Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

bring brings, bringing, brought

VERB 1 If you bring someone on a visit, they come with you.

VERB 2 If you bring something, you have it with you when you arrive.

bristle bristles NOUN

The bristles of a brush are the thick hairs or thin pieces of plastic which are fixed to the main part of it.

brittle ADJECTIVE

If something is brittle, it is hard but easily broken.

broad broader, broadest ADJECTIVE

Something such as a road or river that is broad is very wide.

broadcast broadcasts NOUN

A broadcast is a programme or announcement on radio or television.

broke VERB

Broke is the past tense of break.

broken VERB

Broken is the past participle of break.

brooch brooches NOUN

A brooch is a small piece of jewellery which is worn pinned to a dress, blouse or coat.

broom brooms NOUN

A broom is a kind of brush with a long handle.

brother brothers NOUN

Someone’s brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as they have.

brought VERB

Brought is the past tense of bring.

brown browner, brownest ADJECTIVE

Something that is brown is the colour of earth or of wood.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

bruise bruises NOUN

A bruise is a purple mark on your skin where something has hit it.

brush brushes NOUN

A brush is a lot of bristles fixed to a handle. Different brushes are used for jobs like cleaning your teeth or painting.

bubble bubbles NOUN

A bubble is a ball of air or gas. You can make bubbles with soapy water. Fizzy lemonade has bubbles, too.

bucket buckets NOUN

A bucket is a container with a handle, often used for carrying water.

buckle buckles NOUN

A buckle is a fastening on the end of a belt or strap.

bud buds NOUN

A bud is a small lump on a plant which will open into a leaf or flower.

Buddhist Buddhists NOUN

A Buddhist is someone who follows the teachings of Buddha.

budgerigar budgerigars NOUN

Budgerigars are small brightly-coloured birds, often kept as pets.

buffalo buffaloes NOUN

A buffalo is an animal like a large cow with long curved horns.

bug bugs

NOUN 1 A bug is an insect.

NOUN 2 A bug is also an illness, such as a flu bug or a stomach bug.

build builds, building, built VERB

If you build something, you make it by joining things together.

builder builders NOUN

A builder is a person whose job is to build houses and other buildings.

building buildings NOUN

A building is a place like a house that has walls and a roof.

bulb bulbs

NOUN 1 A bulb is the glass part of a lamp that gives out light.

NOUN 2 A bulb is also a root shaped like an onion. Many spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs.

bulge bulges, bulging, bulged VERB

If something bulges, it sticks out in a lump.

His pockets bulged with conkers.

bull bulls NOUN

A bull is a male cow, elephant or whale.

bulldozer bulldozers NOUN

A bulldozer is a tractor with a steel blade on the front. It is used for moving large amounts of earth or stone.

bullet bullets

NOUN 1 A bullet is a small piece of metal fired from a gun.

NOUN 2 A bullet point is a heavy dot used to draw attention to a piece of text.

bully bullies NOUN

A bully is someone who hurts or frightens other people.

bump bumps, bumping, bumped

VERB 1 If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.

NOUN 2 If you hear a bump, it sounds like something falling to the ground.

NOUN 3 A bump is a raised uneven part on a surface such as a road.

bumper bumpers NOUN

Bumpers are bars on the front and back of a vehicle that protect it if there is an accident.

bun buns NOUN

A bun is a small round cake.

bunch bunches NOUN

A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.

See Collective nouns on page 268

bundle bundles NOUN

A bundle is a number of small things that have been tied together.

bungalow bungalows NOUN

A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor.

burger burgers NOUN

A burger is a flat piece of minced meat. It is often eaten in a bread roll.

burglar burglars NOUN

A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings to steal things.

burn burns, burning, burned or burnt

VERB 1 If something is burning, it is being spoiled or destroyed by fire.

VERB 2 People often burn fuel, such as coal, to keep warm.

NOUN 3 A burn is an injury caused by heat or fire.

burrow burrows NOUN

A burrow is a hole in the ground that an animal lives in.

burst bursts, bursting, burst VERB

When something like a balloon or tyre bursts, it splits open suddenly.

bury buries, burying, buried VERB

If you bury something, you put it in a hole in the ground and cover it.

bus buses NOUN

A bus is a large motor vehicle. People pay to go on buses.

bush bushes NOUN

A bush is a large woody plant with lots of branches. It is smaller than a tree.

business businesses

NOUN 1 Business is the work of making, buying and selling things or services.

NOUN 2 A business is a group of people who make and sell things.

bus stop bus stops NOUN

A bus stop is a place where people can get on or off buses.

busy busier, busiest

ADJECTIVE 1 When you are busy, you are working hard on something.

ADJECTIVE 2 A place that is busy is full of people doing things or moving about.

but CONJUNCTION

You use but to join two parts of a sentence when the second part is unexpected. Megan likes most green vegetables, but she won’t eat broccoli.

butcher butchers NOUN

A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up meat and sells it.

butter NOUN

Butter is a yellow fat made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it for cooking.

See Other foods on page 261

butterfly butterflies NOUN

A butterfly is an insect with four large wings which flies during the day.

See Insects on page 264

button buttons

NOUN 1 A button is a small disc used to fasten clothes.

NOUN 2 A button is also a part of a machine that you press to make it work.

buy buys, buying, bought VERB

When you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.

buzz buzzes, buzzing, buzzed VERB

If something buzzes, it makes a “zzz” sound like a bee.

by

PREPOSITION 1 You use by to show who or what has done something. The announcement was made by the head teacher.

PREPOSITION 2 You use by to show how something is done. He cheered us up by taking us to the cinema.

PREPOSITION 3 You use by to talk about being next to or near to another thing. They live by the park.

PREPOSITION 4 If something happens by a particular time, it happens before that time. We should finish by tea time.

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 5 You use by to talk about going past something. We drove by her house.

Cc

cab cabs

NOUN 1 The cab is the place where the driver sits in a bus, truck or train.

NOUN 2 A cab is another word for a taxi.

cabbage cabbages NOUN

A cabbage is a vegetable that looks like a large ball of leaves.

See Vegetables on page 260

cabin cabins

NOUN 1 A cabin is a room in a ship, boat or aeroplane for passengers or crew.

NOUN 2 A cabin is also a small house in a wild place such as a forest.

cable cables

NOUN 1 A cable is a thick rope or chain.

NOUN 2 A cable is also a bundle of wires with a rubber covering, which carries electricity.

NOUN 3 Cable television is a system in which the signals are sent along wires.

cactus cactuses or cacti NOUN

A cactus is a plant with spines. It can grow in hot, dry places like deserts.

café cafés NOUN

A café is a place with tables and chairs where you buy drinks and snacks.

cage cages NOUN

A cage is a box or room with bars in which birds or animals are kept.

cake cakes NOUN

A cake is a sweet food made with flour, sugar, fat and eggs, and baked in an oven.

See Other foods on page 261

calculate calculates, calculating, calculated VERB

If you calculate something in maths, you work it out.

calculation calculations NOUN

A calculation is something you work out in maths.

calculator calculators NOUN

A calculator is a small electronic machine which you can use to give you the answer to different calculations.

calendar calendars NOUN

A calendar is a list of the months, weeks and days in a year.

calf calves

NOUN 1 Calves are young cows, elephants and whales.

See Young animals on page 265

NOUN 2 Your calf is the part at the back of your leg between the knee and ankle.

call calls, calling, called

VERB 1 If you call someone, you shout for them, or telephone them.

VERB 2 If you call someone something, you give them a name.

VERB 3 If an animal or thing is called something, that is their name.

calm calmer, calmest

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are calm, you do not seem worried or excited.

ADJECTIVE 2 If the sea is calm, it is smooth and still because there is no wind.

came VERB

Came is the past tense of come.

camel camels NOUN

A camel is a large animal which carries people and things in the desert.

camera cameras NOUN

A camera is a piece of equipment you use to take pictures.

camouflage camouflages, camouflaging, camouflaged VERB

To camouflage something is to hide it by giving it the same colour or appearance as its surroundings.

camp camps NOUN

A camp is a place where people stay in tents.

can could; cans

VERB 1 If you can do something, you are able to do it. I can swim.

NOUN 2 A can is a metal container for something like food, drink or paint.

canal canals NOUN

A canal is a narrow stretch of water made for boats to travel along.

cancel cancels, cancelling, cancelled VERB

If you cancel something that has been planned, you stop it from happening.

candle candles NOUN

A candle is a wax stick with a string called a wick inside. You light the wick and it burns to give light.

cane canes

NOUN 1 A cane is the long hollow stem of a plant such as bamboo.

NOUN 2 A cane is a tall narrow stick used to support things.

cannot VERB

Cannot is the same as can not.

canoe canoes NOUN

A canoe is a small light boat, moved with a paddle.

can’t VERB

Can’t is a contraction of cannot.

canvas NOUN

Canvas is strong cloth, used for making things like tents and sails.

canyon canyons NOUN

A canyon is a narrow valley with very steep sides, often with a river.

cap caps

NOUN 1 A cap is a soft flat hat with a peak at the front.

NOUN 2 A cap is also a small flat lid on a bottle or container.

capable ADJECTIVE

If a person is capable of doing something, they are able to do it. He’s capable of doing better.

capacity capacities NOUN

The capacity of something is the largest amount it can hold, produce or carry.

The capacity of this jug is one litre.

capital capitals

NOUN 1 The capital is the main city in a country. Paris is the capital of France.

NOUN 2 A capital is a big letter of the alphabet, such as A, B and C. Capital letters are also called upper-case letters.

See lower-case

See also Punctuation on page 270

captain captains

NOUN 1 A captain is the person in charge of a ship or an aeroplane.

NOUN 2 A captain is the person who leads a team in sports like football.

caption captions NOUN

A caption is the words printed underneath a picture which explain what the picture is about.

capture captures, capturing, captured VERB

If you capture somebody, you take them prisoner.

car cars NOUN

A car is a road vehicle with wheels and an engine. It needs a driver and has room for passengers.

caravan caravans NOUN

A caravan is a vehicle pulled by a car in which people live or spend their holidays.

carbon NOUN

Carbon is a chemical found in coal and diamonds. All living things contain carbon.

carbon footprint carbon footprints NOUN

Your carbon footprint is the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere by the things you do.

card cards

NOUN 1 Card is strong, stiff paper.

NOUN 2 A greetings card usually has a picture on the front and is sent to people on special days such as birthdays.

NOUN 3 Playing cards are small pieces of card with numbers or pictures on them. They are used for card games.

cardboard NOUN

Cardboard is thick, stiff paper.

cardigan cardigans NOUN

A cardigan is a knitted jacket. You fasten it at the front with buttons.

care cares, caring, cared

VERB 1 If you care about something or someone, you think they are important.

VERB 2 If you care for a person or animal, you look after them.

NOUN 3 If you do something with care, you take trouble over it.

career careers NOUN

Someone’s career is the work they do, which they hope to do for a long time. John wants a career in teaching.

careful ADJECTIVE

If someone is careful, they try to do things safely and well.

careless ADJECTIVE

If you are careless, you do not pay attention to what you are doing.

caretaker caretakers NOUN

A caretaker is a person who looks after a large building such as a school.

cargo cargoes NOUN

Cargo is the goods carried on a ship or plane.

carnival carnivals NOUN

A carnival is a sort of party in the streets.

There is usually music and dancing, and people dress up and decorate cars and trucks.

carpenter carpenters NOUN

A carpenter is a person who works with wood, usually for furniture.

carpet carpets NOUN

A carpet is a thick covering for a floor, often made of wool.

carriage carriages

NOUN 1 A carriage is one of the vehicles that make up a passenger train.

NOUN 2 A carriage is also a vehicle with wheels, pulled by horses.

carrot carrots NOUN

A carrot is a long thin orange vegetable that grows under the ground.

See Vegetables on page 260

carry carries, carrying, carried VERB

When you carry something, you pick it up and take it with you.

cart carts NOUN

A cart is a heavy wooden vehicle pulled by horses or cattle on farms.

carton cartons NOUN

A carton is a strong cardboard or plastic box for holding food or drink.

cartoon cartoons

NOUN 1 A cartoon is a film where the characters are drawn instead of being real people.

NOUN 2 A cartoon is also a funny drawing in a magazine, newspaper or book.

cartwheel cartwheels NOUN

A cartwheel is a movement. You put your hands on the floor and move your legs round in a circle until you land on your feet again.

carve carves, carving, carved

VERB 1 If you carve an object, you cut it out of something like stone or wood.

VERB 2 If someone carves a piece of meat, they cut slices from it.

case cases NOUN

A case is a box for keeping or carrying things in.

cash NOUN

Cash is coins and paper money.

cast casts, casting, cast

NOUN 1 The cast of a play or film is all the people who act in it.

NOUN 2 A cast is an object made by pouring liquid plaster or metal into a container and leaving it to harden.

VERB 3 If something casts a shadow onto a place, it makes a shadow fall there.

VERB 4 If someone like a witch casts a spell on someone or something, they do magic that affects that person or thing.

castle castles NOUN

A castle is a large building with thick walls or ditches round it to protect it from attack.

cat cats NOUN

A cat is a small furry animal, often kept as a pet. There are also larger, wild cats, such as lions and tigers.

catalogue catalogues NOUN

A catalogue is a list of things for sale or for looking at.

catch catches, catching, caught

VERB 1 If you catch something, you take hold of it while it is moving.

VERB 2 If you catch a bus or train, you get on it to go somewhere.

VERB 3 If you catch something like measles, you get that illness.

catching ADJECTIVE

An illness that is catching can spread very quickly.

category categories NOUN

A category is a set of things with a particular feature or quality in common.

caterpillar caterpillars NOUN

A caterpillar is a very small animal like a worm with legs, that will change into a butterfly or moth.

cathedral cathedrals NOUN

A cathedral is a large, important church.

cattle NOUN

Bulls and cows are called cattle.

caught VERB

Caught is the past tense of catch.

cauliflower cauliflowers NOUN

A cauliflower is a round white vegetable with green leaves on the outside.

See Vegetables on page 260

cause causes, causing, caused VERB

To cause something means to make it happen.

cautious ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cautious acts carefully to avoid possible danger.

cave caves NOUN

A cave is a large hole in the side of a hill or cliff, or under the ground.

CD CDs NOUN

CD is an abbreviation of compact disc.

CD-ROM CD-ROMs NOUN

CD-ROM is an abbreviation of compact disc read-only memory. It is a disc which can be played on a computer to show sounds and pictures.

ceiling ceilings NOUN

The ceiling is the inside roof of a room.

celebrate celebrates, celebrating, celebrated VERB

If you celebrate something, you do something enjoyable like having a party, to show it is a special occasion.

celebrity celebrities NOUN

A celebrity is a famous person.

celery NOUN

Celery is a vegetable with long, pale green stalks.

See Vegetables on page 260

cell cells

NOUN 1 Animals and plants are made from tiny parts called cells.

NOUN 2 A cell is also a small room where a prisoner lives.

cellar cellars NOUN

A cellar is a room under a house where you can store things.

cement NOUN

Cement is a grey powder which is mixed with sand and water and used to make bricks stick together.

cemetery cemeteries NOUN

A cemetery is a place where dead people are buried.

centimetre centimetres NOUN

A centimetre (cm) is a measure of length. It is the same as 10 millimetres.

centipede centipedes NOUN

A centipede is a tiny animal like a worm, but with lots of legs.

central ADJECTIVE

Something that is central is in the middle of an object or an area.

centre centres

NOUN 1 The centre of anything is the middle of it.

NOUN 2 A centre is a place where people can go for a particular purpose, for example sports.

century centuries NOUN

A century is a period of 100 years. The 21st century is the time between 2000 and 2099.

cereal cereals

NOUN 1 Cereal is a plant which has seeds called grain that can be used for food.

NOUN 2 Cereal is also a food made from grain that is often eaten for breakfast.

See Other foods on page 261

ceremony ceremonies NOUN

A ceremony is a set of formal actions performed at a special occasion such as a wedding.

certain ADJECTIVE

If you are certain of something, you are sure it is true.

certificate certificates NOUN

A certificate is a piece of paper which says that something important like a birth or marriage took place.

chain chains NOUN

A chain is made from rings of metal joined together in a line.

chair chairs NOUN

A chair is a seat with a back, for one person.

chalk NOUN

Chalk is a soft white rock. It can be made into sticks for writing on blackboards.

challenge challenges, challenging, challenged

NOUN 1 A challenge is something new and exciting that needs a lot of effort. Learning how to cook is a new challenge for me.

VERB 2 If someone challenges you, they ask you to have a competition with them.

champion champions NOUN

A champion is a person who has beaten everyone else in a contest.

chance chances

NOUN 1 If there is a chance that something will happen, it might happen.

NOUN 2 If you are given a chance to do something, you are allowed to do it if you want to.

by chance PHRASE If something happens by chance, it has not been planned.

change changes, changing, changed

VERB 1 When something changes, it becomes different.

VERB 2 When you change your clothes, you put on different ones.

NOUN 3 If there is a change in something, it is different in some way.

NOUN 4 Change is the money you are given when you pay more than the right amount for something.

channel channels