Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

battery batteries NOUN

A battery is an object which stores electric power. There are tiny batteries for things like watches, and larger batteries for torches.

battle battles NOUN

A battle is a fight between enemy forces, on land, at sea or in the air.

bawl bawls, bawling, bawled VERB

If a child is bawling, it is crying very loudly and angrily.

bay bays NOUN

A bay is a deep curve in a coastline.

be am, is, are, being, was, were, been

VERB 1 You use be to say what a person or thing is like. She is very young.

VERB 2 You also use be to say that something is there. There is a tree in the garden.

beach beaches NOUN

The beach is the land covered with sand or pebbles that is next to the sea.

bead beads NOUN

A bead is a small piece of glass or plastic with a hole through it. Beads can be threaded together to make a necklace or bracelet.

beak beaks NOUN

A beak is the hard outside part of a bird’s mouth.

beam beams, beaming, beamed

NOUN 1 A beam is a long thick bar of wood, metal or concrete, used to support part of a building.

NOUN 2 A beam is also a line of light from an object such as a torch or the sun.

VERB 3 If you beam, you give a big smile.

bean beans NOUN

A bean is a vegetable. Its outer covering is called a pod, and inside it has large seeds, also called beans.

See Vegetables on page 260

bear bears, bearing, bore

NOUN 1 A bear is a large, strong animal with thick fur and sharp claws.

VERB 2 If you bear something, you put up with it. I can’t bear all this homework.

beard beards NOUN

A beard is the hair which grows on the lower part of a man’s face.

beat beats, beating, beat, beaten

VERB 1 If you beat someone in a race or competition, you do better than they do.

VERB 2 If someone beats another person or an animal, they hit them hard.

VERB 3 If you beat eggs, you stir them very fast.

VERB 4 Your heart beats with a regular rhythm all the time.

beautiful

ADJECTIVE 1 You say something is beautiful if it gives you great pleasure to look at it or listen to it.

ADJECTIVE 2 You say someone is beautiful if they are lovely to look at.

beaver beavers NOUN

A beaver is a furry animal which lives in or near water.

because CONJUNCTION

You say because when you are going to give a reason for something. I left the party because they were playing silly games.

become becomes, becoming, became, become VERB

To become means to start being different in some way. The smell became stronger.

bed beds

NOUN 1 A bed is a piece of furniture to lie down on when you rest or sleep.

NOUN 2 The bed of the sea or of a river is the ground beneath it.

bedroom bedrooms NOUN

Your bedroom is the room where you sleep.

bee bees NOUN

A bee is a flying insect. People keep bees for the honey that they make.

See beehive

See also Insects on page 264

beech beeches NOUN

A beech is a large tree.

beef NOUN

Beef is the meat from a cow.

beehive beehives NOUN

A beehive is a house for bees, where a beekeeper collects the honey.

been VERB

Been is the past participle of be. We have always been good friends.

See be

beer beers NOUN

Beer is a drink made from grain.

beetle beetles NOUN

A beetle is an insect with four wings. The front two act as hard covers to the body when the beetle is not flying.

See Insects on page 264

beetroot beetroots NOUN

Beetroot is a dark red root vegetable.

See Vegetables on page 260

before

PREPOSITION 1 If something happens before something else, it happens earlier. Can I see you before lunch?

ADVERB 2 If you have done something before, it is not the first time.

beg begs, begging, begged VERB

If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously to do it. Krishna begged his dad to take him to the football match.

begin begins, beginning, began, begun VERB

When you begin, you start. I began school on Thursday.

beginner beginners NOUN

A beginner is someone who has just started to learn something.

beginning beginnings NOUN

The beginning of something is the first part of it.

begun VERB

Begun is the past participle of begin.

behave behaves, behaving, behaved VERB

The way you behave is the way you act.

behaviour NOUN

behind

PREPOSITION 1 Behind means on the other side of something. She was behind the counter.

PREPOSITION 2 If you are behind someone, you are at the back of them.

beige ADJECTIVE

Something that is beige is a pale creamy-brown colour.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

believe believes, believing, believed VERB

If you believe something or someone, you think what is said is true.

bell bells NOUN

A bell is a piece of metal shaped like a cup, which rings when something hits it.

belong belongs, belonging, belonged

VERB 1 If something belongs to you, it is your own.

VERB 2 If you belong to something, like a club, you are a member of it.

below PREPOSITION

If something is below something else, it is underneath it.

belt belts NOUN

A belt is a strip of leather or other material that you put round your waist.

bench benches NOUN

A bench is a long seat, usually made of wood.

bend bends, bending, bent VERB

When something bends, it becomes curved or crooked.

beneath PREPOSITION

If something is beneath something else, it is below it.

bent ADJECTIVE

If something is bent, it has become curved or crooked.

See bend

berry berries NOUN

A berry is a small round soft fruit that grows on a bush or a tree.

beside PREPOSITION

If something is beside something else, it is at the side of it.

best ADJECTIVE

Best means the “most good”, or better than anything else. That’s the best programme I’ve seen.

better

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is better than something else is of a higher standard or quality. Your bicycle is better than mine.

ADJECTIVE 2 Better can also mean more sensible. It would be better to go home.

ADJECTIVE 3 If you are feeling better after an illness, you are not feeling so ill.

between PREPOSITION

If something is between two other things, it is in the space or time that separates them. The toyshop is between the bank and the library.

beware VERB

You tell people to beware if there is danger of some kind. Beware of the bull.

Bible Bibles NOUN

The Bible is the sacred book of the Christian religion.

bicycle bicycles NOUN

A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. You sit on it and turn pedals with your feet to make it go.

big bigger, biggest ADJECTIVE

Something or somebody big is large in size or importance.

bike bikes NOUN

Bike is an abbreviation of bicycle.

bill bills

NOUN 1 A bill is a piece of paper saying how much money you owe. Mum’s just had the electricity bill.

NOUN 2 A bird’s bill is its beak.

bin bins NOUN

A bin is a container, usually with a lid, for putting rubbish in.

bind binds, binding, bound VERB

If you bind something, you tie something like string or cloth tightly round it so that it is held in place.

biology NOUN

Biology is the study of living things.

bird birds NOUN

A bird is an animal with two legs, two wings and feathers.

birth births NOUN

The birth of a baby is when it comes out of its mother’s body.

birthday birthdays NOUN

Your birthday is a special date that is remembered every year, because it was the day you were born.

biscuit biscuits NOUN

A biscuit is a small, flat, crisp kind of cake.

See Other foods on page 261

bit bits

NOUN 1 A bit of something is a small piece of it.

NOUN 2 A bit is a piece of metal that goes in a horse’s mouth.

VERB 3 Bit is also the past tense of bite.

bite bites, biting, bit, bitten VERB

If you bite something, you use your teeth to hold, cut or tear it.

bitter

ADJECTIVE 1 If something has a bitter taste, it tastes sharp and unpleasant.

ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is bitter feels angry and disappointed.

black blacker, blackest ADJECTIVE

If the colour of something is black, it is the colour of these letters.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

blackberry blackberries NOUN

Blackberries are small, soft, dark purple fruits that grow on brambles.

blackbird blackbirds NOUN

A blackbird is a European songbird.

blackboard blackboards NOUN

A blackboard is a dark board that people can write on in chalk.

blackcurrant blackcurrants NOUN

Blackcurrants are very small, dark purple fruits.

blade blades

NOUN 1 A blade is the sharp edge of a knife or sword.

NOUN 2 A single piece of grass is a blade.

blame blames, blaming, blamed VERB

If somebody blames a person for something bad that happened, they say that person made it happen.

blank blanker, blankest ADJECTIVE

If something is blank, it has nothing written or drawn on it.

blanket blankets NOUN

A blanket is a large warm cloth, often used to cover people in bed.

blaze blazes NOUN

A blaze is a strong bright fire.

blazer blazers NOUN

A blazer is a kind of jacket, often in the colours of a school or sports team.

bleed bleeds, bleeding, bled VERB

If part of your body bleeds, blood comes out of it.

blend blends, blending, blended VERB

When you blend two or more things together, they become a smooth mixture.

blew VERB

Blew is the past tense of blow.

blind blinds

NOUN 1 A blind is rolled material that you pull down to cover a window.

ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is blind cannot see.

blindness NOUN

blindfold blindfolds NOUN

A blindfold is a strip of cloth tied over someone’s eyes so that they cannot see.

blink blinks, blinking, blinked VERB

When you blink, you shut your eyes and open them again quickly.

blister blisters NOUN

A blister is a small bubble on your skin, containing watery liquid. Blisters are caused by a burn or rubbing.

blizzard blizzards NOUN

A blizzard is a bad snowstorm with strong winds.

block blocks, blocking, blocked

NOUN 1 A block of flats or offices is a large tall building.

NOUN 2 A block of something like stone or wood is a large rectangular piece of it.

VERB 3 To block means to get in the way.

blog blogs NOUN

A blog is a website that describes the daily life of the person who writes it.

blonde or blond ADJECTIVE

Blonde hair is pale yellow in colour. The spelling blond is used when referring to men.

blood NOUN

Blood is the red liquid that your heart pumps round inside your body.

bloom blooms, blooming, bloomed VERB

When a plant blooms, its flowers open.

blossom NOUN

Blossom is the flowers that appear on a tree or bush.

blot blots NOUN

A blot is a mark made by a drop of liquid, especially ink.

blouse blouses NOUN

A blouse is a kind of shirt worn by a girl or a woman.

blow blows, blowing, blew, blown

VERB 1 When the wind blows, the air moves faster.

VERB 2 If you blow, you send out a stream of air from your mouth.

NOUN 3 A blow is a hard hit.

blue bluer, bluest ADJECTIVE

Something that is blue is the colour of the sky on a sunny day.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

bluebell bluebells NOUN

A bluebell is a flower that often grows wild in woods in Europe.

blunt blunter, bluntest

ADJECTIVE 1 A blunt knife is not sharp.

ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is blunt has a rounded, rather than pointed, end.

My pencil’s blunt.

blur blurs NOUN

A blur is a shape that you cannot see clearly.

The car went past so fast it was just a blur.

blurred ADJECTIVE blurry ADJECTIVE

blush blushes, blushing, blushed VERB

When you blush you become red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed.

board boards NOUN

A board is a flat, thin piece of wood.

boast boasts, boasting, boasted VERB

If you boast, you talk too proudly about something.

boat boats NOUN

A boat is a small vessel for travelling on water.

See ship

body bodies

NOUN 1 Your body is every part of you. Some animals, like elephants, have very large bodies.

See The body on page 256

NOUN 2 You can say body when you mean just the main part of a person, not counting head, arms and legs.

NOUN 3 A body is a dead person.

bog bogs NOUN

A bog is an area of land that is always wet and spongy.

boil boils, boiling, boiled

VERB 1 When liquid boils it gets very hot. It bubbles and steam rises from it.

VERB 2 If you boil food, you cook it in boiling water.

NOUN 3 A boil is a painful red swelling on the skin.

bold bolder, boldest

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is bold is not afraid of risk or danger.

ADJECTIVE 2 Letters that are in bold type are thicker than ordinary printed letters.

bolt bolts, bolting, bolted

NOUN 1 A bolt is a long round metal pin with a flat end. It screws into a nut to fasten things.

NOUN 2 A bolt is a metal bar that you can slide across to keep a door shut.

VERB 3 If you bolt a door or window, you lock it with a bolt.

VERB 4 When a person or animal bolts, they suddenly run very fast.

bomb bombs NOUN

A bomb is a weapon which explodes and damages a large area.

bone bones NOUN

Your bones are the hard parts inside your body which make up your skeleton.

bonfire bonfires NOUN

A bonfire is a fire lit outdoors, usually to burn garden rubbish.

bonnet bonnets

NOUN 1 A bonnet is the metal cover over a car’s engine.

NOUN 2 A bonnet is also a baby’s or woman’s hat tied under the chin.

book books, booking, booked

NOUN 1 A book is a number of pages held together inside a cover.

VERB 2 If you book something, you ask someone to keep it for you. We booked seats at the cinema.

boot boots

NOUN 1 Boots are strong shoes that cover your ankle and sometimes your calf.

NOUN 2 The boot of a car is a space for luggage.

border borders

NOUN 1 A border is the line dividing two countries.

NOUN 2 A border is a strip along the edge of something, usually as a decoration.

bore bores, boring, bored

VERB 1 If somebody bores you, you do not find them interesting.

VERB 2 If you bore a hole in something, you make a hole with a drill.

VERB 3 Bore is the past tense of bear.

bored ADJECTIVE

When you are bored, you feel tired and impatient because you have nothing interesting to do.

boredom NOUN

boring ADJECTIVE

Something boring is so dull that you have no interest in it.

born VERB

When a baby is born, it comes out of its mother’s body.

borrow borrows, borrowing, borrowed VERB

When you borrow something, someone lets you have it for a while but they expect you to give it back later.

boss bosses NOUN

Someone’s boss is the head of the place where they work.

bossy ADJECTIVE

A bossy person likes to tell others what to do.

both ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN

You use both when you are talking about two things or people. He put both books in the drawer.

bother bothers, bothering, bothered

VERB 1 If something bothers you, it annoys you or makes you feel worried.

VERB 2 If you bother about something, you care about it and take trouble over it.

bottle bottles NOUN

A bottle is a container for keeping liquids in. Bottles are usually made of glass or plastic.

bottom bottoms

NOUN 1 The bottom of something is the lowest part of it.

NOUN 2 Your bottom is the part of your body that you sit on.

bought VERB

Bought is the past tense of buy.

boulder boulders NOUN

A boulder is a big rounded rock.

bounce bounces, bouncing, bounced VERB

When something bounces, it springs back in the opposite direction as soon as it hits something hard.

bound bounds, bounding, bounded

VERB 1 When animals or people bound, they move quickly with large leaps.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bound to happen, it is sure to happen.

boundary boundaries NOUN

The boundary of an area of land is its outer limit.

bow bows, bowing, bowed

(rhymes with low) NOUN 1 A bow is a kind of knot with two loops used to tie laces and ribbons.

NOUN 2 A bow is also a weapon used for shooting arrows.

NOUN 3 The bow for a stringed musical instrument is a long piece of wood with horsehair stretched along it.

(rhymes with now) VERB 4 When you bow, you bend your body forward.

bowl bowls NOUN

A bowl is an open container used for holding liquid or serving food.

box boxes NOUN

A box is a container with straight sides, made from something stiff, like cardboard, wood or plastic.

boy boys NOUN

A boy is a male child.

bracelet bracelets NOUN

A bracelet is a band or chain which is worn round the wrist or arm as an ornament.

bracket brackets NOUN

Brackets are a pair of written marks ( ) placed round words that are not part of the main text.

See Punctuation on page 270

Braille NOUN

Braille is a form of writing using raised dots that blind people can read by touching the dots with their fingers.

brain brains NOUN

Your brain is inside your head and controls your whole body. It lets you think, feel and remember.

brainy brainier, brainiest ADJECTIVE

Someone who is brainy is clever and good at learning things.

brake brakes NOUN

The brake is the part of a vehicle that slows it down or stops it.

bramble brambles NOUN

A bramble is a wild bush with thorns.

The fruit are called blackberries.

branch branches NOUN

A branch is part of a tree that grows out from the trunk.

brass NOUN

Brass is a yellow metal made from copper and zinc. It is used for making things like ornaments and some musical instruments.

brave braver, bravest ADJECTIVE

If you are brave, you show you can do something even if it is frightening.

bravely ADVERB bravery NOUN

bread NOUN

Bread is a very common food, made with flour and baked in an oven.

See Other foods on page 261

breadth NOUN

The breadth of something is the distance that it measures from one side to the other.

break breaks, breaking, broke, broken

VERB 1 If you break something, it splits into pieces or stops working.

VERB 2 If you break a rule or a promise, you fail to keep it.

breakdown breakdowns NOUN

If someone’s car has a breakdown, it stops working during a journey.

breakfast breakfasts NOUN

Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

breast breasts NOUN

Breasts are the two round parts on the front of a woman’s body, which can produce milk to feed a baby.

breath NOUN

Your breath is the air that you take into and let out of your lungs.

breathe breathes, breathing, breathed VERB

When you breathe, you take air into your lungs through your nose or mouth, and then let it out again.

breed breeds NOUN

A breed of an animal is a particular kind. For example, a labrador is a breed of dog.

breeze breezes NOUN

A breeze is a gentle wind.

brick bricks NOUN

A brick is a block used for building. It is made of baked clay.

bride brides NOUN

A bride is a woman on or near her wedding day.

bridge bridges NOUN

A bridge is something built over things like rivers, railways or roads, so that people or vehicles can get across.

brief briefer, briefest ADJECTIVE

Something that is brief lasts only a short time.

briefly ADVERB

briefcase briefcases NOUN

A briefcase is a flat case used for carrying papers.

bright brighter, brightest

ADJECTIVE 1 Bright colours are clear and easy to see.

ADJECTIVE 2 A light that is bright shines strongly.

ADJECTIVE 3 Someone who is bright is quick at learning or noticing things.

brilliant

ADJECTIVE 1 A brilliant colour or light is extremely bright.

ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is brilliant is extremely clever or skilful.

brim brims

NOUN 1 If you fill a cup to the brim, you fill it right up to the top.

NOUN 2 The brim of a hat is the part that sticks outwards from the head.