
NOUN 1 a small cupboard • a medicine cabinet
2 The cabinet in a government is a group of ministers who advise the leader and decide policies.
cable cables
NOUN 1 a strong, thick rope or chain
2 a bundle of wires with a rubber covering, which carries electricity
cable television
NOUN a television service that comes through underground wires
cactus cacti or cactuses
NOUN a thick, fleshy plant that grows in deserts. Cactuses are usually covered in spikes.
cadet cadets
NOUN a young person being trained in the armed forces or police
café cafés
NOUN a place where you can buy light meals and drinks
[from the French café meaning coffee or coffee house]
caffeine; also spelt caffein
NOUN a chemical in coffee and tea that makes you more active
cage cages
NOUN a box or room made with bars, in which birds or animals are kept
caged ADJECTIVE
cake cakes, caking, caked
NOUN 1 a sweet food made from eggs, flour, butter and sugar
2 a block of a hard substance such as soap
VERB 3 If something is caked, it becomes covered with a solid layer of something else. • My shoes were caked in mud.
calamity calamities
NOUN something terrible that happens, causing destruction and misery • The earthquake was a terrible calamity.
SYNONYMS: disaster, catastrophe
calcium
Said “kal-see-um” NOUN a soft white mineral found in bones and teeth and in some foods. Milk and cheese are good sources of calcium.
calculate calculates, calculating, calculated
VERB If you calculate something, you work it out, usually by doing some arithmetic. • We calculated how much money we had raised from the sponsored walk.
[from Latin calculus meaning stone or pebble, which the Romans used for counting]
calculation calculations
NOUN something that you think about carefully and work out mathematically, or that you do on a machine such as a calculator
calculator calculators
NOUN a small electronic machine used for doing mathematical calculations
calendar calendars
NOUN a chart, usually organized month by month, showing the date of each day in a particular year • We marked the end of term on the calendar in red.
calf calves
NOUN 1 a young cow
2 Your calves are the backs of your legs between your knees and ankles.
call calls, calling, called
VERB 1 If you call someone or something a particular name, that is their name. • I will call my dog Spot. • That type of machine is called a combine harvester.
2 If you call someone, you telephone them.
3 If you call someone, you shout their name loudly.
NOUN 4 A call is a shout or a cry. • We heard a call for help.
call off
VERB If something is called off it is cancelled. • The party was called off.
call on
VERB If you call on someone, you pay them a short visit.
calm calmer, calmest
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is calm is quiet and does not show any worry or excitement.
2 If the sea is calm, the water is not moving very much.
calorie calories
NOUN The amount of energy that food gives you is measured in calories.
came
VERB the past tense of come (#ulink_fce9f6b1-9701-5365-9916-8218abe1f6f4)
camel camels
NOUN a large mammal with either one or two humps on its back. Camels live in hot desert areas and are used for carrying people and things.
camera cameras
NOUN a piece of equipment used for taking photographs or for filming
camouflage camouflages, camouflaging, camouflaged
NOUN 1 a way of avoiding being seen by having the same colour or appearance as the surroundings
VERB 2 To camouflage something is to hide it by giving it the same colour or appearance as its surroundings.
camp camps, camping, camped
NOUN 1 a place where people live in tents or stay in tents for a holiday
VERB 2 If you camp, you stay in a tent.
NOUN 3 a collection of buildings for soldiers or prisoners
camper NOUN
campaign campaigns, campaigning, campaigned
VERB When people campaign, they take action in order to achieve something. • She campaigned against the export of live animals.
campaign NOUN
can could; cans
VERB 1 If someone says you can do something, you are allowed to do it.
2 If you can do something, you are able to do it. • I can say “hello” in French.
NOUN 3 a metal container, often sealed, with food or drink inside
canal canals
NOUN a long, narrow, man-made stretch of water
canary canaries
NOUN a yellow songbird
cancel cancels, cancelling, cancelled
VERB If you cancel something that has been arranged, you stop it from happening. • They cancelled the school trip.
cancer cancers
NOUN a serious disease in which abnormal cells in a part of the body increase rapidly, causing growths
candidate candidates
NOUN a person who is being considered for a job
candle candles
NOUN a stick of hard wax with a piece of string called a wick through the middle. You light the wick to produce a flame.
cane canes
NOUN 1 the long, hollow stem of a plant such as bamboo
2 strips of cane used for weaving baskets and other containers
3 a long, narrow stick used to support plants
canine canines
ADJECTIVE 1 relating to dogs
NOUN 2 a canine is one of the pointed teeth near the front of the mouth in humans and some animals
cannibal cannibals
NOUN a person who eats human flesh
cannon cannons or cannon
NOUN a large gun, usually on wheels, which fires heavy iron balls
cannot
VERB the same as can not
canoe canoes
NOUN a small, narrow boat that you row using a paddle
canoeing NOUN canoeist NOUN
can’t
VERB a contraction of cannot
canteen canteens
NOUN a place to eat in a school or workplace
canvas canvases
NOUN 1 strong, heavy cloth used for making things such as sails and tents
2 a piece of canvas on which an artist does a painting
canyon canyons
NOUN a narrow river valley with steep sides
cap caps
NOUN 1 a soft, flat hat, often with a peak at the front
2 a bottle top
3 a small explosive used in toy guns
capable
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are capable of doing something, you are able to do it.
2 Someone who is capable is able to do something well.
capacity capacities
NOUN the maximum amount that something can hold or produce • The arena has a seating capacity of two thousand.
capital capitals
NOUN 1 The capital of a country is the city where the government meets. • Paris is the capital of France.
2 A capital, or a capital letter, is a larger, upper-case letter used at the beginning of a sentence or a name: Carol, Tim.
capsize capsizes, capsizing, capsized
VERB If a boat capsizes, it turns upside down.
capsule capsules
NOUN 1 a small container with medicine inside, which you swallow
2 the part of a spacecraft in which astronauts travel
[from Latin capsula meaning little box]
captain captains
NOUN 1 the officer in charge of a ship or aeroplane
2 the leader of a sports team
caption captions
NOUN a title printed underneath a picture or a photograph
captive captives
NOUN someone who is locked up and kept prisoner
capture captures, capturing, captured
VERB If someone captures someone or something, they take them prisoner.
car cars
NOUN 1 a four-wheeled road vehicle with an engine and room to carry a few passengers
2 a railway carriage used for a particular purpose • the buffet car
caravan caravans
NOUN 1 a vehicle pulled by a car in which people live or spend their holidays
2 a group of people and animals travelling together, usually across a desert
carbohydrate carbohydrates
NOUN a substance that gives you energy. It is found in foods like sugar and bread.
carbon
NOUN a chemical found in coal, diamonds and graphite. All living things contain carbon.
carbon dioxide
NOUN the gas that human beings and other animals breathe out
carbon footprint carbon footprints
NOUN the amount of carbon monoxide produced by a person, company or country
card cards
NOUN 1 a piece of stiff paper or plastic with a message or information on it • birthday card • credit card
2 When you play cards, you play a game using special playing cards.
3 strong, stiff paper
cardboard
NOUN thick, stiff paper, which is stronger than card
cardigan cardigans
NOUN a knitted jacket that fastens up the front
care cares, caring, cared
VERB 1 If you care about something or someone, you are concerned about them and interested in them.
2 If you care for a person or an animal, you look after them.
NOUN 3 worry or trouble • She didn’t have a care in the world.
4 If you do something with care, you concentrate very hard on it so that you don’t make mistakes. • He wrote the telephone number down with great care.
PHRASE 5 If you take care of a person or an animal, you look after them. • Shakira said she would take care of the hamsters while we were on holiday.
career careers
NOUN Your career is the series of jobs you have in life, often in the same occupation. • a teaching career
careful
ADJECTIVE acting sensibly and with care
ANTONYM: careless
carefully ADVERB
careless
ADJECTIVE not paying attention to what you are doing
SYNONYMS: slapdash, sloppy
carelessly ADVERB carelessness NOUN
caretaker caretakers
NOUN a person who looks after a large building such as a school
cargo cargoes
NOUN goods carried on a ship or plane
Caribbean
Said “carib-ee-un” NOUN 1 short for the Caribbean Sea, which lies between the West Indies and South America
ADJECTIVE 2 to do with the Caribbean Sea or the islands in it • I love Caribbean food.
carnation carnations
NOUN a plant with thin leaves and scented white, pink or red flowers
carnival carnivals
NOUN a public festival with music, processions and dancing
carnivore carnivores
NOUN an animal that eats meat
carnivorous ADJECTIVE
carol carols
NOUN a religious song sung at Christmas time
carpenter carpenters
NOUN a person who makes and repairs wooden things
carpentry NOUN
carpet carpets
NOUN a thick floor covering usually made of material like wool
carriage carriages
NOUN 1 one of the separate sections of a passenger train
2 an old-fashioned vehicle for carrying passengers, usually pulled by horses
Carroll diagram Carroll diagrams
NOUN a way of sorting and displaying information in the form of a grid
carrot carrots
NOUN a long, thin, orange-coloured root vegetable
carry carries, carrying, carried
VERB 1 If you carry something, you hold it and take it somewhere.
2 When a vehicle carries people, they travel in it.
3 If people or animals carry a germ or a disease, they can pass it on to others.
4 If a sound carries it can be heard a long way off. • Their voices carried across the valley.
cart carts
NOUN a vehicle with wheels, used for carrying things and usually pulled by horses or cattle
carton cartons
NOUN a cardboard or plastic container
cartoon cartoons
NOUN 1 a humorous drawing in a newspaper, comic or magazine
2 a film in which all the characters and scenes are drawn
cartridge cartridges
NOUN 1 a tube containing a bullet and an explosive substance, used in guns
2 a small plastic container filled with ink that you put in a pen or a printer
cartwheel cartwheels
NOUN an acrobatic movement in which you lift both arms in the air then throw yourself sideways on to one hand, swinging your body around in a circle with your legs straight until you land on your feet again
carve carves, carving, carved
VERB If you carve something, you shape it or slice it with a knife.
cascade cascades, cascading, cascaded
NOUN 1 a small waterfall or group of waterfalls flowing down a rocky hillside
VERB 2 When water cascades, it flows very fast down a hillside or over rocks.
case cases
NOUN 1 a box for keeping or carrying things in
2 a particular situation or event • a bad case of measles
3 A crime that the police are investigating is called a case.
cash
NOUN money in notes and coins
cashier cashiers
NOUN the person who deals with money in a place such as a shop or a bank
casserole casseroles
NOUN 1 a stew made with meat, vegetables or fish that is baked in the oven
2 a dish with a lid, which is used for cooking
cast casts, casting, cast
NOUN 1 all the people who act in a play or film
2 an object made by pouring a liquid such as plaster into a container and leaving it to harden
VERB 3 If an object casts a shadow on to a place, it makes a shadow fall there.
castaway castaways
NOUN someone who has been shipwrecked but manages to survive on a lonely shore or an island
castle castles
NOUN a large building with walls or ditches round it to protect it from attack
[from Latin castellum meaning small fort]
casual
ADJECTIVE 1 happening by chance and without planning • I made a casual remark.
2 Casual clothes are suitable for informal occasions.
casualty casualties
NOUN a person killed or injured in an accident or a war • There were many casualties after the motorway crash.
cat cats
NOUN a small, furry mammal with whiskers, a tail and sharp claws, often kept as a pet
catalogue catalogues
NOUN a list of things, such as the goods you can buy from a company, the objects in a museum, or the books in a library • I ordered my trainers from a mail order catalogue.
catastrophe catastrophes
NOUN a terrible disaster
catastrophic ADJECTIVE
catch catches, catching, caught
VERB 1 If you catch an object that is moving through the air, you grasp it with your hands.
2 If you catch a person or animal, you capture them. • The police caught the thief.
3 If you catch a bus, train or plane, you get on it and travel somewhere.
4 If you catch a cold or a disease, you become ill with it.
NOUN 5 a hook that fastens or locks a door or window
catching
ADJECTIVE If a disease or illness is catching it spreads very quickly. • Measles is catching.
catchy catchier, catchiest
ADJECTIVE Something that is catchy, such as a tune, is pleasant and easy to remember.
category categories
NOUN a group of things that have something in common
caterpillar caterpillars
NOUN the larva of a butterfly or moth. Caterpillars look like small, coloured worms and feed on plants.
cathedral cathedrals
NOUN an important church with a bishop in charge of it • Canterbury Cathedral
Catholic Catholics
ADJECTIVE OR NOUN a Roman Catholic, or belonging to that religion
cattle
PLURAL NOUN cows and bulls kept by farmers
caught
VERB the past tense of catch (#ulink_05727ace-0c7b-539b-8028-f501ceeee93d)
cauldron cauldrons
NOUN a large, round metal cooking pot, especially one that sits over a fire
[from Latin caldarium meaning hot bath]
cauliflower cauliflowers
NOUN a large, round, white vegetable surrounded by green leaves
cause causes, causing, caused
VERB 1 To cause something means to make it happen.
NOUN 2 The cause of something is the thing that makes it happen. • The cause of the explosion was a gas leak.
cautious
ADJECTIVE Someone who is cautious acts carefully in order to avoid danger or disappointment.
cavalry
NOUN The cavalry is the part of an army that fights on horseback or in armoured vehicles such as tanks.
cave caves, caving, caved
NOUN a large hole in the side of a cliff or under the ground
cave in
VERB If a roof caves in, it collapses inwards.
caveman or cavewoman cavemen or cavewomen
NOUN Cavemen and cavewomen were people who lived in caves in prehistoric times.
cavity cavities
NOUN a small hole in something solid • There were cavities in his back teeth.
CD
NOUN an abbreviation for compact disc
CD-ROM
NOUN a way of storing video, sound or text on a compact disc that can be played on a computer. CD-ROM is an abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory.
cease ceases, ceasing, ceased
VERB 1 If something ceases, it stops.
2 If you cease doing something, you stop doing it.
ceiling ceilings
NOUN the roof inside a room
celebrate celebrates, celebrating, celebrated
VERB If you celebrate something, you do something special and enjoyable because of it. • We felt like celebrating the end of exams.
celebration NOUN
celebrity celebrities
NOUN a famous person
celery
NOUN a vegetable with long, pale green stalks
cell cells
NOUN 1 In biology, a cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that can exist by itself. Humans, animals and plants are made up of millions of cells.
2 a small room in a prison or police station where a prisoner is locked up
cellar cellars
NOUN a room underneath a building
cello cellos
Said “chel-oh” NOUN a large, stringed musical instrument that you play sitting down
cellist NOUN
Celsius
NOUN a scale for measuring temperature in which water freezes at 0 degrees (0 °C) and boils at 100 degrees (100 °C)
[named after Anders Celsius (1701–1744) who invented it]
cement
NOUN a grey powder that is mixed with sand and water to make concrete
cemetery cemeteries
NOUN an area of land where dead people are buried
census censuses
NOUN an official survey of the population of a country
cent cents
NOUN In some countries a cent is a unit of currency.
centenary centenaries
NOUN the hundredth anniversary of something
centigrade
NOUN another word for Celsius
centimetre centimetres
NOUN a unit of length (cm). One centimetre is equal to ten millimetres (mm).
centipede centipedes
NOUN a long, thin creature with many pairs of legs
[from Latin centum + pedes meaning a hundred feet]
central
ADJECTIVE 1 Something central is in the middle.
2 An idea that is central is the main idea.
central heating
NOUN a heating system in which water or air is heated and passed round a building through pipes and radiators
centre centres
NOUN 1 the middle of an object or area
2 a building where people go for activities, meetings, or help • We played badminton at the sports centre.
century centuries
NOUN a period of one hundred years
ceramic ceramics
Said “ser-ram-ic” NOUN 1 a hard material made by baking clay at very high temperatures
PLURAL NOUN 2 Ceramics is the art of making objects out of clay.
cereal cereals
NOUN 1 a food made from grain, often eaten with milk for breakfast
2 a plant that produces edible grain, such as wheat, oats, barley and rye
ceremony ceremonies
NOUN a formal event such as a wedding or prizegiving
certain
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are certain about something, you are sure it is true. • She is certain she wants to be a vet.
2 You use certain to refer to a particular person, place or thing. • I like certain animals, for example cats and dogs.
certainly
ADVERB without any doubt • “Will you be at the party?” “I certainly will.”
certificate certificates
NOUN an official piece of paper that proves that something took place • a birth certificate
chaffinch chaffinches
NOUN a small European bird with black and white wings
chain chains
NOUN 1 a number of metal rings linked together in a line
2 a number of things in a series or connected to each other • a chain of shops • a chain of events
chair chairs
NOUN a seat for one person to sit on, with a back and four legs
chalet chalets
NOUN a small wooden house with a sloping roof, especially found in mountain areas or holiday camps
chalk
NOUN a soft, white rock. Small sticks of chalk are used for writing or drawing on a blackboard.
chalky ADJECTIVE
challenge challenges, challenging, challenged
NOUN 1 something new and exciting that needs a lot of effort • Learning how to cook is a new challenge for me.
VERB 2 If someone challenges you, they suggest that you compete with them. • She challenged me to a game of table tennis.
challenging
ADJECTIVE If you find something challenging, you find it quite difficult.
chameleon chameleons
NOUN a lizard that is able to change the colour of its skin to match the colour of its surroundings
[from Greek khamai + leon meaning ground lion]
champagne champagnes
NOUN a sparkling white wine made in France
champion champions
NOUN a person who wins a competition
championship championships
NOUN a competition to find the best player or players of a particular sport
chance chances
NOUN 1 how possible or likely something is • I think we’ve got a good chance of winning.
2 an opportunity to do something • This is your chance to be a TV star!
3 a possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant may happen
PHRASE 4 Something that happens by chance happens unexpectedly, without being planned.
chancellor chancellors
NOUN the head of government in some European countries
Chancellor of the Exchequer
NOUN the government minister in charge of finance and taxes in Britain
change changes, changing, changed
NOUN 1 money you get back when you pay for something with more money than it costs
VERB 2 When something changes, or you change it, it becomes different. • The wind changed direction.
channel channels
NOUN 1 a wavelength on which television programmes are broadcast. It can also be the television station itself.
2 a passage for water or other liquid
3 The Channel, or the English Channel, is the stretch of sea between England and France.
chaos
NOUN a state of complete disorder • The demonstration ended in chaos.
chaotic ADJECTIVE
chapel chapels
NOUN 1 a section of a church or cathedral with its own altar
2 a type of small church
chapter chapters
NOUN one of the parts into which a book is divided
character characters
NOUN 1 all the qualities that make a person or a place special • She has a gentle character.
2 The characters in a film, play or book are the people in it.
characteristic characteristics
NOUN 1 a special quality about a person, place or thing
ADJECTIVE 2 typical of a place or person • Noise and traffic fumes are characteristic of cities.
charades
NOUN a party game where one team guesses what the other team is acting out
charcoal
NOUN burnt wood used as a fuel. Charcoal is also used for drawing.
charge charges, charging, charged
VERB 1 If someone charges you money, they ask you to pay for something you have bought or received.
2 rush forward • She charged into the room.
PHRASE 3 If you are in charge of someone or something, you are responsible for them. • I left him in charge of the shop while I went out.
chariot chariots
NOUN a two-wheeled open vehicle pulled by horses in ancient times
charity charities
NOUN 1 an organization that raises money to help people in need
2 money or other help given to people in need
charm charms, charming, charmed
NOUN 1 something you wear for good luck
2 the quality of being attractive and pleasant
VERB 3 If you charm someone, you use your charm to please them.
chart charts
NOUN a diagram or table showing information
chase chases, chasing, chased
VERB If you chase someone, you run after them or follow them in order to catch them or make them leave a place.
chat chats, chatting, chatted
NOUN 1 a friendly talk with someone
VERB 2 When people chat, they talk to each other in a friendly way about things that are not very important.
chatty ADJECTIVE
chatroom chatrooms
NOUN an internet site where users have discussions using e-mail
chatter chatters, chattering, chattered
VERB 1 When people chatter, they talk about unimportant things.
2 If your teeth chatter, they knock together and make a clicking noise because you are cold.
chauffeur chauffeurs
NOUN a person whose job is to drive another person’s car • He had a chauffeur to drive him everywhere.
cheap cheaper, cheapest
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is cheap costs very little money.
2 Cheap sometimes means of poor quality.
cheaply ADVERB
cheat cheats, cheating, cheated
VERB If someone cheats in a game or exam, they break the rules in order to do better.
check checks, checking, checked
VERB 1 If you check something, you examine it to make sure that everything is all right. • Check your work carefully when you finish.
NOUN 2 an inspection to make sure that everything is all right
3 Checks are different coloured squares that form a pattern.
checkout checkouts
NOUN the place in a supermarket where you pay for your goods
cheek cheeks
NOUN 1 Your cheeks are the sides of your face below your eyes.
2 speech or behaviour that is rude and disrespectful • Their grandparents won’t stand any cheek from them.
cheeky ADJECTIVE cheekily ADVERB
cheer cheers, cheering, cheered
VERB When people cheer, they shout loudly and happily. • We cheered our team when they won.
cheerful
ADJECTIVE A cheerful person is happy.
cheerfully ADVERB
cheese cheeses
NOUN a solid savoury food made from milk
cheetah cheetahs
NOUN a wild mammal like a large cat with black spots, mainly found in Africa
[from Sanskrit citra + kaya meaning speckled body]
chef chefs
NOUN a head cook in a restaurant or hotel
[from French chef meaning head]
chemical chemicals
NOUN 1 a substance made by the use of chemistry • Dangerous chemicals should be handled carefully.
ADJECTIVE 2 involved in chemistry or using chemicals • a chemical reaction
chemist chemists
NOUN a shop that sells medicines and cosmetics
chemistry
NOUN the scientific study of substances and the ways in which they change when they are combined
cheque cheques
NOUN a printed piece of paper that people can use to pay for things
cherry cherries
NOUN a small, juicy fruit with a red, yellow or black skin and a hard stone in the centre
chess
NOUN a game played on a board with 64 squares. Each player has 16 pieces.
chest chests
NOUN 1 the front part of your body between your shoulders and your waist
2 a large wooden box used for storing things
chestnut chestnuts
NOUN 1 a reddish-brown nut that grows inside a prickly, green outer covering
2 the tree that produces these nuts
ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is chestnut is reddish-brown in colour.
chew chews, chewing, chewed
VERB When you chew something, you use your teeth to break it up in your mouth before swallowing it.
chewing gum
NOUN a kind of sweet that you chew for a long time, but which you do not swallow
chick chicks
NOUN a young bird
chicken chickens
NOUN a bird kept on a farm for its eggs and meat; also the meat of this bird
chickenpox
NOUN an illness that causes a fever and blister-like spots to appear on the skin
chief chiefs
NOUN 1 the leader of a group or organization
ADJECTIVE 2 main or most important
chilblain chilblains
NOUN a sore, itchy swelling on a finger or toe, which causes discomfort in cold weather
child children
NOUN 1 a young person who is not yet an adult
SYNONYMS: kid, youngster
2 Someone’s child is their son or daughter.
childhood childhoods
NOUN Your childhood is the time when you are a child.
childish
ADJECTIVE If someone is childish, they are not acting in an adult way.
ANTONYM: adult
childishly ADVERB
childminder childminders
NOUN a person who is paid to look after children while their parents are at work
children
PLURAL NOUN the plural of child
chill chills, chilling, chilled
VERB 1 When you chill something, you make it cold. • Chill the orange juice before you drink it.
NOUN 2 a feverish cold
3 a feeling of cold • the chill of early morning
chilli chillies
NOUN the red or green seed pod of a type of pepper that has a very hot, spicy taste
chilly chillier, chilliest
ADJECTIVE 1 Chilly weather is rather cold.
2 If people behave in a chilly way, they are not very friendly.
chime chimes, chiming, chimed
VERB 1 When a bell chimes, it makes a clear ringing sound.
NOUN 2 Chimes are a set of bells or other objects that make ringing sounds.
chimney chimneys
NOUN a pipe above a fireplace or furnace through which smoke from the fire can escape
chimpanzee chimpanzees
NOUN a small ape with dark fur that lives in forests in Africa
chin chins
NOUN the part of your face below your mouth
china
NOUN plates, cups, saucers and other dishes that are made from fine clay
chink chinks
NOUN 1 a small, narrow opening • a chink in the fence
2 a small ringing sound, like glasses touching each other
chip chips, chipping, chipped
NOUN 1 Chips are thin strips of fried potato.
2 a tiny piece of silicon inside a computer, which is used to form electronic circuits • computer chips
VERB 3 If you chip an object, you break a small piece off it.
chirp chirps, chirping, chirped
VERB When a bird chirps, it makes a short, high-pitched sound.
chisel chisels, chiselling, chiselled
NOUN 1 a tool with a long metal blade and a sharp edge at the end. Chisels are used for cutting and shaping wood, stone or metal.
VERB 2 If you chisel wood, stone or metal, you cut or shape it using a chisel.
chlorine
NOUN a poisonous greenish-yellow gas with a strong, unpleasant smell. It is used to disinfect water and to make bleach.
chocolate chocolates
NOUN a sweet food made from cocoa beans
[from Aztec xococ + atl meaning bitter water]
choice choices
NOUN 1 a range of different things that are available to choose from
SYNONYMS: range, variety
2 something that you choose • You made a good choice when you bought this book.
choir choirs
NOUN a group of singers, for example in a church
choke chokes, choking, choked
VERB If you choke on something, it prevents you from breathing properly. • He choked on a fish bone.
cholesterol
NOUN a substance found in all animal fats, tissues and blood
choose chooses, choosing, chose, chosen
VERB If you choose something, you decide to have it or do it.
SYNONYMS: pick, select
chop chops, chopping, chopped
VERB 1 If you chop something, you cut it with quick, heavy strokes using an axe or a knife. • Mum chopped the logs for firewood.
NOUN 2 a small piece of pork or lamb that contains a bone • We had chops and broccoli for dinner.
choppy
ADJECTIVE When the sea or a stretch of water is choppy, there are a lot of waves on it because it is windy.
chopstick chopsticks
NOUN Chopsticks are a pair of thin sticks used for eating Chinese and Japanese food.
choral
Said “kor-al” ADJECTIVE for a choir
chord chords
NOUN a group of three or more musical notes played together
chore chores
NOUN an uninteresting job that has to be done
chorus choruses
NOUN 1 a part of a song that is repeated after each verse
2 a large group of singers
chose
VERB the past tense of choose
chosen
VERB 1 the past participle of choose (#ulink_b2bdfd59-912c-5cd7-b79f-a9d6e3739736)
2 When you are chosen, you are picked to do something. • I was chosen for the volleyball team.
christen christens, christening, christened
VERB When a priest christens someone, they name them in a ceremony where water is poured over their head as a sign that they are a member of the Christian church.
christening NOUN
Christian Christians
NOUN a person who believes in Jesus Christ and his teachings
Christianity NOUN
Christmas Christmases
NOUN a Christian festival held on December 25th to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ
chrome
Said “krome” NOUN metal plated with chromium, a hard, silver-grey metal
chromosome chromosomes
Said “krome-uh-soam” NOUN the part of a cell in living things that contains the genes that determine what characteristics the animal or plant will have
chronic
ADJECTIVE lasting a very long time or never stopping • He suffers from chronic hay fever.
chronological
ADJECTIVE arranged in the order in which things happened • Tell me the whole story in chronological order.
chronologically ADVERB
chrysalis chrysalises
NOUN a butterfly or moth when it is developing from being a caterpillar to being a fully grown adult
chrysanthemum chrysanthemums
NOUN a plant with large, brightly-coloured flowers
chuckle chuckles, chuckling, chuckled
VERB When you chuckle, you laugh quietly.
chunk chunks
NOUN a thick piece of something
SYNONYMS: hunk, lump, piece
church churches
NOUN a building where Christians go for religious services and worship
churchyard churchyards
NOUN an area of land around a church, often used as a graveyard
churn churns, churning, churned
NOUN 1 a container used for making milk or cream into butter
VERB 2 When you churn something, you stir it vigorously, for example when making milk into butter.
churn out
VERB If you churn out something, you produce it quickly in large numbers. • They churned out hundreds of leaflets advertising the dance.
chutney
NOUN a strong-tasting, thick sauce made from fruit, vinegar and spices
cider
NOUN an alcoholic drink made from apples
cigar cigars
NOUN a roll of dried tobacco leaves, which people smoke
cigarette cigarettes
NOUN a thin tube of paper containing tobacco, which people smoke
cinder cinders
NOUN Cinders are small pieces of burnt material left after something such as wood or coal has burned.
cinema cinemas
NOUN a place where people go to watch films
circle circles, circling, circled
NOUN 1 a regular, two-dimensional round shape. Every point on the edge is the same distance from the centre.
VERB 2 to move around in a circle • Seagulls circled overhead.
circular ADJECTIVE
circuit circuits
NOUN 1 the path of an electric current
2 a racecourse
3 A training circuit is a course of physical activities.
circulation circulations
NOUN 1 the movement of blood around a body
2 the number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are sold each time it is issued
circumference circumferences
NOUN 1 the outer line or edge of a circle
2 The length of this line is also called the circumference.
circumstance circumstances
NOUN The circumstances of a situation or event are the conditions that affect what happens. • He did well under difficult circumstances.
circus circuses
NOUN a travelling show performed in a large tent, with performers such as clowns and acrobats
cistern cisterns
NOUN a tank in which water is stored, such as in the roof of a house, or above a toilet
citizen citizens
NOUN The citizens of a country or city are the people who live in it or belong to it.
citrus fruit citrus fruits
NOUN Citrus fruits are juicy, sharp-tasting fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit.
city cities
NOUN a large town where many people live and work
civil
ADJECTIVE 1 relating to the citizens of a place
2 Someone who is civil is polite.
civilian civilians
NOUN a person who is not in the armed forces
civilization civilizations; also spelt civilisation
NOUN 1 a large group of people with a high level of organization and culture • We’re learning about the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome and Egypt.
2 a highly developed and organized way of life
civilized; also spelt civilised
ADJECTIVE 1 A civilized society is one with a highly developed social organization and a comfortable way of life.
2 A civilized person is polite and reasonable.
civil war civil wars
NOUN a war between groups of people who live in the same country
claim claims, claiming, claimed
VERB 1 If you claim that something is the case, you say that it is so.
2 If you claim something, you ask for it because you believe you have a right to it.
clamber clambers, clambering, clambered
VERB If you clamber somewhere, you climb there with difficulty. • We clambered over the rocks to get to the beach.
clammy clammier, clammiest
ADJECTIVE unpleasantly damp and sticky • The weather was very clammy.
clamp clamps, clamping, clamped
NOUN 1 a device that holds something firmly in place
VERB 2 When you clamp one thing to another, you fasten them together with a clamp.
clan clans
NOUN a group of families related to each other by being descended from the same ancestor
clang clangs, clanging, clanged
VERB When something made of metal clangs, or when you clang it, it makes a loud, ringing sound.
clank clanks, clanking, clanked
VERB When something clanks, it makes a loud, metallic sound.
clap claps, clapping, clapped
VERB 1 When you clap, you hit your hands together loudly to show that you have enjoyed something or that you approve of something.
NOUN 2 a sudden loud noise of thunder
clarify clarifies, clarifying, clarified
VERB If you clarify something, you make it clear and easier to understand.
clarification NOUN
clarinet clarinets
NOUN a woodwind instrument with a straight tube and a single reed in its mouthpiece
clarity
NOUN The clarity of something is its clearness. • The clarity of the water made me think it was very clean.
clash clashes, clashing, clashed
VERB 1 Colours or ideas that clash are so different that they do not go together. • Debbie’s red shirt clashed with her green shorts.
2 If one event clashes with another, they happen at the same time, so you cannot go to both.
3 If people clash with each other, they fight or argue.
clasp clasps, clasping, clasped
VERB 1 If you clasp something, you hold it tightly.
NOUN 2 a fastening such as a hook or a catch
class classes
NOUN 1 a group of pupils or students taught together, or a lesson that they have together
2 A class of people or things is a group of them of a particular type. • Beetles and ants belong to different classes of insect.
SYNONYMS: group, kind, type
classic
ADJECTIVE Something described as classic is considered a high quality example of something. • He has a classic car.
classical
ADJECTIVE 1 traditional in style and content • classical ballet
2 Classical music is serious music thought to be of lasting value.
classify classifies, classifying, classified
VERB to arrange things into groups with something in common • We classified the foods into three groups: fruits, vegetables and meats.
classification NOUN
classroom classrooms
NOUN a room in a school where lessons take place
clatter clatters, clattering, clattered
VERB 1 When things clatter, they hit each other with a loud, rattling noise.
NOUN 2 a loud noise made by hard things hitting against each other • There was a great clatter when the waitress dropped the tray.
clause clauses
NOUN In grammar, a clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb, which may be a complete sentence or part of a sentence.
claw claws, clawing, clawed
NOUN 1 An animal’s claws are the hard, curved nails at the end of its feet.
2 The claws of a crab or a lobster are the two jointed parts at the end of the leg, used for holding things.
VERB 3 3 If an animal claws something, it digs its claws into it
clay
NOUN a type of earth that is soft and sticky when wet and hard when baked dry. It is used to make pottery and bricks.
clean cleaner, cleanest; cleans, cleaning, cleaned
ADJECTIVE 1 free from dirt or unwanted marks
VERB 2 to remove dirt from something
clear clearer, clearest; clears, clearing, cleared
ADJECTIVE 1 easy to understand, see or hear • The instructions on the packet were very clear.
2 easy to see through • a clear liquid
VERB 3 To clear unwanted things from a place is to remove them. • We cleared the dirty dishes from the table.
4 If you clear a fence or other obstacle, you jump over it without touching it.
clearly ADVERB
clear up
VERB When you clear up a place, you tidy it and put things away.
clench clenches, clenching, clenched
VERB 1 When you clench your fist, you curl your fingers up tightly.
2 When you clench your teeth, you squeeze them together tightly, either in pain or in anger.
clerk clerks
NOUN a person who keeps records or accounts in an office, bank or law court
clever cleverer, cleverest
ADJECTIVE 1 intelligent and quick to understand things
SYNONYMS: bright, intelligent, smart
2 very effective or skilful • We came up with a clever plan.
cliché clichés
NOUN an idea or phrase that is no longer effective because it has been used so much. For example, in this day and age and over the moon.
click clicks, clicking, clicked
VERB 1 When something clicks or when you click it, it makes a short snapping sound.
NOUN 2 a sound of something clicking
client clients
NOUN someone who pays a professional person or company for a service
cliff cliffs
NOUN a high area of land with a very steep side, usually next to the sea
cliffhanger cliffhangers
NOUN a very exciting or frightening situation, usually in a television or radio serial, where you are left not knowing what is going to happen next
climate climates
NOUN the general weather conditions that are typical of a place
climax climaxes
NOUN the most exciting moment of something, usually near the end
climb climbs, climbing, climbed
VERB 1 If you climb something, such as a tree, mountain or ladder, you move towards the top of it.
2 If you climb somewhere, you move there with difficulty. • We climbed over the high wall.
NOUN 3 a movement upwards • I was tired after the long climb to the top of the hill.
climber NOUN
cling clings, clinging, clung
VERB If you cling to something, you hold on to it tightly.
clinic clinics
NOUN a place where people go for medical advice or treatment
clip clips, clipping, clipped
NOUN 1 a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together
2 a short piece of a film shown by itself
VERB 3 If you clip something, you cut bits from it to shape it.
clipboard clipboards
NOUN a stiff piece of board or plastic, with a clip at the top to keep papers in place
clippers
PLURAL NOUN a tool used for cutting • hedge clippers
cloak cloaks, cloaking, cloaked
NOUN 1 a wide, loose coat without sleeves
VERB 2 If something cloaks something else, it covers or hides it. • The mist cloaked the land.
cloakroom cloakrooms
NOUN 1 a room where you can leave coats and luggage for a while
2 a room with toilets and washbasins in a public building
clock clocks
NOUN an instrument that measures and shows the time
clockwise
ADVERB in the same direction as the hands on a clock
clockwork
NOUN 1 Toys that move by clockwork are wound up with a key.
PHRASE 2 If something goes like clockwork, it happens with no problems or delays.
clog clogs, clogging, clogged
VERB 1 When something is clogged, or when you clog something up, it becomes blocked and doesn’t work properly or doesn’t allow things to move freely. • The traffic was clogging the roads.
NOUN 2 a shoe made entirely of wood, originally from the Netherlands
clone clones
NOUN an animal or plant that is an identical copy of another animal or plant
close closes, closing, closed; closer, closest
Said “klohz” VERB 1 If you close something, you move it so that it is no longer open. • He closed the door behind him.
2 If a shop or other building closes at a certain time, it does not do business after that time.
Said “klohss” ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is close to something else is near to it.
SYNONYMS: near, nearby
4 People who are close are very friendly with each other and know each other well.
5 If the weather is close, it is uncomfortably warm and stuffy.
NOUN 6 a street that is closed at one end • We live in Park Close.
closely ADVERB
close-up close-ups
Said “klohss-up” NOUN A close-up in a film or a photograph is taken at very close range and shows things in great detail.
cloth cloths
NOUN 1 fabric made by a process such as weaving
2 a piece of material used for wiping or protecting things
clothes
PLURAL NOUN things people wear on their bodies
cloud clouds
NOUN 1 a mass of water vapour that is seen as a white or grey patch in the sky
2 A cloud of smoke or dust is a mass of it floating in the air.
cloudy cloudier, cloudiest
ADJECTIVE 1 full of clouds • The sky was cloudy.
SYNONYMS: dull, overcast
2 difficult to see through • a cloudy liquid
SYNONYM: murky
clover
NOUN a small plant with leaves made up of three similar parts
clown clowns
NOUN a circus performer who wears funny clothes and make-up and does silly things to make people laugh
club clubs
NOUN 1 a group of people with similar interests, who meet regularly. The place where they meet is also called a club. • a youth club
2 a team that competes in sports competitions
clue clues
NOUN something that helps solve a problem or mystery • Police have found clues to the robbery.
clueless
ADJECTIVE INFORMAL If you say that someone is clueless, you think they are stupid and not able to do things properly.
clump clumps
NOUN a small group of things growing or standing close together • a clump of trees
clumsy clumsier, clumsiest
ADJECTIVE moving awkwardly and carelessly
SYNONYMS: awkward, ungainly
clumsily ADVERB
clung
VERB the past tense and past participle of cling (#ulink_3809a8cc-2b60-5df6-95d0-13e6462c0dfe)
cluster clusters, clustering, clustered
NOUN 1 a group of things together • There is a cluster of houses by the lake.
VERB 2 If people cluster together, they stay together in a close group.
[from Old English clyster meaning bunch of grapes]
clutch clutches, clutching, clutched
VERB If you clutch something, you hold it tightly or seize it.
clutter clutters, cluttering, cluttered
NOUN 1 an untidy mess
VERB 2 Things that clutter a place fill it and make it untidy.
coach coaches, coaching, coached
NOUN 1 a large bus that takes passengers on long journeys
2 a section of a train that carries passengers
VERB 3 If someone coaches you, they help you to get better at a sport or a subject.
SYNONYMS: instruct, train
NOUN 4 someone who coaches a person or sports team
coal
NOUN a hard, black rock taken from under the ground and burned as a fuel
coarse coarser, coarsest
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is coarse is rough in texture.
2 Someone who is coarse talks or behaves in a rude, offensive way.
coarsely ADVERB coarseness NOUN
coast coasts, coasting, coasted
NOUN 1 the edge of the land where it meets the sea
VERB 2 If a vehicle coasts somewhere, it moves there with the engine switched off. • The car coasted quietly down the hill.
coastal ADJECTIVE
coastguard coastguards
NOUN an official who watches the sea near a coast to get help for sailors when they need it
coat coats, coating, coated
NOUN 1 a piece of outdoor clothing with sleeves, which you wear over other clothes
2 An animal’s coat is the fur or hair on its body.
3 A coat of paint or varnish is a layer of it.
VERB 4 If you coat something, you cover it with a thin layer of something. • We coated the biscuits with chocolate.
coating coatings
NOUN a thin layer of something spread over a surface
coax coaxes, coaxing, coaxed
VERB If you coax someone to do something, you persuade them gently to do it.
cobble cobbles
NOUN Cobbles or cobblestones are stones with a rounded surface that were used in the past for making roads.
cobra cobras
NOUN a type of large poisonous snake from Africa and Asia
cobweb cobwebs
NOUN the very thin net that a spider spins to catch insects
cock cocks
NOUN an adult male chicken, or any other male bird
cockerel cockerels
NOUN a young cock
cockle cockles
NOUN a type of small, edible shellfish
Cockney Cockneys
NOUN someone who was born in the East End of London
cockpit cockpits
NOUN 1 the area in a plane where the pilot sits in control
2 the driver’s compartment in a racing car
cockroach cockroaches
NOUN a large, dark-coloured insect often found in dirty rooms
[from Spanish cucaracha]
cocky cockier, cockiest
ADJECTIVE INFORMAL If you are cocky, you are sure of yourself and sometimes rather cheeky.
cocoa
NOUN 1 a brown powder made from the seeds of a tropical tree and used for making chocolate
2 a hot drink made from this powder
coconut coconuts
NOUN a very large nut with white flesh, milky juice, and a hard hairy shell
cocoon cocoons
NOUN a silky covering over the larvae of moths and some other insects
cod
NOUN a large, edible fish
The plural of cod is cod.
code codes
NOUN 1 a system of replacing the letters or words in a message with other letters or words, so that nobody can understand the message unless they know the system • They wrote messages in code.
2 a group of numbers and letters used to identify something • the telephone code for Falmouth
coeducation
NOUN Coeducation is a system where girls and boys are taught together at the same school.
coeducational ADJECTIVE
coffee
NOUN 1 a powder made by roasting and grinding the beans of the coffee plant
2 a hot drink made from coffee
coffin coffins
NOUN a box in which a dead body is buried or cremated
cog cogs
NOUN a wheel with teeth, which turns another wheel or part of a machine
coil coils, coiling, coiled
NOUN 1 a length of rope or wire wound into a series of loops
2 A single loop is also called a coil.
VERB 3 If something coils, or if you coil it, it winds into a series of loops. • The snake coiled around the branch.
coin coins, coining, coined
NOUN 1 a small metal disc used as money
VERB 2 If you coin a word or a phrase, you invent it.
coinage
NOUN the coins that are used in a particular country
coincide coincides, coinciding, coincided
VERB When two things coincide, they happen at the same time. • Auntie’s visit coincided with my birthday.
coincidence coincidences
NOUN what happens when two or more things occur at the same time by chance
coke
NOUN a grey fuel produced from coal
cola colas
NOUN a sweet, brown fizzy drink, like Coca-Cola
colander colanders
NOUN a bowl-shaped container with holes in it, used for washing or draining food
cold colder, coldest; colds
ADJECTIVE 1 If something is cold, it has a very low temperature.
2 If the weather is cold, the air temperature is very low.
NOUN 3 a minor illness that makes you sneeze and cough, and sometimes gives you a sore throat
cold-blooded
ADJECTIVE 1 A cold-blooded animal has a body temperature that changes according to the surrounding temperature.
2 Someone who is cold-blooded does not show any pity.
cold-bloodedly ADVERB
coleslaw
NOUN a salad of chopped cabbage and other vegetables in mayonnaise
collaborate collaborates, collaborating, collaborated
VERB When people collaborate, they work together to produce something. • The two schools collaborated to produce a play.
collaboration NOUN collaborator NOUN
collage collages
NOUN a picture made by sticking pieces of paper or cloth on to a surface
collapse collapses, collapsing, collapsed
VERB 1 If something such as a building collapses, it falls down suddenly.
2 If a person collapses, they fall down suddenly because they are ill.
collapsible
ADJECTIVE A collapsible object can be folded flat when it is not in use. • collapsible chairs
collar collars
NOUN 1 the part around the neck of something, such as a coat or shirt
2 a leather band round the neck of a dog or cat
colleague colleagues
NOUN A person’s colleagues are the people they work with.
collect collects, collecting, collected
VERB 1 If you collect things, you gather them together for a special purpose or as a hobby.
2 If you collect someone or something from a place, you call there and take them away. • We collected Ali from school.
3 When things collect in a place, they gather there over a period of time. • Dust collects in corners.
collection collections
NOUN 1 a group of things you have gathered over a period of time • a stamp collection
2 the organized collecting of money, for example for charity, or the money collected
collective noun collective nouns
NOUN a noun that refers to a group of people or things. For example, a flock, a herd, and a shoal are all collective nouns.
college colleges
NOUN a place where students study after they have left school
collide collides, colliding, collided
VERB If a moving object collides with something, it hits it. • They collided with each other as they rushed through the door.
collision collisions
NOUN A collision is when a moving object hits something.
SYNONYM: crash
colon colons
NOUN 1 the punctuation mark (:). It is used to introduce a list, a quotation or an explanation of a statement. • We need to buy several things: bread, milk, fruit and toothpaste.
2 part of your intestine
colonel colonels
NOUN an army officer with a fairly high rank
colony colonies
NOUN 1 a country that is controlled by another country
2 a group of people or animals living together
colossal
ADJECTIVE very large indeed
[from Greek kolossos meaning huge statue]
colour colours
NOUN the appearance something has as a result of reflecting light • Red, blue and yellow are the primary colours.
colour blind
ADJECTIVE Someone who is colour blind is not able to see the difference between certain colours.
colourful
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is colourful has a lot of different colours or bright colours.
ANTONYMS: dull, colourless
2 A colourful story is very exciting and interesting.
ANTONYMS: dull, boring
colourless
ADJECTIVE 1 without colour
2 dull and uninteresting
colt colts
NOUN a young male horse
column columns
NOUN 1 a tall, solid, upright cylinder, especially one supporting part of a building
2 In a newspaper or magazine, a column is a vertical section of writing.
3 a group of people or vehicles moving in a long line
coma comas
NOUN a state of deep unconsciousness
comb combs, combing, combed
NOUN 1 a flat object with long, thin, pointed parts, which you use for tidying your hair
VERB 2 When you comb your hair, you tidy it with a comb.
combat combats, combating, combated
NOUN 1 fighting • In the Falklands War many soldiers had to take part in armed combat.
VERB 2 If someone combats something, they try to stop it happening. • We need new ways to combat crime.
combination combinations
NOUN 1 a mixture of things • Fatima won the competition through a combination of skill and determination.
2 a series of numbers or letters used to open a special lock
combine combines, combining, combined
VERB If you combine things, you mix them together. • Combine the butter and sugar, then add the eggs. • The book combines adventure and mystery.
combine harvester combine harvesters
NOUN a large machine used on farms to cut, sort and clean grain
combustion
NOUN the process of burning
come comes, coming, came
VERB 1 If you come to a place, you move or arrive there.
2 If something comes to a particular point, it reaches that point. • The water came up to her waist.
3 When a particular time comes, it happens. • Spring came early this year.
comedian comedians
NOUN an entertainer whose job is to make people laugh
comedy comedies
NOUN a play, film, or television programme that is intended to make people laugh
comet comets
NOUN an object that travels around the sun leaving a bright trail behind it
[from Greek kometes meaning long-haired]
comfort comforts, comforting, comforted
NOUN 1 the state of being pleasantly relaxed
2 a feeling of relief from worry or unhappiness • It’s a comfort to me to know that they are safe.
VERB 3 If you comfort someone, you make them less worried or unhappy.
comfortable
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are comfortable, you are at ease and relaxed.
2 Something that is comfortable makes you feel relaxed. • a comfortable chair
comfortably ADVERB
comic comics
NOUN 1 a magazine that contains stories told in pictures
ADJECTIVE 2 funny • a comic song
comma commas
NOUN the punctuation mark (,). It can show a short pause, or it can separate items in a list or words in speech marks from the rest of the sentence.
command commands, commanding, commanded
NOUN 1 an order to do something
VERB 2 If you command someone to do something, you order them to do it.
commemorate commemorates, commemorating, commemorated
VERB If you commemorate something, you do something special to show that you remember it. • On Remembrance Day we commemorate all the people who died in the two World Wars.
comment comments, commenting, commented
NOUN 1 a remark about something
VERB 2 If you comment on something, you make a remark about it.
commentary commentaries
NOUN a description of an event that is broadcast on radio or television while the event is happening • The commentary on the match was on the radio.
commentator commentators
NOUN someone who gives a radio or television commentary
commerce
NOUN the buying and selling of goods
commercial commercials
NOUN 1 an advertisement on television or radio
ADJECTIVE 2 Commercial activities involve producing large amounts of goods to sell and make money.
commit commits, committing, committed
VERB When someone commits a crime or sin, they do it. • The police know who committed the burglary.
committee committees
NOUN a group of people who make decisions on behalf of a larger group
common commoner, commonest; commons
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is common exists in large numbers or happens often.
NOUN 2 an area of grassy land where everyone can go
ADJECTIVE 3 If something is common to two or more people, they all have it or use it. • We had a common interest in butterflies.
PHRASE 4 If two things or people have something in common, they both have it. • Sarah and I have a lot in common.
common noun common nouns
NOUN Common nouns name things in general. They begin with lower-case letters: girl, boy, animal, picture.
See noun (#litres_trial_promo)
common sense
NOUN knowing how to behave sensibly in any situation
Commonwealth
NOUN The Commonwealth is a group of countries that used to be ruled by Britain.
commotion
NOUN a lot of noise and excitement
communal
ADJECTIVE shared by a group of people • The shop had communal changing rooms.
communicate communicates, communicating, communicated
VERB When people communicate, they exchange information, usually by talking or writing to each other.
communication communications
NOUN 1 the act of exchanging information, usually by talking, writing or, in the case of animals, making sounds • the communication of ideas
PLURAL NOUN 2 Communications are electrical or radio systems that allow people to broadcast or communicate information.
communion
NOUN 1 a Christian religious service in which people share holy bread and wine
2 the sharing of thoughts and feelings
community communities
NOUN all the people living in a particular area
commuter commuters
NOUN a person who has to travel a long way to work every day
compact
ADJECTIVE Something that is compact takes up very little space, or no more space than is necessary.
compact disc compact discs
NOUN a music or video recording in the form of a small plastic disc
companion companions
NOUN someone you travel or spend time with
company companies
NOUN 1 a business that sells goods or provides a service
2 If you have company, you have a friend or visitor with you.
PHRASE 3 If you keep someone company, you spend time with them.
comparative comparatives
ADJECTIVE 1 You use comparative to show that something is true only when compared with something else.
NOUN 2 In grammar, the comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows an increase in size, quality or amount. It is usually formed by adding -er to a word, for example, bigger, faster, or by putting more before the word, for example, more difficult.
compare compares, comparing, compared
VERB When you compare things, you see in what ways they are different or similar. • We compared our hair to see whose was longest.
comparison comparisons
NOUN When you make a comparison, you consider two things together and decide in what ways they are different or similar.
compartment compartments
NOUN 1 a section of a railway carriage
2 one of the separate sections of something such as a bag or a box
compass compasses
NOUN 1 an instrument with a magnetic needle that always points north. You use a compass to find your way.
PLURAL NOUN 2 Compasses are a hinged instrument for drawing circles.
compassion
NOUN pity and sympathy for someone who is suffering
compassionate ADJECTIVE
compass point compass points
NOUN one of the 32 marks on the dial of a compass that show direction • North, south, east and west are compass points.
compel compels, compelling, compelled
VERB 1 If you compel someone to do something, you force them to do it.
ADJECTIVE 2 A compelling story or event is extremely interesting.
3 A compelling argument or reason makes you believe that something is true.
compensate compensates, compensating, compensated
VERB 1 To compensate someone means to give them money to replace something that has been lost or damaged.
2 If one thing compensates for another, it cancels out the bad effects of it. • The trip to Disneyland compensated for her long illness.
compete competes, competing, competed
VERB 1 If you compete in a contest or game, you take part in it.
2 If you compete, you try to do better than others.
competent
ADJECTIVE Someone who is competent at something can do it satisfactorily. • He is a competent nurse.
competition competitions
NOUN an event in which people take part to find out who is the best at something
compile compiles, compiling, compiled
VERB When you compile information, you collect it and put it together.
complain complains, complaining, complained
VERB 1 If you complain, you say that you are not happy about something. • The neighbours complained about the noise.
2 If you complain of pain or illness, you say that you have it.
complaint NOUN
complement complements, complementing, complemented
VERB 1 If one thing complements another, the two things go well together. • Her piano music complements the poem.
NOUN 2 In grammar, a complement is a word or phrase that gives information about the subject or object of a sentence. For example, in the sentence Rover is a dog, is a dog is the complement.
Do not confuse complement with compliment.
complete completes, completing, completed
VERB 1 If you complete something, you finish it. • She has just completed her third short story.
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is complete, none of it is missing.
completely
ADVERB totally
SYNONYM: utterly
complex complexes
ADJECTIVE 1 Complex things have many different parts and are hard to understand.
NOUN 2 a group of buildings used for a particular purpose, such a sports complex
complexion complexions
NOUN the quality of the skin on your face
complicated
ADJECTIVE Something that is complicated is hard to understand.
complication complications
NOUN something that makes a situation more difficult to deal with
compliment compliments
NOUN If you pay someone a compliment, you tell them you admire or like something about them.
Do not confuse compliment with complement.
component components
NOUN The components of something are the parts it is made of.
compose composes, composing, composed
VERB 1 If you compose a piece of music, a letter, or a speech, you write it.
2 If something is composed of particular things or people, it is made up of them.
composer composers
NOUN someone who writes music
composition compositions
NOUN 1 a piece of music or writing
2 the things that something is made up of
compost
NOUN a mixture of rotted plants and manure that gardeners add to the soil to help plants grow
compound word compound words
NOUN a word with a single meaning, but made up of two or more words. For example, gingerbread, housework and teapot are all compound words.
comprehend comprehends, comprehending, comprehended
VERB If you comprehend something, you understand it.
comprehensive comprehensives
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is comprehensive includes everything that you need to know.
NOUN 2 a school where children of all abilities are taught together
comprehensively ADVERB
compress compresses, compressing, compressed
VERB If you compress something, you squeeze it or shorten it. • She compressed her story into one page.
compromise compromises, compromising, compromised
NOUN 1 an agreement in which people accept less than they really wanted
VERB 2 When people compromise, they settle for less than they really wanted.
compulsory
ADJECTIVE If something is compulsory, you have to do it.
computer computers
NOUN an electronic machine that stores information and makes calculations
computerize computerizes, computerizing, computerized; also spelt computerise
VERB When a system or process is computerized, such as train timetables or bank accounts, the work is done by computers.
comrade comrades
NOUN a companion, especially in battle
con cons, conning, conned
VERB 1 If someone cons you, or you are conned, you are tricked into doing something. • He conned me into buying the tickets.
NOUN 2 a trick that makes you believe or do something that you would not normally believe or do
concave
ADJECTIVE A concave surface curves inwards, rather than being level or bulging outwards.
ANTONYM: convex
conceal conceals, concealing, concealed
VERB If you conceal something, you hide it.
conceited
ADJECTIVE Someone who is conceited is too proud of their appearance or abilities.
SYNONYMS: bigheaded, self-important
conceive conceives, conceiving, conceived
VERB 1 If you can’t conceive of something, you can’t imagine it or believe it. • He couldn’t conceive of anything more fun than surfing.
2 If you conceive something such as a plan, you think of it and work out how it could be done. • Alex conceived the idea while eating his lunch.
3 When a woman conceives, she becomes pregnant.
concentrate concentrates, concentrating, concentrated
VERB 1 If you concentrate on something, you give it all your attention. • I need to concentrate on my homework.
2 When something is concentrated in one place, it is all there rather than in several places. • The shops were concentrated in the town centre.
concentrated
ADJECTIVE A concentrated liquid has been made stronger by having water removed from it. • concentrated orange juice
concentration concentrations
NOUN 1 the ability to give your full attention to something you do or hear
2 A concentration of something is a large amount of it in one place.
concept concepts
NOUN an abstract or general idea
conception conceptions
NOUN the idea you have of something
concern concerns, concerning, concerned
NOUN 1 worry about something or someone
2 If something is your concern, it is your duty or responsibility.
VERB 3 If something concerns you or if you are concerned about it, it worries you.
concerned ADJECTIVE
concerning
PREPOSITION You use concerning to show what something is about. • an article concerning fox hunting
concert concerts
NOUN a public performance by musicians
concession concessions
NOUN If you make a concession, you agree to let someone have or do something.
concise
ADJECTIVE giving all the necessary information using as few words as possible • a concise explanation
SYNONYMS: brief, short
concisely ADVERB
conclude concludes, concluding, concluded
VERB 1 If you conclude something, you examine the facts and decide what your opinion is. • We concluded that the letter was a fake.
2 When you conclude something, you finish it.
conclusion conclusions
NOUN 1 the end of something
2 a final decision about something • We wanted to go for a swim in the sea, but we came to the conclusion that it was too cold.
concrete
NOUN 1 a building material made by mixing cement, sand and water
ADJECTIVE 2 real and physical, rather than abstract • He had no concrete evidence.
concussion
NOUN damage to the brain caused by a blow or a fall, which causes confusion, sickness or unconsciousness
concussed ADJECTIVE
condemn condemns, condemning, condemned
VERB 1 If you condemn something, you say it is bad and unacceptable.
2 If someone is condemned to a punishment, they are given it. • The burglar was condemned to five years in prison.
condensation
NOUN a coating of tiny drops of liquid formed on a cold surface by steam or vapour
condense condenses, condensing, condensed
VERB 1 If you condense a piece of writing or a speech, you shorten it.
2 When a gas or vapour condenses, it changes into a liquid.
condition conditions
NOUN 1 the state someone or something is in • The antique clock was still in good condition.
2 something that must happen in order for something else to be possible • I can go swimming on Saturday on the condition that I do my homework first.
conduct conducts, conducting, conducted
Said “kon-duct” NOUN 1 behaviour
Said “kon-duct” VERB 2 When you conduct an activity, you carry it out.
3 When someone conducts an orchestra, a band or a choir, they direct it in a piece of music.
4 If something conducts heat or electricity, heat or electricity can pass along it. • Copper conducts electricity well.
conductor conductors
NOUN 1 someone who conducts an orchestra or choir
2 someone who moves round a bus or train selling and checking tickets
3 a substance that conducts heat or electricity
cone cones
NOUN 1 a regular three-dimensional shape with a circular base and a point at the top
2 the fruit of a fir or pine tree
conference conferences
NOUN a meeting at which formal discussions take place
confess confesses, confessing, confessed
VERB If you confess to something, you admit that you did it.
confession confessions
NOUN 1 If you make a confession, you admit that you have done something wrong.
SYNONYM: admission
2 the act of confessing something, especially as a religious act, where people confess their sins to a priest
confetti
NOUN small pieces of coloured paper thrown over the bride and groom at a wedding
[from Italian confetto meaning a sweet]
confide confides, confiding, confided
VERB If you confide in or to someone, you tell them a secret.
confidence
NOUN 1 If you have confidence in someone, you feel you can trust them.
2 Someone who has confidence is sure of their own abilities or qualities.
confident
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are confident about something, you are sure it will happen the way you want it to.
2 Someone who is confident is very sure of themselves and their own abilities.
confidently ADVERB
confidential
ADJECTIVE Confidential information is meant to be kept secret.
confine confines, confining, confined
VERB 1 If someone confines you to a place, you can’t leave it. • The doctor confined Debbie to bed for two weeks as she had pneumonia.
2 If you confine yourself to doing something, you do only that thing. • On their trip abroad, they confined themselves to drinking bottled water.
confirm confirms, confirming, confirmed
VERB 1 If you confirm something, you say or show that it is true. • The teacher confirmed that we had all passed our spelling test.
2 If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say it is definite. • Dad confirmed our holiday booking.
confiscate confiscates, confiscating, confiscated
VERB If someone confiscates something, they take it away from someone as a punishment.
[from Latin confiscare meaning to seize for the public treasury]
confiscation NOUN
conflict conflicts, conflicting, conflicted
NOUN 1 disagreement and argument
2 a war or battle
VERB 3 When two ideas or interests conflict, they are different and it seems impossible for them both to be true.
conform conforms, conforming, conformed
VERB 1 If you conform, you behave the way people expect you to.
2 If something conforms to a law or to someone’s wishes, it does what is required or wanted.
conformist NOUN OR ADJECTIVE
confront confronts, confronting, confronted
VERB 1 If you are confronted with a problem or task, you have to deal with it.
2 If you confront someone, you meet them face to face, especially when you are going to fight or argue with them.
confrontation confrontations
NOUN a serious dispute between two people or groups of people who come face to face
confuse confuses, confusing, confused
VERB 1 If you confuse two people or things, you mix them up and are not sure which is which.
2 If you confuse someone, you make them uncertain about what is happening or what to do.
confusion NOUN
congested
ADJECTIVE 1 When a road is congested, it is so full of traffic that normal movement is impossible.
2 If your nose is congested, it is blocked and you cannot breathe properly.
congestion NOUN
congratulate congratulates, congratulating, congratulated
VERB If you congratulate someone, you say that you’re pleased about something good that has happened to them, or praise them for something they have done. • He congratulated us on winning the competition.
congratulations NOUN
congregation congregations
NOUN the people attending a service in a church
congruent
ADJECTIVE In mathematics, things that are congruent are exactly the same size and shape, and would fit exactly on top of each other. • congruent triangles
conifer conifers
NOUN any type of evergreen tree that produces cones
coniferous ADJECTIVE
conjunction conjunctions
NOUN In grammar, a conjunction is a word that links two other words or two clauses, such as and, but, or, while and that. For example: “I love bacon and eggs.” “I’m happy, but my brother is not”.
conjurer conjurers
NOUN someone who entertains people by doing magic tricks
conker conkers
NOUN a brown nut from a horse chestnut tree
connect connects, connecting, connected
VERB 1 If you connect two things, you join them together.
2 If one thing or person is connected with another, there is a link between them.
connection connections
NOUN 1 the point where two things are joined together
2 If you make a connection at a station or airport, you continue your journey by catching another train, bus or plane. • Our train was late, so we missed our connection.
connective connectives
NOUN a word that connects phrases, clauses or words together
See conjunction (#ulink_7f209caa-0da4-5f27-8b99-593907b0786a)
conquer conquers, conquering, conquered
VERB 1 If you conquer something difficult or dangerous, you succeed in controlling it. • She conquered her fear of spiders.
2 to take control of a country by force
conqueror NOUN
conscience
NOUN the part of your mind that tells you what is right or wrong
conscientious
ADJECTIVE Someone who is conscientious takes great care over their work.
conscientiously ADVERB
conscious
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is conscious is awake, rather than asleep or unconscious.
2 If you are conscious of something, you are aware of it.
3 A conscious action or effort is done deliberately.
consecutive
ADJECTIVE 1 Consecutive events or periods of time happen one after the other. • We had eight consecutive days of rain.
2 Consecutive numbers follow each other in order. For example, 1, 2, 3, 4 are consecutive numbers.
consecutively ADVERB
consent consents, consenting, consented
NOUN 1 permission to do something
2 agreement between two or more people • By common consent we went to France for the holiday.
VERB 3 If you consent to something, you agree to do it or allow it to happen.
consequence consequences
NOUN result or effect
conservation
NOUN the preservation of the environment
conservationist NOUN OR ADJECTIVE
conservative conservatives
NOUN 1 a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Britain
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is conservative does not like change or new ideas.
3 A conservative estimate or guess is a cautious or moderate one.
conservatory conservatories
NOUN a room with glass walls and a glass roof in which plants are kept
conserve conserves, conserving, conserved
VERB 1 If you conserve a supply of something, you make it last as long as possible. • I switched off my torch to conserve the battery.
2 If you conserve something, you keep it as it is and do not change it. • We should conserve this old building.
consider considers, considering, considered
VERB If you consider something, you think about it carefully.
considerable
ADJECTIVE A considerable amount of something is a lot of it.
considerate
ADJECTIVE Someone who is considerate thinks of other people’s needs and feelings.
consideration considerations
NOUN 1 careful thought about something
2 something that should be thought about when you are planning or deciding something
3 Someone who shows consideration pays attention to the needs and feelings of other people.
consist consists, consisting, consisted
VERB Something that consists of certain things is made up of them. • This bread consists of flour, yeast and water.
consistent
ADJECTIVE Something that is consistent does not change.
console consoles, consoling, consoled
Said “kon-sole” VERB 1 If you console someone who is unhappy, you comfort them and cheer them up.
Said “kon-sole” NOUN 2 a panel with switches or knobs for operating a machine
consonant consonants
NOUN all the letters of the alphabet that are not vowels
conspicuous
ADJECTIVE If something is conspicuous, you can see or notice it very easily.
conspiracy conspiracies
NOUN an illegal plan made in secret by a group of people
constable constables
NOUN a police officer of the lowest rank
constant
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is constant happens all the time or is always there. • We could hear the constant sound of the waves pounding the shore.
2 If an amount or level is constant, it stays the same.
constellation constellations
NOUN a group of stars
constipated
ADJECTIVE Someone who is constipated finds it difficult to empty their bowels.
[from Latin constipare meaning to press together]
constipation NOUN
constitution constitutions
NOUN 1 The constitution of a country is the system of laws and principles by which it is governed.
2 Your constitution is your health.
construct constructs, constructing, constructed
VERB If you construct something, you build or make it.
construction constructions
NOUN 1 the process of building or making something
2 something built or made
constructive
ADJECTIVE helpful • The tennis coach made some constructive comments about my backhand.
consult consults, consulting, consulted
VERB 1 If you consult someone, you ask for their opinion or advice.
2 If you consult a book or map, you look at it for information.
consultation NOUN
consultant consultants
NOUN an experienced doctor who specializes in one type of medicine • a consultant heart surgeon
consume consumes, consuming, consumed
VERB 1 If you consume something, you eat or drink it.
2 To consume fuel or energy is to use it up.
consumer consumers
NOUN someone who buys things or uses services • magazines aimed at teenage consumers
consumption
NOUN The consumption of fuel or food is the using of it, or the amount used. • The consumption of ice cream rises in hot weather.
contact contacts, contacting, contacted
NOUN 1 If you are in contact with someone, you talk or write to them regularly. • I am in contact with a pen pal in France.
2 When things are in contact, they are touching each other.
VERB 3 If you contact someone, you telephone them or write to them.
contact lens contact lenses
NOUN small plastic lenses that you put in your eyes instead of wearing glasses, to help you see better
contagious
ADJECTIVE A contagious disease can be caught by touching people or things infected with it. • Measles is contagious.
contain contains, containing, contained
VERB 1 If a substance contains something, that thing is a part of it.
2 The things a box or room contains are the things inside it.
container containers
NOUN something that you keep things in, such as a box or a jar
contaminate contaminates, contaminating, contaminated
VERB If dirt, chemicals or radiation contaminate something, they make it impure and harmful.
contamination NOUN
contemplate contemplates, contemplating, contemplated
VERB 1 If you contemplate, you think very carefully about something. • She contemplated what she would do at the weekend.
2 If you contemplate something, you look at it for a long time.
contemporary
ADJECTIVE 1 produced or happening now
2 A contemporary work is one that was written at the time of the events it describes.
contempt
NOUN If you treat someone with contempt, you show no respect for them at all.
content
Said “kon-tent” ADJECTIVE 1 If you are content, you are happy and satisfied with your life.
2 If you are content to do something, you are willing to do it.
contents
Said “kon-tents” PLURAL NOUN 1 The contents of something like a box or a cake are the things in it.
2 The contents page of a book tells you what is in it.
contest contests
NOUN a competition or game
contestant contestants
NOUN someone who takes part in a competition
SYNONYMS: competitor, player
context contexts
NOUN The context of a word or sentence is the words or sentences that come before and after it, which help to make the meaning clear.
continent continents
NOUN 1 a very large area of land, such as Africa or Asia
2 In Britain, the mainland of Europe is sometimes called the Continent. [from Latin terra continens meaning continuous land]
continental
ADJECTIVE In Britain, continental means on, belonging to or typical of the mainland of Europe. • continental breakfast
continual
ADJECTIVE happening again and again • Mum had a continual stream of phone calls.
continue continues, continuing, continued
VERB 1 If you continue to do something, you keep doing it.
2 If something continues, it does not stop.
3 You say something continues when it starts again after stopping. • She paused for a moment, then continued.
continuous
ADJECTIVE happening all the time without stopping • The television made a continuous buzzing noise.
contour contours
NOUN 1 The contour of something is its general shape or outline.
2 On a map, a contour is a line joining points of equal height.
contract contracts, contracting, contracted
Said “con-trakt” NOUN 1 a legal agreement about the sale of something or work done for money • He was given a two-year contract.
Said “con-trakt” VERB 2 When something contracts, it gets smaller or shorter. • Metals contract with cold and expand with heat.
ANTONYM: expand
contraction contractions
NOUN a shortened form of a word or words, often marked by an apostrophe • “I’ve” is a contraction of “I have”.
contradict contradicts, contradicting, contradicted
VERB If you contradict someone, you say that what they have just said is wrong.
contradiction NOUN
contrary
ADJECTIVE 1 Contrary ideas, opinions or attitudes are completely different from each other.
PHRASE 2 On the contrary is used to contradict something that has just been said.
contrast contrasts, contrasting, contrasted
Said “con-trast” NOUN 1 a great difference between things • the contrast between town and country
Said “con-trast” VERB 2 If you contrast things, you describe or emphasize the differences between them.
contribute contributes, contributing, contributed
VERB 1 If you contribute to something, you do something to make it successful. • Everyone contributed to the class project.
2 If you contribute money to something, you help to pay for it. • We contributed some money to the appeal for the homeless.
SYNONYMS: donate, give
contribution NOUN
control controls, controlling, controlled
NOUN 1 If you have control over something, you are able to make it work the way you want it to.
2 The controls on a machine are the knobs or other devices used to work it.
VERB 3 If someone controls a country or an organization, they make the decisions about how it is run.
4 If someone controls something such as a machine, they make it work the way they want it to.
PHRASE 5 If something is out of control, nobody has any power over it. • The fire was out of control.
controversial
ADJECTIVE Something that is controversial causes a lot of discussion and argument, because many people disapprove of it. • The film was controversial.
convalescent convalescents
NOUN someone who is resting while recovering from an illness
convenient
ADJECTIVE If something is convenient, it is easy to use or it makes something easy to do. • It’s convenient living close to the bus stop.
convenience NOUN
convent convents
NOUN 1 a building where nuns live
2 a school run by nuns
conventional
ADJECTIVE Someone who is conventional thinks or behaves in an ordinary and accepted way.
converge converges, converging, converged
VERB When things meet or join at a particular place, they converge. • The roads converge after three kilometres.
convergence NOUN
conversation conversations
NOUN When people have a conversation, they talk to each other.
convert converts, converting, converted
VERB 1 If you convert something, it changes from one thing to another. • Dad converted the loft into a workshop.
2 If someone converts you, they persuade you to change your religious or political beliefs.
3 In mathematics, convert means to change a number from one form to another. These are equal to each other. For example, you can convert a fraction to a decimal (½ = 0.5).
convex
ADJECTIVE A convex surface bulges outwards, rather than being level or curving inwards.
See concave (#ulink_6a54f3e0-99f0-5472-877b-20192812085d)
ANTONYM: concave
convey conveys, conveying, conveyed
VERB 1 If someone conveys people or things to a place, they take them there.
2 If you convey information, ideas or feelings, you tell people about them.
conveyor belt conveyor belts
NOUN a moving strip used in factories for moving objects along
convict convicts, convicting, convicted
Said “kon-vikt” VERB 1 If a law court convicts someone of a crime, it says they are guilty of it.
Said “kon-vikt” NOUN 2 someone serving a prison sentence
convince convinces, convincing, convinced
VERB If you convince someone of something, you persuade them to do it or that it is true. • I convinced mum and dad to let me go on the school trip.
convoy convoys
NOUN a group of ships or vehicles travelling together
cook cooks, cooking, cooked
VERB 1 When you cook, you prepare food for eating by boiling, baking or frying it.
NOUN 2 a person whose job is to prepare food
cooker cookers
NOUN an apparatus for cooking food
cookery
NOUN the art of preparing and cooking food
cookie cookies
NOUN 1 a sweet biscuit • a chocolate cookie
2 a small file placed on a user’s computer by a website • This website uses cookies.
cool cooler, coolest; cools, cooling, cooled
ADJECTIVE 1 Something cool has a low temperature but is not cold.
2 If you are cool in a difficult situation, you stay calm.
VERB 3 When something cools, it becomes less warm.
cooperate cooperates, cooperating, cooperated
VERB 1 When people cooperate, they work or act together.
2 If you cooperate, you do what someone asks you to do.
cooperative cooperatives
ADJECTIVE 1 A cooperative person does what they are asked to do willingly and cheerfully.
NOUN 2 a business or organization run by the people who work for it, and who share its profits
coordinates
PLURAL NOUN a pair of numbers or letters that tell you exactly where a point is on a grid, map or graph
cop cops
NOUN INFORMAL a policeman
cope copes, coping, coped
VERB If you cope, you are able to do something even if the circumstances are difficult. • I managed to cope with my homework and with looking after my little brother at the same time.
copper
NOUN a soft, reddish-brown metal
copy copies, copying, copied
NOUN 1 something made to look like something else • a copy of a famous painting
2 A copy of a book, newspaper or record is one of many identical ones produced at the same time. • a copy of today’s newspaper
VERB 3 If you copy what someone does, you do the same thing.
4 If you copy something, you make a copy of it.
copyright copyrights
NOUN If someone has the copyright on a piece of writing or music, it cannot be copied or performed without their permission.
coral corals
NOUN a hard substance that forms in the sea from the skeletons of tiny animals called corals
cord cords
NOUN 1 strong, thick string
2 electrical wire covered in rubber or plastic
corduroy
NOUN heavy, ribbed cloth made of cotton
core cores
NOUN the most central part of an object or place • an apple core • the earth’s core
cork corks
NOUN 1 a soft, light substance that forms the bark of a Mediterranean tree
2 a piece of cork pushed into the end of a bottle to close it
corkscrew corkscrews
NOUN a device for pulling corks out of bottles
corn
NOUN 1 crops such as wheat and barley
2 the seeds of these crops
corner corners, cornering, cornered
NOUN 1 the point where two sides or edges of something meet • The TV was in the corner of the room.
See vertex (#litres_trial_promo)
VERB 2 If someone corners a person or animal, they get them into a place they can’t escape from. • The police cornered the thief.
cornet cornets
NOUN a small, brass instrument used in brass and military bands
coronation coronations
NOUN the ceremony at which a king or queen is crowned
coroner coroners
NOUN an official who investigates the deaths of people who have died in a violent or unusual way
corporal corporals
NOUN an officer of low rank in the army or air force
corporal punishment
NOUN punishing of people by beating them
corps
Said “kor” NOUN part of an army with special duties • the Medical Corps
corpse corpses
NOUN a dead body
correct corrects, correcting, corrected
ADJECTIVE 1 If something is correct, there are no mistakes in it.
VERB 2 If you correct something that is wrong, you make it right. • She corrected my maths homework.
correction NOUN
correspond corresponds, corresponding, corresponded
VERB 1 If one thing corresponds with another, it is similar to it or it matches it in some way.
2 If numbers or amounts correspond, they are the same.
3 When people correspond, they write to each other.
correspondence
NOUN 1 letters or the writing of letters
2 If there is a correspondence between two things, there is a similarity between them.
correspondent correspondents
NOUN a newspaper, radio or television reporter
corridor corridors
NOUN a passage in a building or train
[from Old Italian corridore meaning place for running]
corrode corrodes, corroding, corroded
VERB When something corrodes, it is eaten away. When iron and steel are corroded, rust is formed.
corrosion NOUN corrosive ADJECTIVE
corrugated
ADJECTIVE Corrugated metal or cardboard has parallel folds to make it stronger.
corrupt corrupts, corrupting, corrupted
ADJECTIVE 1 People who are corrupt act dishonestly or illegally in return for money or power.
SYNONYM: dishonest
VERB 2 If you corrupt someone, you make them dishonest.
3 If a bug in a computer spoils files, it corrupts them.
corruption NOUN
cosmetics
PLURAL NOUN lipstick, face powder and other make-up
cosmic
ADJECTIVE belonging to or relating to the whole universe
cosmos
NOUN the universe
cost costs, costing, cost
NOUN 1 the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something
VERB 2 You use cost to talk about the amount of money you have to pay for things. • You can’t have that – it costs too much.
costume costumes
NOUN 1 a set of clothes worn by an actor
2 the clothing worn in a particular place or during a particular period
cosy cosier, cosiest
ADJECTIVE warm and comfortable
cot cots
NOUN a small bed for a baby, with bars or panels round it to stop the baby falling out
cottage cottages
NOUN a small house, especially in the country
cotton
NOUN 1 cloth made from the soft fibres of the cotton plant • a cotton shirt
2 thread used for sewing • a needle and cotton
couch couches
NOUN a long, soft piece of furniture for sitting or lying on
cough coughs, coughing, coughed
VERB When you cough, you force air out of your throat with a sudden harsh noise.
could
VERB 1 the past tense of can
2 You use could to say that something might happen or might be true. • It could rain later.
3 You use could when you are asking for something politely. • Could you tell me the way to the station, please?
couldn’t
VERB a contraction of could not
council councils
NOUN a group of people elected to look after something, especially the affairs of a town, district or county
counsel counsels, counselling, counselled
NOUN 1 advice
VERB 2 If someone counsels people, they give them advice about their problems.
count counts, counting, counted
VERB 1 When you count, you say all the numbers in order up to a particular number.
2 If you count, or count up, all the things in a group, you add them up to see how many there are.
3 If you can count on someone or something, you can rely on them. • You can count on me to help.
PHRASE 4 If you keep count of something, you keep a record of how often it happens. • Who’s keeping count of the score?
5 If you lose count of something, you cannot remember how often it has happened.
counter counters
NOUN 1 a long, flat surface in a shop, over which goods are sold
2 a small, flat, round object used in board games
counterfeit counterfeits, counterfeiting, counterfeited
Said “kown-ter-fit” ADJECTIVE 1 Counterfeit things are not genuine, but have been made to look genuine in order to deceive people. • counterfeit money
VERB 2 If someone counterfeits something, they make an exact copy of it in order to trick people.
countless
ADJECTIVE too many to count
country countries
NOUN 1 one of the political areas the world is divided into
2 land away from towns and cities • It is peaceful living in the country.
countryside
NOUN land away from towns and cities
county counties
NOUN a region with its own local government • The county of Lincolnshire is in the east of England.
couple couples
NOUN 1 two people who are married or having a romantic relationship
2 A couple of things or people means two of them, or not very many.
couplet couplets
NOUN two lines of poetry together that usually rhyme
coupon coupons
NOUN 1 a piece of printed paper that entitles you to pay less than usual for something
2 a form you fill in to ask for information or to enter a competition
courage
NOUN the quality shown by people who do things that they know are dangerous or difficult • She showed great courage in her efforts to save them from the burning house.
courageous ADJECTIVE
courageously ADVERB
courgette courgettes
NOUN a vegetable that looks like a small green marrow
courier couriers
NOUN 1 someone employed by a travel company to look after people on holiday
2 someone employed to deliver letters and parcels quickly
course courses
NOUN 1 a series of lessons or lectures
2 a piece of land where races take place or golf is played
3 the route something such as a ship or a river takes • The captain changed course to avoid the storm.
4 one of the parts of a meal • The first course was soup.
PHRASE 5 If you say of course, you are showing that you are absolutely sure about something. • Of course she wouldn’t do a thing like that.
court courts
NOUN 1 a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or a magistrate. The judge and jury or magistrate can also be referred to as the court. • He is due to appear in court next week. • The court awarded him ten thousand pounds in compensation.
2 a place where a game such as tennis or badminton is played
3 the place where a king or queen lives and works
courteous
ADJECTIVE Courteous behaviour is polite and considerate.
courteously ADVERB
courtyard courtyards
NOUN a flat area of ground surrounded by buildings or walls
cousin cousins
NOUN Your cousin is the child of your uncle or aunt.
cove coves
NOUN a small bay on the coast
cover covers, covering, covered
VERB 1 If you cover something, you put something else over it to protect it or hide it.
2 If something covers something else, it forms a layer over it.
3 If you cover a particular distance, you travel that distance.
4 If you cover a subject, you discuss it in a lesson, course or book. • We covered the Vikings in today’s lesson.
NOUN 5 something put over an object to protect it or keep it warm
6 The cover of a book or magazine is its outside.
7 Cover is trees, rocks or other places where you can shelter or hide. • When it started raining they ran for cover.
coverage
NOUN The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it. • There was complete coverage of the Wimbledon finals on television.
cow cows
NOUN a large female mammal kept on farms for its milk and meat
coward cowards
NOUN a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous situations
cowardly ADJECTIVE cowardice NOUN
cowboy cowboys
NOUN a man employed to look after cattle in America
coy coyer, coyest
ADJECTIVE If someone behaves in a coy way, they pretend to be shy and modest.
crab crabs
NOUN a crustacean with four pairs of legs, two claws, and a flat, round body covered by a shell
crack cracks, cracking, cracked
VERB 1 If something cracks, or if something cracks it, it becomes damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.
2 If you crack a joke, you tell it.
3 If you crack a problem or code, you solve it.
NOUN 4 one of the lines appearing on something when it cracks
5 a narrow gap • My ring fell into a crack in the pavement.
cracker crackers
NOUN 1 a thin, crisp biscuit that is often eaten with cheese
2 a paper-covered tube that pulls apart with a bang, and usually has a toy and paper hat inside
crackle crackles, crackling, crackled
VERB 1 something crackles, it makes a series of short sharp sounds • The bonfire started to crackle as the flames grew higher.
NOUN 2 a short sharp sound
cradle cradles, cradling, cradled
NOUN 1 a box-shaped bed for a baby
VERB 2 If you cradle something in your arms or hands, you hold it there carefully.
craft crafts
NOUN 1 an activity that needs skill with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery
2 a boat, plane or spacecraft
craftsman or craftswoman craftsmen or craftswomen
NOUN a person who makes things skilfully with their hands
craftsmanship NOUN
crafty craftier, craftiest
ADJECTIVE Crafty people get what they want by tricking other people in a clever way.
SYNONYMS: cunning, wily
crag crags
NOUN a steep, rugged rock or peak
cram crams, cramming, crammed
VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.
cramp cramps
NOUN pain caused when muscles contract
cramped
ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.
crane cranes, craning, craned
NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air
2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs
VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.
crash crashes, crashing, crashed
NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged
2 a sudden, loud noise
VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.
crate crates
NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things
crater craters
NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.
[from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]
crave craves, craving, craved
VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.
craving NOUN
crawl crawls, crawling, crawled
VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.
2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.
crayon crayons
NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax
craze crazes
NOUN something that is very popular for a short time
crazy crazier, craziest
ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish
2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.
creak creaks, creaking, creaked
VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.
NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise
creaky ADJECTIVE
cream creams
NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk
2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it
ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white colour
crease creases, creasing, creased
NOUN 1 an irregular line that appears on cloth or paper when it is crumpled
2 a straight line on something that has been pressed or folded neatly • Dad ironed a sharp crease in his best trousers.
VERB 3 If you crease something, you make lines appear on it.
create creates, creating, created
VERB If someone creates something, they cause it to happen or exist.
creation NOUN
creative
ADJECTIVE Creative people are good at inventing and developing new ideas.
creature creatures
NOUN any living thing that is not a plant
crèche crèches
NOUN a place where small children are looked after while their parents are working
[from old French crèche meaning crib or manger]
credit credits
NOUN 1 a system where you pay for something in small amounts, regularly over a period of time
2 praise given to you for good work
PLURAL NOUN 3 Credits are the list of people who helped make a film, record or television programme.
PHRASE 4 If your bank account is in credit, you have money in it.
credit card credit cards
NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods on credit rather than paying with cash
creek creeks
NOUN a narrow inlet where the sea comes a long way into the land
creep creeps, creeping, crept
VERB If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.
creepy creepier, creepiest
ADJECTIVE strange and frightening • The film was creepy.
SYNONYMS: eerie, spooky
cremate cremates, cremating, cremated
VERB If someone is cremated when they die, their body is burned instead of buried.
crematorium crematoriums or crematoria
NOUN a building in which people are cremated
crescent crescents
NOUN a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at the ends, like a new moon
cress
NOUN a plant with small, strong-tasting leaves, used in salads
crest crests
NOUN 1 the highest part of a hill or wave
2 a tuft of feathers on top of a bird’s head
3 a special sign of something, such as a school or other organization
crevice crevices
NOUN a narrow crack or gap in rock
crew crews
NOUN The crew of a ship, aeroplane or spacecraft are the people who operate it.
cricket crickets
NOUN 1 an outdoor game played by two teams, who take turns at scoring runs by hitting a ball with a bat
2 a small, jumping insect that produces sounds by rubbing its wings together
cried
VERB the past tense and past participle of cry
crime crimes
NOUN an action for which you can be punished by law
criminal criminals
NOUN 1 someone who has committed a crime
ADJECTIVE 2 involving or related to crime
crimson
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE dark, purplish-red
crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled
VERB 1 If something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased or folded.
NOUN 2 a small crease or fold
cripple cripples, crippling, crippled
VERB If someone is crippled by something, they are injured so severely that they can never move properly again.
crippling ADJECTIVE
crisis crises
NOUN a serious or dangerous situation • The food crisis was caused by drought.
crisp crisper, crispest; crisps
ADJECTIVE 1 pleasantly fresh and firm • crisp lettuce leaves
NOUN 2 a thin slice of potato that has been fried until it is hard and crunchy
critic critics
NOUN 1 someone who writes reviews of books, films, plays or musical performances for newspapers or magazines
2 a person who criticizes someone or something publicly
critical
ADJECTIVE 1 A critical time or situation is a very important and serious one when things must be done correctly.
2 If the state of a sick or injured person is critical, they are in danger of dying.
3 Someone who is critical judges people and things very severely.
criticism criticisms
NOUN 1 spoken or written disapproval of someone or something
2 A criticism of a book, film or play is an examination of its good and bad points.
criticize criticizes, criticizing, criticized; also spelt criticise
VERB If you criticize someone or something, you say what you think is wrong with them.
croak croaks, croaking, croaked
VERB 1 When animals and birds croak, they make harsh, low sounds.
NOUN 2 a harsh, low sound
croaky ADJECTIVE
crochet crochets, crocheting, crocheted
Said “kroh-shay” NOUN 1 a kind of knitting done with a hooked needle and cotton or wool
VERB 2 If you crochet, you use a hooked needle and wool or cotton to make lacy material for things such as clothes and shawls.
crockery
NOUN things you use for eating and drinking, such as plates, cups, bowls and saucers
crocodile crocodiles
NOUN a large, scaly, meat-eating reptile that lives in tropical rivers
[from Greek krokodeilos meaning lizard]
crocus crocuses
NOUN Crocuses are yellow, purple or white flowers that grow in early spring.
crook crooks
NOUN 1 a criminal
2 The crook of your arm or leg is the soft, inside part of your elbow or your knee.
3 a long stick with a hooked end used by shepherds
crooked
ADJECTIVE 1 bent or twisted
2 dishonest
crop crops, cropping, cropped
NOUN 1 plants such as wheat and potatoes that are grown for food
2 the plants collected at harvest time • They gather two crops of rice a year.
VERB 3 If you crop something such as your hair, you cut it very short.
cross crosses, crossing, crossed; crosser, crossest
VERB 1 If you cross something, such as a room or a road, you go to the other side of it.
2 Lines or roads that cross meet and go across each other.
3 If you cross your arms, legs or fingers, you put one on top of the other.
NOUN 4 a mark or a shape like + or ×
ADJECTIVE 5 Someone who is cross is rather angry.
cross out
VERB If you cross out words on a page, you draw a line through them.
cross-country
NOUN the sport of running across open countryside, rather than on roads or a track
crossing crossings
NOUN 1 a place where you can cross the road, a railway or a river
2 a journey by ship to a place across the sea
crossroads
NOUN a place where two roads meet and cross each other
cross-section cross-sections
NOUN 1 the flat part of something that you see when you cut straight through it to see inside • We looked at cross-sections of kiwi fruit and oranges.
2 a typical sample of people or things • We interviewed a cross-section of teenagers.
crossword crosswords
NOUN a word puzzle in which you work out answers to clues and write them in a grid
crouch crouches, crouching, crouched
VERB If you crouch, you lower your body with your knees bent.
crow crows, crowing, crowed
NOUN 1 a large black bird that makes a loud, harsh sound
VERB 2 When a cock crows, it makes a series of loud sounds, usually early in the morning.
crowbar crowbars
NOUN a heavy, iron bar used as a lever or for forcing things open
crowd crowds, crowding, crowded
NOUN 1 a large group of people gathered together
VERB 2 When people crowd around someone or something, they gather closely together around them.
crown crowns, crowning, crowned
NOUN 1 a circular ornament made of gold or jewels, which a king or queen wears on their head
VERB 2 When a king or queen is crowned, a crown is put on their head and they are officially made king or queen.
crucial
ADJECTIVE Something that is crucial is very important.
crucify crucifies, crucifying, crucified
VERB When a person is crucified they are tied or nailed to a cross and left there to die.
crucifixion NOUN
crude cruder, crudest
ADJECTIVE 1 rough and simple • a crude shelter made of old boxes
2 rude and vulgar
cruel crueller, cruellest
ADJECTIVE Cruel people deliberately cause pain or distress to other people or to animals.
SYNONYMS: brutal, unkind
cruelly ADVERB cruelty NOUN
cruise cruises, cruising, cruised
NOUN 1 a holiday in which you travel on a ship and visit places
VERB 2 When a vehicle cruises, it moves at a constant, moderate speed.
crumb crumbs
NOUN a very small piece of bread or cake
crumble crumbles, crumbling, crumbled
VERB When something crumbles, or when you crumble it, it breaks into small pieces.
crumple crumples, crumpling, crumpled
VERB If you crumple paper or cloth, you squash it so that it is full of creases and folds.
crunch crunches, crunching, crunched
VERB If you crunch something, you crush it noisily, for example between your teeth or under your feet.
crusade crusades
NOUN 1 In the Middle Ages, the Crusades were a number of expeditions to Palestine by Christians who were attempting to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.
2 a long and determined attempt to achieve something
[from Spanish cruzar meaning to take up the cross]
crusader NOUN
crush crushes, crushing, crushed
VERB 1 If you crush something, you squeeze it hard until its shape is destroyed. • He crushed the empty can.
2 If you crush against someone or something, you press hard against them. • We crushed against each other in the crowded bus.
crust crusts
NOUN 1 the hard outside part of a loaf
2 a hard layer on top of something • the earth’s crust
crustacean crustaceans
Said “krus-tay-shun” NOUN an animal with a hard outer shell and several pairs of legs, which usually lives in water • Crabs, lobsters and shrimps are crustaceans.
crutch crutches
NOUN a support like a long stick that you lean on if you have injured your leg or foot • I was on crutches while my ankle healed.
cry cries, crying, cried
VERB 1 When you cry, tears come from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt.
2 If you cry something, you shout it or say it loudly.
NOUN 3 a shout or other loud sound made with your voice
crypt crypts
NOUN an underground room beneath a church, usually used as a burial place
crystal crystals
NOUN 1 a piece of a mineral that has formed naturally into a regular shape
2 a type of transparent rock, used in jewellery
3 a type of very high quality glass
crystalline ADJECTIVE
cub cubs
NOUN 1 the young of some wild animals • a fox cub • a lion cub
2 The Cubs is an organization for young boys before they join the Scouts.
cube cubes
NOUN a solid shape with six square faces that are all the same size
cubic
ADJECTIVE 1 shaped like a cube
2 used to describe volume when you measure height, width and depth • a cubic metre
cubicle cubicles
NOUN a small enclosed area in a place such as a sports centre or a shop, where you can dress and undress
cuboid cuboids
NOUN a rectangular, three-dimensional box shape. A cuboid has six faces, all of which are rectangles.
cuckoo cuckoos
NOUN a grey bird with a two-note call. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.
cucumber cucumbers
NOUN a long, thin, green vegetable that is eaten raw
cud
NOUN food that has been chewed and digested more than once by cows, sheep or other animals that have more than one stomach
cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled
VERB 1 If you cuddle someone, you hold them closely in your arms as a way of showing your affection.
NOUN 2 If you give someone a cuddle, you cuddle them.
cuddly ADJECTIVE
cuff cuffs
NOUN the end part of a sleeve, especially a shirt sleeve
cul-de-sac cul-de-sacs
NOUN a road that does not lead to any other roads because one end is blocked off
[from French cul + de + sac meaning bottom of the bag]
culprit culprits
NOUN someone who has done something harmful or wrong
cult cults
NOUN 1 a small religious group, especially one that is considered strange
ADJECTIVE 2 very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people • It became a cult film.
cultivate cultivates, cultivating, cultivated
VERB When someone cultivates land, they grow crops on it.
cultivation NOUN
culture cultures
NOUN the ideas, customs and art of a particular society
cunning
ADJECTIVE A cunning person or plan achieves things in a clever way, often by deceiving people.
SYNONYMS: crafty, sly, wily
cup cups, cupping, cupped
NOUN 1 a small, round container with a handle, which you drink from
2 a large metal container with two handles, which is given as a prize
VERB 3 If you cup your hands, you put them together to make a shape like a cup.
cupboard cupboards
NOUN 1 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves
2 a very small room for storing things in • The broom is in the cupboard under the stairs.
curator curators
NOUN the person in a museum or art gallery in charge of its contents
curb curbs, curbing, curbed
VERB If you curb something, you keep it within limits. • You must curb your spending on comics.
curdle curdles, curdling, curdled
VERB When milk curdles, it turns sour.
cure cures, curing, cured
VERB 1 If a doctor cures someone of an illness, they help them get better.
NOUN 2 something that heals or helps someone to get better
VERB 3 If someone cures meat or fish, they smoke it to give it flavour and preserve it.
curfew curfews
NOUN a rule or a law stating that people must stay indoors between particular times at night
curiosity curiosities
NOUN 1 the desire to know something or about many things
2 something unusual and interesting
curious
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.
SYNONYMS: inquisitive, nosy
2 Something that is curious is unusual or difficult to understand.
SYNONYMS: strange, peculiar
curl curls, curling, curled
NOUN 1 Curls are lengths of hair shaped in tight curves and circles.
2 a curved or spiral shape • A curl of smoke rose from the chimney.
VERB 3 If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral. • Smoke curled up the chimney.
curly ADJECTIVE
currant currants
NOUN a small, dried grape. Currants are often used in cakes and puddings.
currency currencies
NOUN A country’s currency is its coins and banknotes.
current currents
NOUN 1 a steady continuous flowing movement of water or air
NOUN 2 An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.
ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is current is happening now. • current fashion trends
curriculum curriculums or curricula
NOUN the different courses taught at a school or university
curry curries
NOUN an Indian dish made with hot spices
curse curses, cursing, cursed
NOUN 1 an evil spell • She said the old house had a curse on it.
VERB 2 If you curse, you swear because you are angry.
cursor cursors
NOUN a sign on a computer monitor that shows where the next letter or symbol is
curtain curtains
NOUN a hanging piece of material that can be pulled across a window
curtsy curtsies, curtsying, curtsied
NOUN 1 a little bobbing bow to show respect • I made a little curtsy to the Queen.
VERB 2 the action of making a curtsy
curve curves, curving, curved
NOUN 1 a smooth, gradually bending line
VERB 2 When something curves, it moves in a curve or has the shape of a curve. • The lane curved to the right.
curved ADJECTIVE
cushion cushions, cushioning, cushioned
NOUN 1 a soft object that you put on a seat to make it more comfortable
VERB 2 When something cushions something else, it reduces its effect. • The pile of leaves cushioned his fall.
custard
NOUN a sweet, yellow sauce made from milk and eggs
custody
NOUN 1 If someone has custody of a child, they have the legal right to keep it and look after it.
PHRASE 2 Someone who is in custody is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court.
[from Latin custos meaning a guard]
custodial ADJECTIVE
custom customs
NOUN something that people usually do • the custom of decorating the house for Christmas
customary
ADJECTIVE usual
customer customers
NOUN a person who buys things from a shop or firm
customs
NOUN the place at a border, airport or harbour where you declare any goods that you are bringing into the country
cut cuts, cutting, cut
VERB 1 If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.
2 If you cut yourself, you injure yourself with a sharp object.
NOUN 3 a mark made with a knife or a sharp tool
4 a reduction in something • There were lots of price cuts during the sales.
cutlery
NOUN knives, forks and spoons
cycle cycles, cycling, cycled
NOUN 1 a bicycle
2 a series of events that is repeated again and again • the cycle of the seasons
VERB 3 When you cycle, you ride a bicycle.
cyclist NOUN
cyclone cyclones
NOUN a violent wind that blows in a spiral like a corkscrew
cygnet cygnets
NOUN a young swan
cylinder cylinders
NOUN 1 a hollow or solid shape with straight sides and equal circular faces
See prism (#litres_trial_promo)
2 the part of an engine that the piston moves in
cylindrical ADJECTIVE
cymbal cymbals
NOUN a circular brass plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals are clashed together or hit with a stick.
See percussion (#litres_trial_promo)
Dd (#ulink_9c8b265e-f2f6-5150-8ee8-baf32dc2906a)
dabble dabbles, dabbling, dabbled
VERB If you dabble in something, you work or play at it without being seriously involved in it.
dad or daddy dads or daddies
NOUN INFORMAL Your dad or your daddy is your father.
daffodil daffodils
NOUN a plant with yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that blooms in spring
daft dafter, daftest
ADJECTIVE silly and not very sensible
dagger daggers
NOUN a weapon like a short knife
daily
ADJECTIVE occurring every day
dainty daintier, daintiest
ADJECTIVE very delicate and pretty
dairy dairies
NOUN 1 a shop or company that supplies milk and milk products
2 In New Zealand, a dairy is a small shop selling groceries.
ADJECTIVE 3 Dairy products are foods made from milk, such as butter, cheese, cream and yogurt.
daisy daisies
NOUN a small, wild flower with a yellow centre and small, white petals
[from Old English deagesege meaning day’s eye, because the daisy opens in the daytime and closes at night]
Dalmatian Dalmatians
NOUN a large, smooth-haired white dog with black or brown spots
dam dams
NOUN a barrier built across a river to hold back water
damage damages, damaging, damaged
VERB If you damage something, you harm or spoil it.
damp damper, dampest
ADJECTIVE slightly wet
dampness NOUN
damson damsons
NOUN 1 a small, blue-black plum
2 the tree that damsons grow on
dance dances, dancing, danced
VERB 1 When you dance, you move around in time to music.
NOUN 2 a series of rhythmic movements that you do in time to music
3 a social event where people dance with each other
dandelion dandelions
NOUN a wild plant with yellow flowers that form a ball of fluffy seeds
[from Old French dent de lion meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the shape of the leaves]
dandruff
NOUN small, loose scales of dead skin in someone’s hair
danger dangers
NOUN the possibility that someone may be harmed or killed
SYNONYMS: peril, risk
dangerous
ADJECTIVE If something is dangerous, it is likely to cause hurt or harm. • It is dangerous to walk close to the edge of the cliff.
SYNONYMS: unsafe, hazardous
dangerously ADVERB
dangle dangles, dangling, dangled
VERB When something dangles, or when you dangle it, it swings or hangs loosely. • We sat by the pool and dangled our legs in the water.
dappled
ADJECTIVE marked with patches of a different or darker shade • The lawn was dappled with the shadows of the leafy trees.
dare dares, daring, dared
VERB 1 If you dare to do something, you have the courage to do it.
2 If you dare someone to do something, you challenge them to do it. • I dare you to ask him his name.
[from Old English durran meaning to venture or to be bold]
daredevil daredevils
NOUN a person who enjoys doing dangerous things
daring
ADJECTIVE 1 bold and willing to take risks
NOUN 2 the courage required to do things that are dangerous
daringly ADVERB
dark darker, darkest
ADJECTIVE 1 If it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly.
2 Dark colours have a lot of black, grey or brown tones in them.
dark NOUN
darken darkens, darkening, darkened
VERB If something darkens, it becomes darker than it was before. • The sky darkened as the storm approached.
darkness
NOUN being dark
darling darlings
NOUN You call someone darling if you love them or like them very much.
darn darns, darning, darned
VERB 1 When you darn a hole in a garment, you mend it with crossing stitches.
NOUN 2 A darn is the part of a garment that has been darned.
dart darts, darting, darted
NOUN 1 a small, pointed arrow
2 Darts is a game in which the players throw darts at a round board divided into numbered sections.
VERB 3 If you dart somewhere, you move there quickly and suddenly.
dash dashes, dashing, dashed
VERB 1 If you dash somewhere, you rush there.
NOUN 2 the punctuation mark (–) which may be used instead of brackets
dashboard dashboards
NOUN the instrument panel in a car
data
NOUN information, usually in the form of facts or statistics
Data is really a plural word, but is usually used as a singular word: Customer data is stored here.
database databases
NOUN a collection of information stored in a computer
date dates
NOUN 1 a particular day or year that can be named • What is your date of birth?
2 If you have a date, you have an appointment to meet someone.
3 a small, brown, sticky fruit with a stone inside. Dates grow on palm trees.
daughter daughters
NOUN Someone’s daughter is their female child.
dawdle dawdles, dawdling, dawdled
VERB If you dawdle, you are slow about doing something or going somewhere. • Don’t dawdle, we have to be there in ten minutes.
dawn dawns
NOUN the time in the morning when light first appears in the sky
day days
NOUN 1 the time taken between one midnight and the next. There are 24 hours in one day.
2 the period of light between sunrise and sunset
daydream daydreams, daydreaming, daydreamed
NOUN 1 pleasant thoughts about things that you would like to happen
VERB 2 When you daydream, you drift off into a daydream.
daylight
NOUN the part of the day when it is light
daytime
NOUN the part of the day when it is light
daze
PHRASE If you are in a daze, you are confused and bewildered.
dazzle dazzles, dazzling, dazzled
VERB If a bright light dazzles you, it blinds you for a moment.
dazzling ADJECTIVE
de-
PREFIX added to some words to mean removal or reversal of something • She debugged the computer program. • We had to defrost the windscreen before leaving.
dead
ADJECTIVE 1 no longer living
2 no longer functioning • The phone went dead.
ADVERB 3 precisely or exactly • We arrived dead on eight o’clock.
deadly deadlier, deadliest
ADJECTIVE 1 likely or able to cause death • a deadly disease
ADVERB OR ADJECTIVE 2 used to emphasize how serious or unpleasant something is • deadly dangerous • deadly serious
deaf deafer, deafest
ADJECTIVE Deaf people are unable to hear anything or unable to hear well.
deafening
ADJECTIVE A deafening sound is so loud that you cannot hear anything else.
deal deals, dealing, dealt
NOUN 1 an agreement or arrangement, especially in business
VERB 2 If you deal with something, you do what is necessary to sort it out.
3 When you deal cards, you give them out to the players.
PHRASE 4 A good deal or a great deal of something is a lot of it.
dear dearer, dearest
NOUN 1 You call someone dear as a sign of affection.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is dear is very expensive.
3 You use dear at the beginning of a letter, with the name of the person you are writing to. • Dear Sunita.
death deaths
NOUN the end of the life of a human being or other animal or plant
debate debates, debating, debated
NOUN 1 argument or discussion
2 a formal discussion in which opposing views are expressed
VERB 3 When people debate something, they discuss it in a formal way.
debit card debit cards
NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods using the money in their bank account
debris
NOUN fragments or rubble left after something has been destroyed • After the eruption, volcanic debris was found scattered for miles.
debt debts
NOUN a sum of money that someone owes
debut debuts
NOUN a performer’s first public appearance
decade decades
NOUN a period of ten years
decaffeinated
ADJECTIVE Decaffeinated coffee or tea has had most of the caffeine removed.
decathlon decathlons
NOUN an athletic competition in which competitors take part in ten different events
decay decays, decaying, decayed
VERB When things decay, they rot or go bad.
deceased
ADJECTIVE FORMAL A deceased person is someone who has recently died.
deceit
NOUN behaviour that makes people believe something to be true that is not true
deceive deceives, deceiving, deceived
VERB If you deceive someone, you make them believe something that is not true.
December
NOUN the twelfth month of the year. December has 31 days.
decent
ADJECTIVE honest and respectable
deception deceptions
NOUN 1 something that is intended to trick or deceive someone
2 the act of deceiving someone
deceptive
ADJECTIVE likely to make people believe that something is true when it is not
decide decides, deciding, decided
VERB If you decide to do something, you choose to do it, usually after thinking about it carefully.
SYNONYM: make up one’s mind
decision NOUN
deciduous
ADJECTIVE Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the autumn every year.
decimal decimals
ADJECTIVE 1 A decimal system involves counting in units of ten.
NOUN 2 A decimal, or decimal fraction, is a fraction in which a dot, called a decimal point, separates the whole numbers on the left from tenths, hundredths and thousandths on the right. For example, 0.5 represents 5⁄10 (or ½); 0.05 represents 5⁄100 (or 1⁄20).
decision decisions
NOUN a choice or judgement that is made about something
decisive
ADJECTIVE 1 A decisive person is able to make decisions quickly.
2 having an important influence on the result of something • The first goal was a decisive moment in the match.
deck decks
NOUN a downstairs or upstairs area on a bus or ship
declare declares, declaring, declared
VERB 1 If you declare something, you say it firmly and forcefully.
SYNONYMS: announce, proclaim, state
2 FORMAL If something is declared, it is announced publicly. • War was declared in 1939.
decline declines, declining, declipned
VERB 1 If something declines, it becomes smaller or weaker. • The number of students has declined this year.
2 If you decline something, you politely refuse to accept it or do it.
decode decodes, decoding, decoded
VERB If you decode a coded message, you convert it into ordinary language.
decompose decomposes, decomposing, decomposed
VERB If something decomposes, it rots after it dies.
decorate decorates, decorating, decorated
VERB 1 If you decorate something, you make it more attractive by adding things to it.
2 If you decorate a room or building, you paint or wallpaper it.
decoy decoys
NOUN something used to lead a person or animal into a trap
decrease decreases, decreasing, decreased
VERB If something decreases, or if you decrease it, it becomes less. • The number of children in the class decreased rapidly.
decree decrees, decreeing, decreed
NOUN 1 an official order by the government, church or the rulers of a country
VERB 2 If someone decrees something, they announce formally that it will happen.
dedicate dedicates, dedicating, dedicated
VERB 1 If you dedicate yourself to something, you give your time and energy to it.
2 If you dedicate a book or piece of music to someone, you say that it is written for them.
deduct deducts, deducting, deducted
VERB If you deduct an amount from a total, you take it away.
deed deeds
NOUN 1 something that is done • a good deed
2 an important piece of paper or document that an agreement is written on
deep deeper, deepest
ADJECTIVE 1 going a long way down from the surface • a deep hole
2 great or intense • deep affection
3 a low sound • a deep voice
deer
NOUN a large, fast-running, graceful mammal with hooves, that lives wild in parts of Britain and other countries. Male deer have antlers.
deface defaces, defacing, defaced
VERB If you deface something, you damage its appearance in some way. • The gang defaced the walls with spray paint.
defeat defeats, defeating, defeated
VERB 1 If you defeat someone or something, you win a victory over them, or cause them to fail.
NOUN 2 the state of being beaten or of failing • The team was downhearted after its defeat.
defect defects, defecting, defected
NOUN 1 a fault or flaw in something
VERB 2 If someone defects, they leave their own country or organization and join an opposing one.
defection NOUN defector NOUN
defective
ADJECTIVE Something that is defective is not perfect or has something wrong with it.
defence defences
NOUN 1 something that protects you against attack • She carried an alarm as a defence against muggers.
2 A country’s defences are its armed forces and its weapons.
defend defends, defending, defended
VERB 1 If you defend someone or something, you protect them from harm or danger.
2 If you defend a person or their ideas, you argue in support of them.
defendant defendants
NOUN a person in a court of law who is accused of a crime
defer defers, deferring, deferred
VERB If you defer something, you put off doing it until later.
defiant
ADJECTIVE If you are defiant, you behave in a way that shows you are not willing to obey someone.
defiance NOUN defiantly ADVERB
deficient
ADJECTIVE lacking in something
deficiency NOUN
define defines, defining, defined
VERB If you define something, you say what it is or what it means.
definite
ADJECTIVE 1 clear and unlikely to be changed • We must arrange a definite date for the party.
2 true rather than being someone’s guess or opinion
There is no a in definite.
definitely
ADVERB OR EXCLAMATION certainly; without doubt • I am definitely going on holiday next week.
definition definitions
NOUN a statement explaining the meaning of a word or an idea
deflate deflates, deflating, deflated
VERB If you deflate something, such as a tyre or balloon, you let all the air or gas out of it.
ANTONYMS: inflate, blow up
deforestation
NOUN the cutting down or the destruction of all the trees in an area
deformed
ADJECTIVE disfigured or abnormally shaped
defrost defrosts, defrosting, defrosted
VERB 1 If you defrost frozen food, you let it thaw out.
2 If you defrost a freezer or refrigerator, you remove the ice from it.
defuse defuses, defusing, defused
VERB 1 If someone defuses a bomb, they remove its fuse or detonator so that it cannot explode.
2 If you defuse a dangerous or tense situation, you make it less dangerous or tense.
defy defies, defying, defied
VERB If you defy a person or a law, you openly refuse to obey.
degree degrees
NOUN 1 a unit of measurement for temperatures, angles, and longitude and latitude, written as ° after a number • The temperature was 20 °C. • A right angle is a ninety-degree angle.
2 an amount of a feeling or quality • As captain you have a high degree of responsibility.
3 a university qualification gained after completing a course of study there
dehydrated
ADJECTIVE If someone is dehydrated, they are weak or ill because they have lost too much water from their body.
deity deities
NOUN a god or goddess
dejected
ADJECTIVE If you are dejected, you are sad and gloomy.
dejection NOUN
delay delays, delaying, delayed
VERB 1 If you delay doing something, you put it off until later.
SYNONYM: postpone
2 If something delays you, it makes you late or slows you down.
NOUN 3 If there is a delay, something does not happen until later than planned or expected.
delete deletes, deleting, deleted
VERB If you delete something written, you cross it out or remove it.
deliberate
ADJECTIVE 1 done on purpose or planned in advance
2 slow and careful in speech and action • deliberate movements
deliberately ADVERB
delicate
ADJECTIVE 1 light and attractive • a delicate perfume
2 fragile and needing to be handled carefully • a delicate china cup
3 precise or sensitive • delicate instruments
delicately ADVERB
delicatessen delicatessens
NOUN a shop selling unusual or imported foods
delicious
ADJECTIVE Delicious food or drink has an extremely pleasant taste.
SYNONYMS: delectable, scrumptious
delight delights, delighting, delighted
NOUN 1 great pleasure or joy
VERB 2 If something delights you, or if you are delighted by it, it gives you a lot of pleasure.
delighted ADJECTIVE
delinquent delinquents
NOUN a young person who commits minor crimes
delinquency NOUN
delirious
ADJECTIVE 1 unable to speak or act in a rational way because of illness or fever
2 wildly excited and happy
deliriously ADVERB
deliver delivers, delivering, delivered
VERB 1 If you deliver something to someone, you take it and give it to them.
2 If someone delivers a baby, they help the woman who is giving birth.
delta deltas
NOUN a triangular piece of land at the mouth of a river where it divides into separate streams
deluge deluges
NOUN a sudden, heavy downpour of rain
demand demands, demanding, demanded
VERB 1 If you demand something, you ask for it forcefully.
NOUN 2 If there is demand for something, a lot of people want to buy it or have it.
democracy democracies
NOUN a system of government in which the people choose their leaders by voting for them in elections
democratic ADJECTIVE
demolish demolishes, demolishing, demolished
VERB If someone demolishes a building, they knock it down.
demolition NOUN
demon demons
NOUN a devil or an evil spirit
demonstrate demonstrates, demonstrating, demonstrated
VERB 1 If you demonstrate something to somebody, you show them how to do it or how it works.
2 If people demonstrate, they march or gather together to show that they oppose or support something.
demonstration demonstrations
NOUN 1 If someone gives a demonstration, they show how to do something or how something works.
2 a march or a gathering of people to show publicly what they think about something
den dens
NOUN 1 a home or hiding place of a wild animal
2 a special place where you can do what you want without being disturbed
denial denials
NOUN 1 A denial of something is a statement that it is untrue.
2 The denial of a request is the refusal to grant it.
denim denims
NOUN strong, cotton cloth used for making clothes, especially jeans
[from French serge de Nîmes, meaning serge (a type of cloth) from Nîmes]
denominator denominators
NOUN In mathematics, the denominator is the bottom number of a fraction.
dense denser, densest
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is dense contains a lot of things or people in a small area. • We cut our way through the dense forest.
2 difficult to see through • The dense fog prevented us from enjoying the view over the hills.
densely ADVERB
density densities
NOUN 1 thickness
2 the proportion of mass to volume
dent dents, denting, dented
VERB 1 If you dent something, you damage its surface by hitting it.
NOUN 2 a hollow in the surface of something
dental
ADJECTIVE to do with teeth
dentist dentists
NOUN a person who is qualified to treat people’s teeth
dentures
PLURAL NOUN false teeth
deny denies, denying, denied
VERB 1 If you deny something, you say that it is not true.
2 If you are denied something, you are refused it.
deodorant deodorants
NOUN a substance used to hide or prevent the smell of sweat on your body
depart departs, departing, departed
VERB When you depart, you leave.
departure NOUN
department departments
NOUN one of the sections into which a large shop or an organization is divided
department store department stores
NOUN a very large shop divided into departments, each selling different types of goods
depend depends, depending, depended
VERB 1 If one thing depends on another, it is influenced by it. • The cooking time depends on the size of the potato.
2 If you depend on someone or something, you trust them and rely on them.
dependable
ADJECTIVE If someone is dependable, you can trust them to be helpful, sensible and reliable.
depict depicts, depicting, depicted
VERB If you depict someone or something, you paint, draw or describe them.
deport deports, deporting, deported
VERB If someone is deported from a country they are sent out of it, either because they have no right to be there, because they have done something wrong or because they did not ask permission to be there.
deposit deposits, depositing, deposited
VERB 1 If you deposit something, you put it down or leave it somewhere.
NOUN 2 a sum of money given in part payment for goods or services
depot depots
NOUN 1 a place where supplies of food or equipment are stored until they are needed
2 A bus depot is a bus station.
depressed
ADJECTIVE sad and gloomy
depression depressions
NOUN 1 a state of mind in which someone feels unhappy and has no energy or enthusiasm for anything
2 a hollow in the ground or on any other surface
3 a time when there is a lot of unemployment and poverty
deprive deprives, depriving, deprived
VERB If you deprive someone of something, you take it away from them or prevent them from having it.
depth depths
NOUN 1 the measurement or distance between the top and bottom of something, or the back and front of something • The depth of the swimming pool at the deep end is 1.5 m.
PHRASE 2 In depth means thoroughly. • We studied the poem in depth.
deputy deputies
NOUN a person who helps someone in their job and acts on their behalf when they are away
derail derails, derailed, derailing
VERB If a train is derailed, it comes off the railway tracks.
derivation derivations
NOUN The derivation of something is where it has come from.
derive derives, deriving, derived
VERB 1 FORMAL If you derive something from someone or something, you get it from them. • He derives great pleasure from music.
2 If something is derived from something else, it comes from that thing. • His name is derived from a Greek word.
descant descants
NOUN 1 The descant to a tune is another tune played at the same time but at a higher pitch.
ADJECTIVE 2 A descant musical instrument plays the highest notes in a range of instruments. • a descant recorder
descend descends, descending, descended
VERB If someone or something descends, they move downwards. • We descended to the basement in the lift.
ANTONYM: ascend
descendant descendants
NOUN A person’s descendants are all the people in later generations who are related to them.
describe describes, describing, described
VERB If you describe someone or something, you say what they are like.
desert deserts, deserting, deserted
Said “dez-ert” NOUN 1 an area of land, usually in a hot region, that has almost no water, rain, trees or plants • the Sahara Desert
Said “de-zert” VERB 2 If someone deserts you, they leave you and no longer help or support you.
deserted
ADJECTIVE A deserted building or place is one that people have left and never come back to.
deserve deserves, deserving, deserved
VERB If you deserve something, you earn it or have a right to it.
design designs, designing, designed
VERB 1 If you design something new, you plan what it should be like.
NOUN 2 a drawing from which something can be built or made
3 a decorative pattern of lines or shapes
desire desires, desiring, desired
VERB 1 If you desire something, you want it.
NOUN 2 a strong feeling of wanting something
SYNONYMS: longing, want, wish
desk desks
NOUN a piece of furniture with a flat or sloping top, which you sit at to write, read or work
desktop
ADJECTIVE small enough to be used at a desk • a desktop computer
desolate
ADJECTIVE 1 deserted and bleak • a desolate mountain top
2 lonely, very sad, and without hope
desolation NOUN
despair despairs, despairing, despaired
NOUN 1 a total loss of hope
VERB 2 If you despair, you lose hope.
desperate
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are desperate, you are in such a bad situation that you will try anything to change it.
2 A desperate situation is extremely dangerous or serious.
despicable
ADJECTIVE Something that is despicable is nasty, cruel or evil.
despise despises, despising, despised
VERB If you despise someone or something, you have a very low opinion of them.
despite
PREPOSITION If you do something despite some difficulty, you manage to do it anyway.
dessert desserts
NOUN a sweet food that you eat at the end of a meal
destination destinations
NOUN the place you are going to
destined
ADJECTIVE meant to happen • They were destined to meet.
destiny destinies
NOUN Your destiny is your fate: the things that will happen to you in the future.
destitute
ADJECTIVE without money or possessions, and therefore in great need
destitution NOUN
destroy destroys, destroying, destroyed
VERB If you destroy something, you damage it so much that it is completely ruined.
SYNONYMS: demolish, ruin, wreck
destruction NOUN
destructive
ADJECTIVE Something that is destructive can cause great damage, harm or injury.
SYNONYM: damaging
detach detaches, detaching, detached
VERB If you detach something, you remove or unfasten it.
detachable ADJECTIVE
detached
ADJECTIVE separate or standing apart • It was a detached house, standing alone at the top of the hill.
detail details
NOUN 1 an individual fact or feature of something • I remember every detail of that film.
PLURAL NOUN 2 Details about something are information about it. For example, your details might be your name and address.
detain detains, detaining, detained
VERB If you detain someone, you keep them from going somewhere or doing something.
detect detects, detecting, detected
VERB If you detect something, you notice or find it. • X-rays can detect broken bones.
detective detectives
NOUN a person, usually a police officer, whose job is to investigate crimes
detector detectors
NOUN an instrument used to detect the presence of something • a metal detector
detention
NOUN 1 a form of punishment in which a pupil is made to stay in school for extra time when other children do not have to
2 arrest or imprisonment
deter deters, deterring, deterred
VERB If you deter someone from doing something, you persuade them not to do it or try to stop them in some way.
detergent detergents
NOUN a chemical substance used for washing or cleaning things
deteriorate deteriorates, deteriorating, deteriorated
VERB If something deteriorates, it gets worse.
deterioration NOUN
determination
NOUN a great strength and will to do something
determined
ADJECTIVE having your mind firmly made up • She was determined to pass her exams.
deterrent deterrents
NOUN something that prevents people from doing something, usually by making them afraid to do it • We have a car alarm as a deterrent to car thieves.
detest detests, detesting, detested
VERB If you detest someone or something, you dislike them intensely.
[from Latin detestari meaning to curse]
detestable ADJECTIVE
detonate detonates, detonating, detonated
VERB If someone detonates a bomb or mine, they cause it to explode.
detonation NOUN detonator NOUN
detour detours
NOUN If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a longer or less direct route.
devastate devastates, devastating, devastated
VERB A place that has been devastated has been severely damaged or destroyed.
devastation NOUN
develop develops, developing, developed
VERB 1 When something develops, it grows or becomes more advanced.
2 If you develop photographs or film, you produce a visible image from them.
development developments
NOUN gradual growth or progress • There have been great developments in technology over the past fifty years.
device devices
NOUN a machine or tool that is used for a particular purpose
devil devils
NOUN an evil spirit
devious
ADJECTIVE Devious people behave in an underhand, nasty and secretive way.
devise devises, devising, devised
VERB If you devise something, you invent it or design it.
devoted
ADJECTIVE very loving and loyal
devour devours, devouring, devoured
VERB 1 If you devour food, you eat it quickly and greedily.
2 If one creature devours another, it eats it.
3 If you devour a book, you read it very quickly.
devout
ADJECTIVE very deeply religious
dew
NOUN drops of moisture that form on the ground and other cool surfaces at night
diabetes
NOUN a condition in which a person has too much sugar in their blood
diabetic NOUN OR ADJECTIVE
diagnose diagnoses, diagnosing, diagnosed
VERB If someone diagnoses an illness or problem, they identify what is wrong.
diagonal diagonals
NOUN 1 a straight line that slopes from one corner of a shape to another
ADJECTIVE 2 in a slanting direction • a diagonal line
[from Greek diagonios meaning from angle to angle]
diagram diagrams
NOUN a drawing that shows or explains something • Carroll or Venn diagram
dial dials, dialling, dialled
NOUN 1 the part of a clock or meter where the time or a measurement is shown
VERB 2 If you dial a telephone number, you press the buttons to select the number you want.
dialect dialects
NOUN the form of a language spoken in a particular area
dialogue dialogues
NOUN In a novel, play or film, dialogue is conversation.
diameter diameters
NOUN the length of a straight line drawn across a circle through its centre
diamond diamonds
NOUN 1 a precious stone made of pure carbon
2 a shape with four straight sides of equal length that are not at right angles to each other
See rhombus (#litres_trial_promo)
diarrhoea
NOUN an illness that attacks your bowels so that you can’t stop going to the lavatory
diary diaries
NOUN a notebook with a separate space or page for each day of the year
dice dices, dicing, diced
NOUN 1 a small cube with dots on each of its six faces
VERB 2 If you dice food, you cut it into small cubes.
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- Жанр: Детская познавательная и развивающая литература, Детская проза, Другие словари, Справочная литература
- Язык: Книги на английском языке
- Объём: 1080 стр. 509 иллюстраций
- ISBN: 9780007583652
- Дата выхода книги: 16 мая 2019
- Версия: 📚 Электронная книга
Optimised for colour tablets. The images in this e-book are not suitable for viewing on black and white e-ink devices.For children aged 8 and over, this dictionary contains full sentence definitions, examples, synonyms and parts of speech, as well as spelling and grammar tips, word histories, colourful pictures, and two informative supplements.Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary has been especially designed to support the language and literacy needs of children aged 8-10.Written in a clear, straightforward style, it places words within a context familiar to the student.It extends and reinforces key dictionary skills by showing parts of speech (for example, whether a word is a noun or verb) and other forms of a word (for example plural forms as well as adjectival forms).Numbered definitions show multiple uses. Pronunciation help is given for difficult or easily confusable words. Synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposite words) are given to build vocabulary, and spelling and grammar tips help children to use words with confidence.The clear layout ensures that the dictionary is an easy-to-use reference tool. Colour illustrations and photographs add extra meaning and information.The Word Wizard contains information on parts of speech, prefixes, suffixes and punctuation, plus help to improve spelling and writing. It also has information on shapes, numbers, fractions and angles, along with pictures.The Earth and Space is a fact-filled section where children can learn about the planets, the continents, the world’s mountains, rivers, and oceans, and the flags of some nations of the world.
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