rainbow

A rainbow is an arch of colors in the sky that you can see in the rain when the sun is at your back.

Traditionally, the colors of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, but in real life, it's actually a continuous spectrum.


rainbow

When something is rainbow, it is made up of many colors.


rainbow

rainbow (canonical)
rainbows (third-person singular)
rainbowed (past)
rainbowed (past participle)
rainbowing (present participle)

When you rainbow something, you make it into something that has many colors, just like a rainbow.


w

The twenty-third (23rd) letter of the alphabet.

"w" comes after "v" and before "x"


m

The thirteenth (13th) letter of the alphabet.

"m" comes after "l" and before "n".

This is the Roman numeral for thousand (1,000). It may be written as M or m.


m

The bank reported a profit of $50m this year.


book

A book is a lot of paper joined together with writing and pictures printed on them for you to read or write in.

I borrow books from the library, and keep them in a bookcase.

A book is a group of stamps, matches, tickets, etc., held together inside a paper cover.

A company's books are its money records.

An outside accountant kept the books and signed the checks until he joined the company.


book

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

If you book something or someone, you reserve them for a certain time.

I want to book a hotel room for tomorrow night.

I can book tickets for the concert next week.

If you book someone, you officially put their name in police records for a crime.

The police booked him for driving too fast.


not

"Not" makes a phrase have the opposite meaning.

I was not there.

I am not fat!

The item before "not" is more correct or better than the item after "not".

I wanted tea, not coffee!

It's stupid, not funny.


not

Used to indicate the sentence before is sarcastic or ironic. This means that the sentence has the opposite meaning.

I like doing lots of boring homework. Not!


am

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

A form of the verb be used about the person speaking

I am hungry. Is there any food around?

Am I right?


nothing

I bought nothing in the shop, because it was closed.

Empty. An area has nothing in it if it has no objects in it.

An empty cup has nothing in it.

I looked for the book, but I could see nothing.


million

ordinal millionth) The number 1,000,000.

In 2006, Canada had about 32.6 million people.


million

One thousand thousand is a million.

In the US, there are one thousand millions in a billion.

In the UK, there are one million millions in a billion.


kitten

Our cat has just had kittens.

The kitten is playing with its mother.

A kitten is a young rabbit, rat, squirrel, fox or badger.


kitten

kitten (canonical)
kittens (third-person singular)
kittened (past)
kittened (past participle)
kittening (present participle)

When a cat kittens, it gives birth to kittens.


belong

belong (canonical)
belongs (third-person singular)
belonged (past)
belonged (past participle)
belonging (present participle)

The umbrella belongs to John; it's his.

If someone belongs to something like a club, they are a member.

Mary belongs to Greenpeace.

What does it cost to belong to the library?

English belongs to the Indo-European language family.

If something belongs, it is in the right place.

That dog doesn't belong in the kitchen.

Where does this book belong?

I'm a simple girl; I don't belong in this rich house.


Main page


March

There are 31 days in March.


were

A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to.

Only you were doing it right.

A form of the verb be used about more than one person.

We were going home.

You all were staying late.

They were all playing in the band.

A form of the verb be used with the word if.

If I were rich, I would retire.

A form of the verb be used about things you wish for.

I wish it were the weekend.


when

"When did you start learning English?" – "Three years ago."

"When does the film start?" – "At seven o'clock."

When was the last time you went to your local library?

She phoned me when I was in the bath.

It was the year 1996 when I met John.

When I get up, I always drink a cup of coffee.


encyclopedia

encyclopedia (singular)
encyclopedias or encyclopediae (plural)

An encyclopedia is a type of book that has information about many things. Often, an encyclopedia is a set of many books and can either be about a specific subject or a range of subjects.

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and is the world's largest.

I went to the library to find an encyclopedia on chemistry.


language

A language is all the words used by a group of people, and grammar (the rules for making them into sentences). People who speak the same language can understand each other; people speaking different languages cannot understand each other.

The English language has easy grammar but difficult spelling and pronunciation.

Language is the usage of words in a specific subject, the vocabulary of the subject.

This document is written in legal language, only lawyers can understand it.

There is a special chemistry language that you need to use when answering questions in the chemistry examinations.

Language is the special usage of words in a passage of text.

The language in this document is very offensive and biased.

A language refers to computer language, a group of code that tells a computer or machine what to do.

There are many programming languages out there, it really depends on what kind of software that you are trying to create.

Language is vulgarities and profanities.

Please mind your language! It is very rude to talk to people like that!

A language is a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ, a languet.


language

language (canonical)
languages (third-person singular)
languaged (past)
languaged (past participle)
languaging (present participle)

When you language with someone, you talk to the person using a language.


danger

A danger is something that can hurt a person.

He was a danger to those around him. I am glad he was sent to jail.

When something is in danger, it is under threat and could be hurt.

She is in danger of being buried by that avalanche.


grammar

Grammar is the rules about how to speak and write well in a language. Grammar includes syntax (what order to put words in), morphology (how to make different forms of a word) and conjugation (what form of a word to use).


simple

simple (positive)
simpler (comparative)
simplest (superlative)

A simple task is easy to do and easy to understand.

Baking this cake is very simple as it only has 3 steps.

It's a simple book for learners to read and understand.

Something that is simple is basic and not complicated.

She was poor and only had a simple dress.

Their plan was very simple.

A simple person is not intelligent (we sometimes use this in a bad way)

He isn't a bad boy, he's just a little simple.

In grammar, the simple aspect is used when the speaker sees the situation as complete (compare progressive aspect).

"I run" is the present simple; "I'm running" is the present progressive.


simple

A simple is a medicine that is prepared only from one plant.


simple

simple (canonical)
simples (third-person singular)
simpled (past)
simpled (past participle)
simpling (present participle)

When you simple things (especially herbs), you are trying to gather simples.


angry

angry (positive)
angrier (comparative)
angriest (superlative)

He embarrassed her, so she was angry.

He had an angry wound.


dries

dry (canonical)
dries (third-person singular)
dried (past)
dried (past participle)
drying (present participle)

You can put on my robe while your shirt dries.

She dries her hair with a blowdryer because she doesn't like how her hair looks when she dries it with a towel.


hour

There are 60 minutes in one hour.

There are 24 hours in one day.


baby

A baby is a very young child, less than two years old, who has not yet learned how to speak.

I used to be a baby but now I am an adult.

A baby cat is called a kitten.


baby

baby (canonical)
babies (third-person singular)
babied (past)
babied (past participle)
babying (present participle)

If you baby someone, you treat them like a baby; you treat them gently and pamper them.

Mom, don't baby me - I can do it myself!


jelly

fruit juice mixed with sugar, then canned; especially grape.

I like jelly on my toast.

The children celebrated by eating bowls of jelly.

It turned into jelly.


Sunday

The first day of the week. The last day of the weekend, and for many Christians, the day of rest.

I will go out this Sunday.


Tuesday

The third day of the week, the second day of the work week.

I have Tuesday night off.


l

The twelfth (12th) letter of the alphabet.

"l" comes after "k" and before "m"


dictionary

dictionary (singular)
dictionaries (plural)

A dictionary is a book that tells you what words mean, and how to spell them. A lot of dictionaries will also tell you about etymology (where words come from) and pronunciation (how to speak them).

You are reading an online dictionary right now.

The words in a printed dictionary are in alphabetical order.

I looked up the dictionary to find the meaning of the word business.


t

The twentieth (20th) letter of the alphabet. It is the second most used letter, after e.

"t" comes after "s" and before "u"


or

A word used to link two alternative choices.

Would you like tea or coffee?


arm

One of the upper limbs people have; arms start at the shoulder and go down to the wrist, sometimes the hand is included.


arm

arm (canonical)
arms (third-person singular)
armed (past)
armed (past participle)
arming (present participle)

To give or sell weapons to a person, group, or country.

Our taxes pay to arm the military.

To get a tool or a weapon ready for action; to activate.

Remember to arm the alarm system.


his

If you say something is his thing, you mean it belongs to a particular man or boy.

It is his book, not mine.

His is used, instead of the name of an object, to refer to something belonging to a man or boy.

It isn't my book, it is his.


march

A formal, rhythmic way of walking. A march is usually done by soldiers, bands and in ceremonies.

Any song in the genre of music written for marching (see Wikipedia's article on this type of music)

The march of time.


march

march (canonical)
marches (third-person singular)
marched (past)
marched (past participle)
marching (present participle)

To walk with long, regular strides, like a soldier does.

We saw the guards marching at Buckingham Palace.

To go to war; to make military advances.


an

An is used when you don't expect your listener to identify which thing you mean.

I just ate an apple.

It is indeed an honor to have met you today.


blue

The sky was a deep blue above her and golden yellow beyond the village.

The wall was a mix of watery blues and greens.


blue

blue (positive)
bluer (comparative)
bluest (superlative)

He had blue eyes.

He was very blue that day.

It was a blue day at school when he failed the test.


are

A present-tense form of the verb be used about the person or people you are talking to.

Hello John, how are you?

Are you all hungry?

A present-tense form of the verb be used about more than one person.

We are all happy.

Are we there yet?

John and Mary are playing.


judge

A judge is a person who decides or chooses.

The judge decides cases.

Samson was a judge of Israel.


judge

judge (canonical)
judges (third-person singular)
judged (past)
judged (past participle)
judging (present participle)

He judged in favor of the defendant.

To evaluate (decide if something is good or bad).

They judged the beauty pageant.

I would judge that the lake holds a million gallons.


Antarctica

Antarctica is the most southern continent on the Earth; it contains the South Pole.

penguins live in Antarctica.


automatic

If something is automatic, it works by itself.

A washing machine is automatic.

/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

/ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/


automatic

automatic (singular)
automatics (plural)

A car that changes the gear by itself is called an automatic.

The car is not manual shift, it is automatic.

A gun that continues to fire while the trigger is pressed is called an automatic.

That machine gun is an automatic.

/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

/ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/


was

A form of the verb be used to talk about yourself, or another person in the past.

I was singing in the shower.

Who was that girl you were talking to?


asset

A thing that has value. It may be worth money, but may just be useful.

One asset was his car and another was his house.

Jimmy's skills have been a real asset to the team.


didn't

do (canonical)
do (present)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
don't (present negative)
doesn't (third-person singular negative)
didn't (past negative)

He didn't help her.

You didn't tell me you're going on vacation next month. How exciting!


mountain

A natural rise of the Earth's surface having considerable mass

We visited that mountain last year. The scenery was beautiful.


thing

She sent her things to New York.


doing

do (canonical)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
done (past participle)
doing (present participle)

What are you doing?

Doing nothing can get you into trouble.


doing

A doing refers to something that someone has done, a deed.

This mess is your doing.


cow

A common farm animal, the female cattle.

milk comes from cows.

The female of several other kinds of animal, such an elephant cow or a whale cow.


opinion

An opinion is a personal idea, a person’s thoughts on a topic.

You gave your opinion of the case.


yellow

yellow (positive)
yellower (comparative)
yellowest (superlative)

The yellow car moves fast.

His yellow hair shines in the sun.

He wants to date her, but he does not ask because he is yellow.


knife

He ate with his knife and fork.

He worked with a putty knife.


knife

knife (canonical)
knifes (third-person singular)
knifed (past)
knifed (past participle)
knifing (present participle)

If you knife someone, you stab someone with a knife; you make a hole in them.

The gang knifed him sixteen times.


why

Why did you say that?

Why did you try to steal money from this shop?

Used to talk about the reason for something.

I wonder why he did that.

Used to give more information about the reason for something.

Can you tell me the reason why he did that?


why

Used to show a person's surprise or impatience about something.

Why! Thank you for the present.


why

Whenever you begin to write an essay, please do not forget to talk about the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.

(plural: whies) (UK) A why is a young cow or woman.


may

To be allowed to; to have permission to do something

"May I sit here?" "Yes, go ahead. The seat is empty."

You may not smoke, this area is "no smoking".

If you say something may happen or may be true, you mean there is a chance that it is true.

He may be lying, but I'm not sure.

It may rain today.


and

You use and to talk about two things at once.

I like singing and reading.

Mary and Jane went on a holiday together.

You use and when you are listing a few things and you are now on your last item of the list.

I like singing, reading, cycling and playing soccer.

I used to like this girl from my class as she is pretty, gentle and caring.

And is used when you are putting some sentences together.

She came into the store, shouted at the cashier, and left.

Used to show what happened after something else.

The alarm went off and I woke up.

And is used to join certain numbers together.

Two hundred and thirty-five people went missing after the earthquake.


desire

She has a desire to win.

Love is my desire.


desire

desire (canonical)
desires (third-person singular)
desired (past)
desired (past participle)
desiring (present participle)

To wish for something, to want something.

I desire your company.


year

A measure of the time taken for the earth to circle the sun - any 12 month period

There are 12 months in one year

There are 365 days in a year and 366 days in leap years.

The 12 month period between one January and the next. In the western world, years are numbered from the birth of Christ, starting at 1.

Simple English Wiktionary was started in the year 2005.


important

important (positive)
more important (comparative)
most important (superlative)

That is an important point.


bitter

bitter (positive)
more bitter (comparative)
most bitter (superlative)

The taste of black coffee and many medicines is bitter. This is the taste of a chemical base.

yuk! That tastes bitter.

A bitter person is angry for a long time.

She still feels bitter towards him because of something he did last year.

A bitter situation, it is very unpleasant and difficult to deal with.

There's a bitter wind.


bitter

"I'd like a pint of bitter please, barman."


jewel

Mary keeps her jewels in a safe.


bird

A bird is a warm-blooded animal that has feathers and wings and lays eggs. Most birds can fly.

A sparrow is a bird and so is a penguin, even though it cannot fly.

When you give someone the bird, you give a vulgar hand gesture where only the middle finger is up.

While I was driving along the highway, someone turned into my lane suddenly, nearly causing an accident. I immediately gave him the bird to show my anger.


bird

bird (canonical)
birds (third-person singular)
birded (past)
birded (past participle)
birding (present participle)

When you bird, you try to catch or shoot birds.

When you bird, you look for wild birds in their natural home and try to identify them.


across

I walked across the bridge.

I can see him across the street.

The bridge is across the stream.


the

Used when your listener will know which one you mean.

Compare "I went into a room." and "I went into the kitchen."

Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special.

Are you the John Smith that I went to school with?

Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people or things concerned.

The poor need our help.

Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs.

You are the best.


say

say (canonical)
says (third-person singular)
said (past)
said (past participle)
saying (present participle)

When you say something, you share it in words.

He says he is hungry.


trillion

(US, modern British and Australian, short scale) Trillion refers to the number 1,000,000,000,000 (10¹²)

There are about one trillion (10¹²) bacteria on the surface of the human body.

(older British and Australian, long scale) The number 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10¹⁸).

There are about one trillion (10¹⁸) insects on Earth.


trillion

(US, modern British and Australian, short scale) The number 1,000,000,000,000

In the United States, one million millions is a trillion.

(older British and Australian, long scale) The number 1,000,000,000,000,000,000.

In the long scale, one million millions is a billion. One million billions is a trillion.

A British trillion used to be one million American trillions, but they are mostly the same now.


done

Who has done their homework?

What have you done?


done

done (positive)
more done (comparative)
most done (superlative)

When something is done, it is completed and finished.

The work is done.

When something is done, it is fully cooked.

How done do you like your steak to be?

When the potatoes are done we can eat.


bad

bad (positive)
worse (comparative)
worst (superlative)

The man who killed his wife was very bad.

Skipping school is a bad thing to do.

Debts can go bad when a debtor has gone bankrupt.

Could things get any worse than this?

This is the worst time I've had all year!


red

red (positive)
redder (comparative)
reddest (superlative)


j

"j" comes after "h" and before "k"


in

Used to show that something is inside something else.

The cat is in the box.

Used to show that someone is at home, or is available.

Is John in?

The Doctor is now in.

Used to show movement towards the inside.

The rain came in through the window.

Used to introduce an explanation or clarification of the previous statement with a that clause.

Toronto is a little different, in that it's not quite as cold.


action

An action is something that you do, or something that happens, especially with motion.

At 3am, just west of the building, the plan was put into action.

There was a huge difference between my thoughts and my actions.

What they did was clearly wrong, but their actions were understandable.

The Health Authority is preparing to take legal action against the restaurants that fail to follow the regulations.


been

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

We have been to the Zoo.

We had been there before.

After one more trip, we will have been there five times.


kiss

The act of placing your lips on something, usually to show love or affection.

She gave him a long kiss on the lips.

A cone-shaped piece of chocolate made by Hershey.

I will give you a chocolate kiss.


kiss

kiss (canonical)
kisses (third-person singular)
kissed (past)
kissed (past participle)
kissing (present participle)

To place your lips on something to show love or affection.

The man and the woman kissed each other.

His car kissed the bumper of the car in front of him.


start

The beginning of something in place or time.

We went back to the start.

I surprised him and he gave a start.

She gave him quite a start.


start

start (canonical)
starts (third-person singular)
started (past)
started (past participle)
starting (present participle)

To begin; to do something for the first time.

They started the race in first place.

I will start the car.

When I touched his arm, he started.


fertile

fertile (positive)
more fertile (comparative)
most fertile (superlative)

Fertile land is land on which crops can grow well.

That field is fertile.

A fertile person, animal, or plant is one that can produce children or offspring.

The average fertile female cat gives birth once or twice a year.

If someone has a fertile imagination, brain, or mind, they create a lot of interesting new ideas.


fact

A fact is a piece of information that is true.

That is not just my idea, it is a fact.

He collects little-known facts.


financial

A financial problem, issue, activity or other thing is about money or business.

Our sales are down and we have serious financial problems.

The government is giving financial help to people buying houses.


idea

It was a good idea.

An idea is something abstract (not concrete).

Love is just an idea.

An idea is a way to see something, a view.

He changed her ideas on religion.


debt

An item or money which belongs to another, and which will be repaid (given back) in the future.

She must give the bank £100 to clear (remove) her debt.

If you are in debt, you owe money (normally to a bank).


sixth

The sixth thing is the one that is number six (6) in order.

He ran in the marathon and came in sixth.


sixth

A sixth is one of six equal parts of one whole.

He gave me a sixth of his orange.


sector

A sector is a part or division of an area, especially part of the economy.

Service sector jobs, such as restaurant jobs, are often low paying.

The government is placing a large number of private businesses in the public sector.

I am going to go patrol the south sector.


assistance

assistance (singular)
assistances (plural)

If you give someone or something assistance, you give help or support.

The company may also provide financial assistance to single mothers.


i

The ninth letter or the alphabet; previous H, next J. I is a vowel.


night

Night is the opposite of day. It is the time between sunset and sunrise when the sky is dark.

During the day we usually go hiking in the mountain. Then at night, we come back to the hotel to get some sleep.

We woke up at night because of the thunder.


night

A clipping of good night. It is a shorter way for people who get along well to say "good night".


profit

A profit is money made that is over the total amount spent on the thing being sold.


profit

profit (canonical)
profits (third-person singular)
profited (past)
profited (past participle)
profiting (present participle)

If someone profits from something, they benefit from it; they gain from it.


drink

A drink is a liquid that you take in through your mouth.

He served her a hot drink and some cake.


drink

drink (canonical)
drinks (third-person singular)
drank (past)
drunk (past participle)
drinking (present participle)

If you drink something, usually a liquid, you take it in through your mouth.

I drink coffee in the morning.


fiction

Fiction refers to things that were made up and are not true.

A story that is invented instead of being based on facts.

The events in that story did not happen so it is fiction.


leg

Your legs are the two long parts of your body that you move to walk, or a similar body part on an animal.

I lost a leg in the war.

The footballer broke a leg during the game.

The bus stopped and everybody went out to stretch their legs.

A leg is part of a piece of furniture, such as a table, on which the furniture stands.

I can see an ant crawling up the leg of the table.

The band had to cancel the German leg of their European tour.


rain

Drops of water that fall out of clouds in the sky.

I do not like going outside in the rain.


rain

rain (canonical)
rains (third-person singular)
rained (past)
rained (past participle)
raining (present participle)

If it is raining, water is falling from the sky.


specific

specific (positive)
more specific (comparative)
most specific (superlative)

If you talk about a specific idea, person, group, or thing, you mean that it is different from or more interesting than other things like it; you might also mean that you know exactly which one you are talking about.

The interviewer uses a checklist to make sure that specific areas are covered.

If something is specific, it is detailed, clear, and limited.

Last time, he was happy to do anything, but feels this time he has to be more specific.

First I will talk about farming in general, and then I will talk about the specific problems of wheat farming.


English

English is a language spoken by around 800 million people. The main places where English is spoken include:

The United States of America

The United Kingdom

India, Pakistan, Australia and all the other countries of the old British Empire.


English

English (positive)
more English (comparative)
most English (superlative)

The English refers to the people who live in England.

The English don't care for people like that.

Something that is English is related to England, its people or its culture.

I prefer the English accent.

I am English.


g

G is the seventh letter of the alphabet.

"f" comes before "g"


g

This can has 150g of corn.


army

The people and organisation, normally in a government, which fights wars.

The army fought in Iraq.

He joined the army when he was 19.

A large number of people working towards the same thing.

It took an army of people to build that bridge.


with

With is used to show the other people or things present when something happened.

I went to school with my brother.

With is used to describe something added to something else.

The cat has a collar with a bell on it.

With is used to show what thing is used to do something.

He hit the nail with a hammer.

With the children so sick, we weren't able to get much work done.


month

A measure of time, approximately equal to the time taken for the moon to circle the earth.

There are between 28 and 31 days in one month.

There are 12 months in one year.


car

A car is a small passenger vehicle with four wheels, moved by an engine.

I just drive around in my car all day.

The garage was full so she parked her poor little car on the street.

Three fire trucks and two police cars arrived at the scene of the car accident.

Tony got in the driver's seat and started the car.

We flew into Miami and got a rental car.

Her son crashed the family car, but nobody was hurt.

Sheldon had offered to buy Nicki a used car, a Honda or Toyota, something reliable.

They stopped us at a red light and stole our car.

Us kids made $20 washing the cars in the driveway in front of our parents' house.

I loaded my suitcase and bag in the trunk of my car.

The salesperson at the car dealer tried to sell me a used BMW.

Are we going to be driving Chinese electric cars in a few years?

When the car was going 150 km/h, she took her hands off the wheel and closed her eyes.

Mr. Marquez was known for flashy clothes and jewelry, luxury cars and even a few boats.

A car is one large part of a train that can be added or taken away.


wiki

A wiki is a type of website where anyone can change the pages.

Simple English Wiktionary is a type of wiki.


city

A city is large area where many people live and work, larger than a town.

Tokyo and New York are two of the world's largest cities.

There's too much crime in this city.

The city is the government that has power over a city.

A city usually builds roads and parks, and keeps them in good shape.

The city has its offices in a building called a city hall.

The mayor asked city council to reduce taxes.

The city is the people who live in the city.

The city is afraid of the change.


method

If you use a method to achieve a goal, then you use a planned process.

It is quite simple to use the method described in section 7.2 to find the solution.

My preferred method for contacting friends overseas is on the Internet.


ill

ill (positive)
more ill (comparative)
most ill (superlative)

Sick, not well. If you are ill, you have bad health, you might have a disease.

One boy died and the other is seriously ill in the hospital.

If you are ill you are angry or disturbed.

You are making me ill with your attacks.


ill

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


BE850

Wiktionary:Basic English alphabetical wordlist


pain

He was in pain, because his leg was broken.

He wouldn't go away and was a real pain.


pain

pain (canonical)
pains (third-person singular)
pained (past)
pained (past participle)
paining (present participle)

It pains him to have to say goodbye.


money

money (singular)
moneys or monies (plural)

Money is the coins or notes that are used to pay for things.

Money is a tool that is used to pay for goods or services.

You don't want to spend your money on an ice cream. You can buy something else.


verb

A verb is a kind of word that usually tells about an action or a state and is the head of a sentence. In English, verbs are the only kind of word that changes to show past or present tense. See verb examples.

In the sentence My father works on a farm, the verb is works.


verb

verb (canonical)
verbs (third-person singular)
verbed (past)
verbed (past participle)
verbing (present participle)

To verb a word is to turn it into a verb.

The word "access" used to just be a noun, but then it got verbed.


knot

He put a knot in the rope.


knot

knot (canonical)
knots (third-person singular)
knotted (past)
knotted (past participle)
knotting (present participle)

To create a tied place in a cord or rope.

They knotted the ends of the rope together.


sugar

Sugar is a small white powder. It looks like salt, but it tastes sweet. Some people put it in tea.

This cookie recipe says you should use two cups of sugar, but I think that will be too sweet. One cup is enough.


sugar

sugar (canonical)
sugars (third-person singular)
sugared (past)
sugared (past participle)
sugaring (present participle)


individual

individual (positive)
more individual (comparative)
most individual (superlative)

An individual person or thing is looked at separately from others.

This office assists whole families rather than individual family members.

An individual right, need, etc. belongs to one person, not to a group.

The government should protect not only individual rights but also group values.

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəl/


individual

individual (singular)
individuals (plural)

An individual is a single person, looked at separately from others.

One of the most difficult parts of growing up is learning to form your own ideas--to become an individual.

A country must balance the rights of individuals with the rights of groups.

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəl/


ant

An ant is an insect that walks and goes in groups.

Don't step on those ants.


that

Used to show which thing we are talking about; used with things that are not close to the speaker.

Give me that book, not this one.

Give me that, not this.

That dog is hungry.


that

You use that to mark a clause as subordinate.

You said that you liked me.

Give me the book that I dropped.

That it won't work is clear.

Fool that she was, Mary didn't accept John's proposal.


question

Something someone says to have someone else say an answer.

The question is: "How much money do we have?"

It was a question of right and wrong.


question

question (canonical)
questions (third-person singular)
questioned (past)
questioned (past participle)
questioning (present participle)

To say questions to someone; to ask someone questions.

She questioned him fully.

To have an idea that something may be true or may not be true.

They questioned whether he was right .


father

The father of a person is the man who is one of that person's parents.

The father of Bill Smith IV is Bill Smith III.


father

father (canonical)
fathers (third-person singular)
fathered (past)
fathered (past participle)
fathering (present participle)

To have children (only applies to males)

He fathered six children in six years.


assist

assist (canonical)
assists (third-person singular)
assisted (past)
assisted (past participle)
assisting (present participle)

She assisted the doctor.

Nurses are available to assist the healing process.


assist

In basketball and some other sports, a pass to another player to let him or her score.

He had eight assists in that game.


all

All of something is 100% of it, or the entire amount.

Well, you could stay in bed all day on Friday. And I could take the kids to school.

You know, you can't see all of the moon.

"There was a problem." "Yes, I know all about it."

No! You did it all wrong.

Can you tell me all this tomorrow?

I think we all know we have to change.

The shirt is almost all white.

Is that all you can do?

All of some things is 100% of them, or every one.

And then you can go and tell all your friends about it.

Not all of them are as wealthy as you imagine.


all

If you give your all or put your all into something, you make the maximum effort possible.

He puts his all into every game.


b

"b" comes after "a" but before "c"

In some schools, a B is a fairly high grade.

Charles got a B in his maths test.


same

Two things are the same if the two things have one size, and one shape, and one color, etc.

Sometimes we wear the same shirt.

The one that was talked about before. A thing is the same thing if there are not two things, there is only one.

That man there is the same man I saw yesterday.


crop

Our farm's crops are corn, apples and potatoes.


crop

crop (canonical)
crops (third-person singular)
cropped (past)
cropped (past participle)
cropping (present participle)

I cropped the picture to a size of 4 centimetres by 5 centimetres.

To cut off the top of something, often a plant.


son

I am his son.


n

The fourteenth (14th) letter of the alphabet.

"n" comes after "m" and before "o"


cook

cook (canonical)
cooks (third-person singular)
cooked (past)
cooked (past participle)
cooking (present participle)

Darren will cook dinner today.


cook

Emily is a cook.


French door

French door (singular)
French doors (plural)

A French door is a door with a window in it, often used in the plural.

He left through the French doors.


tomorrow

Tomorrow is my day off.

I'll see you tomorrow evening.

I will go to school tomorrow.

Tomorrow's meeting should be short.

The city of tomorrow will be much cleaner than cities now.

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Nattes à chat-tomorrow.wav


did

do (canonical)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
done (past participle)
doing (present participle)

Sally did her homework.

Who did this?


did

do (canonical)
do (present)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
don't (present negative)
doesn't (third-person singular negative)
didn't (past negative)

The past tense of do as an auxiliary verb.

Where did you go for your holiday?

She did not like the movie.


data

Data is information, such as facts, numbers, photographs, etc.

A study using experimental data from ten schools found no difference between methods.


window

A piece of glass in a wall to let people see through it.

He looked out the window.


very

Much; quite. Using very makes the adjective or adverb stronger.

He was very young.


very

It was the very boy who helped me.

This man is the very one for the job.


secretary

secretary (singular)
secretaries (plural)

A secretary is a person who works in an office, helping with typing letters, filing, and other simple tasks.

I will ask my secretary to write to them.


woman

My wife is a good woman.


s

The nineteenth (19th) letter of the alphabet.

"s" comes after "r" and before "t"


weather

The weather in a place is the air temperature, the number of clouds, and the amount of wind and rain or snow.

The weather conditions at the airport are bad. I don't think the plane will be able to fly.

The radio says the hot summer weather is going to continue for a few more days.


weather

weather (canonical)
weathers (third-person singular)
weathered (past)
weathered (past participle)
weathering (present participle)

To weather is to be changed by the effects of sun, wind, ice or rain.

The old house had weathered badly.


variable

A variable is something that may not always be the same.

In life insurance, sex is an important variable because men generally die younger than women.

A variable is something used in mathematics for an unknown value.

In "x = 1 + 2 +...n = ((1 + n) × n)÷2", x is the variable.

A variable is something used in computer programming languages that stores data, such as a number or words.


variable

variable (positive)
more variable (comparative)
most variable (superlative)

If something is variable, it changes often.

The temperature in the area is highly variable.

If a group is variable, there are big differences between things in the group.

The expected height of children in 3rd grade is variable.


reptile

A reptile is a cold-blooded animal with scales (such as crocodiles or lizards).

A gecko is a type of reptile.


join

join (canonical)
joins (third-person singular)
joined (past)
joined (past participle)
joining (present participle)

If someone joins two or more things, they bring them together.

Their lives were joined.

They joined hands.

If someone joins someone else, they do something together.

I will join you on your walk.

Hey, James! Come and join in. We're having fun.

If someone joins a club, school, etc. they become a member.

Would you like to join our club?

If someone joins two or more things, they make a connection between them.

The new building is joined to the school by a short hallway.


safe

safe (positive)
safer (comparative)
safest (superlative)

If something is safe, it is not in danger.

I feel safe when I am at home.


safe

A metal box, often locked with a combination lock, for guarding valuable things.

She put her jewelry in the safe.


art

An art is a skill that produces works of creative expression and can be mastered through study and practice. Arts are often contrasted with sciences.

painting, music and writing are arts.

She has making baskets down to an art.

Art is creation by means of an art. common examples of art are paintings and photographs, but songs and even buildings can be art, too.

The gallery has many pieces of art.


do

Do is an auxiliary verb. It is used in questions, negative statements, short answers, and for emphasis when there is no other auxiliary.

Questions

Short answer

Negative statements

Emphasis (do not use this too much)

We sometimes use do in place of a different verb, such as when we do not know what an activity is, or we do not want to say it again:

What is he doing?

Mary eats more than John does.


do

When you do something, you perform, complete or work on a task.

Mary is doing her homework.

We all did the cleaning together.

I've got a lot to do.

"What do you do?" - "I'm a baker."

"How did John do in the tennis match?" - "He lost."

"How is your leg doing?" - "Oh, it feels much better, thank you."

To write or draw something, usually in a short time

He did a picture of a tree.

He did an essay on Shakespeare.


do

She came to work with a new do.

Correct actions. (almost always in plural and generally with "don'ts")

Willy will tell you all the dos and don'ts.


seabird

The pelican is a seabird.

LL-Q1860 (eng)-The Editor's Apprentice-seabird.wav


f

"e" comes before "f"

In some schools, an F is a grade that shows that you have failed completely.

This student has not made any attempt in the exam; he only got an F.


v

The twenty-second (22nd) letter of the alphabet.

"v" comes after "u" and before "w"

This is the Roman numeral for five (5). It can be written as V or v.


current

current (positive)
more current (comparative)
most current (superlative)

Something that is current is up to date.

This news is current.

We bought our home 20 years ago, but we wouldn't be able to buy it at current prices.


current

There is a strong current in that water.

It has a current of nine amperes.


sea

A place with a large amount of salt water.


process

A process is a series of steps that you take for a particular purpose.

Let us look at the factors considered during the formal decision-making process.

A process is an outward extension of bone from a larger bone or piece of tissue.

The xiphoid process is located beneath your sternum.


process

process (canonical)
processes (third-person singular)
processed (past)
processed (past participle)
processing (present participle)

If you process something, you change it from its natural state into something that's ready to use.

The oil companies process much of the crude oil into gasoline.

The processed sugar is now completely white.

There's too much information. I can't process all of it right now.


heavy

heavy (positive)
heavier (comparative)
heaviest (superlative)

This suitcase is very heavy.


young

young (positive)
younger (comparative)
youngest (superlative)

If you are young, you have not lived a long time.

She was only a young girl.

The young lion plays with his brothers and sisters.

He is very young.

They were friends from his young manhood.


young

The lion caught a gnu to feed its young.

The lion's young are curious.


k

The eleventh (11th) letter of the alphabet.

"k" comes after "j" and before "l"


morning

Morning is the time of day when people wake up to have breakfast and go to work or school. In most cases, it is also the time of sunrise.

It was cold when the Sun rose in the morning, but after lunch it became warm.


morning

A clipping of good morning. Morning can be a greeting, similar to hello. Morning should only used in the morning.

Morning, Kath!


estimate

An estimate is a judgement of a size, value, amount, cost, etc., which is based on incomplete information.

British Telecom will give you an estimate of the cost before doing any work.


estimate

estimate (canonical)
estimates (third-person singular)
estimated (past)
estimated (past participle)
estimating (present participle)

If you estimate the number, size, value, amount, cost, etc. of something, you guess based on incomplete information.

It's difficult to estimate how long it will take to get to London because we don't know how bad the traffic will be.


pink

Pink is the color that you get when you mix red and white.

A pink is a type of plant that grows flowers. Pinks are related to carnations.


pink

pink (positive)
pinker (comparative)
pinkest (superlative)


early

early (positive)
earlier (comparative)
earliest (superlative)

If something is early, it is sooner than expected.

It was an early end to the meeting.

If something is early, it happens in the first part of a time period.

He didn't like going to the early classes.


early

He was at the meeting early.

She got up early in the morning.


alphabetical order

If something is in alphabetical order, it is in the order of the letters of the alphabet.

I will put the list in alphabetical order.


ship

We sailed by ship from England to Italy.


ship

ship (canonical)
ships (third-person singular)
shipped (past)
shipped (past participle)
shipping (present participle)

They will ship the package by mail.


puppy

My new puppy is so cute and playful.


brunet

He is a brunet.


brunet

(Of a man or boy) Brown or black-haired.

His hair is brown. He is brunet.


albatross

albatross (singular)
albatrosses (plural)

A type of seabird that is usually found in the Southern Ocean and in the North Pacific, with a curved beak and long, thin wings.

The albatross flew over the ocean.

A long amount of time where one is continually worried.

A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole.


spell

spelled (past)
spelled (past participle)
spell (canonical)
spells (third-person singular)
spelt (past)
spelt (past participle)
spelling (present participle)

C, A and T spell cat.

To say or write all the letters that make up a word, in the right order.

Jack says: "Spell cat for me, Jill."

Jill says: "C-A-T."

To spell all the words in a language correctly.

Jack says: I thought cat was spelled K-A-T.

Jill says: That is because you cannot spell very well.


spell

He stayed in his house for quite a spell.

We've had a bad spell of weather.

Words supposed to have a magical power, or the effect they are supposed to have.

He cast a spell on us.

The witch cast an evil spell on the princess.


y

Y is the twenty-fifth (25th) letter of the alphabet.

"y" comes after "x" and before "z"


orange

One of the colors people can see. It is lighter than red but darker than yellow.

A fruit with a thick skin and a juicy inside.


orange

orange (positive)
more orange (comparative)
most orange (superlative)

The construction workers wear orange shirts so that drivers can easily see them.


brother

Your brother is another male child of one or both of your parents.

Two sisters and their brother died in a car accident early yesterday.


non-comparable adjective

non-comparable adjective (singular)
non-comparable adjectives (plural)

"Iron" is a non-comparable adjective.


species

A species is the most specific level in the scientific tree.

humans belong to the species Homo sapiens.


skin

Her skin is soft.

The outer layer of a fruit or vegetable; a peel.

He ate the onion, but not the onion skin.


skin

skin (canonical)
skins (third-person singular)
skinned (past)
skinned (past participle)
skinning (present participle)

He skinned the bear and froze the meat.


week

A week is a period of time that lasts seven days.

There are seven days in one week.


u

The twenty-first (21st) letter of the alphabet. It is a vowel.

"u" comes after "t" and before "v"


r

The eighteenth (18th) letter of the English alphabet.

"r" comes after "q" and before "s"


pub

A place which serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food. Pub is a short for public house, which is less commonly used.

We went to the pub for a beer.


he

A male person or animal without identifying or describing him. The person is normally identified or described earlier in the text or sentence.

The man with the beard played the trumpet. He didn't play very well.

William Shakespeare was an English writer, but he is long dead.

A person or animal that we do not know the gender of.

Kill that spider, before he gets away!.


he

He is the name of the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets such as Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others.


quality

This cloth is full of quality.

Quality is how good something is, as opposed to how much of something there is.

The meat was of poor quality.

A quality is something about a person or thing, like intelligence, beauty or transparency.

Being truthful is his best quality.


quality

Here is a quality computer.


brunette

A girl or woman with brown or black hair.

My mum has brown hair and I am a brunette too.


brunette

A girl or woman that is brown or black-haired.

My sister is brunette, but she pretends she is blonde.


table

He sat at the table to eat.

A list of information in rows and columns.

He looked at the data table.


table

table (canonical)
tables (third-person singular)
tabled (past)
tabled (past participle)
tabling (present participle)

We will table a new motion.

I vote to table discussion.


west

The direction that the sun sets; from north, 90º to the left.

He is from the west.


west

One of the four compass directions: 270º clockwise from north. The sun sets in the west.

England is west of France.


does

do (canonical)
do (present)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
don't (present negative)
doesn't (third-person singular negative)
didn't (past negative)

Your answer does not help me.


does

do (canonical)
does (third-person singular)
did (past)
done (past participle)
doing (present participle)

Who does the washing up? Daddy does.

Annie does her homework in the afternoon.


does

The plural form of doe; more than one (kind of) doe. A female deer.

We saw three does at the zoo.


any

some or even the smallest amount or number

Do you want any coffee?

There aren't any pencils left, not even one.

Don't tell me. I don't want to hear any more about it.

Are you sure there's some here? I don't see any.

Slow down. I can't go any faster.

It doesn't look any different to me.

Please ask me. I can answer any question.

There was no problem of any kind.

I would say the same thing to any person.

Any information that you have would be helpful.

In any case, it doesn't really matter.

It doesn't matter. I'll take any that's left over.


a lot of

A lot of something, is a large number or a large amount of it.

We paid a lot of money for that car.


because

You use because to show the reason for something.

I bought the book because I wanted to read it.

We have to raise our prices because of rising costs.

There's no class because it's Sunday.


waiting

wait (canonical)
waits (third-person singular)
waited (past)
waited (past participle)
waiting (present participle)

We were tired of waiting for him.


town

She went to a town called Beaverton.

People from England call London "town".


zebra

An animal that somewhat looks like a horse, but has black and white stripes.

We saw zebras while we were in Africa.

By extension, any black and white stripe pattern that looks like a zebra.

I want to paint the room with zebra stripes.


discuss

discuss (canonical)
discusses (third-person singular)
discussed (past)
discussed (past participle)
discussing (present participle)

They discussed the issue.


education

education (singular)
educations (plural)

Someone gets an education if that person learns something or if somebody teaches that person something, usually at school.

More and more people are starting work with a university education.

He studied German by himself, but he has no formal education.


is

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

A form of the verb be when talking about someone or something else.

He is late for class.

Is it hot in here?


skill

Being able to do something well. Unlike abilities, skills must usually be learned.

I go to a class every weekend to help me improve on my writing skills.


edge

His speed gives him an edge.


edge

edge (canonical)
edges (third-person singular)
edged (past)
edged (past participle)
edging (present participle)

He edged the grass.

She edged away from him.


east

The east is a place that is closer to where the sun rises than another place.

My parents live in the east.


east

One of the four compass directions: 90º clockwise from north. The sun rises in the east.

I drove east from Chicago.


because of

You use because of to show the reason for something.

There's no class because of the holiday.

We couldn't leave the island because of the bad weather.


trinitrotoluene

trinitrotoluene (singular)
trinitrotoluenes (plural)

Trinitrotoluene is a yellow explosive material that is made up of crystals that are gotten through a reaction with nitric acid and toluene.


abroad

If somebody goes abroad, they leave their home country and go to another country.

They sent their children to school abroad.

He is going abroad to travel in France and Germany.

If somebody lives abroad, they live in another country.

She spent four years abroad before returning to Brazil.


strong

strong (positive)
stronger (comparative)
strongest (superlative)

Having big muscles; physically powerful.

Arnold is very strong.

Having a smell or flavor that is easy to notice.

She wore strong perfume.

The taste of cinnamon was strong in my drink.

Having a specified number of people or units.

The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.


snow

Snow is precipitation (falling water) that is white and frozen.

I like to ski on the snow.

A snow is a time when snow falls from the sky.

The snows of winter will soon come.


snow

snow (canonical)
snows (third-person singular)
snowed (past)
snowed (past participle)
snowing (present participle)

If it is snowing, snow is coming down from the sky.

It snowed last night and everything is white now.


attention

attention (singular)
attentions (plural)

If you pay attention to something, you focus your mind on it.

Pay attention to me when I'm speaking to you.

He waved to draw attention to himself.

She couldn't keep her attention on her books.


of

His name was Simon of Cyrene.

He wants a piece of that pie.

It is a house of cards.

Call the office of the school president.


white

White is one of the colors people can see

The white or clear colored part inside an egg.

A person with fair (light) colored skin. Usually this means people of the race that began in Europe, especially northern Europe.


white

white (positive)
whiter (comparative)
whitest (superlative)

Of a race with light skin or the race that began in Europe, especially northern Europe.


cold

cold (positive)
colder (comparative)
coldest (superlative)

If something is cold, it is low in temperature.

The wind made her hands cold.

It's going to be very cold today so wear a jacket.

She's always so friendly to everyone, but she's really cold to him.

If you have cold feet, you are nervous about something you planned to and you feel like not doing it.

I almost took the new job, but in the end I got cold feet.

If you give someone the cold shoulder, you ignore them or you are unfriendly towards them.

If you stop cold, you stop very suddenly.

If you are out cold, you are unconscious.

A cold light or colour is a one, often with some blue, that makes you feel cold or empty.

If you do something cold, you do it without any preparation.

Cold cash is coins and bills, not promises to pay.

If something leaves you cold, it doesn't interest you at all.

If someone's or something's trail is cold, you can't find them because they have been missing for too long.


cold

A mild sickness. It gives your trouble with your nose and throat.

He has a cold, so he stayed in bed, kept warm, and took some medicine.


absolutely

If something is absolutely true, correct, etc., it's 100% so.

I agree. You're absolutely right.

I'm not absolutely sure, but I think it's OK.

If something is absolutely beautiful, brilliant, etc., it's very much so.

"It was wonderful," Martha said. "Absolutely wonderful! The best!"

You say there is absolutely nothing, to emphasise that there is nothing.

I have absolutely no idea why he said that.


trousers

Trousers are clothes worn over the lower body, with two legs.

He put on his trousers.


grey

One of the colors people can see. It is halfway between black and white.

I like the darker color of grey.

They look out into the grey.


grey

grey (positive)
greyer (comparative)
greyest (superlative)

That is a grey whale.


grey

grey (canonical)
greys (third-person singular)
greyed (past)
greyed (past participle)
greying (present participle)

My hair is starting to grey.


golf

Golf is a game where a person uses a club to try to hit a ball into a hole with the fewest strokes.

He played golf with a friend.

Golf represents the letter G in the ICAO spelling alphabet.


golf

golf (canonical)
golfs (third-person singular)
golfed (past)
golfed (past participle)
golfing (present participle)

If you golf, you play a game where a person uses a club to try to hit a ball into a hole with the fewest strokes.


paper

Paper is a material for writing and drawing on and is made from wood pulp.

A notebook is made from sheets of paper.

She made a paper airplane.

A paper is a newspaper, magazine, newsletter, etc. Something that is used to inform people about the news.

Is there anything interesting in today's paper?

The interview I had with the press was published in today's paper.

Paper is wallpaper, paper that is pasted onto a wall to decorate the place.

We've put up new paper in the dining room to make the place look prettier.

Paper is wrapping paper, paper used to wrap things such as presents.

The parcel was wrapped in brown paper.

A paper is a written document that reports scientific or academic research.

While in university, the professor had written many papers to publish his research in physics.

A paper is a written document. It is usually shorter than a book and is mainly written for the government.

The population white paper was published to explain the government's plan in managing the increase in the population.

Paper is the documents that a person carries when going to another country or crossing borders.

The corrupted officers took away his papers and was held in the airport for 48 hours.


paper

Supermarkets now use paper bags instead of plastic bags to save the environment.

When someone is paper, it means that the person is good in theory (on paper), but bad in practice or reality.

That person is a paper general. Even though he has received many awards, he has never fought a single war before.


paper

paper (canonical)
papers (third-person singular)
papered (past)
papered (past participle)
papering (present participle)

When you paper something, you hang paper (especially wallpaper) onto it.

I shall paper the dining room tomorrow.


family

A family is a group of people with a blood or marriage relation.

My parents and my two brothers are my family.

A language family is a group of languages that is believed to have came from the same language.

The Indo-European language family is a family of languages that is spoken by 3 billion people.


z

Z is the twenty-sixth (26th), and last letter of the alphabet.

"z" comes after "y"


available

available (positive)
more available (comparative)
most available (superlative)

If something is available, it exists and you can use it.

We can't answer the question with the available information.

These forms are available from the local office.


burden

burden (canonical)
burdens (third-person singular)
burdened (past)
burdened (past participle)
burdening (present participle)


nice

nice (positive)
nicer (comparative)
nicest (superlative)

If something is nice, it's good and people probably like it.

I didn't know him, but I hear he was a very nice man.

Thank you, sir; have a nice day yourself, sir.

It's great. It's much nicer than your old place.

Thank you for coming! It was so nice to see you again.


cylinder

A cylinder is a shape consisting of two circles connected to a tube.

cans, pens, and flashlights are usually shaped like cylinders.


fat

fat (positive)
fatter (comparative)
fattest (superlative)

If a person or animal is fat, it is big and heavy because it has too much fat.

I got really fat when I was in university because I ate every meal at McDonalds.


fat

Fat is animal tissue with a high oil content.

Let's get the light cheese. It only has 15% fat. The regular cheese has 35%.


yesterday

Yesterday, I went to the store.

Victor chaired the meeting yesterday.

His clothes are like yesterday's fashion.

I met her yesterday morning.


yesterday

yesterday (singular)
yesterdays (plural)

He remembered all his yesterdays.


cup

A cup is deep round container open at the top, normally used to drink out of.

I'll bring you another cup of tea.

Please pour the water into the cup.

A cup is a measurement of food or liquid for cooking and baking (about 237 milliliters).

Add 2 cups of sugar.

There are two cups in a pint.

A cup is an award for the winner of a sports competition.


cup

cup (canonical)
cups (third-person singular)
cupped (past)
cupped (past participle)
cupping (present participle)

If you put your hands together in a round bowl-shape, you cup your hands.

Jean cupped her hands under the faucet to catch the water.


worm

A tube-shaped animal with no legs that lives underground, under water, or inside another animal.

He found a big worm to use for fishbait.

They found a worm in his stomach.

Worms must be eating him by now.

They found a worm in the tree.

Saint George fought the worm with all his strength.

A worm is a type of dangerous software that can go across networks of computers.


worm

worm (canonical)
worms (third-person singular)
wormed (past)
wormed (past participle)
worming (present participle)

To move like a worm; to wriggle in order to move.

He wormed along the sand.


flashlight

flashlight (singular)
flashlights (plural)

A flashlight is a device for making light. Flashlights are usually small and shaped like cylinders. The electricity for the flashlight often comes from a battery.

It was getting dark, so he used his flashlight.


sneeze

sneeze (canonical)
sneezes (third-person singular)
sneezed (past)
sneezed (past participle)
sneezing (present participle)

If you sneeze, a feeling in your nose makes you suddenly blow air out of your nose and mouth.

He sneezed until his nose was red.

You'll give everyone your cold coughing and sneezing like that.


sneeze

A sneeze, is a sudden blowing of air out of your nose and mouth because of a feeling in your nose.

She held her finger under her nose to stop a sneeze.


doubt

A doubt is a question or uncertainty about something.

His mind was full of doubts about the phishing website.


doubt

doubt (canonical)
doubts (third-person singular)
doubted (past)
doubted (past participle)
doubting (present participle)

If you doubt someone or something, you do not believe them completely.

The girl I met at the pub said she would call me, but I doubt she really will.


strange

strange (positive)
stranger (comparative)
strangest (superlative)

My brother is so strange that he can turn his eyelids inside out.

Gerald saw a strange car parked in his driveway.


death

Death and destruction are a part of war.

The Bible teaches that death and suffering came into the world because of Adam's sin.

She looked happy, even in death.

The death of my wife was hard to accept.

She has seen many deaths.

My uncle's death made the whole family feel sad.

No one knows where a person will go after death.


instructions

instruction (singular)
instructions (plural)

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

If you do not follow the instructions carefully you will make a mistake.

I'll never figure out how to build this shelf--the instructions aren't in English!


duck

A duck is a bird that swims and says "quack!". It has a flat bill and webbed feet.

We saw three ducks in the park lake.

Sound of ducks:

Duck refers to the meat that comes from a duck.

We just had duck for dinner.

In a game of cricket, if a person scores duck, they scored zero runs.


duck

duck (canonical)
ducks (third-person singular)
ducked (past)
ducked (past participle)
ducking (present participle)

If you duck, you lower your head so that you do not get hit by something.

Remember to duck when the boat goes under the bridge.

When you duck a task, you avoid doing it.


vowel

A vowel is one of the letters a, e, i, o and u. All the other letters are consonants. Sometimes y is also considered to be a vowel.

A vowel is a sound in the middle of a syllable. It is louder and longer than consonant sounds.

English has more than 15 vowel sounds, but only five vowel letters!

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


principle

principle (singular)
principles (plural)

Principles are personal rules that tell you what is right and wrong.

It goes against my principles to ignore her.

One principle I follow is not to have regret.

A principle is the general idea that explains or supports something.

The basic principle of his chair is that the knees should be below the hips.

Police must not accept money because it could affect their judgement. The same principle applies if gifts, etc, are offered.


for

For is used to show that something belongs to something else, or has a specific function.

This cake is for you.

This is a net for catching fish.

For is used to show the reason for something.

He was angry, for he had never been called such terrible names before.


for

For is used to introduce the predicand of a to-infinitival clause.

It's not good for you to be too relaxed.


day

24 hours

Seven days make one week

The time between midnight and the following midnight (or between sunset and sunset in Jewish reckoning)

The time between sunrise and sunset, when it is daylight
Synonym: daytime

Antonyms: night and nighttime

The part of a day spent at work or school
Synonyms: workday and schoolday

He spent two days at work means that on two days he went to work; he did not spend 48 hours at work.


fork

An instrument for eating, with 3 or 4 sharp points called tines, all in the same direction.

I ate with my fork.

She came to a fork in the road.

A situation where two or more enemy pieces are in danger from the same piece.

He moved his queen and caught me in a fork.


fork

fork (canonical)
forks (third-person singular)
forked (past)
forked (past participle)
forking (present participle)

The road forks there.

He forked food into his mouth.


letter

A letter is a symbol which makes up part of a word.

The word fly has 3 letters: f, l and y.

I received a letter through the post.


especially

You use especially to say that something is special, or somehow different from others.

Nobody was old, but Paulo was especially young.

I like running, especially in the morning when the air is fresh.

Japanese cities are famous for their size, especially Tokyo.


cat

A cat is a domestic animal often kept as a pet; it has whiskers and likes to chase mice.

Our pet cat has just had kittens.

Cats refers to the family of many different wild animals that are related to the domestic cat.

lions and tigers are big cats.

A cat refers to a person who is a prostitute.

The cat command, a Unix computer program used to read one or more files and output its contents.


cat

cat (canonical)
cats (third-person singular)
catted (past)
catted (past participle)
catting (present participle)

If you cat an anchor, you lift it onto the cathead.

When you cat, you apply the cat command on a Unix computer.


cat

When something is cat, it is terrible and not good.

The weather these few days has been cat, so we decided to cancel our outing to the beach.


taste

Taste is the sense linked to the tongue, usually when eating food. The taste is how people can enjoy their food.

The main tastes are sweet, sour, salty and bitter.

Wow, these chicken wings taste really good, I want some more!.

Someone's taste, is the kind of food, books, clothing, etc. that they like.

She has great taste in clothes, but I don't understand her taste in men.


taste

taste (canonical)
tastes (third-person singular)
tasted (past)
tasted (past participle)
tasting (present participle)

The way something tastes is the sense you get when you put it in your mouth.

This milk tastes strange. I think it's bad.

This meat tastes like chicken. What is it?

If you taste something, you put it in your mouth to see if you like it.

Here, taste this soup and tell me if it needs more salt.


word

Words are the smallest meaningful pieces of a language that can be used on their own.

Do you even understand the words I am saying?!

Class, if you are not sure on any word, be sure to check the dictionary.

Can I have a word with you, John?

Mr. Gambini, a word with you, please?

She gave him her word that she would pay him the money on Tuesday.

You have my word for it that the work will be finished before the weekend.

Send word to John that Mary is here.

The word is that Mary stole some money from John.

When Christians speak about the Bible, they sometimes call it the Word.


word

word (canonical)
words (third-person singular)
worded (past)
worded (past participle)
wording (present participle)

When you word something, you are trying to say or write it using certain words and to phrase it in a certain way.

The mayor's speech was carefully worded to avoid offending the angry protesters.


swim

swim (canonical)
swims (third-person singular)
swam (past)
swum (past participle)
swimming (present participle)

If you swim, you move through the water using your arms and legs.

Let's go swimming at the beach.

I don't like boats because I can't swim.


swim

We all went for a swim in the lake.


stick

Gerard picked up a stick.

He gave her a stick of gum.


stick

stick (canonical)
sticks (third-person singular)
stuck (past)
stuck (past participle)
sticking (present participle)

The food stuck to the pan.

You stick your clothes in the dryer.


thunder

He heard thunder in the distance.

The thunder of the train was very loud.

The battlefield was full of the thunder of gunfire.


thunder

thunder (canonical)
thunders (third-person singular)
thundered (past)
thundered (past participle)
thundering (present participle)

The bowling ball thundered down the lane.


formal

formal (positive)
more formal (comparative)
most formal (superlative)

If something is formal, it is official and/or public.

He studied German on his own, but he has no formal language education.

Formal behaviour or dress is used in polite situations.

Please wear suit and tie because the restaurant is quite formal.


brown

Brown is one of the colors people can see


brown

brown (positive)
browner (comparative)
brownest (superlative)


brown

brown (canonical)
browns (third-person singular)
browned (past)
browned (past participle)
browning (present participle)

If you brown something, you cook it until it turns brown.

Brown the onions in a large frying pan.


colour

The image caused by light in your eyes, due to light of various wavelengths hitting your retina.

My favorite colour is blue.

The colour of a person's skin, especially as an indicator of their race or ethnicity


colour

colour (canonical)
colours (third-person singular)
coloured (past)
coloured (past participle)
colouring (present participle)

Rose coloured the drawing with a pencil.


discussion

discussion (singular)
discussions (plural)

A discussion happens when two or more people share ideas about something, usually by talking.

The company held detailed salary discussions with all employees.

There have been ongoing discussions about the new rules.


definition

definition (singular)
definitions (plural)

A definition is an explanation of the meaning of a word.

The sentence before this one is a definition.

ESL students often check definitions in their dictionaries.

Can you give me a definition for "imprisonment"?

/ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən/


x

X is the twenty-fourth (24th) letter of the alphabet.

"x" comes after "w" and before "y"

This is the Roman numeral for ten (10). It may be written as X or x.


x

x (canonical)
xes (third-person singular)
xed (past)
xed (past participle)
xing (present participle)

to x (sth) means to write or draw a cross on something


less

little
less (comparative)
least (superlative)

He does less of the work than she does.

I want less soup.

It costs less than $10.

As we build new roads, these small ones will become less important.

He wore a dark colour that was less likely to be seen.


less

If you do x less than y, you do not do x as much as y.

I read less than I used to. = "reading now < reading before"

He works less than she does.

My leg really hurts, but my arm hurts less. = "my arm hurts < my leg hurts"

If you do something less often, easily, well, etc., you do not do it as often, easily, well, etc.

I go out less often than before.

He plays piano less than she does.

If something is less likely, expensive, important, etc., it is not as likely, expensive, important, etc.

This book is less expensive than that book. ="the price of this book < the price of that book"

You should go out. Studying is less important.


less

Seven less four is three. (7-4=3)


air

Air is a mixture of gases. It has no color or odor (smell)

We breathe air to live.

You put on airs when you act arrogantly.

The woman put on the airs in front of her friends.


air

air (canonical)
airs (third-person singular)
aired (past)
aired (past participle)
airing (present participle)

If you air something, you broadcast it, either over the radio, or on television.

Hurry! You'll miss the story about homeless children that is about to air on the local news!


finally

If something finally happens, it means there was a long wait before it happened.

I finally finished university. Now, I can start my real life.

Finally is used, often at the beginning of a sentence, to show that this is the last thing or idea.

First, I think that we should use less. Second, I think we should reuse the things that we have. And, finally, I think we should recycle more.


similar

similar (positive)
more similar (comparative)
most similar (superlative)

If two things are similar, they are almost the same, or the same in many, but not all, ways.

Canadian English is similar to American English, but there are some small differences in pronunciation, and spelling.

My sister and I have very similar ideas.

If two shapes are similar, they have the same shape, but might be different sizes.

These two triangles are similar because they have the same angles, but they are not congruent because one is bigger than the other.


heart

He has a problem with his heart.

You broke my heart.

We get to the heart of the problem.

He has a lot of heart.


cry

cry (canonical)
cries (third-person singular)
cried (past)
cried (past participle)
crying (present participle)

To shed tears; to let water come from your eyes, usually while making a sound, usually when you feel sad.

He started to cry because he was so upset.

I cried when my brother died.

They cried for us to stop.


cry

She gave a little cry of fear.

He had a good cry.


technical

technical (positive)
more technical (comparative)
most technical (superlative)

Technical problems, writing, or skills, are related to special knowledge that most people don't have.

Doctors use a lot of technical vocabulary. I wish they would explain things more easily.

Our computers had some kind of technical problem, so we had to call somebody to come and fix it.

A prima ballerina must have great technical knowledge of dance movement.


during

If you do something during something else, you do it at the same time.

He often reads during dinner.

I'm always tired because I work during the night.


battery

A battery is a device for storing or keeping electricity. Batteries are used to power flashlights, laptop computers, cell phones, and many other devices.

I put a new battery in the flashlight.

I threw away the old, dead battery.

A battery is a coordinated group of artillery weapons.

Battery is the act of hitting or striking a person.

My brother was sent to jail for assault and battery.


fun

Thanks! I had a lot of fun today. Let's do it again.

If you do something for fun, you do it because you enjoy it.

It's not my job; I just write Wiktionary articles for fun.


fun

more fun (comparative)
most fun (superlative)
fun (positive)
funner (comparative)
funnest (superlative)

A fun activity, time, person, etc. is enjoyable.

I really like soccer. It's such a fun game.


custom

A custom is an activity that happens traditionally or regularly.

Almost everyone there eats rice every day, but there are different local customs about how to cook it.

My mother's custom is to have breakfast in the garden with her newspaper.

A custom is a long-established practice; considered as unwritten law.

It was a custom in medieval times a woman could not marry without her parents consent.


custom

A custom piece of clothing or other item is created for a specific person or use.

He only wears custom suits, made to fit him perfectly.


identify

identify (canonical)
identifies (third-person singular)
identified (past)
identified (past participle)
identifying (present participle)

If you identify something, you say what it is.

I showed him the picture and he identified the man as his brother.

The management has identified the key areas of concern.

The study identified three options.

If x identifies y, x makes it easy to know what y is.

If you identify with someone else, you understand and share their feelings.

If x is identified with y, it is closely connected to it.


black

The darkest color; with no light; the color of the sky at night.

He stood alone in the black of the night.

Blacks are people of a race with dark coloured skin.

There were many whites, some blacks and native Americans, and a few Asians.

If a company is in the black, it is making a profit. (opposite = in the red)

It took a year for the restaurant to get in the black.


black

black (positive)
blacker (comparative)
blackest (superlative)

The black dog was the color of night.

If someone is black, they belong to a race with dark-coloured skin.

It's still difficult for a black person to become a manager.

About 30 percent of Southfield's 80,000 citizens are black.

More and more universities are offering courses in black history.

The day the war started was a black day in history.


black

black (canonical)
blacks (third-person singular)
blacked (past)
blacked (past participle)
blacking (present participle)

If you black something, you color it black.

He blacked his boots before the party.

They blacked out the windows so the light would not be seen outside.

A number of lines in the report were blacked out.

If you black out, you stop seeing and hearing everything around you and you fall down.

After his tenth beer, he blacked out and we couldn't wake him up.


food

Food is what people and animals eat for nutrition or pleasure when they are hungry.

We grow our own food.

He eats many foods from other lands.

I'm going to get the children some food from the restaurant because they're hungry.


q

The seventeenth (17th) letter of the alphabet. Most words with q have a u as the next letter, for example aqua.

"q" comes after "p" and before "r"


beach

A large area of sand (or very small stones), next to an area of water.

People sometimes lie on beaches when they are on holiday, to get a suntan.


beach

beach (canonical)
beaches (third-person singular)
beached (past)
beached (past participle)
beaching (present participle)

If something is beached, it has run onto a beach or sandbar.


practise

practise (canonical)
practises (third-person singular)
practised (past)
practised (past participle)
practising (present participle)

If you practise something, you do it again and again to improve your ability.

The class was going to practise writing skills for homework.

When I got my first guitar, I practised until my fingers fell off.


IP address

IP address (singular)
IP addresses (plural)

An IP address is a number that is used to identify a computer. It is short for Internet protocol address.

The IP address is 123.45.678.9.


institution

institution (singular)
institutions (plural)

A custom or practice of a society or community.

The institution of marriage is present in many cultures but its details vary widely across them.

An institution is a large group of people who work together for a specific purpose. Examples include hospitals, universities, and banks.

Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions are already offering internet services.


building

A building consists of walls, a foundation and a roof that together close in some space.

I work in the Chrysler Building.


building

build (canonical)
builds (third-person singular)
built (past)
built (past participle)
building (present participle)

He is building a skyscraper.


suddenly

If something happens suddenly, it happens very quickly when you don't expect it to happen.

My son had been sitting in the chair beside me. Then, suddenly, I realised he was gone.


shop

He bought a hat from the shop.


shop

shop (canonical)
shops (third-person singular)
shopped (past)
shopped (past participle)
shopping (present participle)

If you shop for something, you look for it in a store because you want to buy it.

I need some new shoes, but I've been shopping for them for a week and I can't find any I like.


fee

A fee is the money you pay for some kinds of services, such as legal advice, education, or club membership.

School fees have increased again this year.

An inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord in return for certain services.

He held his lands in fee of the Earl of Chester.


advice

If you give someone advice, you tell them what you think they should do.

Thanks so much! I took your advice and it really helped me get the job.

Excuse me! I'm looking for advice on how to get a loan. Can you help me?


preposition

preposition (singular)
prepositions (plural)

A preposition is a member of a group of words, or part of speech, that usually show where something happens. Typically a preposition is followed by a noun.

In the sentence, "I come from Canada," from is a preposition.

/ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən/


preposition

preposition (canonical)
prepositions (third-person singular)
prepositioned (past)
prepositioned (past participle)
prepositioning (present participle)

If you preposition something, you place it in a location before some event occurs.


spade

I took my spade to the garden.

He had three spades and two hearts.


spade

spade (canonical)
spades (third-person singular)
spaded (past)
spaded (past participle)
spading (present participle)

She will spade the garden.


academic

academic (positive)
more academic (comparative)
most academic (superlative)

An academic topic, lecture, idea, etc., is one that is connected to education.

The academic staff at the college generally don't teach during the summer.

There is a lot of political disagreement about it, but there is general academic agreement.

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


academic

An academic is a researcher or university teacher.

The government has begun jailing journalists and banning academics from travel.

The book is very popular for one written by an academic.

Academics is the part of school related to learning.

This class was strong in every aspect of their schooling, including academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


job

A job is an activity that you do, usually, regularly and for pay.

She got a good job as a manager in a book store.

She does the same job as George, and she does it faster and better.

Son, come here. I have a job for you before you start watching TV.

A job is a task that a computer performs.

A job is a plastic surgery that is done on someone. Usually used with another word to form a noun.

John just had a nose job.


equipment

Your equipment is the things that you use to do a job or sport.

Soccer is a popular game because you need very little equipment to play--just a ball and an open space.

The soldiers had to carry all their equipment on their backs.

The computer equipment was old and often broke down.


engineering

Engineering is a job or a science about designing and building things.

She worked for a civil engineering company, that makes portable bridges.


engineering

engineer (canonical)
engineers (third-person singular)
engineered (past)
engineered (past participle)
engineering (present participle)


facilities

The facilities in a building include the equipment, services, or places that are available.

How much does it cost an employer to provide childcare facilities?

The hotel is cheap, but it still has a lot of facilities for guests.

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


web

A web is a series of lines, ideas, or thoughts connected.

Her web of thoughts is complex.

The spider is spinning a very large web.

Simple English Wiktionary is my favorite place on the web.


web

web (canonical)
webs (third-person singular)
webbed (past)
webbed (past participle)
webbing (present participle)

If you web something, you cover it with a web.

Spiders web their prey and then eat them.


informal

informal (positive)
more informal (comparative)
most informal (superlative)

If something is informal, it is friendly and casual; it is not official.

Can we get together for some informal talks before the meeting?

School is generally quite informal. Many students even call their teacher by their first name.


feet

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

Please take your shoes and socks off of your feet.

My feet hurt from walking all day.

My friend is six feet tall.


formally

If you do something formally, you do it in a formal way.

They expect you to formally behave yourself. If not, I doubt you will get the job.


farm

A piece of land where people work growing plants and animals. Usually, a farm makes food for its owners to eat or sell.

We grow cows and apples on our farm.

A farm is a group of coordinated servers.

A server farm.


farm

farm (canonical)
farms (third-person singular)
farmed (past)
farmed (past participle)
farming (present participle)

To grow plants or animals on a piece of land.

My father farms on a large parcel of land for a living.

If you farm in an online game, you engage in repetitive activity for a particular item.


door

A piece of a wall that can be opened (leaving a hole in the wall to walk through) or closed (covering the hole). Some doors are on hinges; others slide.

Please open the door for him. His hands are full.


dog

A dog is a domestic mammal, related to wolves and foxes, that is often kept as a pet.

My pet dog is called "Rover".


dog

dog (canonical)
dogs (third-person singular)
dogged (past)
dogged (past participle)
dogging (present participle)

If you dog someone, you follow them while being annoying.

If you dog something or someone, you follow them to try to catch them.


relaxed

relaxed (positive)
more relaxed (comparative)
most relaxed (superlative)

If someone is relaxed, they feel calm, they are not worried, and their muscles are not tight.

I feel most relaxed when I'm fishing.

I really enjoy talking to her. She's always so relaxed and she has time to listen.


relaxed

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

The past tense and past participle of relax.


advertisement

advertisement (singular)
advertisements (plural)

An advertisement is a public notice which advertises something; pictures and writing from a company which many people can see.

There was an advertisement for fruit on the wall. It had a big picture of an apple.


run

run (canonical)
runs (third-person singular)
ran (past)
run (past participle)
running (present participle)

To go quickly, with both feet off the ground at one time.

I must run.

I like to run in the afternoon.

The car runs well.

He ran from the cops.

He ran the hotel together with his beloved wife.

He had run all the way from Dallas.


run

A trip made by a runner; compare to walk.

I’m going for a run.

A run in baseball is when a batter safely touches home plate.

A run in cricket is scored when the batsmen run between the two wickets.

An unbroken course of performances or showings.

The musical had a long run on Broadway.


vary

vary (canonical)
varies (third-person singular)
varied (past)
varied (past participle)
varying (present participle)

If something varies, it is not always the same.

The summer temperature in Toronto can vary from 12 degrees at night to over 30 degrees during the day.

"Do you enjoy your job?" "You know, it varies. Some days are good..."

Teachers sometimes need to vary the order and manner in which things are taught and learnt.


p

The sixteenth (16th) letter of the alphabet.

"p" comes after "o" and before "q"


p

Meet me at 4:30pm.

She wrote her homework in her notebook: "read p 60 – 80".

This quote is from Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p119).


down

What goes up on earth must fall down.

Towards a smaller price, number, amount, etc.

I'm going to buy a computer once prices go down.


down

Down is soft feathers or a covering of soft feathers.

That pillow is full of down.


down

down (canonical)
downs (third-person singular)
downed (past)
downed (past participle)
downing (present participle)

If you down a liquid, normally an alcoholic drink, it means you drink it very quickly.

Harry downed a glass of beer in five seconds.


title

The title of a book, movie, song, etc. is its name.

"I just finished the best book." "Really, what's the title?"

A title is a word or name that describes a person's job or status.

His title was Director of Science Education.

The proper title for an unmarried woman is "Miss".

A title is a legal document that proves you own something.

He put the title to his house in a bank for safe keeping.


title

title (canonical)
titles (third-person singular)
titled (past)
titled (past participle)
titling (present participle)

To give a title to someone or something.

I titled my essay "The History of Japan".


journey

Timothy left on a long journey.


journey

journey (canonical)
journeys (third-person singular)
journeyed (past)
journeyed (past participle)
journeying (present participle)

If you journey to somewhere, you travel there.

We journeyed from town to town.


worse

bad (positive)
worse (comparative)
worst (superlative)

It is worse to lie to hide something than it is to lie to protect someone.

The weather this winter is worse than last year.


culture

A culture is a common history, set of beliefs, or way of life within a group of people.

Rock and roll is a central part of American popular culture.

When I moved to China, it took me a long time to start to understand the culture.


culture

culture (canonical)
cultures (third-person singular)
cultured (past)
cultured (past participle)
culturing (present participle)

If you culture bacteria or cells, you grow them.


lung

Your lungs are part of your body that is inside your chest. Your lungs allow you to breathe.

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


speak

speak (canonical)
speaks (third-person singular)
spoke (past)
spoken (past participle)
speaking (present participle)

He speaks with him daily.


global

global (positive)
more global (comparative)
most global (superlative)

If something is global it includes the whole world.

The weather is changing, and this is not just in one or two places. The change is global.

The Olympics and the world cup of soccer are the two largest global sporting events.


brain

Your brain is the part of your body that is inside your head.

The brain is the part of the body that thinks and controls the rest of the body through the nervous system.

He has serious brain damage from falling off of his bicycle and hitting his head.


color

The image caused by light in your eyes, due to light of various wavelengths hitting your retina.

My favorite color is blue.

The color of a person's skin, especially as an indicator of their race or ethnicity


color

color (canonical)
colors (third-person singular)
colored (past)
colored (past participle)
coloring (present participle)

Rose colored the drawing with a pencil.


c

"b" comes before "c"

In some schools, an C is the passing grade.

Albert only just passed the exam; he got a C.


it

Used to refer to an object that might have been described earlier in the text.

The house was very big. It had many rooms.

It is very hot today.

I'm staying in because it is raining.

Used to describe a situation in general.

I don't like it when people tell me to do something.

It is hard to find a job.

It wasn't easy knowing where the ball would go.


it

Information Technology, i.e. the use of computers.


probably

If something is probably true, or will probably happen, it means there is a high chance of it.

I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight, but I'll probably stay home and study.

"Is Ed here?" "Uh... he usually leaves at 4:00, so he's probably gone, but I'll go and have a look."


health

If you talk about the health of a person or animal, you are talking about whether they are sick or not.

The doctors believe that the disease will not be a serious danger to public health.

Before you start exercising, you should be in good health.

If you have health you are not sick (do not have disease) and are not hurt.


migration

migration (singular)
migrations (plural)

A migration is a large movement, usually of people or animals, to a new living place.

Every fall, the birds begin their migration from the cold northern areas to the southern regions where they will spend the winter.


practice

practice (canonical)
practices (third-person singular)
practiced (past)
practiced (past participle)
practicing (present participle)

If you practice something, you do it again and again to improve your ability.

The class was going to practice writing skills for homework.

When I got my first guitar, I practiced until my fingers fell off.

If you practice a subject (specially law and medicine), you pursue it as a career.

She practiced law for several years.


practice

Practice is an activity you do again and again to improve your ability.

I can go to the party because I have soccer practice that night.

My driving is getting better, but I still need practice.


style

A style is a specific look, design, or way of dressing or acting.

I don't understand why the styles in fashion magazines are always changing.

We have a new manager, but her style is much more friendly than the old guy.

A style is a traditional or legal term referring to a person who holds a title or post.

He styled himself the Count of Monte Cristo.


style

style (canonical)
styles (third-person singular)
styled (past)
styled (past participle)
styling (present participle)

If you style something, you design and make it appear in a certain way.


a

A is used when you don't expect your listener to identify which thing you mean.

Compare "A book I saw on the shelf" and "The book I gave you yesterday".


a

The letter "a" comes before "b".

In some schools, an A is a very high grade.

Ron got an A on his earth science test.


wash

wash (canonical)
washes (third-person singular)
washed (past)
washed (past participle)
washing (present participle)

When you wash something, you clean it with water.

I wash my car every day.


wash

He gave the dog a wash.

The items for washing, before, after, or during the washing.

He threw his dirty clothes in the wash.

She brought the wash in from the clothesline.

The program was a complete wash.

His project is a wash.

With up: to be washed up is to be completely discouraged and burnt out.

The Starcraft 2 servers were down and I was all washed up.


correct

correct (positive)
more correct (comparative)
most correct (superlative)

Something that is correct has no mistakes.

For question #5, only 5 people got the correct answer.

When you type, the correct hand position is very important.


correct

correct (canonical)
corrects (third-person singular)
corrected (past)
corrected (past participle)
correcting (present participle)

When you correct something that is wrong, you make it right.

I corrected the mistakes on your test.


ocean

My great grandfather came across the Atlantic ocean from Scotland to Canada in 1882 on a sailing ship.

She stood on a beach in Japan and looked east at the sun coming up over the Pacific ocean.


thought

When you have a thought, you have an idea or concept in your mind.

I have a thought about the answer to that problem.

I will give your words some thought.


thought

think (canonical)
thinks (third-person singular)
thought (past)
thought (past participle)
thinking (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of think.

He thought of his mother.

I have thought of everything.

She thought that you were gone.


slowly

When something moves slowly or does something slowly, it takes a very long time to do it.

She was very tired, and walked slowly up the stairs to bed.

He moved slowly, hoping that the bird wouldn't notice him.


men

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


region

A region is an area of land or of the body.

The fishing problems have been happening only in the Atlantic coast region.

The southern regions of Japan are warm and tropical.

If we do an operation in this region of the brain, you may lose your ability to speak.

A region is any connected part of a space or surface. This definition is useful in geometry.

In Euclidean space, a convex set is a region which has a geometric definition.


electric

If a machine is electric, it uses electricity.

My grandmother wrote her letters on a typewriter; my mother used an electric typewriter, and I use a computer.

We bought a new gas stove. It's much faster than our old electric one.


legal

legal (positive)
more legal (comparative)
most legal (superlative)

If an activity is legal it does not break any laws.

In Canada, it is perfectly legal for a woman to walk down the street with no shirt on.

A legal problem, action, fee, etc. is related to the law or lawyers.

After losing the court case, he had to pay over $30,000 in legal fees.

The government brought legal action against three cigarette makers.


arch

A semi-circle shape, like an inverted "U".

Robert drew an arch on the paper.

Any object having the shape of an arch, from stone bridges and doorways to bows.

They went through the arch into the church.

A part of the foot, on the bottom, which is shaped like an arch.

She stepped on a nail and hurt the arch of her foot.


arch

arch (canonical)
arches (third-person singular)
arched (past)
arched (past participle)
arching (present participle)

The cat arched its back.


arch

Arch added to the start of a word signifies it is important or the most important

An archbishop is a senior bishop.

comic-book villains may be an arch-enemy.