original

original (positive)
more original (comparative)
most original (superlative)

The original person or thing, happened or existed before others of its kind.

The book has been translated from the original Russian version.

The police were able to return to the goods to the original owners.

If something is original, it is new and creative.

Mendelssohn's C minor Trio is a highly original work.

If you are original, you are creative and different from other people.

He's one of Canada's most original thinkers.


original

An original is a piece of writing or a work of art that is not a copy.

I'll give you a copy and we'll keep the original here.


mythic

mythic (positive)
more mythic (comparative)
most mythic (superlative)

If something is mythic it is from a myth (a story about gods).

There are many mythic stories about the Norse god Thor.

If something is mythic it is not real or not true; that is, it is like something from an fictional story or old myth.

A dragon is a mythic animal.

A mythic way to kill bees is with alcohol but it does not really work

If something is mythic or of mythic proportions it is very great or amazing.

His skill with the baseball bat was mythic.

His team had a win of mythic proportions.


mythical

mythical (positive)
more mythical (comparative)
most mythical (superlative)

If something is mythical it is from a myth (a story about gods).

There are many mythical stories about the Norse god Thor.

If something is mythical it is not real or not true; that is, it is like something from a fictional story or old myth.

A dragon is a mythical animal.

A mythical way to kill bees is with alcohol but it does not really work

If something is mythical or of mythical proportions it is very great or amazing.

His skill with the baseball bat was mythical.

His team had a win of mythical proportions.


myth

A myth is a story about gods and great heroes. Usually these gods are seen as very human, but with great power. The word myth is usually used for stories from old religions that few people believe any more.

There are many myths about the Norse god Thor.

A myth is something many people believe but that is not true.

It is only a myth that people use only 10% of their brains.


mythology

Mythology is the study of stories about gods. Such stories are called myths.

A mythology is all the myths from a certain religion.

A mythology is all the background stories from a fictional world.

Tolkien invented an complex mythology for Middle Earth.

The mythology behind Superman is really very deep.

/mɪˈθɑːləʤi/


perhaps

If you say that perhaps something will happen or that perhaps it is true, you mean it may happen or be true.

Perhaps someday I'll learn how to drive.

If I tried again, perhaps it might work.

You use perhaps when you are not sure about something.

We shouldn't do it, we don't want to do it, and perhaps most importantly, we don't have the money to do it.

Nokia is perhaps Finland's best-known company.


union

A union is when many things are joined together.

The League of Nations was a union between many nations.

The union of these two companies was painless.

Marriage is the union of two lives.


otherwise

You use otherwise to connect two clauses where the second clause shows the bad thing that would happen if the first clause doesn't happen.

You need the proper license. Otherwise you can't do business.

You use otherwise to connect two clauses where the second clause shows what would have happened if the first clause hadn't happened.

I missed the bus. Otherwise, I would have been here earlier.

If you think or say otherwise, you don't agree.

She says we should put him in piano lessons, but I think otherwise.

She has some cuts, but is otherwise fine.

He just had to wash the dishes. Otherwise, everything was done.

/ˈʌð.əˌwaɪz/

/ˈʌð.ɚˌwaɪz/


pack

pack (canonical)
packs (third-person singular)
packed (past)
packed (past participle)
packing (present participle)

When you pack something, you put it in a container to carry with you.

Did you pack your swimming suit?

When you pack a container, you put things in it to carry with you.

The students have all packed their bags and left for the summer.

It's time to pack up and go.

If you pack a place or a container with something (or pack something in a place or container), you put a lot inside.

The hall was packed with visitors.

If you pack something like snow or earth, you press it to make it take up less space.

All the runners had packed the earth hard.

If you pack a gun, you carry it with you.

If you pack something away, you put it away in a container.


pack

A pack is a container that things are sold in.

Cigarettes were selling for over $10 a pack.

A pack is a bag used to carry things, usually on your back.

My spare clothes are in my pack.

A pack of cards is a set of 52 playing cards.

A pack is a group of animals, usually that hunt together.

A pack of people is a group, usually not a nice group.

A pack of lies is something that is completely untrue.

An ice pack is something cold that you put on an injury.


pardon

You use pardon to show that you didn't hear or understand someone.

"Could you close the door, please?" "Pardon!" "Close the door, please."

You use pardon when you have made a rude sound like a burp.


pardon

pardon (canonical)
pardons (third-person singular)
pardoned (past)
pardoned (past participle)
pardoning (present participle)

If a government pardons somebody who is guilty of a crime, it allows them to live as though they had not committed the crime.

The Ethiopian government has pardoned twenty five prisoners who were found guilty in connection to the unrest that rocked the nation.

When you pardon someone, you forgive them.

I hope he'll pardon me for what I did to him.


pardon

You say pardon me or I beg your pardon when you didn't hear someone, when you accidentally touch someone, when you want someone's attention, or when you'd like someone to move.

A pardon is given when someone is forgiven.

The soldier was given a pardon for all the acts he had committed while fighting in the war.


pence

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

These apples are twenty pence each.


pension

A pension is money paid regularly by a government or company to someone who has stopped working, usually because of age or illness.

When her pension ran out, she had to sell her house and move in with her daughter.

He regularly puts money into a retirement pension plan.

The employees do not like how the company is investing their retirement pension funds.

I stayed at a pension during my trip to London.

A pension is what you pay for living in someone else's house or for staying at a small hotel.

Did you remember to pay the landlady the pension?


pension

pension (canonical)
pensions (third-person singular)
pensioned (past)
pensioned (past participle)
pensioning (present participle)

If a company pensions a person, they force them to retire on a unpension.


pick

pick (canonical)
picks (third-person singular)
picked (past)
picked (past participle)
picking (present participle)

I have picked the best people to work on this job.

This was picked as the best new toy of the year.

She picked up the glass and put it down again.

Pick your clothes up off the floor!

The baby's crying. Can you pick him up?

If you pick up the phone, you answer it.

If you pick something up from somewhere, you go and get it.

Mom, can you pick me up from Austin's at 8:00?

I'll go an pick up a pizza.

If you try to pick up someone you have just met, you talk to them because you want to have sex with them.

If you pick fruit, flowers, etc., you take them off the plant.

We spent the morning picking apples in the forest.

Please help me pick up the books that I've dropped.

If you pick something from somewhere, you take it out of or away from that place.

After dinner he picked the rice out of the children's hair.

If you pick a musical instrument such as a guitar, you play it by pulling its strings and letting them go.

If you pick at something, you touch it many times without doing anything.

He was too sick to eat and just picked at his food.

She picked nervously at her dress.

If you pick on someone, you are not nice to them in particular.

He was picked on by his brothers for his small size.


pick

His pick for Man of the Year was John Smith.

You have your pick of the rooms. Which one do you want?

He dug that hole using a pick.

A pick is something used to play a guitar with.

He forgot his guitar pick.


politic

politic (positive)
more politic (comparative)
most politic (superlative)

Actions or words that are politic are carefully chosen not to upset people.

The senator gave a very politic reply.


press

The press are the people and organisations that report the news.

The president gave an interview with members of the press.

The company put out a press release about the new equipment.

The press is the news as it is reported.

The next day, the fire was all over the press.

The book was published by University of California Press.

A press is a machine that prints books, newspapers, etc.

Stop the presses! We've got a new story.

A press is a machine that pushes down on something to make it flat or to push out the water or juice.

A press is a time when you push something.

She gave the button a quick press.


press

press (canonical)
presses (third-person singular)
pressed (past)
pressed (past participle)
pressing (present participle)

If you press something, you push it against something.

She pressed her nose against the window.

Please, press a button.

He found the cut and pressed down firmly to stop the blood.

If you press clothes, you use an iron to make them flat.

If you press someone to do something, you ask them strongly or many times.

When she pressed him for an answer, he hung up the phone.

The group has been pressing for new laws to reduce pollution.

If you press on or forward, you keep going even though it's difficult.

If you press a weight, you exercise by moving the weight up and away from your body.

If you press a CD or record, you make a physical copy of it.


proceed

proceed (canonical)
proceeds (third-person singular)
proceeded (past)
proceeded (past participle)
proceeding (present participle)

When you proceed, you go forward with something.

The reporter proceeded with the interview.

They proceeded down the road.

After finding the money, he proceeded to put it in his pocket.


proceed

(formal) The proceeds of some individual project or sale are the money earned from doing it.

We sold the house and bought a small apartment with the proceeds.

The proceeds of tonight's show will go to charity.


proper

proper (positive)
more proper (comparative)
most proper (superlative)

The proper way, place, use, etc. is the right one.

What is the proper way to write a letter?

If something is proper, it is polite or acceptable.

It's not proper for you to live alone like this.

She was a very proper young lady.

Why don't you get a proper job at a good company?

The x proper is the main or important part of x, not the parts near it.

We stayed in a village and only went into the city proper during the day.


propose

propose (canonical)
proposes (third-person singular)
proposed (past)
proposed (past participle)
proposing (present participle)

When you propose something, you say that it should be done or chosen, usually in a formal situation.

She proposed that we should see a film.

We have proposed that a new group be set up to answer this question.

"I'm going to propose real cuts in taxes," said the President.

Clinton now proposes doing almost exactly the opposite.

When you propose a new theory or idea, you say that you believe it to be better than old ideas.

I would like to propose that the problems we have had are actually not because of money.

When you propose to do something, you plan or intend to do it.

What does he propose to do in the future?

If you propose to somebody, you ask them to marry you.

He proposed to his girlfriend outside her house.

If you propose a toast, you celebrate somebody by raising a glass and drinking.

I'd like to propose a toast to our new manager.


rather

If something is rather large, different, difficult, etc., it is quite that way.

I saw something rather unusual this morning.

When you would rather do something, you want to do it more than something else.

I would rather see a film (than stay home).

He went rather than stay behind and be alone.

You use or rather to change what you have just said.

I went there, or rather I had planned to go there, last week.


rather

You use rather to show that you agree strongly.

"Did you like the movie?" "Rather!"


realize

realize (canonical)
realizes (third-person singular)
realized (past)
realized (past participle)
realizing (present participle)

If you realize something, you become aware of it.

John just realized that he had left his umbrella at home.

It took me some time to realize it was you.

Do you realize what you've done?

If something is realized, it is made real.

My dreams of starting my own company have been realized.


really

When something is really a certain way, its very or very much that way.

I really want to see a film.

I'm really hungry now.

You did a really good job on that.

Thank you for coming and helping me this morning. I really appreciate it.

I don't really like Japanese food.

If something really exists or really happens, it does exist or happen.

Are you really going to the show?

Yes, I really will be there.


really

You can say "really?" when you are surprised.

"He won yesterday." "Really?"

You can say "really" when you agree with something.

"That girl talks about herself way too much." "Really. She's a nightmare."


recent

recent (positive)
more recent (comparative)
most recent (superlative)

Something that is recent has happened a short while ago.

Has there been any recent news on the dispute?

In recent weeks, we have seen a big jump in the price of gas.

These changes are quite recent.


reckon

reckon (canonical)
reckons (third-person singular)
reckoned (past)
reckoned (past participle)
reckoning (present participle)

If you reckon that something is true, you think that it is true.

What do you reckon we should do?

I reckon that he didn't know anything about it.

He's reckoned to be quite a good teacher.

If you reckon a number, cost, etc., you guess or calculate the value.

I reckon the cost at about $23,000.

Reckoning from the map, Lexington to the headwaters of the Pedlar and back is forty-two miles.

If you reckon on something, you expect it.

Oh dear, we didn't reckon on so many people.

If you reckon with somebody or something powerful or difficult person, you deal with them.

In today's race, the Ethiopians will be a force to be reckoned with.


recognize

recognize (canonical)
recognizes (third-person singular)
recognized (past)
recognized (past participle)
recognizing (present participle)

If you recognize something, you realize what it is.

I don't recognize him. Is he a friend of yours?

If something is recognized, it is accepted.

You have to recognize that you can't be right all the time.

The government refused to recognize his passport.

He's generally recognized as the person who made the first radio.

If something is recognized, it is given an award.

John was recognized for his achievements as a scientist.


reduce

reduce (canonical)
reduces (third-person singular)
reduced (past)
reduced (past participle)
reducing (present participle)

If something is reduced, it has been brought down or made smaller.

The new computer system should reduce the number of problems.

This image is too large, could you please reduce the size?

Eating well will reduce the risk of heart disease.

Our time in the country was reduced to just a few days.

Taxes have been reduced by 24 percent.

If you reduce a liquid, you boil it to make it thicker.


refer

refer (canonical)
refers (third-person singular)
referred (past)
referred (past participle)
referring (present participle)

If you refer to something, you talk or write about it, usually in passing.

The teacher referred to some research, but I didn't know what he meant.

The media refers to the war as "the troubles".

He referred to her only by her first name.

If you refer to a book or other source of information, you check it.

You should refer to the dictionary to find the meaning.

The numbers refer to last year's sales.

If you refer x to y, you send x to y for help or to be dealt with.

He referred me to the science department.


regard

If you have regard for something, you respect it.

He has a high regard for his teacher.

These people have no regard for other people's feelings.

Regard is how something is though about or looked at.

We do disagree, but only in regard to how much the government is spending.

What has he said with regard to taxes?

He's made a lot of money and is certainly a success in that regard.

You use Regards as a closing in a formal letter.

You ask somebody to give somebody else your regards as a formal way to show your concern for and interest in these people.


regard

regard (canonical)
regards (third-person singular)
regarded (past)
regarded (past participle)
regarding (present participle)

If you regard something, you think about it.

How do you regard his actions?

She's widely regarded as the best tennis player in history.

When you regard something, you look at it.

She regarded him with a smile.


remember

remember (canonical)
remembers (third-person singular)
remembered (past)
remembered (past participle)
remembering (present participle)

If you remember something that you did or knew before, you can think of it again.

He can't even remember where he left his books.

Writing my last story, I can't help but remember my first.

Sam was there, but I don't remember seeing anyone else.

When you remember something, you put it in your mind so you can think of it later.

Please, try to remember how to spell the word.

If you remember to do something that you are supposed to do, you do it because you think about it.

Please remember to ask before you take it.

Did you remember to get the milk?


report

A report is a description of something that has happened.

There was a recent report on the election.

A report is a document that gives the results of a study of a particular situation.

He could hear the report of the explosion.


report

report (canonical)
reports (third-person singular)
reported (past)
reported (past participle)
reporting (present participle)

If the news reports something, it tells us about it.

The journalist reported that there were riots in the city.

He's been reporting on the ongoing war in Iraq.

When you report something that has happened, you describe it.

They reported to the police that their car had been stolen.

She reported hearing loud noises at the time of the incident.

He's reported to have been there at the time.

So, you should report on your progress in three days.

If you report somebody for something they've done wrong, you tell an official about the problem.

The restaurant was reported to the city because of the dangerous kitchen.

If you report somewhere, you go there and give your name.

Visitors to the school should report to the office.


return

return (canonical)
returns (third-person singular)
returned (past)
returned (past participle)
returning (present participle)

When you return something, you give/put it back.

He returned the lawnmower back to John.

When you return to something or somewhere, you go/come back to it.

He returned to China after his trip to Germany.

The main theme of the symphony's first movement returns in the last movement.

I've just returned from class, but I'll be leaving again soon.

If a feeling, problem, thought, etc. returns, it comes back.

I thought I was better, but the pain in my back has returned.

If you return to an activity, you start it again.

If you return an act, you do the same act to the person who did it first.

She turned her eyes towards him and he returned her her look.

If you return a ball in sports, you hit it back to the other player.

He was unable to return serves all through the match.

If you return a profit or loss in business, you make it.

If you return something to a particular state, you make it that way again.

We need to return the earth to a more healthy state.


return

Somebody's return is when they come back.

They've planned a celebration for my return home.

Something's return is when it is given back.

A return is something that was bought but has to be taken back to the store, usually because it is broken.

This store does not allow returns unless the customer has a receipt.

The return of something to a particular state is the change back to that state.

Someone's return to an activity is their restarting of the activity.

The return on money is the amount or percent of profit earned on it.

If you do something in return for something else, you do it to thank or pay back somebody; you make things balanced again.

The return of a feeling, problem, thought, etc. is when it comes back.

Return is a key on a computer keyboard that puts the cursor back at the beginning of a line.

A return is a form that you send to the government telling it about your income, your household, etc.

The returns in an election are the number of votes.

A return is a ticket that takes you where you want to go and back home again.


switch

switch (canonical)
switches (third-person singular)
switched (past)
switched (past participle)
switching (present participle)

If you switch something, you change it to something else.

He switched his book with mine.

We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee.

When they didn't seem to understand, he switched to French.

Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat.

I just switched jobs, and at my new job I don't have insurance.

When his team was losing, he switched sides.

If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work.

She sat up in bed and switched on the light.

If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work.

I switched off the computer and went to bed.

If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing.

We used to watch CNN, but we've switched over to BBC World News.

It was difficult when I switched over from writing to acting.

If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation.

When I come home from work, it takes me a while to switch gears.

If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do.

Sibyl couldn't work on Tuesday, so I switched with her.

If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way.

She switched the TV to another channel.

She switched the plane to automatic pilot.


switch

A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off.

The light switch is on the wall behind the door.

Where's the on/off switch on this printer?

A switch is a change from one thing to another.

It's often difficult for older people to make the switch to living alone.

A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks.

A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them.

Switches are more efficient than hubs because they understand which device needs the data that other devices send them.


term

A term is a word or group of words, usually one with a special meaning in a particular field or area.

They didn't know the meaning of the technical terms the doctor was using.

What is the definition of this term?

At age 10, she only knew that it was a term of abuse, a swear word.

She spoke in glowing terms about the progress they had made.

You use "in terms of" to introduce a topic or subject.

Simply spending more money is not useful in terms of getting people back to work.

In terms of both numbers of people and size, California is one of the largest States in America.

If you talk about something in general/economic/human, etc. terms, you talk about it from that point of view.

The changes are great in dollar terms, but the human cost is too high.

The President of Mexico is limited to serving a single term of six years.

He faces a maximum prison term of 15 years and $8.5 million in fines

The price may be up and down, but over the long term it will certainly rise.

The period of employment comes to term in three years.

She carried the baby to term.

A term is one of the times of year when school classes are held, usually September to December and January to April or June, also June to August.

A term is a number or symbol in a formula.

The equation only worked when we included an extra constant term.

If you compare money or numbers in real terms, you compare the value on an equal basis.

Today we are paying less for gasoline in real terms than we have at any time since 1918.

Although the absolute number of trucking accidents is up slightly, they are down 10 percent in the decade in real terms .

If you come to terms with something that is not nice, you accept it.

He hasn't come to terms with the fact that she's not coming back.

The terms of a contract or purchase are its rules, conditions and limits.

The company has announced generally agreement on a new contract though the exact terms still have to be worked out.

Under the terms of the purchase, we get the house on July 14th.

If two or more people or groups are on good/equal/bad etc. terms, they have a relationship that is good/equal/bad etc.

If two or more people or groups are on speaking terms, they are not close but do speak to each other.


term

term (canonical)
terms (third-person singular)
termed (past)
termed (past participle)
terming (present participle)

If you term something a particular name or description, you give that name or description to it.

The 1980s have been termed "The Forgotten Decade" by rock fans.

White House Spokesman Marlin Fitzwater termed the GNP growth "moderately healthy".

For lack of a better word, you might term it a police state.


suppose

suppose (canonical)
supposes (third-person singular)
supposed (past)
supposed (past participle)
supposing (present participle)

When you suppose something, you guess that it is true.

What do you suppose that he will do?

I suppose he'll come back. He always does.

I know I can't do it, but I suppose it's possible.

"You've been here about an hour, I suppose." "That's right."

Do you suppose that was his plan from the beginning?

You use I suppose to show that you agree weakly with something.

"Did she know Paul pretty well?" "I suppose so."

You use I don't suppose to ask a question, especially when you think the answer is no.

I don't suppose you remember me?

You use suppose to talk about an imaginary situation.

Suppose, for example, that there was nothing there. Then what would you do?


supply

A supply is an amount of something that you can use when you need it.

We will need a supply of water.

During the war, the Americans destroyed their food supply.

Sadly these books are in very short supply in Britain.

The price of oil changes quickly to match supply and demand.

Supplies are things like food, water, medicine, gasoline, etc. that people need when they are not near somewhere where they can get them easily.

The Japanese government is finally planning to send medical supplies and financial support.

Supply is the act or system of supplying something.

They plan to fix the Russian economy and improve the supply of food and consumer goods.

The airplane's air supply wasn't working.


supply

supply (canonical)
supplies (third-person singular)
supplied (past)
supplied (past participle)
supplying (present participle)

If you supply something, you make it available, usually regularly.

We were supplied with a few basic tools that we needed for the job.

Our garden supplies us with all the food we need.

The office was well supplied with chairs.


succeed

succeed (canonical)
succeeds (third-person singular)
succeeded (past)
succeeded (past participle)
succeeding (present participle)

If something succeeds, it has happened the way somebody wants it to happen.

He succeeded in getting everyone to like him.

If you succeed, people recognize that you are good at what you do.

It's more difficult for women to succeed in business.

The new king succeeded his father.

DVDs succeeded VHS as the main way to watch movies.


soon

Something that happens soon happens shortly after another time, often shortly after the time of speaking.

Why did he call me so soon? Did something bad happen?

John is coming home soon.

How soon will it be ready?

If x happens as soon as y does, x happens right after y.

As soon as he finished eating, he got up and walked away from the table.


soon

soon (positive)
sooner (comparative)
soonest (superlative)

If something is soon, it is shortly after another time, often shortly after the time of speaking.

He wanted to leave, but it seemed too soon.

There will be a time when we'll need a new school, and that time will probably be soon.


slight

slight (positive)
slighter (comparative)
slightest (superlative)

A slight increase, difference, etc. is a small change.

This year's 5.6% level is a slight increase from last year's 5.4%.

Don't worry about me. It's just a slight pain

I don't have the slightest idea what she meant.

Out stepped a slight, middle-aged woman who smiled kindly.


slight

slight (canonical)
slights (third-person singular)
slighted (past)
slighted (past participle)
slighting (present participle)

If you slight someone, you treat them as if they were not important.

Ever since that time, he's been slighted by his fellow workers.


slight

A slight is when you are not polite to someone.

Has she forgiven him for his slight?


situate

situate (canonical)
situates (third-person singular)
situated (past)
situated (past participle)
situating (present participle)

If something is situated somewhere, it is there.

The school is situated in a mostly-white area.


sir

You use sir to speak or write to a man formally to be polite.

Excuse me, sir, could you tell me where the nearest bookstore is?

Sir is a title used before certain men's names.


single

In large baking dish, arrange chicken pieces in single layer.

You use single to stress how many or how few.

I hate going to work every single day and listening to people yell at each other.

I haven't heard a single word of thanks.

Eastern Canada is the world's largest single source of newsprint.

I don't think we should give them a single thing.

The single mother of two spends weekends with her kids.

I used to go out a lot when I was single.


single

A single is a song that is sold or put out by itself (or with one other song), not on an album.

Today she releases her live version of Birthday, the first single from an upcoming tour album.

In baseball and cricket, a single is a hit that enables a runner to score a point.

In baseball a single is a hit that enables the player to move to first base.

Singles is a game where each side has only one player, especially in tennis.

Singles are people who are not married or not in a romantic relationship.

You'll pay no tax if your income falls below $50,000 for a married couple, $35,000 for singles.

A single is a hotel room for one person.

I reserved a single in Montreal.


single

single (canonical)
singles (third-person singular)
singled (past)
singled (past participle)
singling (present participle)

In baseball if you single, you hit the ball and are able to run to first base.

The batter singled to right field.

If you single something out, you identify it, often to give it special attention.

She was singled out as the best student in the class.


sheet

A sheet is a flat cloth that you cover a bed with.

Use the sheets next to the bed.

He wanted to sleep between clean white sheets in his own bed.

Can I have a sheet of paper?

A sheet is a thin flat thing, usually something square or rectangular.

Place the rolls on the baking sheet.

A sheet of ice covered the ground.

A line (rope) used to adjust the trim of a sail.


settle

settle (canonical)
settles (third-person singular)
settled (past)
settled (past participle)
settling (present participle)

If you settle a fight, argument, case, etc., you find an answer that stops it.

They settled the dispute. Both men were happy with the results.

OK, it's settled: we're going to Florida this summer.

If something settles, it moves to a position where it can stay in for a long time, often in a low position.

She got a drink and then calmly settled herself in front of the TV.

After the crash, it took some time for the dust to settle.

His eyes settled on the red flower.

The put the earth back into the hole. It was high, but it would settle in time.

A feeling of sadness settled over them.

If you settle for something, you accept it even though it is not as good as you wanted.

This year, she would have to settle for third place.

If you settle a place, you move there and live there.

After moving to Canada, they settled in Toronto.

If something settles (down), it becomes still and quiet.

The noisy class needs to settle down.

If you settle (up) a bill, or your affairs, you pay the money you owe and/or receive the money that others owe you.

If your stomach settles, it doesn't feel sick anymore.


serve

serve (canonical)
serves (third-person singular)
served (past)
served (past participle)
serving (present participle)

When you serve food or drink, you give it to somebody to eat or drink, especially as a host.

Shall I serve your drinks first?

Lunch is served from 11:00 until 3:00.

If something serves (as something), it used or useful for a certain purpose.

This cup can serve as a holder for my paintbrushes.

This program has served as a model for smaller enterprises throughout the state.

His experiences during the war served as the basis for his book.

The area is served by a number of schools.

The law no longer serves the function it once did.

When you serve (as something), you work.

John served in the army.

He served as the director of the company from 1992 until 2003.

He serves the king.

If you serve time in prison, you stay there because you are a criminal.

If you serve, in a game like tennis, you begin play by sending something like a ball over a net.


serve

A serve in a game like tennis is the action beginning of play by sending something like a ball over a net.

Whose serve is it?

That was a great serve!


sale

Proceeds from the sale of the art went to the local school.

The sale of guns in Canada is tightly controlled.

Travel agents don't make money until they make a sale.

The president said the company is not for sale.

Sales is the number or value of things sold.

The stronger economy has boosted auto sales by $650 million over last year.

Retail sales have fallen for two months in a row.

Sales is the part of a company or industry that tries to get people to buy more.

She's now Seattle's director of marketing and sales.

I'm not the kind of person who can be successful in sales.

A sale is a time when prices are lower than usual.

The computer store is having a sale: 50% off everything.

Milk is on sale for a dollar a litre.


wee

wee (positive)
weer (comparative)
weest (superlative)

A wee bit, boy, while etc. is a very small one.

He was a wee bit upset about the changes.

What a lovely wee child!


wee

wee (canonical)
wees (third-person singular)
weed (past)
weed (past participle)
weeing (present participle)

If an animal wees, it passes waste liquid from its body.


wonder

wonder (canonical)
wonders (third-person singular)
wondered (past)
wondered (past participle)
wondering (present participle)

If you wonder about something, you think about it because you want to know more about it.

I wonder when they will be home.

You know, it makes you wonder whether something could be done about it.

I wonder if there's any way you can actually check.

Is he really working every night? I wonder.

You use "wonder if/whether" to ask for or suggest something.

I wonder if you could give me a hand with the door.

I was wondering whether you would mind making room for a third person at your table.

If you don't wonder something, you expect it.

I don't wonder you've had problems with that old car.


wonder

A wonder is something that makes a person think.

It is a wonder why he ran away.

The Pyramids are quite a wonder.


try

try (canonical)
tries (third-person singular)
tried (past)
tried (past participle)
trying (present participle)

If you try to do something, you make effort to do it.

As much as I tried, I couldn't understand it.

I'm just trying to get things cleaned up before the kids get home.

It's OK. We'll try again tomorrow.

I really want to try and make a difference.

If you try something, you taste, do, or use it to see if it's good.

Try using the new shoes for a week and let me know if there any problems.

He's never afraid to try something new.

Did you try the fish in the fridge?

If you try someone for a crime, you put them on trial.

He was tried for robbery.


try

A try is when you attempt to do something.

I gave juggling a try, but I just could not do it.

A try is when you taste, do, or use it to see if it's good.

A try is when you put the ball behind the other team's net in rugby.


traffic

Traffic is the things that move along a path, especially cars on a road.

Traffic is slow at rush hour.

On holiday weekends there are traffic jams that stretch for miles.

He turned quickly, nearly getting hit by oncoming traffic.

Almost half of all traffic accidents are alcohol-related.

Why does it take the traffic lights so long to turn green?

As the amount of traffic on the Internet increases, there are more and more problems.

Traffic is the buying and selling of goods, especially illegal goods.

Governments are working to prevent the abduction and sale of, or traffic in children.


traffic

traffic (canonical)
traffics (third-person singular)
trafficked (past)
trafficked (past participle)
trafficking (present participle)

If you traffic in certain goods, you buy and sell them, especially illegally.

They were arrested for trafficking in stolen goods.


therefore

You use therefore to show that something was as a result of what was previously stated.

He was sick with the flu and, therefore, did not come.

Of course, words can mean different things. It is important therefore to understand, first, the meaning behind words.


loanword

A loanword is a word in one language that comes from another language.

"Tsunami" is a Japanese word, but is a loan word in English.

Most languages have some loanwords.

There are many loanwords in English.


dollar

The dollar is the main unit of money in the United States, Canada, and other countries including Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Fiji, Guyana, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. It is usually equal to 100 cents.


politics

Politics is the activity of controlling, affecting or studying an organisation, especially a government.

The Prime Minister entered politics when she was in university.

It is very hard to keep the Church out of national politics.

The decision about the war will be about both foreign policy and domestic politics.

Office politics have stopped her from getting the job.


papaya

A type of tree that has big, yellow fruit.

Papaya is an orange color that is like that of papaya flesh.

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-papaya.wav


weak

weak (positive)
weaker (comparative)
weakest (superlative)

Weak is used to describe something that does not have a lot of strength.

The child was too weak to move the boulder.

Something that is weak does not have a strong taste.

This tea tastes weak and watery. Do you have anything stronger?

This place is weak. Let's go somewhere more interesting.


French

French is the language that is spoken in France, and parts of Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland.

The family spoke French.

Pardon my French.


French

French (positive)
more French (comparative)
most French (superlative)

The French and the English have often been at war.

We have crossed the French border with Italy.

Something that is related to the French people.

She was born in Paris, so she should know about French customs.

Something that is related to the French language.

"Sauter" is a French verb for "Jump".


French language


hermaphrodite

A hermaphrodite is a living organism that is both male and female.


would rather

If you would rather do something, you want to do it more than something else.

I would rather see a film than stay home.

If you would rather that something happen, you want it to happen more than something else.

I 'd rather that you not speak about my father right now.


'd rather


coir

The fibers around the outside of a coconut; coir is often used to make rope or mats.


them both

You use them both to emphasize that you are talking about two things or people together.

Can you give it to them both?

I want them both to come.


you both

When you use you both, you emphasize that you are talking about two people together.

I'll give it to you both?

I want you both to come.


us both

You use us both to emphasize that you are talking about yourself and another person together.

It would be better for us both to go?

He wants us both to come.


you all

You use you all when you emphasize that you are talking to or about more than just one person.

I'd like to introduce our new manager to you all.

I want to thank you all for coming.


them all

You use them all to emphasize that you are talking to or about 100% of those being addressed.

We have to make this better for them all.

I want them all to be here early tomorrow.


us all

You use us all two emphasize that you are talking to or about 100% of the people with you.

We have to make this better for us all.

I want us all to be here early tomorrow.


loan word

Loan word is another way of spelling loanword.


overcorrect

overcorrect (canonical)
overcorrects (third-person singular)
overcorrected (past)
overcorrected (past participle)
overcorrecting (present participle)

If you overcorrect, you do too much to fix a problem, so that you make another problem.

The driver overcorrected and hit another car.


poem

A poem is a group of words written or spoken as an art. Usually, a poem has a rhythm. Many poems rhyme (have words that end the same), and some poems repeat the same first sound in a word (called alliteration).

I have written some poems.

The poem was very beautiful.


poetry

Poetry is much cheaper than painting since you don't need special supplies.

This is a book of poetry.

Poetry is found all over the world.

To hear my child speak is poetry.


poet

A poet is someone who creates poetry. If you write poems you are being a poet.


poetic

poetic (positive)
more poetic (comparative)
most poetic (superlative)

If something is poetic it is a poem or sounds like poetry.

If words are poetic they are like a poem, even if they are not a real poem.

If something that happens is poetic it is like something from literature.


poetic justice

Poetic justice is when a person has something happen to them that is like something bad they did to someone else.

After taking many peoples homes, he went broke and became homeless -- now that was poetic justice.


lyrics

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

Lyrics are the words that go to a song. Often, lyrics are like a poem set to music.

I wish I knew the lyrics to Dreams by The Cranberries.

The singer was trying to write lyrics for a new album.


rhyme

rhyme (canonical)
rhymes (third-person singular)
rhymed (past)
rhymed (past participle)
rhyming (present participle)

If two words rhyme the end of the words sounds the same.

The words "day" and "way" rhyme.

Rhyming is a good way to remember some things.


rhyme

A rhyme is two words (or a word and a phrase) that end with the same sound, including at least one vowel sound.

"Agree" and "degree" make a rhyme, and "rhyme" and "time" are also a rhyme.


rime

The rime is the end of a syllable, the vowel a last consonant make the rime.

If the two words have the same rime at the end those words rhyme.


linguistics

Linguistics is a science that studies languages and how language works.

lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks


consonant

A consonant is a sound or letter that is not a vowel. Consonants usually do not last long and are less loud than vowels. In a syllable (a piece of a word) a vowel will be in the middle and consonants might come before or after.

The letters "t", "s", "f", and "g" are all consonants.

Your mouth is more closed when you say a consonant than when you say a vowel.


syllable

A syllable is a word or part of a word that has one vowel sound in it. The vowel might have consonants around it or be by itself.

The word "potato" has three syllables, "po," "ta," and "to."


repeat

repeat (canonical)
repeats (third-person singular)
repeated (past)
repeated (past participle)
repeating (present participle)

If you repeat something, you do it again.

I don't want to have to repeat typing this.

If you fail the class you will have to repeat it.

That song is not good because it just repeats the same words.

If something repeats or is repeated it is done more than once, or there is more than one of it.

The flashing light just keeps repeating.

The war was very bad, I hope history doesn't repeat with another like it.

The words "No show hello" repeat through the whole song.

If you repeat yourself, you say something you just said again.

I already told you what to do, don't make me repeat myself.


repeat

An instruction to repeat something. Usually this is used for music in part of a song. Sometimes it may be used for other things like part of a computer program.

Something this has been repeated; that is a repetition.


passed

pass (canonical)
passes (third-person singular)
passed (past)
passed (past participle)
passing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of pass.


permit

If you have a permit to do something, you have a document that says you are allowed to do it, it is legal for you to do it.


permit

permit (canonical)
permits (third-person singular)
permitted (past)
permitted (past participle)
permitting (present participle)

If you permit something, you let it happen.

If you permit something, you make it legal.


socket

A socket is a space that something fits into exactly. For example, an electrical device plugs into an electrical socket.


plug

A plug is an object that fills a gap. Examples of a plug are, an electrical plug which plugs into the wall or electrical socket, a sink plug (or stopper) which stops the water from draining out of the sink or bath.


plug

plug (canonical)
plugs (third-person singular)
plugged (past)
plugged (past participle)
plugging (present participle)

If you plug something you close by putting something into it.

We use corks to plug the barrels.

We were able to plug the leek for now.

I plugged my ears with my finger because of the noise.

If you plug something in (or into) you put into a socket.

If you plug something in you connect it to electricity.

You have to plug the computer in if for it to work.

If you plug in an idea or way of doing something, you use it as a whole (without changing it).

We just plugged in the results from last year and everything worked.

If something plugs something else closes it tightly.

The cork plugged the bottle.

The mudslide plugged the way out of the cave, trapping us.


suite

A series of objects; a number of things that are used or grouped together; a set.

A type of music that has a series of songs all in the same key, mostly in different dance rhythms, sometimes with a complex prelude.

My sister only stays in suites when she travels because she likes the extra space.

A location of a business in an office building or shopping mall.

I work at 123 Oak Rd, Suite 5.


obfuscate

obfuscate (canonical)
obfuscates (third-person singular)
obfuscated (past)
obfuscated (past participle)
obfuscating (present participle)

If you obfuscate something, you make it dark or overshadow it.

If you obfuscate a situation or comment, you deliberately make it more confusing so that you can hide the truth.

Before leaving the scene, the murderer set a fire to obfuscate any evidence of his or her identity.

If you obfuscate computer code, you change it so that it acts the same way but the code's structure and intent are hidden.

We need to obfuscate these classes before we ship the final release.


vicious

vicious (positive)
more vicious (comparative)
most vicious (superlative)

Someone or something that is vicious is evil, immoral, aggressive, or violent.


duct tape

Duct tape is a kind of strong, waterproof tape. It used to be used to tape ducts, but is now used for many purposes.

Please hand me the duct tape. I need to fix this box.


duct tape

duct tape (canonical)
duct tapes (third-person singular)
duct taped (past)
duct taped (past participle)
duct taping (present participle)

I duct taped it to the pole so it would stop falling.


waterproof

waterproof (positive)
more waterproof (comparative)
most waterproof (superlative)

If something is waterproof, water cannot go through it.

I needed a waterproof coat to walk in the rain.


countable

If something is countable it can be counted. Also, since this is true, the number must not be infinite (without an end).

A countable noun is one you can use with a number (e.g., seven apples).

In English, police is not countable, but police officer is.
Synonym: count

Antonyms: uncountable, non-count and mass


uncountable

A word is uncountable if it means something that there is not a set number of. This usually means that it names a substance like water or wood. Uncountable words are sometimes called mass nouns, and they cannot be plural.


German

A German is a person who comes from Germany.

My friend is a German.


German

German (positive)
more German (comparative)
most German (superlative)

Something or someone that is German comes from Germany.

My friend Dagmar is German.

I bought a German car last year.

Some people call themselves German because their family came from Germany, even if they have never been to Germany.

Mr. Schwartz is German, his grandmother came to the U.S. from Germany.


shadow

A shadow is the dark area that is made when something blocks light, and that is shaped like the thing blocking the light.

I saw your shadow against the wall.

The shadows got long as the sun set.

The room filled with shadow as the night came.


shadow

shadow (canonical)
shadows (third-person singular)
shadowed (past)
shadowed (past participle)
shadowing (present participle)

If you shadow someone, you follow them closely without their knowing it.

The detective shadowed the thief.

If something is being shadowed, it is being covered in shadow or made dark.

The curtains shadowed the room.

If you shadow someone, you accompany them when they are working so as to learn about an occupation you intend to take up.


shadow

A shadow politician is someone who is the counterpart of minister or a ministry.


daddy

Another word for father, a male parent. This is usually used by children.

The girl was very happy to see her daddy.

Someone who is better than someone else. This is often used to say you are better than the person you are talking to, especially if you have beat them at something.

You know I'm your daddy.

Who's your daddy? (Same meaning as above)

He really thinks he's the daddy!

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-daddy.wav


teenager

A teenager is a person whose age is a number that ends in "-teen." That is, someone between the ages of 13 and 19.

Many teenagers want to rebel.


teen

Teens are often hard on parents.


adolescent

An adolescent is a person or animal that is older than a child but younger than an adult.

The teacher worked mostly with adolescents.

An adolescent is a person going through sexual maturation.


adolescent

adolescent (positive)
more adolescent (comparative)
most adolescent (superlative)

If something is adolescent it is typical of adolescents.

The woman still had an adolescent appearance.


teacher

A teacher is a person who teaches other people.

She was a very good teacher, I learned a lot from her.


liar

Someone who says things that are not true, that is, someone who lies.

I don't trust that liar.

Jessica made him out to be a liar.


water-proof

water-proof (positive)
more water-proof (comparative)
most water-proof (superlative)

Water-proof is another way of spelling waterproof.


feminine

feminine (positive)
more feminine (comparative)
most feminine (superlative)

If something is feminine it is like something a girl or woman would do.

Wearing dresses is very feminine.

If someone is feminine they act in a way that is usual for a girl or woman.

She is not very feminine, she always acts like a man.

If something is feminine it has to do with girls or women.

A tampon is a feminine item.

In some languages, feminine is a gender that a word can have.

Some German words are feminine, but English words do not have gender.


masculine

masculine (positive)
more masculine (comparative)
most masculine (superlative)

If something is masculine it is like something a boy or man would do.

Playing sports is often seen as masculine.

If someone is masculine they act in a way that is usual for a man.

The character Rambo is very masculine.

She is a masculine woman, she always acts like a man.

In some languages, masculine is a gender that a word can have.

Some German words are masculine, but English words do not have gender.


ladylike

ladylike (positive)
more ladylike (comparative)
most ladylike (superlative)

If someone is ladylike she is polite in a feminine way. She behaves in a way that an important woman (a lady) would long ago.

Her ladylike ways impressed the older people in the room.

If an action is ladylike it is something that would be right for a lady. It is something someone does if she is ladylike.

Do not eat with your hands, it's not ladylike.


kingdom

A country that has a king or queen. The king or queen might control the kingdom, or might just be symbols of the country.


kindness

The quality of being kind. When you have kindness, you do many kind things.

Kind things people do. When you help people you are showing kindness.


Polish

Polish (positive)
more Polish (comparative)
most Polish (superlative)

Things or people from Poland are Polish.


Baldur

Baldur is a Norse god. He is the son of Odin and Freya and he is known for his beauty and near-invulnerability.


electronic

Something that is electronic relates to an electron or electrons.

A device that is electronic runs on the energy caused by electrons flowing through semiconductors.

What does that electronic device do?

Something that is electronic is made by an electronic (2) device

electronic music


disk

A disk is an object that is thin, flat, and circular.

A coin is a disk of metal.

Venus' disk blocked light from the Sun.

Turn the disk over after it has finished.

He still uses floppy disks from 1979.

A disc – either a CD-ROM, an audio CD, a DVD.

She burned some disks yesterday to back up the information on her computer.


disc

An object that is thin, flat, and circular.

A coin is a disc of metal.

Venus' disc cut off light from the Sun.

Turn the disc over, after it has finished.


pore

Any small opening. Often an object will have many pores, not just one, and these pores let liquids pass through them.


pore

pore (canonical)
pores (third-person singular)
pored (past)
pored (past participle)
poring (present participle)

If you pore over something, you study it carefully and with great detail; you look at it many times.


jumpy

jumpy (positive)
jumpier (comparative)
jumpiest (superlative)

If you are jumpy you are very nervous or anxious. That is you may feel like jumping in fear if surprised, because you are a little afraid already.

Are you okay, you seem jumpy today.

I was a little jumpy after the car wreck.


killer

Someone who kills. Usually this mean someone who kills other people, and does not have a good reason to kill.

The police caught the killer today.

She was happy that her brother's killer was caught.

Lighting can be a real killer.

Failing the exam was a real killer.

The show was great, a real killer.


killer

Watch out! There are killer bees!

The family barely got away from the killer storm.

That was a killer show!


women

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


orphan

An orphan is someone who does not have parents. That is, their mother and father are both dead. This is most often used for a child.

She became an orphan when the storm killed her parents.

We could not have children, so we adopted an orphan.


fighter

A fighter is someone who fights for a cause, a job, or a sport.

Someone else whose job is to fight, is fighting, or often fights.

A fighter is small, fast airplane used for war.


powerful

powerful (positive)
more powerful (comparative)
most powerful (superlative)

If someone (or something) is powerful, they have much power.

The king is a very powerful man.

Big guns are powerful weapons.

A tiger is powerful animal.

The train has a powerful engine.


progress

Progress is moving forward or getting better (more good).

We didn't make much progress on the road, only a mile.

We are making progress on finding a cure.

There was a lot of progress in science in the last century.


progress

progress (canonical)
progresses (third-person singular)
progressed (past)
progressed (past participle)
progressing (present participle)

The army progressed toward the city.


painter

A painter is someone who paints. This might be an artist, or might be someone who paints buildings.


artist

An artist was in the park painting the birds.

An artist is a performer on a musical track.


soldier

A soldier is someone who is part of an army.

The soldier was shot in the war.


warrior

A person whose job is to fight and kill enemies of their people or country. Often this is used for someone from a long time ago, or to say some is like a hero from long ago.

Someone who is tough or wants to be seen as like a warrior from long ago.


boxer

A boxer is a person who boxes (fights for sport by hitting with fists).

A boxer is a kind of dog, that was originally bred in Germany to protect houses from burglars. They cropped their ears so people could not grab them, the same with their tail.


fist

A hand that is held tightly, often to hit.


fist

fist (canonical)
fists (third-person singular)
fisted (past)
fisted (past participle)
fisting (present participle)

...may not score a point with his open hand(s), but may score a point by fisting the ball. Damian Cullen. "Running the rule." The Irish Times 18 Aug 2003, pg. 52.


boxing

box (canonical)
boxes (third-person singular)
boxed (past)
boxed (past participle)
boxing (present participle)


consistency

The quality of being consistent or uniform.

They want their employees to have a high level of consistency in the quality of their customer service.

Mix it until it has a thick consistency.

The consistency of water is pretty thin.


stepchild

A stepchild is the child of a person's husband or wife. A stepchild is a child from an earlier marriage.

When I married my wife I got two stepchildren.


handle

A handle is the part of an object that you hold with your hand when you want to use or move the object. Some examples of handles are: the shaft of a sword, the knob of a door, etc.

I grabbed the handle on the drawer and opened it.

A handle is a 10 fl oz (285 ml) glass of beer in the Northern Territory.

A handle is a 1.75-liter (half-gallon) bottle of alcohol.


handle

handle (canonical)
handles (third-person singular)
handled (past)
handled (past participle)
handling (present participle)

If you handle something, you touch it, you feel it with your hand.

How you handle an object is how you use it.

You handle that gun pretty well.

To give and take; to have something pass through your hands; to buy and sell

As a cashier, I handle money every day.

That store handles many different items.

They that handle the law knew me not – Jeremiah, 2:8

How were you handled in prison?

To manage; to control; to practice skill upon.

It won't be easy, but I think I can handle it.


syntax

A part of the grammar of a language. Syntax is the rules for putting words together to make a sentence.

English syntax is never easier than English spelling.

The linguist studied the syntax of many languages.

The child had a problem with syntax after his head was hurt.

The syntax of many computer languages is based on English syntax.

Syntax is the formal rules of formulating statements of a computer language.


morphology

A part of the grammar of a language. Morphology is the rules for putting parts of words together to make a whole word.

English morphology is easier than German morphology.

The linguist studied the morphology of many languages.

The child had a problem with morphology after his head was hurt.

The study of morphology is has to do with parts of words called morphemes.

The study of how animals and plants are shaped.

The morphology of insects has three body pieces and six legs.

Morphology is or the study of shape in some other sciences, such as in geology or astronomy.

Rock morphology gives us clues about Earth's history.

A morphology is the shape of something in general.

The morphologies of the different rocks tells us about how thing were when they were made.

Insects have very different morphologies than mammals.


icon

An image, picture, or other representation of something.

A religious painting that is often done on wooden panels.

A person or thing that is the best example of something.

That man is an icon in the business; he is loyal and has good business sense.

A small picture which represents something (such as an icon on a computer screen).

Click on the icon to open the program.

A type of noun where the form reflects and is determined by the referent; onomatopoeic words are all icons.


vulgar

vulgar (positive)
more vulgar (comparative)
most vulgar (superlative)

If something is vulgar, it is obscene or offensive.

The c-word and f-word are seen as very vulgar, you should be careful using them.

If something is vulgar, it lacks sophistication or good taste.

A vulgar fraction is a rational number.


morphosyntax

Morphology and syntax together. This is the study of the parts of words are put together in a sentence.


morpheme

Part of a word. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. Basic words (word roots) and word endings like "-ed," "-s," and "-ing" are examples of morphemes.


catalyst

A substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster. The catalyst is not changed by the process and can be used again.

Someone or something that encourages progress or change, or helps it happen.

I hope the new CEO will be a catalyst for change.

Communication is a catalyst for peace.


daylights

A person's daylights are his mental stability or his wits.

You scared the daylights out of me!

My dad will knock the living daylights out of me if I'm late.


truthiness

The truthiness of an idea is its ability to be believed emotionally and not because it is supported by evidence or logic.

Following incorrect ideas because you wish or believe them to be true.

Your truthiness amazes me. Don't you care that it's been proven false?


ceiling

This room has a very interesting ceiling.

price ceilings

The highest altitude that an aircraft may fly.

The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.

The ceiling of 4.5 is 5.


relic

Something old that is kept for personal, sentimental reasons.

A part of the body of a saint, or a very old religious object, which is kept out of respect for the object.


production

Production is when something is produced.

The machine is being used for production now.

The total amount of something that is produced.

They hope to increase spaghetti production next year.

A play or other presentation in a theatre.

We went to a production of Hamlet.

An event or activity that is made more complicated or dramatic than necessary.

He made a simple meal into a huge production.


corpse

From the Latin word corpus, meaning "body".


parachute

A parachute is something, usually a large piece of fabric, that helps to slow a person or object that is falling.

This parachute is made from very light, thin fabric but it is very strong.


parachute

parachute (canonical)
parachutes (third-person singular)
parachuted (past)
parachuted (past participle)
parachuting (present participle)

If you parachute, you jump or fall using a parachute.

Parachuting out of an airplane was the most exciting thing I've ever done.


Wiktionary

A collaborative project that is run by the Wikimedia Foundation. The goal is to produce a free and complete dictionary in every language.

The dictionary resulting from this project.


possession

Power or control over something, as distinct from lawful ownership; holding or occupancy.

I have possession of some valuable antiques.

These are my possessions.

A territory that is under the rule of another country.

Puerto Rico is a possession of the United States.

Possession is when a person's body is controlled by a demon or other supernatural being.

Exorcism is a movie about possession.

In sports, possession is control of the ball.

Real Madrid now has possession of the ball and is trying to score.


promotion

If you get a promotion you move up in rank or position.

He received a promotion to sergeant.

I got a promotion last week from branch manager to regional manager.

A promotion gives out information about a product, product line, brand, or company.

The store has a special promotion this week on two-for-one pizzas.

/prəˈməʊʃən/


penalty

A penalty is a legal punishment for committing a crime.

The penalty for his crime was to pay a fine.

A penalty is a punishment for breaking the rules.

A penalty is a payment forfeited if you make an early withdrawal from an account or an investment.

A penalty is a punishment for breaking the rules of the game; usually, being removed from play for a while.

A penalty was called when he tripped up his opponent.


Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a country in central Europe beside Germany, France, and Belgium.


Switzerland

Switzerland is a country in central Europe.


Italy

Italy is a country in Europe by the Mediterranean Sea.


Monaco

Monaco is a small country in Europe near France, Italy, and the Mediterranean Sea.


Andorra

Andorra is a small country in Europe between France and Spain.


Spain

Spain is a country in Europe near Portugal, Andorra, and France.


Portugal

Portugal is a country near Spain in Europe.

/ˈpɔːt͡ʃəɡəl/

/ˈpɔrt͡ʃəɡəl/


LOL

A short way to say "laugh out loud", "laughing out loud", or "lots of laughs" when you are talking on the internet.

Lol. You just got roasted by the reply above you.

A short way to write "Loyal Orange Lodge", a prefix that is given to all branches of the Loyal Orange Order.

LOL 1 is Portadown branch.


LMAO

A short way to say "laughing my ass (arse) off" when you are talking on the internet.

/ɛlˌɛmˌeɪˈoʊ/


prevention

The act of preventing something or hindering it; when someone or something is stopped from getting close, getting inside, or doing something.

We built a wall to help the prevention of an attack on the city.


lawn

Ground (generally in front of or around a house) that is covered with grass that is mowed short.

In summer, I have to mow my lawn twice a week.


debris

The bits of something that are left after an object has been destroyed; rubble, wreckage.

There was a lot of debris after the building was demolished.

Litter or trash that has been discarded.

Look at all the debris in the gutters!.

Large rock fragments left by a melting glacier etc.


trash

I took it out of the wrapping and then threw away the trash.

Please take out the trash.

A container where useless things are discarded.

Just throw it in the trash.

This radio is trash! It doesn't work!

white trash

trailer trash

drug.


trash

trash (canonical)
trashes (third-person singular)
trashed (past)
trashed (past participle)
trashing (present participle)

To make a mess; to ruin or destroy things.

Trash the house! he ordered.

Scarface always trashes a house he burgles.

The burglars trashed my house.

They trashed John's house yesterday.

Oh, my God! They're trashing my house right now!

Will you trash those old love letters?

John always trashes my love letters.

John trashed my love letters last Monday.

I trashed John's old love letters yesterday.

I'll spend the afternoon trashing your old love letters.


fries

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

McDonalds' fries are okay, but I like to make my own.


fries

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


fur

My dog has very soft fur.

Hairy skin of an animal, often used to make of clothes.

It take many beaver furs to make a coat.

or (uncountable) Clothes made from animal fur.

She loved to wear fur.

She often wears furs.

She had fur on last night.


asshole

The anus, the hole in the bottom where feces comes out.

Don't be an asshole.

Do I have to be an asshole for you to listen?


badass

A badass is someone who is very tough or mean.

Don't mess with him, he's a real badass!

A person who has extreme attitudes and behavior and is admired by others. In this sense, calling someone a badass is a compliment.

I heard that he smashed his guitar at the end of the encore. He's such a badass!


badass

badass (positive)
more badass (comparative)
most badass (superlative)

If something is badass it is great or very good; cool.

I love my new shoes--aren't they badass?

It would be even more badass if school was cancelled.


kick ass

If you kick someone's ass you beat them in a fight, or you hurt them a lot.

I kicked his ass for insulting my mom.

Don't bother them, they'll kick your ass.

He just got his ass kicked.

If you kick someone's ass at a game or contest, you win by a lot.

He really kicked my ass at football.

The band totally kicked ass last night.


kick ass

You say kick ass! to show happiness or a feeling of accomplishment.

Kick ass! I just won $250 playing poker!


saturation

The act of saturating or the process of being saturated.

When something has been increased and can no longer be increased.

The metal has reached saturation, it cannot be magnetized any further.

When a solution becomes completed saturated.

After adding 3 tablespoons of salt, the water has reached the point of saturation.

When an organic compound has no double or triple bonds

When the atmosphere is saturated with water vapor; 100% humidity.

Bombing a military target and trying to destroy it

When a market is flooded with all of a product that can be sold;

An effect on the sound of an electric guitar that is used mainly in heavy metal music.


saturated

saturate (canonical)
saturates (third-person singular)
saturated (past)
saturated (past participle)
saturating (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of saturate.


saturated

saturated (positive)
more saturated (comparative)
most saturated (superlative)

Something that is saturated is full; it cannot hold or contain any more.

Containing all the solute that can normally be dissolved at a given temperature.

Having all available valence bonds filled; especially of any organic compound containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.


n't


length

The length of an object is the distance between one end of that object and the other.

What is the length of the car?

The length of a horse is used to show the distance between horses at the end of a race.

Length is the distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.


kick-ass

kick-ass (positive)
more kick-ass (comparative)
most kick-ass (superlative)

If something is kick ass it is very good (it kicks ass).

The show was totally kick ass.


unsaturated

Not saturated; able to dissolve more of a solute at the same temperature.

Having atoms share more than one valence bond; especially of an organic compound having one or more double bond or triple bond between carbon atoms.


declaration

A written or spoken statement of a fact, opinion, or belief.

The company has released a declaration of bankruptcy.

A list of items for various legal purposes.

customs declaration

The act or process of declaring something.

The principal's declaration lasted almost 30 minutes.

When the captain of a batting side says an inning is closed.


assimilation

The act of assimilating or the state of being assimilated.

Adding new ideas to an old way of thinking.

Changing a sound so that it becomes similar to the sound next to it.

When a minority group takes on the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture.


chip

A small piece that is broken off of a larger object.

A chip of paint fell off the wall.

A damaged area of a surface where a chip has broken off.

This cup has a chip in it.

A token that is used in place of cash when gambling.

poker chip

This chip is worth $1.

A small circuit used in certain electronic devices.

computer chip

A thin, baked or fried piece of vegetable, usually potato.

potato chips

tortilla chips

A fried strip of potato, similar to French fries.

A shot where the ball goes up more than a regular shot.

A dried piece of dung that is used as fuel.

A container that is usually used for holding strawberries or other fruit.


chip

chip (canonical)
chips (third-person singular)
chipped (past)
chipped (past participle)
chipping (present participle)

The workers chipped the dead branches into mulch.

Be careful not to chip the paint.

To play a shot where the ball goes mostly upwards instead of forwards.

To upgrade an engine management system, usually to increase power.

This varnish chips easily.


supposed

If something is supposed, people assume that is it true without having proof that it is true.


supposed

suppose (canonical)
supposes (third-person singular)
supposed (past)
supposed (past participle)
supposing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of suppose.


books

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


books

book (canonical)
books (third-person singular)
booked (past)
booked (past participle)
booking (present participle)


meadow

An open field or grassy area; meadows are often found near rivers.

They found a meadow full of flowers on their walk by the stream.


singles

Singles is a game where each side has only one player, especially in tennis.

Singles are people who are not married or not in a romantic relationship.

You'll pay no tax if your income falls below $50,000 for a married couple, $35,000 for singles.


singles

single (canonical)
singles (third-person singular)
singled (past)
singled (past participle)
singling (present participle)

The third-person singular form of single.


IP addresses

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

Most vandalism on Simple English Wiktionary is done by IP addresses.


chips

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

Chips are French fried potatoes; french fries.

fish and chips

Chips are thin-sliced and deep-fried potatoes that are sold in sealed bags

potato chips

tortilla chips

What kind of chips should we get, barbecue or sour cream and onion?


OMG

Object Management Group (who define CORBA).


TTYL

A shorter way of saying "talk to you later", usually used in texting or chatting over the Internet.


hull

The body of a vessel such as a ship or plane.


hull

hull (canonical)
hulls (third-person singular)
hulled (past)
hulled (past participle)
hulling (present participle)

To take the covering off of a fruit or vegetable.

She sat on the back porch hulling peanuts.


plastic

Plastic is a material that can change its shape and is used to pack products.

Plastic is a slang for a credit or debit cards that are used in place of cash to buy things.


plastic

plastic (positive)
more plastic (comparative)
most plastic (superlative)

If something is plastic, it is made of plastic.

Cameron is going to recycle some plastic bottles.

If someone or something is plastic, it is able to adapt to different conditions.

The brain is very plastic at a young age.


third-person

When a verb is used in the third person.

When a story is told using verbs in the third person; the storyteller is not a character in the story.


third person

The form of a verb that is used when the subject of a sentence is not the one making the statement. Some pronouns that are used with the third person are he, she, it, one, they, and who.

"Is" is the third person singular of "be".

A form of storytelling that uses verbs in the third person to show that the storyteller is not a character in the story.


English language


German language


Polish language


FYI

A short way of saying "for your information".

We've updated our phone system, FYI.

FYI, I'm going to be out of the office next week.


olive

A tree, Olea europaea, that is grown near the Mediterranean Sea for its fruit and the oil that comes from it.

The small oval fruit of an olive tree; olives are eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green).

A grayish green color, the color of an unripe olive.


WTF

A short way of saying "what the fuck", "where the fuck", "why the fuck", "when the fuck" or "who the fuck".

You weren't at the party like you said you would be--WTF?.


Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation is the way words are spoken by the educated classes of the south-east of England; it is considered to be a standard and is used in most British dictionaries. The abbreviation for Received Pronunciation is RP.


RP

A shortening of "Received Pronunciation".

A shortening of "roleplay" (both verb and noun)


RP

A shortening of Rhineland-Palatinate, a federal state of Germany.


General American

General American is a dialect that is common in many places in the United States.


envy

A feeling of wanting something that someone else has.

I could feel my envy growing as I watched him play with his children.

green with envy


envy

envy (canonical)
envies (third-person singular)
envied (past)
envied (past participle)
envying (present participle)

I envy you; you've got a great family, a big house, a new car, and a successful career.


sales

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

Sales is the number or value of things sold.

The stronger economy has boosted auto sales by $650 million over last year.

Retail sales have fallen for two months in a row.

Sales is the part of a company or industry that tries to get people to buy more.

She's now Seattle's director of marketing and sales.

I'm not the kind of person who can be successful in sales.


cheek

The soft skin on each side of the face, below the eyes.

Your cheeks are really rosy today.

Those pants are so tight that you can see each of her butt cheeks.

You’ve got some cheek, asking me for money!


cheek

cheek (canonical)
cheeks (third-person singular)
cheeked (past)
cheeked (past participle)
cheeking (present participle)

Don't cheek me, you little rascal!


A symbol that means "at"; it is commonly used as part of e-mail addresses.

My e-mail address is joe@abc123.com.

Her note said "Meet me @ 6pm".


Curitiba

Curitiba is the name of the largest city in the south of Brazil, and the capital of the state of Paraná.


headword

A word that is used as the title of a section, especially in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or thesaurus.

A headword is the word under which a set of related dictionary or encyclopedia entries appears.

The headword of a phrase is the most important word in the phrase.


censorship

Censorship is when freedom of speech is limited or when written material is changed or deleted because someone (a censor) thinks the content is offensive, harmful or sensitive.

/ˈsɛnsəˌʃɪp/

/ˈsɛnsɚˌʃɪp/


native

native (positive)
more native (comparative)
most native (superlative)

If something is native, it belongs to you by birth.

This is my native land.

English is not my native language.

I'm a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn.

If a group of people are native to an area, they have been there since the beginning.

The native peoples of Australia are called aborigines.


native

A person who is native to a place; the word is sometimes used by colonizers to negatively describe indigenous people.

Some natives must have stolen our cattle.

A native is someone who was born in the place being talked about.

To enter the state beauty contest, you must be a native of the state.


jar

A small cylindrical container usually made of glass or clay.


jar

jar (canonical)
jars (third-person singular)
jarred (past)
jarred (past participle)
jarring (present participle)

He hit it with a hammer, hoping he could jar it loose.

I think the accident jarred him because he hasn't gotten back in a car since.


center

The center of something, is the place that is as far from its outside as possible.

The president and his problems continue to take center stage in the news.

She placed a flowers at the center of the table and then hurried off.

A center is a building, area, or group of people with a particular purpose.

They have opened a large shopping center in Taipei.

The team was staying at the US Olympic training center.

Recently, Bahrain has become a major international banking center.

Scientists at the Center for Disease Control have found a new virus.

The town center is the place in the town where most of the shops are.

In politics, the center is the position that is not politically right or left.

In sports, a center is a player who plays in the middle of the field, usually an attacker.


center

center (canonical)
centers (third-person singular)
centered (past)
centered (past participle)
centering (present participle)

If you center something, you move it towards the center.


pelt

The skin of an animal with hair on it; a raw hide; a skin with the hairy or woolly covering on it.


pelt

pelt (canonical)
pelts (third-person singular)
pelted (past)
pelted (past participle)
pelting (present participle)

If you pelt somebody, you throw things at them and hit them.

As soon as I got out of my car, my children started pelting me with snowballs.

The angry mob began to pelt the police with rocks. Luckily, the police were wearing armour, so the rocks just bounced off of them.

If you pelt somebody with questions, words, facts, etc, you say those things quickly, without stopping.

As soon as she got back from Africa, her parents started pelting her with questions about what it was like.

Every time Daniel got home late, his girlfriend pelted him with accusations that he was visiting another woman, even if he had just stayed late at work.

Every time I get back from vacations, my boss pelts me with demands and jobs before I can even sit down in my chair.

If one thing pelts against another thing, the first thing bangs or drums on the second thing.

The rain pelted on the roof of the car so loudly that we couldn't hear each other talk.

If you pelt someone, you hit them over and over again.

The smaller boy tried to fight the bully, but he got pelted.

The bully was still pelting the smaller boy when the police arrived. The bully went to jail for hurting the smaller boy so badly that he had to go to the hospital.


catastrophe

A catastrophe is a violent, sudden and unlucky change, which makes very big problems.

The Great Fire destroyed the city completely. This was a catastrophe.

His wife left him for another man. This was his personal catastrophe.


grammars

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

Three large English grammars sit on his shelf.


-na

-na is added to a few words when they introduce bare infinitival clauses.

When are you gonna be finished?

I don't wanna do that.


-ta

-ta is added to a few words when they are followed by bare infinitival clauses.

I'm sorry, I gotta go.

You don't hafta do that if you don't wanna.


black-eyed Susan

black-eyed Susan
black-eyed Susans (plural)

A Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a flowering plant.

You can never have too many Black-eyed Susans in your garden.


black-eyed susan


echoed

echo (canonical)
echoes (third-person singular)
echoed (past)
echoed (past participle)
echoing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of echo.

When I shouted in the cave, the sound echoed off the walls.


Thunbergia

A genus of flowering plants, like as T. alata.


rank

A rank is the position of a person, place, thing, or idea in relation to others based on a shared property such as location, population, or quality.

Based on your test scores, you have a rank of 23.

A rank is a level in an organization such as the military.

Private First Class (PFC) is the lowest rank in the Marines.


rank

rank (canonical)
ranks (third-person singular)
ranked (past)
ranked (past participle)
ranking (present participle)

To rank is to give a rank to a person, place, thing or idea.

Please rank the following fruits from your favourite to your least favourite: pear, apple, watermelon, apple, orange.


rank

rank (positive)
more rank (comparative)
most rank (superlative)

Something that is rank has a very strong, bad smell.

Something that is rank is gross or disgusting.


cyclamen

An indoor plant that is cultivated for its white to pink to deep red flowers.

A genus of flowering plants, the cyclamen. Cyclamen persicum is the floristic`s cyclamen.


wouldn't

My hands were full but she wouldn't open the door for me.


'd

I'd go there if I could.


'd

have (canonical)
have (present)
has (third-person singular)
had (past)
having (present participle)
haven't (present negative)
hasn't (third-person singular negative)
hadn't (past negative)

I'd seen it before.


bug

An insect of the order Hemiptera (the "true bugs").

Any insect or arachnid may often be called a bug.

These flies are a bother. I’ll get some bug spray and kill them.

A problem that needs fixing, especially in computing.

The computer program has a bug in it.

A contagious illness caused by bacteria or a virus.

He’s got the flu bug.

An enthusiasm for something; an obsession.

I think he’s a gold bug, he has over 10,000 ounces in storage.

to catch the skiing bug

We installed a bug in her telephone.

A small or invisible image on a webpage that is used to track persons who viewed it.

He suspected the image was a web bug used for determining who was visiting the site.

A small, usually transparent or translucent image placed in a corner of a television program to indicate what network or cable channel is televising it.

He did not like the network bug that appeared onscreen.

Figurative – A manually positioned marker in flight instruments.


bug

bug (canonical)
bugs (third-person singular)
bugged (past)
bugged (past participle)
bugging (present participle)

Don’t bug me, I’m busy!

To put an electronic listening device somewhere.

We need to know what’s going on. We’ll bug his house.


buoyancy

Buoyancy is the force pushing up on a body in a fluid.

Wood floats in water because of buoyancy.

I am happy with your buoyancy after many bad things happened to you.


wheelchair

A wheelchair is a chair with large wheels that is used by a sick or disabled person.

He broke both of his legs while skiing so he'll be in a wheelchair for the next few months.

/ˈwilˌt͡ʃɛɚ/


rear

* From the Latin word retro meaning back or behind.

The back of something; something that is behind.

I painted the rear of the house.


rear

rear (canonical)
rears (third-person singular)
reared (past)
reared (past participle)
rearing (present participle)

To educate and care for a young one until maturity.


factory

A factory is a building where lots of things are made.

This factory makes one hundred cars every day.

A factory is anything that makes other things, especially if it makes a really large amount of things.


crown

A crown is a round-shaped ring that kings and queens wear on the head. It is made of expensive metals. It might have jewels too.

The queen wore a fancy crown.

The crown is the position of a sovereign (in a monarchy).


crown

crown (canonical)
crowns (third-person singular)
crowned (past)
crowned (past participle)
crowning (present participle)

To formally announce the new king or emperor.

After the death of the old king, the new king was crowned.

During birth, when the baby's head is seen in the mother's vaginal opening.

The mother was in the second stage of labor and the baby had just crowned, so the midwives encouraged her.


pop

A loud sound, like a cork coming out of a bottle.

Coca-cola is my favorite brand of pop.

My pop used to tell me to do my homework every night.

They play a lot of pop music on the radio.

I may not know a lot about history or geography, but I know everything there is to know about pop culture.


pop

pop (canonical)
pops (third-person singular)
popped (past)
popped (past participle)
popping (present participle)

To burst something, most commonly a balloon.

The boy used a needle to pop the balloon.


tap

We don't have bottled water, you'll have to get it from the tap.

A repeated touching of one's hands, foot or other body part.

When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.

A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.

The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill advised taps along its length.

A tool used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)

We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.


tap

tap (canonical)
taps (third-person singular)
tapped (past)
tapped (past participle)
tapping (present participle)

Steve tapped the keg so we could drink beer.

When he ran out of money, he decided to tap into his trust fund.

To touch someone or something lightly with your finger, hand, or foot, sometimes repeatedly.

I tap my fingers on the table when I get bored.

She was tapping her leg because she was nervous.

He tapped me on my shoulder to let me know it was time to go.

To place a listening or recording device on a telephone connection.

They can't tap the phone without a warrant.

Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.


vassal

A vassal is a subject of a superior lord and pledges his loyalty to his lord.

A subject; a dependant; a servant; a slave.


vassal

vassal (canonical)
vassals (third-person singular)
vassalled (past)
vassalled (past participle)
vassalling (present participle)

To treat someone as a vassal or to reduce him to the position of a vassal; to control; to enslave.

To subordinate yourself to someone or something.


anilingus

Anilingus is when a person stimulates another person's anus with their tongue.

/ˌeɪnɪˈlɪŋɡəs/


motherfucker

A very insulting word to call someone you don't like.

That motherfucker just scratched my car and drove away!

Oedipus is a literal motherfucker.

/ˈmʌðəˌfʌkə/

/ˈmʌðɚˌfʌkɚ/


fuckhead

A very insulting word to call someone you don't like; a stupid or unlikable person.

That fuckhead has been cheating on me with my best friend!


twat

How about some shit you little twat?


vagina

A vagina is a tube that goes from the vulva to the uterus of female mammals.


yeah

Yeah, sure, I'll go with you to the store.


yeah

I won! Yeah!


reader

A reader is somebody or something that reads.

I would describe myself as a reader because I'm always reading books.

We got a new card reader for the door.


crop rotation

In farming, crop rotation is the when the same land is used to grow different crops season after season.


arsehole

The anus, the hole in the bottom where feces comes out.

Don't be an arsehole.

Do I have to be an arsehole for you to listen?


blowjob

A blowjob is when someone stimulates a penis with their mouth.

Mary gave John a blowjob.


tit

A small bird of the genus Parus or the family Paridae that is common in the northern hemisphere.

She's got an amazing pair of tits.

Look at that tit driving on the wrong side of the road!

1759, he was resolved, for the time to come, to ride his tit with more sobriety. — Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Penguin 2003, p. 28)


fart

A fart is the air that comes out of an anus; the air is produced by digestion.

I accidentally let out a loud fart in class today. I was so embarrassed!


fart

fart (canonical)
farts (third-person singular)
farted (past)
farted (past participle)
farting (present participle)

If you fart, you release air from your anus.

Do you smell something? I think somebody farted.


cunt

A woman's cunt is her genitalia, especially the vulva.

I want to fuck her cunt.

A cunt is a very unpleasant person (in the US, usually a woman; in the Commonwealth, usually a man).

You cunt!


fucker

A bad, nasty person or someone you don't like.

You fucker! You wrecked my car!

Let's see if we can fix this fucker.

People or friends, usually said between people who have a bond.

What's up, fuckers?

He is a great fucker because he makes me have an orgasm.


shitty

shittier (comparative)
shitty (positive)
shitter (comparative)
shittiest (superlative)

Kicking the dog was a really shitty thing to do.

Man, I was shitty drunk last night.

This is an awful movie; it's got shitty actors in it.


dusty

dusty (positive)
dustier (comparative)
dustiest (superlative)

If something is dusty, it is covered in dust.

I don't think this book has been touched in a long time because it's very dusty.

If something is dusty, it is powdery or it looks like dust.


gum

A thick liquid that come from plants or trees that hardens into solids.

Could I have a stick of gum? I think my breath smells bad.


gum

gum (canonical)
gums (third-person singular)
gummed (past)
gummed (past participle)
gumming (present participle)

To chew something; often used when a toothless person or animal chews something.

That old dog's been gumming that bone for hours.

To apply an adhesive or gum to something.

As "gum up", to spoil or ruin a thing or process.


happiness

Happiness is the emotion of being happy; joy.

I hope that your new job brings you happiness.

I have never felt more happiness than when I saw my newborn daughter for the first time.


sadness

I felt great sadness when my mother died.


flown

fly (canonical)
flies (third-person singular)
flew (past)
flown (past participle)
flying (present participle)

Even though I have flown in a plane many times, I still get nervous during take-offs.

Have you ever flown in a helicopter?


moral

moral (positive)
more moral (comparative)
most moral (superlative)

A moral action or decision is one that is good or right not evil or harmful.

John, don't do that, it's not very moral.


moral

Teachings of what is right and what is wrong.

Mr. Johnson is known for his good morals.

Something that is learned from a story or event; a lesson.

The moral of The Tortoise and the Hare is "slow and steady wins the race".


in spite

If x happens in spite of y, it is surprising that y did not stop x.

They couldn't move it in spite of their strength.

In spite of all the problems, the project was finished on time.


indigo

A blue dye taken from certain plants (the indigo plant or woad), or a similar synthetic dye.


musical

musical (positive)
more musical (comparative)
most musical (superlative)

If something is musical it makes music or is about music.

A drum is a musical instrument.

If a person is musical, they are good at making music or often make music.

My cousin is very musical and can play many songs and musical instruments.


musical

A musical is a theatrical production with music, dance, and spoken words.

My favorite musical is "Wicked".

Busby Berkley's old-time Hollywood movie musicals are classics.

Tom and Jerry honeymooned in New York City and bought tickets for three Broadway musicals.


woo

You may yell woo or woo-hoo to show happy excitement.


woo

woo (canonical)
woos (third-person singular)
wooed (past)
wooed (past participle)
wooing (present participle)

If you woo someone, you try to get that person to like you, date you or marry you.


hatred

Hatred is another word for hate. If you have hatred for someone, then you very strongly dislike that person.

I can't believe he has such hatred for other races! -- what did they do to him?


carbon

The chemical element (symbol C) with an atomic number of 6.

Make sure the carbon is facing the second sheet of paper, before rolling it into the typewriter.

A fossil fuel that is made of impure carbon, such as coal or charcoal.

Carbon dioxide, when talking about global warming and climate change.

A carbon footprint is a figure that measures how much carbon dioxide an activity adds to the atmosphere.


sulfur

A chemical element (symbol S) with an atomic number of 16.

A yellowish-green color, like that of sulfur.


successfully

In a successful way; with success; without failing.

He successfully climbed the mountain.

They successfully completed their project together.

You have successfully won the championship game.


speaker

Bob is a native English speaker.

My new radio has two speakers.

A famous speaker came to talk about agriculture.


loudspeaker

Everyone in the building heard her message as she spoke through the loudspeaker.


microphone

A device that converts sound into electricity; microphones send sound to be broadcast or recorded.

We can't hear you! Speak into the microphone!

She records her songs using a microphone.


hydrogen

Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element (symbol H) with an atomic number of 1.

Hydrogen gas is highly flammable.


punch

punch (canonical)
punches (third-person singular)
punched (past)
punched (past participle)
punching (present participle)

When you punch something, you use your fist to hit it.

To use a punch to put a hole in something or to put a design on it.


punch

A tool that is used to put holes in thin material (like paper), to put an object through a hole in an object, or to put a mark or design on a surface.

A tool for punching holes in paper or other thin material.

A drink that is a mixture of fruit juice and some other drink, often alcohol.


notebook

A notebook is a book with blank sheets that you can write or draw in.

Remember to take your notebook to class.

Sometimes laptop computers are called notebooks; this is not as common as calling them laptops.

They played a game on their notebook.


laptop computer

laptop computer
laptop computers (plural)

A laptop computer or a laptop is a small computer that is light enough to be used on your lap and can be carried around with you.


laptop


alot