2 a long and determined attempt to achieve something
[from Spanish cruzar meaning to take up the cross]
crusader NOUN
crush crushes, crushing, crushed
VERB 1 If you crush something, you squeeze it hard until its shape is destroyed. He crushed the empty can.
2 If you crush against someone or something, you press hard against them. We crushed against each other in the crowded bus.
crust crusts
NOUN 1 the hard outside part of a loaf
2 a hard layer on top of something the earths crust
crustacean crustaceans
Said krus-tay-shun NOUN an animal with a hard outer shell and several pairs of legs, which usually lives in water Crabs, lobsters and shrimps are crustaceans.
crutch crutches
NOUN a support like a long stick that you lean on if you have injured your leg or foot I was on crutches while my ankle healed.
cry cries, crying, cried
VERB 1 When you cry, tears come from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt.
2 If you cry something, you shout it or say it loudly.
NOUN 3 a shout or other loud sound made with your voice
crypt crypts
NOUN an underground room beneath a church, usually used as a burial place
crystal crystals
NOUN 1 a piece of a mineral that has formed naturally into a regular shape
2 a type of transparent rock, used in jewellery
3 a type of very high quality glass
crystalline ADJECTIVE
cub cubs
NOUN 1 the young of some wild animals a fox cub a lion cub
2 The Cubs is an organization for young boys before they join the Scouts.
cube cubes
NOUN a solid shape with six square faces that are all the same size
cubic
ADJECTIVE 1 shaped like a cube
2 used to describe volume when you measure height, width and depth a cubic metre
cubicle cubicles
NOUN a small enclosed area in a place such as a sports centre or a shop, where you can dress and undress
cuboid cuboids
NOUN a rectangular, three-dimensional box shape. A cuboid has six faces, all of which are rectangles.
cuckoo cuckoos
NOUN a grey bird with a two-note call. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds nests.
cucumber cucumbers
NOUN a long, thin, green vegetable that is eaten raw
cud
NOUN food that has been chewed and digested more than once by cows, sheep or other animals that have more than one stomach
cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled
VERB 1 If you cuddle someone, you hold them closely in your arms as a way of showing your affection.
NOUN 2 If you give someone a cuddle, you cuddle them.
NOUN 2 If you give someone a cuddle, you cuddle them.
cuddly ADJECTIVE
cuff cuffs
NOUN the end part of a sleeve, especially a shirt sleeve
cul-de-sac cul-de-sacs
NOUN a road that does not lead to any other roads because one end is blocked off
[from French cul + de + sac meaning bottom of the bag]
culprit culprits
NOUN someone who has done something harmful or wrong
cult cults
NOUN 1 a small religious group, especially one that is considered strange
ADJECTIVE 2 very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people It became a cult film.
cultivate cultivates, cultivating, cultivated
VERB When someone cultivates land, they grow crops on it.
cultivation NOUN
culture cultures
NOUN the ideas, customs and art of a particular society
cunning
ADJECTIVE A cunning person or plan achieves things in a clever way, often by deceiving people.
SYNONYMS: crafty, sly, wily
cup cups, cupping, cupped
NOUN 1 a small, round container with a handle, which you drink from
2 a large metal container with two handles, which is given as a prize
VERB 3 If you cup your hands, you put them together to make a shape like a cup.
cupboard cupboards
NOUN 1 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves
2 a very small room for storing things in The broom is in the cupboard under the stairs.
curator curators
NOUN the person in a museum or art gallery in charge of its contents
curb curbs, curbing, curbed
VERB If you curb something, you keep it within limits. You must curb your spending on comics.
curdle curdles, curdling, curdled
VERB When milk curdles, it turns sour.
cure cures, curing, cured
VERB 1 If a doctor cures someone of an illness, they help them get better.
NOUN 2 something that heals or helps someone to get better
VERB 3 If someone cures meat or fish, they smoke it to give it flavour and preserve it.
curfew curfews
NOUN a rule or a law stating that people must stay indoors between particular times at night
curiosity curiosities
NOUN 1 the desire to know something or about many things
2 something unusual and interesting
curious
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.
SYNONYMS: inquisitive, nosy
2 Something that is curious is unusual or difficult to understand.
SYNONYMS: strange, peculiar
curl curls, curling, curled
NOUN 1 Curls are lengths of hair shaped in tight curves and circles.
2 a curved or spiral shape A curl of smoke rose from the chimney.
VERB 3 If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral. Smoke curled up the chimney.
curly ADJECTIVE
currant currants
NOUN a small, dried grape. Currants are often used in cakes and puddings.
currency currencies
NOUN A countrys currency is its coins and banknotes.
current currents
NOUN 1 a steady continuous flowing movement of water or air
NOUN 2 An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.
ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is current is happening now. current fashion trends
curriculum curriculums or curricula
NOUN the different courses taught at a school or university
curry curries
NOUN an Indian dish made with hot spices
curse curses, cursing, cursed
NOUN 1 an evil spell She said the old house had a curse on it.
VERB 2 If you curse, you swear because you are angry.
cursor cursors
NOUN a sign on a computer monitor that shows where the next letter or symbol is
curtain curtains
NOUN a hanging piece of material that can be pulled across a window
curtsy curtsies, curtsying, curtsied
NOUN 1 a little bobbing bow to show respect I made a little curtsy to the Queen.
VERB 2 the action of making a curtsy
curve curves, curving, curved
NOUN 1 a smooth, gradually bending line
VERB 2 When something curves, it moves in a curve or has the shape of a curve. The lane curved to the right.
curved ADJECTIVE
cushion cushions, cushioning, cushioned
NOUN 1 a soft object that you put on a seat to make it more comfortable
VERB 2 When something cushions something else, it reduces its effect. The pile of leaves cushioned his fall.
custard
NOUN a sweet, yellow sauce made from milk and eggs
custody
NOUN 1 If someone has custody of a child, they have the legal right to keep it and look after it.
PHRASE 2 Someone who is in custody is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court.
[from Latin custos meaning a guard]
custodial ADJECTIVE
custom customs
NOUN something that people usually do the custom of decorating the house for Christmas
customary
ADJECTIVE usual
customer customers
NOUN a person who buys things from a shop or firm
customs
NOUN the place at a border, airport or harbour where you declare any goods that you are bringing into the country
cut cuts, cutting, cut
VERB 1 If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.
2 If you cut yourself, you injure yourself with a sharp object.
NOUN 3 a mark made with a knife or a sharp tool
4 a reduction in something There were lots of price cuts during the sales.
cutlery
NOUN knives, forks and spoons
cycle cycles, cycling, cycled
NOUN 1 a bicycle
2 a series of events that is repeated again and again the cycle of the seasons
VERB 3 When you cycle, you ride a bicycle.
cyclist NOUN
cyclone cyclones
NOUN a violent wind that blows in a spiral like a corkscrew
cygnet cygnets
NOUN a young swan
cylinder cylinders
NOUN 1 a hollow or solid shape with straight sides and equal circular faces
See prism
2 the part of an engine that the piston moves in
cylindrical ADJECTIVE
cymbal cymbals
NOUN a circular brass plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals are clashed together or hit with a stick.
See percussion
Dd
dabble dabbles, dabbling, dabbled
VERB If you dabble in something, you work or play at it without being seriously involved in it.
dad or daddy dads or daddies
NOUN INFORMAL Your dad or your daddy is your father.
daffodil daffodils
NOUN a plant with yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that blooms in spring
daft dafter, daftest
ADJECTIVE silly and not very sensible
dagger daggers
NOUN a weapon like a short knife
daily
ADJECTIVE occurring every day
dainty daintier, daintiest
ADJECTIVE very delicate and pretty
dainty daintier, daintiest
ADJECTIVE very delicate and pretty
dairy dairies
NOUN 1 a shop or company that supplies milk and milk products
2 In New Zealand, a dairy is a small shop selling groceries.
ADJECTIVE 3 Dairy products are foods made from milk, such as butter, cheese, cream and yogurt.
daisy daisies
NOUN a small, wild flower with a yellow centre and small, white petals
[from Old English deagesege meaning days eye, because the daisy opens in the daytime and closes at night]
Dalmatian Dalmatians
NOUN a large, smooth-haired white dog with black or brown spots
dam dams
NOUN a barrier built across a river to hold back water
damage damages, damaging, damaged
VERB If you damage something, you harm or spoil it.
damp damper, dampest
ADJECTIVE slightly wet
dampness NOUN
damson damsons
NOUN 1 a small, blue-black plum
2 the tree that damsons grow on
dance dances, dancing, danced
VERB 1 When you dance, you move around in time to music.
NOUN 2 a series of rhythmic movements that you do in time to music
3 a social event where people dance with each other
dandelion dandelions
NOUN a wild plant with yellow flowers that form a ball of fluffy seeds
[from Old French dent de lion meaning lions tooth, referring to the shape of the leaves]
dandruff
NOUN small, loose scales of dead skin in someones hair
danger dangers
NOUN the possibility that someone may be harmed or killed
SYNONYMS: peril, risk
dangerous
ADJECTIVE If something is dangerous, it is likely to cause hurt or harm. It is dangerous to walk close to the edge of the cliff.
SYNONYMS: unsafe, hazardous
dangerously ADVERB
dangle dangles, dangling, dangled
VERB When something dangles, or when you dangle it, it swings or hangs loosely. We sat by the pool and dangled our legs in the water.
dappled
ADJECTIVE marked with patches of a different or darker shade The lawn was dappled with the shadows of the leafy trees.