📖 A — The English dictionary · page 8

accumulation — Everyday, meaning 1: The slow collecting or building up of something over time.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pile or amount that has built up.↗ Example: There was a thick accumulation of dust under the bed.↗ · The accumulation of snow closed the road.↗ · Rivers leave an accumulation of mud at their mouths.↗ · Her savings grew by slow accumulation of pocket money.↗ · An accumulation of rubbish attracted rats.↗ · The weather report said to expect a large accumulation of rain.↗

accumulative — Everyday, meaning 1: Growing bigger by adding one thing after another, so that each part builds on the last.↗ Example: The song is accumulative: each verse adds one more animal.↗ · An accumulative tale grows longer each time it is told.↗ · The pile of items became larger in an accumulative way.↗

accuracy — Everyday, meaning 1: Being correct and exact, with no mistakes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The skill of hitting or reaching exactly what you aim at.↗ Example: Measure the line with accuracy using a ruler.↗ · Give your answer to an accuracy of one decimal place.↗ · The darts player is known for her accuracy.↗ · Check your spelling for accuracy.↗ · The weather forecast has improved in accuracy.↗ · Speed matters, but accuracy matters more in the test.↗ · This careful accuracy has given an un-English air to his versions, and has prevented them attaining their due popularity.↗

accurate — Everyday, meaning 1: Accurate means correct and exact, with no mistakes: an accurate answer, an accurate measurement.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An accurate throw, shot or kick hits exactly what you aim at.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: An accurate description or story is true to the facts.↗ Example: Use a ruler to make an accurate measurement.↗ · Her answer was accurate to the nearest tenth.↗ · A digital thermometer is more accurate than guessing.↗ · His throw was so accurate that it hit the target.↗ · Make sure your notes are accurate.↗ · Is that weather forecast accurate?↗ · Check facts online so your project is accurate.↗ · The map was not very accurate, and we got lost.↗ · An archer, who saw the Eagle from a place of concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him mortally.↗ · 'Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say unto him: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Thou seal most accurate, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty, (Prophets EZK.28.12, JPS 1917)↗

accurately — Everyday, meaning 1: In a way that is exactly correct, without mistakes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Hitting or reaching exactly the right point.↗ Example: Measure the line accurately with your ruler.↗ · She kicked the ball accurately into the corner of the goal.↗ · Copy the numbers accurately or your answer will be wrong.↗ · The scales weigh the flour accurately to the gram.↗ · He described the thief accurately to the police.↗ · Read the scale accurately before you write the temperature.↗ · Round your answer accurately to one decimal place.↗ · Thou, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure accurately.↗ (Prophets EZK.43.10, JPS 1917)↗

accursed — Everyday, meaning 1: Under a curse, or cursed by magic.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) Hateful, wicked or wretched.↗ Example: The accursed witch turned the prince into a frog.↗ · "Accursed genie!" cried the old man.↗ · The accursed dragon guarded the gold for many years.↗ · And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.↗ (Torah DEU.7.26, JPS 1917)↗ · And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed by taking of the devoted thing, so should ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.↗ (Prophets JOS.6.18, JPS 1917)↗ · Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.↗ (Prophets JOS.7.12, JPS 1917)↗ · There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man, that hath not filled his days; for the youngest shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.↗ (Prophets ISA.65.20, JPS 1917)↗

accusation — Everyday, meaning 1: An accusation is when someone says that a person did something wrong or bad, such as stealing or lying.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An accusation can be true or false; it still has to be proved.↗ Example: Tom made an accusation that Sara had copied his work.↗ · The accusation was false — she had done it herself.↗ · He denied the accusation.↗ · Don't make an accusation without proof.↗ · The teacher listened to both sides after the accusation.↗ · A false accusation can really hurt someone.↗ · The thief faced an accusation of stealing a bike.↗ · In court, there must be evidence for an accusation.↗ · Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews.↗ (Writings DAN.3.8, JPS 1917)↗ · And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.↗ (Writings EZR.4.6, JPS 1917)↗

accusative — Everyday, meaning 1: In grammar, the accusative (or accusative case) is the form of a noun or pronoun used when it is the object of a verb, the one the action is done to.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In English we see it only in pronouns: «me, him, her, us, them, whom» (for example, «She saw him»).↗ Example: In «The dog bit him», «him» is in the accusative.↗ · In German, «der» changes to «den» in the accusative.↗ · Latin nouns have different endings in the accusative.↗ · «Whom» is the accusative form of «who».↗ · Our language teacher drew a table of nominative and accusative pronouns.↗ · In Ukrainian the accusative of «книга» (book) is «книгу».↗

accuse — Everyday, meaning 1: To accuse someone is to say that they did something wrong or bad.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In a court, to accuse someone is to say officially that they broke the law; the accused is the person on trial.↗ Example: She accused her brother of eating the last biscuit.↗ · Don't accuse anyone until you know the facts.↗ · The man was accused of stealing a bike.↗ · He felt sad when his friend accused him of lying.↗ · The accused stood up in court.↗ · In the story, the wolf was wrongly accused.↗ · Nobody likes to be accused of cheating.↗ · He was accused of nothing less than murder.↗ · And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.↗ (Prophets ZEC.3.1, JPS 1917)↗

accuser — Everyday, meaning 1: An accuser is a person who says that someone else has done something wrong or committed a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Bible) In the Bible, «the accuser» is a name for Satan, who accuses people before God.↗ Example: The accuser told the judge what she had seen.↗ · In a fair trial, the accused can answer the accuser.↗ · The boy's accusers said he had taken the ball.↗ · It turned out that the accuser had lied.↗ · (Bible) Revelation calls Satan «the accuser of our brothers».↗ · The accuser pointed at the empty biscuit tin and then at me.↗

accusing — Everyday, meaning 1: Accusing is the -ing form of «accuse»: saying someone did something wrong.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: As an adjective, an accusing look, voice or finger shows that you think someone has done something wrong.↗ Example: Are you accusing me of eating the cake?↗ · She gave him an accusing look.↗ · Stop accusing your brother; it might have been the dog.↗ · He pointed an accusing finger at the broken window.↗ · The cat stared with accusing eyes at its empty bowl.↗ · They kept accusing each other of cheating.↗ · Her voice sounded accusing.↗ · Before accusing anyone, check the facts.↗ · What is the use of accusing him?↗

accustom — Everyday, meaning 1: To accustom yourself to something means to get used to it: «It took a week to accustom myself to the new school.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Accustomed to (adjective) means used to: «I'm accustomed to early mornings.».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) Accustomed also means usual: «She sat in her accustomed seat.».↗ Example: It took me a few days to accustom myself to the new timetable.↗ · Our eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark.↗ · The puppy soon grew accustomed to its new home.↗ · Grandpa sat in his accustomed chair by the fire.↗ · The family from Spain became accustomed to the rain in Scotland.↗ · She is accustomed to getting up at six.↗

accustomed — Everyday, meaning 1: Used to something, so it feels normal because you have met it often.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) Usual, regular, as in "her accustomed seat".↗ Example: My eyes grew accustomed to the dark.↗ · He was not accustomed to getting up so early.↗ · After a month we became accustomed to the new school.↗ · She sat in her accustomed place by the window.↗ · Cats get accustomed to a new home slowly.↗ · I am accustomed to walking to school.↗ · "I am accustomed to better things," said the beetle.↗ · Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.↗ (Prophets JER.13.23, JPS 1917)↗

ace — Everyday, meaning 1: An ace is a playing card with one mark on it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A person who is very good at something is called an ace, like an ace pilot.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To ace a test is to do it perfectly.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: In tennis, an ace is a serve the other player cannot touch.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Ace (informal) means excellent.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: Within an ace of something means almost doing it, or coming very close to it.↗ Example: A deck has 4 aces.↗ · Tom drew 2 aces from the deck.↗ · The tennis ace served 12 aces in the match.↗ · How many cards are not aces?↗ · She aced her spelling test.↗ · He was an ace pilot in the war.↗ · That party was ace!↗ · The ace of hearts is red.↗ · She kept an ace up her sleeve.↗ · What is the chance of drawing an ace from 52 cards?↗ · He was within an ace of falling in, when Dame Fortune appeared to him and touched him on the shoulder, cautioning him to move further away.↗

acetic — Everyday, meaning 1: Acetic means to do with vinegar or acetic acid.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Acetic acid is the weak acid that gives vinegar its sour taste and sharp smell.↗ Example: Vinegar is mostly water with some acetic acid.↗ · Acetic acid gives vinegar its sour smell.↗ · When vinegar meets baking soda, the acetic acid reacts and makes bubbles.↗ · Strong acetic acid can burn your skin, so scientists wear gloves.↗ · The pickles tasted sharp because of the acetic acid.↗ · Acetic acid is a weak acid.↗

ache — Everyday, meaning 1: An ache is a pain that goes on for a long time but is not sharp.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To ache is to hurt with a dull, steady pain.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To ache for something is to want it very much.↗ Example: I have a stomach ache.↗ · My legs ache after the long walk.↗ · She went to the dentist because of a toothache.↗ · Tell a grown-up if your ear aches.↗ · His muscles ached after football.↗ · My head aches when I don't drink enough water.↗ · Grandad has aches and pains in his knees.↗ · Her heart ached when her dog was lost.↗ · I had head-ache and back-ache, and I cannot tell what aches besides.↗

achieve — Everyday, meaning 1: To succeed in doing something good, usually after effort.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To reach a goal, result or level.↗ Example: She achieved her goal of swimming 50 metres.↗ · Work hard and you can achieve great things.↗ · Our class achieved 100% attendance.↗ · He achieved top marks in maths.↗ · What do you want to achieve this year?↗ · The team achieved a record score.↗ · It was no use to read and be industrious, for if a person was not well-born, he could never achieve anything.↗

achievement — Everyday, meaning 1: Something good you managed to do by working hard or being skilful.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The act of succeeding or reaching a goal.↗ Example: Learning to swim was a big achievement for him.↗ · The school gives an achievement award each term.↗ · Climbing the mountain gave us a sense of achievement.↗ · Her achievements include winning the spelling bee.↗ · Finishing the marathon is an achievement.↗ · Reading fifty books is quite an achievement.↗

achy — Everyday, meaning 1: Achy means feeling a dull, steady pain, often in the muscles or joints.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: You feel achy when you are tired, ill with a cold or flu, or after a lot of exercise.↗ Example: I feel hot and achy, so I think I have the flu.↗ · My legs were achy after the cross-country run.↗ · Grandma's knees get achy when it is cold.↗ · After sleeping on the floor, my back felt achy.↗ · Tell an adult if you feel achy and have a high temperature.↗ · Her arms were achy from carrying the shopping.↗

acid — Everyday, meaning 1: An acid is a chemical substance that tastes sour; strong acids can burn skin and dissolve metals.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Acid (adjective) or acidic means containing acid or tasting sour.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Acid can describe unkind, sharp words, like an acid remark.↗ Example: Lemon juice is an acid.↗ · Vinegar is a weak acid.↗ · Acids turn blue litmus paper red.↗ · Never touch strong acids; they can burn your skin.↗ · Your stomach makes acid to break down food.↗ · Sugar turns into acid that harms your teeth.↗ · Acid rain can damage statues and trees.↗ · Wear goggles when working with acids.↗ · We might take him some acid drops."↗ So they went.↗