Collins Caribbean School Dictionary

Collins

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd i

09/07/2018 19:35

Where to Find Grammar and Punctuation Boxes Throughout the dictionary there are ‘grammar boxes’ and ‘punctuation boxes’ that contain rules and advice on English grammar and punctuation, as well as helpful examples.

Punctuation apostrophe bracket colon comma dash exclamation mark full stop hyphen inverted comma punctuation question mark semicolon Word formation prefix suffix

Page 25 65 105 106 140 194 226 271 293 433 438 488 419 544

How words are used a 1 be 48 not 366 shall 494 that 566 the 567 which 626 who 628 whom 629 whose 630 will 631 Word classes adjective adverb conjunction interjection noun part of speech preposition

8 10 116 290 367 391 420

pronoun relative pronoun verb

428 455 609

Verbs and tenses active future passive past tense present tense tense verb

6 228 392 393 421 564 609

Nouns noun plural possessive

367 410 415

Adjectives adjective comparative number superlative

8 109 368 547

Types of sentence command question quotation sentence

107 437 439 490

Parts of a sentence clause 99 phrase 403 sentence 490 Gender feminine gender masculine neuter

205 233 334 362

iv

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd iv

09/07/2018 19:35

Introduction The ability to read, understand, and write good English is vital for both success in exams and, ultimately, success in the world beyond school.

Underpinning this ability is a thorough knowledge of spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and Collins School Dictionary is an essential tool in achieving that knowledge.

Collins School Dictionary has been researched with teachers and students to ensure that it includes the information on language that students need to allow them to improve their performance and achieve exam success, not just in English but in all school subjects. As well as essential information on what words mean, it provides: •

Hundreds of tips on correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation to help students avoid common errors

•

Over 50 panels with brief but clear explanations of grammar terms and punctuation marks to help students understand them better

•

Comprehensive coverage of core vocabulary from a range of subjects, with clear labelling of essential words in each subject

•

Extra sections focusing on Writing Skills, to support students in improving their proficiency in writing, Spelling, to help them master the trickiest spelling problems, and Word Studies, to guide them in choosing alternatives for overused words such as 'good' and 'nice'

•

In a colourful middle section, a special Social Studies supplement featuring local maps, geographical information, and national symbols

Collins School Dictionary is exceptionally easy to use. It is relevant to curriculum teaching in all subjects, it is accessible and student-friendly, and it offers essential help on the route to success.

v

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd v

09/07/2018 19:35

How to Use the Dictionary Collins School Dictionary is easy to use and understand. Below are some entries showing the dictionary’s main features, along with an explanation of what they are.

The entry word

Word history note explains where the word comes from Other forms of the word give help with spelling

Other words that come from the entry word

facetious [Said fas-see-shuss] adjective witty or amusing but in a rather silly or inappropriate way He didn’t appreciate my facetious y suggestion. word history: from Latin facetiae meaning ‘witty remarks’

f i famished adjective (informal) very hungry.

fish, fishes, fishing, fished noun

1 a cold-blooded creature living in water that has a spine, gills, fins, and a scaly skin. 2 Fish is the flesh of fish eaten as food. f verb 3 To fish is to try to catch fish for food or sport. 4 If you fish for information, you try to get it in an indirect way. fishing noun fisherman noun

grammar tip The plural of the noun fish can be either fish or fishes, but fish is more common.

flavour, flavours, flavouring,

Similar words note lists other words with the same meaning Grammar boxes give more information on the way English works. See page iv for a full list of grammar and punctuation boxes in the dictionary.

flavoured flavoured; American flavor noun 1 TECH & TD The flavour of food is its taste. 2 The flavour of something is its distinctive verb 3 characteristic or quality. f TECH & TD If you flavour food with a spice or herb, you add it to the food to give it a particular taste. flavouring noun

How to say the word An example of the word being used The register of the word What the word means

Tips give more information on how the word is used or spelt

Alternative spellings, including American English spellings

folly, follies noun Folly is a foolish act or foolish behaviour. similar words: foolishness, stupidity

The part of speech

full stop, full stops noun the punctuation mark (.) used at the end of a sentence and after an abbreviation or initial. fsee grammar box

vi

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd vi

09/07/2018 19:35

Spelling notes at the start of a letter give help with finding words in the dictionary

Some words which sound as if they might begin with s actually begin with c, for example centre and cynic.

Some words which sound as if they might begin with sh actually begin

compare, compares, comparing, compared verb 1 EXAM TERM When you compare things, you look at them together and see in what ways they are different or similar.

2 If you compare one thing to another, you say it is like the other thing y His style has been compared to Bob Marley's.

Core vocabulary from curriculum subjects is labelled.

See page viii for a full list of school subject labels in the dictionary.

Words used in exam questions are highlighted

comparison, comparisons noun

ENGLISH When you make a comparison, you consider two things together and see in what ways they are different or similar.

fabric, fabrics noun

TECH & TD

cloth y tough fabric for tents. 2 The fabric of a building is its walls, roof, and other parts. 3 The fabric of a society or system is its structure, laws, and customs y the democratic fabric of American society.

1

-ful suffix

1 ‘-ful’ is used to form adjectives with the meaning ‘full of ’ careful. 2 ‘-ful’ is used to form nouns y which mean ‘the amount needed to spoonful. fill’ y

centi- prefix ‘Centi-’ is used to form

Comprehensive coverage of prefixes and suffixes helps with spelling and learning new words

words that have ‘hundred’ as part of their meaning y centimetre.

vii

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd vii

09/07/2018 19:35

Curriculum Subject Labels Collins School Dictionary gives you clear explanations of many words you need to know, not just for English but for many other school subjects.

If a word is important in a particular subject, you will ďŹ nd an eye-catching label with the name of the subject in the dictionary entry for that word.

A dictionary entry may also have a label if the word is particularly relevant to exams or using the library.

Here is a list of the subject labels used in the dictionary.

ART

Visual arts

COMPUTING

Computing/Information technology

DRAMA

Drama

ENGLISH

English

EXAM TERM

Word used in exam questions

GEOGRAPHY

Geography

HFLE

Health and family life education

HISTORY

History

LIBRARY

Library skills

MATHS

Mathematics

MUSIC

Music

PE

Physical education

RE

Religious education

SCIENCE

Science

TECH & TD

Technology and technical drawing

viii

Caribbean SchoolDict Prelims 2018 reprint.indd viii

09/07/2018 19:35

A

Mm

B C D E F G H I J K

m an abbreviation for ‘metres’ or ‘miles’. macabre [Said mak-kahb-ra] adjective A macabre event or story is strange and horrible y a macabre horror story.

macadamia, macadamias [Said ma-kadame-ee-a] noun an Australian tree, also grown in New Zealand, that produces edible nuts.

madam noun ‘Madam’ is a very formal way of addressing a woman. tubes of pasta. word history: an Italian word; from Greek maddening adjective irritating or frustrating y She had many maddening habits. makaria meaning ‘food made from barley’ madly adverb If you do something madly, macaroon, macaroons noun a sweet you do it in a fast, excited way. biscuit flavoured with almonds or coconut. macaroni noun Macaroni is short hollow

mace, maces noun an ornamental pole

L

carried by an official during ceremonies as a symbol of authority.

M

machete, machetes [Said mash-ett-ee] noun

N

machine, machines, machining, machined

O P

a large, heavy knife with a big blade.

noun 1 TECH & TD a piece of equipment which uses electricity or power from an engine to make it work. f verb 2 If you machine something, you make it or work on it using a machine.

machine-gun, machine-guns noun a gun

Q

that works automatically, firing bullets one after the other.

R

machinery noun Machinery is machines

S

machismo [Said mak-kiz-moe] noun

T U V

in general.

Machismo is exaggerated aggressive male behaviour.

macho [Said mat-shoh] adjective A man

who is described as macho behaves in an aggressively masculine way. word history: from Spanish macho meaning ‘male’

mackerel, mackerels noun a sea fish with

W X Y Z

mad, you mean that they are very foolish y He said we were mad to share a flat. 3 (informal) Someone who is mad is angry. 4 (informal) If you are mad about someone or something, you like them very much y Alan was mad about golf. madness noun madman noun similar words: 1 crazy, deranged, insane 2 daft, foolish

blue and silver stripes.

mackintosh, mackintoshes noun a

raincoat made from specially treated waterproof cloth.

madrigal, madrigals noun a song sung by several people without instruments.

Mafia noun The Mafia is a large crime organization operating in Sicily, Italy, and the USA.

magazine, magazines noun

1 LIBRARY a weekly or monthly publication with articles and photographs. 2 a compartment in a gun for cartridges. word history: from Arabic makhzan meaning ‘storehouse’

magenta [Said maj-jen-ta] noun or adjective dark reddish-purple.

maggot, maggots noun a creature that looks like a small worm and lives on decaying things. Maggots turn into flies.

magic noun

1 In fairy stories, magic is a special power that can make impossible things happen. 2 Magic is the art of performing tricks to entertain people.

magical adjective wonderful and exciting. magically adverb

magician, magicians noun

1 a person who performs tricks as entertainment. 2 In fairy stories, a magician is a man with magical powers.

magistrate, magistrates noun an official

who acts as a judge in a law court that deals with less serious crimes.

Someone magma noun GEOGRAPHY Magma is a hot who is mad has a mental problem which liquid within the earth’s crust which forms often causes them to behave in strange igneous rock when it solidifies. ways. 2 (informal) If you describe someone as

mad, madder, maddest adjective

CARIBBEAN M-R 2018 reprint.indd 328

1

09/07/2018 17:59

329 | majority

magnanimous adjective generous and forgiving.

magnate, magnates noun someone who is very rich and powerful in business.

magnet, magnets noun

SCIENCE a piece of iron which attracts iron or steel towards it, and which points towards north if allowed to swing freely. A permanent magnet is a magnet that is still magnetic when the magnetic field that produced it is taken away; a temporary magnet is a magnet that loses its magnetism when the magnetic field that produced it is taken away. magnetic adjective magnetism noun

magnetic field noun

SCIENCE the area around a magnet inside which a magnetic force is felt.

magnificent adjective extremely beautiful or impressive. magnificently adverb magnificence noun

magnify, magnifies, magnifying, magnified verb When a microscope or lens magnifies something, it makes it appear bigger than it actually is. magnification noun

magnifying glass, magnifying glasses noun a lens which makes things appear bigger than they really are.

magnitude noun The magnitude of something is its great size or importance.

magnolia, magnolias noun a tree which has large white or pink flowers in spring.

magpie, magpies noun a large black and white bird with a long tail.

mahogany noun Mahogany is a hard, reddish brown wood used for making furniture.

maid, maids noun a female servant. maiden, maidens noun 1 (literary) a young woman. f adjective voyage.

2

first y a maiden

maiden name, maiden names noun the surname a woman had before she married.

large pipes or wires that carry gas, water, or electricity. similar words: 1 chief, major, principal

mainframe, mainframes noun a large computer which can be used by many people at the same time. part of a country in contrast to islands around its coast.

mainly adverb true in most cases. mainstay noun The mainstay of something is the most important part of it.

mainstream noun The mainstream is the most ordinary and conventional group of people or ideas in a society.

maintain, maintains, maintaining, maintained verb 1 If you maintain something, you keep it going or keep it at a particular rate or level y I wanted to maintain our friendship. 2 If you maintain someone, you provide them regularly with money for what they need. 3 To maintain a machine or a building is to keep it in good condition.

4 If you maintain that something is true, you believe it is true and say so.

Maintenance is the process of keeping something in good condition. 2 Maintenance is also money that a person sends regularly to someone to provide for the things they need.

main, mains adjective

most important y the main event. f noun 2 The mains are 1

CARIBBEAN M-R 2018 reprint.indd 329

e f g h i j k l m n

maize noun Maize is a tall plant which

o

majesty, majesties

p

produces sweet corn.

You say ‘His Majesty’ when you are talking about a king, and ‘Her Majesty’ when you are talking about a queen. 2 Majesty is great dignity and impressiveness. majestic adjective majestically adverb 1

major, majors adjective

more important or more significant than other things y There were over fifty major injuries. 2 MUSIC A major key is one of the keys in which most European music is written. f noun 3 an army officer of the rank immediately above captain.

1

1 Your majority, majorities noun 1 The majority mail is the letters and parcels delivered to of people or things in a group is more than you by the post office. f verb 2 If you mail a half of the group. 2 In an election, the letter, you send it by post. majority is the difference between the number of votes gained by the winner and mail order noun Mail order is a system of the number gained by the runner-up. buying goods by post.

maim someone is to injure them very badly for life.

d

1

mail, mails, mailing, mailed noun

maim, maims, maiming, maimed verb To

b c

mainland noun The mainland is the main

maintenance noun

a

usage note You should use majority only to talk about things that can be counted: the majority of car owners. To talk about an amount that cannot be counted you should use most: Most of the harvest was saved.

q r s t u v w x y z

09/07/2018 17:59

make | 330

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

make, makes, making, made verb

1 To make something is to produce or construct it, or to cause it to happen. 2 To make something is to do it y He was about to make a speech. 3 To make something is to prepare it y I’ll make some salad dressing. 4 If someone makes you do something, they force you to do it y Mum made me clean the bathroom. f noun 5 The make of a product is the name of the company that manufactured it y ‘What make of car do you drive?’ – ‘Toyota.’ make up verb 1 If a number of things make up something, they form that thing. 2 If you make up a story, you invent it. 3 If you make yourself up, you put make-up on. 4 If two people make it up, they become friends again after a quarrel. similar words: 1 create, fashion, form, produce 5 brand, kind, type

make-up noun

Make-up is coloured creams and powders which women put on their faces to make themselves look more attractive. 2 Someone’s make-up is their character or personality.

1

making noun

properly. f noun to work properly.

2

the failure of a machine

malice noun Malice is a desire to cause harm to people.

malicious adjective Malicious talk or

behaviour is intended to harm someone.

malign, maligns, maligning, maligned (formal) verb 1 To malign someone means to say unpleasant and untrue things about them. f adjective 2 intended to harm someone. word history: from Latin malignus meaning ‘spiteful’

malignant adjective

1 harmful and cruel.

A malignant disease or tumour could cause death if it is allowed to continue.

2

mallard, mallards noun a kind of wild duck.

The male has a green head.

malleable adjective (formal)

1 easily influenced by other people. 2 If a metal or other substance is malleable, it is soft enough to be made into different shapes y Gold and silver are the most malleable of all metals. malleability noun

1 The making of something is the act or process of creating or producing mallee, mallees noun a eucalypt that grows it. f phrase 2 When you describe someone close to the ground in dry areas of Australia. as something in the making, you mean that mallet, mallets noun a wooden hammer they are gradually becoming that thing y a with a square head. captain in the making. malnutrition noun Malnutrition is not maladjusted adjective A maladjusted eating enough healthy food. person has psychological or behaviour

malodorous adjective If you describe

problems.

malaise [Said mal-laze] noun (formal) Malaise is a feeling of dissatisfaction or unhappiness.

malaria [Said mal-lay-ree-a] noun Malaria is a tropical disease caught from mosquitoes which causes fever and shivering.

Malaysian, Malaysians adjective 1 2

belonging or relating to Malaysia. f noun someone who comes from Malaysia.

male, males noun

a person or animal belonging to the gender that cannot give birth or lay eggs. f adjective 2 concerning or affecting men rather than women.

1

male chauvinist, male chauvinists noun a man who thinks that men are better than women.

something as malodorous, you mean it smells bad.

malpractice noun If someone such as

a doctor or lawyer breaks the rules of their profession, their behaviour is called malpractice.

malt noun Malt is roasted grain, usually barley, that is used in making beer and whisky.

mammal, mammals noun

SCIENCE

Animals that give birth to live babies and feed their young with milk from the mother’s body are called mammals. Human beings, dogs, and whales are all mammals.

mammary gland, mammary glands noun SCIENCE a large gland in female mammals that produces milk.

malevolent [Said mal-lev-oh-lent] adjective mammoth, mammoths adjective (formal) wanting or intending to cause harm. malevolence noun similar words: malicious, spiteful, vindictive

malfunction, malfunctions, malfunctioning, malfunctioned verb 1 If a machine malfunctions, it fails to work

CARIBBEAN M-R 2018 reprint.indd 330

1 very large indeed y a mammoth outdoor concert. f noun 2 a huge animal that looked like a hairy elephant with long tusks. Mammoths became extinct a long time ago.

man, men; mans, manning, manned noun 1 an adult male human being. f plural noun 2 Human beings in general are

09/07/2018 17:59

331 | mankind sometimes referred to as men y All men are equal. f verb 3 To man something is to be in charge of it or operate it y Two officers were manning the radar screens. similar words: 1 bloke, chap, guy 2 humanity, mankind

mana noun Mana is authority and influence such as that held by a New Zealand Maori chief.

manacle, manacles noun Manacles

are metal rings or clamps attached to a prisoner’s wrists or ankles.

manage, manages, managing, managed verb 1 If you manage to do something, you succeed in doing it y We managed to find somewhere to sit. 2 If you manage an organization or business, you are responsible for controlling it. similar words: 1 accomplish, succeed

manageable adjective able to be dealt with.

management noun

mane, manes noun the long hair growing

a

manger, mangers [Said main-jir] noun a

b

mangle, mangles, mangling, mangled verb

c

from the neck of a lion or horse.

feeding box in a barn or stable.

If something is mangled, it is crushed and twisted. f noun 2 an old-fashioned piece of equipment consisting of two large rollers which squeeze water out of wet clothes.

1

mango, mangoes or mangos noun a sweet yellowish fruit which grows in tropical countries.

the ground leading to a drain or sewer.

manhood noun Manhood is the state of

mandarin, mandarins noun a type of small orange which is easy to peel.

mandate, mandates noun (formal) A

a strong liking for something y my wife’s mania for plant collecting. 2 a mental condition characterized by periods of great excitement. word history: from Greek mania meaning ‘madness’ 1

(formal) A manifestation of something is a sign that it is happening or exists y The illness may be a manifestation of stress.

government’s mandate is the authority it manifesto, manifestoes or manifestos has to carry out particular policies as a result noun a published statement of the aims and of winning an election. policies of a political party. mandatory adjective If something is manipulate, manipulates, manipulating, mandatory, there is a law or rule stating manipulated verb 1 To manipulate people that it must be done y a mandatory life or events is to control or influence them sentence for murder. to produce a particular result. 2 If you manipulate a piece of equipment, you mandir, mandirs [Said mun-dir] noun a control it in a skilful way. manipulation Hindu temple. noun manipulator noun manipulative word history: a Hindi word adjective mandolin, mandolins noun a musical mankind noun ‘Mankind’ is used to refer to instrument like a small guitar with a deep, all human beings y a threat to mankind. rounded body.

CARIBBEAN M-R 2018 reprint.indd 331

g h

being a man rather than a boy.

The management of a business is the controlling and organizing of it. 2 The people who maniac, maniacs noun a mad person who is control an organization are called the violent and dangerous. management. similar words: 1 administration, control, manic adjective energetic and excited y a running manic attack. manager, managers noun a person manicure, manicures, manicuring, responsible for running a business or manicured verb 1 If you manicure your organization y a bank manager. hands, you care for them by softening the skin and shaping and polishing the nails. usage note f noun 2 A manicure is a special treatment In business, the word manager can apply to for the hands and nails. manicurist noun either a man or a woman. manifest, manifests, manifesting, manageress, manageresses noun a manifested (formal) adjective 1 obvious or woman responsible for running a business easily seen y his manifest enthusiasm. f verb or organization.

2 To manifest something is to make people aware of it y Fear can manifest itself in many managing director, managing directors noun a company director who is responsible ways. for the way the company is managed. manifestation, manifestations noun 1

e f

manhole, manholes noun a covered hole in

mania, manias noun

d

i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

09/07/2018 17:59