certain

certain (positive)
more certain (comparative)
most certain (superlative)

If you are certain of something, you believe it to be true without doubt.

If something is certain, it will happen without doubt.

If you make certain of something, you check that it is true or correct.


certain

Used to talk about groups or individuals without saying exactly which ones.

Certain problems can be solved with very simple maths.

Certain of the members did not agree.


corner

A corner is the place where two lines or edges meet.

They live on the corner of Main Street and Dundas.

Just put it on the table in the corner of the room.


corner

corner (canonical)
corners (third-person singular)
cornered (past)
cornered (past participle)
cornering (present participle)

To corner someone is to get someone into a place where he or she cannot leave.

Jessy cornered him in the supply room and wouldn't let him leave.

The car really corners well. Turns are easy for it.


measurement

measurement (singular)
measurements (plural)

Measurement is the act of measuring something.

Measurement is the amount of something which is found by measuring it.

The measurement of flour you need is four cups.


quiet

quiet (positive)
quieter (comparative)
quietest (superlative)

Not loud; making no sound or making very little sound.

This young person is very quiet now because she is reading a book.

You should be quiet in a library or a movie theater.


quiet

quiet (canonical)
quiets (third-person singular)
quieted (past)
quieted (past participle)
quieting (present participle)

She quieted the cries of her baby.

The manager quieted their protest with a few words.

Her presence quiets his fears.


quiet

You like the quiet.


various

various (positive)
more various (comparative)
most various (superlative)

Various ways, types, kinds, etc. are many different ones.

I've made the dish a number of times in various ways. It's never the same.

What are the differences between the various types of bottled water?


various

You use various to identify more than one thing without saying exactly which ones.

Various books have been taken.

There are various ways to fix the problem.

You have broken various of the rules.


loose

loose (positive)
looser (comparative)
loosest (superlative)

If something is loose, it moves easily or may come away from what it is attached to.

His tooth is loose and will probably come out in a day or two.

If something is loose, it does not fit closely.

My pants are so loose that they keep falling down.


us

You use us to talk or write about yourself and other people together with you.

She said hello to us.

Can you tell us where it is?

We think this is important for all of us.


us

You use us to refer to yourself and other people together with you.

It's OK for you guys, but it's different for us women.


now

You use now when you want to say that something is true at this time. It is also used for things a short time in the future or a short time in the past.

I had many problems before, but I'm OK now.

What did you say just now?

The English teacher is at the library now.

You use now at the beginning of a sentence to get people's attention.

Now, I'd like to hear from other people too.

You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future.

Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible.

Now is a good time to do it.

Mary should be home by now.

You use now to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen.

I’m going to relax now the school year is over.


uncle

Your uncle is the brother of your mother or father.

My father has a brother, Joe. Joe is my uncle.

My mother's brother, Jim, is another uncle.


mass noun

mass noun (singular)
mass nouns (plural)

A mass noun is a noun that refers to an amount, not an item.

"Water" is a mass noun, but "scissors" is not.


advertising

advertise (canonical)
advertises (third-person singular)
advertised (past)
advertised (past participle)
advertising (present participle)


advertising

Advertising is the business or study of using newspapers, TV, etc. to sell products or inform people.

Coke has a new advertising campaign for a new drink.

There's too much advertising on radio.


which

You use which to ask for the selection of one or more members of some set.

There are a lot of new books this year. Which ones do you like?

Excuse me, which way is the toilet?

Which of the two wines is cheaper?

Which of the following cheeses are usually made from sheep's milk? A. pecorino B. vaccino C. provolone D. chevre.

You use which to add a clause to explain what thing you're talking about.

For several seconds he sat in silence, during which time the tea and sandwiches arrived.

I'm thinking of getting a new car, in which case I'd get a red one.


which

You use which to add a clause to give more information about the thing you're talking about.

We've met some problems which are very difficult to handle.

He walked by a door with a sign which reads: PRIVATE OFFICE.

He had to leave, which was very difficult.

We have to protect the environment in which we live.

She appears to actually like the man, which I find incredible.

No art can be properly understood apart from the culture of which it is a part.


collection

collection (singular)
collections (plural)

A collection is a group of things of the same type. They are usually special in some way.

He has one of the biggest collections of paintings by Van Gogh.

If you take a collection, you ask many people for money, for a particular reason.

The school took a collection for new books.


rent

Rent is the money you pay to borrow and use something, usually an apartment.

Have we paid this month's rent yet?


rent

rent (canonical)
rents (third-person singular)
rented (past)
rented (past participle)
renting (present participle)

If you rent something, you pay money to use something for a limited time, usually for a house or apartment.

I'm in Texas next week, so I'll have to rent a car.

The room was rented out last week.


camp

A camp is a place, usually outside of cities, where people stay for a short time.

I don't think I can walk anymore today. Let's set up camp for the night.


camp

camp (canonical)
camps (third-person singular)
camped (past)
camped (past participle)
camping (present participle)

If you camp, you stay in a place, usually outside of the city for a short time.

I hope we can go camping in the mountains this summer.


license

A license is an official piece of paper that allows you to do something, such as drive, open a business, etc.

I got my driver's license when I was 16 years old.


license

license (canonical)
licenses (third-person singular)
licensed (past)
licensed (past participle)
licensing (present participle)

The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization.

It was decided to license Wikipedia under the GFDL.

I am licensed to practice law in this state.


will

will (present)
would (past)
won't (negative)

You use will to say that you strongly expect something to happen in the future.

Don't worry. The sun will come up again tomorrow.

If you will do something, you make a plan to do it.

I will go to the store.


will

will (canonical)
wills (third-person singular)
willed (past)
willed (past participle)
willing (present participle)

If you will something to happen, you wish for it to happen.

If you will something to someone, you write down your plan to give it to them after your death.

He willed his coin collection to his son.


will

A will is a statement about what you want to happen after you die.

Will is the ability to push through difficulties.

His will states that the house will be inherited by his oldest son after his death.


traditional

traditional (positive)
more traditional (comparative)
most traditional (superlative)

If something is traditional, it has been done in the same way for a long time.

I learned traditional Japanese cooking from my grandmother.

It is traditional to give gifts at Christmas time.


as

A word that is used to compare two things that are equal.

As you know, we need more workers.

I baked the cake as my mother used to.

Nothing is the same as it used to be.

The room looks just as before.

The speech, as he remembered it, was very powerful.

The measures as taken by the government were effective.

The company might end up dragging its feet and leaving the matter unsettled, as it used to be.

A word that is used to show that two things happened at the same time.

Just as I went out, it started to rain.

We sleep as the world turns in darkness.

A word that is used to show why something happens.

As I couldn't understand French, I didn't watch the film.

A word that is used to express concession.

Interesting as it seems, I don't think I'll get it.

The house was reported as being in excellent condition.

The police do not regard him as being dangerous.

Several pupils were designated as having moderate or severe learning difficulties.

I always think of you as one of the family.

She rates his work as creative.


as

You are younger than I am, but nearly as tall.

This is not as good as it was last time.

It remained as much a chimera as ever.


flat

flat (positive)
flatter (comparative)
flattest (superlative)

If something is flat, it has a surface with no high places or low places.

There are a lot of mountains, and very little flat land for farming.


flat

A flat is a rented room or rooms in a building with other flats.

Would you like to come back to my flat and watch TV?

A flat makes a note one semitone lower than a natural: it is shown by the symbol ♭.


flat

flat (canonical)
flats (third-person singular)
flatted (past)
flatted (past participle)
flatting (present participle)


umbrella

An umbrella is a tool to keep you dry when it rains. You hold it over your head.

I use my umbrella when it rains.

An umbrella company is an organization that controls other organizations.

The store was under the company umbrella.


consist

consist (canonical)
consists (third-person singular)
consisted (past)
consisted (past participle)
consisting (present participle)

If A consists of B, then B is the thing or things that, together, make A.

His letter consisted of only three words.

Preparation for the party consisted of inviting guests, buying food, cleaning, and hoping that the weather would be nice.


improve

improve (canonical)
improves (third-person singular)
improved (past)
improved (past participle)
improving (present participle)

If something improves, it changes from bad to good.

The government is planning to improve the quality of rail service by adding new trains.


body

A body is the main part of a person, animal, physical object, or organisation.

After falling out of the tree, his arm was broken and his body hurt all over.

The governing body of the UN meets in Geneva.

The police found her body after she had been missing for three days.

The senate is an important legislative body in the United States.

A body of something is a lot on it together in one place.

Lake Michigan is a large body of water.

A body is a thing that all moves together.

The moon is a body in orbit around Earth.


burst

burst (canonical)
bursts (third-person singular)
burst (past)
burst (past participle)
bursting (present participle)

If something bursts, it breaks open because of pressure from the inside.

I was driving west on the highway, when my front left tire burst.

When the bell rang, the school door burst open and the children came out running.

The past tense and past participle of burst.


burst

There was a burst of laughter from the audience when the clown slipped on the banana peel.

A burst of brilliant music greeted the newlyweds when they walked into the ball room.


circle

Please put your chairs in a circle.

The dog was running in circles.


circle

circle (canonical)
circles (third-person singular)
circled (past)
circled (past participle)
circling (present participle)

To circle something is to move around it.

The earth circles the sun once a year.

Using your pencil, please circle the correct answer.


apple

An apple is a sweet, red, yellow or green fruit.

I gave my teacher an apple.

I went to the Big Apple.


aside

If you put something aside, you put it to the side, often because you want to use it later.

We put some money aside for the children's education.

The fans were pushed aside by police to let the band go through.

Aside from the wine, which was terrible, the dinner was excellent.

You use something aside to leave that thing out of the topic.

The lies aside, they're good workers.


aside

An aside is something that you write or say that isn't part of your main idea.

And, just as an aside, I'd like to say that these ideas are not new...


flower

A flower is part of a plant. Flowers are often very pretty. Plants make them so that they can make new seeds.

The flower of the plant is starting to wilt.

She was in the flower of her life.

Cherry blossoms are in flower this week.

The rose is my favorite flower.


flower

flower (canonical)
flowers (third-person singular)
flowered (past)
flowered (past participle)
flowering (present participle)

When something flowers, it starts to bloom.

Cherry blossoms are going to flower this week.


mine

Give that back to me! It's mine!


mine

A mine is a large hole in the ground from which rocks and minerals are taken.

A mine is a device that explodes when it is touched, or when a ship, vehicle, or person comes close to it.


mine

mine (canonical)
mines (third-person singular)
mined (past)
mined (past participle)
mining (present participle)

If you mine rocks or minerals, you dig them out of the ground.

If you mine an area, you dig a mine there.

If you mine an area, you put exploding mines there.

The soldiers mined the field to help kill their enemies.


arrange

arrange (canonical)
arranges (third-person singular)
arranged (past)
arranged (past participle)
arranging (present participle)

If you arrange something, you put it in order or you organise it.

We have arranged a meeting between the president of the company and the new owner.

I will arrange for a car to meet you at the airport.


ticket

A ticket is a piece of paper that allows you to enter a train, airplane, show, etc.

I bought my ticket to Mexico last week, but now I can't find it.

A ticket is a piece of paper that shows that you have parked your car in the wrong place or committed some other driving offence.

The policeman gave me a ticket for going 125 km/h.


ticket

ticket (canonical)
tickets (third-person singular)
ticketed (past)
ticketed (past participle)
ticketing (present participle)

If you ticket someone, then you give someone a ticket for breaking a law.

The officer ticketed the driver after he drove through a red light.


rude

rude (positive)
ruder (comparative)
rudest (superlative)

If someone is rude or does something rude, they act in a way that will likely upset people.

Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking. It's rude.


noise

A noise is a sound, usually one that you don't want.

There's too much noise. I can't hear what she's saying.


little

little (positive)
littler (comparative)
littlest (superlative)

If something is little, its size is not big.

I just ate a tiny little piece of the cake.

A little while, distance, etc. is not long.

Could you just wait a little while more?

Two little boys were fighting on the playground.


little

little
less (comparative)
least (superlative)

Little money, room, help, etc. is a small amount of it; not much.

They understood little or no French.

He was busy and had little time for children.

Try to spend as little of your money as possible.

We saw little of her after the first day.

Little is known about the problem.

The building was destroyed leaving little more than rock and glass.

She's a quiet person with little to say about these things.

This has little to do with him and a lot to do with you.

We saved what little was left.


roof

roof (singular)
roofs or rooves (plural)

My five brothers, two sisters and seven cousins all live together under one roof.


roof

roof (canonical)
roofs (third-person singular)
roofed (past)
roofed (past participle)
roofing (present participle)

If you roof something, then you are putting a roof onto a building.

My father had to roof our house because it needed a roof.


sister

Your sister is the daughter of your mother and father.

My parents have three children: me, my brother, and my sister.

The Sister said that I must rest more.

A sister of a thing is something that has a special or affectionate connection to it, specifically one that is non-hierarchical.

Wikipedia is a sister project of Wiktionary.


astronomer

astronomer (singular)
astronomers (plural)

An astronomer is a person who studies stars, galaxies and space; a person who studies astronomy.

The astronomer stayed up all night, but saw nothing because it was cloudy.


compare

compare (canonical)
compares (third-person singular)
compared (past)
compared (past participle)
comparing (present participle)

If you compare two things, you look at, talk about, or think about how they are the same and how they are different.

I compared all different kinds of computers before buying this one.

Compared to the sun, the moon is quite small.


licence

A licence is an official piece of paper that allows you to do something, such as drive, open a business, etc.

I got my driver's licence when I was 16 years old.


licence

licence (canonical)
licences (third-person singular)
licenced (past)
licenced (past participle)
licencing (present participle)

Another spelling of license, usually thought to be wrong. The verb form should normally be spelt as license.


management

management (singular)
managements (plural)

Management is the act of watching and controlling a business or situation.

This building uses a computerized energy management systems to save electricity.

The management is/are the people who control a business.

Management have received a 5% pay raise, but workers are only getting 3.5%.


bone

Bones are the hard, white things inside your body. They give your body its shape.

How many bones did a dinosaur have?


bone

bone (canonical)
bones (third-person singular)
boned (past)
boned (past participle)
boning (present participle)


snake

A snake is a long, thin reptile with no legs.

Some snakes will attack people, but most will try to hide or run away.

A snake is a dishonest, treacherous person.

Chuck is a snake to do a low thing like that.

A snake is a tool used to unclog plumbing.


snake

snake (canonical)
snakes (third-person singular)
snaked (past)
snaked (past participle)
snaking (present participle)

If you snake, you move in a winding path.

The river snakes through the valley.

If you snake, you clean or unclog a clog using a plumbing snake.


birth

A birth is when a new baby comes out of its mother.

My mother gave birth to my brother at 12:00 on Dec. 31st.

The birth of the personal computer was in 1976.


birth

birth (canonical)
births (third-person singular)
birthed (past)
birthed (past participle)
birthing (present participle)

If a woman births a child, she bears or give birth to a child.


tooth

A tooth is a hard, white thing in your mouth. You use your teeth to chew food.

A tooth is a sharp point sticking out of something and forms a row of sharp objects for cutting.

A tooth is a rounded point on a gear that is used to transmit or receive force and motion to other gears.


dirty

dirty (positive)
dirtier (comparative)
dirtiest (superlative)

If something is dirty, it has dirt on it, or it is not clean.

After playing outside all day, her hands were all dirty.

You shouldn't say damn, shit, and other dirty words.


cottage

A cottage is a small house, usually in the countryside.

When we were young, we spent the summers at a cottage on Canoe Lake.


what

What is used to ask for information about things.

What did you see?

What do you mean?

What is used to add a clause with more information.

I don't know what you mean.

I'll tell you what to do.

I'll see what I can do to help.

The thing(s) which: a small amount of something.

Take what you can find.

What you made was great.

I am what I am.

The city is not what it used to be.

They kept blaming him for what he had done.


what

What is used to ask about the member(s) of a group.

What book did you buy?

What is used to talk about the member(s) of a group.

What gifts you can give are appreciated.

What ideas he has to offer are likely to be half-baked.

I gave him what money I had.


what

used to show that you feel strongly about something.

What a great book this is!


bottle

A bottle is a container, usually made of glass that holds liquid and has a cap or stopper.

He drank cold water from a plastic bottle.

She brought two bottles of wine to the party.

We collected the empty beer bottles and took them back to the shop.

I filled up the bottle with water.

She cracked open four bottles and poured glasses for each of them.

The floor under the Rock was covered with trash: broken bottles, food wrappers, and ripped clothing.

The bottle had a long, thin neck.


bottle

bottle (canonical)
bottles (third-person singular)
bottled (past)
bottled (past participle)
bottling (present participle)

If you bottle your feelings up, you keep them inside and don't let them show.

You can tell he is still angry, but he's keeping it bottled up.

If you bottle somebody or something up, you keep them in a very small space, often under pressure.

We were bottled up in that plane for 32 hours.

If you bottle something, you put it in a bottle.

This plant bottles a lot of spring water every day.


either

I can write with either hand.

You can drink either tea or coffee.

They can be used either alone or in groups.

Few people liked it; most either ignored it or hated it.

The room has a door at either end.

People were walking on either side of the road.

I can't find either shoe. I have lost both shoes.

I have a blue coat and a green coat. Either will keep me warm.

There will still be problems in either of the following two cases.


either

Used in negative statements to mean too or also.

I don't like him and I don't like her either.

I can't sing and I can't dance either.

No other country has any real friends either.


head

The head is the highest and most important part of the body.

He put his head on the desk and fell asleep.

After a series of problems, the head of the company left.

The bathroom on a ship is called the head.

The head is the function of the most important element in a phrase.


head

head (canonical)
heads (third-person singular)
headed (past)
headed (past participle)
heading (present participle)

Bill heads for the mall after work.


push

push (canonical)
pushes (third-person singular)
pushed (past)
pushed (past participle)
pushing (present participle)

If you push something, you touch it with a force away from your body.

You have to push that door quite hard before it will open.

If you push this button, the machine will stop.


push

A push is the act of touching something with a force away from your body.

My car won't move. Can you give me a push?


part

A part of something is one piece of it or a small amount of it.

As a part of this team, you need to come to practice regularly.

Part of the page was gone, so I couldn't read it.

I don't have the right part to fix your computer, but we've ordered it.


part

part (canonical)
parts (third-person singular)
parted (past)
parted (past participle)
parting (present participle)

If A and B part, they were together and now they are not.

My wife and I parted after our son died.

We didn't want to part with the house, but we had to sell it.

He parted the leaves and looked up at the bird.


clean

clean (positive)
cleaner (comparative)
cleanest (superlative)

If something is clean, it is free from dirt

The kids came back from the washroom with clean hands and faces.

Did you wash these dishes? They don't look very clean.

To keep the air clean, smoking is not allowed.

I clear our breakfast and wipe the table clean with a wet rag.

If a technology is clean, it doesn't produce much pollution.

We want to use wind as safe, clean, non-polluting energy.

There was a lot of pushing in their last game, but today's match was mostly clean.

No dirty jokes, please. Keep your language clean.

The police searched the car for drugs, but it was clean.

Her driving record was clean.

A clean piece of paper, start, etc. has nothing from before: no writing, no history, etc.

Why don't you get a clean piece of paper and start over.

I wanted a clean start, so I moved to LA.

If a something is clean, it is smooth, simple, and regular, without anything unwanted.

Your company website needs a clean design that makes it easy for consumers to understand what you're selling.

It's a clean cut, made with something sharp like a razor or a knife.


clean

clean (canonical)
cleans (third-person singular)
cleaned (past)
cleaned (past participle)
cleaning (present participle)

If you clean something, you take away the dirt and put everything in its place.

Tomo, will you clean up your room please. There are clothes all over the floor.


boy

A boy is a male child or teenager; someone who is not a man yet.

He had a pretty wife and two little ones: a boy and a girl.

My oldest son was a Boy Scout in England.

The boys basketball team won five games in a row.

Two teenage boys died in the crash.

A 12-year-old boy stands at the window and watches two men outside.

"I am a grown man" "you are not a man, you are a little boy, you don't act like a man".

I told my mom I wanted a boy puppy, not a girl one.


boy

You use boy when you are surprised about something.

Boy, that's a big dog.


decade

The 1960s was a decade of great change in North America.


cousin

Your cousin is the son or daughter of your aunt or uncle.

Every year at Christmas, I got to play with all my cousins at my grandma's house.


registration

registration (singular)
registrations (plural)

Registration is the process of registering something.

The soccer club has registration at the school this week.


library

A library is a place where books and other media are kept, usually on shelves. Most of the time, people are allowed to borrow these things.

I borrowed books at the public library today.

A library is a collection of books of other media. A person may call his/her collection of books a library.

The university's online classical music library is very large.


fire

A chemical reaction that makes heat and flames or smoldering.

Something that has made or can make this chemical reaction, such as a campfire.

We sat around the fire singing songs and telling stories.

The, often accidental, occurrence of fire in a certain place which leads to its full or partial destruction.

There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.


fire

fire (canonical)
fires (third-person singular)
fired (past)
fired (past participle)
firing (present participle)

If an employee is fired, their employment is ended because of something they did.

She should fire the guy who stole that stuff.

He got fired from his job.

If you fire a gun, cannon or a similar weapon, you shoot it.

We will fire our guns at the enemy.

Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.


alive

alive (positive)
more alive (comparative)
most alive (superlative)

If someone or something is alive, it is living or it continues to exist. If you are alive you have life.

The doctors tried to keep her alive, but she died an hour after arriving at the hospital.


adult

An adult is a person who is of the legal age of majority.

At age 18 years, he became an adult, so he could move out without his parents' consent.

Adult usually means a person who is in a legal sense either age 18 years or older.

An adult is a human who is sexually, physically and/or mentally mature.

The Harry Potter series was read mostly by young adults.

A person may be physically mature and a biological adult by age 16 or so.

An adult is a sexually mature nonhuman animal.

Adult female cows feed milk to their offspring.


percent

You use percent show the number of parts out of a hundred. The symbol for percent is %.

The cost of gas has increased seven percent in the last month.


loud

loud (positive)
louder (comparative)
loudest (superlative)

If a sound is loud, you can hear it very easily. If it's very loud, it might hurt your ears.

Can you turn down the music, please? It's too loud.

If a person is loud, they talk too much or too loudly.

After he has a few beers he gets really loud.

If colours, clothes, or other things you see are loud, they have too many bright colours or patterns and they don't look good.


horse

A horse is a hoofed mammal. It walks on four (4) legs. People often ride on horses.

The horse likes to eat oats.


harmony

Harmony is when two or more notes sound good at the same time.

In art, harmony is using colors which look good together.

A feeling of harmony means a feeling of close understanding with no conflict.

After a month walking in the countryside, I really felt in harmony with nature.


February

There are 28 days in February.


upper

upper (positive)
uppermost (superlative)

The upper thing is the one that is in a higher position.

The upper floors of the building are for offices and the lower floors for housing.


upper

A drug that stimulates a body. Uppers give a person energy and lower hunger.

He takes uppers so that he can stay awake all night studying.


water

Water is a clear liquid of the chemical compound H₂O that all living things need in order to live.

The dog drank the water from his dish

Can I please have a glass of water?

Your plant needs more water as it is about to die.

A water is a bottle or glass serving of water.

"I want to order two waters, waiter".

Water is one of the four basic elements.

Water is one of the five basic elements (see Wikipedia article on the Classical elements).

Right before the woman went into labor, her water broke.


water

water (canonical)
waters (third-person singular)
watered (past)
watered (past participle)
watering (present participle)

If you water something, you add water to soil around plants.

He waters the plants.

If you water something, you give water to animals.

He waters the horses.

If something waters, it fills with water; it secretes water.

His eyes watered as he cut up the onion.


face

His face was red with embarrassment.

He made a face at the bitter medicine.

A dodecahedron has twelve faces.


face

face (canonical)
faces (third-person singular)
faced (past)
faced (past participle)
facing (present participle)

If x faces y, the front of x is pointing in the direction of y.

Please face me when I speak to you.

The store faces the bank.

It's hard to face the fact that his wife is gone.

You have to face the bully.


guest

A guest is a person who you welcome into your house, your office, etc.

There were over 200 guests at our wedding party.

All guests at the hotel receive a free breakfast in our restaurant.


per cent

You use per cent show the number of parts out of one hundred. The symbol for per cent is %.

The cost of gas has increased seven per cent in the last month.


aunt

Your aunt is the sister of your mother or father.

After my parents died, we went to live with my aunt.


cyan

Cyan is my favorite color.


cyan

cyan (positive)
more cyan (comparative)
most cyan (superlative)

Something that is cyan is light blue in color.

She was wearing cyan boots.


plate

A plate is a hard flat thing, especially round ones that we put food on.

He ate everything on his plate.

The name plate on the door said, "Tanaka".


plate

plate (canonical)
plates (third-person singular)
plated (past)
plated (past participle)
plating (present participle)

If you plate food, you place the food on a plate.

If you plate A with B, you cover the surface of A with a thin coat of B.

This ring is plated with a thin layer of gold.


glove

A glove is a piece of clothing you wear on your hand to keep your hands warm or safe.

Police officers often wear gloves when working in crime scenes to avoid destroying evidence.

John is wearing gloves today because it's -5°C.


straw

Straw is dried grasses, such as wheat, without the seeds. Animals sleep on it, and people make hats and mats out of it.

A pale, yellowish-beige colour, like that of a dried straw.

A straw is a thin hollow tube that you drink through.


remove

remove (canonical)
removes (third-person singular)
removed (past)
removed (past participle)
removing (present participle)

If you remove something, you take it out or away.

After he was shot, the doctor removed three bullets from his leg.


shirt

A shirt is a piece of clothing you wear on the upper part of your body. Shirts are not very thick.

I need a new shirt to go with my new pants.


whichever

You use whichever when it doesn't matter which thing.

Whichever colour you choose, you'll be happy.

It's OK to take whichever bus comes first.

Whichever of these two wins will take first prize.

"Would you like the blue or the green?" "Oh, whichever colour, it doesn't matter."

You use whichever when there's a particular thing, but you can't remember what it was.

We took whichever bus came first, number 41 I think.


whichever

Whichever you choose, you'll be happy.

It's OK to take whichever comes first.

"Would you like the blue or the green?" "Oh, whichever, it doesn't matter."

We took whichever came first, number 41 I think.


key

A key is a small instrument, usually metal used to open locks.

I put my key in the lock and turned it.

Type your name and hit the ENTER key.

A key is the part of a keyboard instrument you press with your fingers to play a sound.

The piano has a pattern of black and white keys.

The key in music is the tonal centre of a piece of music.

Mozart's Symphony No.40 is written in the key of G minor.


key

key (positive)
more key (comparative)
most key (superlative)

Something that is key, is an important or a main thing.

Accuracy is a key part of playing music.


key

key (canonical)
keys (third-person singular)
keyed (past)
keyed (past participle)
keying (present participle)

To key is to lock something with key, or like using a key.

The locksmith was called in to key the building for better security.

To key is to enter information into a computer.

He keyed in all the data from the survey.


conversation

conversation (singular)
conversations (plural)

A conversation is when two or more people are talking informally.

I had a really interesting conversation at work about how to improve things.

She is very good at making conversation with people she meets.


plane

A plane is a vehicle with wings that flies.

Can we hurry? I have to catch a plane to Miami.

A plane is a surface that goes out in all directions indefinitely.


plane

plane (canonical)
planes (third-person singular)
planed (past)
planed (past participle)
planing (present participle)

If you plane a piece of wood, you smooth it with a plane.


afraid

afraid (positive)
more afraid (comparative)
most afraid (superlative)

If you are afraid of something, you feel fear, or worry because you think something bad will happen.

I'm afraid of snakes. I can't even go near them.


previous

If something happened at a previous time, it happened before a particular time.

Last year, we lived in Seoul, but the previous year we were in Moscow.


previous

You use previous to refer to a time before something else.

The history of this site previous to the seventeenth century is unknown.

Four years previous, he had been sick for a month.


isn't

be (canonical)
am, is, are (present)
was, were (past)
been (past participle)
being (present participle)

He isn't my brother. He is my uncle.

It isn't raining; it's sunny.


lucky

lucky (positive)
luckier (comparative)
luckiest (superlative)

If you are lucky, you have a lot of luck.

After getting married and winning $1 million on the same day, Susan felt very lucky.

If something is lucky, it gives you luck.

Today I have three tests, so I'm wearing my lucky hat.


luck

Someone who has good luck is someone who regularly has good things happen to them, almost as if by magic.

Many people believe the number 13 will bring you bad luck.


luck

luck (canonical)
lucks (third-person singular)
lucked (past)
lucked (past participle)
lucking (present participle)

He lucked into a great job.


block

A block is a hard piece of material, usually with six smooth sides.

When I was young, I liked building things with wooden blocks.

A city block is the distance from one road to the next.

We have to walk about three blocks to the restaurant.

In computers, a block is a restriction that prevents access to something.

I could not start a page on Wikipedia because of a block.


block

block (canonical)
blocks (third-person singular)
blocked (past)
blocked (past participle)
blocking (present participle)

If X is blocking Y, then Y can't go past X.

The water in the bath won't go down. There's something blocking the drain.

The road was blocked by police.

Excuse me! You're blocking my view. I can't see.


sibling

I think I know your sibling.


nuclear

nuclear (positive)
more nuclear (comparative)
most nuclear (superlative)

Nuclear weapons, power, waste, etc. is produced by the collision of more than one nucleus, the central part of an atom.

Japan relies mainly on nuclear power (atomic energy) generation for its energy needs.

The US has more nuclear weapons than any other country. Many of them are called atomic bombs.

Most Canadians live in a nuclear family: the husband, wife, and children.


view

He had a view of the fight.

My window has a great view of the ocean.

They had a narrow view on marriage.


view

view (canonical)
views (third-person singular)
viewed (past)
viewed (past participle)
viewing (present participle)

I view your changes with suspicion.

He views movies for content.

They viewed the rescue from the street.


tree

I'm going to climb a tree.

A tree is a map of ideas that looks like the plant.

My family tree shows how I am related to all my family members.


tree

tree (canonical)
trees (third-person singular)
treed (past)
treed (past participle)
treeing (present participle)

(uncommon) If you tree something, you chase it up into a tree.


feather

Feathers are the things which cover birds.

The bird was covered in feathers.


couple

A couple is two (2) things that go together.

Can you lend me a couple of dollars?

A couple is two people that love one another.

John and Susan make a nice couple, don't they?


couple

couple (canonical)
couples (third-person singular)
coupled (past)
coupled (past participle)
coupling (present participle)

If you couple two things, you join them together.


bucket

A bucket is a container used for carrying things like water or sand.


error

An error is something which is accidentally not correct.

The bank made an error and gave me too much money.

I keep getting errors on my computer program.


ball

A ball is a round thing. People often use them to play games.

The croquet ball was hit through the wicket and the game was over.

A ball is hit with a racquet in tennis.

There is an inaugural ball following the swearing-in of the new President.

Cinderella lost her glass slipper at the Prince's ball.

John's balls ached because he hadn't had sex in two days.

John didn't have the balls to quit his job, divorce his wife, and start a new life in Tahiti.


ball

ball (canonical)
balls (third-person singular)
balled (past)
balled (past participle)
balling (present participle)

If you ball something up, you make it into a ball shape.

Ball the cookie dough, wrap it in paper, then freeze it.


invent

invent (canonical)
invents (third-person singular)
invented (past)
invented (past participle)
inventing (present participle)

If you invent something, you make or design a new kind of thing.

Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb.


coal

Coal is a fuel which comes from under the ground. It is black, or sometimes brown. People often burn it for heat.


island

An island is a piece of ground that is completely surrounded by water.

The fisherman lived alone on a small island in James Bay.

An island of an object, person, or place, is one surrounded by things very different from itself.

An island of peace and silence in a noisy city.


repair

repair (canonical)
repairs (third-person singular)
repaired (past)
repaired (past participle)
repairing (present participle)

If something is broken or damaged and you repair it, it's not broken anymore.

And workmen were out repairing damage to the lights from last night's wind.


repair

A repair is something you do to something to fix it.

Last night the car wouldn't start, so this morning I took it in for repairs.


hall

A hall is a large space with a roof and walls. It can be a kind of large building, or a room or part of a building. Most commonly, it is the area just inside the front door.

Please leave your boots in the front hall.


boat

A boat is a vehicle used to travel on water.

At the lake, the children learn about fishing and boat safety.

The waves rocked the boat back and forth.

I took the old man's hand, stepped down from the dock into the yellow boat.

We got wet on the boat ride.

We sailed the wooden boats by the side of the pool, the kids holding the strings.

He looked around and spotted the boat drifting away.

We left the hotel and quickly got aboard the boat.


boat

boat (canonical)
boats (third-person singular)
boated (past)
boated (past participle)
boating (present participle)


host

A host is a person or animal who makes a place for others and usually provides food and drink.

The host of the party was so busy, she didn't have time to eat.

Some insects lay their eggs in a living host, which is eaten when the eggs hatch.


host

host (canonical)
hosts (third-person singular)
hosted (past)
hosted (past participle)
hosting (present participle)

If you host a party or event, you make a place for it and you help to organise it.

Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup of Soccer.


blood

Blood is a red liquid inside a person or animal's body that carries nutrients and oxygen to the other parts of the body.

I'm taking medication for high blood pressure.

These blood vessels bring oxygen to every part of your body.

He put his hand over the cut to stop the flow of blood.

Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy red blood cells.

When you run, your heart works harder pumping blood up and down your body.

There was a knife lying by her body, covered in blood.

The police found six tiny drops of blood in the kitchen and in the garage.

The family that you were born in is your blood.


patience

If someone has patience, they can wait without feeling upset.

Andrew has so much patience with the children; I just get so angry with them.


slave

A slave is a person who is owned by a master and who works for that master, but receives no—or almost no—money.


slave

slave (canonical)
slaves (third-person singular)
slaved (past)
slaved (past participle)
slaving (present participle)

I've been slaving in the kitchen all day cooking food for Christmas dinner.


beautiful

beautiful (positive)
more beautiful (comparative)
most beautiful (superlative)

If something is beautiful, it is very good to look at it.

Look at that beautiful bird!

This magazine always has a picture of a beautiful woman on the front.


cause

A cause is what leads to something happening.

The cause of the fire was lightning.

A cause is a goal, aim or principle that people support or fight for.

He is fighting for a just cause.


cause

cause (canonical)
causes (third-person singular)
caused (past)
caused (past participle)
causing (present participle)

To cause something is to make it happen.

His careless driving caused the car accident.


whatever

You use whatever when it doesn't matter which thing.

It's OK to take whatever bus comes first.

I'll take whatever help I can get.

You use whatever when there's a particular thing, but you can't remember what it was.

We took whatever bus came first, number 41 I think.

Whatever problem do you mean?


whatever

Whatever you choose, you'll be happy.

Whatever you do will be OK.

We took whatever came first.

Whatever do you mean?

Whatever is that strange thing on your head?

Whatever happened?

You use whatever as a reply showing that you do not care.

"Would you like coffee, tea, or water?" "Whatever."


row

A row of things is a line of them, usually going from side to side.

OK, students, can you please put your desks in five rows?


row

row (canonical)
rows (third-person singular)
rowed (past)
rowed (past participle)
rowing (present participle)

If you row a boat, you move the paddles (also called oars) in the water to move the boat.

Let's row our boat to the other side of the lake.


beg

beg (canonical)
begs (third-person singular)
begged (past)
begged (past participle)
begging (present participle)

If you beg someone for something or to do something, you ask them very strongly, but you are in a weak position.

He had a gun to my head. I begged him, "Please, don't shoot me."


yard

The children went out to play in the yard.

A yard is an imperial measure of length. One yard is three feet or 91.44 centimeters.

A soccer field is 110 yards long.


shout

shout (canonical)
shouts (third-person singular)
shouted (past)
shouted (past participle)
shouting (present participle)

Don't shout! I can hear you fine.

This is a big classroom, so please shout your name and answer.


shout

A shout is when somebody shouts one time.

His angry shouts and yelling woke me up.


essential

essential (positive)
more essential (comparative)
most essential (superlative)

If something is essential, it is impossible to succeed without it.

Oxygen is essential for life on earth.

If something is essential, it is very important.

Cooked rice, is the essential element of the Chinese meal prepared south of the Yangtze River.

The essential part, idea, or feature is the most basic one.

The essential nature of skiing is sliding on two skis, but the sport is much more than that.


generation

generation (singular)
generations (plural)

A generation, is all the people or things of about the same age.

My father belonged to a generation of travellers who saw the world before there was a McDonalds on every corner.

A generation is the average time between one when group of people were born and when their children were born, roughly 20–30 years.

During previous generations, travel was not so easy.

A class or type of objects usually developed from an earlier type.

A new generation of personal computers is about to hit the stores.

Generation is the creation of something, often electricity.

The increase in new power generation has not kept up with demand for electricity.

/ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən/


greet

greet (canonical)
greets (third-person singular)
greeted (past)
greeted (past participle)
greeting (present participle)

If you greet someone or something, you meet them and say, "hello" or welcome them somehow.

The tour guide greeted us when we arrived at the airport.


blues

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

Those two blues go well together.

I have the blues.

The blues is a type of music, created by African Americans.

He can play blues or jazz.


cardboard

Cardboard is a material like paper, but thicker and stiffer.

Cardboard is used to make boxes.

I put all my furniture in cardboard boxes to move it.


card

A card is a small, often rectangular piece of paper or plastic, usually with information.

The police stopped me and asked to see my identity card.

"I don't have any money with me, can I pay with my credit card?"

The soccer player got a red card and left the game.

We spent the afternoon playing card games.

I think we sent them a Christmas card last year.


card

card (canonical)
cards (third-person singular)
carded (past)
carded (past participle)
carding (present participle)

If you card someone, you check their ID cards, usually to see if they are old enough to enter a place or drink alcohol.

They have to card anybody who looks 30 or younger.


angle

When two straight lines come together, they make an angle.

A 90° angle is called a right angle.


angle

angle (canonical)
angles (third-person singular)
angled (past)
angled (past participle)
angling (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


exciting

exciting (positive)
more exciting (comparative)
most exciting (superlative)

If something is exciting, it makes you feel happy and very awake.

The first time I went on a plane, it was so exciting that I almost couldn't breathe.

Star Wars is the most exciting movie ever.


exciting

excite (canonical)
excites (third-person singular)
excited (past)
excited (past participle)
exciting (present participle)


July

There are 31 days in July.


blade

A blade is something with a long, sharp edge. Things like knives, swords and razors have blades.


blade

blade (canonical)
blades (third-person singular)
bladed (past)
bladed (past participle)
blading (present participle)

If a person blades, they skate on rollerblades.

If you blade someone, you stab them with a blade.


Friday

The sixth day of the week, fifth and last of the secular and Christian work week, and the day of rest for Muslims. Friday afternoon is the beginning of the weekend.

We went to the mosque on Friday.


thumb

A thumb is the part of your hand that looks like a short, fat finger. Most people have a thumb on each hand.

In many countries, pointing your thumb up means, "good".

A thumb or thumbnail is a small picture on a computer that you can click on to see a larger picture.


thumb

thumb (canonical)
thumbs (third-person singular)
thumbed (past)
thumbed (past participle)
thumbing (present participle)

If someone thumbs something, they touch it with the thumb.

When someone thumbs, they are standing by a road waiting for someone to give them a ride.

I thumbed down a pickup truck to take me to San Antonio.


A/C

AC is a short version of "air conditioning" (cooling).

He turned on the AC to help cool the room.

AC is also a short version of alternating current.


weapon

A weapon is a tool that you use in a fight, such as a knife, a gun, or a bomb.

"Lay down your weapons and put your hands in the air," yelled the police.


bag

Bags are containers made of soft material like paper, plastic or leather.

I put the garbage in a black plastic bag.

She took her tennis shoes out of her sports bag.


bag

bag (canonical)
bags (third-person singular)
bagged (past)
bagged (past participle)
bagging (present participle)

When a person bags something, he catches or gets it.

I hope I bag me something good today from him.

When an animal is bagged, such as in hunting and fishing, the animal is killed or caught.

Last night on our hunting trip we bagged three deer.

Bagging objects means to put them into a bag.

The clerk bagged up the groceries as she took out her wallet.


bite

bite (canonical)
bites (third-person singular)
bit (past)
bitten (past participle)
biting (present participle)

If a person or animal bites something, they put it between their teeth and squeeze.

I'm afraid of dogs. I think they'll bite me.

If an insect bites someone, it puts a substance into your skin.


bite

One bite is the amount of food that can go in your mouth at one time.

An insect bite is the itchy mark on the skin of a person or animal where an insect has bitten them.


proud

proud (positive)
prouder (comparative)
proudest (superlative)

If you are proud of or about something you have done, you feel good about it.

I feel proud that we fought in the war, even if most people think we should have stayed home.

If you are proud of someone, you feel happy for them because they have done something well.

If you are proud of something you own, you think it is valuable and you are happy about it.


hungry

hungrier (comparative)
hungriest (superlative)
hungry (positive)
more hungry (comparative)
most hungry (superlative)

If you feel hungry, you want to eat something and your stomach feels empty.

There are too many poor children who are always hungry.


partner

Partners are people, usually two, who are together for a particular purpose, such as for business, sports, or a romantic relationship.

My partner, Tom, looks after the administrative parts of the business.


partner

partner (canonical)
partners (third-person singular)
partnered (past)
partnered (past participle)
partnering (present participle)

If you partner someone, you be their partner.


god

The gods come from several powerful beings, according to some religions.

The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods. They had a god for thunder, a god for love, and many other gods.

When someone is called a god of something, then that person is very skillful and famous for one thing, as in a god of sport

Wayne Gretzky is sometimes called a god of ice hockey.


god

Used when somebody is surprised or unhappy about something. Some people do not like to use this phrase, as they think this is blasphemy (an insult to God).

My god, not that again!


contradiction

contradiction (singular)
contradictions (plural)

A contradiction is the act of contradicting.

He says that he was not there that night: that was a contradiction of his previous statement.

A contradiction is a statement which makes two (or more) claims which both cannot be true.

There is a contradiction in saying that she is a widow who never married.


invite

invite (canonical)
invites (third-person singular)
invited (past)
invited (past participle)
inviting (present participle)

If you invite someone to something, you ask them to be there.

Rasheed invited me to his house on Friday, but I don't think I can go.


mammal

A mammal is one member of a large group of animals with warm blood, fur, and milk production abilities.


significant

significant (positive)
more significant (comparative)
most significant (superlative)

If something is significant, it is important, or large, enough to pay attention to or to believe.

There was a significant drop in the price of gas today, causing drivers to line up at the pumps to fill up.

A significant look, movement, etc. is one that has a particular meaning.


collar

He put up his collar because of the cold wind.

A circular piece of fabric that is put around the neck of an animal.

The collar on the dog had a tag that allowed the workers at the animal shelter to identify the owner.


collar

collar (canonical)
collars (third-person singular)
collared (past)
collared (past participle)
collaring (present participle)

To put a collar on someone or something.

Collar and leash your dog.

The police collared the burglar last night.


humanist

Humanists are people who believe in "doing good" for all people.


excellent

excellent (positive)
more excellent (comparative)
most excellent (superlative)

If something is excellent, it is very, very good.

The tea we had with lunch was excellent. Where did you get it?


diverse

diverse (positive)
more diverse (comparative)
most diverse (superlative)

A diverse group of things is a group in which the things are very different from each other.

Toronto has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world.


media

media or medium (singular)
media (plural)

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

The (mass) media is/are the news sources and the people behind them.

The media have been too accepting of the government's arguments.

The Japanese media often ignores international news.

A medium is a way of communicating information or art.

We have to use music, pictures and other media to sell the product.


atheism

Atheism is the belief that there is no God.

Most atheists say atheism is not a religion.

Atheism is lacking a belief that God exists.

He explained that his view on god was atheism because there was no evidence of god's existence.


vessel

She poured the milk into another vessel.

It was the best vessel in the water.


hello

You say, "hello" in greeting when you meet someone new or someone you know.

"Good morning, James!" "Hello, Jimbo! How are you?"


eye

Your eyes are the part of your head which you see with.

We saw the eyes of a big wolf.

An eye is a hole at the blunt end of a needle through which thread is passed.


eye

eying (present participle)
eye (canonical)
eyes (third-person singular)
eyed (past)
eyed (past participle)
eyeing (present participle)


alphabetical

In the order of the letters of the alphabet or related to the alphabet.

He made the list of names alphabetical.


classical

classical (positive)
more classical (comparative)
most classical (superlative)

Classical ideas or styles are those that were very common at a time in the past and sometimes continue into the present.

Classical theories in physics can't explain certain observations, which has led scientists to come up with new theories.


decline

decline (canonical)
declines (third-person singular)
declined (past)
declined (past participle)
declining (present participle)

If something declines, it goes down in number, quality, slope, or value.

The Australian dollar has declined 3% against the Euro.

The number of students studying foreign languages continues to decline.

If someone declines an offer, they do not accept it.

We asked Josh to come with us to the restaurant, but he declined.


decline

A decline happens when the number, quality, slope, or value of something goes down.

There has been a 3% decline in the Australian dollar against the Euro.

Every year we see a larger decline in the number of students studying foreign languages.

A decline is a hill or line that goes down.

The truck crashed after picking up too much speed on the decline.


child

A child is a young person, usually older than a baby but younger than a teenager.

The children were playing in the park.

Most three-year-old children speak very well.

Even as a child of six, I knew what hard work was.

Taking care of young children is difficult work.

This kind of teaching is useful for all children, not just those children with learning disabilities.

We need to do a better job of educating our children.

We're collecting food for needy children.

A child is the son or daughter of someone.

I am my mother's child in every way.

My eldest child is now a doctor.

I drove a motorcycle until my children were born.

A child of a particular time, situation, or idea is a person who is strongly influenced by it.

As a child of the 90s, I grew up with computers.

There isn't actually that much anger among children of divorce.

A child is the product or result of something.

This book is the child of an earlier generation of grammatical theory.

Anthropology is the child of Western colonialism.

The very idea of a garden is the child of water.

If a woman is with child, she is pregnant.

She told no one about the sex, even when she realized she was with child.

A child in a tree structure is piece of data, process or object with a role or position closer to the root.


November

November is the eleventh month of the year.

There are 30 days in November.


atheist

An atheist is a person who does not believe in a god or gods.


clock

A clock is an instrument that tells you what the time is. A small clock which you carry is called a watch.

If a clock is fast, it shows a time after the real time.

He was sleepy, and the clock said 11:32.

The digital clock on the wall tells her that it is almost six-thirty.

She'd never before been in a house which did not have a clock ticking somewhere.

He looked at the clock and then at his watch: The clock was nine minutes fast. He still had some time.

If a clock is slow, it shows a time before the real time.

If something goes around the clock, it goes for 24 hours without stop.

His family stayed at Scott's bedside around the clock.

The museum is open around the clock from May 26 at 12:01 a.m. through May 28 at 11:59 p.m.


clock

clock (canonical)
clocks (third-person singular)
clocked (past)
clocked (past participle)
clocking (present participle)

If you clock something, you measure how long it takes or how fast it moves.

The police clocked the car at 137 km/h.

The drive took twenty-two minutes; he clocked it.

If something clocks a time or a speed, it takes that long or moves that fast.

The trip clocks in at about 12 hours.

He clocked 9.12 seconds, a new world record.

If you clock in or out at work, school, etc., you record the time they arrive or leave.

He clocked in at four a.m. for a twelve-hour shift.

If you clock up a number of things, you reach that total after some time.

Because I drive one hour to work, I'm clocking up a lot of miles.

If you clock someone, you hit them hard in the head.

He might take some time to wake up. He got clocked pretty good.


wrong

wrong (positive)
more wrong (comparative)
most wrong (superlative)

If something is wrong, it is not right. If something is wrong it may be incorrect, not true, or bad.

That answer is wrong.

"2 + 2 = 5" is wrong.

What you did was wrong.


wrong

wrong (canonical)
wrongs (third-person singular)
wronged (past)
wronged (past participle)
wronging (present participle)

If you wrong someone, you do something that hurts a person.

He wrongs you by his actions.


wrong

They accused him of wrongs against humanity.


hand

Your hands are the parts of your body at the end of your arms. A hand has four fingers and a thumb.

Mother, I'm afraid, please hold my hand.

Clock hands are pointed needles that show what time it is.

The long hand is pointing to the 4, which refers to how many hours have passed. The short hand is pointing to the 7, which refers to how many groups of 5 minutes have passed. The time is therefore 4:35.

A hand is a group of things that fit in your hand, like playing cards.

He had a good hand but he still lost. He is not good at poker.


hand

hand (canonical)
hands (third-person singular)
handed (past)
handed (past participle)
handing (present participle)

If I hand you something, I give it to you.

Please hand me that tool. I can't reach it.


place

A place is a point in space: a town, building, room, or even somewhere on a desk.

It's nice to see the whole family together in one place.

A place is an open space, courtyard, or marketplace.

A place is an area for someone to sit at.

We would like to sit at that table because it has three places open.

A place is a role or position; it is a station.

A place is the position in which you finish a competition in.

She finished the poker tournament in fifth place.


place

place (canonical)
places (third-person singular)
placed (past)
placed (past participle)
placing (present participle)

If you place something somewhere, you put it in a certain spot.

If you place, you earn a given spot in a competition.

If you place something somewhere, you remember the last time you encountered it.

She placed the last time we met each other at.


interrupt

interrupt (canonical)
interrupts (third-person singular)
interrupted (past)
interrupted (past participle)
interrupting (present participle)

If you interrupt someone, you stop them doing or saying one thing, and often ask them to do another.

Please, don't interrupt me when I'm thinking.


interrupt

interrupt (singular)
interrupts (plural)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


expert

An expert is a person who knows more, or can do something better, than most people, usually because of special study or practice.

Zidane is an expert at penalty kicks.

The company has hired an expert in computer systems.

Today we heard an expert witness explain the details of the DNA analysis.


expert

expert (positive)
more expert (comparative)
most expert (superlative)

An expert skier, teacher, player, etc. is very skillful or experienced.

She's an expert skier, one of the fastest and most beautiful on the hill.

My dog has become quite expert at opening doors.


insult

insult (canonical)
insults (third-person singular)
insulted (past)
insulted (past participle)
insulting (present participle)

If you insult someone, you say or do something rude to them.

He insulted me by calling my country a dirty little city.


insult

The protesters yelled insults at the police.


mother

A mother is the woman who is one of a person or animal's parents.

My mother read me a story and put me to bed every night when I was a child.


mother

mother (canonical)
mothers (third-person singular)
mothered (past)
mothered (past participle)
mothering (present participle)

If you mother someone, you take care of them as if you were their mother.


alphabet

An alphabet is a list of the letters used to spell words by representing phonemes.

The first 3 letters of the alphabet are A, B and C.


sentence

In grammar, a sentence is a group of words that follow normal grammar rules, and that, in writing, begins with a capital letter and ends with a period '.', question mark '?', or exclamation mark '!'. Usually a sentence has a subject, verb, and object.

The first sentence in the Jewish holy book is, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

In law, a sentence is the punishment that a judge gives to a criminal.

He received a 15-year sentence for the murder of his friend.


sentence

sentence (canonical)
sentences (third-person singular)
sentenced (past)
sentenced (past participle)
sentencing (present participle)

If a judge sentences someone, they decide on a punishment for a crime.

He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the murder of his friend.


environment

environment (singular)
environments (plural)

The environment is the natural world: forests, rivers, grasslands, oceans, etc.

We have to do more to protect the environment from pollution.

Your environment is the situation or area that you live, work, or spend time in, including the people, buildings, vehicles, etc.

When we moved to the city, we found ourselves in a comepletely new social environment.

This course will prepare students for a career in a software engineering environment in industry or research.

The learning environment can have a large effect on your grades.


holiday

A holiday is a day when people don't go to work or school, often because there is a religious celebration.

In North America, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year.


holiday

holiday (canonical)
holidays (third-person singular)
holidayed (past)
holidayed (past participle)
holidaying (present participle)

If you holiday, you take a period of time away from work or study.


annoyed

annoyed (positive)
more annoyed (comparative)
most annoyed (superlative)

If someone is annoyed, they are a little angry.

When Graham broke the glass, I was really annoyed, but the face he made was so funny, I had to laugh.


annoyed

annoy (canonical)
annoys (third-person singular)
annoyed (past)
annoyed (past participle)
annoying (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of annoy.


communicate

communicate (canonical)
communicates (third-person singular)
communicated (past)
communicated (past participle)
communicating (present participle)

If you communicate an idea, you make someone else understand your idea, usually by using words.

Parents have to work hard to communicate better with their children.


Saturday

The seventh and last day of the week, first day of the weekend, and for Jews and some Christians, the day of rest.

Tomorrow is Saturday.


finger

A finger is a long thin part of your hand that bends. Most people have four fingers and one thumb on each hand.

He only uses one finger on the keyboard.


finger

finger (canonical)
fingers (third-person singular)
fingered (past)
fingered (past participle)
fingering (present participle)

If you finger something, you touch with your fingers it to see what it feels like.

If you finger someone, you tell the police that the person did something wrong.

If you finger a female, you use your fingers to penetrate or sexually stimulate their vulva or vagina.


market

A market is a place where many people come to buy and sell things.

It's time to take the cows to the market.

The market rose Tuesday on good results from the banking sector.

Cable stocks have lost an estimated market value of $ 6 to $ 8 billion.

A market is a group of people or businesses that might buy goods or services.

The government is trying to help farmers find a new market for their grain.

The financial and oil markets continued to react negatively to the news from the war.

A market is the total amount or value of a particular kind of goods or services bought or sold.

The company already has a 54-percent share of the commercial jet market.


market

market (canonical)
markets (third-person singular)
marketed (past)
marketed (past participle)
marketing (present participle)

If you market something, you make it available for sale and you try to get people to buy it.

Manufacturers who spend millions to develop new drugs heavily market their products.


October

There are 31 days in October.


achieve

achieve (canonical)
achieves (third-person singular)
achieved (past)
achieved (past participle)
achieving (present participle)

If you achieve success or a goal, you have completed what you planned to do or have a good result.

She achieved a grade of 98% in her English class.


kind

Bread is a kind of food.


kind

kind (positive)
kinder (comparative)
kindest (superlative)

I admired them for being so kind, helping me when no one else would.


foot

The lowest part of the leg, below the ankle; the part of the body used to stand on.

He hurt his foot playing football.

We meet at the foot of the hill.

A length of 12 inches; three feet is almost one meter. The foot is used mostly in the United States, but was common in Europe a long time ago.

There are about 30 centimeters in one foot.

My friend is six feet tall.


foot

foot (canonical)
foots (third-person singular)
footed (past)
footed (past participle)
footing (present participle)

He foots it to work every day.


Thursday

The fifth day of the week, fourth of the work week.

I will see a movie this Thursday.


God

God is the single god of a religion and the maker of the earth and everything that exists.

In Hinduism, the followers believe in numerous gods. In Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the followers believe in only one God.

The Bible says that God created the world in six days and rested the seventh day.

I love God and the Bible and I know he's real, because of everything and everyone that he created.


God

"God" is used when a person is surprised. Some people do not like to use this phrase, as they think this is blasphemy (an insult to God).

Oh God, not that again!


time

"What time do you finish work?" "At four o'clock (4:00)."

I don't have time to talk to you right now. Can we do it later?

If you do something one time, you do it once.


time

time (canonical)
times (third-person singular)
timed (past)
timed (past participle)
timing (present participle)

If you time something, you measure how long it takes in seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

Take out your watch and time yourself during the test.


again

They didn't understand the answer, so they asked again.


ideas

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

I had two ideas that day.

He told me his ideas on conservation.


logic

Logic is a system of careful step by step thought or argument that tries to explain truth.

It wasn't easy to see the logic of her plan.


adjective

adjective (singular)
adjectives (plural)

An adjective is a type of word which usually tells about the properties of people, things, and other nouns (e.g., new, small, red, & bad are adjectives). Usually it can be used before the noun or after a linking verb. It can usually be graded and described by adverbs.

He uses many adjectives in his stories to give us a clear picture.

Some combinations of adjective and noun are quite common.


joke

If you tell a joke, you say something to make people laugh.

Trevor's joke about the boring lexicographer was too funny.

If something is a joke, it is not considered seriously.

Don't listen to Joseph. He's a joke. Nobody pays any attention to him.


joke

joke (canonical)
jokes (third-person singular)
joked (past)
joked (past participle)
joking (present participle)

When you joke about something, you say something funny that you don't really mean.

Everyone joked about how bad his tennis was.

I wasn't joking about burning my shoes.

Because I have a dog, I joke with my friends about their boring cats.

The coach joked that he would fire his whole team.

You say "you must be joking" when somebody tells you something that's very hard to believe.

"She's forty three." "Forty three?! You must be joking. She looks like she's sixteen."


procedure

procedure (singular)
procedures (plural)

A procedure is a particular way of doing something.

Because police did not follow procedure, the criminal was set free.

We have decided on new hiring procedures for employees.


kitchen

A kitchen is a room used for cooking food.

My mother made the dinner in the kitchen.

Bring me a kitchen knife.


communication

communication (singular)
communications (plural)

Communication is the process of sending and receiving ideas between two or more people.

Teachers must regularly practice their communication skills to make sure students understand them easily.

Communications are the ways of sending and receiving information.

The army is setting up a new communications network to improve communication.

Each time he sent a communication to Bidault it was held up by d'Argenlieu.


policy

A policy is an official rule or idea that explain how to act in certain situations.

The government is suggesting a significant change in economic policy.

In at least one case there was a deliberate policy decision not to involve the police.

The policy at the movie theater said we should turn on phones off and be quiet, during the movie.


derive

derive (canonical)
derives (third-person singular)
derived (past)
derived (past participle)
deriving (present participle)

If X is derived from Y, X comes from Y in the way that one idea comes from another.

He derived a lot of pleasure from teaching.

Many current theories about learning are derived from Piaget's earlier theories.


tool

A tool is an object that you use to do a specific job, such as a hammer.

I used to fix my own car, but I sold all my tools.

A tool is a person being used by another person or organization.

He is such a tool. He should think for himself, instead of doing everything they tell him to do.


tool

tool (canonical)
tools (third-person singular)
tooled (past)
tooled (past participle)
tooling (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


assess

assess (canonical)
assesses (third-person singular)
assessed (past)
assessed (past participle)
assessing (present participle)

If you assess a person, idea, skill, process, etc., you judge or measure them.

In today's test, we will be assessing your ability to write clearly.


move

move (canonical)
moves (third-person singular)
moved (past)
moved (past participle)
moving (present participle)

If you move, you go from one place to another.

Please stay in your seat until the plane stops moving.

If you move, you change the position of part of your body.

I was so afraid, I couldn't move.

If you move something, you change its position.

Can you move your chair so I can get by?


move

A move is something which is done to achieve a goal.

The move had not been expected.

is a change in your home or business to live or work somewhere else.

The move to the city was completed in a week.

A move, in a game such as chess, is when you put a piece in another place.

The move of the queen led to his loss.

I finished my turn. It's your move.


April

April is the fourth (4th) month of the year.

There are 30 days in April.


voice

The sounds a person makes with the throat.

His voice was deep and clear.

She had a lot of voice in the company.

You spoke in a low voice so that they would not hear.

Tells if the subject does or receives the action.

That sentence is in passive voice.


voice

voice (canonical)
voices (third-person singular)
voiced (past)
voiced (past participle)
voicing (present participle)

The president voiced her disagreement.


knee

Part of the leg between the thigh and the shin.

I hurt my knee in football.


knee

knee (canonical)
knees (third-person singular)
kneed (past)
kneed (past participle)
kneeing (present participle)

To hit someone or something with the knee.

He kneed me in the leg.


source

source (canonical)
sources (third-person singular)
sourced (past)
sourced (past participle)
sourcing (present participle)

If you source something, then you obtain or receive it.


source

The source of some material, an idea, a product, etc. is the place it came from originally.

XYZ company can't supply these parts anymore, so we need to find a new source.

Church sources said four people were injured and 100 to 200 were taken away by the police.

The paper comes primarily from British sources.

CO₂ is the main source of global warming.


amusing

amusing (positive)
more amusing (comparative)
most amusing (superlative)

If something is amusing, it makes you laugh or it entertains you.

We had a very amusing afternoon playing with the kids, but we didn't get anything done.


amusing

amuse (canonical)
amuses (third-person singular)
amused (past)
amused (past participle)
amusing (present participle)


theory

A theory is an idea that tries to explain an observation.

The new information showed that his theory about growth was incorrect.

Nobody has disproved Einstein's theory of general relativity.


thesaurus

thesaurus (singular)
thesauruses or thesauri (plural)

A thesaurus is a book which lists synonyms (different words which have the same meaning).

A thesaurus usually groups together synonymous words such as schadenfreude and epicaricacy together under a single heading.


Wednesday

The fourth day of the week, third and middle day of the work week.


online

If a system is online, it is connected (generally electronically) to a larger network.

I do a lot of shopping online, so I almost never have to leave the house.

If a machine is online, it is turned on and is ready to do work.

Since the printer is back online, you should be able to again print from it.


sad

sad (positive)
sadder (comparative)
saddest (superlative)

When someone feels sad, they have a bad feeling because of a loss or other problem. They are not happy.

The sad girl cried.

When something is sad, it makes you feel unhappy.

It was a sad movie.

Death is a very sad thing.


used to

If something used to happen, it happened often in the past, but it does not happen now.

I remember when we used to stop by the beach every Sunday.

She started the exercise program, which we didn't use to have.

We don't go there anymore, but we used to.

If something used to be true, it was true for a long time in the past, but it is not true now.

They're bigger than they used to be.

How bad did it used to be?


used to

If someone is used to something, they know it and do not find it surprising or difficult anymore.

It's hard at first, but after a while you get used to it.

He isn't used to being around children.

We get so used to seeing this that we don't even notice anymore.


assessment

assessment (singular)
assessments (plural)

An assessment of a person, idea, skill, process, etc. is a judgement or measurement of them.

The results of your recent job assessment are excellent.

The buyers have to make their own assessment of the value.


ignore

ignore (canonical)
ignores (third-person singular)
ignored (past)
ignored (past participle)
ignoring (present participle)

If you ignore someone or something, you don't listen to, look at, or pay attention to them.

He says he should be paid for fixing it, but he's ignoring the fact that it wasn't broken.


aeroplane

aeroplane (singular)
aeroplanes (plural)

An aeroplane is a vehicle with wings that can fly.

Can we hurry. I have to catch an aeroplane to London.


violet

Violet is one of my favorite colors.

Maria sells violets.


violet

violet (positive)
more violet (comparative)
most violet (superlative)

He wears a violet tie.


above

If A is above B, A is higher than or before B, but not touching B.

In a newspaper, the title of a story is usually above the story.

Only children aged 5 and above may enter.

That office is on the floor above.

Our blessings come from above.

The passage above is easy to understand.

The above comment, discussion, argument, etc. is one higher than or coming before something.

Please see the above discussion of the problem.


domestic

domestic (positive)
more domestic (comparative)
most domestic (superlative)

Domestic issues relate to issues inside one country, not affecting other countries.

He believes the public is ready for change in domestic and foreign policy.

Domestic issues related to the issues inside one home.

He does his domestic chores.

The level of domestic violence against women and children is very high.

Domestic animals are animals usually kept by humans.

Diseases from domestic animals will often kill wild animals.


work

work (canonical)
works (third-person singular)
worked (past)
worked (past participle)
working (present participle)

If you work, you do a job, usually for money.

My father works at Microsoft.

I got to work at 7:30 each morning.

If you work you are doing something that needs effort.

I worked on my school paper all night long.

If somethings works it has done what it was supposed to do.

If my computer didn't work I couldn't type this.

I'm glad our plan worked.

How something works is how it does what it does.

I would like to know more about how cars work.

The rules here just do not work that way.


work

Work is effort it takes to do something. That is, its what makes you tired when you do something hard.

Moving heavy logs takes a lot of work.

Work is force through a distance (force times distance). This is how much energy you used to move something.

A work is the product of something, the result of working on it. That is, its something someone has made.

The painting was a great work of art.

Shakespeare wrote many literary works.


lines

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


lines

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


Monday

The second day of the week. The first day of the work week.

I hate Mondays.


concept

Italy has introduced the concept of "parental leave" – time off work given to either parent to look after the child.


pervious

pervious (positive)
more pervious (comparative)
most pervious (superlative)

If something is pervious it lets water pass through it.

This piece of tissue paper is pervious.

If someone is pervious they are open to accepting new ideas.


to

To has no meaning. It is used with a bare infinitival clause.

It's important for you to understand.

She told them to be quiet.

You want me to do it, but I don't have to.

To finish quickly, we must work fast.

To continue like this would be foolish.

I don't know how to get there.

He got the keys to open the door.

It's too small to see.

You are all to be here at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Do you understand?

He arrived only to find that everyone had gone home.


to

To shows where something goes, the goal of movement.

He went to her house.

The train returned to the station.

I went to bed but could not rest.

They went to school together and played in the same soccer team.

A squad car took him to hospital where he died.

Many people came to me with suggestions.

I wonder why you keep going to sea when you know it's dangerous.

To shows the receivers of an action or object.

The goods were sold to customers at the downtown store.

To shows the result of a change or process.

It switched from red to black.

They came to the conclusion that I'm better than nothing.

He fell on the play, but quickly got to his feet.

He was crushed to death underneath the truck.

Methods have been used to overcome these problems to some degree.

The class is from 1:35 to 3:25.

It's just another week to the end of classes.

Right now it's ten minutes to four.

To shows that one thing is touching another.

They stood back to back to see who was taller.

He attached the printer to the computer.

She was married to a Canadian man.

She was assistant to the general manager.

We don't owe anything to anyone.

To whom does it belong?

It's a benefit to the whole school.

What's the answer to this problem?

I can't remember the password to this account?

To shows a comparison between two things.

Girls outnumber boys two to one.

Older cars get fewer kilometers to a liter of gasoline.

Right now you can get one Canadian dollar to $1.05 US.

To shows your feeling or opinion about something.

It feels good to me.

To their surprise, she got up and left.

To shows a timing relationship, often with a music.

He likes to exercise to music.


heliocentric

Copernicus' model of the universe was heliocentric.


formula

formula (singular)
formulas or formulae (plural)

A formula is a way to do something or solve a problem that does not change much.

There is no formula for making profit, yet many business people think there is.

The formula for converting from kilograms to pounds is xkg×2.2

Infant formula is a powder that you mix with water to make a drink for babies.


option

He has the option to go to university or join the army.


August

There are 31 days in August.


ink

Ink is a tint, often black, used to write.

The ink on the paper has dried.


ink

ink (canonical)
inks (third-person singular)
inked (past)
inked (past participle)
inking (present participle)

If someone inks something, they make a mark or write using ink.

He inked his name.

If someone inks things like a pen, they fill with ink.

She inks her pen.


blow

blow (canonical)
blows (third-person singular)
blew (past)
blown (past participle)
blowing (present participle)

The wind is blowing and the trees are moving.

The wind blew the paper down the street.

His hat blew off.

I could see some grass where the snow had blown away.

Her gray hair blew across her face in the wind.

Last fall, a storm blew through this town tearing up trees.

If you blow, you push air out of your mouth or nose.

She blew her nose into a tissue.

He put his mouth in the water and blew bubbles for a few seconds.

He hopes to celebrate his 25th birthday by blowing out the candles.

If a horn, whistle, etc. blows, it makes a sound.

When the final whistle blew, Arsenal had won the game 2 -- 0.

The car blew up as it drove over the bomb.

If something blows you away, it surprises or impresses you.

We were blown away. We couldnt believe that a ten-year-old could do that.

I dropped the cake and she totally blew up on me.

Can you blow that picture up a bit more? I can't see it clearly.

If something is blown off, away, or out, apart, etc., it is damaged by an explosion or a bullet.

BANG! The shot blew off one of his fingers.

The truck he was driving was blown apart by a roadside bomb.

They put the guns to their heads and blew their brains out.

The blast had blown a hole in the wall.

If you blow something, you do not do it successfully.

I can't believe it. You almost had it, but you blew it.

If you blow money, you spend it, often without being careful.

If a piece of equipment blows, it stops working because there is an electrical problem.

If a tire blows, it gets a hole, letting out its air quickly.

His little joke had been blown out of proportion and he'd gotten in a lot of trouble.

The car blew a tire on the way to our campsite.

If something is blown out of proportion, it is exaggerated.

If you blow by something, you move past it very quickly.

If you blow someone, you perform oral sex on them.


blow

He spent two days in hospital after a serious blow to the head.

The thought struck like a blow to the chest.

The team was dealt a terrible blow when goalie Ryan Francis was killed.

The final blow came when his wife left.

To soften the blow, the government will send one-time payments to everyone involved.

The town suffered a severe blow when the car factory shut down.

He gave a quick blow on the whistle.


under

In the same place as another thing, but lower.

They ate under the trees.

He was under the leader of the organization.

In the middle of a process; experiencing.

The idea is under the committee's judgement (judging).


assume

assume (canonical)
assumes (third-person singular)
assumed (past)
assumed (past participle)
assuming (present participle)

If you assume something, you think or believe something without having enough information to know that it's true.

Oh, hello. I assume you're the new student, are you?

If I saw a man dressed all in black, holding a gun, and walking toward me, I would assume that the man is really a dangerous guy and I would run away from him.

I saw your car in the garage, so I assumed you were at home.

If you assume a role of office, you take on a new position that has more power or responsibility.


analysis

If you do an analysis, you study something carefully to understand it.

We performed a detailed analysis of the relationship between the two companies and believe that they could form a strong partnership.


quick

quick (positive)
quicker (comparative)
quickest (superlative)

Using very little time; moving far in little time.

You are able to run very quickly.

I will wash quickly.

He learns quickly.


quick

quick (positive)
quicker (comparative)
Superlativequickest

He finished quick.


establish

establish (canonical)
establishes (third-person singular)
established (past)
established (past participle)
establishing (present participle)

If you establish something, you start it with the idea that it will last for a long time.

A good doctor will not only care for each of the patients but will also be able to establish a good relationship with them.


export

export (canonical)
exports (third-person singular)
exported (past)
exported (past participle)
exporting (present participle)

If you export something, you send it out of the country, usually for business purposes.

Canada will export up to 450,000 barrels per day of crude oil to China.

The government is exporting its terrorist ideas to other countries in the area.


export

Export is the act or business of exporting things.

A shipment of computers is being loaded on the ship for export to Singapore.

An export is something that you send out of the country, usually for business purposes.

Bananas are Ecuador's largest export.


consistent

consistent (positive)
more consistent (comparative)
most consistent (superlative)

If something is consistent, it is regular and you can guess what it will be like in the future.

She makes a consistent effort to study hard.

My Math scores at my school show a consistent 80 to 95 percent.

My math scores are mostly consistent because I have had the same grades since grade 9.

If X is consistent with Y, then X fits or matches Y.

The theory is consistent with the data.

His behavior is consistent with his words.

always behaving or happening in a similar, especially positive, way

My Math scores are consistent because I always get an A on quizzes and exams.


constitutional

constitutional (positive)
more constitutional (comparative)
most constitutional (superlative)

If a law, a right, an action, etc. is constitutional, it is legal within the constitution of the particular country.

The court ruled that the new law was constitutional and that there was no need for the government to change it.

If something is constitutional it is related to a constitution.

I think freedom of speech should be a constitutional right for everyone because everyone should have right to speak out.

The government is planning some constitutional changes.

American has an elaborate system of constitutional checks and balances.


constitutional

constitutional (singular)
constitutionals (plural)

If you take a constitutional, you go for a walk for exercise or health. (old fashioned word)

He's nearly 80 and still takes a constitutional every morning.


nation

A nation is a country or a political entity.

Mexico is a nation of emigrants.

The Canadian government is working with the Mohawk nation.


kick

I gave the door a kick.

I get a kick out of talking to her.


kick

kick (canonical)
kicks (third-person singular)
kicked (past)
kicked (past participle)
kicking (present participle)

If you kick someone or something, you attack or hit it with your foot.

She kicked the door down.

She was kicked in the face.


cord

She tied the package with a cord.

Plug this cord into the outlet.

He can chop two cords each day.


knowledge

knowledge (singular)
knowledges (plural)

He shared his knowledge with you.


among

In or into. We say "between" 2 other things, but among 3 or more other things.

She was among her friends.

Divide the candy among yourselves.


context

Something's context is the situation that it happens in.

Sometime, we can't read someone's writing, but the message can be understood in context because human readers use their knowledge of language and the world to help us.

The actions of a business cannot be fully understood except in the context of a particular organisation.


almost

Very nearly; about 98% of something; not the same, but near to being the same.

I am almost ready to go. I will be ready very soon.


value

Something's value is how good or important it is; how much money someone will exchange a thing for; an amount of money.

The value for me of this food is $100.

Human life has very much value.

Your values are your ideas about which things are good.

He has strong values.


value

value (canonical)
values (third-person singular)
valued (past)
valued (past participle)
valuing (present participle)

If you value someone or something, you think that they are good and you don't want to lose them.

I value your help.

If you value something judge how good or important it is.

They valued it at $600.


this

You use this to show which thing or idea you are talking about. You use it when the thing or idea is close to you.

This trip was a great idea.

Which book is yours, this one or that one?

The thing indicated without mentioning the noun.

This is my hand.

You use this in stories, jokes etc to introduce a person or thing into the story.

So this guy walks up to me and asked if I have any fish.


writing

write (canonical)
writes (third-person singular)
wrote (past)
written (past participle)
writing (present participle)

I'm writing a new book.


writing

A subject in school where you write stories and poems.

She is taking a class in creative writing.


factor

A factor is one of a number of things that causes a result.

The main factor in the success of our program is our excellent teachers.

The factor is a number that is multiplied with another to form a larger number.

2 x 3 = 6; 2 and 3 are factors of 6.


factor

factor (canonical)
factors (third-person singular)
factored (past)
factored (past participle)
factoring (present participle)

If you factor a number, you find all of its factors.


constitution

constitution (singular)
constitutions (plural)

The constitution of a country or organization is the basic set of laws that explain how all the other laws and rules must be made and followed.

To change the constitution, the government must have the agreement of 2/3 of the members of parliament.

The constitution of a person or object is the qualities that best define that person or object.

His stubborn constitution led him into a number of conflicts he could have avoided.


economic

economic (positive)
more economic (comparative)
most economic (superlative)

About or relating to the economy, business, money, etc.

The reduction in unemployment and continued economic growth are good news for workers.

As our two countries do more and more business, we must begin to match our economic policies.

Some people are in economic trouble and have difficulty paying their bills.

If you start saving money while you’re young, then you are setting yourself up for economic success.

If a business activity is economic, it makes enough money.

As a small business, do you think it would be economic for us to advertise on TV?

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here

Why are you looking over there for the book? It's right here.

The woman here is my wife.

Here is where I met my spouse twelve years ago.

Where do we go from here?

Let's get out of here.


strategy

A strategy is a planned way to do something.

The new government is likely to change the economic strategy because the old strategy clearly isn't working.

You can't just do whatever comes into your head. You need to have a strategy.


distribution

distribution (singular)
distributions (plural)

Distribution is sending or giving out things to several people, companies, places, etc.

The distribution of the mail was slowed by the snow storm.

The increase in profits was followed by a cash distribution to the investors.

Distribution is the way that things are spread (often used in statistics).

The distribution of the new iPad was very fast because Apple had invested a lot on advertisement.

The distribution of power in the company is very narrow, with just a few managers controlling almost everything.

The test scores averaged 50% and had a normal distribution.


lip

The edge of an opening, especially, the human mouth (often plural).

She climbed over the lip of the hole.

John licked his lips.

The window had a wide lip below it that collected dust.

Don't give me any lip.


role

The role of a person or thing is the job that they do in a certain situation.

In the past twenty-five years the role of women on farms had changed dramatically.

Music plays an important role in the movie.

role is another word for a part in a theatrical work such as a play or a ballet

Tamara Karsavina was the first to dance the role of the Firebird.

I was cast in the role of the crazy old witch in the school play.


income

Income is the money that you get from working.

Generally, teachers have a lower income than business people.

The company's income has dropped because of poor sales.

Income is what you get for selling products you make or grow.

He gets a lot of his income from the corn he grows.


established

established (positive)
more established (comparative)
most established (superlative)

If an institution, system, etc. is established, it has existed for some time and is probably well known.

The established church leaders often do no wish to see changes that might reduce their power.

The fact that the earth is a ball is well established.


established

The past tense and past participle of establish.

Now that we've established what order we're presenting in, let's get started.