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Aa

a an

ADJECTIVE A and an are used when you talk about one of something. A is used when the next sound is a consonant: a car, a dog. An is used when the next sound is a vowel (a, e, i, o or u): an apple, an elephant.

abacus abacuses

NOUN a frame with beads that slide along rods, used for counting

[from Greek abax meaning board covered with sand for doing sums on]

abandon abandons, abandoning, abandoned

VERB If you abandon someone or something, you leave them or give them up for good. • He abandoned all hope of catching the train on time.

abbey abbeys

NOUN a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live

abbreviation abbreviations

NOUN a short form of a word or phrase • N is an abbreviation for North.

abdomen abdomens

NOUN the front part of your body below your chest, containing your stomach and intestines

abdominal ADJECTIVE

ability abilities

NOUN If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.

able

ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you can do it.

ANTONYM: unable

abnormal

ADJECTIVE not normal or usual

abnormally ADVERB

aboard

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If you are aboard a plane or a ship you are on it.

Aborigine Aborigines

NOUN someone descended from the people who were living in Australia before the European settlers arrived

about

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London

2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • about two o’clock

PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.

above

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If one thing is above another, it is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.

ANTONYM: below

abroad

ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.

abscess abscesses

NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus

abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled

VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use ropes to go down it.

absent

ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you are not there.

ANTONYM: present

absolute

ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute darkness

2 having total power • an absolute ruler

absolutely

ADVERB If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.

absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed

VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

absorbent

ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks up liquids easily.

abstract

ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.

2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.

3 In grammar, abstract nouns refer to qualities or ideas, rather than physical objects, for example happiness.

See noun

absurd

ADJECTIVE Something that is absurd is stupid or ridiculous.

abuse abuses, abusing, abused

Said “ab-yooss” NOUN 1 cruel treatment of someone

2 rude and unkind remarks

Said “ab-yooz” VERB 3 To abuse someone is to treat them cruelly.

4 If you abuse someone, you speak to them in a rude and insulting way.

abysmal

ADJECTIVE very bad

abysmally ADVERB

academic academics

ADJECTIVE 1 Academic work is done in school, college and university.

NOUN 2 someone who teaches or does research in a college or university

academy academies

NOUN 1 a school or college, usually one that specializes in a particular subject • the Royal Academy of Arts

2 an organization of scientists, writers, artists or musicians

accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated

VERB To accelerate is to speed up.

ANTONYM: decelerate

acceleration

NOUN the rate at which the speed of something increases

accent accents

NOUN a way of pronouncing a language • She had an Australian accent.

accept accepts, accepting, accepted

VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes to it or you take it from someone. • She accepted our invitation to the party.

2 If you accept a situation, you realize that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.

acceptable

ADJECTIVE satisfactory

access

NOUN If you have access to a place, you may enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.

accessible

ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach was accessible by a narrow path.

2 Books that are accessible are easy to understand.

accident accidents

NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed

PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.

accidental

ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has not been planned.

accidentally ADVERB

accommodation

NOUN a place where you can live, work or sleep

accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied

VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.

2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.

accomplice accomplices

NOUN a person who helps someone else to commit a crime

accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished

VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.

according to

PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.

account accounts, accounting, accounted

NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something

2 money that you keep at a bank

PHRASE 3 On account of means because of. • He couldn’t play football, on account of a sore throat.

VERB 4 To account for something is to explain it. • The bad weather accounts for the cancellation of the barbecue.

accountant accountants

NOUN someone whose job is to look after the financial affairs of people and companies

accumulate accumulates, accumulating, accumulated

VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.

accumulation NOUN

accurate

ADJECTIVE absolutely correct

accuracy NOUN

accuse accuses, accusing, accused

VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong, you say they have done it.

accusation NOUN

ace aces

NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.

2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.

ADJECTIVE 3 INFORMAL good or skilful • an ace squash player

ache aches, aching, ached

NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain

VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.

achieve achieves, achieving, achieved

VERB If you achieve something, you are successful at doing it or at making it happen.

The i comes before the e in achieve.

acid acids

NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.

ANTONYM: alkali

ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it tastes sharp or bitter.

ANTONYM: alkaline

[from Latin acidus meaning sour]

acid rain

NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil

acknowledge acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged

VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.

2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognized them, by waving or saying hello.

3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.

acne

NOUN a skin disease that causes spots on the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.

acorn acorns

NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees

acquaintance acquaintances

NOUN someone you know slightly but not well

acre acres

NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.

acrobat acrobats

NOUN an entertainer who performs difficult gymnastic acts

[from Greek akrobates meaning someone who walks on tiptoe]

acrobatic ADJECTIVE

acrobatics PLURAL NOUN

acronym acronyms

NOUN a word made up of the initial letters of a phrase • NATO is an acronym, and stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

across

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you go across a place, you go from one side of it to the other. • We walked across Hyde Park.

2 Something that is situated across a road or river is on the other side of it.

act acts, acting, acted

VERB 1 If you act, you do something. • We have to act quickly in an emergency.

2 If you act in a particular way, you behave in that way. • You’re acting like a baby.

3 If you act in a play or film, you play a role in it.

NOUN 4 a single thing someone does • The rescue was a brave act.

5 An Act of Parliament is a law passed by the government.

6 Stage plays are divided into parts called acts.

action actions

NOUN 1 something you do for a particular purpose

2 a physical movement, such as jumping

active

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things.

2 In grammar the active, or the active voice, is the form of the verb in which the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the action, rather than having it done to them. For example, the sentence The dog bit Ben is in the active voice. In the passive voice the subject is acted upon: Ben was bitten by the dog.

ANTONYM: passive

activity activities

NOUN 1 a situation in which a lot of things are happening at the same time • There was a great deal of activity in the hall as we got ready for the school play.

2 something you do for pleasure, such as gymnastics or music

actor actors

NOUN a man or woman whose job is performing in plays or films

actress actresses

NOUN a woman whose profession is acting

actual

ADJECTIVE real, rather than imaginary or guessed at • You guessed I was eleven – my actual age is twelve.

actually ADVERB

acute

ADJECTIVE 1 severe or intense • She had an acute pain in her arm.

2 In mathematics, an acute angle measures less than 90 degrees.

3 Someone who is acute is intelligent.

AD

ADJECTIVE You use AD in dates to show the number of years after the birth of Jesus Christ.

[an abbreviation of the Latin Anno Domini meaning the year of Our Lord]

adapt adapts, adapting, adapted

VERB 1 If you adapt to something, you get used to it.

2 If you adapt something, you change it so that it can be used in a new way.

adaptable

ADJECTIVE If you are adaptable, you change easily in a new situation or to suit new circumstances.

add adds, adding, added

VERB 1 If you add something to a number of things, you put it with those things. • Each girl added more wood to the pile.

2 If you add numbers together, or add them up, you work out the total. • Two and three added together are five (2 + 3 = 5).

adder adders

NOUN a small, poisonous snake

addiction addictions

NOUN If you have an addiction to something, you cannot stop doing it or wanting it.

addition additions

NOUN 1 the process of adding two or more numbers together

2 something that is added to something else • The addition of sugar would improve the taste of these plums.

additional

ADJECTIVE extra or more

additive additives

NOUN something that is added to something else, such as food

address addresses, addressing, addressed

NOUN 1 Your address is the number of the house where you live, together with the name of the street and the town or village.

VERB 2 If someone addresses a letter to you, they write your name and address on it.

3 If you address a group of people, you speak to them formally.

There are two ds and two ss in address.

adenoids

PLURAL NOUN small lumps of flesh at the back of the throat

adequate

ADJECTIVE just enough for what is needed

SYNONYMS: enough, satisfactory, sufficient

adhesive adhesives

NOUN 1 a substance used to stick things together, such as glue

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is adhesive, it sticks to other things.

adjective adjectives

NOUN a word that adds to the description of a noun. For example, large and old are both adjectives.

adjust adjusts, adjusting, adjusted

VERB 1 If you adjust something, you change its position or alter it in some other way. • She adjusted her pillow to make herself more comfortable.

2 If you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it.

adjustment NOUN

administration administrations

NOUN the work of managing and supervising an organization

admiral admirals

NOUN a senior officer in the navy

admire admires, admiring, admired

VERB If you admire someone or something, you respect and approve of them.

admirer NOUN

admission admissions

NOUN 1 If you are allowed admission to a place, you may go into it.

2 If you make an admission, you confess to something or agree that it is true.

admit admits, admitting, admitted

VERB 1 If you admit something, you agree that it is true.

2 If you admit to something, you agree that you did something you shouldn’t have done.

3 To admit someone or something to a place is to allow them to enter it.

admittance

NOUN the right to enter somewhere • There will be no admittance to the party after eight o’clock.

adolescent adolescents

NOUN a young person who is no longer a child, but is not yet an adult

[from Latin adolescere meaning to grow up]

adolescence NOUN

adopt adopts, adopting, adopted

VERB If someone adopts a child, they take them into their family as their son or daughter by a legal process.

[from Latin adoptare meaning to choose for oneself]

adorable

ADJECTIVE loveable and attractive

adore adores, adoring, adored

VERB If you adore someone, you feel deep love and admiration for them.

adoration NOUN

adult adults

NOUN a mature and fully developed person or animal

advance advances, advancing, advanced

VERB 1 To advance is to move forward.

NOUN 2 An advance is progress in something. • There have been many scientific advances in the past century.

PHRASE 3 If you do something in advance of something, you do it beforehand. • We booked our holiday well in advance.

advanced

ADJECTIVE If something is advanced, it is at a high level, or ahead in development or progress. • The children in the top group do advanced maths exercises.

advantage advantages

NOUN 1 a benefit, or something that puts you in a better position • The advantage of e-mail is that it is quicker than the post.

PHRASE 2 If you take advantage of someone, you treat them unfairly for your own benefit.

3 If you take advantage of something, you make use of it.

adventure adventures

NOUN something that is exciting, and perhaps even dangerous

adverb adverbs

NOUN a word that tells you how, when, where or why something happens or something is done. For example, she walked slowly, he came yesterday, they live here.

[from Latin adverbium meaning added word]

advert

NOUN an abbreviation for advertisement

advertise advertises, advertising, advertised

VERB If you advertise something, you tell people about it in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV.

advertisement advertisements

NOUN a notice in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV about a job or things for sale

advice

NOUN a suggestion from someone about what you should do

The noun advice ends in ce.

advisable

ADJECTIVE If it is advisable to do something, it is a sensible thing to do and will probably give the results that you want. • It is advisable to wear a helmet when cycling.

advise advises, advising, advised

VERB If you advise someone to do something, you tell them you think they should do it.

The verb advise ends in se.

aerial aerials

NOUN 1 a piece of wire for receiving television or radio signals

ADJECTIVE 2 happening in the air • We watched the aerial displays at the RAF airshow.

aero-

PREFIX to do with the air, for example aeroplane

[from Greek aer meaning air]

aerobics

NOUN a type of fast physical exercise that increases the oxygen in your blood and strengthens your heart and lungs

aerobic ADJECTIVE

aeroplane aeroplanes

NOUN a vehicle with wings and engines that enable it to fly

aerosol aerosols

NOUN a small, metal container in which liquid is kept under pressure so that it can be forced out as a spray

affair affairs

NOUN 1 an event or series of events • The wedding was a happy affair.

2 If something is your own affair, then it is your concern only.

affect affects, affecting, affected

VERB When something affects someone or something, it causes them to change. • Computers affect our lives in many ways.

affection

NOUN a feeling of love and fondness for someone

affectionate ADJECTIVE

affluent

ADJECTIVE People who are affluent have a lot of money and possessions.

afford affords, affording, afforded

VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.

2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.

afloat

ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.

afraid

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.

SYNONYM: scared

2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.

after

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event • She left just after breakfast. • Soon after, he went to work.

PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. • They ran after her.

afternoon afternoons

NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six o’clock

afterwards

ADVERB after an event or time • We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.

again

ADVERB happening one more time • The film was so good that we went to see it again.

SYNONYM: once more

against

PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on • He leaned the ladder against the wall.

2 in opposition to • France played against England.

age ages, ageing or aging, aged

NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.

2 a particular period in history • the Iron Age

PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. • He’s been talking for ages.

VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.

Ageing and aging are both correct spellings.

agency agencies

NOUN an organization or business that provides special services • detective agency • advertising agency

agenda agendas

NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting

agent agents

NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people • a travel agent

2 someone who works for their country’s secret service

aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated

VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.

2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.

aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN

aggressive

ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence • Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.

SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile

agile

ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily • He is as agile as a cat.

agilely ADVERB agility NOUN

agitated

ADJECTIVE worried and anxious

agitation NOUN

ago

ADVERB in the past • She bought her flat three years ago.

agony

NOUN very great physical or mental pain

SYNONYMS: suffering, torment

agree agrees, agreeing, agreed

VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.

2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.

agreeable

ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable

2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.

agreeably ADVERB

agreement agreements

NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.

agriculture

NOUN farming

ahead

ADVERB 1 in front • He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.

2 more advanced than someone or something else • Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.

3 in the future • I can’t think that far ahead.

aid aids

NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need

2 something that makes a job easier • The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.

ailment ailments

NOUN a minor illness

aim aims, aiming, aimed

VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.

2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.

SYNONYMS: intend, mean

NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. • The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.

SYNONYMS: goal, objective

aimless

ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.

aimlessly ADVERB

air

NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earth’s atmosphere

2 the space around things or above the ground • The balloons floated up into the air.

3 used to refer to travel in aircraft • My uncle often travels by air.

air conditioning

NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building

aircraft

NOUN any vehicle that can fly

air force air forces

NOUN the part of a country’s armed services that fights using aircraft

airline airlines

NOUN a company that provides air travel

airmail

NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air • He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.

airport airports

NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes

airtight

ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.

aisle aisles

NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves • The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.

ajar

ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.

alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed