international

international (positive)
more international (comparative)
most international (superlative)

An international event, situation, idea, etc. includes two or more countries.

In soccer news, France beat Japan in international competition.

An international student is a student from country A studying in country B.

The United States has more international students than any other country.

/ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəl/

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃnəl/


international

international (singular)
internationals (plural)

An international is a game or contest between two or more countries.

/ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəl/

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃnəl/


X-ray

X-rays are a type of invisible light beyond ultra-violet. They pass through skin and tissue, but not bone, making it useful in medicine. X-rays are a type of radiation.

When John broke his arm, he had an X-ray taken.

X-ray represents the letter X in the ICAO spelling alphabet.


X-ray

X-ray (canonical)
X-rays (third-person singular)
X-rayed (past)
X-rayed (past participle)
X-raying (present participle)

To X-ray is to take a photograph of an X-ray

The doctor X-rayed the patient's leg


X-ray

Something that is X-ray is something to do with X-rays.

The airport had an X-ray scanner.


being

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

Being happy is my favorite state.

I hope you are all being good.


being

You are a human being.


being

You use being to show the reason for something.

The mother is very happy, being that her son has become a college student.


bridge

Anything which avoids something which blocks a path, usually water, by going over the top of it.

The Golden Gate Bridge connects the two sides of California.

The bridge let cars go over the road, to avoid the traffic.


bridge

bridge (canonical)
bridges (third-person singular)
bridged (past)
bridged (past participle)
bridging (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


h

"g" comes before "h"


programme

programme (canonical)
programmes (third-person singular)
programmed (past)
programmed (past participle)
programming (present participle)

When you programme a computer, you use code to tell the computer what to do.

The student can programme the computer to calculate all of his statistics.

All of the math students know how to programme.


programme

programme (singular)
programmes (plural)

A programme is a number of steps that are followed to reach a goal or end.

His new exercise programme gets more difficult every week.

Oxford College has an excellent English language programme.

A programme is a guide to a dramatic or theatrical performance.

After he entered the theatre, he bought a copy of the programme.

A (television or radio) programme is a broadcast.

Star Trek is her favourite programme.

A (computer) programme is the code that tells a computer what to do.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular programmes in the world.

The new programme has a lot of problems. My computer crashes every time I try to run it.


period

There was a short period when my computer stopped working.

During the first period, Germany scored two goals.

The dinosaurs lived from late in the Triassic period (about 225 million years ago) until the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago).

A period is the dot that marks the end of most sentences in English. This -> . is a period.

Should I use an exclamation mark or a period at the end of this sentence?

A woman's period is the time each month when she passes blood.

I have missed two periods now. I think I must be pregnant.


period

And nothing else; and nothing less; used for emphasis.

When I say "eat your dinner," it means "eat your dinner", period!


assign

assign (canonical)
assigns (third-person singular)
assigned (past)
assigned (past participle)
assigning (present participle)

When you assign a job to someone, you tell them to do it.

That teacher always assigns too much homework.

To attribute or sort something into categories.

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life.


page

A page is one side of a sheet of paper in a book, newspaper, etc.

The picture of the accident was on page one of the morning's paper.

A page is a sheet of paper in a book, newspaper, etc.

This book has one page missing.

A page is the part of a document that you can see at one time on a computer screen.

A web page is a computer document that can be accessed over the internet.

This site has some of the most visited pages on the web.

A page is a young person whose job is to help important people like knights, or members of parliament.

The pages passed out copies of the new law.


page

page (canonical)
pages (third-person singular)
paged (past)
paged (past participle)
paging (present participle)

If you page someone, make an announcement or send them a message asking them to contact you.

Paging Dr. Horvat! Please, contact the nursing station.

If you need me, just have them page me at the restaurant.

If you page forward, back, through, etc. something with pages, you move from one page to another.

I paged through the magazine, just looking at the pictures.

Use the mouse to page down to the next screen.


wet

wet (positive)
wetter (comparative)
wettest (superlative)

If something is wet it has some water or other liquid on it.

I got completely wet in the rain.

I don't want to use this towel. It's already wet.


wet

wet (canonical)
wets (third-person singular)
wetted (past)
wetted (past participle)
wetting (present participle)

If you wet something, you put water or some other liquid on it.

Please try not to wet the bathroom floor when you have a shower.


had

have (canonical)
has (third-person singular)
had (past)
had (past participle)
having (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of have.

We had a good time at the zoo.

But we have had better times in the park.


had

have (canonical)
have (present)
has (third-person singular)
had (past)
having (present participle)
haven't (present negative)
hasn't (third-person singular negative)
hadn't (past negative)


create

create (canonical)
creates (third-person singular)
created (past)
created (past participle)
creating (present participle)

If you create something, you make or invent it. Usually, it's something that nobody has made before.

Wiktionary editors create Wiktionary entries.

initially, the company will create 200 new jobs, rising to 520 over the next few years.

A lot of problems have been created by the new government.


stiff

stiff (positive)
stiffer (comparative)
stiffest (superlative)

If something is stiff, it is not able to be bent.

My arm was very stiff this morning after bowling yesterday.

The bar is too stiff; I cannot bend it.


stiff

She went to the morgue and saw some stiffs.


stiff

stiff (canonical)
stiffs (third-person singular)
stiffed (past)
stiffed (past participle)
stiffing (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


bicycle

A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. You use your legs to make it move.

I learned to ride a bicycle when I was six years old.


bicycle

bicycle (canonical)
bicycles (third-person singular)
bicycled (past)
bicycled (past participle)
bicycling (present participle)


warm

warm (positive)
warmer (comparative)
warmest (superlative)

If something is warm, it is a nice temperature between cool and hot.

It's good to come into a nice warm house on a winter's day.

She washed her face in the warm water.


warm

warm (canonical)
warms (third-person singular)
warmed (past)
warmed (past participle)
warming (present participle)

If you warm something, you increase the temperature.

At 7:30, the sun came up and warmed them a little.

Oh, the coffee's cold. Can you warm it up for me?


responsibility

responsibility (singular)
responsibilities (plural)

A responsibility is any action which somebody trusts or expects that another person will do. Responsibilities are normally given or taken.

He took that responsibility upon himself.

Looking after that pet is a big responsibility.


e

E is the fifth letter of the alphabet, and is the most common vowel and letter used in the English language.

"d" comes before "e"

The constant e is a real number that has formula e= lim _(n→∞)(1+1/n)ⁿ, and is approximately 2.718281828.


open

open (canonical)
opens (third-person singular)
opened (past)
opened (past participle)
opening (present participle)

To move something to the side to allow entrance.

I will open the door for our guests.

She opened the store.


open

open (positive)
more open (comparative)
most open (superlative)

The door was open.

The shop is open.

Available for the public to see and change (of code).

This software has open code because it was released under an open-source license.


free

free (positive)
freer (comparative)
freest (superlative)

If something is free, it does not cost money to buy.

This loaf of bread is free. It costs $0.

The government provides free healthcare for people who cannot afford it.

If something is free, it is able to go (move) anywhere easily.

A wild bird is free to go where it likes.

If someone or something is free, it is carefree; it does not have any responsibilities.

When she is not at work, she is free.

If something is free, it is not blocked.

The drain was free of anything blocking it.

If something or someone is free, it is not in use.

This chair does not have anyone sitting in it. It is free.

When something is free, it has no conditions or limitations to using or being in it.

This is a free country. You can have your own freedom of speech here.


free

free (canonical)
frees (third-person singular)
freed (past)
freed (past participle)
freeing (present participle)

If you free something or someone, you release it.

She frees the birds because they do not belong in a cage.

We officially free you from jail. You may go.


prefer

prefer (canonical)
prefers (third-person singular)
preferred (past)
preferred (past participle)
preferring (present participle)

If you prefer something, you like it more than another thing.

Sometimes I eat in restaurants, but I prefer to cook.

I generally prefer coffee to tea. I just can't enjoy tea.


clothes

Clothes, such as shirts, pants, socks, etc. are things that people wear on their body to cover it.

He took off his clothes and got into the shower.

There was no money to buy clothes, so we got our cousins' old shirts and jeans with holes in the knees.


clothes

clothed (past)
clothed (past participle)
clothe (canonical)
clothes (third-person singular)
clad (past)
clad (past participle)
clothing (present participle)

The third-person singular form of clothe.


tongue

The part of the body that tastes food. It is pink or red and is inside the mouth.

He spoke in his native tongue.


tongue

tongue (canonical)
tongues (third-person singular)
tongued (past)
tongued (past participle)
tonguing (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


typical

typical (positive)
more typical (comparative)
most typical (superlative)

If something is typical, it is normal, and not special. It's what you would expect.

This rain isn't typical. We almost never get rain at this time of year.

These problems are just another typical example of how politicians only care about themselves.


at

Used to say where something is, or when saying something's position

I am at home.

Let's meet at the pub!

Used to say the time at which something happened or will happen

Breakfast is at 9 o'clock.

At 5pm we went home.

Used to direct attention towards a state, event, or detail

Look at how lucky we are.

At half price!

Water boils at high temperatures.


at

support@microsoft.com is an email address.

Apples @ £1.50 per kilogram.


me

You use me instead of your name, to refer to yourself.

This is my book. It belongs to me.


act

act (canonical)
acts (third-person singular)
acted (past)
acted (past participle)
acting (present participle)

If you act in some way, you do something that makes people think you are that way.

When he must do something, he acts quickly.

Don't do anything strange. Just act normal.

She acted the fool when she saw him.

If you act, you perform in a film or a play.

Daniel Radcliffe acts in the Harry Potter films.


act

Going into the house on fire to help a child was a brave act.

The UK's Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2004. It lets people ask questions of the government.

An act is when you do something to make people believe something other than the truth.

Susan seems nice, but it's all an act.

An act is a part of a play, opera, ballet, musical, film, or other theatrical piece. An act is sometimes divided into scenes.

The curtain comes down at the end of each act.


ear

A part of the head (or face) used for hearing.

My rabbit has two big ears.

Your shouting hurts my ears!


technology

technology (singular)
technologies (plural)

Technology is the tools, equipment, and activities that come from scientific knowledge.

Modern technology such as computers, robots, and wireless communications, can reduce the cost of doing business. (can make the cost smaller.)

The 1800s saw a gradual development (growth in small steps) of new technologies in farming and transportation.


she

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

The woman with the glasses played the trumpet. She didn't play very well.

Agatha Christie was an English writer, but she is now dead.

She is one of the largest ships you can ever find in this port.

I bought this car 5 years ago, but she is still working well.


she

Alice is definitely a she.


program

program (canonical)
programs (third-person singular)
programed (past)
programed (past participle)
programing (present participle)

When you program a computer, you use code to tell the computer what to do.

The student can program the computer to calculate all of his statistics.

All of the math students know how to program.


program

A program is a number of steps that are followed to reach a goal or end.

His new exercise program gets more difficult every week.

Oxford College has an excellent English language program.

A program is a guide to a dramatic or theatrical performance.

After he entered the theatre, he bought a copy of the program.

A (television or radio) program is a broadcast.

Star Trek is her favorite program.

A (computer) program is the code that tells a computer what to do.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular programs in the world.

The new program has a lot of problems. My computer crashes every time I try to run it.


right

righter (comparative)
rightest (superlative)
right (positive)
more right (comparative)
most right (superlative)

You did the right thing.


right

When something is to the right of a location, it means the direction 90º clockwise.

He takes a right at the library.

She made a right turn on Oak Street.

When you have the right for something, it means that it is an activity allowed by status.

You have the right to remain silent.

Administrators on Wiktionary have the right to block users from editing.

Two wrongs don't make a right.


right

right (canonical)
rights (third-person singular)
righted (past)
righted (past participle)
righting (present participle)

When you turn something right, you turn it the right-side-up.

He righted the boat.

When you make something right, you correct it.

He tried to right a wrong.


right

He does it right.

I want to talk to you right now.

But John, the letter is right there.

She turned right.


temperature

temperature (singular)
temperatures (plural)

The temperature of something is how hot or cold it is.

Today's temperature is 25°C.


government

government (singular)
governments (plural)

A government is a group of people who make the laws and control a country or other place.

The local government announced a 5% cut in taxes.


eagle

He saw an eagle perched on top of that tree.

An old gold coin in the United States worth $10.

He showed me his coin collection. He even had an old eagle.

I got a birdy and you got an eagle on that last hole.


eagle

eagle (canonical)
eagles (third-person singular)
eagled (past)
eagled (past participle)
eagling (present participle)

If you eagle a golf hole, you score two under par on it.

I eagled the last hole with 3 strokes on a par 5.


sound

sound (positive)
sounder (comparative)
soundest (superlative)


sound

any noise; something that can be heard by the ears.

There was a loud sound.


sound

sound (canonical)
sounds (third-person singular)
sounded (past)
sounded (past participle)
sounding (present participle)

If something sounds a particular way, you think it is that way when you hear or read about it.

The restaurant sounds great.


her

You use her instead of the name of a person, to talk about a woman or girl. (used in the object position, never as a subject)

This is Susan's book. Give it to her.

If you say something is her thing, you mean it belongs to a particular woman or girl.

It is her book, not mine,


flood

A flood happens when there has been a lot of rain in a short time and the water covers the ground.

The storm brought heavy rains, and the resulting flood caused $14 million in damage to crops.


flood

flood (canonical)
floods (third-person singular)
flooded (past)
flooded (past participle)
flooding (present participle)

If a place is flooded, the water covers the ground and often causes a lot of damage.

In 2005, a hurricane brought so much rain that much of Louisiana was flooded, killing many people, and destroying large parts of the city.

The market has been flooded with boy band recordings.

Stop flooding the editorial office with your complaints.


egg

An egg is a common food that is ball-shaped and can have a baby animal inside, such as a chicken, a fish, a snake, etc.

I had a boiled egg for breakfast.

An egg is a cell in the female's body that can become a baby when it is joined by a male cell.


egg

egg (canonical)
eggs (third-person singular)
egged (past)
egged (past participle)
egging (present participle)

On Halloween, naughty children egg houses.


you

Used instead of the name of the person being spoken to; it is a second-person pronoun.

You are my best friend.

Can I go to the shops with you?

You have to be 18 years old to see that film.

She has problems with her eyes, and can't see you properly.


you

Used before a word that means the person or people someone is talking to.

You guys can leave now.


green

green (positive)
greener (comparative)
greenest (superlative)

The grass is green.

A fruit that is not ripe (ready to eat).

The banana was still green.

He was a new journalist and quite green.

She turned green when she saw my dress.

Something that protects the environment.

Saving that tree was a green thing to do.


instruction

instruction (singular)
instructions (plural)

An instruction is a command or a step that helps you achieve a goal.

Before he died, he gave the hospital instructions about how to deal with his body.

The instructions that come with a new machine, computer, or product tell you how to use the product.

I couldn't figure out how to set the temperature in the fridge, so I read the instructions.


loan

A loan is money that you borrow and pay back later. Usually, you take a loan from a bank.

We've almost finished paying off our car loan.

We can't afford to buy the new TV without taking a loan.

I'd like to take out a loan for $5,000.


loan

loan (canonical)
loans (third-person singular)
loaned (past)
loaned (past participle)
loaning (present participle)

If you loan someone something, you lend it to them.

Please loan me your lawn mower.

Loan in Hollywood studio speak means an actor is under contract to one studio and loaned to another studio to make one of their films.

He was loaned to MGM to make MGM's newest movie.


bed

At night, I go to bed.

The fish was so far down in the water that it was touching the river's bed.


bed

bed (canonical)
beds (third-person singular)
bedded (past)
bedded (past participle)
bedding (present participle)

By the next week, Josh had bedded Tina and Holly.


breath

Your breath is the air that you move into and out of your lungs.

After running for just a minute, his breath was coming quickly.

A breath is the air that you move into and out of your lungs one time.

Take a big breath and put your face in the water.


structure

structure (singular)
structures (plural)

The structure of something is the way that it is put together.

The structure of her writing makes it very easy to understand.

The social structure of a class is often very complex.

A structure is something that has been built or put together, especially something big, such as a building.

The CN tower is the tallest structure in Toronto.


structure

structure (canonical)
structures (third-person singular)
structured (past)
structured (past participle)
structuring (present participle)

If you structure something in a particular way, you organise or build it that way.

Prepare a list of questions to structure the interview.


January

January is the first (1st) month in the year.

There are 31 days in January.


back

He went back behind the stands.

I didn't like it, so I sent it back.

He went back to the same house.

They came back again.


back

The back is the rear part of something; it is the part in the other direction from the front.

I went to the back of the house.

The back is the rear part of the human body.

He had a scar on his back.


back

back (canonical)
backs (third-person singular)
backed (past)
backed (past participle)
backing (present participle)

The Republicans backed the bill.

He put the car in gear and backed right into the garage door.


sick

sick (positive)
sicker (comparative)
sickest (superlative)

If a person, animal, or plant is sick, it has a disease and is not healthy.

I'm sorry, I'm too sick to go to work today.

If you're sick, you should go and see a doctor.

A way of saying something is bad. (Could mean one or both of the following.)

If something is sick it makes you feel like vomiting. Usually this is not literal, but just means very bad.

Oh sick! There is dog shit all over everything.

Sick can mean similar to person who is mentally ill (crazy), as an insult. This can also mean something bad that a crazy person might do.

Killing children is just plain sick.

That guy is really sick in the head.

You say this about something that is cool. That is, something you like or see as very good.

That song is sick!


physical

physical (positive)
more physical (comparative)
most physical (superlative)

A physical thing or activity is related to the body, or something you can touch.

The war didn't leave him with any physical injuries, but his mind was badly damaged.

When we look at where someone lives, we have to look at the physical environment (e.g., the amount of green space, transportation, house size, etc.) as well as the social environment.


cloud

A cloud is a collection of condensed water vapor floating in the sky that sometimes makes rain.

Those dark storm clouds are quickly getting closer.

A cloud is a group or swarm of something.

The cloud of locusts flew closer to the corn.


cloud

cloud (canonical)
clouds (third-person singular)
clouded (past)
clouded (past participle)
clouding (present participle)

If something is clouded, it becomes foggy or gloomy; it becomes blocked from sight.

The sky clouded over.

If something is clouded, it becomes obscure.

Don't cloud the issue.


area

This is the business area of town.

We have chosen a large forest area for the new park.

An area of study is a special subject, such as mathematics, grammar, music, or biology.

Economics is quite interesting, but my area is more related to politics.

The area of a surface, is the size of the surface.

The length is 10 cm and the width is 5 cm, so the area is 50 cm².


community

community (singular)
communities (plural)

A community is a group of people living in the same area and having a similar background or similar interests.

Most Libyan policemen were members of the community where they worked.

Within the business community, most people believe that taxes are too high.


pool

A pool is hole that holds water. Usually, it is for people to swim in.

Our hotel had a large indoor pool.


pool

pool (canonical)
pools (third-person singular)
pooled (past)
pooled (past participle)
pooling (present participle)

Let's pool our money together to buy a gift for Mom.


grade

A grade is a letter or number that you use to show how good something is. Usually, teachers use it to show how good a student's test or assignment is.

He got 97% on his test. It was the top grade in the class.

Our restaurant uses only the highest grade of meat.

In North American English, a grade is the school year.

Most Canadian children start grade one when they are six years old and finish grade 12 when they are 18.


grade

grade (canonical)
grades (third-person singular)
graded (past)
graded (past participle)
grading (present participle)

If you grade something, you judge how good it is.

After the final exam, the teacher spent the whole weekend grading papers.

My friends goes to the farm to grade animals that are going to be sold.


be

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

This verb tells us that a thing is present, or in a place.

The book is on the table.

There was someone in the room.

Were you at the party?

The party was on Saturday.

The next meeting will be here.

Go somewhere; visit someone (only in the perfect tense).

I've never been to Disneyland.

The book is blue.

They were sad about losing the match.

John is 35 years old this year.

I'm fine.

He'd like to be a doctor.

The film was terrible!

The book is 5 euro.

Look, Mummy! I'm being a dog! Woof, woof!

We use a form of be and a gerund-participle to make progressive aspect.

He is sitting on the chair.

I've been waiting for half an hour.

They will be leaving on Tuesday.


liquid

A basic state of things that is similar to water. Not solid or gas.

She put the liquid in a glass.


liquid

liquid (positive)
more liquid (comparative)
most liquid (superlative)

A thing that is in the form of a liquid.

He added liquid nitrogen.


transport

transport (singular)
transports (plural)

Transport refers to how things are moved, or a system of transportation.

I prefer my own means of transport.

A transport is a vehicle or vessel used to move things or people.

On Tatooine, C-3PO thought he saw a transport in the distance.


transport

transport (canonical)
transports (third-person singular)
transported (past)
transported (past participle)
transporting (present participle)

If you transport something, you carry it from one place to another, usually on a truck, boat, or other large vehicle.

One of the most important parts of doing business is transporting your materials from the factory to the shop.


doctor

A person who helps people who are sick, and looks after their health.

A person who can work very well about a particular thing and is given the title Doctor by a university, for example a doctor in psychology could be called Doctor John Smith.


doctor

doctor (canonical)
doctors (third-person singular)
doctored (past)
doctored (past participle)
doctoring (present participle)

If you doctor someone, you act as a medical doctor towards them.

If you doctor something or someone, you change them.


affect

affect (canonical)
affects (third-person singular)
affected (past)
affected (past participle)
affecting (present participle)

If x affects y, then x causes a change in y.

The movement of the soccer ball was affected by the wind.

Sigmund Freud's ideas were affected by the writings of Frederick Nietzsche.

How do you think the new government will affect the economy?

If you affect a way of speaking, walking, dressing, etc., you pretend that it is your normal way, often to impress people.

"No, ma'm," Robert said, affecting a southern accent.


affect

Your affect is the emotion or feeling you have in response to an idea, object, etc.

Actors need to bring out the affect of the scene.

Affect is emotion or emotional response.

When teaching, we need to consider both ideas and affect.


information

information (singular)
informations (plural)

Information is facts, details, numbers, names, and other forms of knowledge.

The nurse can provide you with more information about healthy eating.

computers make it easy to save and search for the information you need.

/ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən/


aid

Aid is the help that is given to people, usually by a government or institution.

After the flood the UN sent $500 million of aid in the form of food, water, tents, and medical supplies.

An aid is a person or thing that helps you do an activity.

The president's aid spoke to the newspapers today.

I can't see, but I have a number of aids, such as a cane, a dog, and a talking computer, that make my life easier.


aid

aid (canonical)
aids (third-person singular)
aided (past)
aided (past participle)
aiding (present participle)


lecture

A lecture is a talk about a specific topic. Usually, it is a planned talk and it often lasts a long time.

My teacher is giving a lecture on human rights tonight at the university.


lecture

lecture (canonical)
lectures (third-person singular)
lectured (past)
lectured (past participle)
lecturing (present participle)

If you lecture someone, you teach them something.


meal

A meal is the food you eat at regular times of the day. breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are meals.

Thanks for dinner! I haven't had a good Italian meal like that for a long time.

The edible part of certain grains; it is often used to feed animals.


require

require (canonical)
requires (third-person singular)
required (past)
required (past participle)
requiring (present participle)

The job requires high level of math skills.

The new system will make the information available where it is required.

If you are required to do something, you have to do it.

All men over the age of 21 are required to report to the army for service.


sun

The sun is the star that can be seen during the day from the Earth. In the sky, it looks like a yellow circle.

The sun is very hot.


sun

A star, especially a star that is at the center of a solar system.

Scientists have found other suns with planets around them.


Earth

The planet on which we live - the third planet of the Solar System.

The moon goes around the Earth.


wolf

A wolf is a wild animal, similar to a dog.


habit

A habit is something that you do regularly.

John, don't bite your fingernails. It's a bad habit.

Marjorie has a habit of buying Christmas presents early, hiding them away like a squirrel, and then forgetting all about them.

A habit is what people in certain jobs wear, generally religious jobs. These people can be recognized by their habits.

The monk's habit was black.

A habit is the form of growth of a plant or, sometimes, an animal.

Some corals grow with a branching habit.


perfect

perfect (positive)
more perfect (comparative)
most perfect (superlative)

Something that is perfect has no mistakes, problems, or damage.

She answered him in perfect Japanese.

Something that is perfect is exactly what was needed or wanted.

"Here's the knife." "Oh, yes! Thanks, it's perfect."

That's a perfect example of how to start a business.

In a perfect tense, a verb is used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

I believe that in French the passe compose is equivalent to the present perfect tense in English.


perfect

perfect (canonical)
perfects (third-person singular)
perfected (past)
perfected (past participle)
perfecting (present participle)

If you perfect something, you fix all its problems or make it as good as possible.

Our leaders have perfected the art of sounding good while saying nothing.


perfect

The perfect is a verb tense used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

This verb should be in the present perfect.


mineral

A mineral is a substance in the earth such as calcium, salt, iron, etc.

The rocks in this area are rich in minerals.

Eating nuts will help your body get the minerals it needs.


crush

crush (canonical)
crushes (third-person singular)
crushed (past)
crushed (past participle)
crushing (present participle)

I will crush the spider with a book.


crush

If you have a crush on someone, you like them and want to date them. This could be because you think they are attractive.

I've got a crush on Joey, but you can't tell anyone.

The person you have a crush on is called a crush.

Cindy was my boyhood crush.


item

An item is a particular thing that is separate from other things.

The first item to discuss at today's meeting is the noise from the new road.

There are a number of items here that belonged to your father.


resource

A resource is something that is available and useful.

We don't have enough time and resources to finish the job.

Canada has fewer natural resources, including trees, fish, and oil, than it did in the past.


resource

resource (canonical)
resources (third-person singular)
resourced (past)
resourced (past participle)
resourcing (present participle)

If you resource something, you source it again.


sharp

sharp (positive)
sharper (comparative)
sharpest (superlative)

He has a sharp knife.

That girl is sharp.

That lemonade is sharp.

I would like sharp Cheddar cheese.


sharp

A blade, especially a sword used in fencing, with a sharp tip.

Jesse preferred to practice with sharps.

A sharp is a note that is one half step above the one that is named.

The last note that she sang was a D sharp, not a C flat.


ice

A gas or liquid, normally water, which has been frozen (made solid)

When water is cooled below 0°C, it freezes into ice.

Ice is the solid state of water.


ice

ice (canonical)
ices (third-person singular)
iced (past)
iced (past participle)
icing (present participle)

If you ice something, you cool it by putting ice or something else very cold on it.

I iced my knee after I hurt it in soccer.

If you ice a cake, you cover with icing.

I iced this cake.


milk

Milk is a white liquid some animals make for their babies to drink. People often drink cow's milk.

The boy had some fresh goat milk.


milk

milk (canonical)
milks (third-person singular)
milked (past)
milked (past participle)
milking (present participle)

If you milk an animal like a cow or a goat, you take the milk out of it.


o

The fifteenth (15th) letter of the alphabet. It is a vowel.

"o" comes after "n" and before "p"


cheese

Cheese is a food that is made by mixing bacteria with milk and aging it.

I often eat cheese with bread and grapes.


meat

Meat is the muscle of animals that we eat. beef, chicken, and pork are kinds of meat.

I am a vegetarian. I don't eat meat, only fruits, grains, and vegetables.

You should cook the meat at 135 to 140°C.


customer

A customer is a person who pays money for goods or services.

The restaurant had to close because there weren't enough customers.


grain

A grain is a seed that people eat, such as wheat, rice, corn, etc.

Most North Americans get their grains from bread and pasta.

A grain is any very small piece of something, such as sand, salt, sugar, etc.

One grain of salt is almost too small to see.


transportation

Transportation is the system or vehicles used to move people or things from one place to another.

In most of Canada, the main form of transportation is the family car.

The public transportation system in Tokyo is a mixture of busses and above- and below-ground trains.

The company is trying to reduce transportation costs by sending more goods by boat rather than airplane.


convenient

convenient (positive)
more convenient (comparative)
most convenient (superlative)

If something is convenient, you can get it or use it quickly and easily.

Living here is so convenient. There's a supermarket right across the street, and a train station just a 2 minute walk away.

It's more convenient to drive than it is to walk.

This is the most convenient route to take.


dry

dry (positive)
drier (comparative)
driest (superlative)

If something is dry, it has no water or liquid on it.

The Sahara desert is dry.


dry

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

The clothes dried in the sun.

I dried myself after my bath.


camera

An object that takes pictures digitally or on film.

I took a picture of the mountain with my camera.

A machine that records or broadcasts moving pictures.

The shooting was caught on camera.

A Latin word meaning room and used in English only for rooms where laws are discussed


computer

A computer is a machine that helps you store, organize, and use information.

If you're looking at a web page, you must be using a computer.

A computer is a person whose job is doing computations.


my

Is this my book, or is it yours?


depression

depression (singular)
depressions (plural)

If someone has depression, they have a condition which makes them very sad and makes it very hard for them to imagine being happy later.

After Suzie's dog passed away, she fell into a depression for six months.

A depression is when a person's feelings are very sad and unhappy.

John had a small depression after he lost the tennis match, but in two weeks he was back to normal.

A depression is a low point on a surface.

There was a small depression in the ground where the rock had been.

A depression is when the economy slows down by a lot.

The business community is worried that the oil problems could lead to a depression.


contact

When x makes or has contact with y, they touch each other physically.

The trains in Tokyo are so crowded that everyone has to stand in close contact to everyone else.

He wore dark glasses so that he wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone.

"Did you tell Chris about lunch today?" "No, I wasn't able to get in contact with him."


contact

contact (canonical)
contacts (third-person singular)
contacted (past)
contacted (past participle)
contacting (present participle)

If A contacts B, A telephones B or writes a letter or e-mail to B.

If I can help further please do not hesitate to contact me at 012-345-6789.


wood

Wood is what trees are made of. People use wood to build things like houses and furniture.


damage

If something has some damage, there is something broken or hurt.

Their car hit a truck, but luckily there was very little damage to the car.

Money that someone has to pay someone else because something was damaged or someone was hurt.

The reason his car hit another car was that he did something wrong, so he had to pay damages to the owner of the other car.


damage

damage (canonical)
damages (third-person singular)
damaged (past)
damaged (past participle)
damaging (present participle)

If you damage something, you break or hurt it.

All those cigarettes have damaged her health.

The factory has caused significant damage to the local environment.


contrast

Contrasts are the differences you find when you compare something or someone.

When comparing English and Japanese, there are many contrasts but also a large number of similarities.

Married life is a sharp contrast to the life of a single person.


contrast

contrast (canonical)
contrasts (third-person singular)
contrasted (past)
contrasted (past participle)
contrasting (present participle)

If you contrast two things, you look for or explain the differences between them.

It's difficult not to contrast the good things he says with the terrible way he acts.


subject

A subject is a branch of knowledge in school, college or university, such as English, math, science, and history.

The subject of the class is English literature.

In English grammar, the subject of a sentence is usually a noun that comes before the verb. This noun is usually the thing that is doing the action, and it is usually the topic of the sentence.

In the sentence, "Tom gave the box to Wilma", Tom is the subject.

A subject is a person who is governed by a king, queen, emperor, etc.


subject

subject (positive)
more subject (comparative)
most subject (superlative)

If someone or something is subject to something, they are likely to be affected by it or experience it.

Home prices are even more subject to change than gas prices.


subject

subject (canonical)
subjects (third-person singular)
subjected (past)
subjected (past participle)
subjecting (present participle)

They were subjected to intense labor.


pig

On this farm, we have over 200 pigs, but no cows or horses.

If you call someone a pig you mean that they eat too much, are not clean, or are not a nice person.

My sister is such a pig. We bought a bag of sweets and she ate them all in one day.


ourselves

The reflexive case of we, the first-person plural personal pronoun.

us (referring to us, when we have already been mentioned)

We should keep this for ourselves.

We did it ourselves.


park

A park is an outdoor area where people can relax and play.

We sat under the trees and had lunch in Central Park.

Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest, largest park in Ontario, covering about 7,725 square kilometres.

I'm going to take the kids to the park to play on the swings.


park

park (canonical)
parks (third-person singular)
parked (past)
parked (past participle)
parking (present participle)

If you park a car or other vehicle, you drive it to a place and let it stand there.

She never parks her car under a tree.


object

An object is a thing that you can touch, but it is not alive.

We don't know what killed him, but it was a smooth, heavy object.

The object of an action or plan is the goal or the reason for it.

The object of soccer is to kick the ball into the other team's net.

The object is a type of complement in a verb phrase or preposition phrase with the form of a noun phrase.

In the sentence Yoko ate the bread, the bread is the object.


object

object (canonical)
objects (third-person singular)
objected (past)
objected (past participle)
objecting (present participle)

If you object to something, you don't agree with it.

Most people will object to being asked to work too much.


o'clock

When saying a time, this means that it is zero minutes past the hour. O'clock is almost always given after the number of hours. It is short for of the clock.

"What time is it?" "It is 6 o'clock."

The train leaves at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.


balance

If something is in balance, it has equal amounts all around.

She was walking on a thin line, but lost her balance and fell down.

This plan has a good balance of new and old ideas.

The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in the account.

A type of scale where there are two parts.


balance

balance (canonical)
balances (third-person singular)
balanced (past)
balanced (past participle)
balancing (present participle)

If you balance something, you make it have equal amounts all around.

The bird balanced easily on the wire for a few moments before flying off.

A good manager has to balance the costs and benefits of doing business.


their

If something belongs to them it is their thing.

That's not their car, it's ours.


yours

If something is yours, it belongs to you.

Excuse me, is this yours? I found it on the desk.


seldom

If you seldom do something, you almost never do it.

"How often did you meet?" "Well, we saw her quite often, but we seldom saw her husband. In fact, I'm not even sure what he looks like."


your

Your things are things which belong to you.

Can I eat some of your ice-cream please?


universal

universal (positive)
more universal (comparative)
most universal (superlative)

If something is universal, then it is true for everyone or everything everywhere.

The laws of physics are universal.

Universal human rights must be supported by every country.


its

Its thing is the thing that belongs to it.

We bought the old car and fixed up its engine.

The moon doesn't make its own light.

"Where's the coffee?" "It's on its way.


chicken

A chicken is a bird that farmers raise for meat and eggs.

My father went out back, caught a chicken, cut off its head, and cleaned it for dinner.

They make a very tasty fried chicken dish here that comes with vegetables and potatoes.


chicken

Someone who is afraid to do something is chicken.

You won't jump your bike because you're chicken.


apparatus

apparatus (singular)
apparatuses (plural)

A system of things to do to get to a goal.


bus

A bus is a vehicle that carries a large number of people on roads.

He ran to catch the school bus, which had stopped at a corner to pick up more kids.

This bus makes ten stops before arriving at Union Station.

I woke up late and missed my bus this morning.

Tourists didn't usually ride the local bus.

The bus driver took out tickets as we got on at the station.

The two young men boarded a crowded city bus to go home.

She was the first and only passenger at this bus stop.

Round-trip bus fare to and from the ferry terminal was $1.

A bus is part of a computer; it moves information.


bus

buses (third-person singular)
bused (past)
bused (past participle)
busing (present participle)
bus (canonical)
busses (third-person singular)
bussed (past)
bussed (past participle)
bussing (present participle)

If you bus people somewhere, you take them there on a bus.

The children are bused to school every morning.

If you bus tables, you take away dirty dishes in a restaurant.


lungs

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

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


singular

singular (positive)
more singular (comparative)
most singular (superlative)

If a noun is singular in English grammar, it usually refers to only one thing.

If I say, "one cat", that's singular, but if I say, "a lot of cats", that's plural.

If something is singular, then it is unique.

The singular appearance of the man caught his attention.


cool

cool (positive)
cooler (comparative)
coolest (superlative)

If something is cool, its temperature is between warm and cold.

It's hard to keep the house nice and cool on a hot summer's day.

The air was cool, so he put on his jacket.

If you say something is cool you mean it is good and you like it.

That's a really cool cell phone! Where did you get it?

Wow, your computer looks cool!

Someone who is cool is admired by others, someone of notably high social status.

Jeffrey is the coolest guy in town.


cool

cool (canonical)
cools (third-person singular)
cooled (past)
cooled (past participle)
cooling (present participle)

If you cool something, you decrease the temperature.

Blow on the coffee to cool it off.

If something cools, its temperature decreases.

The soup was too hot, so he waited for it to cool a little.


each

Come here you two. I'll give each of you a toy.

More and more problems happened each year.

We have to treat each individual case differently.

They each have good points and bad points.

Sara looked at each of the three bedrooms.

The price is $6 each.


tall

tall (positive)
taller (comparative)
tallest (superlative)

If something is tall, there is a long distance from the bottom to the top.

The man was so tall that he hit his head coming in the door.

There are too many tall buildings in Toronto.


pencil

A pencil is used for writing on paper. It is made of wood, and has a pencil "lead" that goes through the middle.


earth

I planted some roses in this patch of earth.

Anything made up mostly of rock, sand or soil.

Here is some earth.

There is earth in this box.

Earth is the third planet from the sun, where we live.

The Earth is a planet.

He came from a different earth.

Earth is dry and hot.


opposite

If A is opposite B, they are facing each other.

The bank is just opposite this hotel, right across the street there.


opposite

opposite (positive)
more opposite (comparative)
most opposite (superlative)

If two things are opposite, they are the same kind but completely different from each other.

"Go left. No, right!" "Do you want me to go left or right? I mean, they're opposite directions, aren't they?"

I don't think we can work together. We're too opposite.

Black is the opposite of white. "Yes" is the opposite of "no". Day is the opposite of night.


opposite

The opposite of something is something else of the same kind but completely different.

My kids always do the exact opposite of what I tell them.

The word dust is its own opposite, meaning both put on and take off dust.


storm

A storm is bad weather with high winds that disturbs the atmosphere.

Small boats should stay off the water tonight because we are expecting a storm.


storm

storm (canonical)
storms (third-person singular)
stormed (past)
stormed (past participle)
storming (present participle)

If you storm, you move fast and noisily like a storm, usually when angered.

If you storm a building or other fortification, you assault it with military troops.

The sargeant and his platoon stormed the stronghold of the most wanted terrorist.


dish

Dishes are the flat round holder for food that we usually put on the table and eat off of.

There was a crash when the waiter dropped his tray of dishes on the floor.

A dish is a particular kind of cooked or prepared food.

Last night she made a wonderful Indian dish that I had never eaten before.


dish

dish (canonical)
dishes (third-person singular)
dished (past)
dished (past participle)
dishing (present participle)

To dish is to gossip about something or somebody.


purple

purple (positive)
more purple (comparative)
most purple (superlative)


quickly

If you do something quickly or something happens quickly, it happens in a very short time.

Please close the door quickly. You'll let the cat out.

I hope the train gets here quickly. I'm late already.


can

can (present)
could (past)
can't (negative)

If someone can do something, they are able to do it.

Most birds can fly.

Can you speak English?

I can't see it. It's too small.

"Can you come?" "Yes, I think I can."

This is a service that anyone can easily afford.

If someone can do something, they are allowed to do it.

You can't smoke here.

Can I go now?

You use can to ask somebody to do something (if you know the person well).

Can you open the door for me, please?

Can I have the salt, please?

If something can happen, it is possible.

It's so small that it can't be seen.

There can't be any difference.

Can the plan work?

That can't be right.

Imagine how bad it can get.

If someone tells you something can't happen, they think it's not a good idea.

You just can't keep smoking.

You can't think things are going to get better.

If something can happen, it happens sometimes.

I can get really busy here on weekends.

Her classes can be really interesting or really boring.


can

can (canonical)
cans (third-person singular)
canned (past)
canned (past participle)
canning (present participle)

If someone cans something, they put in a can or jar to keep for a long time.

We canned the peas for the winter.

If someone cans something, they stop working on it.

The idea was canned.

If someone gets canned they have lost their job.

If you tell someone to can it, you want them to stop talking.

Can it, would you? I'm trying to watch TV.


can

A can is a metal container, usually for holding food or drink.

I drink cola from a can.

spaghetti hoops come in a can.


category

A category is a group of people or things that are the same in some way.

The music business tries to put music into various categories, such as rock, pop, jazz, etc.


absorption

absorption (singular)
absorptions (plural)

Absorption is taking in a gas or liquid through very small holes.

Good water absorption properties make sponges useful for soaking up water.

Absorption is the state of being completely occupied by something.

Sam's absorption in his book made him forget to eat dinner.


grant

grant (canonical)
grants (third-person singular)
granted (past)
granted (past participle)
granting (present participle)

If you grant something to something, you give it to them, usually formally.

The school has granted us permission to use a classroom in the evenings.

If you grant something, you accept that it is true.

Yes, I'll grant you that the data is old, but I still think it's useful.


grant

A grant is something, usually money, that is given to someone, usually by a government or institution.

The professor received a research grant to study weather changes.

I got a $2,000 government grant to help me go to school.


gold

Gold is a metal, which can be used to make coins and rings. It costs a lot of money to buy. Its symbol is Au on the periodic table and its atomic number is 79.

I keep my gold in a safe.

This is a gold ring


tea

Tea is a light brown or green drink that is very popular around the world.

Would you like coffee or tea?


sorry

sorry (positive)
sorrier (comparative)
sorriest (superlative)

You say "I'm sorry" when you have done something wrong and you feel bad.

I'm sorry that I lost your jacket last night.


research

Research is the process or result of trying to find an answer by reading, interviewing, watching, or doing experiments.

The last 10 years has provided a huge amount of research into a cure for cancer.

We've been conducting research into the reason for the changes in these fish.


research

research (canonical)
researches (third-person singular)
researched (past)
researched (past participle)
researching (present participle)

If you research a question, you try to find an answer, usually by reading a lot about it, or by doing experiments.

I have to research the history of King Henry II for my English class.


unit

One of a measure of something; the amount of something that is counted as "one".

Measure five units to the left.

$4 is the unit price.

A pound is a useful unit for thinking about amounts of butter.

I prefer metric units.

Item, used when no other word for something exists.

He set up the A/C unit.


tired

more tired (comparative)
most tired (superlative)
tired (positive)
tireder (comparative)
tiredest (superlative)

If you feel tired, you have no energy and you need a rest.

After walking for 15 km, I was so tired, that I couldn't take another step.


tired

tire (canonical)
tires (third-person singular)
tired (past)
tired (past participle)
tiring (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of tire.


rare

rare (positive)
rarer (comparative)
rarest (superlative)

If something is rare, you seldom see it or there are only a few.

It's rare to have snow in June.

The vory-billed woodpecker is a very rare bird, and has only been seen by a few people.

If a meat is cooked rare, it is cooked very lightly so that the meat is still red when it is done.


cheap

cheap (positive)
cheaper (comparative)
cheapest (superlative)

If something is cheap, it costs very little money.

"I bought this for $37 last week, but today I saw it in the store for only $22." "Wow! That's cheap."

If something is cheap, it is low in quality.

I don't like that jacket. It looks too cheap. Is it plastic?


bee

A bee is a black and yellow striped insect with wings that makes honey. It has a stinger.

That bee is flying to the flower.


wait

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

If you wait for someone or something, you do something (or nothing) until something else happens.

I waited for you for twenty minutes. Where were you?

The fans waited patiently for their idol to arrive.

To wait is to take orders and serve food at the tables in cafes and restaurants.

Her job at the cafe was to wait at the tables.


our

Our things are things that belong to us.

We've come in our new car.

Our daughter got a new job.


theirs

If something is theirs, it belongs to them.

This book isn't mine, it's theirs.

"Whose laptop is this?" "It's theirs."


should

shall (present)
should (past)
shouldn't (negative)

You use should to say that it is a good idea to do something.

If you have a test, you should be studying.

Who should we call to fix this?


breakfast

breakfast (singular)
breakfasts (plural)

Breakfast is the first meal that we eat in the morning.

I'm late for school. I don't have time for breakfast today.

"What time do you usually eat breakfast?" "Oh, I don't know, usually about 6:30."


hers

If something is hers, it belongs to her.

Please give this to Susan. It's hers.


hotel

A hotel is a place where people pay to stay in a room overnight, usually for only a few days.

We fly to Taipei and stay at the Hilton hotel for three days and two nights.


dinner

Dinner is the largest meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening.

I'm sorry, I'll be late tonight, so I won't be home for dinner.

We had fish with rice and fried vegetables for dinner last night.


d

"c" comes before "d"

Liam did not pass this exam because he got a D.


for instance

You say, for instance when you plan to give an example of something.

When the United States doesn't like what a country is doing, it sends in its army. For instance, Vietnam was a problem, America started a war.


identical

If two ore more things are identical, they are exactly the same.

The teachers teach from identical textbooks, but the ways they teach are quite different.


sauce

A sauce is a thick liquid that you put on food to give it a special taste.

I put the chicken in a special sauce for two hours before I cook it.


attraction

attraction (singular)
attractions (plural)

An attraction is a force that pulls two things together.

magnets have an attraction to metal.

I feel a strong attraction to my husband.

I don't understand your attraction to rough men.

An attraction is a popular feature at an event or site.

Elephants and lions are major attractions at many zoos.

Country western singer Vince Gill was a big attraction at the State Fair.

The Alamo is a tourist attraction in Texas.

Something that causes interest, pleasure, or liking for someone are something.

she has romantic ideas about sexual attraction


rice

Rice is a white or brown grain that people boil and eat.

In many Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Thailand, they eat rice with almost every meal.


restaurant

restaurant (singular)
restaurants (plural)

A restaurant is a place where you can buy and eat food and drinks.

My wife and I went out to a small French restaurant in Toronto for dinner.


authority

authority (singular)
authorities (plural)

To have authority means to have the power to make a decision.

This judge has the authority to throw you in jail.

If you are an authority on something, many people think you know very, very much about it.

The Pope is the highest authority in the Catholic church.


amphibian

amphibian (singular)
amphibians (plural)

An amphibian is an animal that lives on land and in water.

Frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and gymnophiona are all examples of amphibians, since they can live on land and in the water.

/ˈæmˌfɪbɪən/


response

A response is some words or actions that happen as a reaction to something else.

We sent a message to them two weeks ago, but there has been no response so far.

The police response to these problems has been slow and weak.

In psychology, a response is a behavior which occurs after a stimulus.


lie

lie (canonical)
lies (third-person singular)
lay (past)
lain (past participle)
lying (present participle)

If you lie down, your head and whole body are at the same level. You lie down when you want to rest or sleep.

She lay on the bed and went to sleep.

If something lies somewhere, it is there and it is not moving.

His dirty shirt was lying on the floor and old socks were everywhere.


lie

lie (canonical)
lies (third-person singular)
lied (past)
lied (past participle)
lying (present participle)

If you lie, you say or write something that you know is not true.

"How old are you?" he asked. "Twenty-one," she lied. She was actually eighteen years old. Examples given in the old Webster dictionary says, why do you lie to me vs why do you just lie there. In past tense the word "lier" perceived in the new dictionary does not exist. It has been deleted from context to be depicted as "liar" when in fact they are two different existing words that have two different meanings all together. In example, to be a "lier" is to be a noun in context and to be a "liar" would be as a verb form. One depicts a person or being while the other depicts an action.


lie

Something not true, a falsehood, an untruth.

I told a lie.


fruit

The fruit is the part of a plant or tree that holds the seeds. It's usually sweet and good to eat.

Most people don't eat enough fruit and vegetables.

Apples, oranges, and bananas are the most common fruits in most supermarkets.


topic

A topic is a general idea that someone is speaking (reading, thinking, etc.) about at a specific time.

We were talking about my problems. Don't change the topic.

Our library has books on a wide range of topics.

When you're writing for school, it's important to stay on topic, and not start talking about other things.


honey

Honey is a sweet, thick liquid that is made by bees. It is usually golden or brown.

Add some honey to make it taste good.

Honey, I only love you.

We need to find some honeys.


exactly

You use exactly when you want to say that something is 100% true, not just close.

The movie will start at exactly 7:02 PM.

That is exactly the same picture that I was thinking of.

You use exactly to show that you agree strongly with something.

"We can't stay here. It's too cold." "Exactly!"


soup

Soup is a food usually made by boiling meat and vegetables in water to give the water flavour.

Would you like soup or a salad before your meal?

You can try our wide variety of soups.


alike

alike (positive)
more alike (comparative)
most alike (superlative)

If some things are alike, they are almost the same in some way.

My mother and I are very much alike.


alike

alike (positive)
more alike (comparative)
Superlativemost alike

If some things act alike, they act in almost the same way.

All the men in the office dress alike.

You use alike to show that what you say is true of both groups or individuals.

Teachers and students alike have to work harder to improve this school.


person

She is a very nice person.

In grammar, the system of person is related to who is involved in the conversation.

The pronoun I is first person, you is second person, and most other nouns are third person.

A person is an individual with a mind and rights.

The court is trying to decide if an elephant is a legal person.


themselves

You use themselves when the people doing an action and the people receiving an action are the same people, but they are not you or the person you're talking to.

They've hurt themselves.

They're very happy with themselves.

They've got themselves a new pet.

Use for emphasis, when talking about more than one person or about one person when you don't know who that person is.

The classes are as different as the students themselves.

If somebody or some people do something by themselves, they do it alone.

The children earned $500 by themselves. I didn't help.

If somebody or some people don't feel themselves, they are different from usual, because they are sick, scared, stressed, etc.


lunch

Lunch is the meal that we eat in the middle of the day.

Shall we have sandwiches for lunch?

"Is it lunch time yet?" "No, it's only 10:30."


lunch

lunch (canonical)
lunches (third-person singular)
lunched (past)
lunched (past participle)
lunching (present participle)

Most people lunch around noon time.


shall

shall (present)
should (past)
shan't (negative)

Shall is usually used to make a suggestion about your own actions.

Shall I get that for you?

Shall we go?

Where shall I put the plates?

Shall is used like will to make a promise.

We shall send your order immediately.


bean

Beans are the seeds of one family of plants that people often cook and eat.

Put the dried beans in water overnight. They should be soft and ready to cook in the morning.

A bean-like seed of some other plants, especially coffee.

Although the beans from a single coffee may be sold unblended, in many cases, after roasting, beans from several different origins are combined to balance flavor


violence

Violence is an action done to hurt somebody or something.

I don't watch boxing, because I don't like all the fighting and violence.


ours

If something is ours it belongs to us; the possessive case of we, used without a following noun.

This land has been ours for years.

Is this bag yours or ours?


sex

Sex is an act done by a male and a female (in this case there is sometimes an intent to make babies) or with just two men or women.

Most men in our survey say they definitely would not have sex with a new partner without using a condom.

A person or animal's sex is male, female, or both.

She had not had any male friends during her early life and now found it difficult to talk to members of the opposite sex.


fried

fry (canonical)
fries (third-person singular)
fried (past)
fried (past participle)
frying (present participle)

The past tense and past participle of fry.

I fried some chicken last night for dinner.


fried

fried (positive)
more fried (comparative)
most fried (superlative)

Fried food is food that has been cooked in a pan with hot oil.

I don't like fried chicken. It's too oily.


grand

grand (positive)
grander (comparative)
grandest (superlative)

If something is grand, it's large and impressive.

As she got out of the car, she saw that the house was very grand.


anesthetic

anesthetic (singular)
anesthetics (plural)

An anesthetic is a gas that is used by a doctor or nurse to make a person feel no pain or to put a person to sleep.

They used an anesthetic on him before performing the surgery.

/ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/


airplane

An airplane is a vehicle with wings that can fly.

Can we hurry? I have to catch an airplane to Miami.


itself

Third person neutral singular reflexive pronoun.

No person did a thing, but the car started all by itself.


coffee

Coffee is a dark brown drink that is very popular around the world.

Would you like a cup coffee or tea?

"Milk or cream?" "No, thank you. I like my coffee black."

Coffee is the beans or bean powder used to make coffee.

Can you pick up a tin of ground coffee at the shop?


plural

If a noun is plural in English grammar, it refers to other than one thing.

If I say, "one cat", that's singular, but if I say, "a lot of cats", that's plural.

A plural person is someone with dissociative identity disorder.


plural

The form of a word that normally refers to other than one thing.

The plural of the word "dog" is "dogs."


offer

An offer is when you say you will do something or give something.

He wanted to buy my car, so he made me an offer of $5000.


offer

offer (canonical)
offers (third-person singular)
offered (past)
offered (past participle)
offering (present participle)

If I offer something to you, that means I will give it to you if you want.

If I offer to do something for you, that means I will do it for you if you want.


hat

A hat is a piece of clothing that you wear on your head.

A poke bonnet is an old-fashioned woman's hat that covers the hair and shades the face with a rim.

Please take off your hat when you enter the church.

Men remove their hats when entering a church.

Women's hats are sold in a special store called a milliner's shop or a millinery.

Men's hats are sold in a special store called a haberdashery.


must

Must is usually used to tell someone they have no choice about doing something because it is important or because of a rule or law.

She must get her medicine soon or she will die.

If you say something must be true, you say you have come to believe that it is true.

I must have left my phone at the restaurant.

She must not have the note if you've got it.


hit

hit (canonical)
hits (third-person singular)
hit (past)
hit (past participle)
hitting (present participle)

If you hit someone or something, then you touch them hard and fast.

The bully got suspended for hitting the boy in the face.

The red car was turning when the blue car hit it.

The past tense and past participle of hit.

If you hit on someone, you flirt with them.

I'm just gonna be hitting on chicks tonight


hit

The hit almost knocked me out.

A great success, especially in the entertainment industry.

His new musical comedy was a hit with audiences and critics.

He had so many hits last year that he was elected to the Musical Comedy Hall of Fame.


one another

Each of a group of more than two people or things to the others.

The army recruits helped one another get through the first few difficult days.


chain

A chain is a series of round pieces of material joined together to make a line.

He got her a gold chain necklace for her birthday.

This led to an unfortunate chain of events.

A chain of stores is a group of stores that all have the same name, such as McDonald's restaurants or GAP clothing stores.


chain

chain (canonical)
chains (third-person singular)
chained (past)
chained (past participle)
chaining (present participle)

If you chain things together, you connect them in a line.

If you chain A to B, you connect A to B with a chain.

The dog was chained to the tree.


chemical

A chemical is a basic substance that is used in or produced by mixing elements or other chemicals.

When you burn plastics, you put dangerous chemicals into the air.

The chemical industry in China is producing more and more useful paints, glues, and other products.


chemical

This test can detect small changes in the chemical composition of water.


each other

To one another; one to the other; showing that each of two or more things does something to the other.

Maria and Robert loved each other.

The two monkeys picked the bugs off each other.


winter

Winter is the coldest season of the year. In northern countries, December, January and February are winter months.

We like to go to Mexico in the winter.


myself

You use myself when you are the doer and the receiver of an action.

I taught myself.

If you do something by yourself, you do it without any help or alone.

I taught him myself.

You use myself to emphasize that it is you and not somebody else.

I know a lot of people love coffee, but I myself don't really like it.


we

The person speaking and other people with him or her.

"Are you and Mia still going?" "No, we're finished."

We went to Paris together.

We ought to help.

Let's go. We need to talk to Mark.

We won our football game.

We need to think about other people more.


we

We Canadians don't act that way.


complain

complain (canonical)
complains (third-person singular)
complained (past)
complained (past participle)
complaining (present participle)

If you complain about someone or something, you say or write that you are not happy about it.

We complained to the manager about the service after waiting one hour for our food.


December

December is the twelfth month of the year.

There are 31 days in December.


straight

If something goes straight, it continues to move in one direction without turning.

No not that road. Just keep driving straight.


straight

straight (positive)
straighter (comparative)
straightest (superlative)

If something is straight, it does not bend, or turn. It continues in one direction.

He had had too much to drink and couldn't walk in a straight line.

Someone who is straight is heterosexual; being attracted to those of the opposite sex.


straight

In the card game of poker, a straight hand has five sequential cards.

A 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 is considered a straight hand.


mouth

a part of the face used for eating and talking

He opened his mouth to speak.


mouth

mouth (canonical)
mouths (third-person singular)
mouthed (past)
mouthed (past participle)
mouthing (present participle)

To silently speak; to form words with your mouth without making a sound.

He mouthed the answers to her.


yes

A word that is used to agree or accept; to mean the same thing that the other person said.

Yes, I eat fish.

A word used to not agree with a negative sentence or question.

You are not tall. Yes, I am tall.

You do not want it, do you? Yes, I do.

Isn't William your brother? Yes, he is my brother.


yes

I won! Yes!


yes

A yes is an answer that agrees or accepts.

She gave him a yes.

The vote count was six "yesses" and one "no."


fry

If you fry something, you cook it in a pan on a stove with hot oil.

Do you think we should fry the eggs or boil them?


fry

Pass me a fry, I want to see if they taste good.


engine

An engine is the part of a machine which gives it power.


they

"They" is used to talk about two or more people, not you or the person you are speaking to.

I love Josie and Reg. They are nice people.

"They" is used to talk about two or more things.

Can you get the books for me? They're over there.

"They" is used to talk about one or more person when you don't know the sex or number.

If a person is fast, they can get there early.

"They" is used to talk about people in general.

When are they going to finish that new building?

They say you should drink eight glasses of water a day.


century

My great grandfather came to Canada over a century ago.

The telephone was invented in the 19th century.

Centuries passed before the slaves were freed.


confusion

confusion (singular)
confusions (plural)

Confusion is a feeling you get when things are unclear or you don't understand.

The snow storm caused great confusion at the airport where many planes were unable to take off or land.

The confusion in the last act of "The Marriage of Figaro" usually makes the audience laugh.


him

he when used after a preposition or as the object of a verb.

Give it to him (after preposition)

She wrote him a letter (indirect object)

She treated him for a cold (direct object)


motion

A motion is a movement, often not a big movement.

She made a small motion with her hand to get his attention.

The light turned green and he put the car into motion.


motion

motion (canonical)
motions (third-person singular)
motioned (past)
motioned (past participle)
motioning (present participle)

If you motion a person, you direct or command them with a movement.


himself

Third person masculine singular reflexive pronoun.

He went by himself to the store.


medicine

Medicine is something you put into or on your body when you are sick to make yourself healthy.

After I got out of the hospital, I went to the drug store and bought medicine for my ear problem.

The school of medicine at the University of Western Ontario has produced some of the country's best doctors.

Many doctors go to Canada but find that they can't practice medicine there.


offender

An offender is someone or something that does something wrong, usually someone who breaks the law.

The boy who took the car is a young offender, so we can't use his real name.


location

When you're opening a new business, the choice of location is very important.

A site outside of a studio used for shooting all or part of a movie or television show.

The show was filmed on location in Hawaii.

/ləʊˈkeɪʃən/


those

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

Those bolts go with these parts.

I don't want those oranges because they are too sour.


whose

Whose is used to ask what person something belongs to.

Whose is this? There's no name on it.

Whose coat did you take?

Whose is used to join a relative clause about a person or thing.

Children whose parents smoke are more likely to smoke themselves.

This is a country whose language is dying.

The girl in the picture, whose name is Marion Russell, was from my home town.


throat

Your throat is a tube inside your neck. It takes air from your mouth to your lungs.

My throat hurts from singing too much.


group

When more than 2 things or people are together, they make a group.

A group of people went into the building.


group

group (canonical)
groups (third-person singular)
grouped (past)
grouped (past participle)
grouping (present participle)

To put people or things together to make a group.


these

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

I am going to take these sandwiches for my lunch.

These paintings around me are not to be touched.

These are the simple rules you have to follow.

I have always wanted to own books like these.


animal

An animal is any living thing that can move. people are not animals, but are said to be animals, under the scientific definition. .

Dogs, elephants, and horses are all animals.


May

May is the fifth (5th) month of the year.

There are 31 days in May.

May fell down and hurt her knee.


major

major (positive)
more major (comparative)
most major (superlative)

A major change, problem, event, etc. is a big and important one.

We expected the change to cause a lot of problems, but in the end it wasn't as major as we had thought.

Tom Cruise had a major part in the movie. He directed it and acted in it as the main character.

A major musical scale is the usual scale for music in western culture. The major scale starts two notes above the minor and more often sounds happy.

That music could be D minor or F major.


major

A major is a subject area that is the main study of a student at a college or university.

My major is Speech-Language Pathology, which is about problems people may have with talking.

A major is a military rank between captain and lieutenant-colonel.

A major is a person of the legal age of majority.


major

major (canonical)
majors (third-person singular)
majored (past)
majored (past participle)
majoring (present participle)

If you major in something, you concentrate on a single area of study as a student at a college or university.

My mother majored in English but I will major in psychology.


few

few
fewer (comparative)
fewest (superlative)

I found very few problems.

There are so few good books.

I can't believe how few people are here.

There are so many problems and few are easy.


treatment

treatment (singular)
treatments (plural)

A treatment is an action, usually by a doctor, to make somebody healthy.

He has had treatments every day since he hurt his neck.

My sister is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

The treatment that you give someone or something is the way that you act toward it.

The treatment that I have received since beginning this job has been terrible. My boss yells at me every day and nobody is friendly at all.


house

A house is a building that one family lives in.

The president lives in a house in Washington, called The White House.


house

house (canonical)
houses (third-person singular)
housed (past)
housed (past participle)
housing (present participle)

If you house someone or something, you give them a home.

The building houses a research centre and a school.

During the storm they were housed in the local school's gym.


sheep

A sheep is an animal that people keep on farms and eat for food.

My grandfather has a sheep farm and we get all our wool there.

A sheep is a person who follows orders blindly and cannot think for themself.


herself

Third person singular feminine reflexive pronoun

She went by herself to the store.


amusement

amusement (singular)
amusements (plural)

Amusement is the feeling you have when something is fun or funny or makes you laugh.

An amusement is something that gets your attention and that you like; something like playing; something that is good but not useful.

Movies, video games and toys are amusements.

An amusement park has games, special food, and rides like a roller coaster and a merry-go-round.

Movie theaters, arcade and restaurants are good places for amusement.


freeze

freeze (canonical)
freezes (third-person singular)
froze (past)
frozen (past participle)
freezing (present participle)

If you freeze something, you cool it until it becomes solid.

Water freezes at 0°C.

The chicken will go bad soon. We should freeze it and then we can cook it next week.

I was freezing because I had forgotten my coat.


freeze

A freeze is a time when the temperature is cold.

A freeze is when the usual way things are done is stopped.


resident

A resident is somebody who lives in a particular area.

The local residents like the tourism because it creates more jobs for them.

A resident is a doctor who is still training, and who works in a hospital.


resident

If you are resident somewhere, you live or work there.

If you are not resident in the town, you may not use the town pool.

The resident population at the school has grown each year, and now most of our students live here.

I am a resident of Thailand.


daily

used to describe something done every day.

He kept a daily diary.


daily

He showers daily.


tour

A tour is a planned walk, bus trip, or flight, to look at a particular place.

Last year we took a wonderful tour to Rome.


tour

tour (canonical)
tours (third-person singular)
toured (past)
toured (past participle)
touring (present participle)

If you tour a place, you go around it to look at it, often with a guide.

The president gave a short tour around the new factory.

The opera company was touring Europe and Africa.

The Grammy winner toured several cities on the East Coast last year.

Many country western singers tour during the summer months.


element

An element is one part of something bigger, such as a plan, an engine, or a business.

He's the best salesman on our team, but he's only one element in our success.

An element is one basic kind of substance, such as iron (Fe) oxygen (O) or sodium (Na).

Water is made up of two elements: Hydrogen and Oxygen.


widow

A widow is a woman whose husband has died.

The government supports the widows of dead soldiers.


every

I work every day from 6:00 to 9:30.

I believe every single word she says.

Our members are involved in almost every aspect of teaching.

The Earth goes around the sun once every year.

Every time I go to see him, like, he's happy.

Not every person can do this.

We get together every other week.

They're watching her every move.

There's every reason to believe that she will get better.


third

The third thing is the one that is number three (3) in order.

I have two older brothers. I'm the third child.


third

A third of something is one of three equal parts of that thing.

Four is one third of twelve.


sufficient

If something is sufficient, it means there is enough or that it is good enough.

We now have a sufficient number of people to do the job.

The food supplies should be sufficient to last the winter.

The factory was shut down because if didn't meet the necessary and sufficient conditions for safety.


sufficient

You use sufficient to identify the smallest amount needed.

Sufficient of us are against this idea that we should stop now.


decrease

decrease (canonical)
decreases (third-person singular)
decreased (past)
decreased (past participle)
decreasing (present participle)

If something decreases, it goes down in number or value.

The Australian dollar has decreased 3% against the Euro.

The government has decreased the amount of money it gives to schools.


decrease

A decrease happens when the number or value of something goes down.

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

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


wool

Wool is the hair of a sheep. We often use it to make clothes.


some

Used to mean an amount or number of something when the amount or number is not exact or specific.

Would you like some grapes?

Every government is ill-disposed to the press, all or some of the time.

He had edited the paper for some years.

I've just met some man who said he knew you.

You use some before a number to say that it may be a little more or a little less.

Some 200 people attended the event.


cream

Would you like some cream in your coffee?

The cream of something is only the best thing, or person.

He's the cream of the tennis world.

A cream is a smooth oily substance that people put on their skin to make it soft or as a medicine.

You should clean the cut and put this cream on it three times a day.


cream

cream (canonical)
creams (third-person singular)
creamed (past)
creamed (past participle)
creaming (present participle)

To cream something is to puree or blend it into a liquid.

To cream something is to make it turn into a cream-like color.

The final score was 11-2, we creamed them!


offense

An offense is an action that breaks the law.

Murder is a serious criminal offense.

When you give offense to someone, you do something that they don't like.

I didn't mean to give offense, but I didn't know that you don't do that in China.

The offense is the person or team who is attacking.

For the first time in the game, Arsenal goes on the offense.


a little

We've only got a little time, so please be quick.

I need a little more room here.

You can do it with a little help from your friends.

He put a little water into the cup.

"Would you like some cake?" "Just a little, please."

Can we talk a little more?

You're walking a little too slowly.

I understand only a little of what you say.


yourself

You use yourself when the person doing an action and receiving an action are both you.

Be careful. You'll hurt yourself.

Are you happy with yourself.

I heard you got yourself a new pet.

Don't pretend you don't know. You yourself have seen these kinds of problems.

If you do something by yourself, you do it alone.

That's beautiful, son. Did you make it by yourself?

If you don't feel yourself, you are different from usual, because you are sick, scared, stressed, etc.


grass

Grass is a green, leafy plant that often covers the ground.

We haven't got much rain, and the grass on the lawn is turning brown.


ugly

ugly (positive)
uglier (comparative)
ugliest (superlative)

If someone or something is ugly, it's not nice to look at.

Hughie had the same ugly face as his father and brother.


asleep

Please be quiet. The baby's asleep.

I had trouble falling asleep last night.


them

Other people; not you or the people you are talking to.

I saw my friends and said, "hi" to them.

I made a lot of things. This is one of them.

You use them to talk about one person, if you don't know who that person is.

If somebody comes, help them.


there

You use there to show that something exists.

There is a problem here.


there

We left for Ottawa and arrived there at 7:00.


there

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


who

You use who to add a clause to explain more about the person or people you're talking about.

They are good people who are working hard.

We saw Kim, who was in his car.

We asked everybody who was there.

It was you who lost the keys, not me.

You use who to ask about a person or people.

Who was on the phone?

Who's your new teacher?

Who did you meet today?

He told me who was there.

I'll ask who can help us.


rat

Rats are medium-sized rodents. They often live near people and eat garbage. Rats can carry diseases. They are also kept as pets and can be very tame.

I caught the rat that was eating our food.


butter

Butter is a firm yellow substance that is made from milk spread on bread or used in cooking.

Please pass the butter.

Melt some butter in a fry pan, and then add the eggs.

If you keep the butter in the fridge, it's too hard to put on bread.

A bread and butter issue, is a basic and important one.

If we want to win this election, we need to focus on bread and butter issues like jobs.

Your bread and butter is the work that you do most and that earns you the most money.

Fixing shoes used to be our bread and butter, but today, nobody gets their shoes fixed.


butter

butter (canonical)
butters (third-person singular)
buttered (past)
buttered (past participle)
buttering (present participle)

If you butter something, you put butter on it.

Would you like me to butter your toast for you?


weight

The weight of something is how heavy it is.

She's put on a lot of weight since she went to university.

I'm exercising to try to lose some weight.

A weight is a heavy thing that you use to keep something down or that people lift to become stronger.

Can you put a weight on that paper so that it doesn't blow away?


weight

weight (canonical)
weights (third-person singular)
weighted (past)
weighted (past participle)
weighting (present participle)

When you weight something, you add weight to it.

To get your fishing line down to the bottom of the lake, you must weight it.


complex

complex (positive)
more complex (comparative)
most complex (superlative)

If something is complex, it has lots of parts or pieces, or is difficult to understand.

He has constructed a complex computer system to send translated messages between humans and dolphins.

A complex problem that we face today is poverty, especially in Africa.


complex

A group of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.

A psychologically-based dislike or fear of a particular thing.

Jim has a complex about working for a woman boss.

A thunderstorm that forms when two storm fronts collide.

A structure with a central atom or molecule that has a weak connection to atoms or molecules around it.


terrible

terrible (positive)
more terrible (comparative)
most terrible (superlative)

If something is terrible, it's very bad.

He said she was ugly. Wasn't that a terrible thing to say to anyone?

If something is terrible, it causes people to feel terror or fear.

The witch laid a terrible curse on him.


goat

A goat is a mammal with horns, part of the sheep family.

The goat used to graze in the field.


map

A map is an image of a place, usually with place names written in.

I think we're lost. Do you have a map?

I've got a good street map of London.


map

map (canonical)
maps (third-person singular)
mapped (past)
mapped (past participle)
mapping (present participle)

If you map something, you create a visual representation of it.

John mapped out his idea so that his friends could understand it.


both

When there are two things, both is the first thing and the second thing.

Jim took both the apple and the orange.

Both Anne and Jane agreed to eat the pear.

Give me one. You can't have both.

Both of my parents were from Canada.

They found problems at both the schools.

The room had windows at both ends.

Working in the city and living in the country, you get the best of both worlds.

There were cars coming from both directions.


nut

A nut is a kind of seed that usually grows on trees inside a hard shell and that people often eat.

Nuts are a good source of protein.

A metal ring that is screwed onto a bolt (thick screw).


nut

nut (canonical)
nuts (third-person singular)
nutted (past)
nutted (past participle)
nutting (present participle)


talk

talk (canonical)
talks (third-person singular)
talked (past)
talked (past participle)
talking (present participle)

to speak; any sound from a person's mouth.

He talks with him daily.


talk

I liked the talk he gave to the students.

His talk is meaningless.


several

Several things is a small number of things. More than two, but not very many.

It rained for several days last week.

We changed several of them, but left others untouched.


several

Their several things is a number of their things.

They each went their several ways.


wine

Wine is an alcoholic drink made from grapes or other fruit.

I don't drink wine very often. Usually I prefer beer.


wine

wine (canonical)
wines (third-person singular)
wined (past)
wined (past participle)
wining (present participle)

If you wine and dine someone, you entertain them with dinner and wine.


things

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

I packed my things.


another

Another of something means that there is one more of it.

Is there another way to do this?

Mike and another man came to our house.

I can't do this now. Let's do it another time.

Another of the things you can't ask is "how old are you?"

I've got this shirt, and another just like it.

That's another one of those things I have to do.

Can I just sleep for another five minutes?

I've been very busy with one thing and another.

I'll do it one way or another.

And another thing: clean this up!

I hope we don't get another George Bush.

Oh no! Not another problem!


guess

guess (canonical)
guesses (third-person singular)
guessed (past)
guessed (past participle)
guessing (present participle)

If you guess at something, you try to imagine what it might be, but you don't know the answer.

"What happened? Why has play stopped?" "I don't know. I guess a player's hurt, maybe."


guess

A guess is an answer that you give when you don't know the real answer.

"Wow, what a great car! How much do you think it costs?" "My guess is around $80,000."


enough

I've already had enough coffee today.

Do you think this is enough?

Is this good enough?

I'm not tall enough to reach it.

The noise was enough to wake her.

You should be bold and tell them that enough is enough.


science

The study of finding how things work. Some kinds of science are mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry.

biology is a kind of science.


science

The sciences are the group of science subjects. These are mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry.


murder

Murder is when one person plans to hurt or kill somebody and they kill somebody.

Police are looking into two murders at a club in Brazzaville last night.

A woman who lived in 1982 was walking into the woods, and was murdered by a man, who was into the woods, also, and her body was never found, so her family just had a memorial.


murder

murder (canonical)
murders (third-person singular)
murdered (past)
murdered (past participle)
murdering (present participle)

He murdered two people in the bar.


illustrate

illustrate (canonical)
illustrates (third-person singular)
illustrated (past)
illustrated (past participle)
illustrating (present participle)

If you illustrate something, you draw a picture of it, or you explain it.

"I'm sorry, can you explain again?" "OK, let me illustrate with an example."

This graph illustrates the change in price.

If you illustrate a book, magazine, poster, etc., you put pictures in it.

Have you tried reading these illustrated books for adults?


empty

empty (positive)
emptier (comparative)
emptiest (superlative)

If something is empty, it has nothing inside it.

Hey! You finished my beer. It's empty.


empty

empty (canonical)
empties (third-person singular)
emptied (past)
emptied (past participle)
emptying (present participle)

If you empty something, you remove everything in that item.

I will empty the bins.


many

many
more (comparative)
most (superlative)

There are many people in China.

How many times have I walked down this street?

It was so many years ago that we first met.

There are not many people like him.

As many as 30 per cent of the population carries this disease.

In too many cases, people don't get the care they need.

A great many questions still have no answers.

Some are good, but not very many.

Many of our teachers come from other countries.


many

You use many to indicate that you are talking about a large number of people or things.

The possibilities are many.


one

We have one nose and one mouth.


one

One is the smallest whole number.


one

One is a singular pronoun which means someone or people. It is used more often in formal writing.

It is easy to see the difference if one looks closely enough.


parent

The parents of a person or animal are its father and mother.

Children may only enter the pool with a parent or guardian.


parent

parent (canonical)
parents (third-person singular)
parented (past)
parented (past participle)
parenting (present participle)


smoke

Smoke is the gray or black substance that goes up into the air when something burns.

The smoke from that factory is making me sick.


smoke

smoke (canonical)
smokes (third-person singular)
smoked (past)
smoked (past participle)
smoking (present participle)

If somebody is smoking, they are breathing in smoke, usually from a cigarette.

Excuse me, you can't smoke in the restaurant.

If something is smoking, it is making smoke.

The fire's still smoking. You'd better put some more water on it.


belt

A belt is a piece of clothing worn around a person's waist. They can be used to hold up trousers or skirts, or for carrying things in pockets, such as on a utility belt.

I think I've put on weight. My belt is too tight.

A belt is used to hold people down for safety, such as a seat belt


belt

belt (canonical)
belts (third-person singular)
belted (past)
belted (past participle)
belting (present participle)

:
 This short section needs someone to add to it.


neither

Not one or the other; not either; none of two things.

Neither definition seems correct.

Neither Sarah nor John is going to the concert on Saturday.

Fresia and Lydia sat on either side of the bed, but neither spoke.

Neither of his two kids wants to work for him.

He only has two friends, and neither one is interesting.

In the first game neither side scored.

Neither Darwin nor Huxley worked at Oxford.

This helps neither you nor me.

We are neither saying that it's wrong, nor are we saying you should try it.


neither

Neither is used to show that a something that is not true in one case is also not true in another case.

She didn't have one, and neither did I.

If you don't go, then neither will I.

"I can't touch it." "Neither can I."


June

June is the sixth (6th) month of the year.

There are 30 days in June.

June went to school with David.


no

Used to disagree or refuse; to say something different from what the other person said.

No, I do not fish.

No, I still have some things to do first.

Used to agree with the negative side of a negative question.

Isn't the door locked? No, the door is not locked. We can go in.


no

There is no water left.

No hot dogs were sold yesterday.

Not any possibility or allowance of (doing something). You can't.

No smoking.

There's no stopping her once she gets going.

Not (a); not properly, not really; not fully.

My mother's no fool.

Working nine to five every day is no life.

He's no better off.


much

much
more (comparative)
most (superlative)

a lot of; a large amount of; a high degree

I don't have much money.

I don't like the cider very much.

I know how much he loves everybody in the house.

You're not much better than he is.

She was much more fun after a few drinks.

This is almost as much fun as last week.

We bought another one, but the cost was much greater.

I don't think it matters much what you study.

Thank you very much!

Much attention has been given to the question of where the money should go.

They arrived much sooner than we had expected.

He's very much the Englishman.

If someone or something is very much alive, interested, open, etc., they are indeed so, contrary to expectations.

I thought the window was closed, but it was very much open.

If something is pretty much impossible, useless, perfect, etc. it is roughly so.

Your hair looks pretty much perfect the way it is.