advert
NOUN an abbreviation for advertisement
advertise advertises, advertising, advertised
VERB If you advertise something, you tell people about it in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV.
advertisement advertisements
NOUN a notice in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV about a job or things for sale
advice
NOUN a suggestion from someone about what you should do
The noun advice ends in ce.
advisable
ADJECTIVE If it is advisable to do something, it is a sensible thing to do and will probably give the results that you want. It is advisable to wear a helmet when cycling.
advise advises, advising, advised
VERB If you advise someone to do something, you tell them you think they should do it.
The verb advise ends in se.
aerial aerials
NOUN 1 a piece of wire for receiving television or radio signals
ADJECTIVE 2 happening in the air We watched the aerial displays at the RAF airshow.
aero-
PREFIX to do with the air, for example aeroplane
[from Greek aer meaning air]
aerobics
NOUN a type of fast physical exercise that increases the oxygen in your blood and strengthens your heart and lungs
aerobic ADJECTIVE
aeroplane aeroplanes
NOUN a vehicle with wings and engines that enable it to fly
aerosol aerosols
NOUN a small, metal container in which liquid is kept under pressure so that it can be forced out as a spray
affair affairs
NOUN 1 an event or series of events The wedding was a happy affair.
2 If something is your own affair, then it is your concern only.
affect affects, affecting, affected
VERB When something affects someone or something, it causes them to change. Computers affect our lives in many ways.
affection
NOUN a feeling of love and fondness for someone
affectionate ADJECTIVE
affluent
ADJECTIVE People who are affluent have a lot of money and possessions.
afford affords, affording, afforded
VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.
2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.
afloat
ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.
afraid
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.
SYNONYM: scared
2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.
after
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event She left just after breakfast. Soon after, he went to work.
PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. They ran after her.
afternoon afternoons
NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six oclock
afterwards
ADVERB after an event or time We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.
again
ADVERB happening one more time The film was so good that we went to see it again.
SYNONYM: once more
against
PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on He leaned the ladder against the wall.
2 in opposition to France played against England.
age ages, ageing or aging, aged
NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.
2 a particular period in history the Iron Age
PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. Hes been talking for ages.
VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.
Ageing and aging are both correct spellings.
agency agencies
NOUN an organization or business that provides special services detective agency advertising agency
agenda agendas
NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
agent agents
NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people a travel agent
2 someone who works for their countrys secret service
aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated
VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.
2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.
aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN
aggressive
ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.
SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile
agile
ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily He is as agile as a cat.
agilely ADVERB agility NOUN
agitated
ADJECTIVE worried and anxious
agitation NOUN
ago
ADVERB in the past She bought her flat three years ago.
agony
NOUN very great physical or mental pain
SYNONYMS: suffering, torment
agree agrees, agreeing, agreed
VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.
2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.
agreeable
ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable
2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.
agreeably ADVERB
agreement agreements
NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.
agriculture
NOUN farming
ahead
ADVERB 1 in front He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.
2 more advanced than someone or something else Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.
3 in the future I cant think that far ahead.
aid aids
NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need
2 something that makes a job easier The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.
ailment ailments
NOUN a minor illness
aim aims, aiming, aimed
VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.
2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.
SYNONYMS: intend, mean
NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.
SYNONYMS: goal, objective
aimless
ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.
aimlessly ADVERB
air
NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earths atmosphere
2 the space around things or above the ground The balloons floated up into the air.
3 used to refer to travel in aircraft My uncle often travels by air.
air conditioning
NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building
aircraft
NOUN any vehicle that can fly
air force air forces
NOUN the part of a countrys armed services that fights using aircraft
airline airlines
NOUN a company that provides air travel
airmail
NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.
airport airports
NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes
airtight
ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.
aisle aisles
NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.
ajar
ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.
alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed
NOUN 1 a feeling of fear and worry The cat sprang back in alarm.
2 an automatic device used to warn people of something The burglar alarm went off accidentally.
VERB 3 If something alarms you, it makes you worried and anxious.
album albums
NOUN 1 a CD, cassette or record with a number of songs on it
2 a book in which you keep a collection of things, such as photographs or stamps
alcohol
NOUN the name for drinks such as beer, wine and spirits
alert alerts, alerting, alerted
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are alert, you are paying full attention to what is happening.
SYNONYMS: vigilant, watchful
VERB 2 If you alert someone to a problem or danger, you warn them of it.
algebra
NOUN a branch of mathematics in which symbols and letters are used to represent unknown numbers
alias aliases
NOUN a false name
alibi alibis
NOUN If you have an alibi, you have evidence proving you were somewhere else when a crime was committed.
alien aliens
NOUN 1 In science fiction, an alien is a creature from outer space.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is alien to you seems strange because it is not part of your normal experience. The desert is an alien environment to many people.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is alien to you seems strange because it is not part of your normal experience. The desert is an alien environment to many people.
[from Latin alienus meaning foreign]
alight alights, alighting, alighted
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is alight is burning.
VERB 2 If something alights somewhere, it lands there.
3 If someone alights from a vehicle, they get out of it.
alike
ADJECTIVE 1 Things that are alike are very similar in some way.
ADVERB 2 If people or things are treated alike, they are treated the same.
alive
ADJECTIVE If someone or something is alive, they are living.
alkali alkalis
NOUN a chemical substance sometimes used in cleaning materials. Alkalis can neutralize acids.
ANTONYM: acid
alkaline ADJECTIVE
all
ADJECTIVE, NOUN OR ADVERB 1 the whole of something She told us all about it. He ate all the chocolate.
ADVERB 2 also used to show that both sides in a game or contest have the same score The final score was three points all.
Allah
PROPER NOUN the Muslim name for God
allege alleges, alleging, alleged
VERB If you allege that something is true, you say its true, but you cannot prove it.
allergy allergies
NOUN If you have an allergy to something, it makes you ill to eat or touch it.
allergic ADJECTIVE
alley alleys
NOUN a narrow street or passageway between buildings
alliance alliances
NOUN a group of countries, organizations or people who have similar aims and who work together to achieve them
alligator alligators
NOUN a large, scaly reptile, similar to a crocodile
[from Spanish el lagarto meaning lizard]
alliteration
NOUN the use of several words together that begin with the same letter or sound. For example, the slithery snake slid silently across the sand.
allotment allotments
NOUN a piece of land that people rent to grow fruit and vegetables on
allow allows, allowing, allowed
VERB If someone allows you to do something, they let you do it.
all right
ADJECTIVE 1 If something is all right, it is satisfactory, but not especially good. Do you like mushrooms? Theyre all right.
2 If someone is all right, they are safe and not harmed.
3 You say all right if you agree to something. Will you help? All right.
ally allies
NOUN a person or a country that helps and supports another
SYNONYMS: friend, partner
almond almonds
NOUN an oval edible nut, cream in colour
almost
ADVERB very nearly I have almost as many points as you.
SYNONYMS: just about, practically
alone
ADJECTIVE not with other people or things
along
PREPOSITION 1 moving forward We strolled along the road.
2 from one end of something to the other The cupboards stretched along the wall.
alongside
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB next to something We tied our boat alongside the jetty.