abroad ADVERB
When you go abroad, you go to a different country.
absent ADJECTIVE
If someone is absent, they are not here.
absolutely ADVERB
You can use absolutely to make what you are saying sound stronger. You must stay absolutely still.
absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed VERB
If something absorbs a liquid, it soaks it up or takes it in.
absurd ADJECTIVE
Something that is absurd seems silly, because it is quite different from what you would expect. It’s absurd to wear your jumper in this heat.
abuse NOUN
Abuse is cruel treatment of someone.
accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated VERB
When someone accelerates, they speed up.
accept accepts, accepting, accepted VERB
If you accept something you have been offered, you say yes to it.
accident accidents NOUN
An accident is something nasty that happens by chance. He broke his leg in a climbing accident.
accidentally ADVERB
account accounts
NOUN 1 An account is something written or spoken that tells you what has happened.
NOUN 2 An account is also money that you keep at a bank.
accurate ADJECTIVE
An accurate measurement or description is exactly right.
ache aches NOUN
An ache is a dull, lasting pain.
achieve achieves, achieving, achieved VERB
If you achieve something, you usually get it by hard work.
achievement NOUN
acid acids NOUN
Some acids give food a sharp, sour taste. Lemons and vinegar contain acid. Strong acid can burn your skin.
acid rain NOUN
Acid rain is rain that is mixed with dirty gases in the air. It can damage buildings, trees and fish.
acrobat acrobats NOUN
An acrobat is someone who does difficult and exciting tricks, like balancing on a high wire.
across PREPOSITION
If you go across something, you go from one side to the other.
act acts, acting, acted
VERB 1 When you act, you do something. He had to act quickly to put out the fire.
VERB 2 If you act in a play or film, you have a part in it.
NOUN 3 An act is something that you do.
action actions NOUN
An action is a movement of part of your body.
active
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is active moves about a lot, or is very busy.
ADJECTIVE 2 In grammar, a verb in the active voice is one where the subject does the action, rather than having it done to them.
See voice
activity activities NOUN
Activity is when there are a lot of things happening.
actor actors NOUN
An actor is a man or woman whose job is to act in plays or films.
actress actresses NOUN
A female actor is sometimes called an actress.
See actor
actual ADJECTIVE
You describe something as actual when you mean it is real. The shop said the paint was red, but the actual colour was pink.
actually ADVERB
adapt adapts, adapting, adapted
VERB 1 If you adapt to something new, you change in some way that helps you.
VERB 2 If you adapt something, you change it to suit your needs. The book was adapted to make a film.
adaptable ADJECTIVE
Someone who is adaptable can change to deal with new situations.
add adds, adding, added
VERB 1 If you add something, you put it with whatever you have already. Put flour in the bowl and add an egg.
VERB 2 If you add numbers of things together, you find out how many you have. The sign + means add. 2 + 3 = 5. I have two marbles in the bag. If I add these three, it makes five altogether.
addition NOUN
Addition is adding numbers or things together.
address addresses NOUN
Your address is the name or number of your house, and the street and town where you live.
adjective adjectives NOUN
An adjective is a word that describes someone or something. “Beautiful” and “green” are adjectives.
See Adjective on page 269
admire admires, admiring, admired
VERB 1 When you admire someone, you think very highly of them.
VERB 2 When you admire something, you enjoy looking at it. They stopped the car to admire the view.
admit admits, admitting, admitted
VERB 1 If you admit something, you agree that it is true.
VERB 2 If people are admitted to a place, they are allowed to go in.
adopt adopts, adopting, adopted
