food

Food is what people and animals eat for nutrition or pleasure when they are hungry.

We grow our own food.

He eats many foods from other lands.

I'm going to get the children some food from the restaurant because they're hungry.


father

The father of a person is the man who is one of that person's parents.

The father of Bill Smith IV is Bill Smith III.


father

father (canonical)
fathers (third-person singular)
fathered (past)
fathered (past participle)
fathering (present participle)

To have children (only applies to males)

He fathered six children in six years.


fertile

fertile (positive)
more fertile (comparative)
most fertile (superlative)

Fertile land is land on which crops can grow well.

That field is fertile.

A fertile person, animal, or plant is one that can produce children or offspring.

The average fertile female cat gives birth once or twice a year.

If someone has a fertile imagination, brain, or mind, they create a lot of interesting new ideas.


crop

Our farm's crops are corn, apples and potatoes.


crop

crop (canonical)
crops (third-person singular)
cropped (past)
cropped (past participle)
cropping (present participle)

I cropped the picture to a size of 4 centimetres by 5 centimetres.

To cut off the top of something, often a plant.


available

available (positive)
more available (comparative)
most available (superlative)

If something is available, it exists and you can use it.

We can't answer the question with the available information.

These forms are available from the local office.


financial

A financial problem, issue, activity or other thing is about money or business.

Our sales are down and we have serious financial problems.

The government is giving financial help to people buying houses.


process

A process is a series of steps that you take for a particular purpose.

Let us look at the factors considered during the formal decision-making process.

A process is an outward extension of bone from a larger bone or piece of tissue.

The xiphoid process is located beneath your sternum.


process

process (canonical)
processes (third-person singular)
processed (past)
processed (past participle)
processing (present participle)

If you process something, you change it from its natural state into something that's ready to use.

The oil companies process much of the crude oil into gasoline.

The processed sugar is now completely white.

There's too much information. I can't process all of it right now.


individual

individual (positive)
more individual (comparative)
most individual (superlative)

An individual person or thing is looked at separately from others.

This office assists whole families rather than individual family members.

An individual right, need, etc. belongs to one person, not to a group.

The government should protect not only individual rights but also group values.

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəl/


individual

An individual is a single person, looked at separately from others.

One of the most difficult parts of growing up is learning to form your own ideas--to become an individual.

A country must balance the rights of individuals with the rights of groups.

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəl/


assist

assist (canonical)
assists (third-person singular)
assisted (past)
assisted (past participle)
assisting (present participle)

She assisted the doctor.

Nurses are available to assist the healing process.


assist

In basketball and some other sports, a pass to another player to let him or her score.

He had eight assists in that game.


assistance

If you give someone or something assistance, you give help or support.

The company may also provide financial assistance to single mothers.


family

A family is a group of people with a blood or marriage relation.

My parents and my two brothers are my family.

A language family is a group of languages that is believed to have came from the same language.

The Indo-European language family is a family of languages spoken by 3 billion people.


sixth

The sixth thing is the one that is number six (6) in order.

He ran in the marathon and came in sixth.


sixth

A sixth is one of six equal parts of one whole.

He gave me a sixth of his orange.


sector

A sector is a part or division of an area, especially part of the economy.

Service sector jobs, such as restaurant jobs, are often low paying.

The government is placing a large number of private businesses in the public sector.

I am going to go patrol the south sector.


specific

specific (positive)
more specific (comparative)
most specific (superlative)

If you talk about a specific idea, person, group, or thing, you mean that it is different from or more interesting than other things like it; you might also mean that you know exactly which one you are talking about.

The interviewer uses a checklist to make sure that specific areas are covered.

If something is specific, it is detailed, clear, and limited.

Last time, he was happy to do anything, but feels this time he has to be more specific.

First I will talk about farming in general, and then I will talk about the specific problems of wheat farming.


principle

Principles are personal rules that tell you what is right and wrong.

It goes against my principles to ignore her.

One principle I follow is not to have regret.

A principle is the general idea that explains or supports something.

The basic principle of his chair is that the knees should be below the hips.

Police must not accept money because it could affect their judgement. The same principle applies if gifts, etc, are offered.


estimate

An estimate is a judgement of a size, value, amount, cost, etc., which is based on incomplete information.

British Telecom will give you an estimate of the cost before doing any work.


estimate

estimate (canonical)
estimates (third-person singular)
estimated (past)
estimated (past participle)
estimating (present participle)

If you estimate the number, size, value, amount, cost, etc. of something, you guess based on incomplete information.

It's difficult to estimate how long it will take to get to London because we don't know how bad the traffic will be.


variable

A variable is something that may not always be the same.

In life insurance, sex is an important variable because men generally die younger than women.

A variable is something used in mathematics for an unknown value.

In "x = 1 + 2 +...n = ((1 + n) × n)÷2", x is the variable.

A variable is something used in computer programming languages that stores data, such as a number or words.


variable

variable (positive)
more variable (comparative)
most variable (superlative)

If something is variable, it changes often.

The temperature in the area is highly variable.

If a group is variable, there are big differences between things in the group.

The expected height of children in 3rd grade is variable.


method

If you use a method to achieve a goal, then you use a planned process.

It is quite simple to use the method described in Section 7.2 to find the solution.

My preferred method for contacting friends overseas is on the Internet.


brother

Your brother is another male child of one or both of your parents.

Two sisters and their brother played in the park yesterday


all

All of something is 100% of it, or the entire amount.

Well, you could stay in bed all day on Friday. And I could take the kids to school.

You know, you can't see all of the moon.

"There was a problem." "Yes, I know all about it."

No! You did it all wrong.

Can you tell me all this tomorrow?

I think we all know we have to change.

The shirt is almost all white.

Is that all you can do?

All of some things is 100% of them, or every one.

And then you can go and tell all your friends about it.

Not all of them are as wealthy as you imagine.


all

If you give your all or put your all into something, you make the maximum effort possible.

He puts his all into every game.


money

Money is the coins or notes that are used to pay for things.

Money is a tool that is used to pay for goods or services.

You don't want to spend your money on an ice cream. You can buy something else.


data

Data is information, such as facts, numbers, photographs, etc.

A study using experimental data from ten schools found no difference between methods.


absolutely

If something is absolutely true, correct, etc., it's 100% so.

I agree. You're absolutely right.

I'm not absolutely sure, but I think it's OK.

If something is absolutely beautiful, brilliant, etc., it's very much so.

"It was wonderful," Martha said. "Absolutely wonderful! The best!"

You say there is absolutely nothing, to emphasise that there is nothing.

I have absolutely no idea why he said that.


doubt

A doubt is a question or uncertainty about something.

His mind was full of doubts about the phishing website.


doubt

doubt (canonical)
doubts (third-person singular)
doubted (past)
doubted (past participle)
doubting (present participle)

If you doubt someone or something, you do not believe them completely.

The girl I met at the pub said she would call me, but I doubt she really will.


art

An art is a skill that produces works of creative expression and can be mastered through study and practice. Arts are often contrasted with sciences.

Painting, music and writing are arts.

She has making baskets down to an art.

Art is creation by means of an art. Common examples of art are paintings and photographs, but songs and even buildings can be art, too.

The gallery has many pieces of art.


cold

cold (positive)
colder (comparative)
coldest (superlative)

If something is cold, it is low in temperature.

The wind made her hands cold.

It's going to be very cold today so wear a jacket.

She's always so friendly to everyone, but she's really cold to him.

If you have cold feet, you are nervous about something you planned to and you feel like not doing it.

I almost took the new job, but in the end I got cold feet.

If you give someone the cold shoulder, you ignore them or you are unfriendly towards them.

If you stop cold, you stop very suddenly.

If you are out cold, you are unconscious.

A cold light or colour is a one, often with some blue, that makes you feel cold or empty.

If you do something cold, you do it without any preparation.

Cold cash is coins and bills, not promises to pay.

If something leaves you cold, it doesn't interest you at all.

If someone's or something's trail is cold, you can't find them because they have been missing for too long.


cold

A mild sickness. It gives your trouble with your nose and throat.

He has a cold, so he stayed in bed, kept warm, and took some medicine.


cook

cook (canonical)
cooks (third-person singular)
cooked (past)
cooked (past participle)
cooking (present participle)

Darren will cook dinner today.


cook

Emily is a cook.


current

current (positive)
more current (comparative)
most current (superlative)

Something that is current is up to date.

This news is current.

We bought our home 20 years ago, but we wouldn't be able to buy it at current prices.


current

There is a strong current in that water.

It has a current of nine amperes.


same

Two things are the same if the two things have one size, and one shape, and one color, etc.

Sometimes we wear the same shirt.

The one that was talked about before. A thing is the same thing if there are not two things, there is only one.

That man there is the same man I saw yesterday.


secretary

A secretary is a person who works in an office, helping with typing letters, filing, and other simple tasks.

I will ask my secretary to write to them.


safe

safe (positive)
safer (comparative)
safest (superlative)

If something is safe, it is not in danger.

I feel safe when I am at home.


safe

A safe is a metal box, often locked with a combination lock, for guarding valuable things.

She put her jewelry in the safe.


ship

We sailed by ship from England to Italy.


ship

ship (canonical)
ships (third-person singular)
shipped (past)
shipped (past participle)
shipping (present participle)

They will ship the package by mail.


skin

Her skin is soft.

The outer layer of a fruit or vegetable; a peel.

He ate the onion, but not the onion skin.


skin

skin (canonical)
skins (third-person singular)
skinned (past)
skinned (past participle)
skinning (present participle)

He skinned the bear and froze the meat.


sneeze

sneeze (canonical)
sneezes (third-person singular)
sneezed (past)
sneezed (past participle)
sneezing (present participle)

If you sneeze, a feeling in your nose makes you suddenly blow air out of your nose and mouth.

He sneezed until his nose was red.

You'll give everyone your cold coughing and sneezing like that.


sneeze

A sneeze, is a sudden blowing of air out of your nose and mouth because of a feeling in your nose.

She held her finger under her nose to stop a sneeze.


snow

Snow is precipitation (falling water) that is white and frozen.

I like to ski on the snow.

A snow is a time when snow falls from the sky.

The snows of winter will soon come.


snow

snow (canonical)
snows (third-person singular)
snowed (past)
snowed (past participle)
snowing (present participle)

If it is snowing, snow is coming down from the sky.

It snowed last night and everything is white now.


son

I am his son.


table

He sat at the table to eat.

A list of information in rows and columns.

He looked at the data table.


table

table (canonical)
tables (third-person singular)
tabled (past)
tabled (past participle)
tabling (present participle)

We will table a new motion.

I vote to table discussion.


early

early (positive)
earlier (comparative)
earliest (superlative)

If something is early, it is sooner than expected.

It was an early end to the meeting.

If something is early, it happens in the first part of a time period.

He didn't like going to the early classes.


early

He was at the meeting early.

She got up early in the morning.


east

The east is a place that is closer to where the sun rises than another place.

My parents live in the east.


east

One of the four compass directions: 90º clockwise from north. The sun rises in the east.

I drove east from Chicago.


edge

His speed gives him an edge.


edge

edge (canonical)
edges (third-person singular)
edged (past)
edged (past participle)
edging (present participle)

He edged the grass.

She edged away from him.


brunette

My mum has brown hair and I am a brunette too.


brunette

My sister is brunette, but she pretends she is blonde.


brunet

He is a brunet.


brunet

(Of a man or boy) Brown or black-haired.

His hair is brown. He is brunet.


woman

My wife is a good woman.


worm

A tube-shaped animal with no legs that lives underground, under water, or inside another animal.

He found a big worm to use for fishbait.

They found a worm in his stomach.

Worms must be eating him by now.

They found a worm in the tree.

Saint George fought the worm with all his strength.

A worm is a type of dangerous software that can go across networks of computers.


worm

worm (canonical)
worms (third-person singular)
wormed (past)
wormed (past participle)
worming (present participle)

To move like a worm; to wriggle in order to move.

He wormed along the sand.


window

A piece of glass in a wall to let people see through it.

He looked out the window.


French door

A French door is a door with a window in it, often used in the plural.

He left through the French doors.


BE850

Wiktionary:Basic English alphabetical wordlist


cup

A cup is deep round container open at the top, normally used to drink out of.

I'll bring you another cup of tea.

Please pour the water into the cup.

A cup is a measurement of food or liquid for cooking and baking (about 237 milliliters).

Add 2 cups of sugar.

There are two cups in a pint.

A cup is an award for the winner of a sports competition.


cup

cup (canonical)
cups (third-person singular)
cupped (past)
cupped (past participle)
cupping (present participle)

If you put your hands together in a round bowl-shape, you cup your hands.

Jean cupped her hands under the faucet to catch the water.


lie

lie (canonical)
lies (third-person singular)
lay (past)
lain (past participle)
lying (present participle)

If you lie down, your head and whole body are at the same level. You lie down when you want to rest or sleep.

She lay on the bed and went to sleep.

If something lies somewhere, it is there and it is not moving.

His dirty shirt was lying on the floor and old socks were everywhere.


lie

lie (canonical)
lies (third-person singular)
lied (past)
lied (past participle)
lying (present participle)

If you lie, you say or write something that you know is not true.

"How old are you?" he asked. "Twenty-one," she lied. She was actually eighteen years old. Examples given in the old Webster dictionary says, why do you lie to me vs why do you just lie there. In past tense the word "lier" perceived in the new dictionary does not exist. It has been deleted from context to be depicted as "liar" when in fact they are two different existing words that have two different meanings all together. In example, to be a "lier" is to be a noun in context and to be a "liar" would be as a verb form. One depicts a person or being while the other depicts an action.


lie

Something not true, a falsehood, an untruth.

I told a lie.


tomorrow

Tomorrow is my day off.

I'll see you tomorrow evening.

I will go to school tomorrow.

Tomorrow's meeting should be short.

The city of tomorrow will be much cleaner than cities now.

Let’s hope for a brighter tomorrow.


preposition

A preposition is a member of a group of words, or part of speech, that usually show where something happens. Typically a preposition is followed by a noun.

In the sentence, "I come from Canada," "from" is a preposition.

/ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən/


preposition

preposition (canonical)
prepositions (third-person singular)
prepositioned (past)
prepositioned (past participle)
prepositioning (present participle)

If you preposition something, you place it in a location before some event occurs.


albatross

A type of seabird that is usually found in the Southern Ocean and in the North Pacific, with a curved beak and long, thin wings.

The albatross flew over the ocean.

A long amount of time where one is continually worried.

A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole.


burden

burden (canonical)
burdens (third-person singular)
burdened (past)
burdened (past participle)
burdening (present participle)


heavy

heavy (positive)
heavier (comparative)
heaviest (superlative)

This suitcase is very heavy.


eagle

He saw an eagle perched on top of that tree.

An old gold coin in the United States worth $10.

He showed me his coin collection. He even had an old eagle.

I got a birdy and you got an eagle on that last hole.


eagle

eagle (canonical)
eagles (third-person singular)
eagled (past)
eagled (past participle)
eagling (present participle)

If you eagle a golf hole, you score two under par on it.

I eagled the last hole with 3 strokes on a par 5.


shop

He bought a hat from the shop.


shop

shop (canonical)
shops (third-person singular)
shopped (past)
shopped (past participle)
shopping (present participle)

If you shop for something, you look for it in a store because you want to buy it.

I need some new shoes, but I've been shopping for them for a week and I can't find any I like.


golf

Golf is a game where a person uses a club to try to hit a ball into a hole with the fewest strokes.

He played golf with a friend.

Golf represents the letter G in the ICAO spelling alphabet.


golf

golf (canonical)
golfs (third-person singular)
golfed (past)
golfed (past participle)
golfing (present participle)

If you golf, you play a game where a person uses a club to try to hit a ball into a hole with the fewest strokes.


seabird

The pelican is a seabird.

LL-Q1860 (eng)-The Editor's Apprentice-seabird.wav


sea

A place with a large amount of salt water.


skill

Being able to do something well. Unlike abilities, skills must usually be learned.

I go to a class every weekend to help me improve on my writing skills.


heart

He has a problem with his heart.

You broke my heart.

We get to the heart of the problem.

He has a lot of heart.


zebra

An animal that somewhat looks like a horse, but has black and white stripes.

We saw zebras while we were in Africa.

By extension, any black and white stripe pattern that looks like a zebra.

I want to paint the room with zebra stripes.


alphabetical order

If something is in alphabetical order, it is in the order of the letters of the alphabet.

I will put the list in alphabetical order.


waiting

wait (canonical)
waits (third-person singular)
waited (past)
waited (past participle)
waiting (present participle)

We were tired of waiting for him.


death

Death and destruction are a part of war.

The Bible teaches that death and suffering came into the world because of Adam's sin.

She looked happy, even in death.

The death of my wife was hard to accept.

She has seen many deaths.

My uncle's death made the whole family feel sad.

No one knows where a person will go after death.


fork

An instrument for eating, with 3 or 4 sharp points called tines, all in the same direction.

I ate with my fork.

She came to a fork in the road.

A situation where two or more enemy pieces are in danger from the same piece.

He moved his queen and caught me in a fork.


fork

fork (canonical)
forks (third-person singular)
forked (past)
forked (past participle)
forking (present participle)

The road forks there.

He forked food into his mouth.


west

The direction that the sun sets; from north, 90º to the left.

He is from the west.


west

One of the four compass directions: 270º clockwise from north. The sun sets in the west.

England is west of France.


identify

identify (canonical)
identifies (third-person singular)
identified (past)
identified (past participle)
identifying (present participle)

If you identify something, you say what it is.

I showed him the picture and he identified the man as his brother.

The management has identified the key areas of concern.

The study identified three options.

If x identifies y, x makes it easy to know what y is.

If you identify with someone else, you understand and share their feelings.

If x is identified with y, it is closely connected to it.


back

He went back behind the stands.

I didn't like it, so I sent it back.

He went back to the same house.

They came back again.


back

The back is the rear part of something; it is the part in the other direction from the front.

I went to the back of the house.

The back is the rear part of the human body.

He had a scar on his back.


back

back (canonical)
backs (third-person singular)
backed (past)
backed (past participle)
backing (present participle)

The Republicans backed the bill.

He put the car in gear and backed right into the garage door.


non-comparable adjective

non-comparable adjective
non-comparable adjectives (plural)

"Iron" is a non-comparable adjective.


less

little
less (comparative)
least (superlative)

He does less of the work than she does.

I want less soup.

It costs less than $10.

As we build new roads, these small ones will become less important.

He wore a dark colour that was less likely to be seen.


less

If you do x less than y, you do not do x as much as y.

I read less than I used to. = "reading now < reading before"

He works less than she does.

My leg really hurts, but my arm hurts less. = "my arm hurts < my leg hurts"

If you do something less often, easily, well, etc., you do not do it as often, easily, well, etc.

I go out less often than before.

He plays piano less than she does.

If something is less likely, expensive, important, etc., it is not as likely, expensive, important, etc.

This book is less expensive than that book. ="the price of this book < the price of that book"

You should go out. Studying is less important.


less

Seven less four is three. (7-4=3)


beach

A large area of sand (or very small stones), next to an area of water.

People sometimes lie on beaches when they are on holiday, to get a suntan.


beach

beach (canonical)
beaches (third-person singular)
beached (past)
beached (past participle)
beaching (present participle)

If something is beached, it has run onto a beach or sandbar.


trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene is a yellow explosive material that is made up of crystals that are gotten through a reaction with nitric acid and toluene.


can

can (present)
could (past)
can't (negative)

If someone can do something, they are able to do it.

Most birds can fly.

Can you speak English?

I can't see it. It's too small.

"Can you come?" "Yes, I think I can."

This is a service that anyone can easily afford.

If someone can do something, they are allowed to do it.

You can't smoke here.

Can I go now?

You use can to ask somebody to do something (if you know the person well).

Can you open the door for me, please?

Can I have the salt, please?

If something can happen, it is possible.

It's so small that it can't be seen.

There can't be any difference.

Can the plan work?

That can't be right.

Imagine how bad it can get.

If someone tells you something can't happen, they think it's not a good idea.

You just can't keep smoking.

You can't think things are going to get better.

If something can happen, it happens sometimes.

I can get really busy here on weekends.

Her classes can be really interesting or really boring.


can

can (canonical)
cans (third-person singular)
canned (past)
canned (past participle)
canning (present participle)

If someone cans something, they put in a can or jar to keep for a long time.

We canned the peas for the winter.

If someone cans something, they stop working on it.

The idea was canned.

If someone gets canned they have lost their job.

If you tell someone to can it, you want them to stop talking.

Can it, would you? I'm trying to watch TV.


can

A can is a metal container, usually for holding food or drink.

I drink cola from a can.

Spaghetti hoops come in a can.


wash

wash (canonical)
washes (third-person singular)
washed (past)
washed (past participle)
washing (present participle)

When you wash something, you clean it with water.

I wash my car every day.


wash

He gave the dog a wash.

The items for washing, before, after, or during the washing.

He threw his dirty clothes in the wash.

She brought the wash in from the clothesline.

The program was a complete wash.

His project is a wash.

With up: to be washed up is to be completely discouraged and burnt out.

The Starcraft 2 servers were down and I was all washed up.


trousers

Trousers are clothes worn over the lower body, with two legs.

He put on his trousers.


town

She went to a town called Beaverton.

People from England call London "town".


thunder

He heard thunder in the distance.

The thunder of the train was very loud.

The battlefield was full of the thunder of gunfire.


thunder

thunder (canonical)
thunders (third-person singular)
thundered (past)
thundered (past participle)
thundering (present participle)

The bowling ball thundered down the lane.


thought

When you have a thought, you have an idea or concept in your mind.

I have a thought about the answer to that problem.

I will give your words some thought.


thought

think (canonical)
thinks (third-person singular)
thought (past)
thought (past participle)
thinking (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of think.

He thought of his mother.

I have thought of everything.

She thought that you were gone.


strong

strong (positive)
stronger (comparative)
strongest (superlative)

Having big muscles; physically powerful.

Arnold is very strong.

Having a smell or flavor that is easy to notice.

She wore strong perfume.

The taste of cinnamon was strong in my drink.

Having a specified number of people or units.

The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.


strange

strange (positive)
stranger (comparative)
strangest (superlative)

My brother is so strange that he can turn his eyelids inside out.

Gerald saw a strange car parked in his driveway.


stiff

stiff (positive)
stiffer (comparative)
stiffest (superlative)

If something is stiff, it is not able to be bent.

My arm was very stiff this morning after bowling yesterday.

The bar is too stiff; I cannot bend it.


stiff

She went to the morgue and saw some stiffs.


stiff

stiff (canonical)
stiffs (third-person singular)
stiffed (past)
stiffed (past participle)
stiffing (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


stick

Gerard picked up a stick.

He gave her a stick of gum.


stick

stick (canonical)
sticks (third-person singular)
stuck (past)
stuck (past participle)
sticking (present participle)

The food stuck to the pan.

You stick your clothes in the dryer.


spade

I took my spade to the garden.

He had three spades and two hearts.

Spade is an extremely offensive word for a black person.


spade

spade (canonical)
spades (third-person singular)
spaded (past)
spaded (past participle)
spading (present participle)

She will spade the garden.


sharp

sharp (positive)
sharper (comparative)
sharpest (superlative)

He has a sharp knife.

That girl is sharp.

That lemonade is sharp.

I would like sharp Cheddar cheese.


sharp

A blade, especially a sword used in fencing, with a sharp tip.

Jesse preferred to practice with sharps.

A sharp is a note that is one half step above the one that is named.

The last note that she sang was a D sharp, not a C flat.


run

run (canonical)
runs (third-person singular)
ran (past)
run (past participle)
running (present participle)

If you run, you go quickly, with both feet off the ground at one time.

I must run.

I like to run in the afternoon.

The car runs well.

If you run from someone or something, you try to get away from them.

He ran from the cops.

He ran the hotel together with his beloved wife.


run

A trip made by a runner; compare to walk.

I’m going for a run.

A run in baseball is when a batter safely touches home plate.

A run in cricket is scored when the batsmen run between the two wickets.

An unbroken course of performances or showings.

The musical had a long run on Broadway.


of

His name was Simon of Cyrene.

He wants a piece of that pie.

It is a house of cards.

Call the office of the school president.


right

righter (comparative)
rightest (superlative)
right (positive)
more right (comparative)
most right (superlative)

You did the right thing.


right

When something is to the right of a location, it means the direction 90º clockwise.

He takes a right at the library.

She made a right turn on Oak Street.

When you have the right for something, it means that it is an activity allowed by status.

You have the right to remain silent.

Administrators on Wiktionary have the right to block users from editing.

Two wrongs don't make a right.


right

right (canonical)
rights (third-person singular)
righted (past)
righted (past participle)
righting (present participle)

When you turn something right, you turn it the right-side-up.

He righted the boat.

When you make something right, you correct it.

He tried to right a wrong.


right

He does it right.

I want to talk to you right now.

But John, the letter is right there.

She turned right.


open

open (canonical)
opens (third-person singular)
opened (past)
opened (past participle)
opening (present participle)

To move something to the side to allow entrance.

I will open the door for our guests.

She opened the store.


open

open (positive)
more open (comparative)
most open (superlative)

The door was open.

The shop is open.

Available for the public to see and change (of code).

This software has open code because it was released under an open-source license.


battery

A battery is a device for storing or keeping electricity. Batteries are used to power flashlights, laptop computers, cell phones, and many other devices.

I put a new battery in the flashlight.

I threw away the old, dead battery.

A battery is a coordinated group of artillery weapons.

Battery is the act of hitting or striking a person.

My brother was sent to jail for assault and battery.


flashlight

A flashlight is a device for making light. Flashlights are usually small and shaped like cylinders. The electricity for the flashlight often comes from a battery.

It was getting dark, so he used his flashlight.


cylinder

A cylinder is a shape consisting of two circles connected to a tube.

Cans, pens, and flashlights are usually shaped like cylinders.


because

You use because to show the reason for something.

I bought the book because I wanted to read it.

We have to raise our prices because of rising costs.

There's no class because it's Sunday.


because of

You use because of to show the reason for something.

There's no class because of the holiday.

We couldn't leave the island because of the bad weather.


international

international (positive)
more international (comparative)
most international (superlative)

An international event, situation, idea, etc. includes two or more countries.

In soccer news, France beat Japan in international competition.

An international student is a student from country A studying in country B.

The United States has more international students than any other country.

/ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəl/

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃnəl/


international

An international is a game or contest between two or more countries.

/ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəl/

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃnəl/


attention

If you pay attention to something, you focus your mind on it.

Pay attention to me when I'm speaking to you.

He waved to draw attention to himself.

She couldn't keep her attention on her books.


education

Someone gets an education if that person learns something or if somebody teaches that person something, usually at school.

More and more people are starting work with a university education.

He studied German by himself, but he has no formal education.


abroad

If somebody goes abroad, they leave their home country and go to another country.

They sent their children to school abroad.

He is going abroad to travel in France and Germany.

If somebody lives abroad, they live in another country.

She spent four years abroad before returning to Brazil.


bicycle

A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. You use your legs to make it move.

I learned to ride a bicycle when I was six years old.


bicycle

bicycle (canonical)
bicycles (third-person singular)
bicycled (past)
bicycled (past participle)
bicycling (present participle)


a lot of

A lot of something, is a large number or a large amount of it.

We paid a lot of money for that car.


swim

swim (canonical)
swims (third-person singular)
swam (past)
swum (past participle)
swimming (present participle)

If you swim, you move through the water using your arms and legs.

Let's go swimming at the beach.

I don't like boats because I can't swim.


swim

We all went for a swim in the lake.


government

A government is a group of people who make the laws and control a country or other place.

The local government announced a 5% cut in taxes.


formal

formal (positive)
more formal (comparative)
most formal (superlative)

If something is formal, it is official and/or public.

He studied German on his own, but he has no formal language education.

Formal behaviour or dress is used in polite situations.

Please wear suit and tie because the restaurant is quite formal.


pool

A pool is hole that holds water. Usually, it is for people to swim in.

Our hotel had a large indoor pool.


pool

pool (canonical)
pools (third-person singular)
pooled (past)
pooled (past participle)
pooling (present participle)

Let's pool our money together to buy a gift for Mom.


perfect

perfect (positive)
more perfect (comparative)
most perfect (superlative)

Something that is perfect has no mistakes, problems, or damage.

She answered him in perfect Japanese.

Something that is perfect is exactly what was needed or wanted.

"Here's the knife." "Oh, yes! Thanks, it's perfect."

That's a perfect example of how to start a business.

In a perfect tense, a verb is used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

I believe that in French the passe compose is equivalent to the present perfect tense in English.


perfect

perfect (canonical)
perfects (third-person singular)
perfected (past)
perfected (past participle)
perfecting (present participle)

If you perfect something, you fix all its problems or make it as good as possible.

Our leaders have perfected the art of sounding good while saying nothing.


perfect

The perfect is a verb tense used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

This verb should be in the present perfect.


nice

nice (positive)
nicer (comparative)
nicest (superlative)

If something is nice, it's good and people probably like it.

I didn't know him, but I hear he was a very nice man.

Thank you, sir; have a nice day yourself, sir.

It's great. It's much nicer than your old place.

Thank you for coming! It was so nice to see you again.


fun

Thanks! I had a lot of fun today. Let's do it again.

If you do something for fun, you do it because you enjoy it.

It's not my job; I just write Wiktionary articles for fun.


fun

more fun (comparative)
most fun (superlative)
fun (positive)
funner (comparative)
funnest (superlative)

A fun activity, time, person, etc. is enjoyable.

I really like soccer. It's such a fun game.


custom

A custom is an activity that happens traditionally or regularly.

Almost everyone there eats rice every day, but there are different local customs about how to cook it.

My mother's custom is to have breakfast in the garden with her newspaper.

A custom is a long-established practice; considered as unwritten law.

It was a custom in medieval times a woman could not marry without her parents consent.


custom

A custom piece of clothing or other item is created for a specific person or use.

He only wears custom suits, made to fit him perfectly.


correct

correct (positive)
more correct (comparative)
most correct (superlative)

Something that is correct has no mistakes.

For question #5, only 5 people got the correct answer.

When you type, the correct hand position is very important.


correct

correct (canonical)
corrects (third-person singular)
corrected (past)
corrected (past participle)
correcting (present participle)

When you correct something that is wrong, you make it right.

I corrected the mistakes on your test.


especially

You use especially to say that something is special, or somehow different from others.

Nobody was old, but Paulo was especially young.

I like running, especially in the morning when the air is fresh.

Japanese cities are famous for their size, especially Tokyo.


discussion

A discussion happens when two or more people share ideas about something, usually by talking.

The company held detailed salary discussions with all employees.

There have been ongoing discussions about the new rules.


bus

A bus is a vehicle that carries a large number of people on roads.

He ran to catch the school bus, which had stopped at a corner to pick up more kids.

This bus makes ten stops before arriving at Union Station.

I woke up late and missed my bus this morning.

Tourists didn't usually ride the local bus.

The bus driver took out tickets as we got on at the station.

The two young men boarded a crowded city bus to go home.

She was the first and only passenger at this bus stop.

Round-trip bus fare to and from the ferry terminal was $1.

A bus is part of a computer; it moves information.


bus

buses (third-person singular)
bused (past)
bused (past participle)
busing (present participle)
bus (canonical)
busses (third-person singular)
bussed (past)
bussed (past participle)
bussing (present participle)

If you bus people somewhere, you take them there on a bus.

The children are bused to school every morning.

If you bus tables, you take away dirty dishes in a restaurant.


practise

practise (canonical)
practises (third-person singular)
practised (past)
practised (past participle)
practising (present participle)

If you practise something, you do it again and again to improve your ability.

The class was going to practise writing skills for homework.

When I got my first guitar, I practised until my fingers fell off.


practice

practice (canonical)
practices (third-person singular)
practiced (past)
practiced (past participle)
practicing (present participle)

If you practice something, you do it again and again to improve your ability.

The class was going to practice writing skills for homework.

When I got my first guitar, I practiced until my fingers fell off.

If you practice a subject (specially law and medicine), you pursue it as a career.

She practiced law for several years.


practice

Practice is an activity you do again and again to improve your ability.

I can go to the party because I have soccer practice that night.

My driving is getting better, but I still need practice.


clothes

Clothes, such as shirts, pants, socks, etc. are things that people wear on their body to cover it.

He took off his clothes and got into the shower.

There was no money to buy clothes, so we got our cousins' old shirts and jeans with holes in the knees.


clothes

clothed (past)
clothed (past participle)
clothe (canonical)
clothes (third-person singular)
clad (past)
clad (past participle)
clothing (present participle)

The third-person singular form of clothe.


title

The title of a book, movie, song, etc. is its name.

"I just finished the best book." "Really, what's the title?"

A title is a word or name that describes a person's job or status.

His title was Director of Science Education.

The proper title for an unmarried woman is "Miss".

A title is a legal document that proves you own something.

He put the title to his house in a bank for safe keeping.


title

title (canonical)
titles (third-person singular)
titled (past)
titled (past participle)
titling (present participle)

To give a title to someone or something.

I titled my essay "The History of Japan".


informal

informal (positive)
more informal (comparative)
most informal (superlative)

If something is informal, it is friendly and casual; it is not official.

Can we get together for some informal talks before the meeting?

School is generally quite informal. Many students even call their teacher by their first name.


advice

If you give someone advice, you tell them what you think they should do.

Thanks so much! I took your advice and it really helped me get the job.

Excuse me! I'm looking for advice on how to get a loan. Can you help me?


engineering

Engineering is a job or a science about designing and building things.

She worked for a civil engineering company, that makes portable bridges.


engineering

engineer (canonical)
engineers (third-person singular)
engineered (past)
engineered (past participle)
engineering (present participle)


program

program (canonical)
programs (third-person singular)
programed (past)
programed (past participle)
programing (present participle)

When you program a computer, you use code to tell the computer what to do.

The student can program the computer to calculate all of his statistics.

All of the math students know how to program.


program

A program is a number of steps that are followed to reach a goal or end.

His new exercise program gets more difficult every week.

Oxford College has an excellent English language program.

A program is a guide to a dramatic or theatrical performance.

After he entered the theatre, he bought a copy of the program.

A (television or radio) program is a broadcast.

Star Trek is her favorite program.

A (computer) program is the code that tells a computer what to do.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular programs in the world.

The new program has a lot of problems. My computer crashes every time I try to run it.


programme

programme (canonical)
programmes (third-person singular)
programmed (past)
programmed (past participle)
programming (present participle)

When you programme a computer, you use code to tell the computer what to do.

The student can programme the computer to calculate all of his statistics.

All of the math students know how to programme.


programme

A programme is a number of steps that are followed to reach a goal or end.

His new exercise programme gets more difficult every week.

Oxford College has an excellent English language programme.

A programme is a guide to a dramatic or theatrical performance.

After he entered the theatre, he bought a copy of the programme.

A (television or radio) programme is a broadcast.

Star Trek is her favourite programme.

A (computer) programme is the code that tells a computer what to do.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular programmes in the world.

The new programme has a lot of problems. My computer crashes every time I try to run it.


loan

A loan is money that you borrow and pay back later. Usually, you take a loan from a bank.

We've almost finished paying off our car loan.

We can't afford to buy the new TV without taking a loan.

I'd like to take out a loan for $5,000.


loan

loan (canonical)
loans (third-person singular)
loaned (past)
loaned (past participle)
loaning (present participle)

If you loan someone something, you lend it to them.

Please loan me your lawn mower.

Loan in Hollywood studio speak means an actor is under contract to one studio and loaned to another studio to make one of their films.

He was loaned to MGM to make MGM's newest movie.


institution

A custom or practice of a society or community.

The institution of marriage is present in many cultures but its details vary widely across them.

An institution is a large group of people who work together for a specific purpose. Examples include hospitals, universities, and banks.

Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions are already offering internet services.


culture

A culture is a common history, set of beliefs, or way of life within a group of people.

Rock and roll is a central part of American popular culture.

When I moved to China, it took me a long time to start to understand the culture.


culture

culture (canonical)
cultures (third-person singular)
cultured (past)
cultured (past participle)
culturing (present participle)

If you culture bacteria or cells, you grow them.


facilities

The facilities in a building include the equipment, services, or places that are available.

How much does it cost an employer to provide childcare facilities?

The hotel is cheap, but it still has a lot of facilities for guests.

The plural form of facility; more than one (kind of) facility.


lecture

A lecture is a talk about a specific topic. Usually, it is a planned talk and it often lasts a long time.

My teacher is giving a lecture on human rights tonight at the university.


lecture

lecture (canonical)
lectures (third-person singular)
lectured (past)
lectured (past participle)
lecturing (present participle)

If you lecture someone, you teach them something.


academic

academic (positive)
more academic (comparative)
most academic (superlative)

An academic topic, lecture, idea, etc., is one that is connected to education.

The academic staff at the college generally don't teach during the summer.

There is a lot of political disagreement about it, but there is general academic agreement.

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


academic

An academic is a researcher or university teacher.

The government has begun jailing journalists and banning academics from travel.

The book is very popular for one written by an academic.

Academics is the part of school related to learning.

This class was strong in every aspect of their schooling, including academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


instructions

The plural form of instruction; more than one (kind of) instruction.

If you do not follow the instructions carefully you will make a mistake.

I'll never figure out how to build this shelf--the instructions aren't in English!


instruction

An instruction is a command or a step that helps you achieve a goal.

Before he died, he gave the hospital instructions about how to deal with his body.

The instructions that come with a new machine, computer, or product tell you how to use the product.

I couldn't figure out how to set the temperature in the fridge, so I read the instructions.


assign

assign (canonical)
assigns (third-person singular)
assigned (past)
assigned (past participle)
assigning (present participle)

When you assign a job to someone, you tell them to do it.

That teacher always assigns too much homework.

To attribute or sort something into categories.

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life.


fee

A fee is the money you pay for some kinds of services, such as legal advice, education, or club membership.

School fees have increased again this year.

An inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord in return for certain services.

He held his lands in fee of the Earl of Chester.


computer

A computer is a machine that helps you store, organize, and use information.

If you're looking at a web page, you must be using a computer.

A computer is a person whose job is doing computations.


similar

similar (positive)
more similar (comparative)
most similar (superlative)

If two things are similar, they are almost the same, or the same in many, but not all, ways.

Canadian English is similar to American English, but there are some small differences in pronunciation, and spelling.

My sister and I have very similar ideas.

If two shapes are similar, they have the same shape, but might be different sizes.

These two triangles are similar because they have the same angles, but they are not congruent because one is bigger than the other.


definition

A definition is an explanation of the meaning of a word.

The sentence before this one is a definition.

ESL students often check definitions in their dictionaries.

Can you give me a definition for "imprisonment"?

/ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən/


relaxed

relaxed (positive)
more relaxed (comparative)
most relaxed (superlative)

If someone is relaxed, they feel calm, they are not worried, and their muscles are not tight.

I feel most relaxed when I'm fishing.

I really enjoy talking to her. She's always so relaxed and she has time to listen.


relaxed

relax (canonical)
relaxes (third-person singular)
relaxed (past)
relaxed (past participle)
relaxing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of relax.


style

A style is a specific look, design, or way of dressing or acting.

I don't understand why the styles in fashion magazines are always changing.

We have a new manager, but her style is much more friendly than the old guy.

A style is a traditional or legal term referring to a person who holds a title or post.

He styled himself the Count of Monte Cristo.


style

style (canonical)
styles (third-person singular)
styled (past)
styled (past participle)
styling (present participle)

If you style something, you design and make it appear in a certain way.


require

require (canonical)
requires (third-person singular)
required (past)
required (past participle)
requiring (present participle)

The job requires high level of math skills.

The new system will make the information available where it is required.

If you are required to do something, you have to do it.

All men over the age of 21 are required to report to the army for service.


structure

The structure of something is the way that it is put together.

The structure of her writing makes it very easy to understand.

The social structure of a class is often very complex.

A structure is something that has been built or put together, especially something big, such as a building.

The CN tower is the tallest structure in Toronto.


structure

structure (canonical)
structures (third-person singular)
structured (past)
structured (past participle)
structuring (present participle)

If you structure something in a particular way, you organise or build it that way.

Prepare a list of questions to structure the interview.


technology

Technology is the tools, equipment, and activities that come from scientific knowledge.

Modern technology such as computers, robots, and wireless communications, can reduce the cost of doing business. (can make the cost smaller.)

The 1800s saw a gradual development (growth in small steps) of new technologies in farming and transportation.


doctor

A person who helps people who are sick, and looks after their health.

A person who can work very well about a particular thing and is given the title Doctor by a university, for example a doctor in psychology could be called Doctor John Smith.


doctor

doctor (canonical)
doctors (third-person singular)
doctored (past)
doctored (past participle)
doctoring (present participle)

If you doctor someone, you act as a medical doctor towards them.

If you doctor something or someone, you change them.


grade

A grade is a letter or number that you use to show how good something is. Usually, teachers use it to show how good a student's test or assignment is.

He got 97% on his test. It was the top grade in the class.

Our restaurant uses only the highest grade of meat.

In North American English, a grade is the school year.

Most Canadian children start grade one when they are six years old and finish grade 12 when they are 18.


grade

grade (canonical)
grades (third-person singular)
graded (past)
graded (past participle)
grading (present participle)

If you grade something, you judge how good it is.

After the final exam, the teacher spent the whole weekend grading papers.

My friends goes to the farm to grade animals that are going to be sold.


resource

A resource is something that is available and useful.

We don't have enough time and resources to finish the job.

Canada has fewer natural resources, including trees, fish, and oil, than it did in the past.


resource

resource (canonical)
resources (third-person singular)
resourced (past)
resourced (past participle)
resourcing (present participle)

If you resource something, you source it again.


migration

A migration is a large movement, usually of people or animals, to a new living place.

Every fall, the birds begin their migration from the cold northern areas to the southern regions where they will spend the winter.


transport

Transport refers to how things are moved, or a system of transportation.

I prefer my own means of transport.

A transport is a vehicle or vessel used to move things or people.

On Tatooine, C-3PO thought he saw a transport in the distance.


transport

transport (canonical)
transports (third-person singular)
transported (past)
transported (past participle)
transporting (present participle)

If you transport something, you carry it from one place to another, usually on a truck, boat, or other large vehicle.

One of the most important parts of doing business is transporting your materials from the factory to the shop.


transportation

Transportation is the system or vehicles used to move people or things from one place to another.

In most of Canada, the main form of transportation is the family car.

The public transportation system in Tokyo is a mixture of busses and above- and below-ground trains.

The company is trying to reduce transportation costs by sending more goods by boat rather than airplane.


community

A community is a group of people living in the same area and having a similar background or similar interests.

Most Libyan policemen were members of the community where they worked.

Within the business community, most people believe that taxes are too high.


vary

vary (canonical)
varies (third-person singular)
varied (past)
varied (past participle)
varying (present participle)

If something varies, it is not always the same.

The summer temperature in Toronto can vary from 12 degrees at night to over 30 degrees during the day.

"Do you enjoy your job?" "You know, it varies. Some days are good..."

Teachers sometimes need to vary the order and manner in which things are taught and learnt.


equipment

Your equipment is the things that you use to do a job or sport.

Soccer is a popular game because you need very little equipment to play--just a ball and an open space.

The soldiers had to carry all their equipment on their backs.

The computer equipment was old and often broke down.


create

create (canonical)
creates (third-person singular)
created (past)
created (past participle)
creating (present participle)

If you create something, you make or invent it. Usually, it's something that nobody has made before.

Wiktionary editors create Wiktionary entries.

Initially, the company will create 200 new jobs, rising to 520 over the next few years.

A lot of problems have been created by the new government.


legal

legal (positive)
more legal (comparative)
most legal (superlative)

If an activity is legal it does not break any laws.

In Canada, it is perfectly legal for a woman to walk down the street with no shirt on.

A legal problem, action, fee, etc. is related to the law or lawyers.

After losing the court case, he had to pay over $30,000 in legal fees.

The government brought legal action against three cigarette makers.


job

A job is an activity that you do, usually, regularly and for pay.

She got a good job as a manager in a book store.

She does the same job as George, and she does it faster and better.

Son, come here. I have a job for you before you start watching TV.

A job is a task that a computer performs.

A job is a plastic surgery that is done on someone. Usually used with another word to form a noun.

John just had a nose job.


finally

If something finally happens, it means there was a long wait before it happened.

I finally finished university. Now, I can start my real life.

Finally is used, often at the beginning of a sentence, to show that this is the last thing or idea.

First, I think that we should use less. Second, I think we should reuse the things that we have. And, finally, I think we should recycle more.


technical

technical (positive)
more technical (comparative)
most technical (superlative)

Technical problems, writing, or skills, are related to special knowledge that most people don't have.

Doctors use a lot of technical vocabulary. I wish they would explain things more easily.

Our computers had some kind of technical problem, so we had to call somebody to come and fix it.

A prima ballerina must have great technical knowledge of dance movement.


aid

Aid is the help that is given to people, usually by a government or institution.

After the flood the UN sent $500 million of aid in the form of food, water, tents, and medical supplies.

An aid is a person or thing that helps you do an activity.

The president's aid spoke to the newspapers today.

I can't see, but I have a number of aids, such as a cane, a dog, and a talking computer, that make my life easier.


aid

aid (canonical)
aids (third-person singular)
aided (past)
aided (past participle)
aiding (present participle)


formally

If you do something formally, you do it in a formal way.

They expect you to formally behave yourself. If not, I doubt you will get the job.


grant

grant (canonical)
grants (third-person singular)
granted (past)
granted (past participle)
granting (present participle)

If you grant something to something, you give it to them, usually formally.

The school has granted us permission to use a classroom in the evenings.

If you grant something, you accept that it is true.

Yes, I'll grant you that the data is old, but I still think it's useful.


grant

A grant is something, usually money, that is given to someone, usually by a government or institution.

The professor received a research grant to study weather changes.

I got a $2,000 government grant to help me go to school.


milk

Milk is a white liquid some animals make for their babies to drink. People often drink cow's milk.

The boy had some fresh goat milk.


milk

milk (canonical)
milks (third-person singular)
milked (past)
milked (past participle)
milking (present participle)

If you milk an animal like a cow or a goat, you take the milk out of it.


warm

warm (positive)
warmer (comparative)
warmest (superlative)

If something is warm, it is a nice temperature between cool and hot.

It's good to come into a nice warm house on a winter's day.

She washed her face in the warm water.


warm

warm (canonical)
warms (third-person singular)
warmed (past)
warmed (past participle)
warming (present participle)

If you warm something, you increase the temperature.

At 7:30, the sun came up and warmed them a little.

Oh, the coffee's cold. Can you warm it up for me?


during

If you do something during something else, you do it at the same time.

He often reads during dinner.

I'm always tired because I work during the night.


cool

cool (positive)
cooler (comparative)
coolest (superlative)

If something is cool, its temperature is between warm and cold.

It's hard to keep the house nice and cool on a hot summer's day.

The air was cool, so he put on his jacket.

If you say something is cool you mean it is good and you like it.

That's a really cool cell phone! Where did you get it?

Wow, your computer looks cool!

Someone who is cool is admired by others, someone of notably high social status.

Jeffrey is the coolest guy in town.


cool

cool (canonical)
cools (third-person singular)
cooled (past)
cooled (past participle)
cooling (present participle)

If you cool something, you decrease the temperature.

Blow on the coffee to cool it off.

If something cools, its temperature decreases.

The soup was too hot, so he waited for it to cool a little.


health

If you talk about the health of a person or animal, you are talking about whether they are sick or not.

The doctors believe that the disease will not be a serious danger to public health.

Before you start exercising, you should be in good health.

If you have health you are not sick (do not have disease) and are not hurt.


temperature

The temperature of something is how hot or cold it is.

Today's temperature is 25°C.


ocean

My great grandfather came across the Atlantic ocean from Scotland to Canada in 1882 on a sailing ship.

She stood on a beach in Japan and looked east at the sun coming up over the Pacific ocean.


damage

If something has damage, it’s broken or hurt.

If A owes damages to B, A has to pay money because A hurt B or B's property.

The reason his car hit another car was that he did something wrong, so he had to pay damages to the owner of the other car.


damage

damage (canonical)
damages (third-person singular)
damaged (past)
damaged (past participle)
damaging (present participle)

If you damage something, you break or hurt it.

All those cigarettes have damaged her health.

The factory has caused significant damage to the local environment.


flood

A flood happens when there has been a lot of rain in a short time and the water covers the ground.

The storm brought heavy rains, and the resulting flood caused $14 million in damage to crops.


flood

flood (canonical)
floods (third-person singular)
flooded (past)
flooded (past participle)
flooding (present participle)

If a place is flooded, the water covers the ground and often causes a lot of damage.

In 2005, a hurricane brought so much rain that much of Louisiana was flooded, killing many people, and destroying large parts of the city.

The market has been flooded with boy band recordings.

Stop flooding the editorial office with your complaints.


storm

A storm is bad weather with high winds that disturbs the atmosphere.

Small boats should stay off the water tonight because we are expecting a storm.


storm

storm (canonical)
storms (third-person singular)
stormed (past)
stormed (past participle)
storming (present participle)

If you storm, you move fast and noisily like a storm, usually when angered.

If you storm a building or other fortification, you assault it with military troops.

The sergeant and his platoon stormed the stronghold of the most wanted terrorist.


slowly

When something moves slowly or does something slowly, it takes a very long time to do it.

She was very tired, and walked slowly up the stairs to bed.

He moved slowly, hoping that the bird wouldn't notice him.


probably

If something is probably true, or will probably happen, it means there is a high chance of it.

I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight, but I'll probably stay home and study.

"Is Ed here?" "Uh... he usually leaves at 4:00, so he's probably gone, but I'll go and have a look."


subject

A subject is a branch of knowledge in school, college or university, such as English, math, science, and history.

The subject of the class is English literature.

In English grammar, the subject of a sentence is usually a noun that comes before the verb. This noun is usually the thing that is doing the action, and it is usually the topic of the sentence.

In the sentence, "Tom gave the box to Wilma", Tom is the subject.

A subject is a person who is governed by a king, queen, emperor, etc.


subject

subject (positive)
more subject (comparative)
most subject (superlative)

If someone or something is subject to something, they are likely to be affected by it or experience it.

Home prices are even more subject to change than gas prices.


subject

subject (canonical)
subjects (third-person singular)
subjected (past)
subjected (past participle)
subjecting (present participle)

They were subjected to intense labor.


her

You use her instead of the name of a person, to talk about a woman or girl. (used in the object position, never as a subject)

This is Susan's book. Give it to her.

If you say something is her thing, you mean it belongs to a particular woman or girl.

It is her book, not mine,


object

An object is a thing that you can touch, but it is not alive.

We don't know what killed him, but it was a smooth, heavy object.

The object of an action or plan is the goal or the reason for it.

The object of soccer is to kick the ball into the other team's net.

The object is a type of complement in a verb phrase or preposition phrase with the form of a noun phrase.

In the sentence Yoko ate the bread, the bread is the object.


object

object (canonical)
objects (third-person singular)
objected (past)
objected (past participle)
objecting (present participle)

If you object to something, you don't agree with it.

Most people will object to being asked to work too much.


suddenly

If something happens suddenly, it happens very quickly when you don't expect it to happen.

My son had been sitting in the chair beside me. Then, suddenly, I realised he was gone.


lung

Your lungs are part of your body that is inside your chest. Your lungs allow you to breathe.

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


tired

more tired (comparative)
most tired (superlative)
tired (positive)
tireder (comparative)
tiredest (superlative)

If you feel tired, you have no energy and you need a rest.

After walking for 15 km, I was so tired, that I couldn't take another step.


tired

tire (canonical)
tires (third-person singular)
tired (past)
tired (past participle)
tiring (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of tire.


electric

If something is electric, it uses electricity.

My grandmother wrote her letters on a typewriter; my mother used an electric typewriter, and I use a computer.

We bought a new gas stove. It's much faster than our old electric one.


balance

If something is in balance, it has equal amounts all around.

She was walking on a thin line, but lost her balance and fell down.

This plan has a good balance of new and old ideas.

The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in the account.

A type of scale where there are two parts.


balance

balance (canonical)
balances (third-person singular)
balanced (past)
balanced (past participle)
balancing (present participle)

If you balance something, you make it have equal amounts all around.

The bird balanced easily on the wire for a few moments before flying off.

A good manager has to balance the costs and benefits of doing business.


wet

wet (positive)
wetter (comparative)
wettest (superlative)

If something is wet it has some water or other liquid on it.

I got completely wet in the rain.

I don't want to use this towel. It's already wet.

If a female is wet, she is sexually aroused and the vulva is moistened with vaginal secretions.


wet

wet (canonical)
wets (third-person singular)
wetted (past)
wetted (past participle)
wetting (present participle)

If you wet something, you put water or some other liquid on it.

Please try not to wet the bathroom floor when you have a shower.


prefer

prefer (canonical)
prefers (third-person singular)
preferred (past)
preferred (past participle)
preferring (present participle)

If you prefer something, you like it more than another thing.

Sometimes I eat in restaurants, but I prefer to cook.

I generally prefer coffee to tea. I just can't enjoy tea.


typical

typical (positive)
more typical (comparative)
most typical (superlative)

If something is typical, it is normal, and not special. It's what you would expect.

This rain isn't typical. We almost never get rain at this time of year.

These problems are just another typical example of how politicians only care about themselves.


brain

Your brain is the part of your body that is inside your head.

The brain is the part of the body that thinks and controls the rest of the body through the nervous system.

He has serious brain damage from falling off of his bicycle and hitting his head.


sick

sick (positive)
sicker (comparative)
sickest (superlative)

If a person, animal, or plant is sick, it has a disease and is not healthy.

I'm sorry, I'm too sick to go to work today.

If you're sick, you should go and see a doctor.

A way of saying something is bad. (Could mean one or both of the following.)

If something is sick it makes you feel like vomiting. Usually this is not literal, but just means very bad.

Oh sick! There is dog shit all over everything.

Sick can mean similar to person who is mentally ill (crazy), as an insult. This can also mean something bad that a crazy person might do.

Killing children is just plain sick.

That guy is really sick in the head.

You say this about something that is cool. That is, something you like or see as very good.

That song is sick!


feet

The plural form of foot; more than one (kind of) foot.

Please take your shoes and socks off of your feet.

My feet hurt from walking all day.

My friend is six feet tall.


worse

bad (positive)
worse (comparative)
worst (superlative)

It is worse to lie to hide something than it is to lie to protect someone.

The weather this winter is worse than last year.


park

A park is an outdoor area where people can relax and play.

We sat under the trees and had lunch in Central Park.

Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest, largest park in Ontario, covering about 7,725 square kilometres.

I'm going to take the kids to the park to play on the swings.


park

park (canonical)
parks (third-person singular)
parked (past)
parked (past participle)
parking (present participle)

If you park a car or other vehicle, you drive it to a place and let it stand there.

She never parks her car under a tree.


breath

Your breath is the air that you move into and out of your lungs.

After running for just a minute, his breath was coming quickly.

A breath is the air that you move into and out of your lungs one time.

Take a big breath and put your face in the water.


global

global (positive)
more global (comparative)
most global (superlative)

If something is global it includes the whole world.

The weather is changing, and this is not just in one or two places. The change is global.

The Olympics and the world cup of soccer are the two largest global sporting events.


period

There was a short period when my computer stopped working.

During the first period, Germany scored two goals.

The dinosaurs lived from late in the Triassic period (about 225 million years ago) until the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago).

A period is the dot that marks the end of most sentences in English. This -> . is a period.

Should I use an exclamation mark or a period at the end of this sentence?

A woman's period is the time each month when she passes blood.

I have missed two periods now. I think I must be pregnant.


period

And nothing else; and nothing less; used for emphasis.

When I say "eat your dinner," it means "eat your dinner", period!


region

A region is an area of land or of the body.

The fishing problems have been happening only in the Atlantic coast region.

The southern regions of Japan are warm and tropical.

If we do an operation in this region of the brain, you may lose your ability to speak.

A region is any connected part of a space or surface. This definition is useful in geometry.

In Euclidean space, a convex set is a region which has a geometric definition.


area

This is the business area of town.

We have chosen a large forest area for the new park.

An area of study is a special subject, such as mathematics, grammar, music, or biology.

Economics is quite interesting, but my area is more related to politics.

The area of a surface, is the size of the surface.

The length is 10 cm and the width is 5 cm, so the area is 50 cm².


men

The plural form of man; more than one (kind of) man.


contrast

Contrasts are the differences you find when you compare something or someone.

When comparing English and Japanese, there are many contrasts but also a large number of similarities.

Married life is a sharp contrast to the life of a single person.


contrast

contrast (canonical)
contrasts (third-person singular)
contrasted (past)
contrasted (past participle)
contrasting (present participle)

If you contrast two things, you look for or explain the differences between them.

It's difficult not to contrast the good things he says with the terrible way he acts.


research

Research is the process or result of trying to find an answer by reading, interviewing, watching, or doing experiments.

The last 10 years has provided a huge amount of research into a cure for cancer.

We've been conducting research into the reason for the changes in these fish.


research

research (canonical)
researches (third-person singular)
researched (past)
researched (past participle)
researching (present participle)

If you research a question, you try to find an answer, usually by reading a lot about it, or by doing experiments.

I have to research the history of King Henry II for my English class.


depression

If someone has depression, they have a condition which makes them very sad and makes it very hard for them to imagine being happy later.

After Suzie's dog passed away, she fell into a depression for six months.

A depression is when a person's feelings are very sad and unhappy.

John had a small depression after he lost the tennis match, but in two weeks he was back to normal.

A depression is a low point on a surface.

There was a small depression in the ground where the rock had been.

A depression is when the economy slows down by a lot.

The business community is worried that the oil problems could lead to a depression.


affect

affect (canonical)
affects (third-person singular)
affected (past)
affected (past participle)
affecting (present participle)

If x affects y, then x causes a change in y.

The movement of the soccer ball was affected by the wind.

Sigmund Freud's ideas were affected by the writings of Frederick Nietzsche.

How do you think the new government will affect the economy?

If you affect a way of speaking, walking, dressing, etc., you pretend that it is your normal way, often to impress people.

"No, ma'm," Robert said, affecting a southern accent.


affect

Your affect is the emotion or feeling you have in response to an idea, object, etc.

Actors need to bring out the affect of the scene.

Affect is emotion or emotional response.

When teaching, we need to consider both ideas and affect.


physical

physical (positive)
more physical (comparative)
most physical (superlative)

A physical thing or activity is related to the body, or something you can touch.

The war didn't leave him with any physical injuries, but his mind was badly damaged.

When we look at where someone lives, we have to look at the physical environment (e.g., the amount of green space, transportation, house size, etc.) as well as the social environment.


major

major (positive)
more major (comparative)
most major (superlative)

A major change, problem, event, etc. is a big and important one.

We expected the change to cause a lot of problems, but in the end it wasn't as major as we had thought.

Tom Cruise had a major part in the movie. He directed it and acted in it as the main character.

A major musical scale is the usual scale for music in western culture. The major scale starts two notes above the minor and more often sounds happy.

That music could be D minor or F major.


major

A major is a subject area that is the main study of a student at a college or university.

My major is Speech-Language Pathology, which is about problems people may have with talking.

A major is a military rank between captain and lieutenant-colonel.

A major is a person of the legal age of majority.


major

major (canonical)
majors (third-person singular)
majored (past)
majored (past participle)
majoring (present participle)

If you major in something, you concentrate on a single area of study as a student at a college or university.

My mother majored in English but I will major in psychology.


crush

crush (canonical)
crushes (third-person singular)
crushed (past)
crushed (past participle)
crushing (present participle)

I will crush the spider with a book.


crush

If you have a crush on someone, you like them and want to date them. This could be because you think they are attractive.

I've got a crush on Joey, but you can't tell anyone.

The person you have a crush on is called a crush.

Cindy was my boyhood crush.


me

You use me instead of your name, to refer to yourself.

This is my book. It belongs to me.


response

A response is some words or actions that happen as a reaction to something else.

We sent a message to them two weeks ago, but there has been no response so far.

The police response to these problems has been slow and weak.

In psychology, a response is a behavior which occurs after a stimulus.


contact

When x makes or has contact with y, they touch each other physically.

The trains in Tokyo are so crowded that everyone has to stand in close contact to everyone else.

He wore dark glasses so that he wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone.

"Did you tell Chris about lunch today?" "No, I wasn't able to get in contact with him."


contact

contact (canonical)
contacts (third-person singular)
contacted (past)
contacted (past participle)
contacting (present participle)

If A contacts B, A telephones B or writes a letter or e-mail to B.

If I can help further please do not hesitate to contact me at 012-345-6789.


meal

A meal is the food you eat at regular times of the day. Breakfast, lunch, supper and dinner, are meals.

Thanks for dinner! I haven't had a good Italian meal like that for a long time.

The edible part of certain grains; it is often used to feed animals.


meat

Meat is the muscle of animals that we eat. Beef, chicken, and pork are kinds of meat.

I am a vegetarian. I don't eat meat, only fruits, grains, and vegetables.

You should cook the meat at 135 to 140°C.


dish

Dishes are the flat round holder for food that we usually put on the table and eat off of.

There was a crash when the waiter dropped his tray of dishes on the floor.

A dish is a particular kind of cooked or prepared food.

Last night she made a wonderful Indian dish that I had never eaten before.


dish

dish (canonical)
dishes (third-person singular)
dished (past)
dished (past participle)
dishing (present participle)

To dish is to gossip about something or somebody.


chicken

A chicken is a bird that farmers raise for meat and eggs.

My father went out back, caught a chicken, cut off its head, and cleaned it for dinner.

They make a very tasty fried chicken dish here that comes with vegetables and potatoes.


chicken

chicken (positive)
more chicken (comparative)
most chicken (superlative)

Someone who is afraid to do something is chicken.

You won't jump your bike because you're chicken.


restaurant

A restaurant is a place where you can buy and eat food and drinks.

My wife and I went out to a small French restaurant in Toronto for dinner.


fry

fry (canonical)
fries (third-person singular)
fried (past)
fried (past participle)
frying (present participle)

If you fry something, you cook it in a pan on a stove with hot oil.

Do you think we should fry the eggs or boil them?


fry

Pass me a fry, I want to see if they taste good.


fried

The past tense and past participle of fry.

I fried some chicken last night for dinner.


fried

fried (positive)
more fried (comparative)
most fried (superlative)

Fried food is food that has been cooked in a pan with hot oil.

I don't like fried chicken. It's too oily.


habit

A habit is something that you do regularly.

John, don't bite your fingernails. It's a bad habit.

Marjorie has a habit of buying Christmas presents early, hiding them away like a squirrel, and then forgetting all about them.

A habit is what people in certain jobs wear, generally religious jobs. These people can be recognized by their habits.

The monk's habit was black.

A habit is the form of growth of a plant or, sometimes, an animal.

Some corals grow with a branching habit.


mineral

A mineral is a substance in the earth such as calcium, salt, iron, etc.

The rocks in this area are rich in minerals.

Eating nuts will help your body get the minerals it needs.


convenient

convenient (positive)
more convenient (comparative)
most convenient (superlative)

If something is convenient, you can get it or use it quickly and easily.

Living here is so convenient. There's a supermarket right across the street, and a train station just a 2 minute walk away.

It's more convenient to drive than it is to walk.

This is the most convenient route to take.


quickly

If you do something quickly or something happens quickly, it happens in a very short time.

Please close the door quickly. You'll let the cat out.

I hope the train gets here quickly. I'm late already.


sauce

A sauce is a thick liquid that you put on food to give it a special taste.

I put the chicken in a special sauce for two hours before I cook it.


dinner

Dinner is the largest meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening.

I'm sorry, I'll be late tonight, so I won't be home for dinner.

We had fish with rice and fried vegetables for dinner last night.


rice

Rice is a white or brown grain that people boil and eat.

In many Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Thailand, they eat rice with almost every meal.


fruit

The fruit is the part of a plant or tree that holds the seeds. It's usually sweet and good to eat.

Most people don't eat enough fruit and vegetables.

Apples, oranges, and bananas are the most common fruits in most supermarkets.


cheese

Cheese is a food that is made by mixing bacteria with milk and aging it.

I often eat cheese with bread and grapes.


grain

A grain is a seed that people eat, such as wheat, rice, corn, etc.

Most North Americans get their grains from bread and pasta.

A grain is any very small piece of something, such as sand, salt, sugar, etc.

One grain of salt is almost too small to see.


wait

wait (canonical)
waits (third-person singular)
waited (past)
waited (past participle)
waiting (present participle)

If you wait for someone or something, you do something (or nothing) until something else happens.

I waited for you for twenty minutes. Where were you?

The fans waited patiently for their idol to arrive.

To wait is to take orders and serve food at the tables in cafes and restaurants.

Her job at the cafe was to wait at the tables.


plural

If a noun is plural in English grammar, it refers to other than one thing.

If I say, "one cat", that's singular, but if I say, "a lot of cats", that's plural.

A plural person is someone with dissociative identity disorder.


plural

The form of a word that normally refers to other than one thing.

The plural of the word "dog" is "dogs."


singular

singular (positive)
more singular (comparative)
most singular (superlative)

If a noun is singular in English grammar, it usually refers to only one thing.

If something is singular, then it is unique.

The singular appearance of the man caught his attention.


lungs

The plural form of lung; more than one (kind of) lung.

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


sex

Sex is an act done by a male and a female (in this case there is sometimes an intent to make babies) or with just two men or women.

Most men in our survey say they definitely would not have sex with a new partner without using a condom.

A person or animal's sex is male, female, or both.

She had not had any male friends during her early life and now found it difficult to talk to members of the opposite sex.


butter

Butter is a firm yellow substance that is made from milk spread on bread or used in cooking.

Please pass the butter.

Melt some butter in a fry pan, and then add the eggs.

If you keep the butter in the fridge, it's too hard to put on bread.

A bread and butter issue, is a basic and important one.

If we want to win this election, we need to focus on bread and butter issues like jobs.

Your bread and butter is the work that you do most and that earns you the most money.

Fixing shoes used to be our bread and butter, but today, nobody gets their shoes fixed.


butter

butter (canonical)
butters (third-person singular)
buttered (past)
buttered (past participle)
buttering (present participle)

If you butter something, you put butter on it.

Would you like me to butter your toast for you?


wolf

A wolf is a wild animal, similar to a dog.


chain

A chain is a series of round pieces of material joined together to make a line.

He got her a gold chain necklace for her birthday.

This led to an unfortunate chain of events.

A chain of stores is a group of stores that all have the same name, such as McDonald's restaurants or GAP clothing stores.


chain

chain (canonical)
chains (third-person singular)
chained (past)
chained (past participle)
chaining (present participle)

If you chain things together, you connect them in a line.

If you chain A to B, you connect A to B with a chain.

The dog was chained to the tree.


amusement

Amusement is the feeling you have when something is fun or funny or makes you laugh.

An amusement is something that gets your attention and that you like; something like playing; something that is good but not useful.

Movies, video games and toys are amusements.

An amusement park has games, special food, and rides like a roller coaster and a merry-go-round.

Movie theaters, arcade and restaurants are good places for amusement.


attraction

An attraction is a force that pulls two things together.

Magnets have an attraction to metal.

I feel a strong attraction to my husband.

I don't understand your attraction to rough men.

An attraction is a popular feature at an event or site.

Elephants and lions are major attractions at many zoos.

Country western singer Vince Gill was a big attraction at the State Fair.

The Alamo is a tourist attraction in Texas.

Something that causes interest, pleasure, or liking for someone are something.

she has romantic ideas about sexual attraction


offer

An offer is when you say you will do something or give something.

He wanted to buy my car, so he made me an offer of $5000.


offer

offer (canonical)
offers (third-person singular)
offered (past)
offered (past participle)
offering (present participle)

If I offer something to you, that means I will give it to you if you want.

If I offer to do something for you, that means I will do it for you if you want.


pencil

A pencil is used for writing on paper. It is made of wood, and has a pencil "lead" that goes through the middle.


wood

Wood is what trees are made of. People use wood to build things like houses and furniture.


house

A house is a building that one family lives in.

The president lives in a house in Washington, called The White House.


house

house (canonical)
houses (third-person singular)
housed (past)
housed (past participle)
housing (present participle)

If you house someone or something, you give them a home.

The building houses a research centre and a school.

During the storm they were housed in the local school's gym.


authority

To have authority means to have the power to make a decision.

This judge has the authority to throw you in jail.

If you are an authority on something, many people think you know very, very much about it.

The Pope is the highest authority in the Catholic church.


group

When more than 2 things or people are together, they make a group.

A group of people went into the building.


group

group (canonical)
groups (third-person singular)
grouped (past)
grouped (past participle)
grouping (present participle)

To put people or things together to make a group.


apparatus

A system of things to do to get to a goal.


complex

complex (positive)
more complex (comparative)
most complex (superlative)

If something is complex, it has lots of parts or pieces, or is difficult to understand.

He has constructed a complex computer system to send translated messages between humans and dolphins.

A complex problem that we face today is poverty, especially in Africa.


complex

A group of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.

A psychologically-based dislike or fear of a particular thing.

Jim has a complex about working for a woman boss.

A thunderstorm that forms when two storm fronts collide.

A structure with a central atom or molecule that has a weak connection to atoms or molecules around it.


cream

Would you like some cream in your coffee?

The cream of something is only the best thing, or person.

He's the cream of the tennis world.

A cream is a smooth oily substance that people put on their skin to make it soft or as a medicine.

You should clean the cut and put this cream on it three times a day.


cream

cream (canonical)
creams (third-person singular)
creamed (past)
creamed (past participle)
creaming (present participle)

To cream something is to puree or blend it into a liquid.

To cream something is to make it turn into a cream-like color.

The final score was 11-2, we creamed them!


customer

A customer is a person who pays money for goods or services.

The restaurant had to close because there weren't enough customers.


opposite

If A is opposite B, they are facing each other.

The bank is just opposite this hotel, right across the street there.


opposite

opposite (positive)
more opposite (comparative)
most opposite (superlative)

If two things are opposite, they are the same kind but completely different from each other.

"Go left. No, right!" "Do you want me to go left or right? I mean, they're opposite directions, aren't they?"

I don't think we can work together. We're too opposite.

Black is the opposite of white. "Yes" is the opposite of "no". Day is the opposite of night.


opposite

The opposite of something is something else of the same kind but completely different.

My kids always do the exact opposite of what I tell them.

The word dust is its own opposite, meaning both put on and take off dust.


bean

Beans are the seeds of one family of plants that people often cook and eat.

Put the dried beans in water overnight. They should be soft and ready to cook in the morning.

A bean-like seed of some other plants, especially coffee.

Although the beans from a single coffee may be sold unblended, in many cases, after roasting, beans from several different origins are combined to balance flavor


weight

The weight of something is how heavy it is.

She's put on a lot of weight since she went to university.

I'm exercising to try to lose some weight.

A weight is a heavy thing that you use to keep something down or that people lift to become stronger.

Can you put a weight on that paper so that it doesn't blow away?


weight

weight (canonical)
weights (third-person singular)
weighted (past)
weighted (past participle)
weighting (present participle)

When you weight something, you add weight to it.

To get your fishing line down to the bottom of the lake, you must weight it.


freeze

freeze (canonical)
freezes (third-person singular)
froze (past)
frozen (past participle)
freezing (present participle)

If you freeze something, you cool it until it becomes solid.

Water freezes at 0°C.

The chicken will go bad soon. We should freeze it and then we can cook it next week.

I was freezing because I had forgotten my coat.


freeze

A freeze is a time when the temperature is cold.

A freeze is when the usual way things are done is stopped.


coffee

Coffee is a dark brown drink that is very popular around the world.

Would you like a cup coffee or tea?

"Milk or cream?" "No, thank you. I like my coffee black."

Coffee is the beans or bean powder used to make coffee.

Can you pick up a tin of ground coffee at the shop?


clean

clean (positive)
cleaner (comparative)
cleanest (superlative)

If something is clean, it is free from dirt

The kids came back from the washroom with clean hands and faces.

Did you wash these dishes? They don't look very clean.

To keep the air clean, smoking is not allowed.

I clear our breakfast and wipe the table clean with a wet rag.

If a technology is clean, it doesn't produce much pollution.

We want to use wind as safe, clean, non-polluting energy.

There was a lot of pushing in their last game, but today's match was mostly clean.

No dirty jokes, please. Keep your language clean.

The police searched the car for drugs, but it was clean.

Her driving record was clean.

A clean piece of paper, start, etc. has nothing from before: no writing, no history, etc.

Why don't you get a clean piece of paper and start over.

I wanted a clean start, so I moved to LA.

If a something is clean, it is smooth, simple, and regular, without anything unwanted.

Your company website needs a clean design that makes it easy for consumers to understand what you're selling.

It's a clean cut, made with something sharp like a razor or a knife.


clean

clean (canonical)
cleans (third-person singular)
cleaned (past)
cleaned (past participle)
cleaning (present participle)

If you clean something, you take away the dirt and put everything in its place.

Tomo, will you clean up your room please. There are clothes all over the floor.


medicine

Medicine is something you put into or on your body when you are sick to make yourself healthy.

After I got out of the hospital, I went to the drug store and bought medicine for my ear problem.

The school of medicine at the University of Western Ontario has produced some of the country's best doctors.

Many doctors go to Canada but find that they can't practice medicine there.


universal

universal (positive)
more universal (comparative)
most universal (superlative)

If something is universal, then it is true for everyone or everything everywhere.

The laws of physics are universal.

Universal human rights must be supported by every country.


decrease

decrease (canonical)
decreases (third-person singular)
decreased (past)
decreased (past participle)
decreasing (present participle)

If something decreases, it goes down in number or value.

The Australian dollar has decreased 3% against the Euro.

The government has decreased the amount of money it gives to schools.


decrease

A decrease happens when the number or value of something goes down.

There has been a 3% decrease in the Australian dollar against the Euro.

Every year we see a larger decrease in the number of students studying foreign languages.


lunch

Lunch is the meal that we eat in the middle of the day.

Shall we have sandwiches for lunch?

"Is it lunch time yet?" "No, it's only 10:30."


lunch

lunch (canonical)
lunches (third-person singular)
lunched (past)
lunched (past participle)
lunching (present participle)

Most people lunch around noon time.


treatment

A treatment is an action, usually by a doctor, to make somebody healthy.

He has had treatments every day since he hurt his neck.

My sister is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

The treatment that you give someone or something is the way that you act toward it.

The treatment that I have received since beginning this job has been terrible. My boss yells at me every day and nobody is friendly at all.


nut

A nut is a kind of seed that usually grows on trees inside a hard shell and that people often eat.

Nuts are a good source of protein.

A metal ring that is screwed onto a bolt (thick screw).


nut

nut (canonical)
nuts (third-person singular)
nutted (past)
nutted (past participle)
nutting (present participle)


exactly

You use exactly when you want to say that something is 100% true, not just close.

The movie will start at exactly 7:02 PM.

That is exactly the same picture that I was thinking of.

You use exactly to show that you agree strongly with something.

"We can't stay here. It's too cold." "Exactly!"


cheap

cheap (positive)
cheaper (comparative)
cheapest (superlative)

If something is cheap, it costs very little money.

"I bought this for $37 last week, but today I saw it in the store for only $22." "Wow! That's cheap."

If something is cheap, it is low in quality.

I don't like that jacket. It looks too cheap. Is it plastic?


alike

alike (positive)
more alike (comparative)
most alike (superlative)

If some things are alike, they are almost the same in some way.

My mother and I are very much alike.


alike

more alike (comparative)
Superlativemost alike

If some things act alike, they act in almost the same way.

All the men in the office dress alike.

You use alike to show that what you say is true of both groups or individuals.

Teachers and students alike have to work harder to improve this school.


pig

On this farm, we have over 200 pigs, but no cows or horses.

If you call someone a pig you mean that they eat too much, are not clean, or are not a nice person.

My sister is such a pig. We bought a bag of sweets and she ate them all in one day.


snake

A snake is a long, thin reptile with no legs.

Some snakes will attack people, but most will try to hide or run away.

A snake is a dishonest, treacherous person.

Chuck is a snake to do a low thing like that.

A snake is a tool used to unclog plumbing.


snake

snake (canonical)
snakes (third-person singular)
snaked (past)
snaked (past participle)
snaking (present participle)

If you snake, you move in a winding path.

The river snakes through the valley.

If you snake, you clean or unclog a clog using a plumbing snake.


soup

Soup is a food usually made by boiling meat and vegetables in water to give the water flavour.

Would you like soup or a salad before your meal?

You can try our wide variety of soups.


tea

Tea is a light brown or green drink that is very popular around the world.

Would you like coffee or tea?