2 If you arrange objects, you set them out in a particular way. We arranged the books in alphabetical order.
array arrays
NOUN 1 a large number of different things displayed together
2 a mathematical way of grouping. For example, 3 × 2 is shown as ::: and 2 × 3 is shown as .
arrest arrests, arresting, arrested
VERB 1 If the police arrest someone, they take them to a police station because they believe they may have committed a crime.
NOUN 2 An arrest is the act of arresting someone.
arrive arrives, arriving, arrived
VERB 1 When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.
2 When you arrive at a decision you make up your mind.
arrival NOUN
arrogant
ADJECTIVE Arrogant people behave as if they are better than other people.
arrow arrows
NOUN a long, thin weapon with a sharp point at one end, shot from a bow
arsenal arsenals
NOUN a place where weapons and ammunition are stored or produced
arsenic
NOUN a strong, dangerous poison that can kill
arson
NOUN the crime of deliberately setting fire to something, especially a building
art arts
NOUN 1 the creation of objects, such as paintings and sculptures, that are thought to be beautiful or that express a particular idea He wanted to take art classes to learn how to draw and paint well.
2 Art is also used to refer to the objects themselves. We saw lots of interesting paintings and sculptures at the art exhibition.
3 something that needs special skills or ability I would like to master the art of sewing.
artery arteries
NOUN the tubes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body
See vein
arterial ADJECTIVE
arthritis
NOUN a condition in which the joints in someones body become painful, and sometimes swollen
arthritic ADJECTIVE
article articles
NOUN 1 a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine
2 a particular item an article of clothing
artificial
ADJECTIVE Something artificial is created by people rather than occurring naturally.
ANTONYM: natural
artillery
NOUN 1 Artillery consists of large, powerful guns and rockets.
2 The artillery is the branch of an army that uses these weapons.
artist artists
NOUN a person who draws or paints or produces other works of art
as
NOUN a person who draws or paints or produces other works of art
as
CONJUNCTION 1 at the same time that We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.
2 because As I like school I get there early.
PHRASE 3 You use as if or as though when you are giving an explanation for something. Shane walked past as if he didnt know me.
ascend ascends, ascending, ascended
VERB FORMAL If someone or something ascends, they move or lead upwards. We ascended the stairs to the second floor.
ANTONYM: descend
ash ashes
NOUN the grey or black powdery remains of anything that has been burnt We put the ashes from the bonfire on the compost heap.
ashamed
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are ashamed, you feel embarrassed or guilty.
2 If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them.
ashore
ADVERB If someone or something comes ashore, they come on to the land from the sea or a river.
aside
ADVERB If you move something aside, you move it to one side. She closed the book and laid it aside.
ask asks, asking, asked
VERB 1 If you ask someone something, you put a question to them.
2 If you ask someone to do something, you tell them you want them to do it. We asked him to do his card trick.
3 If you ask for something, you say you would like to have it. She asked for a drink of water.
4 If you ask someone to come or go somewhere, you invite them there.
asleep
ADJECTIVE If you are asleep, your eyes are closed and your whole body is resting.
aspect aspects
NOUN one of many ways of seeing or thinking about something
aspirin aspirins
NOUN 1 a white drug used to relieve pain, fever and colds
2 a small white tablet of this drug
ass asses
NOUN another word for donkey
assassinate assassinates, assassinating, assassinated
VERB If someone assassinates an important person, they murder them.
assassination NOUN
assault assaults
NOUN a violent attack on someone
[from Latin assalire meaning to leap upon]
assemble assembles, assembling, assembled
VERB 1 If people assemble, they gather together. We assembled in the playground to watch the display.
2 If you assemble something, you fit the parts of it together. It took us ages to assemble the model car.
assembly assemblies
NOUN a group of people who have gathered together for a meeting
assess assesses, assessing, assessed
VERB If you assess something, you consider it carefully and make a judgement about it. She tried to assess how much further they had to walk.
SYNONYMS: judge, size up
asset assets
NOUN 1 If someone or something is an asset, they are useful or helpful. Hes an asset to the school.
2 The assets of a person or a company are all the things they own that could be sold to raise money.
assignment assignments
NOUN a job you are given to do
assist assists, assisting, assisted
VERB If you assist someone, you help them to do something.
assistant assistants
NOUN someone who helps another person to do their job
associate associates, associating, associated
VERB 1 If you associate with someone, you spend time with them.
2 If you associate one thing with another, you make a connection between them.
association associations
NOUN 1 an organization for people who have similar interests, jobs or aims
2 An association between two things is a link you make in your mind between them.
assorted
ADJECTIVE Assorted things are a mixture of various sorts of something. They may be different colours, sizes and shapes.
assortment assortments
NOUN a group of similar things that are different sizes, shapes and colours There was an amazing assortment of toys in the shop.
assume assumes, assuming, assumed
VERB 1 If you assume that something is true, you believe it, even if you have not thought carefully about it.
2 If you assume responsibility for something, you decide to do it. I assumed responsibility for feeding the hamster.
assure assures, assuring, assured
VERB If you assure someone of something, you say something to make them less worried about it. I assured him that I wouldnt be late.
asterisk asterisks
NOUN a symbol (*) used in writing and printing to draw attention to something that is explained somewhere else, usually at the bottom of the page
asteroid asteroids
NOUN one of the large number of very small planets that move around the sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars
asthma
NOUN a disease of the chest that causes wheezing and difficulty in breathing
[from Greek azein meaning to breathe hard]
asthmatic ADJECTIVE
astonish astonishes, astonishing, astonished
VERB If something astonishes you, it surprises you very much.
astonished ADJECTIVE astonishing ADJECTIVE
astonishingly ADVERB astonishment NOUN
astrology
NOUN the study of the sun, moon and stars in the belief that their movements can influence peoples lives
astronaut astronauts
NOUN a person who operates a spacecraft
[from Greek astron meaning star and nautes meaning sailor]
astronomy
NOUN the scientific study of stars and planets
astronomer NOUN
at
PREPOSITION 1 where someone or something is John waited for me at the bus stop.
2 the direction something is going in I threw the snowball at my brother.
3 when something happens The party starts at six oclock.
ate
VERB the past tense of eat
atheist atheists
NOUN someone who does not believe in any form of God
athlete athletes
NOUN a person who is very good at sport and who takes part in sporting competitions
athletics
NOUN sporting events such as running, long jump and discus
Atlantic
NOUN the ocean that separates North and South America from Europe and Africa
atlas atlases
NOUN a book of maps
[from the giant Atlas in Greek mythology, who supported the sky on his shoulders]
atmosphere atmospheres
NOUN 1 gases that surround a planet
2 the general mood of a place There was a friendly atmosphere at the party.
atom atoms
NOUN the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction
atrocity atrocities
NOUN an extremely shocking and cruel act
attach attaches, attaching, attached
VERB If you attach something to something else, you join or fasten the two things together.
attachment attachments
NOUN 1 a feeling of love and affection for someone
2 a file attached to an e-mail
attack attacks, attacking, attacked
VERB 1 If someone attacks another person or animal, they use violence in order to hurt or kill them. The lion attacked the zebra in order to kill it for food.
2 In a game such as football or hockey, players attack to get the ball into a position from which a goal can be scored.
NOUN 3 violent, physical action against someone
attempt attempts, attempting, attempted
VERB 1 If you attempt to do something, you try to do it.
VERB 1 If you attempt to do something, you try to do it.
NOUN 2 the act of trying to do something He made a brave attempt to help.
attend attends, attending, attended
VERB 1 If you attend school, church or hospital, you go there regularly.
2 If you attend an event, you are present at it.
attend to
VERB If you attend to something, you deal with it. We should attend to our homework before going to the park.
attendant attendants
NOUN someone whose job is to help people in a place such as a museum or shop
attention
NOUN the thought or care that you give to someone or something I paid a lot of attention to my homework.
attentive
ADJECTIVE When you are attentive, you pay close attention.
attentively ADVERB
attic attics
NOUN a room at the top of a house immediately below the roof
attitude attitudes
NOUN the way you think about someone or something and behave towards them Im not going in that shop again. I dont like their attitude.
attract attracts, attracting, attracted
VERB 1 If something attracts people, it interests them and makes them want to go to it.
2 If someone attracts you, you like them and are interested in them.
3 When magnetic materials are attracted to a magnet, they are pulled towards it.
attraction attractions
NOUN 1 If you feel an attraction for someone, you like them very much.
2 somewhere people like to visit for interest or pleasure, such as a fun fair or a stately home
3 A force of attraction pulls magnetic materials towards a magnet.
attractive
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is attractive is good-looking or has an exciting personality.