creation

The creation of a house takes time.

A creation is something that is created.

The new dress was a great creation of beauty.

The time at beginning of the world and when God created everything is called creation.

The Bible says that the creation took six days and God rested on the seventh.

The whole world is the creation in many religious traditions.

The Bible says that God made all of the creation in six days.


pattern

A pattern is a design that uses the same set of elements many times in the same order.

The table cloth had a simple pattern of red and white squares.

The combined qualities and activities for an individual or a group of people describes a pattern.

The people of Spain have a pattern of resting in the afternoon and eating dinner late at night.


pattern

pattern (canonical)
patterns (third-person singular)
patterned (past)
patterned (past participle)
patterning (present participle)

When you pattern something, you make it using a pattern.

Much of crime fiction is patterned from true police stories.


lay

lay (canonical)
lays (third-person singular)
laid (past)
laid (past participle)
laying (present participle)

When you lay something, you place it down flat.

Sally carefully laid out her clothing on the bed.

When an animal lays an egg, it makes and places it outside its body.


lay

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


undead

If someone is undead they are not dead or alive, or they are both dead and alive.

ghosts, zombies, and vampires are undead.

We watched a movie about the undead.

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


donation

A donation is a gift of money or something useful to a person or organization.

Your donation was greatly appreciated. Be sure to donate canned goods to the shelter again next year.

/dəʊˈneɪʃən/


maybe

If you say that maybe something will happen or that maybe it is true, you mean there is a chance of those things.

Maybe someday I'll learn how to drive.

Yeah. I thought, you know, maybe if I tried again, it might work.

You use maybe when you are not sure about something.

Maybe you ought to look at this again.

There are, uh, maybe twenty or twenty two people in the group.

"Is that the right answer?" "No, maybe not."

It's good, maybe even great.


Bible

The Bible is name of the holy text of Christians consisting of a collection of writings of both Jews, called the Old Testament, and Christians, called the New Testament. (This is always spelled with capital B).

The Bible tells stories of God, Jesus Christ, and good and bad people.

The holy writings of the Jewish tradition, called the Old Testament, are called The Bible. (This is always spelled with capital B).

The Jewish Bible has very old stories about the Jews.

A Bible or Bibles refer to copies of The Bible. This is always spelled with capital B).

The book store sells many Bibles.

A book that is like the Bible but may be about another religion or is not religious. Often, this means a book that tells everything you need to know about something. Sometime this is used in a title to make a book sound very good.

The Koran is the Muslim Bible.

Anton LaVey wrote a book called "The Satanic Bible," for his new religion called Satanism.

We need a history Bible to help us pass our class.


maize

Maize is a kind of grain, usually with large yellow seeds, that is often eaten (also called corn).

We will be eating maize tomorrow.

We planted some maize in out garden last year.


acceptable

acceptable (positive)
more acceptable (comparative)
most acceptable (superlative)

When something is acceptable it is capable of being accepted or is worth being accepted.

You ideas are acceptable to the group.

The quality of the work ranged from excellent to acceptable.

When something is welcome or pleasing, it is acceptable.

Any kind words for my work are acceptable.


securities

Securities are financial documents, like stocks, bonds and notes.

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


mister

You use mister before a man's name, usually the last name or the full name.

Mister Brakel, the doctor will see you now.

This is Mr. Terry McGinty.

You call a man mister when you don't know his name.

Excuse me, mister, I think you dropped this.

You use mister before a man's title for certain titles, such as justice, mayor, president, etc.

Yes, we can do that Mr. Mayor.


wheat

A kind of grain that is used to make flour for bread.

Farmers have grown wheat for thousands of years.

We grow two wheats here, hard wheat and soft wheat.

A light brown color, like that of wheat.


quiz

A small group of questions asked together. Often a quiz is like a small test in school.

I thought we were going to have a test, but it was only a short quiz.

A quiz is a game where a person asks questions to other people.


quiz

quiz (canonical)
quizzes (third-person singular)
quizzed (past)
quizzed (past participle)
quizzing (present participle)

To give someone a quiz, often a written quiz on paper.

The teacher quizzed him on biology.


cigarette

cigarette (singular)
cigarettes (plural)

A cigarette is tobacco that has been rolled in paper for smoking.

He went outside and lit a cigarette.

Many people smoke cigarettes.


mundane

mundane (positive)
more mundane (comparative)
most mundane (superlative)

My life is very mundane. I wish it was more exciting.


mile

A mile is a measurement of distance. It is equal to 1.609 km (5280 feet, or 1760 yards).

It's about a mile and a half to the school.

She was driving at speeds over 80 miles an hour.

For ships and airplanes a nautical mile is equal to 1.853 km (6080.20 feet).

You use miles to talk about a long distance.

We're miles from home and we have no food or radio.


invest

invest (canonical)
invests (third-person singular)
invested (past)
invested (past participle)
investing (present participle)

If you invest your money, you use your money to make more money.

IBM may invest new money in the company.

If you invested heavily in Internet companies in the 90s, you made a lot of money.

If you invest in something, you spend time or money to make it better.

The province has invested $20 million to improve transportation in cities.

She invested all her spare time to make her small business succeed.

If you invest someone with a power, you give it to them.

If something invests someone with a quality, it makes them appear to have that quality.

His white hair invested him with a sense of intelligence.


listen

listen (canonical)
listens (third-person singular)
listened (past)
listened (past participle)
listening (present participle)

If you listen to something, you try to hear and understand it.

Shhh! Listen! Did you hear that?

She listened carefully to what he said, but it was hard to understand.

OK, listen up. Here's what we'll do...

If you listen to someone, you agree with them, believe them, or do what they tell you.

Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

If you listen to your mother, you won't go wrong.


listen

If you give something a listen, you try to hear and understand it.

Do you want to have a listen to this new band?


securely

Mike placed his bicycle securely on the rack, ensuring that it would not fall.


moment

A moment is a very short time. It is not an exact measurement.

Geraldine sat on the bed and thought for a moment.

He jumped out of the way at the last moment.

Don't worry. I'll be back in a moment.

I'm sorry. She's on the phone at the moment. Can I ask who's calling?

Just a moment, please, Sam. I'm talking to your sister.

It was a lie, but one of no great moment.


corn

Corn is a kind of grain, usually with large yellow seeds, that is often eaten (also called maize).

We will be eating corn tomorrow.

We planted some corn in our garden last year.

We put several barley corns into the soup.


opportunity

opportunity (singular)
opportunities (plural)

An opportunity is a time, place, or situation in which something can happen, usually something good.

Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair itself.

The sun was warm, so I took the opportunity for a long walk in the park.

Fans will have the opportunity to see the top players on Monday.

Today, anyone can come for free, so don't miss this great opportunity.

This is a workplace that provides equal opportunity for all.

In the poor economy, there are decreasing employment opportunities.


drumming

We could hear the drumming from far away.

Drumming is the act of hitting a drum to make music.


drumming

drum (canonical)
drums (third-person singular)
drummed (past)
drummed (past participle)
drumming (present participle)


inform

inform (canonical)
informs (third-person singular)
informed (past)
informed (past participle)
informing (present participle)

If you inform someone of something, you give them knowledge about it.

Unfortunately, they did not fully inform the public of the problem.

If something informs your opinion, decision, etc., it helps you come to it.

Our decision was informed by a good deal of research.


completely

When something is completely some quality, it is absolutely that quality, in every way.

The man was completely honest in his business.

This is completely different from what people might believe.

The discovery has given us a completely new way of looking at thing.


zombie

A zombie is type of fictional creature. It is a dead body that has been brought back to life. Usually a zombie moves slowly, growls, and will want to eat people's brains.

Someone who looks very tired and messy may be called a zombie. It is equivalent to saying someone "looks like a corpse".


fill

fill (canonical)
fills (third-person singular)
filled (past)
filled (past participle)
filling (present participle)

If you fill something, you put something in it until there is no space left.

She added some games to fill the gap in the schedule.

His eyes filled with tears as he watched her walk away.

She filled the car up with gas.

He's so mean, he just fills me with anger every time I think of him.

Suddenly, the screen was filled with light.

I fill up the dog's new dish to the top and stick it on the floor.

Instead of eating a good dinner she just fills up on bread.

If you fill in something, you give the missing information, especially personal information on a form.

She gave me another form to fill in for housing benefit.

When I got back, she filled me in on what had been happening.

If you fill out, your body reaches its adult shape, especially women's breasts and men's shoulders.


fill

The full amount of food or drink that a person can eat or drink.

Don't feed him any more, he's had his fill.

I've had my fill of alcohol for tonight.

Fill is extra material, often of low quality, used to give something more volume.

They used the rocks as fill under the new house.


secure

securer (comparative)
securest (superlative)
secure (positive)
more secure (comparative)
most secure (superlative)

When something is secure, it is firmly held in place and probably will not fall.

Mike's bicycle is very secure on the bike rack.

When a person is secure, they are not afraid of anything and are in a good emotional state.


secure

secure (canonical)
secures (third-person singular)
secured (past)
secured (past participle)
securing (present participle)

If you secure something, you make it secure in one of the ways listed above.


everyday

something that is done a lot or happens a lot; something that is ordinary.

These are my everyday clothes.


matter

A matter is something that you can talk about or do something about a topic or a situation.

Government must make these changes as a matter of urgency.

We can discuss the matter more fully at the meeting.

Whether our people should be in the country or not is matter for debate.

At the meeting we will have time to talk about new matters arising.

They decided on a number of matters related to housing.

Try not to do anything to make matters worse.

As a matter of principle, we should try to help poor people.

It is not a simple matter to stop using gasoline.

Care Assistants help them with such matters as toileting, dressing, washing and so on.

The truth of the matter is that we do not know how to do it.

The questions about the new president are a matter of public concern.

Cheating on a test is a serious matter.

Matter is the stuff that everything is made of.

Cities are trying to separate organic matter and other garbage.

Scientists now think that there is some kind of "dark matter" in space.

You use, "as a matter of fact" to add information that may be surprising.

"Have you met anyone interesting over there?" "As a matter of fact, I met a whole bunch of people just this afternoon.

You use "what's the matter" to ask somebody why they are unhappy, or why there is a problem.

You use "for that matter" when you have just thought about something that you are comparing to something else.

He wasn't very nice today. For that matter, he's never nice.

If something is only a matter of time, it may not happen now, but it will happen after some time.

It's only a matter of days now before I start the new job.

You use "no matter what" to say that even if other things change, a particular thing will not change.

I'll be there no matter what. I promise.


matter

matter (canonical)
matters (third-person singular)
mattered (past)
mattered (past participle)
mattering (present participle)

If something doesn't matter, it is not important.

"Should I put it up there?" "Oh, it doesn't matter. Put it anywhere."

Anyone can play. It doesn't matter if you're seven or 70.

It doesn't matter what you do as long as it's fun.

Many people don't like me, but that doesn't really matter to me.

This should help a lot of people and that's what matters.

"Sorry about that!" "Oh, it doesn't matter."

It's not your money, so what does it matter?


oppose

oppose (canonical)
opposes (third-person singular)
opposed (past)
opposed (past participle)
opposing (present participle)

If you oppose something, you try to stop it or fight against it.

We would strongly oppose any changes.

Do you favor or oppose more taxes?

The opposing team just scored again.


quit

quit (past)
quit (past participle)
quit (canonical)
quits (third-person singular)
quitted (past)
quitted (past participle)
quitting (present participle)

If you quit something, you stop doing it; that is, you do not do it any more.

It was very hard to quit smoking.

Please quit bothering me!

I'll need to quit typing meanings soon.

He always quits working too early.

If you quit a job, it means you are not going to work anymore. After you quit, you will no longer have that job.

I'm quitting my job now!

The past tense and past participle of quit.


imagine

imagine (canonical)
imagines (third-person singular)
imagined (past)
imagined (past participle)
imagining (present participle)

If you imagine something, you make a picture of it in your head.

Imagine that you're sitting at a table with all the food you can eat.

I imagined myself fighting a monster.

I imagined myself in a forest while an animal was chasing after me.

I felt creepy when I imagined a spider crawling on me.

It feels fun to imagine myself in the 50s and 90s, i wasn't even born in those decades.

If you imagine something, you think or believe it without knowing.

I imagine everybody will be there.

Maybe you just imagined that the phone rang.

/ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/


involve

involve (canonical)
involves (third-person singular)
involved (past)
involved (past participle)
involving (present participle)

If an activity involves something, then that thing is used in or is part of the activity.

The job involves the use of special computer software.

The process involves both thinking and writing about the changes.

The attack also involved fighters from a variety of countries.


urban

urban (positive)
more urban (comparative)
most urban (superlative)

If something is urban, it is related to cities

an urban neighborhood or region


mention

mention (canonical)
mentions (third-person singular)
mentioned (past)
mentioned (past participle)
mentioning (present participle)

If you mention something, you say it or talk about it, but only very briefly.

Father Poole became very excited when I mentioned your name.

As I have already mentioned, I had never tried skiing before.

The problem is not mentioned in any of the books.

He mentioned that she would probably be there.

Did you mention the changes to Susan?

Now that you mention it, I do have another key under the mat.

"Thank you for your help!" "Oh, don't mention it. It was nothing."


mention

A mention of something, is when somebody mentions it.

Kavanagh's book makes no mention of Katherine's name.

The economy received only the briefest of mentions in the speech.


perhaps

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

Perhaps someday I'll learn how to drive.

If I tried again, perhaps it might work.

You use perhaps when you are not sure about something.

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

Nokia is perhaps Finland's best-known company.


behave

behave (canonical)
behaves (third-person singular)
behaved (past)
behaved (past participle)
behaving (present participle)

How you behave is what you do or how you act.

Why do you behave like that.

How something behaves is what it usually does.

We want to know how fire behaves in space.

I wish the children would behave.

If you behave I will give you a reward.


miss

miss (canonical)
misses (third-person singular)
missed (past)
missed (past participle)
missing (present participle)

If you miss something, you don't hit it.

I missed the target.

If you miss someone or something when they are gone or away, you wish they were there with you.

I miss you so much. When are you coming home?

If you miss an event, you aren't able to go.

I'm going to have to miss the party because I can't find a babysitter.

If you miss something, you aren't able to get on it in time.

I'm sorry I'm late; I missed the bus.

You better hurry or we're going to miss the train!

If you miss something, you don't understand it.

You're missing the point of what I'm saying.


miss

You use miss before an unmarried woman's name, usually the last name or the full name.

Miss Brakel, the doctor will see you now.

This is Miss June Hagerty.

You call a young woman miss when you don't know her name.

Excuse me, miss, I think you dropped this.


score

The numbers used to tell who is winning in a sport or game.

The final score for the ball game was 30 to 17.

A copy of written music, usually for an orchestra. Usually, this means all the written music for all the players for a piece of music.

I have the whole score for the Brandenburg Concertos.

You must earn a score of at least 70 to pass the test.

The number 20. This is an old meaning; people don't use score for this much any more.

Four score and seven years ago.


score

score (canonical)
scores (third-person singular)
scored (past)
scored (past participle)
scoring (present participle)

To gain points in a game, so that your score is increased.

The basketball player just scored three points!

To get a certain result on a text or quiz.

I scored a 95 on the test!

I scored some tickets to the game tonight.

If you score the paper first, gently using a knife along the edge of a ruler, then you'll be able to fold it neatly and straight.


raise

raise (canonical)
raises (third-person singular)
raised (past)
raised (past participle)
raising (present participle)

If you raise something you make it higher; that is you move it up.

I need to raise the car off the ground to fix it from below.

Raise your hand if you know the answer.

If you raise children or animals, you care for them until they have grown up (become adults).

I raised the children after their mother died.

I raised my dog from a puppy.

If you raise food (plants or animals) you grow it on a farm. This is also used for plants that are not food, like cotton or tobacco.

My grandfather raised corn and chickens.

If you raise a number, you make it bigger.

If you raise an idea you start talking about it.

Why did you have to raise the issue of abortion?

If you raise somebody in gambling, you make a bigger bet.

If someone raises the dead they make dead people alive again.

Jesus is said to have raised the dead.


raise

I have worked here long enough I should get a raise.

In gambling, a raise is an increased bet.


pence

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

These apples are twenty pence each.


really

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

I really want to see a film.

I'm really hungry now.

You did a really good job on that.

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

I don't really like Japanese food.

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

Are you really going to the show?

Yes, I really will be there.


really

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

"He won yesterday." "Really?"

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

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


otherwise

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

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

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

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

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

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

She has some cuts, but is otherwise fine.

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

/ˈʌð.əˌwaɪz/

/ˈʌð.ɚˌwaɪz/


union

A union is when many things are joined together.

The League of Nations was a union between many nations.

The union of these two companies was painless.

marriage is the union of two lives.


mythical

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

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

There are many mythical stories about the Norse god Thor.

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

A dragon is a mythical animal.

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

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

His skill with the baseball bat was mythical.

His team had a win of mythical proportions.


operate

operate (canonical)
operates (third-person singular)
operated (past)
operated (past participle)
operating (present participle)

If you operate a machine, you control it.

Everyone on board is able to operate the ship.

Does the device operate independently or does it need to connect to other devices?

If organizations or people operate, they work or do business.

The business will continue to operate under the same name.

The school operates a system for selling used textbooks.

It's really hard to operate with the kids running around.

If a doctor operates, he cuts into a client's body to fix it.


politic

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

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

The senator gave a very politic reply.


protect

protect (canonical)
protects (third-person singular)
protected (past)
protected (past participle)
protecting (present participle)

If you protect something or someone, you keep it safe; you stop it from being harmed.

The knight protected the castle.


pass

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

If you pass something, it was ahead of you and you move so that it is now behind you.

Please, step to the right and let faster people pass on your left.

She was so close to the road that she could feel the wind from passing cars.

He looked in as he passed the window.

We passed through the tunnel and were back out into the light.

She passed her hand across her face.

He passed the belt through the loops in his pants.

Did you see two people pass this way, a man and a woman, walking north?

If a bill, law, motion, etc. passes, it is accepted, usually after a vote.

The House passed a law that makes it a crime to have sex with anyone under age 16.

If you pass a test, exam, etc., you get a score that is good enough, often over 50%.

You passed the test. In fact, you got 7 out of 10 correct.

If time passes, it moves from future to past.

I'm bored here. The only thing that helps me pass the time is your letters.

They passed the night in a hotel just outside town.

If a road, river, railway, etc. passes a place, it continues from one side of the place to the other side.

They are building a 150-kilometer road that passes through Yasuni Park.

The road from Karachi to Gadani passes the route once taken by Alexander the Great.

If you pass something to someone, you give it to them, usually by hand.

Could you pass me the salt, please?

The book passed from hand to hand.

I passed your name on to my manager.

She passed the information on to the police.

What has passed today must remain a secret.

If you pass a ball, puck, etc. you throw, kick, or hit it to another member of your team.

He passed to Lafleur, who put the ball in for the goal.


pass

A pass is a piece of paper, plastic, etc. that allows somebody to enter a building, vehicle, or area.

We have a season's pass for the ski hill.

A pass is a score on a test, exam, etc. that is good enough, often over 50%. Also a person or paper that gets this score.

On the last test there were only five passes; everyone else failed.

We have one of the highest pass rates for the exam in the state!

A pass is a throw, kick, hit, etc. of a ball, puck, etc. to another member of your team.

Robert's pass in front of the net is blocked by the goalie.

A pass is a place in a mountain that is easy to travel.

The mountain pass was blocked, which made it difficult to get across.

A pass is one case of a repeated action or process.

We caught some new mistakes on the third pass.


mythic

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

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

There are many mythic stories about the Norse god Thor.

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

A dragon is a mythic animal.

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

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

His skill with the baseball bat was mythic.

His team had a win of mythic proportions.


mythology

mythology (singular)
mythologies (plural)

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

A mythology is all the myths from a certain religion.

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

Tolkien invented an complex mythology for Middle Earth.

The mythology behind Superman is really very deep.

/mɪˈθɑːləʤi/


French language


'd rather


proxy

A proxy is something or someone that acts in place of another.


proxy

A "proxy x" is an x that is being used as a proxy.

He used a proxy computer for the operation.


proxy

proxy (canonical)
proxies (third-person singular)
proxied (past)
proxied (past participle)
proxying (present participle)


okay

You use okay to show that you agree with something.

"I'll be late tonight, mom." "Okay dear!"

"You don't have to come tomorrow." "Okay, I'll see you next week then."

You use okay to check if someone agrees with you.

I'm leaving now, okay?

You use okay to show that you are changing topic.

Does anybody have questions? No? Okay, let's look at the homework then.


okay

If someone is okay, they are fine or not hurt.

Oh, sorry! Are you okay? Let me help you.

Thanks, I'm feeling okay now.

If something is okay, it is good enough, fine, or not bad.

"Do you like this?" "It's okay, I guess. Do you have anything nicer?"

"Is it okay if I do it tomorrow?" "Yeah, it's okay with me.

"How was your day?" "Oh, it was okay--nothing special."

He's an okay guy.


okay

okay (canonical)
okays (third-person singular)
okayed (past)
okayed (past participle)
okaying (present participle)

The manager has to okay it before I can let you in.

If you okay something with somebody, you ask them to approve it.

Did you okay this with your dad?


okay

If you give something your okay, you approve it.

We got the okay to go ahead.


figure

Figures are numbers showing the value or amount of something.

The sales figures from the spring were down from last year.

According to the official figures, unemployment levels are about 6 per cent.

You only have to look at the figures for fire deaths in hotels to see this is not a problem.

A figure is a person, often a well-known person.

They have published articles about many leading figures including John Reed, J.A. Hobson, Tom Mann, and Daniel de Leon.

The figure of Margaret Thatcher towers over the Falklands War.

A figure is a person, especially the person's shape.

She did not see the figure standing in the shadows of the kitchen doorway.

Across the river is the figure of Lenin on top of an armored car carved of stone.

Her girlish figure had disappeared as she aged, sat more, and ate more.

The most popular boy's toy ever is the G.I. Joe action figure.

He looked down at the wet figures of the boy and dog.

A figure is a picture in a textbook or scientific journal. (Often written fig.)


figure

figure (canonical)
figures (third-person singular)
figured (past)
figured (past participle)
figuring (present participle)

If x figures in something that happens, x is part of that happening.

The weather figured prominently in their plans.

The fact that he wouldn't be there didn't figure among her worries.

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

Few people figured that he would win.

If you figure something out, you think about it until you understand it.

He figured out that she was speaking Italian.


recent

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

Something that is recent has happened a short while ago.

Has there been any recent news on the dispute?

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

These changes are quite recent.


propose

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

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

She proposed that we should see a film.

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

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

Clinton now proposes doing almost exactly the opposite.

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

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

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

What does he propose to do in the future?

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

He proposed to his girlfriend outside her house.

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

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


therefore

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

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

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


realize

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

If you realize something, you become aware of it.

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

It took me some time to realize it was you.

Do you realize what you've done?

If something is realized, it is made real.

My dreams of starting my own company have been realized.


rather

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

I saw something rather unusual this morning.

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

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

He went rather than stay behind and be alone.

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

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


rather

You use rather to show that you agree strongly.

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


them both

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

Can you give it to them both?

I want them both to come.


us both

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

It would be better for us both to go?

He wants us both to come.


hermaphrodite

hermaphrodite (singular)
hermaphrodites (plural)

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


papaya

A type of tree that has big, yellow fruit.


myth

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

There are many myths about the Norse god Thor.

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

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


proper

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

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

What is the proper way to write a letter?

If something is proper, it is polite or acceptable.

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

She was a very proper young lady.

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

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

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


minister

A minister is a politician who is in charge of a part of the government.

The Minister of Defense has said that the army will remain in the city for at least two more weeks.

A minister is a person who acts officially in a Christian church.

The minister who performed our wedding ceremony was a great speaker.


minister

minister (canonical)
ministers (third-person singular)
ministered (past)
ministered (past participle)
ministering (present participle)

If you minister, you give help, especially through your words or by nursing.

To minister, a church must be sensitive to what is hurting its community.

Mother Theresa spent her life ministering to the sick and poor in India.


would rather

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

I would rather see a film than stay home.

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

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


loanword

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

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

Most languages have some loanwords.

There are many loanwords in English.


us all

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

We have to make this better for us all.

I want us all to be here early tomorrow.


them all

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

We have to make this better for them all.

I want them all to be here early tomorrow.


you all

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

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

I want to thank you all for coming.


original

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

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

The book has been translated from the original Russian version.

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

If something is original, it is new and creative.

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

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

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


original

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

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


dollar

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


remember

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please, try to remember how to spell the word.

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

Please remember to ask before you take it.

Did you remember to get the milk?


reduce

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

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

The new computer system should reduce the number of problems.

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

Eating well will reduce the risk of heart disease.

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

Taxes have been reduced by 24 percent.

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


you both

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

I'll give it to you both?

I want you both to come.


liar

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

I don't trust that liar.

Jessica made him out to be a liar.


suite

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

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

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

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

I work at 123 Oak Rd, Suite 5.


linguistics

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

lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks


sir

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

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

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


Baldur

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


reckon

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

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

What do you reckon we should do?

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

He's reckoned to be quite a good teacher.

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

I reckon the cost at about $23,000.

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

If you reckon on something, you expect it.

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

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

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


coir

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


wonder

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

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

I wonder when they will be home.

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

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

Is he really working every night? I wonder.

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

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

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

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

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


wonder

A wonder is something that makes a person think.

It is a wonder why he ran away.

The Pyramids are quite a wonder.


poetic

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

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

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

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


rime

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

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


poetic justice

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

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


soon

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

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

John is coming home soon.

How soon will it be ready?

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

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


soon

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

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

He wanted to leave, but it seemed too soon.

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


loan word

loan word (singular)
loan words (plural)

Loan word is another way of spelling loanword.


press

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

The president gave an interview with members of the press.

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

The press is the news as it is reported.

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

The book was published by University of California Press.

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

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

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

A press is a time when you push something.

She gave the button a quick press.


press

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

If you press something, you push it against something.

She pressed her nose against the window.

Please, press a button.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


poetry

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

This is a book of poetry.

Poetry is found all over the world.

To hear my child speak is poetry.


ladylike

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

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

Her ladylike ways impressed the older people in the room.

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

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


water-proof

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

Water-proof is another way of spelling waterproof.


recognize

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

If you recognize something, you realize what it is.

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

If something is recognized, it is accepted.

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

The government refused to recognize his passport.

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

If something is recognized, it is given an award.

John was recognized for his achievements as a scientist.


socket

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


waterproof

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

If something is waterproof, water cannot go through it.

I needed a waterproof coat to walk in the rain.


proceed

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

When you proceed, you go forward with something.

The reporter proceeded with the interview.

They proceeded down the road.

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


proceed

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

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

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


politics

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

The Prime Minister entered politics when she was in university.

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

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

Office politics have stopped her from getting the job.


suppose

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

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

What do you suppose that he will do?

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

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

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

Do you suppose that was his plan from the beginning?

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

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

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

I don't suppose you remember me?

You use suppose to talk about an imaginary situation.

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


daylight

The light from the sun that is seen in the daytime.

The time when the sun is out and daylight can be see; the daytime.


teenager

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

Many teenagers want to rebel.


teen

Teens are often hard on parents.

Everyone scored in the teens.


syllable

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

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


weak

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

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

The child was too weak to move the boulder.

Something that is weak does not have a strong taste.

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

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


soldier

A soldier is someone who is part of an army.

The soldier was shot in the war.


OK

You use OK to show that you agree with something.

"I'll be late tonight, mom." "OK, dear!"

"You don't have to come tomorrow." "OK, I'll see you next week then."

You use OK to check if someone agrees with you.

I'm leaving now, OK?

You use OK to show that you are changing topic.

Does anybody have questions? No? OK, let's look at the homework then.


OK

OK (positive)
more OK (comparative)
most OK (superlative)

If someone is OK, they are fine or not hurt.

Oh, sorry! Are you OK? Let me help you.

Thanks, I'm feeling OK now.

If something is OK, it is good enough, fine, or not bad.

"Do you like this?" "It's OK, I guess. Do you have anything nicer?"

"Is it OK if I do it tomorrow?" "Yeah, it's OK with me.

"How was your day?" "Oh, it was OK--nothing special."

He's an OK guy.


OK

OK (canonical)
OK's (third-person singular)
OK'd (past)
OK'd (past participle)
OK'ing (present participle)

The manager has to OK it before I can let you in.

If you OK something with somebody, you ask them to approve it.

Did you OK this with your dad?


OK

If you give something your OK, you approve it.

We got the OK to go ahead.


teacher

A teacher is a person who teaches other people.

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


vicious

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

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


sheet

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

Use the sheets next to the bed.

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

Can I have a sheet of paper?

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

Place the rolls on the baking sheet.

A sheet of ice covered the ground.

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


French

The family spoke French.

Pardon my French.


French

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

The French and the English have often been at war.

We have crossed the French border with Italy.

Something that is related to the French people.

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

Something that is related to the French language.

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


pardon

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

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

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


pardon

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

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

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

When you pardon someone, you forgive them.

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


pardon

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

A pardon is given when someone is forgiven.

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


n't


pension

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

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

He regularly puts money into a retirement pension plan.

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

I stayed at a pension during my trip to London.

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

Did you remember to pay the landlady the pension?


pension

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

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


morphosyntax

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


Italy

Italy is a country in Europe by the Mediterranean Sea.


morpheme

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


daylights

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

You scared the daylights out of me!

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


Polish

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

Things or people from Poland are Polish.


syntax

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

English syntax is never easier than English spelling.

The linguist studied the syntax of many languages.

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

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

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


women

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


feminine

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

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

Wearing dresses is very feminine.

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

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

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

A tampon is a feminine item.

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

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


ceiling

This room has a very interesting ceiling.

price ceilings

The highest altitude that an aircraft may fly.

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

The ceiling of 4.5 is 5.


German language


poet

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


English language


consonant

consonant (singular)
consonants (plural)

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

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

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


Polish language


situate

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

If something is situated somewhere, it is there.

The school is situated in a mostly-white area.


lyrics

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

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

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

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


Switzerland

Switzerland is a country in central Europe.


orphan

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

She became an orphan when the storm killed her parents.

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


kingdom

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


consistency

consistency (singular)
consistencies (plural)

The quality of being consistent or uniform.

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

Mix it until it has a thick consistency.

The consistency of water is pretty thin.


Spain

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


boxer

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

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


black-eyed susan


Received Pronunciation

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


pack

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

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

Did you pack your swimming suit?

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

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

It's time to pack up and go.

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

The hall was packed with visitors.

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

All the runners had packed the earth hard.

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

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


pack

A pack is a container that things are sold in.

Cigarettes were selling for over $10 a pack.

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

My spare clothes are in my pack.

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

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

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

A pack of lies is something that is completely untrue.

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


LMAO

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

/ɛlˌɛmˌeɪˈoʊ/


Portugal

Portugal is a country near Spain in Europe.

/ˈpɔːt͡ʃəɡəl/

/ˈpɔrt͡ʃəɡəl/


Andorra

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


Luxembourg

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


powerful

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

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

The king is a very powerful man.

Big guns are powerful weapons.

A tiger is powerful animal.

The train has a powerful engine.


Monaco

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


IP addresses

IP address (singular)
IP addresses (plural)

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

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


overcorrect

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

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

The driver overcorrected and hit another car.


supply

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

We will need a supply of water.

During the war, the Americans destroyed their food supply.

Sadly these books are in very short supply in Britain.

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

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

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

Supply is the act or system of supplying something.

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

The airplane's air supply wasn't working.


supply

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

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

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

Our garden supplies us with all the food we need.

The office was well supplied with chairs.


adolescent

adolescent (singular)
adolescents (plural)

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

The teacher worked mostly with adolescents.

An adolescent is a person going through sexual maturation.


adolescent

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

If something is adolescent it is typical of adolescents.

The woman still had an adolescent appearance.


poem

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

I have written some poems.

The poem was very beautiful.


jumpy

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

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

Are you okay, you seem jumpy today.

I was a little jumpy after the car wreck.


duct tape

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

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


duct tape

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

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


morphology

morphology (singular)
morphologies (plural)

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

English morphology is easier than German morphology.

The linguist studied the morphology of many languages.

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

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

The study of how animals and plants are shaped.

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

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

Rock morphology gives us clues about Earth's history.

A morphology is the shape of something in general.

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

Insects have very different morphologies than mammals.


General American

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


unsaturated

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

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


third-person

When a verb is used in the third person.

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


passed

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

The past tense and past participle of pass.


succeed

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

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

He succeeded in getting everyone to like him.

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

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

The new king succeeded his father.

DVDs succeeded VHS as the main way to watch movies.


kindness

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

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


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

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

Her note said "Meet me @ 6pm".


Curitiba

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


pore

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


pore

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

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


rhyme

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

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

The words "day" and "way" rhyme.

Rhyming is a good way to remember some things.


rhyme

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

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


vulgar

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

If something is vulgar, it is obscene or offensive.

The words "cunt" and "fuck" are seen as very vulgar, you should be careful using them.

A vulgar fraction is a rational number.


Wiktionary

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

The dictionary resulting from this project.


sale

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

The sale of guns in Canada is tightly controlled.

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

The president said the company is not for sale.

Sales is the number or value of things sold.

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

Retail sales have fallen for two months in a row.

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

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

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

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

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

Milk is on sale for a dollar a litre.


artist

An artist was in the park painting the birds.

An artist is a performer on a musical track.


TTYL

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


relic

Something old that is kept for personal, sentimental reasons.

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


truthiness

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

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

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


catalyst

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

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

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

Communication is a catalyst for peace.


meadow

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

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


FYI

A short way of saying "for your information".

We've updated our phone system, FYI.

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


crop rotation

crop rotation (singular)
crop rotations (plural)

In farming, crop rotation is the when the same land is used to grow different crops season after season.


assimilation

assimilation (singular)
assimilations (plural)

The act of assimilating or the state of being assimilated.

Adding new ideas to an old way of thinking.

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

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


refer

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

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

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

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

He referred to her only by her first name.

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

You should refer to the dictionary to find the meaning.

The numbers refer to last year's sales.

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

He referred me to the science department.


masculine

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

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

Playing sports is often seen as masculine.

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

The character Rambo is very masculine.

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

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

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


-na

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

When are you gonna be finished?

I don't wanna do that.


warrior

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

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


try

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

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

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

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

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

I really want to try and make a difference.

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

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

He's never afraid to try something new.

Did you try the fish in the fridge?

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

He was tried for robbery.


try

A try is when you attempt to do something.

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

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

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


corpse

From the Latin word corpus, meaning "body".


grammars

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

Three large English grammars sit on his shelf.


LOL

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

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

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

LOL 1 is Portadown branch.


German

A German is a person who comes from Germany.

My friend is a German.


German

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

Something or someone that is German comes from Germany.

My friend Dagmar is German.

I bought a German car last year.

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

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


disc

An object that is thin, flat, and circular.

A coin is a disc of metal.

Venus' disc cut off light from the Sun.

Turn the disc over, after it has finished.


OMG

Object Management Group (who define CORBA).


RP

A shortening of "Received Pronunciation".

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


RP

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


saturation

saturation (singular)
saturations (plural)

The act of saturating or the process of being saturated.

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

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

When a solution becomes completed saturated.

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

When an organic compound has no double or triple bonds

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

bombing a military target and trying to destroy it

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

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


electronic

Something that is electronic relates to an electron or electrons.

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

What does that electronic device do?

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

electronic music


asshole

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

Don't be an asshole.

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


-ta

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

I'm sorry, I gotta go.

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


anilingus

Anilingus is when a person stimulates another person's anus with their tongue.


fighter

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

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

A fighter is small, fast airplane used for war.


length

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

What is the length of the car?

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

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


olive

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

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

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


regard

If you have regard for something, you respect it.

He has a high regard for his teacher.

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

Regard is how something is though about or looked at.

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

What has he said with regard to taxes?

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

You use Regards as a closing in a formal letter.

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


regard

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

If you regard something, you think about it.

How do you regard his actions?

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

When you regard something, you look at it.

She regarded him with a smile.


reader

A reader is somebody or something that reads.

I would describe myself as a reader because I'm always reading books.

We got a new card reader for the door.


permit

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


permit

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

If you permit something, you let it happen.

If you permit something, you make it legal.


daddy

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

The girl was very happy to see her daddy.

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

You know I'm your daddy.

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

He really thinks he's the daddy!


lawn

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

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


Thunbergia

Thunbergia (singular)
Thunbergias (plural)

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


sadness

I felt great sadness when my mother died.


headword

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

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

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


moral

moral (positive)
more moral (comparative)
most moral (superlative)

A moral action or decision is one that is good or right not evil or harmful.

John, don't do that, it's not very moral.


moral

Teachings of what is right and what is wrong.

Mr. Johnson is known for his good morals.

Something that is learned from a story or event; a lesson.

The moral of The Tortoise and the Hare is "slow and steady wins the race".


killer

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

The police caught the killer today.

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

Lighting can be a real killer.

Failing the exam was a real killer.

The show was great, a real killer.


killer

Watch out! There are killer bees!

The family barely got away from the killer storm.

That was a killer show!


kick-ass

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

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

The show was totally kick ass.


prevention

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

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


vagina

A vagina is a tube that goes from the vulva to the uterus of female mammals.


disk

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

A coin is a disk of metal.

Venus' disk blocked light from the Sun.

Turn the disk over after it has finished.

He still uses floppy disks from 1979.

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

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


in spite

If x happens in spite of y, it is surprising that y did not stop x.

They couldn't move it in spite of their strength.

In spite of all the problems, the project was finished on time.


countable

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

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

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

Antonyms: uncountable, non-count and mass


obfuscate

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

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

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

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

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

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


WTF

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

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


jar

A small cylindrical container usually made of glass or clay.


jar

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

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

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


black-eyed Susan

black-eyed Susan (singular)
black-eyed Susans (plural)

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

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


catastrophe

catastrophe (singular)
catastrophes (plural)

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

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

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


icon

An image, picture, or other representation of something.

A religious painting that is often done on wooden panels.

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

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

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

Click on the icon to open the program.

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


flown

fly (canonical)
flies (third-person singular)
flew (past)
flown (past participle)
flying (present participle)

Even though I have flown in a plane many times, I still get nervous during take-offs.

Have you ever flown in a helicopter?


pick

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

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

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

She picked up the glass and put it down again.

Pick your clothes up off the floor!

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

If you pick up the phone, you answer it.

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

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

I'll go an pick up a pizza.

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

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

We spent the morning picking apples in the forest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

She picked nervously at her dress.

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

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


pick

His pick for Man of the Year was John Smith.

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

He dug that hole using a pick.

A pick is something used to play a guitar with.

He forgot his guitar pick.


cyclamen

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

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


report

A report is a description of something that has happened.

There was a recent report on the election.

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

He could hear the report of the explosion.


report

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

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

The journalist reported that there were riots in the city.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visitors to the school should report to the office.


penalty

A penalty is a legal punishment for committing a crime.

The penalty for his crime was to pay a fine.

A penalty is a punishment for breaking the rules.

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

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

A penalty was called when he tripped up his opponent.


twat

How about some shit you little twat?


slight

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

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

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

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

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

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


slight

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

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

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


slight

A slight is when you are not polite to someone.

Has she forgiven him for his slight?


shitty

shittier (comparative)
shitty (positive)
shitter (comparative)
shittiest (superlative)

Kicking the dog was a really shitty thing to do.

Man, I was shitty drunk last night.

This is an awful movie; it's got shitty actors in it.


boxing

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


settle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His eyes settled on the red flower.

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

A feeling of sadness settled over them.

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

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

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

After moving to Canada, they settled in Toronto.

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

The noisy class needs to settle down.

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

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


chips

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

Chips are French fried potatoes; french fries.

fish and chips

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

potato chips

tortilla chips

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


chips

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


fist

A hand that is held tightly, often to hit.


fist

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

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


production

production (singular)
productions (plural)

Production is when something is produced.

The machine is being used for production now.

The total amount of something that is produced.

They hope to increase spaghetti production next year.

A play or other presentation in a theatre.

We went to a production of Hamlet.

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

He made a simple meal into a huge production.


wouldn't

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


third person

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

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

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


fuckhead

A very insulting word to call someone you don't like; a stupid or unlikable person.

That fuckhead has been cheating on me with my best friend!


debris

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

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

litter or trash that has been discarded.

Look at all the debris in the gutters!.

Large rock fragments left by a melting glacier etc.


uncountable

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


traffic

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

Traffic is slow at rush hour.

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

He turned quickly, nearly getting hit by oncoming traffic.

Almost half of all traffic accidents are alcohol-related.

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

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

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

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


traffic

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

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

They were arrested for trafficking in stolen goods.


fur

My dog has very soft fur.

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

It take many beaver furs to make a coat.

or (uncountable) Clothes made from animal fur.

She loved to wear fur.

She often wears furs.

She had fur on last night.


switch

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

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

He switched his book with mine.

We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee.

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

Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat.

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

When his team was losing, he switched sides.

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

She sat up in bed and switched on the light.

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

I switched off the computer and went to bed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She switched the TV to another channel.

She switched the plane to automatic pilot.


switch

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

The light switch is on the wall behind the door.

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

A switch is a change from one thing to another.

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

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

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

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


fucker

A bad, nasty person or someone you don't like.

You fucker! You wrecked my car!

Let's see if we can fix this fucker.

People or friends, usually said between people who have a bond.

What's up, fuckers?

He is a great fucker because he makes me have an orgasm.


painter

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


factory

A factory is a building where things are made.

This factory makes one hundred cars every day.

A factory is anything that makes other things, especially if it makes a really large amount of things.


wee

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

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

He was a wee bit upset about the changes.

What a lovely wee child!


wee

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

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


envy

A feeling of wanting something that someone else has.

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

green with envy


envy

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

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


serve

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

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

Shall I serve your drinks first?

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

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

This cup can serve as a holder for my paintbrushes.

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

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

The area is served by a number of schools.

The law no longer serves the function it once did.

When you serve (as something), you work.

John served in the army.

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

He serves the king.

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

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


serve

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

Whose serve is it?

That was a great serve!


yeah

Yeah, sure, I'll go with you to the store.


yeah

I won! Yeah!


shadow

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

I saw your shadow against the wall.

The shadows got long as the sun set.

The room filled with shadow as the night came.


shadow

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

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

The detective shadowed the thief.

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

The curtains shadowed the room.

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


shadow

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


hatred

Hatred is another word for hate. If you have hatred for someone, then you very strongly dislike that person.

I can't believe he has such hatred for other races! -- what did they do to him?


wheelchair

wheelchair (singular)
wheelchairs (plural)

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

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

/ˈwilˌt͡ʃɛɚ/


sales

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

Sales is the number or value of things sold.

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

Retail sales have fallen for two months in a row.

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

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

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


censorship

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

/ˈsɛnsəˌʃɪp/

/ˈsɛnsɚˌʃɪp/


hull

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


hull

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

To take the covering off of a fruit or vegetable.

She sat on the back porch hulling peanuts.


'd

I'd go there if I could.


'd

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

I'd seen it before.


progress

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

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

We are making progress on finding a cure.

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


progress

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

The army progressed toward the city.


stepchild

stepchild (singular)
stepchildren (plural)

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

When I married my wife I got two stepchildren.


promotion

promotion (singular)
promotions (plural)

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

He received a promotion to sergeant.

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

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

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

/prəˈməʊʃən/


blowjob

A blowjob is when someone stimulates a penis with their mouth.

Mary gave John a blowjob.


vassal

A vassal is a subject of a superior lord and pledges his loyalty to his lord.

A subject; a dependant; a servant; a slave.


vassal

vassal (canonical)
vassals (third-person singular)
vassalled (past)
vassalled (past participle)
vassalling (present participle)

To treat someone as a vassal or to reduce him to the position of a vassal; to control; to enslave.

To subordinate yourself to someone or something.


native

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

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

This is my native land.

English is not my native language.

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

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

The native peoples of Australia are called aborigines.


native

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

Some natives must have stolen our cattle.

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

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