the rate at which the speed of something increases
accent accents
NOUN a way of pronouncing a language • She had an Australian accent.
accept accepts, accepting, accepted
VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes to it or you take it from someone. • She accepted our invitation to the party.
2 If you accept a situation, you realize that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.
acceptable
ADJECTIVE satisfactory
access
NOUN If you have access to a place, you may enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.
accessible
ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach was accessible by a narrow path.
2 Books that are accessible are easy to understand.
accident accidents
NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed
PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.
accidental
ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has not been planned.
accidentally ADVERB
accommodation
NOUN a place where you can live, work or sleep
accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied
VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.
2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.
accomplice accomplices
NOUN a person who helps someone else to commit a crime
accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished
VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.
according to
PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.
account accounts, accounting, accounted
NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something
2 money that you keep at a bank
PHRASE 3 On account of means because of. • He couldn’t play football, on account of a sore throat.
VERB 4 To account for something is to explain it. • The bad weather accounts for the cancellation of the barbecue.
accountant accountants
NOUN someone whose job is to look after the financial affairs of people and companies
accumulate accumulates, accumulating, accumulated
VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.
accumulation NOUN
accurate
ADJECTIVE absolutely correct
accuracy NOUN
accuse accuses, accusing, accused
VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong, you say they have done it.
accusation NOUN
ace aces
NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.
2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.
ADJECTIVE 3 INFORMAL good or skilful • an ace squash player
ache aches, aching, ached
NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain
VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.
achieve achieves, achieving, achieved
VERB If you achieve something, you are successful at doing it or at making it happen.
acid acids
NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.
ANTONYM: alkali
ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it tastes sharp or bitter.
ANTONYM: alkaline
[from Latin acidus meaning sour]
acid rain
NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil
acknowledge acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged
VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.
2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognized them, by waving or saying hello.
3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.
acne
NOUN a skin disease that causes spots on the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.
acorn acorns
NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees
acquaintance acquaintances
NOUN someone you know slightly but not well
acre acres
NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.
acrobat acrobats
NOUN an entertainer who performs difficult gymnastic acts
[from Greek akrobates meaning someone who walks on tiptoe]
acrobatic
