suspect

suspect (positive)
more suspect (comparative)
most suspect (superlative)

If something is suspect, it is untrue, or likely to cause problems.

Any claims to solve all the problems should be seen as deeply suspect.


mental

mental (positive)
more mental (comparative)
most mental (superlative)

Mental health, processes etc. is related to the mind and thinking.

The program helps people deal with drinking, depression and other mental health problems.

Some diseases can cause severe mental and physical damage to the unborn baby.

Manville made a mental note of the cab's licence number.


govern

govern (canonical)
governs (third-person singular)
governed (past)
governed (past participle)
governing (present participle)

If x governs y, x controls y through laws or other rules.

The country is currently governed by the army.

The market is governed by the same economic laws of supply and demand.


hidden

hide (canonical)
hides (third-person singular)
hid (past)
hidden (past participle)
hiding (present participle)

If something is hidden, it is hard to see or find.

We are trying to make parents more aware of the hidden dangers of TV.

One of those islands, half hidden in the mist, was the Lake Isle of Innisfree.


team

A team is a group of people who play or work together on the same side.

She is a member of the coaching team which led Great Britain to victory over Australia at last year's games.

The operation was performed by a medical team led by Dr. Wood.


team

team (canonical)
teams (third-person singular)
teamed (past)
teamed (past participle)
teaming (present participle)

If you team two people, groups, or things, you group them to work together.

Five of London's finest hairdressers have teamed together and will be opening their new salon.


harm

Harm is the damage, injury or problems caused by something.

In the attack, he caused her serious bodily harm.

Please be careful, but luckily this time there was no harm done.


harm

harm (canonical)
harms (third-person singular)
harmed (past)
harmed (past participle)
harming (present participle)

If you harm something, you damage or injure it, or cause it problems.

Smoking during pregnancy can seriously harm your baby.


excuse

excuse (canonical)
excuses (third-person singular)
excused (past)
excused (past participle)
excusing (present participle)

You say, "excuse me" when you have done something rude,

You say, "excuse me" when you want to get someone's attention.

You say, "excuse me" when you want somebody to move.

You say, "excuse me" when you didn't hear somebody very well and you want them to repeat themselves.

If you excuse someone, you forgive them.

If you excuse someone, you allow them to avoid doing something.


excuse

An excuse is a reason for not doing something or for doing something bad.

There is no excuse for hitting your sister.

Do you have an excuse for being late?


reside

reside (canonical)
resides (third-person singular)
resided (past)
resided (past participle)
residing (present participle)

If something or someone resides somewhere, it lives there or is located there.

Real political power still resides with the militia leaders.

Miha Pogacnik was born in Slovenia but now resides in Germany and the USA.


deduction

Deduction is the process or result of thinking about information to find an answer or opinion.

A detective must uncover the murderer by logical deduction from facts.

Deduction is the amount or process of taking something away, usually money.

The average worker takes home about $500 per week after tax and other deductions.


cure

cure (canonical)
cures (third-person singular)
cured (past)
cured (past participle)
curing (present participle)

If you cure something that is wrong, you fix or solve it.

Time and honest feedback usually cure the problem by teaching the poor leader a better way of achieving goals.

The treatment mostly cured her of the cancer.

If you cure a piece of meat, you preserve it by salting.


cure

A cure is something that will fix something that is wrong.

We still have no cure for the common cold.

I think I have a cure for the problem.


plenty

Plenty of something is a lot of it; more than enough of it.

Don't give up straight away darling. You've still got plenty of time to go yet.

The new ideas give me plenty to think about.

I lost one, but I've still got plenty more teeth in my mouth.

Here! Take some more; there's plenty here.


sleep

sleep (canonical)
sleeps (third-person singular)
slept (past)
slept (past participle)
sleeping (present participle)

If you sleep, you rest quietly with eyes shut, usually in bed for many hours at night.

I need to sleep now because I'm tired.

If you sleep with someone, you have sex with them.

I haven't slept with my husband in like eight months.


sleep

Sleep is the activity or time of resting quietly with eyes shut, usually in bed for many hours at night.


school

A school is a place where you go to learn.

What grade are you in at school?


school

school (canonical)
schools (third-person singular)
schooled (past)
schooled (past participle)
schooling (present participle)

If you school someone, you teach them something.

If you school someone, you prove that you're better than them.


swallow

swallow (canonical)
swallows (third-person singular)
swallowed (past)
swallowed (past participle)
swallowing (present participle)

If you swallow something you make it go through your mouth into your body (down your esophagus to your stomach). We swallow food and drinks.

Young children put small toys in their mouths and sometimes swallow them.


swallow

A swallow is the amount of food or liquid that goes down the throat at one time.

He took the aspirin with a single swallow of water.


accident

Accident means something that happens without a plan; unintentionally; inadvertently.

I dropped the glass by accident and it broke.

Two people were hurt in a road traffic accident between a car and a motorcycle last night.


instruct

instruct (canonical)
instructs (third-person singular)
instructed (past)
instructed (past participle)
instructing (present participle)

If you instruct someone, you tell or teach them what to do or how to do something.

We were stopped on the road and instructed by the police to turn around and go back.


manage

manage (canonical)
manages (third-person singular)
managed (past)
managed (past participle)
managing (present participle)

If you manage something, you organise and control it.

Other European countries manage their health services better than we do.

The other two teams were managed by their local area directors.

If you manage something, you are able to do it or deal with it successfully.

Even with the pain, somehow she managed a smile.

I don't know how they manage with so little money.


situation

A situation is the conditions at a time and place.

If you can stay calm, it will help you to handle difficult situations.

Can you describe the situation in Iraq during the war?

Under the new government, the political situation is changing rapidly.


manager

A manager is someone who manages or organizes people or things together.

Ask the manager of this project. He knows what to do next.

A manager is a program that allows the user to control a part of the computer/software.

If a program is not responding, please use the task manager to end the program forcefully.


worry

worry (canonical)
worries (third-person singular)
worried (past)
worried (past participle)
worrying (present participle)

Worry means to feel troubled by, anxious, or uneasy about specific problems or the possibility of unpleasant things happening in the future.

While she cooked the food, she worried about her son who was writing an important test at school.


whisper

whisper (canonical)
whispers (third-person singular)
whispered (past)
whispered (past participle)
whispering (present participle)

When you whisper to someone, you talk very quietly; to talk with breath but no voice, with a quiet sound like the wind, so only people very near can hear what you say.

Some people at the back of the room were whispering secrets.


whisper

A whisper is an act of talking to someone very quietly.


warning

warn (canonical)
warns (third-person singular)
warned (past)
warned (past participle)
warning (present participle)


warning

Something that tells someone that there is danger.

Someone cried a warning that a train was coming, so everybody moved.


visual

visual (positive)
more visual (comparative)
most visual (superlative)

Visual things are those related to sight and seeing.

The visual part of the play was beautiful, but the voices were too quiet.


upset

My late arrival caused the professor considerable upset.

The Nimrods defeated the Blue Devils yesterday in a stunning upset.


upset

upset (positive)
more upset (comparative)
most upset (superlative)

Upset means to be very angry or sad; to be unhappy.

He was upset after someone said bad things to him very loudly.

Something is upset if it is in turned in the wrong direction like something that was dropped; turned in a direction with the bottom part up and the top part down.

When they played with a ball in the room, a cup was upset and all the milk went onto the floor.


upset

upset (canonical)
upsets (third-person singular)
upset (past)
upset (past participle)
upsetting (present participle)

If someone upsets a person, they make that person angry, anxious, stressed, or sad; to make a person unhappy.

If a person upsets something, they disturb it, disrupt it, or change it to make it worse.

If a person upsets something, they tip it or turn it upside down.


worries

The third-person singular form of worry.

He worries too much.


worries

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

No worries.


thank

thank (canonical)
thanks (third-person singular)
thanked (past)
thanked (past participle)
thanking (present participle)

To say a good word after someone gives something to you or after someone does something good for you.

She thanked him very much for the beautiful food he cooked for her.

"I would like a drink, please." "Here is your drink." "Thank you."


thanks

You say thanks when somebody has helped you or done something nice for you.

"Can I get the door for you?" "Thanks!"


thanks

Thanks are kind words and thoughts for people who did nice things for you.

A special thanks goes to my family.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me.

He is not going to get much thanks from them.


thanks

Thanks to your help, we were able to finish quickly.

We'll be late thanks to the snow.


thanks

The third-person singular form of thank.


tension

No one said anything, but I could feel the tension in the room.

Tensions between the two countries have been rising.

There is too much tension in the rope. It might break.


theatre

A theatre is a building with a big room with a stage and places for many people to sit, so that people can watch a play with actors in it.

The Nutcracker is playing at the theatre tonight.


play

play (canonical)
plays (third-person singular)
played (past)
played (past participle)
playing (present participle)

Children like to play all day.

If you play a musical instrument, you make music using it.

He plays guitar in a rock and roll band.


play

Something a group of actors does, in a theatre, for people to watch.

The actors on the stage had clothes with bright colors.


theater

A theater is a building with a big room with a stage and places for many people to sit, so that people can watch a play with actors in it.

We went to the theater to watch a play by Shakespeare.

A theater is a place where movies are shown.

We'll make it to the theater on time, there's twenty-nine minutes left before the movie starts.


telephone

A machine used to talk to someone who is far away.

I need to find a telephone so I can tell my mother where I am.


telephone

telephone (canonical)
telephones (third-person singular)
telephoned (past)
telephoned (past participle)
telephoning (present participle)

If you telephone someone, you use a telephone to talk to them.

I telephoned my friend yesterday.


woods

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


envelope

An envelope is a paper cover that you put a letter in to send it.

She put the letter into the envelope, addressed it to Charles, and put a stamp on it.

An envelope is a covering that goes all the way around something.

Each virus has a special envelope of protein surrounding it.


recommended

recommend (canonical)
recommends (third-person singular)
recommended (past)
recommended (past participle)
recommending (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of recommend.


recommended

recommended (positive)
more recommended (comparative)
most recommended (superlative)

If something is recommended, somebody says it's good or you should try it.

Her new book is highly recommended.


recommend

If you recommend something, you tell somebody that it is good or that they should try it.

The committee strongly recommended that the head teacher take the lead in defining the aims of the school.


teeth

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


symbol

A symbol is a letter or simple picture with a particular meaning.

Most language now use the same set of symbols to represent numbers.

These symbols represent the phone's various functions.

A symbol is a person or object that represents a group or idea.

These dead trees have become a symbol of pollution.

After a long, cold winter flowers are a symbol of hope for the new season.


equip

equip (canonical)
equips (third-person singular)
equipped (past)
equipped (past participle)
equipping (present participle)

If you equip a person or a place, you give them equipment.

We equipped the buses with blankets and pillows and high-tech stereo headphones and telephones.

If you equip someone with skills or knowledge, you teach it to them.

This program equips students with the skills they need to succeed in college.


mystery

A mystery is a secret or hidden matter which can't be explained.

She never told me where the money was, and it remains a mystery to me even now.

She and her mystery man were seen outside her parents' home.

A mystery is a story about a puzzling event: short for mystery story.

The police investigation has failed to solve the murder mystery.


ethnic

ethnic (positive)
more ethnic (comparative)
most ethnic (superlative)

An ethnic group is a group related by race, culture, and/or nationality.

The Irish are the largest, but least visible, ethnic minority in Britain.

The school has students from over 20 different ethnic backgrounds.

Characteristic of or belonging to a non-Western cultural tradition, as in ethnic food, costumes and jewelry.


compute

compute (canonical)
computes (third-person singular)
computed (past)
computed (past participle)
computing (present participle)

If you compute an answer, you calculate it or find it, usually using mathematics.

They computed the exact time of death using the blood.

The network is built on a distributed computing environment.


self

Your self is the type of person you are, particularly the way you usually act, look or feel.

He looked so happy compared to his usual down self that Walter wondered if something was wrong.

Someone's self is their personality or character that makes them individual.

As the baby grows older, it begins to develop a sense of self.

Please bring your wife and your good self.


self-

by or related to the individual person or animal

I didn't like working for somebody, so now I'm self-employed.

If she played more sports, it would improve her self-esteem.


devil

A devil is an evil monster, god, or mythological being.

If you say someone is a poor devil, you mean a poor person.


devil

The Devil is the enemy or God and all people. The devil is the leader or source of evil.

If someone is called the Devil it means they are a bad person. Usually this is used playfully and not seriously.


relax

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

If you relax, you stop working, worrying, etc., and you take a rest or have fun.

People come here to relax, have a beer, and talk with friends.

If you don't relax your shoulders, you'll have a sore neck.

If you relax a rule, you make it less strict.

The king relaxed the laws that the people protested against.


collect

collect (canonical)
collects (third-person singular)
collected (past)
collected (past participle)
collecting (present participle)

If you collect some things, you bring them together as a group.

The study collected data from 562 mothers in the hospital.

The rain collected in a pool.


motive

The man says he has no motive for killing his wife.

What are the motives behind this change?


motivation

Someone's motivation is their feeling that they want to do something.

Students' motivation is falling because the lessons are not interesting.

There isn't a simple link between pay and employee motivation.

Your motivation is the reason you do something.

The main motivation behind the deal was money.

What was your motivation for leaving home?


screen

A screen is a flat surface for showing pictures, text or video.

The information appears on the computer screen almost right away.

I couldn't see the movie because the person in front of me was blocking the screen.

A screen is a flat surface between two areas, often letting something in but keeping something out.

The hole in the window screen let the bugs in.

There was a screen around my hospital bed.


screen

screen (canonical)
screens (third-person singular)
screened (past)
screened (past participle)
screening (present participle)

If you screen blood, people, information, etc., you find or block unwanted things.

They carefully screen the blood for viruses before giving it to hospitals.

He put on a hat to screen his eyes from the sun.

If you screen a movie, a TV show, etc., you put it on a screen.

They screened the new movie for the press last week.


honest

honest (positive)
more honest (comparative)
most honest (superlative)

If you are honest, you do not hide the truth; you don't lie, cheat, or steal.

My parents were quite honest with me about things to do with sex.

My father is a very straight, very honest man; everyone trusts him.


adapted

adapt (canonical)
adapts (third-person singular)
adapted (past)
adapted (past participle)
adapting (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of adapt.


adapt

If you adapt to changes, conditions, needs, etc., you change to fit them.

It was difficult to adapt to the changes, but I work much better now.

It's a special military vehicle adapted for use in the snow.

You can adapt book or other work to a movie, musical, or other form of entertainment.

Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher", was adapted to a movie in 1960.


stats

New crime stats that show the number of crimes is decreasing.

The government published new unemployment stats for the month of June.

Stats is the science of using and understanding those numbers.

To do research, it's important to understand simple stats such as averages and standard deviations.

Stats is a kind of mathematics.


patient

patient (positive)
more patient (comparative)
most patient (superlative)

If someone is patient, they can wait without getting upset.

It's hard to be patient with people who don't listen to you.

I'm a patient man with a long memory; I can wait.


patient

A patient is a person or animal under medical care.

Emergency room doctors treated over 200 patients today.

Patients with various illnesses were put on the diet.


lazy

lazy (positive)
lazier (comparative)
laziest (superlative)

If someone is lazy, they do not want to work or do anything difficult.

He went to a restaurant because he was too lazy to cook.

I had a lazy dog who just slept on the sofa all day.

A lazy day or time is a time for relaxing.

We finished school and looked forward to the lazy days of summer.


dramatic

dramatic (positive)
more dramatic (comparative)
most dramatic (superlative)

If something is dramatic, it is large and sudden.

The increase in foreign students has meant a dramatic change in the number of schools.

After the new teacher came, there was a dramatic increase in the test results.

If something is dramatic, it is connected with acting and theatre.

In a highly dramatic speech, he brought everyone to his side.

He studied dramatic arts in university.


desk

A desk is a table for studying and writing, usually with drawers.

The students sat at their desks quietly while the teacher walked around the room.

The phone on her desk buzzed; Gillian picked it up.


jumped

jump (canonical)
jumps (third-person singular)
jumped (past)
jumped (past participle)
jumping (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of jump.

I screamed when I jumped out of the airplane.


rub

rub (canonical)
rubs (third-person singular)
rubbed (past)
rubbed (past participle)
rubbing (present participle)

If you rub something, you move against it, often backward and forward.

The doctor was rubbing her hands to warm them.

The dog came and rubbed against his leg.

He rubbed the silver with a cloth until it shone.


rub

If you give somebody or something a rub, you rub them or massage them.

After the game, he gave me a great shoulder rub.

It'll come clean with a good rub.


recovery

A recovery is the process of getting better after an illness or a problem.

She made a good recovery from a knee injury and may play this game.

The budget is critical to Hungary's hopes for economic recovery.

A recovery is the process of getting something back after it was lost or taken.

They hired a lawyer to help with the recovery of the money.


hole

A hole is an empty space in an object or material.

He fell into the water through a hole in the ice.

They dug a hole in the ground for the tree.


pretend

pretend (canonical)
pretends (third-person singular)
pretended (past)
pretended (past participle)
pretending (present participle)

If you pretend that something is true, you play that it is true but you know that it is not.

Cameron pretended not to see young Donald till he was close beside him.

I'll be quiet. Just pretend I'm not here.


pretend

If something is pretend, it's not real but is used for play.

It's not a real monster. It's just pretend.

Let's have a pretend picnic.


convenience

Convenience is the quality of being easy to get and use.

The shop has a free car park for the convenience of its guests.

We'll pick up some milk at the convenience store on the corner.

A convenience is something that saves time or work.

Out cottages have all the modern conveniences, including internet, A/C and a pool.


stolen

steal (canonical)
steals (third-person singular)
stole (past)
stolen (past participle)
stealing (present participle)

I've never stolen anything in my life.


feeling

Your feelings are your emotions, thoughts, and opinions.

Many people have strong feelings about the war.

Charles had some difficulty in understanding her feelings.

A feeling is a signal that your body gives you, such as pain, heat, softness, etc.

The feeling of the sun on his face was relaxing.

Since the accident, he has no feeling in his fingers.


feeling

feel (canonical)
feels (third-person singular)
felt (past)
felt (past participle)
feeling (present participle)

He felt the soft cloth with his hand.

She felt a pain in her hand.

To have an emotion. When you are happy, sad, or angry you are feeling.

I'm feeling very happy today.

They feel sad because their friend left.


purpose

A purpose is reason for doing something or for existing.

Coal is used for only three purposes: heating houses, generating electricity and making steel.

The main purpose of the visit was to see the new building.


purpose

purpose (canonical)
purposes (third-person singular)
purposed (past)
purposed (past participle)
purposing (present participle)

If you purpose to do something, you plan on doing it.


direction

"Where is the post office?" "I think it's that direction."

Which direction is north?

We were walking up Queen St. when she suddenly turned and starting walking in the opposite direction.

Directions are steps that tell you what to do or how to do something.

Your doctors directions are to take two of these with water before eating.

The company is now under the direction of new owners.


reason

A reason to do something is why you do it, or the cause of something.

The low price was the main reason for buying it.

I asked them about the reason why we should go.

The police are looking for the reason for the accident.

It's important to use reason to decide, not emotion.


reason

reason (canonical)
reasons (third-person singular)
reasoned (past)
reasoned (past participle)
reasoning (present participle)

If you reason, you think carefully about something.

(uncommon) If you reason someone, you persuade using reasoning.

I reasoned my friend into my religion.


swallowed

swallow (canonical)
swallows (third-person singular)
swallowed (past)
swallowed (past participle)
swallowing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of swallow.

The boy did not always bite his food before he swallowed.


disease

If a person, animal, or plant is ill, it has a disease.

1.4 million children suffer from heart disease in Pakistan.

There are many different germs which cause diseases.


disease

disease (canonical)
diseases (third-person singular)
diseased (past)
diseased (past participle)
diseasing (present participle)


sour

sour (positive)
sourer (comparative)
sourest (superlative)

A sour taste is like the taste of an acid.

The old milk is bad: it tastes sour.

A sour person is mean to other people because they are unhappy.

He was a sour old man who wouldn't even say "hello" to anyone.


signal

A picture, or a light, or a movement of a hand, or other thing that tells people to do something.

When I make this signal with my hand, everybody walk to the front of the room.

A picture, or a light, or a movement of a hand, or something else that lets someone recognize another person, a ship, an airplane or something else.

The sailor saw the signal on the other ship and so recognized it was the enemy.


signal

signaled (past)
signaled (past participle)
signaling (present participle)
signal (canonical)
signals (third-person singular)
signalled (past)
signalled (past participle)
signalling (present participle)

When someone or something signals to someone, they use a signal to tell the person something.

The red light signals to the cars to stop.


attractive

attractive (positive)
more attractive (comparative)
most attractive (superlative)

If people or things are attractive, you like them because you think they are good, beautiful, etc.

People buy the make-up and stuff they see on television to make them appear more attractive.

I think that howard is a very attractive-looking man.

The offer was very attractive, but he couldn't agree.


worth

worth (positive)
more worth (comparative)
most worth (superlative)

If x is worth y, x has the value of y, usually in money.

The painting is worth over $1 million.

The house is worth $20000.

Excuse me, how much is this ring worth?

The car is fifteen years old and isn't worth much anymore.

If something is worth doing, or is worth it, there is value in doing it. It's not a waste of time.

It's not worth washing now 'cause it'll just get dirty again later.

This is important, so it's worth taking your time to get it right.


worth

I just bought $8,000 worth of gold.

Its worth is dropping every day.


hair

Hair is long, very thin, soft material that grows on people and animals.

She had never seen him with his hair cut short.


severe

severe (positive)
severer (comparative)
severest (superlative)

He has a severe wound from dropping a big knife on his foot.

Someone who is severe gets angry easily or frequently punishes people; they are harsh or strict.

The teacher had a severe way of making the learners sit still.


search

search (canonical)
searches (third-person singular)
searched (past)
searched (past participle)
searching (present participle)

When someone searches for something, they don't know where it is and they look in many places to try to discover where it is.

I searched the whole room but I don't know where the book is.


search

The search for the stolen jewelry was unsuccessful.

The act of searching, as in computers etc..

Search engines have made using the internet easier.


message

A message is information that is sent between living things and is sent from one person to the other. There are some types of message, like phone message and subliminal message.

On his desk there was a message from Jack to call home.

Can you give Joan the message that I called?


message

message (canonical)
messages (third-person singular)
messaged (past)
messaged (past participle)
messaging (present participle)

If you message someone, you send them a note or letter or e-mail; you message them.

Can you please message me the directions?


concentration

A concentration is a large amount of something in one place or group.

The oil-sands in Alberta, Canada, contain high concentrations of oil.

The growing concentration of people in cities is causing new problems.

Concentration is the ability to focus your attention on something.

Runners mustn't worry or do anything else to break their concentration.

A clean desk in a quiet place will help students improve concentration.

The government's concentration should be on helping those in the greatest need.

The amount of solute in a solution; the concentration of a solution is measured in parts per million (ppm)


intelligence

Intelligence is the ability to think clearly and understand easily.

The school has special classes for student of low intelligence.

Intelligence is information that a government gets from its spies.

US intelligence indicates changes in North Korea's military.


link

link (canonical)
links (third-person singular)
linked (past)
linked (past participle)
linking (present participle)

If you link two or more things, you make a connection between them.

The Northern Ireland economy is closely linked to that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

A number of computers can be linked together to make a network.


link

A link is a connection between two or more things.

It's easy to see a close link between studying and good grades.

The link between England and Europe is an old one.

A link is a word or picture on the Internet that you click to go to another page.


neck

The part of the body between the head and the torso.


competitive

competitive (positive)
more competitive (comparative)
most competitive (superlative)

If someone is competitive, they want very much to be the best at everything.

I don't enjoy working with her because she's so competitive.

If something is competitive, there is competition about it.

There is now a competitive market for telephone services because there are more choices of companies.

If someone or something is competitive, they have a good chance of winning or being chosen.

The shoe comes in sizes 6-11 and retails for the very competitive price of £34.99.

The right product and marketing mix can give the company a competitive advantage over its rivals.


respond

respond (canonical)
responds (third-person singular)
responded (past)
responded (past participle)
responding (present participle)

If you respond to something or someone, you do something in reaction to it.

I try to respond to emails as soon as I get them.

We sent a message to them two weeks ago, but nobody has responded so far.

The police responded forcefully to the problems.


opposition

Opposition to something, is an action or hope to stop it.

There was strong opposition to the change from parents.

The opposition is the person or group that you are competing against.

There was a series of meetings between the leaders of the Government and the opposition parties.


label

A label is a small sign, usually on something, to tell you about it.

Please read the label before using the product.

There are washing instructions on the label.

A label is a brand (mainly for fashion and music companies).

Her favorite label is Gucci.


label

labelled (past)
labelled (past participle)
labelling (present participle)
label (canonical)
labels (third-person singular)
labeled (past)
labeled (past participle)
labeling (present participle)

If you label something, you write information on it or attach information to it.

Please be sure to label your bags before getting on the airplane.

He labelled the tree with its name and date.

If you label somebody or something as being some way, you categorize them that way.

After the way he acted, the other children labeled him as weird.


grateful

grateful (positive)
more grateful (comparative)
most grateful (superlative)

If you are grateful for or about something, you want to say, "thank you" because of it.

I'm very grateful for your kindness during this difficult time.


check

check (canonical)
checks (third-person singular)
checked (past)
checked (past participle)
checking (present participle)

If you check something, you look at it to see if there is a problem, or something new or different.

Hi, I heard some noises, so I'm just checking to see if you were O.K.

Can you check that the lights are off?

Please check your test before handing it to the teacher.

I just checked my e-mail and found 50 new messages.

He checked the mirror to see if the police car was still behind him.

If you check something out, you look at it because it might be interesting.

I found this great video online. Check it out.

When you're in Toronto, you should check out the CN tower.

If you check an answer, or choice, you make a check mark (✓) beside it.

If you want to get mail from us, check the box at the bottom of the page.

If you check out of a hotel, you pay your bill and leave.

I called the hotel, but they said you had already checked out.

If you check in to a hotel, you go to the front desk to tell them you've arrived and you get your key.

After we checked in, we went to our room and unpacked our bags.

If you check something, usually something bad, you stop it.

He put out his hands but could not check his fall.

Senegal, which acted early, was able to check the spread of the disease.

If you check your coat or bags, you give them to a worker to take care of.

Reid was traveling alone without any checked luggage.

You can check your luggage inside and show them your passport with your ticket.


check

A check is a piece of paper that gives someone else the right to receive some money from your bank account. (Other spelling: cheque)

She wrote him a personal check for $250.

Could you please pay in cash instead of checks?

I found out about the problem when I tried to cash her bad checks.

A check is something you do to make sure that there is no problem.

The town must conduct regular checks on drinking water quality.

They did background checks on all the teachers before hiring them.

We stood in line at the airport for the extra security checks.

I want to get a quick check of the weather before going.

A reality check is an opportunity to think about reality and make sure your hopes and thoughts are reasonable.

I think this injury is a real reality check for him. He can't keep working like this.

If you keep something in check, you stop it from getting bigger or worse.

There aren't enough birds to keep the insects in check.

I had difficulty keeping my anger in check.

A check is something that controls or stops something else.

The company didn't have the right checks and balances, and that's why they lost all the money.

Waiter, can you bring us the check please?

Put a check next to today's date and sign here.

He finished it up and put a check mark in the box.

Check is a pattern of squares, especially on cloth.

Michael was a big man in a red wool check shirt.

A coat check is a place where you can give your coat, bags, etc. to a worker to take care of.

The lines were long at the coat check, so we put our jackets on the backs of our chairs.

In chess, check the position of the king where it can be directly attacked by the opponent's pieces but from which it may escape.

You can't move that piece because your king is in check.


puppies

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

I bought 5 puppies.


leap year

A leap year is a year with 366 days in the most commonly used Gregorian calendar. Leap years happen every four years.

The Summer Olympics is held during a leap year.

A year with 13 months in certain lunisolar calendars


husband

husband (canonical)
husbands (third-person singular)
husbanded (past)
husbanded (past participle)
husbanding (present participle)

If you are husbanding, you are managing resources carefully.


curtain

Curtains are pieces of cloth that hang in front of a window, door, or stage.

So I'll close the curtains and the room now will be quite dark.

We put all the lights on and draw the curtains when we're going to go out.

They got new curtains to match the carpet and the furniture.

A curtain is a substance, or group of items that blocks your view or blocks access.

The base of the rock is undercut, permitting walkers to pass behind the curtain of falling water.

Suddenly she came out through the last curtain of trees and found herself looking down over sunlit green field.


curtain

curtain (canonical)
curtains (third-person singular)
curtained (past)
curtained (past participle)
curtaining (present participle)

If you curtain something off, you put a curtain around it.


revise

revise (canonical)
revises (third-person singular)
revised (past)
revised (past participle)
revising (present participle)

When someone revises a book, a writing or something they said, it means they change it (edit it) so that it says something a little different from what it said before.

He revised the book to have information from this year in it.

She revised what she said so that she was not saying something bad about him.

If someone revises, they study something again to prepare for a test.

I can't go out 'cause I have to revise for my A-levels.


file

A file is a set of papers or records on a specific issue, person, etc.

The letter should be in the file on the Herzog problem.

A file is a set of information that can be opened, changed, and saved by a computer program.

My computer won't read the Word file you e-mailed me last night.

A file is a place to keep papers organised.

Can you put this receipt in the file?

A file is a tool with rough sides that you rub against something to make it smooth.


file

file (canonical)
files (third-person singular)
filed (past)
filed (past participle)
filing (present participle)

If you file papers or documents, you put them away in an organised way in one place.

I filed the letter under "t" for taxes.

If you file a report or a story, you submit it to your employer or editor.

What time did you file that story about the car crash?

If you file a complaint, you make an official complaint.

If people file somewhere, they go there in a line.

If you file something, you rub it with a file to make it smooth.

She went to the store for a manicure, which involves filing and polishing the nails.


low

low (positive)
lower (comparative)
lowest (superlative)

If cost, value, amount, sound, temperature, etc. is low, it is small.

My pay is very low, so it's hard to live here.

Poor people need low-cost apartments.

The temperature will go down over night and tomorrow it will be lower than it was today.

If something is low, it (or its top) is close to the ground.

The bridge is too low for the truck to go under it.

I bought a low-quality bag and it already has a hole in it.

If a sound is low, it is small in frequency or quiet.

On the piano, the left hand plays the low notes and the right hand plays the high notes.

If a person is feeling low, they are not happy.


conscious

conscious (positive)
more conscious (comparative)
most conscious (superlative)

If you are conscious of something, you notice or realize it.

Soon after I walked into the room, I became conscious of many eyes looking at me.

I was conscious of being rude, but I couldn't stop myself.

I'll make a conscious effort to be on time.

If a person or animal is conscious, it knows what's happening around it.

He fell and hit his head, but he is still conscious.

She was conscious during the operation.


harvest

Harvest is the time that you bring the crops in from the fields.

We had an early harvest this year because of all the sun.

Harvest is the act of bring the crops in from the fields.

Our grain harvest went really well this year.

A harvest is the crops that you bring in at the end of a growing season.

Western Canada has had the biggest wheat harvest in 20 years.


harvest

harvest (canonical)
harvests (third-person singular)
harvested (past)
harvested (past participle)
harvesting (present participle)

If you harvest something, you collect it after growing it.

The rice looks like it's ready to harvest.

We harvested these grapes from our own vines.


patron

John, a well known patron of the arts, donated a large sum of money to the local museum last summer.

A patron refers to a regular customer of a business.

A property owner who hires a contractor for construction works


service

An action or work by one person that can be consumed by another person.

Hair care is a service industry.

A function that is provided by one program or machine for another.

This machine provides the name service for the LAN.

I did three years of service before coming here.

She brought out the silver tea service.

The act of initially starting, or serving, the ball in play in tennis, volleyball, and other games.

The player had four service faults in the set.

The funeral service was good.

The serving, or delivery, of a document requiring someone to appear in a court of law.

The service happened yesterday.

That which is provided by the government or its agents.

The Job Centre provides a service to the unemployed.


service

service (canonical)
services (third-person singular)
serviced (past)
serviced (past participle)
servicing (present participle)

If you service something, you serve them.

They service the customer base.

If you service something, you perform maintenance on them.

He is going to service the car.


good

good (positive)
better (comparative)
best (superlative)

When you are good, you do the right things. That is, you do things that are kind or helpful. You do not do things that hurt people or are not honest.

He is a good person and would never steal.

She is a good girl and always helps her mother.

If something is good it is useful or helpful. This also means high quality.

My last pair of shoes were very good, they lasted two years!

If food is good it means you like the taste. This food is not likely to be spoiled or of low quality.

Thank you for the pie; it was very good.

If you had a good time, you enjoyed something.

You may call something good because you like it.

We had a good trip and liked seeing all the sights.

If you are good at something, you do it well.

She is a good swimmer; she could save you from drowning.

He is a good worker and always gets the job done.

A good sign means something good is likely to happen.

Some people think a rainbow is a good omen, and means you will have good luck.

If you are sick, its a good sign if your fever ends.

Favorable

Beneficial


good

He has a lot of good in him and always helps us out.

Good refers to the side of good (against evil and bad).

I'm completely for good and think we should all try to do the right thing.

Goods are identical items that are produced, then traded, bought or sold, for the purpose of consumption.

You can buy many different types of goods at the market.


great

great (positive)
greater (comparative)
greatest (superlative)

A great object or event is very big and large in scale.

A great storm is approaching our shores.

Dinner was great.

Something that is great is very important.

Great is used to describe an important leader.

Alexander the Great


great

It is said to show happiness about something.

I got the job? Great!

Great, you can come with us on the trip.

It can also be said to show disappointment.

I didn't get the job? Great.

Oh great, the store is closed.


goodness

He was known in the community for his goodness towards others. As such, many in the community were saddened the day he passed away.

Goodness is the good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.

Despite the goodness of exercising, John usually does not have time for it.


defeat

defeat (canonical)
defeats (third-person singular)
defeated (past)
defeated (past participle)
defeating (present participle)

If you defeat someone, you win against them in a game, battle, or contest.

South Africa defeated Zimbabwe (170) by four wickets with four balls to spare.

American forces defeated a small band of fighters in a three-hour street battle last night.

When I was in school, I was good at English, but science always defeated me.


defeat

A defeat is a loss in a game, battle, or contest.

Dole went down in defeat in last night's elections.


battle

A battle is when different groups or teams fight each other.

A battle is a personal challenge or struggle.

After a long battle with cancer, he finally returned to work.


battle

battle (canonical)
battles (third-person singular)
battled (past)
battled (past participle)
battling (present participle)

In World War II, Germany and England battled for control of Europe.

Learning a new language is difficult, but if you keep battling, you will learn it.

The Nutcracker and the toys came to life to battle the Mouse King and his army.


continuous

Something that is continuous happens without stopping.

The water flowed through the pipe continuously.

If a surface is continuous, it is long and doesn't have anything in the middle.

The railway line was continuous.


coexistence

When two or more things live together in the same space, with or without mutual interaction.


habitation

The habitation of animals in that forest is currently threated by logging.


drive

drive (canonical)
drives (third-person singular)
drove (past)
driven (past participle)
driving (present participle)

If you drive a car or other vehicle, you control its movement and direction.

I've been learning how to drive a bus.

If you drive somewhere, you go there by car.

The bus is too slow. Let's drive to school instead.

Mom, can you drive me to Cindy's house?

If you drive someone or something, you make them move.

The dogs drove the cows into the field.

If you drive someone to do something, you make them do something.

The death of her son drove her to drink.


drive

Let's go for a drive down to the lake.

Drive is the feeling that you want or need to do something.

She has a strong drive to succeed.

If you're tired, it often affects your sex drive.

A (disk) drive is part of a computer that reads and writes information to a disk.

A drive is the short road outside a house to put a car on.

A drive is a short strong effort to do something.

Drive is the power that makes a vehicle move.

In sports, a drive a ball that has been hit hard.

A drive is when people direct a group of animals to move in a particular direction.


cough

cough (canonical)
coughs (third-person singular)
coughed (past)
coughed (past participle)
coughing (present participle)

If you cough, you quickly blow air out and make a noise because of a feeling in the throat.

This cold is terrible. I was coughing and sneezing all night.

She coughed to get his attention.


cough

A cough is the action or sound of quickly blowing air out because of a feeling in the throat.

My doctor gave me some medicine for my cough.

Her cough was so bad that she was coughing up blood.


pocket

A pocket is a small empty space, usually in your clothes, usually to carry things in.

I usually put my keys in my pants' pocket, but I can't find them now.

My cell phone is in the outside pocket of my bag.

A pocket is a small area of something that is completely surrounded by something else.

There was a small pocket of air under the boat.

There is a pocket of Welsh-speaking villages in South Wales.


pocket

pocket (canonical)
pockets (third-person singular)
pocketed (past)
pocketed (past participle)
pocketing (present participle)

If you pocket something, you put it in your pocket.

If you pocket something you win, take, or steal it (and put it in your pocket.)


replace

replace (canonical)
replaces (third-person singular)
replaced (past)
replaced (past participle)
replacing (present participle)

If X replaces Y or if you replace Y with X, X now does what Y used to do.

Smith will replace the injured Jones for England who are leading 2 to 0.

If you replace something, you give somebody a new one because you have broken, lost, or used the old one.

I'm sorry, don't know how I'm going to replace your stolen bike.

If you replace something, you put it back where it was.

After looking at the ring for a while, he carefully replaced it and left the shop.


minority

A minority is less than half (50%) of some group.

Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.

A minority is a member of an ethnic group that does not have political or social power.

The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.

Minority is the state of being a minor, not an adult.


integration

Integration is the act of combining a number of things to work together.

European economic integration was widely expected to bring enormous benefits.

Integration of immigrants into American society has become much more difficult than in the past.

An integration is the process of finding the integral of a function.

/ɪntəˈɡreɪʃən/


king

A king is the male leader of a country and whose son will probably lead the country.

Following the death of James I, Charles I became King of England, in 1625

Howard Stern styled himself as the "king of all media".

One of the playing pieces in chess; it may move only once square per move in any direction, but cannot move into check (threat of attack).

A playing card with the image of a king on it.


unearth

unearth (canonical)
unearths (third-person singular)
unearthed (past)
unearthed (past participle)
unearthing (present participle)

To drive or take something out of the ground or soil; to uncover or find; to bring to light; to disclose

to unearth a secret


ancient

ancient (positive)
more ancient (comparative)
most ancient (superlative)

Very old, usually hundreds or thousands or millions of years old.

He studied the ancient world.


chief

They came to the chief to resolve their dispute.

All firefighters report to the fire chief.


chief

The chief thing is the primary or principal thing.

The chief cause of his death was cancer.


find

find (canonical)
finds (third-person singular)
found (past)
found (past participle)
finding (present participle)

If you find something, you discover or locate it.

I can't find my keys. Have you seen them?

Christopher Columbus is known for finding the Americas, but it had probably already been discovered by Europeans.

He finds faults with my work.

I find your argument bad.

The jury finds for the defendant


find

Anything that is found, especially by good luck.


found

The past tense and past participle of find.

To start some type of organization or company.

They founded the company in 2003.


accurate

accurate (positive)
more accurate (comparative)
most accurate (superlative)

We need to provide people with more accurate information.


obsolete

obsolete (positive)
more obsolete (comparative)
most obsolete (superlative)

If something is not used anymore, or if something newer replaced it, it is obsolete.


newer

new (positive)
newer (comparative)
newest (superlative)

Here, wear these shoes; they're newer and cleaner than those.


oranges

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

I bought five oranges from the store.


permanent

permanent (positive)
more permanent (comparative)
most permanent (superlative)

Permanent means lasting for a long time or forever.

His permanent problems cannot be solved.


upsetting

upsetting (positive)
more upsetting (comparative)
most upsetting (superlative)

Something or someone that upsets somebody.


upsetting

upset (canonical)
upsets (third-person singular)
upset (past)
upset (past participle)
upsetting (present participle)


ministry

A ministry is a government department, such as the ministry of defense.

The ministry of health is building a new hospital.


ordain

ordain (canonical)
ordains (third-person singular)
ordained (past)
ordained (past participle)
ordaining (present participle)

If a church ordains a minister, it admits a person to the ministry.


church

The Church is Christians gathering to praise and be with God.

A church is a building where Christians gather and pray to God.

The church across the street has a service at 10 am.

Christian churches and Buddhist temples exist alongside each other.

Though she prayed and attended church, as she got older she often wondered why God didn't do anything.

A church is a particular kind of religious belief or power.

They asked for the help of the Catholic Church.

At the time I moved from the Baptist Church to the Pentecostal Church I was about sixteen years old.

Jesus Christ established a church in which men and women were equal.

This country was founded on the idea of separation of church and state.

People tend to leave because they don't accept certain church teachings.

A Christian religious organization, local or general.

The Church (referring to the dominant religious organization of a particular time or place).

Church is a time when Christians go to a church.

I'll be there after church.


admit

admit (canonical)
admits (third-person singular)
admitted (past)
admitted (past participle)
admitting (present participle)

If you admit someone, you allow them to enter an area or a building.

The man was admitted to the theater, and sat in the front row.

If you are admitted to an institution, the institution starts taking care of you.

He was admitted to hospital and he is having his operation next week.

My elderly grandmother was admitted to a nursing home.

To be admitted to a state school, children must show the ability to learn.

If you admit something, you say reluctantly that it is true.

She admitted that she robbed the bank.

The accused admitted stealing the money.

No child would ever admit to enjoying school.

"Climbing the Everest was harder than I thought," he admitted.

She admitted her mistake and apologized.


confess

confess (canonical)
confesses (third-person singular)
confessed (past)
confessed (past participle)
confessing (present participle)

When you confess to doing something, you are saying that you did it.

John confessed to the cops that he robbed the bank.


female

If a person, animal or plant is female it is of the sex that can have babies or produce eggs or seeds. Girls and women are female people.

The test says your baby will be female.

Yes, I have a female dog.

If something is female, it is of, for, or about women or girls.

The girls can change in the female changing room over there.

This movie is good for a female audience.


female

A female is a person, animal, or plant that can have babies or produce eggs.

In humans, females are called women or girls.


continent

A continent is a big piece of land that is almost as big as your mom's ass.

The seven continents of the world are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.


extend

extend (canonical)
extends (third-person singular)
extended (past)
extended (past participle)
extending (present participle)

If you extend something, you make it longer.

They extended the meeting so that more people could speak.

The muscles contract and extend to move the body.

If something extends from x to y, it covers all the time or space in between.

The Alps extend from France to Austria.

The middle ages extended from ancient to modern times.

I would like to extend to you an invitation to the party.


extension

Extension is the process of making something longer.

An extension is the time or part of something that was added to make it longer.

She had extensions put in her hair and now she has long hair.

He couldn't pay in May so the bank gave him an extension until July.

An extension is the operation of pulling the two ends of a broken bone to bring the broken pieces into the same straight line.

Extension is the act of moving an arm, leg, finger, etc. so that it is straight.

An extension is short for file extension.


separate

Being separate means that a piece of an object is not connected to or attached to the rest of the object.

This chair was broken into five separate pieces.

If two objects, ideas, or people are separate from one another, they are not together.

I try to keep my personal life separate from work.


separate

separate (canonical)
separates (third-person singular)
separated (past)
separated (past participle)
separating (present participle)

To separate something is to take it apart, divide it, or stop it from connecting.

I diced the onions and the carrots, separating them into two piles.


lot

A lot of something is a large amount of it.

I have a lot of things to say.

He caused lots of trouble.

Running is lots more fun when the weather is cool.

He used to come here a lot, but he doesn't anymore.

A lot is a piece of land, usually small.

They are constructing a building on this lot.


a lot

I have a lot of things to say.

He caused a lot of trouble.

Running is a lot more fun when the weather is cool.


a few

I saw him only a few days ago.

You'll learn after a few times.

Those are good. Try and get a few more.

A few of us went out last night.

"Would you like some?" "Just a few, thanks."

I've tried to stop smoking quite a few times.


confirm

confirm (canonical)
confirms (third-person singular)
confirmed (past)
confirmed (past participle)
confirming (present participle)

If something confirms an idea, it show that it is true.

The results of the study confirm previous research on the topic.

If you confirm a possible agreement or plan, you tell somebody that it is now final and official.

Can we confirm that the meeting is at 10:00?

If a Christian priest confirms a baptized person, they admit them to full participation in the church.


revolt

revolt (canonical)
revolts (third-person singular)
revolted (past)
revolted (past participle)
revolting (present participle)

If a person revolts, they act against an authority.

The farmers had to revolt against the government to get what they deserve.

If something revolts you, its existence greatly repels you.

Your brother revolts me!


compilation

The act of collecting or gathering things from various sources and putting them together.

I enjoy the compilation that is required when writing an article.

A collection of things that were compiled (taken from different places and put together). A compilation is usually a book or official paper made of materials from other books or official papers.

The band was lazy, so instead of making new songs, they just made a compilation of old songs.


constituent

If something is constituent, it is being part of a whole.

If someone is constituent, they are given permission to make a constitution.


constituent

A constituent is a resident of a place of an elected official.

The governor is popular among his constituents. He will likely win the election this year.

A constituent is a usable element of a phrase or clause.


constituency

A constituency is a specific area that is represented by an official who is elected by the voters of that area.

The prime minister represented their constituency.


represent

represent (canonical)
represents (third-person singular)
represented (past)
represented (past participle)
representing (present participle)

To represent is to stand in the place of; to act the part of (another).

A member of Congress represents his district in Congress.

To represent is to serve as a sign or symbol of; as, mathematical symbols represent quantities or relations; words represent ideas or things.


expansion

The expansion of metals and plastics in response to heat is well understood.

My new office is in the expansion behind the main building.

A product to be used with a previous product.

This expansion requires the original game-board.


special

special (positive)
more special (comparative)
most special (superlative)

If something is special, it is not usual; it is different or important in some way.

She is the most special person in my life.

particularly interesting; dear; beloved; favored


typo

A typo is a mistake made when typing or writing. When a person types the wrong letters for a word when the person really knows what the right letters are, that is a typo.

It was just a typo; he wrote "dgo" but he meant "dog".


replaced

replace (canonical)
replaces (third-person singular)
replaced (past)
replaced (past participle)
replacing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of replace.

We replaced our old printer with a new one last week.

She replaced the light bulb after it burnt out.


connection

A connection is a way that two or more things come or belong together.

Who was the first person to make the connection between sickness and cleanliness?

The north-south train makes a connection with the east-west train at Union Station.

My Internet connection is not very fast.

Susan knows a lot about Russia. She'll be your connection there.


medical

medical (positive)
more medical (comparative)
most medical (superlative)

Dr. Barry was very creative in his teaching, research, and medical practice.

Often the poor do not go to a doctor because they are unable to pay for medical treatment.


medical

A medical is a general check by a doctor.

I'd like to make an appointment for my annual medical.


reluctant

reluctant (positive)
more reluctant (comparative)
most reluctant (superlative)

If you are reluctant to do something, you do not want to do it.

My son was reluctant to go to school today because he has a test.

She gave him a reluctant smile.


poison

Poison is any substance that makes people or animals sick or kills them if it gets into their body.

He put out poison to get rid of the mice.

Some snakes can deliver poison by biting you.


poison

poison (canonical)
poisons (third-person singular)
poisoned (past)
poisoned (past participle)
poisoning (present participle)

They poisoned the king's food.

He poisoned the ants to get rid of them.

If something poisons a person or animal, it makes them sick, or kills them chemically.

The drugs that he used were slowly poisoning him.

If something poisons someone's mind, it puts bad thoughts there.


radio

A radio is piece of electronic equipment that sends or receives signals though the air and plays voice, music, or other sounds.

I used to carry a small radio, but now I have an MP3 player.

When I'm in the car, I usually listen to the radio.

The news will be on the radio in about five minutes.

CBC 99.1 FM is my favorite radio station.

The pilot tried to contact the airport over the radio.


radio

radio (canonical)
radios (third-person singular)
radioed (past)
radioed (past participle)
radioing (present participle)

If you radio someone, you send a message to them using a radio.

If you radio a message, you send it to someone using a radio.


constant

constant (positive)
more constant (comparative)
most constant (superlative)

If something is constant, it doesn't change over time.

I have this constant pain in my back. I wish it would stop.

The rain has been constant all morning.


constant

A constant is a value that doesn't change.

In the formula 7x²+3y+5=z, 5 is a constant.


psychological

psychological (positive)
more psychological (comparative)
most psychological (superlative)

We are concerned about the psychological effect the experience may have on the girls.

When children have problems, we need to consider many aspects of the child's social and psychological functioning.

Many psychological theories refer to problematic parent-child relationships.


psychology

Research in sports psychology demonstrates the value of setting difficult goals.


hunt

hunt (canonical)
hunts (third-person singular)
hunted (past)
hunted (past participle)
hunting (present participle)

If you hunt for something, you look for it very carefully.

We hunted for new clothing at the mall.

If you hunt for animals, you look for them to catch or kill them.

My father hunted rabbits when I was a child.


hunt

A hunt is a search for something or someone.

The police were on a hunt to find the murderer.

A hunt is a search for animal(s) to catch or kill.


probable

probable (positive)
more probable (comparative)
most probable (superlative)

If something is probable, there is a high chance of it happening, being true, or existing.

Weather is the probable cause of this morning's traffic problems.

It's probable that he'll be here later.


organ

An organ is a part of an animal or plant with a specific purpose, such as an eye or a heart.

The stomach is an important organ of the digestive system of humans.

An organ is a musical instrument that looks like a piano and blows air through pipes to make sounds.

He can play many organs.


nevertheless

You use nevertheless to add surprising information or something in contrast to what was already said or written.

Morgan stopped working as a doctor in 1973. Nevertheless, he remained active in medical research until his death.

We are seriously over budget. I have nevertheless decided to continue with the project.

/ˈnɛvəðəlɛs/

/ˈnɛvɚðəlɛs/


I looked to see how many coins I had, but I had none.

There was no food on the table, and there was none in the kitchen either.


film

A film is a recording of a moving picture that tells stories including actors, directors, and producers.

The studio has hired some actors to make a film about the making of Wiktionary.

Let's go to the theatre and watch a film.

I studied film at college and now I'm a writer.

Film is a thin, clear material used for taking photographs or movies.

My new camera is digital and doesn't need film.

A film is a flat, thin material or substance often covering something.

The soap left a sticky film on the glass.

We use a plastic film to protect the food.


film

film (canonical)
films (third-person singular)
filmed (past)
filmed (past participle)
filming (present participle)

If you film something, you record it as a moving picture.

Somebody filmed the attack with their cell phone and showed it to police.


busy

busy (positive)
busier (comparative)
busiest (superlative)

If you are busy, you are doing something and not available to do something else.

I'm sorry, I'm busy on Monday. Can we get together on Wednesday?

I'm too busy to go to the movies.

The doctor's busy with another emergency.

We need something to keep the kids busy in the car.

If a time is busy, there is little or no time to rest because of work or other activities.

Things are really busy at the office this week. I have five meetings tomorrow.

December is a busy time of year for many shops.

Cooking every day is very difficult with my busy schedule.

If a place is busy, there are many people or vehicles moving about.

The roads are busy this morning, so give yourself extra time.

Hartsfield-Jackson International is the world's busiest airport.

If a telephone is busy someone is using it and cannot take a call.

I tried to call him, but the line was busy.

If a design is busy there are too many small elements in it.

I don't think you should wear that busy dress.


busy

busy (canonical)
busies (third-person singular)
busied (past)
busied (past participle)
busying (present participle)

If you busy yourself, you find things to do to fill your time.

He busied himself with fixing his tie as he waited for her to arrive.


exact

exact (positive)
more exact (comparative)
most exact (superlative)

If something is exact, it completely agrees with a statement, fact, or a truth; it fits perfectly.

If something is exact, it is clearly thought of or stated.

If someone is exact, they are careful to follow a rule, guideline, or promise; they are accurate; they are methodical.


exact

exact (canonical)
exacts (third-person singular)
exacted (past)
exacted (past participle)
exacting (present participle)

If someone exacts a payment from someone, they demand and enforce it.

If someone exacts something, they make it desirable; they need it.

If someone exacts something from someone, they get or make it by force.


random access memory

Random access memory or RAM is a type of short-term computer memory that is usually used to hold the software and data for currently running programs.


hate

hate (canonical)
hates (third-person singular)
hated (past)
hated (past participle)
hating (present participle)

If you hate something you dislike it strongly.

My 3-year old won't eat tomatoes. She just hates them.

I hate myself for being weak.


hate

My feelings towards him are a mixture of love and hate.

A hate is something that you dislike strongly.

Did you have any hates or fears when you were there?


chair

A chair is a piece of furniture for one person to sit on.

Please, pull up a chair and sit down.

There were six chairs around the table.

The person who is in charge of a meeting is the chair of the meeting.

The chair opened the floor to questions.

A chair is a position of professor in a university.

A chair of Mathematics has opened at London University.


chair

chair (canonical)
chairs (third-person singular)
chaired (past)
chaired (past participle)
chairing (present participle)

If you chair a meeting, you are in charge of controlling it.

The meeting was chaired by the head teacher.


nurse

A nurse is a healthcare worker who helps doctors and helps sick or injured people with the activities of daily life.

A nurse is a woman who takes care of other people's children.


nurse

nurse (canonical)
nurses (third-person singular)
nursed (past)
nursed (past participle)
nursing (present participle)

If you nurse a sick or injured person or animal, you help them with the activities of daily life.

I admire the time he took to nurse that sick dog back to health.

If you nurse a body part or an injury, you rest it and are careful about it.

If you nurse a bad feeling, you think about it often and try not to forget it.

If you nurse a drink, you drink it very slowly.


list

A list is a group of related words, often in some order, often to help you remember something.

I can't remember if we need milk and I've forgotten the shopping list.

Did you call everyone on the phone list?

I'm sorry, I can't talk now. I've got a long list of things to do.


list

list (canonical)
lists (third-person singular)
listed (past)
listed (past participle)
listing (present participle)

If you list something, you say or write a number of related things.

OK, let's start the meeting by listing the things to talk about.

The phone book lists five different restaurants in our town.


examination

An examination is a formal test, usually important and often at the end of a course.

Did you pass the English examination last week?

OK, class. Time is up. Please hand in your examination papers.

Examination is the act of looking at something very carefully.

The teachers and parents worked together in a closer examination of the problems grade seven students face.

The question of changing the law is currently under examination.

On closer examination, we found that we had made a mistake.

/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/


dead

dead (positive)
deader (comparative)
deadest (superlative)

My brother is dead. His funeral was last week.

The problem is a dead battery.

My arm is dead. I cannot feel it.


dead

He thinks you are a woman, but you are a man. He is dead wrong.


hanging

A form of capital punishment where a person is held in the air by a rope around his/her neck until they are dead.

There was a hanging in Carson City.


hanging

hang (canonical)
hangs (third-person singular)
hanged (past)
hanged (past participle)
hanging (present participle)

The present participle of hang. To kill by hanging.

Nebraska is hanging him next week.


hanging

hang (canonical)
hangs (third-person singular)
hung (past)
hung (past participle)
hanging (present participle)

The present participle of hang. Suspended.

Your shirt is hanging in the closet.


phone

A phone is a tool for speaking to people who are far away.

Can I borrow your phone? I need to call my friend.

The phone's ringing. Can you answer it?

"Goodbye!" she said, and put the phone down.

This classroom does not allow students to use their phones during class.


phone

phone (canonical)
phones (third-person singular)
phoned (past)
phoned (past participle)
phoning (present participle)

If you contact somebody using a phone, you phone them.

Hey, I'll phone you tonight and we can decide what to do.

I phoned up my friend and asked her to come over at 8:00.


pen

She sat down with pen and paper and started a letter to her aunt.

He picked up his ballpoint pen, crossed out some words.

A pen is a small area with a fence around it, usually for animals.

The pigs walked slowly around their pen.


pen

pen (canonical)
pens (third-person singular)
penned (past)
penned (past participle)
penning (present participle)

If you pen something, you compose it and write it down.

The letter was penned by Shakespeare just before he died.

I penned my first song when I was in college.

If you pen an animal, you put it in a pen.

If someone is penned in, they are in a place and cannot get out easily.

Most of them were penned in watching the TV with their parents.


lonely

lonely (positive)
lonelier (comparative)
loneliest (superlative)

If you feel lonely, you feel sad because you are alone.

She was bored and lonely without her friends.

I still miss him terribly and feel very lonely sometimes.

A lonely place is a place with few people, often far from a city or town.

The only sound in that wild, lonely place was the wind.


afford

afford (canonical)
affords (third-person singular)
afforded (past)
afforded (past participle)
affording (present participle)

If you can afford something, you have enough money or resources to buy it or do it.

The richer people, who could afford it, built large houses.

We cannot afford to put another person on the project.

I'm afraid I can't afford to waste more time here.

If you afford someone something, you give it or allow it.

The Government has continued to afford him protection.

The city took the opportunity afforded by the break in the weather.


facilitate

facilitate (canonical)
facilitates (third-person singular)
facilitated (past)
facilitated (past participle)
facilitating (present participle)

The aim was to facilitate the development of such schools.

The structure of the text should facilitate comprehension.

If someone facilitates a meeting, they guide it and help it run well.

The government appointed the judge to facilitate the meeting between the protesters and the developers.


elderly

elderly (positive)
more elderly (comparative)
most elderly (superlative)

The hospital had a number of elderly patients who had been there for many years.

He was very elderly, but not at all sad and small.

This resort is a good choice for the elderly as the area is very flat and there is plenty to see and do nearby.


polite

more polite (comparative)
most polite (superlative)
polite (positive)
politer (comparative)
politest (superlative)

If you are polite, you treat people nicely and follow the social rules of your group.

It's not polite to take something without asking.

Parents have to teach their children to be polite.

Susie is more polite than her sister Cindy.

Susie is the most polite child I have ever met.


ensure

ensure (canonical)
ensures (third-person singular)
ensured (past)
ensured (past participle)
ensuring (present participle)

His work is great and should ensure the survival of his business.

If you ensure that something is correct or that it happens, you check it and fix any problems.

Special care is taken to ensure that teachers understand the course material.


mixed

mixed (positive)
more mixed (comparative)
most mixed (superlative)

If something is mixed, it includes different kinds of things.

I don't know. I have very mixed feelings about these changes.

The quality of show dogs here is rather mixed.


mixed

mix (canonical)
mixes (third-person singular)
mixed (past)
mixed (past participle)
mixing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of mix.

We mixed the blue and yellow paint together to get green paint.


picture

A picture is marks on a flat object, like paper, that show shapes, people, or things.

Mommy, I drew a picture of a cat.

Susan looked at the picture on the wall.

Everyone stand there together and I'll take your picture.

A picture is a still or moving image on a screen.

A picture is an idea or image that have inside your head.

A picture is an understanding of a situation.

What's the picture like in Somalia?


picture

picture (canonical)
pictures (third-person singular)
pictured (past)
pictured (past participle)
picturing (present participle)

If you picture something, you make an image of it in your head.

If something is pictured, it is shown in a picture.

If something is pictured a certain way, it is described that way.


image

An image is something you can see or imagine that looks like the real thing.

Many people have an image of God as an old man.

The image on the screen reminded him of the town where he grew up.

The image in the mirror was not how she saw herself.

An image is the good or bad opinion about someone or something.

What's your image of Paris?

We should be trying to create an image of the company as helpful and friendly.


image

image (canonical)
images (third-person singular)
imaged (past)
imaged (past participle)
imaging (present participle)

If you image something, you create an image of it.

The lunar surface at the Apollo 17 site, imaged by the Apollo 17 astronauts.


aerobic

If a living thing is aerobic, it needs oxygen to survive.

E. coli is a type of aerobic bacteria because it cannot survive without oxygen.

Human beings are aerobic creatures.

/ɛəˈrəʊ.bɪk/


democracy

Democracy is a system of government where everyone is equal and everyone has some power. It is a system of government in which the people elect their leaders.

Democracy is the will of the people.

A democracy is a country that uses democracy as the system of government.

The United States is a democracy.

Many countries in the Western world are democracies.


propaganda

Things that are written or said, often by someone in power, that are not true or that are one-sided.

I object when political propaganda is pushed through my letterbox at election time

/ˌprɒpəˈɡændə/


revolution

A revolution is a sudden significant change.

The Industrial Revolution began when machines were able to make things quicker and cheaper than people.

In the 1960s, you had the women's revolution, the sexual revolution, and all sorts of change.

A revolution is a war against the government by the country's own people.

There was a revolution in France in 1789.

When a wheel turns around once it has made a revolution; going in a circle; turning; revolving.

The hour hand on the clock makes one revolution in twelve hours.

A revolution is when one object (like a planet) goes in a circle around another object (like a star).

One revolution of Earth is 365 days long. One revolution of Venus is 225 days long.


neutral

neutral (positive)
more neutral (comparative)
most neutral (superlative)

A judge in a trial must be neutral.

The referees in international matches are from neutral countries.

I think this new wording is more neutral than the old wording.

The newest wording is the most neutral of all.


delivered

deliver (canonical)
delivers (third-person singular)
delivered (past)
delivered (past participle)
delivering (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of deliver.

The package was delivered this morning.


deliver

If you deliver something, you bring it to the person or place where it belongs.

The award was delivered to her personally by the president.

His mother delivered him to the meeting place right on time.

If you deliver a speech, you speak in front of a number of people.

If you deliver, you do what you promised or had to do.

A promise from the government doesn't mean that they will actually deliver.

If you deliver a hit, kick, etc. to someone, you hit them.

If someone delivers a baby, they help it out of the mother when it is born.

Joan Ellen Montgomery, 4.8 kg, was delivered last night at the Greenville hospital.

If you deliver someone from something bad, you help them get away from it.


moderate

moderate (positive)
more moderate (comparative)
most moderate (superlative)

If someone or something is moderate, it is balanced and not extreme.

The weather in Hawai'i tends to be quite moderate.

The moderate views in much of Canada are quite different from the extreme beliefs in some other countries.


moderate

moderate (canonical)
moderates (third-person singular)
moderated (past)
moderated (past participle)
moderating (present participle)

If something moderates, it becomes more moderate.

As he grew older, his ideas began to moderate.

If someone moderates a meeting or discussion, they organise and control it.


moderate

A moderate is a person who has moderate (political) views.


hurt

hurt (canonical)
hurts (third-person singular)
hurt (past)
hurt (past participle)
hurting (present participle)

If a person hurts someone or something, they damage them or make them feel pain.

Don't hurt your brother or I'll send you to your room.

I've been hurting ever since I fell from the roof.

The past tense and past participle of hurt.


hurt

hurt (positive)
more hurt (comparative)
most hurt (superlative)

If someone is hurt, they are wounded or in pain.

He got hurt skiing last week when he fell.


hurt

A hurt is a wound or other damage that causes pain.


investigation

An investigation is a careful look at a crime, problem, etc. to find the truth or a solution.

Researchers were conducting further investigations into the connection between smoking and lung disease.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.


commercial

commercial (positive)
more commercial (comparative)
most commercial (superlative)

If something is commercial, it is related to buying, selling, trading and money.

Education is much more difficult than many industrial and commercial processes to measure.

There is too much fishing, both commercial fishing and sport fishing.


commercial

A commercial is an advertisement on TV or radio.

The actress recently appeared in a TV commercial for Meadowcup butter.


dance

dance (canonical)
dances (third-person singular)
danced (past)
danced (past participle)
dancing (present participle)

If you dance, you move your body to music.

He danced with the princess to the music of Mozart.

The performers danced and sang.


dance

He has an interesting dance he does while listening to that song.

A dance is an event where people come together to dance.

Are you going to the dance?


beam

A beam of sunlight came through the window making a rectangle on the floor.

A beam is a long straight piece of wood or metal used in building to support weight.

Inside, the ceiling of the tunnel was held up with beams and was high enough that we could stand.


beam

beam (canonical)
beams (third-person singular)
beamed (past)
beamed (past participle)
beaming (present participle)

If you beam a signal from one place to another, you send it through the air.

If you beam, you smile and look very happy.


forward

If something goes forward, it moves in the direction of its front, not its back.

If something goes forward, it gets better.

If something goes forward, it moves into the future.


forward

forward (positive)
more forward (comparative)
most forward (superlative)

If someone is forward, they are too friendly when talking to strangers.


forward

forward (canonical)
forwards (third-person singular)
forwarded (past)
forwarded (past participle)
forwarding (present participle)

If you forward a letter, message, etc., you send it.

If you forward your career, you make it more successful or better.


forward

A forward is a player whose position plays closer to the other team's end in games like soccer.


hi

You say "hi" in greeting when you meet or see somebody.

Hi, how are you?


framework

A framework is basic ideas and organisation that you can build an argument, a book, a society, etc. around.

The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive framework for practical and theoretical study in Art and Design.

The purpose of a system of budgeting is to provide a reasoned framework for the financial decisions of a future period.

A framework is the structural supports that a building, vehicle, etc. is built around.

Very large iron and steel beams provide the framework for the building’s central section.


explore

explore (canonical)
explores (third-person singular)
explored (past)
explored (past participle)
exploring (present participle)

If you explore a possibility, plan, idea, etc. you think about it carefully.

As they were learning about wine, they were exploring the possibilities of setting up their own winery.

This is just an introduction. We will explore the ideas further in the next chapter.

If you explore something, you look around it to try to find new places, things, parts, etc.

Stories like this about the old house made him want to go and explore for himself.

The oil company is exploring the ocean floor, looking for new sources.


negative

negative (positive)
more negative (comparative)
most negative (superlative)

If something is negative, it is harmful, sad, or otherwise not good.

You can believe or not believe, that there's a positive and negative side to everything.

If a word, sentence, answer, etc. is negative, it uses a word like no, not, never, etc.

Can't is the negative form of can.

If someone is a negative person or has a negative attitude, they mainly think about bad things.

Her negative attitudes were the result of a hard life.

We were all depressed by his negative comments.

If a test result is negative, the test did not find what it was testing for.

There's nothing to worry about. The HIV test is negative.

A negative electrical charge is one carried by an electron.

Attach the wire to the negative pole of the battery.

A negative number or value is less than zero.

A positive number multiplied by a negative number results in a negative.

The Celsius scale of temperature is not absolute since negative values are possible.

A negative symptom is one where something is missing. Usually this is for schizophrenia.

His negative symptoms included not speaking and not showing emotion.

Based on something not being there, not being true, or being reversed, in some other way.

I tie-bleached my shirt to make a negative image, then tie-dyed it to add a positive image.

There were negative rules, telling us what not to do, as well as positive ones telling us what to do.


negative

A negative is a photographic image with reversed colours (e.g., black instead of white).

Prints are then made from the negatives, and in the case of the B&W I may either tint or tone the final print.

A negative is a word, sentence, answer, etc. that means no.

When I asked if we could go next week, the answer was a negative.

A negative is something that is harmful, sad, or otherwise not good.

Right now in Korea there is a negative connected with anything Japanese.

A negative is a test result that did not find what it was testing for.

In out test group there were 20 negatives and only one positive.

A negative is a small picture with the colors inverted. Negatives are made on film, then photographs are made from the negatives.

We saved the negatives and used to make more pictures later.


printed

print (canonical)
prints (third-person singular)
printed (past)
printed (past participle)
printing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of print.


print

If you print a picture, book, newspaper, etc., you make a copy of it on paper with a machine using ink or toner.

The book was printed in December.

A brief history of the church is printed in `Here and There' on page 20.

Can you print off a copy for me so I can read it on the train?

If you print words or letters, you write them by hand in a block style, not a cursive style.

Please print your name here and then sign underneath.


print

Print is letters, numerals, punctuation and other similar written symbols.

The print size in the newspaper is too small for me to read.

Most people still get their news both in broadcast and print forms.

A print is a copy that you make with a machine using ink or toner.

There were only fifty prints made of this painting.

With the digital camera, we don't have prints of many photos; we just keep them all on the computer.


reaction

A reaction is an action that happens because of another action.

When he asked her to lunch, her first reaction was to say no.

In part, McKenna sees the move to smaller cars as a natural reaction to rising gasoline prices.

Fast reaction times are common in athletes.

When oxygen is added, a chemical reaction begins and heat is released.

A severe allergic reaction to the drug has killed five Americans.


rage

Losing his game sent him into a fit of rage.


rage

rage (canonical)
rages (third-person singular)
raged (past)
raged (past participle)
raging (present participle)

When a person rage, they get very angry.


success

Success is doing what you plan or want to do.

Getting 100% on the test gave him a feeling of success.


rages

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


emotion

A human feeling such as sadness, anger, loss, sympathy, etc.

Loss is a powerful emotion.


annoying

annoy (canonical)
annoys (third-person singular)
annoyed (past)
annoyed (past participle)
annoying (present participle)


annoying

annoying (positive)
more annoying (comparative)
most annoying (superlative)

Someone or something that annoys is annoying.

He is so annoying!

The noise from that radiator is annoying.


annoy

If something annoys people, it makes them angry or bothered. This often happens after someone does an action many times.

It annoys me when he won't stop talking.

Stop annoying your sister.


annoys

The third-person singular form of annoy.


mad

mad (positive)
madder (comparative)
maddest (superlative)

I am so mad at you for ruining my painting.

He says he hears voices. I think he's gone mad!

To be mad about someone or something means to like someone or something very much.


ruining

ruin (canonical)
ruins (third-person singular)
ruined (past)
ruined (past participle)
ruining (present participle)


ruin

To wreck something, to make it useless, to break something.

You've ruined my painting!

You've ruined my screwdriver!

You will ruin your pencil if you press that hard.


ruin

The standing parts of a broken building or construction.

Our only look at Mayan culture is the ruins.


ruins

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


ruined

The past tense and past participle of ruin.


ruined

ruined (positive)
more ruined (comparative)
most ruined (superlative)

:
 This short entry needs someone to make it better. You can help Wiktionary by adding to it.


rock your socks

I'm going to rock your socks.

I rock your socks.

The band "Green Day" rocks your socks.


belly

The soft part of the body below the chest.

He got punched in the belly.


mysteries

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


altitude

The altitude of Mount Fuji is 3776 meters.


amateur

An amateur is a person who does something for fun, not as a job.

An amateur in sports, is a person who does not play for money.

An amateur is someone who is not very good at what they are doing.


amateur

amateur (positive)
more amateur (comparative)
most amateur (superlative)

If something is amateur, it is not very good.

If something is amateur, it is created or done by amateurs


ability

An ability is something that you can do.

I have a very good reading ability.


recursion

Recursion is the act or process of going back and happening again.

Recursion is the use of a function inside itself to generate an infinite number of results.

The following function exhibits recursion.

Recursion is the use of one kind of linguistic unit inside itself.

An example of recursion is when a clause appears inside a larger clause, as in the following:


albeit

You use albeit to give more information that weakens earlier information.

He won the fight, albeit barely.


minor

minor (positive)
more minor (comparative)
most minor (superlative)

A minor change, problem, injury, etc. is not very important.

We still have to make a few minor changes, but it's mostly done.

A minor musical scale is a scale that starts two notes before the major scale. Music in a minor scale often sounds sad.

That music could be A minor or C major.


minor

A minor is a person who is younger than the legal age of adulthood.

In Indiana, a person younger than 18 years old is considered a minor.

A minor is a person below a legal age of privilege, right or responsibility, such as the legal drinking age or legal age for sexual activity.

The high school teacher was convicted of a crime for having sex with a minor.

The bar got in trouble for serving alcohol to a minor.

A minor is a subject area that is not the main study of a student at a college or university, but is their second most important focus.

I had so many credit hours of English, it became my minor.


minor

minor (canonical)
minors (third-person singular)
minored (past)
minored (past participle)
minoring (present participle)

Minor means to minor in a subject at a college or university.

I had so many credit hours of English that I decided to minor in it.


stressed

stressed (positive)
more stressed (comparative)
most stressed (superlative)

If someone is stressed, they are worried and tired.

I've got these three tests tomorrow and I'm feeling so stressed that I can't sleep.


stressed

stress (canonical)
stresses (third-person singular)
stressed (past)
stressed (past participle)
stressing (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of stress.


estate

Someone's estate is everything they own, or everything they leave when they die.

Because he had no family, he left his estate to the church.

An estate is a large area of land with a large house on it.

On the weekend, we went fishing at her country estate.


real estate

Real estate is land, and the buildings on the land.

Most of the company's money is in real estate.

Real estate is the business of buying and selling land, and the buildings on the land.

A real estate agent helped us to sell our home.


copies

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

I need 100 copies of the form.


copies

copy (canonical)
copies (third-person singular)
copied (past)
copied (past participle)
copying (present participle)

She always copies someone else's homework.


copy

A copy of something looks or acts like it.

They took the diamond and replaced it with a cheap copy.

A copy of a book, newspaper, painting, etc. is one of many that are exactly the same.

Please bring me the copies of those reports.


copy

If you copy something, you make something look exactly the same as it.

Good artists copy. Great artists steal.

She copies the tests on the photocopier.


artificial

artificial (positive)
more artificial (comparative)
most artificial (superlative)

Something that is made by people instead of being made by nature.

The silk flowers were not real. They were artificial.


brittle

brittle (positive)
more brittle (comparative)
most brittle (superlative)

Not flexible; easy to break under stress or pressure


brittle

A candy made from boiled sugar and nuts.


committee

A group of people that come together to do something or decide something.

He is on the administrative committee. They decide how to administer the school.


common

more common (comparative)
most common (superlative)
common (positive)
commoner (comparative)
commonest (superlative)

The two teams have the common goal of winning the game.

Occurring regularly or frequently; usual.

It is common to find sharks off this coast.

Found in large numbers or in a large quantity.

Sharks are common in these waters.

If two people or things have something in common they, are the same in some way.

University students have a lot in common with high-school students.


common

A common is an area that is shared by many people.


compassion

If you have compassion, you are aware of the pain of other people and want to help make it better.


complement

complement (canonical)
complements (third-person singular)
complemented (past)
complemented (past participle)
complementing (present participle)

If x complements y, x makes y complete or whole.

We believe your addition will complement the team.

If two people or things complement each other, each has what the other is missing or needs.

The flavors of the pepper and garlic complement each other, giving a very rich taste in combination.

I believe our talents really complement each other.

To change a voltage, number, color, etc. to its complement.


complement

We believe you will make a good complement to our team.

A complement is a word or phrase that is needed to make another word grammatical.

In he seems nice, nice is the complement of seem.

an angle which, together with a given angle, makes a right angle.

The color which, when mixed with the given color, gives black (for mixing pigments) or white (for mixing light).

The complement of blue is orange.

In boating: The full number of people needed to man a ship (esp. a ship of war)

The ship's complement is 35 people. 35 people are needed to sail the ship


complete

complete (canonical)
completes (third-person singular)
completed (past)
completed (past participle)
completing (present participle)

He completed the assignment on time.

She completed the race in 12 minutes

The last chapter completes the book nicely.


complete

complete (positive)
more complete (comparative)
most complete (superlative)

With everything included; entire, total.

It was a complete shock when he turned up on my doorstep.

The complete works of an author includes everything the author has written.


dialogue

A conversation between two or more individuals.

Bill and Melinda maintained a dialogue via email over the course of their long-distance relationship.

In a film, the spoken parts of the script; what the characters say.

The movie had great special effects, but the dialogue was bad.

In a book, the parts that show a conversation.