“kal-see-um” NOUN a soft white mineral found in bones and teeth and in some foods. Milk and cheese are good sources of calcium.
calculate calculates, calculating, calculated
VERB If you calculate something, you work it out, usually by doing some arithmetic. • We calculated how much money we had raised from the sponsored walk.
[from Latin calculus meaning stone or pebble, which the Romans used for counting]
calculation calculations
NOUN something that you think about carefully and work out mathematically, or that you do on a machine such as a calculator
calculator calculators
NOUN a small electronic machine used for doing mathematical calculations
calendar calendars
NOUN a chart, usually organized month by month, showing the date of each day in a particular year • We marked the end of term on the calendar in red.
calf calves
NOUN 1 a young cow
2 Your calves are the backs of your legs between your knees and ankles.
call calls, calling, called
VERB 1 If you call someone or something a particular name, that is their name. • I will call my dog Spot. • That type of machine is called a combine harvester.
2 If you call someone, you telephone them.
3 If you call someone, you shout their name loudly.
NOUN 4 A call is a shout or a cry. • We heard a call for help.
call off
VERB If something is called off it is cancelled. • The party was called off.
call on
VERB If you call on someone, you pay them a short visit.
calm calmer, calmest
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is calm is quiet and does not show any worry or excitement.
2 If the sea is calm, the water is not moving very much.
calorie calories
NOUN The amount of energy that food gives you is measured in calories.
came
VERB the past tense of come
camel camels
NOUN a large mammal with either one or two humps on its back. Camels live in hot desert areas and are used for carrying people and things.
camera cameras
NOUN a piece of equipment used for taking photographs or for filming
camouflage camouflages, camouflaging, camouflaged
NOUN 1 a way of avoiding being seen by having the same colour or appearance as the surroundings
VERB 2 To camouflage something is to hide it by giving it the same colour or appearance as its surroundings.
camp camps, camping, camped
NOUN 1 a place where people live in tents or stay in tents for a holiday
VERB 2 If you camp, you stay in a tent.
NOUN 3 a collection of buildings for soldiers or prisoners
camper NOUN
campaign campaigns, campaigning, campaigned
VERB When people campaign, they take action in order to achieve something. • She campaigned against the export of live animals.
campaign NOUN
can could; cans
VERB 1 If someone says you can do something, you are allowed to do it.
2 If you can do something, you are able to do it. • I can say “hello” in French.
NOUN 3 a metal container, often sealed, with food or drink inside
canal canals
NOUN a long, narrow, man-made stretch of water
canary canaries
NOUN a yellow songbird
cancel cancels, cancelling, cancelled
VERB If you cancel something that has been arranged, you stop it from happening. • They cancelled the school trip.
cancer cancers
NOUN a serious disease in which abnormal cells in a part of the body increase rapidly, causing growths
candidate candidates
NOUN a person who is being considered for a job
candle candles
NOUN a stick of hard wax with a piece of string called a wick through the middle. You light the wick to produce a flame.
cane canes
NOUN 1 the long, hollow stem of a plant such as bamboo
2 strips of cane used for weaving baskets and other containers
3 a long, narrow stick used to support plants
canine canines
ADJECTIVE 1 relating to dogs
NOUN 2 a canine is one of the pointed teeth near the front of the mouth in humans and some animals
cannibal cannibals
NOUN a person who eats human flesh
cannon cannons or cannon
NOUN a large gun, usually on wheels, which fires heavy iron balls
cannot
VERB the same as can not
canoe canoes
NOUN a small, narrow boat that you row using a paddle
canoeing NOUN canoeist NOUN
can’t
VERB a contraction of cannot
canteen canteens
NOUN a place to eat in a school or workplace
