Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

another ADJECTIVE

Another means one more. Amy finished her chocolate and took another one immediately.

answer answers, answering, answered

VERB 1 When you answer, you say or write something to someone who has asked you a question.

NOUN 2 Your answer is what you say or write to a question.

ant ants NOUN

Ants are small insects which live in large groups called colonies.

See Insects on page 264

antelope antelopes NOUN

Antelopes are animals that look like deer, but their horns are not branch-shaped. They live in Africa and Asia.

anticlockwise ADVERB

If something goes anticlockwise, it moves in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock.

antique antiques NOUN

An antique is an old object which is valuable because it is beautiful or rare.

antiseptic antiseptics NOUN

An antiseptic is a substance that prevents infection by killing germs.

antonym antonyms NOUN

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.

See Antonyms on page 273

anxious ADJECTIVE

Someone who is anxious is nervous or worried about something.

any

ADJECTIVE 1 Any means one, some, or several. Do you have any milk?

ADJECTIVE 2 Any can also mean even the smallest amount. I mustn’t eat any nuts.

anybody PRONOUN

Anybody is any person.

anyone PRONOUN

Anyone is any person.

anything PRONOUN

Anything means any object, event, situation or action.

anywhere ADVERB

Anywhere means in, at or to any place. Just put it down anywhere.

apart ADJECTIVE

If something is apart from something else, there is a space between them. He stood with his feet apart.

ape apes NOUN

Apes are like monkeys but are larger and have no tails. Chimpanzees and gorillas are apes.

apologize apologizes, apologizing, apologized; also spelt apologise VERB

When you apologize, you say you are sorry for something you have done.

apology apologies NOUN

An apology is something you say or write to tell someone you are sorry.

apostrophe apostrophes NOUN

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark (‘) used in contractions and to show belonging.

See Punctuation on page 270

apparatus NOUN

The apparatus for a particular task is the equipment you use for it.

appear appears, appearing, appeared

VERB 1 When something appears, it moves into a place where you can see it.

VERB 2 If something appears to be a certain way, that is how it seems.

appearance appearances

NOUN 1 Someone’s appearance in a place is their sudden arrival there.

NOUN 2 Your appearance is the way you look to other people.

appetite appetites NOUN

If you have an appetite, you are looking forward to eating something.

applause NOUN

Applause is clapping your hands to show that you liked something.

apple apples NOUN

An apple is a round crisp fruit which grows on a tree.

See Fruit on page 260

apply applies, applying, applied VERB

If you apply for something, like a job, you usually ask for it in writing.

appreciate appreciates, appreciating, appreciated VERB

If you appreciate something, you feel grateful for it.

approach approaches, approaching, approached VERB

When someone approaches you, they get nearer to you.

approve approves, approving, approved VERB

If you approve of something, you think it is good.

approval NOUN

approximate ADJECTIVE

An approximate answer may not be exactly right. What is the approximate distance between those trees?

approximately ADVERB

If you say approximately, you mean about. It is approximately 5 metres long.

apricot apricots NOUN

An apricot is a small, round yellow-orange fruit with a large stone in the centre.

April NOUN

April is the fourth month of the year. It has 30 days.

apron aprons NOUN

An apron is a piece of material that you wear to keep your clothes clean.

aquarium aquaria or aquariums NOUN

An aquarium is a glass tank for fish and other underwater animals.

arch arches NOUN

An arch is a curved part of a bridge, wall or building.

archery NOUN

Archery is a sport in which people shoot at a target with a bow and arrow.

architect architects NOUN

An architect is a person who designs buildings.

are VERB

Are is a present tense form of be. They are both in my class.

See be

area areas

NOUN 1 The area of something is the size of its surface. To find the area of a rectangle, you multiply the length by the breadth.

NOUN 2 You use the word area to mean in or around a place. There are lots of shops in this area.

argue argues, arguing, argued VERB

If you argue with someone, you say that you do not agree with them, and give your reasons.

argument arguments NOUN

An argument is a talk between people who do not agree. In some arguments, people shout angrily.

arithmetic NOUN

Arithmetic is about adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers.

arm arms NOUN

Your arm is the part of your body between the shoulder and the hand.

armchair armchairs NOUN

An armchair is a chair with a support on each side for your arms.

armour NOUN

Armour is metal clothing that soldiers used to wear in battle.

army armies NOUN

An army is a large organized group of people who are trained to fight in case of war.

around

PREPOSITION 1 You say around when things are in various places. There are lots of cupboards around the house.

PREPOSITION 2 You can use around when something is on all sides of something else. The Earth’s atmosphere is the air around it.

arrange arranges, arranging, arranged

VERB 1 If you arrange something like a party, you make plans and organize it.

VERB 2 If you arrange things like flowers, you group them in a special way.

array arrays

NOUN 1 An array is a group of things set out neatly in columns and rows.

NOUN 2 An array is also a large number of things displayed together. Ben’s mouth watered at the array of cakes.

arrest arrests, arresting, arrested VERB

If the police arrest someone, they take them to the police station.

arrive arrives, arriving, arrived VERB

When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.

arrival NOUN

arrow arrows

NOUN 1 An arrow is a thin stick with a pointed end, which is shot from a bow.

NOUN 2 An arrow can also be a sign which shows people which way to go.

art NOUN

Art is something like painting or sculpture, which is beautiful or has a special meaning.

artery arteries NOUN

An artery is a tube which carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

article articles

NOUN 1 An article is a piece of writing in a magazine or newspaper.

NOUN 2 An article can also be an object.

What is this strange article?

artificial ADJECTIVE

Artificial things are made by people. They do not occur naturally.

artist artists NOUN

An artist is a person who does things like painting or sculpture.

as

CONJUNCTION 1 If one thing happens as something else happens, it happens at the same time as the second thing. We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.

CONJUNCTION 2 You say as when you are going to give a reason for something. As I like school I get there early.

ascend ascends, ascending, ascended VERB

When you ascend, you move upwards. He ascended the stairs to his room.

ascending ADJECTIVE

When things are arranged in ascending order, each thing is higher than the one before it. The numbers 21, 37 and 49 are in ascending order.

ash ashes

NOUN 1 Ash is the dust left after a fire.

NOUN 2 An ash is a large tree.

ashamed ADJECTIVE

If you are ashamed, you feel sorry about something you have done.

ask asks, asking, asked

VERB 1 If you ask someone a question, you are trying to find something out.

VERB 2 If you ask someone for something, you want them to give it to you.

asleep ADJECTIVE

If you are asleep, your eyes are closed and your body is resting.

aspirin aspirins NOUN

Aspirin is a drug which you take to help you if you have a pain, fever or cold. An aspirin is a tablet of this drug.

ass asses NOUN

An ass is an animal like a horse but smaller and with longer ears.

assemble assembles, assembling, assembled

VERB 1 If you assemble something, you fit the parts of it together.

VERB 2 When people assemble, they come together in a group.

assembly assemblies NOUN

Assembly is a gathering of all the teachers and pupils in a school.

assistant assistants

NOUN 1 A person’s assistant is someone whose job is to help them.

NOUN 2 A shop assistant is a person who works in a shop selling things.

asthma NOUN

Asthma is a disease of the chest. It causes wheezing and makes it difficult for you to breathe properly.

astonish astonishes, astonishing, astonished VERB

If you are astonished by something or someone, you are very surprised.

astronaut astronauts NOUN

An astronaut is a person who travels in space.

astronomer astronomers NOUN

An astronomer is a scientist who studies the stars and planets.

at

PREPOSITION 1 You use at to say where someone or something is. Rajeev waited for me at the bus stop.

PREPOSITION 2 You use at to show the direction something is going in. I threw the snowball at my brother.

PREPOSITION 3 You use at to say when something happens. The party starts at six o’clock.

ate VERB

Ate is the past tense of eat.

atlas atlases NOUN

An atlas is a book of maps.

atmosphere atmospheres

NOUN 1 A planet’s atmosphere is the layer of air or other gas around it.

NOUN 2 You can use atmosphere to talk about the general mood of a place. In the classroom the atmosphere was relaxed.

atom atoms NOUN

An atom is the smallest part of any substance.

attach attaches, attaching, attached VERB

When you attach something to an object, you join the two things together.

attachment attachments NOUN

An attachment is a computer file that is attached to an e-mail or text message.

attack attacks, attacking, attacked VERB

If a person attacks somebody, they try to hurt them.

attempt attempts, attempting, attempted VERB

If you attempt something difficult, you try to do it.

attend attends, attending, attended VERB

If someone attends something like a meeting, they are present at it.

attention

NOUN 1 If something attracts your attention, you notice it suddenly.

NOUN 2 If you pay attention to someone, you listen carefully to them.

attic attics NOUN

An attic is a room at the top of a house, just under the roof.

attract attracts, attracting, attracted

VERB 1 If something or somebody attracts you, you find them interesting. Joe was attracted to the display by the flashing lights.

VERB 2 If something like a magnet attracts an object, it makes it move towards it.

attractive ADJECTIVE

If something is attractive, it is nice to look at.

audience audiences NOUN

An audience is a group of people watching or listening to something like a play, film, talk or piece of music.

August NOUN

August is the eighth month of the year. It has 31 days.

aunt aunts NOUN

Your aunt is the sister of one of your parents, or the wife of your uncle.

author authors NOUN

The author of a book is the person who wrote it.

authority authorities

NOUN 1 Authority is a quality that someone has that makes people take notice of what they say.

NOUN 2 The authorities are people like the police who have a lot of power.

autograph autographs NOUN

An autograph is the signature of a famous person.

automatic ADJECTIVE

An automatic machine is one that can do things on its own.

automatically ADVERB

autumn autumns NOUN

Autumn is the season between summer and winter. The weather cools and many trees lose their leaves.

available ADJECTIVE

If something is available, you can get it. Tickets are available now.

avalanche avalanches NOUN

An avalanche is a huge mass of snow and ice that falls down a mountain.

avenue avenues NOUN

An avenue is a wide road with trees on either side.

average averages

NOUN 1 An average is a result obtained by adding several amounts together and then dividing the total by the number of different amounts. If four children have a total of 36 sweets, the average is nine sweets per child.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is average, it is the standard or usual thing.

avoid avoids, avoiding, avoided VERB

If you avoid someone or something, you keep away from them.

awake ADJECTIVE

If you are awake, you are not sleeping.

award awards NOUN

An award is a prize that you are given for doing something well.

aware ADJECTIVE

If you are aware of something, you know about it.

away

ADVERB 1 If you move away from somewhere, you move so that you are further from that place.

ADVERB 2 If you are away from somewhere, you are not in that place. Katherine is away from school today.

awful ADJECTIVE

Something awful is very unpleasant or bad.

awkward

ADJECTIVE 1 If something is awkward, it is difficult to do or use.

ADJECTIVE 2 If people are awkward, they move in a clumsy way.

axe axes NOUN

An axe is a tool with a long handle and a heavy sharp blade at one end. It is used for chopping wood.

axis axes

NOUN 1 An axis is an imaginary line through the centre of something, around which it moves.

NOUN 2 An axis is also one of the two sides of a graph. A graph has a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Bb

baby babies NOUN

A baby is a very young child.

back backs

NOUN 1 The back of something is the part opposite the front.

ADVERB 2 If you go back to a place, you go somewhere you have been before.

NOUN 3 Your back is the part of your body which is behind you, from your neck to the top of your legs.

NOUN 4 The back of an animal is the part on top, between its neck and the beginning of its tail.

back to front PHRASE If you have something on back to front, you are wearing it the wrong way round.

background backgrounds NOUN

The background of a picture is everything behind the main part.

backwards

ADVERB 1 If you move backwards, you move with your back facing in the direction you are going.

ADVERB 2 If you do something backwards, you do it in the opposite of the usual way. Let’s try counting backwards from one hundred.

bacon NOUN

Bacon is salted meat from a pig.

bacteria PLURAL NOUN

Bacteria are very tiny living things which break down waste. They can cause diseases.

bad worse, worst

ADJECTIVE 1 You say somebody is bad if they are naughty or wicked.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bad, it can hurt or upset you in some way.

badge badges NOUN

A badge is a sign people wear to show they belong to a school or club.

badger badgers NOUN

A badger is a strongly built animal with short legs and neck. It has long grey fur and a striped head.

badly ADVERB

If something is done badly, it is done in a way that is not successful or effective.

bag bags NOUN

A bag is a soft container for carrying or holding things.

bait NOUN

Bait is food used to trap animals.

bake bakes, baking, baked VERB

When you bake food, you cook it in an oven.

baker bakers NOUN

A baker makes and sells bread, cakes and pies.

balance balances, balancing, balanced VERB

When you balance, you keep steady. She tried to balance on one leg.

balcony balconies NOUN

A balcony is a platform on the outside of a building. Balconies have a railing or wall around them.

bald balder, baldest ADJECTIVE

People who are bald have no hair on the top of their head.

ball balls NOUN

Anything round can be called a ball. You need a ball for lots of games, like tennis and football.

ballet ballets NOUN

A ballet is a sort of play where the story is told with dancing and music.

balloon balloons NOUN

A balloon is a small rubber bag. If you blow hard into it, it gets bigger and makes a very light toy or decoration.

bamboo NOUN

Bamboo is a kind of grass with strong hollow stems which are useful as garden canes or for making furniture.

ban bans, banning, banned VERB

If someone is banned from doing something, they are told by people in charge that they must not do it.

banana bananas NOUN

A banana is a long yellow fruit which grows on trees in hot countries.

See Fruit on page 260

band bands

NOUN 1 A band is a small number of people, like a gang of robbers or a group of musicians.

NOUN 2 A band can also be a strip of material such as iron, cloth or rubber.

bandage bandages NOUN

A bandage is a strip of cloth used to cover a wound.

bang bangs, banging, banged

NOUN 1 A bang is a sudden loud noise.

VERB 2 If something bangs, or you bang it, it makes a loud noise.

bank banks

NOUN 1 A bank is a business that looks after people’s money.

NOUN 2 The bank of a river is the ground either side of the water.

banner banners NOUN

A banner is a long strip of cloth or paper with a message written on it.

bar bars

NOUN 1 A bar is a long piece of something hard, like metal or wood.

NOUN 2 A bar can also be a counter where people can buy drink.

barbecue barbecues NOUN

A barbecue is a grill on which food is cooked outdoors over hot charcoal.

barber barbers NOUN

A barber is someone who cuts men’s hair.

bar code bar codes NOUN

A bar code is a pattern of numbers and lines printed on something that is for sale, so that the price can be read by a machine.

bare barer, barest

ADJECTIVE 1 If part of your body is bare, it is not covered by clothes.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bare, it has nothing in it or on it. It was winter and the trees were bare.

bargain bargains NOUN

A bargain is something which is sold at a low price, and which you think is good value.

bark barks, barking, barked

VERB 1 When a dog barks, it makes a sudden rough, loud noise.

NOUN 2 Bark is the outside covering of a tree.

barley NOUN

Barley is a cereal that is grown for food and drink.

bar mitzvah NOUN

A Jewish boy’s bar mitzvah is a ceremony that takes place on his 13th birthday. After this he is regarded as an adult.

barn barns NOUN

A barn is a large building where a farmer stores hay and other crops.

barrel barrels NOUN

A barrel is a large wooden, metal or plastic container for holding liquids.

barrier barriers NOUN

A barrier is something like a fence or wall, that stops people getting past.

base bases

NOUN 1 The base is the bottom of something.

NOUN 2 Number bases are a whole pattern of counting. A base ten counting system uses units, tens and hundreds.

basement basements NOUN

The basement of a building is a floor below ground level.

basic

ADJECTIVE 1 Basic is used to describe things like the food and equipment that people really need in their lives.

ADJECTIVE 2 Basic also means the simplest things you need to know about a subject. I’m not good at this yet, but I’ve got the basic idea.

basically ADVERB

basin basins NOUN

A basin is a wide round container which is open at the top.

basket baskets NOUN

A basket is used for holding or carrying things. It is usually made from strips of thin wood or cane.

basketball NOUN

Basketball is a game between two teams of five players. Each team tries to score by throwing a ball through a circular net fixed to a high board.

bat bats, batting, batted

NOUN 1 In some games, like table tennis, you use a wooden bat to hit the ball.

NOUN 2 A bat is also a small animal like a mouse with leathery wings. Bats fly at night, and sleep hanging upside down.

VERB 3 If you are batting, you are having a turn at hitting the ball with a bat in cricket, baseball or rounders.

bath baths NOUN

A bath is a container for water. It is big enough to sit or lie in, so that you can wash yourself all over.

bathroom bathrooms NOUN

The bathroom is the room where the bath or shower is.