Collins Primary Dictionaries - Primary Dictionary: Illustrated dictionary for ages 7+

How to use this dictionary Word classes

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Dictionary A-Z

7–458

Word Wizard

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How to use this dictionary 1

aqueduct appropriate ADJECTIVE suitable or acceptable for a particular situation

a b

approval NOUN If you ask for approval for something

2

c

that you want to do, you ask for agreement with your plans.

approve approves, approving, approved VERB 1 If you approve of something or

d

3

e

someone, you think they are acceptable or good.

f

SYNONYMS: favour, like

g

VERB 2 If someone approves a plan or idea,

they agree to it. • The council approved plans for the new swimming pool.

h

SYNONYMS: agree to, permit

i

approximate

4

j

ADJECTIVE near but not exactly right • What

k

was the approximate time you arrived?

apricot apricots

l

NOUN a small, soft, yellowish-orange fruit

April

m

NOUN the fourth month of the year. April has

30 days.

apron aprons NOUN a piece of clothing worn over the front of normal clothing to protect it

5

n o

aquatic ADJECTIVE An aquatic animal or plant lives

in water.

q

6

r s t

aqueduct aqueducts NOUN a bridge with many arches, which

The alphabet line shows you which letter you are in.

The headword is the word you are looking up. Headwords are in blue and in alphabetical order.

Synonyms are given for some words. These are words with a similar meaning that you can use instead. Antonyms are given for some words.

These are words that have the opposite meaning.

The word class tells you if the headword is, for example, a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or pronoun.

p

aquarium aquaria or aquariums NOUN a glass tank filled with water in which fish and other aquatic animals or plants are kept

The guide word on a left-hand page tells you the first word you will find on the page. On a righthand page, the guide word tells you the last word on the page.

u

carries a water supply over a valley

v w x y

7

z

8

The definition tells you what the word means. Sometimes definitions include a label, such formal or informal. Formal tells you that a word is used in serious writing and speech.

Informal tells you that a word is used in a more relaxed way, between family and friends.

Some words or word forms can have more than one spelling.

Sometimes an illustration is included to give you more information.

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9

10 0

11

12 2

Sometimes there is an example to show how the word is used.

If there is useful information about a word at an illustration elsewhere in the book, a note tells you where to find it.

A pronunciation tip shows you how to say a difficult word.

A language tip helps you with the spelling of words or the way they are used.

There can be other forms of the word after the headword. These might be the plural of a noun, tenses of a verb, or comparative and superlative forms of an adjective.

nuclear ADJECTIVE relating to the energy produced when atoms are split • We live near a nuclear power station.

nucleus nuclei

NOUN 1 the central part of an atom or a cell

➔ Have a look at the illustration for atom NOUN 2 the important or central part of something • We still have the nucleus of the team.

PRONUNCIATION TIP The singular is pronounced nyoo-clee-us.

The plural is pronounced nyoo-clee-eye.

nude nudes

ADJECTIVE 1 If someone is nude, they are naked.

NOUN 2 A nude is a picture or statue of a naked person.

nudge nudges, nudging, nudged

VERB 1 If you nudge someone, you push

them gently with your elbow to get their attention or to make them move.

NOUN 2 a gentle push with your elbow

nugget nuggets NOUN a small rough lump of something,

especially gold

nuisance nuisances NOUN someone or something that is

13

A word history tells you where a word originally came from.

annoying or causing problems

numb ADJECTIVE unable to feel anything • I was so cold my hands and feet felt numb.

WORD HISTORY from Middle English nomen meaning paralysed

number numbers, numbering, numbered

NOUN 1 a word or symbol used for counting

or calculating NOUN 2 the series of numbers that you dial when you phone someone VERB 3 If you number something, you give it a number, usually in a sequence. • Please number each page you write on.

number bond number bonds NOUN any pair of numbers that add together

to make up another number

numeracy NOUN the ability to do arithmetic

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Word classes Each word in this dictionary belongs to a particular word class, for example, nouns, verbs or adjectives. To find out more about each of these word classes, look at pages 460–462 in the Word Wizard.

Nouns A noun is a word that is used for talking about a person or thing. Nouns are sometimes called “naming words” because they are often the names of people, places, things g and ideas. Examples p off nouns are book,, child and smile.

Adjectives An adjective is a word that tells you more about a person or thing. Adjectives are often called “describing words” because they describe what something looks, feels or smells like. Examples are happy, and cloudy. p off adjectives j ppy, green g dy

Verbs A verb is a word that you use for saying what someone or something does. Verbs are often called “doing words” because they talk about an action that someone or something is doing. Examples of verbs are walk, speak and look.

Adverbs An adverb is a word that tells you more about how someone does something.

Examples p off adverbs are slowly, y loudly y and hungrily. g y

Pronouns A pronoun is a word you use instead of a noun, to refer to someone or something.

Examples of pronouns are he, it and their.

Prepositions A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun or noun phrase to some other word in the sentence. Examples are under, in and with. p off prepositions p p

Conjunctions A conjunction is a word that links two words or phrases or two parts of a sentence.

Examples are and, but and because. p off conjunctions j

Determiners 6

A determiner is a specific word you use before a noun and/or an adjective. Examples of determiners are a, the and some.

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abseil able ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you

a

can do it.

b

ANTONYM: unable

c

abnormal ADJECTIVE not normal or usual

d

aboard a or an ADJECTIVE A and an are used when you talk

about one of something. A is used when the next sound is a consonant: a car, a dog. An is used when the next sound is a vowel (a, e, i, o or u): an apple, an elephant.

abacus abacuses

PREPOSITION 1 If you are aboard a plane or a

e

ship you are on it. • The captain invited us aboard his boat.

ADVERB 2 If you go aboard a plane or a ship, you go onto it. • It took two hours to bring all the passengers aboard.

f g h

Aboriginal

NOUN a frame with beads that slide along

ADJECTIVE Aboriginal people are descended

i

rods, used for counting

from the people who were living in Australia before European settlers arrived.

j

WORD HISTORY from Greek abax meaning board covered with sand for doing sums on

abandon abandons, abandoning, abandoned VERB If you abandon someone or

something, you leave them or give them up for good. • He abandoned all hope of catching the train on time.

abbey abbeys NOUN a church with buildings attached to it

in which monks or nuns live

abbreviation abbreviations NOUN a short form of a word or phrase

• N is an abbreviation for North.

abdomen abdomens

NOUN 1 the front part of your body below

your chest, containing your stomach and intestines NOUN 2 the back part of the body of an insect or spider ➔ Have a look at the illustrations for insect and spider

abdominal ADJECTIVE Abdominal describes something

that is in the front part of your body below your chest, where your stomach and intestines are. • abdominal pain

ability abilities

about

k

PREPOSITION 1 If you talk or write about a

particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London ADVERB 2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • He arrived about two o'clock.

PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.

above

m n o p

PREPOSITION 1 If one thing is above another, it

q

is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.

r

ANTONYM: below

s

PREPOSITION 2 If something is above a

t

particular amount or level, it is more than it. • above average intelligence

u

ANTONYM: below

v

abroad

w

ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.

x

abscess abscesses

y

NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus

z

abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled

NOUN If you have ability, you have the

VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use

intelligence and skill to do things.

ropes to go down it.

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l

7

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absent absent A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T

ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you

are not there.

ANTONYM: present

absolute

ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute

darkness

ADJECTIVE 2 having total power • an absolute

ruler

absolutely ADVERB If you are absolutely sure about

something, you are completely sure of it.

absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it

soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

absorbent ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks

up liquids easily.

abstract

ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on

thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.

ADJECTIVE 2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.

ADJECTIVE 3 In grammar, abstract nouns refer to qualities or ideas, rather than real objects, for example happiness.

absurd ADJECTIVE Something that is absurd is stupid

or ridiculous.

abundant ADJECTIVE present in large amounts • There is

abundant wildlife, including a pride of lions.

abuse abuses, abusing, abused

U

NOUN 1 cruel treatment of someone

V

VERB 3 To abuse someone is to treat them

W

VERB 4 If you abuse someone, you speak to

X Y Z

8

NOUN 2 rude and unkind remarks

cruelly.

them in a rude and insulting way.

abysmal ADJECTIVE very bad

academic academics

ADJECTIVE 1 Academic work is done in school,

college and university.

NOUN 2 someone who teaches or does research in a college or university

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academy academies

NOUN 1 a school or college, usually one that specialises in a particular subject • the Royal Academy of Arts NOUN 2 an organisation of scientists, writers, artists or musicians

accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated VERB To accelerate is to speed up.

ANTONYM: decelerate

acceleration NOUN the rate at which the speed of

something increases

accent accents NOUN a way of pronouncing a language

• She had an Australian accent.

accept accepts, accepting, accepted

VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes

to it or you take it from someone.

• She accepted our invitation to the party.

VERB 2 If you accept a situation, you realise that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.

acceptable ADJECTIVE satisfactory • These are all

acceptable answers.

access NOUN If you have access to a place, you may

enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.

accessible

ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach

was accessible by a narrow path.

ADJECTIVE 2 Books that are accessible are

easy to understand.

accident accidents

NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.

accidental ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has

not been planned.

accidentally ADVERB If you do something accidentally,

you do not plan to do it.

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acid rain accommodate accommodates, accommodating, accommodated VERB If you accommodate someone, you provide them with a place to sleep, live or work.

accommodation NOUN a place where you can live, work or

sleep

accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.

VERB 2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.

accomplice accomplices NOUN a person who helps someone else to

commit a crime

accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.

according to PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.

account accounts, accounting, accounted NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something NOUN 2 money that you keep at a bank PHRASE 3 On account of means because of.

• He couldn't play football, on account of a sore throat.

account for VERB To account for something is to explain it.

accountant accountants

accurate ADJECTIVE absolutely correct

accusation accusations NOUN An accusation is when you say that

someone has done something wrong.

accuse accuses, accusing, accused VERB If you accuse someone of doing

something wrong, you say they have done it.

ace aces

NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.

NOUN 2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.

ADJECTIVE 3 (informal) good or skilful • an ace squash player

ache aches, aching, ached

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e f g h i

k

VERB If you achieve something, you are

successful at doing it or at making it happen.

LANGUAGE TIP The i comes before the e in achieve and achievement.

achievement achievements NOUN something which someone has been successful in doing or making happen, especially after a lot of effort

acid acids

NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.

ANTONYM: alkali

NOUN the quality of being absolutely correct

d

a continuous, dull pain there.

achieve achieves, achieving, achieved

ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it

accuracy

c

j

VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel

financial affairs of people and companies accumulating, accumulated VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.

b

NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain

NOUN someone whose job is to look after the

accumulate accumulates,

a

tastes sharp or bitter.

ANTONYM: alkaline

WORD HISTORY from Latin acidus meaning sour

acid rain NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil

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acknowledge acknowledge acknowledges, A B C D E F G

acknowledging, acknowledged VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.

VERB 2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognised them, by waving or saying hello.

VERB 3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.

acne NOUN a skin condition that causes spots on

the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.

acorn acorns H I J K L

NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees

acquaintance acquaintances NOUN someone you know slightly but not

well

acre acres NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.

acrobat acrobats M

NOUN an entertainer who performs difficult

gymnastic acts

NOUN 4 a single thing someone does • The rescue was a brave act.

NOUN 5 An Act of Parliament is a law passed by the government.

NOUN 6 Stage plays are divided into parts called acts.

action actions NOUN 1 something you do for a particular purpose NOUN 2 a physical movement, such as jumping

active ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things.

ADJECTIVE 2 In grammar the active, or the active voice, is the form of the verb in which the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the action, rather than having it done to them. For example, the sentence The dog bit Ben is in the active voice. In the passive voice the subject has the thing done to them: Ben was bitten by the dog.

ANTONYM: passive

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

10

WORD HISTORY from Greek akrobates meaning someone who walks on tiptoe

acrobatic ADJECTIVE involving difficult gymnastic acts

acrobatics PLURAL NOUN difficult gymnastic acts

acronym acronyms NOUN a word made up of the initial letters of

a phrase. NATO is an acronym, and stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

across

PREPOSITION 1 If you go across a place, you go

from one side of it to the other. • We walked across Hyde Park.

PREPOSITION 2 Something that is situated across a road or river is on the other side of it.

act acts, acting, acted

VERB 1 If you act, you do something.

• We have to act quickly in an emergency.

VERB 2 If you act in a particular way, you behave in that way. • You're acting like a baby.

VERB 3 If you act in a play or film, you play a role in it.

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activity activities NOUN 1 a situation in which a lot of things are happening at the same time • There was a great deal of activity in the hall as we got ready for the school play.

NOUN 2 something you do for pleasure, such as gymnastics or music

actor actors NOUN a man or woman whose job is

performing in plays or films

actress actresses NOUN a woman whose profession is acting

actual ADJECTIVE real, rather than imaginary or

guessed at • You guessed I was eleven – my actual age is twelve.

actually ADVERB 1 You use actually to show that

something is real or true. • Mum told me what actually happened.

ADVERB 2 You use actually to politely tell someone that they are wrong. • No, I'm not eight. I'm nine, actually.

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adjective acute

ADJECTIVE 1 severe or intense • She had an

acute pain in her arm.

ADJECTIVE 2 In mathematics, an acute angle measures less than 90 degrees.

ADJECTIVE 3 Someone who is acute is intelligent.

addiction addictions NOUN If you have an addiction to something, you cannot stop doing it or wanting it.

a b

addition additions

c

NOUN 1 the process of adding two or more

numbers together NOUN 2 something that is added to something else • The addition of sugar would improve the taste of these plums.

d e f

additional ADJECTIVE extra or more

g

additive additives h

NOUN something that is added to something else, such as food

AD ADJECTIVE You use AD in dates to show the

number of years after the birth of Jesus Christ.

WORD HISTORY an abbreviation of the Latin Anno Domini meaning the year of Our Lord

adapt adapts, adapting, adapted

VERB 1 If you adapt to something, you get

used to it.

VERB 2 If you adapt something, you change

it so that it can be used in a new way.

adaptable ADJECTIVE If you are adaptable, you change

easily in a new situation or to suit new circumstances.

adaptation NOUN the act of changing something to

make it suitable for a new purpose or situation • Most living creatures are capable of adaptation when they need to be.

add adds, adding, added

VERB 1 If you add something to a number of

things, you put it with those things.

• Each girl added more wood to the pile.

VERB 2 If you add numbers together, or add them up, you work out the total. • Two and three added together are five (2 + 3 = 5).

adder adders NOUN a small, poisonous snake

addicted ADJECTIVE If you are addicted to something,

you cannot stop doing it or wanting it.

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i

address addresses, addressing, addressed NOUN 1 Your address is the number of the house where you live, together with the name of the street and the town or village.

VERB 2 If someone addresses a letter to you, they write your name and address on it.

VERB 3 If you address a group of people, you speak to them formally.

LANGUAGE TIP There are two ds and two ss in address.

j k l m n o p

adenoids PLURAL NOUN small lumps of flesh at the back of the throat

q r

adequate ADJECTIVE just enough for what is needed

s

SYNONYMS: enough, satisfactory, sufficient

adhesive adhesives

t

NOUN 1 a substance used to stick things together, such as glue ADJECTIVE 2 If something is adhesive, it sticks to other things.

adjacent

u v w

PREPOSITION If one thing is adjacent to

x

another, the two things are next to each other.

y

adjective adjectives NOUN a word that adds to the description of

a noun. For example, large and old are both adjectives.

z

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adjust adjust adjusts, adjusting, adjusted A B C D E F G H

VERB 1 If you adjust something, you change

its position or alter it in some other way.

• She adjusted her pillow to make herself more comfortable.

VERB 2 If you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it.

adjustment adjustments

NOUN 1 a small change that you make to something • By making adjustments to your diet, you can improve your health.

NOUN 2 Adjustment is when you get used to a new situation.

administration administrations

NOUN a senior officer in the navy

VERB If you admire someone or something,

you respect and approve of them.

admirer admirers NOUN someone who respects and approves of

someone or something

admission admissions N

NOUN 1 If you are allowed admission to a

O

place, you may go into it.

NOUN 2 If you make an admission, you confess to something or agree that it is true.

Q R S T U V

admit admits, admitting, admitted

VERB 1 If you admit something, you agree

that it is true.

VERB 2 If you admit to something, you agree that you did something you shouldn't have done.

VERB 3 To admit someone or something to a place is to allow them to enter it.

admittance NOUN the right to enter somewhere

• There will be no admittance to the party after eight o'clock.

adolescent adolescents W

Z

12

VERB If you adore someone, you feel deep

love and admiration for them.

adult adults advance advances, advancing, advanced VERB 1 To advance is to move forward.

NOUN 2 An advance is progress in something. • There have been many scientific advances in the past century.

PHRASE 3 If you do something in advance of something, you do it beforehand.

• We booked our holiday well in advance.

advanced ADJECTIVE If something is advanced, it is at

a high level, or ahead in development or progress. • The children in the top group do advanced maths exercises.

advantage advantages

NOUN 1 a benefit, or something that puts you in a better position • The advantage of email is that it is quicker than the post.

PHRASE 2 If you take advantage of someone, you treat them unfairly for your own benefit.

PHRASE 3 If you take advantage of something, you make use of it.

adventure adventures NOUN something that is exciting, and

perhaps even dangerous

adverb adverbs

NOUN a young person who is no longer a

NOUN a word that tells you how, when, where

child, but is not yet an adult

or why something happens or something is done. For example, she walked slowly, he came yesterday, they live here.

X Y

for someone

adore adores, adoring, adored

or animal

admire admires, admiring, admired

P

NOUN a feeling of deep love and admiration

NOUN a mature and fully developed person

J

M

ADJECTIVE loveable and attractive

adoration

an organisation

admiral admirals

L

adorable

NOUN the work of managing and supervising

I

K

WORD HISTORY from Latin adoptare meaning to choose for oneself

WORD HISTORY from Latin adolescere meaning to grow up

adopt adopts, adopting, adopted VERB If someone adopts a child, they take them into their family as their son or daughter by a legal process.

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WORD HISTORY from Latin adverbium meaning added word

advert adverts NOUN an abbreviation for advertisement

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