A
- aa noun (aa — a kind of lava; also written «ʻaʻā»); abbreviation (AA)
Aa (from Hawaiian «ʻaʻā») is a kind of lava that cools into rough, sharp, jagged lumps. - aah interjection (aah; also ah, ahh)
«Aah» is a sound you make when you feel relief, pleasure or calm. - aardvark noun (an aardvark, aardvarks)
1) An African mammal with a long snout, long ears, a thick tail and strong claws, which digs into ant and termite nests at night and eats… - aardwolf noun (an aardwolf, aardwolves)
1) An aardwolf is a small striped animal of southern and eastern Africa, related to the hyena, that eats mainly termites. - ab noun (an ab, abs — informal); abbreviation (ab, AB)
An ab is one of the stomach muscles; people usually say «abs», short for «abdominal muscles». - aback adjective (taken aback)
1) To be taken aback means to be surprised or shocked by something unexpected, so that you are thrown off balance. - abacus noun (an abacus; plural abacuses or abaci)
An abacus is a frame with rows of beads that slide along wires or rods, used for counting and doing sums. - abandon verb (abandon, abandons, abandoned, abandoning); noun (abandon, uncountable)
To abandon means to leave someone or something, especially someone who needs you, and not come back («abandon a pet»). - abandonment noun (abandonment — usually uncountable)
Abandonment is leaving someone or something behind for ever, especially when you should have cared for them. - abashed adjective (abashed)
1) Abashed means embarrassed and feeling small, because you have been shamed or made to look foolish in front of others. - abate verb (abate, abates, abated, abating)
To abate means to become less strong or less in amount: «The storm abated.». - abattoir noun (an abattoir, abattoirs)
1) An abattoir is a building where animals such as cows, pigs and sheep are killed for meat. Another word is slaughterhouse. - abbess noun (plural abbesses)
1) An abbess is the woman who is head of a convent or community of nuns. - abbey noun (an abbey, abbeys; the Abbey)
An abbey is a building, or group of buildings, where monks or nuns live and pray together, led by an abbot or abbess. - abbot noun (an abbot, abbots)
An abbot is the man in charge of an abbey, a community of monks who live, pray and work together. - abbreviated adjective (abbreviated); also past form of the verb abbreviate (abbreviate, abbreviates, abbreviated, abbreviating); noun abbreviation
Abbreviated means made shorter, especially a word or phrase written in a short form: «Mr» is the abbreviated form of «Mister». - abbreviation noun (an abbreviation, abbreviations)
A short form of a word or phrase: "Mon" is an abbreviation of "Monday". - abc noun (the ABC, ABCs); abbreviation (ABC)
the ABC (or ABCs): the alphabet, the letters A to Z. - abdicate verb (abdicate, abdicates, abdicated, abdicating)
1) To abdicate is to give up being king or queen. 2) (formal) To abdicate a responsibility is to fail to do something you should. - abdication noun (an abdication, abdications)
Abdication is when a king, queen or other ruler gives up the throne of their own free will. - abdomen noun (an abdomen, abdomens)
Your abdomen is the front part of your body between your chest and your hips; it is the scientific word for your tummy or belly. - abdominal adjective (abdominal); noun (informal: abdominals, abs)
Abdominal means to do with the abdomen, the belly part of the body between the chest and the hips. - abduction noun (plural abductions)
1) An abduction is the taking away of a person by force or trickery, against their will. - abhorrence noun (no plural in common use)
1) Abhorrence is a deep feeling of hatred or disgust for something wrong or cruel. - abide verb (abide, abides, abided or abode, abiding)
In «can't abide» / «cannot abide»: to dislike someone or something so much that you cannot put up with them. - ability noun (an ability, abilities)
Ability is the power or skill to do something. - abject adjective (abject, more abject, most abject)
Abject means very miserable, poor and low in condition, with no hope or comfort. - ablaze adjective (ablaze — after a verb)
Ablaze means burning strongly, on fire: «The barn was ablaze.». - able adjective (able; abler, ablest — rare; more able, most able)
If you are able to do something, you can do it; you have the skill, strength, time or chance to do it. - ablution noun (plural ablutions)
1) An ablution is a washing of the body, often as part of a religious ritual or a set custom before prayer or a special act. - abnormal adjective (abnormal, more abnormal, most abnormal); adverb form: abnormally
Not normal or not usual, different from what is expected, often in a way that is worrying. - aboard adverb (aboard); preposition (aboard)
Aboard means on or into a ship, plane, train or bus. - abode noun (plural abodes; old use)
1) An abode is a home or place where someone lives. 2) «Take up one's abode» means to go and live somewhere for a long time. - abolish verb (abolish, abolishes, abolished, abolishing)
1) To officially end a law, rule, system or custom so that it no longer exists. 2) To get rid of something completely. - abolition noun (abolition, uncountable)
1) The act of officially ending a law, system or custom. 2) (history) Especially the ending of slavery and the slave trade. - abominable adjective (abominable, more abominable, most abominable)
Abominable means very bad, hateful or extremely unpleasant. - aboriginal adjective (Aboriginal — usually with a capital A); noun (an Aboriginal — avoided now; say Aboriginal person/people)
1) Aboriginal: belonging to the first peoples of Australia, who have lived there for more than 60 000 years (Aboriginal people, Aboriginal… - abortion noun (an abortion, abortions)
An abortion is a medical operation or treatment that ends a pregnancy on purpose, so a baby is not born. - abound verb (abound, abounds, abounded, abounding)
To abound means to exist in large numbers or amounts: «Rabbits abound in these fields.». - about preposition (about the dog); adverb (about 10, run about, be about to); adjective (up and about)
About tells what something is on or what it is to do with: a book about dinosaurs. - above preposition, adverb (above); adjective (the above)
1) Above means higher than something. The sky is above the ground. 2) Above also means more than a number or level: above 10, above zero… - abracadabra interjection (abracadabra); noun (abracadabra — nonsense talk)
Abracadabra is a magic word said by magicians when they do a trick, as if it makes the magic happen. - abrade verb (abrade, abrades, abraded, abrading)
1) To abrade means to scrape or wear away the surface of something by rubbing: «The rough rope abraded his hands.» - abrasion noun (an abrasion, abrasions; also uncountable)
A scrape on the skin where the top layer has been rubbed off, like a grazed knee. - abreast adverb (abreast)
Abreast means side by side, facing the same way: «three abreast». - abridged verb (abridge, abridges, abridged, abridging); adjective (abridged)
To abridge a book or story is to make it shorter by leaving parts out, while keeping the main story. - abridgment noun (plural abridgments; also spelt abridgement)
1) An abridgment is a shorter version of a book, story or speech, with the main parts kept and the rest left out. - abroad adverb (abroad); noun (from abroad)
Abroad means in or to a foreign country, one that is not your own: go abroad, live abroad. - abrupt adjective (abrupt, more abrupt, most abrupt); adverb: abruptly
1) Sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way. 2) Short and rude in the way someone speaks. 3) (of a slope) Very steep. - abruptly adverb
1) Suddenly and unexpectedly. 2) In a short, rude or unfriendly way. - abs noun (abs — plural, informal); abbreviation (ABS)
Abs are the stomach muscles; it is short for abdominal muscles. - abscise verb (abscise, abscises, abscised, abscising)
To abscise means for a plant to drop a leaf, flower or fruit by forming a special layer of cells where it joins the stem. - abscond verb (abscond, absconds, absconded, absconding)
To abscond means to leave secretly and suddenly, especially to escape from somewhere or to avoid being caught. - absence noun (absence; an absence, absences)
Absence is being away from a place, like school or work, when you should be there. - absent adjective (absent — not present); verb (absent yourself — formal); preposition (absent — formal, meaning without)
Absent means not here, not in the place where someone is expected to be, such as school or work. - absolute adjective (absolute); noun (an absolute — formal, rare)
Absolute means total, complete, as much as possible: absolute silence. - absolutely adverb (absolutely)
1) Completely, totally: absolutely right. 2) Used as a strong «yes» when you agree: «Absolutely!» 3) With «not» or «nothing», a strong… - absolution noun (absolution — uncountable)
Absolution is when a priest, in God's name, declares that a person's sins are forgiven, especially after confession. - absolved verb (absolve, absolves, absolved, absolving)
1) To absolve someone is to free them from blame, guilt or punishment, saying that they are not responsible. - absorb verb (absorb, absorbs, absorbed, absorbing)
To absorb a liquid, gas or heat is to take it in, as a sponge takes in water. - absorbent adjective (absorbent, more absorbent, most absorbent); noun (an absorbent — a material that soaks things up, less common)
Absorbent describes a material that can soak up liquid, like a sponge or a paper towel. - absorption noun (absorption)
The taking in of a liquid, gas, heat or light by something: a sponge's absorption of water. - abstain verb (abstain, abstains, abstained, abstaining)
To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol. - abstemious adjective (abstemious)
Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures. - abstention noun (an abstention, abstentions; uncountable for the habit)
An abstention is when someone chooses not to vote, neither for nor against. - abstract adjective (abstract); noun (an abstract, abstracts); verb (abstract, abstracts, abstracted, abstracting — formal)
Being an idea or feeling rather than a thing you can touch or see: love, fairness and time are abstract. - absurd adjective (absurd, more absurd, most absurd)
1) Very silly and not making sense; ridiculous. 2) So unreasonable it is laughable: «an absurd price». - absurdity noun (absurdities)
Absurdity is the quality of being so silly or unreasonable that it makes people laugh. - absurdly adverb
In a silly or ridiculous way, so that people think it is foolish or unreasonable. - abundance noun (abundance; usually uncountable, an abundance of)
1) A very large amount of something, more than enough. 2) The state of having plenty, being rich in things such as food or water. - abundant adjective (abundant; more abundant, most abundant)
1) Existing in large amounts; more than enough. 2) Rich in something: abundant in fish. - abundantly adverb
1) In large amounts, more than enough. 2) Very, completely (in "abundantly clear"). - abuse noun (abuse — uncountable; an abuse); verb (abuse, abuses, abused, abusing)
Using something wrongly or too much, so it does harm: drug abuse, abuse of power. - abuser noun (an abuser, abusers)
An abuser is a person who hurts, frightens or treats another person or an animal badly, often again and again. - abusive adjective (abusive)
Using rude, insulting or cruel words: «abusive language». - abutment noun (an abutment, abutments)
An abutment is a strong structure of stone, concrete or brick at each end of a bridge or arch that holds it up and takes its weight. - abyss noun (an abyss, abysses)
An abyss is a very deep hole or gap in the ground, so deep it seems to have no bottom. - acacia noun (an acacia, acacias)
A tree or shrub with small leaves, often thorns, and yellow or white flowers, that grows in warm, dry places such as Africa and Australia. - academic adjective (academic); noun (an academic, academics)
Academic means to do with school, study and learning, especially reading, writing and maths rather than practical skills. - academy noun (an academy, academies)
An academy is a school or college, often one that trains people in a special skill, such as music, dance, football or the police. - acc abbreviation (acc, acc.)
«acc.» is a short form of «account», as in a bank account. - accede verb (accede, accedes, acceded, acceding)
To agree to a request or demand, often after first not wanting to. - accelerate verb (accelerate, accelerates, accelerated, accelerating)
To go faster or to make something go faster: the car accelerated. - acceleration noun (acceleration; uncountable; an acceleration — one case)
Acceleration is getting faster: the speed going up. - accent noun (an accent, accents); verb (accent, accented — rare)
An accent is the way people from a place or country pronounce a language: a Scottish accent, an American accent. - accept verb (accept, accepts, accepted, accepting)
To accept something is to take what someone offers you. - acceptable adjective (acceptable, more acceptable)
1) Acceptable means good enough or allowed. 2) Acceptable behaviour or words are ones that most people agree are fine and polite. - acceptance noun (uncountable; an acceptance)
Acceptance is agreeing to take something that is offered, such as a gift, invitation or job. - access noun (access); verb (access, accesses, accessed, accessing)
1) Access is a way of getting into a place. 2) Access is the right or chance to use or see something. 3) (verb) To access something is to… - accessible adjective (accessible, more accessible, most accessible)
1) Easy to reach, enter or use. 2) Easy to use for people with disabilities, for example with ramps, lifts or large print. 3) Easy to… - accession noun (accession, accessions)
Coming to the throne or to an important position: «the king's accession» is when he became king. - accident noun (an accident, accidents)
An accident is something bad that happens by chance, often causing harm or damage, like a car crash or a fall. - accidental adjective (accidental); noun (an accidental, in music)
Happening by chance, not planned or meant: an accidental fall. - accidentally adverb (accidentally)
1) Accidentally means by accident, not on purpose, without meaning to. - acclamation noun (acclamations)
1) Loud cheering or shouting to show approval or joy. 2) (formal) Agreement shown by everyone shouting yes, with no vote counted. - accommodate verb (accommodate, accommodates, accommodated, accommodating)
To provide a place for someone to stay or live. - accommodating adjective (accommodating, more accommodating, most accommodating); also the -ing form of accommodate (accommodate, accommodates, accommodated, accommodating)
An accommodating person is helpful and willing to change plans to suit others. - accommodation noun (accommodation — uncountable in UK; accommodations — US)
A place to live or stay, such as a house, flat or hotel room. - accompanied verb (past of «accompany»: accompany, accompanies, accompanied, accompanying); adjective (accompanied)
1) Went somewhere with someone. 2) Happened or existed together with something else (thunder accompanied by lightning). 3) Played music to… - accompaniment noun (an accompaniment, accompaniments)
An accompaniment is music played to support a singer or another instrument, like piano music behind a song.
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