Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

3 a solution to a problem

ant ants

NOUN Ants are small insects that live in large groups.

antagonize antagonizes, antagonizing, antagonized

VERB If you antagonize someone, you upset them and make them feel angry.

Antarctic

NOUN the area around the South Pole

antelope antelopes

NOUN a hoofed animal, similar to a deer

antenna antennae or antennas

NOUN 1 one of the two long, thin parts attached to the head of an insect or other animal, which it uses to feel with. The plural is antennae.

2 In Australian, New Zealand and American English, an antenna is a radio or television aerial. The plural is antennas.

anthem anthems

NOUN usually a song of celebration, and sometimes a religious song

anther anthers

NOUN the part of the stamen in a flower where the pollen matures

anthology anthologies

NOUN a collection of writings by various authors, published in one book

[from Greek anthologia meaning flower gathering]

anti-

PREFIX against or opposite • an antimalaria tablet

ANTONYM: pro-

antibiotic antibiotics

NOUN a drug or chemical used in medicine to kill bacteria and cure infections

anticipate anticipates, anticipating, anticipated

VERB If you anticipate an event, you are expecting it and are getting prepared for it.

anticipation NOUN

anticlimax anticlimaxes

NOUN If something is an anticlimax, it disappoints you because it is not as exciting as you expected, or because it occurs after something that was more exciting.

anticlockwise

ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB moving in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock

ANTONYM: clockwise

antidote antidotes

NOUN a chemical substance that works against the effects of a poison

antique antiques

NOUN an object from the past that is collected because of its value or beauty

antiseptic

ADJECTIVE Something that is antiseptic can kill some germs.

antler antlers

NOUN Antlers are the branched horns on the top of a male deer’s head.

antonym antonyms

NOUN a word that means the opposite of another word • Happy is the antonym of sad.

anxiety anxieties

NOUN nervousness or worry

anxious

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are anxious, you are nervous or worried.

2 If you are anxious to do something, you very much want to do it. • She was anxious to pass her ballet exam.

any

ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN 1 one, some or several • Have you any sausages?

2 even the smallest amount or even one • She can’t eat nuts of any kind.

3 no matter which or what • I’m so thirsty, any drink will do.

anybody

PRONOUN any person

anyhow

ADVERB 1 in any case • It’s still early, but I’m going to bed anyhow.

2 in a careless way • They were all shoved in anyhow.

anyone

PRONOUN any person • I won’t tell anyone.

anything

PRONOUN any object, event, situation or action • Can you see anything?

anyway

ADVERB in any case • It’s raining, but I’m going out anyway.

anywhere

ADVERB in, at or to any place • Can you see him anywhere? • We haven’t got anywhere to play.

apart

ADVERB OR ADJECTIVE 1 When something is apart from something else, there is a space or a distance between them. • The gliders landed about seventy metres apart.

ADVERB 2 If you take something apart, you separate it into pieces.

apartment apartments

NOUN a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building

ape apes, aping, aped

NOUN 1 a large animal similar to a monkey, but without a tail. Apes include chimpanzees and gorillas.

VERB 2 If you ape someone’s speech or behaviour, you imitate it.

apex apexes or apices

NOUN The apex of something is its pointed top. • the apex of a cone

SYNONYM: vertex

apologize apologizes, apologizing, apologized; also spelt apologise

VERB When you apologize to someone, you say you are sorry for something you have said or done.

apology NOUN

apostrophe apostrophes

NOUN 1 a punctuation mark (‘) used to show that one or more letters have been missed out of a word, for example he’s for he is

2 Apostrophes are also used with -s at the end of a noun to show that what follows belongs to or relates to the noun. If the noun already has an -s at the end, for example because it is plural, the apostrophe comes after the s. For example, my brother’s books (one brother), my brothers’ books (more than one brother).

apparatus

NOUN the equipment used for a particular task • The firefighters wore breathing apparatus.

apparent

ADJECTIVE 1 An apparent situation seems to exist, although you cannot be certain of it.

2 clear and obvious • It was apparent they would get on well together.

apparently ADVERB

appeal appeals, appealing, appealed

VERB 1 If you appeal for something, you make an urgent request for it. • The police appealed for witnesses to come forward.

2 If something or someone appeals to you, you find them attractive or interesting.

NOUN 3 a formal or serious request • an appeal for funds to help people in need

appear appears, appearing, appeared

VERB 1 When something appears, it moves from somewhere you could not see to somewhere you can see it. • The sun appeared from behind the clouds.

2 If something appears to be a certain way, it seems or looks that way.

appearance appearances

NOUN 1 Someone’s or something’s appearance is the way they look to other people.

2 If a person makes an appearance in a film or a show, they take part in it.

3 The appearance of something is the time it begins to exist.

appendicitis

NOUN a painful illness in which a person’s appendix becomes infected

appendix appendices or appendixes

NOUN 1 Your appendix is a small, closed tube forming part of your digestive system.

2 extra information that comes at the end of a book

When appendix means the body part, the plural is appendixes. When it means the part of a book, the plural is appendices.

appetite appetites

NOUN a desire to eat

[from Latin appetere meaning to desire]

appetizing

ADJECTIVE When food is appetizing, it looks or smells good and you want to eat it.

applause

NOUN the sound of people clapping to show their enjoyment or approval of something

apple apples

NOUN a round fruit with smooth skin and firm white flesh

appliance appliances

NOUN any machine in your home that you use to do a job like cleaning or cooking. For example, a toaster is a kitchen appliance.

application applications

NOUN If you make an application for something, you make a formal request, usually in writing.

apply applies, applying, applied

VERB 1 If you apply for something, you ask for it formally, usually by writing a letter. • My brother is applying for jobs.

2 If you apply something to a surface, you put it on or rub it into the surface. • She applied sun cream to her face.

3 If you apply yourself to a task, you give it all of your attention.

appoint appoints, appointing, appointed

VERB If a person appoints someone to a job or position, they formally choose them for it. • The teacher appointed Sunita as team captain.

appointment appointments

NOUN an arrangement you have with someone to meet them

appreciate appreciates, appreciating, appreciated

VERB If you appreciate something that someone has done for you, you are grateful to them for it.

apprehensive

ADJECTIVE If you are apprehensive about something, you feel worried and unsure about it.

apprentice apprentices

NOUN someone who works with another person for a length of time to learn that person’s job or skill

approach approaches, approaching, approached

VERB If you approach something, you come near or nearer to it.

appropriate

ADJECTIVE suitable or acceptable for a particular situation

approval

NOUN If you ask for approval for something that you want to do, you ask for agreement with your plans.

approve approves, approving, approved

VERB 1 If you approve of something or someone, you think they are acceptable or good.

SYNONYMS: favour, like

2 If someone approves a plan or idea, they agree to it. • The council approved plans for the new swimming pool.

SYNONYMS: agree to, permit

approximate

ADJECTIVE near but not exactly right • What was the approximate time you arrived?

apricot apricots

NOUN a small, soft, yellowish-orange fruit

April

NOUN the fourth month of the year. April has 30 days.

apron aprons

NOUN a piece of clothing worn over the front of normal clothing to protect it

aquarium aquaria or aquariums

NOUN a glass tank filled with water in which fish and other aquatic animals or plants are kept

aquatic

ADJECTIVE An aquatic animal or plant lives in water.

aqueduct aqueducts

NOUN a bridge with many arches, which carries a water supply over a valley

arable

ADJECTIVE Arable land is used for growing crops.

arc arcs

NOUN 1 a smoothly curving line

2 In geometry, an arc is a section of the circumference of a circle.

arcade arcades

NOUN a covered passageway where there are shops or market stalls

arch arches, arching, arched

NOUN 1 a structure that has a curved top, supported on either side by a pillar or wall

VERB 2 If something arches, or if you arch it, it forms a curved line or shape. • The cat arched its back.

archaeology; also spelt archeology

NOUN the study of the past by digging up and examining the remains of things such as buildings, tools, and pots

[from Greek arkhaios meaning ancient]

archbishop archbishops

NOUN a bishop of the highest rank in a Christian Church • the Archbishop of Canterbury

archery

NOUN a sport in which people shoot at a target with a bow and arrow

architect architects

NOUN a person who designs buildings

architecture

NOUN the art or practice of designing buildings

arctic

NOUN 1 The Arctic is the region north of the Arctic Circle.

ADJECTIVE 2 very cold indeed • You need specially warm clothes for arctic conditions.

are

VERB a present tense of be

area areas

NOUN 1 a particular part of a place, country, or the world • a built-up area of the city

SYNONYMS: district, region, zone

2 the measurement of a flat surface • The area of the playground is 1500 square metres (1500 m2).

arena arenas

NOUN a place where sports and other public events take place

[from Latin harena meaning sand, because of the sandy centre of an amphitheatre where gladiators fought]

aren’t

VERB a contraction of are not

argue argues, arguing, argued

VERB 1 If you argue with someone about something, you disagree with them about it, sometimes in an angry way.

2 If you argue that something is true, you give reasons why you think that it is.

argument arguments

NOUN a talk between people who do not agree

arid

ADJECTIVE Arid land is very dry because there has been very little rain.

ANTONYM: fertile

arise arises, arising, arose, arisen

VERB When something such as an opportunity or a problem arises, it begins to exist.

aristocrat aristocrats

NOUN someone whose family has a high social rank, and who has a title such as Lord or Lady

aristocratic ADJECTIVE aristocracy NOUN

arithmetic

NOUN the part of mathematics that is to do with the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of numbers

[from Greek arithmos meaning number]

arithmetical ADJECTIVE

arithmetically ADVERB

arm arms, arming, armed

NOUN 1 the part of your body between your shoulder and your wrist

PLURAL NOUN 2 Arms are weapons used in a war.

VERB 3 If a country arms itself, it prepares for war.

armada armadas

NOUN a large fleet of warships • The Spanish Armada was the fleet sent to destroy the English in 1588.

armchair armchairs

NOUN a large chair with a support on each side for your arms

armistice armistices

NOUN In war, an armistice is an agreement to stop fighting.

armour

NOUN 1 In the past, armour was metal clothing worn for protection in battle.

2 In modern warfare, tanks are often referred to as armour.

army armies

NOUN a large group of soldiers who are trained to fight on land

aroma aromas

NOUN a strong, pleasant smell

[a Greek word meaning spice]

aromatic ADJECTIVE

around

PREPOSITION 1 situated at various points in a place or area • There are several post boxes around the town.

2 from place to place inside an area • We walked around the stalls at the summer fair.

3 surrounding or encircling a place or object • We were sitting around the table.

4 at approximately the time or place mentioned • The jumble sale began around noon.

arrange arranges, arranging, arranged

VERB 1 If you arrange to do something, or arrange something for someone, you make plans for it or make it possible. • I arranged to meet him later. • Dad arranged a trip to the circus for us.

2 If you arrange objects, you set them out in a particular way. • We arranged the books in alphabetical order.

array arrays

NOUN 1 a large number of different things displayed together

2 a mathematical way of grouping. For example, 3 × 2 is shown as ::: and 2 × 3 is shown as ⋮⋮.

arrest arrests, arresting, arrested

VERB 1 If the police arrest someone, they take them to a police station because they believe they may have committed a crime.

NOUN 2 An arrest is the act of arresting someone.

arrive arrives, arriving, arrived

VERB 1 When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.

2 When you arrive at a decision you make up your mind.

arrival NOUN

arrogant

ADJECTIVE Arrogant people behave as if they are better than other people.

arrow arrows

NOUN a long, thin weapon with a sharp point at one end, shot from a bow

arsenal arsenals

NOUN a place where weapons and ammunition are stored or produced

arsenic

NOUN a strong, dangerous poison that can kill

arson

NOUN the crime of deliberately setting fire to something, especially a building

art arts

NOUN 1 the creation of objects, such as paintings and sculptures, that are thought to be beautiful or that express a particular idea • He wanted to take art classes to learn how to draw and paint well.

2 Art is also used to refer to the objects themselves. • We saw lots of interesting paintings and sculptures at the art exhibition.

3 something that needs special skills or ability • I would like to master the art of sewing.

artery arteries

NOUN the tubes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body

See vein

arterial ADJECTIVE

arthritis

NOUN a condition in which the joints in someone’s body become painful, and sometimes swollen

arthritic ADJECTIVE

article articles

NOUN 1 a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine

2 a particular item • an article of clothing

artificial

ADJECTIVE Something artificial is created by people rather than occurring naturally.

ANTONYM: natural

artillery

NOUN 1 Artillery consists of large, powerful guns and rockets.

2 The artillery is the branch of an army that uses these weapons.

artist artists

NOUN a person who draws or paints or produces other works of art

as

CONJUNCTION 1 at the same time that • We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.

2 because • As I like school I get there early.

PHRASE 3 You use as if or as though when you are giving an explanation for something. • Shane walked past as if he didn’t know me.

ascend ascends, ascending, ascended

VERB FORMAL If someone or something ascends, they move or lead upwards. • We ascended the stairs to the second floor.

ANTONYM: descend

ash ashes

NOUN the grey or black powdery remains of anything that has been burnt • We put the ashes from the bonfire on the compost heap.

ashamed

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are ashamed, you feel embarrassed or guilty.

2 If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them.

ashore

ADVERB If someone or something comes ashore, they come on to the land from the sea or a river.

aside

ADVERB If you move something aside, you move it to one side. • She closed the book and laid it aside.

ask asks, asking, asked

VERB 1 If you ask someone something, you put a question to them.

2 If you ask someone to do something, you tell them you want them to do it. • We asked him to do his card trick.

3 If you ask for something, you say you would like to have it. • She asked for a drink of water.

4 If you ask someone to come or go somewhere, you invite them there.

asleep

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

aspect aspects

NOUN one of many ways of seeing or thinking about something

aspirin aspirins

NOUN 1 a white drug used to relieve pain, fever and colds

2 a small white tablet of this drug

ass asses

NOUN another word for donkey

assassinate assassinates, assassinating, assassinated

VERB If someone assassinates an important person, they murder them.

assassination NOUN

assault assaults

NOUN a violent attack on someone

[from Latin assalire meaning to leap upon]

assemble assembles, assembling, assembled

VERB 1 If people assemble, they gather together. • We assembled in the playground to watch the display.

2 If you assemble something, you fit the parts of it together. • It took us ages to assemble the model car.

assembly assemblies

NOUN a group of people who have gathered together for a meeting

assess assesses, assessing, assessed

VERB If you assess something, you consider it carefully and make a judgement about it. • She tried to assess how much further they had to walk.

SYNONYMS: judge, size up

asset assets

NOUN 1 If someone or something is an asset, they are useful or helpful. • He’s an asset to the school.

2 The assets of a person or a company are all the things they own that could be sold to raise money.

assignment assignments

NOUN a job you are given to do

assist assists, assisting, assisted

VERB If you assist someone, you help them to do something.

assistant assistants

NOUN someone who helps another person to do their job

associate associates, associating, associated

VERB 1 If you associate with someone, you spend time with them.

2 If you associate one thing with another, you make a connection between them.

association associations

NOUN 1 an organization for people who have similar interests, jobs or aims

2 An association between two things is a link you make in your mind between them.

assorted

ADJECTIVE Assorted things are a mixture of various sorts of something. They may be different colours, sizes and shapes.

assortment assortments

NOUN a group of similar things that are different sizes, shapes and colours • There was an amazing assortment of toys in the shop.

assume assumes, assuming, assumed

VERB 1 If you assume that something is true, you believe it, even if you have not thought carefully about it.

2 If you assume responsibility for something, you decide to do it. • I assumed responsibility for feeding the hamster.

assure assures, assuring, assured

VERB If you assure someone of something, you say something to make them less worried about it. • I assured him that I wouldn’t be late.

asterisk asterisks

NOUN a symbol (*) used in writing and printing to draw attention to something that is explained somewhere else, usually at the bottom of the page

asteroid asteroids

NOUN one of the large number of very small planets that move around the sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars

asthma

NOUN a disease of the chest that causes wheezing and difficulty in breathing

[from Greek azein meaning to breathe hard]

asthmatic ADJECTIVE

astonish astonishes, astonishing, astonished

VERB If something astonishes you, it surprises you very much.

astonished ADJECTIVE astonishing ADJECTIVE

astonishingly ADVERB astonishment NOUN

astrology

NOUN the study of the sun, moon and stars in the belief that their movements can influence people’s lives

astronaut astronauts

NOUN a person who operates a spacecraft

[from Greek astron meaning star and nautes meaning sailor]

astronomy

NOUN the scientific study of stars and planets

astronomer NOUN

at

PREPOSITION 1 where someone or something is • John waited for me at the bus stop.

2 the direction something is going in • I threw the snowball at my brother.

3 when something happens • The party starts at six o’clock.

ate

VERB the past tense of eat

atheist atheists

NOUN someone who does not believe in any form of God

athlete athletes

NOUN a person who is very good at sport and who takes part in sporting competitions

athletics

NOUN sporting events such as running, long jump and discus

Atlantic

NOUN the ocean that separates North and South America from Europe and Africa

atlas atlases

NOUN a book of maps

[from the giant Atlas in Greek mythology, who supported the sky on his shoulders]

atmosphere atmospheres

NOUN 1 gases that surround a planet

2 the general mood of a place • There was a friendly atmosphere at the party.

atom atoms

NOUN the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction

atrocity atrocities

NOUN an extremely shocking and cruel act

attach attaches, attaching, attached

VERB If you attach something to something else, you join or fasten the two things together.

attachment attachments

NOUN 1 a feeling of love and affection for someone