ADJECTIVE
If a person, animal or plant is alive, they are living now.
all ADJECTIVE
You say all when you mean the whole of a particular group or thing. Put all your toys away.
Allah NOUN
Allah is the Muslim name for God.
allergy allergies NOUN
If you have an allergy to something, it makes you ill. Tom has an allergy to nuts, so he must not eat them.
alley alleys NOUN
An alley is a narrow path with buildings or walls on both sides.
alligator alligators NOUN
An alligator is a reptile. It is of the same family as a crocodile, but smaller.
See Reptiles on page 264
alliteration NOUN
Alliteration is the use of words close together which begin with the same sound, for example “hundreds of huge hairy horses”.
allow allows, allowing, allowed VERB
If someone allows you to do something, they let you do it.
all right
ADJECTIVE 1 If someone is all right, they are well or safe. See if the baby’s all right.
INTERJECTION 2 You say all right if you agree to something.
almost ADVERB
Almost means very nearly, but not quite.
He tripped and almost fell.
alone ADJECTIVE
If you are alone, there is nobody with you.
along PREPOSITION
If you go along something, you move towards the end of it.
aloud ADVERB
If you read something aloud, you read it so that people can hear you.
alphabet alphabets NOUN
An alphabet is all the letters used to write words, written in a special order.
alphabetical ADJECTIVE
Alphabetical means arranged in the order of the letters of the alphabet. She read out the names on the register in alphabetical order.
already ADVERB
If you have done something already, you did it earlier.
also ADVERB
You say also when you want to add to something you have just said.
alter alters, altering, altered VERB
When you alter something, you change it in some way.
alternate alternates, alternating, alternated VERB
When two things alternate, they regularly happen one after the other. He alternates between being friendly and completely ignoring me.
although CONJUNCTION
You say although when you expected something different. Although my dad was cross, he still gave me my pocket money.
altogether ADVERB
If you say there are a number of things altogether, you are counting all of them. I’ve picked four apples and you’ve picked two, so that’s six altogether.
aluminium NOUN
Aluminium is a light, silver-coloured metal. It is used for making rolls of foil and containers like cans and pie dishes.
always
ADVERB 1 If you always do something, you do it every time. He always puts his things away when he has used them.
ADVERB 2 If something has always been so, it has been that way at all times. They have always been good friends.
a.m. ADVERB
a.m. is the time between midnight and noon. I get up at 7 a.m.
See p.m.
am VERB
Am is a present tense form of be used when you are talking about yourself. I am six years old.
See be
amaze amazes, amazing, amazed VERB
If something amazes you, it surprises you very much.
amazement NOUN
amazing ADJECTIVE
Something that is amazing is very surprising or wonderful.
ambition ambitions NOUN
If you have an ambition to do something, you want to do it very much.
ambulance ambulances NOUN
An ambulance is a vehicle that is used to take people to hospital.
among
PREPOSITION 1 If something is among a number of things, it is surrounded by them. He sat among piles of books.
PREPOSITION 2 If something is divided among several people, they all have a share.
amount amounts NOUN
An amount of something is how much there is of it.
amphibian amphibians NOUN
An amphibian is an animal that is able to live on land and in water.
amphibious ADJECTIVE
See Amphibians on page 264
amuse amuses, amusing, amused VERB
If you amuse somebody, you make them smile or stop them feeling bored.
an ADJECTIVE
An is
