ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is alien to you seems strange because it is not part of your normal experience. • The desert is an alien environment to many people.

[from Latin alienus meaning foreign]

alight alights, alighting, alighted

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is alight is burning.

VERB 2 If something alights somewhere, it lands there.

3 If someone alights from a vehicle, they get out of it.

alike

ADJECTIVE 1 Things that are alike are very similar in some way.

ADVERB 2 If people or things are treated alike, they are treated the same.

alive

ADJECTIVE If someone or something is alive, they are living.

alkali alkalis

NOUN a chemical substance sometimes used in cleaning materials. Alkalis can neutralize acids.

ANTONYM: acid

alkaline ADJECTIVE

all

ADJECTIVE, NOUN OR ADVERB 1 the whole of something • She told us all about it. • He ate all the chocolate.

ADVERB 2 also used to show that both sides in a game or contest have the same score • The final score was three points all.

Allah

PROPER NOUN the Muslim name for God

allege alleges, alleging, alleged

VERB If you allege that something is true, you say it’s true, but you cannot prove it.

allergy allergies

NOUN If you have an allergy to something, it makes you ill to eat or touch it.

allergic ADJECTIVE

alley alleys

NOUN a narrow street or passageway between buildings

alliance alliances

NOUN a group of countries, organizations or people who have similar aims and who work together to achieve them

alligator alligators

NOUN a large, scaly reptile, similar to a crocodile

[from Spanish el lagarto meaning lizard]

alliteration

NOUN the use of several words together that begin with the same letter or sound. For example, the slithery snake slid silently across the sand.

allotment allotments

NOUN a piece of land that people rent to grow fruit and vegetables on

allow allows, allowing, allowed

VERB If someone allows you to do something, they let you do it.

all right

ADJECTIVE 1 If something is all right, it is satisfactory, but not especially good. • Do you like mushrooms? They’re all right.

2 If someone is all right, they are safe and not harmed.

3 You say all right if you agree to something. • Will you help? All right.

ally allies

NOUN a person or a country that helps and supports another

SYNONYMS: friend, partner

almond almonds

NOUN an oval edible nut, cream in colour

almost

ADVERB very nearly • I have almost as many points as you.

SYNONYMS: just about, practically

alone

ADJECTIVE not with other people or things

along

PREPOSITION 1 moving forward • We strolled along the road.

2 from one end of something to the other • The cupboards stretched along the wall.

alongside

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB next to something • We tied our boat alongside the jetty.

aloud

ADVERB When you read aloud, you read so that people can hear you.

alphabet alphabets

NOUN all the letters used to write words in a language. The letters of an alphabet are written in a special order.

alphabetical

ADJECTIVE If something is in alphabetical order, it is arranged according to the letters of the alphabet.

alphabetically ADVERB

already

ADVERB If you have done something already, you did it earlier. • Josh has already gone to bed.

also

ADVERB in addition to something that has just been mentioned • I bought an ice cream, and I also bought a drink.

altar altars

NOUN a holy table in a church or temple

alter alters, altering, altered

VERB If something alters, or if you alter it, it changes.

alternate alternates, alternating, alternated

Said “ol-ter-nut” ADJECTIVE 1 If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one in every two days.

Said “ol-ter-nayt” VERB 2 If two things alternate, they regularly happen one after the other.

alternative alternatives

NOUN something you can do or have instead of something else • Is there an alternative to meat on the menu?

although

CONJUNCTION in spite of the fact that • He wasn’t well-known in America, although he had made a film there.

altitude altitudes

NOUN height above sea level • The mountain range reaches an altitude of 1330 metres.

altogether

ADVERB 1 completely or entirely • The car got slower, then stopped altogether.

2 in total – used of amounts • I have two cats and two dogs. That’s four pets altogether.

aluminium

NOUN a silvery-white, lightweight metal

always

ADVERB 1 all the time • He’s always late.

2 forever • I’ll always remember this day.

a.m.

a.m. is used to show times in the morning

[an abbreviation of the Latin ante meridiem meaning before noon]

VERB a present tense of be

amateur amateurs

NOUN someone who does something without being paid for it • He began playing football as an amateur, but now he is a professional.

amaze amazes, amazing, amazed

VERB If something amazes you, it surprises you very much.

SYNONYMS: astonish, astound

amazement NOUN

amazing

ADJECTIVE If something is amazing, it is very surprising.

amazingly ADVERB

ambassador ambassadors

NOUN a person sent to a foreign country as the representative of their own government

amber

NOUN 1 a hard, yellowish-brown substance from trees, used in making jewellery

NOUN OR ADJECTIVE 2 an orange-brown colour

ambiguous

ADJECTIVE If something is ambiguous, it can have more than one meaning.

ambiguously ADVERB ambiguity NOUN

ambition ambitions

NOUN If you have an ambition to do something, you want very much to do it.

amble ambles, ambling, ambled

VERB If you amble, you walk along in a slow, relaxed way.

ambulance ambulances

NOUN a vehicle for taking sick and injured people to hospital

ambush ambushes, ambushing, ambushed

NOUN 1 a surprise attack

VERB 2 If one group of people ambushes another, they hide and lie in wait, and then make a surprise attack.

ammonia

NOUN a strong-smelling, colourless liquid or gas, often used in cleaning substances

ammunition

NOUN anything that can be fired from a gun or other weapon, for example bullets and shells

amoeba amoebas or amoebae

NOUN a tiny living organism that has only one cell. An amoeba reproduces by dividing into two.

among or amongst

PREPOSITION 1 surrounded by

2 in the company of • He was among friends.

3 between more than two • The money will be divided among seven charities.

amount amounts

NOUN how much there is of something • You need a large amount of flour for this recipe.

amphibian amphibians

NOUN a creature that lives partly on land and partly in water, for example a frog or a newt

amphibious ADJECTIVE

amplify amplifies, amplifying, amplified

VERB If you amplify a sound, you make it louder.

amplifier NOUN

amputate amputates, amputating, amputated

VERB If a surgeon amputates part of the body, such as an arm or a leg, they cut it off.

amputation NOUN

amuse amuses, amusing, amused

VERB 1 If something amuses you, you think it is funny.

2 If you amuse yourself, you find things to do that stop you from being bored.

amused ADJECTIVE amusing ADJECTIVE

amusement amusements

NOUN 1 the feeling you have when you think that something is funny or you have pleasure

2 a mechanical device used for entertainment, at a fair for example

3 Amusements are ways of passing the time pleasantly.

ADJECTIVE An is used instead of a in front of words that begin with the vowels a, e, i, o, or u. • an apple • an egg

anaemia

NOUN a medical condition in which there are too few red cells in the blood. It makes you feel tired and look pale.

anaemic ADJECTIVE

anaesthetic anaesthetics; also spelt anesthetic

NOUN a substance that stops you feeling pain. A general anaesthetic stops you from feeling pain in the whole of your body by putting you to sleep. A local anaesthetic makes just one part of your body go numb.

anagram anagrams

NOUN a word or phrase formed by changing the order of the letters of another word or phrase. For example, draw is an anagram of ward and dear is an anagram of read.

analogue

ADJECTIVE An analogue watch or clock shows the time with pointers that move round a dial.

ANTONYM: digital

analogy analogies

NOUN a comparison between two things that are similar in some ways

analyse analyses, analysing, analysed

VERB If you analyse something, you investigate it carefully to understand it or to find out what it consists of.

anatomy anatomies

NOUN the study of the structure of bodies, both animal and human, to find out how they work

anatomical ADJECTIVE

ancestor ancestors

NOUN a member of your family who lived many years ago • He could trace his ancestors back 700 years.

[from Latin antecessor meaning one who goes before]

anchor anchors, anchoring, anchored

NOUN 1 a heavy, hooked object at the end of a chain. It is dropped from a boat into the water to keep the boat from floating away.

VERB 2 If you anchor something, you hold it down firmly.

ancient

ADJECTIVE Things that are ancient existed or happened a very long time ago.

ANTONYM: modern

and

CONJUNCTION You use and to link two or more parts of a sentence together. • Let’s go to the cinema and then have pizza.

anecdote anecdotes

NOUN a short, sometimes entertaining story about a person or an event

angel angels

NOUN a being who, some people believe, lives in heaven and acts as a messenger for God

[from Greek angelos meaning messenger]

anger

NOUN the strong feeling you get about something unfair or cruel

SYNONYMS: fury, rage, wrath

angle angles

NOUN 1 the distance between two lines at the point where they join together. Angles are measured in degrees. • an angle of 90 degrees

2 the direction from which you look at something • He painted pictures of the garden from all angles.

angry angrier, angriest

ADJECTIVE very annoyed

SYNONYMS: furious, cross

anguish

NOUN great suffering

animal animals

NOUN any living being that is not a plant

animation animations

NOUN a way of making films using drawings that appear to move when you watch them

animated ADJECTIVE

ankle ankles

NOUN the joint that connects your foot to your leg

annihilate annihilates, annihilating, annihilated

VERB If someone or something annihilates someone or something else, they destroy them completely.

annihilation NOUN

anniversary anniversaries

NOUN a date that is remembered because something special happened on that date in a previous year • We celebrated Mum and Dad’s twelfth wedding anniversary.

announce announces, announcing, announced

VERB If you announce something, you tell people about it publicly or officially. • They announced the team on Friday morning.

SYNONYM: make known

announcement NOUN

annoy annoys, annoying, annoyed

VERB If someone or something annoys you, they make you angry or impatient.

SYNONYMS: bother, irritate

annoyance NOUN

annual annuals

ADJECTIVE 1 happening once a year • our annual sports day

NOUN 2 a book that is published once a year for children

anonymous

ADJECTIVE If something is anonymous, nobody knows who is responsible for it. • The charity received an anonymous donation.

anorak anoraks

NOUN a warm, waterproof jacket, usually with a hood

[an Eskimo word]

anorexia

NOUN a psychological illness in which the person refuses to eat

[from Greek an + orexis meaning no appetite]

another

ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN one more person or thing

answer answers, answering, answered

VERB 1 If you answer someone, you reply to them in speech or writing.

NOUN 2 the reply you give when you answer someone • I received an answer to my letter.

3 a solution to a problem

ant ants

NOUN Ants are small insects that live in large groups.

antagonize antagonizes, antagonizing, antagonized

VERB If you antagonize someone, you upset them and make them feel angry.

Antarctic

NOUN the area around the South Pole

antelope antelopes

NOUN a hoofed animal, similar to a deer

antenna antennae or antennas

NOUN 1 one of the two long, thin parts attached to the head of an insect or other animal, which it uses to feel with. The plural is antennae.

2 In Australian, New Zealand and American English, an antenna is a radio or television aerial. The plural is antennas.

anthem anthems

NOUN usually a song of celebration, and sometimes a religious song

anther anthers

NOUN the part of the stamen in a flower where the pollen matures

anthology anthologies

NOUN a collection of writings by various authors, published in one book

[from Greek anthologia meaning flower gathering]

anti-

PREFIX against or opposite • an antimalaria tablet

ANTONYM: pro-

antibiotic antibiotics

NOUN a drug or chemical used in medicine to kill bacteria and cure infections

anticipate anticipates, anticipating, anticipated

VERB If you anticipate an event, you are expecting it and are getting prepared for it.

anticipation NOUN

anticlimax anticlimaxes

NOUN If something is an anticlimax, it disappoints you because it is not as exciting as you expected, or because it occurs after something that was more exciting.

anticlockwise

ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB moving in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock

ANTONYM: clockwise

antidote antidotes

NOUN a chemical substance that works against the effects of a poison

antique antiques

NOUN an object from the past that is collected because of its value or beauty

antiseptic

ADJECTIVE Something that is antiseptic can kill some germs.

antler antlers

NOUN Antlers are the branched horns on the top of a male deer’s head.

antonym antonyms

NOUN a word that means the opposite of another word • Happy is the antonym of sad.

anxiety anxieties

NOUN nervousness or worry

anxious

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are anxious, you are nervous or worried.

2 If you are anxious to do something, you very much want to do it. • She was anxious to pass her ballet exam.

any

ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN 1 one, some or several • Have you any sausages?

2 even the smallest amount or even one • She can’t eat nuts of any kind.

3 no matter which or what • I’m so thirsty, any drink will do.

anybody

PRONOUN any person

anyhow

ADVERB 1 in any case • It’s still early, but I’m going to bed anyhow.

2 in a careless way • They were all shoved in anyhow.

anyone

PRONOUN any person • I won’t tell anyone.

anything

PRONOUN any object, event, situation or action • Can you see anything?

anyway

ADVERB in any case • It’s raining, but I’m going out anyway.

anywhere

ADVERB in, at or to any place • Can you see him anywhere? • We haven’t got anywhere to play.

apart

ADVERB OR ADJECTIVE 1 When something is apart from something else, there is a space or a distance between them. • The gliders landed about seventy metres apart.

ADVERB 2 If you take something apart, you separate it into pieces.

apartment apartments

NOUN a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building

ape apes, aping, aped

NOUN 1 a large animal similar to a monkey, but without a tail. Apes include chimpanzees and gorillas.

VERB 2 If you ape someone’s speech or behaviour, you imitate it.

apex apexes or apices

NOUN The apex of something is its pointed top. • the apex of a cone

SYNONYM: vertex

apologize apologizes, apologizing, apologized; also spelt apologise

VERB When you apologize to someone, you say you are sorry for something you have said or done.

apology NOUN

apostrophe apostrophes

NOUN 1 a punctuation mark (‘) used to show that one or more letters have been missed out of a word, for example he’s for he is

2 Apostrophes are also used with -s at the end of a noun to show that what follows belongs to or relates to the noun. If the noun already has an -s at the end, for example because it is plural, the apostrophe comes after the s. For example, my brother’s books (one brother), my brothers’ books (more than one brother).

apparatus

NOUN the equipment used for a particular task • The firefighters wore breathing apparatus.

apparent

ADJECTIVE 1 An apparent situation seems to exist, although you cannot be certain of it.

2 clear and obvious • It was apparent they would get on well together.

apparently ADVERB

appeal appeals, appealing, appealed

VERB 1 If you appeal for something, you make an urgent request for it. • The police appealed for witnesses to come forward.

2 If something or someone appeals to you, you find them attractive or interesting.

NOUN 3 a formal or serious request • an appeal for funds to help people in need

appear appears, appearing, appeared

VERB 1 When something appears, it moves from somewhere you could not see to somewhere you can see it. • The sun appeared from behind the clouds.

2 If something appears to be a certain way, it seems or looks that way.

appearance appearances

NOUN 1 Someone’s or something’s appearance is the way they look to other people.

2 If a person makes an appearance in a film or a show, they take part in it.

3 The appearance of something is the time it begins to exist.

appendicitis

NOUN a painful illness in which a person’s appendix becomes infected

appendix appendices or appendixes

NOUN 1 Your appendix is a small, closed tube forming part of your digestive system.

2 extra information that comes at the end of a book

When appendix means the body part, the plural is appendixes. When it means the part of a book, the plural is appendices.

appetite appetites

NOUN a desire to eat

[from Latin appetere meaning to desire]

appetizing

ADJECTIVE When food is appetizing, it looks or smells good and you want to eat it.

applause

NOUN the sound of people clapping to show their enjoyment or approval of something

apple apples

NOUN a round fruit with smooth skin and firm white flesh

appliance appliances

NOUN any machine in your home that you use to do a job like cleaning or cooking. For example, a toaster is a kitchen appliance.

application applications

NOUN If you make an application for something, you make a formal request, usually in writing.

apply applies, applying, applied

VERB 1 If you apply for something, you ask for it formally, usually by writing a letter. • My brother is applying for jobs.

2 If you apply something to a surface, you put it on or rub it into the surface. • She applied sun cream to her face.

3 If you apply yourself to a task, you give it all of your attention.

appoint appoints, appointing, appointed

VERB If a person appoints someone to a job or position, they formally choose them for it. • The teacher appointed Sunita as team captain.

appointment appointments

NOUN an arrangement you have with someone to meet them

appreciate appreciates, appreciating, appreciated

VERB If you appreciate something that someone has done for you, you are grateful to them for it.

apprehensive

ADJECTIVE If you are apprehensive about something, you feel worried and unsure about it.

apprentice apprentices

NOUN someone who works with another person for a length of time to learn that person’s job or skill

approach approaches, approaching, approached

VERB If you approach something, you come near or nearer to it.

appropriate

ADJECTIVE suitable or acceptable for a particular situation

approval

NOUN If you ask for approval for something that you want to do, you ask for agreement with your plans.

approve approves, approving, approved

VERB 1 If you approve of something or someone, you think they are acceptable or good.

SYNONYMS: favour, like

2 If someone approves a plan or idea, they agree to it. • The council approved plans for the new swimming pool.

SYNONYMS: agree to, permit

approximate

ADJECTIVE near but not exactly right • What was the approximate time you arrived?

apricot apricots

NOUN a small, soft, yellowish-orange fruit

April

NOUN the fourth month of the year. April has 30 days.

apron aprons

NOUN a piece of clothing worn over the front of normal clothing to protect it

aquarium aquaria or aquariums

NOUN a glass tank filled with water in which fish and other aquatic animals or plants are kept

aquatic

ADJECTIVE An aquatic animal or plant lives in water.

aqueduct aqueducts

NOUN a bridge with many arches, which carries a water supply over a valley

arable

ADJECTIVE Arable land is used for growing crops.

arc arcs

NOUN 1 a smoothly curving line

2 In geometry, an arc is a section of the circumference of a circle.

arcade arcades

NOUN a covered passageway where there are shops or market stalls

arch arches, arching, arched

NOUN 1 a structure that has a curved top, supported on either side by a pillar or wall

VERB 2 If something arches, or if you arch it, it forms a curved line or shape. • The cat arched its back.

archaeology; also spelt archeology

NOUN the study of the past by digging up and examining the remains of things such as buildings, tools, and pots

[from Greek arkhaios meaning ancient]

archbishop archbishops

NOUN a bishop of the highest rank in a Christian Church • the Archbishop of Canterbury

archery

NOUN a sport in which people shoot at a target with a bow and arrow

architect architects

NOUN a person who designs buildings

architecture

NOUN the art or practice of designing buildings

arctic

NOUN 1 The Arctic is the region north of the Arctic Circle.

ADJECTIVE 2 very cold indeed • You need specially warm clothes for arctic conditions.

are

VERB a present tense of be

area areas

NOUN 1 a particular part of a place, country, or the world • a built-up area of the city

SYNONYMS: district, region, zone

2 the measurement of a flat surface • The area of the playground is 1500 square metres (1500 m2).

arena arenas

NOUN a place where sports and other public events take place

[from Latin harena meaning sand, because of the sandy centre of an amphitheatre where gladiators fought]

aren’t

VERB a contraction of are not

argue argues, arguing, argued

VERB 1 If you argue with someone about something, you disagree with them about it, sometimes in an angry way.

2 If you argue that something is true, you give reasons why you think that it is.

argument arguments

NOUN a talk between people who do not agree

arid

ADJECTIVE Arid land is very dry because there has been very little rain.

ANTONYM: fertile

arise arises, arising, arose, arisen

VERB When something such as an opportunity or a problem arises, it begins to exist.

aristocrat aristocrats

NOUN someone whose family has a high social rank, and who has a title such as Lord or Lady

aristocratic ADJECTIVE aristocracy NOUN

arithmetic

NOUN the part of mathematics that is to do with the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of numbers

[from Greek arithmos meaning number]

arithmetical ADJECTIVE

arithmetically ADVERB

arm arms, arming, armed

NOUN 1 the part of your body between your shoulder and your wrist

PLURAL NOUN 2 Arms are weapons used in a war.

VERB 3 If a country arms itself, it prepares for war.

armada armadas

NOUN a large fleet of warships • The Spanish Armada was the fleet sent to destroy the English in 1588.

armchair armchairs

NOUN a large chair with a support on each side for your arms

armistice armistices

NOUN In war, an armistice is an agreement to stop fighting.

armour

NOUN 1 In the past, armour was metal clothing worn for protection in battle.

2 In modern warfare, tanks are often referred to as armour.

army armies

NOUN a large group of soldiers who are trained to fight on land

aroma aromas

NOUN a strong, pleasant smell

[a Greek word meaning spice]

aromatic ADJECTIVE

around

PREPOSITION 1 situated at various points in a place or area • There are several post boxes around the town.

2 from place to place inside an area • We walked around the stalls at the summer fair.

3 surrounding or encircling a place or object • We were sitting around the table.

4 at approximately the time or place mentioned • The jumble sale began around noon.

arrange arranges, arranging, arranged

VERB 1 If you arrange to do something, or arrange something for someone, you make plans for it or make it possible. • I arranged to meet him later. • Dad arranged a trip to the circus for us.

2 If you arrange objects, you set them out in a particular way. • We arranged the books in alphabetical order.

array arrays

NOUN 1 a large number of different things displayed together

2 a mathematical way of grouping. For example, 3 × 2 is shown as ::: and 2 × 3 is shown as ⋮⋮.

arrest arrests, arresting, arrested

VERB 1 If the police arrest someone, they take them to a police station because they believe they may have committed a crime.

NOUN 2 An arrest is the act of arresting someone.

arrive arrives, arriving, arrived

VERB 1 When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.

2 When you arrive at a decision you make up your mind.

arrival NOUN

arrogant

ADJECTIVE Arrogant people behave as if they are better than other people.

arrow arrows

NOUN a long, thin weapon with a sharp point at one end, shot from a bow

arsenal arsenals

NOUN a place where weapons and ammunition are stored or produced

arsenic

NOUN a strong, dangerous poison that can kill

arson

NOUN the crime of deliberately setting fire to something, especially a building

art arts

NOUN 1 the creation of objects, such as paintings and sculptures, that are thought to be beautiful or that express a particular idea • He wanted to take art classes to learn how to draw and paint well.

2 Art is also used to refer to the objects themselves. • We saw lots of interesting paintings and sculptures at the art exhibition.

3 something that needs special skills or ability • I would like to master the art of sewing.

artery arteries

NOUN the tubes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body

See vein

arterial ADJECTIVE

arthritis

NOUN a condition in which the joints in someone’s body become painful, and sometimes swollen

arthritic ADJECTIVE

article articles

NOUN 1 a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine

2 a particular item • an article of clothing

artificial

ADJECTIVE Something artificial is created by people rather than occurring naturally.

ANTONYM: natural

artillery

NOUN 1 Artillery consists of large, powerful guns and rockets.

2 The artillery is the branch of an army that uses these weapons.

artist artists

NOUN a person who draws or paints or produces other works of art

CONJUNCTION 1 at the same time that • We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.

2 because • As I like school I get there early.

PHRASE 3 You use as if or as though when you are giving an explanation for something. • Shane walked past as if he didn’t know me.

ascend ascends, ascending, ascended

VERB FORMAL If someone or something ascends, they move or lead upwards. • We ascended the stairs to the second floor.

ANTONYM: descend

ash ashes

NOUN the grey or black powdery remains of anything that has been burnt • We put the ashes from the bonfire on the compost heap.

ashamed

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are ashamed, you feel embarrassed or guilty.

2 If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them.

ashore

ADVERB If someone or something comes ashore, they come on to the land from the sea or a river.

aside

ADVERB If you move something aside, you move it to one side. • She closed the book and laid it aside.

ask asks, asking, asked

VERB 1 If you ask someone something, you put a question to them.

2 If you ask someone to do something, you tell them you want them to do it. • We asked him to do his card trick.

3 If you ask for something, you say you would like to have it. • She asked for a drink of water.

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