beige 50
a beige /beɪʒ/ [㐍] A very pale brown color: Our benefit2 /ˈbenɪfɪt/ [㐘] To get an advantage: Unem-
b school uniform is beige. ployed people will benefit from the new laws.
belief /bɪˈliːf/ [㐌] 1 An opinion that you feel sure bent /bent/ Past tense and past participle forms of
about: It's my belief that the thief broke in after we bend2.
c all left. 2 The feeling that something is true: My beret US: /bəˈreɪ/ UK: /ˈber.eɪ/ [㐗] A round cloth
aunt has very strong religious beliefs. cap: Soldiers often wear berets. 㐀 See picture at
d believe /bɪˈliːv/ [㐘] 1 To think something is true: hat.
I believe what you say. 2 To be of the opinion: I Bermuda shorts or Bermudas [㐑] A
e don't believe we have met before. 3 To be sure that pair of shorts that go to the knees: Where are my
something is real: I don't believe in ghosts. Bermuda shorts? I'm going to the beach. ■ Be care-
f bell /bel/ [㐗] 1 A device that makes a sound ful! "Bermuda shorts" and "Bermudas" have a capital
when you press it: He rang the bell twice but there "B".
g was no answer. 2 A metal object that makes a berry /ˈber.i/ [㐗] A small fruit with seeds:
sound when it is hit: Church bells call people to Strawberries and blackberries are kinds of berries.
h Mass. ■ The plural is "berries".
belly /ˈbel.i/ [㐗] The part of your body just be- beside /bɪˈsaɪd/ [㐓] At the side of: My grand-
i low your chest: Tom's dad has a really big belly. ■ parents used to live beside the sea.
This word is informal. ■ The plural is "bellies". besides1 /bɪˈsaɪdz/ [㐓] In addition to: Besides
j belly-button [㐗] The small hollow in the your sister, who else is with you in the photo?
middle of the stomach where the cord attaching a besides2 /bɪˈsaɪdz/ [㐄] Also: I didn't like the mov-
baby to its mother used to be: The girl has her bel- ie; besides, it was too long.
k ly-button pierced. ■ This word is informal. ■ The best1 /best/ [㐍] 1 The superlative form of
same meaning: "navel". good1. 2 all the best Words you use when you say
l belong /bɪˈlɔŋ/ [㐘] 1 To be owned by: Those keys goodbye: I'll see you after the vacation; all the best.
belong to me. 2 To be a member of: Her sister be- 3 best wishes Words you write at the end of an
m longs to the Red Cross. informal letter: I look forward to hearing from you,
belongings /bɪˈlɔŋ·ɪŋz/ [㐑] Small things that best wishes, Hugh. 4 do your best To do as well as
n you own: I put all my belongings in a trunk. you can: I know the test is very difficult but just do
below1 /bɪˈləʊ/ [㐄] To a lower level: In winter your best.
o the temperature often goes twenty Fahrenheit de- best2 /best/ [㐄] The superlative form of well2.
grees. best man [㐌] The man who helps the bride-
p below2 /bɪˈləʊ/ [㐓] Lower than: Yesterday the groom at a wedding: George is going to be best
temperature was five degrees below zero. man at his brother's wedding.
q belt /belt/ [㐗] 1 A piece of leather or other ma- bestseller /ˌbestˈselər/ [㐌] A book that sells a
terial that goes round your body at your waist: large number of copies: "Peter Pan" has been a
r You need to tighten your belt or your pants will fall bestseller for many years.
down. 㐀 See picture at clothes. 2 safety belt See bet1 /bet/ [㐗] An agreement to risk money:
s safety belt. Let's make a bet on the result of the Cup final.
bench /bentʃ/ [㐗] A long seat, for example in a bet2, bet, bet /bet/ [㐘] 1 To risk money on a race
park: Let's sit on this bench for a minute. ■ The plu- and so on: He's always betting money on horses. 2
t ral is "benches".
I bet I am sure: I bet you'll get lost if you go with-
bend1 /bend/ [㐗] A curve: Mountain roads often out a map. ■ Be careful with the spelling of this
u have very sharp bends.
form: "betting".
bend2, bent, bent /bend/ [㐘] To curve: That iron betray /bɪˈtreɪ/ [㐘] To be disloyal, to aid an ene-
v bar will never bend. my: Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty silver
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to bend down To move down coins.
w the top of your body: She bent down to take her better1 /ˈbet̬·ər/ [㐀] The comparative form of
shoes off. good1.
x beneath /bɪˈniːθ/ [㐓] Under: They sat beneath better2 /ˈbet·̬ ər/ [㐄] 1 The comparative form of
the apple tree and read poetry. well2. 2 had better Should, ought to: You'd better
y beneficial /ˌben.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/ [㐀] Helpful: Rain for- tell him what's happening.
ests are beneficial to the environment. between /bɪˈtwiːn/ [㐓] 1 In the middle of two
z benefit1 /ˈbenɪfɪt/ [㐌] A profit, an advantage: The people or things: She always sits between Paul
new conditions will be to everyone's benefit. and me. 2 To and from two places: There's a ferry
51 biography
between Staten Island and Manhattan. 3 More Tell the waiter to bring the bill. ■ The same mean- a
ing: "check1". 2 A piece of paper showing how b
than one thing but less than another: The tickets much money somebody must pay for services c
will cost between ten and fifteen dollars. 4 After and so on: The phone bill was very high this month. d
3 A piece of paper money: Can you change this 50 e
one time and before another time: It rained be- dollar bill? f
tween 4 and 6 this morning. 5 Shared or divided in g
BILL
two: We paid the bill between us last night. 㐀 See h
billfold US: /ˈbɪlfəʊld/ [㐌] A small container, often i
pictures at among and preposition. j
made of leather, for holding bills or other docu- k
beware /bɪˈweər/ [㐘] To be careful: Beware of the ments: The pickpocket got away with my billfold. ■ l
The same meaning: "wallet". m
dog! ■ Be careful. We always say: "beware of (some- n
billiards US: /ˈbɪl.jɚdz/ UK: /ˈbɪl.i.ədz/ [㐖] A o
thing)". p
game in which balls are hit by sticks across a ta- q
beyond1 /biˈjɒnd/ [㐓] On the other side of ble: Are you good at billiards? ■ This word is singu- r
lar. ■ The same meaning: "pool". s
something: The bakery is beyond the bookstore. t
billion /ˈbɪl.jən/ [㐌] A thousand million: In fig- u
beyond2 /biˈjɒnd/ [㐄] Further than something: v
ures, one billion is written 1,000,000,000. ■ In the w
The Duke owned the land as far as those hills and past this word was used to mean one million million. x
Compare with "trillion" (one million million). y
even beyond. z
bin /bɪn/ [㐗] A container for garbage: Put this
Bible /ˈbaɪ.bl/̩ [㐌] The sacred book of Christians
soup tin in the bin, please.
and Jews: In the Christian Church, the Bible con-
binary /ˈbaɪnəri/ [㐀] Consisting of two ele-
sists of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
ments: A binary code alternates 0 and 1.
■ Be careful. "Bible" has a capital "B".
bind, bound, bound /baɪnd/ [㐘] To tie some-
bicarbonate [㐖] An acid salt used as an
thing with rope or string: They bound the luggage
antacid or for baking: He relieves his stom- together before putting it on top of the bus.
ach-ache with a spoonful of bicarbonate. binder /ˈbɑɪn·dər/ [㐗] A cover for holding pa-
biceps /ˈbaɪ.seps/ [㐗] The muscle which bends per, magazines and so on: Nelly keeps all her
notes in a binder.
the elbow: The biceps have grown stronger with ex-
binding /ˈbaɪn.dɪŋ/ [㐗] The cover of a book: I
ercise. ■ The plural is also "biceps". 㐀 See page
really like the binding of this dictionary.
423.
bingo /ˈbɪŋ·goʊ/ [㐖] A game played by cover-
bicycle /ˈbaɪ.sɪ.kl/̩ [㐗] A vehicle with two
ing numbers on a card: Ron goes to play bingo ev-
wheels and pedals: David could ride a bicycle ery week.
when he was four. 㐀 See page 441. binoculars /bəˈnɑk·jə·lərz/, /bɑɪ-/ [㐑] Double
bid1 /bɪd/ [㐗] An offer of money to buy some- glasses for seeing long distances: I like watching
birds through my binoculars.
thing: Portland Timbers made a high bid for a
biography /bɑɪˈɑg·rə·fi/ [㐗] The written story
Dutch international player.
of a person's life: She's working on a biography of
bid2, bade, bid /bɪd/ [㐘] To offer money to buy President Abraham Lincoln. ■ The plural is "biogra-
phies".
something: The company bid one million dollars
for the building. ■ Be careful with the spelling of this
form: "bidding".
big /bɪg/ [㐀] Large or important: An elephant is
big, a mouse is small. ■ The comparative form is
"bigger" and the superlative form is "biggest".
㐀 See pictures at opposite and a piece of...
big toe [㐗] The largest toe on the foot: Be
careful! You have just stepped on my big toe.
bikini /bɪˈkiː.ni/ [㐗] Swimming costume in two
pieces, for women: I bought a great bikini yester-
day. 㐀 See picture at clothes.
bile /baɪl/ [㐗] A bitter, alkaline fluid which
aids digestion: The liver secretes bile.
bilingual /baɪˈlɪŋ.gwəl/ [㐀] 1 Able to speak two
languages fluently: John is bilingual in Spanish
and English. 2 Spoken or written in two languag-
es: Use this bilingual dictionary to do your transla-
tion.
bill /bɪl/ [㐗] 1 A piece of paper showing how
much money somebody must pay in a restaurant:
biological 52
a biological [㐀] Referring to the scientific bitter. 2 With resentment, angry: He feels very bit-
b study of living things: He works in a biological pa- ter about how he was treated. 3 Very cold: A bitter
per about genetic diseases. wind from the North is affecting most of the coun-
biologist /bɑɪˈɑl·ə·dʒɪst/ [㐗] A person who try.
c studies biology: Linnaeus was a famous biologist bitter2 US: /ˈbɪt̬.ɚ/ UK: /ˈbɪt.ər/ [㐖] A brown
of the eighteenth century. beer: Another pint of bitter, please.
d biology /bɑɪˈɑl·ə·dʒi/ [㐖] The science of liv- bivalve /ˈbaɪ.vælv/ [㐗] Mollusk with a double
ing things: We're studying underwater plants in Bi- shell: A bivalve has two parallel bodies enclosed in
e ology at the moment. ■ Be careful with the pronun- joined shells.
ciation of this word! "Bi" rhymes with "my". bizarre /bɪˈzɑr/ [㐀] Very strange: His bizarre
f biomass /ˈbɑɪ·oʊˌmæs/ [㐗] The total quantity clothing amuses everyone.
of living material in a given ecosystem: Biomass black1 /blæk/ [㐍] The opposite of white: Black
g may be converted into energy. is the color of night.
bird US: /bɝːd/ UK: /bɜːd/ [㐗] An animal with black2 /blæk/ [㐀] 1 Who has a dark skin: Many
h wings and feathers: Birds lay eggs in nests. 㐀 See black people in the United States now prefer to be
pages 426 and 429. called Afroamericans. 2 Without milk, when you
are talking about tea or coffee: I can't drink black
i biro UK: /ˈbaɪərəʊ/ [㐌] See ballpoint. ■ This word is coffee; it's too strong for me. 3 Bad: Accidents often
British English. make Sundays a black day on the roads. 4 in black
and white Containing only black and white col-
j birth US: /bɝːθ/ UK: /bɜːθ/ [㐌] 1 The act of being
born: Mr. and Mrs. Davies flew back to Denver for
k the birth of their grandson. 2 to give birth to ors: We saw an old movie in black and white on the
(somebody) To have a baby: She gave birth to television last night.
twins. blackberry /ˈblæk.bər.i/ US: /-ber-/ [㐗] A small
l birthday /ˈbɜrθˌdeɪ/ [㐗] 1 The anniversary of black fruit that grows on a bush: You'll get sick if
the day when somebody was born: Fran gave me a you eat too many blackberries. ■ The plural is
m wallet for my birthday. 2 Happy Birthday! Greet- "blackberries".
ings said on a birthday: In her telegram Laura blackbird /ˈblæk.bɜːd/ US: /-bɝːd/ [㐗] A small
n wished me Happy Birthday. ■ Be careful. "Happy black bird: Blackbirds eat insects and seeds.
Birthday" has capital letters. blackboard /ˈblækˌbɔrd/, /-ˌboʊrd/ [㐗] A board
o biscuit /ˈbɪs.kɪt/ [㐗] See cookie. ■ Be careful with a black surface on which you write with
with the pronunciation of this word. The ending chalk: The teacher wrote the instructions on the
p "cuit" is pronounced the same as the word "kit". ■ blackboard. ■ Compare with "whiteboard" (a board
This word is British English. on which you write with a special marker). 㐀 See
q bishop /ˈbɪʃ.əp/ [㐗] 1 An important priest: picture at classroom.
Several bishops will meet the Pope at the airport. 2 blackcurrant /ˌblækˈkʌr.ənt/ US: /ˈblæk.kɝː-/
r A chess piece: Bishops move diagonally. 㐀 See [㐗] A very small, round black fruit with a
picture at chess. sharp taste: I had some bread and blackcurrant
s bit1 /bɪt/ [㐗] 1 A small piece of something: Last jam for breakfast this morning.
night she only ate some bread and a bit of cheese. black eye [㐗] A dark mark around your eye
2 A small amount of something: We were in New caused by a blow: Did you get that black eye in a
t York City doing a bit of shopping on Friday.
fight?
bit2 /bɪt/ Past tense of bite2. black magic [㐖] Magic that is used in a
u bitch /bɪtʃ/ [㐗] A female dog: "What sex is your bad way: Some people believe that you can actual-
dog?" It's a bitch. ly kill people using black magic.
v bite1 /baɪt/ [㐗] 1 A wound that is made by bit- blackmail /ˈblæk.meɪl/ [㐘] To get money from
ing: His hands are covered with insect bites. 2 A somebody by telling them you will tell their se-
w mouthful: I took a big bite of cake. crets if they don't pay you: The banker was black-
bite2, bit, bitten /baɪt/ [㐘] 1 To cut something mailed by the Mafia.
x with your teeth: A small dog bit him on the ankle blackout [㐗] Lack of illumination caused by
yesterday. 2 To sting: Mosquitoes bit her face and an electrical power failure: A blackout in the
y arms during the night. building caused the elevator to stop abruptly.
bitten /ˈbɪt.ən/ Past participle of bite.
blacksmith [㐗] Somebody who works with
z bitter1 /ˈbɪtər/ [㐀] 1 With a hard taste, that can iron: The number of blacksmithers is much smaller
be unpleasant: Black coffee without sugar tastes now.
53 bloodstream
bladder /ˈblædər/ [㐗] A membrane sac in the blend2 /bliːd/ [㐘] 1 To mix: Blend the sugar and a
b
body which contains urine: Urine is produced by butter together before adding the flour. 2 To go c
d
the kidneys and held in the bladder. 㐀 See page well together: The flute and the violin blend beau- e
f
424. tifully in that piece of music. g
blade /bleɪd/ [㐗] The cutting part of an in- blender /ˈblen·dər/ [㐗] A small electric ma- h
i
strument: Careful! That knife has a very sharp chine used for making solid foods into liquid: j
k
blade. I used the blender to make some fresh apple l
m
blame /bleɪm/ [㐘] To feel and to say that some- juice. n
o
body is responsible for something bad: Nobody bless /bles/ [㐘] 1 To ask for God's protection: The p
q
can blame Jenny for the accident. bishop's going to bless our new chapel. 2 bless r
s
bland /blænd/ [㐀] With very little taste: I think you Words you say when somebody has sneezed: t
u
the soup's too bland. "Bless you!" said my grandfather. ■ Be careful with v
w
blank1 /blæŋk/ [㐀] 1 With nothing written or the spelling of the 3rd person singular present tense x
y
drawn on it: You must fill in the blank spaces on form: "blesses". ■ "Bless" also has regular past and z
the form. 2 Empty, without expression: You
past participle forms: "blessed".
look blank; is there something you don't under-
blew /bluː/ Past tense of blow2.
stand? blind1 /blaɪnd/ [㐀] Not able to see: His aunt has
blank2 /blæŋk/ [㐗] An empty space: Fill in the been blind since birth.
blanks in the following exercise. blind2 /blaɪnd/ [㐗] The covering over a window:
blanket /ˈblæŋ.kɪt/ [㐗] A thick covering used If we pull the blinds down, we'll keep the light out.
on a bed: She needs two blankets to keep warm at blindfold /ˈblɑɪndˌfoʊld/ [㐘] To cover somebody's
night. 㐀 See picture at bedroom. eyes with cloth: Wendy was blindfolded by the pi-
blast US: /blæst/ UK: /blɑːst/ [㐗] 1 A sudden rates.
movement of air: The blast of wind made the doors blink /blɪŋk/ [㐘] To close and open your eyes
bang. 2 An explosion: How many people were hurt
quickly: The morning sunshine makes me blink.
in the blast?
blister /ˈblɪs·tər/ [㐗] A swelling under the skin
blast-off US: /ˈblæst.ɑːf/ UK: /ˈblɑːst.ɒf/ [㐖] The
with water underneath: My new shoes are giving
moment when a spacecraft leaves the ground:
me blisters on my feet.
Ten, nine, eight... two, one, blast-off!
blizzard /ˈblɪz·ərd/ [㐗] A bad storm with
blaze1 /bleɪz/ [㐗] A large and dangerous fire:
strong winds and snow or sand: Blizzards are very
The blaze quickly destroyed the building.
dangerous for car drivers.
blaze2 /bleɪz/ [㐘] To burn strongly: The logs
block1 /blɒk/ [㐗] 1 A large piece of something
blazed in the fireplace.
solid: The monument is made of blocks of stone.
blazer /ˈbleɪ·zər/ [㐗] A formal jacket: Our 㐀 See picture at a piece of... 2 A group of build-
school blazer is navy blue with the school badge on ings: Her office is only two blocks away. 㐀 See pic-
ture at house. 3 block capitals or block letters
the pocket.
Letters written in their big form: Write your name
bleach1 /bliːtʃ/ [㐖] Substance which takes
in block capitals, please.
the color out of something: Put some bleach in the
block2 /blɒk/ [㐘] To stop somebody or something
water when you are washing white sheets.
from going forward: The truck crashed into a tree
bleach2 /bliːtʃ/ [㐘] 1 To make something clean or
and blocked the road.
white: I bleached the sheets yesterday morning. 2
blond [㐀] Having hair that is yellow in color:
To make something white or pale: The sun
Tim is a tall boy with blond hair.
bleached her hair last summer.
blonde US: /blɑːnd/ UK: /blɒnd/ [㐍] Referring to
bleak /bliːk/ [㐀] Cold, unpleasant: The weath-
females, having hair that is yellow in color: An-
er's very bleak up here in the mountains.
gela has dyed her hair blonde.
bleat /bliːt/ [㐘] To make the sound that sheep
blood /blʌd/ [㐖] The red liquid inside peo-
make: I can hear the sheep bleating in the barn.
ple's bodies: After he fell in the playground, his
㐀 See picture at animal.
knees were covered with blood. ■ Be careful with the
bled /bled/ Past tense and past participle forms of
pronunciation of this word. The vowel sound here is
bleed.
pronounced the same as in "sun".
bleed, bled, bled /bliːd/ [㐘] To lose blood: Her
bloodstream /ˈblʌd.striːm/ [㐌] The flow of blood
hand is still bleeding from the dog's bite.
round the body: She's got a bad infection of the
blend1 /blend/ [㐗] A mixture: My grandma's fa-
bloodstream. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
vorite blend of coffee is ice coffee.
blood vessel 54
a this word. The vowel sound in "blood" is pronounced somebody: You don't really know how to repair
b the same as in "sun". computers; you're just bluffing.
blood vessel [㐗] Any of the tubes that bluish [㐀] Slightly blue: My new dress is blu-
transport blood through the body tissues and or- ish-grey.
c gans: There are three types of blood vessels: arter- blunt /blʌnt/ [㐀] 1 Not sharp: That knife is so
ies, capillaries and veins. blunt that it can't cut anything. 2 Direct, not po-
d bloody /ˈblʌd.i/ [㐀] 1 With a lot of blood on it: lite: Don't ask him such blunt questions.
Craig had a very bloody nose after the fight. 2 With blur US: /blɝː/ UK: /blɜːr/ [㐘] To make something
e much violence: The battle was very bloody. 3 A difficult to see: Tears blurred my eyes. ■ Be careful
word used for giving force to what you say: You're with the spelling of these forms: "blurred", "blur-
f a bloody liar! ■ In this use "bloody" is a swear word. ring".
■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this word. The blurry [㐀] Difficult to see clearly: The photo
g vowel sound here is pronounced the same as in was blurry.
"sun". ■ The comparative form is "bloodier" and the blush /blʌʃ/ [㐘] To become red in the face be-
h superlative form is "bloodiest". cause of embarrassment: He couldn't help blush-
bloom /bluːm/ [㐘] To have flowers: Monica's rose ing at her compliments.
i trees bloom twice a year. boar US: /bɔːr/ UK: /bɔːr/ [㐗] 1 A male pig used
blossom US: /ˈblɑː.səm/ UK: /ˈblɒs.əm/ [㐘] To have for breeding: Tina's uncle has a boar on the farm.
j flowers: The roses are blossoming earlier this year. 2 A wild pig: The boar ran into the forest.
blot /blɒt/ [㐗] The result of spilling ink: The board1 /bɔːd/ ❚ [㐗] 1 A long, thin piece of
paper had a single blot at the top. wood: We need some boards to repair the shelves.
k blouse US: /blaʊs/ UK: /blaʊz/ [㐗] A woman's 2 A flat surface on which somebody writes:
shirt: That belt doesn't go very well with your They've put the prices up on the board. 3 A flat,
thin piece of wood, cardboard or other material
l blouse. that is used for a particular purpose: In this game
blow1 US: /bloʊ/ UK: /bləʊ/ [㐗] A hard stroke: you throw a dice to move around the board. ❚ [㐌] 4
A group of people who run a company: The board
m The blow made him fall off the bike.
blow2, blew, blown US: /bloʊ/ UK: /bləʊ/ [㐘] 1 To
n send air out of your mouth: He took a deep breath of directors will discuss the problem at tomorrow's
and blew as hard as he could. 2 To move in the meeting. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
o wind: Be careful! The wind will blow your cap word! The "a" is not pronounced.
away. 3 to blow your nose To clean your nose by board2 /bɔːd/ [㐘] 1 To get on a plane, train or
p blowing it into a handkerchief: Take a handker- ship: The passengers had to wait two hours to
chief and blow your nose. board the Airbus. 2 on board On a plane, train or
q ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to blow down To fall down ship: Look! Jack's already on board the train. ■ Be
because of the wind: The trees were blown down careful. In this use we say: "on board the ship". We
r by the strong winds. · to blow (something) out To don't say: "on board of the ship".
stop something burning by blowing on it: Blow board game [㐗] A game played on a square
s out the candles on your birthday cake. · to blow board: Chess and checkers are popular board
(something) up 1 To destroy in an explosion: The games.
terrorist group has blown the bridge up. 2 To fill
BOARD GAME
t something with air: Will you help me blow these
balloons up?
u blowhole US: /ˈbloʊ.hoʊl/ UK: /ˈbləʊ.həʊl/ [㐗] An
opening used for breathing: Whales have a blow-
v hole on the top of their head.
blown US: /bloʊn/ UK: /bləʊn/ Past participle of
w blow2.
blue /bluː/ [㐍] The color of the sky on a fine
x day: I like your new blue jeans.
blueish [㐀] See bluish.
y bluff1 /blʌf/ [㐗] An attempt to deceive some- boarding card [㐗] See boarding pass. ■ This
body: We all thought it was a bluff, but when he word is British English.
z showed his cards they were excellent. boarding pass [㐗] A card that passengers
bluff2 /blʌf/ [㐘] To pretend, to attempt to deceive show before getting on a plane: You must show
55 book
your boarding pass at Gate Five. ■ In British English metal ring to hold things together: We fixed the a
b
they say "boarding card". two boards together with nuts and bolts. c
d
boarding school [㐗] A school where stu- bomb1 US: /bɑːm/ UK: /bɒm/ [㐗] A metal con- e
f
dents live while they are studying: Clive's parents tainer filled with explosives: Fortunately, nobody g
sent him to an expensive boarding school when he was injured when the bomb went off. ■ Be careful h
i
was fourteen. with the pronunciation of this word! The "b" is silent. j
k
boast US: /boʊst/ UK: /bəʊst/ [㐘] To talk about bomb2 /bɒm/ [㐘] To attack a place with bombs: l
m
something with exaggerated pride: She never London was bombed during the Second World War. n
o
boasts about her family even though they're all bone US: /boʊn/ UK: /bəʊn/ [㐌] 1 One of the hard p
q
wonderful musicians. parts of a person's body: Lynn's broken a bone in r
her arm. 2 One of the hard parts of an animal's s
boastful /ˈboʊst·fəl/ [㐀] Expressing too much t
body: I can't eat this fish, it's got too many bones. u
pride in things you have done or in yourself: v
bonfire US: /ˈbɑːn.faɪr/ UK: /ˈbɒn.faɪər/ [㐗] An open w
Tom's very boastful; he's always talking about the x
air fire: Bonfires are forbidden in clean air zones. y
new motorcycle he's bought. z
bonnet US: /ˈbɑː.nɪt/ UK: /ˈbɒn.ɪt/ [㐗] 1 A small
boat US: /boʊt/ UK: /bəʊt/ [㐗] 1 A vehicle used
round hat for babies: That baby's wearing a lovely
on water, particularly a small one: We always rent bonnet. 2 See hood. ■ This use is British English.
a sailing boat for the summer. 2 power boat See
bonus /ˈboʊ·nəs/ [㐗] Extra money: We're get-
power boat. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
ting a bonus at Christmas. ■ The plural is "bonus-
this word! "boa" rhymes with "go". ■ A "boat" is usu-
es".
ally smaller than a "ship" or travels shorter distanc-
bony /ˈboʊ·ni/ [㐀] Extremely thin: My grandfa-
es. Sometimes however in spoken English, "boat" is
ther has long bony fingers.
used for a big ship.
boo /buː/ [㐘] To make a sound because you don't
body US: /ˈbɑː.di/ UK: /ˈbɒd.i/ [㐗] 1 All the physi-
like something: The spectators booed the basket-
cal parts of a person or an animal: We're studying
the human body in Biology. 2 A dead person: The ball players after they lost by twenty points.
police found the body in a van. 3 The main part of
boob tube [㐌] See television. ■ This word is in-
a person or an animal: He got a wound in his leg
formal.
and two more in his body. ■ The plural is "bodies".
book1 /bʊk/ [㐗] A set of pages fastened togeth-
㐀 See page 421.
er for reading: What's your favorite book? 㐀 See
bodyguard US: /ˈbɑː.di.gɑːrd/ UK: /ˈbɒd.i.gɑːd/
picture at classroom.
[㐗] Somebody who goes with and protects an
important person: The President has a lot of body- BOOK pages
guards. cover
body piercing [㐌] See piercing. paperback
boil /bɔɪl/ [㐘] 1 To heat a liquid until it becomes hardback notebook
steam: Water boils at 100 ºC. 2 To cook some- book2 /bʊk/ [㐘] To reserve a seat, a table and so
thing in very hot water: Boil this egg for four min- on: Have you booked the airplane tickets for our
trip yet?
utes.
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to boil over Referring to a
liquid, to rise and go out of the container: Care-
ful! The milk's boiling over. 㐀 See picture at cook.
boiling point [㐗] It is the temperature at
which a liquid becomes a gas: The boiling point of
water is 100°C.
bold /bəʊld/ [㐀] Brave, confident, not afraid: I
am Sir Brian, as bold as a lion.
Bolivian1 [㐀] Referring to Bolivia: Cochabam-
ba is a Bolivian city. ■ Be careful! "Bolivian" has a
capital "B".
Bolivian2 [㐗] A person from Bolivia: My aunt
is a Bolivian. ■ Be careful! "Bolivian" has a capital "B".
bolt US: /boʊlt/ UK: /bəʊlt/ [㐗] 1 A metal bar
used for keeping a door closed: We've put a bolt
on the back door. 2 A screw that is used with a
bookcase 56
a bookcase /ˈbʊk.keɪs/ [㐗] A piece of furniture Greenfield, Indiana in 1985. ■ See box at abbrevi-
b with shelves for books: This bookcase is full of in- ations.
teresting books. 㐀 See picture at living room. borne US: /bɔːrn/ UK: /bɔːn/ Past participle of bear.
booking /ˈbʊk.ɪŋ/ [㐌] A reservation of seats, borrow US: /ˈbɑː.roʊ/ UK: /ˈbɒr.əʊ/ [㐘] To take or to
c places and so on: We'll make the bookings for the use something belonging to somebody else for
concert tomorrow. some time: Can I borrow your car tonight, mom? ■
d bookshelf /ˈbʊk.ʃelf/ [㐗] A shelf for books: Compare with "lend" (to let somebody use something
Could you please put this book back on the book- that you own).
e shelf? ■ The plural is "bookshelves". 㐀 See picture boss US: /bɑːs/ UK: /bɒs/ [㐗] A person who is in
at classroom. charge of others: I'll ask the boss if we can go on
f bookshop /ˈbʊkʃɒp/ [㐗] See bookstore. ■ This vacation next week. ■ The plural is "bosses".
word is British English. bossy US: /ˈbɑː.si/ UK: /ˈbɒs.i/ [㐀] Who is always
g bookstore [㐗] A shop where books are sold: giving orders: Your sister is rather bossy. ■ The
I bought this paperback at the new bookstore. ■ comparative form is "bossier" and the superlative
h Compare with "library" (a place where you can read form is "bossiest".
and borrow books). ■ In British English they say botanical /bəˈtænɪkəl/ [㐀] Referring to botany:
i "bookshop". The plants they found were separated into botani-
boom /buːm/ [㐘] To make a loud, deep sound: The cal groups.
j principal's voice boomed across the hall: "Why are botany /ˈbɑt·ə·n·i/ [㐖] The study of plants:
you late?". Botany is a branch of biology.
booster /ˈbuːstər/ [㐗] 1 The increase in power both US: /boʊθ/ UK: /bəʊθ/ [㐂] 1 The two to-
k or strength given by additional resources: The in- gether: They both like cooking. ■ "Both" usually
ternational assistance was a morale booster for the goes before ordinary verbs: "They both like tennis".
l soldiers. 2 The extra amount of vaccine or drug It goes after auxiliary verbs: "They can both cook". 2
given to increase or renew the effect: The resis- both... and... At the same time: Both Canada and
m tance to this illness is increased by a booster. United States are in North America.
boot /buːt/ [㐗] 1 A strong shoe that covers the bother1 /ˈbɒðər/ [㐖] Trouble, worry: The ba-
n ankle: Please don't take your boots off in the dining by never gives me any bother.
room. 㐀 See picture at clothes. 2 See trunk. ■ bother2 /ˈbɒðər/ [㐘] 1 To give trouble: Don't both-
o This use is British English. er me with silly questions. 2 To take trouble: She
border US: /ˈbɔːr.dɚ/ UK: /bɔː.dər/ [㐗] 1 A line never bothers to take her medicine. 3 can't be
p between two countries, provinces and so on: They bothered Not wanting to try: I can't be bothered to
live near the border between the United States and do the dishes now.
q Mexico. 2 An edge: That tablecloth has a beautiful, bottle1 US: /ˈbɑː.tl̬ ̩/ UK: /ˈbɒt.l/̩ [㐗] A glass or a
colored border. plastic container for liquids: There are some bot-
r bore1 /bɔːr/ [㐗] An uninteresting person or tles of lemonade in the fridge.
thing: She's a bore; her conversation is always bottle2 /ˈbɒtl/ [㐘] To put into bottles: This wine
s about what she saw on television last night. was bottled in 1970.
bore2 /bɔːr/ [㐘] To make somebody feel tired and bottom1 US: /ˌbɑː.tə̬ m/ UK: /ˌbɒt.əm/ [㐗] 1 The
uncomfortable: Watching TV all evening really lowest part of anything: Something has fallen to the
t bores me.
bottom of the swimming pool. 2 The part of the body
bore3 Past tense of bear2. that is used for sitting: I fell and hurt my bottom.
u bored US: /bɔːrd/ UK: /bɔːd/ [㐀] Tired, not inter- bottom2 /ˈbɒtəm/ [㐀] Lowest, last: Her boy-
ested: I'm bored of his jokes; they're always the friend's sitting in the bottom row.
v same. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of the end bought US: /bɑːt/ UK: /bɔːt/ Past tense and past
of this word. The "e" is not pronounced. ■ Compare participle forms of buy. ■ Be careful with the pro-
w with "boring" (that makes you feel bored). ■ See box nunciation of this word. It rhymes with "fort".
on the following page. 㐀 See picture at emotions. bounce /baʊnts/ [㐘] To make something come
x boring US: /ˈbɔːr.ɪŋ/ UK: /ˈbɔː.rɪŋ/ [㐀] Something back by throwing it: The neighbor often bounces
that makes you bored: The game we saw on Satur- his ball against my wall.
y day was very boring. ■ Compare with "bored" (that bound1 /baʊnd/ [㐀] 1 Obliged: He is bound by
feels bored). ■ See box on the following page. the rules to attend the meeting. 2 Certain, very
z born /bɔːn/ 1 Past participle of bear. 2 to be likely: That team can't possibly win; you're bound
born To come into the world: Tom was born in to lose your bet. 3 Intending to go: This class is
57 bracelet
designed for college bound students. ■ Be careful. boxer US: /ˈbɑːk.sɚ/ UK: /ˈbɒk.sər/ [㐗] A man who a
b
We say: "to be bound to (do something)". boxes: Muhammad Ali was a famous boxer who be- c
came world champion three times. d
bound2 /baʊnd/ Past tense and past participle e
boxing /ˈbɑk·sɪŋ/ [㐖] A sport in which two f
forms of bind. g
men fight: Boxing is fought with gloves.
boundary /ˈbaʊn.dər.i/ [㐗] A line that divides h
box number [㐗] A box in the post office i
one area from another: They've moved the town j
where somebody receives letters: Please, reply to k
boundary to include the old cottages. ■ The plural the box number that you'll find below. l
m
is "boundaries". box office [㐗] The place in a movie theater, n
o
bouquet /bʊˈkeɪ/ [㐗] A bunch of flowers that theater or concert hall where tickets are bought: p
I'll phone the box office to book our seats. q
is arranged in an attractive way: The singer re- r
boy /bɔɪ/ [㐗] A male child or a male adoles- s
ceived a bouquet of roses. t
cent: Clive used to be very fat as a boy, but now he's u
bourgeois /ˈbʊər·ʒwɑ/, /bʊərˈʒwɑ/ [㐀] Referring slim. ■ Be careful! Many people feel it is offensive to v
call a man a "boy" after he has become an adult. w
to the middle class: During the recent centuries, x
boyfriend /ˈbɔɪ.frend/ [㐗] The male compan- y
bourgeois citizens form a social class characterized z
ion of somebody: She's been to Hawaii with her
by their possession of capital and their related cul- boyfriend.
ture. Boy Scout [㐗] See Scout. ■ Be careful! "Boy
bourgeoisie /ˌbʊər·ʒwɑˈzi/ [㐖] The social Scout" has capital letters.
class which has economic power in a capitalist bra /brɑː/ [㐗] A piece of woman's underwear
society: The bourgeoisie holds the reins of society. for supporting the breasts: She took off her bra be-
fore getting into bed.
boutique /buːˈtiːk/ [㐗] A small store that sells
bracelet /ˈbreɪ.slət/ [㐗] A chain or a band that
fashionable things: Jane buys her dresses in a
you wear on your wrist as an ornament: Rosie
boutique. wears a silver bracelet on her left wrist. 㐀 See pic-
ture at jewelry.
bow1 /baʊ/ [㐗] 1 A weapon made of wood and
bored / boring
string: In the Middle Ages soldiers fought with
bows and arrows. 㐀 See picture at arrow. 2 A ðÜThere are many pairs of adjectives that end in -ed
and -ing:
knot used for decorations and for tying your
- bored
shoes: She tied a bow in her hair.
- boring
bow2 /baʊ/ [㐘] To bend the head or the body to
- interested
show respect: Everyone bows to the king and the
- interesting
queen.
- surprised
bowel /baʊəl/ [㐗] The lower part of the alimen-
- surprising
tary canal: The bowel is found below the stomach.
- frightened
bowl US: /boʊl/ UK: /bəʊl/ [㐗] A round, plastic or
- frightening
wooden container: Give the cat a bowl of milk.
- excited
㐀 See picture at plate.
- exciting
bowling /ˈboʊ·lɪŋ/ [㐖] 1 A game in which
ðÜThe two words do not mean the same thing (if
balls are rolled: Bowling is my favorite pastime. 2 something is -ing, it makes you -ed):
bowling alley A building with tracks for bowling: - If a movie is boring, it makes you bored.
We meet our friends at the bowling alley. - If a movie is frightening, it makes you frightened.
box1 /bɒks/ [㐗] 1 A square or rectangular con- Examples:
tainer with a lid: There's a box of matches on the - I am bored, I have nothing to do.
shelf over there. 㐀 See picture at container. 2 A
- I don’t like Pat, he’s boring. The only thing he talks
small balcony room in a theater: They gave us about is car racing.
seats in a box so that we could see the play in com- - Is that an interesting book you are reading?
fort. 3 An empty square or rectangle on a form in
- Are you excited about your trip to New York?
which you have to write something: You have to
write your family name in the box below. ■ The plu-
ral is "boxes". 4 boom box A large portable cas-
sette player, with speakers: Roy carries his boom
box on his shoulder, playing loud reggae music. ■
This word is informal. 5 first aid box See "first aid
box" in the word first2.
box2 /bɒks/ [㐘] To fight in a boxing ring: Have you
ever seen Mike Tyson box?
braces 58
a braces /ˈbreɪ.sɪz/ [㐑] 1 Orthodontic treat- brass instrument [㐗] A wind instrument
b ment with wire and small metallic or porcelain which is usually made of brass: Trumpets and
pieces over the teeth to correct and straighten trombones are brass instruments.
them: After they took off his braces, he had a per- brave /breɪv/ [㐀] Ready to do something dan-
c fect smile. 2 See suspenders. ■ This use is British gerous: You were very brave to go into the cave on
English. your own.
d brackets /ˈbrækɪts/ [㐑] A pair of marks like bravery /breɪv/ [㐖] The quality that allows
these ( ), used in writing: This (word) is written in you to do something dangerous: The firefighters
e brackets. showed great bravery during the fire.
brag /bræg/ [㐘] To boast: Stop bragging about how Brazilian1 [㐀] Referring to Brazil: Brazilian
f clever you are. ■ Be careful with the spelling of these Carnival is famous all around the world. ■ Be care-
forms: "bragged", "bragging". ful! "Brazilian" has a capital "B".
g braid /breɪd/ [㐗] Hair which is intertwined: Brazilian2 [㐗] A person from Brazil: There
Braids are an important part of afro-hairstyles. are two Brazilians staying at our hotel. ■ Be care-
h 㐀 See picture at hair. ful! "Brazilian" has a capital "B".
Braille /breɪl/ [㐖] Special printing for blind bread /bred/ [㐖] Food made of baked flour:
i people: Blind people read Braille by touching I've bought a loaf of bread for sandwiches. ■ Be
raised dots with their fingers. ■ Be careful. "Braille" careful! We say "a piece of bread", "a slice of bread"
j has a capital "B". or "a loaf of bread".
brain /breɪn/ [㐗] The part inside the head that
BREAD
k thinks and feels: The brain controls all your body's
movements.
brainstem [㐗] The brain's central trunk
l which continues to form the spinal cord: The ce-
rebrum and the cerebellum are set on the brain-
m stem.
brainy /ˈbreɪ.ni/ [㐀] Intelligent, especially at
n school work: His sister gets good grades because
she's quite brainy. ■ The comparative form is "brain-
o ier" and the superlative form is "brainiest".
brake1 /breɪk/ [㐗] A device for stopping a ve-
p hicle: You need to use your brakes when you take loaf slice roll
this curve. 㐀 See page 441.
q brake2 /breɪk/ [㐘] To stop a vehicle by putting on
the brakes: Ralph braked quickly when his tire
r burst.
branch US: /bræntʃ/ UK: /brɑːntʃ/ [㐗] 1 The part
s of a tree that comes out of the trunk: The branch- breadth /bredθ/, /bredθ/ [㐖] The distance be-
es are full of leaves now. 㐀 See pages 432 and tween two sides of something: What's the breadth
434. 2 An office or a store that is part of a big of that swimming pool?
t business: Our company has branches all over the break1 /breɪk/ [㐗] 1 A short rest: Let's have a
world. break for lunch. 2 See recess. ■ This use is British
u brand /brænd/ [㐗] A product with a particular English. 3 An opening: You can see their pool
commercial name: She's using a new brand of per- through a break in the wall.
v fume. break2, broke, broken /breɪk/ [㐘] 1 To make
brand-new [㐀] Completely new: Ann has a something go into pieces: The child's broken your
w brand-new watch which she got for her birthday key ring. 2 To go into small pieces: If the mirror
last week. falls it'll break. 3 To stop something working:
You're going to break my watch. 4 to break the
x brandy /ˈbræn.di/ [㐌] A strong alcoholic drink: law To do something against the law: If you break
Would you like a brandy after your coffee? ■ The
y plural is "brandies". the law you could end up in prison.
brass US: /bræs/ UK: /brɑːs/ [㐖] A bright yellow ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to break down In machines,
z metal: This store sells brass rings and bracelets. ■ to stop working: Our car broke down on the way to
The plural is "brasses". Paris. · to break (something) down To destroy:
59 brighten
Nobody answered the door, so the police broke it breve /briːv/ [㐗] A musical note which has the a
b
down. · to break in To get into a place by force: A time value of two semibreves: Breves are often c
represented as a square. 㐀 See page 460. d
thief broke in and stole their television. · to break e
brew /bruː/ [㐘] To prepare tea or coffee: He's f
off To get a piece of something by breaking it: g
brewing coffee in the kitchen.
Can you break off another piece of bread for me? h
bribe /braɪb/ [㐘] To offer money to persuade i
· to break out To start suddenly: Most fires here j
somebody to be dishonest: They tried to bribe the k
break out in summer. · to break out of (some- journalist to stop her publishing the article. l
m
thing) To escape from a place: There was a riot at brick /brɪk/ [㐗] A hard block used for build- n
o
the prison and twenty prisoners broke out of their ing: Their cottage is made of red bricks. p
q
cells. · to break up 1 To separate: Sharon and Paul BRICK r
s
broke up two weeks ago. 2 To come to the end of bride /braɪd/ [㐗] A woman on her wedding t
u
term: When does school break up? day: The bride looks very pretty in her white dress. v
■ A man on his wedding day is a "bridegroom". w
breakable /ˈbreɪ.kə.bl̩/ [㐀] Easy to break: Don't x
bridegroom /ˈbraɪd.grʊm/, /ˈbraɪd.grʊm/ [㐗] A y
let the kid play with that glass; it's breakable. z
man on his wedding day: The bridegroom's wear-
breakdown /ˈbreɪk.daʊn/ [㐗] A time when a ing a top hat. ■ "Groom" is short for "bridegroom". A
woman on her wedding day is a "bride".
vehicle or other machine stops: They had a break-
bridesmaid /ˈbraɪdz.meɪd/ [㐗] A girl who
down on the way home.
helps a bride at a wedding: The bride's sister will
breakfast /ˈbrek.fəst/ [㐗] The first meal of the be one of the bridesmaids.
day: I always have breakfast in bed on Sundays. bridge /brɪdʒ/ [㐗] A structure that goes over a
breast /brest/ [㐗] 1 Part of a woman's body road, river and so on: They've built a new bridge
over the highway. 㐀 See page 445.
that produces milk when she has a baby: She had
her baby at her breast. 2 The front of the top part brief /briːf/ [㐀] 1 Short: His letters are usually
of the body of a person or animal: Can I have brief. 2 in brief In a few words: In brief, what ex-
chicken breast and french fries, please? 3 breast actly happened?
stroke A style of swimming: You do the breast
briefcase /ˈbriːf.keɪs/ [㐗] A small case for car-
stroke swimming on your front in the water.
rying papers, books and other things, usually to
breastbone /ˈbrest.bəʊn/ US: /-boʊn/ [㐗] A thin work: I've got some brochures here in my briefcase.
and flat bone which is in the middle of the chest: brigade /brɪˈgeɪd/ [㐗] A military formation
The breastbone is connected to the ribs. ■ The same comprising three battalions: A brigade forms part
of a division.
meaning: "sternum".
bright /braɪt/ [㐀] 1 With a shining light: The
breath /breθ/ [㐖] 1 The air that goes in and
sun's bright and hot here in summer. ■ Compare
out of your lungs: After running so quickly I have with "dark1" (with very little light). 2 With a strong
no breath left. 2 breath of fresh air The clean air color: Lisa's eyes are bright green. 3 Clever at
learning: Mandy's a very bright kid, she already
outside: It's too hot in here; let's go out for a breath knows how to multiply. 4 Happy, cheerful: There's
of fresh air. 3 to hold your breath To stop breath- always a bright smile on his face.
ing for a short time: I held my breath when the brighten /ˈbrɑɪ·tə·n/ [㐘] To look or to feel happier
phone rang last night. 4 out of breath Quick, dif-
than before: Her face brightened when she saw
ficult breathing: I'm still out of breath from run- Tom.
ning for the bus.
breathe /briːð/ [㐘] To take air in and out of your
lungs: Open the windows because nobody can
breathe in here.
breathless /ˈbreθ.ləs/ [㐀] Out of breath: We
were breathless after climbing so many stairs.
bred /bred/ Past tense and past participle forms of
breed2.
breed1 /briːd/ [㐗] A particular race of animal:
Their cows are a new breed imported from Australia.
breed2, bred, bred /briːd/ [㐘] 1 To produce
young animals: Canaries breed in cages without
any problem. 2 To keep animals to make young
ones: Mike breeds rabbits as a hobby.
breeze /briːz/ [㐗] A light wind: This breeze is
coming from the sea.
brightness 60
a brightness [㐖] 1 The strength of a light: broil US: /brɔɪl/ [㐘] To grill food: She broiled the
b The brightness of the car headlights illuminates the chicken.
road. ■ Compare with "darkness" (the state of being broke1 /brəʊk/ to be broke To be without money,
dark). 2 The strength of a color: I like the bright- bankrupt: I lent Keith some money because he was
c ness of your dark green dress. 3 The strength of a broke. ■ This expression is informal.
sound: The architectural conditions of the theater broke2 /brəʊk/ Past tense of break2.
d favors the brightness of sounds.
broken1 /ˈbrəʊkən/ [㐀] 1 In pieces, damaged:
brilliant /ˈbrɪl.i.ənt/ [㐀] 1 Very bright: Yester- Careful! There's some broken glass on the floor. 2
e day the sky was a brilliant blue. 2 Very intelligent: Not working: This calculator must be broken
Your sister always has some brilliant ideas. 3 Very again.
f good: I think that movie is brilliant. broken2 /ˈbrəʊkən/ Past participle of break2.
brim /brɪm/ [㐗] An edge: That glass is full to bronchial /ˈbrɒŋ.ki.əl/ US: /ˈbrɑːŋ-/ [㐀] Referring
g the brim with milk. to the bronchi: Bronchial asthma provokes cough-
bring, brought, brought /brɪŋ/ [㐘] 1 To carry ing and shortness of breadth.
h something to the place where the speaker is: Bring bronchitis US: /brɑːŋˈkaɪ.tɪ̬ s/ UK: /brɒŋˈkaɪ.tɪs/
your books to the lessons, please. 2 To come to a place [㐖] Swelling affecting the lungs: Bronchitis
i with somebody: Paul's bringing his sister to the party. left her feeling very weak.
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to bring (something) back 1 bronchus /ˈbrɒŋ.kəs/ US: /ˈbrɑːŋ-/ [㐖] The
j To return something: When is she going to bring tube that conducts air into the lungs: Oxygen
our car back? 2 To make you remember: That pho- reaches the lungs through the trachea and then the
k to brings back memories of my school days. · to two bronchi. ■ The plural is "bronchi". 㐀 See page
bring (somebody) up To take care of a child and 425.
educate him or her: Jane's mother died when she bronze US: /brɑːnz/ UK: /brɒnz/ [㐖] A hard,
l was little, so she was brought up by her grandpar- brown metal: Church bells are made of bronze.
ents. · to bring (something) up To mention: Don't broom /bruːm/, /bruːm/ [㐗] A brush with a long
m bring politics up when my father is in the house.
handle: Take this broom and sweep the floor,
brisk /brɪsk/ [㐀] Quick, active: We went for a please.
n brisk walk and soon warmed up. broomstick /ˈbruːm.stɪk/, /ˈbruːm.stɪk/ [㐗] The
British /ˈbrɪt·̬ ɪʃ/ [㐀] Referring to Great Britain: long handle of a broom: In the story, the witch flew
o British milk tastes delicious. ■ Be careful! "British" away on her broomstick laughing wildly. 㐀 See
has a capital "B". For people, the singular is "a Brit- picture at witch.
p ish man", "a British woman" or "a Briton" and the brother /ˈbrʌð·ər/ [㐗] 1 A boy or a man who
plural is "the British". has the same parents as you: Peter and Bill are
q Briton /ˈbrɪt·ə·n/ [㐗] A person from Great Brit- brothers. ■ Be careful. When you ask somebody if
ain: There are three Britons staying at the hotel. ■ they have any brothers or sisters, in English you have
r Careful! "Briton" has a capital "B". We usually say to say "brothers and sisters". If you only say "broth-
"British people". ers" you are only asking about the male relatives:
"How many brothers and sisters do you have?". 2
s broach [㐗] An ornament that you wear on brother-in-law 1 The brother of your husband or
your clothes: She's wearing a silver broach on her
blouse. 㐀 See picture at jewelry. your wife: Hugh's brother-in-law is going to help
t broad US: /brɑːd/ UK: /brɔːd/ [㐀] Wide: The street him to get a job. 2 The husband of your sister: My
is very broad in front of the church. sister and my brother-in-law have gone to live in
u broadcast1 US: /ˈbrɑːd.kæst/ UK: /ˈbrɔːd.kɑːst/ Argentina. ■ The plural of "brother-in-law" is "broth-
[㐗] A radio or a television program: The game ers-in-law". 㐀 See picture at family.
v broadcast will be at nine o'clock. brought US: /brɑːt/ UK: /brɔːt/ Past tense and past
broadcast2 /ˈbrɔːdkɑːst/ [㐘] To send out pro- participle forms of bring. ■ Be careful with the pro-
w grams by radio or on television: The CNN broad- nunciation of this word. It rhymes with "fort".
casts news to many different countries. brown /braʊn/ [㐍] The color of coffee with
x broccoli /ˈbrɑ·kə·li/, /ˈbrɑk·li/ [㐖] A plant with milk: In the fall the leaves turn brown, yellow and
green flower heads, eaten as a vegetable: Do you red and fall off the trees.
y like broccoli? 㐀 See page 437. Brownie /ˈbraʊ.ni/ [㐗] A girl who is a Girl
brochure US: /broʊˈʃʊr/ UK: /ˈbrəʊ.ʃər/ [㐗] A very Scout in the grades second through third: Jenny's
z thin book with advertising: I'll get some travel daughter became a Brownie when she was seven. ■
brochures on skiing vacation. Be careful! "Brownie" has a capital "B".
61 built
brownish [㐀] Referring to a color, that is ap- the 6th century BC. ■ Be careful. "Buddhism" has a a
b
proximately brown, or that has a brown element capital "B". c
d
to it: Do you think that this water is OK to drink? It Buddhist /ˈbʊd.ɪst/ [㐍] Referring to Buddhism e
f
looks a little brownish. or a follower of Buddhism: In China there are ma- g
bruise1 /bruːz/ [㐗] A mark produced by a ny beautiful Buddhist temples. ■ Be careful. "Bud- h
i
blow: How did you get that bruise on your arm? dhist" has a capital "B". j
k
bruise2 [㐘] To get marks from a blow: He bruised buddy [㐗] A friend: Bye, mom, I'm going out l
m
his legs after falling off his bike. with my buddies. ■ The plural is "buddies". ■ This n
o
brush1 /brʌʃ/ [㐗] An instrument with a handle word is informal. p
q
for cleaning: We need a larger brush to paint the budget1 /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ [㐗] A plan of how much r
s
wall. ■ The plural is "brushes". money you can spend: We've only got a small bud-
brush2 /brʌʃ/ [㐘] To clean with a brush: Jim get for our vacation this year.
brushes his teeth after every meal. budget2 /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ [㐘] To plan how to spend mon-
Brussels sprout /ˌbrʌs.əlzˈspraʊt/ [㐗] See sprout. ey: We can't buy any more games, we have only
brutal /ˈbru·t̬ə·l/ [㐀] Violent, cruel: The movie
budgeted for two.
began with a brutal murder.
buffalo /ˈbʌf·əˌloʊ/ [㐗] A large wild animal
BS Referring to a first level university degree in
similar to a cow: Buffaloes have long horns. ■ The
science: a BS in geology. ■ "BS" is an abbreviation
plural is "buffaloes" or "buffalo".
for "Bachelor of Science". Compare with "BA" (an ab-
buffet /ˈbʌf.ɪt/ US: /bəˈfeɪ/ UK: /ˈbʊf.eɪ/ [㐗] A
breviation for "Bachelor of Arts"). ■ See box at ab-
self-service meal: There will be a cold buffet at the
breviations.
reception.
bubble1 /ˈbʌbl/ [㐗] A ball of air surrounded by
bug /bʌg/ [㐗] 1 A small insect: Bugs live in
liquid: This soap makes the water full of bubbles.
dirty places. 2 A kind of illness that is not seri-
bubble2 /ˈbʌbl/ [㐘] To make bubbles: The coffee's
ous: Bob has caught the flu bug.
bubbling in the pot.
build, built, built /bɪld/ [㐘] To construct:
bubblegum [㐖] A kind of chewing gum that
They're building the stadium next to the school. ■
you can make into a bubble and burst: Sue always
Be careful with the pronunciation of this word. The
has some bubblegum in her mouth, she loves it.
beginning is pronounced the same as the word "bill".
buck /bʌk/ [㐌] See dollar. ■ This word is informal.
bucket /ˈbʌk.ɪt/ [㐗] A round, open container builder /ˈbɪl·dər/ [㐗] A person who makes
with a handle: We can't carry all this paint in just buildings: I'll talk to the builder about the cracks
one bucket. in the ceiling. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
buckle /ˈbʌk.l̩/ [㐗] A piece of metal that fas- this word. The beginning is pronounced the same as
tens a belt: He wears a belt with a silver buckle. the word "bill".
bud /bʌd/ [㐗] 1 A leaf or flower before it opens: building /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ [㐗] A structure with a roof
The rose trees are already covered with buds. 2 See and walls: The church is the oldest building in the
buddy. ■ This word is informal. town. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
Buddhism /ˈbʊd.ɪ.zəm/ [㐖] The religion word. The beginning is pronounced the same as the
founded by Buddha: Buddhism began in India in word "bill".
built Past tense and past participle forms of build.
BRUSH t
u
v
w
x
y
hairbrush paintbrush toothbrush z
bulb 62
a bulb /bʌlb/ [㐗] 1 The central, round glass part bump2 /bʌmp/ [㐘] To hit something while you are
b of a lamp: That bulb gives very poor light. ■ We can moving: Alan bumped into a car with his new bike
also say "light bulb". 2 The round, underground yesterday. ■ Be careful! We say: "bump into (some-
part of a plant: Those tulip bulbs were planted last body or something)".
c spring.
bumper /ˈbʌmpər/ [㐗] A bar at the front and at
d BULB the back of a car: His car's got a dent in the front
bumper. 㐀 See page 441.
bumpy /ˈbʌm.pi/ [㐀] With a rough surface: The
e road was very bumpy after all the heavy rains. ■
The comparative form is "bumpier" and the superla-
f tive form is "bumpiest".
bun /bʌn/ [㐗] 1 A small sweet cake: Have a bun
g with your tea. 2 Hair gathered and fastened in a
small round shape at the back of the neck: She
h light bulb onion bulb wears a bun right on top of her head.
bunch /bʌnʃ/ [㐗] A number of things that are
i put together: I sent Susan a bunch of flowers on
her birthday. 㐀 See picture at a piece of...
j bulky /ˈbʌl.ki/ [㐀] Large, difficult to move: That bundle /ˈbʌn.dl̩/ [㐗] A number of things that
box is too bulky for you to carry. ■ The comparative you wrap or tie together: Why don't you make the
form is "bulkier" and the superlative form is "bulkiest". old newspapers into a bundle and take them to be
k bull /bʊl/ [㐗] The male of the cow family: My recycled?
uncle has a bull and three cows in his farm. bungalow /ˈbʌŋ·gəˌloʊ/ [㐗] A house with one
l bulldog /ˈbʊl·dɔg/ [㐗] A strong, fierce kind of floor: The Browns are going to rent a bungalow in
dog: A bulldog guards the entrance to the house. July.
m bulldozer /ˈbʊlˌdoʊ·zər/ [㐗] A large machine bungee jumping /ˈbʌn.dʒiˌdʒʌm.pɪŋ/ [㐖] An
that moves dirt and rocks: They're using bulldoz- adventure activity that consists in jumping off a
n ers to make the new road. bridge or other high structure, on the end of an
bullet /ˈbʊl.ɪt/ [㐗] A piece of metal that is fired elastic rope: I thought I wouldn't be brave enough
o from a gun: The bullet went through the cowboy's to go bungee jumping, but in the end I did it and it
hat, just missing his head. was great!
p bulletin board [㐗] A board that gives infor- bunk /bʌŋk/ [㐗] 1 A narrow bed on a ship or
mation about something: There were some adver- train with another above or below it: There were
q tisements for summer jobs on the bulletin board no bunks left on the night train to Edinburgh. 2 See
this morning. ■ In British English they say "notice- bunk bed.
bunk bed [㐗] A bed formed by two beds one
r board".
bullfight /ˈbʊl.faɪt/ [㐗] An entertainment in on top of the other: Our room is small, so my
s which a person fights a bull: There were thou- brother and I have to sleep in a bunk bed. ■ We say
sands of people at the bullfight. also "bunk".
bull's-eye /ˈbʊl.zaɪ/ [㐗] The small, round ar- bunny /ˈbʌni/ [㐗] A child's word for a rabbit:
t ea at the center of a target: If you hit the bull's-eye Bunnies love eating carrots. ■ The plural is "bun-
you win a doll. nies".
u bully1 /ˈbʊl.i/ [㐗] A person who frightens, buoyancy /ˈbɔɪənsi/ [㐖] 1 The ability to
hurts or imposes their will on weaker people: A float: The principle of buoyancy is called Archime-
v bully is always a coward. ■ The plural is "bullies". des's Principle. 2 Rise or high level of success:
bully2 /ˈbʊli/ [㐘] To frighten, hurt or impose your Prices have shown no buoyancy during the last two
w will on somebody weaker than you: Simon's al- years. 3 Cheerful and confident character: Sheyla
ways bullying smaller children. ■ Be careful with recovers quickly from disappointments due to her
x the spelling of these forms: "bullies", "bullied". buoyancy.
bumblebee /ˈbʌm.bl.̩ biː/ [㐗] A large, hairy burden /ˈbɜr·də·n/ [㐗] A heavy load: The refu-
y bee: Careful! That bumblebee may sting you! gees walked for miles carrying enormous burdens.
bump1 /bʌmp/ [㐗] A small swelling on the sur- bureaucracy /bjʊˈrɑk·rə·si/ [㐌] An administra-
z face of something: She banged her head against tive system full of rules: A lot of people are tired of
the shelf and she has an enormous bump on it now. bureaucracy. ■ The plural is "bureaucracies".
63 butler
burger US: /ˈbɝː.gɚ/ UK: /ˈbɜː.gər/ [㐗] See ham- bush /bʊʃ/ [㐗] 1 A small tree with many a
b
burger. branches: There's a bird singing in that bush. 2 c
the bush Wild land in Africa or in Australia: d
burglar US: /ˈbɝː.glɚ/ UK: /ˈbɜː.glər/ [㐗] A thief e
When we visited Australia we went for a car ride in f
who breaks into houses: The burglars broke in g
when we were away on vacation. the bush. ■ The plural is "bushes".
h
BURGLAR bushy /ˈbʊʃ.i/ [㐀] Growing thick, when you are i
j
burglary /ˈbɜr·glə·ri/ [㐌] The crime of entering a talking about hair: My cat has a wonderful bushy k
l
house to steal things: We bought an alarm after tail. ■ The comparative form is "bushier" and the su- m
the last burglary. ■ The plural is "burglaries". n
perlative form is "bushiest". o
burial /ˈber.i.əl/ [㐌] The ceremony of putting a p
business /ˈbɪz.nɪs/ ❚ [㐖] 1 Commerce, q
dead body into the ground: A lot of people are r
coming to her grandmother's burial. trade: Her uncle's in the car business. ❚ [㐗] 2 s
A firm or a store: His parents own two different t
burlap /ˈbɜr·læp/ [㐖] A rough kind of fabric: u
businesses. ■ In this use the plural is "businesses". v
Sails are normally made of burlap. ■ In British Eng- w
lish they say "hessian". ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this word. x
The first part, "busi", rhymes with "is". 3 mind y
burn1 /bɜːn/ [㐗] A mark made with fire or your own business To pay attention to your z
heat: He got burns on his hands from the boiling own affairs and not to put your nose in some-
water.
body else's: Why don't you mind your own busi-
burn2 US: /bɝːn/ UK: /bɜːn/ [㐘] 1 To be on fire: I can ness and leave me alone? 4 none of your busi-
ness It's not your concern: My personal life is
smell the meat burning in the oven. 2 To destroy none of your business. 5 on business For the
with fire: They've burned all their old papers.
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to burn down Referring to a purposes of your job: I'm here on business, not
building, to be destroyed by fire: Lots of houses
burned down after the earthquake. for pleasure.
burrow US: /ˈbɝː.oʊ/ UK: /ˈbʌr.əʊ/ [㐗] A hole businessman /ˈbɪz.nɪs.mən/ [㐗] A man who
that small animals make in the ground: Rabbits works in business: Her uncle makes a lot of money
live in burrows.
because he's a good businessman. ■ The plural is
burst, burst, burst /bɜːn/ [㐘] To break open
"businessmen". ■ A woman is a "businesswoman".
suddenly: Your suitcase will burst if you put too
many clothes in it. businesswoman /ˈbɪz.nɪsˌwʊm.ən/ [㐗] A
bury /ˈber.i/ [㐘] To put a dead person or some- woman who works in business: His mother's a
thing into a hole in the ground: Ann's going to businesswoman in New York. ■ The plural is "busi-
bury her dog in the backyard. ■ Be careful with the
spelling of these forms: "buries", "buried". Note also nesswomen". ■ A man is a "businessman".
the pronunciation of this word. It is pronounced like
"merry". busy /ˈbɪz.i/ [㐀] 1 Occupied, with a lot of
bus /bʌs/ [㐗] 1 A large road vehicle that car- things to do: Emma can't come because she's
busy. 2 With a lot of activity: This street's busy
ries passengers: Can I take a bus to get to down- today. 3 A word that means that a telephone line
town? 㐀 See picture at transport. 2 bus stop The
place where buses stop: We'll get off at the next or a restroom is being used and that you can't
bus stop. ■ The plural is "buses". 㐀 See picture at
street. use it: I telephoned several times but the number
was busy. ■ In this use, in British English we say
"engaged".
but1 /bʌt, bət/ [㐈] 1 A word that you use to in-
dicate that something is different from what
might be expected: Gary drives well, but he has a
lot of accidents. 2 However, in spite of this: He
was extremely ill, but he stayed cheerful.
but2 /bʌt, bət/ [㐓] Except: I like all sports but
basketball.
butcher /ˈbʊtʃər/ [㐗] A person who sells meat:
The butcher I know sells very good beef.
butcher's [㐗] A store that sells meat: I'm just
going to the butcher's to get something for dinner.
㐀 See picture at market.
butler /ˈbʌt·lər/ [㐗] The chief male servant in
a house: In many old thrillers, the butler is respon-
sible for the crime.
butter 64
a butter1 US: /ˈbʌt̬.ɚ/ UK: /ˈbʌt.ər/ [㐖] A soft yel- buttonhole US: /ˈbʌt̬.ən.hoʊl/ UK: /ˈbʌt.ən.həʊl/
b low food made from cream: I ate bread and butter [㐗] A hole for a button: Your buttonholes are
for breakfast. too big for these buttons.
butter2 /ˈbʌtər/ [㐘] To spread butter on bread: buy, bought, bought /baɪ/ [㐘] To get something
c Can you butter my toast, please?
by paying money: She'll buy David a computer at
buttercup /ˈbʌtəkʌp/ [㐗] A plant with small Christmas.
d yellow flowers: Buttercups grow in grass.
buzz /bʌz/ [㐘] To make a sound like a bee: My
butterfly /ˈbʌt·̬ ərˌflɑɪ/ [㐗] An insect with color- ears are buzzing from the cold.
e ful wings: Some butterflies can travel thousands of buzzard /ˈbʌz·ərd/ [㐗] A kind of bird of prey:
miles. ■ The plural is "butterflies". 㐀 See page 431. Buzzards hunt at night.
f buttock /ˈbʌtək/ [㐗] One of the two round by1 /baɪ/ [㐓] 1 Used to show who or what did
and fleshy protuberances at the base of the back: something: That music was composed by Chopin.
g The buttocks are also known as the gluteus maxi- 2 Not later than: I should finish the book by Friday.
mus. 3 Using: Lisa came home by taxi last night. 4 Used
h button1 /ˈbʌtən/ [㐗] 1 A small, round object to show how you do something: He makes a living
for fastening clothes: I can't undo these coat but- by selling cars. 5 by the way Words to show that
i tons. 2 A small object or piece of apparatus that is you have just remembered something you want
pressed to start a machine: Put the money in here to say to the person you are talking to: By the
j and when you are ready to start, press this button. way, when are you going to pay me back?
button2 by2 /baɪ/ [㐄] 1 Past: She's just gone by without
k ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to button up To fasten an looking. 2 Near: My cousins live by the sea.
article of clothing: Button your coat up before you bye [㐋] An informal way of saying goodbye:
go out. I'll see you on Monday. Bye! ■ This word is informal.
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
C c /siː/ The third letter of the alphabet: The name
c
"Carol" begins with a "C".
C1 /siː/ A written abbreviation for centigrade.
C2 /siː/ [㐗] The first musical note of the scale of
C major: The musician played the song in the key of
C. ■ The plural is "Cs" or "C's". 㐀 See page 460.
cab /kæb/ [㐗] A car that takes you somewhere
if you pay: It's late. Let's get a cab. ■ The same
meaning: "taxi".
cabbage /ˈkæb.ɪdʒ/ [㐌] A round vegetable with
big leaves: Mom is boiling some cabbage for lunch.
■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this word. The
last "a" is pronounced like the "i" in "did". 㐀 See
page 437.
cabin /ˈkæb.ɪn/ [㐗] 1 A room on a ship: We had
a cabin with two beds. 2 A small house made of
wood: We spent the night in a cabin in the moun-
tains.
cabinet /ˈkæbɪnət/ [㐗] A piece of furniture in
which you can keep things: There's a cabinet in
our living room with lots of antiques in it.
cable /ˈkeɪ.bl/̩ [㐌] A wire that carries an electric
signal, that can be used in various ways: The
lamp needs a new cable. ■ Be careful with the pro-
nunciation of this word. It is pronounced like "table".
cable car [㐗] A system of transport in which
carriages hang from a cable that moves: We took
the cable car to the top of the mountain.
cable television [㐖] A system of sending
television programs: A lot of sports events are
broadcasted on cable television.
cactus /ˈkæk.təs/ [㐗] A type of plant that
grows in deserts: Cactuses do not need a lot of wa-
ter. ■ The plural is "cactuses" or "cacti".
café /ˈkæf.eɪ/ [㐗] A small restaurant that
serves drinks and simple meals: We had coffee
and cake at a café on the Roselle Road. ■ The same
meaning: "diner".
cafeteria /ˌkæf·ɪˈtɪər·i·ə/ [㐗] A self-service res-
taurant, usually in a college or store: I usually
have lunch in the college cafeteria.
caffeine /ˈkæf.iːn/ [㐖] A substance in tea,
coffee and coke that makes you feel more active:
If I drink something with caffeine in it at night, I
can't sleep.
cage /keɪdʒ/ [㐗] A box or a room for keeping
animals in: The parrot escaped from its cage.
cake /keɪk/ [㐗] A sweet food made from flour,
eggs, sugar and butter: My mom baked a chocolate
cake for my birthday.
calamity /kəˈlæm·ɪ·t̬i/ [㐗] An event that causes
great destruction, loss and suffering: It would be
an absolute calamity for these towns if the river
flooded again. ■ The plural is "calamities".
calcium 66
a calcium /ˈkælsiəm/ [㐖] Soft metallic element who telephones: Somebody rang for Julie, but the
b which occurs naturally in limestone: Calcium is caller didn't give his name. 2 A person who comes
found in teeth, bones and chalk. on a visit: They had lots of callers who wanted to
calculate /ˈkæl.kjʊ.leɪt/ [㐘] To solve a problem by buy the apartment.
c a mathematical operation: I'm trying to calculate calm1 /kɑːm/ [㐀] Quiet and peaceful, still: She's
how much we've spent on our vacation. usually a very calm person.
d calculation /ˌkæl.kjʊˈleɪ.ʃən/ [㐌] Finding answers calm2 /kɑːm/ [㐘] To make somebody or something
through mathematical operations: According to quiet: When the little boy started crying, she tried
e my calculations, we've spent $200 on presents. to calm him.
calculator /ˈkæl·kjəˌleɪ·tə̬ r/ [㐗] An electronic ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to calm down To become
f machine for doing mathematical operations: quiet or to make somebody quiet: Paula, please
We're learning to use our calculators in Math. calm down and listen.
g calendar /ˈkæl·ən·dər/ [㐗] A list of the days calorie /ˈkæl·ə·ri/ [㐗] A unit of heat energy
and months of a year: According to my calendar, used to show the energy value of food: Bacon has
h next Tuesday is a vacation. a lot of calories.
calf US: /kæf/ UK: /kɑːf/ ❚ [㐗] 1 A young cow: calyx /ˈkeɪ.lɪks/ [㐗] The sepals which together
i Have you seen the cow with its calf in the field? ■ form the layer that protects a flower in bud: The
Compare with "veal" (the meat from a young cow). 2 calyx is the outer part of the flower. ■ The plural is
j Back part of the leg below the knee: After a work "calyces" or "calyxes". ■ Compare with "corolla" (The
out you should stretch your calves. ❚ [㐖] 3 petals which form the inner envelope of a flower).
Leather made from cow's skin: We gave mom a camcorder /ˈkæmˌkɔr·dər/ [㐗] A camera for
k calf purse for her birthday. ■ The plural is "calves".
making video movies: John filmed Alice's birthday
calf muscle [㐗] Either of a pair of muscles party with his camcorder.
l which are located in the calf: The calf muscles are came /keɪm/ Past tense of come.
connected to the foot by the Achilles tendon. 㐀 See camel /ˈkæm.əl/ [㐗] An animal with one or two
m page 423.
humps, that lives in deserts: When we were in Tu-
caliph /ˈkeɪ.lɪf/ [㐗] Muslim civil and religious nisia, we went for a camel ride in the desert. 㐀 See
n ruler: The Caliph is considered to be the follower of page 428.
Mohammed. camera /ˈkæm.rə/ [㐗] A machine for taking
o caliphate [㐗] The area ruled over by the Ca- photographs: Mary has a tiny camera that takes
liph: The caliphate was the first system of govern- excellent photos.
p ment established in Islam. camouflage1 /ˈkæm.ə.flɑːʒ/ [㐖] 1 The dis-
call1 US: /kɑːl/ UK: /kɔːl/ [㐗] 1 A shout: Give me a guising of soldiers or military vehicles and equip-
q call at 7.00 tomorrow, mom. I have a test at 9.00. 2 ment: Camouflage is used to hide tanks from ene-
A telephone conversation: Give me a call tonight, my aircraft. 2 The way an animal protects itself
r Pete. with a shape or color matching the surroundings:
call2 US: /kɑːl/ UK: /kɔːl/ [㐘] 1 To attract somebody's The chameleon's green coloring when it is sur-
s attention by shouting: Somebody called my name rounded by vegetation is a natural camouflage.
from the other end of the room. 2 To telephone: I camouflage2 /ˈkæm.ə.flɑːʒ/ [㐘] To hide some-
called Jane to invite her to go to the movies with me thing or somebody by camouflage: The crews need
t but she wasn't in. 3 to be called To have a name: to camouflage their tanks with leaves and branch-
What is this animal called in English? 4 to call es.
u collect On the phone, to ask the person you are camp1 /kæmp/ [㐗] A place where people live in
calling to pay for the call: When I was in Europe tents or cabins: I spent last vacation in a summer
v this summer I called collect every week to talk to my camp near Boston.
parents. ■ In British English they say "reverse the camp2 /kæmp/ [㐘] 1 To live in a tent, usually dur-
w charges". ing a vacation: We camped near a river at the entry
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to call back To return a tele- to the valley. 2 to go camping To spend a vacation
x phone call or to call again: He said he'd call me living in a tent: If we have good weather, we'll go
back when he got home. · to call on To visit: We'll camping next week.
y call on you tomorrow evening. · to call off To stop campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/ [㐗] 1 Activities orga-
something that had been planned: As it was rain- nized to achieve an objective: The school is run-
z ing, we had to call off the game. ning a campaign to get funds for sports equipment.
caller US: /ˈkɑː.lɚ/ UK: /ˈkɔː.lər/ [㐗] 1 A person 2 Organized military operations: Napoleon's
67
CALENDAR week a
winter b
spring c
summer d
autumn e
f
month g
holiday day h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
camper 68
a winter campaign in Russia was a disaster because some of the victim's cells increase too fast: Smok-
b of the bad weather. ing can produce lung cancer.
camper [㐗] A small house on wheels that is Cancer /ˈkænsər/ [㐌] A sign of the zodiac: If your
moved by a car: There were lots of tents and a few birthday is between June 21st and July 20th, you're
c campers at the campsite. ■ We say also "camper a Cancer. ■ Be careful. "Cancer" has a capital "C".
van". ■ In British English they say "caravan". candida /ˈkæn.dɪ.də/ [㐖] Parasitic fungus
d camper van [㐗] See camper.
which causes an infection with white pimples,
camping /ˈkæm.pɪŋ/ [㐖] Going on vacation mostly in mouth and throat: Candida is found in
e with a tent or caravan: This weekend we're going most parts of the body.
camping in the mountains. candidate /ˈkæn.dɪ.dət, -deɪt/ [㐗] 1 A person
f campsite /ˈkæmp.saɪt/ [㐗] An area for tents who wants to be chosen for a job, for a political
and caravans: Every summer we go to the same post and so on: There were three candidates for the
g campsite in the south of United States. post of mayor of Portland. 2 A person who takes a
can1 /kæn, kən/ [㐗] A small metal container, test: All candidates must write their number on ev-
h usually used for food or drink: Jeremy always has ery page of the test.
a can of Coke with his dinner. ■ In British English candle /ˈkæn.dl̩/ [㐗] A piece of wax with a
i they say "tin". 㐀 See picture at container. string down the middle that you burn to give
light: There was no electricity, so the rooms were lit
j CAN by candles.
k CANDLE
l
m candlestick
n candle
o can2 /kæn/ [㐘] 1 To be able to do something: Can
you tell me the way to the station, please? 2 To
p know how to do something: Wayne can speak
Spanish and French. 3 A word that you use to ask
q permission to do something: Can I go to the rest-
room, please? ■ In this use, the conditional "could"
r is often used and is more polite form. ■ Be careful!
The verb after "can" is in the infinitive without "to".
s The past and the conditional form of "can" is "could".
■ See box on the following page.
Canadian1 [㐀] Referring to Canada: I love the
t Canadian landscapes. ■ Be careful! "Canadian" has candlestick /ˈkæn.dl.̩ stɪk/ [㐗] An object that
a capital "C". you can put a candle on: There was a candlestick
u Canadian2 [㐗] A person from Canada: Most on every table of the restaurant. 㐀 See pictures at
Canadians live in southern Canada. ■ Be careful! candle.
v "Canadian" has a capital "C". candy /ˈkæn.di/ [㐌] A small piece of boiled sugar,
canal /kəˈnæl/ [㐗] An artificial river that is toffee and so on: Will you get me a packet of can-
w used by boats: We crossed the Panama Canal from dies at the store, please? ■ The plural is "candies". ■
Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean. In British English they say "sweet".
x canary /kəˈner·i/ [㐗] A small yellow bird: Ca- canned [㐀] Put in a can: My brother says that
naries sing beautifully. ■ The plural is "canaries". he prefers canned tuna to fresh tuna. ■ Be careful
y cancel /ˈkænt.səl/ [㐘] To stop something that had with the pronunciation of the end of this word. The
been planned: All trains have been cancelled due "e" is not pronounced.
z to bad weather. cannibal /ˈkæn.ɪ.bəl/ [㐗] A person who eats
cancer /ˈkænsər/ [㐌] A serious disease in which other people: Some cannibals believed that they
69 canvas
would receive human qualities, such as courage, can opener [㐗] An object used for opening a
b
from the person they ate. cans: Oh no! Don't tell me that we've forgotten the c
d
cannot /kəˈnɑt/, /ˈkæn·ɑt/ The negative form of can opener!
"can". ■ Its contraction is "can't". can't US: /kænt/ UK: /kɑːnt/ The contraction of "can-
canoe /kəˈnuː/ [㐗] A light, thin boat moved not".
with paddles: We went down the river by canoe. canvas /ˈkæn.vəs/ ❚ [㐖] 1 Cloth made from a
㐀 See picture at transport. strong natural fiber: The tent is made of canvas. ❚
can and could e
f
This modal verb only has two forms: a present form can, and a past and conditional form, could. The verb that g
follows it is in the infinitive without to:
h
- I can ride a bicycle. i
- I could swim when I was four. j
In other tenses, we use to be able to. k
l
ðÜPresent tense m
n
affirmative negative questions o
p
I can do I cannot / can’t do can I do? q
r
you can do you cannot / can’t do can you do? s
t
he / she / it can do he / she / it cannot / can’t do can he / she / it do? u
v
we can do we can’t do can we do? w
x
you can do you can’t do can you do? y
z
they can do they can’t do can they do?
Examples: negative questions
- I can speak German. I couldn’t do could I do?
- I can’t swim. you couldn’t do could you do?
- Can you drive? he / she / it couldn’t do could he / she / it do?
ðÜPast and conditional tenses we couldn’t do could we do?
you couldn’t do could you do?
affirmative they couldn’t do could they do?
I could do
you could do
he / she / it could do
we could do
you could do
they could do
Examples:
- I could read when I was six.
- I couldn’t play tennis.
- Could you go swimming?
ðÜFuture tense: we use will be able to:
- Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to come to your party.
ðÜPast participle: we use been able to:
- Margaret is ill. She hasn’t been able to finish her homework.
canvass 70
a [㐗] 2 Cloth for painting on, or the finished of a ship or an airplane: The captain spoke to the
passengers after the take-off. 2 An officer in the
b picture: The artist started his oil painting on a army or in the navy: The captain gave the order to
large canvas. attack. 3 The leader of a team: Wendy is the cap-
canvass /ˈkænvəs/ [㐘] To go around an area look- tain of the school volleyball team. ■ Be careful with
c ing for political support: The candidate will can-
vass next week. the pronunciation of this word! The "a" is not pro-
d canyon /ˈkæn.jən/ [㐗] Depression in the earth nounced.
which often has a river running through it, or has caption /ˈkæp.ʃən/ [㐗] A text that goes with a
e had in the past: The Grand Canyon in the USA is picture or a photograph in a book or in a newspa-
world famous. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of per: The caption said that the man in the photo
f this word! was from Chile.
cap /kæp/ [㐗] A type of hat with a part that captivity /kæpˈtɪv·ɪ·t̬i/ [㐖] Not being free to
g goes out at the front: Jockeys wear caps of different go where you want: The prisoners were kept in
colors and patterns. 㐀 See picture at hat. captivity until the end of the war.
h capability /ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/ [㐗] The state of being capture /ˈkæp·tʃər/ [㐘] 1 To take somebody pris-
capable: This student has the capability of some- oner: Anthony's grandfather was captured by the
i body much older. ■ The plural is "capabilities". Germans in World War II. 2 To take control of a
capable /ˈkeɪ.pə.bl̩/ [㐀] 1 Good at what they do: place by force: The Marines captured the island af-
j Liz is a very capable teacher. 2 That can do some- ter a long battle.
thing: I don't think he's capable of any hard work. car US: /kɑːr/ UK: /kɑːr/ [㐗] 1 A small motor vehi-
He's so lazy! cle: My dad's new car seats seven people. 㐀 See pic-
k capacity /kəˈpæs·ɪ·t̬i/ ❚ [㐌] 1 The amount of ture at transport. 2 A passenger wagon on a train:
something that a container or a place can hold: The train had an engine and four cars. ■ In this use,
l This car has a tank with a capacity of 40 liters. ❚ in British English we say "carriage". 㐀 See page 441.
[㐌] 2 The ability to do something: Stella has a caravan /ˈkær·əˌvæn/ [㐗] See camper. ■ This
m great capacity for always saying the right word. ■ word is British English.
The plural is "capacities". carbohydrate /ˌkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪt/ [㐌] Energy pro-
n cape /keɪp/ [㐗] 1 An article of clothing like a ducing compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxy-
coat without sleeves: Very few people wear capes gen: The carbohydrates in your diet are important
o nowadays. ■ The same meaning: "cloak". 2 A piece for providing you with energy.
of land that sticks out into the sea: Sailors used to carbon /ˈkɑr·bən/ [㐖] 1 A non-metallic ele-
p fear going round the Cape of Good Hope. 㐀 See ment which is found in all organic compounds:
page 444. Carbon occurs naturally like diamonds. 2 carbon
dating A method of calculating the age of very
q capillary /ˈkæp·əˌler·i/ [㐗] Any of the small old objects: Carbon dating consists of measuring
blood vessels which form a network through our
r body: The capillaries carry blood between the ar- the amounts of different forms of carbon in a par-
teries and veins. ■ The plural is "capillaries". ticular piece.
s capital /ˈkæp·ɪ·tə̬ ·l/ ❚ [㐗] 1 The main city of a carbon dioxide /ˌkɑːbəndaɪˈɒksaɪd/ [㐖] A
region, a country or a state: Washington, D.C. is gas which is both colorless and odorless: Carbon
the capital of the United States of America. ❚ dioxide is formed by respiration.
t [㐖] 2 Money that is invested in a business: card US: /kɑːrd/ UK: /kɑːd/ [㐗] 1 See postcard. 2
This firm's capital is $500,000. 3 capital letter A A small piece of stiff paper with pictures, that is
u large letter at the beginning of a name or a sen- for playing games: Ron has a new cards to play
tence: You write people's names with a capital let- poker. 3 A small piece of stiff paper with a per-
v ter, not a small one. son's name and address: Before leaving, Mr. Clark
capitalism /ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/ [㐖] An economic gave me his card. 4 pack of cards See "deck of
w system which depends upon private investment cards" in the word deck.
for profit: Capitalism was regulated during the cardboard US: /ˈkɑːrd.bɔːrd/ UK: /ˈkɑːd.bɔːd/ [㐖]
x twentieth century to try to reduce inequalities. A type of thick paper that is used for making box-
Capricorn /ˈkæp·rɪˌkɔrn/ [㐌] A sign of the zodiac: es, folders and so on: My sister keeps all her toys in
y If your birthday is between December 21st and Jan- a cardboard box.
uary 20th, you're a Capricorn. ■ Be careful. "Capri- cardigan /ˈkɑrd·ɪ·gən/ [㐗] A knitted woolen
z corn" has a capital "C". jacket: My mother is knitting me a new blue cardi-
captain /ˈkæp·tən/ [㐗] 1 The person in charge gan.
71 carry
cardinal1 /ˈkɑːdɪnəl/ [㐀] Used for numbers that mom a bunch of red carnations for her birthday. a
b
show quantity: "One", "two" and "ten" are cardinal 㐀 See page 433. c
d
numbers. carnival /ˈkɑr·nə·vəl/ [㐗] Celebration held pri- e
f
cardinal2 /ˈkɑr·də·n·əl/ [㐗] A very important or to Lent in which people wear costumes and g
member of the Catholic Church: Cardinals elect masks: The carnival in Brazil is a popular tourist h
i
the Pope. attraction. j
k
care US: /ker/ UK: /keər/ [㐘] 1 To feel interest in carnivore /ˈkɑːnɪvɔːr/ [㐗] An animal which l
m
somebody or something or to worry about them: eats meat: The dog is a carnivore. ■ Compare with n
o
Rebecca doesn't care if she fails all her tests. ■ This "herbivore" (an animal which only eats plants). p
use is formal. 2 to take care of (somebody) 1 To q
㐀 See page 427. r
look after somebody: Could you take care of the s
carol /ˈkær·əl/ [㐗] A type of song that people t
baby while I prepare lunch? 2 To do what is neces- u
sing at Christmas: My favorite carol is "Santa v
sary: I'll take care of the tickets. w
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to care for (somebody) To Claus is Coming to Town". x
look after somebody: When her mother fell ill, y
carpal [㐀] Referring to the wrist bones: The z
Anne cared for her.
carpal bones are to be found in the wrist. ■ Com-
career /kəˈrɪər/ [㐗] Professional life: She said
pare to "tarsal" (referring to the ankle bones).
her latest movie was the best movie in her career as
car park [㐗] See parking lot. ■ This word is
an actress.
British English.
careful /ˈkeər·fəl/ [㐀] 1 Thinking about what
carpenter US: /ˈkɑːr.pɪn.tɚ̬ / UK: /ˈkɑː.pɪn.tər/ [㐗]
you do so that you do it well and do not hurt
A person who makes wooden things for build-
yourself, somebody or something: He was careful
not to break anything. 2 Made with care: Joana ings: The carpenter had to change all the doors af-
painted a careful portrait of the vase full of flowers. ter the burglary.
3 to be careful An expression that tells you that
carpet /ˈkɑːpɪt/ [㐌] A covering for the floor:
there is a danger: Be careful if you ride your bike in
There's a beautiful carpet in our living room.
the rain. ■ We say "be careful with (something/
carpus [㐗] The small bones between the fore-
somebody)".
arm and the fingers: The carpus forms the wrist.
carefully /ˈkeər·fə·li/ [㐄] 1 Not hurting yourself,
carriage /ˈkær·ɪdʒ/ [㐗] 1 See car. ■ This use is
somebody or something: We wrapped all the
glasses very carefully in tissue paper. 2 Thorough- British English. 2 A vehicle pulled by a horse: Mov-
ly: Tom was asked to mix the ingredients carefully. ie stars were the premiere in a carriage drawn by
careless /ˈkeər·ləs/ [㐀] Not thinking about six horses. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
what you do and doing it badly: He made a lot of this word. The ending is pronounced like the ending
careless mistakes. of "fridge".
caress /kəˈres/ [㐗] A gentle and loving touch carrot /ˈkær·ət/ [㐌] A bright orange vegetable:
or a kiss: He gave the ball a caress and put it on Rabbits love carrots. 㐀 See page 437.
the penalty spot. carry /ˈkær·i/ [㐘] 1 To take something from one
caretaker US: /ˈkerˌteɪ.kɚ/ UK: /ˈkeəˌteɪ.kər/ [㐗] place to another in your hands or arms, especial-
A person who looks after a building: They report- ly something heavy: Can you carry the bag? I'm
ed the broken window to the school caretaker. tired; I will carry you to the next corner only. ■
cargo US: /ˈkɑːr.goʊ/ UK: /ˈkɑː.gəʊ/ [㐌] Things car- When it is something small or light, we say "take": "I
ried on a ship or on a plane: The ship had a cargo am going to take an apple with me". Incorrect: "I am
going to carry an apple". 2 To have with you: She
of bananas from Costa Rica. never carries a lot of money. 3 To take something
Caribbean /ˌkær·əˈbi·ən/, /kəˈrɪb·i·ən/ [㐀] Refer- from one place to another in a vehicle: This train
doesn't carry passengers. 4 To involve: This of-
ring to a country in the Caribbean Sea: I'd love to fence carries a severe penalty. 5 Referring to
spend my vacation on a Caribbean island. ■ Be sound, to be heard at a distance: The sound of the
festivities carried right across the valley. 6 to be/
careful! "Caribbean" has a capital "C". get carried away To lose control of yourself be-
caricature US: /ˈker.ɪ.kə.tʃʊr/ UK: /ˈkær.ɪ.kə.tʃʊər/ cause of excitement: When he scored the goal I got
[㐌] A comic drawing of a person: There was a fun- carried away and started hugging everyone.
ny caricature of the Prime Minister in the newspa- ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to carry (something) for-
ward/over To include an amount from one calcu-
per this morning.
lation in another: You carry this figure over to the
carnation /kɑrˈneɪ·ʃən/ [㐗] A type of plant
next column. · to carry off To do successfully
with flowers that are usually pink or red: I gave
cart 72
a something that is difficult: Her last exercise in the statue of Beethoven. 2 To cut meat into pieces: My
b skating competition was very difficult, but she car- dad likes carving the meat for our Sunday lunch.
ried it off. · to carry on 1 To continue to do some- carving /ˈkɑr·vɪŋ/ [㐌] A figure made of wood or
thing: Will you please carry on with this exercise stone: I have an African carving of a giraffe in my
c while I go to the teacher's room. 2 To make a lot of room.
noise or to behave in an uncontrolled way: Will case /keɪs/ [㐗] 1 An example of something:
d you please stop carrying on like that? I can't con- There was a case of food poisoning last week. 2 See
centrate. · to carry (something) out To do some- suitcase. 3 A box for protecting something: When
e thing planned: We carried out the experiment at he finished playing he put the violin into its case. 4
the laboratory. · to carry (something) through To in any case Anyway: I don't like that movie, and in
f do something planned or promised, until it is fin- any case, I don't have any money. 5 in case Think-
ished: It was an ambitious project; but she carried ing that something might happen: I'll make more
g it through. ■ Be careful with the spelling of these sandwiches in case Ann and Paul want to come
forms: "carries", "carried". with us.
h cart US: /kɑːrt/ UK: /kɑːt/ [㐗] 1 A vehicle pulled cash1 /kæʃ/ [㐖] Money in bills and coins: You
by a horse: The farmer put two sacks of potatoes in can't use a check to buy a newspaper. You need
i the cart and to take to the market. 2 A container on cash.
wheels that is used for carrying things: Let's put cash2 /kæʃ/ [㐘] To get cash for a check: I'll cash
j everything in the cart. It will be easier to carry. ■ In this check and we'll have money for the weekend.
this use, in British English we say "trolley". 㐀 See cash dispenser [㐗] A machine from which
picture at market. you can get money: When we get to the mall I need
k carton US: /ˈkɑːr.tə̬ n/ UK: /ˈkɑː.tən/ [㐗] A card- to go to the cash dispenser to get money to go shop-
board or plastic box, used for food, drinks or ciga- ping. ■ The same meaning: "ATM".
l rettes: We'll have to buy a carton of milk for break- cashier /kæˈʃɪər/ [㐗] 1 A person who takes
fast. 㐀 See picture at container. money from customers in a store: My sister has
m cartoon /kɑrˈtun/ [㐗] 1 A funny drawing: The found a job as a cashier at a supermarket. 2 A per-
first thing I read in the paper is the cartoons. 2 A son who takes or gives out money in a bank: The
n movie made of moving drawings: My favorite car- thief pointed the gun at the cashier and told him to
toon is "Superman". give him all the money.
o cash register [㐗] A machine in a store in
CARTOON
which money is kept: Let's take the CD to the cash
p
register and pay for it. ■ We also say "register".
cassette /kəˈset/ [㐗] A small plastic box with
q a tape, that can be used for listening to or record-
ing sound: Andrew has a large collection of jazz
r cassettes.
castle US: /ˈkæs.l/̩ UK: /ˈkɑː.sl/̩ [㐗] 1 An old mili-
s tary building: When we were in Europe we saw a
lot of castles. 2 A chess piece that looks like a
tower: The castle can move horizontally and verti-
t cally. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
word! The "t" is silent. 㐀 See picture at chess.
u casual /ˈkæʒ.ju.əl/ [㐀] 1 Not serious: She adopt-
cartridge /ˈkɑr·trɪdʒ/ [㐗] 1 A case or container ed a casual attitude at the meeting. 2 casual
v that goes in a machine to make it work: We need clothes Informal clothes: Sheila likes wearing ca-
a new black ink cartridge for the printer. 2 A tube sual clothes like jeans and sneakers.
w with explosives and a bullet: We need new car- casualty /ˈkæʒ.ju.əl.ti/ [㐗] A person hurt or
tridges for the firing practice. killed in an accident or in a war: There was a ter-
x cartwheel /ˈkɑrt·hwil/, /-wil/ [㐗] A gymnastic rible fire at the Odeon theater last week with 160
movement in which you turn sideways like a casualties. ■ The plural is "casualties".
y wheel: The clown did two cartwheels and fell into cat /kæt/ [㐗] 1 A small animal kept as a pet:
the sand. Cats are very skillful at catching mice. 2 The name
z carve US: /kɑːrv/ UK: /kɑːv/ [㐘] 1 To cut a solid ma- of a group of animals: Lions belong to the cat fam-
terial to make a figure: Mr. Norton is carving a ily. 㐀 See picture at pet.
73 cellphone
catastrophe /kəˈtæs.trə.fi/ [㐗] An event that caution /ˈkɔ·ʃən/ [㐖] Care or precaution: The a
b
causes great damage: The hurricane in the Pacific sign said: "Proceed with caution". c
d
was a catastrophe. cautious /ˈkɔ·ʃəs/ [㐀] Careful: Pat's mom is a e
f
catch, caught, caught /kætʃ/ [㐘] 1 To get some- very cautious driver. g
thing or somebody that is in movement with your cava /ˈkɑː.və/ [㐖] Sparkling white wine from h
hands: Here! Catch the ball! 2 To get on public i
Spain similar to Champagne: A glass of cava was j
transport: It's late, I'll have to catch the last train. k
3 To get an illness: James has caught the flu. 4 to given to each guest to toast the couple. l
catch fire To begin to burn: She dropped a match m
cave /keɪv/ [㐗] A large hole in rock: They got n
in the waste paper basket and the papers caught o
lost in the countryside and had to spend the night p
fire. q
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to catch up with (some- in a cave. r
thing) To reach somebody or something, or to get s
cavity /ˈkæv·ə·ti̬ / [㐗] The hollow part inside a t
on the same level: Timmy was off school when he u
solid body: Every tooth has a cavity. ■ The plural is v
was ill, but it didn't take him long to catch up with w
"cavities". x
the rest of the class. y
CD /ˌsiːˈdiː/ [㐗] See compact disc. ■ See box at z
category /ˈkæt̬·ɪˌgɔr·i/, /-ˌgoʊr·i/ [㐗] A group of
abbreviations.
people or things of the same type: In libraries, the
CD player [㐗] See compact disc player.
books are divided into different categories. ■ The ceiling /ˈsiː.lɪŋ/ [㐗] The top of a room: We're
plural is "categories". painting the walls yellow and the ceiling white.
caterpillar US: /ˈkæt̬.ɚ.pɪl.ɚ/ UK: /ˈkæt.ə.pɪl.ər/ 㐀 See picture at bedroom.
[㐗] The young form of an insect that becomes celebrate /ˈsel.ɪ.breɪt/ [㐘] To do something spe-
a moth or a butterfly: Caterpillars eat the leaves of
cial to remember or to mark a particular event or
plants. 㐀 See page 431.
day: Nigel is giving a party to celebrate his birth-
cathedral /kəˈθiː.drəl/ [㐗] A very large church:
day.
In La Paz we went to the Cathedral to hear mass. ■
celebration /ˌsel.ɪˈbreɪ.ʃən/ [㐌] A party to cele-
Be careful with the pronunciation of this word.
brate something: I've been invited to the celebra-
Catholic /ˈkæθ.əl.ɪk/ [㐍] That belongs to the Ro-
tion of the fiftieth anniversary of the school.
man Catholic Church: I take my children to a Cath-
celebrity [㐗] A famous person: There were a
olic school. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
lot of celebrities at the party. ■ The plural is "celeb-
this word! The "o" is not pronounced. ■ Be careful!
rities".
"Catholic" has a capital "C". ■ We also say "Roman
celery /ˈsel·ə·ri/ [㐖] A long white or green
Catholic".
vegetable, that is usually eaten raw: Put a stick of
Catholicism /kəˈθɑl·əˌsɪz·əm/ [㐖] The beliefs
celery in the salad. ■ The plural is "celeries". 㐀 See
of the Roman Catholic Church: Catholicism is an
page 437.
important force in many parts of the world. ■ Be
celestial /səˈlestiəl/ [㐀] Referring to heaven or
careful! "Catholicism" has a capital "C".
the sky: The sky is not empty, it is full of celestial
cattle /ˈkætl/ [㐑] Animals of the cow family:
bodies. ■ This word is literary. ■ Compare with "ter-
When Craig works on his uncle's farm, he takes the
restrial" (of the Planet Earth).
cattle out to the fields.
cell /sel/ [㐗] 1 Room in a prison or in a monas-
caught US: /kɑːt/ UK: /kɔːt/ Past tense and past par-
tery: The prisoner escaped from his cell by climb-
ticiple forms of catch. ■ Be careful with the pronun- ing out of the window. 2 Basic unit of all living
ciation of this word. It rhymes with "fort". things: Cells are much too small to see. ■ Be careful
cauliflower US: /ˈkɑː.lɪˌflaʊr/ UK: /ˈkɒl.ɪˌflaʊ.ər/ [㐌] with the pronunciation of this word! The "c" is pro-
A vegetable with a large white head: There's cauli- nounced as an "s".
flower for dinner. cellar /ˈsel·ər/ [㐗] A room that is underground:
cause US: /kɑːz/ UK: /kɔːz/ [㐌] 1 Something that We keep old papers and things like that in the cel-
makes something happen: The rain and the fog lar. ■ The same meaning: "basement".
were the causes of the accident. 2 Something you
cello /ˈtʃel·oʊ/ [㐗] A large musical instrument
believe in and you want to help with: She decid-
with strings: A cello is much larger than a violin. ■
ed that fighting racism was the most important
"Cello" is short for "violoncello". 㐀 See page 458.
cause to get involved with. ■ Be careful with the
cellophane /ˈseləfeɪn/ [㐖] Thin and trans-
pronunciation of this word! The "e" is not pro-
parent material used for wrapping: The package
nounced.
was covered in cellophane.
cellphone /ˈsel.fəʊn/ US: /-foʊn/ [㐗] A tele-
phone that you can use wherever you are:
Celsius 74
a Although Tim was in the Highlands we could speak ish English spelling is "center". Be careful with the
b to him on his cellphone. ■ In British English they say pronunciation of this word! The "c" is pronounced as
"mobile" or "mobile phone". 㐀 See pages 442 and a "s". ■ This is a British English spelling.
443. century /ˈsen·tʃə·ri/ [㐗] 1 A hundred years:
c Celsius /ˈsel.si.əs/ [㐍] See centigrade. ■ Be That building is nearly two centuries old. 2 A peri-
careful. "Celsius" has a capital "C". od of a hundred years used to measure time: The
d cement /sɪˈment/ [㐖] A grey powder that be- year 2000 is the end of the twentieth century. ■ The
comes hard when mixed with water: Cement is plural is "centuries". ■ Be careful with the pronuncia-
e used in most modern buildings. tion of this word! The "c" is pronounced as a "s".
cemetery /ˈsem·ɪˌter·i/ [㐗] A place where peo- cephalopod /ˈsef.əl.əʊ.pɒd/ US: /-ə.pɑːd/ [㐗]
f ple are buried when they die: Shelley went to the Marine mollusk with tentacles around a beaked
cemetery to visit her grandpa's grave. ■ The plural mouth: The squid is a cephalopod.
g is "cemeteries". Be careful with the spelling of this cephalothorax [㐗] The combined head and
word. neck of arthropods: The cephalothorax can be
h census /ˈsent.səs/ [㐗] A survey collecting in- found on crustaceans like crabs.
formation on population: The census is held every ceramics /səˈræmɪks/ [㐌] 1 Pots made from clay
i ten years. hardened by heat: These dishes are a fine example
cent /sent/ [㐗] A small coin: There are a hun- of local ceramics. 2 The production of pots made
j dred cents in a dollar. from clay hardened by heat: In the past, ceramics
center /ˈsen·tər/ [㐌] 1 The middle area of or the was an important industry in Mexico.
exact middle of something: Arthur lives in the cen- cereal /ˈsɪər·i·əl/ [㐌] 1 A plant that produces
k ter of Denver. 2 leisure center See leisure center. grain: Wheat and barley are cereals. 2 A grain
3 sports center See sports center. ■ Be careful food, usually eaten for breakfast: I always have
l with the pronunciation of this word! The "c" is pro- cornflakes or other cereals for breakfast.
nounced as a "s". ■ The British English spelling is cerebellum /ˌser.əˈbel.əm/ [㐗] The part of the
m "centre".
brain at the rear of the skull coordinating the
centigrade /ˈsen·tɪˌgreɪd/ [㐍] A scale for mea- muscles: The cerebellum controls the movement of
n suring temperature: On the centigrade scale, wa- the arms and legs.
ter boils at 100 ºC and freezes at 0 ºC. ■ The abbre- cerebrum /sɪˈriː.brəm/ [㐗] The main part of
o viation "C" is only used in written language. With the brain at the front of the skull which combines
figures we normally write the sign "ºC" instead of sensory and neural functions: The cerebrum is
p writing "centigrade". ■ The same meaning: "Celsius". where the centers of sight, touch, hearing, taste
■ Compare with "Fahrenheit": water boils at 212 ºF and smell are located. ■ The plural is "cerebra".
q and freezes at 32 ºF. ■ See box at abbreviations. ceremony /ˈser.ɪ.mə.ni/ [㐌] An event used to
centimeter /ˈsent·əˌmi·tə̬ r/ [㐗] A small unit of mark a special occasion: There was a demonstra-
r length: There are a hundred centimeters in a meter. tion while the Nobel Prize ceremony was taking
■ The British English spelling is "centimetre". place. ■ The plural is "ceremonies".
s centimetre /ˈsentɪˌmiːtər·/ UK: /ˈsen.tɪˌmiː.tər/ certain /ˈsɜr·tə·n/ [㐀] 1 Having no doubt about
[㐗] See centimeter. ■ The abbreviation "cm" is something: They're certain they're going to beat
only used in written language. ■ This word is British the girls' team but I'm not so sure. 2 Particular:
t English spelling.
There's a certain boy in my class who is always tell-
centipede /ˈsent·əˌpid/ [㐗] Invertebrate with ing jokes. 3 to make certain To make sure: You
u segmented body and many legs: The centipede is should make certain that he keeps his promise.
a predator which moves very quickly. 㐀 See page certainly /ˈsɜr·tə·n·li/ [㐄] 1 Definitely: It will cer-
v 431. tainly rain today. 2 Of course: Will you help me
central /ˈsen.trəl/ [㐀] 1 That is in the center of with my homework? Certainly.
w something: The station is very central. 2 central certificate /sərˈtɪf·ɪ·kət/ [㐗] A document that
heating A heating system: Alice's parents want to proves something: In Rose's birth certificate it says
x install central heating in their house. she was born in Paris.
central nervous system [㐖] The nerve cetacean /sɪˈteɪ.ʃən/ [㐗] A marine mammal
y tissue which controls the body's activities: The with a smooth skin and a blowhole: Whales and
central nervous system comprises the brain and the dolphins are cetaceans.
z spinal cord. cf. A word used in writing when you want the
centre UK: /ˈsen.tər/ [㐗] See center. ■ The Brit- reader to make a comparison between two refer-
75 change
ences. ■ "cf." is an abbreviation for "compare". ■ See the attorneys come and go from the courts. 2 A a
box at abbreviations. b
Judge's room for hearing cases that must not nec- c
chain /tʃeɪn/ [㐗] A string of metal rings: They d
essarily be brought into court: The case will be e
closed the gate with a chain and a lock. 㐀 See pa- f
ge 441. heard in chambers. g
chair US: /tʃer/ UK: /tʃeər/ [㐗] 1 A piece of furni- chameleon /kəˈmiː.li.ən/ [㐗] Lizard with a h
i
ture used for sitting on: Don't sit on that chair. long tongue and a tail that it can grip with: The j
One of the legs is broken. 㐀 See pictures at clas- k
sroom and living room. 2 A person in charge of a chameleon changes its color as camouflage against l
meeting or the head of a company: The chair of m
the company celebrates his 60th birthday this danger. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this n
month. o
word! 㐀 See page 430. p
chairman /ˈtʃeə.mən/ [㐗] A man in charge of a q
champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ [㐖] A type of spar- r
meeting or the head of a company: The chairman s
welcomed everybody to the meeting. ■ The plural is kling French wine: My parents had a glass of t
"chairmen". ■ A woman is a "chairwoman". When we u
champagne to celebrate New Year. v
don't want to say a person's sex, we can use "chair".
champion /ˈtʃæm.pi.ən/ [㐗] The winner of a
chairwoman /ˈtʃeərˌwʊm·ən/ [㐗] A woman in
competition: The Russians are great chess champi-
charge of a meeting or the head of a company: "I
prefer to be called "chair", because "chairwoman" ons.
is discriminatory", she said. ■ The plural is "chair-
women". ■ A man is a "chairman". When we don't championship /ˈtʃæm.pi.ən.ʃɪp/ [㐗] A compe-
want to say a person's sex, we can use "chair". tition: I'd like to take part in the tennis champion-
chalk US: /tʃɑːk/ UK: /tʃɔːk/ [㐌] A white stick used ship.
for writing on a blackboard: Go to Mrs. Booth's chance US: /tʃænts/ UK: /tʃɑːnts/ ❚ [㐌] 1 Possibility:
class and ask her for a packet of chalks. 㐀 See pic-
ture at classroom. I don't have a chance of passing the test. It's too
difficult for me. ❚ [㐖] 2 Luck, fortune: Work
challenge1 /ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/ [㐌] 1 Something difficult: hard, don't leave it to chance! ❚ [㐗] 3 An oppor-
tunity: Getting a part in "The Importance of Being
Learning Russian was a challenge for me. 2 An in-
vitation to do something difficult: Gabby accepted Earnest" gave him a real chance to prove how well
Megan's challenge to run two miles in under 14 he could act. 4 by chance Accidentally: I don't
minutes. know how I did it. I did it by chance. 5 to take a
chance To try to do something risky: I haven't
challenge2 /ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/ [㐘] 1 To ask somebody to
studied for the exam so I'll just have to take a
compete against you: I challenged him to a boxing
match. 2 To ask somebody to do something diffi- chance and hope I pass it.
cult: Peter challenged me to run faster than him.
change1 /tʃeɪndʒ/ ❚ [㐌] 1 Something different
chamber /ˈtʃeɪmbər/ [㐗] A judge's room for
from what was before: There have been a lot of
hearing cases that do not need to be heard in changes in the football team this year. ❚ [㐖] 2
court: The judge called the witnesses to give a The money that you get back when you pay for
statement at the chamber.
something: I paid for the drinks and got 10 cent
chambers /ˈtʃeɪm·bərz/ [㐑] 1 The offices of a change. 3 Money in coins: I'll have to pay with a
legal practice: Everyday the chambers are busy as five dollar bill because I didn't have any change. ■
In this use "change" is an uncountable noun. ❚
CHAIR [㐗] 4 Going for one bus, train or plane to an-
other as part of a journey: We had to make a
change in London on our flight to New York. 5 for a
change To do something different: This summer
I'd like to go to the mountains for a change.
w
rocking chair wheelchair armchair deckchair x
y
z
change 76
a change2 /tʃeɪndʒ/ [㐘] 1 To become different or to charge1 /tʃɑːdʒ/ [㐌] 1 Money to be paid: There
b make something different: The city has changed a will be an admission charge of 20 dollars at the
lot in the last twenty years. 2 To get off one train, School Fair. 2 in charge of (somebody or some-
bus or plane to get another to continue the jour- thing) Being responsible for somebody or some-
c ney: We have to change here to the circle line. 3 to thing: Mrs. Hope left Lucy in charge of the class
change your mind See "to change your mind" in while she went out for a moment. 3 to reverse the
d the word mind1.
charges See "to call collect" in the word call2. ■
changeable /ˈtʃeɪn.dʒə.bl̩/ [㐀] Which changes This use is British English.
e often, likely to change: The weather is very charge2 /tʃɑːdʒ/ [㐘] 1 To ask for money in ex-
changeable at this time of year. change for something: Mrs. Hogg charges a lot for
f changing room [㐗] The room in a sports private lessons. 2 To run: The children charged in-
center, a swimming pool and so on, where you to the dining room. 3 To accuse: The police
g change your clothes: John left his new sneakers in charged him with murder.
the changing room. chariot /ˈtʃær·i·ət/ [㐗] An open vehicle with
h channel /ˈtʃæn.əl/ [㐗] 1 The part of a sea that two wheels, that was pulled by a horse or horses
is between two areas of land: We crossed the Flori- in ancient times: In the movie "Ben Hur" there is a
i da Channel from Key West to Havana. 2 A televi- famous chariot race.
sion or radio station: CNN is my favorite channel. charity US: /ˈtʃer.ɪ.ti̬ / UK: /ˈtʃær.ɪ.ti/ [㐌] 1 Help giv-
j chant1 /tʃɑːnt/ ❚ [㐗] 1 The repeated shouting en to people who need it: Nobody likes living on
of a name or a phrase: At the demonstration, the charity. 2 An organization that collects money for
crowd's chant was "No more deaths! Stop the war!". good causes: My parents always give money to one
k ❚ [㐌] 2 A type of song that has no musical accom- or two charities at Christmas. ■ The plural is "chari-
paniment: Jazz chants are useful for learning Eng- ties".
l lish pronunciation.
charm1 /tʃɑːm/ ❚ [㐌] 1 The ability to be pleas-
chant2 /tʃɑːnt/ [㐘] To shout a name or a phrase ing and delightful for other people: Rick has so
m many times: The demonstrators chanted slogans much charm that everybody likes him. ❚ [㐖]
against the Prime Minister. 2 An object that you think brings you good
n chapel /ˈtʃæp.əl/ [㐗] 1 A small church in a luck: I always carry a rabbit foot on me as a
building: We have Bible study in the school chapel. charm.
o 2 A part of a large church: I saw the chapel with charm2 /tʃɑːm/ [㐘] To delight or please some-
the famous paintings in it. body: Annette charmed me the moment I saw her.
p chapter /ˈtʃæp·tər/ [㐗] One of the parts in charming /ˈtʃɑr·mɪŋ/ [㐀] That is attractive and
which books are divided: I'm on chapter four of pleasant: Mr. Donaldson is a charming man.
q "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". chart US: /tʃɑːrt/ UK: /tʃɑːt/ [㐗] A table or a pic-
character US: /ˈker.ɪk.tɚ/ UK: /ˈkær.ɪk.tər/ ❚ [㐌] 1 ture with information: On the bulletin board
r The way a person is: Tony has a very unpleasant there's a chart with information on the test re-
character. He's always sarcastic. ❚ [㐗] 2 One of sults.
s the people in a story: My favorite character in "The chase /tʃeɪs/ [㐘] To run after somebody or some-
Lion King" is Simba. ■ Be careful with the pronunci- thing: The dogs chased the fox down to the river.
ation of this word! The "ch" is pronounced as a "k". chat /tʃæt/ [㐘] To talk in a friendly way: We were
t characteristic1 /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ [㐀] Typical: chatting about hundreds of different things until
Those houses are very characteristic of this area. ■ two in the morning. ■ Be careful with the spelling of
u Be careful with the pronunciation of this word! The these forms: "chatted", "chatting".
"ch" is pronounced as a "k". chauffeur US: /ʃəʊˈfɜːr/ UK: /ˈʃəʊfər/ [㐗] A per-
v characteristic2 /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ [㐗] A typical son who drives cars for other people: Tim's father
quality: One of the characteristics of modern Amer- works as a chauffeur for the director of a big com-
w ican movies is their violence. ■ Be careful with the pany.
pronunciation of this word! The "ch" is pronounced cheap /tʃiːp/ [㐀] That costs very little or costs
x as a "k". little in comparison: I'll have to buy something
characterize or characterise /ˈkærəktəraɪz/ cheap. I don't have much money. 㐀 See picture at
y [㐘] To be a typical feature of something: Actors opposite.
have to characterize the part that they play. ■ Be cheat1 /tʃiːt/ [㐗] A person who uses dishonest
z careful with the pronunciation of this word! The "ch" means to win: I don't want to play cards with
is pronounced as a "k". James because he's a cheat.
77 cherry
cheat2 /tʃiːt/ [㐘] To win a game by dishonest that she was getting fat. ■ The comparative form is a
b
means: It's impossible to play chess seriously with "cheekier" and the superlative form is "cheekiest". c
d
Anne; she's always cheating. cheer US: /tʃɪr/ UK: /tʃɪər/ [㐘] 1 To shout to encour- e
f
check1 /tʃek/ [㐗] 1 An examination to see age somebody: We spent the whole game cheering g
our team. 2 three cheers An expression you use
that something is correct: I need to take my bike h
to ask people to congratulate somebody: Three i
for a check. There's something wrong with the j
brakes. 2 A mark [SÍMBOLO VISTO BUENO] made cheers for Lesley! k
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to cheer up To feel happier: l
to show that something is correct: I got ten Cheer up, Rosie. Tomorrow's Saturday. m
n
checks in my notebook today! ■ In British English cheerful /ˈtʃɪər·fəl/ [㐀] Happy and lively: Sam o
they say "tick". 3 A type of note that you can ex- p
is such a cheerful baby! He's always smiling. q
change for money at a bank: Great! Auntie Dora r
cheese /tʃiːz/ [㐌] Solid food made from milk: s
has sent me a check for fifty dollars. ■ In British t
English they say "cheque". 4 A piece of paper Camembert is my favorite cheese. u
v
showing how much money somebody must pay cheeseburger /ˈtʃizˌbɜr·gər/ [㐗] A hamburger w
x
in a restaurant: What a great dinner, let's pay the with a slice of cheese: We ordered two cheeseburg- y
z
check and go home. ■ In this use, the same mean- ers, french fries and two orange drinks.
ing: "bill". cheetah /ˈtʃiːtə/ [㐗] Animal that looks like a
check2 /tʃek/ [㐘] To make sure that something is cat with a spotted coat: The cheetah is the fastest
right or that something has been done: Check mammal.
your answers when you finish the exercise. chef /ʃef/ [㐗] An important cook in a restau-
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to check in 1 To register
in a hotel: Don't forget that you need to check rant: The chef of this restaurant is Colombian.
in before 8 p.m. 2 To present your ticket and chemical1 /ˈkemɪkəl/ [㐗] A substance that is
your luggage for a flight: Hurry up! We have to used in chemistry or produced by chemistry: We
check in 45 minutes before departure. · to need a strong chemical to clean this metal surface.
check out To pay your bill when you leave a ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this word! The
hotel: Guests are requested to check out before "ch" is pronounced as a "k".
12 a.m. chemical2 /ˈkemɪkəl/ [㐀] Referring to chemis-
checkbook [㐗] A little book with checks: try or that is used in chemistry: We can only do
My mom couldn't find her checkbook and had to chemical experiments if we are supervised by a
pay in cash. ■ In British English they say "cheque teacher. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
book". word! The "ch" is pronounced as a "k".
checked /tʃekt/ [㐀] With a square pattern: I'm chemist /ˈkem.ɪst/ [㐗] 1 See pharmacist. ■
going to wear my red, black and white checked This use is British English. 2 A person who does
shirt today. chemistry: My mother works as a research chemist
checkers [㐌] A game played with counters on a at the university. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation
black and white board: Do you want a game of of this word! The "ch" is pronounced as a "k".
checkers? ■ It is usually used with a singular verb. ■ chemistry /ˈkem.ɪ.stri/ [㐖] The study of
In British English they say "draughts". chemical substances: Chemistry is one of my favor-
checkout /ˈtʃek.aʊt/ [㐗] The place in a super- ite subjects. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
market where you pay: Don't pay here. You pay for this word! The "ch" is pronounced as a "k". ■ The plu-
the meat at the checkout. ral is "chemistries".
check-up /ˈtʃekʌp/ [㐗] A general medical ex- chemist's /ˈkemɪst/ [㐗] See pharmacy. ■ This
amination: My mom wasn't feeling very well, so she word is British English.
went to the doctor for a check-up. cheque /tʃek/ [㐗] See check1. ■ This word is
cheek /tʃiːk/ ❚ [㐗] 1 The part of your face be- British English.
low your eyes: Pink cheeks are a sign of health. ❚ cheque book /ˈtʃekbʊk/ [㐗] See checkbook.
[㐌] 2 Not having respect for somebody, often in a
funny or not serious way: What a cheek! She's tak- ■ This word is British English.
en my dessert! cherry /ˈtʃer.i/ [㐗] A small round red or black
cheekbone /ˈtʃikˌboʊn/ [㐗] The bone below fruit: Don't eat too many cherries! You'll get stom-
the eye: His cheekbone was broken from the blow. ach ache. ■ The plural is "cherries". 㐀 See page
cheeky /ˈtʃiː.ki/ [㐀] Behaving without re- 436.
spect: Wayne is very cheeky. He told Mrs. Green cherry or cherry tree /ˈtʃeri/ [㐗] A tree
which bears cherries: Heavy rain can easily dam-
age cherry trees.
chess 78
a chess /tʃes/ [㐖] A game for two people that is chick /tʃɪk/ [㐗] A very young bird: Have you
b played on a black and white board: Chess is a very seen the new chicks in the barn?
difficult game. chicken /ˈtʃɪkɪn/ ❚ [㐗] 1 A young hen: Mrs.
chest /tʃest/ [㐗] The front part of the body be- McKay keeps chickens at her cottage. ❚ [㐖] 2
c tween the neck and the stomach: He received a The meat of a young hen: There's chicken for lunch
blow on his chest and was unconscious for five min- every Tuesday.
d utes.
chickenpox /ˈtʃɪk·ənˌpɑks/ [㐖] A disease
chestnut1 /ˈtʃesnʌt/ [㐗] 1 A red brown nut: I that gives you red pimples on your skin: Three
e love eating roasted chestnuts in the fall. 2 A tree children in our class are absent with chicken-
that gives chestnuts: Chestnuts are tall trees with pox.
f broad leaves. chickpea /ˈtʃɪk.piː/ [㐗] A fat round seed, com-
chestnut2 [㐍] A color that is between red and monly used as food: When I go to Mexico I like to
g brown: There's a beautiful chestnut horse in that eat chickpeas. In United States you don't usually
field. see them.
h chest of drawers [㐗] See dresser. ■ This chief1 /tʃiːf/ [㐗] The most important person in
word is British English. a group of people or organization: The chief of po-
i chew /tʃuː/ [㐘] To make something soft with your lice spoke to the press about the incidents in the
teeth: This meat is hard to chew. school.
j chewing gum [㐖] A candy that you keep chief2 /tʃiːf/ [㐀] Most important: Violence is
in your mouth and bite on, but do not swallow: one of the chief problems nowadays.
Could you please take that chewing gum out of your chiefly /ˈtʃiː.fli/ [㐄] Mainly: The accident was
k mouth when you're speaking to me?
chiefly due to the bad weather.
l
CHESS
m
n
o
p
pawn
q
r queen
king
s
t
u
v
w
x
y castle bishop
knight
z
79 choke
child /tʃaɪld/ [㐗] 1 A young person: A child my new computer is very fast. ■ In this use, we also a
say "microchip". b
should not be left alone at home. ■ "Child" is used c
for both girls and boys. 2 A son or a daughter: Mrs. CHIP d
e
Higgins has three children. ■ When we want to say microchip f
g
the sex, we use "boy" for "son" and "girl" for "daugh- chirp US: /tʃɝːp/ UK: /tʃɜːp/ [㐘] To make a sound,
h
ter": "Mrs. Higgins has two boys and a girl". The plu- some birds and insects: I love hearing our canary i
chirp in the morning. j
ral is "children". k
chlorophyll /ˈklɔr·əˌfɪl/, /ˈkloʊr-/ [㐖] A green l
childbirth /ˈtʃaɪldbɜːθ/ [㐖] The process m
substance in plants which provides them with n
of giving birth to a child: The experience energy: Photosynthesis is a result of the absorption o
of light by the chlorophyll. p
of childbirth can be exhausting for the new q
chocolate /ˈtʃɑk·lət/, /ˈtʃɔk-/ [㐌] 1 A brown sweet: r
mother. s
I always have a sandwich and a bar of chocolate t
childhood /ˈtʃaɪld.hʊd/ [㐌] The time of life when for snack. 2 A small sweet made of chocolate: I u
had three boxes of chocolates for my birthday. ■ Be v
people are children: Rob had a happy childhood in careful with the pronunciation of this word! The sec- w
ond "o" is not pronounced and the "a" is pronounced x
Australia. as in "ago". y
z
childish /ˈtʃaɪl.dɪʃ/ [㐀] Always behaving like a choice /tʃɔɪs/ [㐌] 1 The act of choosing: Which
child: Colin is fourteen years old but he's still very cake do you want? Hurry up and make your choice.
2 The number of things that you can choose
childish. from: There's a very good choice of movies on just
now.
children /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ The plural of child.
Chilean1 [㐀] Referring to Chile: Valparaiso is choir US: /kwaɪr/ UK: /kwaɪər/ [㐗] A group of peo-
one of the main Chilean tourist destination. ■ Be ple who sing together, especially during religious
services: I like singing but I don't sing well enough
careful! "Chilean" has a capital "C". to be in the school choir. ■ Be careful with the pro-
nunciation of this word! The "ch" is pronounced as a
Chilean2 [㐗] A person from Chile: My sister is "k".
married to a Chilean and the live in Santiago. ■ Be choke US: /tʃoʊk/ UK: /tʃəʊk/ [㐘] To have difficul-
careful! "Chilean" has a capital "C". ties to breathe: Last Sunday I choked on a fish
bone.
chill /tʃɪl/ [㐘] To make something cold: Put some
ice in your drink to chill it.
chilly /ˈtʃɪl.i/ [㐀] Feeling a little cold: It's not
very cold, but I feel a bit chilly.
chime1 [㐗] The sound made by a bell or
clock: The chime of bells is a pleasant sound.
chime2 /tʃaɪm/ [㐘] To sound a bell or a clock: Lis-
ten! The clock is chiming three.
chimney /ˈtʃɪm.ni/ [㐗] A stone tube that takes
the smoke away from a fire: Santa Claus gets into
houses through the chimney. ■ Compare with "fire-
place" (the place in a room where you can make a
fire).
chimpanzee /ˌtʃɪm.pænˈziː/ [㐗] A type of ape
from Africa: Chimpanzees are very intelligent ani-
mals.
chin /tʃɪn/ [㐗] The part of the face below the
mouth: I fell off my bike and hurt my chin. 㐀 See
picture at face.
china /ˈtʃaɪ.nə/ [㐖] 1 A type of fine pottery:
English china is of very high quality. 2 Cups, dish-
es and plates made of china: Put the china away
but don't break anything.
chip /tʃɪp/ [㐗] 1 A thin slice of fried potato or
other cereals sold in bags: What do you want
corn chips or potato chips? ■ In British English
they say "crisp". ■ This use is more common in the
plural. 2 See french fry. ■ This use is British Eng-
lish. ■ This use is more common in the plural. 3 A
small piece of electronic equipment: The chip in
cholera 80
a cholera /ˈkɑl·ər·ə/ [㐖] A serious infec- the early Christians were persecuted in Rome. ■ Be
b tious disease causing severe diarrhea: A chol- careful! "Christian" has a capital "C".
era epidemic can cause a large number of Christianity /ˌkrɪs·tʃiˈæn·ɪ·t̬i/ [㐖] The reli-
deaths. gion that follows the teachings of Jesus Christ:
c choose, chose, chosen /tʃuːz/ [㐘] 1 To take Christianity began in the first century AD. ■ Be care-
one from several things or people: Which pants ful! "Christianity" has a capital "C".
d did you choose, the jeans or the black ones? 2 To Christian name [㐗] See name1.
decide to do something: Donald has chosen to go Christmas /ˈkrɪs.məs/ [㐌] A feast on December
e to university. 25th that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ:
chop1 /tʃɒp/ [㐗] A piece of meat on a bone: I When I was a child Christmas was the happiest
f ordered pork chops with sweet and sour sauce. time of the year. ■ Be careful. "Christmas" has a cap-
chop2 /tʃɒp/ [㐘] To cut into small pieces: Wendy's ital "C". The abbreviation "Xmas" is only used in
g father spent the morning chopping wood for the written language.
fire. chrysalis /ˈkrɪs.əl.ɪs/ [㐗] The form of a
h chopsticks /ˈtʃɒpstɪks/ [㐑] A pair of thin moth or butterfly while it is growing: The
sticks used for eating in oriental countries: At our chrysalis turned into a butterfly. ■ The plural is
i local Chinese restaurant you can use chopsticks or "chrysalises".
a knife and fork. church US: /tʃɝːtʃ/ UK: /tʃɜːtʃ/ [㐗] A place
j choral /ˈkɔːrəl/ [㐀] Referring to a choir: The where Christians meet to pray: We usually hear
best part of the program was the choral music. ■ Be mass at St John's Church. ■ The plural is "churches".
careful with the pronunciation of this word! La "ch" cigar /sɪˈgɑr/ [㐗] Tobacco leaves rolled togeth-
k is pronounced as a "k" and the first syllable empha- er for smoking: Havana cigars are famous all over
sized. the world.
l chord US: /kɔːrd/ UK: /kɔːd/ [㐗] 1 Group of musi- cigarette /ˌsɪg·əˈret/ [㐗] Small pieces of to-
cal notes played together to form a harmony: The bacco rolled in paper for smoking: Cigarette
m pianist played a major chord. 2 A line segment smoking causes many kinds of disease.
joining two points: During the lesson of geometry cinema /ˈsɪn.ə.mə/ [㐗] See movie theater. ■
n the teacher asked us to draw a chord. ■ Be careful This word is British English. ■ Be careful with the
with the pronunciation of this word! The "ch" is pro- pronunciation of this word! The "c" is pronounced as
o nounced as a "k". a "s".
chore US: /tʃɔːr/ UK: /tʃɔːr/ [㐗] A job that has to circle1 /ˈsɜːkl/ [㐗] 1 A completely round
p be done regularly, especially housework: I hate shape: We formed several circles to dance at the
chores like cleaning up or making the bed. ■ This party. 㐀 See page 457. 2 An area of seats that is
q word is more common in the plural. upstairs in a theater and so on: I've booked seats
chorus US: /ˈkɔːr.əs/ UK: /ˈkɔː.rəs/ [㐗] 1 A group in the front row of the circle. ■ Be careful with the
r of singers or dancers in a musical: The chorus pronunciation of this word! The first "c" is pro-
who sang "Aida" was superb! 2 The part of a song nounced as a "s".
s that is repeated: I don't know the words of the song circle2 /ˈsɜːkl/ [㐘] 1 To go around: The airplane
very well, only the chorus. ■ Be careful with the pro- circled the airport for an hour before landing. 2 To
nunciation of this word! The "ch" is pronounced as a draw a circle around something: Circle the right
t "k".
answers.
chose US: /tʃoʊz/ UK: /tʃəʊz/ Past tense of choose. circuit /ˈsɜr·kət/ [㐗] 1 Established route for an
u chosen /ˈtʃoʊ·zən/ Past participle of choose.
activity: I follow a five miles circuit when I run. 2 A
Christ /kraɪst/ [㐌] The name of Jesus, the son of path along which an electric current flows: We
v God in the Christian religion: Christ died when he built a parallel circuit. ■ Be careful with the pronun-
was about 33 years old. ■ Be careful. "Christ" has a ciation of this word! The first "c" is pronounced as a
w capital "C". "s" and the "u" is not pronounced.
christen /ˈkrɪs.ən/ [㐘] 1 To make somebody a circular US: /ˈsɝː.kjʊ.lɚ/ UK: /ˈsɜː.kjʊ.lər/ [㐀]
x member of the Christian church: We christened Round: Wheels are circular. ■ Be careful with the
our new baby on Saturday. 2 To give a first pronunciation of this word. The first "c" is pro-
y name to somebody: They christened the baby nounced like an "s".
Thomas. circulate /ˈsɜr·kjəˌleɪt/ [㐘] To go or to pass
z Christian /ˈkrɪs.tʃən, -ti.ən/ [㐍] Referring to around: Mrs. Cameron has to take pills to help her
Christianity or a follower of Christianity: Some of blood to circulate well.
81 classmate
circulation /ˌsɜr·kjəˈlei·ʃən/ [㐖] 1 The move- it: After the accident, he sent his claim to the insur- a
b
ment of blood through the body: His circulation ance company. c
was affected by his illness. 2 The passing or d
claim2 /kleɪm/ [㐘] 1 To say that something is true: e
spreading of something from one place or person f
Liz claimed that she had seen Tom Hanks at the su- g
to another: There was a story in circulation about permarket. 2 To ask for something that you think
h
their differences of opinion. you have a right to: Fred claimed the first prize, i
j
circulatory [㐀] Referring to the circulation but he was only given the second prize. k
l
of blood: Dizziness is often caused by circulatory clang /klæŋ/ [㐗] A loud, metallic sound: The m
n
problems. clang of that machine drives me crazy. o
p
circulatory system [㐗] The system which clap /klæp/ [㐘] To show approval by joining your q
r
circulates blood or sap: The circulatory system hands together again and again: Everyone started s
t
carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells. clapping when the concert finished. ■ Be careful u
v
circumference /sərˈkəm·fər·əns/ [㐌] The outside with the spelling of these forms: "clapped", "clap- w
x
edge of a circle: The circumference of the earth is ping". y
z
about 40,000 kms. clarinet /ˌklærɪˈnet/ [㐗] A musical instrument
circumstance US: /ˈsɝː.kəm.stænts/ UK: which has the shape of a tube and is played by
/ˈsɜː.kəm.stɑːnts/ [㐗] An action or fact that in- blowing into its top: The clarinet is considered to
fluences something: In the circumstances we were
be a difficult instrument to play. 㐀 See page 459.
lucky to come out alive.
clash1 /klæʃ/ [㐗] 1 The sound that things
circus /ˈsɜr·kəs/ [㐗] 1 A show with clowns, ac-
make when they hit each other: When he dropped
robats and animals: I love seeing the clowns at a the box, there was a clash of cutlery. 2 A battle or a
circus. 2 A round, open space in a town: Piccadil-
conflict: There has been a clash between soldiers
ly Circus is one of London's most famous tourist at-
at the frontier.
tractions. ■ The plural is "circuses". ■ Be careful
clash2 /klæʃ/ [㐘] 1 To fight: The demonstrators
with the pronunciation of this word! The first "c" is
clashed with the police. 2 Not to match: I think the
pronounced as a "s".
colors of your blouse and your skirt clash.
citizen /ˈsɪt·̬ ə·zən/ [㐗] A person who legally be-
class US: /klæs/ UK: /klɑːs/ [㐗] 1 A group of stu-
longs to a country: People born in Puerto Rico are
dents: The whole class agreed with the idea of go-
citizens of the United States. ing on an excursion. 2 A group of people or
city /ˈsɪt̬·i/ [㐗] A large town: My favorite city is things of the same kind: There are many different
classes of pine tree. 3 first class See first class2.
Paris. ■ The plural is "cities". Be careful with the 4 second class See second class2. ■ The plural is
pronunciation of this word! The "c" is pronounced as "classes".
an "s". classic /ˈklæs.ɪk/ [㐗] Something considered as
civil /ˈsɪv.əl/ [㐀] 1 Relating to citizens and an extremely good example of its kind: Oliver
their concerns not to religion or the army: The Twist is a classic of world literature.
army should not interfere in the elections as it is classical /ˈklæs.ɪ.kəl/ [㐀] Traditional, based on
a civil matter. 2 Polite: Her answer was very
an old and established system: Classical music is
civil.
OK but I prefer jazz.
civilization /ˌsɪv.əl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ [㐌] 1 An advanced
classification /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ [㐗] 1 Arrange-
stage of social and cultural development: We are
studying ancient civilizations at school. 2 A soci- ment into classes or categories: The insects be-
ety: Some explorers have discovered the ruins of an long to different classifications according to their
type. 2 A group or class into which something is
ancient American civilization. ■ This word is also
put: Fish come under the classification of biologi-
written "civilisation".
cal vertebrate.
civil servant [㐗] Somebody who works in a
classify /ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/ [㐘] 1 To grade things by
government department: My cousin is a civil ser-
their qualities: It is best to classify soccer teams
vant. by the number of goals. 2 To place somebody or
civil service [㐌] The administration of a gov- something in a particular category: Do they clas-
ernment: Sheila's mother has a high post in the sify his compositions as Baroque Music? ■ Be care-
civil service. ful with the spelling of these forms: "classifies",
claim1 /kleɪm/ [㐗] 1 Something that you say "classified".
which you maintain is true: His claim that I cop- classmate /ˈklæsˌmeɪt/ [㐗] A student in your
ied his project is totally false. 2 Something that
class: I get on well with my classmates.
you ask for because you think you have a right to
classroom 82
a classroom /ˈklæsˌrum/, /-ˌrʊm/ [㐗] A place in a clean1 /kliːn/ [㐀] Not dirty: Colin keeps his
b school where lessons are held: This school is very house very clean.
small. It has only three classrooms. clean2 /kliːn/ [㐘] To remove dirt: Have you
clavicle /ˈklæv.ɪ.kl/̩ [㐗] The bone joining the cleaned your room today?
c breastbone and the shoulder blade: He broke his clav- cleaner /ˈkli·nər/ [㐗] Somebody who cleans:
icle in the accident. ■ The same meaning: "collarbone". The mess that was left behind was taken care of by
d claw US: /klɑː/ UK: /klɔː/ [㐗] The very sharp the cleaner.
nails on the feet of an animal or a bird: Tigers cleanse /klenz/ [㐘] To clean thoroughly: The
e have very sharp claws. priest cleanses his flock through confession.
clay /kleɪ/ [㐖] A type of soil used to make clear1 /klɪər/ [㐀] 1 That you can see through: On
f bricks or pottery: That ashtray from Morocco is a clear day, you can see the sea from here. 2 Easy to
made of clay. read, to hear or to understand: Mr. Wells' instruc-
g
CLASSROOM
h
i
j
k blackboard
bookshelf
l
m chalk
n
o window poster
p
q
r teacher
s board eraser
t student
u book
v desk
w
x chair
y
z
83 clock
tions are not always clear. 3 Obvious: It was clear Everest. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of a
this word. The "b" is silent. This word rhymes b
that Mr. Moon was joking. with "time". c
d
clear2 /klɪər/ [㐘] To put things away: Can you climber /ˈklaɪmər/ [㐗] 1 A climbing plant: The e
f
clear the table, Ben? I'll wash up. ivy earned its reputation as a climber by covering g
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to clear (something) away the front of the house. 2 A person who climbs:
To remove something which is in the way: Can Climbers use harnesses and picks. h
i
you clear your books away from the table? I want to climbing /ˈklaɪ.mɪŋ/ [㐖] The sport of going j
k
use it. · to clear up To find an answer or an expla- up steep rocks: We're going climbing in the Pyre- l
nees this summer. m
nation: The disappearance of the test papers was n
climogram [㐗] Representation of climate o
never cleared up. p
patterns in graphic form: The climogram showed q
clearly /ˈklɪər·li/ [㐄] 1 In a way that is easy to record rainfall and temperatures. r
s
read, to hear or to understand: You have to clinic /ˈklɪn.ɪk/ [㐗] A place where you can get t
u
speak more clearly, Danny. I never know what specialist medical treatment: The health clinic will v
you're saying. 2 Obviously: The advertiser is give you information about the dangers of drinking w
too much alcohol. x
clearly not telling the truth about the features of y
clip /klɪp/ [㐗] An object made from wire, used z
that car.
for holding things together: Use a clip or you'll
clergy /ˈklɜr·dʒi/ [㐑] The people ordered offi- lose all your papers.
cially by a Christian church: The clergy give their cloak /kləʊk/ [㐗] An article of clothing like a
opinion on many things. coat without sleeves, worn over the arms: Cloaks
have become old-fashioned. ■ The same meaning:
clerk US: /klɝːk/ UK: /klɑːk/ [㐗] 1 A person who "cape".
does office work: Susan's mother works as a clerk cloakroom /ˈkloʊkˌrum/, /-ˌrʊm/ [㐗] A place in
in a bank. 2 A person who serves customers in a
a theater or a restaurant where you can leave
store: The store clerk showed me three different your coat: When the play finished, James went to
the cloakroom for our coats.
jackets, all of them terrible. ■ In this use, in British
clock US: /klɑːk/ UK: /klɒk/ [㐗] 1 An instrument
English we say "shop assistant".
that tells the time, that is on a wall, a shelf and
clever /ˈklev·ər/ [㐀] Intelligent: She's a very so on: The school clock is ten minutes fast. It's only
five to nine. ■ Compare with "watch1" (carried on
clever girl; she understands everything very quick- your person, usually on your wrist). 2 alarm clock A
clock that wakes you up: They set the alarm clock
ly. for 6.30.
cleverness /ˈklev.ə.nəs/ US: /-ɚ-/ [㐖] Intelli- CLOCK
gence: The children were delighted by the monkeys' alarm clock
cleverness. watch
click /klɪk/ [㐗] A short, sharp sound: We heard clock
a click and the door opened.
client /ˈklaɪ.ənt/ [㐗] 1 A person or company
that asks for the advice or services of a profes-
sional: The architect showed his designs to his cli-
ent. ■ Compare with "customer" (a person who buys
goods or services). 2 A customer: He's good client.
He's always buying books from us.
cliff /klɪf/ [㐗] High, very steep rock on a coast:
Climbing cliffs can be very dangerous. 㐀 See page
444.
climate /ˈklaɪ.mət/ [㐌] The normal weather of an
area: It's usually hot in tropical climates.
climax /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ [㐗] The most exciting part
of a story, usually just before the end: The story
reaches its climax when the children find the trea-
sure. ■ The plural is "climaxes".
climb /klaɪm/ [㐘] 1 To go up towards the top
of something: The bus was full and it climbed
the road very slowly. 2 To go up something
using hands and feet: We had to climb a wall
to get into the yard. 3 To go up mountains:
Several men and women have now climbed
clockwise 84
a clockwise /ˈklɑkˌwɑɪz/ [㐄] In the direction in clown /klaʊn/ [㐗] A person, usually with fun-
b which the hands of a clock move: We had to run ny clothes, who makes people laugh: I love seeing
clockwise around the yard for 10 minutes. the clowns at the circus.
clockwork /ˈklɒkwɜːk/ [㐖] Machinery used club /klʌb/ [㐗] 1 An organization of people
c in clocks and toys: My little brother got a clock- with the same interests: I'm a member of the ski-
work train for Christmas. ing club. 2 A stick used to hit the ball in golf: I left
d close1 /kləʊz/ [㐀] 1 Near: Our school is quite the clubs at home and we couldn't play golf. 3 A
close to the local church. 2 Liking each other: Bar- playing card with black shapes on it: I've got the
e ry and I have been close friends for years. 3 Care- Ace of clubs.
ful: After a close examination of the handwriting, clue /kluː/ [㐗] Something that gives informa-
f Sherlock Holmes realized who the murderer was. tion to solve a problem or a mystery: The clues for
close2 /kləʊz/ [㐄] Near: The boy followed close this crossword are very easy.
g behind his mother. clump [㐗] A small group of plants or trees: a
close3 /kləʊz/ [㐘] To shut, to change the position clump of grass. 㐀 See picture at a piece of...
h of something so that it is not open: Close the door, clumsy /ˈklʌm.zi/ [㐀] That is not very skill-
please. It's very cold. ful with the hands: That boy is so clumsy! He's
i ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to close down To end an ac- always dropping things. ■ The comparative form
tivity or a business: My uncle's business did so is "clumsier" and the superlative form is "clumsi-
j badly last year that he had to close it down. est".
closely /ˈkloʊs·li/ [㐄] 1 In a connected and asso- cluster /ˈklʌstər/ [㐗] A close grouping: A clus-
ciated way: The American team worked closely with ter of mushrooms grew around the roots of the tree.
k the Mexican. 2 In a dense way: We traveled very clutch1 /klʌtʃ/ [㐗] The pedal in a car used to
closely packed in my uncle's car. 3 At a short dis- change gear: You have to press the clutch with your
l tance: She has followed that singer's career very foot when you want to change gears.
closely. clutch2 /klʌtʃ/ [㐘] To hold something firmly: He
m closet US: /ˈklɒzɪt/ [㐗] A piece of furniture that clutched the policeman's hand and was lifted to
is used for keeping clothes in: Don't leave your safety.
n clothes around, Tim. Keep them in your closet. ■ cm A written abbreviation for centimeter. ■ See
Compare with "cupboard" (used for keeping all kinds box at abbreviations.
o of things in). ■ In British English they say "ward- c/o An abbreviation used in addresses before the
robe". 㐀 See picture at bedroom. name of a person who passes on the letter for an-
p clot /klɒt/ [㐗] A lump formed from a coagulat- other person: Please send the letter to American
ed liquid: The dried blood formed into a clot. Airlines, c/o Human Resources department, PO Box
q cloth US: /klɑːθ/ UK: /klɒθ/ ❚ [㐖] 1 Material 619612 MD 2400. ■ "c/o" is a written abbreviation
made from cotton, wool and so on: I need some for "care of".
r cloth to make the drapes. ❚ [㐗] 2 A piece of ma- coach US: /koʊtʃ/ UK: /kəʊtʃ/ [㐗] 1 A bus used
terial used for cleaning: You can clean the mess for long journeys: Get the coach to Chicago; it's
cheaper than the train. 2 A person who trains
s with that cloth over there.
clothed /kləʊðd/ [㐀] Wearing clothing: The sportsmen or sportswomen: Susan's father is the
children were clothed in traditional costumes for coach of our school football team. ■ In this use, the
t the carnival.
same meaning: "trainer". ■ The plural is "coaches".
clothes US: /kloʊðz/ UK: /kləʊðz/ [㐑] 1 The coagulate /koʊˈæg·jəˌleɪt/ [㐘] To clot: Blood coag-
u things that people wear: Put your clothes on be- ulates after a blow to form a bruise.
fore you catch cold. 2 casual clothes See "casual coal US: /koʊl/ UK: /kəʊl/ [㐌] A black mineral used
v clothes" in the word casual. as a fuel: Burning coal pollutes the atmosphere.
clothing /ˈkloʊ·ðɪŋ/ [㐖] Clothes: She sells ar- 㐀 See page 439.
w ticles of clothing like shirts, blouses and skirts. coalminer [㐗] A person who works in a coal
cloud /klaʊd/ [㐌] A mass of water drops or dust mine: Five of my uncles were coalminers.
x that is in the air: Look at those black clouds in the coast US: /koʊst/ UK: /kəʊst/ [㐗] The land that is
sky; it's going to rain. 㐀 See page 438. next to the sea: Finlay's parents have a house on
y cloudy /ˈklaʊ.di/ [㐀] That is covered with the coast.
clouds: It was so cloudy that we couldn't see the coastal /ˈkəʊstəl/ [㐀] Referring to the coast:
z sun. ■ The comparative form is "cloudier" and the Coastal beaches continue for 900 miles in the
superlative form is "cloudiest". northeast of Brazil. 㐀 See page 444.
85
CLOTHES a
b
jacket swimming sweatshirt purse c
trunks d
bikini e
f
boot scarf sock g
T-shirt
h
suit i
j
hat k
l
sweater coat raincoat m
jeans n
dress o
p
tie skirt glove q
r
thong s
t
shorts shoe belt u
tracksuit v
pants w
x
y
z
coaster 86
a coaster US: /ˈkoʊ.stɚ/ UK: /ˈkəʊ.stər/ [㐗] 1 A world. 2 A drink made with coffee beans: My dad
b small protecting mat that you put drink contain- always has coffee after lunch. ■ We say: "to make a
ers on: The coaster prevents marks from being coffee". 3 coffee table A low table that is usually
made on the wooden surface of the table. 2 A ship in the living room: Mick got some glasses from the
c that sails from port to port along a coast: The kitchen and left them on the coffee table. ■ "Black
coaster was used for trade between coastal loca- coffee" is coffee without milk. "Decaffeinated coffee"
d tions.
is coffee with the caffeine taken out. "Instant coffee"
coastline /ˈkoʊstˌlɑɪn/ [㐌] The line of the coast: is coffee made simply by adding hot water or milk to
e The coastline of Florida is very irregular. coffee powder. Coffee can be "weak" or "strong".
coat US: /koʊt/ UK: /kəʊt/ [㐗] 1 A piece of cloth- 㐀 See picture at living room.
f ing with sleeves and buttons that you wear over cogwheel /ˈkɒg.wiːl/ US: /ˈkɑːg-/ [㐗] Wheel
other clothes when you are cold: Don't go out with projecting teeth which rotates and interacts
g without your coat, Jim. It's very cold. 㐀 See pictu- with a similar wheel on a different shaft: The cog-
re at clothes. 2 coat hanger A piece of metal, wheel transfers power from the drive-shaft to the
h wood or plastic on which you hang clothes: Don't axle of the car.
leave your jacket on a chair, please. Put it on a coat coin /kɔɪn/ [㐗] Piece of metal used as money: I
i hanger. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this need two quarter coins for the telephone.
word! "coa" rhymes with "go". coincidence /koʊˈɪn·sɪ·də·ns/, /-səˌdens/ [㐗]
j cobweb /ˈkɑbˌweb/ [㐗] A fine net made by a Something that happens by chance: What a coin-
spider: The fly was caught in the cobweb. ■ The cidence! We were born on the same day!
k same meaning: "spiderweb". Coke® US: /koʊk/ UK: /kəʊk/ [㐌] See Coca Cola®. ■
Coca Cola® US: /ˌkoʊ.kəˈkoʊ.lə/ UK: /ˌkəʊ.kəˈkəʊ.lə/ Be careful! "Coke®" has a capital "C". ■ Be careful
[㐌] A fizzy sweet brown drink: Sorry, but I don't with the pronunciation of this word. The "o" is long,
l want a Coca Cola. It's too sweet for me. ■ Be careful! as in "show".
"Coca Cola" has capital letters. ■ We also say: "Coke". cold1 /kəʊld/ [㐀] That has a low temperature:
m cochlea /ˈkɒk.li.ə/ US: /ˈkɑːk-/ [㐗] Spiral cavity It's very cold, 2 ºC below zero. ■ "Cold" indicates a
of the inner ear: The cochlea sends information to lower temperature than "cool" and often a disagree-
n the brain. able one. "Cool" often refers to a pleasant tempera-
cock US: /kɑːk/ UK: /kɒk/ [㐗] An adult male ture: "a cold winter", "a cool breeze". 㐀 See picture
o chicken: I like hearing the cocks crow at dawn. at opposite.
cockpit /ˈkɑk·pɪt/ [㐗] The part in a plane cold2 /kəʊld/ ❚ [㐖] 1 A low temperature: I
p where the pilot is: The captain invited all the chil- don't like the cold. It makes it very difficult to get
dren on board to visit the cockpit. out of bed in the morning! ❚ [㐗] 2 An illness
that causes a headache, a dripping nose and a
q cocktail /ˈkɑkˌteɪl/ [㐗] A drink made by mix-
ing several drinks: I drank a little champagne slight fever: I think I've caught a cold. I've got a
r cocktail at my sister's wedding. headache and I feel hot.
cocoa US: /ˈkoʊ.koʊ/ UK: /ˈkəʊ.kəʊ/ [㐖] A pow- coliseum [㐗] Large stadium or amphithe-
s der used for making hot chocolate: I always have ater: The coliseum here is used for big concerts and
a cup of cocoa before going to bed. sport events.
coconut /ˈkoʊ·kəˌnʌt/ [㐗] A very large nut collage US: /ˈkɑː.lɑːʒ/ UK: /ˈkɒl.ɑːʒ/ [㐌] A picture
t from a palm tree: Coconuts have a hard brown made with bits of different things: James makes
shell, white flesh and a very sweet liquid. 㐀 See funny collages by sticking together photographs
u page 436.
from magazines. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation
cod US: /kɑːd/ UK: /kɒd/ [㐌] A fish with white flesh of this word.
v that is good to eat: In Portugal they have lots of collapse /kəˈlæps/ [㐘] To fall down: When he
ways of cooking cod. ■ The plural is also "cod". heard the news, he collapsed into a chair, unable to
w code US: /koʊd/ UK: /kəʊd/ [㐌] 1 A system used to speak.
send secret messages: My sister and I have a code collar US: /ˈkɑː.lɚ/ UK: /ˈkɒl.ər/ [㐗] 1 The part of a
x in which we use numbers instead of letters. 2 A shirt or coat that goes around the neck: Ed has a
group of rules: If you want to get a driving license, shirt with a big blue collar. 2 A band around the neck
y you have to learn the Highway Code. of an animal: I need a collar for my new pet dog.
coffee US: /ˈkɑː.fi/ UK: /ˈkɒf.i/ [㐌] 1 The beans of a collarbone US: /ˈkɑː.lɚ.boʊn/ UK: /ˈkɒl.ə.bəʊn/
z tropical plant that are used to make a drink: Co- [㐗] The bone joining the breastbone and the
lombia produces some of the best coffee in the shoulder blade: The collarbone is the only long
87 combustion
bone lying horizontally. ■ The same meaning: "clavi- ent country in large numbers in order to control a
b
cle". it or benefit from it: Many countries suffered colo- c
d
colleague US: /ˈkɑː.liːg/ UK: /ˈkɒl.iːg/ [㐗] A per- nization by the Romans. e
f
son who works or studies with you: Sid's dad and colonize or colonise /ˈkɑl·əˌnɑɪz/ [㐘] To estab- g
Emma's mom are colleagues at the same company. lish a settlement: The British settlers arrived to h
i
collect /kəˈlekt/ [㐘] 1 To acquire and keep things colonize North America. j
k
as a hobby: Keep that stamp from Finland for colony /ˈkɑl·ə·ni/ [㐗] 1 A country that belongs l
Keith. He collects stamps. 2 To gather fruit or flow- m
to another country: Jamaica was a British colony n
ers: We always used to collect flowers for my moth- before its independence. 2 A group of insects that o
p
er in spring. live together: Yesterday at school we saw a movie q
r
collection /kəˈlek.ʃən/ [㐗] A group of things of about a colony of ants. ■ The plural is "colonies". s
t
the same kind: Have you seen Colin's collection of color1 /ˈkʌl·ər/ [㐌] The quality that makes some- u
v
postcards? It's beautiful. thing look brown, red, blue and so on: Black is w
x
collective /kəˈlektɪv/ [㐀] Of a joint group: Col- Vanessa's favorite color. ■ The British English spell- y
z
lective memory is passed from generation to gener- ing is "colour".
ation. color2 /ˈkʌl·ər/ [㐘] To paint with color: Color the
collector /kəˈlek·tər/ [㐗] 1 A person who col- rectangles red and the circles blue. ■ The British
lects something as a hobby: Eric's uncle is a col- English spelling is "colour".
lector of modern art. He's very rich. 2 A person
color-blind [㐀] Unable to see the difference
whose job it is to collect tickets, taxes, rent and
between certain colors: Cyril is color-blind. He
so on: Get your ticket ready. The ticket collector is
sees red as green.
coming.
colorful [㐀] Full of color: Some butterflies are
college US: /ˈkɑː.lɪdʒ/ UK: /ˈkɒl.ɪdʒ/ [㐌] A place
very colorful.
where students go after high school: I want to go
colorless /ˈkʌlələs/ [㐀] Without color: Water is
to art college when I finish school.
a colorless liquid.
collide /kəˈlaɪd/ [㐘] 1 To strike against something
colour1 /ˈkʌlər/ [㐌] See color1. ■ This is a British
violently and suddenly: The meteor is expected to
collide with planet Earth. 2 To be in disagreement: English spelling.
The interests of the different political parties col- colour2 /ˈkʌlər/ [㐘] See color2. ■ This is a British
lide. English spelling.
collision /kəˈlɪʒ.ən/ ❚ [㐌] 1 Crashing into some- column US: /ˈkɑː.ləm/ UK: /ˈkɒl.əm/ [㐗] A tall
thing: There was a collision between two buses post that is used in buildings or to support a stat-
and five people were injured. ❚ [㐗] 2 Strong
disagreement of opposing aims, opinions, etc.: ue: Astoria Column is in Oregon.
Her strong belief brought her into collision with comb1 /kəʊm/ [㐗] An object used for arranging
the law. your hair: I need a strong comb because my hair is
cologne /kəˈloʊn/ [㐖] A kind of perfume that so curly. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
is not very strong: What cologne do you use? It word. It rhymes with "home".
smells good. comb2 /kəʊm/ [㐘] To arrange your hair with a
Colombian1 [㐀] Referring to Colombia: We're comb: Wash your face and comb your hair! It's get-
going to the Colombian Pacific coast for our vaca- ting late for school.
tion this summer. ■ Be careful! "Colombian" has a combination /ˌkɑm·bəˈneɪ·ʃən/ [㐌] The putting
capital "C". of different things together: Steel is a combination
Colombian2 [㐗] A person from Colombia: My of iron and other metals.
Spanish teacher is a Colombian. ■ Be careful! "Co- combine /kəmˈbaɪn/ [㐘] To put different things
lombian" has a capital "C". together: When I travel, I like to combine vacation
colon US: /ˈkoʊ.lən/ UK: /ˈkəʊ.lɒn/ [㐗] A mark [:] with studying.
used in writing to show that what comes after it combustible1 [㐖] Substance which burns
is an example or an explanation: You use a colon easily: Gasoline is combustible and should never
in a written dialog before somebody's actual words. be close to a naked flame.
colonel /ˈkɜr·nə·l/ [㐗] An army officer: A colo- combustible2 /kəmˈbʌs.tɪ.bl/̩ [㐀] Able to catch
nel is usually in command of a regiment of soldiers. fire and burn easily: The wood used to make the
colonization or colonisation /ˌkɒl.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ fire was very dry and combustible.
US: /ˌkɑː.lə-/ [㐖] The act of settling in a differ- combustion /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ [㐖] The act of
burning: Flames are produced as the result of com-
bustion of a fuel.
come 88
a come, came, come /kʌm/ [㐘] 1 To move to- come up against (a problem or difficulty) To
b wards the speaker: "Come here. I want to show you have an unexpected problem with something: I
something" "OK, I'm coming". 2 To arrive: Have have come up against a problem with the new
your friends come yet? 3 To have been born in a program. · to come up with (something) To
c place: Do you come from Mexico? 4 To have been suggest something: Henry came up with the
made in or originate from a place: This T-shirt most brilliant idea for the name.
d comes from Peru. 5 to come in To go inside: Come comedian /kəˈmiː.di.ən/ [㐗] 1 An entertainer
in, all the others are here. 6 come on! Used to hur- who tells funny stories: At the party there was a
e ry somebody up to make them go faster: Come on! comedian who told jokes. 2 An actor who does
I can see the school bus coming. ■ This use is infor- comedies: Eddy Murphy is my favorite comedian.
f mal. 7 to come out To go outside: As soon as we He's so funny!
started shouting, she came out. 8 to come true To comedy /ˈkɑm·ə·di/ [㐗] A funny play or movie: I
g happen in the way you thought, hoped or prefer comedies to tragedies. ■ The plural is "comedies".
dreamed: My dream has come true! comet US: /ˈkɑː.mɪt/ UK: /ˈkɒm.ɪt/ [㐗] Small body
h ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to come about To happen, of ice and rock that goes around the sun: As com-
occur: How did it come about? · to come across ets orbit the sun they shed a stream of ice and dust.
i (somebody or something) To find somebody or comfort /ˈkʌm·fərt/ [㐖] The feeling of being
something by chance: I was looking for a book relaxed and in a pleasant state: Susie's aunt lives
j and I came across a lot of old comics. · to come in comfort in Australia and doesn't want to go back
apart To break into some pieces: The book was to the United States.
so cheap that it came apart after a few weeks. · comfortable /ˈkʌm·fər·tə̬ ·bəl/, /ˈkʌmf·tər·bəl/
k to come back To return: After ten years abroad, [㐀] That makes you feel relaxed: I think the
he came back to the United States. · to come new chairs are very comfortable.
l forward To volunteer to do something, or to go comforter US: /ˈkʌmfətər/ [㐗] A bag of soft ma-
to somebody with information they want: Many terial used on beds: In spring we use a lighter com-
m people came forward with information about the forter than the one we have in the winter. ■ In Brit-
missing person. · to come into (something) To ish English they say "duvet".
n inherit: Janet came into a lot of money when her comic1 /ˈkɒmɪk/ [㐗] A magazine with illustrat-
father died. · to come off 1 To break while it is ed stories: Superman has been a popular comic for
o in your hand: When I picked up the bag, the many years.
handle came off. 2 Referring to paint or a stain, comic2 /ˈkɒmɪk/ [㐀] Funny: Peter and Jim are
p to be removed, disappear: This paint won't come preparing a comic act for the end of term show.
off my hand. 3 Referring to an idea or plan, to comma US: /ˈkɑː.mə/ UK: /ˈkɒm.ə/ [㐗] A mark
q be successful: Our plan came off. · to come out used to separate different parts of a sentence or
1 Referring to paint or a mark, to be removed, words in a list [,]: I always forget to put the com-
r disappear: I hope the chocolate stain comes out mas in my writing.
when this shirt is washed. 2 To become public command1 /kəˈmɑːnd/ ❚ [㐗] 1 An order: Sol-
s knowledge: In the end the truth came out. 3 Re- diers must obey commands. ❚ [㐖] 2 Ability to
ferring to a flower, to open: The spring flowers do something: Lucy has never been to France but
came out early this year. 4 Referring to a book, her command of French is really impressive.
t to be published: When does her new book come command2 /kəˈmɑːnd/ [㐘] To tell somebody to do
out? · to come round 1 To visit a friend in their something: The colonel commanded his soldiers to
u house: Come round this evening and I'll show respect the prisoners.
you. 2 To recover consciousness: Tim fainted but commander /kəˈmɑːndər/ [㐗] 1 The officer
v came round again almost immediately. 3 To be who gives the orders in an operation: The com-
convinced in the end by somebody: Lisa was mander ordered his men to get ready to fight. 2 A
w against the plan at first, but in the end she came senior officer in the navy: A commander has a
round. · to come to To recover consciousness: high rank in the Royal Navy.
x When I came to after the operation I felt very commemorate /kəˈmem.ə.reɪt/ [㐘] To celebrate
strange. · to come up 1 To come near or to- an event, usually on its anniversary: The soldiers
y wards somebody or something: He came up to paraded to commemorate the end of the war.
me and asked me to dance. 2 Referring to a commemoration /kəˌmeməˈreɪʃən/ [㐌] The act
z problem or opportunity, to occur: I'm sorry, of commemorating an event: The commemoration
something has come up and I have to go. · to is held every year on the same date.
89 company
comment1 /ˈkɒment/ [㐌] An opinion or an expla- ted to what she does. She works as a missionary in a
b
nation: Mr. Todd made a comment about me that I Africa. ■ Be careful with the spelling of these forms: c
d
considered unfair. "committed", "committing". e
f
comment2 /ˈkɒment/ [㐘] To give an opinion or an committee /kəˈmɪt̬·i/ [㐗] A group of people g
explanation: After the movie, Sarah commented chosen to do a job: I'm on the school committee h
i
that the actors weren't very good. that's preparing the hundredth anniversary cele- j
k
commentary /ˈkɑm·ənˌter·i/ [㐌] A description of brations. l
m
an event: Since I don't have a television, I have to common US: /ˈkɑː.mən/ UK: /ˈkɒm.ən/ [㐀] 1 That n
o
listen to the football commentaries on the radio. ■ exists in large quantities: Mark and Mary are very p
common names. 2 That happens very often: Unfor- q
The plural is "commentaries". tunately, road accidents are very common here. 3 r
s
commentator US: /ˈkɑː.mən.teɪ.tɚ̬ / UK: Ordinary: The common man and woman are not t
u
/ˈkɒm.ən.teɪ.tər/ [㐗] A person who gives a com- normally particularly interested in complicated sci- v
entific developments. 4 Shared by a number of w
mentary on radio or television: The commentator x
people or things: I have my own bedroom but the y
said he thought the penalty kick was unfair. z
bathroom is common to all the people who live on
commerce US: /ˈkɑː.mɝːs/ UK: /ˈkɒm.ɜːs/ [㐖] this floor. 5 common sense Ordinary good sense
The buying and selling of things: My sister's do- or judgment: If you use your common sense, you
ing a commerce course at the local community col- can find the answer.
lege. Commonwealth /ˈkɒmənwelθ/ [㐌] A group of
commercial1 /kəˈmɜːʃəl/ [㐀] 1 Referring to the countries that were part of the British Empire:
buying and selling of things: There's very inten- The Commonwealth was created in London in 1931.
sive commercial activity between the United States ■ Be careful. "Commonwealth" has a capital "C".
and the United Kingdom. 2 That is interested communicate /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪt/ [㐘] To exchange
mainly in making money: The group's new CD is information or feelings with others: If you speak
very commercial. English, you can communicate with people from
commercial2 /kəˈmɜːʃəl/ [㐗] A television or lots of countries. ■ Be careful! We say: "communi-
radio advertisement: Have you seen that new TV cate with (somebody)".
commercial for jeans? communication /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ [㐖] The
commission1 /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/ ❚ [㐗] 1 Various peo- act or the process of communicating: Television is
ple named by the authorities to investigate and an important means of communication.
report on a specific matter: The government community /kəˈmju·nɪ·t̬i/ [㐗] A group of peo-
formed a commission to report on child poverty. 2 A ple who live in the same area or have something
request for the production of a special piece of important in common: The African-American com-
work, a design or a work of art: The architect was munity has made great progress in American soci-
given the commission to design the office building. ety over the past 30 years. ■ The plural is "communi-
3 The award of the rank of officer: Ray was given ties".
a commission in the army as major. ❚ [㐌] 4 Pay compact disc [㐗] 1 A small disc that stores
that is directly linked to the sales achieved: For music or information: I have a whole encyclopedia
every apartment she sells, she gets 1% commission. on a compact disc. ■ "CD" is an abbreviation for
"compact disc". 2 compact disc player A piece of
commission2 / ɑ ɪðɑð/, /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/ [㐘] 1 To give
equipment for listening to the sounds on a com-
somebody the job of making something: The
pact disc: Wendy has a new compact disc player. ■
sponsor commissioned an advertisement of its
"CD player" is an abbreviation for "compact disc
products. 2 To bring an industrial plant or ma-
player".
chine into service: The engineer worked hard to
companion /kəmˈpæn.jən/ [㐗] A person who
commission the plant by the due date.
spends some time with another: Her dog has been
commissioner /kəˈmɪʃ·ə·nər/ [㐗] 1 Somebody
a wonderful companion to Mrs. Moxon for many
appointed to do a specific task: The actress was
years.
appointed as United Nations Commissioner for the
company /ˈkʌm.pə.ni/ [㐗] 1 A business: I'm
region. 2 A public official of high rank: My friend's
working for an international company that makes
father is a police commissioner. and sells computers. 2 A group of actors or danc-
commit /kəˈmɪt/ [㐘] 1 To do something, usually ers who work together: I'm going to join a dance
company when I finish college. 3 to keep (some-
wrong or illegal: The prisoner committed three rob-
beries in two weeks. 2 to be committed To give a
great deal of your time and energy to something,
to believe strongly in it: My sister is very commit-
comparative 90
a body) company To be with somebody: Go and rest competition /ˌkɑm·pəˈtɪʃ·ən/ ❚ [㐗] 1 An event
b in the armchair if you're not feeling well, and I'll to see who is the best at something: The winner in
come round and keep you company. ■ The plural is the skiing competition was Swiss. ❚ [㐖] 2 A
"companies". situation in which people try to get the same
c comparative /kəmˈpær·ət̬·ɪv/ [㐗] The form of thing: There is a lot of competition for every job
an adjective or adverb that is used to compare that becomes available now.
d two people or things: "Better" is the comparative competitor /kəmˈpet·̬ ɪ·t̬ər/ [㐗] 1 Somebody
of "good" and of "well". who takes part in a competition: All the competi-
e compare /kəmˈpeər/ [㐘] To examine one thing or tors for the marathon have to register with the or-
person in relation to another thing or person: ganizers. 2 Somebody who is fighting against you
f Compare the two pianos. You'll find the Austrian over something: My main competitor for the job
one is better. ■ See box at abbreviations. was a girl from Portugal.
g comparison /kəmˈpær·ə·sən/ [㐌] The act of com- complain /kəmˈpleɪn/ [㐘] To say that you think
paring: I don't like it when people make compari- something is wrong, unfair or must be changed:
h sons between me and my brother. Mr. Robinson is always complaining about the
compartment /kəmˈpɑrt·mənt/ [㐗] 1 A sepa- weather. ■ We say "complain about (something)".
i rate part in a railroad car: When we went to Chica- We say "complain to (somebody)".
go we traveled in a first class compartment. 2 A complementary /ˌkɒmplɪˈmentəri/ [㐀] 1 Being
j separate part in a container: The new fridge has additional to a basic package: The CD player is
compartments for different types of food. complementary to the basic equipment of the car. 2
compass /ˈkʌm.pəs/ [㐗] 1 An instrument that Referring to two or more things that are useful or
k shows direction: A compass has a pointer that al- go well together: Those colors are complementary.
ways points north. 2 A metal or plastic instrument complete1 /kəmˈpliːt/ [㐀] 1 All of something:
l which is used for drawing circles: If you change Are you really thinking of reading the complete
the angle of the compass, you can draw circles of works of Charles Dickens? 2 Finished: This album
m different size. ■ In this use, we also say "compasses". is complete.
■ The plural is "compasses". 㐀 See page 456. complete2 /kəmˈpliːt/ [㐘] To finish something: I
n compasses [㐑] See compass. just need two stickers to complete my collection.
compel /kəmˈpel/ [㐘] To force somebody to do completely /kəmˈpliːt.li/ [㐄] Totally or in every
o something: They compelled him to resign. ■ Be way: This book is completely absurd. I can't under-
careful with the spelling of these forms: "compelled", stand anything at all.
p "compelling". complex1 /ˈkɑm·pleks/ [㐗] 1 A set of buildings
compete /kəmˈpiːt/ [㐘] 1 To take part in a compe- which comprise a whole: The complex is made up
q tition to see who is the best: Six people will com- of a factory, an office building and an exhibition
pete this weekend for the "Best bowler in Montana" center. 2 An emotional problem about something
r trophy. 2 To try to beat others in a contest over caused by illogical fears or worries: He's got a
something: If you want to go to Oxford or Cam- complex about his height.
s bridge you no longer have to compete with other complex2 /kəmˈpleks/, /ˈkɑm·pleks/ [㐀] Compli-
students in a special entrance examination. cated or involving lots of different elements: The
competence /ˈkɑm·pə·tə̬ ns/ ❚ [㐌] 1 The capabili- human body is very complex.
t ty to carry out a task or to do something which complexity /kəmˈplek·sɪ·ti̬ / [㐖] The number
requires a certain skill: This job requires compe- of levels involved, or the degree of complication:
u tence in foreign languages. ■ The same meaning: It's a problem of great complexity. ■ The plural is
"competency". ❚ [㐖] 2 The authority of a "complexities".
v court or judge to deal with a matter: That case complicated US: /ˈkɑːm.plɪ.keɪ.t̬ɪd/ UK:
falls beyond this court's competence. /ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪ.tɪd/ [㐀] Difficult to do or to under-
w competency /ˈkɒm.pɪ.tənt.si/ US: /ˈkɑːm-/ [㐖] stand: I can't put the kit together. The instructions
The capability to carry out a task or do something are too complicated. ■ Be careful with the pronunci-
x which requires a certain skill: I do not doubt his ation of this word. The "e" is pronounced like the "i"
competency as a mechanic. ■ The same meaning: in "did".
y "competence". ■ The plural is "competencies". compliment /ˈkɑm·plə·mənt/ [㐗] Something
competent [㐀] With enough ability, knowl- good you say about a person to that same person:
z edge or training to do something well: She is a Mrs. Burns is always paying me compliments: she
highly competent surgeon. says I'm intelligent and well-behaved.
91 condition
comply /kəmˈplaɪ/ [㐘] To be in accordance with computer programmer US: /ˈproʊ.græm.ɚ/ UK: a
b
the requirements: The courts ordered her to com- /ˈprəʊ.græm.ər/ [㐗] A person who writes pro- c
grams or other material to use on a computer: If I d
ply with the company's work rules. ■ Be careful with e
were a computer programmer I'd just make games. f
the spelling of these forms: "complies", "complied". g
concentrate /ˈkɑn·sənˌtreɪt/ [㐘] To direct all your
component /kəmˈpəʊnənt/ [㐗] Part which, to- h
attention to one activity: I have to concentrate on i
gether with others, makes up a whole: The steer- j
passing this test. k
ing wheel is a vital component of the car. l
concept /ˈkɑn·sept/ [㐗] A way of viewing a m
compose /kəmˈpoʊz/ [㐘] To write music or poet- n
particular subject: It is a revolutionary new con- o
ry: Beethoven composed the "Moonlight" Sonata. p
cept. q
composer /kəmˈpoʊ·zər/ [㐗] Somebody who r
concern1 /kənˈsɜːn/ [㐌] Interest, worry: We all felt s
writes music: Lennon and McCartney were two fa- t
a lot of concern about his illness. u
mous composers of pop music in the 1960's. v
concern2 /kənˈsɜːn/ [㐘] To be of interest to you: w
composition /ˌkɑm·pəˈzɪʃ·ən/ [㐗] A piece of x
What the principal said at assembly about the trip y
writing: I have to write a composition on "A day in z
to Long Beach doesn't concern us because our class
my life" for English.
isn't going.
compound /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/ [㐗] A combination of
concerned /kənˈsɜrnd/ [㐀] Worried about
two or more elements: Chemicals are mixed to
something: I'm very concerned about Pat's health.
form a compound.
She looks ill. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
comprehension /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.tʃən/ US: /ˌkɑːm-/
the end of this word. The last "e" is not pronounced.
[㐖] Understanding: In class we read different
texts and then we have to answer comprehension concert US: /ˈkɑːn.sɚt/ UK: /ˈkɒn.sət/ [㐗] A musi-
questions to see how much we've understood. cal performance: Have you seen Elton John in con-
comprehensive /ˌkɑm·prəˈhen·sɪv/ [㐀] That cert? He's great. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation
has everything: This dictionary is very comprehen- of this word! The second "c" is pronounced as a "s".
sive. It has phonetic information, grammar notes, conch US: /kɑːntʃ, kɑːŋk n/ UK: /kɒntʃ, kɒŋk/ [㐗]
definitions, spelling notes and translations. The spiral shell of various gastropods: Conches
compress1 /ˈkɑm·pres/ [㐗] A piece of cloth ap- are found on the seashore.
plied firmly to a part of the body to relieve swell- conclude /kənˈkluːd/ [㐘] To think that something
ing or pain: Hold the compress to the side of the is true because of the evidence: After listening to
head. all the evidence, the jury concluded that he must be
compress2 /kəmˈpres/ [㐘] To squeeze into a innocent.
smaller area: The sap from the leaves was com- conclusion /kənˈkluː.ʒən/ [㐌] An opinion that you
pressed into cubes. have because of certain information: Mr. Dunne
comprise /kəmˈpraɪz/ [㐘] To be formed of: The compared the two papers and reached the conclu-
team comprises eleven players. sion that we had not cheated.
compulsory /kəmˈpʌl·sə·ri/ [㐀] That you have concrete1 /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ [㐀] Definite, real: There's
to do by law: It's still compulsory in our school to no concrete proof that he did the crime.
wear uniform. concrete2 /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ [㐖] A material used for
computer /kəmˈpju·t̬ər/ [㐌] A machine that can building: Concrete is a mixture of sand, pebbles,
do complicated calculations quickly and can cement and water.
store a lot of information: Glenda uses her com- condensation /ˌkɑn·dənˈseɪ·ʃən/, /-den-/ [㐖] 1
puter to do all her projects. ■ Be careful with the The combining of two molecules which results in
pronunciation of this word! the "u" is pronounced as the production of two elements: a new molecule
"you". 㐀 See pages 442 and 443. and water: The condensation process produces a
cloud of steam. 㐀 See page 438. 2 Drops of water
computer game [㐗] A game that you play
that form on a cold surface when steam or water
on a computer: He spends all day long playing
touches it: The mirror in the bathroom usually gets
computer games. covered with condensation when you shower. 3 The
computerize or computerise /kəmˈpjuːtəraɪz/ act of pressing together something into a shorter
[㐘] 1 To install a computer system: To computer- version: Condensation is needed to make this doc-
ize the company, the old ways of working need to
be changed. 2 To store information in a comput- ument more accessible.
er: In order to computerize the company records, condition /kənˈdɪʃ.ən/ ❚ [㐖] 1 The state that
all of the paper documents need to be put on the something or somebody is in: The cottage is in
computer. very bad condition. It needs a lot of repairs. ❚
conditional 92
a [㐗] 2 Something necessary for something else confuse /kənˈfjuːz/ [㐘] 1 To mix things in your
b to happen: I'll lend you my bike on condition that mind so that you are not sure about something:
you lend me your skateboard. All the different publications about the assassina-
conditional /kənˈdɪʃ.ən.əl/ [㐌] A form of a verb tion of President Kennedy have confused the whole
question. 2 To think that one thing or one person
c that is made by adding "would" to the infinitive
of a verb: In the sentence "I would go to the party is another: I always confuse Ralph with his broth-
d tonight if I didn't have to finish my essay", the con- er.
ditional is "would go". ■ The conditional is used confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ [㐀] That doesn't under-
e when you want to express that an action depends stand: I'm totally confused. What exactly do you
upon something else happening. want to do? ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of
f conduct1 /ˈkɒndʌkt/ [㐖] Behavior: Your con- the end of this word. The "e" is not pronounced.
duct at my party was absolutely inexcusable. confusing /kənˈfjuː.zɪŋ/ [㐀] That is difficult to
g conduct2 /kənˈdʌkt/ [㐘] 1 To direct an orchestra: understand: I find our math teacher's explanations
Mrs. Robinson conducts the school orchestra. 2 To a bit confusing.
h transmit electricity, heat or sound: Water con- conglomerate /kənˈglɑm·ər·ət/ [㐗] A sedi-
ducts electricity very well. mentary rock which consists of round pieces of
i conductor /kənˈdʌk·tər/ [㐗] 1 A person whose rock implanted in finer material: Clay is often
job it is to direct orchestras: William is studying part of conglomerate.
j music. He wants to be a conductor. 2 A material congratulate /kənˈgræt.jʊ.leɪt/ [㐘] To tell some-
that conducts electricity, heat or sound: Copper is body that you are pleased with them because of
a good conductor of electricity. something they have done: The principal congrat-
k cone US: /koʊn/ UK: /kəʊn/ [㐗] 1 A shape, round ulated me on my admission to Harvard.
at the base and rising to a point: The clever congratulations /kənˌgræt.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz/ [㐑] An
l clown's hat was in the shape of a cone. 2 fir cone expression that you use to show somebody that
The fruit of a fir tree: There are lots of fir cones on you are pleased with them because of something
m the ground in this wood. 3 ice cream cone An ice they have done: Congratulations, Mark! You are
cream with a cone made of cookie for holding ice the winner.
n cream: I want a chocolate ice cream cone, please. Congress /ˈkɒŋgres/ [㐌] The parliament in the
conference /ˈkɑn·fər·əns/, /-frəns/ [㐗] A spe- United States and some other countries: The
o cial meeting to talk about a subject: Sir Nicholas American Congress makes laws in the United
is attending the conference on Human Rights next States. ■ Be careful. "Congress" has a capital "C".
p week. conjunction /kənˈdʒʌŋk.ʃən/ [㐗] A word that
confess /kənˈfes/ [㐘] To admit what you have do- joins parts of sentences: The word "and" is the
q ne wrong: After an hour at the police station, the most common conjunction.
thief confessed. connect /kəˈnekt/ [㐘] To join: The secretary's
r confession /kənˈfeʃ.ən/ [㐌] Admitting what you and the principal's offices are connected by tele-
have done wrong: The prisoner signed his confes- phone.
s sion. connection /kəˈnek.ʃən/ [㐗] Something that
confidence /ˈkɑn·fə·dəns/, /-ˌdens/ [㐖] The joins things, people or events: Doctors are certain
feeling of being able to do something: I don't feel of the connection between smoking and cancer.
t much confidence about my test results.
connector /kəˈnek.tər/ US: /-tɚ/ [㐗] Something
confident /ˈkɑn·fə·dənt/, /-ˌdent/ [㐀] Feeling you which joins things together: A connector is used
u can do something, feeling sure: My dad is a very when joining the two halves of the cable together.
confident driver. conquer US: /ˈkɑːŋ.kɚ/ UK: /ˈkɒŋ.kər/ [㐘] 1 To take
v confirm /kənˈfɜrm/ [㐘] To say again that some- by force a country, city and so on: The crusaders
thing will happen or that something is true: conquered Jerusalem in the late eleventh century. 2
w James confirmed that the trip to Los Angeles would To achieve something difficult: Space began to be
be in the first week of April. conquered in the second half of the 20th century.
x confirmation /ˌkɑn·fərˈmeɪ·ʃən/ [㐌] An assurance conqueror /ˈkɒŋkərər/ [㐗] Somebody who
that something is true or will happen: We've re- conquers: Pizarro was the conqueror of the Inca
y ceived confirmation of our vacation in Mallorca. Empire in the 16th century.
conflict /ˈkɑn·flɪkt/ [㐌] A fight or disagreement conquest /ˈkɑn·kwest/, /ˈkɑŋ-/ ❚ [㐌] 1 The captur-
z between two things: There are conflicts in many ing of something by force: The United States con-
parts of the world. quest California in 1848. ❚ [㐖] 2 A difficult
93 contact lens
achievement: Man's conquest of disease will never constant /ˈkɑn·stənt/ [㐀] 1 That happens all a
b
be complete. the time: There is a constant noise in this street. 2 c
d
conscience /ˈkɑn·ʃəns/ [㐌] Your knowledge of Faithful: My dog Roger has been a constant friend. e
f
right and wrong that governs what you think and constantly [㐄] All the time or without a g
do: My conscience tells me that we should have pause: It is not nice when you constantly touch h
i
helped Nora. your hair while we are sitting at the table. ■ The j
k
conscious /ˈkɑn·ʃəs/ [㐀] 1 Awake and with all same meaning: "continuously", "continually". l
m
your senses: When I saw him after the operation, constitution /ˌkɑn·stɪˈtu·ʃən/ [㐗] The basic n
he was fully conscious. 2 Aware of something: Are o
laws and political principles of a country: The p
you conscious of the risk you're taking? q
American constitution says that everybody has the r
consciousness /ˈkɑn·ʃəs·nəs/ [㐖] The ca- s
right to a job. t
pacity of being aware of what is happening u
constitutional /ˌkɑn·stɪˈtju·ʃə·nə·l/ [㐀] Refer- v
around you: He fainted but recovered conscious- w
ring to the basic laws of a country: United States x
ness after a few minutes. y
is a constitutional republic. z
consent /kənˈsent/ [㐘] To agree to something:
construct /kənˈstrʌkt/ [㐘] To make something:
Mrs. Burns consented to our using the music room
The children have constructed a bridge across the
to practice in. ■ Be careful. We always say: "consent
stream with the branches of a tree.
to (something)".
construction /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/ ❚ [㐖] 1 The ac-
consequence /ˈkɑn·sɪ·kwəns/, /-ˌkwens/ [㐗]
tion of constructing something: The Government
The result of an action or an event: This punish-
has plans for the construction of a new road. ❚
ment is a consequence of your bad behavior. [㐗] 2 The result of the work done by builders:
You can see a massive construction on the other
consequently /ˈkɑn·sɪ·kwənt·li/, /-ˌkwent·li/ [㐄] side of the river. ❚ [㐌] 3 The interpretation or un-
derstanding of ideas: His construction of events is
As a result: We had to wait for Jim for an hour and
very different from mine.
consequently missed the beginning of the movie.
consult /kənˈsʌlt/ [㐘] 1 To ask somebody for ad-
conservation /ˌkɑn·sərˈveɪ·ʃən/ [㐖] The pro-
vice or for their opinion: I think you should con-
tection of nature, wildlife, historic buildings and
sult a doctor. That wound doesn't look good to me.
so on: Any government should mainly worry about 2 To use a book or a map to find information:
the conservation of natural areas. We're lost, Jane. We'd better consult the map.
conserve /kənˈsɜːv/ [㐘] To protect something consume /kənˈsum/ [㐘] To eat or to drink: They
from harm, loss or destruction: This organization consumed forty sandwiches and three bottles of
is campaigning to conserve our local woodland. lemonade at the party.
consider /kənˈsɪd·ər/ [㐘] 1 To think about some- consumer /kənˈsu·mər/ [㐗] Person who buys
thing carefully: Consider my proposal and give me goods or uses services: Large families are great
an answer tomorrow. 2 To think that something is
water consumers.
true: I consider that it is a good thing to learn lan-
consumer research [㐖] Investigation
guages.
carried out in order to identify customers' needs
considerable /kənˈsɪd·ər·ə·bəl/ [㐀] Quite large:
and habits: Some newspapers publish consumer
I think he drank a considerable amount of beer.
research to help their readers become more aware
consideration /kənˌsɪd.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ [㐖] 1 The
as consumers.
careful study of something before you make a de-
consumption /kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/ [㐖] The habit
cision: After some consideration, I decided to accept
the job. 2 Caring about other people: Brian doesn't of buying or using up: When the economy is doing
show any consideration for anybody but himself. badly, consumption falls.
consist /kənˈsɪst/ [㐘] To be made of different contact1 /ˈkɒntækt/ [㐖] Relationship, close
parts: This textbook consists of an introduction communication: Children need to be in contact
and twelve units. ■ Be careful. We always say: "con- with other children to develop properly.
sist of". contact2 /ˈkɒntækt/ [㐘] To see, speak or write to
console [㐗] A flat surface on which the con- somebody: Sean wasn't well while we were at camp
trols for a machine or electrical equipment are lo- so we had to contact his parents.
cated: Check the connectors of the computer con- contact lens [㐗] Small piece of plastic that
sole before taking it to the technician. some people put in their eyes to enable them to
consonant /ˈkɑn·sə·nənt/ [㐗] Some of the let- see better: I have a new pair of contact lenses.
ters of the alphabet: B, c, d, f, g and so on are con- They were very expensive. ■ When we talk about two
sonants.
contagious 94
a or more "contact lens", we use the word "pairs": "I contest /ˈkɑn·test/ [㐗] A competition: I always
b have two pairs of contact lens". watch the American Idol Contest.
contagious /kənˈteɪ.dʒəs/ [㐀] 1 Referring to a contestant /kənˈtes.tənt/ [㐗] Somebody who
disease that is spread by contact: The disease is takes part in a competition: One of the contestants
c contagious and patients should be isolated. 2 knew the answers to all the questions.
Spreading easily among people: Her enthusiasm continent US: /ˈkɑːn.tə̬ n.ənt/ UK: /ˈkɒn.tɪ.nənt/ ❚
d is contagious.
[㐗] 1 A large mass of land: Asia is the biggest
contain /kənˈteɪn/ [㐘] To have something inside: continent on earth. ❚ [㐌] 2 Europe, except for the
e This carton contains one liter of orange juice. ■ Be British Isles: We're going to spend next summer on
careful with the pronunciation of this word! "tain" the continent. ■ This use is British only.
f rhymes with "rain". continental US: /ˌkɑːn.t̬ənˈen.tə̬ l/ UK: /ˌkɒn.tɪˈnen.təl/
container /kənˈteɪ·nər/ [㐗] Something you can [㐀] Referring to Europe, except for the British
g use to keep things in: There are many types of con- Isles: The continental breakfast is often served at
tainers: boxes, cartons, tubes. hotels in North America.
h contaminate /kənˈtæm.ɪ.neɪt/ [㐘] To make less continual /kənˈtɪn.ju.əl/ [㐀] Constant: The con-
pure by adding other substances: It is illegal to tinual banging next door is driving me crazy. ■ Be
i contaminate the seas by dumping waste. careful. We use "continual" for actions that are re-
contamination /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/ [㐖] The peated one after another. It's often used to refer to
j introduction of unwanted and harmful material something negative: "The continual banging next
into air, water or soil: The contamination of the door is driving me crazy". We use "continuous" for
river is mainly due to the dumping of factory waste. things that continue without interruption.
k contemporaneous /kənˌtem.pəˈreɪ.ni.əs/ [㐀] continually /kənˈtɪn.ju.ə.li/ [㐄] All the time or
Occurring at approximately the same time: These without a pause: I'm continually telling Joan not to
l two historical events were contemporaneous. ■ This run in the hallway. ■ The same meaning: "constant-
word is formal. ly", "continuously".
m contemporary1 /kənˈtem·pəˌrer·i/ [㐗] Some- continue /kənˈtɪn.juː/ [㐘] To go on doing some-
body or something of the same period: Douglas thing: When I went into the library, Mick continued
n MacArthur is a contemporary of George S. Patton. ■ reading without looking up.
The plural is "contemporaries". continuous /kənˈtɪn.ju.əs/ [㐀] That goes on
o contemporary2 /kənˈtem·pəˌrer·i/ [㐀] Being of without interruption: A continuous line in the mid-
the same time or period: Do you like contemporary dle of the road means you can't pass. ■ Be careful.
p art? We use "continuous" for things that continue without
content /kənˈtent/ [㐀] Happy: Are you content interruption. We use "continual" for actions that are
q with your test grades? repeated one after another.
contented /kənˈten·tɪd/ [㐀] Happy, satisfied: continuously /kənˈtɪn.ju.ə.sli/ [㐄] With no in-
r I'm not very contented with my way of life. I work terruption: Liz! You've been watching television
too hard. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of the continuously since five o'clock. ■ The same mean-
s end of this word. The last "e" is pronounced like the ing: "constantly", "continually".
"i" in "did". contour1 US: /ˈkɑːn.tʊr/ UK: /ˈkɒn.tɔːr/ [㐗] 1 The
contents /ˈkɑn·tents/ [㐖] The things that are outer shape of an object or piece of land: The con-
t part of something or inside something: If you tour of the mountain range is very rough. 2 con-
want to find something quickly, look in the list of tour line A line on a map joining points that are
u contents. ■ Sometimes the singular form "content" is the same height above sea level: From the contour
also used. lines you can see that this area is much lower.
v
CONTAINER
w
x
y
z box can jar carton
95 cookie
contour2 [㐘] To outline something: He has to ac- controls [㐑] The buttons or other parts of a a
b
curately contour the coastline if he wants the map machine used to make it work: The controls of a c
d
to be precise. modern airplane are very complicated. e
f
contraceptive /ˌkɒntrəˈseptɪv/ [㐗] A drug or convenient /kənˈviː.ni.ənt/ [㐀] 1 Good for you: g
device which is used to prevent pregnancy: They When is it most convenient for you to come, Philip? h
2 That is well situated for your needs: The apart- i
stopped using contraceptives because they wanted j
ment is in a very convenient place, near the shop- k
to have a baby. l
ping center and the bus station. m
contract /ˈkɑn·trækt/ [㐗] A document showing n
convent /ˈkɑn·vent/, /-vənt/ [㐗] The place o
the conditions of a sale or a job: According to my p
where nuns live: Daniel's sister left her job and en- q
contract, I have only four weeks' vacation a year. r
tered a convent. s
contraction /kənˈtræk.ʃən/ [㐖] The short- t
converge /kənˈvɜrdʒ/ [㐘] Referring to lines,
ened form of a word or words: "Let's" is a contrac-
roads or rivers that come together: The traffic on
tion of "let us".
the coast road converges with the traffic on the
contradict /ˌkɑn·trəˈdɪkt/ [㐘] To say the opposite
highway at this point.
of what another person has said: That was what
conversation /ˌkɑn·vərˈseɪ·ʃən/ [㐌] A situation
happened so don't contradict me!
in which two or more people speak to each other:
contrary /ˈkɑnˌtrer·i/ [㐀] 1 Opposite: Do you al-
I had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Jones
ways have to take the contrary view to what I say? ■
We usually say "opposite". 2 on the contrary Cer- about India.
tainly not: I don't think she's stupid. On the con- convert /kənˈvɜrt/ [㐘] To change something into
trary, she's very intelligent. a different thing: They have converted their house
contrast /ˈkɑn·træst/ [㐌] A clear difference: I like into a hotel.
the contrast of seasons in New England. convict1 /ˈkɒnvɪkt/ [㐗] Somebody in prison af-
contribute /kənˈtrɪb·jut/, /-jət/ [㐘] To help, usual- ter having being found guilty of something: In the
ly with money: Would you like to contribute to our past, many convicts were sent to forced labor.
charity? convict2 /kənˈvɪkt/ [㐘] To declare somebody
contribution /ˌkɑn·trəˈbju·ʃən/ [㐌] Help, usually guilty of a crime: The prisoner was convicted of
with money: The contributions to the Church Fund murder.
have increased this year. convince /kənˈvɪnts/ [㐘] To make other people
control1 /kənˈtroʊl/ [㐘] To have power over believe you: She spoke to her mother and con-
somebody or something: Mr. Daniels may be vinced her that she had not broken the window.
Managing Director, but does he really control the cook1 /kʊk/ [㐗] A person whose job is to pre-
company? pare food for others: There's a new cook at The
control2 /kənˈtrəʊl/ [㐖] 1 Authority or power: Red Castle.
The principal has absolute control in my school. 2 cook2 /kʊk/ [㐘] To prepare food: How do you cook
Ability to guide a machine: He recovered control of cod, Laurie?
the car just before it reached the cliff. 3 out of con-
cooker /kʊk·ər/ [㐗] See stove. ■ This word is
trol That you cannot control: Dad forgot to put the
British English.
handbrake on and the car went downhill out of con-
trol. 4 under control That you can control: Calm cookie /ˈkʊk.i/ [㐗] 1 A flat baked sweet: These
down. The fire is under control. new coconut cookies are delicious. ■ In British English
they say "biscuit". 2 tough cookie Hard person: He
TO COOK u
v
w
to barbecue to roast to grill to boil x
y
z
cooking 96
a is a tough cookie but a clever one. ■ "Tough cookie" or inventor not to have their work copied without
b is informal. their permission: The copyright of the invention
cooking [㐖] The art of preparing food: Peter must be registered.
goes to a cooking class every Wednesday. coral /ˈkɔr·əl/, /ˈkɑr-/ [㐖] Structure formed of
c cooktop [㐗] The flat surface of a device the skeletons of tiny sea animals in tropical wa-
which you put pans on to cook food: That soup is ters: We went to an island which has a beautiful
d ready. You can switch off the cooktop. ■ In British coral reef.
English they say "hob". cord US: /kɔːrd/ UK: /kɔːd/ [㐌] A string: The child
e cool1 /kuːl/ [㐀] 1 That has quite a low tempera- made a train using cardboard and a cord.
ture: It's very hot during the day, but it gets cool at cordon /ˈkɔːdən/ [㐗] 1 A line of security staff
f night. ■ "Cool" often refers to a pleasant tempera- preventing access to a site: The cordon was set up
ture. "Cold" indicates a lower temperature than at some distance from the body. 2 An ornamental
g "cool" and often a disagreeable one: "a cool breeze", cord or braid: The cordon is worn over one shoul-
"a cold winter". 2 Very nice: Wow! That jacket is re- der.
h ally cool. ■ This use is informal. corduroys [㐑] A type of pants: I've bought a
cool2 /kuːl/ [㐘] To reduce the temperature: Wait new pair of corduroys for my vacation in Austria. ■
i until the soup has cooled a little. When we talk about two or more "cords", we use the
◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to cool down To calm down: word "pairs": "I bought three pairs of corduroys".
j Cool down a bit, Alice. There's no need to get so fu- core US: /kɔːr/ UK: /kɔːr/ [㐗] The center of some-
rious. thing: The core of the Earth is made up of a very
cooperate US: /koʊˈɑː.pə.reɪt/ UK: /kəʊˈɒp.ər.eɪt/ [㐘] hot liquid. 㐀 See page 449.
k To work together with others: We all need to coop-
erate to make this world a better place, don't you
CORE
l think?
coordinate1 /koʊˈɔr·də·n·ət/ [㐗] The two num-
m bers or letters used to fix the position of a point
on a graph or map: 10 degrees North is a coordi-
n nate on the map.
coordinate2 /koʊˈɔr·də·nˌeɪt/ [㐘] To organize
o things or people so that they occur as planned or
function together correctly: We have to coordinate
p the classes so that they do not clash.
coordination /kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən/ [㐖] The work-
q ing together of differing elements: The coordina-
tion of the marching bands is only achieved with a
r lot of practice.
copper US: /ˈkɑː.pɚ/ UK: /ˈkɒp.ər/ [㐖] A metal
s that is between red and brown in color: Electric Corinthian /kəˈrɪnt.θi.ən adj/ [㐀] 1 Referring to
wire is made with copper.
copy1 /ˈkɒpi/ [㐗] 1 One example of a book, Corinth in southern Greece: St Paul wrote letters
t magazine, newspaper and so on: In the school li- to the Corinthians communities. 2 Referring to the
brary there are twenty copies of "The Adventures of most ornate of the three principal classical build-
u Tom Sawyer". 2 Something that is made to look ing styles: The temple has eight beautiful Corinthi-
exactly like something else: We had to make sev- an columns. ■ Compare with "Doric" (the simplest of
v eral copies of the play we had written. ■ The plural the building styles) and "Ionic" (with some decora-
is "copies". tion).
w copy2 /ˈkɒpi/ [㐘] To do the same as another per- cork US: /kɔːrk/ UK: /kɔːk/ ❚ [㐖] 1 The bark of a
son: My younger brother copies everything I do: my particular kind of oak tree: The floor in my bath-
x clothes, my hair and my hobbies. ■ Be careful with room is made of cork. ❚ [㐗] 2 Something that
the spelling of these forms: "copies", "copied". you use to close bottles: Put the cork in the bottle
y copy editor [㐗] The editor that improves or the smell will go out.
the style and accuracy of texts: At every newspa- corkscrew /ˈkɔrkˌskru/ [㐗] Something used
z per staff there are several copy editors. for pulling corks out of bottles: You have to screw
copyright /ˈkɑp·iˌrɑɪt/ [㐌] The right of an author the corkscrew into the cork and then pull.
97 cotton
corn US: /kɔːrn/ UK: /kɔːn/ [㐖] A plant that pro- correction /kəˈrek.ʃən/ [㐌] The correct form or a
b
duces yellow seeds that we can eat: The United answer for something that was wrong: The correc- c
States produces a great amount of corn. ■ Compare d
with "sweet corn" (the part of the plant that you can tion of homework is one of a teacher's duties. e
eat it as a vegetable). ■ In British English they say f
"maize". correspond US: /ˌkɔːr.ɪˈspɑːnd/ UK: /ˌkɒr.ɪˈspɒnd/ g
CORN [㐘] 1 To write letters to each other: Our class cor- h
responds with a group of students in Sydney. 2 To i
corncob j
match: Norman's description of the thief did not k
corncob US: /ˈkɔːrn.kɑːb/ UK: /ˈkɔːn.kɒb/ [㐗] The l
correspond with the one the police had. ■ Be care- m
hard central part of the corn to which the grains n
are attached: The corncob has a cylindrical shape. ful. We say: "correspond with (somebody)". o
㐀 See picture at corn. p
correspondence /ˌkɔr·əˈspɑn·dəns/, /ˌkɑr-/ q
cornea /kɔrˈni·ə/ [㐗] The transparent layer r
[㐖] Letters: I receive very little correspon- s
which covers the eye: The cornea protects the eye- dence, only one or two letters a month. t
ball. u
correspondent /ˌkɔr·əˈspɑn·dənt/, /ˌkɑr-/ [㐗] v
corner US: /ˈkɔːr.nɚ/ UK: /ˈkɔː.nər/ [㐗] The point w
Somebody who reports for a newspaper, a radio x
where two sides meet: I'll meet you at the corner of y
Michigan Avenue and Ohio Street. 㐀 See picture or on television: The article was signed by their z
at street.
correspondent in Canada.
cornflakes /ˈkɔːn.fleɪks/ US: /ˈkɔːrn-/ [㐑] A type
corridor US: /ˈkɔːr.ɪ.dɚ/ UK: /ˈkɒr.ɪ.dɔːr/ [㐗] A
of grain food usually eaten for breakfast: My only
breakfast is a bowl of cornflakes with sugar and passage in a building: The secretary's office is at
milk.
the end of the corridor, on the right. ■ The same
corolla /kəˈrɒl.ə/ US: /-ˈroʊ.lə/ [㐗] The petals
meaning: "hallway".
which form the inner envelope of a flower: The
corolla is to be found inside the flower. ■ Compare cosmetic1 /kɑzˈmet·̬ ɪk/ [㐗] A product to make
with "calyx" (the sepals which form the outer enve-
lope that protects the flower bud when it is forming). somebody look nicer: Our local store sells practi-
corporation /ˌkɔr·pəˈreɪ·ʃən/ [㐗] A big compa- cally everything from candies to cosmetics.
ny: Corporations are sometimes made up of a cosmetic2 /kɑzˈmet̬·ɪk/ [㐀] Referring to a prod-
group of companies. ■ See box at abbreviations.
uct or treatment which is intended to improve
correct1 /kəˈrekt/ [㐀] Right: I had ten correct
the appearance of somebody: She used cosmetic
answers in the school quiz.
powder for her skin to look more velvety.
correct2 /kəˈrekt/ [㐘] To make right something
cost1 /kɒst/ [㐖] 1 The price of something:
that was wrong: Mrs. King corrects our homework
in red. What is the cost of your school trip? 2 at all costs
At any price or effort: I must get that bike at all
costs. It's fantastic!
cost2, cost, cost /kɒst/ [㐘] To be priced: How
much does that magazine cost?
costly /ˈkɔs·tli/ [㐀] Expensive: My parents say
we can't have another costly vacation this year.
costume US: /ˈkɑː.stuːm/ UK: /ˈkɒs.tjuːm/ [㐌] 1 The
clothes that are typical of a certain country or pe-
riod: The kimono is one of Japan's national cos-
tumes. 2 The clothes worn by actors in a play: All
the actors were dressed in 19th century costumes. 3
Clothes that make somebody look different or
very difficult to recognize: My Halloween costume
this year will be Darth Vader. ■ In this use, the same
meaning: "disguise1".
cot US: /kɑːt/ UK: /kɒt/ [㐗] See crib. ■ This use is
British English.
cottage US: /ˈkɑː.t̬ɪdʒ/ UK: /ˈkɒt.ɪdʒ/ [㐗] A small
country house: My grandparents rent a cottage in
Vermont for their vacations. ■ Be careful with the
pronunciation of this word. The "a" is pronounced
like the "i" in "did".
cotton /ˈkɒtən/ [㐖] 1 A tall tropical plant
which produces a soft white fiber: They grow a lot
of cotton in India. 2 A thread or material made
couch 98
a from this fiber: I like wearing cotton shirts. They towns and cities: Which do you prefer, living in the
b are very comfortable. 3 A piece of this material city or in the country? 3 developing country See
used for cleaning wounds: I'll go and get some developing country. ■ The plural is "countries".
cotton and some antiseptic to clean your wound. countryside /ˈkʌn.trɪ.saɪd/ [㐖] Land outside
c couch /kaʊtʃ/ [㐗] A long seat for two or more towns and cities that is used for farms, tourism
people: Get off that couch! You've been lying there and so on: The countryside in Madison is very
d for hours. ■ The same meaning: "sofa".
beautiful.
cough1 /kɒf/ [㐗] An illness that makes you county /ˈkɑʊnt·i/ [㐗] One part of a country or
e cough: I don't like that cough. You should see a state with its own local government: The state
doctor. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this with most counties in United States is Texas with
f word. 254. ■ The plural is "counties".
cough2 /kɒf/ [㐘] To make a noise with your couple /ˈkʌp.l̩/ [㐗] 1 Two people who are mar-
g throat: Susan caught a cold and spent the night ried or have a very close relationship: Mr. and
coughing. Mrs. Page are an old married couple who live
h could /kʊd, kəd/ See can2. ■ Be careful! The verb af- next-door to us. 2 Two of something or a few of:
ter "could" is in the infinitive without "to". ■ See box Only a couple of people have joined the chess club.
i at can. 3 a couple of A few: I last saw him a couple of
couldn't /ˈkʊd.ənt/ The contraction of "could not". months ago.
j council /ˈkaʊnt.səl/ [㐗] The people who run a coupon /ˈku·pɑn/, /ˈkju-/ [㐗] A piece of paper
town or a county: The elections for the town coun- that gives you a discount or points to get some-
k cil will be held next month. thing: Some brands of cornflakes give you coupons
councilor [㐗] A person elected as a member to get a free bowl.
of a council: Councilor Atney is in charge of educa- courage /ˈkɜr·ɪdʒ/, /ˈkʌr·ɪdʒ/ [㐖] Bravery, the
l tion.
ability to control fear: Mary needed a lot of cour-
count1 /kaʊnt/ [㐗] A man with a special noble age to go up to Mr. Donnelly and tell him every-
m title: Have you read "The Count Dracula"? ■ A thing. ■ Be careful with the pronunciation of this
woman is a "countess". word. The "a" is pronounced like the "i" in "did".
n count2 /kaʊnt/ [㐘] 1 To say numbers in order: Can courgette /kɔːˈʒet/ US: /ˈkʌv.ər.ɪŋ/ [㐗] See zuc-
you count to a hundred? 2 To find how many there chini. ■ This word is British English.
o are of something: I counted the people at the party course US: /kɔːrs/ UK: /kɔːs/ [㐗] 1 A series of
and there were thirty of us. lessons: Sheila is doing a course on local history. 2
p ◗ PHRASAL VERBS · to count on (somebody) To A part of a meal: For first course there's soup and
feel that you can trust and depend on somebody: for second course, hamburger and french fries. 3
q If there are any problems, you can count on me, The place where some sports are played: The race
George. car went off the course out of control. 4 Direction:
Which course do we have to follow? North? ■ Be
r countable /ˈkɑʊn·tə·bəl/ [㐀] That can be count- careful with the pronunciation of this word. It
ed: Apples are countable because you can have one
rhymes with "horse". 5 to change course To go in a
s apple, two apples and so on.
countdown /ˈkaʊnt.daʊn/ [㐌] A counting back- different direction: The ship had to change course
wards to the starting moment of something: We to avoid the rocks. 6 golf course See golf course.
t all listened to the countdown and watched as the 7 of course Certainly: Of course I'm American!
spaceship took off. court US: /kɔːrt/ UK: /kɔːt/ [㐗] 1 The place where
u counter /ˈkɑʊn·tər/ [㐗] 1 A kind of table in a the judge sees cases: They took him to court for
store or in a bar: I put the bottle of milk on the stealing a car. 2 A place where you play tennis or
v counter while I looked for the money. 2 A small other games: In the new sports center there are two
round thing that you use for board games: To indoor tennis courts and four badminton courts.
w play this game you need four counters and a dice. courtyard US: /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/ UK: /ˈkɔːt.jɑːd/ [㐗]
countess /ˈkaʊn.tes/ US: /-t̬əs/ [㐗] A woman An open space surrounded by buildings: Prison-
x with a special noble title: We watched a movie ers can walk in the courtyard for an hour every day.
about a countess with no money. ■ A man is a cousin /ˈkʌz.ən/ [㐗] The son or the daughter of
y "count". your uncle and aunt: I like visiting uncle Paul be-
country /ˈkʌn.tri/ ❚ [㐗] 1 An area with its own cause I can play with my two cousins. ■ This word
z government, laws, army and so on: India and Chi- can be used for both boys and girls. 㐀 See picture
na are Asian countries. ❚ [㐖] 2 Land outside at family.
99 crash
cover1 /ˈkʌvər/ [㐗] A thing you put over some- cowshed /ˈkaʊ.ʃed/ [㐗] A shed where cows are a
b
thing else: Rose has a beautiful red cover on her kept in winter or at night: After the heavy rains, a c
bed. 㐀 See picture at book. d
hole has appeared in the cowshed roof. e
cover2 /ˈkʌvər/ [㐘] To put something over some- f
cozy [㐀] Warm and comfortable: My room may g
thing else: The painters covered the furniture with
plastic sheets before they started work. not be very big but it's cozy. ■ The comparative form h
i
coveralls [㐑] A suit made from one piece, is "cozier" and the superlative form is "coziest". j
k
worn to protect the other clothes while you are crab /kræb/ [㐌] An animal with a hard shell that l
working: My brother wears coveralls at the garage m
where he works. lives near the water: Crabs walk sideways. 㐀 See n
o
COVERALLS picture at shellfish. p
q
covering /ˈkʌv.ər.ɪŋ/ US: /-ɚ-/ [㐗] Something crack1 /kræk/ [㐗] A thin break: This plate has a r
s
that covers or hides: They put a plastic covering crack in it. t
on the table. u
crack2 /kræk/ [㐘] To break: The ice cracked while v
cow /kaʊ/ [㐗] 1 The adult female of cattle: w
Irene was skating on it and she fell in the lake. x
Some cows can give four or five liters of milk a day. y
■ Compare with "beef" (the meat from a cow). cracker /ˈkræk·ər/ [㐗] 1 A flat baked food z
㐀 See page 428. 2 mad cow disease See "mad
cow disease" in the word mad. made of flour and water: Would you like crackers
with cheese for snack? 2 A small cardboard tube
coward US: /ˈkaʊ.ɚd/ UK: /ˈkaʊ.əd/ [㐗] Some-
covered with colored paper, that makes a bang
body who gets frightened easily and cannot con-
trol their fear: I'm a coward about going to see the when pulled: Crackers are usually pulled at Christ-
dentist.
mas.
cowardly /ˈkɑʊ·ərd·li/ [㐀] Easily frightened,
cradle /ˈkreɪ.dl̩/ [㐗] A bed for a baby that
lacking courage: Fred's cowardly behavior took us
all by surprise. moves from side to side: She put the baby in the
cowboy /ˈkaʊ.bɔɪ/ [㐗] A man who looks after a cradle and rocked it gently. ■ Compare with "crib" (a
large group of cattle: Nowadays, American cow- bed that doesn't move from side to side).
boys follow the cattle in cars.
craft US: /kræft/ UK: /krɑːft/ [㐌] Work in which you
make things with your hands: Pottery is a very re-
laxing craft.
craftsman /ˈkræfts·mən/ [㐗] An expert whose
job is to make or repair things with his hands:
Nowadays there are very few craftsmen who repair
pianos. ■ The plural is "craftsmen". ■ A woman is a
"craftswoman".
craftswoman /ˈkræftsˌwʊm·ən/ [㐗] An expert
whose job is to make or repair things with her
hands: This basket was made by a craftswoman
who has a stall in the market. ■ The plural is "crafts-
women". ■ A man is a "craftsman".
crane /kreɪn/ [㐗] A machine that can lift heavy
objects: They had to use a crane to put the statue
on the roof of the building.
crank1 /kræŋk/ [㐗] A bar with a handle in the
shape of an L, used for converting movement
backwards and forwards into circular move-
ment: The pedals of a bicycle are attached to a
crank.
crank2 /kræŋk/ [㐘] To start a car or machine by
rotating a handle: The only way to start his vintage
car is by cracking it.
cranky [㐀] Badtempered or easily angry: His
illness made him a cranky person.
crash1 /kræʃ/ [㐗] 1 An accident when a vehicle
hits something at high speed: The crash was hor-
rific but fortunately no one was hurt. ■ The plural is
"crashes". 2 crash helmet A hard hat that you
wear on your head for protection when you ride a
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