NOUN 1 If you fill a cup to the brim, you fill it right up to the top.
NOUN 2 The brim of a hat is the part that sticks outwards from the head.
bring brings, bringing, brought
VERB 1 If you bring someone on a visit, they come with you.
VERB 2 If you bring something, you have it with you when you arrive.
bristle bristles NOUN
The bristles of a brush are the thick hairs or thin pieces of plastic which are fixed to the main part of it.
brittle ADJECTIVE
If something is brittle, it is hard but easily broken.
broad broader, broadest ADJECTIVE
Something such as a road or river that is broad is very wide.
broadcast broadcasts NOUN
A broadcast is a programme or announcement on radio or television.
broke VERB
Broke is the past tense of break.
broken VERB
Broken is the past participle of break.
brooch brooches NOUN
A brooch is a small piece of jewellery which is worn pinned to a dress, blouse or coat.
broom brooms NOUN
A broom is a kind of brush with a long handle.
brother brothers NOUN
Someones brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as they have.
brought VERB
Brought is the past tense of bring.
brown browner, brownest ADJECTIVE
Something that is brown is the colour of earth or of wood.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
bruise bruises NOUN
A bruise is a purple mark on your skin where something has hit it.
brush brushes NOUN
A brush is a lot of bristles fixed to a handle. Different brushes are used for jobs like cleaning your teeth or painting.
bubble bubbles NOUN
A bubble is a ball of air or gas. You can make bubbles with soapy water. Fizzy lemonade has bubbles, too.
bucket buckets NOUN
A bucket is a container with a handle, often used for carrying water.
buckle buckles NOUN
A buckle is a fastening on the end of a belt or strap.
bud buds NOUN
A bud is a small lump on a plant which will open into a leaf or flower.
Buddhist Buddhists NOUN
A Buddhist is someone who follows the teachings of Buddha.
budgerigar budgerigars NOUN
Budgerigars are small brightly-coloured birds, often kept as pets.
buffalo buffaloes NOUN
A buffalo is an animal like a large cow with long curved horns.
bug bugs
NOUN 1 A bug is an insect.
NOUN 2 A bug is also an illness, such as a flu bug or a stomach bug.
build builds, building, built VERB
If you build something, you make it by joining things together.
builder builders NOUN
A builder is a person whose job is to build houses and other buildings.
building buildings NOUN
A building is a place like a house that has walls and a roof.
bulb bulbs
NOUN 1 A bulb is the glass part of a lamp that gives out light.
NOUN 2 A bulb is also a root shaped like an onion. Many spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs.
bulge bulges, bulging, bulged VERB
If something bulges, it sticks out in a lump.
His pockets bulged with conkers.
bull bulls NOUN
A bull is a male cow, elephant or whale.
bulldozer bulldozers NOUN
A bulldozer is a tractor with a steel blade on the front. It is used for moving large amounts of earth or stone.
bullet bullets
NOUN 1 A bullet is a small piece of metal fired from a gun.
NOUN 2 A bullet point is a heavy dot used to draw attention to a piece of text.
bully bullies NOUN
A bully is someone who hurts or frightens other people.
bump bumps, bumping, bumped
VERB 1 If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.
NOUN 2 If you hear a bump, it sounds like something falling to the ground.
NOUN 3 A bump is a raised uneven part on a surface such as a road.
bumper bumpers NOUN
Bumpers are bars on the front and back of a vehicle that protect it if there is an accident.
bun buns NOUN
A bun is a small round cake.
bunch bunches NOUN
A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.
See Collective nouns on page 268
bundle bundles NOUN
A bundle is a number of small things that have been tied together.
bungalow bungalows NOUN
A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor.
burger burgers NOUN
A burger is a flat piece of minced meat. It is often eaten in a bread roll.
burglar burglars NOUN
A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings to steal things.
burn burns, burning, burned or burnt
VERB 1 If something is burning, it is being spoiled or destroyed by fire.
VERB 2 People often burn fuel, such as coal, to keep warm.
NOUN 3 A burn is an injury caused by heat or fire.
burrow burrows NOUN
A burrow is a hole in the ground that an animal lives in.
burst bursts, bursting, burst VERB
When something like a balloon or tyre bursts, it splits open suddenly.
bury buries, burying, buried VERB
If you bury something, you put it in a hole in the ground and cover it.
bus buses NOUN
A bus is a large motor vehicle. People pay to go on buses.
bush bushes NOUN
A bush is a large woody plant with lots of branches. It is smaller than a tree.
business businesses
NOUN 1 Business is the work of making, buying and selling things or services.
NOUN 2 A business is a group of people who make and sell things.
bus stop bus stops NOUN
A bus stop is a place where people can get on or off buses.
busy busier, busiest
ADJECTIVE 1 When you are busy, you are working hard on something.
ADJECTIVE 2 A place that is busy is full of people doing things or moving about.
but CONJUNCTION
You use but to join two parts of a sentence when the second part is unexpected. Megan likes most green vegetables, but she wont eat broccoli.
butcher butchers NOUN
A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up meat and sells it.
butter NOUN
Butter is a yellow fat made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it for cooking.
See Other foods on page 261
butterfly butterflies NOUN
A butterfly is an insect with four large wings which flies during the day.
See Insects on page 264
button buttons
NOUN 1 A button is a small disc used to fasten clothes.
NOUN 2 A button is also a part of a machine that you press to make it work.
buy buys, buying, bought VERB
When you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.
buzz buzzes, buzzing, buzzed VERB
If something buzzes, it makes a zzz sound like a bee.
by
PREPOSITION 1 You use by to show who or what has done something. The announcement was made by the head teacher.
PREPOSITION 2 You use by to show how something is done. He cheered us up by taking us to the cinema.
PREPOSITION 3 You use by to talk about being next to or near to another thing. They live by the park.
PREPOSITION 4 If something happens by a particular time, it happens before that time. We should finish by tea time.
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 5 You use by to talk about going past something. We drove by her house.
Cc
cab cabs
NOUN 1 The cab is the place where the driver sits in a bus, truck or train.
NOUN 2 A cab is another word for a taxi.
cabbage cabbages NOUN
A cabbage is a vegetable that looks like a large ball of leaves.
See Vegetables on page 260
cabin cabins
NOUN 1 A cabin is a room in a ship, boat or aeroplane for passengers or crew.
NOUN 2 A cabin is also a small house in a wild place such as a forest.
cable cables
NOUN 1 A cable is a thick rope or chain.
NOUN 2 A cable is also a bundle of wires with a rubber covering, which carries electricity.
NOUN 3 Cable television is a system in which the signals are sent along wires.
cactus cactuses or cacti NOUN
A cactus is a plant with spines. It can grow in hot, dry places like deserts.
café cafés NOUN
A café is a place with tables and chairs where you buy drinks and snacks.
cage cages NOUN
A cage is a box or room with bars in which birds or animals are kept.
cake cakes NOUN
A cake is a sweet food made with flour, sugar, fat and eggs, and baked in an oven.
See Other foods on page 261
calculate calculates, calculating, calculated VERB
If you calculate something in maths, you work it out.
calculation calculations NOUN
A calculation is something you work out in maths.
calculator calculators NOUN
A calculator is a small electronic machine which you can use to give you the answer to different calculations.
calendar calendars NOUN
A calendar is a list of the months, weeks and days in a year.
calf calves
NOUN 1 Calves are young cows, elephants and whales.
See Young animals on page 265
NOUN 2 Your calf is the part at the back of your leg between the knee and ankle.
call calls, calling, called
VERB 1 If you call someone, you shout for them, or telephone them.
VERB 2 If you call someone something, you give them a name.
VERB 3 If an animal or thing is called something, that is their name.
calm calmer, calmest
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are calm, you do not seem worried or excited.
ADJECTIVE 2 If the sea is calm, it is smooth and still because there is no wind.
came VERB
Came is the past tense of come.
camel camels NOUN
A camel is a large animal which carries people and things in the desert.
camera cameras NOUN
A camera is a piece of equipment you use to take pictures.
camouflage camouflages, camouflaging, camouflaged VERB
To camouflage something is to hide it by giving it the same colour or appearance as its surroundings.
camp camps NOUN
A camp is a place where people stay in tents.
can could; cans
VERB 1 If you can do something, you are able to do it. I can swim.
NOUN 2 A can is a metal container for something like food, drink or paint.
canal canals NOUN
A canal is a narrow stretch of water made for boats to travel along.
cancel cancels, cancelling, cancelled VERB
If you cancel something that has been planned, you stop it from happening.
candle candles NOUN
A candle is a wax stick with a string called a wick inside. You light the wick and it burns to give light.
cane canes
NOUN 1 A cane is the long hollow stem of a plant such as bamboo.
NOUN 2 A cane is a tall narrow stick used to support things.
cannot VERB
Cannot is the same as can not.
canoe canoes NOUN
A canoe is a small light boat, moved with a paddle.
cant VERB
Cant is a contraction of cannot.
canvas NOUN
Canvas is strong cloth, used for making things like tents and sails.
canyon canyons NOUN
A canyon is a narrow valley with very steep sides, often with a river.
cap caps
NOUN 1 A cap is a soft flat hat with a peak at the front.
NOUN 2 A cap is also a small flat lid on a bottle or container.
capable ADJECTIVE
If a person is capable of doing something, they are able to do it. Hes capable of doing better.
capacity capacities NOUN
The capacity of something is the largest amount it can hold, produce or carry.
The capacity of this jug is one litre.
capital capitals
NOUN 1 The capital is the main city in a country. Paris is the capital of France.
NOUN 2 A capital is a big letter of the alphabet, such as A, B and C. Capital letters are also called upper-case letters.
See lower-case
See also Punctuation on page 270
captain captains
NOUN 1 A captain is the person in charge of a ship or an aeroplane.
NOUN 2 A captain is the person who leads a team in sports like football.
caption captions NOUN
A caption is the words printed underneath a picture which explain what the picture is about.
capture captures, capturing, captured VERB
If you capture somebody, you take them prisoner.
car cars NOUN
A car is a road vehicle with wheels and an engine. It needs a driver and has room for passengers.
caravan caravans NOUN
A caravan is a vehicle pulled by a car in which people live or spend their holidays.
carbon NOUN
Carbon is a chemical found in coal and diamonds. All living things contain carbon.
carbon footprint carbon footprints NOUN
Your carbon footprint is the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere by the things you do.
card cards
NOUN 1 Card is strong, stiff paper.
NOUN 2 A greetings card usually has a picture on the front and is sent to people on special days such as birthdays.
NOUN 3 Playing cards are small pieces of card with numbers or pictures on them. They are used for card games.
cardboard NOUN
Cardboard is thick, stiff paper.
cardigan cardigans NOUN
A cardigan is a knitted jacket. You fasten it at the front with buttons.
care cares, caring, cared