whereas

You use whereas to show a contrast between two things or ideas.

Many kinds of roses have little or no scent, whereas others are well known for their beautiful smell.

School A has about 25 percent Asian students, whereas for school B the Asian students make up over 60 percent of the school population.

Whereas only about a third of local residents paid full rates in the past, now most adults will pay the charge.


enable

enable (canonical)
enables (third-person singular)
enabled (past)
enabled (past participle)
enabling (present participle)

If you enable something or someone, you make make it able to do something or you help it.

The program enables users to share data, collaborate and automate tasks without writing any extra code.

Night or instrument flying enabled us to fly twenty-four hours a day and in poor weather.

The data will not enable the identification of individuals to take place.

This switch will enable the song-sharing function.


version

A version is something that exists in different forms.

Tomorrow, IBM is launching OS/2 2.0, the new version of its OS/2 operating software for personal computers.

The North American version of the car will have a larger engine.


perspective

A perspective is a way of looking at or thinking about something.

The British media give a completely different perspective from CNN.

He has to look at everything from an international perspective.

The book provides a fresh perspective on the lives of young airmen during the war.

Perspective is the ability to think about things in a reasonable way.

He's lost all perspective when it comes to this job.

Perspective is a way to show three dimensions in a two-dimensional image.


network

A network is a group of connections between a number of points.

Electronic systems control the busiest parts of the rail network.

This is the first national TV network that is 100% sports.

We conduct much of our overseas banking business through a network of some 3,500 worldwide branches.

You can connect to the Internet through a wireless local network system.

I don't have a good social network in my new job.


network

network (canonical)
networks (third-person singular)
networked (past)
networked (past participle)
networking (present participle)

If you network, you make or use social connections, usually for business purposes.

I spent most of my time at the conferences networking with other sales people.


welfare

Someone's welfare is their health, safety, and other things the make them happy.

Children need to exercise each day, for both their physical and psychological welfare.

This group has tried to promote the welfare of old people throughout the United Kingdom.

It is clear that the issues the environment and animal welfare have become very important recently.

Few countries have the same level of social welfare that we have in Canada.

Welfare is money paid by the government to poor people.

The government is reviewing the welfare benefits which single parents receive.

He lost his job and his home and has had to go on welfare.


transition

A transition is a change from one place or situation to another.

Diana has made the transition from girl to woman.

The transition from ice to water occurs at 0°C.

They want at least a five-year transition period.


transition

transition (canonical)
transitions (third-person singular)
transitioned (past)
transitioned (past participle)
transitioning (present participle)

If something transitions, it changes from one place or situation to another.


amendment

An amendment is an addition or change to a document; also the process of making this change.

This law can only be changed by constitutional amendment.

We are considering an amendment to the Water Bill which required compliance with EC rules by 1993.

He agreed to accept amendments to reduce the standard rate of income tax in his Finance Bill.


deep

deep (positive)
deeper (comparative)
deepest (superlative)

A hole or body of water is deep if it goes down a long way.

Do not dive into this swimming pool because it is not deep enough.

Some oil wells must be drilled deeper than others to reach the oil.

Something is deep if it is far below or inside.

The Earth's iron core is deep beneath its crust.

The Japanese style of poetry called haiku is simple on the surface, but it should also have a deeper emotional meaning.

In opera, the bass singer has the deepest voice.

With actions that make something smaller, we say deep to mean they make them much smaller.

This furniture store offers deep discounts on beds.

The new budget makes deep spending cuts in education.

An idea is called deep if it has an important meaning that is not easy to see.

A: 'I think you like heavy metal music because your parents don't approve of it.' B:'Wow, that's deep!'


reject

reject (canonical)
rejects (third-person singular)
rejected (past)
rejected (past participle)
rejecting (present participle)

If you reject an idea or belief, you decide that you do not believe it.

We reject the idea that English is somehow "better" than other languages.

The court rejected his arguments that he should be set free.

If you reject a person, you refuse to care for that person.

Often people who are infected with AIDS are rejected by family and friends.

If you reject an object, you refuse to take it or keep it.

Consumers have the right to reject problem goods and demand a refund.


reject

A reject is something that has been rejected.


clause

A clause is a section in a contract or other legal document.

The author's contract contained a clause giving him creative control over the films.

A clause is a group of words that usually includes a subject and a predicate. In English, the subject usually comes before the predicate.

The last clause in the sentence is hard to understand without knowing some background.


predicate

A predicate is the head of a clause and says something about the subject.


predicate

predicate (canonical)
predicates (third-person singular)
predicated (past)
predicated (past participle)
predicating (present participle)

If you predicate something, you state or assert it.

If you predicate that something is true, you state that it is true.

The article predicates that the market collapse was caused by weakness of the dollar.


prime

If something is prime, it is best, most important, most suitable, or in some way number one.

Canada is a prime example of a multicultural country.

He was the prime suspect in the murder investigation.


prime

The prime is the best part of something.

He was killed at the prime of his life.

A prime is a number that can be evenly divided only by one and itself.

The first six primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13.

A prime is something that primes something else.


prime

prime (canonical)
primes (third-person singular)
primed (past)
primed (past participle)
priming (present participle)

If you prime something, you get it ready to do something.

The coach has primed them for the game.

to manipulate, in a subtle manner, people's decision-making by use of symbols, location, etc.


objective

An objective is something that you are trying to do.

The main objective of our visit was to climb Mount Kenya.

I share the objective of everyone in Britain who want our soldiers home.

Sometimes a team is more successful than an individual in achieving challenging objectives.

We plan to extend the network with the objective of connecting up 3 million more homes by 1990.

An objective is a place you want to get to.


objective

objective (positive)
more objective (comparative)
most objective (superlative)

If something is objective, it is based on facts and things we can see and touch without using people's feelings.

It is hard to find objective measures of artistic ability.

Newspapers try hard to publish objective stories.

If someone is objective, they are thinking about things logically based on facts.

Watching the play on TV can help an actor to be more objective about his performance.


sustainable

sustainable (positive)
more sustainable (comparative)
most sustainable (superlative)

If something is sustainable, it can be continued for a long time, especially without using up resources.

The oil-based lifestyle of today is not sustainable.

The government is trying to balance sustainable development with economic growth.


equivalent

equivalent (positive)
more equivalent (comparative)
most equivalent (superlative)

If two things are equivalent, they are of equal value or acceptability.

Dolphins have very large brains, roughly equivalent to the size of a human brain.


equivalent

An equivalent is something of equal value of acceptability.

Living in Thailand costs the equivalent of just £10 per day.


liberal

liberal (positive)
more liberal (comparative)
most liberal (superlative)

If something is liberal, it allows for change, flexibility, and free thought.

The Church should take a more liberal view of sex.

Japanese schools are quite different from what you see in our more liberal education system.

Any attempt to put a liberal democracy in Iraq will fail.

If something is liberal, it has few limits.

He was quite liberal with his kindness.


liberal

A liberal is a person who believes in liberal ideas.


notion

The film questions the standard notions of right and wrong.

We have to reject this strange notion that some languages are better than others.

I made my way home each night with at least some notion of hope.


substitution

A substitution is the act of replacing one person or thing with another.

The accidental substitution of one medicine for another can be deadly.

They had no extra players, so were unable to make any substitutions.


generate

generate (canonical)
generates (third-person singular)
generated (past)
generated (past participle)
generating (present participle)

If you generate something, you create it.

On the hottest summer days, we are unable to generate enough electricity.

Apple is great at generating interest in their computers and other products.

They gave away 100 percent of the income generated by their songs.


revenue

Revenue is the money that a business receives for doing business, and government receives from taxes.

Higher oil prices should raise government revenue by 13%.

Individual taxpayers today provide a bigger share of our tax revenues than they did before.

The company earned 20% of its revenues from services such as consulting, software and management.

The City is happy because a new source of revenue has been located.

(UK): rev‧en‧ue; (US): rev‧e‧nue; rev‧enue


compound

A compound is a material made of a number of other materials.

The new chemical compound has far less smell than the original substance.

There is a group of gases that do not easily form chemical compounds.

The new CD is a compound of North American rock music and Middle Eastern religious songs.

A compound is a group of buildings surrounded by a fence or wall.


compound

compound (canonical)
compounds (third-person singular)
compounded (past)
compounded (past participle)
compounding (present participle)

If something is compounded, it is added to.

Her troubles were now compounded by the rain.

If interest is compounded, it is paid on earlier interest payments.

Interest is compounded monthly.


evolution

Evolution is the process of slow change. It is most used in biology to refer to the way living things change over long periods of time in order to adapt to their surroundings.

The theory of evolution is the basis of modern biology.

For the first time, the evolution of some bacteria has been observed.

Evolution is the reason animals and plants of today are different from those of long ago.

He believed that the evolution of society followed certain laws.

Creationists are people who deny that evolution is real, because it contradicts their religious beliefs, which are that God made everything.

An evolution is a change that happens over time.

Over the last ten years, there has been an evolution in the way we think about this disease.


eighteen

ordinal eighteenth) Eighteen is the number that is after seventeen and before nineteen. It can also be written as 18.

Eighteen chickens sat on the roof.

next word stressed near the first syllable

next word stressed after the first syllable


eighteen

Two nines is eighteen.

The eighteen were leaving the city.

You have to be eighteen to vote in some countries.


eleven

ordinal eleventh) Eleven is the number that is after ten and before twelve. It can also be written as 11.

Eleven trees stood on the hill.


eleven

Eleven is a prime number.

Ocean's eleven are a group of thieves.

The girl looked young, no older than eleven.


fifteen

ordinal fifteenth) Fifteen is the number that is after fourteen and before sixteen. It can also be written as 15.

Fifteen ducks swim on the lake.


fifteen

Five and ten makes fifteen.

The fifteen were leaving the city.

Paul is fifteen, but he looks older


ninety-nine

ordinal ninety-ninth) Ninety-nine (99) is the odd number that comes before one hundred.

Ninety-nine apples lay on the table.


ninety

ordinal ninetieth) Ninety is an even number. In numerals, it is 90.

Ninety years ago, things were different.


ninety

Ninety is ten less than hundred and forty more than fifty.

My grandfather is ninety.


nineteen

ordinal nineteenth) Nineteen is the number that is after eighteen and before twenty. It can also be written as 19.

Nineteen ducks swim on the lake.


nineteen

Nine and ten makes nineteen.

The nineteen are the fastest runners in their school.

Paul is nineteen, but he looks older


twelve

ordinal twelfth) Twelve is the number that is after eleven and before thirteen. In numerals, it is 12.

Twelve eggs make a big omelette.


twelve

Two and ten makes twelve.

The twelve are never alone.

This girl is twelve.


sixty

ordinal sixtieth) Sixty is the number that is after 59 and before 61.

There are sixty seconds in a minute and sixty minutes in an hour.

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


sixty

Sixty is ten less than seventy and ten more than fifty.

My father is sixty.


sixteen

ordinal sixteenth) Sixteen is the number that is after fifteen and before seventeen. It can also be written as 16.

Sixteen persons fit in this small bus.


sixteen

Six and ten makes sixteen.

These sixteen are very beautiful stones.

In some countries, you may vote when you are sixteen


seventeen

ordinal seventeenth) Seventeen is the number that is after sixteen and before eighteen. It can also be written as 17.

Seventeen birds sit on the roof.


seventeen

Seven and ten makes seventeen.

The seventeen were leaving the city.

In some countries, you may vote when you are seventeen


fourteen

ordinal fourteenth) Fourteen is the even number that is after thirteen and before fifteen. In numerals, it is 14.

Fourteen apples lie on the table.


fourteen

Four and ten makes fourteen.

The fourteen are never alone.

This boy is fourteen.


discretion

Discretion is the ability and power to decide.

The judge made a mistake in exercising his discretion to end the trial early.

The money will be offered at the discretion of the Environmental Health Department.

Discretion is the ability to do something in a way that does not upset people.

Discretion is the ability to keep a secret.


servant

A servant is someone who works for a person or for a family, doing things like cooking and washing. Often the servant lives in the house where they work. A servant works for the same family all day.

This rich family has three servants working for them in their big house.


serious

serious (positive)
more serious (comparative)
most serious (superlative)

A problem or situation is serious if it is not funny or comical, but important.

This is a serious problem. We must do something.

A person is serious if the person is not laughing or joking, but saying what they mean.

I see. When you said the room was empty, you were serious!

The woman's face looked serious, so I knew she was saying something important.


sense

Sense is any basic ability or understanding.

She has a great sense of fashion.

She uses good sense when choosing her friends.

Why did you do that?! Where's your common sense?!


sense

sense (canonical)
senses (third-person singular)
sensed (past)
sensed (past participle)
sensing (present participle)

Sense is the ability to understand a situation or emotions.

I sensed you were upset before you said anything.

I sense you don't want to be with me.

Do I sense a chance for success in your game plan?


seem

seem (canonical)
seems (third-person singular)
seemed (past)
seemed (past participle)
seeming (present participle)

The way something seems to be is the way you think it is when you look at it, hear about it, think about it, etc.

It seems unlikely that they will remember your name after meeting you once.

As odd as it may seem, the girl's best friend is an eighty year old man.

It was a terrible night, but somehow it doesn't seem so bad this morning.

It is still raining on him, but he doesn't seem to notice.

The bad smells did not seem to bother them.

The young man seemed to have forgotten all his promises.

They really seemed to be enjoying what they were doing.

The changes seem to suggest that the police have new information.

It seems to me that we ought to try again.

It seemed like forever, but I think it got there in about 12 to 15 minutes.

It seemed like a crazy idea; it had never been done before.

You seem like a very nice guy.

The very air he was breathing seemed as if it were on fire.


send

send (canonical)
sends (third-person singular)
sent (past)
sent (past participle)
sending (present participle)

To send something is to make the thing go somewhere without the person. A person sends a letter by putting it in a mailbox. A person can send another person somewhere by telling the person to go there.

She needed to send a letter to her mother to say she had arrived safely.

Could you send Roger into see me please?


selection

A person makes a selection when a person chooses a smaller number of things from a larger group of things.

A selection of things is different things that have been chosen or that you can choose from.

The window of the store shows a selection of the things you can buy in the store.

Selection is a process where the best adapted life forms survive and the others die out.

Charles Darwin was a scientist who wrote about natural selection.

In Australia, a selection was an area of land which a farmer could choose to buy.

The first thing he had to do was clear the trees of his selection.


seed

A seed is a small round thing that can grow to be a plant, a flower or a tree.

She put the seeds into the ground in the garden so that food and flowers would grow.


seed

seed (canonical)
seeds (third-person singular)
seeded (past)
seeded (past participle)
seeding (present participle)

I'm going to seed the garden so vegetables grow there.

If a man seeds in a woman, he ejaculates inside her during sexual intercourse.


see

see (canonical)
sees (third-person singular)
saw (past)
seen (past participle)
seeing (present participle)

You see something when you look at it with your eyes.

She turned her head up and saw clouds in the sky.

I can't see the words in this book because the writing is too small and I don't have my glasses.

If you are seeing someone, you are dating them.

Me and Katie have been seeing each other for a few months.


see

A diocese; a region of a church, generally headed by a bishop, an archbishop or a cardinal

The office of a bishop or archbishop or cardinal.

Venice is the see of a cardinal.

The Pope is the bishop of the see of Rome.


screw

A screw is a small metal thing for holding pieces of wood together. You turn it to move it in or out of the wood.

I need some screws to hold the shelf to the wall.


screw

screw (canonical)
screws (third-person singular)
screwed (past)
screwed (past participle)
screwing (present participle)

If you screw in a screw, you put it into a piece of wood by turning it.

I screwed the hinge into the door.

If you say, "screw this", you decide not to do it because you are frustrated.

Screw this, I will just sit here and do nothing all day.

If you screw someone, you have sex with them.


scissors

A pair of scissors is a tool for cutting, with two parts like two knives that move. Scissors are usually used for cutting paper.


scale

The scale of something is its size or level.

It's hard to understand the scale of the change.

A scale is a small machine for measuring (finding out) how much something weighs (how heavy the thing is.)

She stood on the scale and found out she weighed 150 pounds.


scale

scale (canonical)
scales (third-person singular)
scaled (past)
scaled (past participle)
scaling (present participle)

If you scale something, then you climb up it.


round

If x is round y, y is in the middle and x is on all sides.

Everyone stood round the fire to keep warm.

If you turn or look round, you are now facing the opposite direction.

She turned round to see what had made the noise.


round

round (positive)
rounder (comparative)
roundest (superlative)

Something is round if it's like a circle or like part of a circle. It is curved, not straight.


round

round (canonical)
rounds (third-person singular)
rounded (past)
rounded (past participle)
rounding (present participle)

If you round something, you make it round, like a circle or a sphere.

If you round a number, you approximate it with a less precise number.

You round 47.3 to 47. You round 47.6 to 48.


conflict

A conflict is when two or more people or ideas don't agree.

People have tried to end the conflict, which has caused more than 100 deaths since February, but it hasn't worked.

Conflicts may occur in families when the parents have different values.

The two stories examine the conflict between good and evil.

There may be a conflict between wanting to give students a broad education and needing to teach the basics.

Sometimes a girl is in conflict with her culture or religion in how she wants to dress.

A conflict is when two things are trying to use the same resources at the same time.

I'm sorry I can't meet then. I've got a conflict with another meeting.


conflict

conflict (canonical)
conflicts (third-person singular)
conflicted (past)
conflicted (past participle)
conflicting (present participle)

If two goals, plans, meetings, etc. conflict, they both cannot be achieved, work or be true.

The goal of hiring more workers conflicts with the plan to cut costs.

Sorry, the meeting conflicts with my prior plans.


entity

An entity is a whole thing, independent from other things, often an institution or something alive.

The idea of church and state as separate entities is quite new.

When you start a company, you create a new legal entity.


orientation

Someone's or something's orientation is the way they face, physically or psychologically.

As homosexuality becomes more accepted, sexual orientation becomes a more common topic.

An arrow is usually used to indicate the orientation of the map.

The program gives you complete control over the size and orientation of the letters on the page.

An orientation to something is when somebody is first introduced to a place or a machine.

Library orientation and instruction should be available when the user feels an interest or need.

A quick orientation to the software is available for new users.


rough

rough (positive)
rougher (comparative)
roughest (superlative)

The wooden table felt rough until he rubbed it with sandpaper to make it smooth.

Stone roads are rough and make my bicycle go up and down.

I quickly drew a rough map to help him find the place.

Life can be rough sometimes.


rough

rough (canonical)
roughs (third-person singular)
roughed (past)
roughed (past participle)
roughing (present participle)

If you rough something, you create it in an approximate form.

Rough in the shape first, then polish the details.


root

A root is a part of a tree or plant that is under the ground.

The tree was supported by strong roots.

A root is the important part or the beginning part of something.

Hatred is the root of all evil.

I've lived here so long that I have roots here.

The root of the word "being" is "be".


root

root (canonical)
roots (third-person singular)
rooted (past)
rooted (past participle)
rooting (present participle)

To root is to give or enable to something to develop roots; to fix or implant by or as if by roots

To root is to remove altogether by or as if by pulling out by the roots – usually used with out

The school authorities will root out the troublemakers.

Dandelions took root in my flowerbeds.

The love of money has its roots in greed.


roll

roll (canonical)
rolls (third-person singular)
rolled (past)
rolled (past participle)
rolling (present participle)

To roll is to move by turning over many times. Round things like balls can roll.

The snowball rolled down the hill faster and faster.

To roll something is to make it round by bending it around many times.

She rolled the newspaper into a long, thin rod.


roll

A roll is something round that was made by rolling.

The cloth in the store is in big rolls.

A roll is a bun: a small, round piece of bread.

I like jelly rolls!


rod

A rod is a long, thin round thing, usually made of metal.

They put rods on the window to keep people out.


pump

pump (canonical)
pumps (third-person singular)
pumped (past)
pumped (past participle)
pumping (present participle)

To make water or any other liquid move using a machine.

We pumped water from the river onto the field to help the plants grow.

The heart pumps blood through the body.


pump

A pump is a machine for making water move.

There was water on the floor of the house, so we had to buy a pump.

A pump is a machine that gives a liquid, often fuel.

Before a car journey, go to the gas station and fill up your tank at the pump.


consultation

Consultation is the process of getting advice or opinions from other people.

The city went through the planning process with very little public consultation.

The group announced the price per kilo of grapes after consultation with the growers.

Many consultations took place between the doctors before the decision was made.


transparent

transparent (positive)
more transparent (comparative)
most transparent (superlative)

Something that can be seen through is transparent.

The transparent window let much sun in.

Something that is easy to understand is transparent.

It was such a transparent lie that nobody believed him.

More transparent idioms are easier to learn than others.


monitor

A monitor is part of a computer or other similar machine, and it looks like a TV.

The engineers stood around the monitor making suggesting about how the drawing could be improved.

A monitor is a person or group whose job is to watch for problems, changes, etc.

During the test, a monitor caught me copying off the guy sitting next to me.

A monitor is a speaker that helps musicians hear what they are playing or helps people listen to an area that they are interested in.

We put the baby to sleep, closed the door, and turned on the monitor in the kitchen.


monitor

monitor (canonical)
monitors (third-person singular)
monitored (past)
monitored (past participle)
monitoring (present participle)

If you monitor something, you watch or listen to it for problems, changes, etc.

The army was sent in to monitor the police.

Parents should monitor their children's computer use.


challenge

A challenge is something difficult that you want or have to do.

Many churches overseas are struggling to meet the AIDS challenge.

After 25 years in the same job, this move will allow me to take on new challenges.

A challenge is an offer to compete or fight.

The president issued a challenge to his critics to appear in a public debate.


challenge

challenge (canonical)
challenges (third-person singular)
challenged (past)
challenged (past participle)
challenging (present participle)

If you challenge somebody, you give them something very difficult to do.

The job challenges his computer skills.

If you challenge somebody, you offer to compete or fight.

He challenged me to a game of chess.


fish

A fish is an animal that lives in the water and has scales and gills.

When I went fishing, I only caught two fish.

White wine goes well with fish.


fish

fish (canonical)
fishes (third-person singular)
fished (past)
fished (past participle)
fishing (present participle)

To fish means to catch fish, or to get other things that are in the water.

He fished the ball out of the river.


rhythm

A rhythm is the part of music that drums do. It's the way music goes in time, without thinking about higher or lower notes.

A healthy heart beats with a steady rhythm.

She followed the rhythm of the music by tapping the floor with her foot.


reward

A reward is something good that is given after an act.

He gave the dog a small thing to eat to reward it for sitting still.

I got extra money as a reward for working hard.

A reward is a prize that is given for doing certain things.

A reward is the result of an action, no matter if it is good or bad.


reward

reward (canonical)
rewards (third-person singular)
rewarded (past)
rewarded (past participle)
rewarding (present participle)

If you reward someone, you give something to them as a reward.

If you reward someone, you give a reward to or for.

Why did you reward the kid for not behaving?


responsible

responsible (positive)
more responsible (comparative)
most responsible (superlative)

If you are responsible for something, you did it or it happened because of something that you did.

Are you saying that he was responsible for the death of your wife?

The company was partly responsible for the success of the original product.

This diet is largely responsible for our fatter population.

it is unfair to hold one football coach responsible for the school's partying problems.

If you are responsible, you make good decisions and make sure that important things get done.

She will be a good leader for this organization because she is very responsible.

We need to come up with environmentally responsible energy sources.

Many products claim to be socially responsible, such as "fair trade" coffee.

If you are responsible for something, you are the person who must fix things that go wrong.

I'm responsible for looking after these three buildings.

Parents are responsible for their children.

He understands the need to be personally responsible for the changes.


respect

respect (canonical)
respects (third-person singular)
respected (past)
respected (past participle)
respecting (present participle)

When someone respects another person that means they think the other person is worthy, responsible, strong or other good qualities.

I have great respect for him and I'm sure he'll do well in life.

Respect is to treat someone in a considerate, genuine and nice manner or to treat one thing or one person with highest regard.

He always respects my feelings.

When someone respects a thing or a person it means they follow rules and don't touch things they shouldn't touch.

Please respect things that belong to other people when you're in their house.


respect

If you have respect for someone, that means you have high regard for them; you are considerate towards them.

I have great respect for all of my classmates.


relation

A relation is the way two things are towards each other or in comparison with each other.

This building looks too big in relation to the size of the houses on the street.

The children sitting in the boat were moving in relation to their parents who were sitting on the shore because the boat was going away from shore.

There is a relation between eating good food and being healthy.

I have an uncle, two aunts and three cousins but no other relations.

A relation is a statement of equality between two products of generators that are used when showing a group.


regret

regret (canonical)
regrets (third-person singular)
regretted (past)
regretted (past participle)
regretting (present participle)

If you regret something that you have done, you feel sorry about it.

I really regret forgetting to buy him a birthday present.

He said he regretted the delay in delivery.


regret

Regret is the feeling of wishing something hadn't happened, especially something you did.

She left her job without any regrets.

The regret she felt about not helping would not go away.


establishment

The establishment of a country, an organization or a building is its creation, or coming to be.

The establishment of the United States of America took place in 1776.

The senator was proud of his establishment of animal rights in 1967.

Establishment is the state of being established.

1987 was the fifth year of the company's establishment.

Something that is established. This can be a government, an organization, business or force.

Pedro's is a fine establishment that serves Spanish food.

The establishment is the ruling class in a society. A person using this word often thinks that the establishment does not want to change the way things are.

Janet does not like the establishment, she wants to change things.


record

A record is something in writing to tell what happened.

Keep a record of the date and what you said every time you talk to that person.

A record is a big round black plastic thing with music or other sounds on it.

Now people don't use records any more -- they use cassettes or CDs.


record

record (canonical)
records (third-person singular)
recorded (past)
recorded (past participle)
recording (present participle)

To make a written record about something.

She recorded everything she did in a little book.

To put music or other sounds onto a machine.

The singer recorded some songs on CDs to sell them.


receipt

A receipt is a little piece of paper that records how much money someone paid.

Keep the receipt when you buy something at that store.

The receipt of something is the act or situation of receiving something.


reading

read (canonical)
reads (third-person singular)
read (past)
read (past participle)
reading (present participle)


reading

A reading is a spoken performance of something written.

The author was giving a reading of his new book.


read

Someone is reading when they are looking at a book or other writing and understanding what it says.

Have you read this book?


read

That last book was a great read.

This is a great book. You should give it a read.


ray

A ray is a line of light or energy, coming out from where it starts.

Some rays of light from the sun shone between the leaves of the tree and lighted the top of his head.

A ray in math is a line that starts at one point and goes on forever in one direction.

Two rays that start at the same point make an angle.

A ray is a type of fish which lives on the bottom of the ocean.


rate

Speed. A rate is how fast something happens. Something can go at a fast rate or a slow rate.

The rate of water pouring out of the lake into the river is enough to make the lake empty in a year if it doesn't rain.

Her heart rate is 70 beats every minute.

If we keep writing pages at this rate we might have 2000 Simple English Wiktionary words by August 4.


rate

rate (canonical)
rates (third-person singular)
rated (past)
rated (past participle)
rating (present participle)

Someone rates something when they decide how much its value is (how much it's worth).

I rate this book at six out of ten: it was not the best book.


rail

A rail is a long and thin piece of metal.

A rail is a long and thin bar along a stairway or path for people to slide their hand along while they walk.

She put her hand on the railing beside the stairs so she wouldn't fall.

A rail is a surface where trains run on.

The railway stretches across the country.


rail

rail (canonical)
rails (third-person singular)
railed (past)
railed (past participle)
railing (present participle)

If you rail someone, you sexually penetrate in a rough manner.


pull

pull (canonical)
pulls (third-person singular)
pulled (past)
pulled (past participle)
pulling (present participle)

Someone pulls something when they use their hands to move the thing closer to themselves.

Pull the handle if you want to open the door.


public

public (positive)
more public (comparative)
most public (superlative)

Something is public if it is about or for all the people.

You can't tell me to go away. This is a public place.


public

All of the people in a big place like a country.

I'm going to write this in the newspaper because the public needs to know it.

Getting Western publics to understand the nature of the war is hard enough.

The dress rehearsal was opened to the general public as well as celebrities.


protest

protest (canonical)
protests (third-person singular)
protested (past)
protested (past participle)
protesting (present participle)

Someone protests something when they say loudly or strongly that the thing is bad.

The people walked in the street holding signs to protest the war.

That's mine. I protest your taking it away.


protest

There will be a protest in the street tomorrow.


prose

Prose is words which are not poetry. They can be spoken or written, but they don't have rhythm or rhyme. Most of the time when people use words, it is prose.

The pictures in this book are good, but the prose is too hard to read.


property

Property is a thing or things that belong to someone; things that someone owns.

This house is now my property. I've finished paying for it.

A property is a quality that something has; a way that something is.

One good property of this coat is that it keeps rain out.


produce

produce (canonical)
produces (third-person singular)
produced (past)
produced (past participle)
producing (present participle)

Someone or something produces something when they make it or create it or make it come out.

This tree produces a lot of fruit every year.

He produced the paper out of his bag.

If you produce a play, TV show, or movie, you are its main business manager.

If you produce a recording, you are in charge of its arrangement, recording, and mixing.


produce

Food from plants when they're being sold in a store.

There are carrots and apples in the produce part of the store.


private

private (positive)
more private (comparative)
most private (superlative)

Private is for only one person or a small number of people to see or know.

I don't want to tell you how much money I have; that's private.

Close the curtains so people can't look into our house, to make it private.


private

A private is a soldier in the lowest rank of the army.

Put down your gun, private, and report to the general.


present

A present is a gift; something that someone gives to someone else.

Here's a birthday present for you. I hope you like it.

The present is the time now at this moment.

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, and today is the present.


present

Someone is present if the person is here, or the person is at the place someone is talking about.

Five men and two women were present when the meeting started.


present

present (canonical)
presents (third-person singular)
presented (past)
presented (past participle)
presenting (present participle)

When you present something, you show it or give it to someone.


power

Strength, energy, force, control. A quality that can make things happen.

His muscles have a lot of power.

The prime minister has power over the country.

Fight the power! (Meaning, "Fight authority!")

The city had no lights that night because there was no power.

Power is how fast something uses energy. That is, how much work it does in a certain time.

x to the power of y is equal to x multiplied by itself y times.

Two to the power of three is eight (2³=8).

A special ability that someone might have.

In comic books many heroes have amazing powers.

Television often shows witches as having magical powers.

A person or group of people with authority; that is a people who control things.

The mayor and the sheriff are the major powers in this town.

China and the United States are two of the main world powers.

I like the idea, but the powers that be will not allow it.


power

power (canonical)
powers (third-person singular)
powered (past)
powered (past participle)
powering (present participle)

To provide power for or give power to (a mechanical or electronic device).

This CD player is powered by batteries.


powder

Powder is the small parts that are made from any dry substance that is pounded, or ground into dust.

Flour is a powder.

When it's very cold, the snow is like powder.

A powder is an explosive mixture used in blasting.


powder

powder (canonical)
powders (third-person singular)
powdered (past)
powdered (past participle)
powdering (present participle)

If you powder something, you reduce something to small parts.

If you powder something, you put powder on it.


potato

A potato is a food that grows under the ground, which is round and white inside.

We usually eat meat and potatoes.


pot

A metal container for cooking. People can cook food by putting the food in a pot and putting the pot on a stove.


position

The position of something is the place where the thing is.

The position of the table is two metres from the wall.

You're in my way. Please move to a different position.


position

position (canonical)
positions (third-person singular)
positioned (past)
positioned (past participle)
positioning (present participle)

If you position something somewhere, you put or move it there.

The players positioned themselves on the field.

If you position something in a situation, you make changes so that it can work in that situation.

The company is now well positioned to take advantage of popularity of online music.


porter

A porter is someone whose work is to carry things.

The porter will take your things up to your room for you.


transformation

A transformation is a change in the form or shape, often into something completely different.

She seems to have undergone a total physical transformation - her hair is cut short and she is over 20kg heavier.

We look forward to the transformation of the bedroom into a library and office.

This kind of transformation can only be done by magic.


presumption

A presumption is a belief that something is true without knowing for sure.

The presumption that he is the father of his wife's children turned out to be wrong.

The strong presumption of guilt has changed to a stronger presumption of innocence.

Presumption is behaviour that is too friendly or too confident.


acknowledge

acknowledge (canonical)
acknowledges (third-person singular)
acknowledged (past)
acknowledged (past participle)
acknowledging (present participle)

If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you accept or admit that it is true or that it exists.

The government yesterday acknowledged the need for more money.

I should be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter.

Britain's science is widely acknowledged to be in very bad shape.

He left the game in 1984, acknowledged as the best player in the world.

If you acknowledge something, you say publicly that it is good.

She isn't very good at acknowledging the work of her staff.


utility

Utilities are the basic services that come to your house, such as electricity, phone, and water.

The government is raising prices on drugs, beer and most public utilities.

A utility is a basic computer program that handles things like copying disks and setting up printers.

Something's utility is how useful it is.

The design was to maximise the utility of the book as a whole.


diversity

Diversity is the property of having many different kinds of things or people.

Racial diversity is very low in Japan and very high in Toronto.

The discussion was wide-ranging, reflecting a diversity of views.

Doctors are finding a greater diversity in the kinds of infections they see.


name

A name is what a person, place, or thing is called or how it is identified.

My name is Jack.


name

name (canonical)
names (third-person singular)
named (past)
named (past participle)
naming (present participle)

To name is to give a name to someone, someplace, or something.

She named her cat Fluffy.


attached

attach (canonical)
attaches (third-person singular)
attached (past)
attached (past participle)
attaching (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of attach.


attached

attached (positive)
more attached (comparative)
most attached (superlative)

To be attached to someone or something means to like someone or something very much.

Many young adults are still as attached to their parents as they were when they were small.

Marjorie was surprised at how attached Bill became to Lizzie, as if Lizzie were his daughter.

Farmers tend to be very attached to their land.


attach

If you attach x to y, you put x on y so that they will not come apart.

Warnings and instruction should be firmly attached to the container.

Attach the wire to the speaker with the red clip.

Look for spaces where the tire attaches to the rim.

If you are attached to an office, department, location, etc. you work for that part of the organisation.

If a quality such as importance is attached to something, people think the thing has that quality.

There was a great deal of importance attached to being well dressed.

If something is attached to something else, there is a strong connection between them.

The promise of more money for the school is attached to better results from the students?

There is also something called ground rent, which is attached to these apartments.


tape

Tape is a long thin material, often with glue on one side or used for recording.

We can fix the tear with some tape.

The reporters surrounded the president with their cameras, tape recorders and notebooks.

The band put three songs on tape.

The tape is peeling off my hockey stick.


tape

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

If you tape music, a speaker, a TV program, etc., you record it on tape or film.

It is not known who taped the conversation or how.

I didn't want to stay up to watch the show, so I taped it so I could watch it tomorrow.

If you tape something, you put tape on it.

Can you tape this closed for me?

Her coach taped her knee before the game.


bond

A bond is a connection between two people because of love or friendship.

War can often build strong bonds between people who suffered or fought together.

A bond is a connection between two or more things, for example using glue.

The heat created a bond between the plastic and the metal.

A bond is a financial document promising to pay a certain amount of money. These are often bought and sold.

The new benchmark ten-year government bond yielded 6.3%.

Most large international banks have issued floating rate bonds as a source of medium-term funding.

It took her many years to break free of the bonds of guilt.

A bond is the force that holds atoms together.


bond

bond (canonical)
bonds (third-person singular)
bonded (past)
bonded (past participle)
bonding (present participle)

If you bond two things, you connect them, for example using glue.

The melting wax bonded to the table.

He bonded the wood to the plastic to make it look more natural.

The individual carbon atoms in a diamond are bonded together extremely strongly.

If you bond with someone, you form a special relationship.

Breastfeeding helps the baby bond with its mother.


edition

An edition of a book, computer program, etc. is a copy that has been or will be published with changes or in another form.

It was first published in 1857, with a second slightly amended edition in 1858.

The new paperback edition of the dictionary is coming out next week.

The author corrected it in later editions.


cite

cite (canonical)
cites (third-person singular)
cited (past)
cited (past participle)
citing (present participle)

If you cite people or facts, you write or talk about them to support your point or show where you got your information.

Larkin (1979) cites cases of families who have moved out of regular homes into mobile homes or campers.

Two thirds of the people cited unemployment as the `main issue'.

If someone is cited by the police, they are ordered to appear before the court.

You might cite who you got words, ideas, or information from. This would tell other people where to look to see those people did say it.

He cites Deffenbacher (1985) as suggesting that many of the outcomes are negative.


federal

federal (positive)
more federal (comparative)
most federal (superlative)

The federal government is the main country-wide government in a country where there are also state or provincial governments.

The federal government has said that it will not increase payments to the provinces.

While education is a federal issue in countries like Japan, it is more local in countries like Canada or the U.S.

Federal taxes will increase next year.


ampersand

An ampersand is a symbol (&) that usually means "and".

Billy & Bobby went fishing near the pond. They caught tuna & bass.

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


antique

An antique is something that is old for its type.

This lamp is an antique, it is 200 years old.


antique

If something is antique, it is older than most things similar to it.

He had his antique car refinished.


arbitrary

arbitrary (positive)
more arbitrary (comparative)
most arbitrary (superlative)

If a rule, decision, or act is arbitrary, there is no logical reason for it.

You are protected from arbitrary arrest by police.


case

A case is a container to hold something.

He opened the case and pulled out his violin.

A case is a matter for police or in court.

The judge did not accept his case.

A case is the form of a noun showing how it is used in a sentence.

The word "he" is in the subject or nominative case.

That man is sure a hard case.


case

case (canonical)
cases (third-person singular)
cased (past)
cased (past participle)
casing (present participle)

If a police officer cases a house, he or she watches it until something happens.

We were casing a house all night in Brooklyn.


class

The history class is interesting.

Class today will be about whole numbers.

The number of students attending class is increasing.

I'd better go. I've got a class to teach.

They are my best class because they are always here on time.

Class sizes are usually larger in high school.

You could tell by here clothes that she was a woman of class.

A class is a group of members with similar characteristics.

A class is a group of people in a society with similar jobs, education, history, and money.

They were both from the upper class and both knew the queen personally.

We treat everyone the same regardless of race, class, sex, or age.

The British class system doesn't work in Canada.

She bought a first-class ticket because she wanted to have the best quality.

An organism's class is its group: mammals, reptiles, insects, arachnids, etc.

A word's class is its syntactic group: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.

Shall belongs to the class of words called "modal auxiliary verbs".


class

class (canonical)
classes (third-person singular)
classed (past)
classed (past participle)
classing (present participle)

If something is classed as a member of a group, it belongs to that group because of some characteristics shared by the group's members.

Although it looks like a motorcycle, it is officially classed as a car.


class

Most high school coaches are class individuals, and they should get our thanks.


polish

polish (canonical)
polishes (third-person singular)
polished (past)
polished (past participle)
polishing (present participle)

Someone polishes something when they rub it with a cloth to make it smooth and shiny. Sometimes wax or a special liquid is used.

A wooden floor should be polished with floor wax.

Silver needs to be polished to make it shiny.


polish

Polish is a special liquid used for polishing things.

I need to buy some polish for polishing my wooden table.


pleasure

Pleasure is a nice feeling we have when we do something that's fun or that feels good.

Being at this party and seeing my friends again is a real pleasure.


pleasure

pleasure (canonical)
pleasures (third-person singular)
pleasured (past)
pleasured (past participle)
pleasuring (present participle)

If you pleasure someone, you do something for someone to make them feel good.


please

We say "please" when we want to ask someone politely to do something.

Pass the salt, please.


please

please (canonical)
pleases (third-person singular)
pleased (past)
pleased (past participle)
pleasing (present participle)

Someone pleases someone else when they do what that person likes or wants.

Giving her these flowers will please her.


plant

A plant is something that lives and grows in one place. Plants usually have green leaves and roots. Flowers and trees are plants. Plants and animals are the main kinds of life.


plant

plant (canonical)
plants (third-person singular)
planted (past)
planted (past participle)
planting (present participle)

To put a seed or plant in soil for it to grow.

I planted some flowers last week and I hope they will grow and blossom.


pin

A pin is a small, sharp thing used for holding things together.


pin

pin (canonical)
pins (third-person singular)
pinned (past)
pinned (past participle)
pinning (present participle)

When you pin something, you are fastening it with a pin.

We should pin this poster to that wall.

She pinned the dress pattern to the fabric.

Joey pinned the tail on the donkey and won the prize.

If you pin someone, you force someone firmly onto the ground to prevent them from moving.

A term in wrestling meaning to force an opponent's shoulders to the mat and holding them there for three seconds.


peace

Peace is the way a country is when there is no war.

The people lived in peace for thirty years.

Peace is when there is silence or quiet. There is no noise and nothing happening suddenly.

Will you please go away and leave me in peace?


payment

A payment is some money that someone is giving to someone else when they're buying something.

I sent the things they wanted, but I haven't gotten the payment for them yet.

I usually use my credit card for payment.

Late payment of fees will end the contract.


point

A point is a position with no size, or a small dot.

These two lines meet at this point.

A point is the sharp end of a knife or other sharp thing.

He used the point of the knife to make a hole in the can.

The point of something is the reason or purpose for it.

The whole point of coming here was to plant this tree, so let's not go home without doing it.

A point is a dot between two numbers. To the dot's right, you find a decimal.

You need a point between the one and the zero.


point

point (canonical)
points (third-person singular)
pointed (past)
pointed (past participle)
pointing (present participle)

To point at something is to hold one finger (or a stick, arrow or other long, thin thing) in the direction of the thing so that people will look at the thing.

He pointed her toward the gate.


point

You use point to introduce decimals in a number that is not an integer.

The price has gone up by two point five percent (2.5%).


paste

Paste is a thick liquid for sticking (attaching) things together. Paste is like glue, but glue is more liquid and paste is more solid.

He mixed flour and water to make a paste for sticking the paper together.

Tomato paste is good in sauce to put on rice or spaghetti.


paste

paste (canonical)
pastes (third-person singular)
pasted (past)
pasted (past participle)
pasting (present participle)

If you paste something in a computer program, you cut or copy it from one place and put a copy of it somewhere else.

She pasted the pictures onto the wall.


parcel

A package; a box wrapped in paper; a thing bigger than a letter that is sent in the mail.

On my birthday, I got a parcel in the mail.

A parcel of land is a piece of land that was part of a larger piece.


parcel

parcelled (past)
parcelled (past participle)
parcelling (present participle)
parcel (canonical)
parcels (third-person singular)
parceled (past)
parceled (past participle)
parceling (present participle)

If you parcel something out, you divide it into small parts to give to different people.

The set of books was parcelled out among the people who were there.

If you parcel something off, you divide it into small parts to be sold to different people.

If you parcel something up, you make it into a parcel by wrapping it up.


owner

The owner of a thing is the person who owns the thing: who has the thing or who should have the thing. A thing belongs to its owner.

Who is the owner of this coat that was left on a chair?

You have to give it back to me. I'm the owner.


oven

An oven is for cooking food. It's hot and people put food inside it.

Leave the cake in the oven for thirty minutes.


ornament

An ornament is something that is put onto something or someone just to look beautiful and for no other reason.

One ring on her finger was the only ornament she wore.

We put ornaments on the Christmas tree.


ornament

ornament (canonical)
ornaments (third-person singular)
ornamented (past)
ornamented (past participle)
ornamenting (present participle)

If you ornament something, you decorate or add to it.

Let's ornament the tree with lights to make it more festive.


order

Order is when things are where they should be.

I need to take some time to put my things in order.

The order of some things means which thing is first, which one is second, which one is last, etc.

The children will take turns in order of age.

An order is a group of religious people, such as monks or nuns, who follow certain rules.

St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Jesuit order in 1537.


order

order (canonical)
orders (third-person singular)
ordered (past)
ordered (past participle)
ordering (present participle)

To order something is to ask someone to sell it to you.

At the restaurant, she ordered chicken and potatoes.

To order someone to do something is to tell the person that they must do it.

The father ordered his children to be quiet.

To order things is to put them in a certain order.

We need to order them alphabetically.


other

The other people or things, are those apart from the ones we have or were talking about.

No, don't put it on this table. Put it on the other table.

The people inside are OK, but the other people are getting wet.

He sat on the other side of the table.

There are many other kinds of problems.

Do you have any other questions?

There were some other cars at their house the other day.


other

Others are those apart from the ones we have or were talking about.

Thanks for the books. I'll get the others tomorrow.

Wow, this is a lot. How many others are there?

We need this one and one other.


only

There are only three schools in this town.

You can get this only in Canada.

I'm only able to go on Monday.

He comes only once a year.

She only eats vegetables.

This is only what we got.

He's not only nice, but also good looking.

We will stop only to rest.

Things will only get worse.

Only call me if you have to.


only

Just one or just a few; this and no other; no more than this.

She is the only woman doctor in this city.

These are the only coins I have.

An only child, son, girl, etc. has no brothers or sisters.


only

You use only to introduce a fact that prevents a statement from being completely true.

They probably could do it, only you never let them try.


observation

Observation is the act of carefully seeing things that happen.

To learn, you must be good at observation.

An observation is something someone saw, heard etc.

In science, we record our observations so we can think about them later.

/ˌɑbzɚˈveɪʃən/


note

In this song, every word is on a different note.

A note is a short letter; something written on a small piece of paper.

If you go out, leave me a note to tell me where you went.


note

note (canonical)
notes (third-person singular)
noted (past)
noted (past participle)
noting (present participle)

You note that something happened when you see that it happened and remember it.

I noted that you weren't wearing shoes.


north

North is the direction towards the top of the Earth, opposite to south; If you are looking north, the sun sets on your left.

Canada is the biggest country in North America.

North is the end of a magnet that points north.

The north is the area of land north of the speaker; Also the Arctic.


north

In the direction north; towards the north

The place you want is two miles north of here.

It's colder here because we're further north.


news

News is information about things that happened a short time ago, especially on the radio, TV or in newspapers.

Did you hear the news that the war just ended?

Do you have any news about Paul's sickness?


net

A net is a thing made of ropes or string that lets small things through but keeps big things in.

I forgot my fishing net. What will we use to catch fish now?

The tennis player hit the ball into the net.


net

net (canonical)
nets (third-person singular)
netted (past)
netted (past participle)
netting (present participle)

To net something is to catch it in a net.

He netted a big fish.


net

A company's net income is its profits minus its expenses.


nerve

A nerve is a cell in the body that sends signals. The brain is made of nerves.

She can't feel anything with this arm, and can't move her arm, because the nerves were cut in an accident.

Nerve is confidence: a feeling of being able to do something.

He didn't have the nerve to ask her to dance.

You had a lot of nerve, saying that to me! Go away!


needle

A needle is a small, long, thin sharp metal thing with a hole in it, used for sewing.

She used a needle and blue thread to fix the hole in the shirt.

A needle is a long, thing, sharp metal thing for putting drugs into a person through the skin.

The doctor used the needle to inject the medicine into the patient.


needle

needle (canonical)
needles (third-person singular)
needled (past)
needled (past participle)
needling (present participle)

Billy needled his sister incessantly about her pimples.


compliment

A compliment is a few words of praise: saying that someone or something is good in some way.

William gave me a compliment and that made me feel good. He told me my hair was nice.


compliment

compliment (canonical)
compliments (third-person singular)
complimented (past)
complimented (past participle)
complimenting (present participle)

She complimented him on his clothes because they looked good.


conjunction

A conjunction is a word used to join words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.

The word or is a conjunction because it can join two words: Tell me if you see a red or blue car.

The word that can be used as a conjunction: I think that you are right.

/kənˈdʒʌŋkʃən/


conviction

A conviction is when a court finds a person guilty of doing a crime.

There was a conviction in his case, so he went to jail.

A conviction is a strong belief that you think is true.

Because of their strong conviction, I begin to feel that they may be right.


peaceful

peaceful (positive)
more peaceful (comparative)
most peaceful (superlative)

A place or person is peaceful when there is silence or quiet. There is no noise and nothing happening suddenly.


need

need (canonical)
needs (third-person singular)
needed (past)
needed (past participle)
needing (present participle)

If you need something, you want it and must have it.

Everyone needs food and water.

If you need to do something, it is very important for you to do it.

Sir, you need to leave now.


need

need (present)
needed (past)
needn't (negative)

If you need do something, you have to do it.

Need you do that all the time?

You needn't keep telling me. I heard you the first time.


need

If you have a need for something, you must have it; something necessary or required.

I've always tried to have few needs beyond food, clothing and shelter.


necessary

necessary (positive)
more necessary (comparative)
most necessary (superlative)

Something is necessary if people need it. It must happen or there will be a big problem.

It's necessary to stop when you see a red light.


natural

natural (positive)
more natural (comparative)
most natural (superlative)

Something is natural if people didn't make it.

Animals, plants and rocks are natural things.

Something is natural if it's the way it usually is, without people changing it, or is a way that is not a surprise.

It's only natural for you to think that.


nail

A nail is a small, long, thin sharp metal thing for holding wood together. People put it into the wood by hitting it with a hammer.

I need some nails to fix the roof.

A nail is the thick, hard part at the ends of fingers and toes.

I broke the top off my finger nail and it was very painful.


nail

nail (canonical)
nails (third-person singular)
nailed (past)
nailed (past participle)
nailing (present participle)

If you nail something to something else, you use a nail to join them.

He nailed the set of shelves onto the wall.

When someone gets an idea just right, we say they nailed it or "hit the nail on the head".

I think you've nailed the reason why this isn't working.


muscle

A muscle is a part of the body of a person or animal. It's a part that pulls to make parts of the body move.

He can lift heavy things because he has strong muscles.


muscle

muscle (canonical)
muscles (third-person singular)
muscled (past)
muscled (past participle)
muscling (present participle)

To muscle is to use strength or muscles to do something.

He muscled his way into the room between the people who were trying to stop him.


moon

The moon is the shining white and grey object in the sky at night. It appears to change shape from round (a full moon) to a crescent and back again. It's like a small planet that goes around the Earth.

I was able to see the road because there was a full moon that night.

A moon is a thing like a small planet that goes around another planet.

Galileo saw four moons of Jupiter: Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io.


moon

moon (canonical)
moons (third-person singular)
mooned (past)
mooned (past participle)
mooning (present participle)

If you moon someone, you show them your bare buttocks.

Someone in the car pulled down their pants and mooned us as they drove past.


monkey

A monkey is a primate with a long tail that climbs trees.

We saw Vervet monkeys in the Zoo.


monkey

monkey (canonical)
monkeys (third-person singular)
monkeyed (past)
monkeyed (past participle)
monkeying (present participle)

If you monkey something, you make changes to it.

I foolishly monkeyed with the control panel and it ended up exploding.


minute

A minute is a short time equal to sixty seconds. There are sixty minutes in one hour.

He ran the race in 1 minute and ten seconds.

Please wait a minute while I get my coat and then I will come with you.


minute

minute (positive)
more minute (comparative)
most minute (superlative)

The pictures appear similar, with only a few, minute differences.


mind

Someone's mind is the part of them that thinks.

In my mind I know I must go, but in my heart I want to stay here.

We will solve this problem. We have the best minds in the country working on it.


mind

mind (canonical)
minds (third-person singular)
minded (past)
minded (past participle)
minding (present participle)

If you mind some action or thing, you feel negatively about it.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" "No, not at all"

"It's raining outside. You should take an umbrella" "It's OK, I don't mind the rain"

If you mind someone or something, you look after it.

"Could you mind the children while I go to the bathroom?"


military

military (positive)
more military (comparative)
most military (superlative)

If something is military, it is a characteristic of people in the armed forces.

Sick soldiers go to the military hospital.

If something is military, it is about armed forces such as the army, marines, navy, or air force.

If something is military, it has to do with war.

If something is military, it has to do with armies and ground troops.


military

military
militaries or military (plural)

The military is the United States armed forces in general.

It's not the job of the military to make policy.


middle

The place that is between two things; the place that is halfway between two ends of something.

Cut the wood exactly in the middle to get two pieces of equal size.

The middle of the three books is the one you want.


memory

When someone remembers something, we call the thing they remember a memory.

I have very nice memories of the time when my children were young.

The part of the mind that remembers; the act of remembering.

When we get older, our memory isn't as good.

The part of a computer that holds information.


meeting

A meeting is when a group of people come together to talk about something important.

The meeting will be in the green room after lunch. I hope you'll be there.


meeting

meet (canonical)
meets (third-person singular)
met (past)
met (past participle)
meeting (present participle)


married

A man and a woman are married if they are husband and wife to each other. Usually when two people are married they live in the same house and they often have children. Two people have a special day to become married.

I don't need to meet more young men—I'm already married.

If two things are married they have been made into one thing.

Music and television are married in music videos.


married

marry (canonical)
marries (third-person singular)
married (past)
married (past participle)
marrying (present participle)


mark

A mark is a single line left by a pen or pencil, or any small bit of color that got onto something.

You have a mark on your shirt from that tomato sauce you were eating.


mark

mark (canonical)
marks (third-person singular)
marked (past)
marked (past participle)
marking (present participle)

If you mark something, you put a mark on it.

The big rock marked the side of the car a little when she drove too close to it.

I marked the boxes so we would know which ones are mine.

If you mark something, you notice it or pay attention to it.

Mark my words!


love

love (canonical)
loves (third-person singular)
loved (past)
loved (past participle)
loving (present participle)

When someone loves another person, they feel good about the person and want the person to be happy.

I love Colin.

Mothers love their children very deeply.


love

The feeling of loving someone and caring for them.

Is my love for him a real love that will last a long time?

To love someone or something means to like someone or something very much.

I love the simple English Wikipedia.

A tennis player who has scored love has a score of zero.

(From a sports commentator) Fifteen-love!


loss

A loss happens when something goes where people can't find it. People don't know where the thing is or they don't have it any more.

The loss of my keys means I can't go into my house today.

Loss is when someone's loved one dies. When someone dies, they are no longer with you.

I loss both of my grandparents from old age.

A loss (shown as L) is charged to the pitcher of the losing team.


look

look (canonical)
looks (third-person singular)
looked (past)
looked (past participle)
looking (present participle)

Someone looks at something when they move their head or move their eyes so that they can see the thing.

Look at this picture! Isn't it beautiful?

The way that something looks is the way that it appears.

A new car looks very nice until it gets dirty.

That doughnut looks delicious.


lock

A lock is a metal thing on a door (or on a window, drawer, etc.) that stops people from opening the door unless they have the right key to open it.

No one will take things from my house. I have a very strong lock on the door.

A lock is two or more gates (doors) in water to let boats move from lower water to higher water or the other way.


lock

lock (canonical)
locks (third-person singular)
locked (past)
locked (past participle)
locking (present participle)

Someone locks a door when they close the lock with a key so that no one can come in.

Remember to lock the door when you leave the house.


living

live (canonical)
lives (third-person singular)
lived (past)
lived (past participle)
living (present participle)


living

What do you do for a living?


living

A living thing is a person, animal or plant that is not dead—it is still able to function and grow.

Living things grow and make more living things like themselves.


linen

Linen is a material that some cloth is made of. It comes from the flax plant, and in the past, bed sheets were often made from it, before cotton was used.

This shirt is made of linen.

Linens are something made from linen, especially bed sheets.

Would you like to change the linens on your bed?


line

A line is a mark that is long, straight and very thin.

She drew a line down the middle of the page to divide the page into two parts.

Put the buttons in a straight line on the front of the shirt.

A line is a row of people who are waiting for something in order; a queue.

You got here last, so you have to stand at the back of the line.


line

line (canonical)
lines (third-person singular)
lined (past)
lined (past participle)
lining (present participle)

Someone lines things up when they put them in a straight line or row.

Someone lines something up when they put it just in the right place or at the edge of something.

Line up the end of the piece of wood with the edge of the table.

Someone lines up when they start waiting in a line (queue) with other people.

Everyone line up here, please, and I'll help you one at a time.

Someone lines something when they mark it with one or more lines.

Please line the pitch before the match.

Someone lines something when they add an inside layer of material (liner) to it.


lift

lift (canonical)
lifts (third-person singular)
lifted (past)
lifted (past participle)
lifting (present participle)

Someone lifts something when they use their hands to make the thing go up.

He lifted the little boy onto his shoulders.

She lifted the heavy box from the floor onto the table.

He is lifting some suitcases.


lift

If you give someone a lift, you drive them somewhere, usually in your car.

A lift is a machine that lifts people up or down to different parts of a building.


level

level (positive)
more level (comparative)
most level (superlative)

Even, flat, straight, smooth, horizontal. Having all parts equally as high as all other parts.

This table is not level: things are rolling off it.


level

If one thing is level with another, they are at the same height.

The bookshelf is level with the top of the door frame.


level

A level is a place that is higher or lower than some other places.

The room you want is on the third level of this building.

A tool for finding out whether a surface is level.


level

leveled (past)
leveled (past participle)
leveling (present participle)
level (canonical)
levels (third-person singular)
levelled (past)
levelled (past participle)
levelling (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


laugh

laugh (canonical)
laughs (third-person singular)
laughed (past)
laughed (past participle)
laughing (present participle)

Someone laughs when they make a sound with their mouth because they think something is funny. It can sound like "ha ha", "ho ho", "hee hee", etc.

That was a really good joke. I've never laughed so hard!


laugh

The sound of someone laughing, or the action of laughing.

We had lots of good laughs at the party.

I heard a laugh in the other room and went to see what they were laughing at.


last

Happening or coming after all other similar things or people.

I was the last person to go there: when I went, the others were all already there.

My house is the last house at the end of the street.

At last, after twenty hours on the boat, they arrived at their destination.

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


last

last (canonical)
lasts (third-person singular)
lasted (past)
lasted (past participle)
lasting (present participle)

Summer seems to last longer each year.

To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.

I don't know how much longer we can last without reinforcements.


last

Last week, month, year, etc. is the one that comes before this one.

I didn't see you last week.

I haven't seen him since the summer before last.


interest

An interest is when a person wants to know more about someone or something or likes someone or something or likes to do something.

She has a strong interest in art. She is going to go to an art school.

What are your interests?

An interest is when someone or something is important to a person, or if good things happening to the thing are good for the person.

Because I own a house on this street, I have an interest in keeping the street clean.

I'm doing this to look after my own interests.

When someone borrows money, they have to give back more money than they borrowed. The extra money they have to pay is called interest.

The bank gives me two percent interest per year on the money in my account.


interest

interest (canonical)
interests (third-person singular)
interested (past)
interested (past participle)
interesting (present participle)

If a person is interested, they are curious and want to find out about someone or something.

I am interested in researching flowers.

Does maths interest you?


limit

The limit is the edge of how far something can go. It can go up to the limit but no farther.

This fence is at the limit of my property.

The heater sets a limit to how cold it can be in the house; it can't get colder than that.

There is no limit to what we can do.


limit

limit (canonical)
limits (third-person singular)
limited (past)
limited (past participle)
limiting (present participle)

The fence limits the cows from going out of the field.

If you limit someone, you reduce or take away their freedom.


twenty

I was in university when I was twenty years old.


twenty

I'd like my $50 as 1 twenty, 2 tens and 2 fives.

"Twenty" is short for 10-20, meaning location.

Jason, what's your twenty?


thirty

I had my first child when I was thirty years old.


thirty

Three tens is thirty.


scope

The scope of a book, a law, a duty, etc. is how much is included or how far it can go.

The small budget has limited the scope of the research.

There are plans to expand the scope of the department's activities.

This kind of art allows the greatest scope for individual expression.

It is not within the scope of this book to talk about them all.

A scope is an instrument for looking at things, e.g., a telescope or a microscope.


scope

scope (canonical)
scopes (third-person singular)
scoped (past)
scoped (past participle)
scoping (present participle)

If you scope something (out), you look at it carefully.

I scoped out the place last week. It seems nice.


enhance

enhance (canonical)
enhances (third-person singular)
enhanced (past)
enhanced (past participle)
enhancing (present participle)

If you enhance something, you make it bigger or better.

He can greatly enhance his reputation by winning tonight.

Our aim is to enhance the quality of life for the British people.


control

If you have control over someone or something, you can make it do what you want.

He should try to take control and tell the other handlers what to do.

Driving in the rain, he had lost control on the wet surface and spun off the road.

The country fell under the direct control of the army.

They are trying to keep tighter control over spending.

The government will demand improved pollution control systems for all factories.

Most companies devote some resources to quality control and product testing.

Unless birth control methods are used, sooner or later the woman is likely to get pregnant.

The continuing Soviet desire for arms control led to a SALT II treaty.

The brain's control systems tend to decline with age so that, for instance, our balance gets less good.

The experimental group took the medicine while the control group took a sugar pill.

Suddenly the airplane went out of control and started diving.

A control is a button, switch, dial, etc. that lets you make a machine do what you want.

If you turn off your TV with the remote control, it continues to use a quarter of normal power.

She touched the volume control and the sound dropped.


control

control (canonical)
controls (third-person singular)
controlled (past)
controlled (past participle)
controlling (present participle)

If you control something, you make it do what you want.

Too many people are overweight because they can't control their eating behaviour.

The company is controlled by a New York businessman.

If you control something, you do not let its numbers or size grow too much.

The new plan should control inflation.


high

high (positive)
higher (comparative)
highest (superlative)

If something is high, it is a long way up.

The airplane flew very high.

If something is high, its top is a long way up.

That is the highest mountain near here.

If something is high, it is very good. It might be better or more important than other things. This can often means someone has more power.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in America.

Brian Boru was called the high king of Ireland.

Meeting my girlfriend was the high point of my year.

If someone is high, that person's mind is affected by drugs.

John was high from marijuana last night.


lead

A lead is a wire or strap attached to something.

The dog can't go far because it's on a short lead.

Attach this lead to one end of the battery.

Lead is a very heavy gray metal. It's a chemical symbol is Pb.

This box is so heavy, it feels as if it's full of lead.


lead

lead (canonical)
leads (third-person singular)
led (past)
led (past participle)
leading (present participle)

Someone is leading other people if the person is going first and the other people are following or coming after.

Please lead us to the house, because you know how to go there.

Showing or telling other people what to do.

He moves that little stick in the air to lead the people making music.


hadith

A written record of a saying or action of the Prophet Muhammad. Used as a basis for conduct in Islamic practices.


insurance

Insurance is an agreement where someone pays a small amount of money, and if something bad happens, they get money to help them.

I have fire insurance for my house.


instrument

An instrument is any thing people hold in their hand and use to do something.

A hammer is a heavy instrument.

An instrument is something used to play music.

I enjoy playing music, my favorite instrument is the guitar.


increase

increase (canonical)
increases (third-person singular)
increased (past)
increased (past participle)
increasing (present participle)

The amount of money in my bank account is increasing.


increase

There was an increase in movie releases last year.


industry

An industry is a kind of work that makes things.

Many people in this country have jobs in the clothing industry.

Industry is the quality of working hard, trying hard and doing it well.

Because of her industry, she made a lot of money.


humor

Humor is ideas that make people laugh: jokes, funny things.

I like the stories she tells because they're full of humor.


humor

humor (canonical)
humors (third-person singular)
humored (past)
humored (past participle)
humoring (present participle)

:
 This short entry needs someone to make it better. You can help Wiktionary by adding to it.


how

The word how is used to ask about the way something happens or the way people do things.

How will we ever solve this problem?

The word how is used to tell about the way something happens or the way people do things.

I know how we can solve this problem.

This is how to make this machine work.

The word how is used to show that you feel strongly about something.

How old he looks!


how

You use how to ask if something was good or bad, or what qualities it has.

How was the movie?

How are you feeling?


how

You use how to tell that something happens, is done, or is true.

She told him how it wasn't fun anymore.


horn

A horn is a long, sharp thing that grows on the head of some animals such as goats and sheep.

The goat used its horn to break the fence.

They used a cow's horn as a cup to drink out of.

A horn is a musical instrument that you blow and usually made of metal.


hope

hope (canonical)
hopes (third-person singular)
hoped (past)
hoped (past participle)
hoping (present participle)

When someone hopes that something will happen, it means that they want it to happen and they think it may happen.

We hope that more women will decide to join the course.

It was hoped that the job would be filled by a local person.


hope

A hope is the idea in someone's mind when they're hoping for something.

All of my hopes came true!


hook

A hook is a curved, sharp thing, usually made of metal and often small. Someone can put the hook through a hole in something to grip it so that they can pull the thing.


hook

hook (canonical)
hooks (third-person singular)
hooked (past)
hooked (past participle)
hooking (present participle)

If you are hooking something, you are attaching it to a hook.

Hook the bag here, and the conveyor will carry it away.


history

China has many old books about its history.

The restaurant is close to the city's history and art museums.

History is the study of what happened in the past.

He is a professor of history.

If somebody or something makes history, they do something very important that will not be forgotten.

She made history by becoming Africa's first elected female president.

If somebody or something goes down in history, they are remembered by people because they were very important or well known.

She'll go down in history as one of our greatest writers.

A history is a book recording things that have happened.

He was reading a history of Ancient Rome.

If somebody or something has a history of something, it's very common for them.

She has a history of cheating on tests.

If you say something is history, you mean it's finished, over, dead, or not important any more.

OK, that game's history.

If you say the rest is history, you mean you don't have to tell about because everyone already knows.

They just happened to run into each other at the right time, and the rest is history.


help

help (canonical)
helps (third-person singular)
helped (past)
helped (past participle)
helping (present participle)

If you help another person do something, you do things to make it easier for them to do the thing, or you do part of it for them.

Will you please help me wash the dishes?

If you can't help doing something or can't help but do it, you cannot avoid it. You do it even without wanting or planning to.

When I look at the class, I can not help feeling that something has gone wrong.

They agreed that it was good, but I can't help wondering, "good for who?"


help

Will you please give me some help? This is hard for just one person to do.

The help is people who work in a home cooking, cleaning, etc.

The help arrives as 9 o' clock.


healthy

healthy (positive)
healthier (comparative)
healthiest (superlative)

A healthy person is someone who is not sick. They are strong and will probably live a long time.

I need three young, healthy people to help me.

She gets sick frequently. She's never very healthy.

Healthy food is full of vitamins and minerals.


harbor

A harbor is some water in a curve of land where it's safe for boats because there are no big waves.

A ship in the harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are for.


harbor

harbor (canonical)
harbors (third-person singular)
harbored (past)
harbored (past participle)
harboring (present participle)

To provide a harbor or safe place for something or someone.

The old docks once harbored all kinds of ships, but they have been closed for years now.

The ships harbor in the bay during the winter months.

Sam has harbored resentment against Joe since Joe got the job they both applied for.


drop

A drop is a very small amount of a liquid.

A drop of water weighs 0.1 grams.

There was a drop in the prices last week.


drop

drop (canonical)
drops (third-person singular)
dropped (past)
dropped (past participle)
dropping (present participle)

He dropped from the roof when he was running.


heat

Heat is a kind of energy. It is the quality things have when they are warm or hot.

This is a good coat. It keeps the heat in.

The heat from the sun is making me feel hot and tired.


heat

heat (canonical)
heats (third-person singular)
heated (past)
heated (past participle)
heating (present participle)

I just need to heat up the food and then we can eat.


gun

A gun is a weapon that sends bullets through its metal tube.

John F. Kennedy was shot by a gun.


gun

gun (canonical)
guns (third-person singular)
gunned (past)
gunned (past participle)
gunning (present participle)

To make an engine work fast by opening its throttle.

I gunned the engine and passed his car.

If someone is gunned down, they are shot by something, usually a gun.

He was gunned down by a hitman.


garden

A garden is a place where flowers and other plants grow where people want them to. Frequently it is a small place with a wall around it, near a house. It may have rocks and other things in it to look beautiful.

She spends a lot of time taking care of the flowers in her garden.


garden

garden (canonical)
gardens (third-person singular)
gardened (past)
gardened (past participle)
gardening (present participle)

If you garden, you work in a garden, especially your own garden around your house.

He joined his mother when she gardened and talked to her flowers.


from

When something is from someone, the person gave or sent it.

I got a gift from my grandmother today.

When someone is from a place, that's where they started.

I am Chinese. I come from Hunan province.

Sorry I'm late. I just came from school.

You use from to talk about distances between thing in space or time.

Saturn is far from earth.

School is 5km from my home.

The year 2515 is a long time from now.


existence

The existence of a thing is the quality of being real, of being in the world, of just being.

Do you believe in the existence of God?

The existence of a mark on my shirt is the reason I didn't go to the party.


general

general (positive)
more general (comparative)
most general (superlative)

Usual; about most things. An idea is a general idea if it's about many things or about most things, not just about one specific thing.

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

In general, I enjoy pizza.

General is approximate, not exact; maybe a little different; close but maybe not the same.

/ˈd͡ʒɛnərəl/


general

The president told the general to bring the army home.

/ˈd͡ʒɛnərəl/


give

give (canonical)
gives (third-person singular)
gave (past)
given (past participle)
giving (present participle)

If you give something to someone else, you had the thing and you let the other person have it. Maybe you use your hands to put the thing in the other person's hands. Usually after that, the thing is the other person's thing.

Give me that book, please; I want to read it.

My mother gave me this stone when I was young.

If you give a speech, you talk to a group of people.


come

come (canonical)
comes (third-person singular)
came (past)
come (past participle)
coming (present participle)

To move towards a place or into a place; to move to the place where the person who is talking is.

Come to my house and I will give you something to eat.

Come here to me.

Twenty people came to the party.

He came here, but he went away again before you came here.


come

We'll talk again come January.


come

(also spelled cum)


go

go (canonical)
goes (third-person singular)
went (past)
gone (past participle)
going (present participle)

If you go, you move in space, especially to or through a place.

I go to the seashore every summer.

Kathy goes to the seashore every summer, too.

I went to the seashore last year.

She's gone to the seashore.

I'm going to the seashore next year.

If you go, you move in time, often in your mind.

You have to go back to 1911 to find a wetter day.

Marty McFly jumped in the time machine and went to 1965.

If you go, you move on the computer, the internet, or in the memory.

Then go to the C: drive.

His mind went to the last time he saw her.

If you go, you move a certain distance or a certain way.

We've gone 10 kilometers today.

Sandra is going in circles.

Please don't go.

People have been coming and going all day.

If you go bad, wild, blind, etc., you become like that.

Jim went blind.


clear

clear (positive)
clearer (comparative)
clearest (superlative)

A clear idea is an idea that is easy to understand.

OK, so you need the key. I see. That's clear now.

Now it's clear as a bell to me why you want to stay here.

If it is clear that something is a certain way, there can be no mistake about it.

The women made it clear that they were doing this only because they wanted to.

It soon became perfectly clear that he was not going to get better.

It's clear from looking at you that you couldn't lift it; you're too small.

This is a clear example of an idea that works.

If you are clear about something, you understand it well.

Mike, I want to be clear about what you said, so can you tell me again.

I'm sorry, but I'm not clear about what I'm supposed to do.

If you are clear about something, you make it easy for people to understand you.

The coach had been very clear about what he wanted them to do.

They haven't been so clear about how much water is in there.

If your head or your thinking is clear, then you can think well.

After his coffee and a quick walk, his head felt clear.

On Monday, he looked confused and didn't say much, but the next day, his thinking seemed more clear.

If something is clear, people can see through it.

The window is made of clear glass.

The water wasn't clear enough to see the bottom.

If something is clear, it has nothing that gets in your way.

I try to drive to work only when the roads are clear.

It's supposed to be clear and sunny today.

That table's not clear yet. Can you get the stuff off it?

The skies were clear of clouds.

If something is clear, it is easy to see or hear.

The picture wasn't clear enough to see whose face it was.

At first, the radio was noisy, but we moved and then we got clear, rich sound.

If your skin is clear, it has no spots on it.

Her deep honey skin was clear except for the small mark on her left cheek.

If your eyes are clear, they are healthy, bright, and lively.

His eyes were sharp and clear, and full of fun.

These are priced so high that the manufacturers pocket $8,000 clear profit per $30,000 unit.

If you have a clear conscience or your conscience is clear, you do not feel guilty.

I sleep perfectly at night. I have a clear conscience. I don't have blood on my hands.


clear

clear (canonical)
clears (third-person singular)
cleared (past)
cleared (past participle)
clearing (present participle)

If you clear something, you move or remove things that you don't want there.

You clear the table and I'll get coffee ready.

We'll have to clear out the garage to make room for the new car.

My grandparents cleared this land so that we could live and farm here.

I worked for ten minutes to clear a path in the snow from the door to the road.

About 13 million hectares of forest were cleared each year.

After the fire, it took some time for the air to clear.

Above her, the black sky cleared, until she could see the thousands of stars all across it.

The window fogged and cleared as she breathed on it.

If something clears, it goes away, leaving the place it was clear.

After the fire, it took some time for the smoke to clear.

He couldn't see well as car drove up the dirt road, but after the dust had cleared, he could see it was his father.

If you clear your throat, you cough lightly to make speaking easier.

Tears filled her eyes again, and she cleared her throat. "As soon as I can, I'll get on a plane and meet you."

If you clear the air, or if the air clears, you talk about a problem so that nobody has doubts or bad feelings.

I think it's important for me to tell you what has happened and clear the air about this matter.

If you clear somebody to do something, you give them permission.

His personal plane had been cleared to land at the airport.

If your head, mind, thinking, etc. clears then you become able to think well.

The coffee helped to clear her head, and she sat down to think.

If you clear something, you get over it without touching it or without a problem.

The bike got air and cleared the water by a meter.

If you clear somebody of something bad you show that they did not do it.

After clearing him of any wrongdoing, the police set him free.

If you clear a hurdle, you solve one of a number of problems.

The case has many more hurdles to clear before it can go to trial.

The winner had to clear plenty of hurdles before beating Clement.

After the dust clears is some time later, when there is no more trouble or confusion.

It took a few weeks, but after the dust had cleared, and everybody had gone home, he realized he had enjoyed it.

If a cheque clears, then the money is ready to be used.

If you clear a certain amount of money, you make that as profit (after expenses).

If you clear the ball or puck, you move it away from your own goal.


clear

Out of, away from, especially too far away to be noticed or caught.

After a short walk, we were clear of the town.

The fish was so heavy that he couldn't get it clear of the water.

After their fight, he steered clear of her for a week.

It was so crowded that they had to fight their way out and clear of the people.

So far, the company has stayed clear of trouble.

Two more wins would put them clear of the Giants.

Just clear of the school yard, students were smoking.


clear

You could see clear across the water, all the way to the church 60 km away on the other side.


cover

cover (canonical)
covers (third-person singular)
covered (past)
covered (past participle)
covering (present participle)

Something that is covering another thing is on top of (or over) the other thing in a way that stops people from seeing it.

I cover myself in two blankets at night to stay warm.

Remember to cover the pot with a lid while you're cooking something.


cover

A cover is something that usually covers something else.

The cover of the book has a picture on it under the name of the book.