similar

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

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

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

My sister and I have very similar ideas.

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

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


apple

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

I gave my teacher an apple.

I went to the Big Apple.


lungs

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

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


waiting

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

We were tired of waiting for him.


for

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

This cake is for you.

This is a net for catching fish.

For is used to show the reason for something.

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


for

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

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


slowly

When something moves slowly or does something slowly, it takes a very long time to do it.

She was very tired, and walked slowly up the stairs to bed.

He moved slowly, hoping that the bird wouldn't notice him.


academic

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

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

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

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

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


academic

An academic is a researcher or university teacher.

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

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

Academics is the part of school related to learning.

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

/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/


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.


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.


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.


worse

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

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

The weather this winter is worse than last year.


temperature

temperature (singular)
temperatures (plural)

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

Today's temperature is 25°C.


pub

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

We went to the pub for a beer.


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.


correct

correct (positive)
more correct (comparative)
most correct (superlative)

Something that is correct has no mistakes.

For question #5, only 5 people got the correct answer.

When you type, the correct hand position is very important.


correct

correct (canonical)
corrects (third-person singular)
corrected (past)
corrected (past participle)
correcting (present participle)

When you correct something that is wrong, you make it right.

I corrected the mistakes on your test.


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/


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."


species

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

humans belong to the species Homo sapiens.


men

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


style

A style is a specific look, design, or way of dressing or acting.

I don't understand why the styles in fashion magazines are always changing.

We have a new manager, but her style is much more friendly than the old guy.

A style is a traditional or legal term referring to a person who holds a title or post.

He styled himself the Count of Monte Cristo.


style

style (canonical)
styles (third-person singular)
styled (past)
styled (past participle)
styling (present participle)

If you style something, you design and make it appear in a certain way.


technical

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

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

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

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

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


advertisement

advertisement (singular)
advertisements (plural)

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

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


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.


formally

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

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


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.


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.


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.


angry

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

He embarrassed her, so she was angry.

He had an angry wound.


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.


health

If you talk about the health of a person or animal, you are talking about whether they are sick or not.

The doctors believe that the disease will not be a serious danger to public health.

Before you start exercising, you should be in good health.

If you have health you are not sick (do not have disease) and are not hurt.


global

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

If something is global it includes the whole world.

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

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


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.


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.


didn't

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

He didn't help her.

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


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.


God

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

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

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

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


God

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

Oh God, not that again!


probably

If something is probably true, or will probably happen, it means there is a high chance of it.

I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight, but I'll probably stay home and study.

"Is Ed here?" "Uh... he usually leaves at 4:00, so he's probably gone, but I'll go and have a look."


ocean

My great grandfather came across the Atlantic ocean from Scotland to Canada in 1882 on a sailing ship.

She stood on a beach in Japan and looked east at the sun coming up over the Pacific ocean.


wood

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


brown

Brown is one of the colors people can see


brown

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


brown

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

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

Brown the onions in a large frying pan.


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.


finally

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

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

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

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


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)


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


Christianity

Christianity is a religion whose followers believe that Jesus was the son of God or an important prophet of God, or believe in Jesus' ideas about what is right or wrong.

He believes in Christianity.


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.


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.


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.


electric

If a machine is electric, it uses electricity.

My grandmother wrote her letters on a typewriter; my mother used an electric typewriter, and I use a computer.

We bought a new gas stove. It's much faster than our old electric one.


custom

A custom is an activity that happens traditionally or regularly.

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

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

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

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


custom

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

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


black

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

He stood alone in the black of the night.

Blacks are people of a race with dark coloured skin.

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

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

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


black

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

The black dog was the color of night.

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

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

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

More and more universities are offering courses in black history.

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


black

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

If you black something, you color it black.

He blacked his boots before the party.

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

A number of lines in the report were blacked out.

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

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


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.


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.


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.


institution

institution (singular)
institutions (plural)

A custom or practice of a society or community.

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

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

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


informal

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

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

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

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


region

A region is an area of land or of the body.

The fishing problems have been happening only in the Atlantic coast region.

The southern regions of Japan are warm and tropical.

If we do an operation in this region of the brain, you may lose your ability to speak.

A region is any connected part of a space or surface. This definition is useful in geometry.

In Euclidean space, a convex set is a region which has a geometric definition.


facilities

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

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

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

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


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.


k

The eleventh (11th) letter of the alphabet.

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


under

In the same place as another thing, but lower.

They ate under the trees.

He was under the leader of the organization.

In the middle of a process; experiencing.

The idea is under the committee's judgement (judging).


suddenly

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

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


feet

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

Please take your shoes and socks off of your feet.

My feet hurt from walking all day.

My friend is six feet tall.


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.


culture

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

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

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


culture

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

If you culture bacteria or cells, you grow them.


apparatus

apparatus (singular)
apparatuses (plural)

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


lung

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

Smoking for many years had damaged his lungs.


legal

legal (positive)
more legal (comparative)
most legal (superlative)

If an activity is legal it does not break any laws.

In Canada, it is perfectly legal for a woman to walk down the street with no shirt on.

A legal problem, action, fee, etc. is related to the law or lawyers.

After losing the court case, he had to pay over $30,000 in legal fees.

The government brought legal action against three cigarette makers.


my

Is this my book, or is it yours?


job

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

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

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

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

A job is a task that a computer performs.

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

John just had a nose job.


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."


brain

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

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

He has serious brain damage from falling off of his bicycle and hitting his head.


rainbow

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

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


rainbow

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


rainbow

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

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


cheese

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

I often eat cheese with bread and grapes.


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.


relaxed

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

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

I feel most relaxed when I'm fishing.

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


relaxed

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

The past tense and past participle of relax.


advice

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

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

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


customer

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

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


ear

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

My rabbit has two big ears.

Your shouting hurts my ears!


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.


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.


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.


book

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

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

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

A company's books are its money records.

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


book

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

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

I want to book a hotel room for tomorrow night.

I can book tickets for the concert next week.

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

The police booked him for driving too fast.


wolf

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


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,


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.


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.


x

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

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

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


x

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

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


fun

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

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

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


fun

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

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

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


pencil

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


equipment

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

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

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

The computer equipment was old and often broke down.


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.


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!


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)


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.


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.


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.


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?


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.


Earth

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

The moon goes around the Earth.


tea

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

Would you like coffee or tea?


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.


title

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

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

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

His title was Director of Science Education.

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

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

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


title

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

To give a title to someone or something.

I titled my essay "The History of Japan".


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.


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.


engineering

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

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


engineering

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


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.


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.


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.


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!


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.


your

Your things are things which belong to you.

Can I eat some of your ice-cream please?


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.


practice

practice (canonical)
practices (third-person singular)
practiced (past)
practiced (past participle)
practicing (present participle)

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

The class was going to practice writing skills for homework.

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

If you practice a subject (specially law and medicine), you pursue it as a career.

She practiced law for several years.


practice

Practice is an activity you do again and again to improve your ability.

I can go to the party because I have soccer practice that night.

My driving is getting better, but I still need practice.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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?


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)


vary

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

If something varies, it is not always the same.

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

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

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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!"


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.


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.


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."


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.


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.


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."


himself

Third person masculine singular reflexive pronoun.

He went by himself to the store.


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.


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.


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.


our

Our things are things that belong to us.

We've come in our new car.

Our daughter got a new job.


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.


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.


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.


water

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

The dog drank the water from his dish

Can I please have a glass of water?

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

A water is a bottle or glass serving of water.

"I want to order two waters, waiter".

Water is one of the four basic elements.

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

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


water

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

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

He waters the plants.

If you water something, you give water to animals.

He waters the horses.

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

His eyes watered as he cut up the onion.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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/


view

He had a view of the fight.

My window has a great view of the ocean.

They had a narrow view on marriage.


view

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

I view your changes with suspicion.

He views movies for content.

They viewed the rescue from the street.


itself

Third person neutral singular reflexive pronoun.

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


hers

If something is hers, it belongs to her.

Please give this to Susan. It's hers.


their

If something belongs to them it is their thing.

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


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.


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.


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?


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.


kitchen

A kitchen is a room used for cooking food.

My mother made the dinner in the kitchen.

Bring me a kitchen knife.


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?


snake

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

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

A snake is a dishonest, treacherous person.

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

A snake is a tool used to unclog plumbing.


snake

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

If you snake, you move in a winding path.

The river snakes through the valley.

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


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?


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.


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.


knife

He ate with his knife and fork.

He worked with a putty knife.


knife

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

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

The gang knifed him sixteen times.


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.


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.


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!


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.


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.


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."


theirs

If something is theirs, it belongs to them.

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

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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."


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?


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.


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


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.


up

The flag is up.

The balloon went up.

If a task or result is up to you, it means you are in charge of deciding or doing it.

The outcome of the game is up to the players.

It is up to you to choose the restaurant for dinner .

If you are up to something, you are doing or planning it.

What are you up to this evening?

We had better make sure he's not up to something stupid again.

She's always up to some kind of trouble.


up

It was an up day.

He is feeling up.

What’s up?

They act like something is up.

Something is up with him.

It is all up with them.


up

Life has its ups and downs.


up

up (canonical)
ups (third-person singular)
upped (past)
upped (past participle)
upping (present participle)

We upped the dosage.


wiki

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

Simple English Wiktionary is a type of wiki.


it

Used to refer to an object that might have been described earlier in the text.

The house was very big. It had many rooms.

It is very hot today.

I'm staying in because it is raining.

Used to describe a situation in general.

I don't like it when people tell me to do something.

It is hard to find a job.

It wasn't easy knowing where the ball would go.


it

Information Technology, i.e. the use of computers.


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.


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.


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.


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.


traditional

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

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

I learned traditional Japanese cooking from my grandmother.

It is traditional to give gifts at Christmas time.


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/


decade

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


June

June is the sixth (6th) month of the year.

There are 30 days in June.

June went to school with David.


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.


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.


whichever

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

Whichever colour you choose, you'll be happy.

It's OK to take whichever bus comes first.

Whichever of these two wins will take first prize.

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

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

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


whichever

Whichever you choose, you'll be happy.

It's OK to take whichever comes first.

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

We took whichever came first, number 41 I think.


July

There are 31 days in July.


fry

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

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.


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.


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.


nuclear

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

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

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

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

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


camp

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

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


camp

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

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

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


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.


sister

Your sister is the daughter of your mother and father.

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

The Sister said that I must rest more.

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

Wikipedia is a sister project of Wiktionary.


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.


sibling

I think I know your sibling.


little

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

If something is little, its size is not big.

I just ate a tiny little piece of the cake.

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

Could you just wait a little while more?

Two little boys were fighting on the playground.


little

little
less (comparative)
least (superlative)

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

They understood little or no French.

He was busy and had little time for children.

Try to spend as little of your money as possible.

We saw little of her after the first day.

Little is known about the problem.

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

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

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

We saved what little was left.


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.


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.


feather

Feathers are the things which cover birds.

The bird was covered in feathers.


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.


block

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

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

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

We have to walk about three blocks to the restaurant.

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

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


block

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

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

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

The road was blocked by police.

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


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.


arch

A semi-circle shape, like an inverted "U".

Robert drew an arch on the paper.

Any object having the shape of an arch, from stone bridges and doorways to bows.

They went through the arch into the church.

A part of the foot, on the bottom, which is shaped like an arch.

She stepped on a nail and hurt the arch of her foot.


arch

arch (canonical)
arches (third-person singular)
arched (past)
arched (past participle)
arching (present participle)

The cat arched its back.


arch

Arch added to the start of a word signifies it is important or the most important

An archbishop is a senior bishop.

comic-book villains may be an arch-enemy.


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.


engine

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


us

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

She said hello to us.

Can you tell us where it is?

We think this is important for all of us.


us

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

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


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.


tree

I'm going to climb a tree.

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

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


tree

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

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


yours

If something is yours, it belongs to you.

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


ball

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

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

A ball is hit with a racquet in tennis.

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

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

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

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


ball

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

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

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


March

There are 31 days in March.


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!


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.


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.


airplane

An airplane is a vehicle with wings that can fly.

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


partner

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

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


partner

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

If you partner someone, you be their partner.


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.


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.


collection

collection (singular)
collections (plural)

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

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

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

The school took a collection for new books.


herself

Third person singular feminine reflexive pronoun

She went by herself to the store.


hall

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

Please leave your boots in the front hall.


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.


secret

Can you keep a secret?