a~article~'A' is called the indefinite article. It is used to show that the noun it is describing is not a specific thing~A dog crossed my path. (It could be any dog)~'A' becomes 'an' when the word it is used before begins with a vowel sound (A, E, I, O, U)
a.m.~abbreviation~a.m. is short for 'ante meridiem' and refers to the time between midnight and midday~I get up at 8 a.m. every day.~
abandon~verb~Leave something that belongs to you without intending to come back for it~He could abandon the car in a field.~
abbey~noun~A church area where nuns or monks live~They prayed in the abbey.~
abbreviation~noun~A shortened form of a word~The abbreviation of kilometre is km.~
ability~noun~The skill or talent used to do something~She has the ability to become a great artist.~
able~adjective~When you are able to do something it means that you can do it with relative ease~Some people are able to speak three languages while others are able to speak only one.~
aboard~adverb~On something that moves, e.g. ship, train~Hundreds of people climbed aboard the Titanic.~'Aboard' can also be used as a preposition, e.g. Many people were aboard the Titanic
abortion~noun~The ending of a pregnancy in its early stage~She decided to have an abortion.~
about~preposition~Used to describe the content of something~The story was about a duck.~
about~adverb~Close to doing something~I was about to wash the windows.~
about~adverb~In many different directions~The birds flew about the sky.~
about~adverb~Gives an estimated number or amount~There are about forty people in the room.~
above~adverb~In a higher place~Put the cups in the cupboard above.~
above~adverb~More than~You will pass the exam if you get a score of 10 or above.~'Above' is also a preposition although it always shows place or position, e.g. Put the cups in the cupboard above your head
abroad~adverb~In a country that is not your home~He's abroad visiting friends.~
absence~noun~The act of not being where you should be or would usually be~His absence from school was noticed by his teachers.~
absent~adjective~Not in the place you should be~She was absent from work because she had a cold.~
absolute~adjective~Complete and entire~He told her the absolute truth as he had no reason to lie.~
absolutely~adverb~Completely~That is absolutely correct!~
absorb~verb~When something absorbs something, it takes it into itself~He absorbed the information; The cloth absorbed the spilt drink.~
abstract~adjective~Something is abstract when it exists in thought but not necessarily in reality~She couldn't be bothered with abstract ideas.~
absurd~adjective~Silly and illogical~The idea that zebras can fly is absurd.~
abuse~verb~Use something in a way it was not intended to be used~He abused the rights we gave him so we took them back.~
abuse~verb~Treat something or someone in a bad way~The young boy had been abused by his mother from an early age.~
abuse~noun~Nasty comments directed at a person~He shouted abuse at the spectators.~
abuse~noun~When something is treated cruelly it is a form of abuse~He was charged with animal abuse.~
abuse~verb~Say offensive things to someone~Many people sent letters abusing the journalist for her article.~
abuse~noun~The use of something that will result in harm to the user~She was treated for alcohol abuse.~The verb and the noun are pronounced differently
academic~adjective~To do with schools, universities or colleges~The new academic year begins in September.~'Academic' is also a noun that describes a person who works in one of the places mentioned, e.g. The professor is an academic
accelerator~noun~The foot pedal in a vehicle that allows it to go faster~He put his foot to the accelerator and the car sped like the wind.~
accent~noun~The way that people from different places pronounce their words~He had a German accent.~
accent~noun~A mark placed on some letters in some languages that shows how the letter should be pronounced~Many French names have an accent on the 'e'.~
accept~verb~Give in to something that you don't like, because you know it cannot be changed~She finally accepted that she was not going on holiday this year.~
accept~verb~Say yes to an invitation~I accepted the gift of a car from my parents.~
accept~verb~When a group allows you to join it, you have been accepted~He was accepted by the boys at his new school.~
accept~verb~Believe that something is true~His mother accepted the story he told her.~
acceptable~adjective~Allowed by most people in societies~Years ago it was not acceptable for women to wear trousers. Today it is acceptable.~
access~noun~Being allowed to go into a place or to use something~You can gain access to the building on the ground floor.~
accident~noun~An event happening by mistake and causing injury or death~Many terrible accidents occur in the home every year.~
accident~noun~When something happens by accident it happens unexpectedly~He dropped the cup by accident.~
accidental~adjective~Happening without planning~The plane crash was accidental~
accommodation~noun~A place where a person can live, work or stay in for a time~The hotel accommodation was brilliant. I would go back there.~American English uses the form 'Accommodations'
accompany~verb~When two things happen at the same time, they accompany each other~The rain accompanied the sunshine.~
accompany~verb~If you accompany someone or something, you go with them~The police officer will accompany the criminal to the jail cell.~
accord~noun~When you do something of your own accord you choose to do it, it is not forced on you~She returned of her own accord.~
according to~preposition~Following a plan or idea~It will all go according to plan.~
according to~preposition~As said by~She went to the disco according to her mother.~
account~noun~If you have an arrangement with a bank to leave your money with it, you hold an account with that bank~She placed some money in her account.~
account~noun~A record of everything that happens with a person's or a business' money~The accounts must be checked every week.~
account~noun~A description of something~He gave a detailed account of the robbery.~
account~noun~'On account of' means 'due to'~It was on account of the rainy weather that she had to stay at home.~
account~noun~When you take something into account you consider it~The exam marks from last year will be taken into account when deciding who will pass and who will fail.~
account for~verb~Explain~The cold weather would account for everyone wearing gloves.~
account for~verb~Make up~Water accounts for 70% of the body.~
accountant~noun~A person who looks after money records for a business or private person~He was an accountant on Wall Street.~
accurate~adjective~Exact and true~She gave an accurate description of the brides dress.~
accuse~verb~Say that someone is guilty of something~He was accused of stealing.~
ace~noun~A playing card that has the value of either 1 or 11~She needed an ace to win.~
ache~verb~The feeling of continuous dim pain~My stomach ached for days.~
ache~noun~A dim constant pain~I had a stomach ache for days.~
achieve~verb~When you reach a goal you achieve that goal~I would like to achieve fame and fortune.~
achievement~noun~Something that has been done successfully, especially when a lot of energy has been put into it~Most parents are very proud of their children's achievements.~
acid~noun~A liquid that can burn and damage things~Hydrochloric acid.~
acknowledge~verb~Accept that something is true~I acknowledge that there are not enough plates for everyone eating and that it is my fault.~
acknowledge~verb~Let someone know you have received something~Peter acknowledged that Mary had sent him a birthday card.~
acquaintance~noun~Someone that you know but that is not a very close friend~I have many acquaintances but only a few real friends.~
acquire~verb~If you acquire something you gain it, often through your own efforts~I acquired an 'A' in English because I studied hard.~
acquit~verb~Find innocent~Everyone thought he was guilty but the courts acquitted him.~
acre~noun~Measure of land. There are about 4050 square metres in an acre~There are 4 acres of fields around the farmhouse.~
across~preposition~If something is across from something it is on the other side from it~The building across the road.~Across is also an adverb. When it is, it is usually found at the end of a sentence and takes no object, e.g. The river was wide so they sailed across.
across~preposition~If someone goes from one side of something to the other they go across it~She ran across the field.~
act~noun~Something that someone does is an act~She took his toys in an act of revenge.~
act~verb~Do something with a specific purpose in mind~The doctors acted quickly when she fell.~
act~noun~A law that has been allowed by a government~Three acts were passed by parliament yesterday.~
act~verb~Behave in a certain way~Donít act like that.~
act~verb~Take part in a movie or play~She was very good at acting the part of King Henry's wife.~
act~verb~Takes the role of or perform the function of~Can you act as nanny to these children while I'm gone?~
act~verb~Have an effect on something or someone~The pain relief acted quickly on the patient.~
action~noun~Doing something so that a situation can be dealt with~The media will take action if the government will not.~
active~adjective~Busy all the time~She played rugby, football and netball. She was very active.~
activity~noun~Something that you do because you enjoy doing it~Football was his main activity although he enjoyed rugby too.~
activity~noun~When a lot of things are being done, usually at the same time~Our brains are full of activity even when we sleep.~
actor~noun~A male person who acts in a movie or on stage~He was voted best actor of the year.~
actress~noun~A female person who acts in a movie or on stage~She is the best new actress since the 1950s.~
actual~adjective~Really existing~Jane's actual mother lives in Canada. Her stepmother lives here.~
actually~adverb~Really doing something~The sun is actually shining all year round.~
actually~adverb~Used to correct someone politely~It's not snow, actually; it's just frost.~
acute~adjective~Very serious~An acute environmental problem.~
ad~abbreviation~AD stands for 'Anno Domini' and means the time since Jesus Christ is believed to have been born~The year is now 20013 AD.~
ad~noun~An advertisement~She replied to an ad in the Times.~
adapt~verb~Adjust so that you fit in with something~We need to adapt to the new way of thinking.~
adapt~verb~Modify something so that it works in a new situation or has a new function~You can adapt the settings to fit your needs.~
add~verb~Put things together so that the amount becomes bigger~Add more water to the paste please.~
add~verb~Put numbers together so that you can see how much they make in total~When you add one and one you get two.~
addict~noun~When someone cannot stop taking things that are bad for them you can say that they are an addict~She is a coffee addict.~
addition~noun~When you add things together it is addition~The chair is a great addition to the kitchen; He had to do addition of numbers for his homework.~
addition~noun~You use 'in addition to' when you want to mention something that is related to the topic~In addition to a new skirt and top she also got some trousers.~
additional~adjective~Added on~There were additional fees for the course that she could not afford.~
address~verb~If you address a letter, you put the details of the person who will be receiving it on the envelope~There are never any letters addressed to me!~
address~verb~Make a formal speech to a group of people~I addressed the assembly and made my point clear.~
address~noun~Details of where someone lives or works~If you can't find me at my usual address, 22 High Street, you will get me at my mother's house.~
adequate~adjective~Something is adequate if there is enough of it for the purpose it is needed for~There are adequate supplies of pencils for all the students.~
adjective~noun~An adjective describes a noun~The red shoes; 'red' is the adjective.~Compare with an 'adverb'
adjust~verb~Change to fit in with your environment~I have adjusted to living in the city.~
adjust~verb~Change something it so that it fits in better or works better~I adjusted the sound of the television so that we could all hear it.~
administration~noun~The people who run a business or a country~If you have any questions please address them to the administration.~
administration~noun~The jobs done in order to run a business~I do the day-to-day administration of the local school.~
admire~verb~If you have respect for someone or something or if you find them attractive, you admire them~I admire not only her strong personality but also her good looks.~
admission~noun~When you pay money to go to an event or a place, it is for your admission~I had to pay a fee for admission before I was allowed into the concert.~
admit~verb~This is when you finally say that something is true, often without wanting to~I will admit that I am wrong and you are right.~
admit~verb~Let someone in~I cannot admit you to this house.~
adolescent~noun~A person between childhood and adulthood~Many adolescents worry about exam results.~
adopt~verb~Start to show a certain type of attitude~We should all adopt more positive attitudes towards other people.~
adopt~verb~Become the legal parent of a child~I have adopted all three of my children.~
adult~noun~A fully grown person or animal~When I am an adult I want to be a doctor.~
advance~adjective~Done before an event or situation occurs~We need an advance warning of any changes in schedule so that we know how to deal with them.~Only used before a noun
advance~verb~Move towards something~They will soon advance on the enemy troops.~
advance~noun~Progress in a particular field~Scientific advances have changed the way we live.~
advance~noun~If you do something in advance, you do it before it was expected to be done~The letter was delivered in advance.~
advanced~adjective~More difficult~The subject is in advanced law.~
advantage~noun~A quality that makes something useful~There are many advantages to having a dog.~
advantage~noun~If you take advantage of a person you treat them in an unfair way~I took advantage of him when he was at his most vulnerable.~
advantage~noun~Good use of something~I took advantage of the warm weather and went jogging every morning.~
adventure~noun~An exciting experience~I had many adventures on my mountain hike.~
adverb~noun~Most adverbs describe a verb~She exercises faithfully every day ('faithfully' is the adverb).~An adverb usually ends in -ly but not always. It describes a verb, adjective, phrase or another adverb, e.g. She runs very quickly
advert~noun~Short for 'advertisement'. This is something that describes a product or service to the public~I hate it when adverts interrupt the programmes I watch.~The abbreviation is ad
advertise~verb~Tell the public about something~I advertised my old bicycle in the newspaper; We should advertise the date of the choir recital.~
advice~noun~When you give someone advice you give them your opinion as to what they should do~I give my friends advice about relationships all the time.~A 'piece of advice' is advice on a particular subject
advise~verb~When you advise someone you give them different solutions to a problem~I advised him to wash his car before his dad saw the mess it was in.~
aerial~noun~A piece of thin metal or wire that receives and sends television and radio signals~We had to get a new aerial when ours was struck by lightning.~
aeroplane~noun~A vehicle that uses engines as well as wings to fly~I have been in an aeroplane only once.~
affair~noun~Your affairs are the matters surrounding your personal or financial life~What clothes I wear is my affair.~
affair~noun~An event~The party was a family affair.~
affair~noun~When two people are married and have relationships with other people those relationships are affairs~She found out he was having an affair with her friend.~
affect~verb~Influence something~A nuclear war would affect us all.~'Affect' and 'effect' are commonly confused. Compare 'effect'
affection~noun~When you feel affection towards someone you like or love them~I need a girlfriend who will show me lots of affection.~
afford~verb~If you can afford something you have the money to buy it~I can afford a new car and a new motorbike.~
afford~verb~If you can't afford something to happen to you it means that it would cause you problems if it happened~We can't afford to lose any more workers.~
afraid~adjective~You are afraid if you are worried that something bad might happen~I was afraid that if I let my son walk home alone he would get lost.~
afraid~adjective~Scared~I am afraid of the dark.~
africa~noun~A continent that holds countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa~I travelled all around Africa in my younger days.~
african~adjective~If something is connected to Africa it is African~I like African food.~
african~noun~A person who comes from the African continent~We saw an african elephant.~
after~preposition~If you are trying to find or catch something or someone you are after it~I ran after the chickens all morning.~
after~adverb~Later in time~I always walk the dogs after breakfast.~
after~preposition~If something follows something it is after it~Please close the door after you.~
afternoon~noun~The time of day from noon till the time that it starts to get dark~He plays football every afternoon.~
afterwards~adverb~At a later time~I am going to read a book and afterwards I will cook dinner.~
again~adverb~Once more~He fell off the chair again.~
against~preposition~When something is in opposition to something else it is against it~We were playing against the winners of last year's football league.~
against~preposition~Touching or close to~The sofa was against the wall.~
age~verb~Grow older~Everyone ages all the time.~
age~noun~The length of time that something has been alive or existed~She is eleven years of age.~
age~noun~The condition of being old~That coat looks worse with age.~
age~noun~'Ages' is used informally to mean a long time~I waited for him for ages.~
age~noun~A certain time in history~Cavemen lived in the Stone Age.~
agency~noun~An organisation that provides services, especially for other organisations~I'm going to join a dating agency.~
agenda~noun~The things that must be discussed at a meeting~What is on the agenda today?~
agent~noun~A person whose job it is to look after other people's affairs~An estate agent sold our house.~
agent~noun~A person who works for the government and finds out secret information~He was a secret agent for six years before he was caught by an enemy country.~
aggressive~adjective~When someone is aggressive they are angry and possibly violent~She was always a very aggressive woman.~
ago~adverb~In the past~I got this job two weeks ago.~
agony~noun~Extreme pain~He was in agony after the operation.~
agree~verb~Say yes to an idea~Do we all agree that it is a good idea?~
agree~verb~Share an opinion with someone~I agree with my lecturer about most things.~
agreement~noun~When two or more people come to an agreement they share the same opinion~Have we reached an agreement?~
agriculture~noun~The art or science of farming animals or crops~Many countries count on agriculture to feed their people.~
ahead~adverb~Further forward~I'll go ahead and see if I can find help.~
ahead~adverb~If you look or think ahead you look or think to the future~In business you always have to think ahead.~
ahead~adverb~If you are more developed than something or someone else you are ahead of them~I was ahead of the rest of the class in English.~
ahead~adverb~If you are further on in distance to someone or something else you are ahead of them~I was ahead of everyone in the race.~
aid~noun~Food etc. that is sent to countries that cannot look after their people~A shipment of foreign aid should be sent soon.~
aid~noun~When you aid someone you help them do something~Can you aid me with this programme?~
aid~noun~Something that is used to help something work better~The man needs a new hearing aid.~
aids~noun~This is the abbreviation for 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome' which is a disease that prevents the body from protecting itself from other diseases~To date there is no cure for AIDS.~
aim~verb~If you aim something at someone, you send it or point it in their direction~He aimed the kick at me.~
aim~verb~If you aim to do something you try to do it~I aim to own my own company before I'm 25.~
aim~noun~The aim of something is its purpose~The aim of going to school is to learn.~
air~noun~A mixture of gases around us that we need to breathe in order to live~There is not enough air in this room, please open a window.~
air~noun~Air is the space in which planes fly~I like to travel by air; meaning I like to travel by plane.~
air~noun~Air sits all around us; the spaces that are not filled with items are filled with air~He released the birds into the air.~
aircraft~noun~Any vehicle that can fly and transport goods~The navy has a large fleet of aircraft.~Aircraft can be both singular and plural
airline~noun~A company that flies people to and from different countries~I always fly with the cheapest airline.~
airmail~noun~A system that sends parcels and letters by air, usually to another country~I sent a letter to my friend in Poland by airmail.~
airplane~noun~This is the American English word for 'aeroplane'. See 'aeroplane'~I am getting on an airplane for the first time tomorrow.~The usual UK spelling is aeroplane
airport~noun~The place that planes land and take off from~We need to hurry to the airport or we will miss our flight.~
aisle~noun~A passage between seats or shelves~There are dozens of aisles in the supermarket.~
alarm~noun~Anxiety~I threw the book down in alarm.~
alarm~noun~A tool that sets off a loud noise to warn you of something~We got a house alarm installed to protect us from burglars.~
alarm~verb~If you alarm something you make it feel anxious~We didn't want to alarm the guests so we kept the problem quiet.~
alarm clock~noun~A clock that wakes you up by making a noise at a certain time~I usually set my alarm clock for eight in the morning.~
album~noun~A book in which you can keep things that are important to you, e.g. photographs~I am making an album of all our holiday photos.~
album~noun~A collection of songs or music that are recorded onto a disc or tape~I would like a new pop album.~
alcohol~noun~A liquid that makes people drunk~In some countries you have to be 21 before you can drink alcohol.~
alcoholic~noun~A person who is addicted to alcohol~My grandfather has been an alcoholic for years; he is now getting help.~
alcoholic~adjective~If something has alcohol in it, it is alcoholic~I don't like the taste of alcoholic drinks but I like alcoholic chocolate.~
alert~adjective~If you are alert you notice things quickly~After my jog I felt fully alert.~
alert~verb~If you alert someone you warn them of danger~I alerted them to the fire in the kitchen.~
alien~adjective~If something is strange and different to what you are used to it is alien to you~The language was totally alien to me.~
alien~noun~An alien can be a person living in a country who is not a citizen of that country or a creature from outer space~She is an illegal alien; Green aliens came to earth from Mars.~
alike~adjective~When things are much the same as each other they are alike~The two sisters look very alike.~
alike~adverb~If things are treated alike they are treated in a similar way~The children and adults in my family are treated alike.~
alive~adjective~If something is alive it is not dead~We worried that he might not stay alive in the terrible heat but he made it.~
all~noun~The total of something~All the dogs began barking at the postman.~
all~adverb~In games or sport you use 'all' to show that both sides have the same score~The score was three all.~
all right~adjective~'All right' is used to say that you agree to do something~Will you help me with my homework? All right!~
all right~adjective~When something is allowed it's said to be all right~Is it all right if I go now?~
all right~adjective~When something is safe and well it's said to be all right~The dog was all right after its operation.~
all right~adjective~When something is satisfactory but not quite what you were looking for it can be described as all right~The book I'm reading is all right, but not as good as the last one I read.~All right is also an adverb depending on where it is positioned in the sentence. It has the same meanings as when it is an adjective
allergic~adjective~If you are allergic to something you have a bad reaction when you come into contact with it~Some people are allergic to nuts.~
alley~noun~A passage between or behind buildings~I hate walking through that dark alley.~
allow~verb~Let something happen or be done~I will allow you to go to the park but only if you wash the dishes first.~
allow~verb~Make sure that there is enough of something for a specific purpose~How much time will you allow for the meeting?~
allowance~noun~An amount of money that is given to someone for something~We upgrade her allowance every year.~
almost~adverb~Nearly~He almost got knocked over by that truck.~
alone~adverb~Without other people~He walked into town alone.~
alone~adverb~Used to say that only one person or thing is concerned~She alone knew how to break the lock.~
along~preposition~From one end to the other~They took a romantic walk along the beach.~
along~adverb~If something comes along it comes with you~Can my brother come along?~
along~adverb~If something has been happening all along it has always been happening~I protected you and all along you were lying to me!~
along~adverb~If you move along you move forward~I ran along the path.~
alongside~preposition~By the side of~They walked alongside the canals in Holland.~
alongside~adverb~If you move alongside something you move with it~I danced alongside the instructor.~
aloud~adverb~If something is said aloud it is said so that other people can hear it~My teacher read the book aloud in class.~
alphabet~noun~A set of letters or symbols that never change and are used by different countries to make up their language~One of the first things you learn at school is the alphabet.~
already~adverb~Before now~He has already eaten his dinner.~
alright~adjective~This is a different way of spelling 'All right'~He will be alright in the morning.~This is used informally
also~adverb~This means the same as 'as well as' or 'in addition to'~I have also got a guitar and it is more expensive than yours!~You will never find also at the end of a clause. The word 'too' is used instead, e.g. I have a dog and a cat too
alter~verb~Change~I need to alter this skirt so that it fits me better.~
alternative~noun~Other choice~We have no alternative, we all have to work.~
alternative~adjective~Something that can be used or done instead of something else~The alternative plan was to walk to the restaurant.~
although~conjunction~'Although' is used to make a statement seem surprising compared to what was first said~He watched the movie although he hated the actors who starred in it.~
altogether~adverb~This means 'completely', and is usually used for emphasis~I am not altogether pleased with the outcome.~Altogether and 'all together' do not mean the same thing
altogether~adverb~In total~That will cost three pounds altogether.~
always~adverb~Every time or on every occasion~I always forget to leave the bin out on a Tuesday.~
always~adverb~For all time~I will always be thankful to her for helping me.~
am~verb~'Am' is the first person singular form of the verb 'be'~I am feeling happy today.~When 'I' and 'am' are combined the shortened form is 'I'm'
amateur~noun~Someone who does something for fun and not as a living~She is an amateur golfer.~
amazing~adjective~If something is amazing it is pleasantly surprising~That new shirt of yours is amazing.~
ambassador~noun~Someone who represents their country from another country~I met the British ambassador of France.~
ambition~noun~Something that someone wants to achieve very much~It was always my ambition to become a doctor.~
ambitious~adjective~Determined to achieve something~She was such an ambitious girl, it's a pity it all fell apart for her.~
ambitious~adjective~If something is going to require a lot of time and work it is said to be ambitious~They have ambitious plans but I'm not sure that they'll work.~
ambulance~noun~A vehicle that transports sick or hurt people to hospital~The ambulance arrived at the accident.~
america~noun~Shortened form of ëUnited States of Americaí~I want to travel around America on a motorbike.~
american~noun~A person who was born in America is an American~I have many American friends.~
american~adjective~Connected to either North or South America, but usually the USA~I like American music.~
ammunition~noun~Anything that can be fired from a weapon~They gave their troops lots of ammunition.~This is often shortened to 'ammo'
among~preposition~In the middle of a group of things~The chair is among the desks.~When there are only two things we use 'between'. 'Amongst' is quite old-fashioned and rarely used
among~preposition~Included in~She was among the many guests at the party.~
among~preposition~When something is divided between three or more people or things we use 'among'~The money was split among the four men.~
amongst~preposition~This means the same as 'among'~They sat amongst their fans.~
amount~noun~The quantity of something~I put the wrong amount of sugar in the recipe.~
amount~verb~If something adds up to a total it amounts to that total~My help amounted to nothing.~
ample~adjective~Enough~There is ample space in the new house.~
amusing~adjective~Funny~They told me a very amusing story.~
an~article~A form of the indefinite article, like 'a', but used before a word that begins with a vowel sound~An egg.~
analyse~verb~Examine something closely~Will have to analyse the situation.~
analysis~noun~The process of examining something closely~We need to do an analysis of our security.~
analyze~none~The American English spelling of 'analyse'~We will have to analyze the situation.~
ancestor~noun~This is someone in your family who lived many years ago~I wish I could have met my ancestors.~
ancient~adjective~Having existed for a very long time~It is an ancient recipe.~
ancient~adjective~Something that was about a long time ago~Ancient civilisations worshipped many gods.~
and~conjunction~'And' is used as a linking word that connects words and phrases~She is tall and thin; They took the bus to the city centre and they took the bus home.~
angel~noun~Angels are creatures that some people believe send messages from God~I was visited by an angel.~
anger~verb~If you anger someone you make them cross~The verdict angered the family of the victim.~
anger~noun~You feel anger when you are very cross~She was filled with anger when she remembered what he had done to her.~
angle~noun~The position from which something is looked at~I looked at the car from all angles but could not see the scratch.~
angle~noun~The space between two straight lines joined at one end~That is an angle of 45 degrees.~
angry~adjective~If you are very cross you are said to be angry~I am angry with you because you never do what I ask you to do.~
animal~noun~All things alive are animals except for plants and microorganisms~I like small furry animals.~
ankle~noun~A joint between the top of your foot and the bottom of your leg~I broke my ankle and was unable to walk for weeks.~
anniversary~noun~A date on which something important happened years ago~I can never remember our wedding anniversary.~
announce~verb~Officially tell people something~They announced their engagement in the papers.~
announcement~noun~A statement that informs people about something~Can a make an announcement? I am getting married tomorrow!~
annoy~verb~To annoy someone is to irritate them~Stop annoying me with your stupid jokes.~
annual~adjective~Occurring over one year~The annual weather forecast shows that we will have more sun this year.~
annual~adjective~When something occurs every year it is an annual occurrence~We have an annual dinner party for the staff.~
anonymous~adjective~When something is anonymous nobody knows who did it or where it came from~An anonymous letter was left at the door.~
another~adjective~Another thing is an extra thing~You cannot bring another dog into this house.~
answer~verb~When you answer someone you react to what they say~I answered her questions with a smile.~
answer~noun~The reaction you give when you are asked something~I did not know the answer.~
answer~noun~The solution to a problem~I think the answer is to take away her allowance; then she won't be able to afford to go out.~
ant~noun~Ants are small insects that live in organised groups called 'colonies'~Our kitchen was covered in ants.~
antarctica~noun~Antarctica, or the Antarctic, is the continent around the South Pole that is totally covered in ice~Antarctica is the worldís least explored continent.~
anti-~prefix~Used before nouns and adjectives to show that someone is against something~She is anti-everything.~
anticipate~verb~Try to figure out what will happen in the future~We need to anticipate economic changes.~
anticipate~verb~Expect~I anticipate that about ten people will arrive.~
antique~noun~An old, valuable object~We went to an antiques fair.~
antique~adjective~Old and possibly valuable~That is an antique chair.~
anxiety~noun~A worried feeling~I have anxieties about the operation.~
anxious~adjective~If you want something very much you are anxious for it~He was anxious to get the red car.~
anxious~adjective~If you are anxious you are worried about something~I am anxious about the party.~
any~adverb~This is used for emphasis in questions and negative sentences~I don't want any more tea, thanks.~'Some' is usually used in positive sentences and 'any' in negative sentences
any~noun~Any amount, e.g. One, twelve, some, a few~Do you have any money?~
any~noun~Used to indicate that one of several options can be chosen~We can do any of those things~
anybody~pronoun~'Anybody' has the same meaning as 'anyone'; one person of all those present~Can anybody tell me how to get to the train station?~The differences between 'anybody' and 'somebody' are the same as the differences between 'any' and 'some'. See 'any' for details
anyhow~adverb~This has the same meaning as 'anyway'; in any case~Anyhow, she doesn't need new clothes~
anyone~pronoun~One person of all those present; any person at all~Anyone could have started the fire.~The differences between 'anyone' and 'someone' are the same as the differences between 'any' and 'some'. See 'any' for details
anything~pronoun~Any object or occurrence at all~I don't mind what we do today, we can do anything.~The differences between 'anything' and 'something' are the same as the differences between 'any' and 'some'. See 'any' for details
anyway~adverb~In any case~I don't like the food and anyway, I don't even like restaurants.~
anyway~adverb~Used to change or correct something that you have said~She is pregnant. Well, the last time I saw her she was anyway.~
anywhere~adverb~Any place~There isn't anywhere that I can really call home.~'Anywhere' is usually used in questions or negative sentences
apart~adverb~When things are separated they are apart; in different places~During their divorce they lived apart.~
apart~adverb~Not a whole but divided into pieces~He pulled all his toys apart.~
apart~preposition~'Apart from' means 'except for'~I liked the movie apart from one scene.~
apartment~noun~A room or rooms in a building that you can rent or buy~She has a third-floor apartment.~
apologise~verb~When you apologise for something you say that you are sorry about it~I will never apologise to her!~
apology~noun~A statement to someone that you are sorry for something~I accept your apology.~
apostrophe~noun~An apostrophe (') shows that a letter has been left out of a word, e.g. He's; or it can be used with the letter s to show that something belongs to someone, e.g. My mother's house~Jane's dog is very hairy.~
appal~verb~If you appal someone you shock them very much~I was appalled to think that she had been lying to me all this time.~
apparatus~noun~The tools needed to complete a task~Set up the apparatus for the science experiment.~
apparent~adjective~When something seems to be true but might not be~My apparent lack of interest in school got me expelled.~
apparent~adjective~When something is apparent it is easy to realise or understand~It is apparent that you like him.~
apparently~adverb~If something appears to be a certain way it is apparently that way~Apparently she hates cooking.~
appeal~noun~A formal request that is seriously meant~There was an appeal for donations to a local charity.~
appeal~verb~If something is interesting it holds appeal~The food did not appeal to me.~
appeal~verb~If you make a serious request for something you appeal for it~The teachers appealed to the students to study hard for their exams.~
appeal~verb~If you are interested by something it appeals to you~That kind of music just doesn't appeal to me.~
appear~verb~Become visible~They appeared out of thin air.~
appear~verb~Gives the impression of being a certain way~It appears to be raining again.~
appearance~noun~Your appearance is the way that you look on the outside~You take a lot of care over your appearance.~
appearance~noun~When someone or something arrives unexpectedly~The sudden appearance of the stolen watch was confusing.~
appetite~noun~Your appetite is your want for food~I have a huge appetite.~
applaud~verb~Clap your hands to show that you like something~We all applauded the actors.~
applaud~verb~Praise for being good~I applaud your honesty.~This is very formal
applause~noun~The noise made when people applaud~We broke into a round of applause when the firemen put out the fire.~
apple~noun~A round fruit with red or green skin and a firm fleshy centre~I like to eat an apple every morning.~
application~noun~A written request for something~We received many applications for the job.~
application~noun~The use of something for a specific reason~The application of a mathematical formula produced a solution.~
apply~verb~When you apply something to something you spread it over it~He applied the paint to the walls.~
apply~verb~Give all your details, hoping that you will be picked for a job etc.~I have applied to study at three universities.~
apply~verb~Use something to make something work~I applied all my knowledge to solve the problem.~
apply~verb~If something applies to something it concerns it~The rules apply only to students.~
appoint~verb~When you appoint someone you chose them for a job etc.~I appoint you assistant manageress.~
appointment~noun~The act of giving someone a job of responsibility~We were unhappy with Jane's appointment to manager.~
appointment~noun~A plan to meet someone at a certain time~I have an early appointment at the surgery.~
appreciate~verb~If you appreciate something you realise that it is good~I appreciate a well-cooked steak.~
appreciate~verb~If you appreciate something you realise that it is true or real~I appreciate your problem but there is nothing I can do to help.~
appreciate~verb~Be thankful that someone has done something for you~I appreciate your help.~
apprentice~noun~A person who learns how to do a job by working with an experienced person for a number of years~I have hired a new apprentice; he's very keen.~
approach~verb~The way that you approach a problem is the way that you deal with it~I approached the problem with a clear head.~
approach~noun~The way you deal with something~I took a subtle approach.~
approach~verb~Move closer to something~I approached the mouse very quietly.~
appropriate~adjective~Satisfactory, suitable~She wore an appropriate dress for the occasion.~
approval~noun~Permission given for something~I need my family's approval.~
approval~noun~If you have a good opinion of something, it has your approval~I showed my approval by clapping my hands.~
approve~verb~If you approve of something or someone, you think that they are acceptable or good~I do not approve of pets in the house.~
approve~verb~Officially agree on~The council has approved the plan.~
approximately~adverb~Roughly, more or less, close to or near~It takes approximately 20 men to lift those boxes.~
april~noun~The fourth month of the year, between March and May~I love April flowers.~
arab~noun~A member of a race of persons who come from the Middle East and parts of north Africa~There is a large Arab community in some German cities.~
arabic~noun~The language spoken by Arabs~I learnt Arabic a year ago.~
arabic~adjective~Connected to the Arabs~Arabic food is very tasty.~
arch~noun~A curved structure~We drove underneath the arch.~
arch~verb~Bending in a curved shape~The branches arched over the road.~
archaeology~noun~The study of past events, usually by digging things up~I always wanted to study archaeology.~
archbishop~noun~Someone in the Christian faith who has responsibility for all the churches over a large area~The archbishop will pay us a visit.~
archeology~noun~The US English spelling of 'archaeology'~I always wanted to study archeology.~
architect~noun~Someone who designs buildings and structures~An architect designed our house~
architecture~noun~The art of designing buildings and structures~The Colosseum is an example of ancient architecture.~
are~verb~The plural form of 'is'; part of the verb 'be'~We are on holiday.~Are can be shortened to 're after some pronouns e.g. They're
area~noun~A region of a country or part of a place~Let's drive round the area~
area~noun~A particular aspect of a subject etc. is an area of it~English is John's special area.~
arena~noun~A place with open space and seats for spectators to watch sports or entertainment~Our local arena has been repainted.~
argue~verb~Quarrel with someone because you disagree with what they think~Me and my dad often argue.~
argue~verb~Give reasons why you think something is true~He argued his case to the jury.~
argument~noun~A set of reasons used to try and convince people that you are right~His argument against euthanasia was well presented.~
argument~noun~A disagreement between two or more people~They are having another argument.~
arise~verb~Happen~A problem has arisen.~
arm~noun~Parts of a chair on which you can rest your arms~She perched on the arm of the chair.~
arm~noun~Weapon~The army has a large supply of arms.~
arm~verb~Provide someone with weapons~All the attackers were armed.~
arm~noun~The part of the body that bends at the elbow~She had sore arms after the game.~
armchair~noun~A large comfortable chair with support for your arms~He sank into his new armchair.~
army~noun~An organised group of soldiers who fight on land~You can join the army at age 16 in some countries.~
around~adverb~Close to or near~I go to Spain around twice a year.~
around~adverb~All the parts of~I showed her around my office.~
around~preposition~If you go around something you move to the opposite side of it~He came around the corner on a bicycle.~
around~adverb~If you turn around you face a different direction~I turned around to see who was coming in.~
around~adverb~To somewhere~He comes around to my house once a week.~
around~adverb~On every side of something~We gathered around the fire.~Round can be used instead of around in UK English but not usually in US English
around~adverb~If you move in a circle in a certain area you move around it~The dog ran around the room.~
arrange~verb~Set neatly in position~I arranged the flowers.~
arrange~verb~Make future plans for something or for someone~I have arranged for you to meet my parents next week.~
arrangement~noun~An agreement~We have an arrangement to stay in one night and go out the next.~
arrangement~noun~A plan for something to happen~We made all our wedding arrangements.~
arrest~verb~The police can arrest you and take you to jail if they believe you are guilty of something~He has been arrested five times.~
arrest~noun~The process of arresting someone~They put her under house arrest.~
arrival~noun~The act of arriving at a place~It was an unexpected arrival.~
arrive~verb~When you get to a place you arrive~I arrived late for work.~
arrive~verb~When you arrive at a decision you decide something~After the meeting we had still not arrived at a decision.~
arrogant~adjective~If you are arrogant you believe that you are better than other people and are often mean about it~I have never met anyone as arrogant as her.~
arrow~noun~A thin stick that is sharp at one end and is fired from a bow~Some people still hunt animals with a bow and arrow.~
art~noun~Something that is created by people using their imaginations, e.g. paintings or sculptures~It was a beautiful piece of art.~
art~noun~A well-developed skill~She has got talking down to a fine art.~
article~noun~A piece of writing that is usually published~I enjoyed reading the article about England.~
article~noun~An item~The articles found at the crime scene were of great importance to the police.~This is used formally
article~noun~The words 'the, 'a', 'an' are articles in English grammar~The dog' and 'an apple' are examples of articles and nouns.~
artificial~adjective~Man-made~There are artificial flavours in most drinks.~
artist~noun~Someone who makes art~The artist drew a gorgeous picture.~
artistic~adjective~Concerned with art or artists~It was a great show of artistic progress.~
artistic~adjective~If you are artistic you can create good art works~He was always artistic.~
as~preposition~Used to describe what something seems to be doing~She was dressed as a witch.~
as~conjunction~'As' is used in similes for comparison~As white as snow.~
as~conjunction~As is used to show the reason for something~As there was no one at home, I left the parcel around the back.~
as~conjunction~The way in which~They did as they were told.~
as~preposition~'As if' is used to show that you think something might be the possible reason for something~He likes to live as if every day is his last.~
as~conjunction~At the same time as something else~He took off his shoes as he closed the door.~
ash~noun~A grey or black powder-like substance that is the remains of something burnt~All that was left of the campfire was a pile of ashes.~
ashamed~adjective~If you are ashamed of someone or something you feel bad or embarrassed about them or it~I am ashamed of all the bad things my brother does.~
ashamed~adjective~The way that you feel when you have done something wrong~I was ashamed of the way that I treated him.~You are ashamed about something serious that you have done and you are embarrassed about something silly you have done
ashtray~noun~A holder for the remains of tobacco products~We need an ashtray in every room of our house.~
asia~noun~The largest continent in the world~It would take us months to travel all around Asia.~
asian~noun~A person who comes from Asia is Asian~My best friend is Asian.~
asian~adjective~If something is connected to Asia it is Asian~I like Asian music.~
aside~adverb~If you put something aside, you put it away from you~She didn't like the food so she put it aside.~
ask~verb~Let someone know that you would like something to happen~I asked for a kiss.~
ask~verb~Invite~I asked him to the concert.~
ask~verb~Request information~He asked if I'd liked the performance.~
ask~verb~Request something from someone or request that they do something for you~He asked for my hand in marriage.~
asleep~adjective~Sleeping~He was asleep by seven.~
aspect~noun~A feature of something~I find every aspect of geography interesting.~
assault~noun~An aggressive attack~He was put into jail on charge of assault.~
assault~verb~The crime of physically attacking someone~He was badly assaulted last night.~
assemble~verb~Come together as a group~We assemble every day in the staff room.~
assemble~verb~Fit all the pieces of something together~It took me hours to assemble my son's new bicycle.~
assess~verb~When you assess something you evaluate it~I assessed the situation.~
asset~noun~Something that is valuable as well as useful~Her eyes were her best asset.~
asset~noun~Things that are worth money to a company are assets~The company had to sell some of its assets.~
assist~verb~To assist is to help~Would you assist me with the shopping?~
assistance~noun~What you give when you assist someone or something~He is always the first to offer assistance.~
assistant~noun~A shop assistant sells goods in a shop~I worked as a shop assistant for many years.~
assistant~noun~A person whose job is to help someone else~He has had three assistants in the past year.~
associate~noun~An associate is someone you spend a lot of time with~A work associate.~The verb and the noun are pronounced differently
associate~verb~When you make a connection between two things you associate them with each other~I associate red with love.~
associate~verb~When you spend time with someone or a group of people you associate with them~She associates with the wrong type of people.~
association~noun~A group that have come together because they have similar interests~I work for a clothing association.~
association~noun~You have associations in your mind when you associate things with each other~Apparently he kept close associations with criminals.~
assortment~noun~An assortment of things is a mix of things~There was an assortment of furniture to choose from.~
assume~verb~When you assume something you guess that it is true even though you have no proof that it is~I assumed we were off work today.~
assumption~noun~The belief that something is true even though you have no proof of it~He made a bad assumption.~
assure~verb~When you assure someone of something you promise them that it will definitely happen~I assured her that there was nothing to worry about.~
assure~verb~If something is assured it is guaranteed to happen~A win was assured.~
astonishing~adjective~Difficult to believe because it is a surprise~It was an astonishing goal.~
astrology~noun~The study of stars and planets with the aim of predicting the future~I have many books on astrology.~
astronaut~noun~A person whose job it is to work in space and in spacecraft~I always wanted to be an astronaut.~
astronomy~noun~The study of the science of stars and planets~We know what we do about space thanks to astronomy.~
at~preposition~Used to say where something is or where it happened~The fight happened at that nightclub.~
at~preposition~In the direction of~She ran at the wall.~
at~preposition~This is used to show the time at which something happens or happened~We went to work at eight this morning.~
at~preposition~Toward~She grabbed at the books but they fell off the table anyway.~
at~preposition~Used to state age or show price~She was already the champion at ten years old; The house was sold at three times less than it should have been.~
athlete~noun~A person who takes part in sport, often professionally~He is the world's fastest athlete.~
athletics~noun~Running and jumping sports~She was always good at athletics.~Athletics is singular
atmosphere~noun~The feeling in a place is the atmosphere of the place~The restaurant had a cosy atmosphere.~
atmosphere~noun~The mixture of gases that surrounds planets~Earth's atmosphere is polluted.~
atom~noun~Atoms are the smallest parts that make up a substance~We have learnt how to split atoms.~
atomic~adjective~This word describes the energy that is released when atoms are split~Atomic energy is very powerful.~
attach~verb~Join things together~I have attached a recent photo of myself with this letter.~
attack~noun~The act of being violent towards someone~There have been many attacks in that alley.~
attack~verb~When you try to score points in sport you are attacking~France did the most attacking in the first half.~
attack~noun~If you find faults with someone's personality or ideas, that is an attack on them~His attack on my behaviour really upset me.~
attack~verb~If someone attacks you they are violent towards you~He was attacked in an alley last night.~
attack~verb~Criticise~I attacked her behaviour.~
attempt~verb~When you attempt something you try it, especially if it is difficult~I attempted to save him.~
attempt~noun~The act of trying to do something, especially if it is difficult~He made an attempt to save her.~
attend~verb~If you attend somewhere, you are there~I attended the party.~
attend~verb~If you go somewhere regularly you attend~I attend the local council meetings.~
attend~verb~When you attend to something you take care of it~I have to attend to my granny who is ill.~
attendant~noun~A person whose job it is to look after the public~A shop attendant.~
attention~noun~Special care~The floods needed immediate attention.~
attention~noun~The act of taking notice of something~I devoted all my attention to the music.~
attic~noun~The space at the top of the house which is often used for storing things~We need to clear out the attic.~
attitude~noun~The way that you think about something~She has a negative attitude to most things.~
attorney~noun~In US English an attorney is a lawyer who can act on someone's behalf in court~I had to hire an attorney.~
attract~verb~If something attracts you it makes you want it~I am attracted to the idea; I am attracted to that girl.~
attract~verb~If you attract the attention or support of something or someone, you get it~The concert attracted people from all over the world.~
attraction~noun~An attraction is something that people like to visit~The Eiffel Tower is a tourist attraction.~
attraction~noun~Attraction is the feeling of being really interested in something~We could not help our attraction to each other.~
attractive~adjective~If you are attractive you are nice to look at~There are many attractive women in this bar.~
attractive~adjective~Something that has interesting qualities is attractive~That is an attractive idea.~
auction~noun~A public sale where people bid against each other to offer the highest price for something~I always find interesting things at auctions.~
auction~verb~The act of selling something at an auction~I think you should auction that table instead of throwing it away.~
audience~noun~A group of people watching an entertainer or a performance~There was a huge audience.~Both singular and plural verbs can be used after audience
audit~noun~An examination of someone's or a company's finances~The audit will take place next week.~
audit~verb~Examine the finances of a person or company~We were audited last week.~
aug~abbreviation~This is the abbreviation for August~24th Aug 1983.~
august~noun~August is the eighth month, between July and September~We are due to meet in August.~
aunt~noun~An aunt is a woman who is either your mother or father's sister or your uncle's wife~I have nine aunts.~
australia~noun~This is a continent which is also the largest island in the world~I was born in Australia.~
australian~adjective~Connected with Australia~I learnt how to do traditional Australian dancing.~
australian~noun~A person who comes from Australia~I met an Australian last night.~
authentic~adjective~Something is authentic if it is real, not fake~It is an authentic leather jacket.~
author~noun~A person who writes books or who wrote a book~My favourite author.~
authorise~none~Another way of spelling 'authorize'~Could you authorise that cheque?~
authority~noun~When you have authority you have power over others~Parents have authority over their children.~
authority~noun~An organisation that has decision-making power in a country~You can report that to the police authorities.~
authority~noun~If you are an authority about something you are an expert in that field~She is the leading authority in health care.~
authorize~verb~If you authorise something you officially allow it to happen~He authorised me to use those rooms.~
automatic~adjective~If something is automatic it is set to run without the help of a human being~The lights in our garden are automatic.~
automatic~noun~A car whose gears work without much work from the driver~I prefer to drive automatics.~
automobile~noun~US English for a car~He was involved in an automobile accident.~
autumn~noun~Autumn is the season when leaves change colour. It sits between summer and winter~Autumn is my favourite time of the year.~The US English word is usually 'fall'
auxiliary~noun~An auxiliary verb is a helping verb that works with normal verbs to show tense and form questions etc.~They have been busy ('have' is the auxiliary).~
available~adjective~If you are available to people you are open to them to talk with etc.~I am available to work Sundays.~
available~adjective~Something that is easily found is available~Bread is available in most corner shops.~
avenue~noun~A street in a residential area~The avenue that I live on has many trees.~
average~adjective~Normal~She was just an average girl.~
average~adjective~Describes the number that is found when you add several amounts together and divide to find the standard~He sleeps an average of eight hours per day.~
average~noun~The number that is found when you add several amounts together and divide to find the standard~An average of three hundred people take part every year.~
average~noun~The usual level~Children on average are more flexible than adults.~
avoid~verb~When you avoid something you keep away from it~He pretended to be sick just to avoid work.~
avoid~verb~If you avoid someone you try not to come into contact with them~Why does she always avoid me?~
awake~adjective~The opposite of asleep~He is still not awake.~
award~verb~When you award someone with something you present it to them formally~She was awarded the top prize at school.~
award~noun~Something that you receive as a token of hard work~The small boy won a bravery award for rescuing his father from a fire.~
aware~adjective~If you are aware of something you sense it~She was aware of a tingling feeling in her hands.~
aware~adjective~If you are aware of things you realise them~I was aware of the responsibilities that came with the job.~
away~adverb~In a different direction~She moved away from the fire.~
away~adverb~At a distance from something~You could see the smoke away in the distance.~
away~adverb~If you put something away, you put it where it belongs~Put your shoes away please.~
away~adverb~Not in place, or not present~She has been away from work for a week.~
away~adverb~Keep doing something~He worked away at the figures.~
awful~adjective~When you really dislike something you find it to be awful~That was an awful joke to play on someone.~
awkward~adjective~Hard to deal with~It is an awkward position for anyone to be in.~
awkward~adjective~Someone who is awkward is uncoordinated~She danced in an awkward manner.~
axe~noun~A tool with a metal blade which is often used for cutting wood or trees~He swung the axe at the tree.~
baby~noun~A young child or animal~My sister is going to have a baby.~
babysit~verb~When you babysit you look after another person's child or children for a short time while they are busy or out~I like to babysit for my parents' friends because they pay me well.~
back~verb~Give support~I will back you one hundred percent.~
back~adverb~In reverse~He moved back from the windows.~
back~adverb~If you go back somewhere you return to the place in question~I want to go back to work.~
back~adverb~If you get something back you get it in return for something else, or someone returns something that is yours to you~Can I please have my posters back?~
back~adverb~If someone has something done back to them, it is the same thing that they did to someone else~I wrote back to him.~
back~adjective~At the rear~He closed the back door.~
back~verb~Move backwards~He backed away from the tiger.~
back~noun~The part of your body that holds the spine~I have a sore back.~
back~verb~If something backs onto something, it has something behind it~The garden backs onto a field.~
back~noun~The area of something that is away from the front~He read the back of the page.~
back~adverb~Used to talk about things that happened in the past~I learnt how to play guitar back in the seventies.~
back out~verb~You back out of something when you decide not to do it after you have agreed to do it~He lost confidence and backed out of the deal.~
back up~verb~Support a person by claiming that what they say is true~When she lied about where she was, her best friend backed her up.~
background~noun~The part of a picture or photo behind the main item or object~There were flowers in the background.~
background~noun~Your background is the way that you grew up and the places that you lived when you were a child~He comes from a poor background.~
background~noun~The conditions that explain why something happened the way it did~To understand a country you must understand its political background.~
backpack~noun~A bag that contains all the things needed for hiking or camping~She needed a large backpack for the trip.~Another word for backpack is rucksack
backward~adjective~Moving towards the back~She took a backward step.~This is only used before a noun
backward~adjective~Undoing progress previously made~Moving back home is a backward step.~
backwards~adverb~In the opposite way~They ran backwards instead of forwards.~
backwards~adverb~To a place behind you~She moved backwards.~
bacon~noun~Thin slices of salted pigmeat~I love to eat bacon for breakfast.~
bad~adjective~Something that is not nice~The food had a really bad smell.~
bad~adjective~Not the best of quality~It was a bad day.~
bad~adjective~Morally wrong~He was a bad man.~
bad~adjective~When you don't do something very well you are bad at it~He was a bad teacher.~
bad~adjective~If something is 'not bad' it is better than you thought it would be~The service was not bad.~
badge~noun~A small piece of fabric, plastic or metal that is worn to show that you belong to something or that you have achieved something~For his birthday he was given a blue badge with his age printed on it.~
badminton~noun~A game for two to four people where a light ball is hit over a net using bats called rackets~We had a badminton tournament.~
bag~noun~If you have lots of something you can say that you have bags of it~He has bags of toy cars.~Very informal
bag~noun~A container with an opening at the top that is used for carrying items~She put her groceries into a paper bag.~
baggage~noun~Bags that you use for travelling with~He took so much more baggage than I did.~One bag = bag; more than one bag = baggage. 'Luggage' is the usual UK English word
bake~verb~Cook in the oven~I always bake my own birthday cake.~
baker~noun~A person whose job it is to bake~We buy bread at our local baker's.~
balance~noun~The total amount of money that you have in a bank account~Before I buy those shoes I need to check my balance.~
balance~verb~Keep something steady and still~The books were balanced on the shelf.~
balance~noun~The state of being steady and still~Don't lose your balance or you'll fall off that cliff!~
balcony~noun~The platform on the outside of an upstairs room~I put flowers on the balcony so that they could get direct sunlight.~
balcony~noun~The part of a theatre that is upstairs and contains seats~Balcony tickets are the most expensive.~
bald~adjective~Have no hair or only a little, especially on the head~He went bald at a very young age.~
ball~noun~A round object used in sports that is usually thrown or kicked~A rugby ball; a cricket ball.~
ball~noun~A formal party~We were invited to the queen's ball.~
ballet~noun~A type of dancing that tells a story~She has been going to ballet class since she was a little girl.~
balloon~noun~A strong bag filled with air or gas that can carry people when attached to a basket~I would love to travel in a balloon.~Also termed a 'hot-air balloon'
balloon~noun~A small bag that becomes bigger when you fill it with air or gas. Balloons are usually used for decoration~I want purple balloons at my party.~
ban~noun~A rule that says that something is not allowed~There is a ban on smoking in some bars.~
ban~verb~Forbid~You are banned from ever seeing him again!; That kind of behaviour is banned.~
banana~noun~A long curved fruit with yellow skin and soft flesh~I love bananas.~
band~noun~A small group of people who play music together~A rock band; a country band.~
band~noun~A group of people who share the same ideas~We got together a band of volunteers.~
band~noun~A thin strip of any material that can be wrapped around things to hold them together~Put a band of tape around those pencils.~
bandage~noun~A strip of fabric that protects an injury or wound~He needs a bandage around that cut.~
bang~noun~A loud noise that is often unexpected~There was a loud bang at the back of the house.~
bang~verb~Accidentally knock something against something~He banged his head on the floor.~
bang~verb~Hit something in such a way that it makes quite a loud noise~I banged the book on the table.~
bank~noun~A place that provides financial services for people~I went to the bank to draw some money.~
bank~noun~The side of a river, lake, canal, etc.~We had a picnic on the river bank.~
bank holiday~noun~A holiday when some businesses close, especially banks~It's a bank holiday on Monday but I have to work because my shop stays open.~UK English
bank on~verb~When you bank on something you rely on it~I'm banking on that horse to win me money at the race.~
bankrupt~adjective~If something is bankrupt it no longer has any money, as recognised by the law~We need to be more careful with our money or we will end up bankrupt.~
bar~noun~A place where you can buy and drink alcohol as well as socialise~We went to our local bar.~
bar~verb~Stop someone from doing something~He was barred from the hotel.~
bar~noun~A long piece of metal or wood~There are bars on a jail cell window.~
bar~noun~Something with straight sides~I ate a bar of chocolate.~
barbecue~noun~An open fire with a metal grid that is used for cooking food on~I love steak done on the barbecue.~
barber~noun~A person who cuts men's hair and also sometimes shaves them~I need to make an appointment at the barber's.~
bare~adjective~Only just enough~I did the bare minimum of work and failed all my exams.~
bare~adjective~Not covered in anything~All the walls in the house are bare.~
bare~adjective~Not covered by clothing~My legs were bare.~
barely~adverb~Not more than~She barely touched her food.~
bargain~verb~Discuss prices and terms~They bargained over the price all day.~
bargain~noun~An agreement between people about something~They agreed to keep their side of the bargain.~
bargain~noun~Something of good quality that was bought cheaply~That book at that price is a bargain.~
bark~verb~Make a short loud sound~You could hear the dogs barking from miles away.~
bark~noun~The covering of a tree~The bark was falling off the old tree.~
barn~noun~A building on a farm that houses animals or goods~He kept his horses in the barn.~
barrel~noun~A large container with curved sides~We need another barrel of milk.~
barrel~noun~The part of a gun through which bullets are fired~He cleaned out the barrel of his gun.~
barrier~noun~A wall or fence, or even a group of people in a row, that stops something from moving forward~They placed safety barriers all around the cliff.~
barrister~noun~A lawyer in Britain who can plead cases in the high courts~She is the best barrister in Britain.~
base~noun~The lowest part of something; usually the part that something rests on~He threw her ashes at the base of the hill.~
base~noun~The place that the army, navy or air force operates from~We were not allowed in the army base.~
base~verb~When you base something on something you create it using that idea~I based the characters on people I met in South Africa.~
base~verb~The main place that you work from or live is where you are based~I'm based in Britain.~
baseball~noun~A game played by two teams with a bat and a ball, which is very popular in America~I love watching baseball.~
baseball~noun~The ball used in a game of baseball~He threw the baseball into the crowd.~
basement~noun~A room in a building that is partly or totally under the ground~We keep vegetables in the basement.~
basic~adjective~Simple~I have basic knowledge of German.~
basic~adjective~The basic parts of something are the most necessary parts~We found out basic information about the town, e.g. hotels and restaurants.~
basically~adverb~In the most important or simple way~We have basically no idea what to do.~
basis~noun~The important facts that support something and from which something can be developed~That was the basis of our plan.~
basis~noun~The way things are organised~We shop for groceries on a day-to-day basis.~
basket~noun~A container made of thin twisted material~The teacher carries her books in a basket.~
basketball~noun~A game of two teams and one ball where the aim is to throw the ball into a high basket~I don't like basketball very much.~
bass~adjective~Having a very low tone~He played the bass notes.~
bat~noun~A piece of wood with a handle that is used to hit balls in some games. Bats come in many different shapes and sizes~A baseball bat.~
bat~noun~A small flying animal that looks like a mouse and is awake during the night~We had a bat in our attic.~
bath~noun~A large container to be filled with water that you use to wash your whole body~We had our bath repainted.~
bathroom~noun~A room that contains a bath, a washbasin, and usually a toilet~Pease put that soap in the bathroom.~
battery~noun~A device that stores the electricity needed for something to work~Our alarm needs a new battery.~
battle~noun~A fight between armies or groups of people~My grandfather fought in the battle.~
bay~noun~A broad part of the sea or a lake where the land curves inwards~You could see for miles over the bay.~
bc~abbreviation~This stands for 'Before Christ' and refers to the time before Christ is believed to have been born~Dinosaurs lived millions of years BC.~
be~auxiliary verb~'Be' is used to show something that will happen in the future~He will be a doctor in three years.~
be~auxiliary verb~'Be' is used with a past participle~You will be going to school tomorrow.~
be~auxiliary verb~'Be' can also be used to form continuous tense~The dogs were heard to be barking.~
be~verb~Be is used to describe things~She is said to be beautiful.~
be~verb~Used to give more information about things~You may be tall or you may be short.~
beach~verb~If something comes onto the sand and is unable to get back into water, it is said to be beached~A beached whale.~
beach~noun~The part of land beside the sea that is made of sand or small stones~Let's take a walk along the beach.~
bead~noun~A small piece of glass etc. that has a hole through the middle and can be used to make jewellery~A bead necklace.~
beak~noun~The hard part that makes up a bird's mouth. Usually pointed~The bird dug the worm up with its beak.~
bean~noun~An edible seed or pod filled with seeds that comes from a climbing plant~We had bean soup for lunch.~
bear~noun~A big wild animal with sharp, long claws and thick coarse fur~We saw the bears in the woods.~
bear~verb~Deal with something unpleasant~I couldn't bear her crying any longer.~
bear~verb~Carry or support the weight of something~She came bearing gifts; He could no longer bear the pressure of his job.~
bear~verb~If something bears something it shows it in a way that can be seen~She bore the mark of her tribe.~
beard~noun~The hair that grows on the chin and cheeks of a man's face~He shaved his beard.~
beast~noun~An animal, especially a dangerous one~He finally caught the beast.~Old-fashioned term
beat~verb~This is the regular action of the heart~My heart beat faster than ever when we crashed.~
beat~verb~Hit something or someone many times~She beat the egg with a whisk.~
beat~verb~If you win a game or competition you beat your opponents~Our school beat all the others at chess.~
beat up~verb~Repeatedly hit or kick~The suitcase was so beat up, we had to throw it out.~
beaut~noun~Australian and New Zealand English. Informal for something good, excellent or brilliant~That goal was a beaut.~Informal use
beautiful~adjective~Very pleasant or attractive~A beautiful girl drove past me in a beautiful car.~
beauty~noun~The quality of being pleasant or attractive~She was a beauty on the inside as well as the outside.~
beauty~noun~If you talk about the beauty of a plan or idea etc. you are talking about the advantages of it~The beauty of the plan is that we only need two people to make it work.~
became~verb~'Became' is the past tense of 'become'~He became a priest last week.~
because~conjunction~For the reason that~I went jogging because I wanted to keep fit.~
because~preposition~'Because of' is a preposition that means the same as 'due to'~It was because of her sore stomach that she did not make it to work.~
become~verb~Start being something~I have finally become a doctor.~
bed~noun~The bottom of the sea or a river or lake etc.~I dropped the coin on the river bed.~
bed~noun~A piece of furniture that is used to sleep on~I bought a double bed.~
bedroom~noun~The room in a house or apartment that you sleep in~I have a desk and a bed in my bedroom.~
bee~noun~A yellow and black flying insect that can sting. It also makes honey~A bee stung my nose.~
beef~noun~The meat of a cow~I like fried beef and onions.~
been~verb~When you have gone somewhere you can say that you have been somewhere~I have been to most countries in the world.~
been~verb~'Been' is the past participle of 'Be'~I have been waiting for you.~
beer~noun~An alcoholic drink made from malt and hops~I drink two pints of beer on a Saturday.~
beer~noun~A bottle, glass, or can of beer~Let's go for a beer.~
before~adverb~In the past~I loved steak before I decided to become a vegetarian.~
before~adverb~Previously~Have you read this book before?~
before~preposition~In front of~They knelt before the king.~Very formal
beforehand~adverb~Earlier~If you organise yourself beforehand you shouldn't have a problem.~
beg~verb~Ask for something in a tense way because you need it very badly~I begged my teacher to postpone the test.~
beg~verb~Ask for money or food; this often happens in the streets~A woman was begging for food for her children.~
began~none~'Began' is the past tense of 'begin'~I began to read that book yesterday.~
beggar~noun~A person who does not work but instead asks people for money and food~I gave a beggar some bread.~
begin~verb~Start to happen~I was beginning to feel cold.~
begin~verb~Start to do something~I will begin that work in the morning.~
beginning~noun~The start of something~This is the beginning of our holiday.~
begun~none~'Begun' is a form of the past tense of 'begin'~I have begun to complete that assignment.~
behalf~noun~When you do something on behalf of someone you do it instead of them~I did it on behalf of my brother.~
behave~verb~Do things a certain way~She behaved very well.~
behave~verb~Do things the way people think they should be done~I will behave myself at the party.~
behaviour~noun~The way that someone acts~Her behaviour has always been bad.~
behind~preposition~To the back of something or someone~The pen is behind you.~
behind~adverb~If something is left behind it has been forgotten, or not taken with you~I left the book behind.~
behind~adverb~If you stay behind you stay alone somewhere when everyone else has gone~She stayed behind to do some extra work.~
behind~preposition~If you are responsible for starting something you are behind it~He was behind all that trouble last week.~
behind~preposition~If you are behind someone you support what they are doing or thinking~I am behind my friend all the way.~
being~noun~Existing is being. (Being is also the present participle of 'be')~She came into being 20 years ago.~
being~noun~Something alive~A human being.~
being~noun~Your mind, soul, thoughts and heart~He believed it with all of his being.~Formal use
belief~noun~A strong feeling that something is true~She had a belief in the power of magic.~
believe~verb~If you have an opinion that something is true you believe that it's true~I believe that we need to make more of an effort to get along with each other.~
believe~verb~Feel sure that something is true~I believe in the advantages of modern medicine.~
believe~verb~If you believe someone you think that they are being truthful~I believed him but he was lying.~
believe~verb~If you believe in religion you think that a certain religion is true~I don't believe in demons.~
bell~noun~An electronic device that makes a ringing sound to tell people something~The bell rang and we knew it was time to have a break.~
bell~noun~An object, often shaped like a cup, that makes a ringing noise when you hit the side of it~We put a bell on our son's bicycle.~
belong~verb~Be in the correct place~The cups belong in the cupboard.~
belong~verb~If you belong to a group you are a part of it~I belong to the cricket club.~
belong~verb~If you own something it belongs to you~Put that down! It belongs to me!~
belongings~noun~Possessions~It took us weeks to move all our belongings to the new house.~
below~adverb~In a lower position or place~The seats below me were filled with people.~
below~adverb~At a lower temperature or level~The temperature has been below zero for the past week!~
belt~noun~A narrow piece of material that is worn around the waist either as an accessory or to keep your trousers or skirt from falling down~She bought a lovely red belt to go with her red trousers.~
bench~noun~A seat made for two or more people~We sat on an old bench and talked for hours.~
bend~noun~A curve or turn~We walked around a bend in the path.~
bend~verb~When you bend a part of your body you move it so that it is no longer straight~I bent my elbow and touched my shoulder.~
bend~verb~When you bend something you change the shape of it into a curve~She bent the ruler.~
beneath~adverb~Under or lower than something~I put the picture beneath my pillow.~
benefit~noun~A helpful effect or advantage~The benefits of the job are endless.~
benefit~verb~If you benefit from something it makes your life better in some way~I will benefit from a nice, long holiday.~
bent~adjective~'Bent' is both the past tense and past participle of 'bend'. It describes something that is not straight~Her legs were bent.~
berry~noun~A small round fruit that grows on trees and bushes, usually in large quantities~I put lots of berries in a fruit salad.~
beside~preposition~When something is next to something else it is beside it~The table is beside the sofa.~
besides~preposition~As well as or apart from~What options do we have besides this one?~
besides~adverb~'Besides' is used to make a further comment about something~Let's not bother going. Besides, we've already missed our train.~
best~adjective~'Best' is the superlative of good~Good, better, best.~
best~adverb~To the greatest extent~I like bacon the best.~
best~noun~The highest standard that someone can achieve~Did you do your best?~
bet~noun~If you make a bet you risk your money or something valuable on something~I made a bet with my friends that I could stand on my head for ten minutes.~
bet~verb~Risk money or something valuable on a guess that something will happen~I am going to bet on my football team winning the league.~
bet~verb~You say 'I bet' to show that you think something is true~I bet she'll be late again.~Informal use
betray~verb~Be unfaithful to someone who trusts you~She betrayed me by telling my secrets to her boyfriend who then told everyone.~
better~adverb~If you like something better than something else you like it more~I like jam better than peanut butter.~
better~adverb~If you had better do something, you should do it~I'd better go to school.~
better~adjective~If you are better or get better you are not as bad or ill as you were before~Has dad got any better yet?~
better~adjective~'Better' is the comparative of 'good'. If something is better it is of a higher quality~He's a better athlete than me.~
between~preposition~If something is shared between two or more people, it is shared among them~We drank the wine between us.~
between~preposition~Refers to the relationship that two or more things have~The relationship between patients and doctors.~
between~adverb~Usually used in the form 'in between'. This refers to something that happens in a period of time or a space that separates two other periods of time or spaces~She walked in between the flowers.~
beware~verb~If you tell someone to beware of something you are telling them to be careful because something bad might happen or they might get hurt~Beware of wet roads and slippery surfaces.~
beyond~preposition~On the far side of something~You will find some squirrels beyond that tree.~
beyond~preposition~Used to show that something is not possible~It is beyond my reach.~
bible~noun~The holy book of the Christian or Jewish religion~You should read and do what the Bible tells you to.~
bible~noun~A copy of the book of the Christian or Jewish faith~There are many Bibles in the library.~
bicycle~noun~A road vehicle that has pedals which you operate by pushing them with your feet~I think I will ride my bicycle to the park.~
bid~noun~An effort to do something~A desperate bid to win.~
bid~noun~An offer to buy something or do work for something~We had three bids for the truck.~
bid~verb~Offer to pay a certain amount of money for something~I bid all of our money for that painting.~
big~adjective~Large in size or importance~It was a big deal to us.~
big~adjective~Older~My big brother bought me a great present.~Informal use
bike~noun~A short word for a bicycle or motorcycle~I got a bike for Christmas.~
bikini~noun~A two-piece garment worn by women when swimming or tanning~I need a new bikini for our holiday.~
bill~noun~A piece of paper with an amount written on it which tells you how much you owe~I will pay the bill.~
bill~noun~A suggestion of a new law that is given to parliament to discuss~Do you think the bill will pass?~
bill~noun~US English. Paper money~I only have a 20 dollar bill.~
billion~noun~One thousand million~She earns billions of pounds.~Do not get confused with one million million. This is a trillion
bin~noun~A container with a lid that stores things, usually rubbish~Please empty the bin.~
bind~verb~When you bind things you tie them together with rope or twine etc.~She bound the books together.~
bind~verb~If you are bound to something you are forced to do it or be loyal to it~He was bound by duty.~
bingo~noun~A game where players are given a card with numbers on it. Numbers are then read out at random and if you have a line of the numbers on your card you win a prize~We play bingo on a Wednesday evening.~
binoculars~noun~Binoculars are instruments that allow you to see objects that are far away~I need the binoculars to see across the lake.~
biography~noun~A book that is written about someone's life by another person~Have you read the biography of Nelson Mandela?~
biology~noun~The study of life and the structure of living things~I am studying human biology.~
bird~noun~A creature with wings and feathers; most birds can fly~The birds flew across the sky.~
birth~noun~When a baby is born it is a birth~I was there are the birth of children.~
birth~noun~If a creature gives birth it has a baby~She gave birth to twins.~
birthday~noun~The day every year that marks the day that you were born~It's my birthday tomorrow.~
biscuit~noun~A crisp, dry cake that is made for one person~I love to dip biscuits in my tea.~
bishop~noun~A senior priest in the Christian faith that looks after the churches in certain areas~The bishop of Oxford.~
bit~noun~A little of something; a small amount~Can I have a bit of toast?~
bit~noun~A short time or distance~Can you move up a bit?~Informal use
bite~noun~A wound made when something bites you~We got hundreds of bites on our camping trip.~
bite~verb~Use your teeth to cut into or through something~I like to bite into a cake.~
bite~noun~A small piece of something bitten from a larger piece of something~I took a bite of the apple.~
bite~verb~If an animal wounds you with its teeth or mouth it bites you~That snake will bite you!~
bitter~adjective~If a person is bitter they are cross because they believe that they have been treated unfairly~She is bitter about the divorce.~
bitter~adjective~Very unpleasant, where people are filled with anger and hatred~It was a bitter struggle.~
bitter~adjective~If something is not sweet and has a strong, sharp taste, it is bitter~That lemon was bitter.~
black~adjective~If tea or coffee contains no milk it is black~I like sweet, black coffee.~
black~adjective~Black humour involves things that normally are not considered funny, such as death~The movie was full of black humour.~
black~noun~A member of a race of people who have black skin~Barack Obama is the first black US president.~
black~noun~The darkest colour, like coal or the sky at night~I need black shoes for work~
blackboard~noun~A large board that can be black or green in colour and is used by teachers to write on with chalk~Our homework is written on the blackboard.~
blackmail~noun~The crime of blackmailing people or a person~She tried to blackmail him.~
blackmail~verb~If you blackmail someone you force them to do something for you by threatening them with something like telling everyone their secrets~He blackmailed me for months but I finally told the police.~
blade~noun~A single leaf of grass~I lay with my face on the ground, looking at the blades of grass.~
blade~noun~The sharp, flat part of a knife, axe or tool~I need to clean the blades of all my kitchen knives.~
blame~verb~Believe that someone is responsible for doing something bad~I blamed her for the disaster.~
blame~noun~When something is responsible for something bad that has happened, they take the blame~I took the blame for her.~
blank~adjective~Having nothing on it~I wrote on a blank piece of paper.~
blanket~noun~A large cover that you use to keep you warm~Put another blanket over him.~
blast~verb~When something explodes it is called a blast~We need to blast away this debris.~
blast~noun~An explosion that breaks things into smaller pieces~There was a terrible bomb blast.~
blaze~noun~A large, dangerous fire~The blaze destroyed an entire forest.~
blaze~verb~Burn brightly~I say a blazing star in the sky.~
bleed~verb~When blood runs out of your body, usually due to injury, you bleed~I cut my finger and now it's bleeding.~
blend~verb~Mix different substances together~Blend some more milk into the batter.~
blend~verb~Mix things together so that they look attractive~That sofa blends in well with this room.~
bless~verb~Ask for something to have the protection of God~Will you bless this child?~
blew~verb~'Blew' is the past tense of 'blow'~I blew the candle out.~
blind~verb~Make it difficult to see for a short time or even permanently~The explosion blinded me.~
blind~noun~A covering for a window that is usually made of cloth~Please close the blinds, it's getting dark.~
blind~adjective~If you are blind you are unable to see~The blind man used a white cane to help him move around.~
blindfold~noun~Something that is put over someone's eyes so that they cannot see~We put a blindfold on her so she could not cheat.~
blindfold~verb~The act of putting a blindfold over someone's eyes so that they cannot see~They blindfolded the magician.~
blink~verb~A natural process of opening and closing your eyes quickly~We blink to clear our eyes of dust.~
blister~noun~A raising on your skin that contains a liquid. You usually get blisters when your skin has been burnt or rubbed too hard~I had a blister on my little finger.~
block~noun~A series of buildings with streets all around them~Take a walk around the block.~
block~verb~Stop something from happening~She blocked his attack.~
block~verb~Stop something moving past a certain point~He blocked her way into the house.~
block~noun~Something that is square or rectangular~We bought a block of cheese.~
block~noun~A large building that contains many apartments or offices is a block~He bought an entire block of apartments.~
bloke~noun~UK English for a man~Do you like that bloke?~Informal use
blonde~adjective~Blonde hair is a very light gold or yellow colour~She dyes her hair blonde.~'Blond' is the masculine form of 'blonde'
blonde~noun~A blonde is a female with blonde coloured hair~My sister has blonde hair.~
blood~noun~A red liquid that flows through the bodies of humans and animals, carrying oxygen and waste materials~He needs a blood transfusion.~
bloody~adjective~A swear word that people use to emphasise the noun that they are discussing~The holiday was bloody great.~
bloody~adjective~Something being covered in blood~The towel was very bloody.~
blouse~noun~A garment similar to a shirt that is worn by females~I bought a lovely new blouse.~
blow~noun~An event that has made you sad~Losing the race was a huge blow for him.~
blow~noun~A hard hit or smack~She received a blow to the face.~
blow~verb~When you blow your nose you clear it by forcing air through it suddenly~I need to go and blow my nose.~
blow~verb~If you blow into a whistle or a musical instrument you make it produce a sound by moving air through it~She blew into the trumpet.~
blow~verb~When air or wind blows it moves~The wind blew through her hair.~
blow~verb~Be moved by wind or air~The leaves are blowing around.~
blow out~verb~If something blows out it means that wind has extinguished or moved it~Please blow out that flame; The wind made the pages blow out of the book.~
blow up~verb~Explode~They tried to blow up his car but the police caught them.~
blow up~verb~If you fill something with air or gas you blow it up~They had to blow up hundreds of balloons for the wedding.~
blue~adjective~Of the colour of the sea on a clear day~Should I wear the blue shoes or the red ones?~
bluff~verb~Try and convince someone that what you are saying or doing is true when it isn't~I think she's bluffing.~
bluff~noun~An attempt to make someone believe you when you are not telling the truth~The whole thing was just a bluff.~
blunt~adjective~Not very sharp~I couldn't use the knife as it was blunt.~
blunt~adjective~Direct, saying what you think regardless of the consequences~I had no choice but to be blunt with her.~
blur~noun~Something that you can't see very well because it is moving very quickly or because it has no proper definition~The picture was a blur.~
blur~verb~If something becomes hard to see well it blurs~The rain blurred my vision.~
blush~verb~This is when your face becomes red because you are embarrassed~I blushed when he caught my eye.~
board~noun~A long , flat piece of something such as wood that is used to make floors etc.~They are putting down new floor boards.~
board~noun~A group of people who make the decisions in a company~He had to ask the board for a pay increase.~
board~noun~The meals that you are given in a hotel etc.~We paid for bed and board.~
board~noun~If you are on board something you are in or on it~I was the only person on board the train.~
board~verb~If you get onto or into a vehicle you board it~We boarded the plane.~
boast~verb~Talk too proudly to people about all the wonderful things you have or have done~He's always boasting.~
boat~noun~A vehicle smaller than a ship that can travel across water~We bought a new boat.~
bob~verb~Move quickly up and down, often in water~The boat bobbed up and down in the sea.~
body~noun~The entire physical being of an animal or human~The dog's body was covered with long hair.~
body~noun~The body of something is the main part of it~Did you read the body of the book or just the introduction?~
body~noun~Corpse~They laid her body to rest.~
bodyguard~noun~Someone whose job it is to look after and protect another person~I had to hire a bodyguard.~
boil~verb~When a liquid boils it starts to bubble and turns into vapour~The water in the kettle is boiling.~
boil~verb~Cook something in water that is boiling~Boil some carrots for dinner.~
bold~adjective~Something that can be seen very easily~The colours on the wall were very bold.~
bold~adjective~Brave and unafraid~It was a bold thing to do.~
bolt~noun~A threaded piece of metal that is used with a nut to fasten things together~How many bolts do we need?~
bolt~verb~Fasten something by sliding a bolt across it~Bolt the door at night.~
bolt~verb~Join things together with a bolt~We bolted boards across the windows.~
bomb~noun~A very dangerous weapon that explodes when it is set off~The bomb went off in the shopping centre.~
bomb~verb~If you bomb something you attack it by using bombs~They are trying to bomb the building!~
bond~noun~A strong or tight connection between people~Me and my cousin have a very strong bond.~
bone~noun~One of the hard parts of the body that make up the skeleton~She broke the bones in her foot.~
bonfire~noun~A large fire outdoors that is made to burn rubbish or celebrate something~Let's go and see the bonfire.~
bonus~noun~Extra money added to your usual wages, often as a reward for good work~I'm not getting a Christmas bonus this year.~
bonus~noun~Something nice that happens or that you get when you weren't expecting it~Getting away from school early was a bonus.~
book~verb~When you book something you make an arrangement to have it at a certain time~I'd like to book a room with a view of the sea.~
book~noun~A lot of pages and a hard or soft cover make up a book~Do you have his new book?~
boost~verb~Make something better or bigger~We need to boost the company's image.~
boost~noun~An increase or a rising of something~It was the boost she needed to build her confidence again.~
boot~noun~The part of a car at the back that you can put things in~Put the bags in the boot.~In US English this is a trunk
boot~noun~A shoe that covers your foot and ankle and sometimes goes all the way to your calf or thigh~How does she walk in those boots?~
border~verb~If something is next to something else it borders it~It was bordering the Indian Ocean.~
border~noun~A line that separates two countries or places~Do we need a passport to get across the border?~
border~noun~A piece of material that sits around the edge of something~What colour do you want the border in this room?~
bore~noun~A boring person; a person whom you find very dull~Don't invite him to the party, he's always such a bore!~
bore~verb~'Bore' is the past tense of 'bear'~He bore a tattoo on his shoulder.~
bore~verb~If something bores you it doesn't interest you~I was bored by her long story.~
bore~verb~Make a deep hole~She bored into the wall with a drill.~
boring~adjective~Not interesting~This book is so boring.~
born~verb~When a baby comes out of its mother's body it is born~Two baby sheep were born last night.~
borne~verb~'Borne' is the past participle of 'bear'~They had borne enough pain.~
borough~noun~A town or area that has its own local government~We live in a borough.~
borrow~verb~If you borrow something from someone you use it for a while~I borrowed her pencil.~
boss~noun~The person in charge of the people and the things happening at work~I don't like our new boss.~
boss~verb~If you boss someone you tell them what to do in an annoying way~Stop bossing me around!~
both~determiner~'Both' is used to show that you are referring to two things or people~They both like Chinese food.~Most of the time 'both' comes before a noun, but it can also occur before a pronoun
both~pronoun~You use 'both' to mean not only ... but also~You need to learn both German and French.~
bother~noun~Trouble~Did you get into bother with your teacher?~
bother~verb~If something doesn't bother you it doesn't worry you at all~I'm not bothered about going on holiday.~
bother~verb~If you bother someone you interrupt them when they may not want you to~Could I bother you for a minute?~
bother~verb~If you bother to do something you spend time and energy on it~I can't be bothered phoning him.~
bother~verb~If something bothers you it makes you worry about it~I'm bothered by her lack of enthusiasm.~
bottle~noun~A container, often made of glass or plastic, with a lid, that is used for carrying liquids~I want a bottle of beer.~
bottom~noun~The lowest part of something~I fell to the bottom of the stairs.~
bottom~noun~The part of your body, above your legs, that you sit on~Sit on your bottom please.~
bottom~adjective~The lowest or furthest or least important thing~Her name was at the bottom of the list.~
bounce~verb~When you hit something off something and it moves upwards or outwards you say it bounces~I bounced the pillow off the bed.~
bounce~verb~If a cheque bounces it is worth nothing because the person it belongs to has insufficient money in their bank account~I don't know why my cheque bounced, I thought I had some money.~
bound~adjective~If you are bound for somewhere you are about to travel there~The plane is bound for Japan.~
bound~noun~Bounds are limits~He is beyond the bounds of reason.~
bound~none~'Bound' is the past tense and past participle of 'bind'~I bound the books together with string.~
bound~adjective~If something is bound to happen it is inevitable that it will happen~I'm bound to have won.~
bow~noun~A knot with two loops and two ends that is used for decoration~She tied a bow to her jumper to show her support for children in need.~
bow~noun~A weapon used for firing arrows~They went hunting with bows and arrows.~
bow~verb~Move your head or the top half of your body downwards as a greeting or a show of respect~He bowed before the queen.~Note that the verb and the noun are pronounced differently
bowl~noun~A shape that looks like a bowl~The bowl of a spoon.~
bowl~verb~When you throw the ball in cricket you bowl~He bowled the fastest ball of the day.~
bowl~noun~A round dish that is slightly sunken to hold food or liquid~I hade a tasty bowl of cereal.~
bowling~noun~A game where the object is to knock pins down with a ball~My grandmother likes to go bowling with her friends on a Sunday afternoon.~
bowls~noun~I game where players try to roll their balls closest to a smaller ball~We watched a bowls tournament.~This is a singular noun
box~noun~A square or rectangular container, often with a lid, which is used for storing things~I found an old box of photographs.~
box~noun~A space on a from for writing things on~Please put your initial in the box.~
box office~noun~The place in a cinema or theatre where you can buy tickets~The movie was a box office success.~
boxing~noun~A sport where two people hit each other with their fists, which are covered in thick padded gloves~My dad took me to a boxing match.~
boxing day~noun~The 26th of December, the day after Christmas Day. It is an official holiday in Britain~On Boxing Day we ate the leftover turkey from Christmas day.~UK English
boy~noun~A young male person or child~She had a baby boy.~
boyfriend~noun~A male person that you are dating~Can my boyfriend come to the party?~
bra~noun~A piece of women's underwear that supports and covers the breasts~What size bra do you need?~
brace~noun~Braces are straps that are fastened to trousers to keep them up~My granddad has lots of different coloured braces.~
brace~verb~When you brace yourself you prepare yourself for something that is about to happen~Brace yourself, the roller coaster is about to start!~
brace~noun~Something that holds things together or supports them~He needs a neck brace.~
bracelet~noun~Jewellery that you wear around your arm or wrist~I gave her a silver bracelet for her birthday.~
bracket~noun~Either of the marks that look like this ( ) that show extra information in a piece of writing~He ran very fast (although he didn't need to)~
brain~noun~The organ in your head that controls thought and movement~We are trying to figure out how the brain works.~
brake~noun~A device used for stopping or slowing a vehicle~Put your foot on the brake.~
brake~verb~The act of using a brake to slow down or stop a vehicle~You need to brake around this corner.~
branch~verb~If something branches off it moves away in a different direction~The river branched off to the sea.~
branch~noun~The part of a tree that grows from the trunk and has leaves growing on it~He pulled a branch off the tree.~
branch~noun~A branch of an organisation is one office of it in a certain area~Go to your local branch and ask for details there.~
branch~noun~A division of a subject~What branch of law are you interested in?~
brand~noun~A certain type of product~I use a well known brand of hair products.~
brand-new~adjective~Totally new~We bought a brand-new house.~
brandy~noun~A strong alcoholic drink that is made from wine~We have a glass of brandy at Christmas.~
brass~noun~A yellow metal made from copper and zinc~She polished her brass ornaments.~
brave~adjective~If someone is not scared of doing dangerous, difficult things they are brave~Swimming across that lake was very brave.~
brave~verb~Deal with something unpleasant~They braved the storm to go looking for her.~
bread~noun~Food made from flour, water, possibly yeast, etc., and then baked~Hand me some bread for a sandwich please.~
break~verb~Damage something so that it falls into pieces~She broke the vase.~
break~noun~A time of rest~Are you going to take a break from work?~
break~verb~If you do something better than anyone else you break their record~He will never break the world record.~
break~verb~If you break news you tell it~I was the one who had to break the news to her.~
break~verb~If you break a promise or a law you do not keep it~She broke the law and got herself arrested; She broke our promise and now I can't trust her.~
break~verb~If you break from something you escape it~The lion broke free from the enclosure.~
break down~verb~This is when something stops working because of a fault~The train broke down and caused many delays.~
break up~verb~When something comes to an end it breaks up~The meeting will break up at noon; I give their marriage six months before it breaks up.~
breakdown~noun~If a person has a breakdown they have trouble in finding the power to keep living~She had an emotional breakdown.~
breakdown~noun~If a system or relationship stops functioning it is a breakdown~There was a machine breakdown at work that I had to fix.~
breakfast~noun~A meal that you have in the morning~I can never really manage to eat breakfast, I'm always too sleepy.~
breast~noun~One of the two round parts of a woman's chest that produces milk to feed her babies~She had her breasts enlarged.~
breast-feed~verb~Feed a baby from the breast~I wasn't able to breast-feed my children.~
breath~noun~The air that you inhale and exhale~She came up from the water to take a breath of air.~
breath~noun~You become out of breath when you get a fright or do something that takes a lot of physical effort~I am always out of breath when I work out at the gym.~
breathe~verb~Inhale and exhale air~I had something stuck in my throat and I couldn't breathe.~
breed~noun~A certain type of animal~What breed of sheep is that?~
breed~verb~The act of keeping animals or plants to produce young ones~He breeds horses.~
breed~verb~When animals breed they have sex and produce offspring~We want these two dogs to breed.~
breeze~noun~A calm wind~There was a lovely cool breeze blowing along the sea.~
bribe~noun~A some of money or a gift that is offered dishonestly to someone for their help~He offered the judge a bribe.~
bribe~verb~Offer someone a bribe~He always tries to bribe people.~
brick~noun~A block of baked clay that is used to build things~We live in a brick house.~
bride~noun~A woman who is just about to get married or has just got married~The bride looked beautiful on her wedding day.~
bridegroom~noun~A man who is just about to get married or has just got married~The bridegroom looked very nervous.~Often shortened to groom
bridesmaid~noun~A female whose job it is to help the bride~The bridesmaid had flowers in her hair.~
bridge~noun~A structure built over a road or river etc. that allows vehicles and people to cross over it~There is a bridge over this road.~
bridge~noun~A card game for two pairs of players who try to guess how many cards they will win~Do you want to have a game of bridge?~
brief~adjective~Short~That was a brief conversation.~
brief~verb~Give someone information about something~He briefed the mayor on the latest developments.~
briefcase~noun~A rectangular case used for carrying papers and documents~He takes that briefcase everywhere with him.~
bright~adjective~Quite intelligent~She seems to be a bright child.~
bright~adjective~Strongly coloured or lit~We need more bright light in this room.~
brilliant~adjective~Very impressive or clever~That is a brilliant idea!~
brilliant~adjective~Very good~How are you? Brilliant, thanks.~UK English, informal use
bring~verb~Make something happen~He brought the meeting to a close.~
bring~verb~Take something with you~Bring the food with you.~
bring about~verb~Make something happen~We need to bring about a change in the way different cultures view each other.~
bring up~verb~When you care for and raise children you are said to bring them up~My aunt has three children to bring up.~
britain~noun~The island that is made up of England, Wales and Scotland~We live in Britain.~
british~adjective~Connected to Britain~He is a British soldier.~
broad~adjective~Including many different things~There was a broad range of products to choose from.~
broad~adjective~Ample or wide~He was a broad-shouldered man.~
broadcast~verb~Send radio or television programmes~We will broadcast that message in just a moment.~
broadcast~noun~A programme on television or radio~We listened for the weather broadcast.~
brochure~noun~A small book that includes pictures and information about something~We picked up a holiday brochure.~
bronze~noun~A mixture of copper and tin that produces a reddish-brown metal~He gave us a bronze figurine.~
brooch~noun~A piece of jewellery, usually small, that can be pinned to clothes as decoration~The brooch was passed down to me from my great grandmother.~
broom~noun~A brush with a long handle~We swept the room with a broom.~
brother~noun~Your brother is a male who was born of the same parents as yourself~I have two brothers.~
brother-in-law~noun~The husband of your sister or your partner's sister, or the brother of your partner~I've invited your brother-in-law to the wedding.~
brown~noun~The colour of coffee when it's mixed with milk~He wore a brown tie.~
bruise~noun~A blue or purple mark that appears on your skin if something has hurt it~She playfully punched me but it left a bruise.~
bruise~verb~Make a bruise on a person by hurting them~He bruised my leg.~
brush~verb~Clean something with a brush~I need to brush the sofa down.~
brush~noun~An object with short wires or bristles and a handle that is used for cleaning, painting etc~Please hand me that paint brush.~
brush~verb~Lightly touch something when moving past it~I brushed the glass as I walked around the table.~
brutal~adjective~Very violent and cruel or evil~He hit the dog in a brutal way.~
bubble~noun~A ball of liquid filled with air~The children blew soap bubbles at me.~
bubble~noun~A ball of air or gas in something~There was a bubble of air in the liquid.~
bubble~verb~Make bubbles~The water in the kettle began to bubble.~
bucket~noun~An open container, often of metal or plastic, with a rounded handle~They filled a bucket with water from the well.~
buckle~verb~The act of fastening a buckle~I buckled my shoes.~
buckle~verb~Bend due to heat or weight~The record buckled when we left it in the sun.~
buckle~noun~The part of a belt that holds the two ends together~Your buckle is coming undone.~
buddhism~noun~A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha~I read a book on Buddhism.~
budget~noun~An amount of money available to you or a plan of how much money you can spend~We are working with a very tight budget.~
buffet~noun~A place where you can eat at a station etc.~I don't like the sandwiches you get at the station buffet.~
buffet~noun~A meal where people serve themselves from a large range of food~We ate at the Sunday buffet in our local hotel.~
bug~noun~A small insect~There is a bug on your shirt.~
bug~noun~A mild illness~He has a bug at the moment so I don't think he will go to work today.~
bug~verb~Use a small device called a bug to listen to other people when they don't realise you can hear them~He bugged the office.~
bug~verb~Annoy someone~Will you stop bugging me!~
bug~noun~A fault in a computer program~That bug will eventually make this computer crash.~
build~verb~Make something~He built a huge rocket.~
build~verb~Develop something slowly~It took him years to build the business up.~
build~noun~Your build is your physical make-up~She has a really tiny build.~
building~noun~Any structure that has walls and a roof~She won't leave the building.~
building society~noun~An organisation quite like a bank that allows people to invest and to borrow money to buy a house~I prefer to invest my money in building societies rather than banks.~
bulb~noun~The part of some plants that grows underground and produces new flowers when planted~We planted daffodil bulbs.~
bulb~noun~The replaceable glass apparatus in a lamp that light shines out of~That light bulb has blown.~
bulk~noun~The main or largest part of something~She will take the bulk of the furniture in a van~
bull~noun~The mature male of some large animals, especially cattle~There is a bull whale.~
bullet~noun~The piece of metal that is fired out of a gun~They ran out of bullets.~
bully~verb~If you are bullied into doing something you are forced into it~They bullied me into cutting the grass.~
bully~noun~A person who bullies other people~He was always a bully.~
bully~verb~Frighten someone weaker than you~He bullied the small boy.~
bump~noun~The sound made when something knocks or hits something~We heard a bump in the kitchen.~
bump~noun~A swelling~He had a bump on his nose.~
bump~verb~Accidentally knock or hit something~He bumped into the table.~
bumper~noun~A bar that is attached to the front or back of a vehicle to help protect it in case it bumps into something~They put a sticker on their bumper.~
bun~noun~A small sweet cake~Let's have a cup of tea and a bun.~
bunch~noun~A group of things that have grown together~A bunch of bananas; a bunch of grapes.~
bunch~noun~A large number of things~There was a bunch of people at the show.~
bundle~verb~Move something somewhere quickly and with little care~She bundled him into the house and out of the cold.~
bundle~noun~Things that are all wrapped up together~A bundle of clothes.~
bungalow~noun~A house with no stairs~I grew up in a bungalow.~
burden~noun~A responsibility or job that causes a lot of worry~If I help you it will reduce the burden.~
burglar~noun~Someone who steals from a place at night~Everything was stolen by burglars.~
burn~noun~A mark caused by fire~She had a nasty burn on her hand.~
burn~verb~Damage something with fire~I burnt the toast.~
burn~verb~Hurt yourself with fire or heat~I burnt my legs.~
burn~verb~Make fire and heat~The letter was burning in the fire.~
burst~noun~A short period of something~A burst of tears; I work in bursts.~
burst~verb~Break open~The container burst and the contents spilt all over me!~
burst~verb~Move somewhere quickly with force~He burst through the crowd.~
bury~verb~This is when you put something into the ground and cover it up, or when you hide something under other things~I buried my diary in the garden; I buried the money under a pile of washing.~
bus~noun~A large vehicle that can transport many passengers~I get the bus to work.~
bush~noun~A short, thick plant with stems and roots~The dog ran behind the bush.~
bush~noun~An area of wild land in Africa or Australia~We are camping in the bush.~
business~noun~Matters and events~This whole business is a bit strange.~
business~noun~Trade; selling and buying and doing services~I hope we can do business again.~
business~noun~A company that does commercial things~I run the family business.~
bust~noun~A model of a person's head and shoulders~A bust of the queen.~
bust~noun~A woman's breasts~What size is your bust?~
bust~verb~Break something~I busted the phone.~Informal use
busy~adjective~Having a lot of things to do~She is busy all week.~
busy~adjective~If a place is full of activity it is busy~That shop is very busy.~
but~conjunction~'But' is used to contrast an idea with something that has just been said~I like cats but I love dogs.~
but~preposition~Apart from~He had nothing but bad news.~
butcher~noun~A person who carves and sells meat; the butcher's is the shop in which the meat is sold~My dad is a butcher; I got nice steak from the butcher's.~
butter~noun~A soft yellow substance made from milk or cream that is used on food or in cooking~Would you like some butter on your potatoes?~
butterfly~noun~An insect with four (often colourful) wings and a thin body~A butterfly flew straight past my nose.~
button~verb~Fasten something with buttons~Button up your shirt.~
button~noun~A small round object used to fasten two parts of clothing together~I sewed a new button on your skirt.~
button~noun~A part of a machine that you need to press in order to make it work~Don't push the red button!~
buy~verb~Pay money for something~I would like to buy those flowers please.~
by~preposition~Near or next to something~She stood by my side.~
by~adverb~Past~The cars went by us.~
by~preposition~Used to show a part of something that is being held~She held it by the handle.~
by~preposition~Used to show who or what did something~I did it by myself.~
by~preposition~Used to show the amount of something~You missed him by a minute.~
by~preposition~Used to show in what way something is done~She read by candlelight.~
by~preposition~Not later than a certain time~You should be in bed by eight.~
cab~noun~A vehicle used to transport people for a fee. Another word for this is 'taxi'~He got into the nearest cab.~
cab~noun~The part in some vehicles where the driver sits~He let me climb into the lorry cab.~
cabbage~noun~A large, leafy, green vegetable that looks similar to a lettuce~We put cabbage in the casserole.~
cabin~noun~A small house, usually made of wood and usually found in the country~We have a cabin up North.~
cabin~noun~A small room in a ship used for sleeping in or living in~Our cabin was very comfortable.~
cabinet~noun~A small piece of furniture used for storing things~I put my shampoo in the bathroom cabinet.~
cabinet~noun~A group of the most important government ministers~She is a member of the cabinet.~
cable~noun~A group of wires covered in plastic that can carry electricity~The cable split open.~
cable television~noun~A system whereby you receive television programmes through wires rather than radio waves~I love the programmes on cable television.~
cafÈ~noun~A place where drinks and snacks are sold and consumed~Shall we meet in the cafÈ for a coffee after work?~
caffeine~noun~A mildly addictive drug found in coffee, tea and chocolate that makes you more active~You can now buy coffee with no caffeine.~
cage~noun~A structure made of metal or wire that is used to hold birds or animals~That cage isn't big enough for that bird.~
cake~noun~A sweet food that is made by baking ingredients such as flour, eggs and sugar~I love chocolate cake.~
calculate~verb~Use numbers to work out a total of something~Can you calculate the distance between your house and mine?~
calculator~noun~A tool used for calculating numbers~We were not allowed to use calculators in our mathematics exam.~
calendar~noun~A booklet of pages that show every day of the year~I checked my calendar to see what day my birthday fell on.~
calf~noun~Some young animals, especially those of cows, are called calves~The calf was very small.~
calf~noun~The fleshy part at the back of the bottom half of your leg~She rubbed her calves after her jog.~
call~verb~Use the phone to talk to someone~I'll call him in a minute.~
call~verb~Tell someone to come somewhere~I called her into my study.~
call~noun~A loud shout~A call was heard in the distance.~
call~noun~The act of making a call from a telephone~Give dad a call and see if he's at home.~
call~verb~Visit somewhere~I'm calling in to granny's before I come home.~
call~verb~Shout loudly, usually to attract attention~He called to the dog.~
call~noun~A visit~I must make a call at Jane's tonight.~
call~verb~Describe as~They call me funny.~
call~verb~When a person is given a name, that is what they are called~We will call him Jack.~
call off~verb~Postpone indefinitely~She called the wedding off.~
calm~adjective~Relaxed and unexcited~She stayed very calm.~
calm~adjective~If the sea is calm it does not have many waves~The sailors were happy to see the calm sea.~
calm~verb~Make someone more relaxed~I tried to calm her down.~
came~verb~'Came' is the past tense of 'come'~The paper came yesterday.~
camera~noun~A piece of equipment that takes photographs or images of things~They needed three cameras for one scene in the movie; I took a picture of our new house with my camera.~
camp~noun~A place where you can put a tent or caravan~It's only another mile to the camp.~
camp~noun~A place where people are kept by the government~They were put in a concentration camp.~
camp~verb~Stay in a tent or caravan~We go camping every year.~
campaign~noun~A series of activities with a certain aim in mind~A political campaign.~
campaign~verb~Take part in a campaign~He campaigned for animal rights.~
can~verb~Have permission to~My dad said that I can go to your birthday party.~
can~verb~Be able to~I can run very quickly.~Can is a modal or auxiliary verb. It has no inflections
can~noun~A metal container used to preserve food~A can of beans.~
canal~noun~A narrow man-made river used for boats that transport goods and people~Holland is famous for its canals.~
cancel~verb~Stop something that has already been arranged to happen~We had to cancel our holiday in Spain this year.~
cancer~noun~A serious disease involving uncontrolled growth of cells~We gave a donation to a cancer charity.~
candidate~noun~A person who is potentially suitable for something~We interviewed all the candidates.~
candle~noun~A piece of wax with a wick through the middle that creates light and a little heat as it burns~I put candles all around the bath.~
candy~noun~A sweet type of food that is made mainly from sugar or chocolate~I would love some candy.~
cannot~verb~Cannot means 'can not'. It is also shortened to can't~I cannot come to the party as I am going to a wedding.~
canteen~noun~Part of a place of work or a school where workers or students can buy food~I hate the soup in the canteen.~
cap~noun~A soft hat with a peak at the front~Lots of boys wear caps.~
capable~adjective~Having the ability to do something~I am capable of winning the race.~
capacity~noun~The total number of things that something can safely carry~The box was filled to capacity.~
capacity~noun~Your ability to understand or do something~She has a great capacity for words.~
capacity~noun~A function that someone or something has~Are you acting in your capacity as a lawyer?~
capital~noun~The big letter that you find at the beginning of sentences in English~Always start a sentence with a capital letter.~
capital~noun~The most important city in a country or state~Paris is the capital of France.~
capital~noun~The money invested in a company is its capital~We will need a lot of capital to get this company running.~
capitalism~noun~A system where businesses and services are mainly run by private people rather than the government~I agree with the ideas of capitalism.~
capitalist~noun~Someone who supports capitalism~He is a capitalist.~
capitalist~adjective~Based on capitalist ideas~We live in a capitalist society.~
captain~noun~The person in charge of a ship or plane~The captain would like everyone to put their seatbelts on.~
captain~noun~The leader of a team, especially in sports~The captain cried when his team lost.~
capture~verb~Catch something and keep it prisoner~They captured the leader and put him in jail.~
capture~verb~Accurately create a feeling or atmosphere~They really captured the essence of the countryside.~
car~noun~A vehicle that travels along roads and can carry a small number of passengers~We went by car.~
car~noun~A carriage on a train~We sat in the first car of the train.~
car park~noun~A place where people can leave their cars while they are doing something~I leave my car in the car park every Saturday when I go shopping.~This is UK English. The usual US English is 'Parking lot'
caravan~noun~A vehicle without an engine that can be pulled by a car and is designed for people to live and sleep in~We always take our caravan on holiday with us.~
carbon~noun~A chemical element that is found in all living things~How much of our bodies is made from carbon?~
card~noun~Thick, firm paper which often has a design on it~Let's make Easter cards.~
card~noun~A small piece of card used for playing games~We need another pack of cards to play this game.~
cardboard~noun~Thick, blank, firm paper~I need to stick these pictures to a piece of cardboard.~
care~verb~If you care for someone, you look after them~I care for my granny.~
care~noun~Attention~She read the text with great care.~
care~verb~If you care about something you worry about it because you think that it is important~I care about humanity.~
care~noun~Responsibility for a task~I will take care of the money problems.~
care~noun~A thing that you worry about~He has no cares about anything.~
care~noun~The act of looking after something~We need to revise our patient care policies.~
care~verb~Like someone and worry about them because you like them~I care about my parents.~
career~noun~The job or the type of jobs that you do~I want a career in medicine.~
careful~adjective~Giving much attention to detail~We must give this careful thought.~
careful~adjective~Giving attention to something so that you don't do it wrong or badly~You need to be careful when you use the oven.~
careless~adjective~Not paying much attention to what you are doing, so that often you do it wrongly~Don't be so careless with your work.~
carpet~noun~A thick fabric that is used to cover floors~We have blue carpet in our hall.~
carriage~noun~A section of a train used for carrying passengers~We were in the economy carriage.~
carriage~noun~A road vehicle that was used many years ago and was pulled by horses, usually to transport people~The carriage tipped over when the horses got scared.~
carrot~noun~An orange root vegetable that is often long and thin~We will have carrots with our dinner tonight.~
carry~verb~Take something with you~Do you want me to carry that bag for you?~
carry~verb~Support the weight of something~That road will never carry all that traffic.~
carry on~verb~Continue~I told the class to carry on reading while I prepared the next class.~
carry out~verb~When you carry something out you do it in full~I will carry out the work over the next few days.~
cart~noun~A wooden vehicle used many years ago to transport goods; often pulled by horses~She had a cart of fresh vegetables.~
cartoon~noun~A drawn picture or series of pictures usually found in a newspaper or magazine that show funny things happening or being said~I buy that newspaper to read the cartoons.~
cartoon~noun~A movie whose characters are drawn~I watched a Tom and Jerry cartoon.~
carve~verb~Cut into something in such a way that it creates a pattern~He carved our table from a single block of wood.~
carve~verb~Slice meat~Who will carve the turkey?~
case~noun~A situation~The worst case scenario would be to get fired.~
case~noun~A trial~What do you think of the case?~
case~noun~A bag used for carrying things over long distances~We packed our cases and put them on the plane.~
case~noun~The true or real situation~Yes, that is the case.~
case~noun~'In case' shows that you think that something might happen~I watered the pants in case you forgot to.~
case~noun~A container used to protect or carry things~I have a new case for my glasses.~
case~noun~The facts and arguments that support an idea~She made a good case for her actions.~
cash~verb~If you cash a cheque you give it to someone who gives you the money it is worth~The bank will cash that cheque for you.~
cash~noun~Coins and notes of money~How much cash do you have on you?~
cassette~noun~A small plastic tape that has sounds recorded on it or that you can record sounds onto~Shall we listen to that cassette?~
cast~noun~The actors that make up a film or play are the cast~We applauded the cast.~
cast~verb~The act of picking actors is known as casting actors~She was cast as a teacher.~
cast~verb~To cast doubt is to make people wonder if something is real or true~The new witness cast doubt over his motive.~
cast~verb~Use your vote~When are you going to cast your vote?~
castle~noun~A large building with high walls, usually built by a king many years ago~They attacked the castle from all sides.~
casual~adjective~If something happens by chance it is casual~It was a casual meeting.~
casual~adjective~Showing little care~She was very casual in her work.~
casual~adjective~If clothes are casual they are not formal~He wore casual shoes to the wedding.~
casualty~noun~A person who is killed or hurt in an accident~There were three casualties.~
cat~noun~A small fur-covered animal with a long tail that is often kept as a pet~Our cat had kittens.~
catalogue~noun~A list of things that sometimes includes pictures~A catalogue of Christmas presents.~
catch~verb~Start to burn~The rug caught fire.~
catch~noun~A device used for fastening something~Lock the catch on the door.~
catch~verb~See something~I caught her out of the corner of my eye.~
catch~verb~Get an illness or disease~I think you have caught that stomach bug.~
catch~verb~Discover someone doing something wrong~I caught her jumping on the chairs.~
catch~verb~Capture something that does not want to be captured~I finally caught the bird.~
catch~verb~Get a hold on something that is moving~I caught the stone before it hit the car.~
catch~noun~A hidden difficulty in something~You want to give me all this for free? What's the catch?~
catch~verb~Manage to get to a mode of transport in time~I caught the bus with ten minutes to spare.~
catch up~verb~Stop being behind~I need to catch up last week's homework; If I don't run I won't catch up with my friend.~
category~noun~A group of things that share similar features~There are several categories to choose from.~
cater~verb~Provide things for someone or something~She catered to all of his needs.~
cathedral~noun~A main church in an area that has a bishop in charge of it~Can we take a tour of the cathedral?~
catholic~noun~A Catholic is a person who believes in the Roman Catholic faith~Most of my family are Catholics.~
cattle~noun~A group of cows, bulls, or other animals of this type~That farmer has lost all his cattle.~
cauliflower~noun~A large, hard vegetable with white flesh and green leaves~I like to eat cauliflower raw.~
cause~noun~The thing that makes something occur~A small boy was the cause of the fire.~
cause~noun~Something for which people fight~Our cause is world peace.~
cause~verb~Make something occur~She caused a riot with her speech.~
cautious~adjective~Taking care in what you do so that you don't get into trouble or make mistakes~I'm very cautious about trusting him.~
cave~noun~A large hole that is usually naturally made into the side of cliffs or under the ground~I wonder if there is any treasure in that cave.~
cave in~verb~If something such as a roof caves in, it falls down~The building caved in on itself.~
cd~abbreviation~Abbreviation for 'compact disc'~Which of these is your newest CD?~
ceiling~noun~The part of a room farthest from the ground, on the inside~We need to paint the ceiling.~
celebrate~verb~Do something fun and special to show that you are happy about something~Let's celebrate your new promotion!~
celebration~noun~A planned event to celebrate something~I have to organise the wedding celebrations.~
celebrity~noun~A well-known, well-liked person~Who is your favourite celebrity?~
cell~noun~The smallest unit of a living thing~Our bodies are made up of cells.~
cell~noun~The room that prisoners are locked up in~There were three prisoners in one cell.~
cellar~noun~A storage room underneath a building~We keep our potatoes in the cellar.~
cement~noun~A grey powder that is mixed with water and sand to make mortar~Builders use a lot of cement.~
cemetery~noun~A place where the dead are buried~The cemetery was an hour away from the church.~
cent~noun~A coin form of money used in many countries~You need rands and cents in South Africa and you need dollars and cents in the USA.~
centimetre~noun~A unit for measuring length~There are 100 centimetres in a metre.~
central~adjective~In the middle of something~I visited Central America.~
central~adjective~The most important thing~Women's rights are the central issue being discussed today.~
central heating~noun~A system where hot water is pumped through pipes to heat the rooms in a building~All houses in cold countries should have central heating.~
center~noun~US spelling of 'centre'~He stood in the center of the room.~
centre~noun~A building used for a specific purpose~I love going to our shopping centre.~
centre~noun~The middle of something~Push the button in the centre of the panel.~
century~noun~100 years~We have not won a match in over a century.~Centuries are always described by one number higher, e.g. the 16th century is the years between 1501 and 1600
cereal~noun~A grain food that is often eaten for breakfast~I think I need two bowls of cereal this morning.~
ceremony~noun~A formal or traditional occasion~A wedding ceremony.~
certain~adjective~Completely sure of something~I am certain she will win.~
certain~adjective~'Certain' can be used to mention something without giving its details away~Certain people might not like this idea.~
certainly~adverb~Definitely~I will certainly help you.~
certainly~adverb~'Certainly' can be used to say 'yes, of course'~Can you tell me the time? Certainly~
certificate~noun~An official document that states that certain things are true~My mother kept my birth certificate in a safe place.~
chain~noun~A number of related things~A chain of events was involved.~
chain~noun~A long string of metal rings or links that are fastened together~She wore a silver chain around her neck.~
chain~verb~Tie things together with a chain~I chained the bicycle to the shed.~
chair~noun~A piece of furniture with four legs that is made for one person to sit on~Push your chair closer to the table.~
chairman~noun~A person who takes control of a meeting~The chairman spoke.~It is now better to use the word 'chairperson'
chairman~noun~A person in charge of a company etc.~He is the new chairman.~
chalk~noun~A soft white stone that is often changed slightly so that it can be used to write on blackboards~A box of coloured chalk.~
challenge~noun~A new and difficult task~That will be a challenge!~
challenge~verb~Suggest that someone should confront you or compete against you~I challenged him to a computer game dual.~
challenge~verb~Ask if something is correct because you believe it may not be~She challenged his story in court.~
challenge~noun~A suggestion from someone to compete with you or confront you~I accept your challenge.~
challenge~noun~A question that shows that you are not convinced that something is true~It was a challenge to her manager's authority.~
chamber~noun~A room that has a certain purpose~A meeting chamber; A burial chamber.~
champagne~noun~A sparkling white wine made in France that is often drunk on special occasions~We had a bottle of champagne to celebrate.~
champion~noun~A person or team that has won in a competition~He is the world champion.~
championship~noun~A competition where people or teams compete to find out who is the best~I watched a boxing championship.~
chance~noun~A possibility that something you would like there to occur will occur~What are our chances of winning?~
chance~noun~A possibility of something happening that you do not want to happen~There is a chance that he may have to move away.~
chance~noun~A suitable time for something; an opportunity~This is your last chance!~
chance~noun~The likelihood of something happening~My chances aren't great.~
chance~verb~Risk something~I will chance my luck.~
chancellor~noun~The person who is head of state in some European countries~The chancellor of Germany.~
chancellor~noun~A government minister in Britain who is responsible for financial matters~The chancellor's speech was pretty good.~Also the chancellor of the exchequer
change~noun~Money in the form of coins~How much change do you have?~
change~noun~If something is a change, it is different~I think we need a change of conversation.~
change~verb~Swap notes for coins or vice versa, or swap money from one currency to another~Can you change these dollars to pounds please?~
change~noun~The process of replacing something~We need a change of government.~
change~verb~Be different~Your car has changed.~
change~verb~If you change your mind, you stop thinking the things that you used to~I've changed my mind, I prefer dogs to cats.~
change~verb~Take off the clothes you are wearing and put others on~I need to change my shirt.~
change~noun~Your change is the money that you are owed after you have paid for something~It cost two dollars and I gave her a five dollar note so I got three dollars in change.~
change~verb~Move from one vehicle to another if you are continuing your journey~We need to change buses at the next stop.~
change~verb~Replace something with something else~I changed my telephone number.~
channel~noun~A television or radio station is a channel~I was listening to my favourite channel.~
channel~noun~A passage of water~The English channel.~
channel~verb~If you channel something you send it or direct it through something~Channel money, channel water, channel light, etc.~
chant~noun~Words or phrases that are repeated over and over~You could hear the chant from miles away.~
chant~verb~Repeat words and phrases~I chanted along with the rest of the crowd.~
chaos~noun~Confusion and disorder~The rain has caused chaos on the roads.~
chap~noun~An old-fashioned word for a man; usually used if you like the person concerned~He was a good chap.~
chapel~noun~A place used for religious worship that has its own altar etc.~They prayed in the chapel.~
chapter~noun~One of the sections of a book. Often this has its own title~Chapter 3 is really scary!~
character~noun~An interesting or strange person~She's a real character.~
character~noun~One of the people or animals that make up a book or play etc.~Who is your favourite character?~
character~noun~The features that something has that other things don't~The restaurant had a lot of character.~
characteristic~noun~A usual feature of something or someone~The twins have such different characteristics.~
characteristic~adjective~Usual of something or someone~It was a characteristic thing for her to do.~
charge~noun~The amount of money that something costs~There is a small charge.~
charge~verb~Ask for the amount of money needed to purchase something~She charged me too much money for my groceries.~
charge~noun~An official claim of guilt made by the police~He will face his charges next week.~
charge~noun~Control or responsibility for something or someone~I am in charge of my brother when my parents are out.~
charge~verb~Move forward and attack something quickly~He charged at me.~
charge~verb~Formally accuse someone of doing something wrong~She was charged with fraud.~
charge~verb~Fill something with electricity~I need to charge my car battery.~
charity~noun~An organisation that helps people in need of money or clothes etc.~We support many charities for homeless people.~
charity~noun~The donations made to help people~We gave our old clothes to charity.~
charm~noun~The characteristic of being pleasing and attractive~She has great charm.~
charm~verb~Use your charm to win others over~I was so charmed by him I gave him all my money.~
charming~adjective~Irresistible and pleasing~She is such a charming woman.~
chart~noun~Information presented in the form of a diagram~He drew a chart to record details of the weather.~
chart~verb~Follow the progress of something~We charted the history of the owners of the house.~
charter~noun~A document that details the rights that groups or individuals should have~A charter of teachers' rights.~
charter~verb~To charter a plane or a boat is to hire it~We chartered a plane to Australia.~
chase~verb~Go after someone or something in an attempt to catch them~Don't make me chase the dog again!~
chase~noun~The act of going after something or someone in an attempt to catch them~We had to give up the chase.~
chat~verb~Talk in a casual, friendly way~We were chatting about my brother.~
chat~noun~The act of talking in a casual, friendly way~We had a nice chat.~
chat up~verb~When you chat someone up you talk in a friendly way to them because you find them attractive~He was chatting her up for hours.~UK English
cheap~adjective~Of bad quality~It was a cheap and nasty suit.~
cheap~adjective~Nasty or unkind (comment or remark)~She made a cheap joke about his spots.~
cheap~adjective~Costing little~Shirts are really cheap in our local shop this week.~
cheat~verb~Be dishonest in order to win or gain something~If you cheat in your exams you will automatically fail.~
cheat~verb~Trick someone in order to get something from them~He cheated me out of 100 pounds.~
cheat~noun~Someone who cheats~She is not a cheat!~
check~noun~A pattern of differently coloured squares~She had a check coat.~
check~verb~Examine something to make sure that it is in the condition it should be~We checked our pockets to make sure our money hadn't fallen out.~
check~noun~An investigation to make sure that everything is happening the way it should~We need to do a check of the area.~
check~adjective~Having a pattern of differently coloured squares~A check coat.~
check~noun~US English for a cheque or a bill~How much is the check?~
check in~verb~Usually this happens at an airport or hotel where you let the establishment know that you have arrived~I need to check in before three today.~
check out~verb~Pay your bill and let a hotel etc. know that you are leaving~I'm going to check out of the hotel tomorrow.~
check out~verb~Find out the facts about something~Let's check out the wedding suite.~
check up~verb~Find out if something is true, or make sure that someone is doing what they are supposed to~I need to check up on grammar before I write the language test; I'm going to check up on my sister to make sure she's not on the phone again.~
checkbook~none~US English for chequebook~I need a new checkbook.~
checkout~noun~Where you pay for your goods in a shop~I had a nice chat with the lady at the checkout.~
cheek~noun~The fleshy side of your face below your eye~My cheeks are red.~
cheeky~adjective~Rude in a charming way~I like him because he is a little bit cheeky.~
cheer~verb~A shout that people give to show that they approve of what is going on~The public cheered at the president's speech.~
cheer~noun~A shout of approval or praise~We heard a great cheer from the stadium.~
cheers~noun~An informal word that people use when they lift up their glasses to have a drink, to show that they are happy~Cheers to everyone!~
cheer up~verb~You cheer someone up by making them happy when they are sad~Chocolate cheers me up when I'm sad.~
cheerful~adjective~Happy~She looks very cheerful this morning.~
cheerful~adjective~Making you feel happy~I received a cheerful letter from him.~
cheese~noun~A food made from milk that is often white or yellow~Can I have cheese on my toast?~
chef~noun~A person whose job it is to cook food~He wants to be a chef when he grows up.~
chemical~noun~A substance connected with chemical processes~She spilt the chemicals on the table.~
chemical~adjective~Connected to chemistry~A chemical element.~
chemist~noun~A person who prepares medicines and sells them. The shop where these are sold is called the chemist's~The chemist had run out of several drugs.~
chemistry~noun~The scientific study of substances and how they react in different environments and with each other~I studied chemistry at university.~
cheque~noun~A printed form that you receive from the bank. You write an amount of money on it and use it as payment instead of cash~Do you accept cheques?~
chequebook~noun~A book containing many cheques~I need a new chequebook.~
cherry~noun~A small, round, red or black fruit with a stone called a pit in the centre~Cherry pie.~
chess~noun~A game for two people on a board with black and white squares. The aim is to trap your opponent's king~I was in the chess club at school.~
chest~noun~The top, front part of your body, from under your neck to your waist~The shirt was too tight on his chest.~
chest~noun~A large, strong box used for storing things~She kept all her letters in a wooden chest.~
chew~verb~Use your tongue and teeth to make things easier to swallow~Are you chewing gum?~
chicken~noun~A large farm bird, or the meat of this bird~We will have chicken for dinner tonight.~
chief~noun~The leader of a group, organisation, tribe, etc.~I need to speak to the chief of police please.~
chief~adjective~The main thing~The chief reason for this is laziness.~
child~noun~A young human being~She was a child actress.~The plural of 'child' is 'children'
child~noun~The son or daughter of someone of any age~The parents took their  children on a picnic.~
childhood~noun~The time spent as a child~She travelled all through her childhood.~
childish~adjective~Silly and immature~She can be so childish.~
chilly~adjective~Quite cold~There was a chilly breeze.~
chimney~noun~The passage made above a fire which the smoke can travel through~Smoke came out of the chimney.~
chin~noun~The part of your face just under your mouth and just above your neck~He had a spot on his chin.~
chinese~adjective~Connected to China~I have a Chinese dress.~
chinese~noun~A person who comes from China~My grandmother is a Chinese.~Chinese is both the singular and plural form
chinese~noun~The languages spoken in China~I learnt Chinese.~
chip~noun~The place left on an object where a piece has fallen off~There was a small chip in her tooth.~
chip~verb~Damage by breaking off a small piece~I chipped a cup accidentally.~
chip~noun~Chips are thin pieces of potato that are deep-fried~I like lots of salt on my chips.~
chip~noun~US English for potato crisps~Could I have beef chips please?~
chip~noun~Piece of apparatus in a computer that makes electrical connections etc.~We need a faster chip.~
chip~noun~A small piece of an object that has been broken off from the whole~He held the chip of wood in his hand.~
chocolate~noun~A type of candy or sweet made from chocolate~I eat a bar of chocolate every day.~
chocolate~noun~A sweet, brown food made from cocoa beans and used in cooking etc.~I made a chocolate cake.~
choice~noun~A number of different things that you can pick from~There was a huge choice of food in the supermarket.~
choice~noun~The act of choosing between things~He had to make a tough choice.~
choice~noun~If you have no choice, you have to do something~I have no choice, I have to tell him the truth.~
choir~noun~A group of people who sing together, especially in a church~The choir sang three of my favourite songs.~
choke~verb~Stop someone from breathing by holding their throat so that they cannot inhale any air~He choked her and was sent to jail.~
choke~verb~Get something stuck in your throat that stops you from breathing~She choked on a chicken bone.~
chook~noun~Australian and New Zealand English. A slang term for a chicken or hen~The chooks escaped last night and it took me an hour to catch them!~
choose~verb~Decide to do something~I choose to live in the country.~
choose~verb~Decide to have something~I choose my own clothes.~
chop~noun~A piece of meat that contains a bone and usually comes from a pig or sheep~We cooked chops on the barbeque.~
chop~verb~Cut something with strong blows of a sharp tool~He chopped the tree down.~
chorus~noun~Part of a song that is sung after every verse~Most people only know the chorus.~
christ~noun~The person that some people believe is the son of God~Stories of Christ appear in the Bible.~
christen~verb~Give a baby a Christian name and make it a member of the Christian church~She was christened at our local church.~
christian~noun~Someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ~My friend is a Christian.~
christian~adjective~Connected to Jesus Christ and his teachings~A Christian church.~
christian name~noun~The first name of a person that was given to them at birth~My Christian name is Joe and my surname is Smith.~
christianity~noun~A religion that believes in Jesus and his teachings~Christianity is found all over the world.~
christmas~noun~The 25th of December and the days around it, when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ~Christmas time is good for businesses.~
christmas day~noun~A holiday where Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. It occurs on the 25th of December~All the family are getting together on Christmas Day.~
christmas eve~noun~The 24th of December: the day before Christmas Day~We sing songs on Christmas Eve to get into the spirit of the Christmas holidays.~
chronic~adjective~Usually of a sickness: something that is difficult to cure and often lasts for a long time~She has chronic headaches.~
chunk~noun~A thick, solid piece of something, usually that was part of something else~He fed the birds chunks of bread.~
church~noun~A service held in a church~I go to church every Sunday.~
church~noun~A place that Christians worship in~Our local church is very big.~
church~noun~Different groups of Christians are divided into churches~The Methodist church.~
cigar~noun~Dried tobacco leaves that are rolled up and smoked~I didn't like the smell of the cigar.~
cigarette~noun~Tobacco that is rolled up and smoked. This is smaller than a cigar~I need a cigarette.~
cinema~noun~A building open to the public where movies are shown~What movies are showing at the cinema this week?~
cinema~noun~The movie industry~Another example of great American cinema.~
circle~noun~The seats on the upper floor of a theatre etc. that are arranged in a curved shape~We had circle seats.~
circle~noun~People that are connected because they show the same interests or characteristics~I have a large circle of colleagues.~
circle~noun~A perfectly round, flat shape~The teacher drew a circle on the board.~
circle~verb~Move in a circle around something, particularly in the air~The plane circled the airport.~
circuit~noun~The route you take to get round a place~They followed the signs and completed the circuit.~
circular~adjective~Round~It was a circular room.~
circumstances~noun~The things affecting a person's life~Her financial circumstances aren't great.~
circumstances~noun~The conditions and facts surrounding a situation~What were the circumstances surrounding his case?~
circus~noun~A show that travels around and entertains people with amusing acts and sometimes animal performances~We took our youngest son to see the circus.~
citizen~noun~A person who was born in a country or has been legally allowed to live in or join a country~A British citizen.~
city~noun~A big town filled with many people~I prefer the country to the city.~
civil~adjective~Connected to the people living in a country~There was much civil unrest.~
civil war~noun~A war between people living in the same country~The USA had a civil war over slavery.~
civilian~noun~Someone who is not part of the police or the armed forces~Many civilians fought in the war.~
civilisation~noun~A developed society~We believe ourselves to be the most developed civilisation in history.~
claim~verb~If you claim that you are responsible for something you admit that you have done it~She claimed responsibility for tearing up hiding her brother's homework.~
claim~verb~Demand something because you have a legal right to it~She claimed her pension.~
claim~verb~Say that something is true~She claimed she had lost the money.~
claim~noun~A demand for something because you have a legal right to have it~They had no claim to this house.~
claim~noun~The act of saying that something is correct or true~The claims that she was bald were untrue.~
clamp~noun~A tool or device for holding things tightly together~The clamp held the wood in place.~
clamp~verb~Hold things together with a clamp~He clamped the wood onto the table.~
clap~verb~Hit your hands together, palm to palm, to show that you enjoyed something~They clapped at the mayor's speech.~
clap~verb~Put something somewhere quickly and unexpectedly~She clapped a hand over his mouth to make him keep quiet.~
clash~noun~A short fight or disagreement~There was a clash between the fans of two football teams.~
clash~verb~Have a fight or disagreement~They clashed with their neighbours.~
clash~verb~If colours look horrible when placed together, they clash~The red shirt clashes with the orange skirt.~
clash~verb~If two things happen at the same time, they clash~Two of my university classes clashed.~
class~verb~If you belong to a group, you are classed as belonging to that group~I'm classed as a extrovert.~
class~noun~A group of things that have similar characteristics~Which class of animal is a dog?~
class~noun~A group of students who are taught together~I am in a big class of students.~
classic~adjective~Usual and containing all the things you would expect to find~We have the classic problem of not having enough money.~
classic~adjective~The best or very good~That was a classic goal.~
classic~noun~Something that is the best or is well respected~The novel is a classic.~
classical~adjective~Influenced by ancient Greek or Roman culture~I am doing classical studies.~
classical~adjective~Traditional and accepted~I like to watch classical dance.~
classroom~noun~The room in a school where students are taught~We painted the classroom for our teacher.~
clause~noun~A group of words that form a sentence or part of a sentence, and include a subject and a verb~I walked the dog' is a clause.~
clause~noun~A section in a legal document~A clause in my employment contract stated what holidays I would get each year.~
claw~noun~A sharp nail on an animal or bird's foot~We need to have the dog's claws trimmed.~
clean~adjective~Not rude or offensive~It was a clean joke.~
clean~adjective~Accurate~A clean escape.~
clean~adjective~Not dirty~It's a clean towel.~
clean~verb~Rid something of dirt~I clean the house on a Sunday.~
clear~verb~When the sky becomes free of clouds and the weather is sunny, it is said to clear~The weather cleared in time for the picnic.~
clear~verb~Get past or over something~He cleared the fence and kept on running.~
clear~verb~Move unwanted things away~I cleared all the paperwork from my desk.~
clear~adjective~Not blocked~All exits must be kept clear.~
clear~adjective~Transparent or easy to see~The water was so clear we could see the fish swimming about.~
clear~adjective~Easy to see or hear, or simple to understand~The detail on the picture was very clear.~
clear~adjective~Obvious and without a doubt~It was clear that she wanted me to leave.~
clear~verb~Proven innocent~She was cleared of all accusations.~
clear up~verb~Make a place neat and tidy~Parents say it's hard to get their teenagers to clear up after themselves.~
clear up~verb~Find an answer to a problem~After months of investigation the mystery was finally cleared up.~
clench~verb~Squeeze parts of your body together or grip something tightly~He clenched his hands, teeth, etc.; He clenched the cup in both hands.~
clerk~noun~Someone who keeps records or accounts in a business~We hired a new clerk.~
clever~adjective~Skilful or showing intelligence in a field~My friend is very clever with electronics.~
clever~adjective~Quick to understand things~She is a clever girl.~
client~noun~A customer who pays for a service~The accountant had more clients than she needed.~
cliff~noun~An area of rock that is high, with steep sides~I nearly fell over the cliff.~
climate~noun~Regular weather conditions~The climate is cold and rainy.~
climax~noun~The exciting part of something that has been built up for a while~The climax of the story came as a shock.~
climb~verb~Move to the top of something~She climbed the wall.~
climb~verb~Make social or career movements with some effort~He has climbed to the top position.~
climb~noun~Movement to a higher position~It was a long, hard climb to the top.~
cling~verb~Hold or stick tightly to something~The dog clung to the bone; The shirt clung to his chest.~
clinic~noun~A building, often part of a hospital, where people go to receive treatment for their medical problems~I went to the clinic to have my stitches taken out.~
clip~verb~Cut pieces from something to make it shorter or tidier~I clipped his roses for him.~
clip~noun~A small object used to fasten things together~I used a clip to keep my notes together.~
clip~verb~Fasten things together using some sort of clip~He clipped the badge to his shirt.~
clip~noun~A piece of a movie shown separately from the rest of the movie~I saw a clip of the movie and it made me want to watch the whole thing.~
cloakroom~noun~A place where people can keep their coats at someone's house or in a public place~I need a token to collect my jacket from the cloakroom.~
cloakroom~noun~A room with toilets in a public place~I fixed my hair in the mirror in the cloakroom.~
clock~noun~An instrument used for telling the time~Look at the clock and see what time it is.~
clockwise~adverb~In the same direction as the hands on a clock~You need to turn the key clockwise.~
close~verb~End something~The meeting was closed with a few words from the new manager.~
close~verb~If you close something you make it so that it is no longer open~Close the door.~
close~adjective~Next to or near something~The car is parked close to the building.~
close~adjective~When people like each other very much and are friendly they are said to be close~Me and my cousin are close.~
close~adjective~Evenly matched~It's a close match, both sides are very good.~
close~adjective~Detailed and thorough~She did a close inspection of the book.~
close~verb~Stop being open to the public~We close the shop at six during the week.~
close down~verb~When something closes down it stops functioning~The shop closed down when a bigger store attracted more customers; The computer program closed down when the user pushed the wrong button.~
closed~adjective~Shut, not open~The window was closed; The shop was closed.~
closer~adjective~'Closer' is the comparative of 'close'~I sat closer to him than she did.~
cloth~noun~A type of fabric that is woven or knitted~I could make a dress from that cloth.~
cloth~noun~Material used for cleaning things or absorbing spilt liquids etc.~Use the new cloth to clean the kitchen.~
clothes~noun~Items that people wear to protect themselves and keep warm~All my clothes are in the wash.~
clothing~noun~Clothes~What sort of clothing do you need to wear in Antarctica?~
cloud~noun~Many tiny drops of water that float in the sky as a white or grey mass~Can you see patterns in the clouds?~
cloud~noun~A mass of something in the air~A cloud of smoke came from the chimney.~
cloudy~adjective~Unclear~The water looked a little cloudy.~
cloudy~adjective~Having many clouds~It's cloudy today.~
clown~noun~A performer in the circus whose job it is to do silly things in an attempt to make people laugh~The clown had a huge red nose.~
club~verb~Beat something or someone with a heavy stick or something similar~The children clubbed the pinata.~
club~noun~The stick used in golf is a club~His son carried his clubs for him.~
club~noun~A stick-like weapon~They beat him with a club.~
club~noun~A place where people go to drink or dance or both~Which club do you want to go to tonight?~
club~noun~A group of people who get together because they like the same things; the place where they meet is also called a club~I belong to a cricket club.~
clue~noun~Something that gives information about a crime or puzzle~The children followed the clues to find the treasure.~
clumsy~adjective~In a way that offends people, or done with little skill~It was a clumsy attempt to patch up our relationship.~
clumsy~adjective~Done in an awkward way~She was a clumsy child.~
clutch~verb~Hold something with a firm grip~She clutched the microphone and began to sing.~
clutch~noun~A pedal in a vehicle that needs to be pushed in order to change gears~You need to step on the clutch.~
cm~none~The abbreviation for centimetres, which are a unit of measurement~My heels were 5 cm high.~
coach~noun~A bus that covers long routes~I hate travelling by coach.~
coach~noun~A part of a train or plane~Which coach is your brother in?~
coach~noun~Someone who trains and teaches a person or team~We need a new coach.~
coach~verb~Train and teach a person or team~My dad coaches the local football team.~
coal~noun~A black rock dug up from the ground that generates heat and energy when burned~We need two bags of coal.~
coast~noun~The land at or close to the sea~We drove along the coast.~
coast~verb~Move along with no power~We coasted into the driveway.~
coat~noun~Something that is worn over your clothes to keep you warm~His coat had a hood.~
coat~noun~The fur on an animal is referred to as its coat~Our dog's coat is nice and shiny.~
coat~noun~A layer of something that covers something else, especially paint~How many coats of paint do you think this wall will need?~
coat~verb~Cover something with a layer of something else~A layer of dust coated the shelves.~
cockroach~noun~A dark-coloured insect that likes to live in dirty places~We can't get rid of the cockroaches in our house.~
cocktail~noun~An alcoholic drink made from a mixture of several different drinks~What kind of cocktail would you like?~
coconut~noun~A large hairy nut with white flesh on the inside~I don't like coconuts very much.~
code~noun~A way of changing a message so that certain people will not be able to work out what is being said~I could not crack the code.~
code~noun~Numbers and letters that give specialised information~I need your post code.~
coffee~noun~A drink made from seeds from a coffee bush, which are roasted~Do you like milk in your coffee?~
coffin~noun~A wooden box in which a dead person is buried~The vampire slept in the coffin.~
coin~noun~Money in the form of a small piece of metal~Can I change this note for some coins?~
coincide~verb~Happen at the same time~Our holidays coincide with each other.~
coincide~verb~Be similar~Their opinions coincided.~
coincidence~noun~Something that happens by chance~It is a coincidence that we were born on the same day.~
cold~noun~If the temperature is low, you can refer to 'the cold'~I didn't want to go out in the cold.~
cold~noun~An illness similar to influenza but less severe~I had a cold all winter.~
cold~adjective~Showing little emotion~She is a cold person.~
cold~adjective~Having a low temperature~It is cold outside.~
collapse~noun~Failure~The collapse of his company ruined him.~
collapse~noun~The action of falling~She felt better some hours after her collapse.~
collapse~verb~Fail~His business empire collapsed.~
collapse~verb~Fall due to weakness etc.~The building collapsed; I collapsed when I got too hot.~
collar~noun~The part around the neck of a shirt or top~Your collar is sticking up.~
collar~noun~A band worn by an animal, to which a lead can be attached~The dog needs a bigger collar.~
colleague~noun~Someone that works with you~I get on well with my colleagues.~
collect~verb~Get something or someone and take them away with you~We will collect the rubbish on Tuesdays.~
collect~verb~Gain more and more of something over a period of time~The washing collected in a pile on the table.~
collect~verb~Get things together because it is a hobby~She collects stamps.~
collection~noun~Money that is got together for a specific purpose~The collection went well and they received a lot of money.~
collection~noun~A gathering of similar things~He has a collection of drawings.~
collection~noun~The act of bringing things together~The charity organises collection of clothes for poor people.~
college~noun~A place where students can go to learn, usually as higher education~I went to college when I finished secondary school.~
college~noun~Some British universities are divided into colleges~I want to go to one of the Oxford colleges.~
collide~verb~Crash into something or someone~He collided with his sister when he ran through the kitchen.~
colonel~noun~A high-ranking officer~He is a colonel in the army.~
colony~noun~A country that is ruled and governed by a more powerful country~We did a tour of the former British colonies.~
colour~verb~Have a negative effect on~Her judgement was coloured by her emotions.~
colour~noun~The colour of your skin, which shows which race you belong to~I have friends of many colours and religions.~
colour~noun~The way that things look due to the light, e.g. green or blue~Yellow is my favourite colour.~
colourful~adjective~Having bright colours~She wore a colourful dress.~
column~noun~A tall post that usually supports something~The building was supported by gorgeous marble columns.~
column~noun~A long line of moving vehicles or people, or both~A column of soldiers and tanks passed by.~
column~noun~A series of articles in a newspaper covering the same sort of topics~She writes a sports column.~
comb~noun~A flat object with pointed parts called teeth, usually used for styling hair~She kept a comb in her bag.~
comb~verb~Use a comb to style your hair~He combed his hair before the interview.~
combat~noun~Fighting, usually during a war~The soldiers did not get any serious injuries in combat.~
combat~verb~Try to stop something bad from happening or continuing~Is there a way to combat this disease?~
combination~noun~A variety of things put together~I bought a combination of chocolates.~
combine~verb~Put different things together so that they form one thing~Combine the eggs and flour.~
combine~verb~Do two or more different things together~She is combining family life with her work life.~
come~verb~Be in the future~The building will still be here in years to come.~
come~verb~Reach a certain place or state~Her trousers came right up to her ribs!~
come~verb~Move or get to a place~He came through the door and surprised me.~
come~verb~The place that you come from is the place you were born or the place you lived in as a child~I come from south America.~
come~verb~Happen~The sunny weather came too late for us to get a tan before our holiday.~
come~verb~Reach a certain state~She came to a conclusion.~
come about~verb~Happen~The accident came about when I slipped on a rung and the ladder collapsed.~
come across~verb~Stumble on something by accident~I came across a rare book in the comic shop.~
come on~verb~Progress~The report is coming on, it should be done by tonight.~
come on~verb~Used as an order to ask someone to hurry~Come on or we will be late!~
come on~verb~Start or begin~The lights will come on in a minute.~
come up~verb~Happen~I have to leave work early as something has come up.~
come up~verb~If something comes up in conversation it is talked about~That topic will come up in a minute.~
come up with~verb~Find an answer or idea~I came up with a great plan for getting my little brother back.~
comedian~noun~A person whose job it is to tell jokes and make people laugh~I went to see my favourite comedian.~
comedy~noun~A play or movie etc. that is supposed to be funny~Let's go see a comedy show.~
comedy~noun~Something humorous~I couldn't see the comedy in his story.~
comfort~noun~The state of feeling good and relaxed~I pick my shoes for comfort.~
comfort~noun~The feeling of not having to worry~I got a lot of comfort from his words.~
comfort~noun~Something in your life that makes living happier and easier~We have all the comforts a home needs.~
comfort~verb~Make someone or something feel better and more relaxed~She comforted him when he was feeling ill.~
comfortable~adjective~Relaxed~I am comfortable in their company.~
comfortable~adjective~Something that makes you feel relaxed~I have the most comfortable chair.~
comic~adjective~Something that makes you laugh~It was a comic setting.~
comic~noun~A person who tells funny jokes~She tries so hard to be a comic.~
comic~noun~A funny story usually shown in picture form~I am going to buy comics to read on the plane.~
comma~noun~The (,) symbol, which shows you that there is a pause in a sentence or to separate things in a list~She went to school on Tuesday, but she was ill on Wednesday; I need butter, milk and jam (each of these sentences contains one comma).~
comma~noun~Commas separate numbers to make a large number easier to read~100,000,000 dollars (two commas).~
command~verb~Give an order~I command you to stop.~
command~verb~You can command something because you deserve to get it~She commands a lot of respect and love.~
command~noun~If you have command of something you are able to understand and use it~She has a good command of eastern languages.~
command~noun~An order to do something~I was given a command and I couldn't back out.~
comment~verb~Give your opinion on something~I can't comment about the state of politics as I don't really understand it all.~
comment~noun~Something said or written that gives an opinion~His comments helped my work.~
commentary~noun~A spoken description of something that is happening, while it is happening~She gave her own commentary when the commentators began to annoy her.~
commentator~noun~The person who gives a description of the events happening~The commentator was lost for words.~
commercial~adjective~Connected to the buying and selling of things~I was on one of the first commercial flights.~
commercial~adjective~Profit-making~The book was a commercial success.~
commercial~noun~An advertisement that tries to convince you to buy something, on the television, radio, etc.~I first saw the dress on a commercial.~
commit~verb~Be sent or to send yourself to hospital or jail etc.~She was committed to hospital last night.~
commit~verb~Do something (often illegal)~I know who committed the crime.~
commit~verb~Promise to do something~I have committed myself to being a nicer person.~
commitment~noun~A promise to do something~She made a commitment to helping children, but I don't see any evidence of it.~
commitment~noun~Something that you do on a regular basis~I have many work commitments.~
committee~noun~A group of people who are voted in by a larger group of people, and who make decisions etc. on their behalf~None of us were elected to the committee.~Committee can be used with both singular and plural verbs
common~adjective~Something that there is much of or that happens frequently~It is common to see rabbits in the fields.~
common~noun~With similar features or characteristics~The only thing we have in common is our love of sports.~
common~noun~An area of land, similar to a park, which is open to the public~Shall we walk the dogs along the common?~
common~adjective~Shared by two or more people~We have common ideas.~
common~adjective~Having bad manners (UK English)~She thought her family were common.~
common sense~noun~The ability to make sensible decisions~If you tried using common sense you would find that you wouldn't get into so much trouble.~
commonwealth~noun~An organisation made up of Britain and many of the countries that were under British rule~Is South Africa part of the commonwealth?~
communicate~verb~Swap information between people and things by any means possible~A lot of people communicate by phone these days.~
communicate~verb~Share thoughts and emotions etc.~He tried to communicate his feelings for her but he was unsure how to do it.~
communication~noun~The methods used to communicate, e.g. television~We had to resort to radio communication.~
communication~noun~The process of swapping information or sharing thoughts etc.~We decided that we needed to improve communication between workers.~
communism~noun~A political idea that everyone should be equal and there should be no private enterprise~There is much less communism in the world today.~
community~noun~The people that make up the population of a certain area~What does the community think of these new plans?~
community~noun~A group of people with similar ideals etc. that live within a society~The Muslim community.~
commute~verb~Travel between work and home each day, often over a long distance~I commute to work by bus each day.~
compact disc~noun~A small disc that stores information or sound. Usually shortened to CD~Most people own at least one compact disc these days.~
companion~noun~A person or animal that spends a lot of time in your company or travels often with you~She was looking for a companion to travel with.~
company~noun~A business that deals with goods and services~He started up a new company.~
company~noun~Being with someone instead of being on your own~I'm not sure I like being in her company.~
company~noun~Visitors or guests in your home~We are having company tonight.~
comparative~noun~A form of an adverb or adjective that shows that something is more or that it is less. The first stage is the base word, e.g. 'big'; the comparative is 'bigger'; the superlative is 'biggest'~He is short, she is shorter ('shorter' is the comparative).~
compare~verb~Examine things and decide what the similarities and differences are~Compare cats to dogs.~
compare~verb~Show that two things are similar~Her looks are often compared with Madonna's.~
comparison~noun~The process of examining things and deciding what the similarities and differences are~Do a comparison of eastern cultures and western cultures.~
compartment~noun~One part of a railway carriage~I sat in a smoking compartment.~
compartment~noun~A separate section of an object, often used for keeping things in~There is a compartment in my suitcase for keeping important documents in.~
compatible~adjective~Able to exist together comfortably~My boyfriend and I are compatible; This software is compatible with my computer.~
compel~verb~Force someone to do something~He compelled her to donate money to his cause.~
compensate~verb~Pay someone money to make up for a bad thing that has happened to them~She was compensated for her loss of earnings.~
compensate~verb~Give something good to make up for something bad~Seeing her aunt compensated for the long journey.~
compete~verb~Try to be more successful than someone or something else, especially in business~The two grocery shops in our town have been competing with each other for years.~
compete~verb~Be a part of a game or competition~She had to compete against the world champion.~
competent~adjective~Able to do something well and without much difficulty~He is a competent chef.~
competition~noun~An event where people test their skills etc. against each other to find out who is the best~The schools held a spelling competition.~
competition~noun~A situation where people or organisations try to get something that only one of them can have~There is much competition between stores to attract the most customers.~
competitor~noun~A person, company, etc. that competes~There are four competitors in the race.~
complain~verb~Let someone know that you are unhappy about something~She complained that he didn't give her enough attention.~
complain~verb~If you complain of something you say that you are ill or hurt in a certain way~She complained of a sore throat.~
complaint~noun~A statement that complains about something~She made a formal complaint about her rude neighbours.~
complete~verb~Do something so that it is totally done~She completed the race in record time.~
complete~adjective~Finished~My homework is now complete.~
complete~verb~Put all your details on a form etc.~I need to complete this form to apply for a bank account.~
complete~adjective~Used for emphasis: 'to the greatest degree possible'~The whole thing was a complete mess.~
complete~adjective~Whole, missing nothing~The jigsaw puzzle is complete.~
complex~adjective~Consisting of many different parts that are hard to understand or hard to put together~It's quite a complex game.~
complex~noun~A group of buildings situated together and used for similar purposes~It's a fitness complex.~
complexion~noun~The quality, condition, colour, tone, etc. of a person's face~Her complexion has become quite bad recently.~
complicated~adjective~Difficult to understand or deal with; made up of many different parts~The story is quite complicated in parts but I recommend you read it.~
complication~noun~A problem that makes something more difficult to deal with or understand~The complication comes when we have to work out how everyone will get home.~
compliment~noun~Something nice that is said to someone~He paid me the best compliment I have ever had.~
compliment~verb~The process of telling someone good things about them~He compliments me all the time.~
compose~verb~Write music~He was well known for composing many great works.~
compose~verb~Bring things together to make a whole~The school is composed of pupils and teachers.~
composer~noun~A person who is skilled in the art of writing music~Who is your favourite composer?~
comprehensive~adjective~Including all things or details~A comprehensive list.~
comprehensive~noun~A UK English term for schools where children of all abilities are taught together~My son goes to a comprehensive.~
compromise~noun~A situation where people agree to give up certain things so that each of them is happy~We came to a compromise over the use of the car.~
compromise~verb~Give up certain things for another person to make you both happy~We compromised over who would get the car.~
compulsory~adjective~When something must be done it is compulsory~It is compulsory to attend the school sports meeting.~
computer~noun~A machine that stores, processes and displays information, does calculations, etc.~I need a computer for storing all my assignments in.~
conceal~verb~Hide~He concealed the documents underneath a floorboard.~
conceive~verb~Form an idea, thought, emotion, etc. in your mind~She could not conceive of quitting her job.~
conceive~verb~Become pregnant~My wife has finally conceived.~
concentrate~verb~Think about just one thing~I need to concentrate on my work.~
concentrate~verb~Gather together in one place~The sugar concentrated at the bottom of my cup.~
concentration~noun~The ability to think about one thing and ignore all other things around you~Her concentration was never very good.~
concept~noun~An idea, which is often abstract~The concept of class.~
concern~verb~Affect~His job does not concern me.~
concern~verb~Worry~I'm concerned about her eating habits.~
concern~noun~A feeling of worry~There is growing concern about the crime in the area.~
concern~noun~Something that you are responsible for or that you have a right to know about~What I do for a living is not your concern.~
concerning~preposition~Regarding~All problems concerning students should be sent to the head teacher.~
concert~noun~A music show held for the public~We went to see our favourite artist in concert.~
conclude~verb~End something~This meeting will conclude in half an hour.~
conclude~verb~Make a decision based on what you have seen and heard~He concluded that the holiday was probably a bad idea.~
conclusion~noun~The end of something, especially written work~I did not like the conclusion of the essay.~
conclusion~noun~The decision made when you look at all the facts and decide what to do~When will they ever reach a conclusion?~
concrete~noun~A building material made from cement, sand, small stones and water~Shall we build the floor using concrete?~
concrete~adjective~Based on facts rather than guesses~He had concrete proof.~
condemn~verb~Say that you don't like something~I condemn racism.~
condemn~verb~State the punishment that someone will receive~She was condemned to life imprisonment.~
condition~noun~The state that something is in~We found the dog in poor condition.~
condition~noun~The state of someone's health~She was taken into hospital in a critical condition.~
condition~noun~The circumstances surrounding people and the way they do things~The children were living in the worst conditions I've ever seen.~
condition~noun~Something that must happen so that something else can happen~If you cannot agree to the following conditions I will quit.~
condom~noun~A thin rubber covering worn by men during sex that helps prevent the spread of disease and pregnancy~Always use condoms when you have sex.~
conduct~verb~Organise and do something~They will conduct an inquiry into the events that took place.~
conduct~verb~Behave in a certain way~She conducted herself with grace and elegance.~
conduct~noun~The way in which a business etc. is organised and run~There was growing worry about the government's conduct of the war.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
conduct~noun~Behaviour~I always follow the school's code of conduct.~
conference~noun~A large meeting that can last several days~They were holding a conference in our hotel.~
confess~verb~Admit that you have done something wrong~She confessed to stealing his watch.~
confession~noun~A statement that you make when you admit that you are guilty~She finally made her confession.~
confidence~noun~The feeling that you can believe in and trust others~I have confidence in my parents.~
confidence~noun~Belief in yourself~My friends tell me I have more confidence than them.~
confident~adjective~Believing in yourself and your abilities~I would say I'm quite a confident person.~
confident~adjective~This is when you feel almost certain that something will happen~I am confident that she will win the race.~
confidential~adjective~Meant to be kept secret~The paperwork was treated as confidential.~
confine~verb~Keep something in a small space~The bird was confined to its cage.~
confine~noun~The confines of something are its borders~The theory was beyond the confines of my mind.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
confine~verb~Keep something within its limits~We were confined to discussing first names before the interview.~
confirm~verb~Show that something is true, often by giving evidence~Our thoughts were confirmed by that letter.~
confirm~verb~State that you will definitely make it to an appointment~I'm just phoning to confirm my booking.~
conflict~noun~Disagreement, fighting or arguing~There was much conflict between her and her dad.~
conflict~noun~A war, often between two countries~There is conflict in the Middle East.~
conflict~verb~If two things conflict they cannot both be true~Her idea conflicted with mine.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
confront~verb~Deal with a problem face to face~She confronted the boy who was teasing her.~
confront~verb~If you are confronted with something you are faced with a problem that you must deal with~She was confronted with jeers from her fans.~
confuse~verb~Think that something is a certain thing when in fact it is another~I always confuse the twins with each other.~
confuse~verb~When you confuse somebody you make something unclear so that it is hard to understand what you are saying~You confused me when you said that.~
confuse~verb~Make something more difficult to understand~The new idea confused the theory even more for me.~
confusion~noun~Chaos and disorder~I was stuck in the middle of all the confusion, hoping it would die down soon.~
confusion~noun~A state where you are unsure of what is happening or what is meant~There was much confusion about which class we had to go to.~
congratulate~verb~Tell someone that they have done a good job or to let them know that you are pleased for them about something~We congratulated them on their wedding.~
congratulations~noun~Used to congratulate someone on something~Congratulations! It's your birthday.~
congress~noun~In the USA this is the elected group of people who are responsible for making the law~Congress will be meeting at noon to make a decision.~
conjunction~noun~A word that joins words and phrases together in a sentence e.g. and, but~I need soap and toothpaste ('and' is the conjunction').~
connect~verb~Link people or things to other people or things~Is he connected to the company?~
connect~verb~Join two or more things together~That door connects this room with a bathroom.~
connection~noun~When you leave one type of transport for another during a trip~I need to be on time for my connection at the airport.~
connection~noun~A person that you know who will help you~He put us in touch with some of his connections.~
connection~noun~Where two things are connected, especially in electrics~We need to weld that connection.~
connection~noun~Something that links two things together~There was a connection between what he ate and what he weighed.~
conscience~noun~A part of your mind that tells you when something is right and when something is wrong~My conscience made me tell the truth.~
conscious~adjective~Aware~I am conscious of her opinion of me.~
conscious~adjective~Deliberate~He made a conscious decision to phone me.~
conscious~adjective~Awake rather than asleep or passed out~She should be conscious in a few hours.~
consciousness~noun~Your ideas and opinions and the ability to use them and to think normally~I went in and out of consciousness when I was ill.~
consent~noun~Permission~I need my doctor's consent before I go swimming again.~
consent~noun~When people agree about something~The decision was made by public consent.~
consent~verb~Agree to or give permission for something~I consented to let her go.~
consequence~noun~The result of an action~I knew the consequences would be bad, but I had no other choice.~
consequently~adverb~Therefore; as a result of~She jumped carelessly off the pier and consequently broke her leg.~
conservative~adjective~Liking traditional ideas etc.~My parents are so conservative.~
conservative~adjective~An estimate is conservative when it is known to be on the low side~I would make a conservative guess and say he makes around three million in profit a year.~
conservative~adjective~Related to the Conservative Party in the UK~What are the Conservative ideas?~
consider~verb~Think that something is a certain way~I would consider her a good student.~
consider~verb~Think carefully and logically about something~I considered all my options.~
considerable~adjective~Of large size or importance etc.~It was a considerable task to ask of anyone.~
consideration~noun~Sensitivity towards other people and what they are thinking and feeling~He had no consideration for my feelings.~
consideration~noun~The act of thinking carefully about something~She put a lot of consideration into her work.~
consideration~noun~Factor~There are so many environmental considerations to worry about.~
considering~preposition~Used to show that you are thinking of following a certain course of action~I am considering becoming a pilot.~
consist~verb~The things that make something up are the things it consists of~My life consists of work and more work.~
consistent~adjective~Always doing things in the same manner~She is consistent in her work.~
consistent~adjective~If two things are consistent they agree with each other~Her stories are not consistent.~
conspiracy~noun~A secret plan, often to commit a crime~I think there is a conspiracy against the government.~
constable~noun~A low-ranking police officer~Thank you for your help, constable.~
constant~adjective~Happening all the time or regularly~It is a constant battle to wake them up in the morning.~
constant~adjective~Never changing~A constant speed.~
constituency~noun~A district or the people in the district that have their own member of parliament~I did not agree with constituency opinion.~
construct~verb~Build something, e.g. a bridge~He constructed a machine that could take you back in time.~
consult~verb~Ask someone for their opinion~I consulted a lecturer about my assignment.~
consult~verb~Look for information in something~I consulted a map when we got lost.~
consume~verb~Use something~My car consumes so much petrol.~
consume~verb~Eat or drink~I consumed an entire cake today.~
consumer~noun~A person who buys things and uses services; similar to a customer~Marketing is directed at consumers.~
contact~noun~A person who can help you~I have contacts all over the world.~
contact~verb~Start a communication with someone~I tried to contact you yesterday.~
contact~noun~Communication with people~I keep in contact with my aunt.~
contact~noun~If people or things touch each other or link with each other they are in contact~Finally there is some contact between them.~
contain~verb~Stop something harmful from spreading~We are trying to contain the spread of the infection.~
contain~verb~If something contains something it has it inside it~The tablet contains aspirin; the room contains everything we need.~
container~noun~Something (a box etc.) in which things can be stored~Our belongings were packed into containers.~
content~noun~What is in a book or movie etc.~The content of the book was hidden from me.~
content~adjective~Happy and pleased with life~I am content now that we have moved house.~The adjective and noun are pronounced differently
content~adjective~Happy to do something~I would be quite content to help you.~
content~noun~What something is made up of~The contents of her wardrobe were thrown over her bed.~
contest~noun~A competition~There was a reading contest in the town hall.~
context~noun~The situation and matters surrounding something that's happened~You need to understand the context of the situation.~
continent~noun~A very large area of land: the world is divided into continents~Which continent do you live on?~
continent~noun~Europe, excluding Great Britain and Ireland~We are going to the continent for our holidays.~
continue~verb~Begin again after stopping~She continued her writing after her lunch.~
continue~verb~Keep happening without stopping~She will continue to annoy me for ever; The rain looks likely to continue.~
continuous~adjective~Happening without stopping over time~The train made a continuous cloud of smoke.~
contract~noun~A written agreement between people or companies~I hope I get this new contract.~
contract~verb~Become smaller~Some things contract when they get cold.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
contradict~verb~Say that something is wrong, often giving evidence~He contradicted her statement and he was actually right.~
contrast~noun~A clear difference between things~The contrast was amazing.~
contrast~verb~Show the differences between things~She contrasted old ideas with new ones.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
contribute~verb~Give something such as money or time to help something~I contributed all my old clothes to the charity.~
contribution~noun~An action that helps something~My talent is my contribution to the world.~
contribution~noun~Money that you give to help something~I make weekly contributions to my charity.~
control~verb~Have power over something~She controls the money in the house.~
control~noun~If something is out of control it is impossible to manage~My children are out of control.~
control~verb~If something controls a machine it makes it do the things you ask it to~This button controls the speed.~
control~noun~The power to make decisions about an area or country~He has control of all of America.~
control~verb~To control yourself is to stay calm even when you're upset~It took a lot of effort to control myself.~
control~noun~One of the parts of a machine that operate it~I haven't yet worked the controls out.~
control~noun~If you are in control of something you make things happen the way you want them to~She was in control of her life.~
controversial~adjective~Causing disagreement and creating arguments~This idea is really controversial, I don't think people will like it.~
convenient~adjective~Useful and easy to use or to do~Microwave ovens make cooking convenient.~
convention~noun~A large meeting similar to a conference~The convention starts at one o'clock today.~
convention~noun~A way in which society thinks something should be done~We are restricted by social conventions.~
conventional~adjective~Following traditions~Conventional products are being replaced with more modern ones.~
conventional~adjective~Following society's rules and living normally~She was a conventional woman until she had grandsons.~
conversation~noun~When people talk to each other~I find it hard to make conversation with him.~
convert~verb~Convince someone to change to your religion~He tries to convert everyone.~
convert~noun~Someone who has moved to a different faith~She is now a convert.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
convert~verb~Change one thing into another~We converted the dinning room into another spare room.~
convict~verb~Find guilty of a crime~She was convicted of theft.~
convict~noun~A person who has been sentenced to jail for committing a crime~My best friend is now a convict.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
conviction~noun~The act of being found guilty~His conviction was on the news today.~
conviction~noun~A strong thought or opinion~She will stick to her convictions.~
convince~verb~Make someone believe that something is true~I convinced her that I was not a bad person.~
cook~verb~Make food ready to eat by heating it, e.g. by boiling or grilling~I will cook dinner tonight.~
cook~noun~A person who prepares food to be eaten~He has been a cook for three years now.~
cooker~noun~A piece of equipment that is used to cook food on~We need a new cooker.~
cookery~noun~The act or art of cooking food~I am interested in cookery.~
cookie~noun~US English for 'biscuit'~I ate a bag of chocolate chip cookies.~
cool~adjective~Not too hot and not too cold~I need a cool shower.~
cool~adjective~Confident and calm~She stayed cool through the interview.~
cool~verb~If something cools it loses some of its heat~We let the pie cool on the window ledge.~
co-operate~verb~Work with another person or persons to get something done~All the students co-operated with the teachers.~
co-operate~verb~Do something that has been asked of you~I will co-operate with you if you help me first.~
cop~noun~An informal word for a policeperson~The cops pulled us over for speeding.~
cope~verb~Handle or deal with something~She will cope with the loss in her own way.~
copper~noun~A soft reddish-brown metal used for making pipes, tanks, etc.~I would prefer copper pipes in the bathroom.~
copy~verb~Deliberately do the same thing as someone else~She always copies her older sister.~
copy~verb~Recreate something~I copied the letter so my friend could see it.~
copy~noun~Something that has been made to look like something else~A copy of the Mona Lisa.~
copy~noun~A single example of a book, article, etc. that has been published in a large quantity~I have a copy of his latest book.~
core~noun~The hard centre part of a fruit that often hold the seeds~I can't eat the core of an apple.~
core~noun~The middle or most important part of something~The core of the earth is very hot.~
cork~noun~A light piece of some type of material that can be used for closing bottles etc.~We should keep the cork in case we don't finish the bottle of wine.~
corkscrew~noun~An instrument used to remove corks from bottles~Do we have a corkscrew so we can open this wine?~
corner~verb~Trap something or someone in a place that they cannot get out of~The dog cornered the cat.~
corner~noun~Where two edges or sides of something join~We put a plant in the corner of the room.~
corps~noun~A group in the armed forces~Police Corps; Navy Corps.~
correct~verb~Make something that is wrong right~He corrected her spelling.~
correct~adjective~Having no mistakes~All of her work was correct.~
correct~adjective~Refers to the suitable thing that should be done~That is the correct plan.~
correspond~verb~If two things match they correspond to each other~This handwriting does not correspond to the other handwriting.~
correspond~verb~Write and receive letters etc.~We haven't corresponded in years.~
corridor~noun~A narrow walkway or passage in a building or a train~Hers is the third door down that corridor.~
corrupt~verb~Have a bad effect on someone~He has been corrupted by money.~
corrupt~adjective~Willing to use money and power to do wrong or illegal things~They caught seven corrupt police staff.~
corruption~noun~Wrong or illegal behaviour, especially of people with power~We must try and stop corruption in the government.~
cosmetic~noun~Make-up: lipsticks, foundations, etc. that are applied to the skin in an attempt to make it more attractive~I need to buy more facial cosmetics.~Usually used in plural
cosmetic~adjective~On the outside, not affecting the core character of something~The damage to the car is only cosmetic.~
cost~noun~The amount of money needed to do or buy something~The cost of bread has gone up again.~
cost~noun~The damage or loss involved in achieving something~He continued to work even when he knew what the cost to his health would be.~
cost~verb~Buying something costs money~What will it cost to buy all of these?~
cost~verb~Cause a loss of something~The run cost him his life.~
costume~noun~Clothes that actors wear when they perform~They were still in costume when I arrived.~
costume~noun~Clothes worn to represent a certain time period or a certain place~I wore the Scottish national costume when they played rugby.~
cosy~adjective~Friendly, pleasant and private~We had a cosy walk along the beach.~
cosy~adjective~Warm and safe, and often small or enclosed~I had a cosy room.~
cot~noun~A bed made for very young children with bars or panels at the side to prevent them from falling out~We put the baby in her cot and went to bed ourselves.~
cottage~noun~A small house often found in the country~We bought a cottage to spend our holidays in.~
cotton~noun~Fabric used to make clothes, comes from the cotton plant~I use cotton underwear.~
cotton~noun~Thread used in sewing~I need a needle and some red cotton.~
cotton wool~noun~Soft white material used for cleaning the skin or a wound~I used cotton wool and ointment to clean the scratches on my arm.~
couch~noun~A long comfortable seat that two or more people can sit on~I called the dog onto the couch beside me.~
cough~noun~An infection that makes you cough often~I've had this cough for a week now.~
cough~noun~The act or the sound of coughing~I heard her cough from the other room.~
cough~verb~Suddenly force air out of your throat, making a noise~She coughed all through the movie.~
could~verb~Used to say that something might be true or real~It could be at midnight but I'm not sure.~
could~verb~Used to ask if you may do something~Could I do that work for you?~
could~verb~Used to show that something can be done~I could leave the book on the doorstep.~'Could' is also used as the past tense of 'can'
council~noun~A group of people elected to govern an area or district etc.~There is a council meeting at nine.~
council~adjective~UK English: council houses are houses that people rent from the council~We live in a council estate.~
count~verb~Be considered as something~Does that count as vandalism?~
count~verb~Calculate a total number~I counted all the sweets so that each child got the same amount.~
count~noun~If you lose count of something, you forget what has happened or how much you've counted~I lost count of all the things she did; I lost count of the score and had to start again.~
count~noun~If you keep count of something you keep a record of it over a period of time~I kept count of how many times he phoned me.~
count~noun~A number of the amount of something~The last count showed her level to be high.~
count~verb~If something counts it matters~Her ideas count a lot in this project.~
count~verb~Say numbers in order~Can you count to one hundred?~
count on~verb~If you can count on something you can trust it~I can always count on my dad to know what's best for me.~
countless~adjective~So many that it would be difficult to count them all~There were countless pairs of shoes to choose from.~
country~noun~An area of land that is governed by its own rules etc.~Which country do you live in?~
country~noun~An area of land outside of a city with fields and farms etc.~We are going to our house in the country for the holidays.~
countryside~noun~The part of land away from the cities and towns~We took a drive through the countryside.~
county~noun~An area that has its own local government~I live in County Antrim.~
coup~noun~A sudden and often illegal attempt at a change of power in a country~The coup failed.~
couple~noun~'A couple' means two~We need a couple more chairs.~
couple~noun~Two people who are married or dating each other are a couple~The couple held hands through dinner.~
couple~verb~Join or link two things together~Rain coupled with hail makes for bad weather.~
coupon~noun~A piece of paper that allows you to receive cheaper or free items~I used my coupon and got two things for the price of one.~
coupon~noun~A printed form found in newspapers etc. that you can fill in and send off to enter competitions etc.~I sent the coupon off.~
courage~noun~Bravery, the willingness to do dangerous or painful things without showing fear~You need a lot of courage to do that.~
course~noun~Lessons or lectures on a specific subject~I learnt a lot on that course.~
course~noun~'Of course' is used to show that what you are saying is not a surprise~Jack, of course, disagreed.~
course~noun~A place where golf can be played~Which golf course are we playing on today?~
course~noun~A particular serving as part of a meal~The second course was delicious.~
course~noun~A way of dealing with a certain situation~What courses are open to us?~You can also use 'course of action' e.g., Is that the best course of action to take?
course~noun~The direction that a ship or aircraft takes~We had to change course to escape the storm.~
course~noun~The way that something develops or the time it develops over~Over the course of a month, three people sued him.~
court~noun~The official places that kings and queens live in~The queen's court.~
court~noun~The place that some games are played, e.g. tennis~A squash court; a badminton court.~
court~noun~A place where trials etc. take place and where criminals are convicted~I am in court all day Monday.~
cousin~noun~If your aunt or uncle has a child, that child is your cousin~Me and my cousin are the best of friends.~
cover~verb~Protect by insurance~This insurance covers me against all sorts of things.~
cover~noun~Shelter from weather or dangerous people~We found cover under a tree.~
cover~noun~The outside part of a book or magazine~The cover is torn.~
cover~verb~Discuss or include something~We covered that theory in class yesterday.~
cover~verb~Travel a certain distance~We covered one hundred miles in two weeks.~
cover~verb~Lie over the surface of something~The bread was covered in butter.~
cover~verb~Protect or hide something by putting something over it~I covered the table with a sheet.~
cover~noun~Something that covers, protects, hides or keeps something warm~I put another cover on the bed so he wouldn't get cold.~
cover~noun~Protection offered by insurance companies~What kind of cover will I get with this plan?~
cover up~verb~When you cover up something you cover it so completely that no one can see it or anything related to it~I covered myself up by putting a dress over my bikini; I need to cover up my tracks so I don't get caught.~
cow~noun~A hoofed female animal that is kept for its milk and sometimes its beef~There were hundreds of cows in the field.~
coward~noun~A person who is not brave enough to do things that most others would~He was always a coward!~
cowboy~noun~In America this is a man whose job it is to look after cattle. Often a cowboy rides a horse~I watched the cowboy herd all the cattle together.~
cozy~adjective~Another spelling of cosy; see 'cosy'~I was cozy on the couch.~
crab~noun~A creature that lives mostly in the sea. It has a shell, eight legs and two pincers. It walks sideways on land~We tried to catch the crab on the beach.~
crack~verb~Find the solution to a problem or code~It took him a while but he finally cracked the case.~
crack~noun~The line that appears when something cracks~The crack went from one side of the bowl to the other.~
crack~verb~Break something in such a way that it does not fall to pieces but only forms a line across the damaged part~The glasses cracked when they fell over.~
crack~noun~A narrow space~She spied on him through a crack in the wall.~
craft~noun~A skilled activity that involves making things with your hands~My hobbies include crafts.~
craft~noun~A boat, ship, plane or space vehicle~We climbed on board the craft.~
cram~verb~Push or put so many things into a space that there is no room for anything else~She crammed the sweets in her mouth.~
crash~noun~An accident where a vehicle hits something~The car was badly damaged in the crash.~
crash~noun~A loud noise made by something dropping or falling etc.~We heard a great crash in the kitchen; my dad had dropped all the plates.~
crash~verb~If a vehicle crashes it hits something and comes to a stop~The car crashed into the wall.~
crawl~verb~Move about on your hands and knees~I crawled out of the building.~
crawl~verb~When an insect or similar creature moves forwards, we say it crawls~The spider crawled up my leg.~
crazy~adjective~Stupid or silly~His behaviour is crazy.~Informal use
crazy~adjective~To be crazy about something or someone is to like them very much~I'm crazy about Jack; I'm crazy about football.~
cream~adjective~Yellowish-white in colour~She wore cream trousers.~
cream~noun~A substance that you put on your skin to make it soft and supple or to protect it from the sun~She put cream on her face to stop it getting sunburnt.~
cream~noun~A fatty liquid that rises to the top of milk~We put cream on our apple pie.~
crease~noun~A line that you make in clothing or material~She ironed a crease in his trousers.~
crease~verb~Make lines on paper or clothing etc.~He creased his clothes when he rolled about on the floor.~
crease~noun~A line that is made in something when it is rolled up or squashed etc.~She had a huge crease down the back of her shirt.~
create~verb~Make something~Scientists are unsure how the earth was created.~
creative~adjective~Skilled at doing or creating things~She is a creative artist.~
creature~noun~A living thing, real or imaginary, that is not a plant~A huge creature with pink eyes and green teeth.~
credit~noun~A mention of the people who helped make a TV programme or a film etc.~We left the cinema when the credits rolled.~
credit~noun~An arrangement where you take goods home and pay for them later~I bought my computer on credit.~
credit~noun~Praise for something you have done~She didn't get any credit even though she did most of the work.~
credit card~noun~A plastic card that you can use to buy goods and then pay for them later~I don't have a credit card because I'm scared of going into too much debt.~
creep~verb~Move slowly and quietly so that you are not seen or heard~I crept into the living room.~
crew~noun~A group of people with special technical skills who work together on something~The film crew worked well together.~
crew~noun~The people who work on a ship or plane~The crew were very pleasant.~
cricket~noun~A game played on grass by two teams of eleven people, who take it in turns to hit a ball with a bat~We watched a cricket match.~
crime~noun~Something illegal that you do for which you can be punished by law~She committed several crimes.~
criminal~adjective~Connected to crime~She committed criminal damage.~
criminal~noun~A person who has done something illegal~There are a lot of criminals who never get caught.~
crisis~noun~A time when serious problems must be solved~The business was having a financial crisis.~
crisp~adjective~Pleasantly fresh, firm and dry~The bank notes were nice and crisp.~
crisp~noun~Thin pieces of potato that are cooked, spiced and eaten cold~I like salted crisps.~
critic~noun~A person who gives their opinions on books and movies etc.~I did not agree with the critic.~
critic~noun~A person who publicly disagrees with something~He is a critic of the government's policies.~
critical~adjective~Expressing disapproval of something~She was critical of my plan.~
critical~adjective~Extremely important~It was a critical trial because its outcome would affect all similar trials.~
criticise~verb~Point out the bad parts of something, according to your opinion~Don't criticise me!~
criticism~noun~The act of expressing your disapproval of something~Her criticism of the president didn't go down well.~
criticize~verb~Another way of spelling 'criticise'~She criticizes everyone, it really annoys me!~
crop~noun~Plants that are grown in large quantities for food~The farmer's crops were destroyed by fire.~
cross~noun~A vertical line with a horizontal line through it makes the shape of a cross. This is a Christian religious symbol~He had a statue of Jesus on a cross.~
cross~verb~Move from one side of something to the other~She carefully crossed the road.~
cross~verb~Put something over something else~He crossed his legs.~
cross~adjective~Angry or annoyed~I'm cross with you.~
cross~verb~If two things cross they meet and then go across or through each other~The roads cross after the next bridge.~
cross~noun~A mark shaped like this: X~I put a cross in the boxes to mark the things I didn't like.~
cross out~verb~When you write something that is wrong you can cross it out by drawing a line through it~I crossed out most of my answers in the exam because I knew they were all wrong.~
crossing~noun~A place where you can safely cross a road or river etc.~Cars need to stop at the crossing when people are using it.~
crossing~noun~A journey across a sea, ocean or river~The crossing was quite calm.~
crossword~noun~A puzzle where you are given clues that lead to words, which are then placed in a grid~I'm terrible at crosswords.~
crouch~verb~Bend your knees and lower yourself to the ground~He crouched beside me on the floor.~
crowd~noun~A large group of people~There was a huge crowd at the concert.~
crowd~verb~For lots of people to gather around someone or something~We crowded around the fire.~
crowded~adjective~If there are lots of people in something, it is crowded~The jail cells are getting crowded.~
crown~noun~An object worn on the head that usually is made from gold and has jewels around it~Someone stole the queen's crown.~
crucial~adjective~Of great importance~It was crucial that he make a quick decision.~
cruel~adjective~Purposely causing pain and suffering~She was cruel to the dog.~
cruelty~noun~Deliberate behaviour that causes pain to something~We have to stop cruelty to animals.~
cruise~verb~Travel at a constant speed~The plane cruised across the sky.~
cruise~noun~A holiday taken on the sea where you stop and visit different places~We are going on a cruise over the summer.~
crumb~noun~A small piece of food that has dropped off a bigger piece of food~She had crumbs all over her shirt.~
crumble~verb~Break into small pieces or crumbs~The cake crumbled as soon as it came out of the oven.~
crush~verb~Defeat someone or destroy someone's dreams and happiness~He crushed her hopes of winning.~
crush~verb~Damage something in such a way that it loses its shape~He crushed the rubbish so that more would fit in the bin.~
crutch~noun~A stick that is used to support someone who has injured their leg or foot~I had to learn how to use crutches when I broke my leg.~
cry~noun~The noise made when something or someone shouts loudly~I heard a cry in the distance.~
cry~verb~When you are very sad or deeply touched, tears come from your eyes. This is crying~She broke his toys and made him cry.~
cry~verb~Shout something loudly~Go away!' he cried.~
crystal~noun~A piece of a naturally formed substance that has even sides~The cave was full of crystal.~
cube~noun~A figure made of six, square, equal sides~We cut the cheese into cubes.~
cucumber~noun~A long green vegetable that is usually eaten raw~We put cucumber in the salad.~
cuddle~verb~Hold someone close to you as a way of showing affection~They cuddled for hours.~
cuddle~noun~The act of cuddling someone~Can I give you a cuddle?~
cult~adjective~Very popular with a certain group of people~He's a cult figure among teenagers.~
cult~noun~A strange religious group~My children are both involved in cults.~
culture~noun~The way that people live, their food and customs, etc.~Some people have difficulty accepting other cultures.~
culture~noun~The art and literature of certain groups~We should go and see the culture of the city.~
cunning~adjective~Able to get what you want in a clever way that often means tricking people~She is very cunning and she always ends up hurting people.~
cup~noun~A large trophy with two handles that is given as a prize~We hope to win the cup this year.~
cup~noun~A container, often with a handle, that holds liquids so that you can drink them~I would like a cup of coffee.~
cupboard~noun~A hole in a wall with a door used for storing things~Put your coat in the hall cupboard.~
cupboard~noun~A piece of furniture with shelves and doors used to hold ornaments, dishes, etc.~Put the dishes in the cupboard please.~
curb~noun~Another spelling of 'kerb': the raised part at the edge of a path that separates it from the road~I fell over the kerb.~
cure~verb~Fix an illness~The doctor cured her headaches.~
cure~noun~A treatment that fixes an illness~He took medicine to cure his cough.~
curiosity~noun~The want to know about things~Out of curiosity I read her letters.~
curious~adjective~Wanting to know more about things~She was curious as to how it worked.~
curious~adjective~Strange or different~It was a curious idea but I think it might have worked.~
curl~noun~A piece of hair that is pulled into a circle~She had pretty curls.~
curl~verb~Make a circular shape~She curled into a ball beside the fire.~
currency~noun~The money that a country uses~The currency in Britain is the pound.~
current~noun~The movement of water, air or electricity~There was a strong sea current; The electrical current flows through these wires.~
current~adjective~Happening now~You can afford to buy more with current price trends.~
current affairs~noun~Political events that are occurring now~There was a good current affairs programme on television.~
curry~noun~A spicy Indian dish~We go for a curry every weekend.~
curse~noun~Something said by a magical person that supposedly causes you to have bad luck~She put a curse on everyone who disliked her.~
curse~verb~Swear or say rude things~She banged her toe and cursed loudly.~
curse~noun~The words said when you swear~It is rude to say a curse.~
curtain~noun~A piece of material that is hung over a window for privacy or to keep out the light~I closed the curtains before I undressed.~
curve~verb~Move in the shape of a curve or gradually bend~The ball curved through the air and into the hoop.~
curve~noun~A line that slowly bends~He slowed down to drive around the curve in the road.~
cushion~noun~An object filled with soft stuffing that you use to make a seat more comfortable~She straightened the cushions on the sofa.~
custom~noun~The way that something is always done or that someone always behaves~It is the custom for her to arrive late.~
custom~noun~Customs is the government checkpoint at the border of two countries, for collecting taxes etc.~We had to declare what we were carrying at customs.~Usually used in the plural
custom~noun~An accepted, traditional activity~I'm very interested in eastern customs.~
customer~noun~A person who buys goods or pays for the services of a business~I have been a regular customer in this bar for years.~
cut~verb~Make a wound that may bleed on your body~She fell and cut her knee.~
cut~verb~Divide things by removing parts of them with a sharp object~I cut the potatoes to make chips.~
cut~noun~The wound made when something is cut~He showed me the cut he got when he fell.~
cut~noun~A reduction in amount or size etc.~There has been a cut in prices.~
cut~verb~Reduce or remove something~I have cut meat from my diet; They are cutting prices by half.~
cut~noun~An opening made in something with a sharp object~There was a cut in the material.~
cut down~verb~Make something fall by cutting through it~They cut down an entire rainforest!~
cut down~verb~Lower the amount of something~I must cut down on my sugar intake.~
cut off~verb~If something has been cut off it has been stopped~The electricity has been cut off.~
cut off~verb~Remove something small from something larger using a sharp tool~He accidentally cut off his thumb.~
cut off~adjective~If something or someone is cut off, they have been stopped from communicating in their usual way~When we moved to the country from the city we felt cut off from society.~
cut out~verb~Remove something from its current place, usually using scissors~Cut out that picture and stick it in your file.~
cut out~verb~Stop doing something~I need to cut out meat from my diet for a while.~
cute~adjective~Pretty or sweetly attractive~That's a cute baby.~
cycle~noun~A series of events that happen repeatedly and in the same order~The life cycle of a frog.~
cycle~verb~Ride a bicycle~I cycled across the country.~
cycle~noun~A bicycle or motorbike~We rode down to the cycle track.~
cyclist~noun~A person who rides a bicycle, often competitively~The cyclist sped past me.~
cynical~adjective~Feeling that people only do things for themselves and never act for others~She is so cynical about everything.~
dad~noun~An informal word for 'father'; a male parent~My dad plays football with me.~
daft~adjective~Silly and illogical~She can be really daft sometimes.~
daily~adjective~Happening every day~My daily chores around the house.~
daily~adjective~Connected with one day~The daily rate is expensive.~
dam~noun~A barrier built across a river that prevents the water from flowing~We swam across the dam.~
damage~verb~Ruin or harm something~She damaged my car with her keys.~
damage~noun~The harm done to something~The damage to the car was very bad.~
damned~adjective~A mild swear word used to show that you are annoyed by something~It's that damned dog again!~
damp~adjective~Slightly wet or moist, often in an unpleasant way~My clothes were damp.~
dance~noun~A certain type of way of moving your body to music~We went to modern dance classes.~
dance~noun~A social and often formal event where people dance~I got all dressed up for the work dance.~
dance~verb~Move your body to the sound of music~We danced to our favourite songs.~
danger~noun~Something that can hurt or damage something~Fire can cause a huge danger.~
danger~noun~The possibility of something bad or damaging happening~Her money is in danger of being lost.~
dangerous~adjective~Likely to hurt or injure someone~It a dangerous road.~
dare~verb~Be brave enough to do something~Would you dare to jump over that stream?~Dare is usually followed by the infinitive 'to', but it can be left out
dare~verb~Challenge someone to do something scary~I dare you to eat that bug!~
dark~adjective~Not light in colour~He wore a dark suit.~
dark~adjective~Having little or no light~It was dark outside.~
dark~noun~When you talk about 'the dark', you are talking about a place with little light~I'm not going out in the dark.~
darling~noun~A term you use to someone that you like or care for very much~I love you, darling.~
dart~noun~A pointed object, usually small, that can be used as a weapon or thrown in a game of darts~I need new darts for the tournament.~
dart~verb~Move off quickly in a certain direction~She darted across the room.~
darts~noun~A game where darts are thrown at a board~Lets play darts.~Darts is a singular noun
dash~noun~A symbol (-) that separates parts of sentences~I don't think so - do you? (The short line is a dash)~
dash~verb~Move somewhere quickly and suddenly~She dashed upstairs.~
dash~noun~A quick movement~She made a dash to the canteen.~
dashboard~noun~The panel in the front of a car that contains the controls~She wiped the dust from the dashboard.~
data~noun~Facts and information~We should refer to the data before we make any decisions.~
date~verb~To date back is to have existed for a certain time~This house dates back 400 years.~
date~noun~A certain day in a week, month or year~What date do we go on holiday on?~
date~noun~An arrangement, whether romantic or not, to meet someone or do something~I have a date with the dentist on Thursday; I have a date with my new boyfriend soon.~
date~adjective~If something is out of date, it is old-fashioned or it has expired~That food is out of date; don't eat it.~
date~verb~See someone romantically~We've been dating for three years now.~
date~verb~Find out how old something is~It has been dated as being 200 years old.~
daughter~noun~A person's female child~I have both a son and a daughter.~
daughter-in-law~noun~Your son's wife~She is now my daughter-in-law.~
dawn~noun~The time of the day when the sun rises~We heard the first birds at dawn.~
dawn~noun~The first signs of something~The dawn of time.~
day~noun~A period of 24 hours~Not one day has passed that I haven't thought about it.~
day~noun~A certain period of time~In the early days, man hunted for his food.~
day~noun~The time between first light and when it starts to get dark~I work during the day.~
daylight~noun~The sunlight that shines during the morning and afternoon~We went for a swim while there was still some daylight left.~
dead~adjective~No longer alive~After the drought the flowers were dead.~
dead~adjective~No longer useable or having no function~The batteries in this torch are dead.~
dead~adverb~Completely or very~It was a dead straight line; She was dead lucky to have survived.~
deadline~noun~The time that something must be done by~If we don't hurry we will miss the deadline.~
deadly~adjective~Likely to cause death~A deadly chemical.~
deaf~adjective~Unable to hear~She wasn't always deaf.~
deal~noun~A business arrangement or an agreement between two people~We had a deal and I was sure to get what I wanted.~
deal~noun~An amount of something~She spent a great deal of time with her children.~
deal~verb~If you deal in something, you buy and sell it~He deals in clothing.~
deal~verb~If you deal with something, you handle it in the appropriate way~I couldn't deal with all the work.~
deal~verb~Hand out the cards in a game of cards~He dealt me four cards.~
dealer~noun~A person who buys and sells things as a job~A car dealer.~
dealt~verb~'Dealt' is the past tense and past participle of 'deal'~He dealt me a card.~
dean~noun~A high-ranking priest in the Anglican church~We went to see the dean.~
dear~adjective~Well liked~She is very dear to me.~'Dear' is also used to address someone in a letter: Dear Sir/Madam
dear~adjective~Expensive; costing a lot to buy~That skirt is really dear.~
dear~noun~Used to show affection to someone~I love you, my dear.~
death~noun~The fact of dying~Her death was reported in the news.~
debate~noun~An argument that expresses differences of opinions~There was much debate about the new rules.~
debate~noun~A formal discussion of opposing views on an issue~We had a school debate about lengthening the lunch break.~
debate~verb~Discuss things in a formal manner~We debated for hours.~
debt~noun~An amount of money that someone owes~He has too many debts to pay off.~
debt~noun~The situation where you owe money~She is in a lot of debt.~
dec~abbreviation~Dec is the abbreviation for December~On Dec 23rd I did the Christmas shopping.~
decade~noun~A period of ten years~We got married a decade ago.~
decaffeinated~adjective~Having had most of the caffeine removed~I prefer decaffeinated coffee.~
decay~verb~Slowly be destroyed by rot etc.~Her teeth were decayed.~
decay~noun~The process of rotting~There was a rotten smell of decay.~
deceive~verb~Make someone believe that something is true when it is not; mislead~He deceived me again and broke my heart.~
december~noun~The twelfth and last month of the year~We get back from Spain in December.~
decent~adjective~Of good quality or quantity~Thatís a decent helping.~
decent~adjective~Honest and fair~She is a decent girl.~
decide~verb~Choose to do something~I decided to move to Africa.~
decide~verb~Develop an opinion about something~He decided that her idea was acceptable.~
decide~verb~Determine the result of something~It was the deciding factor.~
decimal~noun~A number that is not whole, and is expressed using a point on the line~What does the decimal 1.03 stand for?~
decimal~adjective~Counted in tens or tenths~The decimal system.~
decision~noun~A choice that you make after thinking about something~After three hours they finally came to a decision.~
deck~noun~A piece of musical equipment that plays and records sounds from tapes etc.~Our cassette deck is too old to work.~
deck~noun~A floor on a bus or ship~Which deck is our room on?~
declare~verb~Say something firmly and clearly~I declared that I would not be beaten.~
declare~verb~Officially or publicly announce something~They declared war.~
declare~verb~Tell customs or the tax office what goods you are carrying or what money you are earning~I had nothing to declare.~
decline~verb~Become weaker, smaller or less~The birth rate has declined.~
decline~verb~Refuse something in a polite manner~I declined her invitation.~
decline~noun~A continuous decrease in something~A decline in the crime rate.~
decorate~verb~Make something look nicer by adding something else~She decorated the trees with lights.~
decorate~verb~Put paint etc. on the walls etc. of a house or building~We are going to decorate my room this weekend.~
decoration~noun~Items used to make something more attractive~We put decorations on the birthday cake.~
decrease~noun~Reduction in something~A decrease of tiger numbers in the wildlife park.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
decrease~verb~Become smaller~The temperature has decreased overnight.~
dedicate~verb~Give a lot of yourself to something you think is important~She dedicates all her weekends to working with animals.~
dedicate~verb~Say at the beginning of a book etc. that you have created it for someone because you have a lot of love or respect for them~I dedicated my first novel to my parents.~
deduct~verb~Take something away from a total amount~She deducted half his wages.~
deep~adjective~Having a long distance from top to bottom~The well was very deep.~
deep~adjective~Low (referring to sounds)~Men tend to have deep voices.~
deep~adjective~'Deep' is used in measurement to indicate the depth of something~It was six metres deep.~
deep~adjective~Strongly felt~He felt deep hatred of them all.~
deer~noun~A wild animal that eats grass etc. and can run quickly; the males sometimes have antlers~We saw the deer walking across the reserve.~'Deer' is singular and plural
defeat~verb~Overcome an opponent; win~We defeat them every season.~
defeat~noun~The loss of a battle, a football match, etc.~She has only suffered two defeats in her career.~
defence~none~In sport, the players who try to prevent the opposition from scoring~Our team has a very good defence.~The US spelling is 'defense' is all cases
defence~noun~The action taken against attacks, such as criticism or physical attacks~His defence mechanism failed him.~
defence~noun~An action taken to protect something~Their defence consisted of guns and tanks.~
defend~verb~Support something~I defended her ideas.~
defend~verb~Protect something from harm or attack~I tried to defend him but they hit me as well.~
defensive~adjective~If someone easily thinks that they are being criticised, and responds to this, they are defensive~Is she always this defensive?~
defensive~adjective~Made to defend something from attack~We have new defensive tactics.~
deficiency~noun~A lack of something~There is a deficiency of milk in schools.~
deficit~noun~The amount by which money spent is larger than money earned~The trade deficit.~
define~verb~Give the meaning of a word or phrase~Can you define 'zoology'?~
definite~adjective~Sure, certain~It is definite. She is coming tonight.~
definite~adjective~Something that is known to be true~It is a definite fact.~
definitely~adverb~Used to emphasise that something is true~It's definitely going to happen.~
definition~noun~The meaning of a word or phrase~I need a dictionary with good, clear definitions.~
degree~noun~A university qualification, usually achieved after three or four years of study~He is studying for a degree at the moment.~
degree~noun~An amount of something or a level of seriousness~This requires a large degree of thought; She suffered first-degree burns.~
degree~noun~A unit for measuring angles~A 20-degree angle.~
delay~verb~Put something off till a later time~We delayed the ceremony until my mother arrived.~
delay~noun~A situation where something happens later than it should~The delay was caused by traffic.~
delay~verb~Make something late~We were delayed by the train.~
deliberate~adjective~Done on purpose~It was a deliberate attempt to hurt me.~
delicious~adjective~Having an extremely nice taste~A delicious breakfast.~
delight~noun~A feeling of great happiness~She laughed in delight at his jokes.~
delight~verb~Give a feeling of great happiness~It delights me to see you again.~
delight~adjective~To be greatly pleased~I am delighted to be with you today.~
deliver~verb~Help someone give birth to a baby~The child was delivered naturally.~
deliver~verb~Take goods, letters etc. to the people they belong to~I delivered the parcel to the address written on the back of it.~
deliver~verb~Give a speech, talk, lecture, etc.~She delivered the speech with little enthusiasm.~
delivery~noun~The act of taking goods, letters, etc. to the people they belong to~Delivery can take up to three weeks.~
delivery~noun~When goods, letters, etc. arrive it is called a delivery~My book delivery came this morning.~
demand~verb~Need, require~Getting a degree demands hard work and dedication.~
demand~noun~A claim~The demands on my time are incredible.~
demand~noun~A firm or forceful request for something~He ignored my demands.~
demand~verb~Firmly and forcefully ask for something~I demanded that she listen to me.~
demand~noun~The desire that consumers have to own something~There is a huge demand for dolls this Christmas.~
democracy~noun~A country that has a democratic system of government~We live in a democracy.~
democracy~noun~A system where the public elects the government~Do you agree with the principles of democracy?~
democratic~adjective~Having the principles of democracy~We are holding a democratic election next week.~
democratic~adjective~Giving all people equal rights~I'm glad I live in a democratic society.~
demonstrate~verb~Show proof or evidence for something~This demonstrates our need for more staff.~
demonstrate~verb~Explain or show how something works~I demonstrated all the techniques.~
demonstrate~verb~March or chant with other people, usually in protest against something~They demonstrated against war.~
demonstration~noun~The act of showing or explaining how something is done or how something works~A demonstration of the product's new features.~
demonstration~noun~The act of giving proof of something~A demonstration of how people's feelings can control their actions.~
demonstration~noun~A gathering of people who are marching etc. in protest against something~A lot of people arrived for the demonstration.~
dense~adjective~Not easy to see through~The fog was dense.~
dense~adjective~Containing a lot of things~A dense forest.~
dent~verb~Damage something and leave a hollow in its surface~The car was dented in three places.~
dent~noun~The hollow left in something after it has been hit~There was a huge dent in the ceiling.~
dentist~noun~Someone who is qualified to look after and fix your teeth; when you go to see a dentist you can say you are going to the dentist's~I need to see a dentist about this tooth.~
deny~verb~Say that something is not true~She denied the charges.~
deny~verb~Refuse to allow someone to have something~I denied her the chance to reply.~
deodorant~noun~A substance that is put on the skin, usually under the arms, to help prevent odours and sometimes perspiration~I like the smell of his deodorant.~
depart~verb~Leave somewhere, usually with the intention of going somewhere else~I departed the airport.~
department~noun~A part of an organisation~Which department do you work in?~
department store~noun~A large shop that sells a wide range of things~You can get everything you need in a department store.~
departure~noun~The act of leaving somewhere~His departure will be emotional.~
depend~verb~If something depends on something else it is affected or decided by it~It depends on what time I get home.~
depend~verb~Rely~It all depended on one man.~
deposit~noun~An amount of money that you give as first payment on something, promising to pay the rest later~I couldn't raise the deposit in time and someone else bought the house.~
depressed~adjective~Sad and feeling little hope~She was depressed for months.~
depressed~adjective~If a place has little employment, it is depressed~We must try to bring more businesses to depressed areas.~
depression~noun~A period of little economic activity~We are going through a depression.~
depression~noun~A feeling of sadness and hopelessness~He suffered from depression for years.~
deprive~verb~Prevent someone from having something that they need or want~You cannot deprive people of their basic needs.~
depth~noun~The measurement of distance from surface to bottom~They swam to a depth of 100 metres.~
depth~noun~The strength and power of emotions~I didn't realise the depth of her hatred for me.~
deputy~noun~The second most important person in something~The deputy took over for the chairperson when she was sick.~
derive~verb~Get or obtain something from something or someone~He derived much joy from his children.~
derive~verb~Have developed from something~It is derived from Latin.~
descend~verb~Go down~The lift descended.~
describe~verb~Say what someone or something is like~I described the colour of the curtains.~
description~noun~An account of what something or someone is like~Do you have a description of the item you are looking for?~
desert~noun~A barren area of land with much sand, little water and few plants~We got lost in the desert.~
desert~verb~Abandon~He deserted his colleagues.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
deserve~verb~If you deserve something then you should have it because of the things that you have done~She deserved to win the prize; He deserved a selfish woman because he was a selfish man.~
design~noun~A drawing that shows how something should look or how something should be made~A design for a supermarket.~
design~noun~A pattern of lines and shapes, usually used as decoration~What design would you like on your shirt?~
design~verb~Draw plans or make plans for what something should look like~I designed the set.~
desirable~adjective~Something that is attractive to you and that you would like to have is desirable~That's a desirable lifestyle.~
desire~noun~The feeling of wanting or wishing for something~I felt a strong desire to have it.~
desire~verb~Want or wish for something~I desired fame and fortune.~
desk~noun~A table that often has drawers and is used to do work on~The paperwork is on my desk.~
desperate~adjective~Feeling so bad that you would do anything to change your situation~She was desperate for help.~
despite~preposition~Used to show that something happened when it might have been expected not to~Despite constant reminding from me, she forgot the tickets.~
dessert~noun~A sweet meal that you would normally eat after your main meal~What would you like for dessert?~
destination~noun~The place that you are travelling towards~Our destination was still an hour away.~
destined~adjective~If something is destined to happen, it is meant to be~These problems are destined to haunt us.~
destroy~verb~Damage something so badly that it no longer works or exists~I destroyed her work.~
destruction~noun~The act or process of destroying~The destruction of rain forests.~
detail~noun~One of the small parts of something that make up the whole thing~I can't remember the painting in detail, but I know it was very good.~
detail~noun~A fact or information about something~Tell me all the details of the job.~
detailed~adjective~Having or giving many details~I need a detailed description of the burglar.~
detain~verb~Delay someone~I will try not to detain you for too long.~
detain~verb~Officially stop someone from leaving~The police could only detain her for one more hour.~
detect~verb~Notice or discover~I detected signs of ageing in her face.~
detective~noun~A person whose job it is to track down criminals by examining crime scenes, assessing evidence, etc.~Detectives still have no clues.~
deter~verb~Convince someone not to do something~We tried to deter them but they laughed at us.~
determination~noun~The quality that makes you keep doing something even though it is difficult~I was amazed to see so much determination.~
determine~verb~Make something happen in a certain way~What determines a person's personality?~
determine~verb~Find out the facts about something~I determined the reason that it didn't work.~
determined~adjective~So wanting to do something that you will not let anyone or anything stop you~They were determined to win.~
detour~noun~A different, often longer way of getting somewhere~She made a detour so she could see more of the countryside.~
develop~verb~Treat photographic film so that it shows visible pictures~I need to get our holiday photos developed.~
develop~verb~Help something become stronger or bigger~We must develop our communication skills; Calcium helps bones to develop.~
development~noun~A new or more advanced product~What new developments are there in the computer world?~
development~noun~The growth of something over time~The development of literacy skills.~
device~noun~A piece of equipment or a tool that is used for a specific purpose or job~A device that tells the time is a clock.~
devil~noun~The most evil creature, according to Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths~The devil will try to trick you.~
devil~noun~A wicked spirit~I dressed up as a devil for the party.~
devise~verb~Invent, create or think something up~I devised a clever plan.~
devote~verb~Give a lot of your time and energy to something~She is devoted to protecting animals.~
devoted~adjective~Having a lot of love for someone or something~They are devoted to their children.~
diagnose~verb~Find out what a problem or illness is~He was diagnosed with a cold.~
diagram~noun~A drawing that explains what something looks like or how it works~She drew a diagram to explain.~
dial~noun~The face on a clock or watch etc. that shows time, speed, temperature, etc.~The dial showed the time.~
dial~verb~Push the buttons on a telephone to make a call~He dialled his own number by mistake.~
dialogue~noun~Written or spoken conversation~I read a dialogue between the two main characters.~
dialogue~noun~A discussion between two countries~The reporters were pleased to report that there was some constructive dialogue between the countries.~
diamond~noun~A clear, hard, colourless stone, often used in jewellery~A diamond ring.~
diaper~noun~US English for a nappy: see 'nappy'~She needed her diaper changed.~
diary~noun~A book that contains a section for each day of the year and is used to record things in or note appointments and tasks so that you don't forget them~He made a note of the next class in his diary.~
dice~noun~A cube with a different number of dots on each side, used for playing games~Throw the dice.~In US English, one cube is called a die and the plural is 'dice'
dictate~verb~Say something out loud so that someone can write it down~I dictated the speech to the secretary.~
dictate~verb~Control or influence something~Our holiday time is dictated by the children's school terms.~
dictator~noun~Someone who has complete control over a country, usually by using force~The dictator was eventually overthrown.~
dictionary~noun~A book that gives words and their meanings as well as some grammar rules and often pronunciation guides~Look it up in the dictionary.~
die~verb~Stop living~I hope she doesn't die!~
die~verb~If something dies away it becomes fainter until it disappears~His laughter died away.~
die away~verb~Gradually stop existing~There are so many interesting cultures that have just died away.~
diet~noun~A food plan that you follow in an attempt to lose weight~I hate having to go on diets.~
diet~noun~The food that you eat every day~I have a poor diet.~
differ~verb~Be unlike something~An apple differs from an orange in many ways.~
differ~verb~Disagree~I have to differ with you on this subject.~
difference~noun~If something makes a difference it has an effect on something else~It makes no difference how many times you tell him, he still does it.~
difference~noun~The amount by which something is bigger or smaller than something else~There is a big price difference.~
difference~noun~The way that things are not like each other~There are so many differences between us I wouldn't even know where to start naming them.~
different~adjective~Unlike something else~Dogs are different from cats.~
different~adjective~Separate and individual although still in the same broad category~There are different types of music.~
difficult~adjective~Needing some skill to understand or solve~It was a difficult sum.~
difficult~adjective~Giving problems or behaving in a troublesome way~Thatís a difficult age.~
difficulty~noun~The state of being difficult~I had some difficulty making myself heard.~
difficulty~noun~A problem or a situation that causes problems~The biggest difficulty will be finding someone to replace her.~
dig~verb~If something digs into something else, it pushes into it in a painful way~Your elbow is digging into me.~
dig~verb~Move soil from one place to another to make a hole~They dug a hole and then planted a tree in it.~
digger~noun~Australian and New Zealand English: A soldier~The digger won an award for bravery.~
digital~adjective~Using digital (as opposed to analog) technology to send and receive information through electrical signals~A digital camera.~
dignity~noun~Calm and serious behaviour that deserves respect~She always kept her dignity.~
dilute~verb~Add water to a liquid or solution to make it less strong~Dilute the solution before using it on the skin.~
dim~adjective~Not bright~The light was too dim to read in.~
dim~verb~Make light less bright~He dimmed the lights to make the room more romantic.~
dimension~noun~Aspect, area; way of looking at or thinking about something~It was a new dimension of her life.~
dimension~noun~A measurement of something, e.g. height, length~We need to get the dimensions of the room before we buy any paint.~
diminish~verb~Die away or become less important~Our food supplies are diminishing.~
dine~verb~Eat dinner~Shall we dine?~Formal use
dinkum~adjective~Australian and New Zealand English: A slang term used to show that something is believed to be real or honest~That's a dinkum plan.~
dinner~noun~The biggest meal of the day~Should we have dinner around four or can you hold on until six?~
dinner~noun~A social occasion where dinner is eaten~We have been invited to a dinner at the town hall on Monday evening.~
dip~verb~Put something into a liquid and pull it out again~I dipped a biscuit into my tea.~
dip~verb~Make a downward movement~The plane suddenly dipped.~
diploma~noun~A document that shows that you have completed a course at a university or college~I finally got my diploma.~
diplomat~noun~A person who represents their country in a different country~She's a French diplomat.~
direct~adjective~In a straight line~A direct journey.~
direct~adjective~Saying exactly what you mean~Is she always so direct?~
direct~adjective~One-to-one~She had a direct link to the teacher.~
direct~verb~Aim something in a certain direction~Direct the fan towards my face.~
direct~verb~Show someone the way to somewhere~I can direct you to the bank.~
direct~verb~Be in charge of organising a film or musical etc.~Who will direct the play?~
direction~noun~Instruction that tells you how to get to a certain place~I need directions to the bank.~
direction~noun~The position that something points towards~We need to go in the opposite direction.~
director~noun~The person who runs a movie set and tells the actors etc. what to do~I met a famous film director.~
director~noun~Someone who sits on the board of a company~You will need to speak to the director about that.~
directory~noun~A book that contains lists of information~I looked for her number in the directory.~
dirt~noun~A substance that makes thing unclean~She had dirt all over her shirt.~
dirt~noun~The mud or soil of the earth can be called dirt~I dug a hole in the dirt.~
dirty~adjective~Dishonest, cheating, violent~A dirty player.~
dirty~adjective~Having to do with sex and offending some people~I hate her jokes, they're always so dirty.~
dirty~adjective~Unclean, having dirt on it~My hands and face were dirty after I fell in the mud.~
dis-~prefix~Dis- is used to make a word mean the opposite of what it normally means~Disarm; disagree.~
disability~noun~A condition that prevents you from using a part of your body~We need to make more provisions at universities for people with physical disabilities.~
disabled~adjective~Unable to use a part of your body~She has been disabled from birth.~
disagree~verb~Have a different opinion from someone else~I disagree with my dad on most things.~
disagree~verb~If you disagree with something you think it is bad or wrong~I disagreed with their ideas.~
disappear~verb~Stop happening or stop being a problem~I took a tablet and my headache disappeared.~
disappear~verb~Become impossible to see, often suddenly~The magician made the rabbit disappear.~
disappoint~verb~Make you feel sad because you expected better~The concert disappointed me.~
disapprove~verb~To disapprove is to dislike or disagree with something or feel that it is morally wrong~I disapprove of her late nights.~
disaster~noun~An extremely bad accident or natural event~Flood disasters; fire disasters.~
disaster~noun~Total failure~The book was a disaster.~
disc~noun~A thin, flat, round object~She has a disc on her necklace.~
disc jockey~noun~A person who plays music on the radio and at nightclubs. Often shortened to DJ~That DJ plays all the songs I like.~
discard~verb~Get rid of something that you no longer need~I unwrapped my present and discarded the packaging.~
discipline~noun~The practice of punishing people when they break rules so that they learn to respect the rules~Do you think we need to introduce more discipline in schools?~
discipline~verb~Punish someone because they have done something wrong~You will be disciplined if you step out of line.~
discipline~noun~The ability to control yourself and the things you do~You need a lot of discipline to complete a degree.~
disclose~verb~Give out information about something, especially secret information~I will not disclose her address.~
disco~noun~An event at which people dance to recorded pop music~What time are you going to the disco at?~
discount~noun~Money that is taken off the total price of something~I received a discount for being a loyal customer.~
discourage~verb~Make someone feel less enthusiastic or confident~His criticisms discouraged me.~
discourage~verb~Try to stop someone from doing something~I tried to discourage her from swearing so much.~
discover~verb~Find something new~I discovered that people do live on the North Pole; Columbus discovered America.~
discovery~noun~The act of finding something new~It was the most important discovery of the year.~
discriminate~verb~See the differences in things~She can discriminate between letters and numbers now.~
discriminate~verb~To discriminate against is to be bad to a group of people because they are different to you~You should not discriminate against people because of their colour.~
discuss~verb~Talk about things with other people~I can't discuss anything with you, you never listen to me.~
discussion~noun~The process of discussing things~We had a very productive discussion.~
disease~noun~A sickness that can infect or affect a living thing~She has lung disease, caused by smoking.~
disguise~noun~Things that you wear to change your appearance in order to fool someone~Her disguise consisted of glasses and a beard.~
disguise~verb~Change your appearance so that people will not know who you are~He disguised himself so the photographers wouldn't see him.~
disguise~verb~If you disguise something you hide it or make it seem different~I disguised my feelings.~
disgust~noun~An intense feeling of dislike~He showed his disgust by pulling a strange face.~
disgust~verb~Cause someone to dislike you intensely~Everything about her disgusts me.~
dish~noun~A type of meal~This is a potato dish.~
dish~noun~A container used for holding food~Put the soup in the red dish.~
disk~none~Another way of spelling disc: see 'disc'~~
dislike~verb~Not like something~I dislike cheese.~
dismiss~verb~Decide that something is not worth spending your time on~I dismissed the thought as soon as it came into my head.~
dismiss~verb~Officially fire someone from their job~My employer dismissed me this morning.~
dismiss~verb~Send someone away~The team were dismissed for lunch.~
disorder~noun~Lack of order; an untidy state~My paperwork was in complete disorder.~
disorder~noun~An illness that prevents a part of the body or mind from working properly~She has an emotional disorder.~
display~verb~Put something in a place where people can see it~She displayed all her certificates on the wall.~
display~verb~Show emotion~She displayed some signs of guilt.~
display~noun~A group of things arranged in such a way that people notice them~There is a display of flowers in the next room.~
dispose of~verb~If you dispose of things you get rid of them because they are unwanted~I disposed of all my old magazines that were taking up space.~
dispute~noun~An argument or disagreement~This dispute has gone on long enough!~
dispute~verb~Question whether or not something is true~That idea has been disputed.~
disqualify~verb~Stop someone from doing something or taking part in something because they have done something wrong~If you get caught cheating you will be disqualified.~
dissolve~verb~Mix something with a liquid so that it eventually becomes part of it~The tablet dissolves in water.~
distance~noun~If something is at or from a distance it is far away~I saw the smoke from a distance.~
distance~noun~The amount of space between two things~The distance from my house to yours.~
distant~adjective~Far away, usually in time or space~On a distant planet.~
distant~adjective~A distant relative is one who is not closely related to you~He's a distant cousin of mine.~
distant~adjective~Not friendly or emotional~She was very distant on the phone.~
distinct~adjective~If something is distinct from something else it is clearly different from that thing~Cats are distinct from dogs.~
distinct~adjective~If something is distinct it is very recognisable; easy to see, hear, smell, etc.~There was a distinct smell of alcohol on him.~
distinctive~adjective~Unusual; having a quality that makes something different from other things~Her eyes are distinctive.~
distinguish~verb~Tell the differences between things~My taste buds can't distinguish between salty and sugary.~
distinguish~verb~Be able to see, hear, etc. something~I could just distinguish the lyrics of the song being played upstairs.~
distort~verb~Change facts so that they are not true anymore~She distorted the statistics to make for better reading.~
distort~verb~Change something so that it seems strange~When her picture fell in the water the image became distorted.~
distract~verb~Take someone's attention away from what they are doing~I had to distract him so my sister could run into the building.~
distress~noun~A situation where something is in trouble and needs help~The plane was in distress.~
distress~verb~Cause worry or discomfort to a person or animal~I was distressed by the news; The fireworks were distressing the dog.~
distress~noun~A serious feeling of worry, unhappiness, etc.~Many teenagers suffer emotional distress.~
distribute~verb~Spread things out over an area or to many people~The sweets should be evenly distributed among the children.~
distribute~verb~Give things out to people~I need you to distribute these leaflets all over town.~
district~noun~An area of a country or town, often having its own distinct features~I'm going to the financial district.~
disturb~verb~Interrupt someone when they are busy with something else~I crept down the stairs so as not to disturb anyone.~
disturb~verb~Worry~I'm disturbed by her behaviour.~
disturbance~noun~The act of disturbing someone or the state of being disturbed~I did not mean to cause a disturbance.~
disturbance~noun~Violent behaviour in public~The disturbance was quickly cleared up when the police arrived.~
ditch~noun~A furrow or trench dug into the ground that carries or holds water; often at the side of a field or road~If you're not careful you'll drive into that ditch.~
dive~verb~Jump into water in such a way that your head and arms go in first~She was too afraid to dive in.~US English uses 'dove' as the past tense of 'dive'
dive~verb~Swim underwater with the help of special equipment~We went diving to try and find some sharks.~
dive~verb~When birds or aircraft move steeply down, they dive~The bird dived and caught the fish.~
divert~verb~Make something change direction~The plane was diverted from its destination by the terrorists.~
divide~verb~Place a real or imagined barrier between two things~Our garden fence divides us from our neighbours.~
divide~verb~Do a type of sum done where you see how many times one number can fit into another~20 divided by 5 is 4 (5 goes into 20 four times).~
divide~verb~Separate things into different parts~The world is divided into continents on the map.~
division~noun~The process of dividing something into its parts~I thought the division of the money was a little unfair.~
division~noun~A section of an organisation~Speak to the personnel division.~
divorce~noun~The official and legal ending of a marriage~The divorce rate has gone up again.~
divorce~verb~Officially and legally end a marriage~He divorced her when he found out about the affair.~
diy~noun~Abbreviation for 'do it yourself', meaning the things around the home that you do yourself instead of paying someone to do them~Our local DIY store sells lots of different paints.~
dizzy~adjective~This is when you feel that you cannot keep your balance and that everything is spinning~I felt dizzy and had to sit down.~
dj~noun~The abbreviation for 'disc jockey'~Who is your favourite DJ?~
dna~noun~The material inside each cell of the body that carries genetic information~They need to take a sample of your DNA.~
do~verb~Solve something or try to solve something~What can we do about it?~
do~verb~Used with 'well' to show that something has been successful or progressed~They did well in the competition.~
do~verb~The auxiliary 'do' is used before verbs to form negatives and questions~I don't like him.~Do not = don't; Does not = doesn't
do~verb~Work at a task or activity~The detective did a lot of research.~
do~verb~Make~Who is doing the lunch today?~
do~noun~Informal for a social event~Are you going to the Christmas do?~
do~verb~If one thing has something to do with another thing, they are connected in some way~The problem has nothing to do with me.~
do~verb~Can refer to the job that someone does~What do you do for a living?~
do~verb~If something won't do, it is not good enough and will have to be changed~That just won't do!~
do up~verb~Improve or decorate~We are going to do up the apartment next week.~
do up~verb~Fasten or tie something up, usually clothes~You need to do up that last button on your shirt.~
dock~noun~A place where ships can be kept for repairs or until their next journey~Let's take a walk down to the docks to see the ships.~
dock~verb~Tie up at a dock~The ship should dock around eight tonight.~
doctor~noun~When you receive a qualification of the highest degree from a university you become a doctor~He is a doctor of linguistics.~
doctor~noun~Someone who is trained in medicine and can help you when you are ill. The place in which a doctor works is often referred to as the doctor's~You need to see a doctor about that cough.~
document~noun~An official paper that gives you information on something~Bring all the documents to the meeting.~
document~verb~Write or record all the details of something, usually over a period of time~They are documenting zebras again.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
documentary~noun~A film, television or radio programme that gives you the facts on real events or situations~We watched an interesting documentary about Africa.~
dodge~verb~Avoid being hit by something~They dodged the bullets by falling to the ground.~
dog~noun~An animal descended from the wolf that is kept as a pet or trained for protection, hunting, etc~We have a dog that likes to chase cats.~
doll~noun~A toy that is usually made to look like a small human~We bought our daughter a new doll for her birthday.~
dollar~noun~The main currency used in the USA and in many other countries~That will cost three dollars please.~
domain~noun~An area that you know a lot about or that you are responsible for~Mathematics is his domain.~
dome~noun~A round roof with a circular base~Many cathedrals have domes.~
domestic~adjective~Of or inside a certain country; not foreign~I don't understand India's domestic affairs.~
domestic~adjective~Connected or concerned with the home~Part of my course was to study domestic violence.~
dominate~verb~Be the most powerful, important or noticeable thing~The Christmas tree dominated the room.~
dominate~verb~Control or have power over someone~She tries to dominate me but I refuse to let her.~
donate~verb~Allow your blood or a part of your body to be used by doctors to further research or help other ill people~My parents donate blood four times a year.~
donate~verb~Give money, clothing, etc. to charity~The children donated their old toys to charity.~
donkey~noun~An animal with short legs and long ears that is often used to carry goods or people~The donkeys carried the heavier items.~
donor~noun~A person who donates~I am a blood donor.~
doomed~adjective~Destined to fail or die~The plan was doomed.~
door~noun~A panel that can be opened or closed and allows people to enter or exit~Open the door for the postman.~
doorway~noun~The gap in a wall where a door can be placed~I stood in the doorway and waited to be invited inside.~
dose~noun~A certain amount of medicine that should be taken once or repeatedly~Read the label to find out how many doses you need.~
dot~noun~A small, round mark~There was a black dot on the photo that made her face look funny.~
double up~verb~Have a function in addition to the normal one~The dining room doubles up as a room to relax in.~
doubles~noun~In sport such as tennis, doubles is when two people play on each side~I don't like playing doubles with my dad; he's not very good at badminton!~'Doubles' is singular
double~adjective~Something that is made for two people~I need a double bed although I sleep in it by myself.~
double~verb~Make something become two times as much as it was~You need to double the ingredients so we have enough for everyone.~
double~adjective~Made up of two similar or identical parts~My name has a double 't' in it.~
double~adjective~Twice as much or twice as many~I had a double helping of food.~
double~noun~Something that looks just like something else~The film boss hired a double to do the actor's dangerous stunts.~
doubt~noun~A feeling of not being sure about something~I do have some doubt about the plan but I'll try it anyway.~
doubt~verb~Lack confidence in something~I doubt her intentions are very good.~
doubtful~adjective~Not certain~It is doubtful that the rain will stop in time for the picnic.~
dove~verb~US English: Past tense of 'dive'~She dove to the bottom of the pool.~
down~adverb~If you put something down you put it at a lower place~Put the guns down!~
down~adverb~Used to show that something has decreased~The water level has gone down.~
down~adjective~Sad~She's still a little down after having a virus.~
down~preposition~In a certain direction~You walk on down the road and I'll catch up in a minute.~
downstairs~adverb~The lowest floor, or a lower floor, in a building etc.~We put the dog's bed downstairs.~
downstairs~adverb~Going down a flight of stairs to a lower level~I want you to go downstairs now.~
downtown~adverb~Especially US English: Towards the centre of the city, often the business area~I need to go downtown and drop this paperwork off.~
downwards~adverb~Towards the ground or a lower level~I moved on downwards past the people on the stairs.~
doze~verb~Have a short, light sleep~I'm just going for a quick doze.~
dozen~noun~A group of twelve things~I need a dozen loaves of bread.~
dr~abbreviation~This is the abbreviated form of the word 'Doctor'~I need to see Dr Smith.~
draft~noun~A rough, unfinished piece of writing~I can send you the draft but the document isn't completed yet.~
draft~noun~US English spelling of 'draught'~The open window is causing a draft.~
draft~verb~Write a rough first version~I am drafting the document tonight.~
draft~verb~Send someone somewhere to do a special job~More police had to be drafted in.~
draft~verb~To be drafted is to be sent somewhere to serve your country~I was drafted to the war in Africa.~
drag~verb~Pull something with difficulty~I had to drag him into the room.~
drag~noun~When men dress in women's clothing it is referred to as drag~The three men were all in drag.~
drain~noun~A pipe that transports liquid waste~We had to call a plumber to fix our drains.~
drain~verb~Make something or someone weaker~She felt emotionally drained.~
drain~verb~Make something dry by letting all the liquid in it move off or away~You need to drain the vegetables before putting them on plates.~
drama~noun~A play that is done for theatre, film or television~There is a good drama on tonight.~
drama~noun~Plays that make up a part of literature~I am acting in a Roman drama.~
drama~noun~If something exciting or eventful takes place it can be referred to as drama~Listen to this new drama! She also stole his motorbike!~
dramatic~adjective~Happening suddenly and surprisingly~After she saw a doctor there was a dramatic change in her attitude.~
drastic~adjective~Extreme and serious~That's a bit drastic, why don't you try and calm down?~
draught~adjective~When beer is referred to as draught it is served from a barrel rather than a bottle~I prefer draught beer.~
draught~noun~A flow of cold or cool air~There's a draught coming through that window.~
draughts~noun~A game played on a black and white board with 24 round playing pieces~I always beat her at draughts.~Draughts is singular
draw~verb~When you reach a conclusion about something you can say you draw the conclusion~There was only one conclusion that could be drawn from it.~
draw~verb~Take money out of an account~How much money should I draw?~
draw~verb~Open or close curtains~It's getting dark, please draw the curtains.~
draw~noun~In some sports, when two teams have an equal score it is called a draw~I hate it when a game ends in a draw.~
draw~verb~Create a picture of something using pens, pencils, crayons, etc.~We were told to draw a picture of our house.~
draw~verb~If something is pulled or moved in a particular direction it is said to be drawn~My eyes were drawn to the photograph; she drew her chair up next to mine.~
draw up~verb~When you draw something up you plan it carefully and then make or write it~It took me three days to draw up the plans for the new supermarket.~
drawer~noun~A section of a piece of furniture in which things can be stored and that can be slid in and out~I keep my pencils in the top left drawer.~
drawing~noun~A picture that is made with pens, pencils, crayons etc., not with paint~I like to do drawings.~
drawn~adjective~Pale, often due to illness or tiredness~Her face looked old and drawn.~
dread~verb~Be scared or anxious about something~I dreaded facing my parents again.~
dreadful~adjective~Distasteful, bad or horrid~He was wearing a dreadful shirt.~
dream~noun~A wish to have something~I have a dream of being a movie star.~
dream~noun~Events or actions that you see in your mind when you are asleep~I had a great dream last night.~
dream~verb~Think about things that you would like to happen~I dream of winning the lottery.~
dream~verb~See events or actions happening in your mind when you are asleep~I dreamt about forests and unicorns.~
dream~verb~If you say you wouldn't dream of doing something, it means that you would never do it~I would never dream of hurting you!~
dress~noun~A single piece of clothing that reaches down to a person's (usually a woman's) legs. It can sit above or below the knees, or extend to the ankles~I don't know which dress to wear to the party.~
dress~noun~The clothes you are wearing~There will be a strict dress code at the function.~
dress~verb~Place clothes on your body~You need to get dressed now or you'll be late.~
drift~verb~Be carried along by the wind or by water~The boat drifted out to sea.~
drift~verb~Move slowly or without a plan~She and her husband drifted apart; He drifted from job to job.~
drill~noun~A machine with a pointed end that can make holes in things~My father needs a new drill.~
drill~noun~The practice of something by repeated exercises~A military drill; An emergency drill.~
drill~verb~Make a hole in something using a drill~I need you to drill a hole through that table.~
drink~verb~Drink alcohol, especially regularly~He doesn't drink; You shouldn't drink so much.~
drink~noun~A liquid or an amount of liquid that you consume~There was lots of food and drink.~
drink~verb~Consume a liquid~If you drink this it will make you feel better.~
drink~noun~A drink containing alcohol~What's your favourite drink?~
drip~verb~When liquid falls in drops, it drips~Water dripped from her wet towel.~
drip~noun~A single drop of liquid~A drip of water landed on my hat.~
drip~noun~A piece of equipment that allows liquid to pass into a patient's blood~When he had a stroke they put him on a drip.~
drive~noun~A journey, often short, in a vehicle~Let's go for a drive to the forest.~
drive~noun~A path that leads from a street to a house~It takes 10 minutes to walk up their drive.~
drive~verb~Operate a vehicle~She liked to drive trucks.~
drive~verb~Bring someone somewhere in a vehicle~I have to drive him into town.~
drive~verb~Influence or force a person or animal to behave in a certain way~They drove the horses forward; She nearly drove me to madness.~
drive~verb~Force something into a certain position by hitting or pushing it~I drove a nail into the wood with my hammer.~
drive~verb~Provide the power to make a machine work~Some trains are driven by steam.~
drizzle~noun~Fine, light rain~I hate walking in drizzle.~
drop~verb~Become weaker or less~The temperature dropped; She shouted at him to drop his speed.~
drop~verb~If you drop your voice you speak more softly and more quietly~They all dropped their voices when they heard a bang at the door.~
drop~verb~Take someone or something somewhere and leave them there~I need to be dropped at the bank; I dropped the parcel off at your mother's.~
drop~noun~A small amount of liquid~A drop of water came from the tap.~
drop~noun~A fall in amount or level etc.~There was a drop in prices for a while.~
drop~verb~Fall downwards~I dropped my wallet; She dropped the glass.~
drought~noun~A period of time when there is little or no rain, causing a severe shortage of water~All the crops died in the drought.~
drown~verb~To die by suffocating under water.~The rat drowned in the river.~
drug~noun~A substance that sick people are given to try to make them well again~They are working on finding a drug that will cure the common cold.~
drug~noun~Substances that people take to stimulate themselves. Many such drugs are illegal~I am trying to get my friend off drugs.~
drug~verb~Give a person or animal a drug that makes them drowsy or unconscious~They drugged him.~
drugstore~noun~US English for a place where legal drugs and medicines can be bought~You can get them in the local drugstore.~In UK English this is usually the chemist's or pharmacy
drum~noun~A container that usually holds liquids and is has the shape of a cylinder~A chemical drum.~
drum~noun~A musical instrument with plastic or skin stretched over one end of it, which is played to create a rhythm~She learnt how to play the drums at a young age.~
drunk~adjective~Experiencing the effects of too much alcohol~She was so drunk we had to carry her home.~
drunk~noun~Someone who gets drunk on a regular basis~Don't speak to him, he's an old drunk.~
dry~adjective~Not wet; having no water or moisture~I had to wait until my hair was dry before I could go out.~
dry~adjective~A dry wine is a wine that is not sweet~I don't like dry wine.~
dry~verb~Remove all liquid or moisture from something~If I wash the dishes will you dry them?~
dry-clean~verb~Clean clothes with chemicals rather than water~I have a coat that can only be dry-cleaned.~
dual~adjective~Having two aspects~This tool is dual purpose.~
duck~noun~A bird that lives mainly in water and has webbed feet~We went to the river and fed the ducks.~
duck~verb~Quickly move your head or body down to avoid something~She ducked and the ball missed her by inches.~
due~adjective~If something is due to something, it is caused by it~She went to bed due to having the flu.~
due~adjective~Expected to arrive or happen~We are due to arrive home by ten tomorrow night.~
duke~noun~A high-ranking nobleman~The duke of York.~
dull~adjective~If something is dull it is boring~I hate talking to her; she's so dull.~
dull~adjective~Not having bright colours or light~The picture was quite dull.~
dumb~adjective~Informal for stupid~She's not really that dumb, she just pretends to be.~
dumb~adjective~Unable to speak~He was born deaf and dumb.~
dummy~noun~A rubber or plastic object that is specially shaped for a baby to suck on~I never sucked a dummy as a child.~
dummy~noun~A model of a man or woman that is used for displaying clothes~Put the red dress on the dummy.~
dump~noun~If a place is dirty or unpleasant, it can be called a dump~Her house is a dump.~
dump~verb~Get rid of something that you no longer need or want~They dumped their old sofa on the side of the road.~
dump~verb~Get rid of something in such a way that someone else has to deal with it~She always dumps her problems on me!~
dump~noun~A place where waste and rubbish is kept~Take that table to the dump.~
during~preposition~At or through a period of time~The meeting was held during the afternoon.~
dust~noun~A fine powder made of sand etc.~The dust blew into the house during the storm.~
dust~verb~Remove dust from things~I dust the house every Sunday.~
dustbin~noun~A container with a lid that holds waste~You need to empty the dustbin.~
dusty~adjective~Having a lot of dust~The attic was very dusty.~
dutch~adjective~Connected to Holland~I like Dutch beer.~
dutch~noun~The main language of Holland~I speak fluent Dutch.~
duty~noun~A thing that you do as part of your job~I have several duties as a waitress.~
duty~noun~Something you have to do because it is your responsibility~It is my duty to look after her.~
duty~noun~A tax paid on goods that you buy~Import duty.~
duty~noun~If you are on duty you are working~I wasn't on duty that day.~
duty-free~adjective~Refers to items that you can buy at lower prices because they are not taxed~We buy our perfume in duty-free shops because it is much cheaper.~
dye~noun~A substance that can change the colour of things~She bought dye to change the colour of her hair; You can get red dye and dye that shirt.~
dye~verb~Change the colour of something using dye~I dyed his shirt blue.~
dynamic~adjective~Always changing~Language is dynamic.~
e.g.~abbreviation~For example~She looks after animals, e.g. cats and dogs.~
each~determiner~Used to refer to every thing or person in a group separately~Each person in the group received her own present.~
each other~pronoun~If people do things to each other, the thing they do happens both ways~They supported each other.~'One another' can also be used but is more formal use
eager~adjective~Very interested or excited about something~She was eager to get home in time for dinner.~
ear~noun~The part of your body on each side of your head that captures sound and allows you to hear~Use your ears and listen to me!~
earl~noun~A high-ranking nobleman~He is an earl.~
early~adverb~Before the planned time~I prefer to be early rather than late.~
early~adverb~Close to the beginning of a certain time, event, etc.~She started feeling unwell early in the week.~
earn~verb~Get money by working~She works hard to earn a salary.~
earn~verb~Get something that you deserve because you have worked for it~She has finally earned our friendship.~
earnings~noun~The amount of money that you receive for the work you do~Her earnings are much higher than mine.~
earring~noun~A piece of jewellery that can be attached to your ear~He bought her beautiful gold earrings.~
earth~noun~The planet that we live on~Earth is very pretty from space.~
earth~noun~The ground~The earth shook when the plane landed.~
earth~noun~The soil, sand, small stones, etc. that plants grow in~He planted the seeds in the moist earth.~
earthquake~noun~Violent shaking of the earth's surface~The earthquake caused a lot of damage.~
ease~verb~Become less intense or severe~Her headache eventually eased; Talking eased some of his anxiety.~
ease~noun~Lack of difficulty~The team won with ease.~
easily~adverb~Without problems or difficulties~I can fix that easily.~
easily~adverb~By a distance~He is easily the most attractive man I've ever seen.~
east~noun~The part of a country, city, etc. that is most eastern~I grew up in the east of the country.~
east~adverb~In the direction of the east~The garden faces east.~
east~noun~One of the four main compass directions. The direction that the sun rises from~We need to take the east road.~
easter~noun~A Christian holiday that remembers Christ's death and rebirth~We get lots of chocolate at Easter.~
eastern~adjective~Situated or facing east~We travelled around eastern France.~
easy~adjective~Comfortable and relaxed~I would give anything for an easy life.~
easy~adverb~If you take things easy you do not work very hard~I like to take things easy.~
easy~adjective~Not hard or difficult to do~Some people find mathematics easy; others find it very hard.~
eat~verb~Consume food by chewing and swallowing it~I like to eat fruit every day.~
eat~verb~Have a meal~I like to eat in restaurants.~
echo~verb~If sound echoes it reflects off a surface and you can hear it again~Her voice echoed in the distance.~
echo~noun~When a sound reflects off a surface, it seems to repeat itself. This is an echo~She liked to hear the echo of her own voice.~
ecological~adjective~Relating to living things and their environment~We have to try hard not to upset the ecological balance.~
economic~adjective~Connected with the finance, trade, etc. of a country or area~There are many economic issues to be discussed.~
economics~noun~The study of trade, money and industry and how a country organises these things~I'm doing a course in economics.~Economics is a singular noun
economy~noun~The economic system of a country~Our economy is strong at the moment.~
economy~adjective~Affordable~We travelled in economy class.~
edge~noun~The sharp part of a blade, knife, etc.~She cut her hand on the edge of the knife.~
edge~noun~The edge of something is the part furthest from its centre, or where it ends~She stood on the edge of the cliff.~
edit~verb~Check writing for mistakes before it is published~My job is to edit stories before we print them.~
edit~verb~Be responsible for putting a newspaper or other pieces of writing together~He edits my favourite magazine.~
edit~verb~If you edit a film you delete some shots and keep others~The only thing left to do is edit the film.~
edition~noun~A particular programme that is part of a series; an episode~Tonight's edition will show the wedding.~
edition~noun~The form of a book that is published at a particular time~A hardback edition; the tenth edition of a book.~
editor~noun~The person who is in charge of and makes all the decisions for a magazine etc.~We need a new editor.~
editor~noun~A person who makes sure that there are no mistakes in a piece of text before it is printed~The editor told me to try and improve my spelling.~
editor~noun~The person who puts all the parts of a film etc. together~He works as a music editor for period dramas.~
editorial~adjective~Connected with preparing a programme, article, book, etc. for publication~I am a member of the editorial staff.~
editorial~noun~An article in a newspaper etc. that expresses the editor's opinion~I always skip reading the editorials.~
educate~verb~Teach someone something~There are a lot of people who have not been educated.~
education~noun~Teaching, training and learning~Every child is entitled to a good education.~
effect~noun~A change that something causes; the result of something~Do we know all the long-term effects?~
effect~noun~An impression, sound or look that is created~The effect of the red carpets and red walls was beautiful.~
effective~adjective~When something is effective it works well~It was an effective punishment.~
efficient~adjective~Something is efficient when it serves its function well~She is an efficient nurse; That is an efficient use of energy.~
effort~noun~The energy needed to do something~He put a lot of effort into his paintings.~
effort~noun~An attempt at doing something, especially when it is difficult~She will make a huge effort at keeping slim.~
egg~noun~An oval object produced by birds and some reptiles, insects, etc. that may later develop into a baby~There was five eggs in the nest.~
egg~noun~The oval object produced by some female chickens etc. that we eat~I like eggs on toast for breakfast.~
eight~noun~The number that comes between seven and nine (8)~There were eight people at the meeting.~
eighteen~noun~The number that comes between seventeen and nineteen (18)~The shirt cost eighteen pounds.~
eighteenth~adjective~Number eighteen in a series of numbers~That is the eighteenth time I've told you to be quiet.~
eighth~noun~One of eight equal parts of something~There are eight people so they can each have one eighth of the cake.~
eighth~adjective~Number eight in a series of numbers~She stopped for a rest on the eighth flight of stairs.~
eightieth~adjective~Number eighty in a series of numbers~We celebrated her eightieth birthday.~
eighty~noun~The number between 79 and 81 (80)~I counted eighty people at the party.~
either~adverb~Used to show a choice of two things~I will buy either the camera or the phone.~The negative form of either is 'neither'
either~determiner~One or the other~You can sleep in either room.~
elastic~noun~Stretchy material that returns to its normal state after being pulled out of shape~I need an elastic band.~
elbow~noun~The joint between your upper arm and lower arm~I banged my elbow on a table.~
elder~adjective~The elder of two people is the older of the two~I have an elder sister.~
elderly~adjective~A polite word for 'old' when applied to people~I helped an elderly woman today.~
elect~verb~Vote someone into a job~I don't know who to elect as captain.~
election~noun~The process of electing someone for a job by voting for them~When is the next election?~
election~noun~The fact of being elected for a job~We are glad to announce the election of John as our captain!~
electric~adjective~Produced or producing electricity~An electric torch.~
electrical~adjective~Connected with electricity~Our kitchen is filled with electrical appliances.~
electrician~noun~A person who can repair, connect etc. electrical equipment~We need an electrician to re-wire our house.~
electricity~noun~A form of energy supplied as a current through wires etc., which powers machinery that produces light, heat, etc.~We need electricity to heat water to make a cup of tea.~
electronic~adjective~Using small parts such as microchips to control electric current~She has an electronic diary.~
elegant~adjective~Graceful and pleasing to look at~She was an elegant woman.~
element~noun~A necessary part of something~What are all the elements of the job?~
elephant~noun~A large animal with grey skin and a long trunk~We went to see the elephants in the zoo.~
elevator~noun~US English for a lift. Something that transports people and things to different floors in a building~It easier to use the elevator than the stairs.~
eleven~noun~The number between ten and twelve (11)~There were eleven flowers in the field.~
eleventh~adjective~Number eleven in a series of numbers~Take the eleventh book on the shelf.~
eligible~adjective~Allowed to have or do something because you have the right qualifications~In some countries sixteen-year-olds are eligible to vote.~
eliminate~verb~Completely remove or get rid of~Do not eliminate any possibilities.~
eliminate~verb~If a person or a team are eliminated from a competition they can no longer take part in it~They were eliminated early in the competition.~
else~adverb~In addition~What else do you want?~
else~adverb~'Or else' means 'otherwise'~You have to go to school or else you'll never learn.~
elsewhere~adverb~In, at or to another place~If you don't like the restaurant we can go elsewhere.~
e-mail~verb~Send an electronic message to someone using a computer~I'm e-mailing my dad.~Can also be given as 'email'
e-mail~noun~A way of sending messages via a computer~Send the timetable by e-mail.~
e-mail~noun~An electronic message received by a computer~I received an e-mail from her today.~
embarrass~verb~Make someone feel shy or awkward~Don't embarrass him any more.~
embassy~noun~A building where the interests of a foreign country are represented~We went for a tour of the Italian embassy in Paris.~
emerge~verb~Come out of a hidden place~She emerged from behind the sofa.~
emerge~verb~Become known~It finally emerged that she had been lying.~
emergency~noun~A sudden serious event that must immediately be dealt with~The alarm will ring in an emergency.~
emotion~noun~Strong feelings, e.g. fear, love, anger~Her emotions got the better of her.~
emotional~adjective~Connected to emotions and people's feelings~It was an emotional scene.~
emotional~adjective~Showing strong emotions~She was always a very emotional person.~
emperor~noun~Someone who rules an empire~The emperor ordered a change in the law.~
emphasis~noun~Importance~A lot of emphasis was placed on their findings.~
emphasise~verb~Make the importance of something known~She emphasised how important it was to get the plans printed in time.~
empire~noun~A group of countries that are ruled by the government of one of them~I studied ancient empires.~
employ~verb~Use a skill etc. for a certain purpose~The techniques employed by artists.~
employ~verb~Give someone a job and pay them for their work~Will you be able to employ my brother as well as me?~
employee~noun~A person who is employed to do a job~The employees were happy with their salary.~
employer~noun~A person or company that pays people to work for them~She was fired by her employer.~
employment~noun~Paid work~He has been looking for employment for the past ten weeks.~
empty~adjective~Having no meaning or purpose~They were empty threats.~
empty~verb~Remove everything that is inside something~He emptied his pockets.~
empty~adjective~If something is empty there is nothing inside it~The room was empty.~
enable~verb~Make it possible for something to happen or for someone to do something~The results will enable us to have a better understanding of the problem.~
encounter~verb~Experience something; often it is unpleasant~I encountered several problems on the journey.~
encounter~noun~A meeting that is often unpleasant or sudden~I had an encounter with a bear in the forest.~
encourage~verb~Try to persuade someone to do something by telling them it would be a good thing to do~Our school encourages student debate.~
encourage~verb~Give someone support~My brother was the only person who encouraged me in my choice of university.~
end~noun~The part of something that is the furthest from its centre~We finally reached the end of the road.~
end~noun~The aim of something~They would do anything in pursuit of their ends.~
end~noun~The final part of a period of time, an event, a story, etc.~We will meet at the end of the week.~
end~verb~Finish something~I ended the meeting.~
ending~noun~The last part~I didn't like the ending of the book.~
endless~adjective~Having no end, or seeming to have no end~The universe is endless; her talking is endless!~
enemy~noun~A person who dislikes or hates you, and whom you dislike or hate~It's best to stay away from your enemies.~
energy~noun~Power that makes machinery work~We need more energy to keep this machine going.~
energy~noun~The physical and mental effort used to do things~She puts a lot of energy into her work.~
engage~verb~Take part in it or do something~I engaged in conversation with him.~
engaged~adjective~Having agreed to marry someone~They got engaged last week.~
engaged~adjective~Busy~I was told to come back later because he was engaged; The phone was engaged for an hour.~
engagement~noun~An arrangement to do something~She has many engagements this week.~
engagement~noun~An agreement between two people to get married~They announced their engagement last night.~
engine~noun~A vehicle that pulls a train~A red, shiny, steam engine.~
engine~noun~The part of a vehicle that makes it move~He looked at the engine to try and work out what was wrong with it.~
english~adjective~Connected to England~It was an English meal.~
english~noun~The main language spoken in the United Kingdom, the USA, and many other countries~English is her first language.~
enjoy~verb~Like doing something~I enjoy swimming.~
enjoy~verb~Get pleasure from something and have fun~I enjoyed the wedding.~
enjoyable~adjective~Fun and pleasurable~I found the whole thing very enjoyable.~
enormous~adjective~Extremely big~Compared to mice, elephants are enormous.~
enough~adverb~A suitable level or amount~Have you eaten enough?~
enough~determiner~As much as is needed~Is there enough space for me?~
enough~adverb~Fairly; to a satisfactory level~she seems to be happy enough.~
enquire~verb~Ask for information~I enquired about the price.~
enquiry~noun~A question about something~She made some enquiries about the price of flights.~'Inquiry' is used in US English
enquiry~noun~An official investigation of something~An enquiry was made about the missing money.~This is usually 'inquiry' in UK English, and is always 'inquiry' in US English
ensure~verb~Make sure~I will ensure that she gets home safely.~
enter~verb~Go into a place~My sister entered the room and surprised us.~
enter~verb~Become a member of an institution~I entered the school last year.~
enter~verb~Say that you will take part in a competition or exam~I entered the competition even though I knew I wouldn't win.~
enter~verb~Put information into a diary, computer, etc.~He entered the date in his notebook.~
entertain~verb~Amuse people in an effort to please them~They were entertained with videos.~
entertain~verb~Invite people to eat and drink with you~We are entertaining guests tonight.~
entertainment~noun~Things used to entertain people~They read books for entertainment.~
enthusiasm~noun~Excitement and eagerness to do something or be a part of something~They shared each other's enthusiasm for reading.~
enthusiastic~adjective~Showing excitement and enthusiasm for things~She was very enthusiastic about the competition.~
entire~adjective~Whole~I spent an entire day talking on the phone; He talked the entire time.~
entirely~adverb~Completely~I am entirely happy.~
entitle~verb~To be entitled is to have the right to something~You are entitled to a week's holiday.~
entitle~verb~Give a book, painting, etc. a name~I can't remember what it was entitled.~
entrance~noun~The place where you can enter a room~She blocked the entrance and he could not get in.~
entrance~noun~The act of entering a place~He surprised us with his entrance.~
entry~noun~The opportunity to become a member of something~We were glad to see the entry of women into the job.~
entry~noun~Something that you do so that you can be a part of a competition~The best entry was from a twelve-year-old boy.~
entry~noun~Something that is written into a book, diary, etc.~His last entry is hard to read.~
entry~noun~The act of going into a place~The president's entry was applauded.~
envelope~noun~A paper container used for sending letters in~We bought coloured envelopes.~
environment~noun~The conditions that surround us and affect our behaviour etc.~We are all a product of our environment.~
environment~noun~The natural world we live in~We are trying to stop people from polluting the environment.~
environmental~adjective~Connected with the environment~There are many environmental issues to be discussed.~
envy~verb~Wish that you had things that others have~I envy her clothes.~
envy~noun~The feeling of wanting to have the things that others have~I looked at her shoes with envy.~
episode~noun~A part of a radio or television series~Did you see last night's episode?~
episode~noun~An event, situation or period of time~The strangest episode is in Chapter 1.~
equal~adjective~When people are equal they have the same rights as each other~People voted for an equal society.~
equal~verb~Reach, be as good as~I don't know if she will ever equal the world record.~
equal~adjective~Having the same value, size, etc.~A square has equal sides.~
equally~adverb~In the same way~The children were treated equally.~
equip~verb~If you are equipped with something, you have it~She was equipped with all the study manuals she needed.~
equipment~noun~The tools needed to do something~He bought new equipment to go camping with.~
equity~noun~The value of a company and its shares~The problem of negative equity.~
equivalent~adjective~If things are equivalent they are equal~What is 100 grams equivalent to in ounces?~
equivalent~noun~If something is the equivalent of something else, they are equal in value or size etc.~Send ten dollars or the equivalent.~
era~noun~A long period of time that is different from other times~The post-war era.~
erect~verb~Build~They erected a statue of the president.~
erect~adjective~Vertical~The ship's mast was erect.~
erotic~adjective~Showing or involving sexual desire and pleasure~An erotic magazine.~
error~noun~A mistake~There were a lot of errors in your work.~
erupt~verb~Start suddenly and violently~Fighting erupted outside the club.~
erupt~verb~When a volcano erupts, molten rock is thrown out of it~People were warned that the volcano would erupt soon.~
escalator~noun~A moving staircase~We took the escalator to the third floor.~
escape~verb~Get away from something, especially if you have been kept there against your will~No prisoner has ever escaped from this jail.~
escape~noun~A way of forgetting unpleasant things~Reading provides the escape she needs.~
escape~verb~Avoid unpleasant or dangerous things~The family escaped unharmed.~
escape~noun~The act of escaping from something~They planned their escape for two months.~
especially~adverb~Particularly; used to show that something applies more to one thing than another~We hoped to raise money for charity, especially for animal charities.~
essay~noun~A short piece of writing, often part of a university student's coursework~The essay had to be at least 1,000 words long.~
essence~noun~The important part of something that makes it what it is~What is the essence of the story?~
essential~adjective~Absolutely necessary~Water is essential for life.~
essential~noun~Something that is necessary~Do we have all the essentials for the holiday?~
establish~verb~Discover or prove facts~We established that the plan would not work without more people.~
establish~verb~Create or set up~The society was established ten years ago.~
establishment~noun~The act of creating something that should last a long time~The establishment of rules between students and teachers.~
establishment~noun~An organisation etc.; this is formal usage~An educational establishment.~
estate~noun~A large area in the country that is often owned by one family or one company~They spend summers on their estate in England.~
estate~noun~An area with many houses of the same type in it~She lives in a council estate.~
estate agent~noun~A person who sells land and houses~An estate agent sold my old house for me and also found my new house.~
estimate~noun~A judgement of the value etc. of something~Give me an estimate of the price.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
estimate~verb~Guess the cost or value etc. of something~Try to estimate the price.~
etc.~abbreviation~The abbreviated form of 'et cetera', used at the end of a list to show that other examples could have been given~If I won the lottery I would buy a house, boat, car. etc.~
eternal~adjective~Never ending~People look for ways of finding eternal life.~
ethical~adjective~Morally correct~It is not ethical to treat others in a bad way.~
ethics~noun~Moral principles~A doctor must have a strong sense of ethics.~
ethnic~adjective~Connected with a racial or cultural group~We bought ethnic clothing when on holiday.~
eu~abbreviation~The abbreviation for 'European Union'~Denmark is part of the EU.~
euro~noun~A currency currently used by eleven countries of the European Union~I'll be using the euro in France and the rand in South Africa.~Officially, 'euro' is both singular and plural
europe~noun~The continent between Asia and the Atlantic ocean~We travelled round Europe.~
european~adjective~Connected to Europe~European culture.~
european~noun~A person from Europe~Most of my friends are European.~
european union~noun~A political and economic group that currently consists of 25 European states. Often shortened to EU~Latvia is a member of the European Union.~
evacuate~verb~Move people from a dangerous place to a safe place~We were quickly evacuated when the fire started.~
evacuate~verb~Move out of a place and leave it empty~They were told to evacuate their offices.~
eve~noun~The day before an event~We get really excited on Christmas Eve.~
even~adjective~If a surface is even it is level and flat~I need an even surface to write on.~
even~adjective~An even amount of something is an equal amount~We divided the money into even piles.~
even~adjective~A number is even if it can be divided by two~16 is even because 2 goes into it 8 times.~
even~adverb~Used in comparisons to show that one thing is bigger etc. than another, although that thing is also big etc.~The elephant in the zoo was even bigger than the one we saw in the wild.~
even~adverb~Used to emphasise that behaviour etc. is extreme, unexpected, etc.~Even after we warned her of the danger, she went ahead and did it.~
evening~noun~The time towards the end of the day~We like to go for drinks in the evening.~
event~noun~A public or social occasion~We baked cakes for the school event.~
event~noun~Something important that happens~Recent events were discussed on the news.~
eventually~adverb~At the end of a period of time, especially if there have been complications~The plane eventually landed.~
ever~adverb~Always~She has read books ever since she was three.~
ever so~adverb~'Ever so' is spoken UK English and means 'very'~Her hair looks ever so nice.~
ever~adverb~At any previous time~She sang better than ever.~
every~determiner~All possible~We wish you every success in the future.~
every~determiner~If something happens every other week, day, etc., it happens on alternate weeks, days, etc.~He turns up at school every other day.~
every~determiner~Used to refer to all the animals, people, etc. involved in something~Every dog in the town barked.~
every~determiner~In all cases of something~The shop is closed every Sunday.~
everybody~pronoun~All the people in a group or all the people in the world~Everybody should be entitled to a good education.~
everyone~pronoun~All the people in the world~Everyone needs to be loved.~'Everyone' and 'everybody' have the same meaning
everyone~pronoun~Every person in a group~I told everyone to meet at six.~
everything~pronoun~All things or the most important thing~My best friend doesn't need anything, she has everything; My son means everything to me.~
everywhere~adverb~In, to or at all places~They have been on holiday almost everywhere.~
evidence~noun~Information that is used to support a case in a court of law~They needed more evidence to win.~
evidence~noun~The facts etc. that make you believe something~We are searching for evidence of life on Mars.~
evident~adjective~Obvious or easy to see~It was evident that she needed help.~
evil~adjective~Something that is very bad or mean or harmful~He had an evil idea.~
evil~noun~A force that causes bad thing to occur~There is a lot of evil in the world.~
ex-~prefix~Previous or former~He is an ex-convict.~
exact~adjective~Correct and accurate~She arrived at the exact time she said she would.~
exactly~adverb~Precisely; correct in every detail~He has exactly the same shirt as me.~
exactly~adverb~You can use 'exactly' to emphasise that you agree with someone~I'm better than this!' - 'Exactly!'~
exaggerate~verb~Make something seem bigger, better, worse, etc. than it is~She always exaggerates the trouble she takes.~
exam~noun~A formal test used to determine what you have learnt~I failed my exam.~
examination~noun~Formal for 'exam'~I have two examinations on the same day.~
examination~noun~The act of looking at something closely~They did an examination of the building.~
examine~verb~Look at something closely~She examined his wound.~
example~noun~Something that shows what you are talking about~An example of an animal is a dog.~
example~noun~A thing that represents things in general~An example of typical teenage behaviour.~
example~noun~If someone behaves well they are said to be (or to set) a good example~You are a good example for children.~
exceed~verb~Be greater than; reach a higher level than~She always exceeds the speed limit; It exceeded our expectations.~
excellent~adjective~Very good~That was an excellent meal; It was an excellent party.~
except~preposition~Apart from~I like all types of music except classical.~
exception~noun~Something that is not included~My friends live in the same town as me, with the exception of Frank.~
exceptional~adjective~At a surprisingly high level~She has exceptional talent for her age.~
exceptional~adjective~Very unusual~It would take an exceptional crime to make us change our policies.~
excess~noun~More than what is needed~He had an excess of stress in his life.~
excess~adjective~In addition to what is needed~He was carrying excess baggage.~
excessive~adjective~Much more than there should be; extreme~He was an excessive drinker.~
exchange~verb~Return something to a shop and receive a more suitable item or money~I exchanged the red top for the blue one.~
exchange~verb~When people give things to each other at the same time, they exchange things~We exchanged gifts at the party.~
exchange~noun~The act of giving and receiving~An exchange of numbers.~
excite~verb~Make someone feel happy and energetic about something~I tried not to excite the children too much, otherwise they would never go to sleep.~
excitement~noun~The state of feeling excited and happy~She was filled with excitement about her birthday.~
exclamation mark~noun~The mark placed after a sentence that expresses strong emotion or humour (!)~Go to your room now!~
exclude~verb~Stop someone from taking part or entering~Women are still excluded from many things today.~
exclude~verb~Deliberately leave out someone or something~She excluded her sister from all her parties.~
exclusive~adjective~Used by one particular person or group~It is an exclusive party, only staff may attend.~
exclusive~adjective~Of high price and quality, and thus not bought by many people~She bought me an exclusive watch.~
excuse~noun~An explanation for bad behaviour~Her excuses sounded like lies.~
excuse~verb~'Excuse me' is used to get someone's attention or to apologise for your behaviour~Excuse me, may I get past you please?~
excuse~verb~If you are excused from doing something or being somewhere, you do not have to do it or be there~She was excused from the room.~
excuse~verb~Forgive someone for something they have done~I excused her lateness.~
excuse~verb~Try to justify your or someone else's behaviour~No one should excuse that kind of behaviour.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
execute~verb~Kill someone, often as a punishment~People are not executed in many countries anymore.~
execute~verb~Do something such as a plan or duty~They needed to execute the plan in the morning.~
executive~noun~A person with an important management job~She is the marketing executive.~
exercise~noun~A movement or movements that you do to stay healthy and strong~I do the same set of exercises everyday.~
exercise~noun~Activities to develop certain skills~He did some relaxation exercises.~
exercise~noun~A set of questions that form part of a student's coursework~Please complete the first three exercises for tomorrow.~
exercise~verb~Do activities to become healthy and strong~I'm going to the gym to exercise.~
exhaust~verb~Make you feel tired~That hike has exhausted me.~
exhaust~verb~Use up all the supplies of something~We are soon going to exhaust the earth's supply of coal.~
exhaust~noun~The pipe through which the waste gases from a car come~The exhaust fell off the car.~
exhibit~noun~An object that is shown off in a museum etc.~You cannot touch the museum exhibits.~
exhibit~verb~Show that you have a certain feeling, talent, etc.~She exhibits signs of weakness.~
exhibit~verb~Show something in a public place for people to view or learn from~His sculptures are exhibited at the local museum.~
exhibition~noun~A collection of interesting objects shown to the public~An art exhibition.~
exist~verb~Be real~Humans, animals and plants all exist.~
existence~noun~The state of being real or alive~We are not sure when the earth came into existence.~
existence~noun~A way of living~She leads a very dull existence.~
exit~noun~The way out of somewhere~There are emergency exits on every floor.~
exit~noun~A place where vehicles can join a different road~Take the next exit on the left.~
exit~noun~The act of leaving~His exit was more dramatic than his entrance.~
expand~verb~Become bigger~We hope to expand the town by several hundred acres.~
expect~verb~If you expect someone or something to arrive, you believe that they will~I expect the parcel to arrive today.~
expect~verb~Believe that something will happen or that something will be done~I expected to see more people at the party.~
expect~verb~Demand something because you feel you are entitled to it~I expect a rise in my pay because I have worked hard this year.~
expectation~noun~A belief that something will happen~She has unrealistic expectations of me.~
expense~noun~The money spent on something~Buying a house is a huge expense.~
expense~noun~When you spend money doing work-related things, often your employer will pay you back. These costs are called expenses~Petrol expenses.~
expensive~adjective~Highly priced~He always buys expensive clothes.~
experience~verb~Be exposed to~I experienced a new kind of cold in Antarctica.~
experience~noun~Something that happens to you or that you do~It was an exciting experience for me.~
experience~noun~A thing you have done or seen that affects who you are~We are told that we should learn from our parents' experiences.~
experience~noun~The knowledge and skills that you gather over time~She has a lot of experience with animals.~
experienced~adjective~Have a lot of knowledge about something, gained over time~She is the most experienced person on the staff.~
experiment~noun~A scientific test~Their experiments proved nothing again.~
experiment~verb~Carry out tests on something~They are experimenting with new chemicals.~
expert~noun~Someone who knows a lot about a certain thing~He is an electronics expert.~
explain~verb~Describe something so that it can be understood~No matter how hard my teachers tried, they could never explain mathematic theories to me.~
explanation~noun~A reason or description of something~There was no explanation for the riot; it just happened.~
explode~verb~Blow up violently and dangerously~The bomb exploded in the middle of the street.~
explore~verb~Travel around somewhere or something and try to find out all about it~They explored the desert in two teams of ten.~
explosion~noun~The sudden bursting or exploding of something, often causing great damage and loss of life~They all escaped the explosion.~
export~verb~Sell goods from one country to another~South Africa exports a lot of vegetables.~
export~noun~The goods that are sold from one country to another~What is our country's biggest export?~There is a change in stress between the verb and noun
expose~verb~Show hidden things~He exposed an ancient table underneath the cloth.~
expose~verb~If you are exposed to dangerous things you are in a place where you might be affected by them~They were exposed to nuclear waste.~
express~verb~Make your feelings, thoughts, ideas, etc. known~I expressed my opinion on the subject.~
express~adjective~Fast~We took an express bus.~
expression~noun~A commonly used word or phrase~It's just an expression.~
expression~noun~The things that are done and said to show your feelings etc.~We have freedom of expression in this country.~
expression~noun~The way that your face moves to show how you are feeling~He had a funny expression on his face.~
extend~verb~Make something longer, wider or bigger~We extended the meeting by twenty minutes.~
extend~verb~The distance or area that something covers is the distance or area that it extends~The river extends for hundreds of miles.~
extent~noun~How important, large, serious, etc. something is~You do not realise the extent of his anger.~
external~adjective~On the outside~Some insects have external spines.~
extra~adverb~In addition to; more than~This room is bigger but it will cost extra.~
extract~verb~Obtain or remove something, often by force~The dentist extracted his tooth; They tried to extract her location from him.~
extraordinary~adjective~Surprising, unexpected, very much out of the ordinary~She did an extraordinary thing by saving that child.~
extreme~adjective~To a very high degree~He is under extreme pressure at the moment.~
extreme~adjective~As far from the centre of something as is possible~They travelled to the extreme south of the country.~
extreme~noun~The greatest or highest degree~He floats between extremes of happiness and sadness.~
extremely~adverb~To a very high degree: the same as 'very', but stronger~She is extremely happy with the plans.~
eye~noun~The part of your body, located on your face, that you use to see~She closed her eyes and went to sleep.~
eyebrow~noun~The ridge of hair that grows above your eye~He had very thick, hairy eyebrows.~
eyesight~noun~The ability to see things~You need to have good eyesight to become a policeperson.~
fabric~noun~Cloth~What kind of fabric would you like the dress to be made from?~
fabulous~adjective~Extremely good or great~She was carrying a fabulous bag.~
face~noun~The front of your head, running from your forehead to your chin and containing the eyes, mouth etc.~She washes her face twice a day.~
face~noun~The side or surface of something can be referred to as the face~They looked up at the face of the mountain.~
face~verb~Be opposite something~She faced the door and waited for him to arrive.~
face~verb~When you face something difficult you need to deal with it~She was faced with a difficult problem.~
facility~noun~Buildings, rooms or equipment that are used for certain purposes~The university facilities are quite good.~
fact~noun~Something that is true, not something that has been made up~The book is based on fact.~
fact~noun~'In fact' or 'in actual fact' is used to emphasise what is being said~These are, in fact, the drawings.~
factor~noun~Something that influences something else~There is more than one factor to be considered.~
factory~noun~A building or buildings where goods are made~We went on a tour of a chocolate factory.~
fade~verb~Slowly become paler or disappear~The colours in her top were fading.~
fail~verb~If a machine or a part of the body fails, it stops working~The coffee machine failed to work.~
fail~verb~If you fail a test or exam you do not get enough marks to pass it~She has never failed a test in her life.~
fail~verb~Not do something~She always fails to be on time.~
failure~noun~Lack of success~The party was a complete failure.~
failure~noun~An act of not doing something that you were meant to do~His failure to follow the rules will result in him being fired.~
failure~noun~A person can be called a failure if they are unsuccessful at doing things~Her parents called her a failure.~
faint~adjective~Difficult to see or smell etc.~There was a faint smell of biscuits coming from the kitchen.~
faint~adjective~If you feel faint you are dizzy and feel like you are going to fall over or pass out~I felt faint even when I sat down.~
faint~verb~Become unconscious for a while~She fainted because she hadn't eaten anything that day.~
fair~adjective~Acceptable for the situation, just~He received a fair trial.~
fair~noun~A place of entertainment where people can go on mechanical rides and play games~The fair is coming to town next week.~
fair~adjective~Having pale hair or skin~People with fair skin should be extra careful in the sun.~
fair~noun~An event where people can trade or sell their goods~We went to a book fair.~
fair~adjective~If the weather is fair it is bright, without rain~A fair, sunny day.~
fair~adjective~If something is fair in size or amount it is quite large~There was a fair bit of snow on the ground.~
fairly~adverb~In a fair way~She treats every case fairly.~
fairly~adverb~To some extent~She's fairly short.~
faith~noun~A religious belief~What faith do you follow?~
faith~noun~Trust in something's ability~She has faith in the government.~
faithful~adjective~True and accurate~The copy is faithful to the original.~
faithful~adjective~Loyal and supportive to your beliefs or people you love~Our dog is very faithful.~
fall~verb~If something slopes downwards it is said to fall~The land fell away beyond the river.~
fall~verb~Decrease in amount, strength, etc.~Prices have fallen by 50%.~
fall~verb~Drop to a lower level~Snow fell to the ground; The aeroplane fell from a great height.~
fall~verb~Become something, e.g. asleep, ill~She fell asleep; He fell ill.~
fall~noun~The act of falling over~She had a nasty fall and broke her leg.~
fall~noun~US English for autumn~I like the colours in fall.~
fall~noun~If something decreases it is said to fall~There has been a fall in prices.~
fall~verb~Suddenly stop standing~She fell on the ice.~
fall out~verb~Drop due to the force of gravity~The branch fell out of the tree; The tooth fell out of her mouth.~
fallen~verb~Something that fell and is on the ground~A fallen branch.~
false~adjective~Untrue~She gave them false information.~
false~adjective~Fake, but made to appear real~He used a false passport to leave the country.~
fame~noun~The state of being well-known and talked about by many people~Sometimes her fame annoys her.~
familiar~adjective~Something that is easily recognised because you have seen it before~The village looked familiar.~
familiar~adjective~To be familiar with something is to know it well~All the students are familiar with the school rules.~
family~noun~A group of people who are related to each other~We had a huge family dinner with relatives coming from many countries.~
famous~adjective~Well known by many people~He is a famous actor.~
fan~noun~A person who admires someone or something~I am a fan of her work; I am a fan of rock music.~
fan~noun~A machine that creates a cool current of air~Turn the fan on please, this room is too hot.~
fancy~adjective~Special or expensive~She likes to put her hair in fancy styles.~
fancy~verb~Want something or want to do something~Do you fancy going to see a movie?~
fantastic~adjective~Extremely good~It was a fantastic offer.~
fantastic~adjective~Very large~People donated a fantastic amount of money to the charity.~
fantasy~noun~The act of imagining things~His entire book was a work of fantasy.~
fantasy~noun~Something that you imagine~She has a fantasy about being famous.~
far~adverb~If you say 'as far as I know' you are saying that you believe something to be a certain way but you cannot be sure~As far as I know, it's an original.~
far~adjective~At a long distance or at the extreme~The dog was on the far side of the road.~
far~adverb~'So far' means 'until now'~So far, we've come three miles.~
far~adverb~Much~The music is far too loud.~
far~adverb~A long distance away or the longest distance between two things~Is it far from here to your house?; The sun set far away in the sky.~When talking about distance 'farther', 'farthest', 'further' or 'furthest' can be used. To discuss the extent of something use further or furthest
fare~noun~The amount of money you pay to travel on a taxi, plane, bus, etc.~She forgot to pay the train fare.~
fare~verb~How successful or unsuccessful you are in a situation~How did you fare in the test?~
farm~noun~A place where crops are grown or animals are bred, or both~He started a small potato farm.~
farmer~noun~A person who owns or works on a farm~The farmer planted the first maize seeds.~
farther~adverb~The comparative of far~He was farther away than she was.~
farthest~adverb~The superlative of far~He was the farthest away of them all.~
fascinating~adjective~Very interesting or exciting~It is a fascinating story, you must read it!~
fashion~noun~A popular style of dressing or behaving etc.~I don't like the latest girls' fashions.~
fashion~noun~The way that you do something~He smiled in his usual cheeky fashion.~
fashionable~adjective~Following a popular style~It is a very fashionable car.~
fast~adjective~Moving quickly~He drove a fast car.~
fast~adjective~If a clock is fast, the time it shows is too late~My clock is five minutes fast.~
fast~verb~Eat little or no food, usually due to religious beliefs~She fasted for two weeks.~
fast~adverb~Quickly~He drives really fast.~
fast~noun~A period of time when you eat little or nothing, usually due to religious beliefs~She went on a two-week fast.~
fasten~verb~Close or join two things together~She fastened his tie.~
fat~noun~Liquids or solids obtained from plants and animals and used to fry with~He put the fat in a pan then added the chops.~
fat~adjective~A person or animal who weighs more than they should is said to be fat~The dog is quite fat.~
fat~adjective~Thick or wide~It was a fat book.~
fat~noun~A substance stored in the bodies of animals and humans~She was exercising to get rid of excess fat.~
fatal~adjective~Ending in failure or harm~He made a fatal error.~
fatal~adjective~Ending in death~A fatal fall.~
fate~noun~The power that some people believe controls everything and cannot be stopped~She believed that fate had brought them together.~
fate~noun~The things, especially bad things, that are certain to happen to people~Their fate was unknown.~
father~noun~Some priests are referred to as 'Father'~May I have a word with you, Father?~
father~noun~A male parent~My father taught me to play football.~
father-in-law~noun~The father of the person you are married to~I get on very well with my father-in-law.~
fault~noun~If something is your fault you are responsible for it~It was my fault the window got smashed.~
fault~noun~A weakness in someone's character~She has many faults but I still love her.~
fault~verb~Find a weakness in someone's character~He can't be faulted for not trying.~
favour~noun~Approval~She found favour with the local people.~
favour~verb~Like something more than something else~He favoured me over my friend.~
favour~noun~If you are in favour of something you agree with it~I'm in favour of this decision.~
favour~noun~If something is in your favour it is an advantage to you~The court ruled in our favour.~
favour~noun~Something that you do to help someone~I did him a favour last week so he should return it and help us.~
favourite~adjective~That you like more than other things~My favourite colour is red.~
favourite~noun~Your favourite is the thing you like the most~I think the pink dress is my favourite.~
favourite~noun~Something that is expected to win a competition~The black horse is the favourite to win.~
fax~noun~A machine that can send and receive documents electronically~The fax was being repaired.~
fax~noun~The document that is sent through a fax machine~I received his fax this morning.~
fax~verb~Send a message via a fax~I faxed the document to you three weeks ago!~
fear~noun~The feeling that you have when you are scared or worried about something~He told her about his fear of heights.~
fear~verb~Be frightened or worried~They feared that the tide would come in before they could get off the beach.~
feast~noun~A large, special meal usually held to celebrate something~They had a huge feast in honour of her graduation.~
feather~noun~The soft light parts that cover a bird's body~The bird lost all its feathers after the attack.~
feature~noun~A typical or interesting part of something~Her style is one feature that separates her from other writers.~
feature~noun~A part of someone's face~Her eyes were her best features.~
feature~verb~Include something special or interesting in something such as a film~It featured top football players.~
feb~abbreviation~'Feb' is the abbreviation for February~Feb 2nd.~
february~noun~The second month of the year, occurring between January and March~They will get married in February.~
fed~none~'Fed' is the past tense and past participle of 'feed'~They fed the animals.~
fed up~adjective~Tired, bored, annoyed~I was fed up with my sister; I sat at home alone all day and now I'm fed up!~
federal~adjective~In a federal system, states have some control of their own affairs but a central government rules~We live in a federal republic.~
fee~noun~Money that is charged for a service or in order to have access to something~What is the joining fee?~
feed~verb~Put something into a machine~He fed the coins into the slots.~
feed~verb~Eat food~Some animals feed at night.~
feed~verb~If you feed something you supply it with food~I feed the dog every morning.~
feel~verb~Believe~She felt that she should apologise.~
feel~verb~If you feel like doing something, you want to do it~I feel like going on holiday.~
feel~verb~A quality that something has that you get by touching it~The water felt hot.~
feel~verb~Experience an emotion~She feels happy today.~
feel~noun~The feeling that you get when you touch something~I liked the feel of the material.~
feeling~noun~An emotion, a way that you feel~She hated her feelings of guilt.~
feeling~noun~An attitude or opinion~I expressed all my feelings on the subject.~
feeling~noun~A physically sensation~I had a funny feeling in my arm.~
feet~noun~The plural of 'foot'~Both of my feet hurt today.~
fell~verb~The past tense of 'fall'~She fell over.~
fellow~noun~A man~Look at that fellow over there.~Informal, old-fashioned use
fellow~adjective~Sharing something with you~My fellow passengers and I would like to complain.~
felt~none~'Felt' is the past tense and past participle of 'feel'~I felt a pain in my leg.~
female~noun~Person or animal of the feminine sex~More females voted than males.~
female~adjective~Of the feminine sex~She is a female writer.~
feminine~adjective~Connected with females, or seen as having typically female qualities~She liked to wear very feminine clothes.~
feminism~noun~The belief that women should be equal to men~Not all women agree with feminism.~
fence~noun~A built structure, less permanent than a wall, that separates two pieces of land~The cat jumped over the fence into the next garden.~
ferry~verb~Transport goods in a vehicle from one place to another~They ferried the goods across the river.~
ferry~noun~A boat that carries things across small bodies of water~We went by ferry rather than plane.~
festival~noun~A series of public events or performances~We always go to music festivals.~
fetch~verb~Be sold for a certain price~The car fetched a higher price than they ever imagined it would.~
fetch~verb~Go and get something~The dog fetched his slippers from his room.~
fever~noun~Illness with a high temperature~If the fever gets any worse I'll go to the doctor.~
few~adjective~'A few' is used with plurals to mean 'some'~I need to get a few things from the bookshop.~
few~adjective~Used with plurals to mean 'not many'~She had few coins left.~'Fewer' is used with countable things, e.g. There are fewer jobs today; 'Less' is used with uncountable things, e.g. There is less money today
few~pronoun~A small number of things; some~There are a few biscuits left in the tin.~
few~pronoun~Not many things~There are only a few of her books I would read.~
fibre~noun~A thin thread of something that makes up a whole~Cotton fibres; electrical fibres.~
fiction~noun~Imaginary things, especially literature~She writes great fiction.~
field~noun~A subject or activity that you are interested in~Ask him, it's his field of work.~
field~noun~An area of land where sports can be played~We stood round the field and watched the football.~
field~noun~A place where farmers can grow crops or keep animals~The cows lay in the field.~
fierce~adjective~Aggressive and frightening~She came face to face with a fierce lion.~
fifteen~noun~The number 15, which sits between 14 and 16~We played with fifteen cards.~
fifteenth~adjective~Number fifteen in a series~She was the fifteenth person to arrive.~
fifth~adjective~Number five in a series~It was my fifth bar of chocolate for the day.~
fifth~noun~One of five equal parts of something~A fifth of people voted last year.~
fiftieth~adjective~Number fifty in a series~His fiftieth birthday.~
fifty~noun~The number 50, which sits between 49 and 51~He is fifty years old.~
fig~noun~A sweet green fruit that is usually eaten dry~I put figs in the fruit salad.~
fight~verb~Argue~There's no point fighting about this, let's agree to disagree.~
fight~noun~A physical struggle between people~He won the fight but was badly hurt.~
fight~verb~Strongly oppose something you don't agree with~She fought against the cruelty to animals.~
fight~verb~Try to hurt a person or persons physically; take part in a military campaign~They fought in the war; she fought with her brother.~
fight~noun~Strong opposition to something you don't agree with~She won the fight against cruelty to animals.~
figure~noun~The shape of a person's body as seen in the distance~There were three figures up ahead.~
figure~noun~The symbols that stand for numbers~He wrote the figure on a piece of paper.~
figure~noun~A person~He was a major figure in the trial.~
figure~verb~Be part of something~Do I figure at all in your plans?~
figure~noun~The shape of a body, often a woman's, is referred to as that person's figure~She has a fantastic figure.~
file~verb~Put documents away in a file that other similar documents are kept in~She filed all the post for that day.~
file~noun~A metal tool with rough parts that is used for making things smooth by rubbing~A steel file.~
file~noun~Information that is stored on a computer under its own heading~She created a file for her poetry.~
file~verb~Cut or shape something using a file~He filled the sharp edges away.~
file~noun~A box, often made from card, used to keep documents in~She had a file for each of her subjects.~
fill~verb~Put something into a container etc. until it is full~He filled the hole with sand.~
fill~verb~If you fill a gap in something you put things into it until it is full~Nothing can fill the hole in my heart.~
fill~verb~A smell, sound or light can fill a place~The smell of turkey filled the kitchen.~
fill in~verb~You fill in a form by providing all the information needed on it~Please fill in your personal information.~
film~verb~Make a film using a camera~She filmed the entire scene.~
film~noun~A series of moving pictures, usually with sound, that are shown as a movie or on television~Which film do you want to watch?~
film~noun~A thin strip of plastic that is used in cameras to take pictures~We need to get that film developed.~
film~noun~A very thin layer of something~The book was covered in a film of dust.~
filter~verb~Pass something through a filter~I filtered the water before drinking it.~
filter~noun~A device for separating wanted from unwanted parts of something~A water filter.~
filthy~adjective~Very rude, disgusting~A filthy joke.~
filthy~adjective~Very dirty~Her shoes were filthy after the hike.~
final~adjective~At the end of a series~It was the final event.~
final~adjective~If something is final it cannot be changed~That is my final answer.~
final~noun~The last game or competition in a series~They won the cup final.~
finally~adverb~Happening after a long time~She finally arrived.~
finally~adverb~Can be used to introduce the last thing in a series~And finally, I would like to apologise.~
finance~verb~Provide money for something~He has promised to finance the project.~
finance~noun~The act of managing money~Speak to the department of finance.~
finance~noun~The money available to a person or organisation etc.~I need to check my finances before buying that.~
financial~adjective~Connected with money~What is your financial situation?~
find~verb~Discover~She found him sleeping instead of being at work.~
find~verb~Have an opinion about something~I find science fascinating.~
find~verb~Get something after looking for it~I found the tape in the attic.~
find~verb~Make a decision in court~He was found innocent.~
find~verb~Used to say that something lives or grows somewhere~They are found in Asia.~
find~verb~Study or think in order to discover something~They haven't found the missing treasure.~
find out~verb~Gain information~I would like to find out more about Mars.~
fine~adjective~Acceptable~That's fine with me.~
fine~noun~Money that you pay as punishment~I paid the fine last week.~
fine~adjective~Very thin, narrow or small~She has very fine hair.~
fine~adjective~In good health~I'm fine, thanks.~
fine~adjective~Very good~This is a fine example of modern art.~
fine~verb~Make someone pay money as a form of punishment~He was fined half his salary!~
fine~adjective~For the weather to be bright with no rain~The weather will be fine today.~
finger~noun~One of the four long digits on your hand~She caught her finger in the door.~
fingernail~noun~The nail on the end of your finger~She painted her fingernails red.~
fingerprint~noun~The unique pattern of lines found on each fingertip~Her fingerprints matched those on the gun.~
finish~verb~End~The competition finished.~
finish~noun~The end of something~It was a close finish to the race.~
finish~verb~Do the last part of something to make it complete~She will finish the painting tomorrow.~
fire~verb~Expel a bullet from a gun~He fired at the strange man.~
fire~noun~The shots from a gun~They opened fire on the enemy.~
fire~verb~Dismiss someone from their job~He fired her for always being late.~
fire~noun~The flames, heat and light caused by something burning~We made a fire to keep warm.~
fire~noun~'On fire' means burning strongly~The house was on fire.~
fire~noun~If you set fire to something you make it burn~Who set fire to the building?~
fire brigade~noun~A group of people whose job it is to put out fires and rescue people from them~There's a fire in the building, call the fire brigade quickly!~
fire engine~noun~A vehicle that carries fire fighters and their equipment~We had to pull over to let the fire engine drive past us.~
fire escape~noun~An exit such as a back door or a flight of stairs used for escaping from fire~In the event of fire, please use the fire escape closest to you.~
fire truck~noun~US English for a fire engine. See 'fire engine'~The fire truck drove past us with its sirens wailing.~
fireman~noun~A person who puts out fires for a living~The firemen were too late to save the house.~
firework~noun~A small object that explodes and creates colourful lights and loud noises~We watched the fireworks at Halloween.~
firm~adjective~Unlikely to be changed~I have made a firm decision.~
firm~noun~A business~I would like to work for that firm.~
firm~adjective~Strong~His handshake was far from firm.~
firm~adjective~Hard and difficult to press~Is that fruit still firm?~
first~adverb~At the initial time~When did you first start working here?~
first~adverb~Before any other examples~I remember the first time she spoke.~
first~noun~The first person or thing~I was the first to leave.~
first~determiner~Most important~She won first prize.~
first aid~noun~Basic medical treatment given to an injured person before a doctor arrives~I took a three-week first aid course.~
first-class~adjective~Excellent; of the highest standard~It's a first-class book.~
first-class~adjective~The most expensive and best-quality way of travelling~We flew first-class.~
first-class~adjective~In the UK, a form of postage that is the most efficient but also the most expensive~Do you want to send the letter first-class?~
fish~noun~The part of a fish that is eaten~We are having fish for dinner.~
fish~verb~Try to catch fish with a rod or net~We like to go fishing at weekends.~
fish~noun~A creature with fins and gills that lives in water~We keep fish in a tank in our bathroom.~The plural of fish is also fish. 'Fishes' is old-fashioned
fist~noun~A tightly closed hand~She made a fist and screamed in frustration.~
fit~verb~Be the right size for something~The shirt fits perfectly.~
fit~adjective~Suitable~She isnít fit for the world of politics.~
fit~adjective~Healthy and strong~He jogs every day to keep fit.~
fit~verb~Supply, install~He fitted the shelves with lights.~
fit~noun~An attack caused by a condition such as epilepsy, during which a person becomes unconscious and may shake~She had a fit and they called and ambulance.~
fit~noun~Laughter or coughing that you cannot control~She fell into a fit of laughter.~
five~none~The number 5, which sits between 4 and 6~I have five dresses.~
fix~verb~Make an arrangement~The time has not been fixed yet.~
fix~verb~Repair~I need to get my car fixed.~
fix~verb~Firmly attach~She fixed the table to the floor.~
flag~noun~A piece of coloured fabric that often has a country's symbol on it~They waved the Chinese flag.~
flake~noun~A very thin piece of something~Flakes of chocolate fell off the bar.~
flame~noun~When something burns it produces a long visible stream of gas called a flame~Be careful not to touch the flame.~
flap~noun~A flat part of something that is tied down at one end and loose at the other~He sealed the flap on the envelope.~
flap~verb~Move up and down quickly~The washing flapped on the line.~
flash~noun~A sudden light that comes and goes very quickly~There was a flash of light and then an explosion.~
flash~verb~Shine or make something shine for a short time~He flashed a light in her eyes.~
flash~verb~Move quickly~An image of the accident flashed through her mind.~
flat~adjective~Level~She wrote on a flat surface.~
flat~adjective~If something is flat, it is broad but not high~I like to wear flat shoes.~
flat~adjective~Having no air in it~My bicycle has a flat tyre.~
flat~adjective~If a battery is flat, it can no longer provide electricity~Those batteries are flat, they need to be charged.~
flat~noun~A set of rooms in a building that you can live in; an apartment~Do you live in a flat?~
flavour~noun~The way that something tastes~I don't like the flavour of it.~
flavour~verb~Add something to food or drink to make it taste a certain way~I flavoured it with garlic.~
flaw~noun~A fault or mistake that means that something doesn't work properly~There is one major flaw in that theory.~
flee~verb~Leave somewhere quickly because you are frightened~He fled from the country.~
fleet~noun~A group of vehicles, often ships, that are found together~A fleet of army ships went by.~
flesh~noun~The soft substance on your body between the bones and skin~Her flesh was visible when she cut her knee.~
flexible~adjective~Able to adapt to change~We need workers who can be flexible in their working hours.~
flexible~adjective~Able to bend without breaking~The gymnast was very flexible.~
flight~noun~A series of stairs or steps~There were fourteen flights of stairs to climb.~
flight~noun~A journey made in the air~We booked a flight to Thailand.~
flight~noun~The act of flying~We watched the flight of an eagle.~
fling~verb~Throw something with a lot of power, especially if you are angry~She flung the book at him.~
float~verb~Stay at or near the surface of a liquid rather than sink~Leaves floated down the stream.~
float~verb~Move slowly through the air or water~Her letter was picked up by the wind and floated down the street.~
flock~noun~A group of sheep, goats or birds of the same type~The dog chased the flock of sheep.~
flock~verb~Move somewhere in large groups~People flocked from the city after the earthquake.~
flood~verb~Move in large numbers~They flooded into the cinema.~
flood~verb~Fill with water a place that is usually dry~The water from the tank flooded the bathroom.~
flood~noun~A large amount of water covering a place that is usually dry~The floods destroyed all the crops.~
flood~noun~A large amount of something~There was a flood of fan mail for her.~
floor~noun~The lower horizontal surface of a room~He put new carpets on the floor.~
floor~noun~One level of a building~We lived on the second floor.~
floor~noun~The ground under the sea, in a forest, etc.~We swam down to the sea floor.~
floppy disk~noun~A small disc inside a plastic cover that contains information that a computer can read~I stored my assignment on a floppy disc.~
flour~noun~A white powder made by crushing grain and used in baking etc.~We ran out of flour for the cake.~
flow~noun~A continuous movement~We need to try and reduce the flow of blood.~
flow~verb~Move continuously in one direction~The river flowed down the mountain.~
flower~noun~The coloured section of a plant containing the reproductive parts~Look at the pretty pink flowers.~
flower~verb~Bloom, produce flowers~When will these seeds flower?~
flu~noun~An illness like a serious cold~She had such bad flu she ended up in hospital.~
fluent~adjective~Able to speak a language very well~She's fluent in many languages.~
fluid~noun~A substance that can flow; a liquid or gas~I need more cleaning fluid.~
fly~noun~A small buzzing and flying insect~There were flies everywhere.~
fly~verb~Move quickly, often with force~The ball flew through the air and smashed the window.~
fly~verb~Control an aircraft~The pilot flew us to our destination.~
fly~verb~Travel in a plane or spacecraft etc.~He flew back to his home town.~
fly~noun~The part of a pair of trousers that holds the zip or buttons~His fly was undone.~
fly~verb~Move through the air using wings~The bird flew into the trees.~
focus~verb~Adjust your eyes or the lens of a camera so that you can see things clearly~She focused on her parents at the end of the room.~
focus~noun~The main thing that something is concerned with~The focus of the conversation shifted during the meal.~
focus~verb~Place all your attention on one thing~I've been focusing on this idea all my working life.~
focus~noun~A distance where things can be clearly seen~Their faces are out of focus.~
fog~noun~A cloud at ground level that is difficult to see through~We had to pull the car over until the fog lifted.~
foil~verb~Stop from happening~The attack was foiled by the secret service.~
foil~noun~Thin metal sheets that are often used to wrap food~He covered the turkey in foil.~
fold~verb~Bend something so that one part of it lies over another part~She folded the washing.~
fold~noun~A line in something where it has been folded~He tried to iron the folds out of his shirt.~
folk~noun~People, especially in US English~We are going to visit the folks back home.~
folk~adjective~Traditional to a country~Do you like folk music?~
follow~verb~Take an interest in something~Have you followed the story all week?~
follow~verb~Move behind someone and go in the direction that they are going in~She followed him home.~
follow~verb~Go in the direction that a path or road etc. leads you~I followed the signs and still got lost.~
follow~verb~Do what you are told, having listened to instructions or advice~You need to follow the doctor's orders.~
follow~verb~Come after something~The days following his election were intense.~
follow~verb~Be the logical result of something~It follows from this that our plans need to be changed.~
follower~noun~A person who admires, supports and follows something or someone~He has a large group of followers.~
fond~adjective~Liking or feeling affection for something or someone~I'm fond of chocolate.~
food~noun~The things that people and animals eat to stay alive~We store perishable food in the fridge.~
fool~noun~A person who seems to lack intelligence~Don't be such a fool!~
fool~verb~Trick someone into believing something that isn't true~She fooled him into thinking she was his sister.~
foolish~adjective~Silly, showing poor judgement~It was a foolish thing to do.~
foot~noun~The part of the body below the leg that you use to stand on~I stood on a thorn and hurt my foot.~
foot~noun~The lowest part of something~She stood at the foot of the stairs.~
foot~noun~A measurement equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres~The wall was only 3 feet long.~You can use 'foot' or 'feet' for the plural
football~noun~A game played by two teams of 11 players who kick a ball; also known as 'soccer'~I like to watch football.~
football~noun~The ball used in games of football~We need a new football.~
footpath~noun~A path that people can walk along, often beside a road~We followed the footpath through the forest.~
footstep~noun~A step that you take when walking, or the sound of it~We followed the footsteps.~
for~preposition~If something is for someone it is theirs to use~That bicycle is for you.~
for~preposition~'For' is used in questions to find out whether there is enough of something~Is there enough cutlery for everyone?~
for~preposition~'For' is used to show support of something~So are you for or against a holiday in Spain?~
for~preposition~'For' is used to express a length of time or distance~The athletes ran for six hours.~
for~preposition~'For' can be used to show the function of something~A knife is used for cutting food.~
forbid~verb~Disallow, prohibit~I forbid you to go out after dark.~
force~verb~Use physical strength to open or move something etc.~They forced the door closed when it was stuck.~
force~noun~Violence or strength~In this case, the use of force was necessary.~
force~noun~The power that something has~She did it by force of will.~
force~noun~Something that has the power to influence things~It's a major economic force.~
force~noun~A group of people organised for a certain job~They sent their strongest forces in first.~
force~noun~A natural cause of things~The force of the moon determines the tides.~
force~verb~Make someone do something~He forced me to wait for him.~
forecast~noun~A statement of future possibilities; a prediction~Economic forecasts look positive.~
forecast~verb~Say what you think will happen in the future~He forecasts rain for tomorrow.~
foreground~noun~The part of a view that is closest to you~She stood in the foreground.~
forehead~noun~The flat part of your head at the top of your face~He banged his forehead on the window.~
foreign~adjective~Strange and unfamiliar~The music was completely foreign to Geoff.~
foreign~adjective~From a country that is not your own~We bought foreign food.~
foreigner~noun~A person who comes from a different country to the one you are in~There were four foreigners staying at her hotel.~
forest~noun~A large area of many trees growing closely together~We took a walk through the forest.~
forever~adverb~Always; used to show that something will always exist~I will love you forever.~
forget~verb~Be unable to remember something~I forgot your birthday.~
forget~verb~Not remember to do something~He forgot to put the bin out.~
forget~verb~Leave behind~I forgot to bring an umbrella.~
forgive~verb~Stop feeling anger towards someone who has done something bad to you~I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive her.~
fork~noun~A tool with three or four prongs used for picking up food when eating~Use your knife and fork when you are eating.~
form~verb~Make up~The statue was formed of plaster and water.~
form~noun~Performance quality, especially in sports~He has been in good form all season.~
form~noun~The way that something looks or the shape that it is~The medal was in the form of a flag.~
form~noun~A piece of paper with spaces for you to put information in~Can you please fill out this form?~
form~verb~Make something in a particular shape~They formed the mixture into small balls.~
form~noun~A variety of something~It's a form of therapy.~
form~verb~Make to start to exist~When do you think life was first formed?~
formal~adjective~Very correct or serious behaviour or writing etc.~The tone of the letter was formal.~
formal~adjective~Official~It was a formal complaint.~
format~noun~The arrangement of something~Please use the same format in all your letters.~
former~adjective~Previous~Her former boss was really mean.~
former~noun~If you mention two things, you can then say 'the former' to mean the first of them~Money or fame? I choose the former.~
formula~noun~A method of doing something~We will stick to the formula and start at 6 a.m.~
formula~noun~Numbers and symbols that represent a mathematical or scientific rule or law, or a chemical substance or reaction~I could never remember all the formulas in science.~
forth~adverb~Away or out of somewhere~Go forth and conquer.~Formal use
forth~adverb~Towards a place~They brought forth the enemy's head.~
fortieth~adjective~Number forty in a series of numbers~Their fortieth wedding anniversary.~
fortnight~noun~A period of two weeks~We are going on holiday for a fortnight.~
fortunate~adjective~Having good luck or many advantages~He had everything he wanted; he was a fortunate man.~
fortunately~adverb~Luckily; with good luck; happily~Fortunately, everyone was rescued.~
fortune~noun~Luck, especially as it affects people's lives~I have had the good fortune to work with professionals.~
fortune~noun~A large amount of money~She paid a fortune for flights.~
fortune~noun~The good and the bad things that happen to people or organisations etc.~The fortunes of war.~
forty~none~The number 40, which sits between 39 and 41~They stayed together for forty days.~
forum~noun~Somewhere that people can swap opinions and ideas~School is an important forum for discussing major issues.~
forward~adverb~Towards a good result or outcome~This is a step forward.~
forward~adverb~Towards the future~We need to be moving forward, not backwards.~
forward~adverb~Straight ahead~They moved the car forward.~
forward~verb~If a letter has accidentally been sent to you instead of someone else, you can forward it to the right person by posting it on~We need to forward all that post.~
foster~verb~Help something develop~We try to foster a feeling of security here.~
foster~verb~Look after a child (not your own) in your home for a period of time~She fostered me and my brother.~
foster~adjective~If you foster a child you become its foster parents~I am her foster mother.~
foul~verb~If you foul something you make it dirty~She fouled the pavement with her chewing gum.~
foul~verb~Break the rules of a game in sport~He was given a red card for fouling.~
foul~noun~Something you do that breaks a rule in sport~He committed a foul.~
foul~adjective~Unpleasant or dirty~She's in a foul mood; Thatís a foul smell.~
found~verb~Start something~She founded the charity three years ago.~
foundation~noun~An idea or belief that something starts and grows from~It is the foundation for many scientific theories.~
foundation~noun~The layer of concrete that forms the base of a building~All that was left of the house was its foundations.~
fountain~noun~A structure where water is pumped into the air~We can have a picnic by the fountain.~
four~none~The number 4, which sits between 3 and 5~There were four women at the party.~
fours~noun~To be on all fours is to be on your hands and knees~The baby crawled on all fours.~
fourteen~none~The number 14, which sits between 13 and 15~There are fourteen swans on the lake.~
fourteenth~adjective~Number fourteen in a series of numbers~The fourteenth day.~
fourth~adjective~Number four in a series of numbers~It's her fourth chance.~
fourth~noun~US English for a quarter~She had three-fourths of the cake.~
fox~noun~A wild animal with reddish-brown fur that comes from the dog family~A fox ran past the window.~
fraction~noun~A division or part of a whole number~Can you multiple fractions?~
fraction~noun~A small or smaller amount~She ate a fraction of what she would normally eat.~
fracture~verb~Break or crack~She has a fractured arm.~
fracture~noun~A crack or break~The doctors say it's a bone fracture.~
fragile~adjective~Delicate, weak or easily broken~The crate contained fragile plates.~
fragment~verb~Break into pieces~That wood may fragment.~
fragment~noun~A small piece of something that has broken off~A fragment of wood hit me in the eye.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
frame~noun~The border around a picture or window etc~She bought a pretty frame for the picture.~
frame~noun~A structure that supports something or gives it its shape etc~A bicycle frame.~
frame~verb~Place a picture into a frame~She framed the picture and hung it on the wall.~
framework~noun~A set of beliefs or rules that act as a basis for making decisions etc.~Use this framework when making plans.~
framework~noun~The structure that supports something~It is set on a wooden framework.~
frank~adjective~Honest and direct~To be frank, I think she is lazy.~
fraud~noun~A person who does things to try to deceive others~There are a lot of frauds about nowadays.~
fraud~noun~The crime of gaining money dishonestly~He committed fraud.~
freak~noun~A person who is unusual in behaviour or looks etc.~He can be a bit of a freak.~
freak~adjective~Unexpected, often with serious consequences~A freak storm.~
free~adjective~To be free of something means that you no longer have it~She's free of stress now.~
free~adjective~Not under the power of something else~We have free speech in this country.~
free~adjective~Not being used by someone else~Is that table free?~
free~adjective~Having spare time; not busy~Are you free tonight?~
free~adjective~Not needing to be paid for~Buy one get one free.~
free~verb~Remove something that someone doesn't want from them~Can you free me of all this debt?~
free~adjective~Not a prisoner~He's finally free.~
free~verb~Release a prisoner etc.~The hostages were eventually freed.~
free~verb~Release something that is trapped~He freed the bear from the trap.~
freedom~noun~A state of not being affected by something~Freedom from pain.~
freedom~noun~Being allowed to do the things you want to~I have freedom to read what I like.~
freedom~noun~Being out of prison~They fought for his freedom.~
freeway~noun~A wide road used for fast travel~Take the freeway, it's quicker.~US and Australian English. The UK English word is 'motorway'
freeze~verb~Keep food at a very low temperature~We can freeze that meat.~
freeze~verb~Suddenly stop moving because you are frightened etc.~She froze in terror.~
freeze~verb~Become solid like ice because of low temperatures~The leaves on the trees froze during winter.~
freezer~noun~A container used for freezing food~We put the food in the freezer.~
freezing~adjective~Very cold~It's freezing in this shop!~
french~noun~The main language spoken in France~I learnt French at school.~
french~adjective~Connected to France~I like French wine.~
frequency~noun~The rate that sound or other waves vibrate at~It's quite a low frequency.~
frequency~noun~The rate at which something happens~The frequency of the attacks has become much higher.~
frequent~adjective~Happening many times~Are her visits frequent?~
fresh~adjective~New~The walls need a fresh coat of paint.~
fresh~adjective~If food is fresh it has just been prepared and is not frozen or canned etc.~The vegetables were very fresh.~
fresh~adjective~Non-salty~We need more fresh water.~
fresh~adjective~Coming from something that you have just recently done~He's fresh from the gym.~
friday~noun~The day of the week between Thursday and Saturday~I don't work on Fridays.~
fridge~noun~Short for 'refrigerator': A piece of electrical equipment that stores food and drinks and keeps them cold~Put the butter in the fridge.~
fried~verb~'Fried' is the past tense and past participle of 'fry'~I ate some fried bacon.~
friend~noun~A person whom you like very much and have a close relationship with; usually not a family member~She has been my friend for years.~
friendly~adjective~On good terms with~I'm friendly with his family.~
friendly~adjective~Nice and kind to people~I am always friendly.~
friendship~noun~The state or feeling of being friends~I value our friendship over everything else.~
friendship~noun~The relationship between friends~Their friendship went bad in the end.~
frighten~verb~Scare someone or make them afraid~He frightened me.~
frightened~adjective~Afraid~He is frightened of being alone.~
fringe~noun~Outer parts~They stood on the fringe of the town.~
fringe~noun~The piece of hair that hangs over your forehead~You need to cut your fringe.~
fringe~noun~A strip of beads or cloth etc. that hangs over the edge of something as a decoration~She hated the plastic fringes that hung off her hat.~
frog~noun~A small animal with long legs that lives on both water and land~Some frogs are endangered.~
from~preposition~'From' is used to show that something is taken away~Remove that dog from my sight!~
from~preposition~'From' is used to show when something starts and ends~The game is on from six to nine.~
from~preposition~If somebody sends or gives something to you, you say it's from that person~I got new socks from my granny.~
front~noun~The forward-facing part of something~I moved to the front of the class.~
front~adjective~In the forward part of~I looked at the front door.~
front~noun~If something is in front of something, it is further forward~The car was in front of us.~
front~noun~If you are in front in a competition, you are winning~She was in front the whole way through the race.~
frontier~noun~The line or border that separates two countries~We were sent to the frontier.~
frown~noun~The expression made on a face when the eyebrows are brought closer together~I laughed at his silly frown.~
frown~verb~Move your eyebrows to express emotion, usually negative emotion~He frowned when she told him about the accident.~
frozen~adjective~'Frozen' is the past participle of 'freeze'~I like frozen yoghurt.~
fruit~noun~The often sweet tasting, fleshy part of a plant that holds the seeds~What is your favourite type of fruit?~
frustrate~verb~Annoy someone by trying to interfere with things they are doing~He really frustrates me sometimes!~
frustrate~verb~Stop something from happening~Their plans were frustrated by the arrival of the police.~
fry~verb~Cook food in a pan using fat or oil~I like my eggs fried.~
ft~abbreviation~The abbreviated form of 'foot' or 'feet'~It went 3 ft into the air.~
fuel~noun~A material that can be burnt to produce power~What type of fuel does your car use?~
fuel~verb~Supply something with the power it needs to work~It is fuelled by coal.~
fulfil~verb~Turn into something real~He has fulfilled all my expectations of him.~
fulfil~verb~Satisfy~Her writing fulfilled her.~
full~adjective~Having no space left~The jar was full of jam.~
full~adjective~Have large numbers~The stadium was full of people.~
full~adjective~To the largest extent possible~The TV was on full blast.~
full~adjective~Complete; with nothing missing~A full record of activity will be kept.~
full~adverb~Directly~She looked her boss full in the face.~
full stop~noun~A full stop (.) shows that a sentence has come to an end. It is also used in some abbreviations and between initials~A statement normally ends with a full stop (but not here!)~
full-time~adverb~All the normal working hours~I used to work full-time.~
fully~adverb~Completely; in full~I fully understand the problem.~
fun~noun~If you make fun of something you laugh at it, often in a cruel way~She makes fun of the younger children.~
fun~adjective~If someone is fun they are amusing~He's fun to be around.~
fun~noun~All the things that you find enjoyable~I think going to parties is fun.~
function~verb~Work~This new tool functions quite well.~
function~noun~The job that something is supposed to do~It is not fulfilling its function.~
fund~noun~Money that is available to spend~We need to raise more funds for the school.~
fund~verb~Supply the money for something~I funded the last project.~
fund~noun~Money that has been saved for a certain purpose~It's her university fund.~
fundamental~adjective~Basic, necessary~It is fundamental to the entire idea.~
funeral~noun~A ceremony held for a person who has recently died~I was too sad to attend the funeral.~
funny~adjective~Amusing, making you want to laugh~It was a funny movie.~
funny~adjective~Strange or weird~There was a funny sound coming from the basement.~
fur~noun~The coat of hair that covers some animals~The wolf's fur kept him warm.~
furious~adjective~Very angry~He was furious when I told him.~
furious~adjective~Using a lot of energy~He worked at a furious rate.~
furnish~verb~Place furniture in a room~We furnished the kitchen first.~
furniture~noun~Objects such as tables and chairs placed in a house to make living simpler~She had only basic furniture in her flat.~You cannot use 'furniture' to refer to one object. One object is a piece of furniture
further~adverb~'Further' is one of the two comparative forms of 'far'~He walked further and further away.~
further~adjective~Additional or extra~Will you need further details?~
furthest~adverb~'Furthest' is one of the two superlative forms of 'far'~She is the furthest away from all of us.~
fuss~noun~Unnecessary worry or activity~She made a lot of fuss about my clothes.~
future~adjective~Connected to time after the present~I wonder what future houses will look like.~
future~noun~The time after the present time~What will you do in the future?~
future~noun~'In future' or 'in the future' means 'from now on'~In future, pay attention.~
gain~verb~Obtain~I gained my certificate in a year.~
gain~verb~Benefit from something~I gained much knowledge from the course.~
gain~noun~An increase in something~Exercise can reduce weight gain.~
gale~noun~A very strong wind~We got caught in a gale.~
gallery~noun~A room used to show off art work; often open to the public~We went to the opening of a new gallery.~
gallon~noun~A unit used for measuring liquids. In the UK it's about 4.55 litres. In the US it's about 3.8 litres~A gallon of water.~
gallop~verb~The fastest way that a horse runs; all four hooves leave the ground in each stride~I didn't like it when the horse began to gallop.~
gamble~noun~A risk taken in the hope of a greater gain, e.g. a bet on a horse~It's a gamble but I'll try it.~
gamble~verb~The act of placing a bet~He gambled mostly on machines.~
gamble~verb~Risk losing something in the hope you will gain something greater~They gambled everything on winning the contract.~
game~noun~A competitive activity, often sporting, that is played according to a set of rules~Would you like to play a game of cards?~
game~noun~A sports match is often referred to as a game~The game is on at three.~
gang~noun~A group of people who get together to do things, often bad things~A gang of criminals; a gang of friends.~
gang up~verb~When a group of people gang up on you they try to intimidate or hurt you~The older children were ganging up on the younger children.~Informal use
gap~noun~A space between things~She has a gap between her teeth.~
gap~noun~A difference between people that often separates them~There used to be a large gap between black people and white people.~
garage~noun~Somewhere that cars can be fixed or parts for a car can be bought~I stopped at the garage to get petrol.~
garage~noun~A building usually near or at your home, where you can keep your car~He tidied up his garage.~
garbage~noun~US English for the waste that you throw out of your home~Will you put the garbage outside please?~
garden~noun~A piece of land next to your home~She planted flowers in the garden.~
garment~noun~A piece of clothing~Do you like these garments?~
gas~noun~A substance that is neither liquid nor solid, e.g. air~We use gas to heat our house.~
gas~noun~US English for petrol~I need to fill the car with gas.~
gas~verb~Harm someone with poisonous gas~They gassed hundreds of people.~
gasoline~noun~US English for petrol~What is the price of gasoline today?~
gasp~noun~A quick, open-mouthed breath that makes a sound, often caused by a surprise~She gave a small gasp at the sight of him.~
gasp~verb~Take a quick, open-mouthed breath~He gasped in horror.~
gastric~adjective~Concerned with the stomach~A gastric ulcer.~
gate~noun~A barrier used to open or close an entrance or exit to a garden etc.~The gate was stuck and I couldn't open it.~
gather~verb~Get together in a group~They gathered in the hall.~
gather~verb~If you use 'I gather', you are saying that you think you understand something~I gather you haven't seen her for a while?~
gather~verb~Collect things together~She gathered all the paperwork into one file.~
gather~verb~Increase or become stronger~He gathered speed as he got closer to home.~
gathering~noun~A meeting of people~We got together for an official gathering.~
gave~verb~'Gave' is the past tense of 'give'~They gave the boy a parrot for his last birthday.~
gay~adjective~Describes a person, especially a man, who is attracted to persons of the same sex~I have many gay friends.~The old-fashioned meaning was 'happy' or 'fun'
gay~noun~A person who is homosexual~He is gay.~
gaze~verb~Look at something for quite a long time~She gazed at the sunset.~
gaze~noun~A long look at something~I met her gaze with mine.~
gear~noun~The equipment etc. needed to do something~Do you have all your diving gear?~
gear~noun~A toothed wheel used in transmitting motion from the engine to the wheels of a motor vehicle, or from the pedals to the wheels of a bicycle~Do you know anything about car gears?~
gender~noun~The state of being male or female~What gender was the victim?~
gene~noun~A unit in a cell that determines characteristics and passes them on from a parent to a child~Dark hair runs in your father's family's genes.~
general~adjective~Usual, suitable or as a whole~The general population voted on it.~
general~adjective~Not limited to a specific thing~It is a general idea; a general hospital.~
general~noun~If something happens in general, it usually happens~They don't speak in general.~
general~noun~A high-ranking army officer~We will be visited by the general tonight.~
general~adjective~Affecting or relating to everything~These are the general rules.~
general election~noun~When all the people in a country vote for a new government~The next general election will be in two years.~
generate~verb~Create or make something~It generates power.~
generation~noun~All the people that were born around the same time~Our generation believes in different things to your generation.~
generation~noun~The time that it takes for children to grow up and have their own children~We discovered it a generation ago.~
generous~adjective~Inclined to give more than most people would~He is a generous man.~
generous~adjective~More than is necessary~They gave us a generous helping of salad.~
genetic~adjective~Connected with genes~Genetic disorders.~
genius~noun~An unusually intelligent person~She's a scientific genius.~
genius~noun~Unusual intelligence or skill~He shows much genius in his work.~
gentle~adjective~Calm, kind, careful, not harsh or violent~A gentle-natured animal.~
gentleman~noun~You can use 'gentleman' to refer respectfully to a man that you do not know~This gentleman needs our help.~
gentleman~noun~A well-behaved, well-educated man~He's a real gentleman.~
gents~noun~Men's toilets~My dad went to the gents while I went to the ladies.~Informal use. Although 'gents' looks plural, it is singular
genuine~adjective~Real~It's a genuine antique vase.~
geography~noun~The scientific study of the earth's surface and features etc.~I did a degree in geography.~
germ~noun~A tiny living organism that may cause infection and disease~You should wash your hands before eating to get rid of any germs.~
german~noun~The main language of Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland~Do you speak German?~
german~adjective~Connected to Germany~We visited a German museum.~
german~noun~A person who comes from Germany~My neighbour is a German.~
gesture~noun~A movement of your head or hands that communicates a feeling~The gesture meant that I should come in.~
gesture~noun~Something that you do to express your intentions or feelings~The flowers were a gesture of support.~
get~verb~Use a form of transport~Are you going to get that plane?~'Gotten' is used in US but not UK English
get~verb~Cause something to happen or to be done~I'll get him to bring it round later.~
get~verb~'Get' can mean 'become'~He was starting to get scary.~
get~verb~Receive or obtain something~I got your package.~
get~verb~Fetch something~I'll get us some snacks.~
get~verb~Understand~I don't get you.~
get~verb~Move somewhere~She tried to get across the lake.~
get~verb~Start being in a certain state~She got into lots of trouble.~
get away~verb~You get away from someone or something if you manage to free yourself from them~I have to get away from work early because I have a function to attend.~
get on~verb~'Get on' is used to ask how well someone is doing something~Is she getting on all right in her new job?~
get on~verb~When two people like each other, you can say that they get on with each other~I get on with my brother most of the time.~
get on~verb~If you get on with something you start or continue to do it~I will get on with my work even though I don't feel well.~
get over~verb~You get over something if you manage to return to your normal state after it happens~It took the girl a while to the over the flu.~
get through~verb~If you get through to someone on the telephone you make contact with them~I can't get through to her, the line is always busy.~
get through~verb~When you try to help someone understand you, you can say that you are trying to get through to them~She's doing the wrong thing but no matter how often I tell her I can't get through to her.~
get through~verb~If you get through something you manage to complete it~I got through the test in record time.~
get up~verb~Stand up from the position you were in, e.g. in bed or lying on the sofa~I have to get up early in the morning to catch the first bus.~
ghost~noun~The spirit of a dead person that some people say they can see~She was scared of seeing a ghost.~
giant~adjective~Enormous~He bought her a giant box of chocolates.~
giant~noun~An enormous person that is written about in stories~I like stories about giants.~
gift~noun~Something that you give to someone on a special occasion or just to show that you care; a present~She bought him a gift to say sorry.~
gift~noun~A talent~She has a gift for languages.~
gigantic~adjective~Incredibly large~A gigantic theme park.~
giggle~verb~Laugh in a silly way or with short catches of the breath~She couldn't stop giggling.~
gin~noun~An alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper berries~I think I'll drink gin tonight.~
girl~noun~A young female person~The girls played with their dolls.~
girlfriend~noun~A female person that someone is having a romantic relationship with~Is this your new girlfriend?~
give~verb~Organise and invite people to something, e.g. a party~I gave a party for her last week.~
give~verb~if you give a speech you recite it in public~I will give the speech in an hour.~
give~verb~Used to describe an action~He gave a nod of his head.~
give~verb~Hand someone something~I gave it to him.~
give~verb~Provide something for someone~I gave him this job.~
give in~verb~Stop trying and admit that you have lost~You are right, I give in.~
give up~verb~Admit defeat~I give up! I'll never understand maths!~
give up~verb~Stop doing something~I will give up work when the baby is born.~
glad~adjective~Pleased or happy~I'm glad I got accepted.~
glance~verb~Look at something very quickly~She glanced at the book then went to sleep.~
glance~noun~A quick look~He didn't even give a glance in my direction.~
glasses~noun~Two lenses in a frame that are worn over the eyes to help you see better~I think I need glasses.~
glass~noun~A hard, clear, brittle substance that is used to make windows or ornaments etc.~A glass bottle filled with sand.~
glass~noun~A glass container used to hold liquid so that you can drink it~Can I have a glass of water please?~
glimpse~noun~A short look at something~I caught a glimpse of them in the distance.~
glimpse~verb~See something very briefly~I glimpsed the ocean through the trees.~
global~adjective~Covering the whole world~We need to discuss global issues.~
globe~noun~Sometimes the world is referred to as the globe~They travelled all round the globe.~
gloomy~adjective~Almost dark in a depressing way~There was a gloomy sky.~
gloomy~adjective~Sad and without hope~They sat in gloomy silence.~
glove~noun~An item worn on the hand to keep it warm~I need new gloves.~
glow~noun~A dull but steady light~She found him when she saw the glow of his cigarette.~
glow~verb~Shine with a dull but steady light~The lights glowed in the dark.~
glue~noun~A substance that holds things together~Stick them together with glue.~
glue~verb~Join things together using glue~We glued the wood together.~
go~verb~Used in describing an action such as that of falling asleep~He has gone to sleep.~
go~verb~To 'go to' is to attend something for a certain reason~I went to see my aunt on her birthday.~
go~verb~Travel from one place to another~We are going to the bar.~
go~verb~Used in saying how successful something has been~Did the meeting go well?~
go~verb~Become~He was going crazy thinking about it.~
go~verb~If you are going to do something you are about to do it~I'm going to go on holiday next week.~
go~verb~Leave somewhere to take part in an activity~She went swimming.~
go~verb~Lead to somewhere~The road goes to the park.~
go~noun~If you have a go at something, you try it~I'll have a go at that.~
go~verb~Used to describe what happens in a story or song etc.~How does that one go?~
go~verb~Be used or spent~All my money went on that holiday.~
go~verb~If something goes with something else, it suits it or is supplied with it~That shirt goes with that tie.~
go~verb~Move into the past~Where have the years gone?~
go~verb~If a machine goes, it works~I finally got my car to go.~
go~noun~Your go in something is your turn~Is it my go?~
go off~verb~Be fired or explode~The gun went off and shot her foot.~
go off~verb~If you go off something or someone, you lose interest in them~I think I've gone off meat.~
go on~verb~Keep on doing something~I will go on working ten hours a day until I can afford a holiday.~
go on~verb~Keep happening~The strike will go on until the workers are offered more money.~
go out~verb~If a flame or light does out it stops existing or giving light~If the wind keeps blowing that candle will go out.~
goal~noun~In games such as football, a successful attempt to score~How many goals did he score?~
goal~noun~Something that you set out to do~My goal is to see as many countries as I can.~
goal~noun~In some games this is the place where a ball must enter in order for a score to be made~The keeper stood in front of the goal.~
goalkeeper~noun~In some games, this is the person responsible for stopping the ball from entering the goal~We need a new goalkeeper.~
goat~noun~A hoofed animal that sometimes has a beard and horns and is farmed~We were allowed to pet the goat at the farm.~
god~noun~In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, this is the supreme being who is believed to have created the world~Do you pray to God?~'God' in this sense takes a capital letter
god~noun~Any supernatural being that people worship~Which god do you believe in?~
goes~verb~'Goes' is the third person singular from of 'go'~He often goes to the theatre.~
gold~noun~A precious yellow metal used to make jewellery etc.~My watch is made from gold.~
gold~adjective~Made of gold~He wore a gold ring.~
golden~adjective~Having the colour of gold~She wore golden shoes.~
golf~noun~A game played over a large open area of ground where people try to hit small balls into small holes with special sticks called clubs~Do you want to have a game of golf?~
good~noun~Something helpful~This is for the good of everyone here.~
good~adjective~Well behaved or polite~Were you good today?~
good~adjective~Enjoyable~It was a really good film.~
good~adjective~Of high or acceptable quality~Her work was not very good.~
good~adjective~Good morning, good night, etc. are used as greetings~Good afternoon.~
good~adjective~Sensible or logical~That's a good idea.~
good~adjective~Showing kindness~He was always very good to me.~
good~noun~Morally acceptable~You should always be good, never bad.~
good~noun~'For good' means permanently~She has decided to stay there for good.~
good~adjective~'As good as' can mean 'almost'~The problem is as good as fixed.~
good~noun~An item sold in shops etc.~Do you sell the goods on this list?~
goodbye~noun~'Goodbye' is used when you are parting from someone or ending a conversation~Goodbye, see you tomorrow.~
goodnight~noun~People say 'goodnight' to each other in the evening when they are leaving each other's company or are going to bed. Often shortened informally to 'night'~Goodnight everyone, I'm going home to go to bed.~
gorgeous~adjective~Very beautiful or pleasant~It was a gorgeous dog.~
gossip~noun~Discussion about other people and their lives, often unkind~I couldn't believe I was hearing so much gossip.~
gossip~verb~Have a discussion with other people about someone that isn't present~She gossips with everyone.~
gotten~verb~US English. 'Gotten' is the past participle of 'get'~Has she gotten her dress for the dance yet?~
govern~verb~Control, decide~Most of the things we do are governed by our instincts.~
govern~verb~Legally control a country~We will vote for the next party to govern the country.~
government~noun~The body of people that governs a country~I wonder what the new government will be.~
government~noun~The activity which involves governing a country~The day-to-day government is continuing as usual.~
gown~noun~A long dress often worn by women on special occasions~She selected a black gown for the dinner party.~
gown~noun~A long loose piece of clothing worn by lawyers and judges and students on special occasions etc.~Her graduation gown.~
gp~noun~GP stands for 'general practitioner' and refers to your local, personal doctor~Make a appointment to see your GP.~
grab~verb~Take advantage of or seize (an opportunity)~He grabbed the chance to earn extra money.~
grab~verb~Roughly take hold of something~He grabbed the book from my hand.~
grace~noun~A short prayer that some people say before eating~Did you say grace?~
grace~noun~Politeness, elegance~She always behaves with grace and self-respect.~
grade~noun~The mark that you achieve in a test or exam etc.~Did you get a good grade?~
grade~verb~Mark or rate something~I had to grade 300 exam papers.~
grade~noun~The quality of a product etc.~This meat is of a lower grade than the others.~
grade~noun~In some countries, 'grade' refers to a class of pupils of similar ages~He's in the third grade.~
gradual~adjective~Happening slowly rather than suddenly~It's a gradual process but eventually it will be complete.~
gradually~adverb~Slowly over time~He gradually climbed up the mountain.~
graduate~noun~Someone who gains a university degree~In three months I will be a graduate.~In America, people who complete their high-school education are also referred to as graduates
graduate~verb~Gain a university degree~I graduated three months ago.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
grain~noun~The seeds of some plants that are used as food for animals or people~They fed the horses oats and grain.~
grain~noun~A small piece of something~Can you count all the grains of salt in a bag?~
gram~noun~A unit for measuring weight. 1,000 grams make up a kilogram~How many grams of sugar do we need?~
grammar~noun~The rules of a language which state how it should be used, what words are used where, etc.~We learnt basic grammar at school.~
grammar school~noun~In Britain, children between the ages of 11 and 18 attend grammar school if they are good academic performers~John goes to our local grammar school.~
grammar school~noun~In the USA and Canada this is a school for young children~My two youngest sons are in grammar school.~
grammar school~noun~In Australia a grammar school is a private school that is often run by a church~I want to send my daughter to grammar school but I can't afford it.~
gramme~none~A non-standard spelling of 'gram'~A gramme of salt.~
grand~adjective~Impressive or important~A grand collection of old books.~
grand~adjective~Pleasant~The weather is grand today.~
grand~noun~AN informal word for one thousand pounds, dollars, euro, etc.~We need four grand to buy that car.~
grandchild~noun~Your grandchild is the son or daughter of your own child~I am her third grandchild.~
granddad~noun~An informal word for 'grandfather'~My granddad taught me to tie my shoelaces.~
granddaughter~noun~Your granddaughter is the daughter of your own child~My granddaughter is twelve now.~
grandfather~noun~Your parent's father is your grandfather~My grandfather is 102 years old.~
grandma~noun~An informal word for 'grandmother'~My grandma bakes great cakes.~
grandmother~noun~Your grandmother is your parent's mother~My grandmother lives with us.~
grandparent~noun~Your parent's mother or father~It's my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.~
grandson~noun~Your grandson is the son of your own child~My grandson was born yesterday.~
granny~noun~An informal word for 'grandmother'~My granny has grey hair.~
grant~noun~An amount of money that the government or another institution gives out for a certain purpose~Can I apply for a student grant?~
grant~verb~Give or allow someone to have something~He granted them permission to do it.~
grant~verb~If you take something for granted you believe it's true without checking, or fail to appreciate it properly~He takes his job for granted.~
grant~verb~If you take someone for granted you use them for things and assume they will always be there~She takes me and my help for granted.~
grape~noun~A small green or purple fruit that grows in bunches and can be eaten or used to make wine~They put grapes in the fruit salad.~
grapefruit~noun~A large, round, yellow citrus fruit that is a little bit bitter~We drink grapefruit juice in the mornings.~
graphic~noun~A drawing or design~The computer graphics were very good.~
graphic~adjective~A graphic description of something is very detailed and often unpleasant~The film show graphics scenes from the Tsunami.~
grasp~verb~Take a firm hold of something~He grasped the child before it fell out of its pram.~
grasp~verb~Understand something well~I finally grasped the idea.~
grasp~noun~A firm hold~I felt a grasp on my leg.~
grasp~noun~Your understanding of something~She had a good grasp of the rules.~
grass~noun~A very common green plant that grows freely in temperate climates and that cattle eat~We sat on the grass and talked.~
grate~verb~Rub food against a tool called a grater, which slices the food into small pieces~She grated carrots for a salad.~
grateful~adjective~Thankful to someone who has done something for you~I'm really grateful he was there to help me.~
grave~noun~The place that a dead body is buried in~We left flowers at her grave.~
grave~adjective~Very serious or important~His face was grave as he broke the news to us.~
gravel~noun~Small stones that are often used to create roads, paths etc., and in making concrete~The gravel hurt his bare feet.~
graveyard~noun~A place that is reserved for burying dead bodies~Some people find graveyards spooky.~
gravy~noun~A sauce to go with meat, often made from the juices of meat~Would you like gravy on your turkey?~
gray~none~US English spelling of 'grey'. See 'grey'~He wore a gray suit.~
grease~verb~Rub or put grease on something~He greased the machine when it broke down.~
grease~noun~Animal fat that has been melted by cooking or heating~After the fry the plates were covered in grease.~
grease~noun~A substance that helps machines to run smoothly~Most of the grease ended up on his hands.~
great~adjective~Very good or pleasant~She's a great friend.~
great~adjective~Very large, or larger than other similar things~They arrived in great numbers.~
great~adjective~Important or impressive~He was a great leader.~
great-~prefix~Great- is used before words such as 'grandmother' to show that there is one more generation involved~Your great-grandfather is the father of one of your grandparents.~
great britain~noun~Great Britain is a large island off the coast of France which consists of England, Scotland and Wales~The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.~
greedy~adjective~Wanting more things than you need~She only eats that much because she is being greedy.~
greek~noun~The main language of Greece~I learnt a little bit of Greek.~
greek~adjective~Connected to Greece~Greek dancing.~
greek~noun~A person who comes from Greece~The ancient Greeks.~
green~adjective~Concerned with politics that deal with the environment~I don't want to talk about green politics.~
green~noun~An area covered in grass or plants~They took a walk through the village green.~
green~noun~The usual colour of leaves or plants or grass~He has bright green eyes.~
greenhouse~noun~A glass building that is used to trap heat and allow plants to grow~We have a small greenhouse in the garden.~
greet~verb~The reaction to something~His speech was greeted with stunned faces.~
greet~verb~Say hello~I greeted her from across the street.~
grew~verb~'Grew' is the past tense of 'grow'~I grew a large sunflower last year.~
grey~noun~The colour of smoke~He had a long grey beard.~
greyhound~noun~A long, thin dog that can run fast and is often used to race~Some people think greyhound racing should be illegal.~
grief~noun~A feeling of serious sadness~He was overcome with grief when his dog died.~
grief~noun~Failure~Their friendship came to grief over a boy.~
grill~verb~Cook food using a grill~I like grilled fish.~
grill~noun~The part of a cooker that heats food that is placed underneath it~We can melt cheese onto toast using the grill.~
grin~noun~A wide, happy smile~I knew that joke would put a grin on your face.~
grin~verb~Smile in a wide, happy way~I grinned at his jokes.~
grind~verb~If something grinds to a halt it slows, then stops~The car ground to a halt.~
grind~verb~Rub or press something into a surface~He ground the stain into the carpet!~
grind~verb~Crush coffee beans, grain, etc. into small pieces or even into powder~You need to grind the coffee beans first.~
grip~verb~Hold something tightly~She gripped the arms of her chair.~
grip~verb~If something grips you it interests you very much~The idea really gripped him.~
grip~noun~A tight hold~I felt her grip on my arm.~
groan~verb~Make a long, deep sound that tells people that you are in pain or sad etc.~His groaning got louder.~
groan~noun~A long, deep sound that tells people that you are in pain or sad etc.~He let out a loud groan.~
gross~adjective~Very unpleasant or bad~It was a gross misdemeanour.~
gross~adjective~Ugly or rude~She can be so gross!~
gross~adjective~The total amount before anything is taken away~His gross income is larger than mine.~
ground~verb~Stop an aircraft from flying~The plane was grounded for three days.~
ground~noun~A piece of land that is used for a certain purpose, such as sports~We visited the new rugby grounds.~
ground~noun~The surface of the earth~We walk along the ground.~
ground~noun~An area of open land around something~The children play in the school grounds.~
ground~noun~A reason for believing in something or doing something~On what grounds is this case based?~Formal use
ground~noun~If you gain or make ground you get closer to something or make progress~The case was gaining ground.~
ground floor~noun~The floor of a building that is level with the ground outside the building~When you enter a building you are usually on the ground floor.~
group~noun~A number of similar things~A group of children; a group of houses.~
group~noun~A number of musicians who play and sing together~I like that group but I don't like their guitar player.~
group~verb~Gather things into or make a group~The children were grouped into classes.~
grow~verb~If a plant exists somewhere, it is said to grow there~Look at all the trees growing in the forest.~
grow~verb~Make or help a plant grow~She grows all sorts of things in her greenhouse.~
grow~verb~Become~He grew very quiet in the corner.~
grow on~verb~If something grows on you, you begin to like it when previously you hadn't. (Informal use)~The idea of dyeing my hair pink is beginning to grow on me.~
grow up~verb~Become mentally or physically more mature~I wish my little sister would grow up.~
growth~noun~The process of growing~They will monitor his growth for the first year of his life.~
growth~noun~An increase in size, amount or importance~Economic growth.~
guarantee~noun~Certainty~There's no guarantee she will arrive.~
guarantee~noun~A written promise by a company to replace or repair any faulty goods that it sells you~Does this come with a guarantee?~
guarantee~verb~Promise~I guarantee he will be fine.~
guarantee~verb~Ensure that something will happen~This will guarantee you success.~
guard~verb~Protect something or someone, or stop them from escaping~She guarded the jewels all night.~
guard~noun~A person whose job it is to protect something or someone, or stop them from escaping~He is a guard to the queen.~
guess~verb~Give an answer to something without knowing all the facts~I guessed his age and got it wrong.~
guess~noun~An attempt to give an answer to something that you are not sure about~Take a guess at my age.~
guest~noun~A person that you have invited to stay in your home or to go somewhere with you~You are invited and you may bring a guest.~
guest~noun~People who pay to stay in a hotel~We have 300 guests at the moment.~
guidance~noun~Help and advice~Ask your teacher for guidance.~
guide~noun~A person who shows you around places~Our guide lit a fire in the woods.~
guide~verb~Influence someone's behaviour~He was guided by his emotions.~
guide~noun~A book that contains information or instructions~We bought a guide to Thailand.~
guide~verb~Help someone move in a certain direction~He guided her across the road.~
guideline~noun~A rule or information that can guide you~Did you read the new guidelines?~
guilt~noun~The fact that you have done something wrong or illegal~Her guilt was written all over her face.~
guilt~noun~An unhappy feeling that you get when you know you have done something wrong~She felt immense guilt about the accident.~
guilty~adjective~Feeling guilt~She felt guilty about spending all the money.~
guilty~adjective~To be found guilty is to have someone, especially someone official, find that you have done something wrong~The courts found her guilty.~
guitar~noun~A musical instrument that normally has six strings and is played with the hands~He learnt how to play the guitar when he was five.~
gulf~noun~A large difference between two things or two groups of things~The gulf between black and white is closing.~
gulf~noun~A large bay with quite a narrow mouth~We visited the Gulf of Mexico.~
gum~noun~A firm substance that you can chew to get the flavour from but do not swallow~Would you like a piece of gum?~
gum~noun~The firm flesh in your mouth in which the teeth are embedded~She had clean, pink gums.~
gun~noun~A dangerous weapon that fires bullets~Put that gun down!~
gust~noun~A quick, strong burst of wind~A gust of wind blew the papers off the desk.~
guy~noun~Informal word for a man. Sometimes a group of men and women are referred to as guys~He's a nice guy; Hey guys, how are you today?~
gym~noun~A place with equipment for training or becoming fit~How often do you go to the gym?~
habit~noun~Something that you do over and over, often without thinking about it~She has many bad habits.~
had~verb~'Had' is the past tense and past participle of 'have'~She had been there before.~'Had' can be shortened, e.g. He'd run away (He had run away)
hair~noun~The long strands that make up an animal's fur~There is dog hair all over the house.~
hair~noun~The strands that look like thin threads and grow all over your body~She shaves the hair on her legs.~When you talk about all the hair on your head, you use 'hair', not 'hairs'
haircut~noun~The way in which your hair is cut~I like your new haircut.~
haircut~noun~The act of cutting someone's hair~I'm going for a haircut tomorrow.~
hairdresser~noun~A person whose job it is to cut people's hair~My hairdresser has won awards for her work.~
hairy~adjective~Having lots of hair~Spiders have hairy legs.~
half~noun~One of two equal parts that make up a whole thing~Cut the cake in half.~
half~adverb~Partly~I half expected him not to turn up.~
half~preposition~'Half past' means 30 minutes after the hour~It's half past three.~
halfway~adverb~In the middle of two things or two distances~I met him halfway down the road.~
hall~noun~The passage at the entrance of a house or building~The dog was lying in the hall.~
hall~noun~A large room that is used for meetings or dances etc.~They decorated the hall.~
halt~noun~The act of stopping~Production came to a halt when the workers went on strike.~
halt~verb~Stop or make something stop~The horses halted outside their stable.~
ham~noun~The top part of a pig's leg that can be eaten~Cold ham and a salad.~
hamburger~noun~Finely chopped beef, cooked and placed inside a bread roll~Do you want a hamburger for dinner?~
hammer~verb~Hit something using a hammer~He hammered the nail into the wall.~
hammer~noun~A tool with a metal head and a handle, used for knocking nails into walls~Pass me a hammer please.~
hamper~verb~Make it difficult for someone to do something~You're hampering my work!~
hamper~noun~A basket with a lid that is often used to hold food or clothes~We took a hamper of food with us; Put your dirty clothes in the washing hamper.~
hand~noun~If you give someone a hand you help them to do something~Do you want me to give you a hand with the decorating?~
hand~noun~The hands on a clock or watch are the thin pieces that point to the times~The minute hand on my watch has stopped.~
hand~noun~'On the one hand' and 'on the other hand' are used to introduce two sides of an argument~On the one hand it seems too good to refuse, but on the other hand it is a little expensive.~
hand~noun~The part of your body in front of your wrist, made up of your palm, fingers and thumb~He held the flower in his hand.~
hand~noun~If something is done by hand it is done manually rather than using a machine~She did the washing by hand.~
hand~noun~If you have a hand in something you help make or do it~My brother had a hand in making it.~
hand~verb~Give something to someone~I handed him the book.~
handbag~noun~A bag, often used by women, that holds things such as purse, make-up, keys~She lost her handbag.~
handful~noun~An amount of something that can fit in your hand~Add a handful of mushrooms to the soup.~
handful~noun~A small number of people~Only a handful of guests arrived.~
handicapped~adjective~Having a mental or physical disability, or reserved for someone with a disability~A handicapped parking space.~
handkerchief~noun~A piece of fabric used to blow your nose into; it can be washed and reused~He took a handkerchief from his pocket.~
handle~noun~The part of a door that you use to open it~I turned the handle but the door was locked.~
handle~verb~Touch something with your hands~You shouldn't handle food without washing your hands first.~
handle~verb~If you handle a situation you deal with it~I think I handled it quite well.~
handle~noun~The part of an object, such as a case, that you use to pick the object up~The handle snapped on my briefcase.~
handsome~adjective~If a man is handsome he has an attractive face~You always go out with handsome men.~
handwriting~noun~The style that a person writes in~Her handwriting is very tidy.~
handy~adjective~Useful or easy to do~Thatís a handy thing to know.~
handy~adjective~Conveniently near somewhere~The shop is handy for us to walk to.~
hang~verb~Kill a person by suspending them from a rope~The prisoner was hanged.~'Hanged' is only used with this meaning of 'hang'
hang~verb~When you hang something you suspend it so that it does not touch the floor~She hung her shirt in her cupboard.~
hang about~verb~When people hang about they stay around a place and do very little. Also 'hang around'~My friend likes to hang about the cinema hoping to catch a glimpse of a boy she has a crush on.~Informal use
hang on~verb~Grip something tightly~Hang on to that ledge and I'll find someone who can pull you back up.~
hang on~verb~Wait~Please hang on a minute, I just need to tie my shoelace.~
hang up~verb~Put the telephone down and disconnect the call~If you don't stop shouting I'm going to hang up.~
hang up~verb~When you hang something up, you suspend it so that it does not touch the floor~You need to hang your shirt up.~
happen~verb~occur~When did the accident happen?~
happen~verb~Do something unexpectedly or by chance~I happened to find this in your room.~
happiness~noun~The feeling of being happy~She felt great happiness when she looked at her children.~
happy~adjective~If you are happy to do something you would gladly do it~I'm happy to help you move house.~
happy~adjective~Satisfied~I'm happy with those arrangements.~
happy~adjective~Feeling pleasure~I am really happy today.~
harbour~noun~An area of water on the coast where ships can dock and be protected~His boat sat in the harbour.~
hard~adverb~With much force~She punched him hard on the arm.~
hard~adverb~Requiring a lot of effort or difficult to do~It is hard to catch the dog.~
hard~adjective~Difficult~Mathematics is hard.~
hard~adjective~If you are a hard person you show little emotion~He is a hard man; he never cries.~
hard~adjective~Firm and unyielding~The ground is quite hard.~
hardly~adverb~'Hardly any' means almost none or almost no~There is hardly any food left.~
hardly~adverb~Scarcely; for example, 'hardly surprising' means not really surprising at all~It's hardly surprising; after all, you know what she's like!~
harm~verb~Hurt or damage~I would never do anything to harm him.~
harm~noun~Hurt or damage~There was no harm in trying it.~
harmful~adjective~Able to hurt you or do damage in some way~Harmful bacteria.~
harmless~adjective~Unlikely to do harm~The dog is harmless, she'll never bite you.~
harsh~adjective~Cruel and unkind~Don't be so harsh with them.~
harsh~adjective~Unpleasant or difficult~Her home situation is quite harsh.~
harvest~noun~The gathering of crops, or the time of year when this happens~We begin the harvest tomorrow.~
harvest~noun~Collected crops~Was the harvest big this year?~
has~verb~'Has' is the third person singular form of the present tense 'have'~He has got the flu (can be shortened to 'He's got the flu').~
hasty~adjective~Done too quickly~They made a hasty choice.~
hat~noun~An item of clothing worn on the head~She always wore a hat.~
hatch~verb~If an egg hatches, it cracks and the baby bird or animal breaks free from it~They should hatch soon.~
hatch~noun~An opening between two rooms, or to the outside~Slide the plates through the hatch; They opened the hatch and climbed out of the ship.~
hatch~verb~Create a plan, especially a secret one~They hatched this plan together.~
hate~noun~A feeling of extreme dislike~Do you feel love or hate for me?~
hate~verb~Intensely dislike something~I hate the way she eats with her hands.~
hatred~noun~The feeling of hate~She felt nothing but hatred for him.~
haunt~verb~If an unpleasant thought continually returns to your mind, it is said to haunt you~The nightmare still haunts me.~
haunt~verb~If a ghost haunts a place, it exists and moves about in that place~He says a ghost haunts his flat.~
have~auxiliary verb~Used with past participles to make the perfect tense~They have gone home.~
have~verb~Own or hold something~I have a blue car.~
have~verb~Experience something~I have a broken arm.~
have~verb~Put or keep something in a certain position~I have his picture on may wall.~
have~verb~'Have to' means 'need to'~We broke down and had to be rescued.~
have~verb~When a woman gives birth she is said to have had a baby~She had the baby this morning.~
hazard~noun~Something that could be dangerous~Poisonous gas is a hazard.~
he~pronoun~Used instead of the name of a male person~He wrote the book.~
head~noun~Your mind or brain~I can't get you out of my head.~
head~verb~Go in a certain direction~He's heading for trouble.~
head~noun~The person in charge~We went to the school head to complain about a teacher.~
head~verb~Be in charge of~He heads our division.~
head~verb~Be at the top of~Antarctica heads the list of the world's coldest places.~
head~verb~Put some words or a title at the top of a page~Make sure you head all the pages with your name.~
head~noun~The part of your body attached to the top of your neck, with your face, brain, etc.~Her head hurt.~
head~verb~Hit a ball using your head~He headed the ball but missed the goal.~
head~noun~The most important part of something~Head of the table; Head of the list.~
head~noun~The side of a coin with a picture of a head on it is called the head or heads~I picked heads and won the coin toss.~
headache~noun~A pain in your head~I can't get rid of this headache.~
headlight~noun~The large light at the front of a car~Her headlights were broken.~
headline~noun~Main news item~What are the headlines today?~
headline~noun~The title of a newspaper article, which is usually written in large bold letters~I can't think of a headline for the article.~
headquarters~noun~The main place that an organisation etc. works from or meets in~We had to go to headquarters for a meeting.~
heal~verb~Cure something or someone of a sickness or pain~He healed my injuries.~
health~noun~The condition of your mind or body~He is in good health.~
health~noun~If you have your health, you are fit and well~She is lucky to have her health.~
healthy~adjective~Well; not ill~She has always been healthy.~
healthy~adjective~If something is healthy, it is good for you~Vegetables are healthy foods.~
heap~noun~A pile~The books lay in a heap on the floor.~
heap~verb~Load~She kept heaping sugar into my tea.~
hear~verb~Receive a message~I heard from her last week.~
hear~verb~If you hear about something you are given information about it~I heard about the accident.~
hear~verb~Use your ears to pick up sounds~I could hear them talking.~
hearing~noun~The sense that allows you to hear things~Her hearing has got worse over the years.~
heart~noun~The large organ in your chest that pumps your blood~His heart became weaker as he grew older.~
heart~noun~Some people call the part of you that governs your emotions your heart~Think with your head, not your heart.~
heart~noun~The centre of something~His house is in the heart of the country.~
heart~noun~If you say your heart sinks, it means you suddenly become sad~My heart sank at the news.~
heart attack~noun~A serious condition where the heart stops working normally~My dad has survived two heart attacks.~
heat~noun~High temperature~Check the heat of the water.~
heat~verb~Make something warmer~I heated some soup on the stove.~
heat~noun~A race to see who qualifies for the next stage of the competition~She is in the last heat.~
heat~noun~Hotness or warmth~I could feel the heat of the fire.~
heaven~noun~A place that some people believe you go to when you die, if you have been a good person~She thinks she will go to heaven.~
heavy~adjective~Large and solid~He was a heavy-set man.~
heavy~adjective~Having much force~A heavy fall.~
heavy~adjective~Full of something~The cart was heavy with food.~
heavy~adjective~Weighing a lot~It was a heavy desk; She is a heavy girl.~
heavy~adjective~If you want to know what someone weighs, you can ask them how heavy they are~How heavy is she?~
hedge~noun~A row of bushes or trees planted together to provide privacy for a garden etc.~He fell into the hedge.~
heel~noun~The back part of your foot~Her new shoes hurt her heels.~
heel~noun~The raised back part of a shoe, which adds to your height~The heel of her boot broke.~
height~noun~The point at which something is strongest, best or most important~He was at the height of his career.~
height~noun~A high place~Some people can't handle heights.~
height~noun~Distance from the ground~What height can this plane fly to?~
height~noun~How tall someone or something is~What height are you?~
height~noun~The quality of being tall or high~The height of the mountain scared them.~
heir~noun~A person who will receive everything that a relative owns when that relative dies~He is the heir to my property.~
helicopter~noun~An aircraft with blades that rotate and no wings, which can take off straight up into the air and can stay in one position in the air~We went for a helicopter ride.~
hell~noun~Some people believe that hell is the place that bad people go to when they die~The gates of hell.~
hell~noun~If something is unpleasant it can be said to be hell~His temper made my life hell.~Informal use
hello~interjection~A greeting that you can use when you first see someone or when you answer the telephone~Hello, how are you today?~
helmet~noun~A hard hat that is used to protect your head~He wore a helmet when he rode his motorbike.~
help~verb~If you help yourself to something, you go and get it for yourself~He told me to help myself to anything in the kitchen.~
help~verb~If you can't help something from happening it is impossible to stop it from happening~I can't help feeling that she's using me.~
help~noun~The things that people do to try to make things easier for you~I really appreciated her help.~
help~verb~Try to make something easier for someone to do, or do part of it for them~I helped him with his homework.~
helpful~adjective~Improving a situation~It would be helpful if you could clear this room for me.~
helpful~adjective~Willing to help~My daughter is very helpful.~
helpless~adjective~Unable to do anything for yourself or to look after yourself~Babies are so helpless.~
hen~noun~A female chicken that is often kept for eggs and meat~The fox caught a hen.~
hence~adverb~Therefore~I walk to work, hence I am fit.~
her~pronoun~You use 'her' when you are referring in certain ways to a female already mentioned~I love her new coat!~
herb~noun~A plant that can be used in cooking or for making medicines~We like to use herbs in our food.~
herd~verb~Move as a group, or make something move as a group~The dog herded the sheep into their pens.~
herd~noun~A group of animals that live together~A herd of cattle.~
here~adverb~In this place~I work here.~
here~adverb~Can mean 'now'~She stops here to cough.~
here~adverb~When you give someone something, you can say 'here'~Here is your money.~
here~adverb~'Here and there' means 'in different places'~I've travelled here and there.~
heritage~noun~The history and traditional culture of a country or society~This museum was built to preserve our heritage.~
hero~noun~The main male character in a book etc.~The hero had blond hair.~
hero~noun~A man who has done something courageous or good~He rescued me and I will always think he's a hero.~
heroine~noun~The main female character in a book etc.~The heroine was a lawyer.~
heroine~noun~A woman who has done something courageous or good~She was a heroine during the war.~
hers~pronoun~This shows that something belongs to the person (her)~I was introduced to my girlfriend through a friend of hers.~
herself~pronoun~'Herself' is used to highlight the 'she' in the sentence~Jane herself bought the dog.~
herself~pronoun~This is used to show that the woman (she) is affected by the action she is doing~She embarrassed herself by coughing in the middle of a speech.~
hesitate~verb~pause or speak slowly because you are nervous or uncertain~She hesitated, then answered.~
heterosexual~adjective~Attracted to the opposite sex~He is heterosexual.~
hi~interjection~A word used in greetings when you first see someone~Hi, how are you?~
hiccups~noun~These are sharp, uncontrollable, repeated sounds that come from the throat~The sound of his hiccups made everyone giggle.~
hide~verb~Make it so that other people can't find you~The child hid behind the sofa.~
hide~verb~Put something where you think no one else will find it~She hid her money in a pillow.~
high~adverb~A long way above the ground~The kite flew high in the air.~
high~adverb~Greater than normal in size, amount, etc.~He has a high temperature.~
high~adjective~Used to talk about the distance from top to bottom of something~How high is that tree?~You use 'tall' to talk about people
high~adjective~Under the influence of drugs~He was high when the police caught him.~
high~adjective~Near the top in status~The high court.~
high~noun~A high level, point or number~Profits are at an all-time high.~
high street~noun~The street in a town where most of the major shops and banks are located. US English often uses 'main street'~I'm going shopping on the high street.~
highlight~verb~emphasise something so that more attention is paid to it~She highlighted the advantages of the plan.~
highlight~noun~One of the best or most exciting parts of something~Her song was the highlight of the night.~
highly~adverb~very~This book comes highly recommended.~
highway~noun~A main road that connects towns and cities~We took the highway to the city.~US English
hilarious~adjective~Extremely funny~That cartoon was hilarious.~
hill~noun~A high area of land, but not as high as a mountain~We stood on the hill and looked down at the town.~
him~pronoun~You use 'him' in certain cases when referring to the male already mentioned~I've got a smaller nose than him.~
himself~pronoun~This is used to show that the man (he) is affected by the action he is doing~He upset himself by thinking of all the bad things that had happened in his life.~
himself~pronoun~'Himself' is also used to highlight the 'him' in a sentence~It was Jack himself that found the lost child.~
hindu~adjective~Connected to Hinduism~A Hindu celebration.~
hindu~noun~Someone who believes in Hinduism~My best friend is a Hindu.~
hint~verb~Suggest something that will happen in the future~He hinted that my job was in danger.~
hint~noun~A clue~He gave me a hint to the solution.~
hint~noun~A trace or small amount of something~There was a hint of cinnamon in the air.~
hip~noun~The parts of the body that sit between the upper leg and waist~I banged my hip on the door.~
hire~noun~If something is for hire, people may use it at a price but not keep it~The cars were for hire.~
hire~verb~Pay money so that you may use something for a certain time~We hired a boat and sailed across the lake.~
hire~verb~Employ someone~I was hired straight after the interview.~
his~determiner~The possessive form of 'he'~His coat is blue.~
historical~adjective~Connected with the past~This is a historical building.~
historical~adjective~Connected with studying the past~We read historical documents.~
history~noun~Anything that happened in the past~We can trace my family's history.~
history~noun~The study of the past~I'm doing history at school.~
hit~noun~Something that is very popular~That song was a hit last year.~
hit~verb~Strike someone~She hit me in the face.~
hit~verb~Have a bad effect on something or someone~The death hit him hard.~
hit~verb~Collide with~The ball hit the wall; The car hit a tree.~
hitchhike~verb~Get from one place to another by asking people for lifts in their cars~We hitchhiked all the way across Ireland.~
hiv~noun~A virus that can cause AIDS~People were tested for HIV.~
hiv~noun~If someone is HIV positive, they have the HIV virus in their system~We were glad to see he was HIV negative.~
hobby~noun~Something that you enjoy doing in your spare time~Some people collect stamps as a hobby.~
hockey~noun~A game played by two teams of 11 players. A hard ball is hit into a goal using long curved sticks~A hockey match.~
hold~verb~have enough space to contain a certain number or amount~The elevator can hold eight people.~
hold~verb~If you hold someone responsible for something, you blame them for it~I was held responsible for the mess.~
hold~noun~To grab hold of something is to catch it in your hands~I grabbed hold of the plate before it fell off the table.~
hold~verb~If you hold something, you have it or own it~She holds the keys to our safe.~
hold~verb~Keep something in a certain position~Hold that smile for a minute.~
hold~verb~Carry~She held the bags in her arms.~
hold~verb~Keep someone as a prisoner~They held her for three weeks.~
hold~noun~Control or power over something or someone~Her boyfriend had a huge hold over her.~
hold~noun~To get hold of someone or something is to make contact with them~I finally got hold of my dad.~
hold~noun~The act of holding something~I have a hold of her.~
hold~verb~If you are asked to hold on the telephone, you are asked to wait~Please hold while I connect you.~
hold on~verb~Grip something~Hold on to the rail and you won't fall.~
hold on~verb~'Hold on' is used to ask someone to wait~Please hold on, I need to grab my wallet.~
hold on~verb~To hold on to something is to keep it for yourself~I will hold on to my title no matter how hard you try to take it away from me.~
holder~noun~Something that holds or contains another object~An egg holder.~
hole~noun~A space or opening in something~The dog dug a hole in the garden; There was a hole in my sock.~
holiday~noun~A time where people do not have to go to school or work~Christmas Day is a holiday.~
holiday~noun~A time when you go away from home and relax~We spent our holidays in Cyprus.~
hollow~adjective~Having nothing inside~The chocolate egg was hollow.~
hollow~adjective~Insincere~He makes hollow promises.~
holy~adjective~Good in a religious way~She's a holy woman.~
holy~adjective~Connected with a God or a religion~A holy book.~
home~noun~A place for old people or children who cannot look after themselves~I lived in a home until I was five.~
home~noun~The place or country that you feel most comfortable in~I felt at home in America.~
home~noun~The place that you live in~I went home and had a shower.~
homeless~adjective~Having no home~The government is trying to provide homes for homeless people.~
homesick~adjective~A sad feeling that you get when you are away from home and you miss things about it~When she first moved away from home she was very homesick.~
homework~noun~School work that pupils are given to do at home~I need to go and finish my homework.~
homosexual~adjective~Attracted to the same sex~My brother is in a homosexual relationship.~
honest~adjective~An honest person always tells the truth and rarely does bad things~She is the most honest person I know.~
honesty~noun~The fact of being honest~In all honesty, I don't remember you.~
honey~noun~A sweet sticky substance that can be eaten and is produced by bees~Can I have honey in my tea?~
honeymoon~noun~A holiday that newly married people go on~Where should we go for our honeymoon?~
honour~noun~The respect that you wish to show for someone~We had a moment of silence in her honour.~
honour~verb~If you are honoured to do something, you are happy and proud to do it~I would be honoured to be your best man.~
honour~verb~Give someone an award, praise or a title~The queen honoured me with my title.~
honour~noun~An award~He had many military honours.~
honour~noun~Something that you are very pleased to do~It's been an honour knowing you.~
hood~noun~The cover of a car engine in US English~The mechanic had the hood up to work on the engine.~UK English uses the word 'bonnet'
hood~noun~A piece of material that covers the head and is usually part of a coat or jacket~Put your hood up and keep your ears warm.~
hook~noun~A curved object used to hang things on or to attach things to each other~They bought hooks so they could hang curtains in their new home.~
hook~verb~attach one thing to another using a hook, or hang something on a hook~I hooked the picture on the wall.~
hooray~exclamation~People use 'hooray' to show that they are happy about something. It is usually followed by an exclamation mark. Also spelt 'hurray'~It's my birthday, hooray!~
hop~verb~Move or jump on one foot~She hopped across the room.~
hop~verb~Some animals hop by jumping with both feet~The bird hopped over the grass.~
hop~verb~get somewhere quickly and easily~He hopped out of bed.~Informal use
hope~noun~Optimism; a wish for something to happen~I still had some hope that he would arrive.~
hope~verb~Want something and expect that it will happen~I hoped to get a puppy for my birthday.~
hopeful~adjective~believe that something you want to happen will happen~They are hopeful about her recovery.~
hopeless~adjective~be very bad at something~He's hopeless at cooking.~
hopeless~adjective~Involving no hope~It's hopeless talking to her.~
horizon~noun~The furthest away that you can see, where the sky and land or sea seem to touch~I saw shadowy figures near the horizon.~
horizontal~adjective~Level and parallel to the ground~He drew a horizontal line on the paper.~
horn~noun~A device in a vehicle that makes a loud noise to attract attention or warn of danger~Don't beep the horn unless you really need to.~
horn~noun~One of the hard, tapering points that grow on some animals' heads~The bull got its horns stuck in a hedge.~
horrible~adjective~Very unpleasant or nasty~That's a horrible thing to do.~
horror~noun~A feeling of disgust or fear~She had a look of horror on her face.~
horse~noun~A large animal with four legs. People can ride horses~My parents bought me a horse for my birthday.~
hospital~noun~A place where very sick people go to be looked after by doctors and nurses~He went to hospital to have an operation.~
host~verb~Organise and run an event~He hosted the ceremony.~
host~noun~A large number of things~We received a host of fan mail.~
host~noun~The person who holds a party and invites the guests etc.~I'm the host tonight.~
hostage~noun~A person who is held prisoner illegally, and whose life is threatened if certain demands are not met~He let the hostages go.~
hostel~noun~A large house where travellers or students etc. can stay cheaply for a short time~We spent three nights in a hostel.~
hostile~adjective~Aggressive and even dangerous~He was quite hostile.~
hot~adjective~Food can be called hot when it burns your mouth because it is spicy~The curry was very hot.~
hot~adjective~If something is hot, it produces or contains a lot of heat~The water is very hot; You feel a little hot, are you ill?~
hot dog~noun~A hot sausage served in a bread roll, usually topped with sauce~I had a hot dog with mustard for lunch.~
hotel~noun~A place where people can pay to stay for one night or more~We checked into the hotel this morning.~
hour~noun~60 minutes~I am going out in an hour.~
hour~noun~A fixed period when something happens~These are our opening hours.~
house~noun~A building that people live in~I locked the door as soon as I was in the house.~
house~noun~The place that a company works from~A banking house; a fashion house.~
house~verb~If you house something you keep it or allow it to operate from your place~The bank houses my money.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
house of commons~noun~The House of Commons is the part of parliament in the UK whose members are elected~He was voted into the House of Commons.~
house of lords~noun~The House of lords is the part of parliament in the UK whose members are not voted in by the public~He is the leader of the House of Lords.~
housewife~noun~A woman who is married and does not work outside the home~I decided to be a housewife so I could look after the children.~
housing~noun~The places that people live~The cost of housing had risen.~
hover~verb~Stay in one place in the air~The bee hovered above the flower; The helicopter hovered over the city.~
how~adverb~Used to ask if something was enjoyable or a success~How was the meeting?~
how~adverb~If you want to ask someone's opinion on something, you can say 'how about'~How about going on holiday?~
how~adverb~In what way~How did he do it?~
how~adverb~'How' can be used to ask about the number or degree of something~How many people will be there?~
how~adverb~Used to ask about someone's health~How is your son doing?~
however~adverb~Used to introduce something that contrasts with what has just been said~I like my job; however, I don't like my colleagues.~
however~adverb~However can mean 'in whatever way' or 'no matter how'~However often she told him, he still wouldn't listen.~
hug~verb~Put your arms around something or someone and hold them tightly, especially to show that you have good feelings for them~I loved being hugged by him.~
hug~noun~The act of putting your arms around someone or something to show affection~He gave me a big hug.~
huge~adjective~Extremely large~It was a huge cake; A huge party.~
hum~verb~Make low continuous noise~The machine hummed.~
hum~verb~Make a musical noise through your nose with your lips closed~He hummed along to the song.~
hum~noun~Any low continuous noise~I heard a hum in the kitchen.~
human~adjective~Connected to people~They needed human organs.~
human~noun~A person rather than an animal, plant, etc.~Humans have built civilisation.~
human being~noun~Person~There are approximately 6 billion human beings on earth.~
humanity~noun~People in general~Humanity has a lot to answer for.~
humour~noun~The things that make something funny~I could see the humour in the problem.~
humour~verb~Try and make someone happy although you are not sure that you agree with them~I tried to humour her but I still thought it was a silly idea.~
hundred~none~The number 100, which sits between 99 and 101~We send out a hundred invitations.~
hundredth~adjective~The hundredth number is number 100 in a series of numbers~It's his hundredth birthday.~
hundredth~noun~One of 100 equal parts~A hundredth of a second.~
hunger~noun~The need to eat~Hunger was making my stomach cramp.~
hungry~adjective~Needing food~Is dinner ready? I'm so hungry!~
hunt~verb~Search~I've hunted all day for that book.~
hunt~noun~The act of trying to find something~The hunt for the missing ship.~
hunt~verb~Chase wild animals and kill them for sport or food~We went hunting in the woods.~
hurl~verb~Throw something violently~She hurled a rock at me.~
hurray~exclamation~This is the same as 'hooray'. See 'hooray'~Hurray! It's time to go home.~
hurricane~noun~A very rough, violent storm with extremely strong winds~The hurricane was due to hit in the early morning.~
hurry~verb~Go quickly~She hurried through the empty streets.~
hurry~noun~If something is done quickly (and often under some pressure, such as being late), it is done in a hurry~He ran down the road in a hurry.~
hurry~verb~Do something quickly~I hurried the cooking because I was busy.~
hurry~verb~Try to make someone do something quickly~I did my best to hurry them, with no luck.~
hurry~noun~The wish to do something without delay~I was in a hurry to leave the room.~
hurry up~verb~When someone is asked to hurry up, they are being asked to move or do something quickly~Hurry up and brush your hair so we can go out.~
hurt~verb~Upset someone~I know I hurt her feelings, but I meant what I said.~
hurt~verb~If something hurts, it is sore or painful~My head hurts.~
hurt~adjective~Physically injured~Is she hurt?~
hurt~adjective~Feeling upset because someone has not been nice to you~I was hurt by the things she said.~
hurt~verb~Cause pain to someone or to yourself~She hurt my arm; I hurt my leg.~
husband~noun~The man that a person is married to~My husband works in town.~
hut~noun~A small building, often made from wood, that has only one or two rooms~The only shelter we could find was a wooden hut.~
hyphen~noun~The symbol (-) that joins two words (or a prefix and a word) to make one word~~
i~pronoun~I is used to talk about yourself~I am a woman.~
i.e.~abbreviation~'That is' - explains what you have just been talking about~I like some animals, i.e. dogs and cats.~
ice~noun~Frozen water~We put ice in our drink to keep it cool.~
ice cream~noun~A frozen dessert made from milk and ice, usually with some sort of flavour added~I love strawberry ice cream but Jane prefers chocolate.~
ice-skate~verb~move over ice wearing ice-skates~Do you want to go ice-skating?~
ice-skate~noun~A boot with blades that you wear to make it easier to move on ice~We hired some ice-skates.~
id~noun~Any document that shows who you are, what age you are, etc.~I always carry ID with me.~
idea~noun~A thought or plan about something~I have an idea for making money.~
idea~noun~An opinion about something~His ideas of right and wrong are sometimes confused.~
ideal~adjective~Perfect~That would be ideal.~
identical~adjective~Exactly the same~Their bags were identical.~
identification~noun~Something that shows or proves who you are~You need to show your identification before boarding the plane.~
identification~noun~The act of showing or proving what something is~The identification of early learning problems is very important in a child's development.~
identify~verb~Understand and sympathise with the way that someone feels~I couldn't identify with the character.~
identify~verb~Recognise someone or something and say that you know it or them~We need you to identify the attacker.~
identity~noun~Who you are or what something is~We can not find the identity of the victim.~
idiot~noun~A silly or stupid person~Don't be such an idiot!~
if~conjunction~'If' can mean the same as 'whether'~I asked if she liked my new boyfriend.~
if~conjunction~'If' can mean 'in the event of'~If I donít eat I will be hungry.~
ignore~verb~Pay no attention to or take no notice of~Why did you ignore me?~
ill~adjective~Bad or harmful~He was in ill health.~
ill~adjective~Unwell~I was ill for about three weeks.~
illegal~adjective~Against the law~It is illegal to drive over the speed limit.~
illness~noun~A sickness or disease~It wasn't a serious illness, just a cold.~
illness~noun~The state of being ill~I missed a month of work due to illness.~
illustrate~verb~Make the meaning of something clearer by giving examples~He illustrated his point with a chart.~
illustrate~verb~If you illustrate a book, you draw the pictures for it~I illustrated the first chapter.~
illustrate~verb~Demonstrate~This mistake illustrates how important it is to check your work.~
image~noun~The impression that is given to the public~That company now has a bad image.~
image~noun~A picture that you form in your mind~I can't get the image of her out of my mind.~
image~noun~A picture, portrait, photograph, etc.~I saw his image in the photo album.~
imaginary~adjective~Made up in someone's mind~He has an imaginary friend.~
imagination~noun~The ability to create pictures and images in your mind~She let her imagination run away with her.~
imagine~verb~Think that something has happened when in reality it hasn't~Did I wash the dog or am I just imagining it?~
imagine~verb~Form a picture of something inside your head~Imagine you are on a beach.~
imagine~verb~Think that something is true or probable~I imagine he'll be here at six.~
imitate~verb~Do what someone else has done, or do something in the same style as them~He imitated my way of singing.~
immediate~adjective~Very close~He is in the immediate neighbourhood.~
immediate~adjective~Happening straight away~We need to take immediate action.~
immediately~adverb~Without delay~She left immediately after her mother called.~
immediately~adverb~At no distance~Turn left immediately after this house.~
immense~adjective~Extremely large or great~The feeling was immense.~
immigrant~noun~A person who has come to live in a country that is not their own~I am an immigrant in this country.~
immigration~noun~The process of coming to live in a country that is not your own~We need to find out about immigration laws.~
immigration~noun~The place at a port or airport etc. where your passport and other identification are checked~We need to go through immigration first.~
immoral~adjective~Breaking ethical rules~It's immoral to commit a crime.~
immune~adjective~If you are immune to something it has no effect on you~I'm immune to some diseases; I'm immune to his nasty comments.~
impact~noun~The effect that something has on something else~The flooding had a huge impact on the people who lived in the town.~
impact~noun~The act of one thing hitting another~I felt the impact when the car crashed into ours.~
impatient~adjective~Irritated because you have to wait for something~Don't be so impatient, the package should arrive soon.~
impatient~adjective~Wanting to do something as soon as possible~I was impatient to start working.~
implication~noun~A possible result or meaning of something~Do you realise the implications of this plan?~
imply~verb~Suggest something in an indirect way~He implied that he would be leaving.~
import~verb~Bring something in from another country~Our country imports vegetables.~
import~noun~A product that a country brings in from another country~All of the imports were damaged.~There is a change of stress between the verb and noun
importance~noun~Having a strong effect on things; being important~The importance of hygiene.~
important~adjective~If something or someone is important they have a lot of power or influence~He was an important leader.~
important~adjective~If something is important it has great value~What is the most important thing to you?~
impose~verb~If you impose something on others you force them to accept or do it~He imposed his opinions on his children.~
impose~verb~If you impose on people you take up their time~We have imposed on you for long enough.~
impossible~adjective~If something is impossible it cannot be or cannot be done~It is impossible to do that!~
impress~verb~To impress something on someone is to try to make them understand how important it is~I tried to impress on him the need for honesty.~
impress~verb~If something impresses you, you like or admire it~I was impressed by his loyalty.~
impression~noun~The impression that you have of someone is the initial feeling you have about them~My impression of him is not very good.~
impressive~adjective~Good or brilliant~His stunts were very impressive.~
imprison~verb~Put someone or something in a place that they cannot escape from~She was imprisoned for fraud.~
improve~verb~Make better~This might improve your cooking skills.~
improvement~noun~There is an improvement in something if it gets better~There was an improvement in her school marks.~
impulse~noun~A sudden wish to do something~I felt an impulse to tell him everything.~
in~adverb~If you go in, you enter a place~We met at the door and went in.~
in~preposition~Forming the whole or part of something~The most expensive thing in my room is the computer.~
in~preposition~'In' is used to show where something is~It's in the kitchen; It's in that book.~
in~preposition~'In' indicates when something happens~He will arrive in half an hour; She was born in 1983.~
in~preposition~'In' describes the condition of something~Her hair was in a mess; The book was in pieces.~
in~adverb~If you are in a place, you are inside rather than outside it~I'm in my room.~
in~preposition~'In' describes a period of time~She'll be back in a minute; We'll be there in an hour.~
in-~prefix~In- is one of the prefixes that can be added to words to give them a negative or opposite meaning~direct, indirect; appropriate, inappropriate.~
in.~abbreviation~Inch or inches~We need 3 in. of string.~
incentive~noun~A reason to do something~Money is an incentive to work.~
inch~noun~A measurement equal to about 2.54 centimetres~How tall are you in inches?~
incident~noun~Something that happens, especially something unpleasant~He had an incident involving drugs.~
inclined~adjective~To be inclined to do something is to want to do it or tend to do it~I'm inclined to have an occasional drink.~
include~verb~Contain; if something is included in something else it is a part of it~Breakfast is included in the price.~
including~preposition~'Including' is used to show that something is part of a group~He played with all of his toys including the red truck.~
income~noun~The money that a person earns by working~I earn an average income.~
income tax~noun~The part of your salary or wage that is paid to the government to cover the cost of things like paying state employees~I pay more income tax then my husband because I earn more than him.~
increase~noun~A rise in something~An increase in tax.~
increase~verb~Make something bigger or better or more~We increased her pay; I increased my exercises to two hours a day.~There is a stress difference between the noun and verb
incredible~adjective~Extremely good or wonderful~He had the most incredible idea.~
incredible~adjective~Hard or impossible to believe~It's incredible that he can still walk.~
indeed~adverb~Used to emphasise something~Was he upset? Indeed, he was!~
independent~adjective~Not connected to or influenced by anything else~She was questioned by an independent panel of judges.~
independent~adjective~Confident and not needing help from others~He was very independent, even as a child.~
index~noun~An alphabetical list at the back of a book etc. that gives page numbers for all the names and subjects that appear in the book~Look that subject up in the index.~
indian~noun~A person who comes from India~I met an Indian on the train.~
indian~noun~A person descended from the inhabitants of the Americas before they were populated by Europeans~There are many tribes of Indians.~Can be an offensive term - 'Native American' is often preferred
indian~adjective~Connected to India~We ate Indian food.~
indicate~verb~Show~His tears indicated that he was still sad.~
indicate~verb~Point to something or make someone notice something~He indicated the nearest entrance.~
indicate~verb~Mention something, often indirectly~She indicated her wish to learn.~
indicate~verb~Use a special light (the indicator) or your arm to show that a vehicle is going to turn~He indicated to go left.~
individual~adjective~Single~Each individual sweet was wrapped by hand.~
individual~noun~'An individual' can mean 'one person'~He is an individual in his own right.~
indoor~adjective~Happening inside rather than outside~Indoor sports.~
indoors~adverb~In a building~Why don't you go and play indoors?~
indulge~verb~Allow yourself to do something that might be seen as bad or undesirable~I indulged and ate an entire box of chocolates.~
industrial~adjective~Connected to industry~There are some industrial disputes to be handled.~
industry~noun~All the things involved in producing a certain good~I work for the cosmetic industry.~
industry~noun~The work and processes involved in making things~You should get a job in industry.~
inevitable~adjective~Something is inevitable when it will definitely happen and cannot be avoided~Job losses were inevitable.~
infant~noun~A very young child~She runs a help class for mothers and infants.~
infect~verb~Pass on a disease that you have to someone else~You cannot infect someone by hugging them.~
infection~noun~The act or process of being infected~What is the risk of infection?~
infection~noun~A disease or sickness caused by bacteria or a virus~He had an eye infection.~
inferior~adjective~Of lower quality than something or someone else~Don't buy inferior goods; He made her feel inferior.~
infinite~adjective~Impossible to measure~There are an infinite number of stars in the sky.~
infinitive~noun~The basic form of a verb before it has been changed to fit the tense etc.~To be' is an infinitive.~
inflation~noun~A general rise in the prices of things in a country~The inflation rate has gone up.~
inflict~verb~Make someone suffer something~He inflicted his pain on me.~
influence~noun~The effect that something has on something or someone else~Science has had a huge influence on the way we live.~
influence~verb~Have an effect on someone or something~He influenced my decision.~
influence~noun~Power~She used her influence to get him a job.~
inform~verb~Tell someone about something~I informed him of the changes.~
informal~adjective~Friendly; not having strict rules etc.~It's an informal dinner.~
information~noun~Details or facts about something~I need information on flights to America; Has any more information been released about that case?~
ingredient~noun~Something that you use to make something, especially food~What ingredients do we need to make the cake?~
inhabit~verb~Live somewhere~Deer inhabit these forests.~
inhabitant~noun~A person or animal that lives in a place~The only inhabitants here are rats!~
inherit~verb~Have money left to you when someone dies~He will inherit everything from his father.~
inherit~verb~Share a characteristic with your parents~He inherited his father's nose.~
initial~adjective~First~My initial impression of her wasn't good.~
initial~noun~A capital letter that stands for one of your names~Write your initials in the space provided.~
inject~verb~Put a drug or other medical substance into someone body or another body using a syringe~I fell asleep soon after they injected me.~
inject~verb~Add a certain quality to something~He injected some laughter into the party.~
injection~noun~The act of being injected~The injection didn't hurt.~
injure~verb~Physically hurt yourself or someone else~He injured his leg in the race.~
injury~noun~Harm or damage done to an animal or person's body~We quickly cleaned and bandaged her injury.~
ink~noun~A coloured liquid that is used for writing etc.~Her pen ran out of ink.~
inland~adverb~Towards the middle of a country; not near the coast~We prefer to live inland.~
inn~noun~A small hotel or pub often found in the country~We asked if we could spend the night in the inn.~
inner~adjective~Inside or close to the centre~The inner ear.~
innocent~adjective~Having done nothing wrong~The courts found him innocent.~
innocent~adjective~Not directly involved in conflict~An innocent bystander was injured.~
innocent~adjective~Having little experience of the world~She is still very innocent even though she's 25 years old.~
input~noun~Information or contribution~Her input has been a great help.~
inquire~verb~ask about something~I inquired about my salary.~'Enquire' is generally used in UK English except for official inquiries
inquiry~noun~An official investigation. See 'enquiry'~An inquiry into the missing car.~
inquiry~noun~A question. See 'enquiry'~I made an inquiry about their closing times.~American English
insect~noun~A small creature with six legs and a body that is divided into three parts. Insects usually have wings~He collected insects when he was younger.~
insert~verb~Put into or between~I inserted the coin into the machine.~
inside~noun~The inner part of something~The inside of the coat was covered in fur.~
inside~noun~If something is inside out, the part that should be inside is facing outwards~She put her shirt on inside out.~
inside~adverb~On the inside of something; not outside~He is still inside that shed.~
insist~verb~Continuously demand something~I insist that you come out with us.~
inspect~verb~Examine closely~He inspected every surface in the kitchen for crumbs.~
inspire~verb~Give someone the enthusiasm or confidence to do something~My writing was inspired by him.~
install~verb~Fix something into place so that it can be used~He installed all our kitchen appliances.~
instance~noun~Example~This was just another instance of her making mistakes.~
instance~noun~'For instance' means 'for example'~I do a lot of exercise; for instance, swimming is my favourite hobby.~
instant~noun~A very short period of time~He will be here in an instant.~
instant~adjective~Happening immediately~The change in her was instant.~
instead~adverb~In place of something else~I didn't want to watch television, so instead, I read a book.~
instinct~noun~A natural impulse rather than something you have learnt~Do you believe in the power of maternal instinct?~
institute~noun~An organisation with a certain purpose, usually educational~An institute for adult education.~
institution~noun~A large organisation that usually holds a lot of importance or power~An educational institution.~
institution~noun~A building or organisation that deals with people with special needs~An old people's institution.~
instruct~verb~Tell someone to do something~I instructed you to tidy this place up.~Formal use
instruct~verb~Teach~He instructs us in woodwork.~Formal use
instructions~noun~Details and directions on how to do things~The instructions will tell you how to install it.~
instructions~noun~The things that you have been told to do~I can start working once you have given me my instructions.~
instrument~noun~An object that you can use to create sounds or music~Do you play any instruments?~
instrument~noun~A tool or device that is often made specially for one purpose~Surgical instruments.~
insult~verb~Say something offensive to someone~I insulted her because she made me angry.~
insult~noun~Something offensive that has been said to someone~Was that supposed to be an insult?~There is a change of stress in the verb and noun
insurance~noun~An arrangement where you pay regular amounts of money and, in return, if something bad happens you will receive money~Do you have house insurance?~
insure~verb~Take out insurance for something~I had my car insured.~
intact~adjective~Complete and unbroken; having no pieces missing~The vase remained intact even though I dropped it.~
intellectual~noun~A well educated person who enjoys discussing many things~The room was full of intellectuals.~
intellectual~adjective~Connected to using thoughts and being able to think logically~An intellectual conversation.~
intelligence~noun~The ability to learn, understand and think about things~You can do a test to measure your intelligence.~
intelligent~adjective~Showing a high level of understanding or mental ability~She was an intelligent child.~
intend~verb~Be made or planned to fill a certain purpose~The letter was intended as a threat.~
intend~verb~If you intend to do something, you mean to do it~I intended to clean my room.~
intense~adjective~Extreme; Very great~Intense cold; Intense pressure.~
intensive~adjective~Serious things that often include a lot of work over a short time~An intense competition.~
intent~noun~'Intent' can mean the same as 'intention'~I wondered what his intent was.~
intention~noun~An intention is something that you plan to do~My intention is only to warn her.~
inter-~prefix~Between~Interrelations (relations between).~
intercourse~noun~Communication; sexual intercourse is the act of having sex~Intercourse had occurred on more than one occasion.~
interest~noun~A hobby or other activity that you enjoy doing, or a subject that appeals to you~Swimming is one of my many interests.~
interest~noun~Payment for the use of money~How much interest did you make on that money?~
interest~verb~Attract your attention and make you want to know more about something~I'm not interested in the club scene.~
interest~noun~If something is in your interest (or interests), it is an advantage to you~I'm doing this to protect your interest.~
interest~noun~A desire to know more about something~She showed some interest in learning to drive.~
interested~adjective~If you are interested in something, you enjoy it and want to find out more about it~I'm interested in learning to fish.~
interesting~adjective~If you find something interesting, you pay attention to it because you enjoy it~It's an interesting sport.~
interfere~verb~Get involved in something that does not concern you, often in a way that annoys others~She's always interfering in other people's lives.~
interfere~verb~Change or damage something~He found me interfering with his accounts.~
interim~noun~The time between two events~We bought drinks in the interim.~
interior~noun~The inner part of something~He cleaned the interior of his car.~
interjection~noun~A short word that is used to express emotion~Ow!' and 'Hey!' are interjections.~
internal~adjective~On the inside~Internal injuries; internal heat.~
international~adjective~Concerning two or more countries~International sport.~
internet~noun~A system linking computers internationally and allowing users to view vast amounts of information, pictures, etc.~I found the information on the internet.~
interpret~verb~Try to understand what something means~I couldn't interpret her behaviour.~
interpret~verb~Translate one language into another as it is being spoken~He interpreted all the Chinese words for us.~
interpretation~noun~Understanding; an opinion as to what something means~Her interpretation of the events is a little different from mine.~
interrupt~verb~Begin speaking while someone else is still speaking~It is rude to interrupt people.~
interrupt~verb~Stop a process from continuing~He interrupted the meeting to give some news.~
interval~noun~A short break during a concert etc.~We bought refreshments in the interval.~
interval~noun~The time between two events~There was a small interval between thunderstorms.~
intervene~verb~Involve yourself in something and try to change it~Eventually the police intervened and broke the fight up.~
interview~noun~A meeting where one person (often a journalist) asks another person a series of questions~I watched an interview with my favourite actor.~
interview~verb~Ask someone questions to find out if they are suitable for something, such as a job~I was interviewed for three days.~
interview~noun~A meeting where you are asked questions to find out if you are suitable for a job or course of study etc.~What time is the interview?~
interview~verb~Ask someone a series of questions~The journalist interviewed the president.~
intimate~adjective~Close and friendly~They have an intimate work relationship.~
intimate~adjective~Very private and personal~She gave him intimate details of herself.~
into~preposition~'Into' can show a change of state~The cake has been made into five smaller cakes.~
into~preposition~'Into' can show the result of something~She got into trouble for missing a fourth day of school.~
into~preposition~If you hit something, you can say you have crashed into it etc.~She bumped into the car.~
into~preposition~Used when dividing numbers~2 goes into 4 two times.~
into~preposition~'Into' is used to show what something is about~An inquiry into current health service policies.~
into~preposition~Going inside something~He went into the house; they delved into his personal records.~
into~preposition~If you are into something, it interests you~I'm into rock music.~Informal use
introduce~verb~Bring into contact~The course introduced me to new ideas.~
introduce~verb~Tell people who have never met a little about each other, especially each other's name~I introduced my new boyfriend to my family.~
introduction~noun~The part of a book that tells you a little about the book~I read the introduction but it didn't appeal to me.~
introduction~noun~The act of bringing something in for the first time~The introduction of new smoking laws.~
invade~verb~This is when a country enters another country against that country's will, using force~Many countries were invaded during the war.~
invalid~noun~A person who has an illness and must be looked after by others~Her husband is now an invalid.~
invalid~adjective~Not be legal or official; not valid~The forms were invalid.~The adjective and noun are pronounced differently
invariably~adverb~Always~Their decisions are almost invariably wrong.~
invasion~noun~The act of invading~The country has never been the same since the invasion.~
invent~verb~Give expression to a new idea; create something that hasn't been made before~Who invented the plane?~
invent~verb~Say something that isn't true~He invented some stupid reason about traffic jams to explain why he was late.~
invention~noun~Something that has been invented~Bell has been responsible for many inventions.~
invention~noun~The act of inventing~I can't remember what we did before the invention of cell phones.~
inverted comma~noun~"A symbol ("" or ') used to show what someone has said or to separate a title from the rest of the sentence. They are also used to show that you disagree with something"~"She said 'I love you'; We read an article called ""Home decorating""; I want to see this 'wonderful book' that he claims to have written."~Also known as quotation marks
invest~verb~Spend quite a lot of money on something because it will be advantageous to you~I invested in a new computer because it will save me time and money.~
invest~verb~Spend money or time etc. to try to make something better~He has invested a lot of energy in the product.~
invest~verb~Buy something in the hope that in time it will make you money~We invested the money in a block of flats.~
investigate~verb~find out the truth about something~They are investigating the cause of the accident.~
investigation~noun~An effort to find out all the facts about something~After months of investigation they still hadn't found any clues.~
investment~noun~The act of investing~We need more investment in education.~
investment~noun~A thing in which you invest money~This house is one of our investments.~
invisible~adjective~Something is invisible if it cannot be seen~Some people believe that ghosts are invisible.~
invitation~noun~The act of inviting someone to go somewhere or do something~An invitation to go fishing.~
invite~verb~Ask someone to go somewhere with you~She invited me to her wedding.~
invite~verb~Ask someone to do something with you~He was invited to participate in the discussion.~
involve~verb~Entail; have as a necessary part~Reading involves concentration.~
involve~verb~If something involves you, you are a part of it~Don't shout at him, he isn't involved in this.~
involved~adjective~Being a part of something~She is involved in nearly all the school activities.~
irish~adjective~Connected to the Republic of Ireland or the island of Ireland~Irish dancing.~
irish~noun~Ireland's native language~She is studying Irish at university.~
iron~verb~Use an iron to remove wrinkles from clothes~I'm ironing a shirt for you now.~
iron~noun~A metal that is used in making steel. It is also found in small amounts in your blood~An iron fence; You need to take iron tablets for your blood.~
iron~noun~A tool that when heated can remove wrinkles from clothes~We need a new iron.~
ironic~adjective~If something is ironic, it is amusing because it goes against expectations~It's ironic that he married her; they used to hate each other at school.~
ironic~adjective~Saying the opposite of what you mean, to make a point~I knew he was being ironic when I saw his grin.~
irregular~adjective~Not even or smooth etc.~The ground is irregular here.~
irrelevant~adjective~Having nothing to do with a subject~That is an irrelevant point; it has nothing to do with the subject.~
irresistible~adjective~Unstoppable~She felt an irresistible urge to scream at him.~
irresistible~adjective~Very attractive~He's irresistible; That dress is irresistible.~
irritate~verb~annoy~Her voice irritates me; I irritated her all day long.~
is~verb~'Is' is the third person singular form of 'be'~She is a chef.~She's a chef = She is a chef
islam~noun~A religion where Allah is seen as the one true God, and Muhammad as his messenger~She grew up with Islam.~
island~noun~Land that is completely surrounded by water~A Greek island.~
isle~noun~Island; often used in poetry~The Isle of Skye.~
isolated~adjective~Far away from towns and cities etc.~The cottage was quite isolated.~
isolated~adjective~Lonely and not having much contact with others~She felt isolated living in the country.~
issue~noun~A topic of discussion; often something important~It was an educational issue.~
issue~noun~One of a series of a magazine or newspaper~I didn't get this week's issue.~
issue~verb~Formally state something or make something known~He issued a warning to all criminals.~
issue~verb~Give something to someone~I was issued with a cheque.~
it~pronoun~Used to refer to something already mentioned~I saw a snake! What type is it?~
it~pronoun~'It' is used as the subject of a verb when discussing the weather or time etc.~It's two o'clock.~
it~pronoun~You use 'it' to talk about feelings etc.~It's a restless feeling.~
it~pronoun~Used to identify someone~It's me, Jack.~
it~pronoun~Used when talking about an event or situation~I like it at my granny's house.~
italian~adjective~Connected to Italy~Italian pasta.~
italian~noun~A person who comes from Italy~My girlfriend is an Italian.~
italian~noun~The major language of Italy~I learnt a little Italian.~
itch~verb~Have an uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch it~I itch everywhere.~
item~noun~One thing on a list of things~How many items of clothing do you own?~
its~determiner~This shows that something belongs to a thing~The baby wants its bottle.~Do not confuse (it's) and (its). It's is short for 'it is'
itself~pronoun~'Itself' shows that the thing that does something is also affected by it~The bird pecked itself.~
itself~pronoun~'Itself' is also used for emphasis~The publicity was irritating, but the book itself was the best read in the world.~
jacket~noun~The outer covering of something, or the skin of a potato~The jacket of the book was covered in dust; I like potatoes cooked in their jackets.~
jacket~noun~A short coat~She wore a black jacket and a red skirt.~
jail~noun~The place that criminals are put in~He just left jail.~The spelling 'gaol' can also be used
jail~verb~Place someone in jail~She was jailed for committing a crime.~
jam~verb~Make something become stuck or unable to work or move properly~The machine jammed and he couldn't get his money out.~
jam~noun~A sweet food made by boiling fruit and sugar~A jam sandwich.~
jam~noun~A situation where there are so many vehicles on the road that it is very difficult or even impossible to move~We got stuck in a traffic jam.~
jam~verb~Insert something roughly or with much force~She jammed her coins into the machine.~
january~noun~The first month of the year, between December of the previous year and February~My birthday is in January.~
japanese~noun~A person who comes from Japan~My boyfriend is a Japanese.~This is singular as well as plural
japanese~noun~The major language spoken in Japan~I speak fluent Japanese.~
japanese~adjective~Connected to Japan~Japanese costumes.~
jar~noun~A round, usually glass container with a lid that is often used to store food~A jar of biscuits.~
jaw~noun~The part of your face that holds your teeth~She bumped her jaw on the table.~
jaw~noun~The lower part of the face, including the chin~He has a strong, square jaw.~
jazz~noun~A type of music created by African Americans that has strong rhythms and is often improvised~Do you like jazz?~
jealous~adjective~Unhappy because you want something that someone else has~She has always been jealous of his fame.~
jealous~adjective~Unhappy because someone that you like is showing interest in someone else, or because someone is showing interest in your loved one~She can be incredibly jealous.~
jeans~noun~Trousers made from strong cotton called denim~I have blue jeans, black jeans and red jeans.~
jerk~verb~Move something suddenly and sharply~I jerked the mattress off the bed.~
jerk~verb~Move in a sharp, sudden way~The car keeps jerking.~
jesus~noun~Jesus Christ, a person who lived around 2,000 years ago and who Christians believe is the son of God~My son played baby Jesus in the play.~
jet~noun~A plane that can move quickly due to strong jet engines~They flew to America in a jet.~
jet~noun~A strong, narrow stream of gas or liquid~She was hit in the face by a jet of water from the fountain.~
jew~noun~A person who believes in Judaism; a member of the Hebrew race~My family are Jews.~
jewel~noun~A precious stone~She kept her jewels in a safe.~
jewellery~noun~Objects such as rings and necklaces that are worn to make you look more beautiful~She owned only a few pieces of jewellery.~
jewish~adjective~Connected to Judaism or Jews~A Jewish tradition.~
job~noun~The work that you do in order to earn a living~She has a job in a shop.~
job~noun~Something that is your responsibility~It is my job to look after the children on a Friday night.~
job~noun~If you do a good job of something, it is a success~He did a good job of writing that essay.~
jockey~noun~A person who rides horses in races~He loved horses and wanted to be a jockey.~
jog~verb~Run slowly and steadily~I go jogging every Saturday.~
jog~noun~A slow and steady run~Would you like to join me for a jog?~
join~verb~Become part of a group or go to where someone else is~I joined them in the kitchen.~
join~verb~Come together and become one~The forest and mountains join at the top of this road.~
join~verb~Become a member of something~I joined the local cricket club.~
join in~verb~When you join in, you take part in the things that other people are doing~I want to join in with the other parents but I don't know many of them.~
joint~adjective~Involving more than one person~We share a joint gym membership.~
joint~noun~A part on the body where two bones meet, that can bend or rotate~She had cramps in her joints.~
joke~noun~Something that is told or shown in order to make people laugh; often a very short story or an illustration~I like to read the jokes in the newspaper.~
joke~verb~Say or do something to make others laugh~She joked about his messy hair.~
joke~verb~Say something that you don't mean because you find it amusing~She joked about marrying him.~
journal~noun~A newspaper or magazine that discusses a certain subject~He read a legal journal.~
journalist~noun~A person who writes articles for a newspaper etc., or works in television or radio news~She was good at writing so she became a journalist.~
journey~verb~Travel somewhere~I journeyed to Denmark last week.~Formal use
journey~noun~The act of travelling~The journey took us three hours.~
joy~noun~A feeling of happiness; delight~She was filled with joy at the idea.~
joy~noun~Something that makes you feel happy~That child is such a joy.~
judge~noun~The person who makes the final decisions in a court of law~The judge sentenced him to life in jail.~
judge~noun~Someone who decides who wins a competition~I was a judge at the beauty show.~
judge~verb~Form an opinion about something~She judged him without even getting to know him.~
judgement~noun~The opinion that you form about something~Who am I to pass judgement on her?~The US spelling is 'judgment'; this is also used in the UK in legal contexts
judgement~noun~The ability to make sensible decisions about things~She showed good judgement.~
jug~noun~A container with a handle and spout that is used to hold and pour liquids~A jug of milk.~
juice~noun~A liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables~Freshly squeezed lemon juice.~
july~noun~The seventh month of the year, between June and August~Is it warm in July?~
jump~verb~Push yourself off the ground with your feet for a short time~I jumped up and caught the ball.~
jump~verb~Move over something by pushing yourself off the ground with your feet~She jumped over the puddle.~
jump~verb~Make a quick movement because something has scared or surprised you~She banged the door and I jumped.~
jump~noun~The act of jumping~She made a huge jump over the puddle.~
jumper~noun~A warm piece of clothing, often knitted, that is worn on the upper part of the body~Put a jumper on, it's cold outside.~
june~noun~The sixth month of the year, between May and July~We got married in June.~
jungle~noun~An area of thick trees and plants; a rain forest~We spent three nights in the jungle.~
junior~adjective~Of lower rank or age than someone else~She's junior to me.~
junior~noun~A person who holds a low-ranking job~An office junior.~
junk~noun~Things that you don't need anymore or that are too old to be of use~I cleared my room of all my old junk.~
jury~noun~A group of members of the public who listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty or innocent~The jury was divided over his guilt.~
just~adverb~Definitely, precisely, exactly~That was just what I needed.~
just~adverb~Used to show that something happened very recently~I've just read that book.~
just~adverb~Simply~I can't just drop all my plans.~
just~adverb~By a very small amount or margin~We just made it; I just passed the exam.~
just~adverb~Used to show that you are busy doing something at this moment~I'm just getting ready now.~
just~adjective~Morally fair~I believe his decision was just.~
justice~noun~Fair treatment~Is there any justice in this world?~
justification~noun~A good reason for why something happens or why you do something~Is there any justification for this behaviour?~
justify~verb~Show that something is fair~Can you justify this punishment?~
kangaroo~noun~A big Australian animal that uses its powerful back legs to jump about~We saw kangaroos in the zoo.~
keen~adjective~Really wanting something~She was keen to meet him.~
keen~adjective~Enthusiastic~She was a keen chess player.~
keep~verb~To keep doing something is to do it repeatedly~I kept falling over.~
keep~verb~Have something and not give it back or throw it away; retain~I kept all the e-mails he sent me.~
keep~verb~Stay in a certain way, condition or position~They kept huddled together; She kept him at school till he was 18.~
keep~verb~To keep a secret is to tell no one~She kept that story a secret from me.~
keep~verb~Store~She keeps her cosmetics on her desk.~
keep~verb~Maintain, use or attend to over a period of time~She has always kept a diary; I keep horses in my stables.~
keep~verb~Delay someone~I'm sorry to keep you.~
keep~verb~Fulfil~I'm really bad at keeping my appointments.~
keep~verb~If you keep someone from doing something, you stop them from doing it~He kept me from going mad; She kept me from my work all day.~
kerb~noun~The raised part at the edge of a path that separates it from the road~She tripped on the kerb.~
kettle~noun~A container with a lid and spout that is used to boil water~I filled the kettle so you should make tea!~
key~adjective~Most important, allowing everything else to be understood, etc.~It is one of the key aspects of this plan.~
key~noun~A piece of metal that is used to lock and unlock doors etc.~I lost my car keys.~
key~noun~A button that you use to operate a computer or typewriter~Some of the keys were stuck so she couldn't use all the letters.~
key~noun~A set or scale of musical notes that naturally go together~What key should we play the song in?~
keyboard~noun~The set of keys used with a computer etc.~We need a new computer keyboard.~
kick~noun~The pleasure that you get from something~I get a kick out of playing football.~
kick~verb~Hit something with your foot~I kicked the ball; She kicked my shins.~
kick~noun~A movement made by the foot, often to hit something~The horse gave him a huge kick in the back.~
kick off~verb~Start, or start something~The football match will be kicking off soon; The singer will kick off with a ballad.~
kid~verb~If you kid someone you joke with them or tell them something that isn't true for fun~I was only kidding you.~
kid~noun~A child or teenager~I'm not very fond of kids.~Informal use
kidnap~verb~Illegally take someone away and keep them prisoner~She was kidnapped and rescued in the same day.~
kidney~noun~Either of the two bean-shaped organs in your body that remove waste material from the blood~He suffered kidney failure.~
kill~verb~If you say that something is killing you, it means it is hurting you very much~This cut is killing me!~Informal use
kill~verb~Cause something to die~He killed the plants as he did not water them.~
kilo~abbreviation~A kilogram~He ordered 3 kilos of sugar.~
kilogram~noun~A unit used to measure weight; 1,000 grams~A kilogram of flour.~
kilometre~noun~A unit used to measure distance; 1,000 metres~He took part in a 5 kilometre walk.~
kind~adjective~Gentle, helpful and friendly~She is very kind.~
kind~noun~Type~What kind of perfume are you wearing?~
king~noun~The male ruler of a country, who is part of the royal family and inherits his position~The king wore a crown.~
kingdom~noun~A country that is ruled by a king or royal family~They spread out all over the kingdom.~
kiss~verb~Touch someone with your lips to show that you like or love them~He kissed me before he left.~
kiss~noun~The act of kissing someone~She gave him a kiss on the nose.~
kit~noun~A set of things needed to do a sport etc.~He was given a new rugby kit.~
kitchen~noun~The room where food is prepared and cooked~You must always keep the kitchen clean.~
kitten~noun~A baby cat~My daughter wants a kitten for her birthday.~
km~abbreviation~The official abbreviation for kilometres or kilometre~We drove 300 km.~
knee~noun~The joint between your upper and lower leg where your leg bends~He wore shorts down to his knees.~
kneel~verb~Position yourself so that your weight is on your bent knees~She knelt at the altar.~
knew~verb~'Knew' is the past tense of 'know'~I knew I shouldn't have eaten so much.~
knickers~noun~Men's or especially women's underwear that covers from the waist to the tops of the legs~She bought new knickers.~
knife~verb~Hurt someone with a knife~He was knifed in the chest.~
knife~noun~A tool with a sharp blade that is used to cut or slice things~I need a steak knife.~
knight~verb~Give someone the title of knight~He was knighted three years ago.~
knit~verb~Make clothes from wool~I knitted him a jumper.~
knives~noun~'Knives' is the plural of 'knife'~We need more knives so that all our guests can cut their steaks.~
knob~noun~A round switch or handle used to operate something~I turned the knob on the television; I turned the knob and opened the door.~
knock~verb~Hit something firmly; especially a door~I knocked on the window to see if anyone was home.~
knock~verb~Lightly hit or tap something in such a way that it moves~I knocked the book off the shelf.~
knock~noun~A sharp blow~He got a bad knock on the head.~
knock out~verb~Hit someone in a way that makes them lose consciousness~I think that man has been knocked out.~
knot~noun~A unit for measuring speed in a ship or aircraft~This boat can go up to 40 knots.~
knot~noun~A join made in something by tying it in a certain way~She couldn't get the knot out of her ribbon.~
know~verb~Have heard of or be familiar with something or someone~I know him well.~
know~verb~Have information about something~I know how old he is.~
know~verb~Feel sure about something~I know I left it in here!~
know~verb~Have a skill and be able to use it~I know karate.~
knowledge~noun~All the information and skills that you have on something~Her knowledge of English is limitless.~
label~noun~A small piece of paper that gives details of something~Read the label to see if it's sugar-free.~
label~verb~Put a label on something~I labelled all the packages.~
labour~noun~Workers~We need to hire more labour.~
labour~noun~The final stage of pregnancy, just before a woman gives birth~Her labour lasted 48 hours.~
labour~noun~Physical work~His hard labour eventually paid off.~
labour~noun~The British Labour Party (a political party)~Labour won again this year.~
lace~noun~A delicate fabric that is woven into patterns, with many holes through it~A lace handkerchief.~
lace~noun~A strand of material used to tie shoes~Your laces are undone.~
lace~verb~Tie your shoes, or fasten other laces~He laced her top.~
lack~verb~To lack something is not to have it~She lacks the courage to speak to him.~
lack~noun~The state of having none or not enough of something~There was a lack of funds for the programme.~
lad~noun~A boy or young man~He's grown into a big lad.~Informal use
ladder~noun~Apparatus for climbing walls etc., consisting of two vertical poles with horizontal rungs between them~She climbed a ladder to reach the roof.~
lady~noun~A respectful term for a woman or girl~She is a real lady.~
lady~noun~In Britain this is a title used by women who are members of the nobility~Lords and ladies.~
lady~noun~A women's public toilet is sometimes referred to as the ladies'~Excuse me, I'm just going to the ladies'.~
lager~noun~A yellow beer~I prefer lager to ale.~
lake~noun~An area of water surrounded by land~We swam across the lake.~
lamb~noun~A baby sheep~That one is just a lamb.~
lamb~noun~The meat that comes from a lamb~He ordered roast lamb.~
lamp~noun~A device that uses electricity or another power source to produce light~Please turn that lamp on.~
land~noun~An area of ground that usually has a certain purpose~The land was quite hard; Agricultural land.~
land~noun~The parts of the earth that are not sea~One third of the earth is land; the rest is ocean.~
land~noun~A country or region~She wanted to go back to her own land.~
land~verb~Make contact with the ground, having been in the air~The bird landed on a tree; The cup landed on the floor; The plane landed at the airport.~
landing~noun~The area at the top of a staircase~She stomped across the landing.~
landing~noun~The act of bringing an aircraft down to the ground after a flight~It was a bumpy landing.~
landscape~noun~All the things that you can see when you look over a large area of land~The landscape was breathtaking.~
lane~noun~One section of a major road~Try to keep to the left lane.~
lane~noun~A narrow country road~We took a walk along the lane.~
language~noun~A style of speech or writing~The book contained strong language.~
language~noun~A set of words, and rules for using them, used for communication by the inhabitants of a particular country or region~Which language do they speak in Denmark?~
lap~verb~Lightly flow back and forth against something (used of a liquid)~The sea lapped up against the boat.~
lap~verb~Have run one more lap than someone else while you are both in the same race~I lapped him twice.~
lap~noun~A circuit of a running track~She ran three laps.~
lap~verb~For an animal, to drink using its tongue~The dog lapped up its water.~
lap~noun~The top part of your legs that becomes flat when you sit~She held the child on her lap.~
large~adjective~Big~An elephant is a large animal.~
largely~adverb~Mainly~That is largely the truth.~
laser~noun~A device that produces beams of light; the beams are also called lasers~They are using lasers in eye treatment now.~
last~determiner~The final thing; the thing that is left after all others are gone~This is the last bottle of milk.~
last~determiner~The most recent thing~Our last holiday was the best.~
last~determiner~Final~We saw the last show.~
last~adverb~At the end; in the final place~She always comes last in sports.~
last~verb~Persist; happen for some time~I hope her good behaviour lasts.~
last~noun~'At last' means 'finally'~She phoned at last.~
last~verb~Function well over a period of time~I hope these shoes will last.~
last~adverb~Most recently~We last talked about pets.~
late~adverb~Near the end of a certain period of time etc.~I like the weather in late autumn.~
late~adverb~After the usual or expected time~She is always late.~
lately~adverb~Recently~She has been working hard lately.~
later~none~'Later' is the comparative form of 'late'~She was late; he was even later.~
later~adverb~Used to talk about a time in the future~We will go to the party later.~
latest~adjective~The newest or most recent~Have you heard the latest news?~
latest~none~'Latest' is the superlative form of 'late'~John and Steven were late, but Mary was the latest.~
latin~noun~The language of ancient Rome~We learnt Latin at school.~
latter~noun~The second thing of two things mentioned~She likes cats and dogs; I prefer the latter.~Dogs are 'the latter' here; cats are 'the former'
latter~adjective~The second of two things that have been mentioned~The latter time suits me better.~
latter~adjective~Near the end of something~The latter part of the day has been a disaster.~
laugh~verb~Make a sound that shows how happy you are or how funny you think something is~I always find myself laughing at his jokes.~
laugh~verb~Show that you are not taking something seriously~They laughed at my idea of becoming an actress.~
laugh~noun~The sounds a person makes when laughing~She let out a huge laugh.~
laughter~noun~The sound or the act of laughing~The room broke out in laughter.~
launch~verb~Put a ship in the water, especially one that has never sailed before~They launched their boat yesterday.~
launch~verb~Send something through the air and into space~They finally launched the rocket.~
launch~verb~If a company launches a product, it makes it available to the public for the first time~When are they launching that new mascara?~
laundry~noun~Dirty items of clothing, linen, etc. that need to be washed~Please put your laundry in the basket.~
laundry~noun~A place where you can take dirty clothes and linen to be washed~I take my clothes to the laundry every Tuesday night.~
lavatory~noun~A toilet~Where is your lavatory?~Old-fashioned use
law~noun~The system of rules in a country that people must obey or face punishment~He broke the law and was sent to jail.~
law~noun~A rule that tries to explain how something works in nature~Parkinson's law.~
law~noun~The academic subject of law, or the profession of someone who practises law~She did a law degree.~
law~noun~A rule dealing with a particular crime or offence~The new smoking law has been passed.~
lawn~noun~An area of ground with short grass, often found in a garden~We played rugby on the lawn.~
lawyer~noun~A person who practises law~I had to get a lawyer to defend me in court.~
lay~verb~If a bird or animal lays eggs, the eggs are produced from its body~The hens laid several eggs.~
lay~verb~Set a table with all the things needed to eat food~She laid the table with enough cutlery for ten people.~
lay~verb~'Lay' can in some cases be the past tense of 'lie'~They lay on the ground.~
lay~verb~Put something down somewhere, especially if this is done carefully~She laid the book next to her bed.~
layer~noun~A thickness of something lying over or between something~A layer of ice on the road.~
lazy~adjective~A lazy person is someone who does as little as possible or makes no effort to do things~Stop being so lazy.~
lb~abbreviation~The abbreviation for pound or pounds (a measure of weight)~6 lbs of meat.~Lb or lbs can be used as the plural
lead~verb~Be in control of something~He always leads these discussions.~
lead~verb~If one thing leads to another, the first thing causes the second thing to happen~The argument led to fighting.~
lead~verb~Go before someone to show them the way~She led me into the hotel.~
lead~noun~A heavy, soft, grey metal that was formerly used to make pipes etc. but is now known to be poisonous~The lead pipes had to be ripped out.~This lead sounds different to the others: it is pronounced 'led'
lead~verb~If something leads to somewhere, it goes there~That door leads to the kitchen; That path leads to the sea.~
lead~verb~Live a certain kind of life~She leads a happy life.~
lead~noun~To be in the lead is to be winning.~The girl's team were in the lead.~
lead~noun~A piece of information that can help solve a puzzle or problem~The police received a lead from an anonymous caller.~
lead~noun~A piece of rope, leather, etc. that is attached to a dog's collar and used to guide and control the dog~Put the lead on the dog and take her for a walk.~
lead~verb~Be ahead of everyone else in a competition etc.~She's leading the race.~
leader~noun~The person who leads a group or country etc.~The political leader.~
leader~noun~A person who is one of the best at something~They are the leaders in fashion.~
leaf~noun~The flat, green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch~She picked a bright green leaf from the tree.~
leaflet~noun~A piece of paper that contains information about something and is often given out free of charge~I received a leaflet on the dangers of smoking.~
league~noun~A group of people, organisations, countries, etc. that have come together to pursue a common interest~The League of Nations.~
leak~verb~If something leaks its contents can escape, often by accident~The orange juice carton leaked.~
leak~verb~For something to escape from its container~Water leaked from the tap.~
leak~verb~Give secret information to someone who is not supposed to have it~She leaked nuclear plans to her boss.~
leak~noun~A hole in a container etc. that allows something to escape~There is a leak in your roof.~
lean~adjective~Lean meat contains little or no fat~I like my steaks lean.~
lean~verb~Place something against something in such a way that it does not fall~I leaned the mirror against the wall.~
lean~verb~Bend your body in a certain way~She leaned over and set her coffee on the table.~
lean~verb~Support yourself by placing your weight on something~He was leaning against the wall waiting for us.~
leap~verb~jump quite far or quite high~She leapt across the ravine.~
leap~noun~A jump that goes quite high or far~He took a leap over the fence.~
learn~verb~Gain knowledge or understanding about something~I learnt how to whistle.~
learn~verb~Hear or read about something~I learnt that he was moving to Australia.~
lease~noun~A legal agreement that allows you to use something for a certain amount of time, often by paying rent~The lease states that all payments must be made on time.~
lease~verb~Allow someone to use something of yours for a price, or use something that belongs to someone else for a price~I've been leasing this apartment for three years.~
least~adverb~'At least' means 'not less than' or 'not fewer than'~I washed at least four loads of clothes today.~
least~adverb~Used to add something positive to something negative~At least you didn't lose your job.~
least~noun~The smallest, or the smallest part~She got the least food that night.~
leather~noun~A material made from the skins of animals~A leather bag.~
leave~verb~Arrange for someone to have something you own after you die~He left me the house.~
leave~verb~Put something somewhere and then go away from it~I left the jewellery in the safe.~
leave~verb~Move away from someone or somewhere~She left the country; He left his wife.~
leave~verb~Forget to take something with you~I left my books at school.~
leave~verb~If someone or something leaves a mark etc., the mark etc. stays after the person or thing has gone~That left a hole in the ground; she left an everlasting impression with me.~
leave~verb~If you leave someone alone you let them do what they are doing without interrupting them~I left her alone to think about what she had done; Please leave me alone.~
leave~noun~Time that you take off from work etc.~I'm going on leave next week.~
leave~verb~If something leaves something behind, a small part of that thing remains behind~The fish left a strange smell through the house.~
leave~verb~Stop living or working etc. somewhere~I left work and never came back.~
lecture~noun~A talk that is supposed to teach you about something, especially in a university etc.~I went to a lecture on European history.~
left~adjective~The opposite of right: in the direction to the west when a person is facing north~Go left here.~
left~noun~Political parties, or parts of them, whose views are most in favour of social change~It has been agreed by the left.~
left~noun~The opposite of the right: the direction to the west when a person is facing north~Move a little to the left please.~
left~verb~'Left' is the past tense and past participle of 'leave'~She left the room.~
left~adjective~Something that is left has not been used or eaten etc.~We have no time left, we have to go.~
left-handed~adverb~Doing most things with the left hand~My brother is left-handed.~
left-wing~adjective~Having political beliefs that tend towards social change~That is a very left-wing idea.~
leg~noun~One of the two long parts of your body that you use to walk on~My legs were tired after the hike.~
leg~noun~One of the parts of a pair of trousers that cover your legs~There was a hole in the leg of his trousers.~
leg~noun~One of the parts of a piece of furniture that enable it to stand alone~One of the table legs was shorter than the others.~
leg~noun~One part of a journey or race etc.~She fell on the last leg of the relay race.~
legal~adjective~Connected to law~They were reviewing the legal system.~
legal~adjective~Be permitted by the law~Is that legal?~
legend~noun~A very famous person~A rock legend.~
legend~noun~An old story that has been passed down through generations of people~It's just an old legend; I don't know if it's true.~
legitimate~adjective~Legal or lawful~It's a legitimate business.~
leisure~noun~The time you can relax in and not have to work~I spend my leisure time swimming.~
lemon~noun~A yellow fruit that is filled with sour juice~She put lemon in her drink.~
lemonade~noun~A slightly sour drink made from lemons that can be sweetened with sugar~Would you like some lemonade?~
lend~verb~Allow someone to use something that belongs to you for a certain time~I will lend you my watch until you get yours fixed.~
lend~verb~If someone lends you money, they allow you to use some of theirs and you can pay it back later~She lent me some money so I could go for drinks with them.~
length~noun~If you go to great lengths with something, you put a lot of effort into it~She went to great lengths to make it into university.~
length~noun~The size of something from one end to the other~The length of the room.~
length~noun~The time that something takes from beginning to end~What length of time does this movie run for?~
length~noun~A long, thin piece of something; something that is long rather than short~She pulled out a length of ribbon.~
lens~noun~A curved piece of glass that changes the sizes of things when you look through it~A zoom lens; A camera lens.~
lesbian~noun~A woman who is attracted to other women~She realised she was a lesbian in her early teens.~
less~determiner~A smaller amount of~We had less time than we needed.~'Less' is used with uncountable things; 'few' is used with countable things
less~preposition~Used in maths to show that one number must be taken away from another~32 less 2 is 30.~
lesson~noun~A class where people are taught things for a certain time~I have a lesson at 9 a.m.~
lesson~noun~An experience, often an unpleasant one, that you learn something from~I think she has finally learnt her lesson.~
let~verb~Used to make a suggestion~Let's go to the park.~'Let's' is the shortened form of 'Let us'
let~verb~Allow someone to do something~He let me play with his train set.~
let~verb~Rent property to someone~I let my flat out to my cousin.~
let~verb~If you let go of someone or something you release your hold on them~I let go of the dog and it ran down the street.~
let~verb~If you let someone know about something, you tell them about it~I let her know about his affair.~
let~verb~Allow someone to go in or out of somewhere~I let him into the house.~
lethal~adjective~Deadly; able to kill you~A lethal injection.~
letter~noun~One of the symbols that you put together to make up a word~The letter S.~
letter~noun~A message written on paper that is given or sent to someone~She sent me a letter from Switzerland.~
lettuce~noun~A plant with green leaves that is usually eaten raw in salads~Chop up a lettuce please.~
level~noun~The height of something~What is the level of the water?~
level~adjective~Flat, with no slopes~We played on level ground.~
level~adjective~If two things are level, they are equal in height etc.~Is this wall level with the others?~
level~adjective~Having the same score as others~The two teams were level.~
level~noun~A point or position on a scale of importance etc.~What level of education are you at?~
liable~adjective~Responsible~He will be held liable for damages.~
liable~adjective~Likely to happen~He is liable to make mistakes.~
liar~noun~Someone who tells lies~He's always been a bit of a liar.~
liberal~adjective~Accepting different ideas and opinions~She has a liberal attitude.~
liberal~noun~A person who promotes or tolerates political, social and religious change~Are you a liberal?~
liberal democrat~noun~A Liberal Democrat is someone who supports the policies of the Liberal Democrat party in Britain~The Liberal Democrats proposed a new health policy.~
liberty~noun~Freedom to live the way you want to~They fought for liberty.~
library~noun~A place containing many books that the public may have access to~We studied in the library.~
licence~noun~A legal document that allows you to have or do something~A driving licence.~The US spelling is 'license', like the verb
license~verb~Give official permission for someone to have something or do something~He was licensed to drive the car.~
lick~verb~Touch or rub something with your tongue~She licked her ice cream.~
lid~noun~The top of something, especially a container, which allows it to close~Put the lid on the bin.~
lie~verb~Be in a flat position~She lay in bed.~
lie~noun~A false statement~She told me a lie about her name.~
lie~verb~Be in a certain position~The cottage lies over the hill.~
lie~verb~Say something that you know to be untrue~He lied to me and then he lied to you.~
life~noun~The state of living, breathing, etc.~Oxygen supports life.~
life~noun~The time from when something is born until it dies~She had a long and happy life.~
life~noun~The activities that make up a person's life~They have busy lives.~
lifestyle~none~The way that you live, the things you do, etc.~A healthy lifestyle.~
lifetime~noun~The period of time from when you are born until you die~She has had a lifetime of worries.~
lift~noun~A machine that can carry people and things up and down levels of a building etc~Should we take the lift or the stairs?~In US English this is called an elevator
lift~noun~The taking of someone from one place to another for free, in a car etc.~I got a lift from my dad.~
lift~verb~Take something or raise it to a higher position~I lifted the glass off the bench.~
lift~verb~Disappear~The fog finally lifted.~
lift~verb~Remove a law or rule~That rule was lifted years ago.~
light~noun~Something that can be used to light a cigarette or cigar etc.~I have a light here.~
light~adjective~Not heavy~A feather is very light.~
light~adjective~Bright; having much natural light~You should read while it's still light.~
light~noun~A lamp; something man-made that produces light~Would you turn that light on?~
light~noun~Light is a form of energy that comes mainly from the sun and allows us to see clearly~The light of the sun was very bright.~
light~verb~Make something begin to burn~I lit a candle.~
light~adjective~Pale in colour~Wear a light blue sweater.~
lighter~noun~A tool used to light cigarettes and cigars etc.~Do you need a lighter?~
lighting~noun~The type of artificial light provided in a place~The lighting was very romantic.~
lightning~noun~Flashes of light in the sky that are caused by electricity and are often seen during a storm~My dog was scared of the lightning.~
like~preposition~Used to show what you want to do~I feel like going for a run.~
like~preposition~Similar to something else~She is very like her sister.~
like~preposition~Used to give an example~It was small, like a mouse.~
like~verb~Find something pleasant; enjoy something~I like animals.~
like~preposition~What something is 'like' is its nature: cold, kind, impatient, etc.~What is your brother like?~
like~verb~Wish for something~I would like to be famous.~
likely~adjective~If something is likely to happen, there is a strong possibility that it will happen~It's likely to be discovered sooner or later.~
likewise~adverb~In the same way~She bumped into him in Paris, likewise in Berlin.~
limb~noun~An arm, leg or wing~He lost a limb in the war.~
limit~noun~The biggest or smallest amount that is allowed~She had reached her drinking limit after two pints of beer.~
limit~verb~If you limit something, you stop it from passing beyond a certain level~She tried to limit his drinking.~
limited~adjective~Restricted~She was limited to two cups of coffee a day.~
limp~adjective~If something is limp, it lacks strength or it is not stiff~A limp jellyfish; her hand went limp.~
limp~verb~Walk in an awkward way because your leg or foot is sore~He limped across the room.~
limp~noun~An awkward walk due to an injury etc.~She's had that limp for weeks now.~
line~noun~A row of words written together~Read along the line please.~
line~verb~Cover the inner surface of something, e.g. a jacket~Her coat was lined with fur.~
line~noun~The direction that something moves in~Keep going in a straight line and you can't miss the house.~
line~noun~A long piece of wire etc. that usually has a special purpose~Please take the washing off the line.~
line~noun~A straight mark~She drew a line under the date.~
line~noun~A row of things~Please form a line.~
line up~verb~When you line up, you stand in a row~Please line up so that we can take each of your names.~
link~verb~Join things together~The telephone was linked to the computer.~
link~verb~Find a connection between people or events~The police linked her to the robbery.~
link~noun~A connection between things~The link between cancer and chocolate has not been fully proven.~
link~noun~A relationship or connection between people or countries etc.~We need to keep our trade links with Europe.~
lion~noun~A large animal that is a member of the cat family~He was attacked by a pride of lions.~
lip~noun~The two soft, puffy, outer layers of your mouth~She kissed his lips.~
lipstick~noun~A cosmetic that is used to change the colour of your lips~She always wears red lipstick.~
liquid~noun~Something that flows freely; a substance that is not solid or gas~Pour the liquid into a glass.~
list~verb~Write or say things one after another~I listed all the reasons she should go.~
list~noun~A written series of separate but connected items~I have a shopping list in my bag.~
listen~verb~Pay attention to a sound so that you can hear it~I was listening to the music.~
lit~verb~'Lit' is the past tense and past participle of 'light'~She lit the candle.~
liter~noun~US English: see 'litre'~How many liters of milk do you need?~
literally~adverb~Without exaggeration; used to emphasise that something is surprising~There were literally thousands of birds on the water.~
literary~adjective~Concerning or involving literature~He is a literary genius.~
literature~noun~Stories and plays etc. that are written down~I like to read literature in my spare time.~
litre~noun~A unit for measuring volume. Equal to 1.76 UK pints or 2.11 US pints~She bought a litre of cold juice.~
litter~noun~Small amounts of waste, such as wrappers, that have been discarded in public places~Our punishment was to pick up litter after school.~
litter~verb~Be placed untidily~The room was littered in paperwork.~
little~adjective~Small~She is a little girl.~
little~adjective~Not long in time or distance~We will go in a little while; We walked a little way along the road.~
little~adjective~Not very important or serious~I can't be made to do every little thing.~
little~noun~A small amount~We have cake: perhaps you would like a little?~
little~noun~Not much~He left me little choice.~
live~verb~Be alive, especially at a certain time~Did she live through the war?~
live~verb~Spend your life in a certain way, and do certain things~They live a conventional life.~
live~adjective~Alive rather than dead~They saw real live cows for the first time.~
live~verb~Occupy a particular house etc.~I live with my partner.~
live~adverb~As it is happening~The rugby match will be shown live tomorrow.~
lively~adjective~Active; full of enthusiasm and life~She was a lively child.~
liver~noun~The large organ in your body that cleans the blood and produces bile~He had a liver infection.~
living~noun~When you do something for a living, it means you do it in order to earn money~She teaches for a living.~
living~adjective~Alive right now~Her grandparents are still living.~
living room~noun~A room in a house where people go to watch television etc. and relax~I like to read in the living room but my brother always has the television turned on.~
load~noun~A large amount of something~I have a load of work to do.~Informal use
load~verb~Put things into or onto something else~You need to load the truck.~
load~verb~Put ammunition in a gun~The gun hadn't been loaded.~
load~noun~Something that is being carried~She had a load of washing in her arms.~
loaf~noun~A piece of bread that has been baked into a certain shape~A loaf of bread to make sandwiches.~
loan~verb~lend~I loaned her my pink dress.~
loan~noun~Money that you borrow from a bank etc.~The bank refused me a loan.~
lobster~noun~A creature with eight legs, two claws and a hard shell that lives in the sea~We caught several lobsters in the rock pools.~
local~noun~A person who lives locally~We met the locals in the pub.~
local~adjective~Connected to the place you are discussing; nearby~We went to the local library.~
locate~verb~Find where something or someone is~They located the thief.~
locate~verb~The place where something is located is the place where it is situated~It is located in the city centre.~
location~noun~The place or the position of something~Can anyone remember the location of the flat?~
lock~noun~A device that keeps a door etc. closed and can only be opened with the correct key or combination~They had the locks replaced when their keys were stolen.~
lock~verb~Fasten something using a lock and key~I locked my briefcase.~
lock~verb~Place something where it can't be got to without the correct key or combination~She locked the jewels in the safe.~
locker~noun~A small space, similar to a cupboard, that you can store personal things securely in~He kept his trunks in the gym locker.~
log~noun~A thick piece of wood that is cut from a tree or falls off a tree~They put the logs on the fire.~
logic~noun~Reasoning~You need to use more logic when solving problems.~
logical~adjective~If something is logical it seems natural or sensible, or could be arrived at by the use of logic~That was the logical answer.~
lone~adjective~Without anything or anyone else~A lone sailor waved to us.~
lonely~adjective~Remote; where hardly anyone ever goes to~A lonely farmhouse.~
lonely~adjective~Sad because lacking friends or someone to talk to~She's crying because she's lonely.~
long~adverb~If something no longer happens it has stopped happening~They no longer work together.~
long~adverb~Happening for an extended period of time~The party was far too long.~
long~adjective~Covering a great length or distance~It was a long road to the city.~
long~adverb~'Long' is used to talk about the length of time before or after an event~He'll change his mind before long.~
long~adverb~Used to give the length of something from one end to the other~It was three feet long.~
long~adverb~If you say you won't be long, it means you will be back very soon~Give me two minutes, I promise I won't be long.~
long~verb~Really want something, especially if it doesn't look like you're going to get it~I longed for a pony when I was a child.~
loo~noun~Toilet~I must run to the loo.~Informal use
look~verb~Used to describe how something appears~Her dress looked beautiful on her.~
look~verb~Use your eyes to see something~He looked across the room at me.~
look~noun~'Looks' means 'appearance'~She had great looks for her age.~
look~noun~The expression shown in your eyes or face~She gave me a nasty look.~
look~noun~The act of looking at something~Take a look at yourself.~
look~verb~Search~I'm looking for my dog; have you seen her?~
look~verb~If you look at something, you consider or study it~This new system will have to be looked at in depth.~
look after~verb~Take care of~Parents look after their children.~
look forward to~verb~If you look forward to something, you are glad that it is going to happen and expect to enjoy it~I look forward to seeing you again.~
look out~verb~'Look out' is something you say when you try to warn someone about something~Look out for speeding cars when you cross the road.~
loop~noun~A curved shape made by something crossing over itself~She made loops in her ribbons.~
loop~verb~Place something around something else in the shape of a loop~He looped the rope over the post.~
loose~adverb~If you set something loose, you give it its freedom~He set all the pet birds loose.~
loose~adjective~If something is loose, it is not tied down and may come away~His shirt button was loose.~
lord~noun~In Britain, this is a title used to describe some noblemen~He is a lord, so she became a lady.~
lorry~noun~A large vehicle that carries heavy loads by road~He transported our furniture in a lorry.~
lose~verb~Become unable to find something~I lost my wallet today.~
lose~verb~Fail to win~She lost the competition.~
lose~verb~Begin to have less of something~They are losing profits every day.~
lose~verb~Have something taken from you, e.g. by death~We lost our father last year.~
loss~noun~The state of not having something or having less of something~His loss of hair upset him.~
lost~adjective~Not knowing where you are; unable to find your way~Did they really get lost in the woods?~
lost~adjective~If something is lost, it cannot be found~Your wallet is lost for good.~
lost~none~'Lost' is the past tense and past participle of 'lose'~I lost my bike.~
lot~noun~Everything; the whole of an amount~Honestly, thatís all I have, thatís the lot!~
lot~determiner~A large amount of something; many things~She takes a lot of sugar in her tea.~
lot~adverb~'A lot' can mean 'much'~She is eating a lot less than she used to.~
lot~noun~A group or set of things~The first lot of people left.~
lotion~noun~A liquid that is rubbed into the skin~She gave me lotion to soften my hands.~
lottery~noun~A game that raises money, often for a government charity, by selling tickets and drawing numbers. The people with the same numbers as those drawn win money~Did you play the lottery?~
loud~adverb~Making a lot of noise~The drum made a loud bang.~
lounge~verb~Move about or sit around in a relaxed way~She lounged about the house all day.~
lounge~noun~A room in a house or public building where people can relax~She read a book in the lounge.~
love~noun~If you make love, you have sex~She thought it was too soon for them to make love.~
love~noun~A strong feeling of romantic affection and attraction~They fell in love almost instantly.~
love~noun~A strong feeling of affection for someone or something~She felt a lot of love for her country.~
love~verb~Used to show that you want to do something very much~I would love to come with you.~
love~verb~Have strong positive feelings for someone or something~I loved her to the end.~
love~verb~Like or enjoy something a lot~I love spending time with my family.~
lovely~adjective~Very pretty or attractive~There was a lovely sunset.~
lover~noun~Someone who loves something~She is a lover of Shakespeare.~
lover~noun~A person's sexual partner~We have been lovers for years.~
low~adverb~Not high; sitting not far from the ground~The plane flew low over the trees.~
low~adjective~Towards the least level or value~The lowest recorded temperature.~
low~adjective~Below the usual standard, or of poor quality~She received very low marks in her exams.~
low~noun~A low figure or level~It has reached an all-time low.~
lower~verb~Let something move downwards~She lowered the rope into the water.~
lower~verb~Reduce a price, amount, etc.~The shop lowered its prices for Christmas.~
lower~adjective~'Lower' is the comparative of 'low'~That table is lower than the other one.~
lower~adjective~The lower of two things is the one at the bottom~Pass me the lower box please.~
loyal~adjective~Faithful and supportive of someone or something~He is our most loyal employee; He was always loyal to her.~
luck~noun~Something that happens to you by chance, not because of anything you have done~I have to say, it was more luck than hard work that got me here; Good luck; Bad luck.~
luck~noun~You can say 'good luck' to someone to wish them well~Good luck in the race!~
lucky~adjective~If something is lucky it is thought to bring good luck~It's my lucky bracelet.~
lucky~adjective~Fortunate; having a lot of luck~She was always the lucky one.~
lucky~adjective~Bringing luck or having luck-filled consequences~It was a lucky guess; They were lucky to find their way out.~
luggage~noun~Bags and cases that are used to carry your possessions when you travel~Her luggage was lost at the airport.~
lump~noun~A shapeless piece of something~A lump of butter.~
lump~noun~A swelling on or under the skin~She had a lump on her foot.~
lunch~noun~The food that you eat in the middle of the day~We meet for lunch every Tuesday.~
lunchtime~noun~The time of the day when lunch is eaten~She woke up around lunchtime.~
lung~noun~The organs of the body that you use to breathe with~Inhale air deep into your lungs.~
luxury~noun~Beautiful things and expensive surroundings etc.~She grew up in luxury.~
luxury~noun~Something that is nice but expensive and not essential to your day-to-day living~We can afford some of the luxuries.~
lying~verb~'Lying' is the present participle of 'lie'~She is lying.~
lyrics~noun~The words that make up a song~I liked the tune but I didn't like the lyrics.~
machine~noun~A piece of equipment that is used to do a certain job~Many machines have been invented to keep our homes clean.~
machinery~noun~Machines as a group~The machinery needs to be moved to the garage.~
mad~adjective~To be mad about something or someone is to like them a lot~He's mad about golf.~
mad~adjective~Very angry or cross~She was mad at me for breaking the glass.~
mad~adjective~If you say that someone is mad you can mean they are silly or foolish~You're mad to get back together with him.~
mad~adjective~Mentally ill~She was diagnosed as being mad.~
madam~noun~A formal way of speaking to or addressing a woman~May I take your coat, Madam?~
made~verb~'Made' is the past tense and past participle of 'make'~I made a cake.~
magazine~noun~A type of book filled with articles and pictures that is usually sold weekly or monthly~I buy the same magazines every week.~
magic~noun~A power that some people believe exists that can allow you to do otherwise impossible things~She flew using magic.~
magic~noun~The art of doing tricks that seem impossible to amuse or entertain people~I learnt some magic tricks.~
magnet~noun~A piece of iron that attracts other pieces of metal to it~The paperclips stuck to the magnet.~
magnificent~adjective~Extremely impressive~It was a magnificent building.~
maid~noun~A woman or girl who is employed to clean and look after someone else's home~The maid ironed my shirt.~
maiden name~noun~A woman's family name before she marries~My maiden name is Smith and my married name is Jones.~
mail~noun~All the letters etc. that come and go via the postal service~We received no mail today.~
mail~verb~Send something in the post~I mailed your birthday present.~
mail~noun~The system used for sending and delivering letters and parcels~Your cheque is in the mail.~
mail order~noun~The buying or selling of items through the post~I ordered three jackets by mail order.~
main~adjective~Largest or most important~The main idea.~
main~noun~The mains are the cables and pipes in a home that transport gas, water, etc.~Remember to turn the mains off before you change a light bulb.~
mainly~adverb~Mostly; to a large degree~They were mainly in charge of water; We mainly travelled in Spain.~
maintain~verb~Claim or insist~She maintained that her son was innocent.~
maintain~verb~Keep something at a certain level~We have tried to maintain a steady income over the years.~
maintain~verb~Keep something in good condition by regularly checking it and repairing it if necessary~It can be quite difficult to maintain this house.~
majesty~noun~You address a king or queen by calling them 'Your Majesty'~Your Majesty.~
major~adjective~Very important~This has major implications for the justice system.~
major~noun~An army officer of quite high rank, directly above captain~He was promoted to major.~
majority~noun~The larger part of a group of people or things~The majority of people wanted to go.~
majority~noun~The number of votes by which one political party beats another in an election~They won, but by a small majority.~
make~noun~The type, brand, label, etc. of a product~What make of clothing do you like the most?~
make~verb~Succeed in reaching somewhere~He made it to work on time.~
make~verb~Create something~She made the supper; He made her a card.~
make~verb~Force someone to do something, or force something to happen~He made me write the letter.~
make~verb~Do something or cause something to happen or appear etc.~He made a decision.~
make of~verb~When someone asks you what you make of something, they want to know your opinion of it~What do you make of the new law system?~
make up~verb~When something consists of different things, you can say that those things make it up~Bodies of water make up the largest part of the earth's surface.~
make up~verb~Invent or create a story, usually to tell a lie or entertain someone~I told the class a story, making it up as I went along.~
make up~verb~Compensate~I will make up for breaking that cup by buying you a new one.~
make up~verb~Decide to end an argument or dispute; stop being enemies~Let's stop arguing and make up.~
make up~verb~When you reach a decision, you make up your mind~I've made up my mind. I'm going to France.~
make-up~noun~Cosmetics; powders, creams, etc. that are used mainly by women in an attempt to look more attractive~I don't wear very much make-up.~
male~adjective~Involving men or boys~It was a male role.~
male~noun~A man or boy rather than a woman or girl~Males are usually taller than females.~
man~noun~Sometimes human beings in general are referred to as 'man' or 'men'~The first time man went into space.~
man~verb~Be in charge of, or be available to operate, something~The telephones are manned all through the night.~
man~noun~An adult male human~He's a man now.~
manage~verb~Be in charge of a business etc~He manages the local office.~
manage~verb~Successfully do something, especially if it is difficult~They managed to get to work on time.~
management~noun~The act of running and being in charge of a business~With better management this place could make a fortune.~
management~noun~The group of people who run a business etc.~The management had a meeting yesterday.~
manager~noun~The person who is in charge of a business etc.~The manager was unhappy with our work.~
mankind~noun~'Mankind' refers to all human beings, alive or dead~The history of mankind; the future of mankind.~
manner~noun~The way that someone behaves and speaks etc., their level of politeness~She has very good manners.~
manner~noun~The way that something is done~I did not like the manner in which you celebrated your success.~
manor~noun~A large house in the country~The walked the dogs around the manor.~
mansion~noun~A very large and impressive house~I wish I lived in a mansion.~
manual~noun~A book that gives you instructions on how to work a machine~We need the television manual.~
manual~adjective~Involving physical rather than mental strength~We need to employ more manual labour.~
manual~adjective~If equipment is manual, it is operated by the hands rather than by electronics or computers etc.~The machines in the factory are mainly manual.~
manufacture~verb~Make things, often in large quantities~They manufacture cosmetics.~
manufacture~noun~The process of making goods in large quantities~The manufacture of toothpaste.~
many~adjective~Can mean 'quite a large number of'~Many animals can be found in the zoo.~
many~adjective~Can be used to ask and tell the number of things~Do you know how many babies were born?~Many is only used with countable nouns
map~noun~A drawing of a part of the earth's surface as seen from above~We used a map to find our way through the town.~
marathon~noun~A long race of about 42 kilometres~I am not fit enough to take part in a marathon.~
marble~noun~A hard, usually white, stone that can be polished to show colours throughout it~A marble statue.~
march~noun~A walk by many people that is often organised in order to protest about something~The march has been organised for next week.~
march~verb~Walk in a stiff way with regular steps~The soldiers marched across the field.~
march~noun~The third month of the year, between February and April~I like the weather in March.~
margarine~noun~A substance made from animal or vegetable fat that is intended to be similar to butter~She spread margarine on her toast.~
margin~noun~The empty space on the side of a page~Leave a large margin on each page.~
margin~noun~The amount by which something is more than something else~They won by a very small margin.~
marine~adjective~Connected to the sea~He is a marine biologist.~
marine~noun~A soldier who can work on land or at sea~He wants to become a marine.~
mark~noun~An area of dirt, a stain or damage on something~There is a black mark on your shirt.~
mark~noun~A symbol of something~It has the manufacturer's mark on the back.~
mark~noun~A grade or score given to someone for a piece of work~She got a good mark for her essay.~
mark~noun~A sign of something, especially a feeling~I took it as a mark of their respect.~
mark~verb~Stain, spoil or damage something~She marked my car with her keys.~
mark~verb~Place a symbol on something in order to show what it is etc.~She marked the paper in red so she wouldn't forget it.~
mark~verb~Grade a paper by inspecting it and giving it a score~She marked the paper out of ten.~
mark~verb~If something marks a stage or position, it shows that stage or position~The whistle marked the end of the game.~
marked~adjective~If something is marked, it is very noticeable (this does not refer to a physical mark)~A marked improvement in her behaviour.~
market~verb~Publicise a product in a way that you hope will attract people to buy it~Our company marketed its new game.~
market~noun~The market of a product etc. is the people who might want to buy it~Our target market is mainly teenagers.~
market~noun~A place where people gather to buy and sell goods~We went to an outdoor fish market.~
marmalade~noun~A type of jelly that is usually made from oranges and eaten at breakfast~Marmalade on toast.~
marriage~noun~The ceremony in which people are married; a wedding~Their marriage took place without any problems.~
marriage~noun~A legal relationship between a husband and wife~Their marriage broke up after a year.~
marry~verb~Legally become someone's husband or wife~They will marry in June.~
marry~verb~If you marry people, you perform the ceremony that makes them husband and wife~My brother will marry us.~
marvellous~adjective~Wonderful~It was a marvellous dress.~
masculine~adjective~Connected with males, or seen as having typically male qualities~She likes strong masculine men.~
mask~noun~A covering for the face that is worn as a disguise or as protection~The criminals all wore masks.~
mask~verb~Cover something up so that it can't easily be noticed~She masked her purple hair with a scarf; He masked his true feelings with a smile.~
mass~adjective~Concerning very many things or people~Mass unemployment.~
mass~noun~A large amount of something~She fell on a mass of material; There were masses of clouds in the sky.~
mass~noun~A religious ceremony that remembers the last meal of Christ~My mother and I attend mass.~
mass~noun~The large group of ordinary people in society~They can't always please the masses.~
massage~noun~An action of rubbing your own or someone else's body, often in an attempt to relieve pain or stress~I went to my beautician for a massage.~
massage~verb~Rub someone's body in an attempt to relieve pain or stress~I massaged his back.~
massive~adjective~Enormous~There was a massive explosion.~
master~verb~Learn how to do something well, often something quite difficult~She mastered the art of sketching.~
master~noun~Very old-fashioned term for a person who has servants work for them~She always obeyed her master.~
masterpiece~noun~An extremely good piece of work, especially a work of art~This book is regarded as a masterpiece.~
mat~noun~A small piece of fabric or material that is used to protect tables from cups etc.~She set her drink on a beer mat.~
mat~noun~A small carpet for decoration or to keep dirt out of the house~He wiped his feet on the mat in the hall.~
match~noun~A sports event where teams play against each other~We watched a rugby match.~
match~noun~A small wooden stick that can be set alight when rubbed against an uneven surface~He lit the cigar with a match.~
match~verb~If things match, they look well together or combine well~Her shirt matched her trousers.~
mate~verb~In animals, this refers to the act of having sex in order to produce young~When will the animals be ready to mate?~
mate~noun~An informal word for 'friend'~My mates are coming round tonight.~
mate~noun~The partner that an animal chooses to mate with~The wolf has had the same mate for many years.~
material~noun~A thing needed for a particular activity~She will need writing materials for school.~
material~noun~What is needed in order to make or build something~What sort of materials do you need to build the tree house?~
material~noun~A fabric used to make clothes etc.~What material is your shirt made from?~
mathematics~noun~The science of numbers, quantities, calculations, etc.~I find mathematics difficult.~'Mathematics' is a singular noun
maths~noun~An informal word for mathematics~I did maths in school.~'Maths' is a singular noun
matter~noun~An affair or subject etc. that you must deal with~This matter must be resolved as quickly as possible.~
matter~noun~Any kind of substance; something that can be touched~They studied different types of matter under a microscope.~
matter~noun~If you ask 'what's the matter?', you are asking what the problem is with somebody or something~What's the matter? Is everything OK?~
matter~verb~Be important or have an effect on things~His opinion does matter.~
mattress~noun~The thick, soft part of a bed that makes it comfortable to sleep on~She lay stretched out on the mattress.~
mature~verb~Become fully grown, both physically and mentally~Some people say girls mature before boys.~
mature~adjective~Fully developed~I think she can finally be treated as a mature adult.~
maximum~adjective~The most; the highest~The maximum number of people allowed is 30.~
maximum~noun~The greatest amount allowed~That wage will be your maximum.~
may~noun~The fifth month of the year, between April and June~We usually go on vacation in May.~
may~verb~If something may happen, it might happen~We may get there in time; We may go on holiday next week.~
may~verb~'May' can be used to say that although something is true, something else is also true~He may be famous but he isn't rich.~
may~verb~If you may do something, you have been given permission to do it~May I see you tomorrow?~'May' is often used instead of can for politeness
maybe~adverb~Perhaps; used to say that something may or may not be true~Maybe I should just forget him; Will you be there tonight? Maybe.~
mayonnaise~noun~A sauce made from oil, vinegar and egg yolks. It is often shortened to 'mayo'~I would like some mayonnaise with my dinner.~
mayor~noun~Someone who has been elected to represent the people of a town or city to the council or the government~Who is the new mayor?~
me~pronoun~'Me' is a word that you use for yourself when you are not the subject of the sentence~She told me not to go.~
meal~noun~An occasion when food is eaten, especially at a table~I really enjoyed that meal.~
mean~verb~Lead to~Working hard means more money.~
mean~adjective~Unwilling to share or give things; selfish~She has always been mean with her money.~
mean~verb~Intend~I mean to lose weight before summer.~
mean~adjective~Horrible or unkind to someone or something~The other children were mean to him.~
mean~noun~The means that you use to do something are the ways in which you do it~They recorded the speech by means of a Dictaphone.~
mean~verb~If something means something to you, it has importance for you~He means everything to her.~
mean~verb~If you mean something, you are sincere about it~I mean what I say, I will never speak to her again.~
mean~verb~What something means is what it represents, communicates or results in~What do you mean by that?~
meaning~noun~The meaning of something is what it represents or communicates~What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of that sign?~
meant~verb~'Meant' is used to show that something was intended (but usually was not done)~I meant to visit my dad but I forgot all about it.~
meant~verb~'Meant' is the past tense and past participle of 'mean'~I meant what I said yesterday.~
meantime~noun~The time between two things~What shall we do in the meantime?~
meanwhile~adverb~'Meanwhile' introduces something that is happening at the same time as other things~It took me an hour to get to the hospital. Meanwhile, my husband called all the family.~
measure~noun~An action to try to achieve a certain aim~New measures were taken to ensure secrecy.~
measure~noun~An amount of something~He put a measure of whiskey into the glass; he gained a measure of knowledge by doing the course.~
measure~verb~Find the size or quantity of something~She measured the length of the room.~
measure~verb~If something measures a certain size, it is that size~He measured a few inches shorter than the tallest man.~
measurement~noun~The size, quantity, etc. of something~What were her measurements?~
meat~noun~Flesh that can be eaten~Do you eat meat?~
mechanic~noun~A person who knows about motor vehicles, how they work and how to fix them~We called a mechanic to fix our car.~
mechanical~adjective~Connected to machines, engines, etc.~There were some mechanical defects with the product.~
medal~noun~A flat piece of metal that can be worn and is often given to the winner of a competition etc.~He won a silver medal.~
media~noun~Television, newspapers, radio, etc.~She was followed by the media.~
mediaeval~adjective~An old spelling of 'medieval'. See 'medieval'~~
medical~adjective~Connected to the study of disease, illness and injury~He read a medical journal.~
medical~noun~An examination of your entire body that a doctor does~He had to go for a medical before he could get the job.~
medicine~noun~The science of sickness and healing etc.~She decided to study medicine at university.~
medicine~noun~A substance that helps you to recover from an illness~The doctor gave me medicine for my cold.~
medieval~adjective~Related to the middle ages~He studied medieval architecture.~
meditate~verb~Think deeply about something and make plans for it~He meditated on the situation.~
meditate~verb~Spend time in silent contemplation, often for religious reasons~They meditate together every day.~
medium~noun~A way or means of communicating information~He used visual mediums to teach.~The plural of medium can be mediums or media
medium~adjective~A size between large and small~Our dog is a medium-sized.~
meet~verb~Encounter someone~We met in the mall.~
meet~verb~For people to organise to get together~We meet at the beach every Thursday.~
meet~verb~Satisfy~He has met all our requirements.~
meet~verb~If you meet someone you arrange to wait for them to arrive~We will meet you off the plane.~
meeting~noun~A gathering of people to discuss things~We are having a work meeting tonight.~
meeting~noun~A time when people meet each other~My first meeting with him was quite funny.~
melody~noun~Usually the main tune in a piece of music~He hummed the melody to himself.~
melon~noun~A large fruit with a hard skin, soft flesh and many seeds~I put melon in the fruit salad.~
melt~verb~change from a solid to a liquid due to heat~The ice cream melted in the sun.~
member~noun~To be a member of something is to belong to it~Are you a member of the society?~
member of parliament~noun~A person who has been elected by the public in a particular area to act on their behalf in parliament. Often shortened to 'MP'~Our local MP has organised a recycling programme for our town.~
membership~noun~The members of a group or club etc.~The membership came to a decision.~
membership~noun~The state of being a member of something~Can I apply for membership?~
memorable~adjective~Easily remembered, remarkable~It was a memorable day.~
memory~noun~Your memory is a function of your brain that allows you to remember things~She has a very good memory.~
memory~noun~A specific thing that you can remember from your past~We all have some fond childhood memories.~
memory~noun~The amount of space that a computer has to store things in~My computer is running out of memory.~
men~noun~'Men' is the plural of 'man'~The men went to work.~
mend~verb~Fix something that is broken or not working properly~Can you mend my radio?~
mental~adjective~Connected to the mind and thought~She had a mental picture of his face.~
mention~verb~Refer briefly to something~She mentioned the idea.~
mention~noun~A small comment on something or a short reference~She didn't even give me a mention.~
menu~noun~A list of all the food and drink that a restaurant serves~I didn't want anything on the menu.~
mere~adjective~No more than what is mentioned: a mere boy is just a boy (and can't be thought of as a man)~The mere sight of him made me cry.~
merely~adverb~'Merely' can mean 'only' or 'simply'~We merely spoke.~
mess~noun~If something is a mess, it is untidy~Her room is always a mess.~
mess~noun~If a situation is a mess, it is difficult and full of problems~She got herself into a huge mess with the police.~
mess about~verb~Fool around in an annoying way when you could be doing something useful~Stop messing about and get ready for school.~
mess up~verb~When you mess something up you ruin or spoil it (usually not permanently)~You've messed up the kitchen by leaving dirty dishes everywhere.~
message~noun~Information that you leave for someone when you cannot get in touch with them~I left you a message on the fridge.~
metal~noun~One of a number of substances that are usually hard, shiny and good at conducting heat and electricity~Steel and iron are both types of metal.~
meter~noun~A measuring device~His job is to read the gas meters.~
method~noun~A way of doing things~She has an unusual singing method.~
metre~noun~A unit for measuring length. Equal to 100 centimetres or 1,000 millimetres~He ran 100 metres.~
metric~adjective~The measuring system that uses grams, metres etc. rather than the imperial system~Metric units.~
microphone~noun~An electrical device that can make sounds or your voice louder and can also be used to record them~She sang into the microphone.~
microwave~noun~A small oven that cooks food quickly using electromagnetic waves~Just stick it in the microwave.~
microwave~verb~Cook food using a microwave~I don't like microwaved potatoes.~
mid-~prefix~In the middle of~Mid-afternoon.~
midday~noun~Noon; 12 o'clock in the day~We have lunch around midday.~
middle~noun~The time between the beginning and end of something~She felt ill in the middle of the day.~
middle~adjective~Something is middle if it sits between two other things~Go through the middle door.~
middle~noun~The middle of something is the part that is of roughly equal distance from all sides~I sat in the middle of the class.~
middle class~noun~A social grouping of people who are neither very rich nor very poor~My family come from the middle class.~
middle-aged~adjective~Middle-aged people are neither young nor old: around 40-60 years of age~I will be middle-aged soon.~
midnight~noun~12 o'clock at night~She woke up at midnight.~
might~verb~'Might' can be used to suggest something politely~I thought you might like to go out?~
might~verb~'Might' is the past tense of 'may'~He asked if he might have something to eat.~
might~verb~Used to show that something may happen~I might help you.~
mild~adjective~Gentle; not strong or harsh~She had a mild cold.~
mile~noun~A unit for measuring distance. About 1609 metres or 1760 yards~They ran ten miles for charity.~
military~adjective~Connected with the armed forces~A military uniform.~
milk~noun~The liquid produced by some animals, especially cows, which is drunk by humans and used to feed the babies of those animals~Do you take milk in your tea?~
milk~noun~The white liquid that a woman produces to feed her baby~Breast milk.~
milk~verb~Extract the milk from an animal's body~My job was to milk the animals.~
mill~noun~A building with machinery for manufacturing~A steel mill.~
mill~noun~A building where grain is ground to make flour~She worked in a flour mill for years.~
millennium~noun~A period of 1,000 years~How did you celebrate the new millennium?~
millimetre~noun~A unit of measurement equal to one thousandth of a metre~I need 30 millimetre long nails.~
million~article~The number 1,000,000~I wish I had a million pounds.~
millionaire~noun~A person who has at least one million in a certain currency~He wants to be a millionaire by the age of 30.~
millionth~adjective~Number 1,000,000 in a series~That is the millionth time I've said that.~
millionth~noun~One part of a million equal parts~I received a millionth of his fortune.~
min.~abbreviation~Short for minute or minutes~She slept for 8 hours and 10 min.~
mind~verb~If you mind something, it upsets or bothers you~I don't mind you dropping by.~
mind~verb~Used to warn someone of something~Mind the step!~
mind~verb~If you don't mind, about something you are not very concerned about it~I don't mind what time we leave at.~
mind~noun~If you change your mind, you come to a different decision or opinion~I won't change my mind, so stop asking.~
mind~noun~Your mind can be your brain, thoughts, ideas, etc.~It's all in your mind; She couldn't get the image out of her mind.~
mind~verb~If you say you wouldn't mind doing something, you mean that you would quite like to do it~I wouldn't mind going shopping on Saturday.~
mine~pronoun~'Mine' is the possessive form of 'I'~That book is mine.~
mine~noun~A deep hole in the ground where people dig out minerals~My husband worked in a diamond mine.~
mine~noun~A hidden bomb that explodes when it is touched~A land mine.~
mineral~noun~A substance that is found naturally in the earth~This area is rich in minerals.~
miniature~adjective~Very small~She had a set of miniature chess pieces.~
minimum~adjective~Smallest allowed~The minimum wage.~
minimum~noun~The smallest or lowest amount~You must pay a minimum of 10 dollars.~
minister~noun~A person who is in charge of a certain branch of the government~The education minister.~
minister~noun~A religious leader~Our church minister.~
ministry~noun~A government department with specific responsibilities~The Ministry of Defence.~
minor~adjective~Not very important~It was a minor detail.~
minority~noun~Less than half of a group~I was part of the minority.~
minority~noun~A group in a country etc. that is of a different race etc. and makes up a smaller percentage of the population than the dominant group~Racial minorities.~
minus~preposition~'Minus' means that one number is taken away from another number~Two minus one equals one.~
minus~adjective~If a minus (-) is placed before a number, it means that number is less than zero~Her bank balance was minus 40 pounds.~
minute~adjective~Tiny~The baby mice were minute.~The adjective and noun are pronounced differently
minute~noun~If you say you will only be a minute, you mean you won't take long to do something~I'll be finished in a minute.~
minute~noun~A minute is 60 seconds~She should be here in 30 minutes.~
miracle~noun~Something that seems impossible and is believed to have been done by God or a higher power~It was a miracle that she survived.~
mirror~noun~A special type of glass that allows you to see your reflection~She looked at her face in the mirror.~
miscarriage~noun~An event where a woman gives birth to an underdeveloped baby and the baby dies~She was very afraid of having a miscarriage.~
miserable~adjective~Making you feel unhappy or depressed~It was a miserable holiday.~
miserable~adjective~Unhappy or depressed~I was miserable all day.~
misery~noun~Great stress and suffering~He brought her nothing but misery.~
misleading~adjective~If something is misleading, it is deceptive and gives you the wrong ideas about things~His answers were misleading.~
miss~verb~If you miss something, you don't hit it or catch it etc.~He misses the ball every time.~
miss~verb~Not hear or see something~I missed that, what did you say?~
miss~verb~Be sad because someone you love isn't with you~He has only been away two days, but I miss him already.~
miss~verb~Fail to get somewhere or get something on time~I missed the bus; She missed the school play.~
miss~noun~'Miss' is a title sometimes used for unmarried women~What do you do for a living, Miss Smith?~
miss~noun~A failure to hit or catch etc. something~It was an incredible miss! I don't know how it didn't go in!~
missile~noun~Anything that is thrown with the intent to hurt someone~They threw all sorts of missiles at the police.~
missile~noun~A weapon that is sent through the air and explodes on a target~The armies fought with missiles.~
missing~adjective~If something or someone is missing, it cannot be found~He went missing for a few hours.~
mission~noun~An important job given to someone, especially one that involves work in a foreign country~I was scared that I wouldn't be able to complete the mission.~
mist~noun~Tiny drops of water that hang just above the ground and make it difficult for people to see~The mist will eventually lift.~
mistake~noun~Error; something incorrect that you do unintentionally~It was an easy mistake to make.~
mistake~verb~If you mistake something, you think wrongly about it~I mistook her for my sister.~
mistaken~adjective~Wrong; having made a mistake~She was mistaken about the competition.~
mistook~verb~'Mistook' is the past tense of 'mistake'~I mistook him for a thief.~
mistress~noun~A mistress is a woman that a married man is having an affair with~She was his mistress for years.~
mix~verb~Combine things so that they are difficult or impossible to separate~I mixed the herbs together.~
mix up~verb~Confuse things with each other~I always get the twins mixed up.~
mixture~noun~A substance that has been made by things being mixed together~She licked the mixture from the spoon.~
mixture~noun~A combination of different things or people~There was a mixture of people at the party.~
mm~abbreviation~Short for millimetre or millimetres~It was only 3 mm long.~
moan~verb~Make a long, low sound that shows you are unhappy or in pain~He moaned because of the pain in his stomach.~
moan~verb~Complain in an annoying way~He moaned all day long until eventually I told him to shut up.~
moan~noun~A long, low sound of unhappiness~She let out a long moan.~
mob~noun~A crowd of people who may become troublesome~The mob ran through the village.~
mobile~adjective~If something is mobile it can be easily moved about~A mobile phone; She's much more mobile after that operation.~
mock~adjective~Artificial, false~Her jacket was made of mock fur; He gasped in mock surprise.~
mock~verb~Tease someone in an unkind way~They mocked my accent at school.~
modal~adjective~A modal verb is a verb that works alongside other verbs to express permission, intention, possibility, etc.~I can do that now ('can' is a modal verb here).~
mode~noun~A type or way of doing something~Different modes of communication.~
model~noun~A person who poses for pictures or wears fashionable clothes to advertise them~She always wanted to be a model.~
model~verb~Base something on something else~She modelled her home on a designer's home.~
model~noun~A design or type of something~What model of car did you look at?~
model~noun~An example or system that others may wish to copy~They have created an economic model that other countries can follow.~
model~noun~A small copy of something~A model of the new apartment blocks.~
model~adjective~Being an example to others~He is a model husband.~
moderate~adjective~Having or reflecting non-extreme opinions~His policies are all quite moderate.~
moderate~adjective~A moderate amount is neither too much nor too little~He drinks a moderate amount.~
moderate~verb~If something moderates it becomes less extreme~The temperature should moderate through the evening.~The adjective and verb are pronounced differently
modern~adjective~Connected to the present time~The modern world.~
modern~adjective~New, different, following the latest styles, etc.~Modern houses; modern music.~
modernise~verb~Make something more up to date~We modernised the farmhouse.~
modest~adjective~Quite small and inexpensive~A modest wage; a modest home.~
modest~adjective~A modest person does not talk about their abilities etc. very much~It is better to be modest than to boast.~
modify~verb~Adapt or improve~She was told to modify her exercise regime.~
module~noun~A subject that makes up part of a university course~I am taking three modules this semester.~
moisture~noun~Small drops of water in the air, on a substance or surface, etc.~She wiped the moisture from the kettle.~
mom~noun~US English for mother~My mom drops me off at school.~Informal use
moment~noun~A certain time~She was waiting for the right moment to tell him.~
moment~noun~The exact point in time when something happens~He arrived at that moment.~
moment~noun~Quite a short period of time~I will be gone for just a few moments.~
monarchy~noun~A system where a king or queen is the head of state for a country~Do you think the monarchy should exist?~
monday~noun~The day of the week between Sunday and Tuesday~I find it hard to get up on Monday mornings.~
money~noun~The coins and notes (currency) used to buy goods; wealth in general~I don't have enough money for that!~
monitor~verb~Check something over time and see what happens to it~The nurse will monitor the child's progress.~
monitor~noun~A piece of specialised equipment that records things~Heart monitors.~
monk~noun~A member of a male religious community that lives away from other people~He became a monk.~
monkey~noun~An animal that can climb trees well and has a long tail~The monkeys swung from branch to branch.~
monster~noun~A scary creature that people, especially children, imagine to be real~There is a monster under my bed.~
month~noun~One of the 12 periods of between 28 and 31 days into which the year is divided~May, June and September are months.~
month~noun~A period of 30-31 days or, loosely, four weeks~He will be born in a month.~
monthly~adjective~Happening or existing once a month~Our monthly meetings.~
mood~noun~The way that you feel~She was in a very grumpy mood today.~
moon~noun~A large round object that moves around the earth and reflects light from the sun~I would love to stand on the moon.~
moor~verb~Attach a boat to something~They moored the boat in the docks.~
moor~noun~A large, open area of grass or heather that is often not used for farming~They had a picnic on the moor.~
moral~noun~One of the standards and ideas etc. that govern our behaviour~We share the same morals.~
moral~adjective~Connected to beliefs of what is right and wrong~That goes against her moral values.~
moral~adjective~Used to talk about things that you do because you believe them to be right, not necessarily because the law says you should~He felt it was his moral duty to help.~
morale~noun~Confidence, hope, enthusiasm~The workers were suffering from low morale.~
more~adverb~'More' forms some comparatives in adjectives and adverbs~More beautiful, more intelligent.~'Most' is used to form superlatives
more~adverb~'More or less' can mean 'nearly' or 'about'~The work is more or less finished.~
more~determiner~'More' shows a larger amount of something~He had more time than me.~
more~adverb~To a greater degree or extent than~I needed help more than he did.~
morning~noun~The first part of the day, up until lunchtime~I eat breakfast every morning.~
morning~noun~The part of the day between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m.~We got home in the early hours of the morning.~
mortal~noun~An ordinary human being, with the same amount of power as most others~I am a mere mortal.~
mortal~adjective~Being mortal means that you will die~We are all mortal.~
mortgage~noun~A large loan that you can apply for from a bank etc. in order to buy a house~They decided to get a mortgage and buy the house.~
mortgage~verb~Give a bank etc. your house so that you do not need to make any more payments on it~They ended up mortgaging their home.~
moslem~noun~A variant spelling of 'Muslim': see 'Muslim'~~
mosque~noun~A place where Muslims can worship~We went to visit one of the oldest mosques.~
mosquito~noun~A small flying insect that sucks the blood of humans and animals~I hate mosquitoes; they leave such itchy bites.~
most~pronoun~More than half of~Most people were happy with that.~
most~adverb~To the greatest degree or extent~Which one did you want the most?~
most~adverb~'Most' forms superlatives in some adjectives and adverbs~The most intelligent man alive.~'More' forms the comparative
most~pronoun~The largest number of~Who will get the most votes?~
mostly~adverb~Mainly~She wears red mostly.~
motel~noun~A place where people travelling by car can stay, usually for just one night~We spent the night in a motel.~
moth~noun~An insect similar to a butterfly but with less colourful wings; moths are usually seen at night~The moths flew around the light.~
mother~noun~The woman who gave birth to you or the woman who raised you~My mother works in the city.~
mother-in-law~noun~Your husband or wife's mother~I get on well with my mother-in-law.~
motion~noun~An official or formal proposal that must be debated or discussed~The motion was passed.~
motion~noun~Movement, or the way things move~I didn't like the motion of the waves.~
motivate~verb~If you motivate someone you encourage them and give them reasons for doing things~I tried to motivate my children to do well at school.~
motivate~verb~If something motivates you, it encourages you to act in certain way~I was motivated by money.~
motive~noun~The reason that you do something~Did she have a motive?~
motor~noun~The part of a vehicle or machine etc. that makes it move or work~The motor didn't seem to be working.~
motorbike~noun~A motorcycle; a powered vehicle with two wheels~He bought a new motorbike.~
motorist~noun~Someone who drives a car~Motorists complained about the condition of the roads.~
motorway~noun~A major road with at least two lanes for each direction of traffic~I was scared of driving along the motorway.~
mount~verb~Organise something~They mounted a protest against terrorism.~
mount~noun~Often used as short for 'mountain'~Mount Everest.~
mount~verb~Climb on something in order to ride it~She mounted the horse and rode across the field.~
mount~verb~Go up or onto something~He mounted the stage; He mounted the stairs.~Formal use
mount~verb~If something mounts, it becomes greater~Pressure was mounting.~
mountain~noun~A very high hill~We climbed to the top of the mountain.~
mouse~noun~A small, fur-covered animal that lives in fields or houses~She had mice in her kitchen.~
mouse~noun~A device attached to a computer that allows you to work without using a keyboard~She moved the mouse over the table.~
moustache~noun~Hair that a man allows to grow long on his upper lip~He is growing a moustache.~
mouth~noun~The part of the face that is used for speaking and eating~She opened her mouth but no sound came out.~
mouth~verb~If you mouth something, you form the words with your lips without making a sound~She mouthed 'I love you' across the room.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
move~noun~A change or movement~Each move she made was slower than the previous one.~
move~noun~The act of moving house or job~The move went smoothly.~
move~noun~An action that you do or need to take~That last move was a mistake.~
move~verb~Change the position of something or of yourself~He moved across the room.~
move~verb~If something moves you, it makes you feel strong emotions~The speech moved me.~
move~verb~Change where you live or where you work~I have moved house; He's thinking of moving jobs.~
movement~noun~The act of moving or being moved from one place to another~The movement of products from one country to another.~
movement~noun~A group of people who all have the same ideas etc. and wish to promote them~A religious movement.~
movie~noun~A film, especially one that you see in a cinema~Do you want to go and see a movie tonight?~
moving~adjective~If you find something to be moving, it touches you deeply~The play was quite moving.~
mp~noun~The abbreviation for 'member of parliament': see 'member of parliament'~The MPs met last week.~
mph~abbreviation~Short for 'miles per hour'~He drove at 20 mph.~
mr~abbreviation~The title you use before a man's name~Mr Smith.~
mrs~abbreviation~The title often used before a married woman's name~Mrs Jones.~
ms~abbreviation~This title can be used before either a married or an unmarried woman's name~Ms Peters.~
much~adverb~Something that doesn't happen much happens rarely~He doesn't exercise much.~
much~adverb~To a great degree~She arrived much too early.~
mud~noun~Soft, wet soil~He fell in the mud.~
muddy~adjective~Have much mud; be covered in mud~His clothes were very muddy.~
mug~verb~Attack someone to steal their money or possessions~I was mugged coming home from work.~
mug~noun~A large, deep cup~A mug of sweet tea.~
multi-~prefix~Adds the meaning of 'many' to a word~Multi-talented; multicultural.~
multiply~verb~Become bigger or more~The problems are multiplying.~
multiply~verb~Find the product of two numbers~2 multiplied by 6 is 12.~
mum~noun~UK English for 'mother'~I went to visit my mum.~
mumble~verb~Mutter something in a quiet way that is difficult for others to understand~He mumbled behind my back.~
mummy~noun~A child's term for mother~I love my mummy.~
mummy~noun~A mummified body: a body that has been preserved using special techniques~Ancient mummies.~
murder~noun~The crime of intentionally killing someone~He was cleared of all charges of murder.~
murder~verb~Intentionally kill someone~He murdered his fellow inmate.~
murmur~verb~Say something so softly that it is difficult to hear~He murmured the words in my ear.~
muscle~noun~Tissues in your body that allow you to move~She pulled a muscle running.~
museum~noun~A building where historical or artistic etc. things are kept for the public to come and view~A museum full of dinosaur bones.~
mushroom~noun~A short fungus, some varieties of which can be eaten~Mushroom soup.~
music~noun~An attractive arrangement of sounds~I listen to music in my spare time.~
music~noun~The notes used to show musicians how to play a piece of music~Can you read music?~
musical~adjective~Connected or involved with music~A musical concert.~
musical~noun~A story that is acted out with singing and dancing~We went to watch a musical.~
musician~noun~Someone who can play a musical instrument well~She is a good player but I wouldn't call her an excellent musician.~
muslim~noun~Someone who believes in Islam~Her parents are both Muslims.~
muslim~adjective~Connected to Islam~A Muslim holiday.~
must~verb~'Must' can be used to show that something is necessary~You must obey the law.~
must~verb~You can use 'must' to say that something is likely to be true~You must be tired after all that walking.~
must~verb~'Must' can be used to make a suggestion~You really must read Hamlet, it's brilliant!~Must is a modal verb. This means that it never has any endings
must~noun~A 'must' is something that you really should do~The new Terminator movie is a must.~
mustache~none~US English: see Moustache~He grew a mustache.~
mustard~noun~A cold yellow or brown sauce that is made from seeds and tastes hot and spicy~A jar of English mustard.~
mutter~verb~Say something quietly that others find hard to hear, especially when you are annoyed~He sat in the corner and muttered to himself.~
mutual~adjective~Something that two people have in common, or that goes both ways between them, is mutual~They had a strong mutual affection.~
my~determiner~'My' shows that something belongs to me~That's my book.~
myself~pronoun~'Myself' is used to emphasise 'I'~I don't think that's fair myself.~
myself~pronoun~Can be used for something that you do to yourself~I hurt myself when running yesterday.~
myself~pronoun~Can mean that something was done alone or single-handedly~I painted that myself.~
mysterious~adjective~Difficult to understand; confusing~Although the jewels were watched all night, they still disappeared. It's mysterious.~
mystery~noun~Something that is hard to understand or explain~We still have not solved the mystery of the great pyramids.~
myth~noun~An ancient story used to try to explain natural events~Greek gods of myth and legend.~
myth~noun~Something that many people believe to be true, but is not~It's a myth that women are better cooks than men.~
nail~noun~The hard coverings at the end of your fingers and toes~She cut her nails with scissors.~
nail~verb~Place something somewhere using a nail~He nailed the poster to the wall.~
nail~noun~A thin, pointed piece of metal that holds things together or helps hold things to a wall~Put the nail in the wall.~
naked~adjective~Wearing nothing~You cannot walk about naked in public.~
name~verb~Give something a name~They named their first child 'Ben'.~
name~verb~Say someone's name~He was named on the news last night.~
name~noun~The word that something is known by~My name is Mary; What is the name of this animal?~
napkin~noun~A piece of paper or fabric that you can use to clean your mouth or protect your clothes after or during eating~Could you pass me a napkin please?~
nappy~noun~A covering that is put over a baby's bottom to absorb its waste~He needs his nappy changed.~
narrow~adjective~If something is narrow, it has a short distance from one side to the other~A narrow river.~
narrow~verb~Become less wide~The road narrowed further into the country.~
nasty~adjective~Mean, unkind, bad~She is a nasty girl; that was a nasty fall.~
nation~noun~A country or all the people living in the country~The United Nations.~
national~adjective~Concerned or connected with an entire country~A national disaster.~
national~adjective~Owned or operated by a certain country~A national museum.~
nationality~noun~The right of belonging to a certain country~I am American, what nationality are you?~
native~adjective~Related to the country or area you were born in~They married in their native place.~
native~adjective~Refers to the language that you learn to speak as you grow up~English is my native language.~
native~noun~A person who was born in a certain country is a native of that country~A native of Ireland.~
natural~adjective~Normal~It was quite natural for things to work out like that.~
natural~adjective~As things are in nature~We watched the animals in their natural habitat.~
natural~adjective~A skill that you were born with is a natural skill~He is a natural musician.~
nature~noun~All the things that exist in the world without being made by humans~We took a walk through the forest, enjoying nature.~
nature~noun~A person's nature is the way they are and the type of things they do~It's in her nature to be nasty.~
naughty~adjective~Misbehaving, being bad or behaving badly, especially of children~He was never a naughty child.~
naughty~adjective~Slightly rude, sometimes connected with sex~A naughty joke.~Informal use
navy~noun~The ships and people that make up the part of the armed forces that fights at sea~He joined the navy at the age of 16.~
near~adverb~Almost at~A near-miss.~
near~adverb~A short time away from something~It is near the time to go home; We are near the end of the play.~
near~verb~Come closer to~They neared the end of the show; It was nearing the end of the party.~Very formal use
near~adverb~A short distance away from~They sat near me; We were near the cottage.~
nearby~adverb~Quite close~The hotel is nearby; Let's eat at a nearby cafÈ.~
nearest~adjective~'Nearest' is the superlative of 'near'~She is the nearest the door.~
nearly~adverb~Not quite, but almost~It's nearly time to go home; He nearly won.~
neat~adjective~Tidy and carefully arranged~She always looks so neat; Is he always so neat?~
neat~adjective~An alcoholic drink that has not been mixed with anything, not even ice-cubes, is said to be neat~He liked to drink whiskey neat.~
necessary~adjective~Needed; that must be done or had~Is it necessary to buy her new shoes? These things are necessary for my work.~
necessity~noun~The need for something or the need to do something~She learnt to swim, more out of necessity than anything else.~
necessity~noun~Something that you must have in order to survive~Food is a human necessity.~
neck~noun~The part of your body between your head and shoulders~She tied a scarf around her neck.~
necklace~noun~A type of jewellery worn around the neck~A gold necklace.~
need~verb~If something needs something, it must have or ought to have it~The walls need a coat of paint; The dog needs a bath.~
need~verb~If someone needn't do something, it is not necessary for them to do it~You needn't cook tonight, I will.~'Needn't' is short for 'Need not'
need~noun~A strong feeling that you really need or want something~I felt the need to hug him.~
need~noun~If there is a need for something there is not enough of it~The need for funding; the need for food.~
need~verb~Used to show how you should go about doing something~You need to write your name here please.~
need~noun~Your needs are all the things you require in order to live comfortably~I make enough money to cover my basic needs.~
needle~noun~A sharp, thin piece of metal with a hole in one end, used for sewing~She sewed his button with a needle and thread.~
needle~noun~A thin instrument used to inject drugs into a person's body~She was scared of needles.~
needle~noun~A thin piece of metal on a scientific instrument which shows a measurement etc~The needle pointed to 20 degrees.~
needle~noun~Long pieces of metal or plastic which work with wool etc. when knitting~She bought me knitting needles for my birthday.~
negative~adjective~If a scientific test is negative, it shows no evidence of anything~Results kept coming back negative.~
negative~adjective~A negative person does not have much hope or enthusiasm~He is so negative about everything.~
negative~adjective~Anything that means 'no' is negative~She always receives a negative response.~
negative~adjective~Bad~A negative reaction.~
neglect~verb~Not take good care of someone or something~They neglected the animals.~
neglect~noun~Lack of attention~The house suffered from neglect.~
negotiate~verb~This is when people discuss things to try to reach a result that everyone is happy with~They negotiated for three days.~
negotiation~noun~The discussion between people who are trying to reach an agreement~The negotiations seem to be going well.~
neighbour~noun~Someone who lives next door to you or close to you~We don't have much to do with our neighbours.~
neighbourhood~noun~An area of a town or city where people live~I wouldn't like to live in that neighbourhood.~
neither~determiner~Not even one of two~Neither of them talks to me anymore.~'Neither' is followed by a singular verb
neither~adverb~Used to show that a negative is true of two things~I neither liked him nor hated him.~
nephew~noun~If your brother or sister has a son, that child is your nephew~My nephew will be six next week.~
nerve~noun~A long, thin thread that carries messages around the body and to the brain~She damaged a nerve.~
nerve~noun~If you have the nerve to do something, you are brave enough to do it~I don't think she has the nerve to ask him.~
nerve~noun~Nerves are feelings of worry etc. If you have strong nerves you are good at remaining calm~Her nerves were shaky; She drank tea to calm her nerves.~
nerve~noun~If you get on someone's nerves, you annoy or irritate them~I don't like him; he gets on my nerves.~
nervous~adjective~Anxious and worried~I was nervous about the exam.~
nest~noun~A place that birds and some insects make to live and have their young in~The nest fell out of the tree.~
net~noun~The Net (or net) is short for the internet~She's on the Net.~
net~adjective~A net amount of money is the amount left over when all deductions have been made~Net income.~
net~noun~A mesh of string, fibre, etc.~A hair net; Net curtains.~
network~noun~A system of roads, lines, nerves, computers, etc. that contact or cross over each other~The road network; A network of veins.~
network~noun~A close group of people or companies etc~A network of offices; a network of friends.~
neutral~adjective~Taking neither side of an argument~The country stayed neutral all through the war; She didn't agree with either side so she remained neutral.~
neutral~noun~A position of the gears in a vehicle where no power is transmitted between the engine and wheels~Put the car in neutral when you stop.~
never~adverb~Not ever; at no time~She will never go back; I have never gone there.~
nevertheless~adverb~Points to a contrast with something you have just mentioned~I don't think we can win, but we should try nevertheless.~
new~adjective~Recently discovered, invented or found~A new disease.~
new~adjective~Recently made or produced~A new house; New crops.~
new~adjective~Something that has never been used before~The boat is brand new.~
new~adjective~Something that you haven't seen or experienced before~He taught me a new way of thinking.~
new year~noun~New Year is the beginning of the year. Many people celebrate this~All our family are getting together to celebrate New Year.~
newly~adverb~Recently; just~Our newly decorated house.~
news~noun~Information that you receive about different things~She told me the news about the new baby; That's news to me!~
news~noun~Information about current events etc. that is broadcast on television and radio and written about in newspapers etc.~What were the headlines in the news today?~
newspaper~noun~A set of large printed sheets of paper that contain the day's or the week's news~I bought a newspaper at the corner shop.~
next~adverb~'Next to' means beside or directly after~I put the cup down next to him.~
next~adverb~Refers to the thing that comes after whatever is now~Where are we going next?~
next~adjective~Closest in the future to this moment~He will be here next month.~
next~noun~Something that is next~I will phone you the week after next.~
nice~adjective~Pleasant and enjoyable~A nice day; a nice girl; a nice hat.~
nick~verb~Make a small cut in something~I nicked myself on the fence.~
nickname~noun~An informal name given to someone, often by their close friends and family~They gave him the nickname 'Snout' because of the shape of his nose.~
niece~noun~If you sister or brother has a daughter, that child is your niece~My niece was born today.~
night~noun~The time in a period of 24 hours when it is dark~He slept all night.~
night~noun~From when it becomes dark until you go to bed~Do you want to come round for dinner tomorrow night?~
nightclub~noun~A place where people can go to drink and dance late into the night~She loved going to nightclubs on a Friday night.~
nightmare~noun~A very unpleasant situation or experience~The accident was a nightmare.~
nightmare~noun~A very unpleasant or frightening dream~I had a nightmare about being chased.~
nil~noun~The number (0). Nothing. Zero~The score was nil all.~
nine~none~The number 9, which sits between 8 and 10~She was pregnant for nine months.~
nineteen~none~The number 19, which sits between 18 and 20~The book cost nineteen pounds.~
nineteenth~adjective~Number 19 in a series of numbers~The nineteenth song.~
ninetieth~adjective~Number 90 in a series of numbers~His ninetieth birthday.~
ninety~none~The number 90, which sits between 89 and 91~He has run ninety races in his life.~
ninth~noun~One part out of nine equal parts~He got a ninth of the profits.~
ninth~adjective~Number 9 in a series of numbers~The ninth concert.~
nipple~noun~Either of the two small, hard parts of a person's chest~Babies can drink milk from their mother's nipples.~
no~adverb~Can be used with adjectives and adverbs to mean 'not'~I felt no worse than last night.~
no~exclamation~Can be used as a negative~No, I can't do it; No, they aren't back yet.~
no~exclamation~Can be used as an interjection to express surprise or shock~No, don't go!~
no~determiner~None, not any~We have no milk left.~
no~determiner~Used in signs and notices etc. to indicate that you're not allowed to do something~No smoking; no parking.~
noble~adjective~Have good qualities such as honesty and loyalty~He was a noble man; That was a noble action.~
nobody~pronoun~'Nobody' and 'no-one' have the same meaning. Not one person~Nobody supported him.~
nod~verb~Move your head up and down to show agreement with something~She nodded to show she agreed with me.~
nod~noun~The upward and downward movement of the head~A nod is as good as a wink.~
noise~noun~A loud, often unpleasant sound~The noise from next door was starting to annoy me.~
noisy~adjective~Create or be full of noise~The room was very noisy; The baby was noisy.~
non-~prefix~'Non' is a prefix meaning 'not'~Non-applicable; non-existent.~
none~pronoun~Not one or not any~None of them helped us.~
nonetheless~adverb~Nonetheless shows a contrast with something just mentioned~I didn't want him to go, but he left nonetheless.~
nonsense~noun~Silly, untrue or foolish ideas, thoughts and actions etc.~She talks so much nonsense; It's nonsense that he moved out.~
noon~noun~12 o'clock in the middle of the day; midday~We will have lunch at noon.~
no-one~pronoun~Means the same as 'nobody'. Not one person.~No-one knew how to fix the problem.~Can also be given as 'no one', without the hyphen
nor~conjunction~'Nor' is used with a negative such as 'neither' or 'not' to say that something else is negative~I was neither worried nor interested by her. I won't go and pick her up and nor will Jane.~
normal~adjective~Usual, typical~It is normal to feel that way; That is the normal reaction; That is the normal dose.~
normally~adverb~Usually, typically~I normally go to school quite early.~
normally~adverb~In a usual way; not out of the ordinary~She is breathing normally again.~
north~adverb~In the direction of north~We need to head north.~
north~noun~One of the four points of the compass. North is on your left when you look towards the rising sun~Is the town to the north?~
north~noun~Parts of the world that are more towards the north~They moved up north; They live in the north of Scotland.~
north america~noun~North America is a continent that is made up of Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico~We are stopping in North America on our world tour.~
north-east~noun~A point between north and east~They were travelling towards the north-east.~
northern~adjective~Connected with the north~Northern hemisphere.~
north-west~noun~A point between north and west~The town lay to the north-west.~
nose~noun~The part of the face that sticks out above the mouth and is used for smelling and breathing~She blew her nose.~
nostril~noun~One of two small openings at the end of your nose that you can breathe through~He got something stuck in his nostril.~
not~adverb~'Not' can be used when contrasting two things~A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.~
not~adverb~'Not' can be used to make the word or phrase after it negative~It's not a lot of work.~
not~adverb~'Not' can make a sentence negative, usually by joining with the verb~He didn't go.~'Be' (in its various parts), 'do' and 'have' are verbs that 'not' can join with. It then becomes n't
not~adverb~'Not' can be used to make a phrase or sentence mean 'no'~Will you come with me? I think not!~
note~noun~A sound in music, or its symbol on the page~Read and follow the notes.~
note~noun~A short reminder that you write for yourself~She never made notes in class.~
note~noun~A feeling or impression~A note of sarcasm in his voice.~
note~verb~Pay attention to a fact~You should note that the office is closed on Saturdays.~
note~noun~Paper money is referred to as notes~A £20 note.~
note~verb~Notice something and possibly write it down~He noted the colour of her dress.~
note~noun~A brief letter~I left a note on the fridge.~
nothing~pronoun~Not a single thing; a quantity of zero~There was nothing left to eat.~
notice~verb~Begin to hear or see or smell etc. something~I noticed the smell of food in the air.~
notice~noun~Advance information or warning~She gave him three days' notice about the case.~
notice~noun~If someone brings something to your notice, they make you aware of it~She brought the records to my notice.~
notice~noun~Written information that is usually put in a public place~I read the notice on the door.~
noticeable~adjective~Clear to see~A noticeable change in his behaviour; She drove a very noticeable sports car.~
notion~noun~A thought or idea~I had a notion that she wouldn't arrive; My parents' notions of marriage are different to mine.~
notorious~adjective~Famous, especially for doing something bad~This is a notorious place for drug addicts; He is a notorious criminal.~
nought~none~The number 0 (zero)~I rated her performance nought out of ten.~
noun~noun~A proper noun gives the name of things~John; Paris; Sylvia; Rome.~
noun~noun~A word that stands a person, place or thing~Dog, chair, storm, democracy.~
nov~abbreviation~This is the abbreviation for November~Nov 1st.~
novel~adjective~New, interesting, different from other things~A novel idea.~
novel~noun~A published fictional book~That was the first novel she wrote.~
novelist~noun~A person who writes novels~She is a world-famous novelist.~
november~noun~The eleventh month of the year, between October and December~Holiday in November.~
novice~noun~An untrained or inexperienced person~She is a novice at chess.~
now~adverb~'Now and then' means 'occasionally'~He visits me now and then.~
now~adverb~'Just now' means soon or a short time before~I will be home just now; He left just now.~
now~adverb~'Now' attracts attention to what you are saying~Now, where were we?~
now~adverb~At the present time~She is in the bath now; I will leave now.~
now~conjunction~'Now' connects two things that have some relation to each other~Things have gone back to normal now that we have both cars.~
nowhere~adverb~No place; not in any place~There was nowhere for me to study.~
nuclear~adjective~Connected with nuclear power or weapons~A nuclear explosion.~
nude~adjective~Naked; wearing nothing~A beach where you can sunbathe nude.~
nuisance~noun~Something that causes you irritations and problems~That child is such a nuisance.~
numb~adjective~If a part of your body goes numb, it loses all feeling~I woke up and my arm was numb.~
number~noun~A person's number can be their telephone number~Can I have your number?~
number~noun~One of the symbols used in mathematics and counting (1, 2, etc.), or the word that corresponds to it~The number two; the number 2.~
number~verb~Give something in a list or series a number~Did you number the envelopes?~
number~noun~An amount or quantity of things~A number of dogs in the pound; a number of people at the meeting.~
numerous~adjective~A lot of something; many~He received numerous letters from fans.~
nun~noun~A woman who has dedicated her life to God~She decided to become a nun.~
nurse~verb~Take care of someone who is sick~I nursed him back to health.~
nurse~noun~A person who often works in a hospital and looks after people who are ill~The nurse gave me my tablets every morning.~
nursery~noun~A type of school where very young children are looked after while their parents work~I went to nursery when I was three.~
nut~noun~A small piece of metal with a threaded hole in the centre that allows a bolt to be attached to it~Nuts and bolts.~
nut~noun~A small fruit with a hard shell that is often eaten by people and animals~I like salted nuts.~
nylon~noun~A strong artificial material used to make things such as rope and clothes~The jacket was 20 per cent nylon.~
obey~verb~Do as you are asked to do~You must obey your parents.~
object~noun~Something that can be held or seen but is not alive; a thing~She carried a small object in her pocket.~
object~verb~If you object to something, you do not allow it or agree with it~She objected to me staying the night.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
object~noun~The aim or reason for doing something~The object of the class is to teach you basic survival skills.~
object~noun~The object of a sentence is the thing that is being affected by the verb~The dog ran into the door ('door' is the object).~
objection~noun~An objection is the reason you disagree with something~Please voice your objections now.~
objective~noun~Something that you are trying to gain or achieve~The objective was to beat the old record.~
objective~adjective~If you are objective you look at the facts only, and don't consider feelings and emotions etc.~She kept an objective attitude when she looked at the case.~
obligation~noun~Something you must do because it is your responsibility~I had to fulfil all my obligations before leaving.~
obscene~adjective~Something connected with sex that many people dislike or find offensive~Obscene pictures.~
observation~noun~The act of watching something closely~Observation of the suspect's movements.~
observation~noun~A comment or remark~He made some observations about the work.~
observe~verb~See~I observed the ducks in the pond.~
observe~verb~obey or follow rules or laws or customs etc~Criminals will be forced to observe the new penalties for crime.~
observe~verb~Watch something or someone carefully and closely~We observed the animals over a three-year period.~
obsessed~adjective~If you are obsessed with something, you cannot think about anything else~She was obsessed with singing.~
obstacle~noun~Something that gets in your way and makes movement difficult~They were only a few more obstacles in her way.~
obstruct~verb~Block a passage so that it is difficult for things to get past you~The branch obstructed the road.~
obtain~verb~Get something~He obtained a pass in his exam.~
obvious~adjective~Easy to take in, see or understand~It was obvious that she didn't want to see him.~
occasion~noun~A special event such as a wedding~We planned a party to celebrate the special occasion.~
occasion~noun~A time when something happens~I will forgive you on this occasion.~
occasionally~adverb~Sometimes but not very often~Occasionally we go for drinks.~
occupation~noun~This is when the army of one country stays in and controls another country~The British occupation of India.~
occupation~noun~The job that you do to earn money~What is your occupation?~
occupation~noun~A pastime~Skating is her occupation.~
occupy~verb~If space is occupied, it is fully taken up~All the seats in the train were occupied.~
occupy~verb~For the army of one country to control another country~Armed forces occupied the country.~
occupy~verb~Live or work in a particular place~The third floor is occupied by estate agents.~
occur~verb~Happen, or be found somewhere~The riot occurred at night.~
occur~verb~If something occurs to you, it suddenly comes into your mind~The thought just occurred to me.~
ocean~noun~A very large, salty body of water~They swam in the Indian Ocean.~
o'clock~adverb~O'clock is used with numbers to tell the time~It's 3 o'clock.~
oct~abbreviation~This is the abbreviation for October~Oct 2nd.~
october~noun~The tenth month of the year, between September and November~They married in October.~
odd~adjective~Strange or weird~He was an odd person.~
odd~adjective~'Odd' can mean 'occasional'~He liked the odd cigar.~
odd~adjective~Things that do not match are called 'odd'~He put odd shoes on his feet.~
odd~adjective~Odd numbers are those such as 1, 3 and 5 that cannot be divided evenly by 2~Is 7 an odd number?~
odds~noun~The chances of something happening can be referred to as the odds~What are the odds on him winning?~
of~preposition~show that something belongs to something else~The lid of the box.~
of~preposition~Used to say what makes something up~A box of chocolates.~
of~preposition~Used with numbers, e.g. to give someone's age~A boy of twelve.~
of~preposition~Used to show that something is part of a group~Many of the girls liked the colour red.~
of~preposition~Used to show that two nouns are related~The boy is the star of the team.~
off~adverb~'Off' can show that something has been removed or taken away~He cut his hair off.~
off~adverb~Distant or away~He ran off; We swam off the coast of South Africa.~
off~adverb~Cancelled; not going to happen~The wedding is off.~
off~adjective~If food has begun to rot or go sour it can be referred to as 'off'~Don't eat the meat; it's off.~
off~adverb~If something is off, it is in the non-working position~The light was switched off.~
off~adverb~If you take time off, you don't go to work etc. for a while~She took some time off to relax.~
offence~noun~An illegal act; a crime~He was arrested for committing several offences.~
offend~verb~Upset someone by being unpleasant to them~He has managed to offend me again!~
offense~none~US spelling of 'offence': see 'offence'~~
offer~noun~The act of offering something~He made me a good offer.~
offer~verb~Ask someone if they would like something~I offered him a biscuit.~
office~noun~Some government departments, especially in the UK~The Home Office.~
office~noun~A room at home or at work that you can do non-manual work from~He sat behind his desk in his office.~
officer~noun~A person with authority in the armed forces~Navy officers.~
official~adjective~Allowed or approved by someone in authority~The official records.~
official~noun~In organisations, an official is someone who has power and authority~The referee consulted the fourth official.~
official~adjective~Related to the job of a person in authority~Official responsibilities.~
often~adverb~Happening many times~He often comes to collect us after school.~
often~adverb~'How often?' means 'how many times?'~How often does he visit?~
oh~interjection~'Oh' is used as a reaction to something that has just been said, or to express an emotion~Oh, did you? Oh no, he's following me again!~
oil~verb~Put oil on something; lubricate~The engine needed to be oiled.~
oil~noun~A thick liquid obtained from plants and animals that is often used in cooking~Vegetable oil.~
oil~noun~A thick liquid found underground and used for fuel and in many industries~What is the price of oil now?~
ok~exclamation~'OK' can mean the same as 'yes'~Do you want to go? OK.~
ok~exclamation~'OK' can be used to make sure that the person you are speaking to has heard or paid attention to you~We will leave at 6, OK?~
ok~adverb~If things are OK they are all right; safe and well~Is he OK? Is it OK if I come too?~
old~adjective~Not new; having been used many times~I wore my old shoes.~
old~adjective~'Old' is used in stating someone's age~The baby is two weeks old.~
old~adjective~Elderly; having lived many years~An old person.~
old-fashioned~adjective~Old-fashioned things are those that people used to do, say or have, but that are rarely used now~She has old-fashioned thoughts!~
on~adverb~Used to show that something is continuing~They moved on; He ran on; He worked on.~
on~preposition~Used to show that one thing immediately follows another~On delivery, she ran upstairs.~
on~adverb~If something is going to happen in the future, it is said to be on~The game is still on.~
on~adverb~Being worn; on your body~She has both shoes on.~
on~preposition~'On' can mean 'about'~She watched a documentary on animals.~
on~preposition~Using something~I played a song on the guitar; I worked on the computer.~
on~preposition~Shows what day or date etc. something happens~Our anniversary is on Wednesday.~
on~preposition~Forming part of something or leaning, touching, resting on it~The dog on the bed; The mouse on the floor.~
on~preposition~If you are on a type of transport, you are using it~She went on the bus, train, bike, etc.~
on~adverb~Being used or operating~The light was on; The machine was on.~
once~adverb~At a certain time in the past~That was true once, but not anymore; Once we were friends.~
once~conjunction~'Once' can mean 'when' or 'as soon as'~I will read the book once I finish my work.~
once~noun~If something is done at once, it is done without delay~Tidy your room at once.~
once~noun~'At once' means 'at the same time'~They all ran at once.~
once~adverb~One time~I only met her once.~
one~determiner~Used to mention a time without giving exact details~One day last year.~
one~none~The number 1, which comes just before 2~One candle on the cake.~
one~determiner~'The one' can be used to mean 'the only' or 'the most important'~That was the one person I could trust.~
one~pronoun~Used to replace a word that has already been mentioned~Would you like a sweet? I'd love one!~
one~pronoun~Used to refer to people in general or to yourself~One should eat one's breakfast every morning.~Formal use
one another~pronoun~Each other~We try to help one another.~
oneself~pronoun~Can be used to refer to people in general or to yourself, with emphasis~The best way to live is to be oneself.~
oneself~pronoun~This means that you do things rather than have others do them for you~One should do most things oneself.~'Oneself' is rarely used
onion~noun~A round, layered vegetable with a strong smell and taste~Steak and onions.~
only~adverb~Used to mention conditions that must be met~You can borrow some money only if you pay it back next week.~
only~conjunction~Can mean 'but' or 'except'~I would love to come, only I'm too tired.~
only~adverb~If something only just occurred, it occurred very recently~They only just got married.~
only~adverb~If you only just do something, you almost don't do it~They only just managed to get out.~
only~adjective~If something is the only thing it means there are no others~He was the only person that helped us.~
only~adverb~Used to show that some knowledge, ability, etc. is limited to certain persons~Only I knew the time.~
only~adverb~Just; no more than~He is only 14; She was only playing for a while.~
only child~adjective~A child who has no brothers or sisters~I was glad to be an only child.~
onto~preposition~'Onto' describes where something has been moved to~They moved the book onto the table; I got onto the plane.~
open~verb~Move something so that it is not closed and things can pass through it~He opened the door and let me in.~
open~verb~Allow customers to enter your premises~We open at 10 on Saturdays.~
open~adjective~Not closed~The window was open.~
open~adjective~Doing business~Is the bank open?~
open~adjective~An open person is honest and does not hide their feelings~He was very open with me about his family.~
opening~adjective~The first thing; the beginning~The opening question was intended to be rhetorical.~
opening~noun~The first or beginning part of something~I liked the opening of the book.~
opening~noun~A space or hole that something can move through~The cat squeezed through the opening in the fence.~
opera~noun~A dramatic play where the words are sung rather than recited~Would you like to go to the opera?~
operate~verb~Use or control a machine~Do you know how to operate this equipment?~
operate~verb~In medicine, a surgeon operates by cutting your body open and fixing things inside you~I was worried that they might need to operate on me.~
operate~verb~Function in a certain way~This machine operates very slowly.~
operation~noun~A medical treatment that involves a surgeon cutting you open to fix things inside you~He had an operation to remove the lump.~
operation~noun~A complex, organised activity that includes several people~Government operations.~
opinion~noun~Your opinions are your views on issues, people, etc.~My opinions are very different to yours.~
opponent~noun~A person that you are playing against, fighting, arguing with, etc.~She knew she would defeat her opponent.~
opportunity~noun~A chance to do something~This is your opportunity to publish your work.~
opposed~adjective~To be opposed to something is to be against it~I am opposed to this government policy.~
opposite~adverb~Across from~The dog stood opposite the cat.~
opposite~adjective~The most different; the furthest away~They lived on opposite sides of the city; He went in the opposite direction.~
opposite~noun~Something that is as different as possible from something else~The opposite of up is down; They were complete opposites.~
opposition~noun~The major political party that competes with the government~A member of the opposition.~
opposition~noun~Strong disagreement~There was much opposition to the school's idea.~
opt~verb~To opt for something is to choose it~I would opt for the black tie rather than the blue one.~
optimistic~adjective~Happy and expecting the best things to happen~She is very optimistic about life in general.~
option~noun~A choice~You have two options.~
or~conjunction~Used to offer another possibility~Would you like the blue ones or the black ones?~'Either' and 'or go' together; 'neither' and 'nor' go together
or~conjunction~Used to show that something might happen~You need to tell the police what you saw or they might never catch the criminal.~
oral~adjective~Spoken; to do with speaking~Our oral skills were tested in the interview.~
orange~noun~A round, orange-coloured citrus fruit~Orange and grapefruit for breakfast.~
orange~noun~The colour of a carrot, made by mixing red and yellow~She painted the walls orange.~
orchestra~noun~A large group of musicians, usually classical, who are led by a conductor~The orchestra sounded beautiful.~
order~verb~Use your authority to tell people what to do~She ordered them to sit down.~
order~verb~Ask for something to be brought or sent to you~He ordered more coffee.~
order~noun~'In order to' means that you do something to achieve something~She wrote the book in order to make money.~
order~noun~The sensible arrangement of things~Would you put those letters in some kind of order?~
order~noun~Something that you ask to be brought or sent to you~I placed an order.~
order~noun~A controlled state where everything is running smoothly~The teacher shouted for order in the class.~
order~noun~A command; something that someone with authority tells you to do~He gave me the order to run.~
ordinary~adjective~Normal; like most things~She was just an ordinary person.~
organ~noun~A large musical instrument with keys and pipes~She learnt to play the organ.~
organ~noun~One of the large internal parts of your body~Heart, liver, lungs, etc. are all organs.~
organic~adjective~Organic food has been made or grown without chemicals~Organic meat.~
organise~none~Arrange things and get them all to work together~She organised a dance for charity.~
organisation~noun~A group of people that meet and communicate regularly for a particular purpose~She was part of a political organisation.~
organisation~noun~The way in which things are arranged~Their organisation skills weren't very good.~
organize~verb~A different way of spelling 'organise': see 'organise'~~This spelling can be used in the UK; it is always used in the US
origin~noun~The beginning or start of something~She doesn't know her origins.~
original~adjective~First; having been there in the beginning~I like the original wallpaper.~
original~noun~A document or work of art etc. that is the first; all versions that come after it are copies~I bought a copy because the original was so expensive.~
original~adjective~New and different from anything that has already been done~An original idea.~
ornament~noun~A small object that is kept for decoration rather than practical use~Her home was full of ornaments.~
other~pronoun~An alternative; something that is not the first of its kind to be mentioned~These pyjamas are dirty so I'll wear the other ones.~
other~pronoun~'Other' can refer to a second or opposite person or thing~She moved to the other side of town.~
other~adjective~'The other day' or week etc. means 'recently'~I saw him the other week.~
other~pronoun~Additional~The other people arrived later.~
otherwise~adverb~Can mean 'apart from that'~She likes dogs but otherwise doesn't really care for animals.~
otherwise~adverb~In a different way to the way already mentioned~He liked the idea but she thought otherwise.~
otherwise~adverb~Can mean 'or else'~You will have to leave now, otherwise you will miss your train.~
ought~verb~If you ought to do something you should do it because it is the right thing to do~You ought to say sorry.~
ought~verb~If something ought to be a certain way, it will probably be that way~She ought to be there quite early.~
ounce~noun~A unit for measuring weight, equal to about 28.35 grams~An ounce of sugar.~
our~determiner~The possessive form of 'we', used to refer to yourself and at least one other person~We need to upgrade our computer.~
ours~pronoun~Describes something that belongs to us~We got ours half price.~
ourselves~pronoun~Refers to you and one or more other person~We want to see it ourselves.~
ourselves~pronoun~Used to emphasise 'we' or 'us'~We ourselves were thinking about that.~
out~adverb~Used to explain the emotion or reason that led you to do something~She did it out of jealousy; I did it out of spite.~
out~adverb~Used in numbers to show proportions~Four out of five people agreed with him.~
out~adverb~Away from the inside of somewhere~They ran out of the room.~
out~adverb~Outside rather than indoors~She is playing out the back.~
out~adverb~Used to show that a supply of something has been used up~We are out of coffee.~
out~adverb~Not at home~My dad is out at the moment.~
out~adverb~For something that can burn to stop burning~Blow the candle out.~
out~adverb~Available to the world to buy~The film comes out next month.~
out~adverb~'Out of' can mean 'from'~A bed made out of metal.~
out~adverb~For a team or player in sport to no longer be playing~He was out after 10 minutes.~
outcome~noun~The result of something~What was the outcome of the decision?~
outdoor~adjective~Happening outside rather than inside~Outdoor sports.~
outdoors~adverb~Outside~They played outdoors all morning.~
outer~adjective~Furthest from the centre~She stood on the outer edge of the circle.~
outfit~noun~Clothes that you wear for a certain occasion~What type of outfit should we wear to the meeting?~
outing~noun~A trip that you go on for pleasure or education~A school outing.~
outline~verb~Give a brief description of the main points of something~He outlined the advantages and disadvantages of the plan.~
outline~noun~A general description of the main points of something~Give me an outline of your idea.~
outline~noun~Shape; the line around something that shows its shape~She could make out the outline of a person in the distance.~
outlook~noun~The way that you are and the way that you view life~She has a very positive outlook on life.~
outlook~noun~How the future is expected to be~The outlook for jobs is getting better.~
output~noun~The amount that something produces~The output has got better over the years.~
outrageous~adjective~Shocking; very bad~His speech was outrageous.~
outside~adverb~On the outer side of something rather than inside~The dog was outside.~
outside~adjective~The outer lane or track is the longest one~Keep to the outside lane.~
outside~noun~The outside of something is the part that holds all the pieces together~The outside of a nut is its shell.~
outskirts~noun~The outskirts of a town are the parts furthest from the centre~We drove along the outskirts of Belfast.~
outstanding~adjective~Excellent~That was an outstanding performance.~
outstanding~adjective~If a loan is outstanding, it hasn't been paid back~I could not pay back the outstanding amount.~
outward~adjective~Moving away from a place~The outward voyage.~
outward~adjective~Concerned with the way things appear rather than how they really are~She didn't show any outward concern.~
outwards~adverb~Away from the inside~The ripples moved outwards.~
oven~noun~A part of a cooker in which food is heated and baked etc.~She baked the biscuits in the oven.~
over~adverb~Downwards; sideways; into a more stable position~He fell over.~
over~adverb~If you turn over, you face the opposite way~He turned the steaks over.~
over~preposition~Above~He held the umbrella over her head.~
over~preposition~To the other side of~They jumped over the branch.~
over~preposition~More than something should be or needs to be~She paid well over the proper price.~
over~preposition~During a certain time~The party was held over the course of two days.~
over~adverb~Across~I went over the road.~
over~adjective~Ended~The show was over.~
over~adverb~If you lean over, you bend your body~He leant over the counter and kissed her on the cheek.~
over~preposition~Because of or about something~They argued over dates.~
overall~adverb~General; taking everything into consideration~The overall image I got wasn't very good.~
overcome~verb~If you overcome something you get over it or deal with it successfully~He overcame his jealousy.~
overhead~adverb~Above your head~The plane flew overhead; Overhead lights.~The adjective and adverb have stress in different places
overlap~verb~This is when part of one thing lies on part of another thing~Try not to let your letters overlap.~
overlook~verb~If a building etc. overlooks somewhere, you can see that place from the building~The flat overlooked the ocean.~
overlook~verb~If you overlook something you do not notice it~I must have overlooked the notice.~
overnight~adverb~In a short space of time~The business took off overnight.~
overnight~adverb~During the night or for the night~We stayed overnight.~
overseas~adverb~Abroad; involving crossing a sea~We took a trip overseas.~
overseas~adjective~Related to foreign countries and people~An overseas client.~
overtake~verb~Pass someone and move on ahead of them~I was too scared to overtake the bus.~
overwhelmed~adjective~Strongly emotionally affected~She was overwhelmed by the gift.~
owe~verb~Have a debt to someone~I owe you a lot of money.~
owe~verb~Have something because someone else has helped you~I owe this award to my parents.~
owing to~preposition~Because of~She was cold owing to the broken heating.~
own~noun~If you say that something is your own, you emphasise that it is yours~I ate my own food.~
own~pronoun~If you do something on your own, you do it by yourself~I fixed it on my own.~
own~pronoun~If you are on your own, you are alone~She hated being on her own.~
own~verb~If something is your possession, you own it~I own that painting.~
owner~noun~Someone who owns something~He was the owner of the magazine.~
oxygen~noun~The element in air that we need to breathe in order to live~Humans need oxygen to live.~
oz~abbreviation~Abbreviation for 'ounce' or 'ounces'~I need two oz of sugar for my cake.~
p~abbreviation~Short for pence~A 10p packets of sweets.~
p.m.~abbreviation~p.m. is short for 'post meridiem' and refers to the time between midday and midnight~3 p.m.~
pace~verb~Walk up and down many times, often because you are stressed~She paced up and down the corridor.~
pace~noun~Speed~We need to up the pace or we'll never get this work done.~
pace~noun~A step~Move three paces to the left.~
pack~noun~A set of things~I would like an information pack please.~
pack~verb~Fill something~The people packed into the arena.~
pack~verb~Put your things in bags or containers before leaving somewhere, in order to take them with you~Did you pack your toothbrush?~
pack~noun~A bag worn on your back with straps over the shoulders~Her clothes were in the pack.~
package~noun~A parcel~A package in the post.~
packed~adjective~Full of people or things~The room was packed.~
packet~noun~A small container in which goods are sold~A packet of cigarettes.~
pad~noun~Thick, soft piece of material used for cleaning or protection etc~A scrubbing pad.~
pad~noun~A book of blank sheets of paper that are all joined at one end~She wrote her notes on a pad.~
padded~adjective~Having pads in or on something to protect it or help keep its shape etc.~She wore a padded jacket.~
page~noun~One side or both sides of a piece of paper or a sheet of paper in a magazine etc.~We read page 3.~
pain~noun~The feeling of hurting because something is wrong with your body~He felt huge pains in his stomach.~
pain~noun~Emotional unhappiness~The pain of watching him leave.~
pain~noun~A person or thing that annoys you~My little sister can be a pain.~
painful~adjective~Creating or causing pain~That looked like a painful fall.~
paint~noun~A liquid that comes in many different colours and is used to create pictures or decorate houses etc.~We need more red paint.~
paint~verb~Make a picture etc. using paint~He painted a picture of the cat.~
paint~verb~Decorate a wall with paint~We are painting the room blue.~
painting~noun~A painted picture~She gave me a beautiful painting she had done herself.~
pair~noun~Two things that match~A pair of socks.~
pair~noun~Two things that are joined to make one item~A pair of trousers; A pair of glasses.~
pajamas~noun~Pyjamas: see 'pyjamas'~~
palace~noun~A fabulous building where kings and queens live~The queen will soon return to the palace.~
pale~adjective~If your face is pale, it is lighter than it should be~She went pale and passed out.~
pale~adjective~Light-coloured~She wore pale pink clothes.~
pan~noun~A metal cooking utensil often used for frying food in~She put the eggs in the pan.~
panel~noun~A group of people who often have specialist opinions on things~A panel of linguists.~
panel~noun~A small piece of material that helps to make up a larger piece~Wooden panels on the door.~
panic~verb~Be so frightened that you can't think clearly~She began to panic when she couldn't see her parents.~
panic~noun~A feeling of extreme fright~The panic built up inside her.~
pantomime~noun~A type of funny play that is often based on fairy tales~The children loved the pantomime.~
pants~noun~Underwear for the bottom half of your body~She bought colourful pants.~
pants~noun~US English for trousers~He bought new pants for work.~
paper~noun~The thin material that you can write or draw on~He wrote on sheets of green paper.~
paper~noun~Papers are official written documents that hold important information about you~She showed the police her papers.~
paper~noun~Short for a newspaper~He gets the paper every day.~
paperback~noun~A book with a paper or card cover~Paperbacks are cheaper than hardbacks.~
parade~verb~Walk together in a group, usually to celebrate or demonstrate about something~They paraded through the town.~
parade~noun~A group of people and sometimes vehicles that move through a place in order to demonstrate or celebrate something~A religious parade.~
paragraph~noun~A section of writing that deals with a certain topic~Remember to begin a new paragraph for each idea.~
parallel~noun~A similarity~Do you see the parallels in the two ideas?~
parallel~adjective~If two things are parallel, they are always the same distance apart~The train tracks are parallel.~
paralyse~verb~Cause something to have no feeling and be unable to move~His legs were paralysed.~
parcel~noun~A package wrapped in paper~There is a parcel for you.~
pardon~noun~'Pardon' can mean the same as 'excuse me'~I saw the dog. Pardon? I saw the dog.~
pardon~verb~Excuse of blame or punishment for something~She was pardoned in court.~
parent~noun~Your mother or your father~I still live with my parents.~
parish~noun~An area with its own church and priest~A parish fair.~
park~verb~Stop a car in a space where it can be left unattended for a while~She parked close to the entrance.~
park~noun~A piece of public land, usually with open grassy spaces, where people can sit or run etc.~The children played in the park.~
parliament~noun~An elected group of people who can make and change the laws of a country~The decision was left with parliament.~
part~noun~A section of something but not all of it~A part of the building collapsed.~
part~verb~If things part they move from each other~The doors parted and he walked through.~
part~noun~A piece, feature, aspect or section of something~This is the funny part of the book.~
part~noun~The role of a character in a film~She got the shortest part.~
part~noun~Membership or involvement in something~It was his part in the robbery that got him jailed.~
partial~adjective~Limited~We experienced partial success.~
participate~verb~join in doing something with others~She refused to participate in the games.~
participle~noun~A word that is made from a verb and ends in -ing or -ed~Running' and 'floated' are participles.~
particle~noun~A tiny piece of something~Particles of dust in the air.~
particular~adjective~Used to emphasise something rather than other things~It was on one particular day in June.~
particular~adjective~Special; more than usual~They paid particular attention to the doctor that day.~
particular~noun~The facts of something are often called the particulars~The detective wrote down the particulars of the robbery.~
particularly~adverb~Especially~She liked all the shoes, particularly the red ones.~
partly~adverb~In part or to some extent, but not all~The painting is partly done.~
partner~noun~The person that you work with or take part in activities with~My dancing partner; my business partner.~
partner~noun~The person that you are committed to~My partner and I are going for dinner tonight.~
part-time~adverb~If you work part-time, you work fewer days of the week or fewer hours of the day than most people~She works part-time at the casino.~
party~noun~A social occasion, often where something is celebrated~We can have the party at my house.~
party~noun~A political group~The Conservative Party.~
party~noun~A group of people doing something together~A party of students travelling to Paris.~
pass~verb~Give something over to someone else~I passed the magazine to my sister.~
pass~verb~If time passes, it happens and goes by~Minutes passed before I saw him.~
pass~verb~Move in front of someone or move past something~I passed her on the street.~
pass~verb~The way that you pass time is the way that you spend it~They passed time building sand castles.~
pass~verb~Approve~The government passed the bill this morning.~
pass~noun~The act of getting the ball to another player on your team~The pass was inaccurate.~
pass~verb~Achieve the required standard in a test~She passed the exam.~
pass~noun~A document that allows you to go somewhere or access something~I gave my pass to the security guards.~
pass out~verb~Lose consciousness~The room was very hot and I passed out.~
passage~noun~A corridor~He ran down the passage into the kitchen.~
passage~noun~A short excerpt from a piece of writing~He read the passage to the class.~
passenger~noun~A person travelling in a vehicle but not driving it~A passenger on a ship.~
passion~noun~A strong feeling of love, hate, etc.~A crime of passion.~
passionate~adjective~Feeling a lot of passion~He was passionate about football.~
passive~adjective~A passive person or animal is relaxed and allows things to happen without trying to change them~It is a very passive dog.~
passive~noun~A sentence where the subject is affected by the action of the verb is in the passive mood~The ball was kicked by the boy.~
passport~noun~A document that shows which country you belong to and is usually necessary in order to leave the country~She has two passports.~
past~noun~The time that used to be before now~Stories about the past.~
past~adverb~Moving to the other side of something~I drove past his house.~
past~preposition~On the other side of~It is past this next hill.~
past~adjective~Most recent~I've seen her every day in these past few days.~
past~noun~The things that happened to you when you were younger~She never tells me anything about her past.~
past~adjective~Belonging to earlier times~Past experiences.~
past~preposition~'Past' means 'after' when telling the time~Half past three.~
paste~noun~A thick mixture, often made from liquid and powder~Chicken paste; Glue paste.~
paste~verb~Stick things together, usually using a gluey paste~They pasted the paper to the walls.~
pastime~noun~A hobby; something you enjoy doing for pleasure~One of her pastimes is reading.~
pastry~noun~A mixture of flour, fat, milk or water used in cooking, especially as a covering for pies~She rolled the pastry into balls.~
pastry~noun~A small cake made from pastry~Danish pastries.~
pat~verb~Gently touch or tap something, sometimes affectionately~Pat the dog.~
pat~noun~A gentle touch or tap~A pat on the knee.~
patch~verb~Cover a hole in a garment etc. by placing a piece of material over it~She patched up his trousers.~
patch~noun~A small area on something that is different from the rest~A black dog with a white patch.~
patch~noun~A piece of material used for covering holes~A red patch for her red jacket.~
path~noun~The space or area in front of you as you move along~She stood in his path and blocked his way.~
path~noun~A part of the ground made for people to walk along~Stick to the path and you won't get lost.~
patient~adjective~Able to stay calm in irritating situations; able to wait for something for a long time without getting annoyed~She is patient; she won't mind waiting.~
patient~noun~A person who is ill and being treated by a doctor~He had many patients to see.~
patrol~verb~When police etc. patrol they move around an area and check that everything is a it should be~They patrolled the highway.~
patrol~noun~The people that patrol an area~The police patrol.~
pattern~noun~Shapes and colours etc. put together in a regular way~A pattern on her shirt.~
pattern~noun~A way in which things are arranged or occur regularly~My work pattern.~
pause~verb~Stop something for a short time before resuming it~He paused the record for a few moments.~
pause~noun~A short break in something before it goes back to normal~There was a small pause in his speech.~
pavement~noun~A path at the side of a road~It's safest to walk along the pavement.~
paw~noun~The foot of some kinds of animals, such as cats and dogs~He hurt his paw when he jumped out of the tree.~
pay~verb~Give back money that you owe~I have paid all my debts.~
pay~verb~Give money in return for goods~I paid more than I should have for designer labels.~
pay~verb~If something pays, it is profitable or to your advantage to do it~It pays to be organised.~
pay~verb~If you get paid, you are given money for work done~She got paid today.~
pay~verb~'Pay' can be used with some nouns to show that something is being done~Pay a visit; Pay attention.~
pay~noun~The money that you receive for doing work~I need my pay today.~
pay~verb~Be punished~You will pay for what you have done.~
payment~noun~The money that you are paying~He has three payments left on the car.~
payment~noun~The act of paying money or being paid~Payment by cheque.~
pea~noun~A soft green seed that is eaten as a vegetable. Peas grow together in pods~Peas and carrots.~
peace~noun~A state of calm~I would like to be left in peace for the day.~
peace~noun~An absence of war or conflict~We wished for peace in our country.~
peaceful~adjective~Quiet and undisturbed~It was peaceful in the garden.~
peach~noun~A soft round fruit with red and yellow skin and a pit in its centre~Peaches in a fruit salad.~
peak~noun~The tops of mountains are called peaks~The view from the mountain peak.~
peak~verb~Reach the strongest or best state~His financial situation peaked and then fell.~
peak~noun~The point of something when it is at its strongest or best~The peak of his career.~
peanut~noun~A small nut that grows underground in a thin shell~Salted peanuts.~
pear~noun~A yellow or green fruit that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom~A green pear.~
peasant~noun~A farmer with a little land in a poor country. Not used very often now~The peasants worked hard all day.~
peculiar~adjective~Different, unusual, odd~What a peculiar thought!~
pedal~noun~The part of a bicycle that you push with your foot~The pedals went round and round.~
pedal~verb~push the pedals on a bicycle to make it move~She didn't need to pedal going down the hill.~
pedestrian~noun~A person who is walking rather than travelling in a vehicle~Pedestrians have right of way here.~
peel~verb~Take the skin or a layer off something~Peel a carrot; Peel the wallpaper off the walls.~
peel~verb~Come off in strips~My skin peeled in the sun.~
peel~noun~The skins of some fruits are called peels~Orange peel.~
peg~noun~A fastener used to hold washing on a line~I need two pegs for each pair of trousers.~
peg~noun~A piece of wood etc. that is used to hold things~Put your coat on the peg in the hall.~
pen~noun~A writing instrument filled with ink~Use a pen, not a pencil.~
penalty~noun~The punishment for breaking a rule or law etc.~The minimum penalty is three years in prison.~
penalty~noun~In football, a penalty is when a team gets a chance to kick the ball into the goals from a distance of 12 yards, with only the goalkeeper defending~They were given a penalty and they scored.~
pencil~noun~A thin cylinder of wood enclosing a column of graphite, which can be used to write or draw with~A pencil drawing.~
penetrate~verb~Go into or through something~The needle penetrated his skin.~
penny~noun~UK money. 100 pennies or pence is equal to one pound~She was given a penny change.~'Pennies' usually refers to individual coins, e.g. I have three pennies. Pence usually refers to the sum of money, e.g. I have three pence
penny~noun~In US English a penny is a cent~She had some pennies.~
pension~noun~Money that is paid to old or ill people~He receives his pension weekly.~
pensioner~noun~A person who has reached the age of retirement and no longer works for money~My grandparents are pensioners.~
people~noun~Human beings; women, men and children~Many people suffered in the disaster.~
people~noun~The public in general~The people rebelled against the new law.~
pepper~noun~A vegetable that is usually red, green or yellow and can be eaten cooked or raw~Red peppers in a salad.~
pepper~noun~A hot and spicy powder made from peppercorns~Could I have some pepper on my steak please?~
per~preposition~'Per' is used to express the amount of something required for each thing~Those rooms can be hired for £200 per week.~
per cent~adverb~Parts in a hundred: '50 per cent' means 'half', etc.~House prices rose by 20 per cent last year.~
percentage~noun~An amount expressed as a number of parts in 100~The percentage of people who finish high school.~
perfect~adjective~Having no faults~Her dancing was perfect.~
perfect~verb~Make something perfect~He perfected his telephone voice.~The adjective and verb are pronounced differently
perfectly~adverb~'Perfectly' can mean 'completely' or 'absolutely'~It is in perfectly good condition.~
perfectly~adverb~In an ideal or perfect way~She painted the picture perfectly.~
perform~verb~Do something, such as a duty~He performed his job even though he hated it.~
perform~verb~Entertain people by singing etc.~She performed in front of 1,000 people.~
perform~verb~The way that something performs is the way it works~The new machine performed well.~
performance~noun~Someone or something's performance is the way they behave, act or function~He put on a good performance tonight.~
performance~noun~A play or musical etc. that is put on to amuse an audience~A performance of an old fairy tale.~
perfume~noun~A liquid which people put on their bodies to make them smell nice~What is your favourite perfume?~
perhaps~adverb~Maybe~Perhaps we should leave now.~
period~noun~A length of time~A period of ten years.~
period~noun~A flow of blood that a woman of childbearing age produces each month if she is not pregnant~It was time for her period.~
period~noun~In US English, a full stop~Always end your sentences with a period.~
permanent~adjective~Lasting for a long time, or forever~She put a permanent colour in her hair.~
permission~noun~The act of being allowed to do something~He had permission to take the day off.~
permit~verb~Allow someone to do something~I permit you to buy that car.~
permit~noun~A written document that gives you permission to do something~A hunting permit.~The noun and verb are pronounced differently
person~noun~In grammar, the third person is the person or thing spoken about (he, she, it, they)~They should leave.~
person~noun~The first person is the person speaking (I, we)~I should leave; We should leave.~
person~noun~If you do something in person, you do it yourself or face to face~I would rather speak to him in person than on the phone.~
person~noun~An individual human being: a woman, man or child~She is a fabulous person.~
person~noun~The second person is the person spoken to (you)~You should leave.~
personal~adjective~Connected to a particular person~His personal chef.~
personal~adjective~Personal things are the private things in your life~She took time off for personal reasons.~
personality~noun~Your character or the way you deal with the world~She has a dull personality.~
personality~noun~Famous people can be referred to as personalities~He is a sports personality.~
personally~adverb~If you know someone personally, the two of you have had direct contact and found out a bit about each other~Have you had any dealings with her personally?~
personally~adverb~If you do something personally, you do it yourself rather than have someone do it for you~I will personally solve this problem.~
personally~adverb~'Personally' can show that you are giving your own opinion~Personally, I think itís a great idea.~
personnel~noun~The employees of a company or the people who work in a specific area~Police personnel; Personnel manager.~
perspective~noun~A perspective is a way of seeing and thinking about something~We had different perspectives on the matter.~
persuade~verb~Convince someone to do something by giving the reasons for doing it~I was persuaded to go; She is trying to persuade me to come.~
pet~noun~A tame animal that you keep at home for the pleasure of its company rather than work etc.~I keep a dog as a pet and my sister has a cat.~
petrol~noun~Refined petroleum, used to fuel cars etc.~I need to put petrol in the car.~
petty~adjective~Unimportant, trivial~A petty argument.~
phase~noun~A stage of something~The last phase; He's going through a growing phase.~
phenomenon~noun~Something that happens but that may not be fully understood~Natural and social phenomena.~
philosophy~noun~The pursuit of truth and knowledge regarding such matters as the meaning of life and human existence~A philosophy course.~
philosophy~noun~A set or system of beliefs~They shared their philosophies over coffee.~
phone~noun~A telephone; a device used to communicate with people at a distance from you who also have a phone~He had a red phone shaped like a train.~
phone~verb~Use a phone to contact someone~I'll phone him up and ask him.~
photo~noun~Short for 'photograph'~Do you have the photos of that holiday?~
photograph~noun~A picture made on a film in a camera etc.~She put the photograph in a frame.~
photograph~verb~Take a picture of someone by means of a camera~I photographed him for a magazine.~
phrase~noun~A string of words that makes sense but is not a full sentence~The red bear.~
physical~adjective~Connected with the body~Her physical beauty.~
physical~adjective~Real; able to be touched etc.~The physical world.~
physics~noun~The scientific study of forces such as gravity, light, heat and electricity~A physics class.~
piano~noun~A musical instrument with black and white keys that can be tapped to create music~Can you play the piano?~
pick~verb~Choose~Which video did you pick?~
pick~noun~The best thing in a group~She got the pick of the menu.~
pick~verb~Remove, usually with your fingers~She picked the dirt from his sweater; He picked the meat off the bone.~
pick~verb~Remove flowers etc. from the plant they are growing on~We picked wild strawberries.~
pick up~verb~If you pick someone up, you collect them and drive them somewhere~I have to go and pick my mother up from work.~
pick up~verb~If you pick something up, you grip it and lift it~Pick your shirt up from the floor!~
picnic~noun~A meal packed in a basket and eaten outside~We sat in the park and had a picnic.~
picture~noun~A mental image of something or someone~He doesn't look like the picture I had of him in my mind.~
picture~noun~'The pictures' can mean the cinema~Would you like to go to the pictures?~
picture~verb~Show a photo or picture of something or someone~He was pictured in the local paper.~
picture~verb~Create a picture of something or someone in your mind~I pictured him differently.~
picture~noun~A drawing, photograph, etc. of something or someone~She had a picture of the ocean on her wall.~
pie~noun~Meat, vegetables or fruit covered in pastry and baked in an oven~Steak and kidney pie.~
piece~noun~One part of something~Would you like a piece of cake?~
piece~noun~A news article, work of art, etc.~A piece of writing; Did you see that piece on the news about him?~
piece~noun~A coin can be called a piece~A 10 pence piece; A 10 cent piece.~
piece~noun~A single or individual thing~A piece of machinery; A piece of luggage.~
piece together~verb~Combine to try to make a whole~Police are piecing together all the evidence.~
pier~noun~A long structure that leads from the land out into the sea~We walked the dogs along the pier.~
pierce~verb~Go through something and leave a hole~The thorn pierced his skin.~
pig~noun~A farm animal with short legs and a curly tail that is kept to be eaten as pork~He farmed pigs.~
pile~verb~Place things in a bundle on top of each other~She piled the pillows on the bed.~
pile~noun~A group of things lying in a heap~A pile of magazines.~
pill~noun~A tablet containing hormones that women can take to prevent them from becoming pregnant~She should go on the pill.~
pill~noun~A tablet that you take to ease pain and cure sickness etc.~A pill for your headache.~
pillow~noun~A soft cushion that you rest your head on in bed~He put his head on the pillow and fell asleep.~
pilot~noun~Someone who is capable of flying an aircraft~The pilot of our plane.~
pin~noun~A thin piece of metal with a sharp end and a flat end, used to attach or fasten things~She needed a pin to fasten her skirt.~
pin~verb~Attach or fasten something using a pin~He pinned the badge to his shirt.~
pinch~verb~Squeeze something between a finger and a thumb~He pinched my arm.~
pinch~verb~steal~He pinched my CDs.~Informal use
pinch~noun~An amount of a powder etc. that you can hold between your finger and thumb~A pinch of sugar.~
pineapple~noun~A large tropical fruit with a tough skin and sweet, yellow flesh~Do you like pineapple?~
pink~noun~A colour that is a mix of red and white~Pink roses.~
pint~noun~A unit used mainly to measure liquids, equal to 0.565 of a litre~A pint of custard.~
pint~noun~A pint of beer can be referred to simply as 'a pint'~Let's go for a pint.~
pipe~noun~A tube with a hollow bowl at the end through which tobacco can be smoked~He sat with a pipe in his mouth.~
pipe~verb~Transport liquids or gases through pipes~The liquid was piped to each station.~
pipe~noun~A tube that liquids and gases can pass through~Oxygen pipes.~
pirate~noun~A person who attacks ships at sea in order to steal from them~Her ancestors were pirates.~
pistol~noun~A small gun that can be held and fired with one hand~She kept a pistol in her bag.~
pit~noun~A deep hole in the ground~They threw the rubbish into a pit.~
pit~noun~A pit can be a coal mine~He worked in the pits.~
pitch~noun~The field used for playing some sports~A cricket pitch; A rugby pitch.~
pitch~noun~How high or low a sound is~I didn't realise he could reach such a high pitch.~
pitch~verb~throw something in a rough way or with a lot of force~He pitched the ball across the field.~
pity~noun~The feeling of sympathy for someone or something~I had a lot of pity for the workers.~
pity~verb~Feel sorry for someone~I pity his wife.~
pity~noun~'Pity' can be used to say that you are sorry that something worked out the way it did~It's a pity he had to go home.~
pizza~noun~A flat bread base covered in tomatoes, cheese, meat, etc. and baked~A cheese pizza.~
place~noun~If you have a place on a team or with a school etc. you are a part of that team or school~He was offered a place at the university.~
place~noun~The position that you gain in a race etc.~She got third place.~
place~noun~If something takes place, it occurs~It will take place next week.~
place~noun~The correct position of something~Will you put it back in its place, please?~
place~noun~Your place can be your home~Should we meet at Jack's place?~
place~noun~A position, area, etc.~She pointed at the place where the dog had been.~
place~verb~Put something somewhere, especially if you do it carefully~I placed the card in his hands.~
place~noun~A seat that is available for someone to use~There is a place next to me.~
plain~adjective~Simple; not highly decorated~The room was quite plain.~
plain~adjective~Clear and easy to see or understand~It was plain to see how much she loved him.~
plain~noun~A large, mostly empty flat area of land~We drove across the African plains.~
plain~adjective~A plain person is neither very pretty nor very ugly~She is quite plain.~
plan~verb~Intend or expect to do something~They plan to leave tomorrow.~
plan~verb~Make arrangements for something, especially detailed arrangements~We planned the party for over a week.~
plan~noun~A sequence of things that you need to do in order for something to happen or work~We made the plan to steal the money.~
plan~noun~Something that you intend to do~Are there any plans to go ahead with the proceedings?~
plane~noun~A powered flying vehicle that has two wings~She went by plane.~
plane~noun~A certain level of thought or understanding etc.~She felt he was on a lower plane than her.~
planet~noun~One of the large objects that move about in space around a source of light~We live on the planet earth.~
plant~noun~A factory that produces power or where industrial items are made~A car plant; A nuclear plant.~
plant~verb~Illegally or secretly hide or place something somewhere~They planted drugs in his bag.~
plant~noun~A living thing with roots and usually a stem and leaves, growing above and below the ground~The plant was put in a bigger pot.~
plant~verb~Place a plant or the seed of a plant into the ground so that it will grow~I planted tulips in the garden.~
plastic~noun~A strong, light material produced by a chemical process. It can be made into many shapes when heated~A plastic peg.~
plate~noun~A flat dish used to eat or serve food from~He put his dirty plate in the sink.~
plate~noun~A thin piece of metal that is often used for strengthening or joining things~Steel plates.~
platform~noun~A raised structure on which performers or speakers can stand and be seen by spectators~She smiled at everyone from the platform.~
platform~noun~The part of a railway station that passengers use to get on and off trains~I stood on the platform and waited for the train.~
play~verb~Insert a device in a machine and operate it so that you can listen to music~I played my favourite CD.~
play~verb~For an actor or actress to pretend to be a certain person for a role~He played the king.~
play~verb~When children play, they do fun things that amuse them~They played hide and seek; He played with his cars.~
play~verb~Use a musical instrument to create patterns of sound~She plays the guitar.~
play~noun~The act of playing a game or sport~The snow stopped play.~
play~noun~A dramatic performance by actors that can be on the television or held in a theatre etc.~We watched a very good play at the theatre.~
play~verb~Be a part of a game or sport, or compete in games or sport~She plays cards every Tuesday.~
play~verb~To play a part in something is to contribute to it~His behaviour played a part in her stress.~
player~noun~Someone who plays a sport or game~He is our newest player.~
player~noun~Someone who can play a musical instrument~He's our piano player.~
playground~noun~A place where children can play~They spend an hour in the playground every day.~
plea~noun~An emotional request~A plea for understanding.~
plead~verb~If you plead with someone, you beg them in an emotional way~She pleaded with me to come home.~
plead~verb~Say whether you are guilty or not guilty in a court of law~He pleaded not guilty.~
pleasant~adjective~Fun, enjoyable, nice, attractive~I had a very pleasant day with you.~
please~exclamation~A polite term used when accepting an offer~Yes, please.~
please~verb~If something pleases you, it makes you feel happy~He tried to please me; I tried so hard to please him.~
please~exclamation~A polite term used when asking for something~Please can you help me?~
pleased~adjective~If you are pleased, you are happy with something~I was very pleased with the outcome.~
pleasure~noun~A feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction~It was a pleasure being with him.~
pleasure~noun~Something that makes you feel good~Her horses are her biggest pleasure.~
plenty~noun~Many or enough~There was plenty of food for everyone.~
plot~noun~The plot is the storyline of a play, film, etc.~The plot was very interesting.~
plot~verb~Secretly plan things, especially bad things~They plotted to kidnap the woman.~
plot~noun~A secret plan; a conspiracy~A plot to steal the money.~
plough~verb~Turn over the soil so that crops can be sown~He helps his father plough the fields.~
plough~noun~A large piece of farming equipment used to turn the soil~He attached the plough to the tractor.~
plug~noun~A round piece of plastic or rubber that fits into a hole in a bath or sink etc. and stops the water from escaping~I pulled the plug out of the sink.~
plug~noun~A plastic object with two or three metal pins that connects electrical equipment to a source of electricity~Put the plug in the socket.~
plug in~verb~When you plug something in, you connect it to a source of electricity~We should plug in the radio and listen to some music.~
plum~noun~A small, sweet fruit with a red or purple skin~Do you like plums?~
plumber~noun~Someone who can install and fix the apparatus for a supply of water, central heating, etc.~We need to call a plumber to fix that leak.~
plunge~verb~Fall or jump quickly and suddenly~He plunged off the side of the boat.~
plunge~verb~If you plunge something into something else, you push it in using force~She plunged the knife into the table.~
plural~noun~The form of words where more than one thing is represented. Most plurals are made by adding 's'. Exceptions include 'fish', 'children', etc.~The plural of dog is dogs.~
plus~preposition~Used when adding numbers together~One plus one is two.~
plus~adjective~Can mean 'at least'~She was making 50,000 plus a year.~
plus~adjective~Can mean 'above zero'~Expect savings of plus 10,000.~
plus~preposition~Can mean 'as well as'~She bought the book plus the tape.~
pocket~noun~A pouch in clothing or bags for holding small items~He put his keys in his trouser pocket.~
poem~noun~A short piece of writing whose words have been chosen because of their sound as well as their meaning~A poem by Milton.~
poet~noun~Someone who writes poems~She is a well-known poet.~
poetry~noun~Poems in general~A book of poetry.~
point~noun~A feature, aspect or quality of something~I would say that's his weakest point.~
point~noun~The sharp end of something~The needle point.~
point~noun~In some games or competitions, a point is a single score~They scored three points in the first 10 minutes.~
point~noun~The purpose of something or the reason for doing something~What's the point of helping you?~
point~noun~A decimal point is a dot that separates the part of a number that's less than 1 from the rest~6.3 (You say 'six point three').~
point~verb~Stretch your index finger in someone's direction~He pointed at the girl who had spoken to him.~
point~verb~Aim~She pointed the flowers at him.~
point~noun~A certain time or place~We saw him at different points through the evening; We met at different points of the street.~
point~noun~The main or most important part of an argument etc.~The point is that you never listen.~
point~noun~A fact, opinion or idea that someone puts forward~He brought up another good point.~
point of view~noun~The way that you think and feel about things because of your situation~Look at it from her point of view.~
point out~verb~If you point something out, you mention it for a reason~I pointed out that the window was still open.~
pointed~adjective~Having a sharp end or point~A pointed hat.~
pointless~adjective~Having no purpose or worth~The game was pointless; we knew they would win.~
poison~noun~A substance that can kill or injure living things if absorbed by the body~The poison was for killing weeds.~
poison~verb~Kill or harm something by giving it poison~They poisoned him.~
poke~verb~Quickly push something with a sharp object~She poked my arm with her finger.~
poke~verb~If something pokes out of something else, part of it can be seen~The needle poked through the material.~
pole~noun~The extreme northern or southern point of the earth~The North and South Poles.~
pole~noun~A long, straight piece of metal or wood~We were missing one tent pole.~
police~noun~An official organisation whose job is to protect the people of a country and solve crime etc.~She works for the police; I'll call the police.~
policy~noun~A plan that has been agreed on or chosen, usually by a business or a political party~They did not agree with each other's policies.~
polish~noun~A substance used for cleaning and shining certain surfaces~Shoe polish.~
polish~verb~Clean or shine something using polish~I polished the ornaments.~
polite~adjective~Having good manners and not being rude to people~What a polite young man!~
political~adjective~Connected to politics~Political organisations.~
politician~noun~Someone whose job is in politics~Local politicians.~
politics~noun~Politics is concerned with achieving and using power and control in a country~She studied British politics.~
poll~noun~A process where people are asked their opinions so that the opinion of the public in general can be worked out~We conducted a poll as part of our project.~
pollute~verb~Make something unclean by adding dirty or dangerous substances to it~We have polluted the polar regions.~
pollution~noun~Substances that pollute parts of the environment, making them dirty or dangerous~Pollution is streaming out of the factory wastepipe.~
pollution~noun~The process of making air, land and water dirty or dangerous~Levels of water pollution are very high.~
pond~noun~A small body of still water that is often artificial~Tadpoles in a pond.~
pony~noun~A small type of horse~The children rode on ponies.~
pool~noun~A group or quantity of things that can be shared by several people~A pool of money; A car pool.~
pool~noun~A game with 16 balls on a table: two or more players try to knock the balls into holes called pockets with sticks called cues~Can you play pool?~
pool~verb~Collect or put things together so that everyone can use them~They pooled their money; They pooled their resources.~
pool~noun~A small amount or area of liquid or light~A pool of light on the water.~
pool~noun~A small body of still water that is usually natural~They snorkelled in the rock pools.~
pool~noun~A swimming pool is an area of water in a public place that people can swim in~She did three laps of the pool.~
pools~noun~Football pools, or 'the pools', is a form of gambling where people try to guess football scores~She always did the pools when her team was playing.~
poor~adjective~Poor people have little money and often cannot afford basic things~Her parents were poor.~
poor~adjective~Not good; of low quality~A poor performance; A poor attempt.~
poor~adjective~Used to show sympathy~That poor man!~
pop~verb~Suddenly or quickly go somewhere~She popped over to visit.~Informal use
pop~verb~Make a sudden explosive sound, or make something make this sound~He popped a balloon; The corks popped.~
pop~verb~Suddenly or quickly put something somewhere~She popped the books back on the shelf.~
pop~noun~Pop is mostly modern popular music, although some older popular music is still called 'pop'~Who is your favourite pop artist?~
pop~noun~A pop is a sudden explosive sound~A loud pop came from the kitchen.~
popcorn~noun~Popcorn is kernels of maize that are heated until they burst to become soft and white~We ate popcorn at the cinema.~
pope~noun~The leader of the Roman Catholic church~They are choosing a new pope.~
popular~adjective~Liked or enjoyed by many people~He was voted the most popular actor this year.~
popular~adjective~Suited or designed for ordinary people~Popular fiction.~
population~noun~All the people that live in a certain area~The population is increasing all over the world.~
porch~noun~A small, covered area at the entrance to a building such as a house~She stood in the porch and waited for the rain to stop.~
pork~noun~Uncured meat that comes from a pig~Pork chops.~
pornography~noun~Books and films etc. that show naked people in order to make the viewers feel sexually excited~Many people dislike pornography.~
port~adjective~The left side of a ship or aircraft when you are facing forward~The port engine exploded.~
port~noun~A town or city with a harbour~The sailors couldn't wait to reach port.~
portable~adjective~Easily moved or carried around~A portable phone.~
porter~noun~Someone who works in a place such as a hotel or railway station and carries guests' bags etc.~The porter showed me to my room.~
porter~noun~The person in charge of a hotel entrance~The night porter.~
portion~noun~A part of something~I spent the biggest portion of my career working for them.~
portion~noun~A serving of food intended or one person~I ordered an extra portion of onion rings.~
portrait~noun~A picture, photograph or drawing of someone~He drew a portrait of me.~
portray~verb~The way that someone is portrayed is the way they are described or shown; often this is inaccurate~His personality was not portrayed very well.~
pose~verb~Stay in a certain position so that someone can photograph, paint or draw you~She hated posing for pictures.~
pose~verb~Pretend to be someone or something in order to deceive people~She was posing as my secretary.~
pose~noun~The way in which someone stands, sits or lies~She stood in her favourite pose.~
pose~verb~Present some kind of puzzle or problem~This poses a danger to our plan.~
pose~verb~Ask a question~The lecturer posed the most interesting questions.~
position~noun~The position of something is where it is~He could see the ocean from his position in the plane.~
position~noun~The way in which you sit or lie etc. is a position~He was in an upright position.~
position~noun~Situation~He was in a difficult position; She was in a position of power.~
position~verb~Place something somewhere~I positioned the map between two books.~
positive~adjective~Sure or definite about something~He was positive that he had seen her earlier.~
positive~adjective~If something is positive it is good or useful~A positive outcome; A positive idea.~
positive~adjective~If a test is positive for something, that something is there~His blood tests were positive.~
positive~adjective~If you are positive about things you are hopeful and happy about them~She felt very positive about work after her holiday.~
possess~verb~If you posses something it is yours; you own or have it~I possessed the key to the room; I possessed the knowledge to do the job.~
possession~noun~If you have something, it is in your possession~Her belongings are in my possession.~
possession~noun~All the things that you own are your possessions~My possessions are in storage while we move house.~
possibility~noun~Something that may exist or happen; you can't be sure~There is a possibility that we will not win today.~
possibility~noun~An option; one of several things you could do~You need to consider all the possibilities before you make a decision.~
possible~adjective~If something is possible, it can be done or achieved~It is possible for you to get full marks for this test.~
possible~adjective~'As possible' means 'as can be done'~Do as much work as possible.~
possible~adjective~If something is possible, it could happen or could be true~It is possible that she will be here before Thursday.~
possibly~adverb~Maybe; used to show that you think something but are not sure about it~Her friends are possibly to blame for her change in behaviour.~
possibly~adverb~'Possibly' can be used to express confidence that an undesirable outcome is unlikely~What could possibly go wrong?~
post~noun~The official means by which letters and parcels are sent and delivered~I'll send it in the post.~
post~noun~The letters etc. delivered to you in the post are called post~Was there any post for me?~
post~noun~A job~She got the teaching post.~
post~noun~A long piece of wood or metal that is set upright in the ground~She leaned against the telephone post.~
post~verb~Send a letter or parcel in the post~I posted the Christmas cards.~
post~verb~Send or be sent somewhere to work~I was posted to South Africa for a year.~
post-~prefix~'Post' as a prefix means 'after'~Postgraduate; Post-war.~
post office~noun~A place that sells stamps etc. and allows you to post your mail~I bought two envelopes at the post office.~
postage~noun~Postage is what you pay or what it costs to send letters etc. in the post~Postage and packaging.~
postcard~noun~A card that you can write a message on and post without an envelope~I got a postcard with a picture of a castle on it.~
postcode~noun~A sequence of letters and numbers that makes up part of an address~What is your postcode?~
poster~noun~A large notice or picture that can be stuck on a wall~The poster advertised puppies; She had a poster of her favourite band on her wall.~
postman~noun~A person who delivers and collects post~The postman hasn't been yet.~Postman, postwoman and postperson can all be used
postpone~verb~Organise something to happen at a later date than originally planned~They have postponed the wedding for another year.~
pot~noun~A deep, round, usually metal container used for cooking food in~Put the pasta in a pot.~
pot~noun~A container with a handle and spout used for making and holding tea or coffee~A coffee pot.~
potato~noun~A tuber that grows underground and can be cooked in various ways before being eaten~A potato stuffed with cheese and onions.~
potential~adjective~Potential means that it is possible for something to happen or for someone to become something~He is a potential business partner.~
potential~noun~If you have potential you have qualities or talents that can be developed~She has the potential to become a great doctor.~
pound~verb~Repeatedly hit something in a way that makes a lot of noise~They pounded on the doors and windows.~
pound~noun~The unit of currency in Britain and some other countries. One pound is equal to 100 pence~This machine only accepts pound coins.~
pound~noun~A unit of weight, equal to about 0.454 kilograms~A pound of butter; She has put on three pounds.~
pour~verb~If rain falls heavily it is said to pour~It poured rain yesterday.~
pour~verb~Make a liquid flow from a container by tipping the container~You can pour that milk down the sink.~
pour~verb~If something flows continuously and quickly, it pours~Smoke poured into the room.~
poverty~noun~The state of being poor~They live in a poverty-stricken country.~
powder~noun~Very fine pieces of something; looks like dust~She used the powder on her face.~
power~verb~Supply something with the energy that it needs in order to work~This machine is powered by the wind.~
power~noun~Control over things or people~He has the power and influence we need.~
power~noun~The ability to do things~It is not in my power to do that.~
power~noun~The strength that someone or something has~How much power does that engine have? That man has a lot of physical power.~
power~noun~Energy that is collected and used as electricity, fuel, etc.~Solar power.~
powerful~adjective~Having a lot of power; Very strong~It is a powerful weapon.~
powerful~adjective~Having a lot of influence or control~The president is a powerful man.~
practical~adjective~Concerned with actions rather than thoughts or ideas~Does anyone have any practical suggestions?~
practical~adjective~If a person is practical, they are sensible and concerned with actions more than thoughts or ideas~She is a very practical person.~
practical~adjective~Likely to work or be successful~It would be more practical to start at the beginning.~
practically~adverb~Very nearly~This essay is practically finished.~
practice~noun~Something that is regularly or traditionally done~His practice of starting a class with a poem.~
practice~noun~Regular training to improve a skill etc~Are you going to hockey practice?~
practise~verb~Regularly do something to improve your skill etc.~He practises his rugby skills every day.~US English uses 'practice' as the verb as well as the noun
practise~verb~Do things that are part of your religion or other normal activities~She still practises paganism.~
praise~noun~Comments that show that you approve of or admire someone or something~He gave me a lot of praise after the presentation.~
praise~verb~Show your approval or admiration of something or someone~I praised her for her hard work.~
pray~verb~If a person prays, they speak to their God~She prays every night to thank God.~
prayer~noun~The things a person says when speaking to their God~They say prayers in church.~
prayer~noun~The act of saying prayers~They sat in prayer.~
pre-~prefix~'Pre-' as a prefix means 'before'~The food had been pre-heated; A pre-wedding party.~
precaution~noun~Something that is done with the aim of stopping something bad or undesirable from happening~You need to take precautions against infections.~
precious~adjective~Very valuable or important~A precious gem; Water is a precious resource.~
precise~adjective~Accurate or exact~I need to know her precise location.~
precisely~adverb~Accurately or exactly~Make sure you are there at precisely three o'clock; I need you to describe him precisely.~
predict~verb~If you predict something, you say that you believe it will happen~I predicted that she would be late.~
prediction~noun~Something that you say you think will happen~Her predictions are usually correct.~
prefer~verb~Like one thing more than another~I prefer dogs to cats.~
preference~noun~Your preference is the thing that you like the most or have the most interest in~What is your preference? Cash or cheque?~
pregnant~adjective~A woman or female animal is pregnant if there is a baby growing inside her body~The group of friends were all pregnant around the same time.~
prejudice~noun~An unreasonable dislike of someone or something~They were guilty of racial prejudice.~
preliminary~adjective~Happening before the main event~Their preliminary findings were of much importance.~
premiere~noun~The first time that something such as a film or play is shown or performed~The premiere of the new movie is on Friday.~
premises~noun~The buildings and land that a business owns~Dogs are not allowed on the premises.~
preparation~noun~The act of getting things ready~The preparations for the party.~
prepare~verb~Make something ready to be used~It takes a while to prepare this meal.~
prepare~verb~Make yourself ready for something~She prepared for the party.~
prepared~adjective~Ready and able to deal with something~Are you prepared for a busy week?~
prepared~adjective~If you are prepared to do something, you agree to do it~She was prepared to work one Saturday a month.~
preposition~noun~A word that is used before a noun or pronoun to show position, time, etc.~In, under, above, over: these are all prepositions.~
prescribe~verb~This is when a doctor tells a patient what medicine or treatment they need~He prescribed her some pain killers and told her to get some rest.~
prescription~noun~A form that a doctor writes details of a patient's medicine on~She gave her prescription to the pharmacist.~
presence~noun~Your presence somewhere is the fact of you being there~Her presence in the room made everyone nervous.~
presence~noun~The fact of something being in a certain place~The presence of the head teacher made the children behave.~
present~verb~Give someone something, especially at a formal event~She was presented with an award.~
present~verb~Cause a problem or provide an opportunity etc.~That presented a problem for our plans.~
present~noun~A gift~She gave me a birthday present.~
present~noun~In time, the present is now~She is completing a degree at present.~
present~adjective~Present things are things that are happening now~The present situation.~The verb is pronounced differently from the adjective and noun
present~adjective~If you are present somewhere, you are in that place~She was present at the meeting.~
present~verb~Describe or portray~He presented the company in an attractive way.~
preserve~verb~Protect; make sure that something is kept the way it is and not damaged or destroyed~We want to preserve this heirloom.~
president~noun~The president is the leader of a republic~The American president.~
president~noun~Sometimes, someone who is in charge of a business or club etc.~We spoke to the president of the company.~
press~verb~Push or be pushed tightly against something~She pressed the bell and waited for him to open the door.~
press~verb~Take the wrinkles from clothes by ironing them~He pressed a shirt for work.~
press~verb~Try hard to persuade someone to do or say something~I pressed him for information about the meeting.~
press~noun~Newspapers and magazines can be referred to as 'the press'~The press have made a big deal about her.~
pressure~noun~The force put on something when it is pressed~Don't put too much pressure on it or it will break.~
pressure~noun~If someone tries hard to persuade you to do something, you can say they are putting pressure on you to do it~She put pressure on him to move.~
presumably~adverb~'Presumably' can be used to show that you think something is true or that it ought to be true~Presumably you have called this meeting because you have a complaint?~
pretend~verb~Imagine or act as if something is true~She pretended that she was in a warm country.~
pretend~verb~Try to make others believe that something is true when it is not~She pretended to be concerned, although she wasn't.~
pretty~adjective~Attractive and pleasing to the eye~A pretty dress.~
pretty~adverb~Fairly; quite~He was a pretty good teacher.~Informal use
prevent~verb~Stop something from happening~We were taught how to prevent fire in the home.~
previous~adjective~Refers to the one before the present one~His previous job.~
previously~adverb~At an earlier time~She had tried to do it previously and failed.~
prey~noun~An animal that is hunted for food~The lion chased its prey.~
price~noun~The cost of something~What price is this book?~
price~verb~Give something a cost or price~Those tickets are well priced.~
prick~verb~Make a hole in something using a sharp object~She pricked her finger on the wire.~
pride~verb~If you pride yourself on something, you are proud of it~She prides herself on her cooking.~
pride~noun~A satisfied feeling that you get when you know you have done well or that those close to you have done well~She felt pride for her husband.~
pride~noun~A feeling of respect for yourself, which can sometimes cause problems if it is too great~She put her pride aside and asked for help.~
priest~noun~A person whose job is to perform some official religious duties~They spoke to the priest about their problems.~
primary~adjective~Most important or basic~Our primary job is to get the children to school safely.~
primary school~noun~A place where young children go to learn~My five-year-old attends primary school.~
prime~adjective~Of very good quality~Prime meat.~
prime~noun~The prime of your life is the most successful or enjoyable part of it~He was in his prime in his twenties.~
prime~adjective~The prime thing is the most important thing~It was the prime target.~
prime minister~noun~In some countries this is the person who is the head of the government~We elected a new prime minister.~
primitive~adjective~Simple, basic things are primitive~Primitive weapons were used in the war.~
primitive~adjective~Concerned with societies that are very basic and not up to date with technology etc.~They have very primitive beliefs.~
prince~noun~A male of the royal family, particularly one who is the son or grandson of a king or queen~A royal prince.~
princess~noun~A female of the royal family, particularly one who is the daughter or granddaughter of a king or queen~The princess made a speech.~
principal~adjective~The principal thing is the main thing~Our principal choice.~
principle~noun~A strong belief about the way things should happen or the way you should behave~He would never go against his principles.~
principle~noun~A scientific or general rule or law about the way things work~The principle that everything that goes up must come down.~
print~verb~If something is printed onto something else, it is put onto it by the use of some technology involving ink~Their names were printed on their shirts.~
print~noun~Letters and numbers etc. that are printed onto something~Did you read the print at the bottom of the document?~
print~verb~If a piece of writing is printed, it is published~The printed the story on the front page of the newspaper.~
print~verb~Publish a book, newspaper, etc.~They printed thousands of copies of her book.~
printer~noun~A machine, often connected to a computer, that prints writing etc. onto paper~She put more paper in the printer.~
prior~adjective~Already planned to happen or exist~A prior claim.~
prior~adjective~Previous; 'prior to' means 'before'~Do you need any prior experience?~
priority~noun~The position of something on a list of things that you think are important~My children are my top priority.~
prison~noun~The place that some convicted criminals must live in~He was sent to prison.~
prisoner~noun~A person who is kept against their will, or who has been convicted of a crime and is being punished by imprisonment~The president is negotiating the release of the prisoners; Some of the prisoners escaped from jail.~
private~adjective~Owned by individual people rather than the government~Shares in a private company.~
private~noun~The lowest ranking soldiers in the army are called privates~He started off as a private.~
private~adjective~If something is private, very few people are allowed to know about it~It was a private conversation and I was not included.~
private~adjective~Something that belongs to one person rather than belonging to the public~My private yacht; My private life.~
private~noun~If something is done in private, it is done away from others~They spoke in private.~
privilege~noun~A benefit that is given to a person or group of people~The more products they sold, the more privileges they were given.~
prize~noun~An award usually given to a person who wins a competition etc.~Although she came last, they still gave her a prize.~
prize~verb~If you prize something, you admire and value it very much~She prized her father's picture the most.~
pro~noun~A 'pro' is an advantage; usually appears in the plural with 'con', which means a disadvantage~There were more pros than cons, so she went ahead with it.~
pro~noun~A professional person~The world's pros competed against each other in the finals.~
pro-~prefix~In favour of~She was pro-war.~
probable~adjective~Expected or most likely to happen, exist or be true~It is quite probable that she will disagree.~
probably~adverb~Very likely~She probably won't even come to the meeting; she'll still be asleep.~
problem~noun~A question that can be solved by means of mathematics, science or logic~Could you do that maths problem on page 4?~
problem~noun~Something that causes difficulties or is difficult to understand~The biggest problem was finding the money to start the programme.~
procedure~noun~A way of doing something~It is a difficult procedure but the benefits are amazing.~
proceed~verb~Do or say something having just done or said something else~She proceeded to explain the plans to us.~
proceed~verb~Continue; go on~You may proceed when I leave.~
proceeds~noun~The proceeds of something are the money that is made from it~The proceeds will go to cancer research.~There is no singular version of this noun
process~verb~Treat raw materials to produce goods~These foods have all been processed.~
process~noun~A procedure; a set of things that happen or work together towards an end result~The interview process.~
process~noun~If you are in the process of doing something, you have not yet completed it~I am in the process of arranging your meetings.~
produce~noun~Things that are made or grown to be sold~We sold our produce to the local markets.~
produce~verb~Show something or make something appear~He produced a map to help find the treasure.~
produce~verb~If you produce a film or play, you are in charge of getting it made~Who produced that movie?~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
produce~verb~Grow or make things, either naturally or from other materials~They produce most of the tea on the market.~
product~noun~The result of something~He is a product of modern society.~
product~noun~Something that is made to be sold~Which cleaning product do you think is the best?~
production~noun~The process of growing or creating large quantities of things~We studied steel production methods.~
profession~noun~All the people who do the same job~She works in the legal profession.~
profession~noun~A job that requires a high level of specific education or training~What is your profession?~
professional~adjective~Doing something as a job rather than a hobby~A professional golfer.~
professional~adjective~If something has been done well and is of a high standard, it can be described as professional~She kept a professional attitude with all of her clients; A professional essay.~
professional~noun~Someone who has been trained to do a professional job~You need to speak to a professional about that.~
professional~noun~A person who does something as a job rather than a hobby~He is a football professional.~
professional~adjective~Related to doing a professional job~Professional skills.~
professor~noun~The highest ranking teacher at a university~Speak to your professor about that.~
profile~noun~The outline of a person's face from the side~He painted her profile.~
profit~verb~Get something good from a situation or to benefit from something~They will profit from all our hard work.~
profit~noun~Profit is the money that a person or company has left after expenses have been paid~This year we made double the profit we made last year.~
profound~adjective~Deep, intense or strong~This will cause profound changes in the way we think.~
profound~adjective~Having great intellect or knowledge~What a profound idea!~
program~noun~Instructions in a code form that tell a computer what to do~Did you install that new computer program?~
program~verb~Give a computer instructions on what to do~This computer has been programmed with the latest software.~
programme~noun~A plan of things that are going to be done~A training programme.~The US English spelling is always 'program'
programme~noun~A show that is broadcast on television or the radio~Did you watch that medical programme on TV last night?~
programme~noun~A booklet or page that gives information about a play, game or concert~The concert programmes were given to us free of charge.~
progress~noun~If something is in progress, it is happening right now~The test is in progress.~
progress~verb~If things progress, they move forward or continue~As time progressed she became weaker and weaker.~
progress~verb~Improve over time or get better at something~Her work is not progressing as quickly as we would like.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
progress~noun~The process of developing or improving~He has been making good progress.~
prohibit~verb~Forbid or prevent someone from doing something~The government has prohibited smoking in public places.~
project~verb~Estimate how something will be in the future~The projected unemployment rate.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
project~verb~Make an image or light appear on a surface~The writing was projected on to the wall.~
project~noun~A planned piece of work~This project will take years to complete.~
prolong~verb~Extend something; make it last longer~She prolonged the agony by not telling me her decision.~
prominent~adjective~Easily seen or noticed~A prominent monument on the hill.~
prominent~adjective~Important or well known~A prominent leader; It played a prominent part in our plans.~
promise~verb~Give your word about something; say that you will definitely do something~I promise to be on time.~
promise~noun~Potential~Their work shows promise.~
promise~verb~Show signs of having a certain quality~The book I've just started promises to be very good.~
promise~noun~A statement that says you will definitely do something~I made a promise to her and I plan to keep it.~
promising~adjective~If something is promising, it looks like it will be successful~She is my most promising student.~
promote~verb~Try to make something more popular by publicising it~He is promoting his latest book.~
promote~verb~If you are promoted at work, you are given a more important or more senior job~She hoped she would soon be promoted.~
prompt~adjective~Immediate; done without delay~Prompt action; A prompt response.~
prompt~verb~Make something happen or suggest something~The fact that he was late prompted him to hurry.~
pronoun~noun~A word used in the place of a noun so that you do not need to repeat the noun~It', 'she', 'he', 'they' are common pronouns.~
pronounce~verb~Make the sounds of a word~How do you pronounce this word?~
proof~noun~Evidence so strong that it can't be doubted~Do you have any proof that she is the thief?~
prop~verb~support something by resting it against something else~She propped the note up against his bag.~
proper~adjective~Real or suitable~A proper job; Proper food.~
proper~adjective~Appropriate or correct~Put these things in their proper order.~
property~noun~All the things you own~That is not your property; give it back to its owner.~
property~noun~A characteristic of something~Do you know the properties of these minerals?~
proportion~noun~The size and shape of something~A room of large proportions.~
proportion~noun~A part of something that makes up a whole~A large proportion of our bodies is made up of water.~
proposal~noun~A formal plan, suggestion or idea~I listened to his proposal.~
propose~verb~Ask a person to marry you~He is going to propose to her tonight.~
propose~verb~Intend to do something~How do you propose to get there?~
propose~verb~Suggest a plan or idea that others can decide on~He proposed that we start all over again.~
prosecute~verb~Charge someone with a crime~She was prosecuted and sent to jail.~
prospect~noun~A chance of being successful~Good job prospects.~
prospect~noun~A chance that something will happen~There was a huge prospect of the country going to war.~
protect~verb~Stop someone or something from being hurt or harmed~The police are trying to protect people against crime on the streets.~
protection~noun~Something that protects people or things~This coat offers protection against snow.~
protein~noun~A substance that humans need to eat in order to build and maintain their bodies; found in foods such as meat and eggs~Steak is a good source of protein.~
protest~noun~Words or actions that show that you oppose something~He went without protest.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
protest~verb~Show that you oppose something~They protested about their salaries.~
protestant~noun~Someone who believes in the Christian religion but is not a Roman Catholic or a member of an Orthodox church~A Protestant church.~
proud~adjective~If you are proud, you have much self-respect and value yourself highly~They were proud people.~
proud~adjective~Pleased and happy about something that you are connected to or something that you own~They were proud of her work; They were proud of their daughter.~
prove~verb~If you prove something you show that it is definitely true~She was able to prove that he had been there.~
prove~verb~If something proves to be dangerous or exciting etc., it works out that way~The trip proved to be fun after all.~
provide~verb~Give or supply~She provided us with a meal and some clean clothes.~
provided~conjunction~'So long as'; used to express what must be done in order for something else to be done~I will wash the dishes provided you make the dinner.~
provoke~verb~Deliberately make someone or something angry~The snake will bite when provoked.~
provoke~verb~Cause a certain reaction or effect~Her book provoked much discussion.~
psychiatrist~noun~A person who can treat mental illness~She was sent to a psychiatrist.~
psychological~adjective~Connected with a person's mind and thoughts~Psychological abuse.~
psychology~noun~The scientific study of the mind and behaviour~He studied child psychology.~
pub~noun~Short for 'public house'; a place where people can get together and buy and drink alcohol~We're just going to the pub for a drink.~
public~adjective~Connected with people in general~Public health.~
public~noun~If you are in public, you are out of your home and around other people~She didn't want to be seen in public with that dress on.~
public~noun~People in general are referred to as 'the public'~The prison was open to the public for the day.~
public~adjective~Made, often by the government, for everyone to use~A public park; a public swimming pool.~
publication~noun~The act of printing something and making it available to the public~Her novel was ready for publication.~
publicity~noun~Advertising; making something known to the public~She has done a lot of publicity for the film.~
publish~verb~When you publish a book or CD etc. you make and sell it~The book was published in 1974.~
publish~verb~If a piece of writing is published in a magazine etc., it is printed~She won the competition and they published her short story.~
pudding~noun~A hot, sweet cooked dish~She liked Christmas pudding.~
pudding~noun~A sweet dish normally eaten at the end of a meal~Are we having pudding tonight?~
puddle~noun~A small pool of rain water or another liquid~The children liked to jump in the puddles.~
pull~verb~Be attached to an animal or vehicle and moved along with it~The cart was pulled by a horse.~
pull~verb~Hold something and move it towards you~She pulled the book towards her; He pulled the man out of the car.~
pull away~verb~To pull away is to move away~I pulled away from her hug because she was squashing me.~
pull up~verb~If a vehicle or driver pulls up, they come to a halt~I will pull up on the kerb and you can get out.~
pulse~noun~The rhythm of blood flowing through the body. This can be felt on the inside of the wrist and in other places~She felt his pulse to see if he was alive.~
pump~noun~A device that is used to force liquid or gas in a certain direction~A bicycle pump.~
pump~verb~Make a liquid or gas move in a certain direction using a pump~They pumped the water into the container.~
punch~noun~A usually alcoholic drink made from spirits and fruit~She put the punch in glasses.~
punch~noun~A blow from a fist~He gave him a friendly punch on the arm.~
punch~verb~Hit someone using your fist~She punched his leg.~
punctuation~noun~Apostrophe (')~~
punctuation~noun~Semicolon (;)~~
punctuation~noun~Exclamation mark (!)~~
punctuation~noun~Brackets ( ), { }, [ ]~~
punctuation~noun~Question mark (?)~~
punctuation~noun~Full stop (.)~~
punctuation~noun~Dash or hyphen (-)~~
punctuation~noun~"Quotation marks ("" "")"~~
punctuation~noun~Marks other than letters or numbers that are used when writing to help make the meaning clear. Some forms of punctuation are listed here and can be individually looked up~~
punctuation~noun~Comma (,)~~
puncture~noun~A small hole made in something, usually by a sharp object~We pulled the car off the road when we realised we had a puncture.~
punish~verb~Make someone who has done something wrong suffer~He was punished for stealing.~
punishment~noun~What is done to punish someone~Your punishment will be no pocket money for a month.~
pupil~noun~A person who attends school~The pupils were given the day off school.~
puppet~noun~A toy that is made to look like a person or animal and can be moved with strings or by placing your hand inside it and moving your hand~They put on a show using puppets.~
puppy~noun~A young or baby dog~The dog had three puppies.~
purchase~noun~The process of buying something~Proof of purchase.~
purchase~verb~Buy~I purchased a new car.~
purchase~noun~Something that you buy~Her purchases were in a bag in the living room.~
pure~adjective~Having nothing added; not mixed~Pure cotton; Pure gold.~
pure~adjective~Clean, not containing anything harmful~The bottle contained pure water.~
purely~adverb~Only, merely~We saw each other purely by coincidence.~
purple~noun~A colour made by mixing red and blue~Lavender is purple.~
purpose~noun~Something that you want to achieve because it is important to you~It was her purpose in life to become a famous dancer.~
purpose~noun~If something is done on purpose it is not done by accident~She did that on purpose!~
purpose~noun~The aim or reason for something~What is your purpose here?~
purse~noun~A small bag, mostly used by women, to carry money and cards etc.~She took some money from her purse.~
purse~noun~US English for handbag~Her phone rang in her purse.~
pursue~verb~Follow someone with the aim of catching them~They were pursued by a gang.~
pursue~verb~Try and achieve something, usually over time~He has pursued this goal all his life.~
push~verb~Encourage or pressurise someone into doing something~He was pushed to do well by his parents.~
push~verb~Use a part of your body, usually your hand, to move something away from you~She pushed the plate away from her; She pushed him out of her way.~
push~noun~The act of pushing someone or something~She gave the dog a small push off her feet.~
put~verb~'Put into' can mean dedicate to, devote to~She puts a lot of time into her music.~
put~verb~Move someone or something into a certain state or position~She put her keys on the desk.~
put~verb~Express something in a certain way~When you put it that way it makes more sense!~
put~verb~Give something a level of importance or trust etc.~She put all her hopes in him.~
put~verb~Write, type or make a mark somewhere~She put her name and address on the form.~
put off~verb~If you put someone off something, you make them lose interest in it~I was put off my food.~
put off~verb~When you put something off, you postpone it~I will put off my work until Tuesday.~
put on~verb~When a service etc. is put on, it is arranged to happen~They are putting on tea and cake for the pensioners.~
put on~verb~To put music on is to play it~He put on my favourite song.~
put on~verb~Place something on your body to wear it~Put on that hat I like.~
put out~verb~Stop something from burning or shining~Please put that candle out.~
put up~verb~If you put up with something, you accept it or endure it even though you don't like it~Why did you put up with her constant moaning?~
put up~verb~When you put up the price of something, you make it more expensive~This shop has put up its prices again!~
put up~verb~When something is put up, it is built~They are going to put up a new cinema here.~
put up~verb~When you put someone up in your home you allow them to stay there~We can put you up for the night.~
puzzle~verb~If you are puzzled, you are confused or mystified~I am puzzled by her behaviour.~
puzzle~noun~Something that is difficult to complete or understand; some puzzles are designed to be attempted for fun~A children's puzzle.~
pyjamas~noun~Loose or baggy clothes that are worn in bed~She bought new pyjamas.~
qualification~noun~An exam or course that you have passed~She graduated with several qualifications.~
qualification~noun~A skill needed for a certain job~Does he have all the qualifications for this job?~
qualify~verb~Have the right to do or have something~She qualifies for the job.~
qualify~verb~When you qualify, you pass the tests or course needed to give you the knowledge to do a certain job~He qualified as a doctor last week.~
quality~noun~The quality of something is how good or bad it is~Good-quality clothing.~
quality~noun~A feature or characteristic of something or someone~He listed her personal qualities.~
quantity~noun~An amount of something~The chef bought large quantities of food.~
quarrel~verb~Have a spoken dispute or argument~Would you two stop quarrelling!~
quarrel~noun~A spoken dispute or argument~Those two are always involved in a quarrel.~
quarter~noun~One part of four equal parts~She cut the cake into quarters.~
quarter~noun~A 25 cent coin in the USA and Canada~He put a quarter in the machine.~
quarter~noun~A period of 15 minutes~A quarter past three.~
queen~noun~A female ruler or a woman who is married to a king~Her majesty the Queen.~
query~noun~A question, especially if it is asked because you doubt something~I have a query about my salary.~
query~verb~Ask a question, especially if you think something is incorrect or not done properly~I queried her sudden absences from work.~
question~verb~Call into question; throw doubt on something~He questioned my commitment.~
question~noun~If there is no question of something happening, it is impossible or forbidden~There is no question of us arriving on time.~
question~verb~ask someone questions~He questioned me about my day.~
question~noun~Something that needs to be discussed~The question of how we are going to get there.~
question~noun~Something that asks for information~He asked me a question about my family.~
question mark~noun~This is the symbol (?) that shows that a sentence is a question~Do you know how to use a question mark?~
queue~verb~Wait in line for someone or something~They queued for a day to see their favourite band.~
queue~noun~A line of people that are waiting for someone or something~A queue of people in the shop.~
quick~adjective~Happening quite fast or lasting a short while~She had a quick shower; He made a quick getaway.~
quick~adjective~Fast~A quick learner.~
quickly~adverb~Fast~They ran quickly across the field.~
quickly~adverb~After only a short time~He replied quite quickly.~
quid~noun~An informal word for a British pound~Could you lend me ten quid?~
quiet~adjective~Peaceful, not busy or noisy~They lived in a quiet area of town.~
quiet~adjective~If something is quiet it does not make much noise~The teacher kept the class quiet.~
quiet~noun~Not having much noise~She liked the quiet of the country.~
quiet~adjective~If a person is described as quiet, they do not speak much~She was a quiet child.~
quietly~adverb~Peacefully~They spent the night quietly at home.~
quietly~adverb~With little noise~He quietly opened the door.~
quit~verb~Leave something such as your job, or stop doing something~He quit school; I quit smoking.~
quite~adverb~Fairly~It is quite close now.~
quite~adverb~Entirely, totally~That is quite perfect.~
quiz~noun~A game or competition that asks you questions to test your knowledge~A quiz in the pub every Wednesday.~
quotation marks~noun~The same as inverted commas: see 'inverted commas'~~
quote~verb~Repeat the exact words that someone else has written or said~She quoted from her favourite book.~
quote~noun~The exact words that someone has written or said~A quote from the prime minister.~
rabbit~noun~A small animal that has a short fluffy tail and long ears~She gave the rabbit a carrot.~
race~noun~One of the major groups that people are placed into according to what part of the world their ancestors came from etc.~Her parents wanted her to marry someone of the same race.~
race~verb~Compete in a race~They raced against each other in the finals.~
race~noun~A competition to see who is the fastest at doing something~A horse race; The children had a race in the garden.~
race~verb~Move very quickly~He raced away after the dog.~
racial~adjective~Connected with the different races that people are grouped in to~They argued about racial issues.~
racism~noun~Dislike or bad treatment of a person or group of people because of their race~An attempt to stop racism all over the world.~
rack~noun~A piece of metal or wood that is designed for things to hang on or sit in neatly~A wine rack.~
radar~noun~A way of finding the position of objects using radio waves~They tracked the ship using radar.~
radiation~noun~Particles sent out by radioactive substances, often dangerous~People suffering from radiation poisoning.~
radiator~noun~A metal device that usually has hot water pumped through it and is used to heat rooms~She put her feet against the radiator to warm them.~
radiator~noun~A part of a car that cools the engine~It looks like the problem is the radiator.~
radical~adjective~Fundamental; going to the root of something~A radical change in policy.~
radio~noun~A piece of apparatus used to send and receive messages through the air~Everyone in the security team was issued with a radio.~
radio~noun~A system of sending and receiving messages or sound through the air~You must maintain radio contact at all times.~
radio~noun~A piece of equipment used to listen to programmes broadcast to the public~Turn the radio on.~
radio~noun~The act of broadcasting programmes for the public to listen to~Radio is very important in some people's lives.~
radioactive~adjective~If something is radioactive it sends out radiation~They wore protective suits because everything in the room was radioactive.~
raft~noun~A flat structure made from wood that floats on water~They made a small raft and floated down the river.~
rag~noun~A piece of cloth, especially old clothing, that is used for cleaning~She washed the floor with an old rag.~
rag~noun~'Rags' can be clothes that are in an old and worn-out condition~The street children were dressed in rags.~
rage~verb~Be violent or happen with much force~The storm raged all night.~
rage~noun~Violent anger~Her lies filled me with rage.~
raid~verb~Go into somewhere to search for things or to steal something~Police raided the warehouse; The village was raided by a gang.~
raid~noun~A surprise search or attack~A police raid.~
rail~noun~A metal bar that forms a track for trains to move along~The train stopped when a dog ran onto the rails.~
rail~noun~The railways~The parcel was sent by rail.~
rail~noun~A bar that is attached to a wall and used to hang things on~A towel rail; A curtain rail.~
railroad~noun~US English for 'railway'~We walked along the railroad.~
railway~noun~The tracks along which a train travels~The train moved along the railway.~
rain~verb~When it rains, water falls from the sky~It's raining again today.~
rain~noun~Drops of water that are dropped from clouds~They got caught in the rain.~
rainbow~noun~A coloured arch that is sometimes seen in the sky after rain~Some people think there is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.~
raise~verb~Collect money, usually for a charity~Did we raise enough money?~
raise~verb~Bring up a topic or subject~We will raise the matter over dinner.~
raise~noun~In US English, if you get a raise you are paid more money at work~He got another raise.~UK English mostly uses 'rise'
raise~verb~Make something higher~She raised her glass; She raised her arms above her head.~
raise~verb~Increase something~Raise the standard of education; He raised his voice.~
raise~verb~Look after a child or young animal until it has grown up~She was raised in a small town.~
ramp~noun~A sloped surface joining a higher and a lower level~Ramps for people in wheelchairs.~
ranch~noun~In the USA and Australia this is a large farm used to keep cattle, sheep, horses, etc.~We spent the weekend on their ranch.~
random~noun~'At random' means done without thinking or planning; happening by chance~We picked a holiday from a brochure at random.~
range~verb~Vary from one end of a scale to the other~Prices range from very low to very high.~
range~noun~Variety, selection~A huge range of cosmetics.~
range~noun~The distance over which something can move or be seen etc.~Binoculars with a range of 5 kilometres.~
range~noun~The limits between which something varies~The price range.~
rank~noun~A line or row of people or things, especially soldiers or police etc.~Ranks of people.~
rank~verb~Give something or someone a position on a scale~He is ranked highest in his age group.~
rank~noun~The position that someone has in an organisation, especially a military one~He was of lower rank than me.~
rank~noun~'In our ranks' means in our membership~We have 40 people in our ranks.~
rap~verb~Give something a sharp hit or blow~She rapped the window to see if I was in.~
rap~noun~A sharp hit or blow~A rap on the window.~
rap~noun~Music where the words are spoken quickly rather than sung~Do you like rap music?~
rape~noun~A crime where someone is forced to have sex~He was found guilty of rape.~
rape~verb~Force someone to have sex~She was raped.~
rapid~adjective~Happening very quickly~A rapid pulse; Rapid breathing.~
rare~adjective~Not done or found very often~He collects rare butterflies.~
rare~adjective~If meat is rare, it is not cooked very much and is still red and bloody inside~She likes her steak rare.~
rash~noun~A patch of sore or itchy red spots on the skin caused by an illness or allergic reaction~A rash across her back.~
rash~adjective~Done without thinking sensibly first~A rash decision with horrible consequences.~
raspberry~noun~A small, soft, dark red fruit that grows on a bush~We picked wild raspberries.~
rat~noun~An animal that has a long tail and looks like a large mouse~The abandoned building was full of rats.~
rate~noun~The speed of something or the speed at which something happens~You won't finish your work at this rate.~
rate~verb~Put something on a scale according to how good or bad you think it is~She rated the first film better than the second.~
rate~noun~A level at which something is charged~Students and pensioners get discounted rates.~
rather~adverb~If you would rather do one thing than another, you would prefer to do it~I would rather go on Tuesday.~
rather~adverb~Fairly~She can run rather quickly, can't she?~
ratio~noun~The relationship between two sets of things that shows by how much one is bigger than the other~The ratio of males to females was four to one.~
rational~adjective~Sensible and based on reason rather than emotions or feelings~She made some rational choices; I don't know if I could have been as rational as she was.~
rattle~noun~A child's toy that makes a noise when shaken~The baby loved his rattle.~
rattle~verb~Shake; make a series of noises when shaken~He shook the box and it rattled; Don't rattle the glasses, they might break!~
rave~verb~To rave about something or someone is to praise them highly~She raved about the food.~
rave~verb~Talk or shout in a mad or nonsensical way~Stop raving at me about that money!~
rave~noun~A dance to electronic music in a large building or room~She's going to a rave tonight.~
raw~adjective~In the natural state, before any changes have been made~Raw wool; raw materials.~
raw~adjective~Uncooked~Raw meat.~
ray~noun~A beam or line of light or heat~She lay in the garden and soaked up the sun's rays.~
razor~noun~A sharp instrument used for shaving~He needed new blades for his razor.~
re-~prefix~Re- as a prefix means again; to repeat something~Re-apply; rediscover.~
reach~verb~Arrive somewhere~We reached the hotel after midnight.~
reach~verb~Make contact with someone~I finally reached him on his home phone.~
reach~noun~If something is out of reach, it is too far away to get at~The glass was just out of her reach.~
reach~noun~If something is within easy reach, it is close by~My office is within easy reach of the stairs.~
reach~verb~Achieve a certain aim~They finally reached a decision; She reached all her goals.~
reach~verb~Stretch or move an arm or hand to pick up or touch something~He reached into the cupboard and took out a cup.~
reach~verb~Be close enough to pick up or touch something~Can you reach that cup?~
reach~verb~Be big or long enough to get to a certain place~Do the curtains reach the floor?~
react~verb~Behave in a certain way as a response to something~I didn't mean to react so emotionally.~
reaction~noun~Your response to something~I didn't expect such a strong reaction from her.~
read~verb~If a piece of writing reads a certain way, it means that that is what is said in it~The notice read as follows:~
read~verb~look at and understand words and symbols in a piece of writing~I read all three of them.~'Read' is the past tense and past participle but is pronounced to rhyme with 'bed' rather than 'bead'
reader~noun~Someone who reads or is reading~A note to the reader.~
readily~adverb~Quickly and easily~These products are readily available from most supermarkets.~
ready~adjective~Willing~He is always ready to start an argument.~
ready~adjective~Prepared~She was ready for work; Are you ready to do your homework?~
real~adjective~Genuine; Not fake~Is that ring real gold?~
real~adjective~Actually existing rather than being imagined etc.~Is this real or am I dreaming?~
real~adjective~Actual or true~What was your real reason for leaving?~
realise~verb~Become aware of something or accept it~Do you realise that you are about to make a mistake?~
realistic~adjective~Sensible and able to be done~I need a realistic plan.~
realistic~adjective~If a model etc. is realistic, it looks like it would do in real life~Her paintings are always so realistic.~
reality~noun~Something that is real rather than imagined~The realities of being a doctor.~
realise~verb~If something is realised, it is made real~Her plans were finally realised by the builders.~Formal use
realize~verb~This is another way of spelling 'realise'~She realized she wasn't going to make it in time.~In words like 'realize' and 'organize', the 'z' spelling is always used in US English. Either the 's' or the 'z' spelling can be used in UK English
really~adverb~'Really' can express surprise~I booked a week off work. Really?~
really~adverb~Actually; in truth~Was she really there?; Is it really true?~
really~adverb~'Really' is used in negative sentences to reduce the force of what you are saying~I didn't really like it.~
rear~verb~If an animal rears, it lifts its front legs into the air. Used especially of a horse~He ran when the horse reared.~
rear~verb~Care for and bring up children or young animals~She has reared five children and 13 grandchildren.~
rear~noun~The back part of something~The car is at the rear of the garage.~
reason~noun~The explanation for something; the factor that causes you to do something~What was her reason for leaving?~
reason~noun~The ability of the mind to think logically and make decisions~You need to use more reason with these problems.~
reason~verb~Think about something logically and make a decision~She reasoned that if she kept to the main roads she could make it in time.~
reason~noun~If you have reason to believe something or do something, you are justified in believing it or doing it~She had every reason to leave.~
reasonable~adjective~Practical and sensible; not asking for too much~That seems like a reasonable request.~
reasonable~adjective~If something is reasonable, it is fairly good but not excellent~The rooms in the hotel were reasonable but not brilliant.~
reasonable~adjective~If something has a reasonable price, it is not too expensive~I got the top for a reasonable price.~
reassure~verb~Do or say things to make someone less frightened or worried~We reassured her that everything would be fine.~
rebel~noun~A person who breaks the rules set by society~He thought of himself as a bit of a rebel in high school.~
rebel~verb~Break the rules set by society and attempt to be different from others~She rebelled against her teachers.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
rebel~noun~Someone who fights against their country's government~Rebels fought against the armed forces.~
recall~verb~Remember~I recalled seeing him there a few times.~
recall~verb~Order something to return~Some of their products were recalled; the army recalled its forces.~
receipt~noun~A piece of paper that proves you have paid for something~She showed the security guard her receipt.~
receive~verb~The way in which people receive something is the way they react to it~Her speech was well received by the listeners.~
receive~verb~Be given something~I received the cheque in the post.~
receive~verb~To receive treatment or an injury is to get treatment or an injury~She received a broken arm in the crash; She received a course of pain killers from her doctor.~
recent~adjective~If something is recent it happened not too long ago~Their recent move to the country.~
recently~adverb~Not too long ago~They recently moved to the country.~
reception~noun~The reaction or welcome that people get from other people~He received an emotional reception from his wife.~
reception~noun~A formal celebration or party~The directors' reception; a wedding reception.~
reception~noun~The area near the entrance of a hotel, office or other building where people can go for information etc.~We handed our keys in at reception.~
receptionist~noun~Someone who deals with guests or customers of an hotel or office etc.~The receptionist gave us our room number.~
recipe~noun~Instructions that tell you the ingredients of a meal or dish and how to cook it~Do you have a recipe for chocolate cake?~
reckon~verb~Think something~I reckon we can win this game.~Informal use
reckon~verb~Calculate or guess a number or amount~We reckon we are losing 10,000 workers a year.~
reckon with~verb~If you reckon with something, you see it as a possible problem that you are prepared for~I didn't reckon with her being so angry.~Usually used in the negative
recognise~verb~If you recognise someone or something, you know who or what they are because you have seen them before~I recognised the painting.~
recognise~verb~Be aware of or accept that something exists or is true~We recognise her potential.~
recommend~verb~Tell someone that you think something is good and that they should try it~I recommended the hotel to my family.~
record~adjective~A record high or low is the highest or lowest level ever reached~Sales are at a record low.~
record~verb~Copy or store music on a tape or CD etc.~They recorded the latest album in the studio in America.~
record~verb~Keep an account of something so that it can be looked at later~He recorded the details of the crash in his notebook.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
record~noun~Your record is a list of your previous actions or achievements~The company has a good record.~
record~noun~The best or highest result or achievement~She broke last year's Olympic record.~
record~noun~A thin, round plastic disc on which music has been recorded~She has a large record collection.~
record~noun~Written details of something that can be looked at later~We keep a record of all our students.~
recover~verb~Find something that had been lost, stolen, etc.~The police recovered most of their possessions.~
recover~verb~Get well after being ill~It has taken three weeks but she has finally recovered.~
recovery~noun~If you make a recovery, you become well after you have been ill~She made a full recovery and was back at work within a week.~
recreation~noun~All the things that people do for fun in their spare time~The sports club caters for children's recreation.~
rectangular~adjective~If something is rectangular, it has four sides of which two are longer than the other two, and four 90 degree angles~A rectangular pillow.~
recur~verb~happen again~It is a recurring illness.~
recycle~verb~Put used products through a process that allows their materials to be used again~We recycle all our plastic and glass.~
red~noun~The colour of blood~A red bicycle; a red car.~
red~adjective~'Red hair' is a reddish-brown or orange colour~Some of my friends have red hair.~
reduce~verb~Make something smaller~We need to reduce our waste.~
reduction~noun~If there is a reduction of something, there is less of it or it is made smaller or lower~Price reductions in the clothing shops.~
redundant~adjective~To be made redundant is to lose your job because there is no more work or money for you~When the company changed hands the entire family was made redundant.~
redundant~adjective~Not needed anymore~New computers have made old computers redundant.~
refer~verb~Find or look for information in something~She referred to the booklet for instructions.~
refer~verb~If you are referred to someone about something, you go to them for help~The doctor referred me to a specialist.~
refer~verb~When you refer to someone or something, you mention or speak about them~She refers to the idea in her essay.~
referee~noun~An official who controls the playing of some games, such as football~The referee blew the whistle to start the game.~
reference~noun~A reference to something is a mention of it~She made a reference to the Christmas party.~
reference~noun~The act of looking at or referring to something for information~He carried a dictionary for easy reference.~
reference~noun~A letter written by a previous employer etc. that states why you would be a good employee~Her previous manager didn't give her a very good reference.~
reflect~verb~To reflect something is to show its image~Her face was reflected in the pool of water.~
reflect~verb~If light or heat etc. is reflected from something, it is thrown back rather than sinking in~The glass reflected the sun.~
reflect~verb~Show; be a result of~His plans reflected his excitement about the trip.~
reflection~noun~A reflection shows what something is like~Her speech was a reflection of her love for the subject.~
reflection~noun~The image that reflected from or in something~She checked her reflection in the mirror before she left.~
reform~noun~A change made to a law, rule or system that is meant to improve it~Reforms in the medical system.~
reform~verb~Change a law, rule or system in an attempt to improve it~They felt that the rules needed to be reformed.~
refrigerator~noun~A piece of electrical equipment that stores food and drinks and keeps them cold~You should keep your milk in the refrigerator.~
refugee~noun~Someone who has been forced to leave their home or country for political, religious, etc. reasons~Refugees flooded out of the country.~
refund~noun~Money that you receive when you return goods or have been sold damaged goods or charged too much for them~She asked for a refund because the clothes didn't fit.~
refund~verb~Return someone's money having sold them faulty or unsuitable goods~They refunded the total cost of the product.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
refusal~noun~The act of saying 'no' to something~Their refusal annoyed the company.~
refuse~verb~Say that you will not allow something~She was refused entrance to the building.~
refuse~verb~Say that you will not do or accept something that has been offered to you~She refused his offer of a drink.~
regard~verb~Think about someone or something in a certain way~She was very highly regarded by all of us.~
regard~noun~'Regards' is used (often at the end of letters) to say that you care about someone (or just as a polite ending)~Send my regards to your brother; The letter ended 'Regards, Tom').~
regarding~preposition~Concerning~She was called in regarding the operation.~
regime~noun~A type of government~A fascist regime.~
region~noun~One of several or many large areas of land into which a country is divided~The families lived in different regions of the country.~
region~noun~'In the region of' is used to mean 'approximately'~These cars are priced in the region of £20,000-40,000.~
register~verb~Record officially on a list~I was registered on the voting list.~
register~verb~If something registers on a scale or measuring instrument, it means the instrument can measure it~The sound of the blast registered on all their scales.~
register~noun~An official list of names or facts etc.~The teacher read names from the class register every day.~
regret~verb~Can be used formally to say that you are sorry about something~We regret this disruption to our service.~
regret~noun~A feeling of being sad or disappointed about something~She was filled with regret for what she had done.~
regret~verb~Feel bad or sorry about something and wish that it hadn't happened~She regretted ever meeting him.~
regular~noun~Customers who often go to the same shop or pub are referred to as 'regulars'~She had a party and all the regulars were invited.~
regular~adjective~Something is regular if it follows a pattern~She had a regular pulse.~
regular~adjective~Well-balanced or evenly shaped~Regular facial features.~
regular~adjective~Done quite often~She makes regular trips to see her mother.~
regular~adjective~Standard, common or usual~My regular hairdresser was on holiday.~
regulate~verb~control the way something works or control the temperature etc.~We need to regulate the heat in this room.~
regulation~noun~A rule with the purpose of controlling something~The regulations governing immigration.~
regulation~noun~A rule made by an official body such as the government~We all had to learn the fire regulations in case of emergency.~
rehearsal~noun~The time spent practising something before it is actually done~The rehearsals were due to begin on Wednesday.~
rehearse~verb~Practise a performance of something before it is done in public~They rehearsed every day for ten hours.~
reign~noun~The period of time in which one king or queen rules a country~He was alive during the reign of two kings.~
reign~verb~If a king or queen reigns, they rule the country~She reigned for 50 years.~
reign~verb~'To reign' can mean to be generally existing~Peace reigned over the village.~
reject~verb~Refuse to accept~She rejected his offer and quit her job.~
reject~verb~Not to be given a job or place by a company or university etc. is to be rejected~All her job applications were rejected.~
relate~verb~If you can relate to something, you understand it~She couldn't relate to her mother's problems.~
relate~verb~To relate to something is to be connected with it~These figures relate to last year's profits.~
related~adjective~If things are related, they are connected to each other in some way~Her headaches are related to the medication she is taking.~
related~adjective~If people are related, they have some ancestors in common~Is she really related to the queen?~
relation~noun~Relations between people or countries etc. are the way that they behave or deal with each other~The aim was to improve relations between the two countries.~
relation~noun~A relation is a person with whom you share some ancestors~Many of their relations were invited to the wedding.~
relation~noun~The connection between things~This problem should bear no relation to our schedule.~
relationship~noun~A friendship where the people involved love or have sexual feelings for each other~The relationship lasted ten years.~
relationship~noun~The way in which things are connected~Their outgoings in relationship to their incomings.~
relationship~noun~The way that people or countries behave and feel towards each other~She has a very good relationship with her parents.~
relative~adjective~'Relative' is used when you compare something with something else~The relative weaknesses of the two ideas.~
relative~noun~The people that you are related to are your relatives~She introduced him to her closest relatives.~
relatively~adverb~Fairly~It was a relatively difficult exam.~
relax~verb~Become, or help someone to become, less anxious or stressed~Relax; worry about it later.~
relax~verb~Allow a rule etc. to become less strict~Due to public outcry the smoking rules were relaxed.~
release~verb~Let go of something you are holding~She released her grip on the rope.~
release~verb~Make available to the public~Her new book will be released next year.~
release~noun~Set someone or something free~The hostages were finally released; The birds were released into the wild.~
release~noun~The act of making something such as a book or film available to the public~We were present at the release of his new album.~
relevant~adjective~When something is relevant to something else, it is connected to it or has some importance regarding it~Please discuss only the matters relevant to the subject.~
reliable~adjective~If something is reliable it can be trusted and depended upon~She was the most reliable of the three girls; The trains are far from reliable.~
reliable~adjective~If information etc. is reliable, you can assume that it is true~So far they hadn't received any reliable information.~
relief~noun~A good feeling that you have when something horrible has been stopped or is over~She felt relief sweep over her when the police caught the thief.~
relief~noun~When something reduces or stops pain that you are feeling, it gives you relief~The pain-killers gave her a lot of relief.~
relieve~verb~Get rid of or reduce something unpleasant or painful~The doctors tried to relieve as much pressure as they could.~
relieved~adjective~Feeling happy because something horrible has lessened or stopped~She was relieved to hear it was all over.~
religion~noun~A belief in a god or gods, and the practice of this belief~She didn't believe that religion should be taught in schools.~
religion~noun~A certain type of religious belief~Which religion do you follow?~
religious~adjective~Concerned with religion~A religious holiday.~
religious~adjective~A religious person strongly believes in their god or gods~She was always a very religious woman.~
reluctant~adjective~Unwilling or unsure~She was reluctant to try on the dress.~
rely~verb~Depend on someone or something~I sometimes think he relies on us too much.~
rely~verb~Trust someone or something~You can always rely on him to do the right thing.~
remain~verb~Stay in the same position or state~The dog remained seated.~
remain~verb~Still be somewhere after everything or everyone else has gone~The priest remained in the church after the Sunday service.~
remains~noun~What is left after a process of dying, rotting, being eaten, etc.~The remains of the animal.~
remainder~noun~The part that is left~She took the remainder of the paperwork home with her.~
remark~noun~A comment that you make about something~She made a nasty remark about his hair.~
remark~verb~Comment on something~She was asked to remark on her experience of the book.~
remarkable~adjective~Unusual, surprising; very good~He did a remarkable job.~
remedy~noun~A treatment that cures an illness that isn't too serious~A herbal remedy for a cold.~
remember~verb~Have an image of something from the past in your mind~I remember walking through this forest when I was a child.~
remember~verb~Bring a piece of information that you know into your mind~I remembered all the instructions.~
remember~verb~Realise that you need to do something, and do it; not forget~She remembered to post the letters.~
remind~verb~If you remind someone of something or of someone else, then you appear similar to the other thing~He reminds me of my brother.~
remind~verb~Tell someone something in case they have forgotten~She reminds me to brush my teeth every morning.~
remote~adjective~Very small~There is only a remote chance that she will agree.~
remote~adjective~A remote place is far away from other places~They camped in a remote spot miles away from any town.~
removal~noun~The act of taking something away from somewhere~The removal of rubbish from homes to the dump.~
removal~noun~The act of moving furniture etc. from one place to another~The removal company arrived late.~
remove~verb~Take something off or away from somewhere~They removed the pictures from the wall; He removed his jacket and tie.~
render~verb~Cause something to be in a certain state~The weapons were rendered useless.~
renew~verb~Begin something again after stopping, or take it to a higher level, having let it drop~The renewed their efforts after the holidays.~
renew~verb~Extend or make something valid for a further period of time~They renewed their subscription to the magazine.~
rent~verb~Allow someone to use something of yours in return for regular payments of money~He started his business by renting farm machinery to farmers.~
rent~noun~The money that you receive in return for allowing someone to use something of yours~She pays more rent than I do.~
rent~verb~Use someone else's accommodation, office, etc. for a fee~She is renting the flat.~
repair~noun~Something that you do to fix something that is broken~He made some repairs and now it works fine again.~
repair~verb~Fix something that is damaged or broken~She spent the day repairing the broken vase.~
repeat~noun~Something that happens that is very similar or identical to something that happened before~We do not want a repeat of last year's problems.~
repeat~verb~Do or say something that you've done or said already~She repeated the words over and over to herself.~
replace~verb~Put something back where it was before~She replaced the cup on the shelf.~
replace~verb~Take the place of~The second team of police was replaced during the night.~
replace~verb~Give something new in the place of something old, damaged or lost~She replaced his toy train when the dog chewed the old one.~
replacement~noun~A person who replaces another in a job etc.~She was introduced to her replacement when she retired.~
replacement~noun~The act of replacing one thing with another~She promised to pay for a replacement.~
reply~verb~Give or write an answer to something~I replied to every one of his letters.~
reply~noun~What you give or write as an answer to something~I received replies from all over the country.~
report~noun~A statement or information about something~His parents kept all his school reports over the years.~
report~verb~Tell an authority figure about something, especially something bad~She reported the burglary to the police.~
report~verb~Give information about something, having found it out~She reported that they would be ready to leave in an hour.~
report~verb~Say that you have arrived and are ready for work~She reported to the manager as soon as she arrived.~
reporter~noun~A person who writes or presents news articles or programmes~The interview was conducted by a famous news reporter.~
represent~verb~Show or mean something by picture or symbol~The pictures represent different ideas.~
represent~verb~If something represents something, it is equal to it or is it~This figure represents the total amount of profit made in a year.~
represent~verb~Speak or act on behalf of someone else~The union represented the workers' needs.~
representative~noun~Someone who speaks or acts on behalf of someone else~The lawyer acted as her representative.~
representative~adjective~Typical, reflecting accurately~The answers were representative of the public's opinions.~
reproduce~verb~make a copy of something~She tried to reproduce his paintings.~
reproduction~noun~Something that is a copy of something else~A reproduction of a famous drawing.~
reptile~noun~An animal that has cold blood and is usually covered in scales~She was frightened of reptiles, especially snakes.~
republic~noun~A country whose head is a president voted for by the public rather than a king or queen~The Republic of Ireland.~
republican~adjective~A person who prefers a type of government that has a president rather than a king or queen~He was a republican and so were his children.~
reputation~noun~The opinions that people have of you because of things you have done~She had a good reputation that she worked hard to keep.~
request~verb~Ask for something in a polite way~She requested a pay increase from her employer.~
request~noun~The act of asking for something in a polite way~I put in a request for a pay increase.~
require~verb~Need something~She required the support of her entire family.~
require~verb~If you are required to do something by law, then you must do it~She was required to appear in court.~
requirement~noun~Something that needs to be done or something that you must have~Flowers were high on her list of requirements.~
rescue~verb~Save someone or something from danger~The troops were sent in to rescue the hostages.~
rescue~noun~The act of saving someone or something from danger~Their rescue was a success.~
research~verb~Study in order to find out as much as possible about something~I like to research my family history.~
research~noun~The study of different things to try to find out all the facts about them~A lot of money was put into medical research.~
resemblance~noun~Similarity~You can see the resemblance between mother and daughter.~
resemble~verb~If things resemble each other they look alike or have similar qualities~His painting closes resembled the original.~
resent~verb~Feel angry and upset about something, especially because you think it is unfair~She resented being treated like a child.~
reservation~noun~An arrangement for a place to be kept in a restaurant or plane etc.~I made a reservation for the five of us.~
reservation~noun~A doubt about something~He had some reservations about the plan.~
reserve~verb~Arrange for something to be kept for you, or keep something for someone else~They reserved the room for a week.~
reserve~noun~A supply of things that are kept to be used at a later time~The mines kept reserves of coal.~
resident~noun~Someone who lives in a certain place is a resident of that place~They called a meeting of all the residents of the apartment block.~
resident~adjective~Living in a particular place~She is resident in the United Kingdom.~
resign~verb~Officially leave your job~She resigned after only one week.~
resign~verb~If you resign yourself to something, then you accept it although you don't like it~Eventually she resigned herself to the fact that he was not going to get better.~
resignation~noun~Acceptance of something unpleasant~We heard the resignation in her voice.~
resignation~noun~A letter etc. saying that you are quitting your job~I handed in my resignation this morning.~
resist~verb~Refuse to accept or acknowledge something, and attempt to prevent it from happening~They resisted the party's political changes.~
resist~verb~Stop yourself from doing something that you would like to do~She resisted eating all of the chocolate.~
resistance~noun~Opposition to something or the refusal to do or accept something~His resistance to the new idea.~
resistance~noun~The act of using force in response to something~The police had them so securely surrounded that they offered no resistance.~
resolution~noun~A formal or official decision made at a meeting, especially when passed by a committee etc.~They have adopted the new resolution.~
resolution~noun~Determination or a decision to do or not to do something~Her resolution made it work; She made a resolution to quit smoking.~
resolution~noun~The action of solving or settling a problem~A team was hired to find a resolution to the problem.~
resolve~verb~Be determined to do something or make a strong decision to do it~She resolved to do the right thing.~
resolve~verb~Find a solution to a problem~They resolved the problem in a couple of hours.~
resort~verb~If you resort to something, often something bad, you do it because all other options have failed~She felt that she had to resort to blackmail.~
resort~noun~Something that is done as a last resort is done because all other options have been tried~Phoning her parents was their last resort.~
resort~noun~A place for people to spend their vacations in~They went to the same resort every year.~
resource~noun~A country's resources are all the valuable things it has, such as money and oil reserves~The country did not have enough resources to further its children's education.~
respect~verb~Admire someone because of who they are, their ideas, etc.~She respects him because of all the work he has done for charity.~
respect~verb~Act in accordance with something~She respected my wishes and kept quiet about it all.~
respect~noun~A feeling of admiration for someone because of who they are, their ideas, etc.~She has a lot of respect for her father.~
respect~noun~Politeness, consideration, good manners~He showed me a lot of respect.~
respect~noun~A particular aspect or detail of something~In this respect, however, we were lucky to get away.~
respectable~adjective~Considered good and well-behaved by society~He used to be a highly respectable man.~
respectable~adjective~Quite good~She earns a respectable salary.~
respectively~adverb~In the same order~John, Helen and Mark are going to London, Paris and Brussels respectively.~
respond~verb~Give an answer or reply to something~She usually responds to my e-mails quite quickly.~
response~noun~An answer or reply to something~I received a response from him last week.~
responsibility~noun~If someone or something is your responsibility, it is your job to look after and care for them~Her children were her biggest responsibilities.~
responsibility~noun~If you take responsibility for something that has gone wrong, you accept that you are to blame for it~She never takes responsibility for anything.~
responsible~adjective~Having the job of looking after or dealing with something~She was responsible for making sure the doors were locked every night.~
responsible~adjective~If you are responsible, you behave maturely and can be trusted~He was a responsible young man.~
responsible~adjective~If you are responsible for something, you are to blame for it~She was responsible for the argument.~
rest~verb~Put something leaning against something else~She rested her card on the glass.~
rest~noun~The rest of something is what is left over~She ate the rest of the cake; The rest of the team were going to bed.~
rest~noun~A period of time in which you relax~The doctor told her to take the tablets and have a rest.~
rest~verb~Relax and not be very active~She rested after cleaning the house.~
restaurant~noun~A place where you pay to sit at a table and be served food and drink~She went to her favourite Chinese restaurant.~
restore~verb~Bring something back to the way it was previously~The jeweller tried to restore her watch; She wanted to restore their relationship.~
restrict~verb~Limit~The government is trying to restrict the number of immigrants coming into the country.~
restrict~verb~Stop people or things from moving about as easily as they used to~Her injury left her restricted to a wheelchair.~
restriction~noun~Something that limits what you can do~His doctor placed many restrictions on him.~
result~noun~The results of a test are the final marks or the information gained~She received good results in her last year of university; The laboratory test results were positive.~
result~verb~If something results in something else, it makes it happen~Even with all her plans, failure still resulted.~
result~verb~To result in something is to make something happen~Her mistake resulted in the company losing money.~
result~noun~Something that is caused by something else~The injury was a result of too much exercise.~
resume~verb~Start doing something again after pausing for a certain time~She resumed her work after he left.~
retail~noun~The sale of items to the public~Retail is a tough business.~
retain~verb~Keep or continue to have something~He was retained for questioning; The sponge retained a lot of water.~
retire~verb~Stop working for pay because you have reached a certain age, usually 65~My grandfather will be retiring next year.~
retirement~noun~The act of stopping work because you have reached a certain age~He was forced to take early retirement.~
retreat~verb~Move back from something, especially something dangerous~She retreated into her room; The troops were told to retreat.~
return~noun~The act of going back to a place or a previous state~She met him on her return from work.~
return~noun~If you do something in return for something else, you do it to pay back what has been done for you~I will help you write your essay in return for you helping me wash my car.~
return~noun~The act of giving or sending something back to where it came from~He asked for the return of his CDs.~
return~verb~Give or send something back to where it came from~She returned the clothes that she had bought the day before.~
return~verb~Go back to a place or a previous state~They celebrated when her health returned to normal.~
return~noun~A ticket for transport that allows you to travel to a place and back again~May I have a return to London?~
reveal~verb~Show something that was hidden before~The magician lifted his hat and revealed a rabbit.~
reveal~verb~Let people know about something~She promised not to reveal their secrets.~
revenge~noun~Something that you do to hurt someone that has hurt you~She wanted revenge on all the people who had ever hurt her.~
revenue~noun~The money that the government takes in taxes or that a company makes from its business~Their revenues have risen over the past five years.~
reverse~verb~Make something change to the opposite direction~Doctors are trying to stop or reverse her illness.~
reverse~verb~Put things the opposite way around~She reversed the order of all his books.~
reverse~verb~Make a car move backwards~He had to reverse around the corner.~
reverse~noun~The reverse of something is the opposite~She does the reverse of everything I say!~
reverse~adjective~The opposite to what has been mentioned or intended~Her speech had a reverse impact.~
review~noun~An investigation to decide if changes need to be made~The education system is under review this month.~
review~verb~Examine things to decide if changes need to be made~Their contracts will be reviewed later this year.~
review~noun~An article about a book or film etc. giving someone's opinion of it~She read a review of her book.~
review~verb~Write an article that expresses your opinion about a book or film etc.~She reviewed books for a living.~
revise~verb~Change something for a particular reason~The school decides to revise its policies.~
revive~verb~Make someone become well, or help an unconscious person regain consciousness~She was revived by a doctor.~
revive~verb~Bring back; make something start happening again~They are trying to revive this old style of dancing.~
revolution~noun~An attempt by many people in a country to change the government by force~He was the leader of the revolution.~
revolution~noun~A major change in social conditions such as work or religion~A cultural revolution.~
revolutionary~adjective~Connected with major changes~A revolutionary idea.~
revolutionary~noun~Someone who starts or is a part of a revolution~A group of revolutionaries were arrested.~
reward~verb~Give someone something because they have done well~She was rewarded for her hard work; She rewarded him with a kiss.~
reward~noun~Something that you get because you have done well~Her parents promised her a reward if she passed all of her exams.~
rhyme~verb~If words or syllables rhyme, their endings make the same sounds~Dad', 'mad' and 'bad' rhyme with each other.~
rhyme~noun~A short poem in which the last words of every line sound similar~She recited a children's rhyme.~
rhythm~noun~Steady repetition of sounds or movements to form a beat~She liked the rhythm of the song.~
rib~noun~One of the curved bones that are attached to your spine and curve around your chest~He tickled her between her ribs.~
ribbon~noun~A narrow strip of material used to fasten or decorate things~He decorated the gift with gold and silver ribbons.~
rice~noun~A white or brown cereal grain that is grown in some hot countries~She made a meal of chicken and rice.~
rich~adjective~Having a large quantity of something~The mine was rich in minerals.~
rich~adjective~If food is rich it contains a lot of fat or sugar and can make you feel full quite quickly~The food was too rich for her tastes.~
rich~adjective~Having a lot of money, property or possessions~He was a very rich man.~
riches~noun~Large amounts of money, property or possessions~She craved material riches.~
rid~verb~To rid yourself of something is to eliminate it from your life~She wanted to rid herself of all the painful memories.~Formal use
rid~verb~To get rid of something is to eliminate it from your life~She has been trying to get rid of the old furniture for weeks.~
ride~noun~A short journey on an animal such as a horse, or on a bicycle, or in a vehicle~He went for a ride on the elephant.~
ride~verb~Sit on an animal or bicycle or in a vehicle, and move along by steering or controlling it~She rode her bicycle into town.~
ridiculous~adjective~Extremely silly; not sensible~It was a ridiculous thing to do.~
rifle~noun~A gun that has a long barrel and can be rested against the shoulder when firing~The shots were fired from a rifle.~
rig~noun~A large piece of equipment used to take gas or oil from the ground or the bottom of the sea~He worked on an oil rig for years.~
rig~verb~Organise something dishonestly so that whoever you want to win will win~They suspected that the competition was rigged.~
right~adverb~Exactly~She's standing right over there.~
right~adverb~To the right rather than to the left~Turn right at this junction.~
right~exclamation~'Right' can be used to acknowledge what someone has said or to introduce something that you say~Right, where do we go from here?~
right~adjective~Morally correct~It was only right to tell him what to expect.~
right~adverb~Correct; not wrong~He was right about everything.~
right~noun~In politics, people on the right support capitalism and emphasise the importance of the individual rather than the state~She has always been on the right regarding politics.~
right~noun~The opposite of left: in the direction to the east when a person is facing north~They sat around the table and her father sat on her right.~
right~noun~If you have a right to something, then morally or legally you should have it~Our right to freedom of speech.~
right~adjective~If something is right, then it is correct for the person involved~It was the right thing to do at the time.~
right~noun~Something that is morally good~The rights and wrongs of the case.~
right-wing~adjective~If you are right-wing you support capitalist views and systems, and emphasise the importance of the individual rather than the state~A right-wing party.~
ring~noun~Something or a group of things that forms the shape of a circle~A ring of flowers in her hair.~
ring~noun~A piece of jewellery that is worn around the finger~He bought her a diamond ring.~
ring~noun~The sound that a bell or telephone makes~She heard a ring at the door.~
ring~verb~Call someone using a telephone~I'll ring you in an hour.~
ring~verb~For a telephone or bell to make its sound~The telephone rang.~
rinse~verb~Wash something using clean water and no soap, or remove remaining soap from a washed item with clean water~She rinsed the cloth in the sink.~
riot~noun~A situation where a group of people act violently in a public place~The riot was finally stopped by police.~
riot~verb~For a group of people to act violently in a public place~They rioted all through the day.~
rip~verb~Move something very quickly, usually by pulling it~He ripped the curtains from their rail.~
rip~verb~Tear something, or for something to tear~She ripped her shirt on the fence; I sat down and my trousers ripped.~
rip~noun~A long split or tear in something such as paper or cloth~She was sewing the rip in her jacket.~
ripe~adjective~When fruit, vegetables or crops are ripe they are ready to be eaten~She bit into a ripe peach.~
rise~verb~Increase~Class attendance rose to 98%~
rise~noun~An increase in something such as an amount or number~The club was experiencing a rise in membership.~
rise~verb~When sound rises, it becomes louder and higher~Her voice rose as she tried to explain what had happened.~
rise~verb~When land rises, it becomes steeper~The ground rose in front of them.~
rise~verb~Stand up or get out of bed~She rose from the chair; He rose early this morning.~Formal use
rise~verb~Move upwards to a higher position~The plane rose into the sky.~
rise~noun~If something gives rise to something else, it makes it happen or exist~Her comments gave rise to much debate.~Formal use
rise~noun~The act of becoming more important or successful~The documentary follows his rise to president.~
risk~verb~Do something that means that something unpleasant might happen to you; take a chance~They risked getting caught if they stayed.~
risk~noun~The possibility that something bad might happen~There was a high risk of fire in the building.~
risk~noun~If something or someone is a risk, they may be a danger in the future~She was a risk to the council.~
risky~adjective~If something is risky it could possibly turn out badly~They thought it was too risky to invest all their money in one place.~
rival~noun~Someone or something that competes with you~Their rivals were making more money than them.~
river~noun~A large stream of naturally flowing water that runs in a channel across land and into the sea or ocean~They went fishing along the river.~
road~noun~A hard surface that is built so that vehicles can travel between two places~They drove along the road to our house.~
roar~verb~When something roars, it makes a loud, deep sound~The lion roared.~
roar~noun~A loud, deep sound usually made by an animal or human~We heard the roar of the fans.~
roast~verb~When you roast food you cook it in an oven or over a fire without using any liquids~She roasted the pork for supper.~
roast~adjective~A piece of meat that has been cooked in an oven~They enjoyed the Sunday roast.~
rob~verb~Steal from~He robbed the local furniture store.~
robbery~noun~A crime where things are stolen from people or places~The robbery was caught on camera.~
robot~noun~A machine that works automatically or is controlled by a computer and can do some things that humans can do~They have sent some robots to Mars.~
rock~noun~A hard material that makes up the earth's crust~The miners dug into the rock.~
rock~noun~A piece of rock that sits on the surface of the earth~The dog ran behind the rocks.~
rock~noun~A type of music that has a strong beat and is played on electrical instruments~They went to a rock concert.~
rock~verb~Move or make something move from side to side or backwards and forwards~He rocked from side to side in his chair.~
rocket~noun~A spacecraft that is shaped like a pointed tube~They sent a rocket to the moon.~
rod~noun~A long, straight piece of glass, wood or metal~He poked the fire with a metal rod.~
role~noun~The part that an actor plays in a movie or play etc.~She played the role of the evil stepmother.~
role~noun~A role is something that you do as part of your job or in some other organisation~His role was to collect the money.~
roll~noun~Fabric or paper etc. that has been wrapped around itself or around a tube~A roll of wrapping paper.~
roll~verb~Move or make something move in such a way that it turns over and over again~She rolled the balloon across the floor.~
roll~verb~If you roll something up, you wrap it up in something~She rolled up the sausage in some pastry.~
roll~noun~A small loaf of bread that is usually round~He put butter and jam on his roll.~
roman catholic~adjective~Believing in the ideals of the Roman Catholic church~The Pope is the Roman Catholic leader.~
roman catholic~noun~A member of the Roman Catholic church~My friend is a Roman Catholic.~
romance~noun~A love affair, often short~A weekend romance.~
romantic~adjective~Concerned with love, especially sexual love~They spent a romantic weekend away.~
romantic~adjective~Concerned with imagination and emotion rather than being realistic~She had romantic ideas about becoming a dancer.~
roo~noun~Australian English: a kangaroo~Let's go see the roos in the zoo.~
roof~noun~A roof is the part of a building or car etc. that covers the top of it~The boys climbed onto the roof of the house.~
room~noun~A section of a building that has its own walls and ceiling~She had to leave the room so that they could hold the meeting.~
room~noun~Empty space that can be occupied by a person or thing~Is there room in the car for me?~
root~noun~The part of a plant that grows underground and absorbs water and nutrients~The tree roots stuck out above the ground.~
root~noun~The roots of a tooth or a hair are the parts under the skin that attach it to the body~The tooth was rotten right down to the roots.~
root~noun~The main cause of a problem etc. can be referred to as the root~Money seemed to be the root of the problem.~
root~noun~Your roots are your feelings and associations with the place that you grew up in or come from~Even though she lived in England she felt her roots were in America.~
rope~noun~Strong, thick string that is made by twisting fibres or pieces of material together~They used a rope to climb to the top of the building.~
rose~verb~'Rose' is the past tense of 'rise'~She rose from her chair and walked to the window.~
rose~noun~An attractive flower that grows on a bush and has a sweet smell~Ten red roses.~
rot~verb~Decay naturally~The wooden walls of the cabin were beginning to rot.~
rot~noun~The process of decay~The rot had spread all over the walls.~
rotten~adjective~Decayed or decaying~The vegetables were rotten.~
rotten~adjective~Very bad or horrible~That was a rotten joke to play on someone.~Informal use
rough~adjective~If a place is rough, there is a lot of violence there~She lived in a rough neighbourhood.~
rough~adjective~Tough, unpleasant~He has had a rough time trying to get a new job.~
rough~adjective~Not exact~I have a rough idea of where it is; Take a rough guess.~
rough~adjective~Not smooth or even~The carpet felt rough.~
rough~adjective~Quite violent~He is so rough when he plays.~
roughly~adverb~Not exactly~They were going in roughly the right direction.~
round~adverb~Moving in a circle~They danced round the room.~
round~adverb~If you turn or look round, you turn or look in the opposite direction~She looked round to see if I was still behind her.~
round~adjective~Circular~They ate from round plates.~
round~verb~Move around something~They rounded the corner.~
round~preposition~To the other side of something~She walked round the table.~
round~noun~One stage in a competition~He made it to the next round.~
round~adverb~Move, or move things, from one place to another~She moved the ornaments round.~
round~adverb~Near, or on the edges of~The crowd gathered round the fight.~
round~adverb~If you go round somewhere, you go there~He went round earlier.~
round up~verb~When you round things up you get them together in a group~Round up all the boys for a game of marbles.~
route~noun~The way that you go to get from one place to another place~The map showed the route into the city.~
routine~adjective~Happening as part of normal processes or functions~A routine check.~
routine~noun~The normal way in which things are done time after time~The housework was part of his daily routine.~
row~noun~A loud noise~The children made a terrible row.~The pronunciation of this 'row' rhymes with 'cow'
row~verb~Make a boat move through water using oars~They rowed across the lake.~The pronunciation of this 'row' rhymes with 'no'
row~verb~Argue loudly~They are still rowing about money.~The pronunciation of this 'row' rhymes with 'cow'
row~noun~A number of things standing or arranged in a line~They stood in a row at the door; The trees were planted in a row.~The pronunciation of this 'row' rhymes with 'no'
row~noun~A loud argument~She had a row with her neighbour.~The pronunciation of this 'row' rhymes with 'cow'
royal~adjective~Connected with kings and queens~The royal army.~
royalty~noun~The members of a royal family~She attended a dinner hosted by royalty.~
royalty~noun~Money that is given to an artist every time a copy of their work is sold~She still lived off the royalties from her first book.~
rub~verb~Firmly move your hand or a cloth etc. backwards and forwards over something~She rubbed his back.~
rub~verb~Spread something over a surface using your hand or a cloth etc.~She rubbed the lotion on her legs.~
rubber~noun~A strong substance that can be stretched and is used to make tyres etc.~A rubber garden hose.~
rubber~noun~A small, soft piece of rubber that is used to remove pencil marks; an eraser~I need a rubber to erase this mistake.~
rubbish~noun~Rubbish is waste: the things that you throw away~The council removes our rubbish every Tuesday.~
rubbish~noun~If you think that something is nonsense or of poor quality, you can say that it is rubbish~She spoke a lot of rubbish.~Rubbish can also be used informally as an adjective
rude~adjective~If something is rude, people may be offended by it because it refers to the body or sex in an impolite way~I don't think he's funny, he's just rude.~
rude~adjective~If you are rude you do not show respect for other people~Don't be so rude!~
rug~noun~A small carpet often used for decoration~She finished the room off with an oriental rug.~
rugby~noun~A game played by two teams with an oval ball where the aim is to get the ball past your opponents' line~The Rugby World Cup.~
ruin~noun~The ruins of buildings are the parts that are left after they have been damaged or destroyed~We took photos of the ancient ruins in Greece.~
ruin~verb~Seriously damage or destroy something~His failure ruined all our hopes of winning; The new gardener ruined the garden.~
rule~verb~If you rule a country you are in charge of it or control it~The queen ruled for 50 years.~
rule~noun~Rules tell you what you may and may not do in a game etc.~She broke the company's rules; Do you know the rules of cricket?~
rule~noun~If people do things as a rule, then they normally do them~As a rule, he is never late.~
rule out~verb~If you rule something out you exclude it~I think we should rule out Jack's idea.~
ruler~noun~Someone who governs a country~A meeting of the world's rulers.~
ruler~noun~A straight, flat piece of wood, metal or plastic that can be used to measure things or to help draw straight lines~Underline your sentences using a ruler.~
rumour~noun~A story that people tell and pass on to others even though it may not be true~They spread a nasty rumour about her.~
run~verb~Continue for a time~The competition ran for three weeks.~
run~verb~Move in a way that is faster than walking, so that both feet are off the ground at the same time in each stride~She ran across the field.~
run~verb~If something runs in a certain direction it moves in that way~The river ran to the sea; The car ran off the road.~
run~verb~Move something such as your hand over something~She ran her hands over the fabric.~
run~verb~If you run a test, you do it~They ran some tests on his blood.~
run~verb~Manage something such as a business~She ran the company when her father retired.~
run~verb~When buses or trains run, they travel on a certain route~The buses run past our flat.~
run~verb~Make a liquid flow, e.g. out of a tap~She ran a bath.~
run~verb~If the colour in something comes out when it gets wet, you can say it runs~Wash this item separately as the colour may run.~
run~noun~The act of running~He goes for a run every morning.~
run~verb~For a liquid to flow~Water ran out of the tap.~
run~verb~Make a vehicle or machine work~He left the engine running.~
run~verb~Stand as a candidate in an election~She ran for vice-chancellor.~
run away~verb~Move away from something quickly~Run away from that dog before it bites you!~
run out~verb~If you run out of something, your supply of it finishes~I've run out of shampoo.~
run over~verb~If a vehicle or its driver runs over someone or something, they drive over it or a part of it~He has run over the neighbour's cat.~
runner-up~noun~Someone who comes second in a competition or sports event~The runner-up will receive a trophy.~
rural~adjective~Connected with the countryside~Farming in rural areas.~
rush~noun~A large demand for something when many people are trying to get it at once~The rush for good seats.~
rush~verb~Hurry~There is no need to rush.~
rush~noun~A situation where you have to hurry~They were in a rush to get there before dark.~
rush~verb~Do something or make someone do something very quickly, often without thinking about it~She was rushed into making a decision.~
russian~noun~The major language of Russia~She is learning Russian at school.~
russian~noun~A person who was born in or comes from Russia~My boyfriend is a Russian.~
russian~adjective~Connected with Russia~A Russian monument.~
rust~noun~A reddish-brown substance that appears on some metals when they have been in contact with air or water~They tried to paint over the rust on the gate.~
ruthless~adjective~Cruel; doing anything to get what you want~She is a ruthless businesswoman.~
sack~verb~If you lose your job you can say that you have been sacked~She was sacked for stealing.~Informal use
sack~noun~If you get the sack, you lose your job~She got the sack last week.~Informal use
sack~noun~A large strong bag without handles that is used for carrying things~A sack of flour.~
sacrifice~noun~The act of giving up something in order to get something that you think is more important, or for someone else's sake~She made the sacrifice for her children.~
sacrifice~verb~Give up something important to get something that you think is more important, or for someone else's sake~He sacrificed his car to pay for his daughter to go to university.~
sacrifice~verb~Kill an animal because you think it will please your god~Years ago animals were sacrificed every day.~
sad~adjective~Unhappy~She was sad because he was leaving.~
sad~adjective~If something is sad, it makes you feel unhappy~The movie was very sad.~
sadness~noun~A feeling of being sad~She was filled with sadness.~
safe~adjective~Protected or away from harm~She will be safe with the police.~
safe~noun~A strong metal box or space that has locks and is used to store special or valuable goods~She kept her jewellery in a safe.~
safe~adjective~If something is safe, it will not lead to any danger~The police checked the room and declared it safe.~
safety~noun~The state of being safe~We had to learn the procedures for our own safety.~
sail~noun~A large piece of fabric on a boat that catches the wind and makes the boat move~The boat had a bright red sail.~
sail~verb~For a ship or the people on it to travel across water~The boat sails on Tuesday; We sailed across the dam.~
saint~noun~Someone who the Christian church believes is very holy because of the way they lived~Some faiths pray to saints.~
sake~noun~If you act for the sake of something, you act to get it or keep it~For the sake of their jobs, the workers called off the strike.~
sake~noun~If you do something for someone's sake, you do it in their interests or to help them~I did it for your sake.~
salad~noun~A meal or food serving made up of a mixture of raw vegetables, eggs, etc. or fruit~A fruit salad.~
salary~noun~An amount of money usually paid monthly to someone for doing a job~She has earned the same salary for ten years.~
sale~noun~The act of selling things~The sale of vegetables at the market.~
sale~noun~A time when a shop sells its goods at a special low price~She only shops in the sales.~
sale~noun~The number or quantity of things that are sold~Sales dropped by 50% this month.~
sale~noun~If something is for sale, it can be bought~The house is for sale.~
salt~noun~A white substance that is used to add flavour to food or help preserve it~She put salt on her food.~
same~adjective~If things are the same, they are not different in any way~The twins look the same.~
same~adjective~'The same' can be used to show that just one thing or person is being talked about~They went to the same school.~
sample~noun~A small amount of something that you can use to decide whether you like it or not~She took a sample of the face wash.~
sand~noun~Tiny pieces of rock found on beaches etc.~They built a castle in the sand.~
sandal~noun~An open shoe that is usually worn in warm weather~She wore her leather sandals.~
sandwich~noun~A snack that consists of two or more slices of bread with fillings between them~A chicken and bacon sandwich.~
sanitary towel~noun~A piece of material that women wear during their periods~I need to buy a pack of sanitary towels.~
satellite~noun~An object that is sent into space, often for communications purposes~The satellite moved around the earth.~
satisfaction~noun~A good feeling that you get when you have done something well~She got a lot of satisfaction from her work.~
satisfactory~adjective~Good enough~She did a satisfactory job.~
satisfied~adjective~Happy with something~She was satisfied with her results.~
satisfy~verb~Give something or someone all that they need or want~I hope that we can satisfy all of our guests.~
saturday~noun~The day of the week between Friday and Sunday~We went for a picnic on Saturday.~
sauce~noun~A thick liquid that is used to add flavour to food~She made a sauce to go with the chicken.~
saucepan~noun~A deep metal pot used for cooking things in~Put the pasta in a saucepan.~
saucer~noun~A small dish that you can place a cup on~A set of matching cups and saucers.~
sausage~noun~A mixture of meat (often pork), herbs and fat etc. placed inside a tube of skin~Beef sausages.~
save~verb~Keep something safe or rescue it~She saved me from drowning.~
save~verb~Keep something to use in the future~She saved some of the sweets for later.~
save~verb~If you save money, you keep it instead of spending it~They were saving to buy a new house.~
save~verb~When you save things, you don't waste them~She ran to save time.~
save~noun~In sport, if you make a save you stop a goal from being scored~The goalkeeper made a brilliant save.~
savings~noun~Money that you have saved, often in a bank etc.~She spent her savings on a holiday.~
saw~noun~A tool with a long blade and teeth, often used for cutting wood~He used a saw to cut the logs in half.~
say~noun~If you have a say then you are allowed to express your opinion~Let Ben have a say in this.~
say~verb~If a piece of writing gives information, it says something~The sign says that no animals are allowed.~
say~verb~Make a statement to someone~She said that she would be here.~
say~exclamation~'Say' can be used to get someone's attention or show surprise~Say, she's lost a lot of weight.~Informal and mainly US use
scale~noun~A range or set of numbers etc. that are used to measure things~It was high on the temperature scale.~
scale~noun~An instrument that is used to weigh things, especially people~She stood on the bathroom scales; The butcher weighed the meat on the scales.~
scale~noun~The size of something, usually when compared to other things~They bought and sold houses on a large scale.~
scan~noun~A medical test where the body is looked at using X-rays or some other technology~She was given a scan and some blood tests.~
scan~verb~Look quickly at or through something~She scanned the papers for news of the accident.~
scan~verb~If you scan something using a machine, the machine looks at it using X-rays etc., or copies it~The arm was scanned to check for broken bones.~
scandal~noun~An event that people think is wrong and are shocked by~The scandal was all over the newspapers.~
scar~verb~If you are scarred, a wound has left a mark on your skin after it has healed~His legs were badly scarred.~
scar~noun~A mark on your skin in the place that a wound has healed~His legs were covered in scars.~
scarce~adjective~Rare; in short supply~Food was scarce during the war.~
scarcely~adverb~Only just; hardly~There was scarcely room to move.~
scarcely~adverb~Not likely~She would scarcely betray her own mother!~
scare~verb~Frighten~Is that supposed to scare me?~
scared~adjective~Worried about something~She was scared that she would lose her job.~
scared~adjective~Frightened of something~He was scared of the other kids.~
scarf~noun~A piece of material worn around the neck for decoration or protection against the cold~She put a scarf and gloves on.~
scatter~verb~Throw or drop things all over the place~She scattered the seeds all over the garden.~
scene~noun~Part of a play or movie~She skipped to the next scene.~
scene~noun~The place where something happened~The police were quick to reach the scene.~
scent~noun~A smell, often a nice one~I loved the scent of her perfume.~
sceptical~adjective~Having doubts about something~She was sceptical about the new plan.~
schedule~verb~Arrange or organise for things to happen at a certain time~They were scheduled to leave in the morning.~
schedule~noun~A list of all the things that you have to do~Her schedule was very busy for that week.~
scheme~noun~A plan or system~An investment scheme.~
school~noun~The people, such as teachers and students, that make up a school~The school has decided to change its uniform.~
school~noun~Colleges and universities can be called schools~She went to medical school.~
school~noun~A place where children or adults go to learn~Some children only start school when they are seven years old.~
science~noun~The study of the natural and physical world~She is doing a science course.~
science~noun~A branch of scientific study~Which science are you most interested in?~
scientific~adjective~Careful or logical~We need to be scientific about this.~
scientific~adjective~Connected with science~Scientific tests.~
scientist~noun~Someone who studies science or works in a science-related job~A scientist doing cancer research.~
scissors~noun~A tool with two joined blades and two handles, used to cut things~She cut the paper with scissors.~
scope~noun~The range of things that a person or company can deal with~Selling to Asia is outside our scope at present.~
score~noun~The number of points, goals, etc. that teams or persons win in sports or a competition~The score was 2-1 to our team.~
score~verb~Win a point etc. in a game or competition~She scored the final goal.~
scottish~adjective~Connected with Scotland~Scottish mountains.~
scrap~noun~A small piece of something, usually paper~She found the number written on a scrap of paper.~
scrape~verb~Remove something from a surface by pulling or pushing something sharp over it~She scraped the wax off the table.~
scrape~verb~Make a sound, often an unpleasant one, by rubbing against something~The chalk scraped across the board.~
scratch~noun~A small mark or cut~A scratch on his car; A scratch on his knee.~
scratch~verb~Use your nails to rub your skin, usually because it itches~She scratched the place where the insect had bitten her.~
scratch~verb~When a sharp object cuts your skin slightly, it scratches you~The branches scratched her arm.~
scream~noun~A loud, high cry, often let out because of fear or pain~We heard a scream next door.~
scream~verb~Give a loud, high cry, usually because you are frightened etc.~She screamed when he jumped out behind her.~
screen~verb~Show a movie in the cinema or on television~The movie will be screened next month.~
screen~noun~A flat surface on which a picture is shown, such as on a television or computer~The images flickered across the screen.~
screen~noun~An upright panel that can be used to hide things behind or to separate rooms~She undressed behind the screen.~
screw~verb~Fasten something by twisting it round and round~She screwed the lid back onto the jar.~
screw~noun~A thin threaded piece of metal that is sharp at one end and slotted at the other, and is used to join pieces of wood etc. together~She put the shelves up using screws.~
screw~verb~Join things together using screws~She screwed the parts together.~
screw up~verb~If you screw something up, you twist it into a different shape~He screwed up his face and it looked silly.~
scrub~verb~Clean something by using soap and a brush and rubbing very hard~He spent an hour scrubbing the pan.~
sculpture~noun~A work of art made by shaping a piece of wood or stone etc.~An ice sculpture.~
sculpture~noun~The art or act of making sculptures~She did a course in design and sculpture.~
sea~noun~One of the large bodies of salty water that cover most of the earth's surface~They swam in the sea.~
seal~noun~Something that covers an opening or crack and prevents anything from moving in or out of it~She broke the seal and drank from the bottle.~
seal~verb~Close an envelope by sticking down the flap~She put the money and the card in an envelope and sealed it.~
seal~verb~Cover an opening or crack to prevent anything from moving in or out of it~Each bottle is individually sealed.~
search~verb~This is when people such as the police look at your clothes and possessions to try to find things you may have hidden~They came in and searched the house.~
search~noun~An attempt to find something by looking for it carefully~After a long search she found her other sock.~
search~verb~Look carefully for something~They searched for the missing money.~
season~noun~One of the four main parts of the year~The seasons are summer, autumn, winter and spring.~
season~noun~A period of time in the year when something happens, often a sport~The rugby season.~
seat~noun~Somewhere that you can sit~I took a seat next to the door.~
seat belt~noun~This is a belt worn across the body to keep you safe in case the vehicle you are in crashes or stops suddenly~It should be illegal in all countries not to wear your seat belt.~
second~noun~Used to measure time. There are sixty seconds in one minute~She was seconds away from the door.~
second~determiner~Something that comes after the first thing~The second door to your right; This was her second trip to Holland.~
secondary school~noun~A place where teenagers and children that have finished primary school go to learn~My fifteen-year-old goes to our local secondary school.~
second-class~adjective~A cheaper, slower way of sending things in the post~I sent the parcel second-class.~
second-class~adjective~Second-class things are less important or of a lower standard~We received a second-class service from them.~
second-hand~adverb~Not new; having been owned or used by someone else~She bought second-hand clothes from a charity shop.~
secret~noun~Something that is known by just one person or a few people~She kept the secret her entire life.~
secret~adjective~Known to only a few people and kept hidden from others~A secret meeting.~
secretary~noun~Someone who works for another person and takes their phone calls etc.~The secretary reminded her of a meeting.~
section~noun~One of the parts or pieces that something is divided into~She cleaned a section of the house.~
sector~noun~One part or area of an activity~The manufacturing sector of industry is doing well.~
secure~adjective~Likely to last for some time~Her job was quite secure.~
secure~adjective~Safe, protected against criminals~They made the room more secure by fitting an alarm.~
secure~adjective~Unlikely to move, fall over, etc~The chair seemed more secure now that it was nailed to the floor.~
security~noun~All the things involved in protecting a person or place against possible threats~They have a lot of security to protect the president.~
see~verb~The way that you see things is your opinion of them~Does she see me as a threat?~
see~verb~Understand something~I didn't see the point of it.~
see~verb~Find out something~I will see what time they open at.~
see~verb~Attend or watch something~I will see that play.~
see~verb~Become aware of something by using your eyes~I see him across the street.~
see~verb~If you see someone, you meet with them~I see a therapist every week.~
seed~noun~A small, hard part of a plant that can be sown to start a new plant~They planted the seeds in the garden.~
seek~verb~Look for something~People seeking their destinies.~Formal use
seem~verb~Appear to be a certain way~She seems to be enjoying her new job.~
seize~verb~Suddenly grab something with your hand~I seized the cheque from his hand.~
seldom~adverb~Rarely~She seldom exercises.~
select~verb~Choose one thing from a group of things~She selected the pink shoes.~
selection~noun~A group of things that have been picked from a larger group~A selection of chocolates.~
selection~noun~The process of selecting things~She made a random selection of flowers.~
self~noun~The self is you (or anyone else) and the type of person that you are~She felt more like her old self.~
self-~prefix~Used to show that something concerns yourself~Self-control.~
selfish~adjective~If you are selfish you only care or think about yourself and forget about other people~He is so selfish and inconsiderate!~
sell~verb~Give someone something in exchange for money~She sold her tape collection.~
sell~verb~If a shop sells something, it offers it for people to buy it~The corner shop sells bananas.~
sell out~verb~If something sells out, it is has all been sold and nothing is left~Those tickets will sell out quickly.~
semi-~prefix~Partly or half~A semicircle is half a circle.~
semi-final~noun~One of the two games in a competition that decide who will go on to the final~They have made it to the semi-finals.~
send~verb~Make something go somewhere by using, for example, the post~I sent him a card to say sorry.~
send~verb~Tell or arrange for someone to go somewhere~I sent him to the shop for milk.~
send off for~verb~This is when you order something by mail or ask for something to be sent to you~I'm going to send off for that really cheap motorbike.~
senior~adjective~Of high rank or importance~She was the senior manager.~
sensation~noun~A feeling that you get in your body~She liked the sensation of her skirt on her legs.~
sense~verb~If you sense something you feel or realise it even though you can't see it or it isn't said~He sensed that she needed some time alone.~
sense~noun~A feeling about something~A strong sense of responsibility.~
sense~noun~Good knowledge or understanding; an ability to know the right thing to do~She had the sense to go back to work.~
sense~noun~One of the five abilities that your body has: taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight~She lost her sense of smell.~
sense~noun~Your senses are your ability to think properly~She needs to come to her senses.~
sensible~adjective~If you are sensible you generally do wise and reasonable things~I sometimes wish she could be more sensible.~
sensitive~adjective~If you are sensitive then you are easily upset by the things people do or say~She's so sensitive!~
sensitive~adjective~Highly aware of other people's feelings~He is the most sensitive person I know.~
sentence~noun~A set of words that express something in the form of a question or statement etc.~This sentence has seven words in it.~
sentence~verb~State in court what a criminal's punishment will be~He was sentenced to life in prison.~
sentence~noun~The punishment that a criminal is given in court~Her sentence was shorter than the others.~
separate~adjective~Separate things are apart from each other~They drove to work in separate cars.~
separate~verb~If two married people or people living together separate, they stop living together~They separated two years ago.~
separate~verb~When things separate they move apart or away from each other~They had to separate the two dogs to stop them from fighting.~The verb and adjective are pronounced differently
separate~verb~Stop two things, people, places, etc. from being connected~The wall separated their gardens.~
sept~abbreviation~The abbreviation for September~Sept 3rd.~
september~noun~The ninth month of the year, between August and October~She was born in September.~
sequence~noun~The way that things are arranged or the order that they happen in~Put these pages in sequence.~
sequence~noun~A set of things in a certain order~The sequence of actions taken after the event.~
series~noun~A set of television or radio programmes that have the same title and characters but where each can stand on its own~We watched the entire series on television.~
series~noun~Several things that come one after another~A series of events.~
serious~adjective~Large-scale, major~The bomb caused serious damage.~
serious~adjective~A serious person is someone who does not usually behave in a silly or humorous way~She has always been very serious.~
serious~adjective~If you are serious you are not joking~I'm serious. I have to go!~
serious~adjective~Serious things are important and must be thought through carefully~This problem needs serious consideration.~
servant~noun~Someone who works for another person and does their cleaning and cooking etc.~The servants did the washing on a Wednesday.~
serve~verb~Provide people in a certain area with a service~The new centre will serve the community of the whole town.~
serve~verb~To give people food and drink, especially in restaurants etc., is to serve them; the food and drink are also being served~The same waitress served us each time we went there.~
serve~verb~Be useful in some way or fulfil a certain function~The river served as their only source of water.~
serve~verb~Work for a company or country etc.~They served their country in the war.~
serve~verb~Help a customer in a shop~I was served by the owner of the shop.~
service~noun~Work that is done for a company or person~Employees receive a pay rise after five years of service.~
service~noun~A religious function~We attended the funeral service.~
service~noun~A system that provides for public needs~The transport service.~
session~noun~A period of time spent doing a certain activity~The music session lasted an hour.~
set~noun~A group of similar or matching things~A set of china dishes.~
set~verb~For the sun or moon to go below the horizon~We sat on the beach and watched the sun set.~
set~verb~Arrange or decide something~She set the price at 100 dollars.~
set~adjective~If something is set, it is planned~We were all given set jobs.~
set~verb~If you set a clock or machine, you prepare it to do its job~She set her clock to wake her in the morning.~
set~verb~In a film or television show, the place that something is set is where it is supposed to be~The scene is set in France.~
set~verb~Give work or a task to someone~She set us an essay for the following week.~
set~verb~If a liquid, paste, etc. becomes firm and hard, it sets~It takes 24 hours for the glue to set.~
set~verb~Cause something to be a certain way~She set the leaves alight.~
set~noun~A television or radio~Turn the set on.~
set~verb~Establish an example, a record, etc.~Every time she runs she sets a new record.~
set~verb~Put something somewhere~She set the cup on the table.~
set off~verb~When you set something off, you start it or detonate it. You can also set off on a trip~They set off for Italy this morning.~
set out~verb~Begin a journey~They will set out for Florida on Thursday.~
set out~verb~Try or aim to do something~They set out to rule the world.~
set up~verb~If you set something up, you organise it~I will set up a plan of action tonight.~
settle~verb~When you settle somewhere, you decide to live there permanently~They settled in Ireland.~
settle~verb~Come to rest~The snow settled on the roofs of houses.~
settle~verb~Pay a bill or money that you owe someone~Her father settled the dinner bill.~
settle~verb~End an argument~They finally settled the dispute.~
settle~verb~To be settled is to be finally arranged or decided~Then it's settled! I'm going to change jobs.~
seven~noun~The number 7, which sits between 6 and 8~She is seven years old.~
seventeen~noun~The number 17, which sits between 16 and 18~She worked there for seventeen years.~
seventeenth~adjective~If something is seventeenth, it is number seventeen in a series of numbers~Her seventeenth birthday.~
seventh~adjective~If something is seventh, it is number seven in a series of numbers~The seventh guest to arrive.~
seventh~noun~One part of seven equal parts~She took a seventh of the profits.~
seventieth~adjective~If something is seventieth, it is number seven in a series of numbers~The seventieth queen.~
seventy~noun~The number 70, which sits between 69 and 71~She read seventy books.~
several~noun~More than two things but not many~It took her several minutes to walk to school.~
severe~adjective~Harsh, dangerous or serious~Severe weather conditions.~
sew~verb~Use a needle and thread to stitch things, mostly in fabric~She sewed the tear in her skirt.~
sex~noun~The state of being either male or female~What sex is the baby?~
sex~noun~One of the two groups that people and animals are divided into~Members of the opposite sex.~
sex~noun~A physical act between two people or animals that may result in producing young~The victim of a crime related to sex.~
sexual~adjective~Involving or concerning the physical act of sex~She was not ready for a sexual relationship.~
sexual~adjective~Connected with being either male or female~Sexual differences.~
sexy~adjective~Sexually attractive~A sexy nightgown.~
shade~noun~A dark, cool area that the sun does not reach~They sat in the shade when it became too warm.~
shade~verb~If something is shaded then light cannot reach it~The park was shaded by trees.~
shade~noun~A variety of colour~Would you prefer a light or dark shade of blue?~
shadow~noun~The dark shape that something makes on a surface when it is between a strong light source and the surface~The children jumped in each other's shadows.~
shake~verb~Move something up and down or from side to side quite quickly and roughly~She shook the spice over the meat.~
shake~verb~You can shake your head to mean 'no' by moving it from side to side~She shook her head when I asked her to help.~
shake~verb~When two people shake hands, they grasp each other's hand and the hands are briefly moved up and down as a way of saying 'hello', 'goodbye', etc.~They shake hands every time they meet.~
shake~verb~Shock, upset or offend someone~He was shaken by the terrible news.~
shake~noun~The act of shaking something, or for something to shake~A shake of the head.~
shall~verb~'Shall' can be used when talking about the future~I shall be in London next week.~
shall~verb~'Shall' can be used in questions~Shall we go now?~
shallow~adjective~Not very deep; not having a large distance between the top and bottom~She swam in the shallow side of the pool.~
shame~noun~If something is a shame, you are sad that it has to be that way~It's a shame you have to leave.~
shame~noun~A feeling of guilt because you know you have done something wrong~She was filled with shame for all the bad things she had done.~
shampoo~noun~A liquid used to clean your hair~She used shampoo and conditioner in her hair.~
shape~noun~The form of the edges of something~She wrapped it in the shape of a triangle.~
shaped~adjective~The way that something is shaped is its form, its outline, or the type of shape that it has~It was shaped like an animal.~
share~noun~In business, shares are equal parts of a company that are sold to other companies or members of the public~They sold the shares on the stock market.~
share~verb~For more than one person to own or use something at the same time~We shared an apartment.~
share~noun~A portion of something suitable for one person~I did my share of the work.~
sharp~adjective~Sudden, dramatic~A sharp fall in profits.~
sharp~adjective~In a road, a sharp bend or corner is one that is not gradual and requires a sudden change of direction~You need to slow down at these sharp bends.~
sharp~adjective~Having a fine edge or point that can easily cut or slice things~I cut myself on the sharp fence.~
shatter~verb~Break into very small pieces~The glass shattered across the floor.~
shave~verb~Use a razor to cut or remove hair from your skin~She shaved her legs and under her arms.~
shave~noun~The act of shaving~Your beard is so long! When are you going to have a shave?~
she~pronoun~A female person that has already been mentioned~She likes dancing; What does she like?~
shed~noun~A small building that is usually found in the garden and is used for storage~The lawnmower is in the shed.~
sheep~noun~A woolly animal that is kept on a farm for its meat and wool~The sheep had lambs.~
sheer~adjective~Used to emphasise the degree, amount, etc. of something~The sheer size of it amazed me.~
sheet~noun~A large piece of thin fabric that is placed over the mattress of a bed~It can be hard to put the sheet back onto the bed.~
sheet~noun~One piece of writing paper is called a sheet~I need a couple of sheets of paper.~
shelf~noun~A flat board that is attached to a wall and used to hold things~She dusted the ornaments on the shelf.~
shell~noun~An explosive missile that is fired from some guns~The shells lay all over the ground.~
shell~noun~The hard outer layer of nuts, eggs, etc.~Try not to get any shell in the mix.~
shell~noun~The hard outer layer of animals such as crabs and snails~All we found was the snail's shell.~
shelter~noun~Protection from the weather or from danger or attack~We took shelter under a tree.~
shelter~verb~Stay somewhere that protects you from the weather or from danger or attack~They sheltered under a tree.~
shelter~noun~A small structure that protects you from the weather etc.~We sat at the bus shelter; They stayed in the charity shelter.~
shield~noun~A sheet of metal or other material that soldiers used to use for protection in battle~They all carried swords and shields.~
shield~verb~Protect someone from something dangerous or bad~He shielded her from the shots.~
shift~verb~Move something~I shifted the books from one bag to another.~
shift~noun~A period of work, especially when a business operates for longer than normal working hours and groups of workers replace each other at set times~She works the afternoon shift.~
shin~noun~The front part of your leg, below the knee~Her shins were sore from running.~
shine~verb~Give out light or brightness~The moon shone on the water.~
shine~verb~Aim light at something~He shone the torch at the door.~
shiny~adjective~Something that is shiny reflects light~He had shiny shoes.~
ship~noun~A big boat that carries things over the sea~It was a cargo ship.~
ship~verb~Move things by ship~The cars were shipped across the water.~
shirt~noun~A piece of clothing often worn by men that has a collar and buttons~He wore a shirt to work.~
shiver~verb~Shake slightly because you are cold or scared~She shivered at the thought of it.~
shock~verb~To be shocked is to be offended by something~I was shocked by his language.~
shock~noun~A bad feeling that you get when you are frightened or surprised~It was a shock for all of us.~
shock~noun~A medical condition that people often get when they are involved in an accident etc. or lose a lot of blood~She was taken to hospital to be treated for shock.~
shock~verb~To be shocked is to be surprised or upset by something~She was shocked to hear the news.~
shoe~noun~An outer covering for the foot~She loved her green shoes.~
shoot~verb~Move quickly~The bird shot past the window.~
shoot~verb~Make a movie or take a photograph~They are shooting in Germany.~
shoot~verb~Fire a gun~They mistook us for animals and shot at us.~
shoot~verb~Try to score a goal or a point in sports~He should have shot instead of passing.~
shop~noun~A place where you can buy goods~Let's go to the shop and buy something for dinner.~
shop~verb~Buy things in shops~They went into the city to shop once a week.~
shopping~noun~The act of buying things from shops~We do the shopping on a Wednesday.~
shopping~noun~All the things you buy in a shop~Who will carry the shopping home?~
shore~noun~The land that runs alongside a large body of water~They collected shells along the shore.~
short~adverb~If something is stopped before it was expected to be, it is stopped short or cut short~They cut the meeting short.~
short~adjective~Taking only a small amount of time~A short meeting.~
short~adjective~Lacking something~He was short of cash.~
short~adjective~Small in distance or length~She is a short woman; A short driveway.~
short~adjective~If something is short for something else, it is a shorter version of it that is used for convenience~Vic Falls is short for Victoria Falls.~
shortage~noun~A lack of something; not having enough~There was a shortage of water.~
shortcut~noun~A shorter way of getting somewhere or doing something~He knew a shortcut.~
shortly~adverb~Not long~We left shortly after they did.~
shortly~adverb~In the near future~She will be here shortly.~
shorts~noun~Short trousers~He wore his shorts in the summer.~
shot~noun~The act of firing a gun~Shots were heard in the next street.~
shot~noun~The act of attempting to score a goal in sports~That was a great shot!~
shot~noun~A photograph or scene in a movie~The next shot is the best one.~
should~verb~If something ought to happen or it would be better for it to happen, you can say that it should happen~You should try to be more helpful.~
should~verb~'Should' can be used to say that something will probably happen~I should pass the exam.~
should~verb~'Should' is used in questions to ask what should be done next~Should we go now?~
shoulder~noun~The part of your body between your neck and the top of your arm~She carried the bag on her shoulders.~
shout~verb~Speak very loudly, often because you are angry~Don't shout at me!; He had to shout because his granny was quite deaf.~
shout~noun~A loud cry, often made because you are angry~I heard a shout and ran to help.~
show~verb~Represent or explain something~This diagram shows how the machine works.~
show~verb~Teach someone how to do something by doing it yourself~He showed me how to clean the car.~
show~verb~Let someone see something~I showed them round my new flat.~
show~noun~A performance, especially in the theatre~We went to watch a show at the weekend.~
show~verb~Guide someone somewhere~We were shown to our seats.~
show~noun~An exhibition of things for people to look at~An art show.~
show~verb~Prove something~This shows you that it is not as easy as it looks.~
show~verb~If something shows, it can be easily seen~Her label showed through her top.~
show off~verb~When someone shows off, they display their knowledge, skills, etc. too enthusiastically in an attempt to impress others~She always shows off! It's starting to annoy me!~
shower~verb~Have a shower~I showered before I left.~
shower~noun~A short spell of rain or snow~We got caught in a shower.~
shower~noun~A piece of equipment that you can stand under and have water fall on you to clean yourself with; the act of cleaning yourself like this~I have a shower every morning.~
shrink~verb~Become smaller; often this happens when things come into contact with water~My favourite shirt has shrunk!~
shrug~verb~Raise and then lower your shoulders to show that you do not know something or that you don't care about something~I asked him what to do but he just shrugged.~
shut~adjective~Closed; not open~The doors were shut.~
shut~verb~Close something, or for something to close~I shut the window when it began to rain.~
shut~verb~When a business shuts, it closes and you cannot use it~The bank shuts at three.~
shut~adjective~For a business to be closed~The shop was shut.~
shut up~verb~When you want someone to shut up, you want him or her to stop talking~Please shut up! I'm trying to read.~Informal use
shuttle~noun~A type of transport that moves between two places regularly, e.g. from a railway station to an airport terminal~She takes the shuttle to work.~
shy~adjective~If you are shy, you get nervous around other people~He doesn't talk very much; he's quite shy.~
sick~adjective~Fed up of something and wishing that it would end~I'm sick of her tantrums!~
sick~adjective~Unwell, ill~She was too sick to go to school.~
sick~adjective~Vomiting or feeling like you want to vomit~I was sick all night.~
side~noun~One of the two groups participating in a game, argument or war etc.~Which side won?~
side~noun~The left or right of something; away from the centre~I moved to the side of the road.~
side~noun~One of the vertical surfaces of something rather than the top or bottom~Ivy grew on the side of the house.~
side~noun~One of the two halves that something is divided into~We put the plants on one side of the room.~
side~noun~The part of your body that runs from your armpit to your hip~She put her hands on her sides.~
sidewalk~noun~A pavement that pedestrians can walk along~The children ran along the sidewalk.~US English
sideways~adverb~To the side rather than forwards or backwards~Crabs walk sideways.~
sigh~noun~A deep breath that shows an emotion~A bored sigh.~
sigh~verb~Take in a lot of air and then breathe it out loudly to show an emotion~She sighed to show that she was tired.~
sight~noun~If something is in sight, you can see it~The sea was in sight.~
sight~noun~An interesting place~I want to see the sights of Europe.~
sight~noun~The act of seeing~She liked him at first sight.~
sight~noun~The ability to see; the sense of seeing~She had to have her sight tested every year.~
sightseeing~noun~Looking at interesting places in a foreign country as a tourist~We went sightseeing in Spain.~
sign~noun~A symbol that represents something~A plus (+) sign.~
sign~noun~An indication that something exists~We found the first signs of life on another planet.~
sign~noun~A movement or sound that you make to tell someone something~Winking was the sign for us to go in.~
sign~verb~Write your name on something in a special way that only you use~She signed the document.~
sign~noun~A notice; something that gives you information or a warning etc. This is usually written or printed on a board etc.~The signs will direct you to the hotel.~
signal~noun~A sign that gives you information about something or proves that something exists~We were given a signal to run.~
signature~noun~The special way that you and only you write your name~Please put your signature in the box.~
significant~adjective~Large or important enough to be noticed~A significant number of people arrived.~
significant~adjective~Special and meaningful~He gave her a significant smile.~
silence~noun~No sound~There was silence in the park.~
silence~verb~Stop people or things from making any sound~She silenced him with a look.~
silent~adjective~If something is silent, it makes no noise~Everyone was asked to be silent.~
silk~noun~A smooth fabric made from threads produced by silkworms~She liked silk sheets on her bed.~
silly~adjective~Foolish; likely to do things without thinking~She always says silly things.~
silver~noun~A greyish-white precious metal that is used to make coins and jewellery etc.~She wore a matching silver necklace and bracelet.~
similar~adjective~Things are similar when they are like each other but not identical~They wore similar dresses.~
similarity~noun~If there is a similarity between things, they are alike but not exactly the same~The similarities between the cars.~
simple~adjective~Easy to understand~It was a simple idea.~
simple~adjective~Plain, without any unnecessary things~She wore a simple dress.~
simply~adverb~'Simply' is used to emphasise what you are saying~You simply have to meet him!~
simply~adverb~Just~You simply have to pour the mix into a pan and stir.~
simply~adverb~In an uncomplicated way~Write the instructions simply on the form.~
sin~noun~Something that people believe is bad in the eyes of their God~It is a sin to hurt others.~
since~conjunction~Meaning the same as 'because' or 'as'~I won't do it again since you don't care anyway.~
since~adverb~After~They has a fight and since that they haven't spoken.~
since~adverb~From a time in the past until now~He went to Spain last week and we haven't heard from him since.~
sincere~adjective~Genuinely meaning things that you say or do; not pretending~You could tell that she was sincere by the way she spoke.~
sing~verb~Use your mouth and voice to make musical sounds with words and a tune~She sings in the shower.~
sing~verb~When birds chirp and make sounds, they are singing~The birds sang in the sky.~
single~noun~A CD or record with one or two songs on it~Did you buy their latest single?~
single~noun~A ticket for transport that allows you to travel to a place but not back again~I didn't want a single; I needed a return.~
single~adjective~Unmarried~Are you single?~
single~adjective~Used to show that you are talking about one thing; used to emphasise 'every'~Every single type of food imaginable was served.~
single~adjective~Only one thing~She picked a single flower from the garden.~
single~noun~A single room or a single bed is made for only one person~The children slept in single beds.~
singular~adjective~The form of a noun or verb that refers to one thing~A dog; One cat.~
sink~noun~A container in a kitchen or bathroom that has taps attached and supplies water~She washed her hands in the sink.~
sink~verb~Move downwards, often slowly~The balloon slowly sank to the ground.~
sink~verb~Go below the surface of something~The boat sank.~
sip~verb~Take a very small drink of something~I sipped the juice.~
sip~noun~A very small drink that you take of something~She took a sip of coffee.~
sir~noun~'Sir' is used to address a man that you do not know politely, or to show respect~Hello, sir.~
siren~noun~A device that makes a loud noise that acts as a warning to people~The fireman's siren.~
sister~noun~A woman or girl who has the same parents as you do~My sister is older than me.~
sister-in-law~noun~The wife of your brother or your partner's brother, or the sister of your partner~I met my sister-in-law for the first time.~
sit~verb~Do an exam or test~I sat my biology exam today.~
sit~verb~Rest your weight on your bottom~She sat on the floor.~
sit~verb~Move someone or something into a sitting position~I sat her down on the chair.~
site~noun~A place where something is or where something will be built~This is the site of the new shopping centre.~
situated~adjective~Located~The house is situated in the country.~
situation~noun~A situation is all the things that are happening somewhere at a certain time~It is a difficult situation.~
six~noun~The number 6, which sits between 5 and 7~The hen laid six eggs.~
sixteen~noun~The number 16, which sits between 15 and 17~I will be sixteen tomorrow.~
sixteenth~adjective~If something is sixteenth, it is number sixteen in a series of numbers~Her sixteenth birthday.~
sixth~adjective~If something is sixth, it is number six in a series of numbers~This is the sixth time I have called you!~
sixth~noun~One of six equal parts of something~I paid a sixth of the rent.~
sixtieth~adjective~If something is sixtieth, it is number sixty in a series of numbers~I was the sixtieth person to enter.~
sixty~noun~The number 60, which sits between 59 and 61~She has written sixty books.~
size~noun~A standard measurement of clothes or shoes~What size do you need that in?~
size~noun~How large or small something is~The size of the room.~
size~noun~The largeness of something~She was impressed by the size of the pool.~
skate~verb~Use skates to move across ice etc.~She skated around the rink.~
skate~noun~A type of boot used to move freely on ice (ice skate) or over the ground (roller skate)~I liked to use my own skates.~
skeleton~noun~The structure of bones in your body~Can you name every bone in the human skeleton?~
skeptical~adjective~US English: see 'sceptical'~She was skeptical about his ideas.~
sketch~verb~Do a quick drawing of something~She sketched the building.~
sketch~noun~A quick drawing of something~She did a sketch of the building.~
ski~noun~Long, narrow pieces of wood or plastic etc. that are attached to boots and used to move over snow~Did you bring your skis?~
ski~verb~Move over the snow in skis~They skied here every year.~
skid~verb~Slide in an uncontrolled way; used especially with reference to a vehicle~The car skidded to a stop.~
skilful~adjective~Very good at something; expert; having command of certain skills~He is a skilful player.~
skill~noun~An ability to do something well that often needs training~What skills does the job require?~
skill~noun~Expertise; the command of certain tasks; the expression of a talent~Her skill at work.~
skilled~adjective~Having the skills to do something~She is a skilled teacher.~
skillful~adjective~US English: see 'skilful'~She is a skillful player.~
skin~noun~The outer layer that protects and covers your body~Her skin was itchy.~
skin~noun~The skin taken from a dead animal; often used to make clothes and bags etc.~She had a kangaroo-skin purse.~
skin~noun~The outer layer of some fruit and vegetables~Can you peel the skin off this apple?~
skinny~adjective~Very thin and sometimes ugly~He has skinny arms.~
skip~verb~Not do something; pass over one item in a series~She got into trouble for skipping school.~
skip~verb~Jump up and down over a moving rope~She skipped every morning.~
skip~verb~Move forward by taking a step and a hop with each foot in turn~She skipped into the house.~
skirt~noun~An item of clothing that is mostly worn by women and hangs from the waist~She wore a skirt to the wedding.~
skull~noun~The bone that surrounds your brain~She damaged her skull in the fall.~
sky~noun~The grey or blue space that you see when you are outdoors and look up~The clouds in the sky.~
slam~verb~Move something using a lot of force~She slammed the brakes on.~
slam~verb~Shut something with a lot of force so that it makes a loud noise~She slammed the door behind her.~
slap~verb~Hit someone or something with an open hand~She slapped his face.~
slap~noun~A blow that you give someone or something with an open hand~He gave her a light slap.~
slash~verb~Make a long cut in something, often in a violent way~He was slashed all across his stomach.~
slaughter~verb~Kill an animal for its meat~The cows were slaughtered.~
slave~noun~Someone who has been bought by another person and must work for them without pay~The slaves were very badly treated.~
sleep~noun~A state that you enter, usually every night, after you close your eyes and allow your body and mind to rest~You should try and get eight hours of sleep every night.~
sleep~verb~Be in the state of sleep~She liked to sleep late at the weekends.~
sleep~noun~An episode of sleep~I went for a sleep in the afternoon.~
sleeve~noun~The part of a shirt etc. that covers your arm~I decided to wear a shirt with short sleeves.~
slice~noun~A thin portion of food taken from a larger portion~A slice of bread.~
slice~verb~Cut a thin portion of food from a larger portion~She sliced the cake.~
slide~verb~Move freely and easily over a surface~The magazine slid off the table.~
slide~noun~A small piece of film held in a covering that shows a picture when a light is shone through it~Let's look at the new slide.~
slight~adjective~Small in amount or size~It was only a slight problem.~
slightly~adverb~A little bit~I'm only slightly tired.~
slim~adjective~Not very big~A slim chance of winning.~
slim~adjective~Thinner than usual, or thinner than would be expected~A slim catalogue.~
slim~verb~Try to lose weight, often by changing the amount and type of the food you eat~She was slimming so that she could fit into her old jeans.~
slim~adjective~Attractively thin~She has always been slim.~
slip~noun~A small piece of paper~She wrote the number on a slip of paper.~
slip~verb~Move somewhere quietly or put something somewhere, usually without being noticed~He slipped out of class; She slipped the note into her bag.~
slip~noun~A small mistake or accident~I wrote the essay without any slips.~
slip~verb~Slide out of position~The book slipped out of her hand.~
slip~verb~Accidentally fall or almost fall because your foot has slid on a surface~He slipped on the wet grass.~
slipper~noun~A comfortable shoe that is worn in the house~She put her pyjamas and slippers on.~
slippery~adjective~Difficult to walk on or hold~The dishes were soapy and slippery.~
slope~noun~A surface with one end higher than the other and with no steps~The car was parked on a slope.~
slope~verb~Proceed at an angle~The path sloped down to the beach.~
slot~noun~A narrow opening that you can put things in~Place your coin in the slot.~
slot~verb~Put something into a space that is made for it to fit into~She slotted the tapes on the rack.~
slow~adjective~Not fast; proceeding at a low speed~The car was very slow.~
slow~adjective~If a clock is slow, it shows an earlier time than the real time~That clock has always been slow.~
slow~verb~Start to move at a slower pace~She slowed as she came to the shop.~
slow down~verb~Become slower; lose speed~You need to slow down or we might crash.~
slowly~adverb~At a low speed~She jogged slowly.~
smack~verb~Use an open hand to hit someone; often done with children as a punishment~Is it right to smack your children?~
smack~noun~A blow given with an open hand, often to punish a child~He tried to give her a smack.~
small~adjective~Young~He has a small child.~
small~adjective~Not large~He is a small man; She lives in a small house.~
small~adjective~Not very important~It's a small problem.~
smart~adjective~Intelligent, clever~She is a very smart woman.~
smart~adjective~Neat, tidy and clean; well-dressed~He always looks very smart.~
smash~verb~Break into lots of pieces~The cup smashed when she dropped it.~
smash~verb~Hit something so hard that it breaks~The police smashed through the doors.~
smash~verb~Hit something with a lot of force~The tractor smashed into the car.~
smell~noun~The sense that uses your nose~Her sense of smell is very good.~
smell~noun~Something that your sense of smell can detect; a scent or odour~I like the smell of roses.~
smell~verb~Have a bad smell~His breath smells.~
smell~verb~Recognise a smell using your nose~Can you smell that?~
smell~verb~Detect a certain smell~I could smell her delicious cooking.~
smile~noun~The way that your face and especially your mouth looks when you are happy~She put on a huge smile for the cameras.~
smile~verb~Make the corners of your mouth turn upwards to show that you are happy~She smiled for the cameras.~
smoke~verb~Use cigarettes etc.~She has been smoking for years.~
smoke~verb~If something is smoking, smoke is coming from it~a pile of smoking wood.~
smoke~verb~Inhale and exhale the smoke of cigarettes etc.~She smokes twenty cigarettes a day.~
smoke~noun~A collection of tiny rising particles that is created when things burn~The smoke rose from the chimney.~
smooth~adjective~Regular, without stops or changes~She jumped over him in one smooth movement.~
smooth~adjective~Flat or even~The cards will only balance on a smooth surface.~
smooth~verb~Make something smooth~She smoothed the wrinkles out of his shirt before he left.~
smooth~adjective~Happening without problems~We have her to thank for the smooth running of our businesses.~
smuggle~verb~Bring things secretly into or out of a country~He was arrested for smuggling goods and people.~
snack~noun~A small meal~She had a snack before lunch.~
snail~noun~A small creature that has a shell on its back and moves slowly~The snail was moving up the wall.~
snake~noun~A reptile that is long and thin and has no legs~Some snakes move faster than people.~
snap~verb~Speak to someone in a quick and angry way~You have no reason to snap at me!~
snap~noun~The sound that something makes when it snaps~We heard the snap when he broke his leg.~
snap~verb~Break and make a loud noise~The branches snapped in the storm.~
snatch~noun~A small part of a conversation or other sound that you hear~I only caught a snatch of the song.~
snatch~verb~Rudely and quickly take something from someone~I shouted at him because he snatched the note from my hand.~
sneak~verb~Go somewhere secretly, hoping that you will not be seen~She sneaked into my room; She snuck into my room.~'Snuck' is sometimes used informally instead of 'sneaked'
sneeze~verb~You sneeze when air is suddenly forced out through your nose or mouth, often because you have a cold~She put a cloth over her mouth when she sneezed.~
sneeze~noun~The action of sneezing~I had a fit of sneezes this morning.~
sniff~verb~Use your nose to smell something~She sniffed the flowers.~
sniff~verb~Noisily breath air in through your nose~She sniffed because she was sad; She sniffed because she had a cold.~
sniff~noun~The act of noisily breathing air in through your nose~I asked what was wrong when I heard her sniffs.~
snooker~noun~A game played on a large table by two players who use sticks called cues to try to knock balls into holes called pockets~She plays great snooker.~
snore~verb~Make a loud noise with your nose and mouth while you are sleeping~He snores when he has been drinking.~
snore~noun~Noisy breathing that sometimes happens when a person is sleeping~He let out a loud snore.~
snow~noun~Soft flakes of ice crystals that fall from clouds in very cold weather~We played in the snow.~
snow~verb~When snow falls, you say that it is snowing~It snowed on Christmas day.~
snuck~verb~'Snuck' is an alternative to 'sneaked': informally used mainly in US but also in UK English~I snuck through the exit unnoticed.~
so~conjunction~Used to show the result of something~She was tired so she went to bed.~
so~adverb~'So what?' is used to show that you don't care about something~He's running for mayor! So what?~
so~adverb~Used to refer to something already mentioned~Did she call? I don't think so.~
so~adverb~'And so on' is used to show that a list could be continued~I wake up, eat breakfast, shower, and so on.~
so~conjunction~Used to show the reason for something~He did it so that they could leave earlier.~
so~adverb~Used to show the degree of something~She looked so happy.~
so~adverb~'So' can mean 'also'~I went to work and so did he.~
soak~verb~Place something in a liquid for quite a long time~Soak the shirt in warm water.~
soak~verb~Wet something completely, or become completely wet~She got soaked by the rain.~
soak up~verb~If something is soaked up, it is absorbed into something else~The cloth soaked up all of the juice.~
soap~noun~A substance that is used with water to clean things~Wash your face with soap and water.~
soar~verb~Increase very quickly and sharply~Profits have soared.~
soar~verb~Rise quickly into the air, or fly high~The bird soared into the sky.~
sober~adjective~Not drunk~She was still sober at the end of the party.~
so-called~adjective~You can use 'so-called' to show that you think that something isn't what it claims to be~His so-called teacher called again.~
soccer~noun~A word for football, used mainly in countries where other types of football are popular (USA, Australia, Ireland)~Let's have a game of soccer.~
social~adjective~Connected with society~She has some social issues.~
social~adjective~Where people meet other people~A social gathering.~
socialism~noun~The idea that everyone should have an equal share of a country's wealth, or that industry etc. should be publicly rather than privately owned~Are you in favour of socialism?~
socialist~adjective~Connected with socialism~A socialist system.~
socialist~noun~Someone who agrees with socialism~She is a socialist.~
society~noun~An association; a group of people who get together because they have the same aim~The sports society.~
society~noun~People in general; especially the way they live and affect each other~Modern society.~
sock~noun~An item of clothing worn over the foot and under a shoe~She put socks on to keep her feet warm.~
socket~noun~A point on a wall etc. where a plug can be inserted to receive electricity~Children are told not to put their fingers inside sockets.~
sofa~noun~A long, comfortable chair for two or more people to sit on~We curled up on the sofa.~
soft~adjective~Less strict than you should be~She was soft with him because he was her first grandson.~
soft~adjective~Not hard; smooth~It was soft on the grass; The fabric was soft.~
soft~adjective~Gentle~A soft wind on her face.~
soft drink~noun~A cold drink that contains no alcohol~I was so thirsty I drank three soft drinks.~
software~noun~Programs that are used by computers~She bought some new software for her computer.~
soil~noun~The layer of earth where plants are planted~The gardener raked the soil.~
soldier~noun~Someone who is part of the army~The soldiers in the war.~
sole~noun~The part of your foot or shoe that touches the ground~There were blisters on the soles of her feet.~
sole~adjective~Single; only~He was the sole reason she stayed.~
solicitor~noun~A lawyer who mostly prepares legal documents but can also represent people in court~Do you need a solicitor?~
solid~adjective~Hard and not able to flow; not like a liquid or gas~The car hit a solid object.~
solid~adjective~Having no holes; not hollow~She wanted a house with solid walls.~
solid~noun~Something that is not a liquid or gas~Water is a liquid and ice is a solid.~
solution~noun~A way of solving a problem~Do you have a solution for this mess?~
solution~noun~The right answer to a puzzle or quiz~The book gives both puzzles and solutions.~
solve~verb~Find an answer for something~She is good at solving those puzzles; Is there any way to solve this argument?~
some~determiner~Used to talk about an amount of something or a number of things without saying how much there is or how many there are~He had some ideas; there was some dirt on his clothes.~
some~determiner~Quite a few or quite a lot of~It had been some years since they last spoke.~
somebody~pronoun~A person~Somebody is coming.~
somehow~adverb~Used when you do not fully know or understand the reason for something~Somehow, I just knew it was wrong.~
somehow~adverb~In some way; used when something is uncertain or unknown~We will manage somehow.~
someone~pronoun~A person~Will someone help me please?~
something~pronoun~Used to talk about a thing without mentioning it by name~That is something you should remember.~
sometimes~adverb~From time to time; occasionally~We sometimes go swimming at the weekends.~
somewhat~adverb~To a certain degree; fairly~It was somewhat unclear how he hoped to succeed.~
somewhere~adverb~Used to talk about a place without mentioning it by name; any place~He lives somewhere near the lake; Let's go somewhere.~
son~noun~If you have a male child, he is your son~My son turns ten on Sunday.~
song~noun~A short piece of music that includes someone singing words~She knew all the words to the song.~
son-in-law~noun~Your daughter's husband~He is my son-in-law.~
soon~adverb~In a short time~He will be here soon.~
soon~adverb~'Soon after' means a short time after something~She will be there soon after work.~
soon~adverb~'As soon as' means that something will happen just after something else happens~I will be there as soon as the car starts working.~
soothe~verb~If something soothes you, it makes you more comfortable~She lay in a hot bath to soothe her tired muscles.~
soothe~verb~Make someone who is upset or worried calm~He soothed her when she was upset.~
sophisticated~adjective~Having knowledge about matters that are socially important, such as culture~She grew into a sophisticated young woman.~
sophisticated~adjective~For a machine or idea to be complicated or clever~NASA uses sophisticated equipment.~
sore~noun~A small wound or infection on your body~There was a sore on his leg where the bug bit him.~
sore~adjective~If something is sore, it hurts~Her legs were sore after the run.~
sorry~adjective~If you are sorry, you feel bad about something that you have done~I am sorry if I hurt you.~
sorry~adverb~Having sympathy with someone~I felt sorry for them.~
sorry~exclamation~Can be used when you are asking someone to repeat something~Sorry, what did you say?~
sort~noun~Type~What sort of music do you like?~
sort~verb~Put things in order or arrange them into groups~I sorted the coins according to their value.~
sort out~verb~If you sort something out, you fix the problem it is causing~They sorted out the mixed-up paperwork.~
soul~noun~The spirit of a person that some people believe lives on when you die~She believed that he had a good soul.~
sound~adjective~Good; reliable~He has always given me sound advice.~
sound~noun~The vibrations that you hear with your ears~How far can sound travel?~
sound~verb~To sound like something is to make the noise that that thing makes~It sounded like a car.~
sound~verb~Make a sound~The bell sounded at lunchtime.~
sound~adjective~Undamaged; in good shape~The car he chose seemed sound.~
sound~noun~Something that you can hear~A sound from the next room.~
soup~noun~A type of food that is mostly liquid and is made by boiling water with meat or vegetables etc.~She dipped bread into her soup.~
sour~adjective~Having a bitter taste~Lemons are sour.~
source~noun~Somewhere that you get something from~Milk is a good source of calcium; The sun is a good source of light.~
south~adverb~Towards the south~The statue faces south.~
south~noun~The direction to your right when you face the rising sun~He lives to the south of the river.~
south~noun~The southern part of somewhere~We travelled to the south of the country.~
south america~noun~The continent below North America, between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans~Brazil is in South America.~
south-east~noun~Halfway between south and east~We travelled south-east.~
southern~adjective~Situated in the south~The southern hemisphere.~
south-west~noun~Halfway between south and west~We moved to the south-west of the country.~
souvenir~noun~Something that you take or keep to remind you of something~She kept souvenirs from all the places she visited.~
space~noun~The place beyond the earth's atmosphere where other planets, stars, etc. are located~They looked into space and tried to count the stars.~
space~noun~A gap; a place that is empty~A space between the books on the shelf.~
span~noun~The length of time that something lasts~Her life span.~
spanish~adjective~Connected with Spain~A Spanish play.~
spanish~noun~The major language spoken in Spain~She learnt Spanish at school.~
spare~verb~Save someone from pain or something unpleasant~Please spare me the bother of doing it.~
spare~noun~Something extra that you keep in case you need it~Where did you put the spare tyre?~
spare~verb~If you can spare something, you can afford to give it up or give it away~I can spare a few minutes to listen to you.~
spare~adjective~Extra~Where did you hide the spare key?~
spark~noun~A small burning fragment of something~The sparks landed on her sleeve.~
spark~noun~A small flash caused by electricity or friction~A spark flew from the plug.~
sparkle~verb~Shine with little flashes of light~The diamond sparkled in the sun.~
speak~verb~Say things~She spoke about her home town.~
speak~verb~Know and be able to use a language~She speaks three languages.~
speaker~noun~A person who gives a talk~The speaker started with a poem.~
speaker~noun~The part of a music system that the sound comes from~One of the speakers is broken.~
special~adjective~Better than or different from other things~It was a special day for her; He had a special talent.~
specialise~verb~When you specialise in something you become an expert on it~I specialise in psychology.~
specialist~noun~A person who is an expert in something~He is a language specialist.~
specialize~verb~This is another way of spelling 'specialise'.~She specialized in chemistry.~
species~noun~A group of living things that can breed with each other~A rare species of plant.~
specific~adjective~Particular; definite~These were made for a specific target market.~
specific~adjective~Detailed or precise~I need specific details.~
spectacle~noun~Something that looks very impressive~The water monument was an amazing spectacle.~
spectacles~noun~A formal word for the glasses that some people wear to improve their sight~He needed spectacles for reading.~
spectacular~adjective~Very impressive or sensational~The outfit was spectacular.~
speculate~verb~Form an opinion on something by guessing about it rather than knowing all the facts~She speculated about where he was.~
sped~verb~The past tense and past participle of 'speed'~I sped past the police car.~
speech~noun~The ability to speak~Her speech has improved since the stroke.~
speech~noun~A formal talk that someone gives to a group of people~Her speech lasted half an hour.~
speed~verb~Drive faster than the law allows you to~She was always speeding and she always got caught.~The past tense of 'speed' in this sense is 'speeded'
speed~noun~The rate at which something moves or is done~What speed did you drive at?~
speed~noun~The ability to move quickly~You need speed to be good at rugby.~
speed~verb~Move quickly~She sped across the road after the ball.~
speed up~verb~Gain speed; start going faster~You need to speed up with that coursework or you'll never finish in time.~
spell~noun~A short period of time when something happens~A spell of dizziness.~
spell~noun~Words that some people believe can make magic happen~She said a spell for good luck.~
spell~verb~Say or write the letters of a word in their correct order~Can you spell your name for me please?~
spend~verb~Use money to buy something~She spent a lot of money on a holiday.~
spend~verb~Use time, energy or effort on things~She spends too much time with them.~
spend~verb~Pass time somewhere or doing something~We spent the day fishing; We spent the holiday in a hotel.~
spice~noun~A flavouring for food that comes from plants and usually has a strong taste and smell~She liked spices on her steak.~
spider~noun~A creature with eight legs that spins webs and eats other bugs~Spiders catch and eat flies.~
spill~verb~When a liquid spills, it flows over the edge of its container~I spilt the milk.~
spin~noun~A series of fast rotations~The washing needs a spin.~
spin~verb~Make something, or yourself, move round and round fast~The children spun until they were dizzy.~'Span' can be used for the past tense, although 'spun' is more common
spine~noun~The row of small bones down the centre of your back~Shivers down her spine.~
spirit~noun~A ghost~The house held three spirits.~
spirit~noun~The part of you that is concerned with your mind or soul rather than your body~The power of the spirit to overcome all problems.~
spirit~noun~A strong alcoholic drink~He prefers beer to spirits; Her favourite spirit is vodka.~
spirit~noun~Your spirits are the way you feel~She isn't in very good spirits today.~
spirit~noun~Some people believe that the spirit is the soul~Her spirit has moved on to heaven.~
spirit~noun~Courage and energy~She had a lot of spirit.~
spiritual~adjective~Connected with the spirit or religious belief~A priest is a spiritual leader.~
spit~verb~Force something out of your mouth~She didn't like the food so she spat it out.~US English uses 'spit' as the past tense
spite~noun~Ill will; a bad feeling towards someone that makes you want to hurt them~She slashed my tyres out of spite.~
spite~noun~'In spite of' means that something happened although there was a reason for it not to happen~She made it in spite of all the criticism.~
splash~verb~Move about noisily in a liquid, sending some of the liquid into the air~They splashed about in the pool.~
splash~verb~Cause a liquid land or fall on something, making it wet~All the chairs near the swimming pool were splashed.~
splash~noun~The effect of something landing in a liquid~It made a huge splash.~
splendid~adjective~Extremely good~That's a splendid idea.~
split~verb~Divide something between people or groups etc.~They split the chores between them.~
split~noun~A long hole or tear in something~A split in the seam of her coat.~
split~verb~Divide something into two or more pieces~Her day was split into three segments.~
spoil~verb~Give children more than they need, in such a way that it affects their behaviour badly~We always tried not to spoil our children.~
spoil~verb~Damage or ruin something~The surprise was spoiled when she heard me talk about her party.~
spokesman~noun~A person who speaks on behalf of another person or organisation etc.~He was the president's spokesman.~You can also use 'spokeswoman' or 'spokesperson'
sponsor~noun~Someone who gives money to support another person or organisation etc.~He had been our team's sponsor for three years.~
sponsor~verb~Give money to support a person or organisation etc.~The concert was sponsored by a leading phone company.~
sponsor~verb~Promise to give money to someone if they do something for charity~I sponsored her to go sky diving.~
spoon~noun~A small bowl with a long handle, used for eating~She ate her soup with a spoon.~
sport~noun~One of a number of competitive physical activities that people do for leisure or professionally~She plays many sports but her favourite is netball.~
spot~noun~A small round area~There was a spot of paint on his shirt.~
spot~noun~A certain place~Should we have a picnic in this spot?~
spot~noun~A small bump that people sometimes get on their skin~Teenagers often suffer from spots.~
spot~verb~See or notice someone or something~We spotted her in town today.~
spray~verb~Send small drops of liquid to cover a surface~She sprayed deodorant under her arms.~
spray~noun~Small drops of liquid that move through the air~The wind carried the spray from the waves.~
spread~verb~Become wider; increase in area; expand~The flood spread over the entire province.~
spread~verb~Cause to cover a certain area~She spread the jam on her sandwich.~
spread~noun~The act of affecting more and more people~The spread of the flu virus was uncontrollable.~
spread~verb~Arrange a number of things so that they can be more clearly and easily seen~She spread her work across the table.~
spread~verb~Affect more and more people~The disease spreads quickly.~
spring~verb~Move very suddenly~She sprang at the door.~
spring~noun~One of the four seasons, when plants begin to grow~Spring is my favourite season.~
spring~noun~A coil of metal that returns to its original shape after being pushed or pulled~The springs in a mattress.~
spring~noun~A natural source of water in the ground~The spa has a hot spring.~
sprinkle~verb~Scatter small pieces of something~She sprinkled sugar on the cake.~
sprint~noun~A race where contestants move quickly over a short distance~The 400 metre sprint.~
sprint~verb~Move somewhere very quickly~They sprinted past the house.~
spur~verb~Encourage~She spurred me on to complete my degree.~
spur~noun~If something is done on the spur of the moment, it is done quickly without thinking much about it~They decided to get married on the spur of the moment.~
spy~verb~If you spy on someone, you secretly watch them~The stalker spied on the celebrity for months.~
spy~noun~Someone who gets secret information about other people or countries etc.~He was a government spy.~
spy~verb~Try to get secret information about people or countries etc.~He spied for the government for years.~
squad~noun~A group of people who take part in a certain activity or deal with a certain situation~The rugby squad; An assassination squad; The police squad.~
square~noun~An open place in a town etc.~We met in the city square.~
square~adjective~Having the shape of a square~A square piece of chocolate.~
square~noun~A shape with four straight equal sides and four 90 degree angles~The children were asked to draw a square in their books.~
squash~verb~Push something in such a way that it loses its shape~I squashed the ball by accident.~
squash~noun~A game for two people who use rackets to hit a ball against a wall~They played squash twice a week.~
squeak~noun~A short, high-pitched noise that is not very loud~I heard the squeak of the door.~
squeak~verb~Make a high-pitched noise that is not very loud~The mouse squeaked.~
squeeze~noun~The act of pressing something together from opposite sides, e.g. between your thumb and fingers~I gave it a quick squeeze.~
squeeze~verb~Press something together, usually using your fingers~I squeezed the cream from the tube.~
squeeze~verb~Move into or through a small space~She squeezed through the opening.~
stab~verb~Hurt someone by pushing something sharp into their body~She was stabbed in the leg.~
stable~adjective~Fixed; unlikely to change much~The economy seems to be stable at the moment.~
stable~noun~A place where horses are housed~She put hay in all of the stables.~
stack~noun~A pile~A stack of magazines on the table.~
stadium~noun~A place where a large number of people can go to watch sport~They sat at the top of the rugby stadium.~
staff~noun~The people who work in a certain place~He needed to hire some new staff.~
stage~noun~The part of a theatre where people perform~She finally walked onto the stage.~
stage~verb~Organise and put on a play etc.~They were staging the performance in locations all over America.~
stage~noun~One part of a process~We are in the first stage of renovations on our house.~
stain~noun~A dirty spot or mark that is difficult to remove~He had grass stains on his football shirt.~
stain~verb~Make a mark on something that is difficult to remove~The blood has stained his trousers.~
stair~noun~One step in a set of stairs~She tripped on the last stair.~
stairs~noun~A set of steps in a building that run from one floor to another~He has to walk up 12 flights of stairs to reach his apartment.~
stake~noun~If something is at stake then it may or may not be lost or ruined, depending on what happens~His whole future is at stake.~
stake~verb~Risk something that is very valuable or important to you; gamble on something~She was willing to stake her life on it!~
stake~noun~Something that's at risk when you gamble~He only played when the stakes were kept quite low.~
stalk~noun~A stem; the thin piece that joins a leaf etc. to the rest of a plant~Don't bend the stalks of the flowers!~
stalk~verb~Follow a person or animal quietly to watch or attack them~He stalked the deer through the forest.~
stall~noun~A table or small shop that is open at the front, where goods are sold~We always buy our vegetables from the stalls.~
stamp~noun~Something that is stamped onto the surface of something else~The teacher put her stamp in his book.~
stamp~verb~Make a small mark on something using a tool called a stamp~He stamped her passport.~
stamp~noun~A small piece of paper that you stick to an envelope that shows that the postage has been paid~She had to put 200 stamps on envelopes over Christmas.~
stamp~verb~Put your foot on the ground noisily and with much force~The child stamped her foot in bad temper.~
stamp out~verb~If you stamp something out, you get rid of it~We hope to stamp out racism in the world.~
stance~noun~The way that someone stands~He used a different stance when playing cricket.~
stand~verb~Be able to do or go through something without being damaged; survive~Her dishwasher has stood heavy use over the years.~
stand~verb~If something still stands, then it is still the same way~My offer still stands, provided you pay the money.~
stand~verb~Be up on your feet~I stood at the door and waited.~
stand~verb~Move into a position where you are up on your feet~We stood when the judge came in.~
stand~verb~If something stands somewhere, it is there~The castle stood at the foot of a mountain.~
stand~noun~A small shop like a stall~He bought coffee from a stand.~
stand~verb~Be a candidate in an election~He was standing for president.~
stand~verb~If you stand trial, you are tried and judged by a judge and jury~He will stand trial next week.~
stand~noun~A piece of equipment used to hold something~A bicycle stand.~
stand~verb~If you can't stand something, you dislike it strongly~I can't stand eating mushrooms.~
stand~verb~Put something in an upright position~He stood his bicycle against the door.~
stand for~verb~Be an abbreviation or symbol for something~e.g. stands for 'for example'.~
stand for~verb~If you stand for something, you publicly agree with it and support it~I stand for world peace.~
standard~noun~Level of quality~He has always produced work of a high standard.~
standard~adjective~Normal; ordinary~They lived in a standard house.~
star~noun~A ball of burning gas in space that we can see in the sky as a small speck of light at night~It would take millions of years to travel to the nearest star.~
star~noun~A regular shape that has five or six points~She made a star next to their names.~
star~noun~Famous people, especially actors and musicians, are often referred to as stars~Hollywood stars.~
stare~verb~Look intently at something for a long time~She stared at me and I knew she wanted me to look at her.~
start~noun~The time when something begins~The start of the show.~
start~verb~Begin something~I started my homework.~
start~verb~When something starts, it begins~The show starts at three.~
startle~verb~Give someone or something a slight fright~The doorbell startled me.~
starve~verb~If you starve, you do not have enough food and will die as a result~People are starving all around the world.~
state~noun~The condition that something is in~She was in a terrible state after the accident; The house was in an awful state.~
state~verb~Formally write or say something~He stated his name for the court.~
state~noun~The apparatus that runs a country and is controlled by a government~He received benefits from the state.~
state~noun~Some countries are divided into sections called states~Which state of the USA do you live in?~
state~noun~Some countries are called states~The state of Israel.~
statement~noun~Something that you say or write in order to give information~Her statement made me think.~
station~verb~Be sent somewhere to work~He is stationed in London.~
station~noun~A place where people wait to get onto a bus or train~We waited at the station.~
station~noun~A radio or television company or channel~Which station do you listen to?~
statistics~noun~Information and facts that are shown in numbers~Unemployment statistics.~
statue~noun~A model of a person or animal, often life size~A statue of the President.~
status~noun~The importance that someone or something has in relation to other people or things~What status does your job have?~
stay~verb~Not move from somewhere~I stayed in bed all day.~
stay~verb~Live somewhere as a guest etc. for a fairly short time~We stayed in a hotel in London.~
stay~verb~Continue to be in a certain state~It didn't stay that way for long.~
stay~noun~Time that you spend somewhere, such as a visit~We made a short stay at my mother's home near the beach.~
steady~adjective~Gradual; consistent~A steady decrease in unemployment.~
steady~adjective~Firm; unlikely to move or fall~The toddler was steady on her feet.~
steak~noun~A thick piece of beef~I prefer fillet steak.~
steal~verb~Take something that does not belong to you~Children are told that stealing is wrong.~
steam~noun~The visible gas that water turns into when it is boiled~Steam rose from the pot.~
steel~noun~A hard, strong metal made from iron, carbon and other elements~He made furniture from steel.~
steep~adjective~Sloping sharply~A sigh to show that this is a steep hill.~
steer~verb~Control the direction that a vehicle moves in~Is it difficult to steer a plane?~
stem~verb~Stop something from flowing~I donít know how to stem the flow of water!~
stem~verb~If something stems from something else, it is the result of it~The fight stemmed from too much alcohol.~
stem~noun~The part of a plant on which the leaves etc. grow~She cut the roses at the stem.~
step~noun~The act of lifting one of your feet and putting it down in front of you~The baby took his first steps.~
step~verb~Lift your foot and move in a certain direction~She stepped forward to greet me.~
step~verb~To step on something is to put your foot on it~He stepped on the spider.~
step~noun~A step is a structure with one horizontal and one vertical surface, used to help people walk easily from a higher to a lower level or vice versa~She walked down the steps of her office.~
step~noun~One in a series of things that you do to get or achieve something~The last step to stopping smoking.~
step-~prefix~Step- shows that someone is related to you because your parent has remarried~My stepmother.~
stereo~noun~A machine that can play CDs and the radio etc. and makes the sound come through speakers~Turn the stereo on, please.~
stern~adjective~Very serious~A stern teacher.~
stick~verb~Become attached to something~It stuck to the wall.~
stick~verb~Put something somewhere~Stick your bag in the room.~Informal use
stick~verb~Make things attach to each other~She stuck the picture to the wall.~
stick~verb~Push something sharp into something else~He stuck a pencil in her arm.~
stick~noun~A thin piece of wood~The boys pretended that the sticks were swords.~
stick out~verb~If something sticks out, it sits further out than something else so that it is particularly noticeable~The branches stuck out across the road.~
stiff~adjective~If you are stiff, your muscles hurt when you move them~She felt stiff from all her exercising.~
stiff~adjective~Difficult to bend~She needed stiff cardboard for her project.~
still~adjective~To be still is not to move~It is difficult to get children to be still; The water was still.~
still~adverb~Used to mean 'in spite of something that had already been said or happened' etc.~Even though she promised, I still didn't believe she would do it.~
still~adverb~Right up to the present time~They are still working on it.~
still~adverb~If something could still happen, there is a chance that it will happen although there are signs that it won't~We might still raise all of the money.~
stimulate~verb~Encourage something to develop~Books can stimulate children's imaginations.~
sting~verb~Make a small, painful hole in the skin, possibly with the injection of poison, as in a wasp sting~I hate being stung by a wasp.~
sting~verb~Feel a sharp pain~My hand stung where he hit me.~
stir~verb~Mix something round and round with a spoon etc.~He stirred the soup in the pot.~
stir~verb~Move~He finally stirred from his chair.~
stitch~verb~Sew something~Can you stitch these pillows together?~
stitch~noun~The thread that's equivalent to one pass of a needle when a doctor sews a wound closed~She needed ten stitches in her head.~
stitch~noun~The thread that's equivalent to one pass of a needle when fabric is sewn~Some of the stitches were bigger than others.~
stock~noun~Part of a company that people can buy~He invested in stocks and shares.~
stock~verb~If a shop stocks something, it has it for sale~Do you stock toothpaste?~
stock~noun~Things that are available to be used~He has a good stock of leaflets.~
stock~noun~The supply of goods that a shop has~We will be receiving more stock tomorrow.~
stocking~noun~Thin, close-fitting items that women wear over their legs and feet~She wore black stockings with black boots.~
stomach~noun~The part of your body that food goes to be digested~My stomach was full.~
stomach~noun~The front part of your body underneath your chest can be called the stomach~He put his hand on her stomach.~
stone~noun~A hard substance that is found in the ground~A stone house.~
stone~noun~A small piece of rock that can be any shape~She stood on a stone.~
stone~noun~A unit for measuring weight. Equal to 14 pounds, or about 6.35 kg~She wanted to lose three stone.~
stool~noun~A seat that has legs but no arms or back~He fell off the stool.~
stop~verb~No longer move; become still~She stopped when she reached the door.~
stop~verb~If you stop doing something, you end it or no longer do it~Will you stop smoking? Has it stopped raining?~
stop~verb~End an action or a series of actions~She told him to stop phoning her.~
stop~noun~A place where a bus or train etc. stops~The bus will drop you off at the next stop.~
stop~noun~The act of stopping~The train came to a stop at the station.~
storage~noun~A place where things can be kept if they are not needed at a particular time~She put her books in storage.~
store~noun~A shop, especially in US English~The local store; a department store.~
store~noun~A supply of things that you have and can use as you need them~His small store of textbooks.~
store~noun~If something is in store for you, it is going to happen to you~You have a big shock in store for you!~
store~verb~Keep something to use later~He stores all their names in a filing cabinet.~
storey~noun~A level of a building~She worked on the third storey.~
storm~noun~Very bad weather, with high winds and usually heavy rain~They sheltered in a cabin during the storm.~
story~noun~A description of events that a person has made up or imagined, to be told for other people's entertainment~I read my children their favourite story.~
story~noun~A description of how things have happened~She told us the whole story about the burglary.~
straight~adjective~If something is straight, it does not curve in any way~A straight path.~
straight~adverb~Directly; immediately~When we got home we went straight to bed.~
straightforward~adjective~Not complicated~The puzzle is quite straightforward.~
strain~noun~If a person is under strain, they have a lot of pressure on them~She was under huge strain during the exam period.~
strain~noun~Pressure that is put on something in a way that might damage it~Her weight put a lot of strain on the rope.~
strain~verb~Try to make something do more or go further than it usually can~She strained to reach the ledge.~
strain~verb~Separate the liquid and solid parts of something using e.g. a colander~You need to strain the soup if you donít want to eat the vegetables in it.~
strange~adjective~Unusual, odd, peculiar~What a strange idea!~
strange~adjective~Unfamiliar~All the people in the room were strange to her.~
stranger~noun~A person that you do not know~Children are told never to talk to strangers.~
strap~noun~A strip of material that holds things together or allows you to carry things etc.~She lifted the bag by the strap.~
strap~verb~Fasten something using a strap~She strapped the pads to her leg.~
straw~noun~The dried stems of some crops, such as wheat, which are used for animal bedding etc.~A straw basket.~
straw~noun~A thin hollow tube that can be used to suck liquids through~She drank her juice through a straw.~
strawberry~noun~A small, soft red fruit that has seeds on the outside of its skin~She liked strawberries and raspberries.~
streak~noun~A long mark that has a different colour from its surroundings~She put streaks of red in her hair.~
stream~verb~If large numbers of people or things move in the same direction through a narrow channel, they can be said to stream; a liquid can also stream~Tears streamed down her face; The visitors streamed into the hall.~
stream~noun~A small river~They drank water from the stream.~
stream~noun~A flow of people or things etc.~A stream of cars on the road.~
street~noun~A public road with houses and buildings alongside it, especially in a town or city~We walked down the street.~
strength~noun~Physical power; the ability to move heavy weights etc.~She didnít have enough strength to move it.~
strength~noun~Ability to hold weight without breaking~She checked the strength of the platform before standing on it.~
strength~noun~Moral courage~She has a lot of strength; she will get through this.~
strength~noun~One of a person's main talents or abilities~His ability to run was one of his strengths.~
strengthen~verb~Make something stronger~The tape should strengthen the rope.~
stress~noun~Pressure caused by the things in your life~She suffered from stress during exam time.~
stress~verb~Emphasise~She stressed how late they were.~
stress~noun~The emphasis placed on certain words etc.~He puts stress on the final syllable.~
stretch~verb~Cover an area~The farmer's land stretches all the way down to the river.~
stretch~verb~Hold a part of your body out as far as it can go~She stretched over to reach her drink.~
stretch~verb~Make something longer or looser etc. by pulling it~Her jumper is hopelessly stretched.~
stretch~noun~An area of land or water~A beautiful stretch of land.~
strict~adjective~A person is strict if they demand that rules etc. be followed~Very strict teachers.~
strict~adjective~That must be obeyed~A strict secrecy policy.~
strike~verb~Hit somebody or something~The glass struck the table; She struck his face.~
strike~noun~This is when employees of a certain company refuse to work because they feel they are being mistreated in some way~They went on strike for three months.~
strike~verb~Make a match produce a flame by rubbing it quickly against a suitable surface~She struck the match and it broke in half.~
strike~verb~When a clock strikes it tells the time by making a noise or a series of noises~The clock struck one.~
strike~verb~If something strikes you, it makes an impression on you~She was struck by his good looks.~
strike~verb~If a disaster etc. suddenly happens, it can be said to strike~This is the second time the disease has struck.~
strike~verb~If something strikes you, it suddenly occurs to you~It struck me that I had left the oven on.~
string~noun~A thin rope made from many twisted threads~She tied the meat with string.~
string~noun~A series of things~A string of disasters.~
strip~noun~A narrow piece of something~A strip of wallpaper.~
strip~verb~Remove all your clothes~She stripped and got into bed.~
stripe~noun~A line of a different colour~She has black and white stripes on her shirt.~
stroke~verb~Rub or pat something gently~She stroked the dog's fur.~
stroke~noun~A sudden break in the blood supply to the brain; this can kill a person~She had a stroke last year.~
strong~adjective~Having much physical power~She is very strong for her size.~
strong~adjective~Not likely to break or become damaged easily; capable of supporting much weight~A strong ladder.~
strong~adjective~Confident and not easily upset or influenced by others~She has always been a strong person.~
strong~adjective~Easy to hear, smell, see, taste or feel~This cheese has a strong taste.~
structure~noun~The way in which something is made and supported so that it does not collapse~The structure of the room.~
structure~noun~Something that has been made, usually a building~The new structure in the park.~
struggle~verb~Try to get away from someone or something that is holding you~She struggled but could not get free.~
struggle~noun~Something that is difficult to do over a period of time~Moving away from her family was a struggle for her at first.~
struggle~noun~A fight, especially one involving grappling~They had a struggle outside the pub.~
struggle~verb~Try hard to do something that is difficult~He struggled to keep his job.~
stubborn~adjective~A stubborn person does not easily change their mind or opinion~She is so stubborn!~
stuck~adjective~In an unpleasant situation that you cannot get out of~She was stuck at college all morning.~
student~noun~Someone who is following a course of study; if this is at primary or secondary school, 'pupil' is often used instead~I am a science student.~
studio~noun~Somewhere that an artist works~She has a studio in her house.~
studio~noun~A place where radio or television programmes are made and broadcast from~And now let's return to the studio.~
study~noun~A piece of research on something~A study of these new cells.~
study~verb~Examine something very closely~They studied the animal's movements.~
study~noun~The act of learning from books etc.~This is where she does her private study.~
study~verb~Learn about something by reading about it, going to classes, etc.~I studied science and biology.~
stuff~verb~Quickly and carelessly push something into a space~She stuffed the books into the drawer.~
stuff~verb~Fill or over-fill something such as a container~She stuffed the suitcase.~
stuff~noun~Things in general, or a particular selection of things~I put all that stuff in the kitchen.~
stumble~verb~Trip and almost fall over~Her foot hit the table and she stumbled.~
stun~verb~To be stunned is to be shocked by something; 'stunning' can mean very good or very attractive~I was stunned to find he had left; My team scored a stunning goal.~
stupid~adjective~Silly; showing no thought or sense; lacking intelligence~That was a stupid thing to do.~
style~noun~The design of something~What style of clothes do you prefer?~
style~noun~The way in which something is done~They have a different style of living.~
style~noun~We can say that something has style if it is of a high standard, fashionable, imaginative, etc.~This room has tons of style.~
sub-~prefix~Less than~Sub-zero.~
subject~verb~If you subject someone to something you make them experience something, which is usually unpleasant~She was subjected to dreadful living conditions.~The noun and adjective are pronounced in the same way; the verb is pronounced differently
subject~adjective~If something is 'subject to' a certain action, it means that the action will happen~This contract is subject to review next week.~
subject~noun~The subject in a sentence is the thing that does something~In 'I ran down the street', 'I' is the subject.~
subject~noun~Persons of certain nationalities (especially of nations with monarchs) are called subjects~She is a British subject.~
subject~noun~Whatever is being discussed or read about etc.~What is the subject of that book?; I didnít understand the subject of conversation.~
subject~noun~One of the main areas studied at school, e.g. biology~I took six subjects in my final year.~
submarine~noun~A ship that can travel below or above the sea~We watched the submarine rise to the surface.~
submit~verb~Accept something because it is more powerful than you~She refused to submit to the enemies.~
subsequently~adverb~Following something in time~She wrote a book, and subsequently made millions.~
substance~noun~Any particular kind of solid, liquid or gas~A yellow substance covered the table.~
substantial~adjective~Large or important~He received substantial compensations.~
substitute~noun~Something that is used in the place of something else~Our teacher is a substitute.~
substitute~verb~Use one thing instead of another~We substituted onions for tomatoes.~
subtle~adjective~Not very noticeable or obvious~It was a subtle joke; A subtle difference.~
subtract~verb~Take one number or amount away from another number or amount~If you subtract three from four you get one.~
suburb~noun~A residential area outside the central part of a town or city~They preferred to live in the suburbs rather than the city centre.~
subway~noun~An underground railway~We took the subway to work.~US English. UK English uses 'underground'
succeed~verb~Manage to do or get what you wanted to do or get~She succeeded in passing all of her exams.~
succeed~verb~Take over from someone or take their place~Who will succeed me when I leave?~
success~noun~The act of doing well at something~She never expected the book to have so much success.~
success~noun~A person who is successful~She was proud that her son was such a success.~
successful~adjective~Someone is successful if the things that they try to do turn out well~She is successful in everything she does.~
such~adjective~'Such as' can be used to mean 'for example'~She does a lot of sports, such as swimming, judo and tennis.~
such~noun~Used to mean 'of the type already mentioned'~We were not sure of the rules in such places.~
such~determiner~Used to emphasise something~We had such a good time.~
suck~verb~Use your lips, tongue and cheeks to pull at something in your mouth, or draw something into your mouth~She sucked the juice through a straw.~
sudden~adjective~Happening quickly and often unexpectedly~The sudden arrival of a storm.~
suddenly~adverb~Quickly and often unexpectedly~A bird suddenly flew into the room.~
sue~verb~Claim in court that someone has done something hurtful to you and should have to pay for it~I sued him for firing me without a reason.~
suffer~verb~Be affected by something unpleasant~They suffered from water shortages.~
suffering~noun~Physical or mental pain~The suffering of children around the world.~
sufficient~adjective~Enough~There was sufficient time to get there.~
sugar~noun~A sweet substance that comes from plants and is used to sweeten food or drinks~Do you take sugar in your tea?~
suggest~verb~Imply something~Are you suggesting I am not telling the truth?~
suggest~verb~Put a thought or idea forward for others to consider~I suggested that we take up swimming.~
suggestion~noun~Something that you say etc. for others to think about~If you have any suggestions for the company, please place them in the box.~
suicide~noun~The act of killing yourself on purpose~Why do people commit suicide?~
suit~verb~If something suits you, it goes well with your appearance or makes you look attractive~That skirt suits you; That new haircut suits you.~
suit~noun~An outfit that consists of matching trousers and jacket or skirt and jacket, often used for fairly formal wear~She wears a suit to work.~
suit~verb~If something suits you, it is convenient or useful to you~Does this plan suit you?~
suitable~adjective~Appropriate~She was wearing suitable shoes for walking.~
suitcase~noun~A large bag or case that you carry your belongings in when travelling~She picked her suitcase up in Johannesburg.~
sum~noun~A certain amount of money~We have spent a large sum of money on this product.~
summary~noun~A short account of something that gives only the main points~I need a summary of the news today.~
summer~noun~The season between spring and autumn, which is usually the hottest~We lay in the sun in the summer.~
summit~noun~The top of something, especially a mountain~They hoped to reach the summit in a week.~
sun~noun~The heat and light that come from the sun~She moved out of the sun and into the shade.~
sun~noun~A star in space that the earth moves around. It provides us with heat and light~The sun went down and it became night.~
sunbathe~verb~Lie in the sun to try to darken your skin~She lay in the garden and sunbathed.~
sunday~noun~The day of the week between Saturday and Monday~We relax on Sundays.~
sunglasses~noun~Dark glasses that can protect your eyes from the sun~He needed his sunglasses to help him see when he was driving.~
sunlight~noun~Light from the sun~She felt the sunlight on her face.~
sunny~adjective~Having plenty of sunshine~They played in the garden on sunny days.~
sunrise~noun~This is when the sun first appears in the sky in the morning~He wakes up at sunrise.~
sunset~noun~This is when the sun disappears from the sky in the evenings~You must be home by sunset.~
sunshine~noun~The light of the sun~The sunshine in the garden.~
suntan~noun~A darkening of the skin because of the sun~She wanted a suntan before she went on holiday.~
super~adjective~Extremely good~A super movie.~
super-~prefix~More or better~Superhuman; Super-poor.~
superb~adjective~Excellent~He has a superb job.~
superior~adjective~Better than other things~They make superior planes.~
superior~adjective~Of higher rank~He had to appear before his superior officers.~
superlative~noun~A type of adjective that shows the greatest degree of something~Kind' is an adjective; 'kindest' is its superlative.~
supermarket~noun~A large shop where you serve yourself~There is more choice in the supermarket.~
supervise~verb~Watch something and make sure it is happening or working properly~He supervises the new people.~
supper~noun~A meal that is usually the last meal of the day~What time are we having supper?~
supply~verb~Give someone something~These cows supply all our milk.~
supply~noun~One of the things that a group of people need: food, medicine, etc.~The troops needed more supplies.~
supply~noun~An amount or store of something that can be used~He has a huge supply of chewing gum.~
support~verb~Stop something from moving or falling over~He supported her weight.~
support~noun~Help that you give someone when they need it~She promised him her support no matter what.~
support~verb~Show someone that you agree with them~They supported him by clapping.~
supporter~noun~A person who supports something~He is a huge rugby supporter.~
suppose~verb~Used when you are pretending or imagining something~Suppose the whole world was covered in water.~
suppose~verb~Used to make what you are saying less strong, or to show that you are not very enthusiastic about it~I could help, I suppose.~
suppose~verb~Used to show that you think something could be true or is probably true~He will be here later then, I suppose.~
supreme~adjective~Best or greatest~A supreme triumph.~
sure~adjective~Certain that you are right~I am sure that I can do it.~
sure~adjective~If you make sure of something, you check it~Make sure that all the doors are closed.~
sure~adjective~Certain that something will happen~I'm sure he will be here.~
surely~adverb~Used to show that you are pretty certain about something, or that you feel strongly about it~Surely he can't get away with that!~
surface~noun~The outer or top layer~She wiped the surface of the table.~
surgeon~noun~A doctor who can do operations in a hospital~The surgeon will be with you in a moment.~
surgery~noun~A treatment where the body is cut open so that parts of it can be fixed~He had surgery on his back.~
surgery~noun~The place where a doctor, dentist or vet works~We will take him to the surgery after work.~
surname~noun~Your last name, which you usually share with the rest of your family~His surname is Smith.~
surplus~noun~An extra amount~The factory held the food surpluses.~
surplus~adjective~More than is needed~What will we do with the surplus food?~
surprise~verb~Give someone a surprise~He surprised me by jumping out from behind the door.~
surprise~noun~Something that you did not expect~The party was meant to be a surprise.~
surprise~noun~The feeling that you get when something that you did not expect happens~She stared at the door in surprise.~
surrender~noun~The act of saying that you give up and want to stop fighting~Their surrender was unexpected.~
surrender~verb~Say that you have been defeated and that you want to stop fighting~The army will never surrender.~
surround~verb~Be on all sides of something~He was surrounded in an alley.~
surroundings~noun~The things around you~She wanted to move to better surroundings.~
survey~verb~Look over something carefully, e.g. a landscape or a collection of things~They surveyed their surroundings.~
survey~verb~Ask people questions to find out their opinions about something~We surveyed mostly children.~
survey~noun~An investigation or examination of something, often done by asking questions~We did a survey last week.~
survive~verb~Keep on living~If you can survive this, you can survive anything.~
suspect~verb~Think that someone has done something wrong~I always suspected her.~
suspect~noun~Someone who is thought to have committed a crime~The suspect has been arrested.~
suspect~verb~Think that something is true or that something will happen~I suspect that he will change his mind.~
suspend~verb~Stop something for a time; cause a pause in something~Work was suspended for an hour.~
suspend~verb~Hang something from somewhere~The plant was suspended from a hook on the wall.~
suspicion~noun~The belief that something may be true~My suspicion is that we've taken the wrong turn.~
suspicion~noun~A feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong~I have a suspicion that he lied.~
suspicious~adjective~Having a feeling that something is wrong or illegal~The police were suspicious of him.~
suspicious~adjective~Not trusting someone~I was suspicious of him because of the things he had done in the past.~
swallow~verb~Make something go down your throat~Don't swallow your food so quickly!~
swap~verb~Exchange~We swapped telephone numbers.~
sway~verb~Move slowly from side to side~The grass swayed in the wind.~
swear~verb~Make a firm or very serious promise to do something~My parents swore to always look after me.~
swear~verb~Use rude language~She swore at me because she was angry.~
sweat~noun~Moisture that comes out through your skin when you are hot or ill or frightened~Sweat ran down his back.~
sweat~verb~Produce moisture through your skin~She was sweating because it was hot in the car.~
sweater~noun~A piece of clothing that covers your upper body and arms and is often woollen~She put a sweater on before she went outside.~
sweep~verb~Use a brush to clean a place~He swept his class on Fridays.~
sweep~verb~Move something very quickly~She swept the papers under her chair.~
sweep~verb~Move quickly over an area~The flood swept through the village.~
sweet~adjective~Attractive; cute~He is a sweet little boy.~
sweet~noun~A dessert that is eaten at or near the end of a meal~Would you like to see the sweet menu?~
sweet~noun~A small, sweet piece of confectionery, known as candy in the USA~He was given some sweets after his dinner.~
sweet~adjective~Kind~It was sweet of them to help us.~
sweet~adjective~Something that is sweet has a lot of sugar in it~She liked sweet food.~
sweet~adjective~Satisfying~Winning is quite sweet.~
swell~verb~Get bigger~Her elbow swelled where she hurt it; The food swelled as it rotted.~
swerve~verb~Suddenly change course, often to avoid hitting something while driving a vehicle~She swerved and missed the bus.~
swim~verb~Move through water by making movements of your arms and legs~She swam across the pool.~
swimming pool~noun~A place that has been built and filled with water so that people can swim in it~We are going to build a swimming pool in our garden.~
swing~verb~For something that is fixed at one end to move back and forth or from side to side~She swung the ball back to him.~
swing~noun~A seat that is suspended by ropes or chains and is used to swing on~The children wanted to be pushed on the swing.~
switch~noun~A device used on a machine to make something work, or on a wall to turn lights on and off by completing an electrical circuit~Hit the switch before you go to bed.~
switch~verb~Change from one thing to another~She switched seats.~
switch~noun~A change from one thing to another~She decided to make a switch in her degree subjects.~
switch off~verb~If you switch something off, you turn it off by pressing its button~We switch the lights off before we go to bed.~
switch on~verb~If you switch something on, you turn it on by pressing its on button~Would you mind switching the lights on?~
sword~noun~A weapon that people used to use, with a long blade and a handle~They used to fight with shields and swords.~
symbol~noun~Something that represents something else~This symbol means that you should not tumble dry this item.~
sympathetic~adjective~Showing someone who is unhappy that you care and understand~He was very sympathetic when I was depressed.~
sympathy~noun~This is what you show people when you want them to know that you care and understand their problems~She was looking for sympathy but I wasn't going to give it to her.~
symptom~noun~A sign that tells you that you are not well or that something bad is happening~The doctor asked her what her symptoms were.~
system~noun~A certain way of doing things~This company uses a computer system that is quite different from that used by other companies.~
table~noun~A list of facts etc. that are put in order, usually in columns and rows~She organised the statistics into a table.~
table~noun~A piece of furniture with legs and a flat horizontal surface, often used for meals~He put his cup on the table.~
tablecloth~noun~A cloth that covers and protects a table from food etc.~She used a special tablecloth for guests.~
tablespoon~noun~A large spoon or the amount that this spoon can hold~She ate her food with a tablespoon; Add a tablespoon of milk.~
tablet~noun~Solid medicine in a small round shape that can be swallowed~She took a tablet for her headache.~
tabloid~noun~A newspaper with quite small pages that contains many pictures and often has stories about celebrities etc.~He read the tabloids every morning.~
tackle~verb~If you tackle someone in a game of football etc. you try to stop them or take the ball from them~He hurt his leg when he was tackled.~
tackle~verb~Deal with a difficult situation or problem~How will we tackle this problem?~
tackle~noun~The act of trying to take the ball from someone or stop them in a sports game~He made his first tackle of the game.~
tactic~noun~One of the methods used to get something~They hoped these new tactics would win them the game.~
tail~noun~The part of an animal that sticks out at the back and can be moved~The cat has got its tail caught in the door.~
tail~noun~The end or back part of a plane or spacecraft~The plane seemed to have a problem with its tail.~
tail~adverb~The side of a coin that does not have a picture of a person's head on it~He picked tails in the bet.~
tail off~verb~When something tails off it becomes less and less~The heavy work load will tail off towards the end of the year.~
tailor~noun~Someone who makes clothes~The tailor took his measurements.~
tailor~verb~Be made specifically for a person or thing~It was tailored for her figure.~
take~verb~Move or lead someone from one place to another~He took her home after work.~
take~verb~Accept or receive something~I took her offer.~
take~verb~Move or carry something~I took the bag with me.~
take~verb~'Take' can introduce an action~He took a walk along the beach.~
take~verb~Use a type of transport~I took a bus to school.~
take~verb~Need a certain amount of time~It takes an hour to cook.~
take~verb~The way that you react to something~She took it personally.~
take~verb~Require a certain size of clothes or shoes~What size do you take?~
take~verb~Eat or drink something~I took a pain pill; I took a mouthful of salad.~
take~verb~Remove something that does not belong to you~I took his book but I gave it back later.~
take after~verb~Look or behave like someone else in your family~She takes after her dad.~
take off~verb~For something such as a plane to leave the ground and fly~We watched the plane take off.~
take off~verb~Remove something from your body~I took off my hat.~
take over~verb~Start to control something that someone else used to control~He took over last year.~
takeaway~noun~A meal that you buy from a restaurant and take home to eat~They get a takeaway every Friday.~
takeaway~noun~A restaurant that sells food that people take home to eat~We bought food from our local takeaway.~
tale~noun~A fictional story~He told us a tale about dragons.~
talent~noun~A natural ability~She has a talent for mathematics.~
talk~verb~Speak~She talked about her holiday.~
talk~verb~Discuss important things~He talks with abuse victims.~
talk~noun~A conversation~We had a talk last week.~
talk~noun~A speech~He gave a talk on Spanish.~
tall~adjective~Of greater than average height~She is tall for a woman.~
tall~adjective~Used when talking about the height of something~How tall is it?~
tame~adjective~An animal is tame if it lives around humans and is not afraid of them or a danger to them~Is that dog tame?~
tame~verb~Make an animal tame~He tamed those lions.~
tame~adjective~Not very exciting~The party was quite tame.~
tan~noun~Darkened skin as a result of being out in the sun~She always has a tan.~
tangle~verb~Trap or twist in something~She was tangled in the ropes.~
tangle~noun~A twisted mass of things that is difficult to pull apart~Her hair was in a tangle.~
tank~noun~A container for liquid or gas~A fish tank.~
tank~noun~An armoured military vehicle that has guns attached to it~We saw the tank coming across the desert.~
tap~verb~Put a device on a person's telephone so that you can overhear their conversations~They checked to see if the phone was tapped.~
tap~noun~A device that can be turned to allow or stop water or gas from moving in a pipe or container etc.~Turn the tap off.~
tap~verb~Lightly hit something~She tapped his shoulder.~
tap~noun~A light hit~She gave a tap on the door.~
tape~verb~Fasten things together with sticky tape~She taped the box shut.~
tape~noun~A cassette or video on which sounds or images can be recorded~Put the tape in the machine.~
tape~noun~A sticky strip, usually of plastic, used to fasten things together~She used tape to close the box.~
tape~verb~Record something onto a tape~She taped the show every week.~
target~noun~Something that you aim at with a weapon etc. or that you attack~He aimed the gun at the target; He was the target of our insults that night.~
target~noun~Something that you would like to achieve~The company reached its target that month.~
target~verb~Aim to attack or criticise someone~They targeted women and children; She targeted him for her anger.~
tart~noun~A type of pie or pastry, usually with a sweet filling~He wanted some apple tart.~
task~noun~A job that must be done~Your task is to cook for the family.~
taste~noun~The sense that allows you to recognise food in your mouth~Her sense of taste is very good.~
taste~noun~A small experience of something~She had a taste of city life.~
taste~noun~A liking for something~He has a taste for expensive clothes.~
taste~verb~Have a certain flavour~It tastes like chocolate.~
taste~noun~The flavour that something has, which allows you to recognise with your mouth what it is~It has a sweet taste.~
taste~noun~Your taste is the kind of things that you like~I don't like her taste in clothes.~
taste~verb~Recognise the flavour of something~I could taste the salt in it.~
tax~noun~Money that people must pay the government so that public services can be paid for~She paid a lot of tax last year.~
tax~verb~If something is taxed, there is a tax on it~Our salaries are taxed; Alcohol is highly taxed.~
taxi~noun~A car that will take you somewhere if you pay the driver~She took a taxi to the airport.~
tea~noun~A meal that is eaten in the early evening~They had chips for their tea.~
tea~noun~Dried leaves that are used to make a drink~They imported tea from Asia.~
tea~noun~A drink made from tea leaves and boiling water~Can I have a cup of tea please?~
teach~verb~Show or tell someone how to do something~He taught me how to play chess.~
teach~verb~Give classes on a certain subject at school, university etc~He teaches maths.~
teacher~noun~A person who gives classes at a school or college~She liked her English teacher best.~
team~noun~A group of people who play a sport together, in competition with other teams~He was picked for the cricket team.~
teapot~noun~A pot with a handle and spout, used to make and pour tea~She poured tea from the teapot.~
tear~verb~Cause something to rip, usually by pulling it~She tore her shirt on the fence.~This tear is pronounced differently from the tear that comes from your eye
tear~noun~A rip~The tear in her shirt.~
tear~verb~Remove something roughly~She tore the covers off the bed.~
tear~noun~Liquid that runs from your eye when you cry~She wiped away his tears.~
tear up~verb~Tear something into more than one piece~He tore the files up.~
tease~verb~Make a joke out of someone for fun or to embarrass them~She teased me because of my shirt.~
teaspoon~noun~A small spoon often used for putting sugar into drinks, or the amount that this spoon holds~A teaspoon of sugar; She stirred the coffee with a teaspoon.~
technical~adjective~Connected with machines and science etc.~We called someone in to look at the technical difficulties we were having.~
technical~adjective~Highly detailed; difficult to understand except for an expert~It was too technical for me to understand.~
technique~noun~A way of doing something~This is her favourite technique.~
technique~noun~A skill that allows you to do practical things~He is practising his technique.~
technology~noun~Knowledge that is used practically to create new things such as machines~Some companies use better technology than others.~
teenager~noun~A person from 13 to 19 years old~He wished he could be a teenager again.~
teens~noun~The part of your life between the ages of 13 and 19~She travelled a lot in her teens.~
tee-shirt~noun~A different spelling of T-shirt: a shirt with short sleeves and usually no collar~What tee-shirt should I wear?~
telephone~noun~A machine or system that allows you to speak to a person who is not with you~He picked up the telephone and dialled the number.~
telephone~verb~Use a telephone~I telephoned the doctor.~
teletext~noun~A service that places written information on your television screen~You can find out what's coming on using teletext.~
television~noun~A piece of electrical equipment that receives pictures and displays them on a screen~I unplugged the television.~
television~noun~The programmes that a television receives~Did you see it on television?~
tell~verb~See, find out or know something~I can tell that you don't want to go.~
tell~verb~Order a person to do something~I told him to leave me alone.~
tell~verb~Give information~I told him it was time to go.~
temper~noun~If you have a bad temper, you can become angry very easily~You need to watch your temper.~
temper~noun~The way that you feel; your mood~What sort of temper is she in today?~
temper~noun~If you lose your temper, you become very angry~She lost her temper and hit him.~
temperature~noun~A measure of how hot or cold something is~What temperature is it outside?~
temperature~noun~How hot your body is~His temperature was quite low.~
temple~noun~A building for religious people to worship in~We visited an ancient temple.~
temporary~adjective~Not permanent; lasting a fairly short time~They gave her a temporary warning.~
tempt~verb~To be tempted to do something is to consider doing it even though you know that you shouldn't~I was tempted to eat the entire cake.~
tempt~verb~Offer someone something to try to get them to do what you want~I tried to tempt her to move by offering to pay for her deposit.~
ten~none~The number 10, which sits between 9 and 11~Ten fingers.~
tenant~noun~Someone living in rented accommodation~The tenant always pays his rent on time.~
tend~verb~Look after or care for something~She tends him very carefully.~
tend~verb~Usually happen~She tends to come round after work.~
tendency~noun~A way that someone or something usually behaves, or is likely to behave~She has a tendency to be late.~
tender~adjective~Sore to touch~My knee was tender where I cut it.~
tender~adjective~Loving and gentle~She looked at him with tender eyes.~
tender~adjective~Food is tender if it is easy to cut and chew~The meat was tender and melted in their mouths.~
tennis~noun~A game for two or four players using rackets, where a ball is hit over a net~They played tennis in the summer.~
tense~verb~Tighten your muscles~He tensed the muscles in his arms.~
tense~noun~The form of a verb that tells you whether it is happening in the past, present or future~The past tense of 'run' is 'ran'.~
tense~adjective~Nervous or worried~She was tense because of the exams.~
tense~adjective~For a part of your body to be tight~He went for a massage because his back was tense.~
tension~noun~A feeling of stress~She was filled with nervous tension.~
tent~noun~A type of shelter made from fabric and supported with poles and ropes~We took our tent and went camping.~
tenth~noun~One of ten equal parts of something~A tenth of a day.~
tenth~adjective~Number 10 in a series of numbers~The tenth job.~
term~noun~A word used for something~She didn't know the correct term for what she was feeling.~
term~noun~A period of time~He did a three-year term for the company.~
term~noun~A condition that must be agreed~He refused to agree to her terms.~
term~noun~Part of a school, university, etc. year; a semester~She was going into her second term.~
term~noun~To come to terms with something is to accept it~She has finally come to terms with the loss.~
terminal~adjective~A terminal illness cannot be cured and will lead to death~She has a terminal disease.~
terminal~noun~An airport building that passengers arrive and leave from~We met at the terminal.~
terrace~noun~A place outside a house or building, often made of concrete, that is used to sit and relax in~We had our drinks on the terrace.~
terrible~adjective~Of very bad quality~The steaks were terrible.~
terrible~adjective~Very unpleasant~She has a terrible cough.~
terrific~adjective~Very large, strong or great~There was a terrific crash.~
terrific~adjective~Extremely good~He had some terrific news.~
terrify~verb~Frighten badly~The sound terrified me.~
territory~noun~An area that you believe to be your own~She was in my territory.~
territory~noun~Land that is part of or ruled by a particular country~You are now in home territory.~
terror~noun~Extreme fear or panic~The idea filled her with terror.~
terrorism~noun~The use of violence to try to achieve a political goal~Terrorism needs to be stopped.~
test~noun~An attempt to find out how well something works~The test was done with advanced tools.~
test~noun~A set of questions to find out how much a person knows about a subject~A biology test.~
test~verb~Check how much someone knows by asking them questions~She was tested on her general knowledge.~
test~verb~Check how well something is working~They test the car every year.~
text~noun~A book that contains information on a subject~They were told which texts to buy for their course.~
text~noun~Written or printed words; the main part of a book~It would take hours to read all of the text.~
than~preposition~Used to introduce the second part of a comparison~I like it more than you do.~
thank~verb~Let someone know that you are grateful for something~I want to thank you for the flowers.~
thanks~noun~Words used to show that you are grateful~I offer you my sincere thanks.~
thanks~noun~If something happens because of someone, you can say that it happens thanks to them~Thanks to you I can't go anymore.~
thanks~interjection~Used to show gratitude~Thanks for your time.~
that~conjunction~Used to introduce a new clause etc. of a sentence~I knew that he had won.~
that~pronoun~Used to indicate something or someone~Who is that?~
that~determiner~Used to talk about something previously mentioned~That shirt was the nicest.~
that~determiner~Used to talk about someone or something near you~That man looks happy.~
the~article~'The' is called the definite article; it tells you which thing is being discussed~The dog' rather than 'a dog'.~
the~article~Used to present different times~The tenth of June.~
the~article~Used to refer to something in general~The aged; He plays the guitar.~
the~article~Used with adjectives to show the thing that is being described~The improving economy.~
theatre~noun~A place where plays etc. are performed~They are building a new theatre in town.~
theatre~noun~Drama; the plays etc. performed in theatres~She enjoys the theatre.~
their~determiner~'Their' shows that something belongs to someone~It is their car.~'Their' is always used in the plural; it can be used in the singular if we don't know whether 'he' or 'she' should be used
theirs~pronoun~Shows that something belongs to someone~It's theirs.~
them~pronoun~Used to refer to things already mentioned~Do you want them?~
theme~noun~The main idea in something~The theme of the novel was adventure.~
themselves~pronoun~Used to refer to things affected by an action, and to distinguish one group from others~They looked like they were having fun themselves.~
themselves~pronoun~Used to emphasise 'they' or a plural~They had done that themselves; The men got it themselves.~
themselves~pronoun~If people do something by themselves, they do it alone or without help~The children built it by themselves.~
then~adverb~Used to talk about a time in the past or future~He should be here by then.~
then~adverb~Shows the order in which things  happen~She went to work and then she phoned him.~
then~adverb~In that case; therefore~So we will go then?~
theory~noun~'In theory' is used to express a doubt that something will actually happen~This plan should work in theory.~
theory~noun~Ideas that try and explain why things are the way they are~A scientific theory.~
therapy~noun~Treatment that people get for physical or mental problems~The judge said that she should go to a psychologist for therapy.~
there~adverb~Used to talk about a place~It's over there; We went there last week.~
there~pronoun~Used to show that something exists~There is a bag here.~
thereby~adverb~Used to introduce the result of something~Running exercises the muscles, thereby strengthening them.~
therefore~adverb~As a result of something that has been mentioned~The traffic was heavy and therefore we were late.~
these~determiner~'These' is the plural of 'this'~These people.~
they~pronoun~Used instead of 'he' or 'she', especially if we don't know whether the person we're talking about is male or female~Let them in once they arrive.~
they~pronoun~Used to refer to people or things that have already been talked about or mentioned~They will be here soon.~
thick~adjective~Dense; growing closely together~The lion has a thick mane; They couldn't get through as the trees were too thick.~
thick~adjective~Used when talking about the distance between the sides of something~How thick is that book?~
thick~adjective~A liquid is thick if it does not flow very easily~Thick soup.~
thick~adjective~Wide; having a large distance between sides~A thick book.~
thief~noun~Someone who steals things from others~The thief took my money.~
thigh~noun~The top part of your leg, between your knee and hip~Her thighs burned when she ran.~
thin~adjective~Narrow; not thick~A thin rope.~
thin~adjective~Not having much fat on your body~The dog looked very thin.~
thin~adjective~If a liquid runs freely it is said to be thin~The sauce was very thin.~
thing~noun~Your things are your possessions; items that you own or use~She packed up her things.~
thing~noun~Used to talk about an object without using its name~Please pass me that thing over there.~
think~verb~If you think about something or think about doing something, you consider it~I'm thinking of changing my course.~
think~verb~Have a memory come into your mind~I can't think what time I am supposed to be there.~
think~verb~Use your mind to create ideas etc. and solve problems etc.~He said he would think about it.~
think~verb~Have an opinion about something~I think that is the best thing to do.~
third~adjective~Number three in a series of numbers~The third game I played.~
third~noun~One of three equal parts of something~I won a third of the money.~
thirsty~adjective~Needing something to drink~It was hot and they were thirsty.~
thirteen~none~The number 13, which sits between 12 and 14~Thirteen sheep.~
thirteenth~adjective~If something is thirteenth, it is number thirteen in a series of numbers~The thirteenth house.~
thirtieth~adjective~If something is thirtieth, it is number thirty in a series of numbers~His thirtieth birthday.~
thirty~none~The number 30, which sits between 29 and 31~Thirty cars.~
this~pronoun~Used when introducing someone~This is John.~
this~pronoun~Used to refer to something that you are indicating~Would you like to live in this house?~
this~noun~Used in relation to the present time, or the closest specified time in the future~I go on holiday this Friday.~
this~noun~Used to talk about or refer to things already mentioned~Are you sure you want to do this?~
thorough~adjective~Complete, with much attention to detail~She took a thorough look at the picture.~
those~determiner~'Those' is the plural of 'That'~Those books.~
though~conjunction~Although; in spite of the fact that~I was late for work though I woke up early.~
though~conjunction~'As though' is used to mean 'as if'~She went to work as though nothing was wrong.~
thought~verb~'Thought' is the past tense and past participle of 'think'~I thought about it.~
thought~noun~The process or act of thinking~She sat deep in thought.~
thought~noun~An idea that you have when thinking~Do you have any thoughts about this?~
thousand~none~The number 1,000, which sits between 999 and 1,001~A thousand pairs of shoes.~
thousandth~adjective~Number 1,000 in a series of numbers~This is the thousandth time I've told you!~
thousandth~noun~One of 1,000 equal parts of something~A thousandth of a minute.~
thread~noun~A thin cord of material or fabric, mostly used for sewing clothes~She needed black thread for her shirt.~
threat~noun~A statement that someone intends to hurt you in some way~They told the police about the threats.~
threat~noun~Someone or something that may hurt you or put you in danger~He was a threat to their safety.~
threaten~verb~Say that you intend to do something that someone won't like, or to hurt someone~She threatened him when he shouted at her.~
three~none~The number 3, which sits between 2 and 4~He has three dogs.~
thrill~noun~A feeling or experience that is full of excitement~The thrill of diving.~
thriller~noun~A book, film or play that can be scary and exciting~She reads thrillers.~
throat~noun~The inside of your neck, where the pipes that lead to your lungs and stomach are~The food was stuck in her throat.~
throat~noun~The front of your neck~She rubbed her throat.~
through~preposition~By means of or because of~She managed it through hard work.~
through~adverb~From one end of something to the other~It ran through the house.~
through~adverb~From the start to the end of a period of time~I worked through the day.~
throughout~adverb~At all times during~She smiled throughout the interview.~
throughout~adverb~In every part of something~The plans work throughout the country.~
throw~verb~Make something move from your hand with much force~She threw it across the room.~
throw~verb~Move something violently or with a lot of force~They were thrown into the bushes.~
throw away~verb~Get rid of something~I threw my old clothes away.~
thrust~verb~Push something somewhere with force~She thrust the package into my hand.~
thumb~noun~The short thick digit that sits at the side of your hand, apart from the four fingers~Her thumb was caught in the door.~
thunder~noun~A loud crashing noise that you may hear during a storm, usually after a flash of lightning~The thunder scared the animals.~
thursday~noun~The day of the week between Wednesday and Friday~My birthday is on Thursday.~
thus~adverb~As a result; hence~I drove to work and thus got there earlier.~
tick~noun~A mark put next to something to show that it has been done or is correct~She put a tick next to all the things she had done.~
tick~verb~Put a tick next to something~She ticked the boxes.~
tick~verb~Some clocks constantly make small sounds as they work; this is called ticking~The ticking of the clock was driving me crazy.~
ticket~noun~A piece of paper that shows you have paid, and allows you to go somewhere or use something~A train ticket; Concert tickets.~
tickle~verb~Touch someone in a way that makes them laugh~I tickled him and he laughed.~
tide~noun~The rising and falling of the sea~We walked along the beach when the tide went out.~
tidy~adjective~Neatly arranged~He had a tidy office.~
tidy~verb~Make something tidy~He tidied the house while she was out.~
tidy~adjective~A person who likes to keep things neat and orderly is a tidy person~I have never been a tidy person.~
tie~noun~A narrow piece of fabric that people, mostly men, wear around their necks~His shirt and tie.~
tie~verb~Make a knot in something~She tied a bow in the ribbon.~
tie~verb~Fasten something using rope or string etc.~She tied the dog to the rail.~
tight~adjective~Clothes are tight if they fit with no room to spare~She tried to get into her tight trousers.~
tight~adjective~Stretched as far as is possible~The cord was pulled tight.~
tight~adverb~Firmly~We held tight to the rope.~
tights~noun~A type of clothing worn mostly by women, which fits tightly over the whole body from the waist down~She wore tights in the winter.~
tile~noun~A flat, hard piece of baked clay, plastic, etc., used to cover floors, walls or roofs~White tiles in the bathroom.~
till~preposition~Until; up to the time that~I will wait till you get home.~
till~noun~A cash register~She put the money in the till.~
timber~noun~Wood that will be used to make things~They transported the timber away from the forest.~
time~noun~Used to show when something will happen~In a week's time; In a month's time.~
time~noun~If you are in time or on time, you are not late~Am I in time for the play?~
time~noun~Continuing existence, as measured in seconds, minutes, hours, etc.~We need more time.~
time~noun~The present part of the day, as shown on a clock etc.~What time is it?~
time~noun~A period or spell of time; used to state the quality of an experience~I had a nice time with him.~
time~noun~When it is time to do something, that thing can no longer be postponed and should be done~It's time to go to work.~
time~noun~Instance; used with numbers to show how many~I went three times a year.~
time~noun~'Times' means 'multiplied by'~She ran three times as fast as him.~
time~verb~Organise something in terms of time~We timed it all perfectly.~
time~verb~Measure the time it takes to do something~I timed him as he walked to the shop.~
timetable~noun~A schedule or list that shows you what is to be done, and when~The timetable showed that I was working till ten; I looked at the train timetable.~
tin~noun~A silver-white metal~A tin shack.~
tin~noun~A metal container with a lid that holds food~A tin of biscuits.~
tin~noun~A container in which food is sealed to prevent it from going off; a can~A tin of fruit.~
tiny~adjective~Extremely small~A tiny baby.~
tip~verb~Move something so that it sits at an angle~She tipped the chair back.~
tip~noun~The end of something, often thin~The tip of the pen.~
tip~noun~Give someone a small amount of money for serving you in a restaurant etc.~She gave the waiter a tip.~
tire~noun~US English for 'tyre': see 'tyre'~The spare tire.~
tired~adjective~Having the feeling that you want or need to rest or sleep~I'm tired and I'm going to bed.~
tired~adjective~Bored with something and wishing that it would stop because it no longer interests you~I'm tired of her visits.~
tissue~noun~A soft piece of paper used to wipe your nose and eyes etc.~She gave him a tissue when he cried.~
title~noun~The name of a work of art such as a play, book or film~What is the title of this film?~
title~noun~A word that describes a person's job, position or rank~Her title is 'Doctor'.~
to~preposition~Used to show the person who receives something~I gave it to him.~
to~preposition~Used to show the direction or place that something is moving towards~She went to the office; She flew to America.~
to~infinitive~Used to show the reason or intention for something~I did it to hurt him.~
to~preposition~Used to show the end of a range of things~We sell everything from toilets to toys.~
to~infinitive~Used in the infinitive~I want to be alone.~
to~preposition~Used to mean 'before' when telling the time~Ten to one.~
to~preposition~Used to show the person or thing affected by something~It was obvious to me that he was upset.~
to~preposition~Used to show the second part of a ratio~Men outnumber women here by five to two.~
toast~noun~Bread that is grilled until it becomes brown and warm~She put butter on her toast.~
toast~noun~This is when a group of people take a drink at the same time and make a wish~Here's a toast to the future!~
toast~verb~Grill food, especially bread~She toasted the sandwich.~
tobacco~noun~The dried leaves of a plant that are used to make cigarettes and cigars~He rolled his cigarette with tobacco and papers.~
today~noun~The present period of time~The world today.~
today~noun~This particular day~I had to work late today.~
toe~noun~The part of a shoe or sock that covers the end of your foot~It hit the toe of his shoe.~
toe~noun~One of the five small digits at the end of your foot~She wiggled her toes.~
together~adverb~With each other; as a group~They went to town together.~
together~adverb~At the same time~They ran together.~
together~adverb~Joined to each other; combined~Mix the stuff together.~
together~adverb~Near each other~They sat together.~
toilet~noun~A large bowl that is connected to pipes and drains and is used to remove your bodily waste from a building~She used the toilet.~
toilet~noun~A room that has a toilet in it~The toilet needs to be painted.~
toiletries~noun~The things that you use in the bathroom to clean yourself~She needed to buy new toiletries.~
token~noun~A piece of metal or plastic etc. that is used instead of money in some machines etc~She put her tokens in the game machine.~
tolerate~verb~Deal with, handle or survive something~Some people tolerate drugs better than others.~
tolerate~verb~Allow something even though you do not like it or agree with it~She tolerates his behaviour because she loves him.~
toll~noun~The damage or harm caused by something~The stress has taken its toll on him.~
toll~noun~Money that you need to pay to use some roads and bridges~Do you have change for the toll?~
tomato~noun~A soft, juicy red fruit that is used as a vegetable~Tomatoes in the salad.~
tomorrow~noun~The day that comes after today~I have the day off tomorrow.~
tomorrow~noun~The future~The criminals of tomorrow.~
ton~noun~A unit for measuring weight that is equal to about 2,240 pounds in Britain and 2,000 pounds in America~They caught a ton of fish.~
tone~noun~The sound of something, especially in terms of pitch, shrillness, etc.~She hated the tone of the door bell.~
tone~noun~The quality of your voice; this often shows how you feel~I didn't like the tone of her voice.~
tongue~noun~The soft organ inside your mouth that is used for speaking and eating etc.~She licked the ice cream with her tongue.~
tonight~noun~The night that is now here or will be here when the sun goes down~We are going to the cinema tonight.~
too~adverb~Also~I want to come too.~
too~adverb~Excessively; used to show that there is more than there should be of something~It was too big.~
tool~noun~A piece of equipment that you use in your hand to do a job~This tool is used to fix bicycles.~
tooth~noun~One of the hard white objects in your mouth, used to cut and chew food~She used her teeth to chew the meat.~
toothbrush~noun~A brush that you use to scrub and clean your teeth~She put toothpaste on her toothbrush.~
toothpaste~noun~A substance that you use to clean your teeth~She didn't like the taste of that toothpaste.~
top~noun~An item of clothing that is worn on the upper half of the body~My favourite pink top.~
top~adjective~Of a very high standard~She was a top athlete.~
top~noun~The lid of a pen or bottle etc.~She put the top back on the pen.~
top~noun~The highest part~With a cherry on top.~
topic~noun~Subject of conversation etc.~Can we change the topic?~
torch~noun~A small lamp that is powered by batteries~She took a torch into the attic.~
torture~verb~Hurt someone as a punishment or to make them tell you something~They caught him and tortured him.~
torture~noun~Severe pain that a person goes through as a punishment or to make them give out information~He was found guilty of torture.~
tory~noun~Someone who belongs to the Conservative Party in Britain~Who is the head of the Tories?~
toss~verb~Carelessly throw something~She tossed her clothes on the chair.~
toss~verb~Guess on which side a coin thrown spinning into the air will land, in order to decide something~We tossed to decide who would kick off.~
total~adjective~Complete; including everything~She is a total stranger to me.~
total~verb~Reach a total~Profits totalled over a million.~
total~noun~The result when you add several numbers together~What is the total?~
totally~adverb~Completely; fully~Have you totally finished your work?~
touch~verb~If you get in touch with someone, you contact them~I'll get in touch with him next week.~
touch~noun~Something small that you add to make something seem more complete~She put the finishing touches to the house.~
touch~verb~Place your fingers or hands on something~She touched his hair.~
touch~noun~The sense that allows you to know what something feels like~The oven was warm to the touch.~
touch~verb~Affect someone in an emotional  way~The documentary touched her.~
touch~verb~For things to come into close contact so that there is no space between them~Their hands finally touched.~
touch~noun~The act of using a part of your body to touch something~She felt his touch on her neck.~
tough~adjective~Not easily damaged~The wood is quite tough~
tough~adjective~Strict and firm~You need to be tough with criminals.~
tough~adjective~Strong; able to deal with difficult situations~She remained tough through the entire deal.~
tough~adjective~Difficult~A tough choice to make.~
tour~verb~Take a journey around a place~She toured America as a student.~
tour~noun~A journey to look at all the interesting things a place has to offer~A tour of London.~
tourist~noun~Someone who travels somewhere for pleasure~A group of tourists came into the bar.~
towards~preposition~In the direction of~He walked towards me.~
towards~preposition~In relation to someone or something~Her attitude towards her parents.~
towel~noun~A piece of fabric used to dry yourself with when you are wet~She put a towel around her hair.~
tower~noun~A tall, narrow part of a building~The view from the tower was fantastic.~
town~noun~The central part of an urban area, where most of the businesses are situated~She works in town.~
town~noun~A place with streets and houses that is smaller than a city but larger than a village~She grew up in a town.~
toy~noun~A thing that children play with~The train is his favourite toy.~
trace~noun~A sign or mark etc. that shows that something exists or has been in a place~She found traces of dog hair on the sofa.~
trace~verb~Find something or someone, usually with quite a lot of effort~They have been trying to trace her for several months.~
track~noun~A rough path or road~Stay on the track.~
track~noun~A rail on the ground that a train travels along~Do not walk on the tracks.~
track~noun~A place where races are held~We watched the horses on the track; He ran around the track in record time.~
track down~verb~Search for and manage to find something~They finally tracked down the missing dog.~
trade~noun~Activity between people or companies etc. where goods are sold or bought~The wine trade.~
trade~verb~Sell or buy goods, often on a large scale~We have traded with them for years.~
trade union~noun~An organisation that has been formed to look after certain workers and their interests~They decided to complain to the trade union.~
tradition~noun~A belief or custom that people have had for a long time~We have a tradition of having a party on May Day.~
traditional~adjective~Part of the traditions that people have~Traditional ways of thinking.~
traffic~noun~All the vehicles on a road at a certain time~She was caught in the traffic.~
traffic lights~noun~Lights that control the flow of traffic by using red, amber and green signals~She stopped at the traffic lights.~
tragedy~noun~Something that is very sad~The massive loss of jobs was a tragedy.~
tragedy~noun~A play that deals with serious issues and is often sad~We went to watch a tragedy.~
tragic~adjective~Making you feel very sad~It was a tragic event.~
trail~noun~A line that something leaves behind it as it moves along~They left a trail of crumbs as they walked along.~
trail~noun~A rough path through the countryside~They hiked along the trail.~
trail~verb~Moving along behind~The convoy trailed for miles behind the leaders.~
train~verb~Teach someone how to do something, especially a job of some kind~She was training to be a doctor.~
train~verb~Prepare yourself for a sporting event~He's training for the Olympics.~
train~noun~A railway engine and the carriages containing people or goods that it pulls~We took the train to London.~
trainers~noun~Shoes made for running in~She wore those trainers when she ran the marathon.~
tram~noun~An electrically powered vehicle that moves along tracks on the streets of a city~It was cheaper to take the tram.~
transfer~verb~Move things or people from one place to another~He was transferred to America.~
translate~verb~Change from one language to another~She translated it into Turkish.~
transport~verb~Move things or people from one place to another in a vehicle~The vegetables were transported to the city.~
transport~noun~A method of travelling~Do you have transport to the airport?~
transport~noun~The moving of things or people using vehicles~The transport of the money from one bank to the other.~
trap~noun~A trick that makes people do or say something that they don't really want to~They set a trap for the thief.~
trap~verb~Keep someone somewhere so that they cannot escape~They were trapped in the cave.~
trap~verb~Catch an animal using a trap~He accidentally trapped a fox.~
trap~noun~A piece of equipment that is used to catch animals~A bear trap.~
trash~noun~US English for 'rubbish'; all the things that you throw away~He took the trash outside.~
travel~noun~The activity of moving from place to place, often over a long distance~Road travel.~
travel~noun~Your travels are the journeys that you take~His travels took him to the North Pole.~
travel~verb~Go from one place to another, often over a long distance~She travelled all around the world.~
traveller's cheque~noun~A money order that can be changed into various currencies~She only carried traveller's cheques.~
tray~noun~A flat piece of wood, plastic etc. with raised edges that is used to carry food and drinks on~She put his dinner on a tray.~
tread~verb~Step on something~Try not to tread in the mud.~
treasure~verb~Love and keep something that is very valuable to you~She treasured the necklace he gave her.~
treasure~noun~A collection of precious or valuable things~A map that leads to the treasure.~
treat~noun~Pay for or arrange something nice for someone~I will pay for your supper tonight as a treat.~
treat~verb~Give medical care and attention to an illness or injury etc.~She was treated for a snake bite.~
treat~verb~Behave towards someone in a certain way~She treated him very well.~
treatment~noun~The things that are done to make an illness or injury better~It will take months of treatment to cure her.~
treatment~noun~The way that you behave towards someone~I was not happy with the treatment I received from staff.~
treaty~noun~An agreement made between different countries, especially to end a dispute~They finally signed the treaty.~
treble~verb~If something trebles, it is multiplied by three~The plant has trebled in size.~
tree~noun~A tall thick plant with a trunk, branches and leaves that can live for a long time~We planted peach trees in the garden.~
tremble~verb~Shake uncontrollably~She trembled at the sight of it.~
tremendous~adjective~Very pleasing; extremely good~It was a tremendous day.~
tremendous~adjective~Very big or great~They made a tremendous mess.~
trend~noun~The way that something is changing over a period of time~A new trend.~
trial~noun~A test done on something~They are doing trials on the new sports drink.~
trial~noun~An examination in a court, where it is decided whether or not someone is guilty of a crime~What did the jury decide at the trail?~
trick~noun~Something clever and confusing that is done to entertain people~He does magic tricks.~
trick~verb~Deceive someone, often as a joke~She was tricked into giving him her money.~
trick~noun~Something that is done to deceive someone, often as a joke~He played a trick on me.~
trigger~noun~The part of a gun that when pressed makes it fire a shot~She threatened to pull the trigger.~
trim~verb~Cut small pieces off something, usually to make it neater or more suitable for eating~She trimmed the edge of the paper.~
trim~noun~The act of cutting small pieces off something to make it neater etc.~Her hair needs a trim.~
trim~adjective~Neat, tidy and well looked after~He kept the bushes trim.~
trip~noun~A journey, often short~A trip to Scotland.~
trip~verb~Get your foot caught on something and fall or almost fall~She tripped over the table.~
trip~verb~Catch someone's foot in such a way that they fall over or nearly fall over~He thought it was funny to trip me.~
triple~adjective~Having three things or three parts~A triple burger.~
triple~verb~Be multiplied by three~These steaks have tripled in price.~
triumph~noun~A major success~Our triumph in rugby.~
trolley~noun~A small vehicle on wheels that can be pushed and is used to hold or carry things~She put her shopping in the trolley.~
troops~noun~Soldiers, usually in large numbers~They sent out the troops.~
trophy~noun~An object such as a large cup given to a person or team that wins a sporting event etc.~She received a trophy when she won the final.~
trouble~noun~A worry or difficulty~She told him about all her troubles.~
trouble~noun~A dangerous situation where people are fighting~The police broke up the trouble on the street.~
trouble~noun~If you are in trouble, you have done something that you will probably be punished for~Are you in trouble with the police again?~
trouble~verb~Upset or worry~It troubled me that he wasn't home yet.~
trousers~noun~Clothes that cover your body from the waist to the ankles, covering each leg separately~He wore black trousers.~
truck~noun~Mainly US English for a lorry: a large vehicle that transports goods~The truck was full of coal.~
true~adjective~Correct and based on facts~It is true that he works very hard.~
true~adjective~If something comes true, it becomes real~Her dream of winning the lottery will never come true.~
true~adjective~Real, genuine or exact~That was her true character.~
trunk~noun~The thick main part of a tree~She put her arms around the tree trunk.~
trunks~noun~A pair of shorts that a man wears when swimming~He put on his trunks and went for a swim.~
trunk~noun~US English for the boot of a car or other vehicle~He took his bag out of the trunk.~
trunk~noun~An elephant's nose~The elephant picked the food up with its trunk.~
trunk~noun~A large box with a lid~She kept her books in a trunk near her bed.~
trust~noun~A belief that someone is good and can be depended on~I gave you my trust.~
trust~verb~Believe that someone is good and honest~I trust her with my life.~
trust~verb~Believe that someone will do something and not let you down~I trusted her to be on time.~
truth~noun~The facts~I want to know the truth about what happened.~
try~verb~Use something to see how good it is or whether you like it~Did you try the recipe?~
try~verb~When someone is tried they are examined in court for people to decide whether they are guilty~She was tried and convicted.~
try~noun~The act of trying something; an attempt~I will give it another try.~
try~verb~Attempt to do something~I will try to be there on time.~
try on~verb~Put something on and see if you like it~I tried on a green dress.~
t-shirt~noun~A shirt with short sleeves and usually no collar~Jeans and a T-shirt.~
tube~noun~A popular name for the underground railway system in London~She took the Tube to work.~
tube~noun~A long, hollow pipe that liquids and gases can run through~The tube ran down his throat.~
tube~noun~A long container usually used for holding thick liquids~A tube of cream.~
tuck~verb~Fold or move something so that it is neat or safe~She tucked his label into his shirt.~
tucker~noun~Australian and New Zealand English for food~Let's get some tucker.~
tuesday~noun~The day between Monday and Wednesday~I am off on Tuesday.~
tug~noun~A quick pull~I gave it a tug.~
tug~verb~Pull quickly on something~The child tugged my hand.~
tune~noun~Musical notes arranged to form a melody~She hummed along to the tune.~
tunnel~noun~A passage built under the ground~It was dark inside the tunnel.~
turkey~noun~A large bird that is kept on farms for its meat~We ate turkey at Christmas and Thanksgiving.~
turn~verb~Move yourself or something else to face a different direction~I turned to face him.~
turn~noun~When people take turns at something, they agree to do it alternately~It is my turn to read to the children.~
turn~noun~The act of turning~Make a turn here.~
turn~verb~If you turn to something, you start to concentrate on or discuss it~They decided to turn to the topic of politics.~
turn~verb~Change into a different state~It's turned yellow in the sun.~
turn~noun~'In turn' means one after another~They left the room in turn.~
turn down~verb~If you turn something down, you refuse it~I turned down his offer.~
turn down~verb~Reduce the noise or heat that something is making~I turned the radiators down.~
turn off~verb~Make something stop working~I turned the oven off.~
turn on~verb~Make something start working~Turn the fan on please.~
turn over~verb~Move something onto its other side~You need to turn over the steaks.~
turn up~verb~Increase the noise or heat etc. that something is making~Can you turn the TV up?~
turn up~verb~Arrive~They finally turned up today.~
tv~noun~Television~What are you watching on TV? Can I have a TV in my room?~
twelfth~adjective~Number 12 in  a series of numbers~The twelfth guest.~
twelve~noun~The number 12, which sits between 11 and 13~Twelve people.~
twentieth~adjective~Number 20 in a series of numbers~Her twentieth birthday.~
twenty~noun~The number 20, which sits between 19 and 21~I paid for twenty classes.~
twice~adverb~Two times~I have only been there twice.~
twin~noun~One of two children who are born together from the same mother~She is a twin.~
twin~adjective~Two similar or connected things~Twin beds.~
twist~verb~Change something into a different shape by bending or turning~He twisted the balloon into the shape of a dog.~
twist~noun~Something unexpected~The twist at the end of the book was very good.~
twist~verb~Fasten by turning~Twist the lid back onto the bottle please.~
two~noun~The number 2, which sits between 1 and 3~We have two cars.~
type~noun~A group of things that share similar features etc.~What type of job would you like?~
type~verb~Use a typewriter or keyboard to write something~She can type faster than she can write.~
typewriter~noun~A machine with keys that when pressed print letters etc. onto paper~He wrote the entire book using a typewriter.~
typical~adjective~Usual or normal~Her typical attitude.~
tyre~noun~The thick piece of rubber that fits on the wheel of a vehicle~He needs to change the tyres.~
ugly~adjective~Not nice to look at~I think that painting is ugly.~
uk~abbreviation~UK stands for 'United Kingdom'~He lives in the UK.~
ultimate~adjective~To do with the end of something~Our ultimate goal is to win.~
ultimate~adjective~Most extreme~This is the ultimate test.~
ultimately~adverb~In the end~We will ultimately win.~
umbrella~noun~A covering supported by rods and held on a stick that is used to protect you from the rain~I forgot my umbrella and got soaked in the rain.~
umpire~noun~The person who makes sure that the rules are not broken in some games~A cricket umpire.~
un~abbreviation~UN stands for 'United Nations'~He works for the UN.~
un-~prefix~Un- is often used to mean 'not'~Unhappy; Unavailable.~
unable~adjective~Not able; incapable of doing something~I am unable to work.~
unbearable~adjective~Very difficult or impossible to deal with~The news was unbearable.~
unbelievable~adjective~Hard to believe, and possibly untrue~Her story was unbelievable.~
unbelievable~adjective~Incredible, surprising, extreme~He has unbelievable talent.~
uncertain~adjective~Having doubts about something~I was uncertain about where to go.~
uncertain~adjective~Undecided, not known~It is uncertain what will happen.~
uncle~noun~Your mother or father's brother, or your aunt's husband~My uncle took us to the zoo.~
unclear~adjective~Uncertain or unsure about something~It is unclear what should happen next.~
uncomfortable~adjective~Not allowing you to be comfortable~He has the most uncomfortable bed.~
uncomfortable~adjective~Not relaxed, too hot, too cold, etc.~I was uncomfortable sitting like that.~
uncomfortable~adjective~Embarrassed or afraid~She was uncomfortable in his company.~
unconscious~adjective~In a state like sleep, and unable to use your senses~He hit her and she fell down unconscious.~
under~preposition~Below~The mole burrowed under the ground.~
under~preposition~Less, fewer or younger than~It cost under a pound; He is under five.~
under~preposition~In certain circumstances or contexts~He got away under the new law.~
under-~prefix~Used to add 'below' or 'lower' to a word~Underdone; Underachieve.~
underestimate~verb~Think that something is smaller or weaker than it is~He underestimated his own strength.~
undergo~verb~Go through something~He has to undergo surgery.~
underground~noun~A railway system under the ground~She travelled on the underground.~
underground~adjective~Under the ground~An underground lake.~
underground~adjective~Secret and usually illegal~An underground mob.~
underline~verb~Emphasise~It underlined all the problems.~
underline~verb~Draw a line under something~She underlined her name.~
underneath~noun~The lower part of something, often parallel to the ground~Take a look at the underneath of it.~
underneath~adverb~Under, below or beneath~They travelled underneath the ground.~
understand~verb~Know what something or someone means~I can usually understand him.~
understand~verb~Know how something happens or how something works~I understand engines.~
understand~verb~Think that something is true, having been told so~I understand you are leaving us.~
understanding~noun~An agreement between people~We came to an understanding about the money.~
understanding~noun~Knowledge about something~I have an understanding of science.~
understanding~adjective~Kind; having sympathy for others~She was very understanding about my problem.~
undertake~verb~Agree to do something~I undertook to deliver it myself.~
undertake~verb~Start to do something~I will undertake that job.~
undertaker~noun~Someone who arranges the burial of dead bodies~We need to get in touch with an undertaker.~
underwater~adverb~Below the surface of a lake etc.~They played an underwater game.~
underway~adjective~For something to be happening~The work is underway.~Can also be two words: under way
underwear~noun~The clothes worn next to your skin and under other clothes~She put her underwear on.~
undo~verb~Unfasten, untie~I undid the zip.~
undo~verb~Cancel or reverse the effect of something~He undid all my good work.~
undress~verb~Take your clothes off~I undressed and got into bed.~
uneasy~adjective~Worried or anxious about something~I felt uneasy waiting in the room.~
unemployed~adjective~Having no job~She is unemployed at the moment.~
unemployment~noun~The state of having no job~He was faced with unemployment.~
unexpected~adjective~If something is unexpected it comes as a surprise~An unexpected gift.~
unfair~adjective~Not fair; unjust~It was unfair that I was being blamed for something I did not do.~
unfamiliar~adjective~Not known or not recognised~I am unfamiliar with the rules.~
unfit~adjective~Not suitable for something or to do something~She was declared unfit to drive.~
unfit~adjective~Not in good physical condition~I started going to the gym because I was so unfit.~
unfold~verb~Open something that has been folded~She unfolded her napkin.~
unfold~verb~Slowly become known~The events began to unfold.~
unforgettable~adjective~Something that is unforgettable will always be remembered because it is so good, bad, beautiful, etc.~It was an unforgettable day.~
unfortunate~adjective~Having bad luck~That unfortunate man has lost his wife.~
unfortunate~adjective~Made to happen by bad luck~An unfortunate disagreement.~
unfortunately~adverb~Can be used to mean that you are sad and sorry about something~Unfortunately he won't be coming back.~
unhappy~adjective~Not happy; sad~I was very unhappy when she left.~
unhappy~adjective~Not pleased~I am unhappy with the product he sold me.~
unhealthy~adjective~Able to make you ill~Unhealthy living conditions.~
unhealthy~adjective~Having bad health~She was so unhealthy they sent her to hospital.~
unidentified~adjective~Not known; without a known name~It is an unidentified body.~
uniform~adjective~Even, not varying~They worked uniform hours.~
uniform~noun~Clothes worn by all the members of a group~School uniform.~
union~noun~The state or act of two things joining or marrying~We witnessed their union.~
union~noun~A trade union: see 'trade union'~Do you belong to a union?~
unique~adjective~One of a kind; like nothing else~They found some unique markings.~
unique~adjective~Connected to only one person or place~Those dance steps are unique to him.~
unit~noun~A single thing~A business unit.~
unite~verb~Join together~They united to work towards peace.~
united kingdom~noun~England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales~We live in the United Kingdom.~
united nations~noun~An association of many countries that attempts to keep peace between the countries of the world~She wanted to work for the United Nations.~
united states of america~noun~A large country in North America that has 50 states and one district~We want to live in the United States of America.~
unity~noun~The state of different things being together to form one unit~Political and social unity.~
universal~adjective~Concerning everyone in the world~This is a universal law.~
universe~noun~Everything, including the earth, space, planets, etc.~We have no idea how big the universe is.~
university~noun~A place where you can study at the highest level of education~He is still at university.~
unknown~adjective~Not known; unidentified~An unknown disease.~
unless~conjunction~Used to show the only situation where something will happen or will be true~He is not happy unless he is earning money.~
unlike~preposition~Different from~He was unlike his brother.~
unlike~preposition~Used to contrast things~Unlike her brother, she went to university.~
unlikely~adjective~Not likely; having little chance of happening~It is unlikely that you will win the money.~
unlikely~adjective~Unexpected; possibly untrue~It was an unlikely success story.~
unlucky~adjective~Having bad luck~She was unlucky to lose three times in a row.~
unlucky~adjective~Causing bad luck~It is unlucky to walk under a ladder.~
unnecessary~adjective~Not needed~She packed some unnecessary things.~
unpack~verb~Take things out of a bag or suitcase etc.~I unpacked after the trip.~
unpleasant~adjective~Not polite or friendly~What an unpleasant little boy!~
unpleasant~adjective~Not pleasant; horrible~An unpleasant taste.~
unplug~verb~Take the plug of an appliance out of an electrical socket~Unplug your hairdryer when you're finished.~
unpopular~adjective~Not liked by most people~It was an unpopular topic.~
unpredictable~adjective~Changing often, in ways that would not be expected~His behaviour is unpredictable.~
unreasonable~adjective~Not fair~It is unreasonable to expect her to do all of that!~
unreliable~adjective~Not able to be depended on~The trains are so unreliable.~
unrest~noun~Trouble; a situation, usually political, where people are unhappy and likely to cause trouble~Unrest in Africa.~
unsatisfactory~adjective~Not satisfactory; not good enough~Her work was unsatisfactory.~
unskilled~adjective~Not having any special skills~Unskilled labourers.~
unstable~adjective~Able to move, often in a way that may be damaging or dangerous~That glass looks unstable on the edge of the bench.~
unstable~adjective~Likely to change~Prices are unstable.~
unsteady~adjective~Not in control of your body~She felt unsteady after her fall.~
unsuccessful~adjective~Not successful; not achieving some goal~The interview was unsuccessful.~
unsuitable~adjective~Not suitable or right~That outfit is unsuitable for the occasion.~
untidy~adjective~Not tidy or neat~Her room is untidy.~
untidy~adjective~An untidy person does not keep things neat~She is the most untidy person I know.~
untie~verb~Undo something that is tied~He untied the dog.~
until~preposition~Till; shows that something can't happen or stop happening before something else~I can't leave until I have done all of the work.~
until~preposition~From one time to another~It runs from seven until nine.~
unusual~adjective~Strange, different, out of the ordinary~That is an unusual shirt.~
unwilling~adjective~Not prepared to do something~She was unwilling to help.~
unwise~adjective~Not good; foolish~It would be unwise to go there after dark.~
unwrap~verb~Take the wrapping off something~She unwrapped her presents.~
up~adverb~Higher~Prices went up again.~
up~adverb~If it is up to someone to do something, it is their job to do it~It's up to you who you pick.~
up~adverb~Towards or in a higher place~I walked up the hill.~
up~preposition~Along a road or river~We went up the Nile.~
up~adverb~Towards the north~We are going up to the cabin for the weekend.~
up~adverb~'Up to' shows the maximum of something~It can be up to 500 metres long.~
up~adverb~If you are up to something, you are doing something bad or something you don't want others to know about~I knew she was up to something.~
up~adverb~Out of bed~I was up by seven.~
up~adverb~Over, finished~Your time is up.~
up~adverb~'Up to' can just mean 'to'~I went up to the house.~
up~adverb~If you get up, you move to a standing position~I got up and answered the door.~
uphill~adverb~Sloping upwards~The hike was all uphill.~
upon~preposition~On~They sat upon the wall.~
upper~adjective~Above something else~The upper lip; The upper level.~
upright~adverb~Vertical and straight rather than lying down or bent~She was moved to an upright position.~
upset~adjective~Sad, worried, angry, etc.~I was upset but I'm fine now.~
upset~noun~An illness that makes your stomach feel unwell~I had an awful stomach upset.~
upset~verb~Make something go wrong~The traffic jam upset our plans.~
upset~verb~Make someone sad, worried, angry, etc.~I upset her when I told her the truth.~
upside down~adverb~In a position where the bottom is at the top and the top is at the bottom~He held her upside down.~
upstairs~adverb~Up the stairs or on a higher floor~I went upstairs to their flat.~
up to date~adjective~Modern; the newest thing~This computer is very up to date.~
upwards~adverb~Towards a higher place~They moved upwards to the next floor.~
urban~adjective~Connected with towns and cities~The urban population.~
urge~verb~Try to convince someone to do something~I urged her to stay at school.~
urge~noun~A strong wish for something, or to do something~An urge to scream.~
urgent~adjective~Needing to be dealt with as quickly as possible~She had an urgent phone call.~
urine~noun~The liquid waste that your body gets rid of~Urine in the bladder.~
us~abbreviation~Abbreviation for 'United States' (of America)~They live in the US.~
us~pronoun~Used when talking about more than one person, including yourself~He told us that.~
usa~abbreviation~Abbreviation for 'United States of America'~We live in the USA.~
use~verb~Get someone do things for you by pretending to be nice etc.~I think he's using me.~The verb and noun are pronounced differently
use~noun~What something is used for~What is this thing's use?~
use~verb~Do something with an object etc. for a certain purpose~I used the dishwasher.~
use~noun~The right to use something; shows that something is available to you as and when you need it~I have the use of her bike.~
use~noun~If there is no use doing something, it is pointless and will not work~It's no use going there; she won't be in.~
use~noun~The act of using something or the state of being used~It was designed for the use of both teachers and pupils.~
use up~verb~Use all of something so that none is left~I used up the teabags.~
used~adjective~If you are used to something, you are familiar with it~I was used to people laughing at me.~
used~adjective~Having been owned by someone else~A used car; Used clothes.~
used to~verb~Shows that something happened continuously at some time in the past~I used to go cycling all the time.~
useful~adjective~Helpful~Those tools were very useful.~
useless~adjective~Not at all helpful~That information was useless to me.~
useless~adjective~Not very good at doing something~She was useless at mathematics.~
usual~adjective~Happening always or most of the time~They were faced with the usual problem.~
usual~adjective~'As usual' is the way that something normally happens~He went to work as usual.~
usually~adverb~The way that things are most often done~He usually goes on holiday in June.~
utter~verb~Say something or make a sound~She uttered a few words, then broke down in tears.~
utter~adjective~Complete~This place is an utter mess!~
vacant~adjective~Empty or not being used~A vacant building.~
vacation~noun~US English for a holiday~We are going on vacation.~
vacation~noun~A time when schools, universities, etc. take a break from teaching~The kids are on summer vacation.~
vague~adjective~Not very clear; not detailed~I have a vague idea of what it should look like.~
vain~adjective~Too proud of the way you look or behave etc.~She is very vain and spends hours in front of the mirror.~
vain~noun~If something is in vain, it is unsuccessful~All my hard work was in vain.~
vain~adjective~Useless or unsuccessful~A vain attempt to make her laugh.~
valid~adjective~Legal or official~Is that ticket valid?~
valid~adjective~Logical, relevant, true~That is a valid point.~
valley~noun~An area of lower land than the surroundings, often with a river running through it~They took a walk along the valley.~
valuable~adjective~Useful, important, or worth a lot of money~She gave me a valuable necklace.~
valuables~noun~Personal things that are worth a lot of money~She kept her valuables in a small box.~
value~verb~Think that someone or something is important~I value her as a friend.~
value~verb~State the amount of money that you think something is worth~The house was valued at 1,000,000 pounds.~
value~noun~A belief about what is right and wrong~They kept traditional values.~
value~noun~How much something is worth~What is the value of the house?~
value~noun~Importance~This news is of great value to the company.~
van~noun~A vehicle smaller than a truck that has storage space at the back and is mostly used for transporting goods~He put the milk in the van.~
vanish~verb~Suddenly disappear~The clothes had vanished from the line.~
variety~noun~Lack of uniformity; the fact that things are not all the same~You need more variety in your diet.~
variety~noun~A range of things~There is a variety of wines to choose from.~
variety~noun~A particular type of something~The different varieties of cheese.~
various~adjective~Many different~They stock various magazines.~
vary~verb~Be different from person to person etc.; change~The amount of exercise needed varies from person to person.~
vary~verb~Change something; make something slightly different~She varies the amount of time she spends exercising.~
vast~adjective~Huge~A vast expanse of water.~
vegetable~noun~A plant or part of a plant that can be eaten, usually in savoury rather than sweet dishes~Onions, carrots, cabbages and beans are all vegetables.~
vegetarian~noun~Someone who does not eat meat or fish~I became a vegetarian a year ago.~
vehicle~noun~A car, bus, lorry, etc. that is used to transport goods or people~There were many vehicles on the road.~
vein~noun~One of the tubes that carry blood from all parts of the body to the heart~The knife didn't cut any major veins.~
velvet~noun~A thick, soft fabric with a mass of short threads on one side~Velvet curtains.~
venture~verb~Go somewhere, often not being sure how nice it will be~I ventured out into the snow.~
venue~noun~The place where an event happens~Have you picked a venue for the party?~
verb~noun~A verb is a word that shows an action~Run', 'pick', 'be', 'eat' and 'hit' are all verbs.~
verdict~noun~A decision in court as to whether or not someone is guilty~He sat patiently and waited for the verdict.~
verge~noun~An edge; if you are on the verge of doing something you are about to do it~I was on the verge of quitting.~
verge~verb~If something verges on something else, it is close to it or touches it~The play verged on the ridiculous.~
verse~noun~Poetry~They had to read some verse every day.~
verse~noun~A stanza; a set of lines that make up one part of a poem or song~Which verse do you like most?~
version~noun~A copy or form of something that is slightly different from the original~The live version isn't as good as the studio one.~
vertical~adjective~Straight up and down~A vertical lamp post.~
very~adverb~Used to indicate a higher degree of an adjective or adverb, i.e. 'very bad' is worse than 'bad', etc.~A very bad choice; I did it very easily.~
very~adjective~Used to mean 'extreme', or for emphasis~I read it from the very beginning.~
vet~noun~An animal doctor~We took our pets to the vet for a check-up.~
veteran~noun~A person who fought in a war~They were collecting money for the war veterans.~
veteran~noun~A person who has a lot of knowledge or experience in something~A science veteran.~
via~preposition~Through; by way of~We went via France.~
vibrate~verb~Shake up and down or from side to side in very small, quick movements~The control vibrates when you do something wrong.~
vicar~noun~An Anglican priest~They asked the vicar for advice.~
vice~noun~A flaw in someone's character; a bad habit~She has many vices.~
vicious~adjective~Violent and cruel; dangerous~A vicious dog.~
victim~noun~Someone who has been hurt or tricked etc.~The child was the victim.~
victory~noun~Success; the winning of a war, tournament, etc.~We celebrated our victory.~
video~verb~Record something using a video camera, recorder, etc.~I videoed the documentary.~
video~noun~The video medium in general~We watched that on video.~
video~noun~A plastic box containing tape that can store a movie etc.~She had a large collection of videos.~
video~noun~A video recorder or machine~Hit the button on the video.~
view~verb~Think in a certain way; hold an opinion of someone or something~I viewed him as a threat.~
view~noun~An opinion or attitude~Their views were different on everything.~
view~noun~What you can see from a certain place~The view from the hotel was beautiful.~
villa~noun~A large house with large grounds; villas are often used by people on holiday~We stayed in a villa in Spain.~
village~noun~A very small town in the country~The ducks walked through the village.~
vinegar~noun~A bitter liquid used on food and in cooking~She put vinegar on her chips.~
violence~noun~Aggressive physical force; violent behaviour~The violence in this town needs to stop.~
violent~adjective~Extremely strong~A violent wind.~
violent~adjective~Tending to attack and try to hurt people~He was always a violent man.~
violin~noun~A musical instrument with four strings that is held under the chin and played using a stick called a bow~I love the sound of a violin.~
virgin~noun~A person who has never had sex~She will stay a virgin until she marries.~
virtual~adjective~So nearly true that any small difference is unimportant~He is a virtual stranger.~
virtually~adverb~Almost~I told him virtually everything.~
virtue~noun~A good quality that someone or something has~Compassion is one of her virtues.~
virus~noun~A very small germ that causes infections~She caught a virus that made her very ill.~
virus~noun~Instructions in a computer that interfere with its programs and prevent it from working properly~A virus made her computer crash.~
visa~noun~A stamp placed in your passport etc. that allows you to enter a foreign country~How much does it cost for a visa to there?~
visible~adjective~Able to be seen~The sailors waited for land to become visible.~
vision~noun~The ability to see using the sense of sight~Her vision was blurred in the rain.~
vision~noun~Something that you imagine~She had a vision of horses in her future.~
visit~verb~Go and see someone, often for a short period of time~I visited my mother.~
visit~verb~Go to a place for a short time~We visited Scotland last year.~
visit~noun~A trip to see someone or somewhere~We went on a visit to New York.~
visitor~noun~Someone who visits; a guest~The visitors will be staying in this hotel.~
visual~adjective~Connected with sight~A visual image.~
vital~adjective~Essential; extremely important~It is vital that she gets to hospital on time.~
vitamin~noun~One of a range of substances found in some foods that are essential for humans and animals to remain healthy~There are a lot of vitamins in vegetables.~
vivid~adjective~Very clear, strong and lively~He had vivid memories of it.~
vodka~noun~A strong, clear alcoholic drink that originally came from Russia~She drank vodka, lime and water.~
voice~noun~The sound that comes from your mouth when you speak is your voice~She raised her voice to show that she was upset.~
voice~verb~Express or give your opinion on something by speaking~I voiced my regret over leaving the country.~
volcano~noun~A mountain with a large hole in the top out of which gas and lava sometimes burst, or used to burst in the past~The volcano erupted and destroyed an entire town.~
volume~noun~How much or how many of something there is~The volume of vehicles on the highway.~
volume~noun~The amount of space that something takes up or has inside it~What is the volume of the container?~
volume~noun~Loudness; the level of sound that a device such as a radio makes~She turned the volume up.~
volume~noun~A book that is usually part of a series~I have the first three volumes.~
voluntary~adjective~Unpaid; voluntary work is when you choose to work for no money, usually for a charity or other good cause~He did voluntary work when he was a student.~
voluntary~adjective~Open to choice; if something is voluntary people choose to do it rather being forced to~Joining the army is voluntary.~
volunteer~noun~A person who does something without being paid for it~We need a volunteer to help with the tests.~
volunteer~verb~Offer to do something without being paid for it or being asked to do it~I volunteered to help them move.~
vomit~verb~Send out partially digested food through your mouth~The bad food made her vomit.~
vomit~noun~The partially digested food that is brought up from the stomach and sent out through the mouth~The vomit came into her mouth.~
vote~verb~Indicate your choice in an election etc.~They voted in the town hall.~
vote~noun~A choice or decision that people make in an election or meeting~What was your vote?~
voucher~noun~A piece of paper that can be used instead of money to buy something, or that allows something to be bought more cheaply than usual~A voucher for washing powder.~
vow~verb~Make a serious promise to do something~He vowed to fix the mess he had made.~
vow~noun~A serious promise~They said their wedding vows.~
voyage~noun~A long journey at sea or space~A voyage across the ocean.~
vulnerable~adjective~Emotionally or physically weak~Children are very vulnerable.~
wage~verb~Carry on a campaign; to wage war is make war~They waged war against the South.~
wage~noun~Money that you earn every week, month, etc. for doing a job~She gets her wages every fortnight.~
waist~noun~The narrow part of the body between the ribs and hips~She tied the belt around her waist.~
wait~verb~If you can't wait for something to happen, you wish it would happen now rather than in the future~I can't wait to go on holiday.~
wait~verb~If something can wait, it isn't urgent~I need new shoes for the party but they can wait.~
wait~verb~Stay somewhere or spend time before you do something or before something happens~I waited while he showered.~
wait~noun~The act of waiting or of passing time before something happens~We have a short wait before the movie starts.~
waiter~noun~A man whose job it is to serve food and drink in restaurants~We asked the waiter for some drinks.~
waitress~noun~A woman whose job it is to serve food and drinks in restaurants~We asked the waitress for the bill.~
wake~verb~Stop sleeping~I woke at first light.~
wake~verb~Stop someone from sleeping~I woke her when I woke.~
walk~verb~Move your feet one after the other across the ground, so that you go forward~I walked across the road.~
walk~verb~Take an animal for a walk~I walk my dog every night.~
walk~noun~A trip made by walking, often for pleasure~I took a walk in the park.~
wall~noun~One of the solid upright parts of a building~She put a poster on her wall.~
wall~noun~A long, solid structure that is used to divide land~Ivy grew on the walls.~
wallet~noun~A small, flat case that you can use to store cash and cards in~He took the money out of his wallet.~
wander~verb~Move away from somewhere that you should be~She wandered off in that direction.~
wander~verb~Move slowly and casually~I wandered around the park.~
want~verb~Wish for something~I want a new car.~
wanted~adjective~If the police are looking for you, you are wanted~He is wanted by the police.~
war~noun~This is when two countries or two armies fight each other~There has been war for many years now.~
war~noun~Fierce competition between groups~The drug war.~
ward~noun~A room or area in a hospital where patients are treated~The maternity ward.~
warden~noun~Someone whose job it is to make sure that certain rules are obeyed; for example, that cars are parked properly in urban areas~The warden asked him to stop his car.~
warden~noun~Someone who looks after prisoners~The warden closed the cell.~
wardrobe~noun~A large cupboard that stands by itself or is built into a wall and is used to hang clothes in~She hung her coat in the wardrobe.~
wardrobe~noun~All the clothes that you own~I need to get a winter wardrobe.~
warehouse~noun~A large building where large quantities of goods are stored~Our furniture is still in the warehouse.~
warm~verb~Make something less cold~I warmed my feet on the radiator.~
warm~adjective~Able to help you keep warm when it is cold~Do you have a warm coat?~
warm~adjective~At a pleasantly high temperature~I hope it's warm today.~
warm~adjective~Friendly~A warm welcome.~
warmth~noun~Heat~I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin.~
warn~verb~Tell someone that something dangerous or bad is going to happen~We have to warn them about the storm.~
warn~verb~Tell someone that if they do a particular thing they will suffer in some way~I warned him about the dangers of smoking.~
warning~noun~Something that tells you that something bad or dangerous may happen~The sign acted as a warning about the dogs.~
wary~adjective~Aware of the danger of something, and therefore careful or cautious~I was wary about crossing the rope bridge.~
was~verb~One form of the past tense of the verb 'be'~I was happy.~
wash~noun~The act of cleaning or washing~We had a wash in the river.~
wash~verb~Clean yourself or something else using soap and water~I washed my hair in the shower this morning.~
wash up~verb~For water to carry something onto land~An old shoe was washed up on the beach.~
wash up~verb~Wash or clean dishes after eating a meal~I will wash up because you cooked.~
washing~noun~Clothes etc. that need to be washed~Can you put the washing in the basket please?~
washing machine~noun~A machine that is used to wash clothes in~She turned the washing machine on.~
wasp~noun~A black and yellow insect that can sting you more than once~Stay away from the wasp.~
waste~verb~If you use more of something than you need to, you are wasting the part that you don't need~She wastes so much food.~
waste~adjective~Not wanted or needed anymore~Waste materials.~
waste~noun~Things or materials that are no longer needed~Toxic waste.~
waste~verb~Not make full use of an opportunity~She wasted the chance to get the job.~
waste~noun~A bad or disappointing use of something (time, money, etc.)~The interview was a waste of time.~
watch~noun~A small clock, usually attached to the wrist~Check your watch for the time.~
watch~verb~Look at something for a while~He watched me run the race.~
watch out~verb~If you watch out for something, you look for it or do your best to see it~I watched out for him in the crowd.~
water~noun~An area of water in a lake etc.~They stood at the water's edge.~
water~noun~A clear liquid that is essential for all forms of life~We threw water at each other.~
water~verb~Create a lot of saliva~My mouth watered at the sight of the food.~
water~verb~Fill with tears~My eyes watered when I heard the news.~
water~verb~Give water (to a plant etc.)~She waters the plants once a week.~
wave~noun~A raised section of water that runs along the surface of the sea~They swam through the waves.~
wave~verb~Move your hand in the air to greet someone~I waved at him.~
wave~noun~The form that some types of energy take~Heat waves.~
wave~noun~The act of moving your hand in the air to greet someone~He gave a wave when he saw me.~
wave~verb~Move something from side to side~He waved the trophy in the air.~
wave~verb~Make a hand movement that shows someone where to go~I waved him into the parking space.~
wave~noun~A sudden, strong feeling~A wave of emotion swept over me.~
wax~noun~A solid substance produced by bees that is used to make candles etc~This tray will catch the wax from the candles.~
way~noun~If something is in your way, it is stopping you from doing something~His car was in my way.~
way~noun~A style of doing something~That is the best way to do it.~
way~noun~The best route to get you somewhere~Do you know the way to the nearest hotel?~
way~noun~A direction~Am I going the right way?~
way~noun~One of a selection of routes that you choose to get somewhere~I went the quickest way.~
way~noun~In conversation, 'by the way' is used to add something that you have just thought of~By the way, did you win?~
way~noun~A condition or attitude; 'that way' means 'like that'~I knew you felt that way; He is in a good way.~
way~noun~Used to give a rough idea of distance~It's a long way.~
we~pronoun~Used to mean I and others, or I and you~We went to sleep.~
weak~adjective~Likely to break because unable to carry much weight~The shelf is too weak to hold all the books.~
weak~adjective~Easily influenced~She was weak, and he took advantage of that.~
weak~adjective~A liquid (especially a drink) is weak if it has a lot of water and only a little of something else~A weak gin.~
weak~adjective~Not having much physical strength~She was too weak to pick the box up.~
weaken~verb~Become, or make something, less strong or powerful~She asked him to weaken her drink.~
weakness~noun~A lack of strength~Her weakness was increasing.~
weakness~noun~A flaw or weak point in something~She pointed out the weaknesses in his story.~
wealth~noun~A lot of something~A wealth of possibilities.~
wealth~noun~Large amounts of money etc. that someone has~How did he acquire his wealth?~
wealthy~adjective~Rich~She is a wealthy woman.~
weapon~noun~Something that is used to hurt or attack someone or something~They had a case full of weapons.~
wear~verb~Put something on your body and keep it there for a period of time~She is wearing an orange top; He wore a chain around his neck.~
wear off~verb~Gradually disappear~The feeling will eventually wear off.~
wear out~verb~Use something so much that it becomes useless~We have worn that iron out.~
wear out~verb~Make someone or something very tired~That exercise has worn me out.~
weather~noun~The state of the atmosphere at a certain place and time, especially as it affects human life in terms of wind, rain, etc.~The weather looks good for the weekend.~
web~noun~The internet~I went on the web last night.~
web~noun~A net made from thin threads produced by a spider~A fly was caught in the web.~
website~noun~A collection of related pages on the internet~Did you find the website?~
wedding~noun~A ceremony where people get married and the party that follows it~We want a small wedding.~
wednesday~noun~The day of the week between Tuesday and Thursday~We will go for a drink on Wednesday.~
weed~noun~A wild plant that grows where you do not want it to and often kills other plants~We pulled up all of the weeds.~
weed~verb~Remove weeds from the ground~The garden needs to be weeded.~
week~noun~A week is seven days in a row: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday~I am going on holiday for three weeks.~
week~noun~The part of the week that you work~She does a 20-hour week.~
week~noun~The working week: Monday to Friday~I am usually very busy during the week.~
weekday~noun~Any day except Saturday or Sunday~I go to school on weekdays.~
weekend~noun~Saturday and Sunday (some people count Friday night as part of the weekend as well)~What are you doing this weekend?~
weekly~adverb~Every week~We write to each other weekly.~
weigh~verb~What something weighs is how heavy it is~It weighs more than I do.~
weigh~verb~Find out how heavy something is by use of a scales etc.~Do you want me to weigh it?~
weigh down~verb~Make something so heavy that it is difficult for it to move~The luggage weighed the car down.~
weight~noun~A heavy object often used to train with, to improve strength and fitness~He lifts weights every day.~
weight~noun~How heavy something is~What weight should you be?~
weird~adjective~Very strange, not normal~She was wearing a weird dress.~
welcome~noun~A way of greeting someone when they arrive~We received a cold welcome at the door.~
welcome~verb~Be pleased to have something, or support it~I welcomed his choice.~
welcome~adjective~If you are welcome to do something, you can do it because no one else wants to~You are welcome to clean the floor.~
welcome~adjective~Received gladly or with pleasure~He was a welcome sight.~
welcome~adjective~Used to show that you accept someone's thanks~Thank you! You're welcome.~
welcome~adjective~Used to offer something~You are welcome to stay here.~
welcome~verb~Be friendly to someone when they arrive at your house etc.~We welcomed him home.~
welfare~noun~Money that the government gives to people who do not have enough money to live on~If he loses his job he will have to go on welfare.~
welfare~noun~A person's overall happiness or benefit~He is only looking out for your welfare.~
well~adjective~Having good health~Are you well?~
well~adverb~Completely; efficiently~It must be well prepared.~
well~exclamation~Used in conversation when hesitating or after a pause in conversation~Well, I should go now.~
well~adverb~If you say that you may as well do something, you mean that you will do it although you don't feel strongly about it~I may as well leave now.~
well~adverb~In a good way~She did well.~
well~adverb~If something could well be or may well be a certain way, it is likely to be that way~She may well come first today.~
well~adverb~Used to emphasise something~It was well worth a look; I was well pleased with her performance.~
well~adverb~'Well done' is said to congratulate someone on something that they have done or achieved~Well done: that was an excellent performance.~
well~noun~A deep hole in the ground from where people can get water~Lower a bucket into the well to get some water.~
well-known~adjective~Famous; known by many people~She is a well-known artist.~
well-off~adjective~Comfortably wealthy~My family is quite well-off.~
welsh~adjective~Connected with Wales~Her family are Welsh.~
welsh~noun~The language spoken in some parts of Wales~Can you speak Welsh?~
were~verb~One form of the past tense of the verb 'be'~We were happy.~
west~noun~One of the four main compass directions. The direction to where the sun sets~Look west.~
west~adverb~To the west~We drove west to Cape town.~
west~noun~The western part of somewhere~I worked in the west of Africa.~
western~adjective~In or facing the west~They took the western road.~
western~noun~A movie or a book about people in the frontier areas of North America during the nineteenth century~He liked watching westerns.~
wet~verb~When you wet something, you bring it into contact with a liquid~Wet the cloth before cleaning.~
wet~adjective~If something is wet, it has a layer of liquid or moisture on it~The towel was wet.~
wet~adjective~Raining~It is wet outside.~
wet~adjective~Paint, cement, ink, etc. is wet when it has not yet dried~The ink is still wet.~
whale~noun~A large sea animal that looks like a huge fish~The blue whale.~
what~pronoun~Used to ask various kinds of questions~What time is it?~
what~interjection~Can be used to show your surprise or disapproval~I spent all the money. What?!~
what~interjection~Used to ask someone to repeat something~Can you pass the salt? What?~'Pardon' is more polite: using 'what' can be quite rude
what~determiner~Used to show how you feel about something~What a brilliant idea!~
what~adjective~The full amount or number of~They read what books they had.~
whatever~pronoun~Anything or everything~You can do whatever you like.~
whatever~adverb~Used to emphasise something negative, such as 'none' or 'nothing'~We received no help whatever.~
whatsoever~adverb~Used in the same way as 'whatever', to emphasise something negative~We received no help whatsoever.~
wheat~noun~A plant whose grain is used to make flour~Fields of wheat.~
wheel~verb~Push something that has wheels~I wheeled the trolley into the shop.~
wheel~noun~The part of a car or ship that is used to steer it~There was no one at the wheel!~
wheel~noun~One of the circular objects that a vehicle moves along on~She needed to change the wheels.~
wheelchair~noun~A chair that moves on wheels and is used by people who cannot walk~She collapsed and they put her in a wheelchair.~
when~adverb~Used to ask 'at what time?'~When will we be there?~
when~conjunction~Used to talk about the time that something occurs~I saw him when he left the car.~
when~conjunction~Used in questions to mean 'considering that'~How did you get to school on time when you woke up so late?~
whenever~conjunction~At any time~You can phone me whenever you need to.~
where~adverb~Used when asking about a place~Where is the bathroom?~
where~conjunction~'Where' or 'whereas' can be used to contrast two things~He has to be there, where she is not as badly needed.~
whereas~conjunction~'Whereas' can be used like 'where' to contrast two things~I like tea, whereas she prefers coffee.~
whereby~adverb~'By which' or 'under which'~There is a new programme whereby all staff get to voice their opinions.~
wherever~conjunction~Anywhere~You can go wherever you want.~
wherever~conjunction~Used to mean a place unknown to the person who is speaking~Did you enjoy wherever it was you were travelling?~
whether~conjunction~Used when there are two possibilities to choose from, or when there is doubt about something~Has she decided whether or not she wants to go?~
which~determiner~Used to ask someone to identify something from various possibilities~Which coat is yours?~
which~pronoun~Used with words like 'from' and 'to' to identify a thing, a place, etc.~The car from which he fell.~
while~conjunction~During the time that; at the same time as~I ran while he rode his bicycle.~
while~noun~A fairly short period of time~We spoke and drank tea for a while.~
while~conjunction~Used when contrasting two things, in the same way as 'whereas'~The first three days were sunny while the last two were wet.~
whilst~conjunction~An old-fashioned variation of 'while'~I will wait whilst you see the doctor.~
whip~noun~A very long, thin piece of rope or leather with a handle, which was used to punish people or to make animals move; also a short modern version~He hit the horse with the whip.~
whip~verb~Hit someone or something using a whip~He was whipped for stealing.~
whisky~noun~An alcoholic drink made from malted grain~He liked whisky and ice.~This is the spelling of the Scotch version; US and Irish versions are spelt 'whiskey'
whisper~verb~Speak very quietly, often so that only one person can hear you~She whispered in class so the teacher wouldn't hear her.~
whisper~noun~Quiet speech; the sound made when whispering~I could hear their whispers.~
whistle~verb~Make a sound, often high-pitched, by pushing air through almost closed lips~She whistled to call the dog.~
whistle~verb~For something such as a machine to make a loud, shrill sound~The kettle whistled.~
whistle~noun~A little plastic or metal tube that makes a high, loud sound when you blow into it~The children blew whistles at the party.~
white~noun~The colour of snow or milk~He wore a white shirt.~
white~noun~A person with pale skin~He is white, with huge green eyes.~
white~adjective~When coffee or tea has milk in it, it is called 'white'~I like mine white, please.~
white~noun~White wine is clear or light yellow in colour~She only drinks white wine.~
who~pronoun~Used to give information about someone~Mr Smith, who drives my dad to work, is a keen gardener.~
who~pronoun~Used to ask the identity of someone~Who is that?~
whoever~pronoun~Used to show that a person's identity is not important~I don't believe them, whoever they are.~
whoever~pronoun~Used to mean 'the person that'~Whoever gets here first wins.~
whole~noun~All of something~I said she could have part, but she ate the whole.~
whole~adjective~Not broken; intact~The cups all seemed to be whole after the move.~
whole~noun~'On the whole' means 'in general'~On the whole I think it's a good idea.~
whom~pronoun~'Whom' is used instead of 'who' in certain contexts~With whom did you speak?~
whose~determiner~Used to ask to whom something belongs~Whose drink is that?~
whose~pronoun~Used to give information about something~The dog whose collar had fallen off.~
why~adverb~'Why not' is used to make or agree with a suggestion~Why don't you leave now?~
why~adverb~Used to ask the reason for something~Why did you get up so early?~
wicked~adjective~Evil; very bad; nasty; daring~It was a wicked joke.~
wide~adjective~Of large extent~She uses a wide range of fabric in her designs.~
wide~adverb~As far or nearly as far as possible~He opened the window wide.~
wide~adjective~Used to talk about the size of something from one side to the other~How wide was the pool?~
wide~adjective~Having a large distance from one side to the other~It was a wide corridor.~
widen~verb~Become wider or make something wider~We are going to widen the bathroom by taking this wall out.~
widespread~adjective~Over a large area or with many people~Widespread pollution.~
width~noun~The size of something from one side to the other~The width of the room.~
wife~noun~The woman that a man is married to~I invited him and his wife.~
wig~noun~A piece of fake hair that a person can wear on their head~She wore wigs instead of dyeing her hair.~
wild~adjective~Animals or plants that are not kept by humans are said to be wild~There are wild animals in the forest.~
wild~adjective~Land not being used by people can be described as wild~We took a walk on the wild mountainside.~
wild~adjective~Out of control~Their children are wild.~
will~noun~Strong determination to get what you want~She has lost the will to try.~
will~verb~Used to talk about something in the future~I will be there soon.~
will~verb~Used in asking questions~Will you help me?~
will~verb~Try to make something happen using the power of your mind~I willed him to turn around.~
will~noun~A legal document that says what you would like to happen to your money and possessions when you die~He has not written a will yet.~
will~noun~What somebody wants to happen~It is her will that it be done.~
will~verb~Used to show that you are willing to do something~I will come then.~
willing~adjective~Prepared or happy to do something~I'm willing to help you now.~
win~verb~Defeat your opponents~Who won the race?~
win~verb~Prove yourself the best in a competition etc., or earn a trophy etc. by doing this~She won the bronze medal.~
win~verb~Earn, obtain~He tried to win his parents' approval.~
win~noun~A victory~So far they have had eight wins.~
wind~verb~Something winds if it has many bends~The river winds across the valley.~This 'wind' rhymes with 'mind'
wind~verb~Give a clock etc. the energy to work by turning a lever~You need to wind the clock every morning.~This 'wind' rhymes with 'mind'
wind~noun~A flow of air across the earth~The wind was quite gentle.~This 'wind' rhymes with 'sinned'
wind~verb~Wrap something around something else or around itself~I wound the string around the meat.~This 'wind' rhymes with 'mind'
wind~noun~Gas in your stomach and intestines~The wind in her stomach was giving her a cramp.~This 'wind' rhymes with 'sinned'
window~noun~A hole in a building etc. that is filled with glass and allows light to enter and people to see out~I could see her through the window.~
windscreen~noun~A window in a car that allows the driver to see what's in front~A stone hit the windscreen.~
windy~adjective~The wind being strong~I like it when it's windy.~
wine~noun~An alcoholic drink made from fermented grape juice~A glass of wine with dinner.~
wing~noun~The part of the body of an insect or bird that is used to fly~The bird has a broken wing.~
wing~noun~One of the large sections of a plane that stick out at the side and help it to stay in the air~The pilot was checking the wing.~
wink~verb~Quickly close and then open one of your eyes, often as a private signal to another person~I winked to tell him to bring out the birthday cake.~
winner~noun~A person who wins~The winner had her photograph taken.~
winter~noun~The coldest of the four seasons~I hope it snows this winter.~
wipe~verb~Rub something with a cloth to get rid of dirt or spilt liquid etc.~I wiped the bench.~
wire~noun~A thin thread of metal~Where do you connect these wires?~
wise~adjective~Sensible, able to make good decisions~He was always very wise.~
wish~verb~Want to do something or want something to happen~I wish he would go away.~
wish~noun~Your wishes for another person are your hopes that they will be happy etc.~I gave them all my best wishes.~
wish~verb~Hope for something although you know it is unlikely~I wish I would win the lottery.~
wish~verb~Let someone know that you hope they will be happy etc.~I wish you all the best.~
wish~noun~A desire to have something~My wish is to win the lottery.~
witch~noun~A person, usually a woman, who is believed to have magic powers and in stories wears a black hat~The witch turned them into mice.~
with~preposition~Having~The dog with three legs.~
with~preposition~Often when you fight 'with' someone, it means that you fight against them~They fought with the police.~
with~preposition~Concerning; in the case of~She had difficulty with reading.~
with~preposition~Using~I did it with a spade.~
with~preposition~In the company of~I was with my brother.~
with~preposition~Used to show how something was done~He did it with great care.~
within~preposition~Inside; at a smaller distance than~It is within arm's reach.~
within~preposition~Before a certain time has gone by~You must eat it within four days of it being opened.~
within~adverb~Inside a house etc.~She heard a noise from within.~
without~preposition~Not having~I did it without any help.~
without~preposition~Not wearing~She looks funny without her hat.~
witness~verb~See something happen~He witnessed the accident.~
witness~noun~Someone who gives evidence in court because they saw a crime~The witness spoke about what she had seen.~
witness~noun~Someone who sees something happening~I was a witness to the accident.~
witty~adjective~Funny in an intelligent way~He told witty jokes.~
wolf~noun~A large wild animal that looks like a dog~The wolves hunted in a pack.~
woman~noun~A female adult human being~The woman who lives next door.~
wonder~noun~Something that makes you feel surprised and amazed~The world's natural wonders.~
wonder~verb~Be curious to know something; think about various possible outcomes of a situation~I wondered if he would get here on time.~
wonder~noun~A feeling of surprise and amazement~I was filled with wonder at the sight of it.~
wonderful~adjective~Extremely good or nice~I had a wonderful day.~
won't~verb~Will not~I won't do it.~
wood~noun~An area of trees smaller then a forest~We took a walk through the wood.~
wood~noun~The hard material that the trunks of trees are made from~He put the wood on the fire.~
wooden~adjective~Made out of wood~A wooden bench.~
wool~noun~The soft, wavy hair that covers sheep and goats~It was time to shear off the wool.~
wool~noun~A material used for knitting clothes that is made from the wool of sheep and goats etc.~The wool in this hat is nice and soft.~
word~noun~If you have a word with someone, you speak with them alone, usually briefly~I need to have a word with him.~
word~noun~One unit of a language~There are seven words in this sentence.~
word~noun~Your word is a serious promise~I give you my word that I will fix it.~
word~verb~Write or say something using a particular set of words~She worded the speech differently because she thought it sounded too angry.~
work~verb~Do a job, often to earn money~She works for the same company as I do.~
work~verb~Have the planned result~Our plan worked.~
work~noun~A book or painting etc.~His works are displayed in the gallery.~
work~noun~The place where you work to earn money~I'm going to work now.~
work~noun~Things that you need to do~I need to do some work in the garage.~
work~verb~Do the things that you need to, to complete a job or task~I worked all night on that assignment.~
work~noun~The job that you do, often to earn money~My work takes me all over the country.~
work~verb~If a machine functions properly, we say that it works~Does that toaster work?~
work out~verb~Exercise, often using special equipment~I usually work out in the gym.~
work out~verb~Solve or calculate something~I worked out how much we spent; I worked out the problem.~
worker~noun~A person who works, especially to earn a living~Factory workers.~
world~adjective~Of the whole world~The world champion; The world leaders.~
world~noun~The planet that we live on and everything on it~She has been all around the world.~
world~noun~Your life, family, job, etc. can be referred to as your world~Her family are her world.~
world~noun~A certain area of human or animal life~The world of rugby; The insect world.~
worldwide~adverb~All over the world~Poverty is a worldwide problem.~
worm~noun~A long, thin creature that lives in the soil and has no legs or bones~The worms wriggled in the mud.~
worried~adjective~Anxious and unhappy about things that may happen~I was worried that I wouldn't get there on time.~
worry~verb~Be anxious and think about things that you feel might be bad or go wrong~I worry about him all the time.~
worry~noun~Something that makes you worry~The time was my biggest worry.~
worry~verb~Make someone feel anxious~I tried not to worry her too much.~
worry~noun~Something that makes someone feel worried~Her pain is a constant worry to him.~
worse~adjective~The comparative form of 'bad'~This job is worse than the last one.~
worst~adjective~The superlative form of 'bad'~This is the worst time of my life.~
worst~noun~The worst or most unpleasant thing that could happen~The worst of the troubles are over.~
worth~noun~Value; an amount of money that something is valued at~Three pounds' worth of sweets.~
worth~adjective~Having the value of~The car is worth a lot of money.~
worth~adjective~If something is worth it or worth doing, it has a value at least equal to the money or time to be spent on it~It is worth going to the doctor just to get a check-up.~
worthwhile~adjective~Having value; worth spending time or money on~It would be worthwhile to find out about it.~Can also be two words: worth while
would~verb~Used to ask a question or make an offer~Would you like to eat now?~
would~verb~Used to talk about the result of something~He would be sad if we lost.~
would~verb~Used to show that someone was willing to do something or intended to do it~She said she would phone you.~
would~verb~Used to show what someone wants~I would like to go on holiday.~
wound~noun~An injury to the body, often made by a weapon~The nurse tended to his wounds.~
wound~verb~Cause an injury to someone, often with a weapon~She was wounded in the war.~
wrap~verb~Cover something completely using paper, sticky tape, etc.~I wrapped the gift in paper.~
wrap~verb~Put a piece of fabric etc. over or around something else~A wrapped a bandana around my head.~
wreck~verb~Destroy~The car was wrecked in the crash.~
wreck~noun~Something that is damaged beyond repair~The plane was a wreck.~
wrist~noun~The joint between your arm and hand that allows your hand to move around~She sprained her wrist.~
write~verb~Make letters, numbers, etc. on paper or another surface, often using a pen or pencil~I wrote the date on the form.~
write~verb~Compose something such as a book and make it available to the public~She has written two books.~
write~verb~Construct and send a letter~I wrote to you last week.~
write down~verb~Write something on paper etc. to record it~I wrote his details down.~
writer~noun~Someone whose writing is published~A writer for a magazine.~
wrong~adjective~Not suitable~These trousers are the wrong size.~
wrong~adjective~Immoral, dishonest, unfair, etc.~It was wrong of you to do that.~
wrong~adverb~Incorrect~She got all of her answers wrong.~
wrong~noun~Immoral behaviour or action; an injustice~He thought she could do no wrong.~
xmas~noun~Short for 'Christmas'~Where are you spending Xmas?~
x-ray~noun~Radiation that passes through non-transparent objects and allows you to see inside them. The photograph produced this way is also called an X-ray~The doctor showed him his X-rays.~
x-ray~verb~Make an X-ray of something~He X-rayed her arm.~
yacht~noun~A boat that uses sails or an engine to move and is often used for pleasure or racing~He won a yacht race.~
yard~noun~An enclosed area next to a building that often has a hard surface~The prison yard.~
yard~noun~A unit used to measure length; equal to three feet or approximately 0.9144 metres~They stood a few yards away from the building.~
yard~noun~US English for a garden~The children played in the yard.~
yawn~verb~Open your mouth wide and take in a lot of air, often without meaning to, because you are tired or bored~She yawned because she was bored.~
yeah~adverb~Informal for 'yes'~Yeah, let's go now.~
year~noun~A period of time that runs from January 1st to December 31st and has either 365 or 366 days~I am going to travel this year.~
year~noun~A period of twelve months that can start at any time~She hopes to have moved within a year.~
yellow~noun~The colour of lemons and sunflowers~She wore a yellow dress.~
yes~interjection~Used when contradicting someone~I have never been there. Yes you have!~
yes~interjection~Used to answer a question in a positive way~Do you want to go? Yes.~
yes~interjection~Used when accepting an offer etc~Would you like me to help you? Yes.~
yes~interjection~Used to agree with someone~Isn't it sad? Yes.~
yesterday~noun~The day before today~I was unwell yesterday.~
yet~adverb~At this time; before something is finished~Don't give up yet!~
yet~adverb~Used in negative sentences to show that something has not happened at the present time~I haven't gone yet.~
yet~conjunction~But; nevertheless~She was tired yet she continued working.~
yet~adverb~Still; at some time in the future~We might yet be able to go.~
yet~adverb~Used with 'again' to show that something has happened several times~She yawned, then she yawned again, and then she yawned yet again.~
yet~adverb~From now~The work won't start for a week yet.~
yield~verb~Give up or give in to something~I finally yielded to his request.~
you~pronoun~Used to refer to the person you are communicating with~I knew that you wouldn't be happy.~
you~pronoun~People in general~You learn more if you pay attention.~
young~adjective~Have been alive for a fairly short time~A young child.~
young~noun~Baby animals~The bird looks after its young.~
your~adjective~Belonging to the person being spoken to~I like your shoes.~
your~adjective~Belonging to people in general~Doctors say you should have your blood pressure checked once a year.~
yours~pronoun~Used with 'sincerely', 'faithfully', etc. at the end of a letter, just before the signature~Yours sincerely, John Smith.~
yours~pronoun~Something that belongs to you or the person being spoken to~He thinks his car is faster than yours.~
yourself~pronoun~If you do something by yourself, you do it alone~Can you do it by yourself?~
yourself~pronoun~Refers to something that happens to the person you are speaking to~Did you hurt yourself?~
yourself~pronoun~You rather than anyone else~Did you hear it yourself?~
youth~noun~The time when you are young~I spent my youth travelling.~
youth~noun~The state of being young~Her youth will win her the competition.~
youth~noun~A young person or teenager (especially male)~A group of youths scared us.~
zero~none~The number 0, meaning 'nothing'~I have zero money.~
zero~noun~A temperature of  0 degrees~The weather will be below zero tonight.~
zip~noun~A fastener used on clothes, bags, etc., with two strips of small teeth that can be locked together by pulling a slide~She undid the zip on her bag.~US English uses 'zipper'
zip~verb~Fasten a zip~I zipped up the suitcase.~
zone~noun~An area with certain features or a particular use~A nuclear zone.~
zoo~noun~A place where wild animals are kept in captivity so that people may go and look at them~We took the children to the zoo.~
Aardvark~noun~"An animal that lives in Africa and eats termites. ""The aardvark is eating termites."""~~
according~adjective~"(Followed by 'to') as said or indicated by; ""According to the man, they had already left."""~~
acorn~noun~"A nut that grows on an oak tree, and is a seed.  ""The squirrel was looking for acorns beneath the oak tree."""~~
Afar~adverb~"A great distance from or to. ""They had travelled from afar to go on vacation."""~~
Afterward~adverb~"Later on, after. ""He's down at the gym, but will be back afterward."""~~
airfield~noun~"An area where aircraft take off and land. ""Many planes can be seen on the airfield."""~~
airship~noun~"A type of aircraft, or flying ship, that can be steered.  ""The crowd watched the airship flying high above them."""~~
Airy~adjective~"Filled with air. ""The room was airy."""~~
alligator~noun~"A large reptile with sharp teeth, related to the crocodile. ""The alligator has a broader, shorter snout than the crocodile."""~~
alligator~verb~"To crack (of paint or varnish) and start to look like alligator hide, ""The paint on the wooden fence started to alligator due to the extreme weather""."~~
Alpaca~noun~"A small domesticated animal, or fabric made from this mammal. ""I bought a sweater made from wool of the alpaca."""~~
anteater~noun~"An animal that uses its long, thin snout to eat insects like ants and termites.  ""The anteater used its long snout to find its dinner."""~~
antelope~noun~"Deer like mammals with a slender, lean body and horns. ""On safari we saw many types of antelope."""~~
ape~noun~"An animal that is larger than a monkey, and has a short tail, or no tail.  ""We went to see the apes at the zoo."""~~
ape~verb~"To imitate or mimic another, ""The younger brother aped his brother's movements""."~~
apricot~noun~"Small peach-like fruit, ""We ate an apricot with our dessert."""~~
apron~noun~"An item of clothing worn to protect the clothing underneath it.  ""My mother always wore an apron when she was baking."""~~
Arithmetic~noun~"Counting, mathematics. ""He used arithmetic to work out his tax return."""~~
Arithmetic~adjective~"Having to do with arithmetic. ""The student focused on improving his arithmetic skills."""~~
Armadillo~noun~"A burrowing animal whose body is covered with hard plates. ""The armadillo comes out from its burrow at night."""~~
Armful~noun~"An amount that can be carried in one's arms.  ""She brought in an armful of fire wood so that the fire would not go out."""~~
Artichoke~noun~"A tall plant with a head which is cooked and eaten. ""For lunch I had an artichoke salad."""~~
Asparagus~noun~"Plant of the lily family whose shoots are edible. ""I don't like the taste of asparagus."""~~
assembly~noun~"A group of people or a collection of parts for a certain purpose. ""The principal of the school spoke to the assembly of students."""~~
assessment~noun~"A description of the quality of work that's been done.  ""My school grades are an assessment of how much I have learned."""~~
Aubergine~noun~"A herb related to the potato with an edible fruit, commonly called an eggplant. ""I don't like the taste of aubergine."""~~
authorize~verb~"To give authority or power to someone. ""An employee was authorized to sign for deliveries."""~~
Auto~noun~"Short for automatic or automobile, a car. ""She drives her auto to school."""~~
Avocado~noun~"A type of fruit with soft green flesh that can be used in salads, sandwiches, and sauces.  ""My sister likes to add an avocado to her lettuce salad."""~~
Avocado~adjective~"Describing the greenish yellow colour of the avocado fruit.  ""The paint she chose for the room is an avocado colour, but I would've liked it to be blue."""~~
awaken~verb~"To become awake. ""I will awaken him."""~~
awfully~adverb~"Another word for extremely or very. ""She was awfully sorry."""~~
awhile~adverb~"A short space of time. ""I will stay here awhile."""~~
Baa~noun~"The sound made by a lamb.  ""The lamb cried out with a loud ""Baa!"" when I walked into the field."""~~
Baa~verb~"A description of the sound made by sheep.  ""The sheep would baa when the farmer approached them."""~~
babe~noun~"A child from birth to 1 year old that is unable to walk or talk. ""He can't talk as he is only a babe."""~~
Baboon~noun~"A large type of monkey, with a face that looks like a dog. ""A baboon escaped from the zoo."""~~
Badger~noun~"Burrowing animal usually having black and white fur. ""The badger used its strong claws to burrow his home."""~~
Badger~verb~"To harass, bother or annoy constantly. ""I had to badger him to get back my money."""~~
badly~adverb~"Referring to something not done well, or correctly.  ""The car was still dirty after he'd washed it, so he'd done the job quite badly."""~~
Bakery~noun~"A place for baking or selling goods such as bread or cakes. ""I'm going to the bakery to get a birthday cake."""~~
banjo~noun~"A musical instrument, that is related to the guitar. ""Play me a tune on your banjo."""~~
banker~noun~"The owner of a bank or anyone who works in a bank. ""The banker wore a smart suit."""~~
barefoot~adjective~"Not wearing shoes or socks on one's feet.  ""The barefoot girl was walking on the beach."""~~
barefoot~adverb~"Not wearing shoes or socks.  ""I like to walk across the grass barefoot."""~~
barracuda~noun~"Any of several large fierce marine fishes of warm waters that have strong jaws and sharp teeth, some of which are used for food.  ""We caught a large barracuda when we went fishing."""~~
batch~noun~"A large quantity of something. ""I baked a batch of cookies."""~~
batch~verb~"A quantity or number, coming at one time, or taken together. ""The postman had to batch the letters into groups."""~~
bathe~noun~"A swim or dip in the water to cleanse oneself. ""The woman enjoyed a bathe in the lake."""~~
bathe~verb~"To swim or be in water, or the act of cleaning while being so.  ""Our dog was really dirty so we had to bathe him."""~~
Bathing~noun~"To wash (as in water), or to soak in (as in the sun).  ""My sister likes to go bathing in the sea, but I prefer to stay dry, so I chose sun bathing instead."""~~
bathtub~noun~"A container that can be filled with water and used to wash the body. ""The water in the bathtub was very warm."""~~
Battleship~noun~"A type of warship that has superior armour and weapons. ""The new battleship is top of the line"""~~
beam~noun~"A long, strong piece of material (usually steal or timber) used for support in buildings.  Also a ray of light or a signal. ""The gymnast skipped along the beam."""~~
beam~verb~"To send an electronic signal or to smile openly.  ""Her face was beaming when she heard the news."""~~
Beautify~verb~"To become more pretty, or lovely.  ""My mother likes to put on make up to beautify herself when she is going out to dinner."""~~
Becoming~adjective~"To grow into or become something. ""The seed is becoming a plant."""~~
bedbug~noun~"A wingless insect that lives in beds and drinks human blood. ""Don't let the bedbugs bite."""~~
Bedspread~noun~"A cloth that covers a bed. ""The bedspread had a lovely pattern."""~~
Bedtime~noun~"The time of day when it is time to go to sleep.  ""The little boy did not want to sleep, and was unhappy when it was bedtime."""~~
beech~noun~"A type of tree with a smooth gray bark and sweet edible nuts, also a type of wood. ""The forest was full of different types of beech trees."""~~
beefsteak~noun~"A slice of beef that can be fried. ""I had beefsteak for dinner."""~~
Beehive~noun~"Dome shaped housing for bees. ""The bees could be heard buzzing from the beehive."""~~
Beet~noun~"A plant with a root that can be eaten.  The root is red, and can be eaten as a vegetable.  ""My grandmother liked to cook beets to eat with  a salad."""~~
beetle~noun~"An insect with four wings. ""There was a beetle in the kitchen."""~~
beetle~verb~"To stick out or hang over. ""The branches beetled out onto the road."""~~
beetle~adjective~"Sticking out or hanging over. ""We walked along the beetling cliffs."""~~
bib~noun~"A bit of cloth that covers the chest to protect the clothes underneath. ""His overalls covered his chest like a bib."""~~
bib~verb~"To sip or drink. ""He had been bibbing beer over the last few months."""~~
Bigger~adjective~"Greater in size than something else. ""The bully was bigger than his victim."""~~
Billboard~noun~"A large sign used for advertising.  ""The billboard at the roadside showed us where we could find a restaurant."""~~
bison~noun~"An animal with short horns, a large fleshy hump and a shaggy mane. ""The buffalo is a type of bison."""~~
blackberry~noun~"A bramble with sweet edible black or dark purple berries. "" Blackberry pie is my favourite."""~~
blackberry~verb~"To collect or pick blackberries. ""We spent an hour blackberrying."""~~
Blackbird~noun~"A common bird that is black in colour. ""The blackbird could be heard singing in the morning."""~~
Blackcurrant~noun~"A dark purple berry that can be eaten in desserts or used to make fruit juice.  ""The little girl liked to drink the purple blackcurrant juice."""~~
blackness~noun~"The colour of black, or darkness. ""The room was very dark, it was almost in complete blackness."""~~
Blacksmith~noun~"A person who makes tools with iron or steel. ""It took two days for the blacksmith to forge an iron sword."""~~
bloom~noun~"The flower of a plant, or the stage when a plant flowers. ""The garden is pretty when in full bloom."""~~
bloom~verb~"To make flowers, or to flourish. ""It was the time of year when the trees began to bloom."""~~
blossom~noun~"A flower or bloom.  ""The gardener was pleased to see that the plants were in blossom."""~~
blossom~verb~"Growing into a flower.  ""In spring the apple trees blossomed, promising crisp apples in the autumn time."""~~
blot~noun~"A stain or spot. ""He had a blot of ink on his shirt."""~~
blot~verb~"To dry with something absorbent. ""Blot the spill with the sponge to dry it quicker."""~~
Blueberry~noun~"Edible berries of blueberry plants. ""We took a summer job picking blueberries."""~~
bluebird~noun~"Songbird that is mainly blue in colour. ""The bluebirds can be heard singing in springtime."""~~
boar~noun~"A male pig or swine, particularly one that lives in the wild.  ""The boar had long tusks, and squealed as it ran through the forest."""~~
Boiler~noun~"A tank in which water is heated. ""Use water from the boiler to make coffee."""~~
Bonnet~noun~"Any hat worn by women. ""My wife bought a new bonnet at the weekend."""~~
Bonnet~verb~"To put on a bonnet. ""The girls bonneted before going outside."""~~
boo~noun~"A noise made to scare someone or to show disapproval. ""The stadium was filled with the sound of boos."""~~
boo~verb~"To make a noise in order to frighten someone or to show disapproval. ""the crowd booed at the referee's decision."""~~
bookcase~noun~"A set of shelves for holding books.  ""I keep all my favourite books on the bookcase in my bedroom."""~~
bookkeeper~noun~"A person who keeps accounts for a business. ""The bookkeeper was unhappy with the state of the company's accounts."""~~
boom~noun~"A loud noise. ""The explosion created a massive boom."""~~
boom~verb~"To make a loud, hollow sound. ""His voice boomed out over the loudspeaker."""~~
Bow-wow~noun~"Barking sound of a dog. ""The dog's bow-wow frightened the girl as she passed the house."""~~
Boxcar~noun~"A train compartment.  ""The boxcar was filled with apples that were on their way to the supermarket."""~~
Boxer~noun~"A person who takes part in the sport of boxing. ""Mike Tyson is a famous boxer."""~~
boyhood~noun~"A time in a male's life when he is a young boy. ""He had a happy boyhood."""~~
Bran~noun~"The edible part of a cereal grain left after the grain has been ground. ""Bran is an important part of a healthy diet."""~~
Brightness~noun~"Shining or filled with light.  ""I wear sunglasses so that the brightness of the sun will not hurt my eyes."""~~
broccoli~noun~"An edible green vegetable. ""I always eat my green vegetables, especially broccoli."""~~
Broken~adjective~"Not working, shattered. ""The cup was broken into many fragments."""~~
brook~noun~"A small, natural freshwater stream. ""The brook was so shallow the water trickled over the rocks."""~~
brook~verb~"To bear or put up with something. ""The teacher said he would brook no more misbehaving."""~~
brussel sprouts~noun~"A type of small green vegetable.  ""Some people like to eat brussel sprouts with their Christmas dinner."""~~
bud~noun~"A tree, or plant, shoot. ""The branches were in full bud."""~~
bud~verb~"To develop (buds) in a plant . ""The rose was budding."""~~
Buffalo~noun~"Large wild oxen. ""Buffaloes roam the open plains."""~~
Buffalo~verb~"To show power over someone. ""The boys buffaloed the smallest of the group."""~~
Buggy~noun~"A small travelling compartment that's pulled by a horse.  ""The well-dressed lady travelled in a buggy to avoid the rain."""~~
Buggy~adjective~"A slang word for describing something that seems crazy or mentally strange.  ""The barking dog next door drives me absolutely buggy."""~~
Bullfinch~noun~"A common bird in Europe which is mostly black and white with a red throat and breast. ""We saw a flock of Bullfinches flying overhead."""~~
bumblebee~noun~"A large black and yellow insect that collects pollen from flowers. ""She was stung by a bumblebee."""~~
Bunny~noun~"A rabbit, especially a young one. ""The bunny ran when it saw the cat."""~~
bushel~noun~"A unit of weight measurement for dry goods.  ""The shop keeper had ordered an extra bushel of oats."""~~
bushel~verb~"To mend or repair an item.  ""The tailor could bushel my torn coat."""~~
Buttercup~noun~"A number of herbs which have cuplike yellow flowers. ""I picked a bunch of buttercups for my teacher."""~~
buttermilk~noun~"The leftovers after butter has been churned from milk. ""He got a litre of buttermilk."""~~
butterscotch~noun~"A hard candy made mainly from brown sugar and butter. ""He crunched loudly as he ate the butterscotch."""~~
buttonhole~noun~"A narrow hole in an item of clothing that buttons are pulled through in order to fasten the clothing.  ""My sister's shirt looked funny because she had put the button through the wrong buttonhole."""~~
buttonhole~verb~"To catch someone's attention and keep them in conversation.  ""I felt trapped, buttonholed by her endless questions."""~~
Buzz~noun~"The sound made a by a bee. ""Can you hear the buzz of the bee?"""~~
Buzz~verb~"To make a continuous humming sound like the buzz of a bee. ""Could you stop that buzzing, please?"""~~
Buzzard~noun~"A vulture common in America, or a type of hawk with broad wings and tail in Europe.  ""The buzzards are circling overhead."""~~
Bye~noun~"To get to the next round in a competition without having to play. ""He had a bye as his opponent was injured."""~~
Bye~adjective~"Being off the main route. ""We took a bye road as the main road was closed."""~~
Cackle~noun~"The cry made by a hen.  ""The hens were cackling in the hen house."""~~
Cackle~verb~"To talk or cry out in a cracking voice.  ""The boy had a sore throat, and sounded like he was cackling when he spoke."""~~
caller~noun~"A social visitor, or someone who makes a phone call. ""Did you get the name of the last caller?"""~~
caller~adjective~"A cooling breeze. ""That caller breeze is very refreshing."""~~
Camel~noun~"An animal found mainly in the desert, it has one or two humps on it's back. ""Camels live in desert climates."""~~
Campfire~noun~"A fire made outdoors close to a camp. ""The children toasted marshmallows on the campfire."""~~
canary~noun~"A yellow bird.  ""The canary was singing in it's cage."""~~
canary~adjective~"A bright yellow colour like the colour of a canary bird.  ""My husband wanted to paint the room blue, but I preferred a fresh canary colour."""~~
Candlestick~noun~"A holder for candles. ""This candlestick holds five candles"""~~
cane~noun~"A stick that people use to help them walk. ""He has been using a cane ever since his accident"""~~
cane~verb~"To hit someone or something with a cane. ""In times past, if a pupil was disobedient, they would have been caned as punishment""."~~
Cannon~noun~"A large, heavy gun transported on wheels. ""Old warships battled using cannons."""~~
Cannon~verb~"To fire a cannon. ""The ship sank because it had been cannoned."""~~
canoe~noun~"A narrow boat that is rowed with oars.  ""The campers rented a canoe so they could go fishing on the lake."""~~
canoe~verb~"To go from place to place by canoe.  ""The campers canoed across the lake."""~~
cantaloupe~noun~"A type of melon that has orange flesh. ""She had never tried cantaloupe before, but found it to be a sweet fruit."""~~
canyon~noun~"A deep, steep sided valley often with a river running through it. ""The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon."""~~
cape~noun~"An area of land that stretches out into water.  ""Cape Cod looks like a finger of land stretching out into the ocean."""~~
Carefully~adverb~"Doing something with care or with great attention. ""Carry those glasses very carefully."""~~
carelessness~noun~"Not paying enough attention to what you are doing. ""Her carelessness cost her job."""~~
carload~noun~"The number of people that can travel in a car. ""The carload of people got out at the service station."""~~
carpenter~noun~"A person who works with wood as their job- building or repairing things made of wood.  ""The carpenter fixed the broken leg of the wooden chair."""~~
carpenter~verb~"To be employed as a carpenter.  ""He carpentered the broken chair."""~~
cashier~noun~"A bank employee responsible for money being paid in and out. ""I paid $100 into my account with the cashier."""~~
cashier~verb~"To remove from a job. ""The manager had to cashier one of his employees for stealing."""~~
Catcher~noun~"Someone who catches something. ""The catcher caught the ball."""~~
Caterpillar~noun~"Wormlike larva of a moth or a butterfly. ""The caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly."""~~
Caterpillar~adjective~"Describing something that moves on an endless track, ""There was a caterpillar digger on the construction site."""~~
catfish~noun~"A type of fish.  ""My brother likes to go fishing for catfish."""~~
celery~noun~"A herb widely grown for its thick edible stems. ""I always put celery in my salads."""~~
chatter~noun~"Pointless, useless conversation. ""His chatter was starting to annoy me."""~~
chatter~verb~"To make clicking sounds quickly and repeatedly. ""It was so cold, her teeth were chattering."""~~
check book~noun~"A book containing blank checks. ""The bank sent me a new check book."""~~
checkers~noun~"A board game played by 2 people where one player tries to capture all of the other player's pieces by jumping over them on the board.  ""On rainy days, my Grandmother and I liked to sit by the fireplace and play checkers."""~~
Cheetah~noun~"A long legged wild cat, the fastest of all land animals. ""We saw the cheetah running very quickly."""~~
Chick~noun~"A baby bird, or chicken. ""The chick fell out of the tree."""~~
chicory~noun~"A plant or the root of this plant which is ground and used as a replacement for or an  additive to coffee. ""The chicory plant has bright blue flower heads."""~~
Chill~noun~"A lack of warmth, a cold place.  ""There was a chill in the old house."""~~
Chill~verb~"Discouraging, dispiriting.  ""The bad news chilled our hopes that we would win."""~~
Chill~adjective~"Describing a cold place.  ""There was a chill wind blowing across the field."""~~
Chimpanzee~noun~"An ape which spends most of its time in trees. ""We saw chimpanzees climbing at the zoo."""~~
china~noun~"A country in East Asia. ""I am travelling to China in the summer to attend the Olympics."""~~
chipmunk~noun~"A small, striped, squirrel-like creature. ""The chipmunk searched for acorns."""~~
chosen~noun~"An object or person that is selected or preferred above others.  ""She was daddy's chosen."""~~
chosen~adjective~"Something that is selected above other options.  ""London was her chosen place to go on vacation."""~~
churn~noun~"A container in which milk is stirred or shaken to make butter. ""Pour the milk into the churn so we can make butter."""~~
churn~verb~"To stir or shake violently to make butter. ""The dairy farmer churned the milk."""~~
circumstance~noun~"An incident, or occurrence. ""Her arrival was a fortunate circumstance."""~~
clam~noun~"A shellfish. ""We found a clam at the beach today."""~~
clam~verb~"To catch or hunt for clams. ""The boys went clamming yesterday."""~~
clang~noun~"A recurring noise that can sometimes be loud and unpleasant.  ""The clang of the church bells woke me up early this morning."""~~
clang~verb~"Making a loud, repeating noise.  ""The clanging of the trolley bells told me that I must hurry or I would miss the trolley."""~~
Classmate~noun~"A member in the same class at school or college. ""He is a classmate of mine."""~~
Clay~noun~"A soft earth which may be moulded with your hands. ""She made a pot out of clay."""~~
Cleaner~noun~"A type of soap or detergent used for cleaning. ""Get the cleaner from the cupboard to clean the spill on the carpet."""~~
clearly~adverb~"Something apparent, or easy to determine.  ""She was clearly in the wrong, but refused to apologize."""~~
click~noun~"A slight sharp sound. ""Did you hear the mouse button click?"""~~
click~verb~"To make or cause a clicking sound. ""Click on the mouse to follow this link."""~~
cloak~noun~"An outer garment, similar to a coat but without sleeves. ""His cloak draped around his shoulders."""~~
cloak~verb~"To disguise or conceal. ""The mission was cloaked in mystery."""~~
Closely~adverb~"Being near to someone or something. ""John finished the race first, closely followed by Sarah."""~~
closet~noun~"A small, enclosed room used for storing items such as clothing.  ""I hung up my new shirt in the closet."""~~
closet~verb~"To keep in a small place in order to do focused work.  ""We were closeted away in the library until we could finish the project."""~~
closet~adjective~"Secret or covert.  ""The closet plans of the government were not ready for release."""~~
Clover~noun~"A type of herb with three leaves. ""The clover is usually associated with Ireland."""~~
cluck~noun~"The sound a hen makes. ""I could hear the cluck of the hen at the farm."""~~
cluck~verb~"To make a sound like a hen. ""The hen clucked in the barn."""~~
clump~noun~"A small, close group of things. ""There is a clump of crab grass in the garden."""~~
clump~verb~"To make a thumping sound by heavily stepping, ""the boy clumped like a donkey""."~~
Cob~noun~"A type of nut, or part of a plant on which corn grows.  ""In the summer we love to eat corn on the cob."""~~
cobbler~noun~"A person who makes or mends shoes. ""I broke a heel on my shoe, so I had to take it to the cobbler."""~~
cobra~noun~"A highly poisonous snake. ""She has a pet cobra"""~~
Cocoa~noun~"A hot drink made from mixing cocoa powder, milk, and sugar. ""The man drinks cocoa before going to sleep."""~~
Cocoon~noun~"A covering used to protect certain insects while they are maturing.  ""The new butterfly flittered out of its cocoon."""~~
Cocoon~verb~"To be covered, as with a cocoon.  ""When I am cold, I like to cocoon myself in a fluffy, warm blanket."""~~
Cod~noun~"A soft finned fish from the colder parts of the North Atlantic. ""I ate cod for my dinner last night."""~~
Cod~verb~"A hoax, or to trick someone. ""The cheat tried to cod the teacher."""~~
Codfish~noun~"A type of marine fish important for food. ""We went fishing for codfish"""~~
coffeepot~noun~"A container in which coffee is made and/or served, ""The waitress carefully carried the coffeepot""."~~
colt~noun~"A male horse less than 4 years old.  ""The colt trotted across the field."""~~
Commission~noun~"The fee paid to an employee for carrying out a specific task, ""For each sale you make, you will receive 10% commission"""~~
Commission~verb~"To give an order for something to be made, ""He commissioned ten more ships to be made"""~~
Completely~adverb~"To have everything that is needed, to be complete. ""The form was filled out completely"""~~
component~noun~"A part or a piece of anything, ""A main component was missing so the chest of drawers could not be built""."~~
component~adjective~"Being a part of something.  ""The component parts for the machine were purchased."""~~
conductor~noun~"A person who directs an orchestra or musical group.  ""The conductor waves his baton to tell the orchestra that it is time to start playing the symphony."""~~
cone~noun~"A type of three dimensional shape which tapers smoothly from a flat round base to a point, ""Look out, you almost hit that traffic cone"""~~
cone~verb~"To make an object cone shaped, ""Could everyone please cone their pieces of clay?"""~~
Consequence~noun~"The end result of earlier actions. ""Passing her exam was the consequence of her studying hard"""~~
Construction~noun~"The building of something, ""The construction of the new house went very quickly""."~~
coo~noun~"The sound a pigeon makes.  ""I could hear the coo of the pigeon on the roof top."""~~
coo~verb~"To speak kindly and softly.  ""The woman cooed softly to her hurt puppy, to try to comfort him."""~~
Cooler~noun~"A container for keeping food or drink cold, ""Can I have a cold drink from the cooler, please?"""~~
coop~noun~"A cage for keeping chickens in. ""A brand new coop was delivered to the farm"""~~
coral~noun~"The stony deposit of the skeletons of invertebrate sea animals, ""We saw a coral reef when we went diving""."~~
coral~adjective~"A colour ranging from yellow to red (looking like coral), ""Her shirt was a coral colour""."~~
Cord~noun~"A string.  ""I wrapped the cord around the sticks and tied it to keep them together."""~~
Cord~verb~"To tie with a cord, ""I had to cord the sack of coal."""~~
Cormorant~noun~"Types of dark coloured seabirds with a long neck, hooked bill and a pouch for holding fish, ""The bird holding a lot of fish was a cormorant!"""~~
corn~noun~"The seeds of tall cereal wheat. ""It is time to harvest the corn"""~~
corn~verb~"To feed animals with corn. ""One of the farmer's jobs in the morning was to corn the cattle"""~~
corporate~adjective~"Someone who is part of a corporation (a group of united persons), ""He is proud of his company, he could be considered a corporate man""."~~
Cougar~noun~"A large wild cat living in North America.  ""The cougar stalked its prey."""~~
Counter~noun~"A display table. ""The display of toys on the counter took a long time to set up"""~~
Counter~verb~"To be against someone or their ideas. ""His actions countered those of his boss"""~~
Counter~adjective~"Contrary to, against. ""Their beliefs were counter to my own"""~~
Counter~adverb~"An opposite, or dissimilar course or outcome. ""A method running counter to traditional techniques"""~~
Cowardly~adjective~"Easily scared or frightened, ""The cowardly boy ran away from the dog""."~~
coyote~noun~"A small, wolf-like animal.  ""The coyote howled at the moon."""~~
cracker~noun~"A dry, thin, crisp baked food made from flour and water, ""Would you cheese on your cracker?"""~~
cradle~noun~"A small bed for a baby. ""The baby was placed in the cradle"""~~
cradle~verb~"To hold or support something protectively. ""She cradled the antique vase in her arms"""~~
Cramps~noun~"Sudden muscle pains, ""The girl could not play the rest of the game because of a cramp""."~~
Cranberry~noun~"A small, red coloured berry with a slightly bitter taste.  ""My family like to eat cranberry sauce with our Thanksgiving dinner."""~~
crane~noun~"A machine with a swinging arm for lifting and carrying heavy weights, ""The girder is too heavy, so we will need to use a crane"""~~
crane~verb~"To stretch out one's neck in order to see better, ""To see over the tall man's shoulder I had to crane my neck"""~~
Crank~noun~"A person who is in a bad mood. ""She was a real crank in the mornings"""~~
Crank~verb~"To start something by turning a handle. ""He had to crank the old fashioned car in order for it to start."""~~
Crank~adjective~"Not steady, very shaky. ""The cranked boat capsized"""~~
Cranky~adjective~"Unsteady, ""The boat seemed cranky on the crossing""."~~
Creamy~adjective~"An off-white colour that resembles cream.  ""We chose a creamy colour of paint for the kitchen."""~~
Creation~noun~"The act of creating, something which has been created, ""I would like to show you all my latest creation"""~~
creek~noun~"A stream of water smaller than a river, but larger than a brook. ""We used to go fishing in the creek when we were kids"""~~
cress~noun~"Any plant from a family of plants that are used as a garnish and in salad, ""She put watercress on her salad for lunch""."~~
croak~noun~"The sound a frog makes, or speaking with a rasping voice.  ""The croaking of the frogs filled my ears."""~~
crocodile~noun~"Large reptile with massive jaws, ""In Florida we saw quite a few crocodiles"""~~
crook~noun~"A person who breaks the law. ""The police arrested two crooks."""~~
crook~verb~"Bend or curve. ""The path crooked badly the further along it we travelled"""~~
crooked~adjective~"Not straight by having bends or twists, ""The crooked country road""."~~
crow~noun~"A large black bird, ""There is a crow's nest in my yard"""~~
crow~verb~"To brag loudly or joyfully, ""After he won the race, he crowed with delight"""~~
Crust~noun~"The hard, outer surface of something.  ""I don't like the crust on bread"""~~
Crust~verb~"To cover over something, to encrust something. ""The entire area is crusted over in ice"""~~
Cub~noun~"A young person, or the young of many animals, ""The bear gave birth to cubs""."~~
Cub~verb~"For a certain animal to give birth to her young (cubs), ""The bear was cubbing at that zoo so we didnít get to see her""."~~
cuckoo~noun~"A bird which makes a cuckoo sound.  ""We heard a cuckoo for the first time this Spring""."~~
cuckoo~verb~"To repeat again and again, like a cuckoo bird repeats its call.  ""The cat meowed like a cuckoo to be let into the house."""~~
Cuff~noun~"A part of the sleeve which goes around the wrist, ""This shirt is too big, and the cuff is too loose on my wrist"""~~
Cuff~verb~"To hit with the palm of the hand, ""The girl gave the boy a playful cuff"""~~
cultural~adjective~"A society's knowledge and heritage. ""Her style of clothes showed her cultural roots."""~~
Cupful~noun~"The amount a cup holds, ""Pour in two cupfuls of milk""."~~
Curly~adjective~"Having wavy hair, or hair that coils up or falls in ringlets.  ""Jenny's curly hair bounced up and down as she skipped down the road."""~~
Currant~noun~"A small seedless raisin used in baking and cooking, ""I don't like this pie because it has currants in it"""~~
currently~adverb~"Happening right now. ""Currently, they say their wedding is set for March"""~~
curriculum~noun~"The set of courses of study in a school or college, ""New subjects will be added to the curriculum next year""."~~
custard~noun~"A creamy dessert made of milk, sugar and eggs.  ""Michael loved to eat custard with his apple pie."""~~
Dab~noun~"A gentle touch or stroke, ""Put a dab of red on the painting to finish it off"""~~
Dab~verb~"To apply with quick, light strokes, ""He dabbed on his aftershave"""~~
Daddy~noun~"Meaning dad, or father. ""My daddy is in the military"""~~
Dairy~noun~"A place (farm) where products made from milk such as cheese and butter are produced, ""The dairy farmer has many cows""."~~
daisy~noun~"A type of flower with a yellow centre and white petals.  ""The little girl liked to pick daisies and wind their stems together to make a chain."""~~
Dame~noun~"Informal term for a young lady, ""There is a beautiful dame in my class"""~~
dancer~noun~"A trained dancer. ""The dancers are very highly trained"""~~
Darkness~noun~"Having no light, ""Darkness comes after the sun sets""."~~
Daybreak~noun~"Early morning, the first appearance of sunlight.  ""We got up at daybreak because we had a long journey that day."""~~
daytime~noun~"The time of day when it is light outside, between sunrise and sunset, ""I go to school in the daytime"""~~
daytime~adjective~"Relating to the time of day something occurs, ""I was sick today so I watched a lot of daytime television"""~~
deed~noun~"Something that is done, an act. ""Do a good deed every day"""~~
defendant~noun~"Someone to whom a claim has been brought against; ""The defendant looked guilty as she entered the courtroom""."~~
Den~noun~"An animal's shelter.  ""The bear and its cubs returned to their den for a rest."""~~
Dew~noun~"Moisture that collects on cool surfaces during the night ""On winter mornings there will be a lot of dew on the grass"""~~
dime~noun~"10 cents, ""The candy only cost me a dime"""~~
dinosaur~noun~"A group of extinct reptiles, which included a number of species.  ""Catherine liked to go to the museum to look at the dinosaur bones."""~~
directly~adverb~"In a direct, or straight, manner ""We are not stopping, we are going directly home"""~~
Distinction~noun~"Acknowledging as different. ""His distinction of sounds is excellent"""~~
distribution~noun~"The act of dividing and giving out something, ""The teacher gave out the sweets with equal distribution""."~~
Diver~noun~"Someone who plunges underwater to find something.  ""The diver was looking for oysters, hoping to find pearls."""~~
Dodo~noun~"A large, extinct, flightless bird, ""Those trousers he is wearing went out with the dodo"""~~
dolly~noun~"A child's toy doll, ""The young girl loved to play with her dolly""."~~
Dolphin~noun~"An intelligent marine animal that usually lives in warm seas.  ""The school of dolphins leapt out of the shining water."""~~
Doorbell~noun~"A bell outside a door, used to announce visitors. ""I heard the doorbell ring"""~~
doorknob~noun~"The handle used for opening and closing doors, ""She turned the doorknob slowly to enter the room quietly""."~~
Doorstep~noun~"The landing made of stone or wood at the bottom of a door.  ""Before he crossed the doorstep he was telling me about the wonderful day he'd had."""~~
dormouse~noun~"A small furry tailed rodent. ""Our cat chased after a dormouse"""~~
Dough~noun~"Mixture of flour, water, milk, etc. used in baking bread, ""She rolled out the dough to make a pizza base""."~~
dresser~noun~"A type of furniture with drawers to hold clothes or other objects.  ""My mother set the clean clothes on the dresser for me to put away."""~~
Dressmaker~noun~"A person who makes or repairs dresses, ""To mend this hole, we will need to take it back to the dressmaker"""~~
driver~noun~"Someone who drives a vehicle. ""Our school bus has a new driver"""~~
drowsy~adjective~"Almost sleeping, very tired, ""The drowsy driver was the cause of the accident""."~~
Dust Mite~noun~"A tiny, microscopic insect that eats dead skin and lives in soft furnishings.  ""It's creepy to imagine that there might be dust mites living in my pillow."""~~
Dwarf~noun~"A person below normal size, ""In the story of Snow White, Grumpy was a dwarf"""~~
Dwarf~verb~"To cause something to appear smaller, ""The father dwarfed his son"""~~
Dwarf~adjective~"Describing something that is unusually small, ""That tree is tiny, and could be called a dwarf tree"""~~
Dwell~verb~"To live somewhere permanently. ""Two people dwell in that house"""~~
dwelt~verb~"To have stayed or lived, ""They dwelt there for many years""."~~
eagle~noun~"A large bird of prey that has a big wing span and can fly at great heights.  ""The eagle swooped down to the surface of the water to catch a fish."""~~
eagle~verb~"A golf score of two strokes under par at a golf hole.  ""Michael cheered when he got an eagle at the difficult hole."""~~
earthworm~noun~"A long, slender worm that lives in damp earth, commonly used as bait in fishing, ""We are using an earthworm as bait today"""~~
Eaten~adjective~"Past participle of eat, ""I'm sorry there is nothing left, it has all been eaten""."~~
Educational~adjective~"To be related to education or learning, ""The video we watched was very educational""."~~
eel~noun~"A long, serpent-like fish.  ""The eel swam through the cold depths of the lake."""~~
Effectively~adverb~"Being able to perform with the desired effect, ""The medicine effectively dealt with the disease"""~~
eggplant~noun~"An Indian plant with large, edible, usually purple skinned fruit. ""She likes to use eggplant in curry recipes"""~~
Eldest~noun~"Having the greatest age, ""James is the eldest in is his family""."~~
Eldest~adjective~"The oldest child in a family.  ""The eldest child helped her younger sister."""~~
elf~noun~"Small, make believe, mischievous creatures with magical powers.  ""The tiny elf played a trick on the giant."""~~
elk~noun~"A large type of deer, with large curved antlers, commonly called a moose, ""We saw a large elk when we went hunting"""~~
Elm~noun~"A tree with hard wood. ""The office table is made of elm"""~~
emu~noun~"Large, flightless bird, ""We went to an emu farm""."~~
Engineer~noun~"A person who uses science to design and build.  ""The engineer checked the blueprints to make sure they were correct."""~~
Engineer~verb~"To design or create, using engineering methods.  ""She engineered the construction of the building."""~~
Engineering~noun~"The science of using nature's resources in ways that are useful to people ""The Golden Gate Bridge is a great example of engineering"""~~
Enterprise~noun~"A new challenge, or project, a goal. ""Keeping the peace is an important enterprise"""~~
erase~verb~"To rub out or remove from being, or to remove from memory, ""I had to erase the mistake I made""."~~
Eraser~noun~"An object used to remove something that's been recorded.  ""The teacher used the eraser to clean the chalk board."""~~
Errand~noun~"A short trip taken to do or get something especially for someone, ""I can meet you at lunch, as I have an errand to run this morning"""~~
everyday~adjective~"Something that happens daily. ""The newspaper is delivered to our house everyday"""~~
Expenditure~noun~"Money that is spent or paid out, ""The expenditure of the business last year was greater than expected""."~~
Fable~noun~"A make believe story.  ""The fable of the Tortoise and the Hare shows that the slow and steady win the race."""~~
Fairy~noun~"A small imaginary being in human form with magical powers, ""Tinker bell is a fairy"""~~
Fairy~adjective~"Resembling a fairy, especially in delicacy, ""She was so small and delicate; almost fairy like"""~~
fake~noun~"Not real, false. ""Her nose is a fake for the fancy dress costume"""~~
fake~verb~"To feign, or counterfeit, to present something as genuine. ""She tried to fake sickness to get out of class but the teacher knew better""."~~
fake~adjective~"Not real or deceiving. ""He got into trouble for using a fake ID."""~~
falcon~noun~"Bird of prey with long, pointed wings, ""The falcon dived swiftly to catch its prey""."~~
falcon~verb~"To use a falcon for hunting.  ""He would falcon to catch extra food for the family."""~~
faraway~adjective~"Very distant.  ""Sophie dreamed of seeing the faraway ocean some day."""~~
Farming~noun~"The business of a farmer, involving cultivating the land or raising stock, ""Farming is a very important part of an economy"""~~
Farming~adjective~"An agricultural society, ""The farming community"""~~
far-off~adjective~"A long way away, distant, remote. ""I could barely see the far-off house in the distance"""~~
ferret~noun~"A weasel-like mammal often trained to hunt out rats or rabbits, ""The ferret chased the rabbits out of their burrows""."~~
ferret~verb~"To hunt or search for busily, like a ferret, ""He ferreted out the information he needed""."~~
Fib~noun~"A small, minor lie.  ""I wanted the chocolate all to myself, so I told my sister a fib when I said that it was all gone."""~~
Fib~verb~"Telling a somewhat trivial lie.  ""She was an honest girl, so she felt guilty when she found herself fibbing about how she got a stain on her new dress."""~~
fiddle~noun~"A member of the violin family with four strings that is played with a bow, ""I play the fiddle in the school orchestra"""~~
fiddle~verb~"To play the violin or fiddle, ""I would like to learn how to fiddle"""~~
Fife~noun~"A high pitched flute, used in military and marching bands. ""He is learning to play the fife"""~~
finality~noun~"The state of something being at an end or being final, ""There was a feeling of finality on the last day of college""."~~
finch~noun~"A small songbird that eats seeds.  ""My Grandfather liked to watch the finches when they ate the seeds he put in the bird feeder."""~~
firearm~noun~"A small, portable gun, ""The police officer drew his firearm"""~~
firecracker~noun~"A tube made of cardboard, filled with gunpowder and a fuse. ""We got firecrackers for Halloween"""~~
fireplace~noun~"Base of a chimney in a house where a fire can be built, ""We warmed ourselves at the fireplace""."~~
Fisherman~noun~"Someone who catches fish for a job.  ""The fisherman hoped he would get a good catch of fish that day."""~~
flamingo~noun~"A pink bird with long legs and neck, usually found in shallow waters; they get their colour from eating shrimp, ""We saw a flamingo at the zoo"""~~
flashlight~noun~"A small light source, powered by batteries, also called a torch in the UK. ""I need to get more batteries for the flashlight"""~~
flea~noun~"Tiny, wingless, blood-sucking insect that infests cats, dogs, and sometimes humans, ""The dog scratched because it had fleas""."~~
flip~noun~"An acrobatic movement, often performed in the air, like a somersault.  ""The crowd held their breath as the acrobat performed a flip on the high wire."""~~
flip~verb~"To throw a coin into the air to see how it falls.  ""The two brother flipped a coin to see who could use the new trampoline first."""~~
flip~adjective~"Quick and casual response that could show disrespect.  ""My mother wasn't impressed when I gave a flip answer to a serious question."""~~
Flip-flop~noun~"A rubber sandal loosely fitted to the foot, ""I always wear flip flops to the beach"""~~
flop~noun~"To do badly, to fail. ""The movie was a complete flop"""~~
flop~verb~"To hang limply. ""The dogs ears flopped as he moved"""~~
flop~adverb~"Directly onto. ""He fell flop onto his face"""~~
floppy disk~noun~"A magnetic coated, thin plastic storage device in computers, ""I save my work on a floppy disk""."~~
flowery~adjective~"Covered with ornate decorations or detail.  ""The mayor made a flowery campaign speech to try to get re-elected."""~~
flutter~noun~"To move in quick, unusual motions, ""I watched the flutter of the leaves in the wind"""~~
flutter~verb~"To move with rapid flapping motions, ""The butterfly has to flutter its wings to fly"""~~
foam~noun~"Froth or small bubbles formed in or on liquid. ""Foam formed in the bath when she added soap."""~~
foam~verb~"Bubbles that gather on top of a liquid.  ""The beer foamed in the glass"""~~
Foggy~adjective~"Filled with fog, or a cloudy mist, ""It was very foggy this morning"""~~
footprint~noun~"A mark left by a foot or a shoe on a surface.  ""The jogger left footprints in the sand when she went jogging on the beach."""~~
forgotten~adjective~"To be unable to think of or recall, ""I had forgotten to pick up my sister today"""~~
fort~noun~"A secure, defendable building, used as an army base. ""The soldier was re-assigned to the fort"""~~
fort~verb~"To gather or be placed in a fort. ""The officer forted troops""."~~
freight~noun~"Cargo or load carried by a large vehicle, ""The freight train has many carriages""."~~
freight~verb~"To transport goods or merchandise, ""It will take the truck all day to freight the goods""."~~
frequently~adverb~"Something that happens often.  ""She went jogging frequently because she wanted to be healthy."""~~
Fret~noun~"A worried state, ""There's no need to get into a fret.  Everything will be ok"""~~
Fret~verb~"To make or become worried, ""Don't fret, the ambulance will be here soon"""~~
Frost~noun~"A thin layer of ice formed on the ground on cold days, ""There is frost on the grass these cold mornings""."~~
Frost~verb~"To cover with frost or what looks like frost, ""The chef frosted the pudding with icing sugar""."~~
Fudge~noun~"A soft, sugary candy, ""We had fudge cake for dessert""."~~
Fudge~verb~"To tamper with data to deceive or make false, ""Fudge the test scores""."~~
fuzzy~adjective~"Covered with soft fur or hair.  ""The baby's fuzzy hair stood up in all directions."""~~
gazelle~noun~"Graceful, quick, small antelope, ""He runs so gracefully, it's almost like a gazelle"""~~
geese~noun~"Plural of goose. A wild bird, larger than a duck. ""At the park we feed the geese"""~~
Generality~noun~"Applying to unspecific or undetailed subjects or ideas, ""The generality of arguments in his essay caused him to fail""."~~
Generally~adverb~"Something that ordinarily happens.  ""She generally gets good grades, but failed this test."""~~
gerbil~noun~"An old world desert rodent with long hind legs and soft fur, ""Can I have a pet gerbil?"""~~
Gibbon~noun~"A long armed ape. ""The Gibbon is a type of ape."""~~
gingerbread~noun~"Ginger flavoured cake or cookie, ""The children helped make gingerbread men""."~~
Giraffe~noun~"A tall, long necked animal that lives in Africa.  ""The giraffe stretched its long neck to reach the leaves at the top of the tree."""~~
Gladly~adverb~"Willing to do something, ""I will gladly help you with the housework"""~~
Gleam~noun~"A faint ray of light. ""The gleam of a lantern in the dark night"""~~
Gleam~verb~"To shine, or glow."" It shone with gold, and gleamed with ivory"""~~
glide~noun~"A smooth movement.  ""With a glide through the air, the batter leapt to reach the base."""~~
glide~verb~"To move smoothly along and seem effortless, ""The bird glided through the air""."~~
glory~noun~"Praise, honour and distinction.  ""He studied hard, and received the glory of getting good grades."""~~
glory~verb~"To proudly rejoice.  ""She gloried in the fact that she had finished the marathon in first place."""~~
gnat~noun~"Types of small, winged, biting flies, "" I have a bite mark from a gnat on my arm"""~~
Gnu~noun~"A big African antelope with curved horns, ""The gnu is also known as a wildebeest""."~~
gobble~noun~"The sound made by a male turkey, ""The gobble of a turkey""."~~
gobble~verb~"To eat food quickly without chewing properly, ""He gobbled up the sandwich."""~~
Godmother~noun~"A woman who sponsors a child for baptism, and gives spiritual guidance.  ""My Godmother was the kindest, most helpful person I've ever known."""~~
Goldfinch~noun~"A small bird, the male has yellow feathers in summer with black wings, tail and top of the head, ""On our field trip we saw a flock of goldfinches"""~~
Goldfish~noun~"Small fish, kept as pets. ""Dad got two goldfish for my birthday"""~~
good looking~adjective~"Attractive or handsome, ""His girlfriend is very good looking""."~~
Goodness~noun~"Something that is the best, that is virtuous, that has good morals.  ""The goodness my aunt showed to others made me want to be a better person."""~~
goody~noun~"Something that is particularly attractive or good to eat, ""My favourite goody is a double chocolate cookie"""~~
goose~noun~"A wild bird, larger than a duck. ""I was chased by a goose at my uncle's farm"""~~
Gooseberry~noun~"A type of shrub or the edible and sometimes spiny fruit this shrub bears, ""They made gooseberry jam"""~~
Gorilla~noun~"A large ape living in Africa that has a thick, strong body and dark hair.  ""The gorilla lives in the forests of central west Africa."""~~
Gracious~adjective~"Characterized by charm and politeness, thankful, pleasing or attractive in motion, ""The boxer was very gracious in victory"""~~
grandpa~noun~"Grandfather, the father of someone's father or mother, ""My grandpa is 75 years old""."~~
grandstand~noun~"A main seating area at a stadium with rows of seats which are often under a protective roof.  ""We watched the horse race from our seat at the grandstand, and were excited to see our horse win."""~~
grasshopper~noun~"Plant eating insect, green in colour, with long hind legs used for leaping, ""We saw a grasshopper when we were having a picnic"""~~
graze~noun~"A small cut. ""She only had a graze on her arm after the fall."""~~
graze~verb~"To feed on grass in fields.  ""The cows grazed in the meadow throughout the day."""~~
Grocery~noun~"Food sold by a grocer, or a grocer's store, ""We went out to get groceries""."~~
grouse~noun~"A plump game bird.  ""The hunter went out to hunt grouse."""~~
grouse~verb~"The action of hunting for grouse.  ""He planned to go grousing next Saturday."""~~
grove~noun~"A group of trees without an underbrush, ""We have a grove of oak trees in our yard"""~~
guinea pig~noun~"A small furry animal, with no tail. Kept as pets. ""I was given two guinea pigs as a present for my birthday"""~~
Gull~noun~"A white, long-winged bird, typically found near water, ""At the seaside, I gave a gull the crust of my sandwich"""~~
Gull~verb~"To trick or make a fool of someone, ""The man couldnít believe how easily he had been gulled""."~~
Gunpowder~noun~"An explosive powder which is used in guns and fireworks.  ""Gunpowder is used in fireworks."""~~
hail~noun~"To rain hard pellets of ice and snow rather than water. ""It hailed this afternoon"""~~
hail~verb~"An old way of greeting people."" The crowd hailed the conquerors"""~~
hairpin~noun~"A pin used to hold hair in place, ""She needed a hairpin to style her hair""."~~
hamster~noun~"A small, furry rodent often kept as a pet.  ""I was responsible for cleaning out the hamster's cage."""~~
happily~adverb~"In a happy or joyous manner, ""We happily cheered at the end of the game"""~~
Hardship~noun~"A difficult task or burden.  ""Being homeless is a great hardship"""~~
Hardware~noun~"The equipment used for a particular purpose, ""We bought some new computer hardware"""~~
Hare~noun~"A small animal with long ears that runs quickly.  A hare is larger than a rabbit.  ""In the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Tortoise wins the race even though the Hare can run more swiftly."""~~
Hare~verb~"To move swiftly.  ""The runner hared over the hill."""~~
hark~verb~"To listen, ""Hark, the herald angels sing"""~~
harness~noun~"Leather straps worn by an animal. ""The harness was fitted to the horse"""~~
harness~verb~"To bring someone, or something, under your complete control.  ""The man's great strength could not be harnessed"""~~
harp~noun~"A musical instrument with a triangular shaped frame with strings that are plucked to produce sound, ""I love the beautiful sound from a harp""."~~
harp~verb~"To dwell or focus on something too much.  ""She kept harping on about how she had been wronged."""~~
Haste~noun~"Quickness, or thoughtless rush.  ""She was in haste to finish her chores, and did them in a sloppy way."""~~
hasten~verb~"To cause to accelerate, move faster.  ""We need to hasten to make it in time."""~~
hatchet~noun~"A small short handled ax, ""Native Americans used hatchets for fighting""."~~
Haul~noun~"To carry, or drag a heavy load.  ""The fishermen brought in a large haul of fish."""~~
Haul~verb~"To drag a heavy load.  ""The fishermen hauled the full net of fish onto the boat."""~~
hawk~noun~"A bird of prey, with a short, hooked beak.  ""The hawk is an excellent hunter"""~~
hawk~verb~"To show items for sale.  ""They were hawking products on TV"""~~
hay~noun~"Grass that is cut and dried and used as food for horses or cattle, ""The farmer tossed the hay so it could dry in the sun""."~~
Hayfield~noun~"A large field where grass is grown to make hay.  ""The farmer worked in the hayfield to get it ready to make hay."""~~
haystack~noun~"A stack of hay, ""We took a rest on a haystack after working hard"""~~
Heater~noun~"A piece of equipment that gives out heat.  ""We bought a new heater because our last one broke down"""~~
Hedgehog~noun~"A small animal covered with bristles that stand up.  ""The hedgehog rolls into a ball to protect itself."""~~
Helper~noun~"Someone who helps, an assistant. ""There is a new helper in the store"""~~
hem~noun~"An edge made by folding back cloth and sewing it down, ""The hem of a jacket""."~~
hem~verb~"To make a coughing sound like ""ahem"" usually to attract attention, ""The man at the table hemmed when the waiter did not notice him""."~~
Henhouse~noun~"A building used to house chickens.  ""The hens went to their nests in the henhouse to lay their eggs."""~~
Heron~noun~"A large water bird with a long neck and legs. ""I saw a heron wading in the river today."""~~
hickory~noun~"A type of tree, the tough pale wood from the hickory tree, ""Our bed frame is made from hickory"""~~
Hidden~adjective~"Not easy to see. ""The sun was hidden by the clouds"""~~
Hillside~noun~"The side, slopes of a hill, ""Goats' tracks can be found on the hillside""."~~
Hilltop~noun~"The top of a hill, or the top of a mound of earth.  ""We walked up to the hilltop to get a better view of the valley."""~~
Hilly~adjective~"A place with many hills, ""The hike was very hilly"""~~
Hind~noun~"A female red deer. ""The female red deer is called the hind"""~~
Hind~adjective~"Towards the back, or rear of something. ""The hind legs of a horse can kick out."""~~
hippopotamus~noun~"A large plant eating animal with thick skin that can be found at lakes and rivers, ""The hippopotamus stayed underwater for quite some time""."~~
hiss~noun~"A sound made to show displeasure or disapproval.  ""The cat let out a hiss when I tried to take away his food."""~~
hiss~verb~"To make a sound to show dislike.  ""The crowd started hissing when they were told that the show would start an hour later than intended."""~~
Hitch~noun~"An unexpected obstacle, ""The plan went off without a hitch"""~~
Hitch~verb~"To catch or connect as if by hook or knot, ""Hitch the trailer to the car"""~~
hive~noun~"A place that is constantly busy.  ""A hive of industry"""~~
hive~verb~"To bring together in one place or keep in a hive. ""The bee keeper hived the bees"""~~
Hoe~noun~"A gardening tool used for clearing the earth's topsoil, ""He cleared the area for the flowerbed with a hoe"""~~
Hoe~verb~"To use a hoe in gardening, ""He hoed the soil to prepare for new plants""."~~
Hog~noun~"Someone seen as a greedy person.  ""I wanted more chocolate cake, but I didn't want her to think I was a hog."""~~
Hog~verb~"To take and keep more than you should.  ""I started to get angry because my sister was always hogging the best seat in front of the TV."""~~
homely~adjective~"Characteristic of home life, ""The hotel we stayed in had a very homely feeling"""~~
Honeybee~noun~"A bee that gathers honey. ""My uncle keeps honeybees for their honey"""~~
Honeydew melon~noun~"A type of melon with a pale rind and a light green flesh, ""We had honeydew melon as a starter for the meal""."~~
Honk~noun~"A sound similar to the sound a goose makes.  ""The wild geese were honking as they flew above me."""~~
Honk~verb~"To make a loud sound.  ""I honked the horn to tell her I'd arrived."""~~
Hoof~noun~"A covering of horn that protects the toes of some animals such as horses and pigs, ""The horse was limping as it had hurt its hoof"""~~
hoop~noun~"A ring made of wood or metal.  ""There was a rusty iron hoop at the barn for tying up a horse"""~~
hoop~verb~"To fasten or to encircle with a hoop, ""At the fun fair my dad hooped me the best teddy bear in the stall""."~~
hornet~noun~"A large stinging wasp, ""I got stung by a hornet last summer""."~~
horseback~noun~"Sitting on the back of a horse.  ""The boy loved to go horseback riding."""~~
horseshoe~noun~"A ""U"" shaped piece of iron nailed to a horse's hoof, ""The clinking sound is made by the horseshoe"""~~
hose~noun~"A long thin tube used to carry water or gas from a tap that is connected at one end, ""My dad uses a hose to wash the car""."~~
hose~verb~"To wash clean with a hose. ""The deck was hosed down"""~~
hound~noun~"A breed of dog used for hunting, ""The hound chased the frightened rabbits""."~~
hound~verb~"To harass or pursue constantly, ""He wouldnít stop hounding her""."~~
household~noun~"A group of people living together in the same environment.  ""My household consists of myself, my husband and a fat black cat."""~~
household~adjective~"Related to the running or organizing of a living environment.  ""My sister and I had to finish our household chores of dusting and sweeping before we could go out to play."""~~
Housetop~noun~"Flat part of a roof, ""I could see almost everything from the housetop"""~~
housework~noun~"Cleaning a house. ""I do housework on a Tuesday"""~~
Howl~noun~"A long, loud, sad cry, like that of a wolf or dog, ""We could hear the howl of the wolf""."~~
Howl~verb~"To make a long, loud cry like a wolf does, ""The wolf howls at the moon"""~~
huckleberry~noun~"A dark berry that grows on a shrub.  ""We liked to pick huckleberries in the summer time."""~~
Humble~verb~"To destroy the power of influence of someone ""This experience will humble you"""~~
Humble~adjective~"Not proud or bold in spirit in manner, ""Despite being a very high powered person, the president was a very humble man"""~~
hummingbird~noun~"A small, bright coloured bird. The rapid beating of it wings causes a humming sound.  ""There was a hummingbird in our garden"""~~
Hump~noun~"Something that is raised in a curved fashion, ""The camel's hump stores fat""."~~
Hump~verb~"To arch the back, ""The cat humped its back""."~~
Hunk~noun~"A good looking, attractive man.  ""My sister thinks that he's quite a hunk, but I just think he's OK."""~~
hunter~noun~"A person who hunts, ""My father is a hunter of deer"""~~
Hush~noun~"A sudden silence. ""A hush came over the room"""~~
Hush~verb~"To be kept as a secret, not common knowledge. ""They hushed up the scandal"""~~
Hyena~noun~"Doglike meat eater that hunts in packs, ""The hyenas mainly come out to hunt at night"""~~
Hymn~noun~"A song of praise or thankfulness.  ""We sang a hymn at church."""~~
icy~adjective~"Covered with, or consisting of ice, ""The road was very icy this morning"""~~
iguana~noun~"Large lizard found in Central and South America, ""My friend has a pet iguana""."~~
Increasingly~adverb~"More effort than is normal, harder. ""It became increasingly difficult to find part time staff"""~~
initiative~noun~"Ability and readiness to start an action, ""The boy lacks initiative""."~~
Instruction~noun~"Directions on how to do something.  ""My father read the instructions as he tried to put together my new bicycle."""~~
Intensive~noun~"An intensive word, ""Quite is an intensive word"""~~
Intensive~adjective~"Having a high level of a specific quality or element ""Coal mining is a very labour intensive industry"""~~
Ivory~noun~"Hard smooth white/creamy coloured substance from which the tusks of elephants are made ""The elephant in the zoo had massive tusks of ivory"""~~
ivy~noun~"A climbing vine, with  shiny, green leaves.  ""The side of the house was covered with ivy"""~~
jackal~noun~"Nocturnal wild dog like animal that hunts in packs, ""The jackal is a scavenger""."~~
jacks~noun~"Small metal pieces used in a children's game called jacks.  ""The boy liked to play jacks with his best friend."""~~
jay~noun~"Brightly coloured (normally blue) noisy birds related to the crow, ""We saw a jay flying overhead"""~~
jelly~noun~"A fruit flavoured dessert, made with gelatine. ""We had jelly at my sister's birthday party"""~~
jelly~verb~"To become jelly or like a jelly, ""The liquid jellied when the solution was added to it"""~~
Jellyfish~noun~"A type of sea animal with a jelly-like body, ""You often see jellyfish washed up on the shore""."~~
jig~noun~"Lively music for dancing a jig.  ""The fiddler played a jig, and the people danced."""~~
jig~verb~"A lively dance in three-four time.  ""The old man did a jig to the sound of the music."""~~
Jolly~noun~"A small ship used by sailors for work, ""Get in the jolly, and fix the side of the ship"""~~
Jolly~verb~"To be silly or playfully tease each other, ""This is serious, it is not a time to jolly"""~~
Jolly~adjective~"Very pleasant or agreeable, ""Santa Claus in the mall was a very jolly man"""~~
Jolly~adverb~"Means large or pretty big in terms of an event or an object, ""He was running jolly quick"""~~
joyful~adjective~"Full of or causing joy. ""She was in a joyful mood"""~~
joyous~adjective~"To be full of joy, ""The wedding was a joyous occasion""."~~
Juicy~adjective~"Full of liquid, or juice.  ""She bit into a piece of the juicy orange."""~~
Kestrel~noun~"A small falcon, ""We saw a Kestrel when we were camping"""~~
Kindly~adjective~"Having a gentle, or kind nature. ""They were kindly people"""~~
Kindly~adverb~"Willingly. ""She asked him if she would kindly take his leave"""~~
kindness~noun~"The quality of being kind and thinking about others, ""The old man's kindness could not be greater""."~~
Kingfisher~noun~"A large headed, brightly coloured bird that feeds mostly on fish and insects.  ""The kingfisher caught the fish in its bill."""~~
kite~noun~"A light covered frame at the end of a long string, used for flying in the air, ""It was a windy day so we decided to fly our kite"""~~
Kitty~noun~"A cat.  ""She convinced her parents to get her a kitty"""~~
Kiwi~noun~"A flightless bird with small wings, ""The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand""."~~
koala~noun~"An animal that feeds on the bark and leaves of a eucalyptus tree.  ""The koala climbed up the tree to get its supper."""~~
Kumquat~noun~"Small yellow/orange fruit with a sweet spongy skin and sour pulp used mainly for preserves, ""I donít like this, it tastes like it has kumquat in it"""~~
ladybug~noun~"A small round beetle that is red with black spots, also known as ladybird.  ""The ladybug flew onto my hand without any notice."""~~
Lame~noun~"A fabric that is woven from threads of metal and silk, wool or cotton, ""The costume she wore was silver lame""."~~
Lame~verb~"A crippled limb especially the foot or leg, ""A lame leg""."~~
Lame~adjective~"Weak or unsatisfactory, ""A lame attempt of a tackle to get the ball""."~~
Lantern~noun~"A portable light enclosed in a clear case.  ""She lifted up the lantern so that she could see deeper into the dark cave."""~~
lard~noun~"Soft white fat from the fatty tissue of the hog, ""We cooked our breakfast using lard"""~~
lard~verb~"To add something extra and unnecessary to, or to smear with fat or grease, ""Did you lard the baking tray?"""~~
lark~noun~"A songbird that has a streaky brown plumage.  ""We saw a lark today flying above the meadow"""~~
lark~verb~"To playfully misbehave, play practical jokes. ""The twins were larking around"""~~
Lash~noun~"The flexible part of a whip, ""He got hit by the lash of the whip""."~~
Lash~verb~"To beat or strike with a whip, ""The jockey lashed the horse""."~~
Lass~noun~"A young, unmarried female.  ""The old woman said that I was a good lass for helping her with her gardening."""~~
Leadership~noun~"The act of leading or the ability to lead, ""The manager has great leadership skills"""~~
leech~noun~"A type of blood-sucking worm, that has a sucker at each end of its body. ""It took 10 minutes to remove the leeches from my arm"""~~
leech~verb~"To use someone for selfish reasons. ""Her relatives leeched off her until her money was gone."""~~
leek~noun~"An edible plant that is related to the onion, ""We had leek and potato soup""."~~
Legislation~noun~"Laws.  ""The Congress will enact new legislation which will help to protect the environment."""~~
lemming~noun~"Small short tailed rodents with furry feet and small ears, prone to mass movements, ""We saw a large group of lemmings moving towards the water"""~~
lemur~noun~"A small, nocturnal creature, with large eyes, a long slim muzzle, and long tail. ""Lemurs make great pets"""~~
Leopard~noun~"A large spotted animal of the cat family, ""The leopards of the world are an endangered species""."~~
Liability~noun~"Being held responsible for something, ""I donít trust him to do this, he is a liability"""~~
lice~noun~"Parasitic insects (plural of louse) that feed on humans and other animals. ""The vet gave me special shampoo for my dog to get rid of and protect from any lice"""~~
Lightness~noun~"Not having much weight, ""The lightness of an object determines if a person can carry it""."~~
liking~noun~"A feeling of happiness or enjoyment of something.  ""I took a real liking to chocolate covered cherries."""~~
lily~noun~"A type of herb with leafy stems that grow from bulbs which have funnel shaped flowers, ""My mum's favourite flower is a lily"""~~
lime~noun~"A small fruit of the lemon family. ""She hates the bitter taste of lime"""~~
lime~verb~"To treat or coat with lime. ""The farmer limed his fields to improve the soil quality."""~~
Limpet~noun~"Mollusc usually found on rocks with a type of cone shaped shell, ""We found many limpets near the rock pools""."~~
linen~noun~"A type of fabric made from the fibres of a flax plant.  ""There used to be many linen mills in the area where I live."""~~
Lizard~noun~"Medium sized reptile with two pairs of legs and ears outside its body, ""Did you see the lizard sitting on that tree branch?"""~~
Llama~noun~"A wild animal similar to a camel but with no hump. ""Llamas are like camels and tend to spit."""~~
Locomotive~noun~"Self powered vehicle used for pulling or pushing a train, ""In days gone by all locomotives were powered by steam""."~~
Locomotive~adjective~"Relating to locomotive; a self powered vehicle pulling or pushing a train, ""A locomotive engineer""."~~
locust~noun~"A type of grasshopper that migrates in a swarm, or large group, and can eat crops.  ""The farmer tried to protect her fields from the swarming locusts."""~~
Lonesome~adjective~"Feeling sad from being on your own, separated from others, ""The old man was feeling very lonesome"""~~
Lookout~noun~"Someone who keeps watch. ""They tried to avoid being spotted by the lookout"""~~
Loser~noun~"A person or a team that loses in a competition, ""The loser in the race was very unlucky""."~~
louse~noun~"A small insect without wings that sucks blood from warm-blooded animals and humans.  ""The miserable dog had to take a special bath to get rid of his louse infestation."""~~
Lumber~noun~"Logs trimmed from trees for use in building ""We need 10 more pieces of lumber to complete the shed"""~~
Lumber~verb~"To move heavily or clumsily, ""He lumbered across the room, knocking over the lamp as he walked"""~~
magpie~noun~"A black and white bird of the that collects shiny objects. ""Our cat chased a magpie."""~~
Mailbox~noun~"A box where mail can be sent or received, ""I opened our mailbox to check for my birthday card""."~~
Mailman~noun~"A person who delivers the mail.  ""Sometimes a mailman has to watch out for attacking dogs!"""~~
mallard~noun~"A type of duck of which the males have a green and white head and white ring around the neck, ""That quacking noise sounds like a mallard!"""~~
mama~noun~"A slang or informal term for mother. ""I am running an errand for my mama."""~~
mamma~noun~"Mother (informal), ""Mamma told me to go to the shop for groceries""."~~
mane~noun~"Long hair growing along the head, the neck or the back of an animal.  ""The horse's mane was tangled and needed to be combed."""~~
manger~noun~"A trough or open box in which food for farm animals is placed, ""It's feeding time for the cows, fill the manger with feed!"""~~
mango~noun~"The sweet fruit of a tropical tree. ""We had mango with our lunch"""~~
Maple~noun~"A type of tree or the wood of this tree, ""The furniture was made from maple""."~~
mare~noun~"A female horse.  ""The mare liked apples, so I gave her one."""~~
Mast~noun~"A long pole that rises from the bottom of the ship to support a sail, ""The sail won't go up, the mast is broken!"""~~
Maypole~noun~"A tall pole that people dance around on May Day. ""They danced around the maypole"""~~
Meadow~noun~"A field used to grow grass that will be made into hay, ""The grass in the meadow will be mown in summer""."~~
mechanism~noun~"A machinery part, the process used to get a result.  ""The explorer triggered the mechanism for the trap door."""~~
mediaeval~adjective~"Variant of Medieval, Relating to the characteristics of the middle ages, ""There was no modern technology in mediaeval times"""~~
Meerkat~noun~"An animal related to the mongoose that often stands on its hind legs using its tail for balance, ""The meerkat poked its head up from underground"""~~
Meow~noun~"The sound made by a cat, ""The meow of the cat signalled that she wanted food""."~~
Meow~verb~"To make a sound or cry like that of a cat, ""The cat meowed loudly all night""."~~
Merry~adjective~"When someone or something is happy or jolly.  ""The children all wished us a Merry Christmas."""~~
mew~noun~"A sound like the one made by a cat, ""The cat's mew told us it was hungry"""~~
mew~verb~"To utter a high pitch cry, ""The seabirds mewed as they flew overhead"""~~
mid-~adjective~"The middle of something. ""It was mid summer and the weather was hot"""~~
Mighty~adjective~"Having great power or strength, ""The boxer threw a mighty punch""."~~
Mighty~adverb~"An informal word meaning the same as 'very', ""The boy was mighty pleased with his work""."~~
Miler~noun~"Someone running a race that is 1 mile long.  ""The miler was trying to beat her previous race time."""~~
milkman~noun~"A person who sells or delivers milk, ""I need milk for my cereal, has the milkman been yet?"""~~
miner~noun~"Someone who works in a mine. ""My grandfather was a miner and told me it was dangerous work."""~~
Mink~noun~"An animal that is similar to the weasel, ""The rich woman's coat was made from mink""."~~
Minnows~noun~"Small fish, which could be from various species.  ""We watched the minnows dart around the bottom of the canoe."""~~
Mint~noun~"A type of herb with a strong flavour, or a place where coins are made ""We had some mint sauce with our lamb chops"""~~
Mint~verb~"To make coins out of metal, ""On a daily basis we mint around 50,000 coins"""~~
Mint~adjective~"Something in brand new condition ""Your car is in mint condition"""~~
Mischief~noun~"Annoying or bad behaviour. ""That kid is always up to mischief"""~~
misspell~verb~"To spell wrong, ""He misspelled the word 'receive'""."~~
Misty~adjective~"Full of fog, obscuring vision.  ""The morning was misty and cold until the sun rose higher in the sky."""~~
mite~noun~"A very small amount, or a small object/creature,  ""This mite is so small we will need a microscope to see it properly"""~~
Mitt~noun~"A glove used by pitchers in baseball. ""The catcher put on his mitt"""~~
Mitten~noun~"A glove that separates the thumb from the fingers, ""We wear our mittens in the winter""."~~
Mockingbird~noun~"A songbird with a long tail and gray and white feathers that lives in the southern United States and can imitate the songs of other birds.  ""It is amazing that the mockingbird can mimic the sounds made by other birds."""~~
mole~noun~"A small brown permanent spot on the skin, ""I have a mole on my chin"""~~
mongoose~noun~"An animal that resembles a ferret, known for being able to kill snakes such as the cobra. ""The mongoose and the snake fought"""~~
Moo~noun~"Noise made by a cow, ""The cows' moos in the night woke the farmer""."~~
Moo~verb~"To make a sound like that of a cow, ""The cows mooed while getting milked""."~~
moonlight~noun~"The light that comes from the moon.  ""We liked to take walks in the bright moonlight."""~~
moonlight~verb~"To work a second job at night.  ""By day she was a secretary, but at night she moonlighted as a piano player in a restaurant."""~~
Moose~noun~"Large animal with broad flat antlers and humped shoulders, related to the deer, ""The moose we saw by the side of the road was huge"""~~
mop~noun~"A piece of sponge, or other material that can soak up water, attached to a handle. ""I used a mop to clean the kitchen floor"""~~
mop~verb~"To clean using a mop. ""Mop up that juice you spilled"""~~
Morrow~noun~"The following day, tomorrow, ""He leaves on the morrow for the concert""."~~
Moslem~noun~"A person who follows the Muslim faith, or Islam.  ""The Moslem believed it was good to pray five times a day and to help people who were poor."""~~
Moslem~adjective~"Describing things related to Islam.  ""The Moslem art in the mosques consisted of beautiful, swirling mosaics."""~~
moss~noun~"Tiny flowerless plants, which usually grow in patches and cling to rocks or tree bark, ""I can't even see that rock because there is so much moss on it!"""~~
mow~noun~"The section of barn where hay is stored. ""Put the hay in the mow"""~~
mow~verb~"To cut grass. ""I had to mow the grass for extra money"""~~
Mr.~noun~"Mister, male title; ""Mr. Thompson teaches Science""."~~
Mrs.~noun~"The title of a married woman.  ""Now that I am married, I am called Mrs. Chapman."""~~
Mule~noun~"The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, ""We saw a mule in the zoo"""~~
nap~noun~"A short sleep, ""I felt better after taking a nap"""~~
nap~verb~"To drift off to sleep for a small amount of time. ""Our cat is always napping"""~~
Necessarily~adverb~"To do something because it is needed, ""You donít necessarily have to come with me tomorrow""."~~
necktie~noun~"A long, colourful piece of material tied around the neck, usually worn by men with suits.  ""My dad's new necktie had purple stripes on it."""~~
nectarine~noun~"A smooth-skinned peach, ""I donít' like the texture of peaches, so instead I just eat nectarines"""~~
Newt~noun~"A type of small salamander that mostly lives in water, ""My brother has a pet newt""."~~
nibble~noun~"A tiny bite.  ""The fish took only a nibble of the bait, and so was not caught."""~~
nibble~verb~"To eat with tiny bites.  ""The mouse nibbled on the piece of cheese."""~~
nickel~noun~"A silver-white hard metal, also the name given to a coin worth 5 cents, ""Are nickel coins actually made of the metal nickel?"""~~
nickel~verb~"To plate with nickel, ""Nickel the trophy so it can shine better"""~~
nickel~adjective~"Describing something which costs 5 dollars, ""A nickel sandwich"""~~
nightgown~noun~"A piece of clothing worn to bed by women. ""She bought a new nightgown"""~~
Nightingale~noun~"Songbird that is known for the song the male sings at night, ""The nightingale could be heard as the children were going to bed""."~~
Numeral~noun~"A number, a symbol representing a number.  ""In math class we learned how to understand Roman numerals."""~~
Numeral~adjective~"Describing things related to numbers.  ""She added up all the numbers, and took a numeral approach to finding out how far she had left to travel."""~~
oak~noun~"Tough hard wood from the oak tree used mostly for furniture and flooring, ""The table looks like it is made from oak"""~~
oak~adjective~"Made of oak wood, ""We should definitely use oak flooring as it will last longer"""~~
Oar~noun~"A piece of wood that has a flat section, used for rowing a boat.  ""My father and I took turns using the oars on our fishing trip"""~~
Oatmeal~noun~"A meal made with ground or rolled oats, ""We had oatmeal for breakfast""."~~
Oats~noun~"A seed of a plant, used as food by humans and animals.  ""We gave the mare some more oats because she was hungry."""~~
Obviously~adverb~"The most apparent choice, something that is openly blatant, ""2 + 2 is obviously 4"""~~
Octopus~noun~"A sea creature with eight tentacles. ""The octopus is also known as the devilfish"""~~
Offense~noun~"Something that breaks a rule, ""The man was put to jail for the offense""."~~
okay~noun~"A slang term showing an approval of something.  ""The inspectors gave us the okay to return back to work."""~~
okay~verb~"Giving permission to something.  ""It's okay with me if you want to go swimming."""~~
okay~adjective~"Being of an average or acceptable condition.  ""Melanie really loved the new movie, but Cara just thought it was okay."""~~
okay~adverb~"Doing something adequately, or well enough.  ""He'll be okay to walk home on his own."""~~
onward~adjective~"Directed or moving toward, ""Our onward journey""."~~
onward~adverb~"Forward in time or order ""From Sunday onward I will exercise everyday"""~~
orang-utan~noun~"A large ape, that has long arms and long reddish brown hair.  ""It was time to feed the orang-utans at the zoo"""~~
orchard~noun~"An area where fruit or nut trees grow, ""I worked in the orchard during summer picking apples""."~~
ore~noun~"A rock holding a valuable metal or mineral which can be mined.  ""The miners were looking for iron ore, but found gold instead!"""~~
organization~noun~"The structure of a business, ""I don't work for that organization anymore!"""~~
Ostrich~noun~"A large, fast bird that cannot fly. ""The ostrich seemed to ignore everyone and everything"""~~
otter~noun~"Weasel like animal living mainly along rivers and having webbed feet, ""When I went fishing I saw an otter catch a fish""."~~
ouch~noun~"Slang- an exclamation used when someone hurts themselves.  ""I stubbed my toe and yelled, 'Ouch!'"""~~
outlaw~noun~"A person who has committed a crime, or someone who lives outside the law, ""There is a reward for the capture of the outlaw"""~~
outlaw~verb~"To make an act or item illegal, ""Talking on a cell phone when driving is dangerous, we had to outlaw it!"""~~
outlaw~adjective~"Something that is done outside the law, ""The workers went on an outlaw strike"""~~
Overalls~noun~"A loose suit that is worn over everyday clothes to keep them clean. ""Before starting work, he put on his overalls"""~~
Overcoat~noun~"Outer heavy coat, ""He put on his overcoat to go out into the cold""."~~
Overeat~verb~"To eat too much.  ""The woman had managed to stop overeating and start exercising, and was happy that she'd lost 20 pounds."""~~
Overhear~verb~"To hear a conversation involving other people ""I tried to overhear what they were saying"""~~
overturn~noun~"The act of overturning or upsetting, ""The result at the game was an unexpected overturn for the home fans""."~~
overturn~verb~"To cause something, or someone to tip over, to capsize. ""The boat was overturned in the storm"""~~
owl~noun~"Large bird that hunts by night, ""We heard the hoot of the owl""."~~
Ox~noun~"A male, castrated bull.  ""The farmer used the strong ox to plough the field."""~~
Oyster~noun~"Seafood with a shell, found on the sea bed,  ""Can I have another oyster please?"""~~
Oyster~verb~"To gather or dig for oysters, ""Are we going to oyster today?"""~~
Pail~noun~"A bucket. ""Fetch a pail of water"""~~
painter~noun~"Someone who paints, ""The painter uses a very fine brush""."~~
pal~noun~"A good friend.  ""My best pal has been my friend since we were 5 years old."""~~
pal~verb~"To act friendly toward in order to become friends with someone.  ""They liked to pal around together by playing basketball on a Saturday."""~~
pancake~noun~"A flat cake made from batter and a popular breakfast food, ""I would love a pancake for breakfast this morning"""~~
panda~noun~"A large black and white bearlike animal. ""There is only one panda at the zoo and it's lazy"""~~
Pane~noun~"The glass of a window, ""The pane cracked when the ball hit it""."~~
panther~noun~"A large, tropical wild feline with black fur.  ""The panther's black fur gleamed in the sunlight as it leapt through the forest."""~~
papa~noun~"Casual term for father, ""My child's first word was papa"""~~
parrot~noun~"A brightly coloured bird that can be taught to speak. ""The parrot in the pet store talked all the time"""~~
parrot~verb~"To copy the way someone speaks or acts.  ""She parroted his words exactly just to annoy him"""~~
parsnip~noun~"A plant that has a large white edible root, ""We had parsnips with our dinner""."~~
Parsnips~noun~"A plant which produces a long, white root vegetable.  ""I like to make curried parsnip soup and eat it with fresh bread."""~~
partridge~noun~"A bird related to the chicken often hunted for game, ""Tonight we are having the partridge I hunted today"""~~
Pasture~noun~"A grass field for animals to feed on.  ""The horses were put in the pasture"""~~
Pasture~verb~"To eat grass in a field.  ""Put the cows out to pasture."""~~
Patter~noun~"Usually amusing, meaningless chat, ""His patter was really funny""."~~
Patter~verb~"To make a series of light taps, ""The rain pattered""."~~
Pave~verb~"To lay down asphalt, concrete, or a similar building material to make a road.  ""The workers paved the new roads with black, smooth asphalt."""~~
Pearl~noun~"A shiny material found inside an oyster or clam, considered a jewel, ""I found a pearl in my catch of oysters"""~~
Pearl~verb~"To gather pearls in the ocean, ""The divers you see are pearling"""~~
Pearl~adjective~"Made of pearl or looks like pearl, ""Is that a pearl necklace?"""~~
peck~noun~"A quick, painful bite from a bird.  ""The bird gave him a painful peck on the hand"""~~
peck~verb~"To hit with a pointed object as a bird does with its beak, ""The robin pecked at the bird feeder""."~~
peek~noun~"A quick or secret look, ""She took a peek through the keyhole""."~~
peek~verb~"To take a quick or secret look, ""He peeked over the girl's shoulder, to try and see the answer""."~~
peep~noun~"The quiet, high pitched cry of a young bird.  ""The robins let out a peep when they saw their mother returning to the nest with a big, juicy worm for breakfast."""~~
peep~verb~"To peek at something.  ""The little girl peeped under the bed to make sure there were no monsters under it."""~~
pelican~noun~"Large web footed seabird, with a large bill which has a pouch for storing fish, ""Did you see that pelican flying overhead?"""~~
Penguin~noun~"A large sea bird that cannot fly.  ""Penguins eat fish"""~~
peppermint~noun~"A herb with a pungent oil used for flavouring, ""Peppermint candy""."~~
Peppers.~noun~"A type of fruit which grows in many different colours, sizes, and strengths of taste, that is in a pod like shape and filled with small seeds.  ""I like to eat red peppers in my salad."""~~
percent~noun~"One part in 100, ""I scored 95 percent in my exam"""~~
Pheasant~noun~"A type of long tailed bird that is often hunted.  ""I shot a pheasant today and cooked it for dinner"""~~
pickle~noun~"A vegetable (cucumber, onion) that is preserved in vinegar or brine, ""A jar of pickles""."~~
pickle~verb~"To preserve food, vegetables (or fruits), in a liquid like vinegar or brine, ""She pickled the gherkins""."~~
pigeon~noun~"A type of bird that can be wild or domesticated, that has a stocky body and short legs.  ""The pigeon's feathers showed a brilliant array of colours, and shone in the morning sun."""~~
Piggy~noun~"A young pig, ""Did you see the piggy with its mother?"""~~
Piggy~adjective~"Resembling a pig, ""Piggy features""."~~
Pine~noun~"Evergreen trees with cones and needle shaped leaves. ""We collected the cones from the pines"""~~
Pine~verb~"To desire someone or something. ""She was pining for home"""~~
Pitcher~noun~"Someone who throws the ball at the batter in baseball, ""The pitcher had a great game""."~~
Platter~noun~"A large flat dish.  ""She placed the vegetables on her best platter to serve to her new friend."""~~
Platypus~noun~"Small egg laying animal, its bill looks like that of a duck, ""We saw a platypus on the banks of the river""."~~
playhouse~noun~"A toy house that children can play in.  ""The children received a playhouse for Christmas"""~~
playmate~noun~"A friend to play with, ""The boys have been playmates since kindergarten""."~~
plaything~noun~"A toy, an item to be played with.  ""I had a special box in which I kept all my favourite playthings."""~~
Pocketbook~noun~"An item which holds money and personal items ""I keep spare change in my pocketbook"""~~
polar bear~noun~"A large bear, with white fur, found at the North Pole. ""They spent 3 weeks recording the habits of the polar bear"""~~
Polecat~noun~"A dark coloured animal that is related to the weasel and ferret, ""Polecats ate the chickens""."~~
policeman~noun~"A person who has a job as a police officer.  ""The policeman gave a ticket to the speeding driver."""~~
pomegranate~noun~"A reddish fruit with a thick skin and a lot of seeds, ""It takes a long time to eat a pomegranate"""~~
Porcupine~noun~"An animal that is like a hedgehog, but is larger and has very long and sharp quills.  ""Porcupine quills are very sharp"""~~
Porpoise~noun~"A small blunt snouted whale, ""There were porpoises in the documentary we watched about life in the ocean""."~~
praying mantis~noun~"A long, stick like insect that folds its front legs as if it were praying.  ""We watched the praying mantis quietly, as we did not want to startle it from its pose."""~~
Properly~adverb~"In a suitable way, ""Can you do your homework properly?"""~~
provision~noun~"A set condition.  ""His one provision was don't let anyone you don't know into the house"""~~
provision~verb~"To provide someone with something.  ""The army were provisioned with supplies and ammunition"""~~
prune~noun~"A dried plum, ""The woman ate a bag of prunes""."~~
prune~verb~"To cut or take off (usually in gardening), ""She pruned the bushes""."~~
puff~noun~"A quick, soft burst of air.  ""There was a quick puff of smoke, and then the magician disappeared."""~~
puff~verb~"To smoke, or inhale or exhale while smoking.  ""The old man puffed on his cigar and twirled his moustache."""~~
puff~adjective~"Fabric or another substance in a round shape.  ""The girl wore her dress with puffed sleeves as she dined on puff pastries."""~~
pumpkin~noun~"A large round orange fruit used for food and is popular at Halloween, ""Can I have some more pumpkin pie?"""~~
Pumpkins~noun~"A large orange fruit, hollowed out and used as lanterns at Halloween. ""She bought  two pumpkins for her kids at Halloween"""~~
pup~noun~"A young dog, ""Our dog gave birth to five pups""."~~
pup~verb~"To give birth to dogs, ""The female had been pupping all night""."~~
puss~noun~"Informal, affectionate term.  ""'Hello, puss!' said my older brother as he ruffled my hair."""~~
pussycat~noun~"A common word used for a housecat, also can describe someone who is a pushover ""She is such a pussycat"""~~
python~noun~"A large snake that kills its prey by crushing it. ""Pythons make for exotic pets"""~~
Quack~noun~"The sound that a duck makes, ""We could hear the quacks of the ducks at the park""."~~
Quack~verb~"To make the sound a duck makes, ""The ducks quacked loudly""."~~
Quack~adjective~"Medically fraudulent or unqualified, ""It was a quack remedy from a quack doctor"""~~
quail~noun~"A type of game bird.  ""The man took his dog with him when he went hunting for quail."""~~
quail~verb~"To fearfully pull back.  ""I quailed before the large, barking dog."""~~
Quart~noun~"A unit of liquid, four quarts is equal to one gallon, ""Can you go to the store and get one quart of milk?"""~~
Quilt~noun~"A soft, very comfortable bed covering. ""She pulled the quilt over her head to block out the morning sun"""~~
Quilt~verb~"To make something by stitching together pieces of material. ""She has decided to quilt a skirt"""~~
raccoon~noun~"A bushy tailed small animal that mainly lives in trees, ""I saw a raccoon last night in my garden looking for food""."~~
Radish~noun~"A crisp root vegetable with a strong smell, often eaten with salads.  ""I picked all the pieces of radish off my salad because I don't like it."""~~
Rainy~adjective~"A period with a lot of rain, ""This week has been very rainy!"""~~
Raisin~noun~"A dried grape. ""The woman baked scones with raisins in them."""~~
Rake~noun~"A gardening tool used to gather up grass or leaves, ""He used a rake after cutting the grass""."~~
Rake~verb~"To use a rake, ""She raked the leaves in the fall"""~~
Ram~noun~"A type of computer memory which allows the computer to perform certain tasks.  Random Access Memory.  ""I wanted to get a new computer with much more RAM."""~~
Ram~verb~"To push against something heavily and suddenly.  ""She rammed herself against the stuck door, hoping that it would be forced open."""~~
Rattlesnake~noun~"A poisonous snake with a rattle at the end of the tail, ""I can hear a rattlesnake in that bush!"""~~
raven~noun~"A large black bird that is related to the crow. ""The ravens made a lot of noise when we walked under the trees""."~~
Reap~verb~"To cut or clear a field in harvest, ""The old farmer reaped the field with a scythe""."~~
Rebuild~verb~"To reconstruct.  ""We will have to rebuild our house as it was damaged in the storm."""~~
Recess~noun~"A short period of rest in work or school, ""We have a fifteen minute recess every morning"""~~
Recess~verb~"To interrupt or take a recess, ""I'm going to recess now for 15 minutes"""~~
recognition~noun~"To recognise someone, or something. ""He was given a medal in recognition of his achievements"""~~
recognize~verb~"To remember something upon seeing it, ""He did not recognize the girl because she had had her hair cut""."~~
redcurrant~noun~"A small red berry.  ""Her aunt taught her how to make jam using redcurrants."""~~
Regional~adjective~"Relating to a certain region, ""Their accent is regional"""~~
Reindeer~noun~"A large deer common in Northern Europe, Asia and America. ""Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer"""~~
rejoice~verb~"To feel or show great joy, ""Rejoice over the good news""."~~
Repay~verb~"To refund.  ""I will repay all that I owe you."""~~
representation~noun~"A presentation to the mind in the form of a picture or symbol, ""The play was the students representation of the story"""~~
Rhinoceros~noun~"A large, grey, thick skinned animal, with one or two horns on its nose. ""The rhinoceros charged at the hunters""."~~
rhubarb~noun~"A plant that has a long thick pink stem that can be eaten usually after cooking, ""We had custard with our rhubarb pie""."~~
Riddle~noun~"A difficult question to solve.  ""Many people try to figure out the riddle of the chicken and the egg."""~~
Riddle~verb~"To pierce a large number of times.  ""The target had been  riddled with bullet holes."""~~
rider~noun~"A person who drives a motorbike or bicycle, ""He is an experienced rider of motorbikes"""~~
rim~noun~"The edge of something circular, like a bowl.  ""The rim of a wheel"""~~
rim~verb~"To attach a rim to.  ""To complete the hat, the final stage was to rim it"""~~
roadside~noun~"The side of a road or path, ""We had to be very careful walking along the roadside""."~~
Robber~noun~"A person who steals things and threatens violence.  ""The robber ran off with my wallet and my watch."""~~
robe~noun~"A long loose item of clothing, used to cover the body, ""I always put on my robe after I shower"""~~
robe~verb~"To cover with a robe, ""The priest always robes before service"""~~
Robin~noun~"A small bird with a red breast.  ""Robins are a common feature on Christmas cards"""~~
Rocky~adjective~"Having lots of rocks, ""The beach was very rocky with very little sand""."~~
Rodent~noun~"A small animal that uses its teeth to chew or gnaw on things.  ""A mouse and a rat are both examples of a rodent."""~~
Roller~noun~"A turning cylinder on which something is smoothed, ""The steamer has a large roller at the end for smoothing the new road"""~~
Rook~noun~"A type of crow. ""Rooks are similar to crows."" Also a chess piece. ""On his turn, he moved the rook"""~~
Rook~verb~"To swindle or cheat people. ""Customers are worried about being rooked by untrustworthy vendors"""~~
Rooster~noun~"An adult male bird, especially chickens, ""The rooster crows early in the morning""."~~
rosebud~noun~"The bloom, or blossom of a rose.  ""She bent down so she could smell the fragrant rosebud."""~~
Rowboat~noun~"A small boat made to be rowed using oars, ""My dad and I have a rowboat that we use on the lake!"""~~
Rumble~noun~"A loud, deep continuous noise. ""The rumble of tanks crossing the bridge"""~~
Rumble~verb~"To speak in a low deep voice. ""He rumbled the order to his troops"""~~
runner~noun~"Someone who runs, ""John was the fastest runner in the race""."~~
rusty~adjective~"Covered by rust, an orange covering that forms over metal when it has been exposed to air and moisture.  ""The old car was rusty and falling apart."""~~
rye~noun~"A cereal grass grown for its grain, ""Can I have a sandwich on rye bread please?"""~~
saddle~noun~"A seat on the back of an animal for a rider to sit on. ""She bought a new saddle for her horse"""~~
saddle~verb~"To mount, or get on, a saddle. ""Saddle up"""~~
Sailboat~noun~"A boat with sails so it can be moved along by the wind, ""The sailboat started to move faster as the wind got stronger""."~~
Sailor~noun~"A person working as a member of a ship's crew.  ""The sailor hoisted the sails as the wind blew."""~~
Salamander~noun~"A lizard like animal with smooth skin, ""I wanted to get a salamander from the pet store"""~~
Salmon~noun~"A large fish, with pink flesh. ""Brown bears eat salmon"""~~
Sandy~adjective~"Containing lots of sand, ""I prefer a sandy beach to a rocky one""."~~
Sap~noun~"A liquid made of sugar, salts and minerals that flows through a plant.  ""The sap of a maple tree makes delicious syrup."""~~
Sap~verb~"To tire, or drain of strength or energy.  ""My energy was sapped after walking out in the heat of the day."""~~
Sash~noun~"A band of silk worn around the waist or over the shoulder, ""The winner of the beauty contest wore a sash"""~~
satin~noun~"A shiny type of silk. ""Skin as smooth as satin"""~~
satin~adjective~"Made of, or with satin."" Her favourite top is her satin shirt"""~~
Satsuma~noun~"A type of orange, ""I had a Satsuma with my lunch""."~~
Savage~noun~"Wild, considered to be uncivilized.  ""Some people consider others to be savages when they are different from them."""~~
Savage~verb~"To criticize fiercely.  ""The politician's plans were savaged by members of the other political party."""~~
Savage~adjective~"Overly fierce.  ""She refused to apologize for her savage behaviour."""~~
scab~noun~"A worker who takes the place of a worker on strike, ""Work was able to continue during the strike because of the scab"""~~
scab~verb~"The forming of a crust of hardened blood over a wound, ""The cut on his knee looks like it will scab""."~~
schoolboy~noun~"A boy who goes to school. ""The schoolboy hates mathematics."""~~
schoolhouse~noun~"A building that is used as a school, ""The old schoolhouse has stood for many years""."~~
Schoolmaster~noun~"The top official at the school.  ""The Schoolmaster showed us she had a sense of humour when she competed in the 3-legged race."""~~
Schoolroom~noun~"A room where the lessons take place in a school, ""We have a special schoolroom just for science lessons"""~~
Scorch~noun~"To burn someone or something. ""When lighting the fire, he got a minor scorch on his hand"""~~
Scorch~verb~"To dry up with heat. ""The sun scorched the plants"""~~
Scorpion~noun~"A small creature with a jointed body and a poisonous stinger on it its long tail, ""Scorpions are usually found in hot regions""."~~
sea horse~noun~"A small marine animal that resembles a horse.  ""I saw a beautiful seahorse at the new aquarium."""~~
Sea lion~noun~"A large seal with small ears on the outside of its body, ""The sea lion makes a loud crying noise"""~~
Sea urchin~noun~"A sea creature with a soft body covered in shells.  ""Sea urchins are often found in shallow water."""~~
Seam~noun~"The fold or line made by sewing together or joining two pieces, ""The shirt ripped at the seam""."~~
Seam~verb~"To join or sew two pieces with a seam, ""She seamed my shirt for me""."~~
secondary~noun~"A group of football players that line up behind the linemen to assist with defence.  ""The secondary blocked the pass from the other team."""~~
secondary~adjective~"Following the first item in rank or importance.  ""She only took a secondary interest in football because she preferred basketball."""~~
Seek~verb~"To go in search of, ""We are going to seek out somewhere to live"""~~
seesaw~noun~"A plank of wood set on a pivot with a seat at each end.  ""The child fell off the seesaw"""~~
seesaw~verb~"To move in a seesaw motion. ""He seesawed back and forth on the edge of the diving board"""~~
seriously~adverb~"In a serious manner, not joking, ""Seriously, I'm telling you the truth""."~~
serpent~noun~"A snake - a long, scaly, possibly venomous reptile.  ""There are no serpents in Ireland, but they live in many other places."""~~
settlement~noun~"The act of settling or a small village, ""There is a small settlement in the mountains"""~~
Shady~adjective~"Not trustworthy. ""He is a shady character"""~~
shaker~noun~"A container used for shaking, ""The barman uses a shaker to make cocktails""."~~
shallot~noun~"A plant similar to an onion, which has a bulb split into sections.  ""I like to add shallots to my cooking to give it extra flavour."""~~
Shallots~noun~"A small type of onion with bulbs which look like garlic, ""I always add shallots to my pasta sauce"""~~
Shark~noun~"A greyish skinned marine fish that preys on other sea animals and sometimes can be dangerous to humans, ""We saw sharks at the aquarium""."~~
Shear~verb~"To chop or cut with large scissors.  ""She sheared the woolly sheep so that the wool could be spun into thread for clothing."""~~
Shears~noun~"A large pair of scissors used in gardening, ""I trimmed my hedge using shears"""~~
Shepherd~noun~"Someone who guards or tends to sheep, ""The shepherd kept a look out for any attacks on the flock of sheep""."~~
Shepherd~verb~"To take care of, to direct in a caring manner.  ""The crossing guards shepherded the young children across the busy street."""~~
Shoemaker~noun~"Someone who makes, repairs or sells shoes. ""My boots were specially made by a shoemaker"""~~
Shovel~noun~"A tool with a long handle and a scoop at the bottom that can be used to shift materials.  ""He used a shovel to dig the well."""~~
Shovel~verb~"To dig or scoop something.  ""The snow was so deep, my father spent hours shovelling it off the pathway."""~~
shrew~noun~"A bad-tempered woman, ""The lady across the street is a bit of a shrew""."~~
sickness~noun~"Having an illness, being sick. ""There is a lot of sickness going around"""~~
significance~noun~"Quality of being worth something or notable, ""The video we watched showed the significance of recycling""."~~
silkworm~noun~"A white caterpillar that spins a cocoon that can be used to make silk.  ""The silkworm spins a strong fibre that can be used to make silk."""~~
Sill~noun~"A piece of timber that forms the lowest piece of a structure, can be found at the base of a window, ""I placed my drink on the window sill"""~~
Singer~noun~"Someone who sings.  ""We sat at the bar and listened to the singer all night"""~~
skater~noun~"Someone who skates, ""The skater pulled off a difficult trick""."~~
skunk~noun~"A small animal with black fur and a white stripe on its back, that sprays a foul odour when frightened.  ""The skunk is a very smelly animal."""~~
slate~noun~"A piece of material used for roofing, ""We need to put another slate on the roof"""~~
slate~verb~"To schedule for a particular purpose or action, ""Did you slate the meeting for tomorrow afternoon?"""~~
Sled~noun~"A light vehicle designed to move quickly across snow or ice, with runners in the place of wheels.  ""We used the sled to go down the snow covered hill."""~~
Sled~verb~"To travel by sled.  ""I sledded down the hill"""~~
Sleepy~adjective~"Tired, falling asleep, ""The children were sleepy so they went to bed""."~~
Sleigh~noun~"Similar to a sled, a vehicle pulled by horses or dogs which is mounted on runners in order to travel over snow.  ""Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer."""~~
Sleigh~verb~"To travel by sleigh.  ""We sleighed through the snowy forest."""~~
sling~noun~"A strap tied  together at each end to hold something in place, ""When I broke my arm it was put in a sling"""~~
sling~verb~"To throw with a sudden sweeping motion, ""To get the newspaper into that porch, you are really going to have to sling it hard"""~~
Slit~noun~"A thin, shallow cut. ""A slit in the material"""~~
Slit~verb~"To slice a into something.  ""He slit the envelope open"""~~
Slit~adjective~"To have a long thin cut.  ""Her long skirt had slit sides."""~~
Slug~noun~"A small snail-like creature with no shell, ""There was a slug in my garden."""~~
Slug~verb~"To strike or hit hard as if with a bat, ""The policeman slugged the violent man with his baton""."~~
sly~adjective~"Cunning or deceptive.  ""That was a sly answer you gave, but I don't think you're being completely honest."""~~
snipe~noun~"A type of bird with a long slender bill, living mostly in marshy areas, ""Is that a snipe hiding in the long grass?"""~~
snipe~verb~"To shoot at an enemy from a concealed point, or to attack someone with harsh words, ""Their mission during the war was to hide in the hills and snipe enemy soldiers"""~~
snowball~noun~"Snow shaped into a ball. ""She was hit right in the face by a snowball"""~~
snowball~verb~"To get bigger, quickly.  ""The small business snowballed into a great enterprise"""~~
snowflake~noun~"A flake or crystal of snow, ""The snowflakes were softly falling""."~~
snowy~adjective~"Full of, or covered in snow.  ""The deer stood in the snowy field."""~~
snuff~noun~"Powdered tobacco for sniffing through the nose, ""My grandmother always took snuff after dinner"""~~
snuff~verb~"To put an end to something, ""Can you snuff out that candle please?"""~~
snuff~adjective~"Something the colour of snuff tobacco, ""A snuff coloured sweater"""~~
Snug~noun~"A small private room.  ""The snug was very comfortable"""~~
Snug~adjective~"Relaxing, comfortable, or warm.  ""A snug little house"""~~
sob~noun~"A sound made when crying or weeping, ""We could hear her sobs""."~~
sob~verb~"To cry or weep, ""The boy sobbed when he fell over""."~~
Sod~noun~"Top layer of earth covered with grass.  ""My dad used new sod to cover the bare earth in the back yard."""~~
Sod~verb~"To use sod to cover an area.  ""The landscapers could sod the back yard in less than an hour."""~~
Soda~noun~"A sweet drink made with soda water and flavouring ""I'm thirsty, can I have a soda please?"""~~
sometime~adjective~"Formerly, once in a while. ""She is a sometime teacher"""~~
sometime~adverb~"At an unsure time, later on. ""She will arrive sometime tomorrow"""~~
Songbird~noun~"Any bird that sings a song, ""I could hear many different songbirds when I walked through the forest""."~~
Sorrow~noun~"Deep sadness and grief.  ""Her sorrow was great at the death of her beloved dog."""~~
Sorrow~verb~"To experience feelings of sadness and grief.  ""I sorrowed at my loss."""~~
Spade~noun~"A digging tool like a shovel than can be pushed into the ground with the foot, ""Use the spade to dig the hole in the garden"""~~
Spade~verb~"To dig with or use a spade ""Can you spade that turf?"""~~
Sparrow~noun~"A small, brown bird. ""There are sparrows in the garden"""~~
Spear~noun~"A long weapon with a long handle and sharp blade used for throwing or jabbing, ""The soldier threw his spear""."~~
Spear~verb~"To use or pierce with a spear, ""The knight speared the dragon""."~~
spike~noun~"A sudden increase, as in power.  ""There was an spike in electrical current, which caused the lights to go out."""~~
spike~verb~"To suppress, disable, or block.  ""She spiked the rumour by telling the truth."""~~
spinach~noun~"A plant with dark green edible leaves, used in cooking, ""I always use spinach leaves in my fresh green salad"""~~
Spook~noun~"A ghost. ""There is a spook in that haunted house."""~~
Spring Onion~noun~"A scallion, ""We had spring onion with our salad""."~~
Springtime~noun~"A time in the year when the weather gets milder and plants begin to bud and grow.  ""I love the sunnier springtime days."""~~
Springtime~adjective~"Referring to the season of spring.  ""The springtime flowers sway in a gentle breeze."""~~
Squid~noun~"A sea animal with 8 short arms and 2 tentacles, can also be cooked and eaten, ""We saw a giant squid in the aquarium"""~~
Squirrel~noun~"A small animal, reddish-brown or grey in colour, with a bushy tail.  ""The squirrel ran up the tree"""~~
stag~noun~"An adult male deer, ""There are many stags in the national park""."~~
stag~verb~"To go to a party without a female, ""The men will all stag this weekend with no women allowed""."~~
Steamboat~noun~"A steam powered boat, usually used on rivers or inland bodies of water.  ""Mark Twain worked on a steamboat before he became a writer."""~~
steamer~noun~"A container in which something is steamed, ""I like my vegetables cooked healthily, so I use a steamer"""~~
steeple~noun~"A tower with a spire.  ""A spire topped the steeple"""~~
Sticky~adjective~"Having the property of glue, able to stick to something, ""My hands were sticky after eating the candy""."~~
stillness~noun~"Quiet, a lack of movement.  ""You could hear a pin drop in the stillness of the room."""~~
Stoat~noun~"A type of short tailed weasel with a brown summer coat, ""We saw a stoat down by the riverbank"""~~
Stoop~noun~"The act of bending the head and upper back. ""The old man walked with a stoop."""~~
Stoop~verb~"To bend over and down using the upper back.  ""The tall man had to stoop to get through the low door."""~~
stork~noun~"A large bird with a long stout bill, ""The stork waded through the water""."~~
Stormy~adjective~"Featuring storms, unsettled weather, or other types of commotion.  ""'It was a dark and stormy night' is a famous opening line of a novel."""~~
Stove~noun~"An item in the kitchen used for cooking food, ""I heated my soup on the stove"""~~
Strategy~noun~"The state of planning an attack. ""Their strategy was terrible so they lost the game"""~~
Strongly~adverb~"With power or strength, ""He strongly held down the thief""."~~
stump~noun~"The roots and base of a tree that remains after the tree has been cut down.  ""She liked to sit on the stump of the old tree to read her book."""~~
stump~verb~"To be confused.  ""I felt completely stumped in my trigonometry class, so I found a tutor to help me."""~~
Sturgeon~noun~"A long bodied fish with thick bony plated skin, its eggs are used to make caviar, ""The sturgeon is a valuable fish"""~~
Sunflower~noun~"A large flower with long yellow leaves.  ""We passed a field full of sunflowers """~~
sunk~adjective~"Beyond help, or fully underwater, ""You are really sunk this time if you get caught""."~~
swamp~noun~"A boggy, wet lowland area.  ""When we were in Louisiana we went on a boat tour in the swamp and saw alligators."""~~
swamp~verb~"To cover or drench.  ""The high waves swamped the sides of our tiny boat."""~~
Swan~noun~"A long-necked, white water bird, ""When we go to the park,  we always feed the swans in the water"""~~
Swat~noun~"A quick sharp blow, ""The boxer was knocked down by a sudden swat from his opponent"""~~
Swat~verb~"To quickly hit or smack, someone or something.  ""She tried to swat the fly buzzing around her"""~~
Swede~noun~"A type of turnip, ""We ate Swede for dinner last night""."~~
Sweet potato~noun~"An orange root vegetable that has a sweet taste.  ""I love to eat sweet potatoes with my dinner."""~~
Sweetcorn~noun~"A corn with kernels containing a lot of sugar, yellow in colour, ""I always eat my sweetcorn"""~~
Sweetness~noun~"Kind and gentle. ""He was charmed by the sweetness of her manner"""~~
swift~adjective~"Moving very fast, ""The swift athletes all ran a good race""."~~
system~noun~"An organized way of doing things.  ""I tried to create a system of tasks so that I could keep my house clean."""~~
tack~noun~"A small sharp-pointed nail which is flat at the head, ""I need one more tack to keep my poster on the wall"""~~
tack~verb~"To fasten or attach using tacks, ""Can you tack this memo to the notice board please?"""~~
Tag~noun~"A label that gives information.  ""A price tag hung off the sleeve of the jacket"""~~
Tag~verb~"To put a label on something. ""All of the new products have been tagged"""~~
Talker~noun~"Someone who talks, ""The talker spoke very well""."~~
Tangerine~noun~"A small citrus fruit that's related to a mandarin orange.  ""I find tangerines easier to peel than oranges."""~~
Tangerine~adjective~"A bright reddish orange colour.  ""The tangerine coloured sofa looked perfect with the new decorations in the room."""~~
tar~noun~"A dark sticky liquid, ""Tar is used in laying roads"""~~
tar~verb~"To smear with tar, ""Can you tar the roof before we attach the roof tiles please?"""~~
tardy~adjective~"Being late, not on time. ""You were tardy today for work"""~~
termite~noun~"White insect that feeds on wood, ""The furniture has termites and is ruined""."~~
Thankful~adjective~"Showing gratefulness.  ""She flashed a thankful smile at me when I helped her carry in the groceries."""~~
Thanksgiving~noun~"A major holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, it remembers a feast between Indians and the Pilgrims, ""Every Thanksgiving we have turkey"""~~
thimble~noun~"A small item usually made of metal worn over a finger to protect it from getting pricked by a needle during sowing.  ""My Grandma always used a thimble when she was embroidering."""~~
thorn~noun~"Prickly part of a plant, ""Rose bushes have thorns""."~~
throne~noun~"The chair a king or queen sits on. ""The new king sat on his throne"""~~
Tiger~noun~"A large carnivorous wild cat,   ""We saw a tiger at the zoo."""~~
tilt~verb~"To slant or tip in order to move an object, ""I had to tilt the table on its side to get it past the doorway and into the room"""~~
tinkle~noun~"A light ringing noise. ""She heard the tinkle of the cat's bell"""~~
tinkle~verb~"To make a light ringing noise. ""The doorbell tinkled"""~~
tiptoe~noun~"The tip or end of a toe, ""She walked on her tiptoes""."~~
tiptoe~verb~"To walk on your toes, ""We need to be quiet so we must tiptoe""."~~
tiptoe~adjective~"On the top of your toes, ""His tiptoe movements didn't make a sound""."~~
tiptoe~adverb~"On the top of your toes, ""Walking tiptoe to be quiet""."~~
Toad~noun~"A small amphibian similar to a frog, with rougher skin.  ""I tried to pick up the toad, but it jumped away swiftly."""~~
toadstool~noun~"A poisonous fungus with an umbrella shaped cap, ""If you see a toadstool then do not eat it"""~~
toot~noun~"A short sound of a horn. ""The toot of the car horn"""~~
toot~verb~"To make a sound like a horn. ""He tooted on the horn"""~~
toothpick~noun~"Strip of plastic or wood used to pick food stuck between teeth, ""I use a toothpick after dinner""."~~
tortoise~noun~"A land based turtle.  ""The tortoise moved slowly in the afternoon sun."""~~
tow~noun~"A line of rope for moving objects, ""When my car broke down, roadside assistance needed to use a tow rope to move it"""~~
tow~verb~"To pull along behind, ""Can you tow my car for me please?"""~~
Toward~noun~"To walk to something or someone, be nearer to. ""We walked toward the bar"""~~
Tramp~noun~"A homeless person or a beggar, ""The tramp wore shabby clothes""."~~
Tramp~verb~"To heavily walk, ""He tramped through the long grass""."~~
traveller's cheque~noun~"A cheque drawn up by a bank that has a certain cash value and can only be cashed by the traveller who purchases it.  ""We used traveller's cheques on our trip to Italy because we thought that would be safer."""~~
Tricycle~noun~"A three wheeled vehicle with pedals, ""My son is always on his tricycle"""~~
Troop~noun~"A group of people or things. ""A troop of visitors arrived."""~~
Troop~verb~"To move or travel together in a group. ""They all trooped into his office"""~~
Trout~noun~"Freshwater edible fish, ""We went fishing for trout at the weekend""."~~
truly~adverb~"Actually, can be verified.  ""I am truly happy in my new home."""~~
tub~noun~"A wide, low container, ""Can you pass me the tub of butter please?"""~~
Tulip~noun~"A plant with bright coloured, cup shaped flowers. ""He gave his wife tulips on their anniversary"""~~
Tumble~noun~"An act of rolling and turning while falling, ""Humpty Dumpty took a tumble off the wall"""~~
Tumble~verb~"To fall over, ""He tumbled down the grassy hill""."~~
turnip~noun~"A large, round white root vegetable.  ""The turnip is a very healthy vegetable, and tastes good eaten with carrots."""~~
Turnips~noun~"A herb with a thick edible root, cooked as a vegetable, ""I always ask can we have turnips for dinner"""~~
Turtle~noun~"A reptile with a hard protective shell and lives mostly in water.  ""We saw a turtle on the beach"""~~
twig~noun~"A small branch, ""The twigs snapped under my feet""."~~
twig~verb~"To understand or perceive,  ""He twigged what their plan was right away""."~~
unfinished~adjective~"Incomplete.  ""The master painter left his last masterpiece unfinished."""~~
Unfriendly~adjective~"Not kind or agreeable, ""Our new neighbour was very unfriendly"""~~
unhurt~adjective~"Safe, not hurt. ""The kids were found safe and unhurt"""~~
unkind~adjective~"Unfriendly, ""The unkind boy wouldnít share his sweets""."~~
upside~noun~"The top part, or the area facing upward.  ""Please place the delicate pottery on the upside of the tray."""~~
uptown~noun~"A part of town away from the shopping district, ""Uptown is 10 blocks away from the main shopping street"""~~
uptown~adjective~"Located in the upper part of town, ""My brother lives uptown"""~~
uptown~adverb~"Moving toward the upper part of town ""To get to the freeway you need to drive uptown"""~~
Upward~adjective~"Going up. ""They took the upward path"""~~
Upward~adverb~"Moving to a higher point. ""The birds flew upward"""~~
user~noun~"Someone who uses something, ""The instructions were very easy for the user to understand""."~~
Valentine~noun~"A card sent to a loved one, or a loved one.  ""I'll send a valentine to her because I really like her."""~~
variation~noun~"A change in form, position or condition, ""There was a variation in the weather from yesterday to today"""~~
Vase~noun~"A jug, or container, that holds flowers. ""Look at the vase of flowers"""~~
vessel~noun~"Hollow utensil like a cup used for holding things, or a transport for going across water; a boat or ship, ""The vessel was rocking violently during the storm""."~~
vine~noun~"A plant with a long stem that winds along the ground or climbs surfaces.  ""She tended her grape vines in the hot summer sun."""~~
violet~noun~"A plant with showy fragrant flowers, ""I always buy a violet for my wife as it is her favourite flower"""~~
violet~adjective~"A reddish blue colour, ""My new t-shirt is a violet colour"""~~
viper~noun~"A breed of snake. ""The viper is a type of snake"""~~
vole~noun~"Small rodent that looks like a fat mouse or rat, ""The cat chased the vole through the field""."~~
vowel~noun~"The letters A, E, I, O, and U, and sometimes Y.  ""Words are made up of vowels and consonants."""~~
vulture~noun~"A large bird that feeds mostly on dead animals, ""There were a number of vultures in the desert circling above looking for food"""~~
wag~noun~"Something moving from side to side. ""The dog's tail gave one feeble wag"""~~
wag~verb~"To move back and forth, and side to side. ""The dog wagged its tail in pleasure"""~~
Wagon~noun~"Wheeled vehicle used to carry passengers or goods, especially one drawn by a horse, ""The old wagon had large wooden wheels"""~~
waken~verb~"To rouse from sleep or rest.  ""Please wake me up before you leave."""~~
wallaby~noun~"A small medium sized kangaroo, ""On our vacation we saw a wallaby"""~~
Walnut~noun~"The nut that comes from a walnut tree. ""He cracked open the walnut with a nutcracker."""~~
Walrus~noun~"A large mammal that is related to the seal and has ivory tusks, ""The walrus can be found in the Arctic Ocean""."~~
Washer~noun~"A person who cleans or washes things.  ""The window washer was hired to wash the skyscraper's windows."""~~
washtub~noun~"A tub for washing or soaking clothes, ""Our washing machine broke, so we had to use the washtub to clean our clothes"""~~
Watchman~noun~"A guard, someone whose job it is to keep watch, ""The watchman worked through the night at the museum""."~~
Watercress~noun~"A small plant, often growing near streams, whose leaves are used in salads.  ""I added crispy watercress to my sandwich."""~~
watermelon~noun~"A large fruit with a  hard shell and red juicy pulp and many seeds, ""I enjoy a refreshing slice of watermelon on a hot summers day"""~~
Waterproof~noun~"Something that is resistant to water. ""She was wearing waterproofs"""~~
Waterproof~verb~"To make, or become waterproof.  ""The groundskeepers waterproofed the grass tennis court when it was raining""."~~
Waterproof~adjective~"Not allowing water to soak through. ""It is made of waterproof material"""~~
wayside~noun~"The side of a road or a path, ""There is grass along the wayside""."~~
Weary~verb~"To become tired through hard work or stress.  ""We were wearied by the heavy load we'd carried."""~~
Weary~adjective~"Tired, exhausted.  ""The weary horse walked slowly to her stable."""~~
weasel~noun~"A small animal with a long body and neck, ""We saw a weasel by the water when we had our picnic"""~~
Weave~noun~"The method of weaving, or intertwining threads. ""She likes the Victorian weave the best"""~~
Weave~verb~"To make something by crossing strands in a pattern. ""She tried to weave a blanket"""~~
Weep~verb~"To show an emotion by shedding tears, ""At the wedding, I could do nothing but weep in happiness"""~~
Whirl~noun~"A rapid turning movement, ""The girl did a whirl to show off her new dress""."~~
Whirl~verb~"To turn quickly in circles, ""The dancer whirled his partner""."~~
Whiskey~noun~"An alcoholic drink made of fermented grain.  ""My Grandfather liked to drink a whiskey after his dinner."""~~
widely~adverb~"To a great extent.  ""His work is widely known for its quality."""~~
Wiggle~noun~"A small back and forth movement, ""A wiggle can be used in a dance routine"""~~
Wiggle~verb~"To move something back and forth, ""To loosen the nail you are going to have to wiggle it!"""~~
wildcat~noun~"A yellowish-gray, black-striped feline, resembling and closely related to the domestic cat, with which it interbreeds freely. ""Wildcats are believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat"""~~
Wildfowl~noun~"Any wild bird that is hunted for food like a duck, ""The men went hunting for wildfowl""."~~
Willow~noun~"A type of tree with long branches that reach to the ground.  ""Willow branches are used to weave baskets."""~~
windmill~noun~"A machine that is powered by the wind, ""The electricity in our home is generated from a windmill"""~~
Wit~noun~"A clever sense of humour. ""His plays are full of wit"""~~
Withdraw~verb~"To pull back or take back, ""I withdraw my last statement""."~~
wombat~noun~"An animal living in Australia that makes burrows.  ""The wombat feeds on grass, roots and leaves."""~~
Woodcock~noun~"A bird hunted for game, which has a long bill and large eyes, ""My father shot a woodcock when he was hunting"""~~
Woodpecker~noun~"A bird that uses its long beak to peck holes in trees to find insects. ""The woodpecker drilled through the bark of the tree."""~~
woollen~noun~"Also 'woollen'.  A fabric made of wool, ""Put on your woollens as it is cold outside""."~~
woollen~adjective~"Made from wool, ""She wore woollen socks""."~~
workman~noun~"A person who works as a manual labourer.  ""The workmen finished the construction right on schedule."""~~
wove~verb~"To make something by weaving. ""He wove a wicker basket"""~~
wren~noun~"Small, mostly brown songbird, ""The wren was singing in the garden""."~~
Wring~noun~"A strong twist or squeeze.  ""She gave my ear a wring whenever I spoke out of turn."""~~
Wring~verb~"To twist while squeezing.  ""She went outside to wring out her wet beach towel."""~~
wrung~verb~"Past tense meaning squeezed or twisted with the purpose of drying, ""His t-shirt was so wet that it needed to be wrung out"""~~
yak~noun~"A long haired ox, found in Tibet. ""Yaks are common in Tibet"""~~
yam~noun~"An edible root vegetable similar to a sweet potato.  ""My Mother makes a special yam recipe with Thanksgiving dinner."""~~
Yams~noun~"An edible root vegetable similar to a sweet potato.  ""My Mother makes a special yam recipe with Thanksgiving dinner."""~~
Yarn~noun~"A fibre formed as a continuous strand used for knitting or weaving, ""Our pet cat loved to play with a big ball of yarn"""~~
Yarn~verb~"To tell a story, ""Every Sunday our grandfather yarns about the war"""~~
yell~noun~"A shout or cry. ""He gave a yell to get the attention of his friend""."~~
yell~verb~"To shout or speak in a loud clear voice. ""The police officer yelled at her to stop"""~~
Yolk~noun~"The yellow part of an egg, ""I like to dip bread into the yolk of an egg""."~~
Yonder~adjective~"Far away, but usually within sight.  ""The mockingbird lives in yonder tree."""~~
Yonder~adverb~"Located in a distant place, ""That fellow who lives yonder"""~~
youngster~noun~"A young person or a child, ""He was only a youngster at the time""."~~
yourselves~noun~"Your normal or healthy selves, ""Your team did not play well today, you weren't yourselves"""~~
zebra~noun~"Black and white striped animal related to the horse, ""We saw zebras on safari""."~~
thou~noun~"A formal, word for ""you"".  ""'Thou shall not kill,' is one of the Ten Commandments."""~~
er~noun~"Abbreviation for Emergency Room, ""When I broke my leg I had to go to the er"""~~
john~noun~"A slang, or informal term for a bathroom or toilet. ""Where's the john?"""~~
England~noun~"A country in the United Kingdom.  ""We saw Big Ben in London on our trip to England."""~~
la~noun~"A sound made while singing, ""'La, la, la,' sang the little girl."""~~
France~noun~"A country in Western Europe which has Paris as its capital city, ""On our European vacation we were in France for five days"""~~
London~noun~"The capital of England. ""We're going to London to see the sights"""~~
copyright~noun~"The legal right to be the only one to publish and sell an artistic, musical or literary work, ""The copyright on my song aims to stop other people making money from it""."~~
copyright~verb~"To get a copyright for a piece of work, ""Did you copyright your music to protect it?""."~~
copyright~adjective~"Protected by copyright, ""It is copyright material so we need to get permission to use it""."~~
greater~adjective~"Larger in size or importance.  ""We follow the traffic laws to promote the greater good of the community."""~~
Paris~noun~"The capital city of France, ""Paris is also known as the city of love"""~~
York~noun~"A city in the north of England, and a city in south east Pennsylvania.  ""My aunt lives in York""."~~
Mary~noun~"A female name, the mother of Jesus.  ""My friend Mary's favourite colour is yellow."""~~
tom~noun~"A male name, it can also refer to the male of different animals, ""Our pet cat is a tom cat"""~~
greatest~adjective~"The best. ""The painter spent months creating his greatest painting to date"""~~
ex~noun~"A person who was formerly married to the person in question.  ""My ex pays child support."""~~
ex~adjective~"Used before a word to mean former, ""I still get on well with my ex-girlfriend"""~~
trademark~noun~"A name or symbol that shows a product belongs to the owner or manufacturer. ""All toys have a trademark"""~~
Rome~noun~"Capital city of Italy.  ""We went to see the Coliseum when we were in Rome."""~~
roman~noun~"A person who lives or lived in the city of Rome, or who was a citizen of the Roman empire.  ""He loved other parts of Italy, but he was a Roman at heart."""~~
roman~adjective~"Describing characteristics of a person living in Rome, or of the culture of Rome.  ""Roman aqueducts are an engineering marvel."""~~
higher~adjective~"Extending to a greater height, ""I can jump higher than you"""~~
spoken~adjective~"Talking. ""They have spoken many times on the subject""."~~
hart~noun~"A red deer of the male gender.  ""The hart leapt over the hedge to escape the hunter."""~~
obliged~adjective~"To feel pressured to do something, ""I felt obliged to let the pregnant lady have my seat on the bus"""~~
worthy~noun~"Someone or something that is useful, or of value. ""The two main worthies of the team will not be playing""."~~
worthy~adjective~"Being useful or valuable. ""He is a worthy opponent"""~~
jack~noun~"Male name or a device used to lift heavy objects; a car jack, ""You need a jack when changing the tyre of a car""."~~
jack~verb~"To lift something using a jack, ""Jack the car while I get the spare tire""."~~
peter~noun~"A male name, the name of a disciple of Jesus.  ""Peter picked a pack of pickled peppers."""~~
highest~adjective~"The maximum something can reach, ""The mountain's highest point"""~~
David~noun~"King of Israel and the man who killed Goliath. ""David killed Goliath"""~~
divine~noun~"A thing or being that is holy and worthy of worship.  ""He was interested in spiritual things, and wanted to know more about the divine."""~~
divine~verb~"To foretell or prophecy.  ""He was able to divine the future from the crystal ball."""~~
divine~adjective~"Describing a characteristic of God.  ""I am hoping for divine intervention in this hopeless situation."""~~
Paul~noun~"A male name, an early Christian missionary.  ""Paul held the high jump record at our school."""~~
midst~noun~"Being near or amongst others in a group, ""He was caught in the midst of the crowd"""~~
liked~adjective~"To hold someone or something in high regard. ""She is a well-liked member of the community"""~~
sacred~adjective~"Holy, having to do with religion.  ""The Koran is the sacred text of Islam."""~~
Washington~noun~"Capital city of the United states, also the name of a state, ""The Whitehouse is in Washington"""~~
wisdom~noun~"A gathering of knowledge, being wise. ""His wisdom is legendary"""~~
Italy~noun~"A country in Southern Europe with Rome as its capital city.  ""We went to Italy for our vacation."""~~
Spain~noun~"A country in south-western Europe.  ""We are going to the sunny beaches of Spain for our holiday this year."""~~
nearer~adjective~"Closer than another, ""My next door neighbour lives nearer to me than my aunt at the end of the street"""~~
nearer~adverb~"At a closer distance, ""Move nearer to me"""~~
mercy~noun~"To show compassion or forgiveness. ""He granted his enemies mercy"""~~
larger~adjective~"Being greater or bigger than something else, ""My mug is larger than your cup""."~~
countenance~noun~"The look on a person's face.  ""Her countenance shows a happy personality."""~~
countenance~verb~"Allow.  ""I won't countenance my nephew to lie about his grades."""~~
Germany~noun~"A European country with Berlin as its capital city, ""The exchange student is from Germany"""~~
seated~adjective~"Sitting down, ""The seated man stood up to greet the woman""."~~
don~noun~"A respectful title for a Spanish man.  ""Did you tell Don Manuel about your plans?"""~~
don~verb~"To put on, as in clothing.  ""I am going to don my best dress and go out on the town!"""~~
harry~verb~"To rush or annoy, ""You are just going to have to harry him until he gives in"""~~
delicate~adjective~"Easily damaged or broken. ""He puts together delicate models of boats"""~~
India~noun~"A country in South Asia with New Delhi as its capital city.  ""Mahatma Gandhi lived in India."""~~
smith~noun~"A common last name, or someone who works in a certain profession.  ""A blacksmith makes horse shoes out of metal."""~~
provisions~noun~"A stock of materials or supplies, especially in terms of food, ""We always make sure we have plenty of provisions when we go camping"""~~
worship~noun~"Showing honour and respect to a god or goddess. ""Church is a place of worship."""~~
worship~verb~"To love someone or something greatly.  ""She worships her older brother"""~~
despair~noun~"A feeling of no hope, ""He could sense the despair in her voice""."~~
despair~verb~"To give up hope, ""Don't despair, we will find the lost dog""."~~
comply~verb~"To agree to something.  ""I will comply with your request to keep the bathroom clean."""~~
older~adjective~"Describing someone who is advanced in years, can also be used to describe a person born before another, ""My grandfather is older than my grandmother"""~~
Egypt~noun~"A country in Africa. ""We went to Egypt on holiday"""~~
Israel~noun~"A republic in southwest Asia which was founded in 1948 as a Jewish state.  ""Many people travel to Israel to view sites important to their faith."""~~
accustomed~adjective~"To be familiar with, ""I have become accustomed to doing my homework straight after dinner"""~~
Virginia~noun~"A state in the United States. ""My aunt lives in Virginia"""~~
recognized~adjective~"Accepted, or remembered something upon seeing it, ""His recognized hard work""."~~
admiration~noun~"To like, to aspire to.  ""I have an admiration for her hard work."""~~
solemn~adjective~"Being serious and dignified in appearance or behaviour, ""Everyone was solemn at the funeral"""~~
younger~adjective~"Not as old as someone, or something, else. ""She is my younger sister."""~~
earnest~noun~"A serious state, ""A contract made in earnest""."~~
earnest~adjective~"Seriously, sincerely, ""The girl made an earnest plea""."~~
Ireland~noun~"An island on the western edge of Europe,  ""It is true that it rains a lot in Ireland, but that is why it is so green."""~~
earlier~adjective~"Happening before the usual or expected time, ""The play started at an earlier time"""~~
earlier~adverb~"Near the beginning of an expected time, ""The play started earlier than I expected so I was late"""~~
perceived~adjective~"Made aware or understood from use of your senses. ""His perceived opinion was found to be wrong."""~~
glorious~adjective~"Deserving admiration or praise.  ""Our family has a glorious history as writers and artists."""~~
acquainted~adjective~"To meet someone socially, ""You seem to know him already, have you been acquainted with him before?"""~~
behold~verb~"To see. ""What a sight to behold"""~~
bosom~noun~"The front of the human chest, ""She held the baby close to her bosom."""~~
bosom~adjective~"Close, deeply affectionate.  ""The two boys are bosom friends."""~~
expedition~noun~"A journey for the purpose of exploration or military conquest.  ""The expedition to the South Pole was not going well."""~~
ignorant~adjective~"Showing little or no knowledge, ""He was ignorant to the fact she was not home"""~~
doctrine~noun~"A belief system. ""The religious doctrine of the church"""~~
compliance~noun~"In agreement with something, ""In compliance with company policy""."~~
accomplished~adjective~"Highly praised and capable.  ""She practised hard and became an accomplished pianist."""~~
melancholy~noun~"A sad or gloomy mood, ""There is melancholy in the atmosphere"""~~
melancholy~adjective~"Expressing sadness, ""He looked very upset after the incident, if anything he was very melancholy"""~~
lighted~adjective~"Being lit up or burning, ""She blew out the lighted candles on the birthday cake""."~~
utmost~noun~"To the greatest limit.  ""I tried my utmost to finish the marathon, but had to stop when I twisted my ankle."""~~
utmost~adjective~"To the extreme.  ""I hold the utmost degree of respect for you."""~~
agreeable~adjective~"Pleasing to the mind or senses, ""The taste is very agreeable with me, I like it a lot"""~~
patience~noun~"To remain calm when people or things could make you angry.  ""The driving instructor showed a great amount of patience with her pupil"""~~
Boston~noun~"Capital city of the state of Massachusetts. ""Boston was an early city in the American colonies."""~~
ignorance~noun~"Lack of understanding or knowledge.  ""We go to school to combat ignorance."""~~
disposed~adjective~"Tending towards a certain way of thinking, ""He has a disposed nature"""~~
email~noun~"Electronic mail.  A system where messages can be sent from one computer and received on another one, or one of these messages is called an 'email', ""I need to check my emails before I begin work""."~~
email~verb~"To send or receive electronic messages on a computer, ""I emailed my sister some photos of my vacation""."~~
slavery~noun~"The ownership and control of one person over another.  ""The abolitionists fought against slavery because they thought it was evil."""~~
governor~noun~"The head of a state, someone who is appointed to rule, ""Our local mayor was running to be governor of our state"""~~
delightful~adjective~"Very pleasing. ""A delightful surprise"""~~
disposition~noun~"A person's usual mood or attitude, ""She has a cheerful disposition""."~~
readable~adjective~"Able to read and understand.  ""The last book I read was tough, but this one is really readable."""~~
beloved~noun~"A person loved by another, an affectionate term, ""She is my beloved, I want to stay with her forever"""~~
beloved~adjective~"Much loved, ""He was upset because his beloved sports team lost"""~~
wretched~adjective~"Of terrible quality.  ""The referee made a wretched decision""."~~
cease~noun~"An ending.  ""She snored without cease."""~~
cease~verb~"To stop or bring to an end, ""Cease playing that loud music""."~~
smaller~adjective~"Not as big as something else.  ""My little sister wore smaller shoes than my older brother."""~~
gratitude~noun~"Showing thanks to someone, ""She wanted to cook dinner for her neighbours to show her gratitude as they were very welcoming of her"""~~
applicable~adjective~"Something or someone that is relevant or appropriate. ""These rules are no longer applicable to me"""~~
sentiment~noun~"A thought or attitude that comes from emotions or a feeling,  ""Her sentiments about the matter ran deep."""~~
Russia~noun~"A large country in eastern Europe and northern Asia that was once part of the USSR.  ""In Russia the winters can be fierce because of the country's position far north of the equator."""~~
contempt~noun~"To have a very low opinion of someone, or something, scorn or hatred. ""I have nothing but contempt for the people who committed this terrible deed"""~~
defective~adjective~"Having something wrong, having a defect, ""The computer was defective and needed to be fixed""."~~
secured~adjective~"Closed firmly.  ""I'd secured the doors and windows for the night to keep our property safe."""~~
counsel~noun~"A lawyer giving legal advice  ""My counsel argued my case before the judge"""~~
counsel~verb~"To give advise. ""I have given her my counsel, but she ignored it"""~~
constitution~noun~"The act of setting up or establishing, the basic beliefs and laws of a nation, ""The U.S. Constitution has seven original articles""."~~
he'd~abbreviation~He'd is a shortened form of he would or he had~~
he'll~abbreviation~He'll is a shortened form of he will or he shall~~
here's~abbreviation~Here's is a shortened form of here is~~
he's~abbreviation~He's is a shortened form of he is or he has~~
I'd~abbreviation~I'd is a shortened form of I had or I would~~
I'll~abbreviation~I'll is a shortened form of I will or I shall~~
I'm~abbreviation~I'm is a shortened form of I am~~
isn't~abbreviation~Isn't is a shortened form of is not~~
it's~abbreviation~It's is a shortened form of it is or it has~~
I've~abbreviation~I've is a shortened form of I have~~
let's~abbreviation~Let's is a shortened form of let us~~
that's~abbreviation~That's is a shortened form of that is or that has~~
they'd~abbreviation~They'd is a shortened form of they would or they had~~
they'll~abbreviation~They'll is a shortened form of they will or they shall~~
they're~abbreviation~They're is a shortened form of they are~~
they've~abbreviation~They've is a shortened form of they have~~
wasn't~abbreviation~Wasn't is a shortened form of was not~~
we'd~abbreviation~We'd is a shortened form of we had, we would or we should~~
we'll~abbreviation~We'll is a shortened form of we will or we shall~~
we're~abbreviation~We're is a shortened form of we are~~
we've~abbreviation~We've is a shortened form of we have~~
what's~abbreviation~What's is a shortened form of what is or what has~~
who'd~abbreviation~Who'd is a shortened form of who would or who had~~
who'll~abbreviation~Who'll is a shortened form of who will or who shall~~
who's~abbreviation~Who's is a shortened form of who is or who has~~
wouldn't~abbreviation~Wouldn't is a shortened form of would not~~
you'd~abbreviation~You'd is a shortened form of you would or you had~~
you'll~abbreviation~You'll is a shortened form of you will or you shall~~
you're~abbreviation~You're is a shortened form of you are~~
you've~abbreviation~You've is a shortened form of you have~~
don't~abbreviation~Don't is a shortened form of do not~~
doesn't~abbreviation~Doesn't is a shortened form of does not~~