Читать книгу Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary - Collins Dictionaries - Страница 8

Cc

cab cabs

NOUN 1 a taxi

2 The cab is where the driver sits in a lorry, bus or train.

cabbage cabbages

NOUN a large, green, leafy vegetable

cabin cabins

NOUN 1 a room in a ship where a passenger sleeps

2 a small wooden house, usually in the country

cabinet cabinets

NOUN 1 a small cupboard • a medicine cabinet

2 The cabinet in a government is a group of ministers who advise the leader and decide policies.

cable cables

NOUN 1 a strong, thick rope or chain

2 a bundle of wires with a rubber covering, which carries electricity

cable television

NOUN a television service that comes through underground wires

cactus cacti or cactuses

NOUN a thick, fleshy plant that grows in deserts. Cactuses are usually covered in spikes.

cadet cadets

NOUN a young person being trained in the armed forces or police

café cafés

NOUN a place where you can buy light meals and drinks

[from the French café meaning coffee or coffee house]

caffeine; also spelt caffein

NOUN a chemical in coffee and tea that makes you more active

cage cages

NOUN a box or room made with bars, in which birds or animals are kept

caged ADJECTIVE

cake cakes, caking, caked

NOUN 1 a sweet food made from eggs, flour, butter and sugar

2 a block of a hard substance such as soap

VERB 3 If something is caked, it becomes covered with a solid layer of something else. • My shoes were caked in mud.

calamity calamities

NOUN something terrible that happens, causing destruction and misery • The earthquake was a terrible calamity.

SYNONYMS: disaster, catastrophe

calcium

Said “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

canvas canvases

NOUN 1 strong, heavy cloth used for making things such as sails and tents

2 a piece of canvas on which an artist does a painting

canyon canyons

NOUN a narrow river valley with steep sides

cap caps

NOUN 1 a soft, flat hat, often with a peak at the front

2 a bottle top

3 a small explosive used in toy guns

capable

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are capable of doing something, you are able to do it.

2 Someone who is capable is able to do something well.

capacity capacities

NOUN the maximum amount that something can hold or produce • The arena has a seating capacity of two thousand.

capital capitals

NOUN 1 The capital of a country is the city where the government meets. • Paris is the capital of France.

2 A capital, or a capital letter, is a larger, upper-case letter used at the beginning of a sentence or a name: Carol, Tim.

capsize capsizes, capsizing, capsized

VERB If a boat capsizes, it turns upside down.

capsule capsules

NOUN 1 a small container with medicine inside, which you swallow

2 the part of a spacecraft in which astronauts travel

[from Latin capsula meaning little box]

captain captains

NOUN 1 the officer in charge of a ship or aeroplane

2 the leader of a sports team

caption captions

NOUN a title printed underneath a picture or a photograph

captive captives

NOUN someone who is locked up and kept prisoner

capture captures, capturing, captured

VERB If someone captures someone or something, they take them prisoner.

car cars

NOUN 1 a four-wheeled road vehicle with an engine and room to carry a few passengers

2 a railway carriage used for a particular purpose • the buffet car

caravan caravans

NOUN 1 a vehicle pulled by a car in which people live or spend their holidays

2 a group of people and animals travelling together, usually across a desert

carbohydrate carbohydrates

NOUN a substance that gives you energy. It is found in foods like sugar and bread.

carbon

NOUN a chemical found in coal, diamonds and graphite. All living things contain carbon.

carbon dioxide

NOUN the gas that human beings and other animals breathe out

carbon footprint carbon footprints

NOUN the amount of carbon monoxide produced by a person, company or country

card cards

NOUN 1 a piece of stiff paper or plastic with a message or information on it • birthday card • credit card

2 When you play cards, you play a game using special playing cards.

3 strong, stiff paper

cardboard

NOUN thick, stiff paper, which is stronger than card

cardigan cardigans

NOUN a knitted jacket that fastens up the front

care cares, caring, cared

VERB 1 If you care about something or someone, you are concerned about them and interested in them.

2 If you care for a person or an animal, you look after them.

NOUN 3 worry or trouble • She didn’t have a care in the world.

4 If you do something with care, you concentrate very hard on it so that you don’t make mistakes. • He wrote the telephone number down with great care.

PHRASE 5 If you take care of a person or an animal, you look after them. • Shakira said she would take care of the hamsters while we were on holiday.

career careers

NOUN Your career is the series of jobs you have in life, often in the same occupation. • a teaching career

careful

ADJECTIVE acting sensibly and with care

ANTONYM: careless

carefully ADVERB

careless

ADJECTIVE not paying attention to what you are doing

SYNONYMS: slapdash, sloppy

carelessly ADVERB carelessness NOUN

caretaker caretakers

NOUN a person who looks after a large building such as a school

cargo cargoes

NOUN goods carried on a ship or plane

Caribbean

Said “carib-ee-un” NOUN 1 short for the Caribbean Sea, which lies between the West Indies and South America

ADJECTIVE 2 to do with the Caribbean Sea or the islands in it • I love Caribbean food.

carnation carnations

NOUN a plant with thin leaves and scented white, pink or red flowers

carnival carnivals

NOUN a public festival with music, processions and dancing

carnivore carnivores

NOUN an animal that eats meat

carnivorous ADJECTIVE

carol carols

NOUN a religious song sung at Christmas time

carpenter carpenters

NOUN a person who makes and repairs wooden things

carpentry NOUN

carpet carpets

NOUN a thick floor covering usually made of material like wool

carriage carriages

NOUN 1 one of the separate sections of a passenger train

2 an old-fashioned vehicle for carrying passengers, usually pulled by horses

Carroll diagram Carroll diagrams

NOUN a way of sorting and displaying information in the form of a grid

carrot carrots

NOUN a long, thin, orange-coloured root vegetable

carry carries, carrying, carried

VERB 1 If you carry something, you hold it and take it somewhere.

2 When a vehicle carries people, they travel in it.

3 If people or animals carry a germ or a disease, they can pass it on to others.

4 If a sound carries it can be heard a long way off. • Their voices carried across the valley.

cart carts

NOUN a vehicle with wheels, used for carrying things and usually pulled by horses or cattle

carton cartons

NOUN a cardboard or plastic container

cartoon cartoons

NOUN 1 a humorous drawing in a newspaper, comic or magazine

2 a film in which all the characters and scenes are drawn

cartridge cartridges

NOUN 1 a tube containing a bullet and an explosive substance, used in guns

2 a small plastic container filled with ink that you put in a pen or a printer

cartwheel cartwheels

NOUN an acrobatic movement in which you lift both arms in the air then throw yourself sideways on to one hand, swinging your body around in a circle with your legs straight until you land on your feet again

carve carves, carving, carved

VERB If you carve something, you shape it or slice it with a knife.

cascade cascades, cascading, cascaded

NOUN 1 a small waterfall or group of waterfalls flowing down a rocky hillside

VERB 2 When water cascades, it flows very fast down a hillside or over rocks.

case cases

NOUN 1 a box for keeping or carrying things in

2 a particular situation or event • a bad case of measles

3 A crime that the police are investigating is called a case.

cash

NOUN money in notes and coins

cashier cashiers

NOUN the person who deals with money in a place such as a shop or a bank

casserole casseroles

NOUN 1 a stew made with meat, vegetables or fish that is baked in the oven

2 a dish with a lid, which is used for cooking

cast casts, casting, cast

NOUN 1 all the people who act in a play or film

2 an object made by pouring a liquid such as plaster into a container and leaving it to harden

VERB 3 If an object casts a shadow on to a place, it makes a shadow fall there.

castaway castaways

NOUN someone who has been shipwrecked but manages to survive on a lonely shore or an island

castle castles

NOUN a large building with walls or ditches round it to protect it from attack

[from Latin castellum meaning small fort]

casual

ADJECTIVE 1 happening by chance and without planning • I made a casual remark.

2 Casual clothes are suitable for informal occasions.

casualty casualties

NOUN a person killed or injured in an accident or a war • There were many casualties after the motorway crash.

cat cats

NOUN a small, furry mammal with whiskers, a tail and sharp claws, often kept as a pet

catalogue catalogues

NOUN a list of things, such as the goods you can buy from a company, the objects in a museum, or the books in a library • I ordered my trainers from a mail order catalogue.

catastrophe catastrophes

NOUN a terrible disaster

catastrophic ADJECTIVE

catch catches, catching, caught

VERB 1 If you catch an object that is moving through the air, you grasp it with your hands.

2 If you catch a person or animal, you capture them. • The police caught the thief.

3 If you catch a bus, train or plane, you get on it and travel somewhere.

4 If you catch a cold or a disease, you become ill with it.

NOUN 5 a hook that fastens or locks a door or window

catching

ADJECTIVE If a disease or illness is catching it spreads very quickly. • Measles is catching.

catchy catchier, catchiest

ADJECTIVE Something that is catchy, such as a tune, is pleasant and easy to remember.

category categories

NOUN a group of things that have something in common

caterpillar caterpillars

NOUN the larva of a butterfly or moth. Caterpillars look like small, coloured worms and feed on plants.

cathedral cathedrals

NOUN an important church with a bishop in charge of it • Canterbury Cathedral

Catholic Catholics

ADJECTIVE OR NOUN a Roman Catholic, or belonging to that religion

cattle

PLURAL NOUN cows and bulls kept by farmers

caught

VERB the past tense of catch

cauldron cauldrons

NOUN a large, round metal cooking pot, especially one that sits over a fire

[from Latin caldarium meaning hot bath]

cauliflower cauliflowers

NOUN a large, round, white vegetable surrounded by green leaves

cause causes, causing, caused

VERB 1 To cause something means to make it happen.

NOUN 2 The cause of something is the thing that makes it happen. • The cause of the explosion was a gas leak.

cautious

ADJECTIVE Someone who is cautious acts carefully in order to avoid danger or disappointment.

cavalry

NOUN The cavalry is the part of an army that fights on horseback or in armoured vehicles such as tanks.

cave caves, caving, caved

NOUN a large hole in the side of a cliff or under the ground

cave in

VERB If a roof caves in, it collapses inwards.

caveman or cavewoman cavemen or cavewomen

NOUN Cavemen and cavewomen were people who lived in caves in prehistoric times.

cavity cavities

NOUN a small hole in something solid • There were cavities in his back teeth.

CD

NOUN an abbreviation for compact disc

CD-ROM

NOUN a way of storing video, sound or text on a compact disc that can be played on a computer. CD-ROM is an abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory.

cease ceases, ceasing, ceased

VERB 1 If something ceases, it stops.

2 If you cease doing something, you stop doing it.

ceiling ceilings

NOUN the roof inside a room

celebrate celebrates, celebrating, celebrated

VERB If you celebrate something, you do something special and enjoyable because of it. • We felt like celebrating the end of exams.

celebration NOUN

celebrity celebrities

NOUN a famous person

celery

NOUN a vegetable with long, pale green stalks

cell cells

NOUN 1 In biology, a cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that can exist by itself. Humans, animals and plants are made up of millions of cells.

2 a small room in a prison or police station where a prisoner is locked up

cellar cellars

NOUN a room underneath a building

cello cellos

Said “chel-oh” NOUN a large, stringed musical instrument that you play sitting down

cellist NOUN

Celsius

NOUN a scale for measuring temperature in which water freezes at 0 degrees (0 °C) and boils at 100 degrees (100 °C)

[named after Anders Celsius (1701–1744) who invented it]

cement

NOUN a grey powder that is mixed with sand and water to make concrete

cemetery cemeteries

NOUN an area of land where dead people are buried

census censuses

NOUN an official survey of the population of a country

cent cents

NOUN In some countries a cent is a unit of currency.

centenary centenaries

NOUN the hundredth anniversary of something

centigrade

NOUN another word for Celsius

centimetre centimetres

NOUN a unit of length (cm). One centimetre is equal to ten millimetres (mm).

centipede centipedes

NOUN a long, thin creature with many pairs of legs

[from Latin centum + pedes meaning a hundred feet]

central

ADJECTIVE 1 Something central is in the middle.

2 An idea that is central is the main idea.

central heating

NOUN a heating system in which water or air is heated and passed round a building through pipes and radiators

centre centres

NOUN 1 the middle of an object or area

2 a building where people go for activities, meetings, or help • We played badminton at the sports centre.

century centuries

NOUN a period of one hundred years

ceramic ceramics

Said “ser-ram-ic” NOUN 1 a hard material made by baking clay at very high temperatures

PLURAL NOUN 2 Ceramics is the art of making objects out of clay.

cereal cereals

NOUN 1 a food made from grain, often eaten with milk for breakfast

2 a plant that produces edible grain, such as wheat, oats, barley and rye

ceremony ceremonies

NOUN a formal event such as a wedding or prizegiving

certain

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are certain about something, you are sure it is true. • She is certain she wants to be a vet.

2 You use certain to refer to a particular person, place or thing. • I like certain animals, for example cats and dogs.

certainly

ADVERB without any doubt • “Will you be at the party?” “I certainly will.”

certificate certificates

NOUN an official piece of paper that proves that something took place • a birth certificate

chaffinch chaffinches

NOUN a small European bird with black and white wings

chain chains

NOUN 1 a number of metal rings linked together in a line

2 a number of things in a series or connected to each other • a chain of shops • a chain of events

chair chairs

NOUN a seat for one person to sit on, with a back and four legs

chalet chalets

NOUN a small wooden house with a sloping roof, especially found in mountain areas or holiday camps

chalk

NOUN a soft, white rock. Small sticks of chalk are used for writing or drawing on a blackboard.

chalky ADJECTIVE

challenge challenges, challenging, challenged

NOUN 1 something new and exciting that needs a lot of effort • Learning how to cook is a new challenge for me.

VERB 2 If someone challenges you, they suggest that you compete with them. • She challenged me to a game of table tennis.

challenging

ADJECTIVE If you find something challenging, you find it quite difficult.

chameleon chameleons

NOUN a lizard that is able to change the colour of its skin to match the colour of its surroundings

[from Greek khamai + leon meaning ground lion]

champagne champagnes

NOUN a sparkling white wine made in France

champion champions

NOUN a person who wins a competition

championship championships

NOUN a competition to find the best player or players of a particular sport

chance chances

NOUN 1 how possible or likely something is • I think we’ve got a good chance of winning.

2 an opportunity to do something • This is your chance to be a TV star!

3 a possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant may happen

PHRASE 4 Something that happens by chance happens unexpectedly, without being planned.

chancellor chancellors

NOUN the head of government in some European countries

Chancellor of the Exchequer

NOUN the government minister in charge of finance and taxes in Britain

change changes, changing, changed

NOUN 1 money you get back when you pay for something with more money than it costs

VERB 2 When something changes, or you change it, it becomes different. • The wind changed direction.

channel channels

NOUN 1 a wavelength on which television programmes are broadcast. It can also be the television station itself.

2 a passage for water or other liquid

3 The Channel, or the English Channel, is the stretch of sea between England and France.

chaos

NOUN a state of complete disorder • The demonstration ended in chaos.

chaotic ADJECTIVE

chapel chapels

NOUN 1 a section of a church or cathedral with its own altar

2 a type of small church

chapter chapters

NOUN one of the parts into which a book is divided

character characters

NOUN 1 all the qualities that make a person or a place special • She has a gentle character.

2 The characters in a film, play or book are the people in it.

characteristic characteristics

NOUN 1 a special quality about a person, place or thing

ADJECTIVE 2 typical of a place or person • Noise and traffic fumes are characteristic of cities.

charades

NOUN a party game where one team guesses what the other team is acting out

charcoal

NOUN burnt wood used as a fuel. Charcoal is also used for drawing.

charge charges, charging, charged

VERB 1 If someone charges you money, they ask you to pay for something you have bought or received.

2 rush forward • She charged into the room.

PHRASE 3 If you are in charge of someone or something, you are responsible for them. • I left him in charge of the shop while I went out.

chariot chariots

NOUN a two-wheeled open vehicle pulled by horses in ancient times

charity charities

NOUN 1 an organization that raises money to help people in need

2 money or other help given to people in need

charm charms, charming, charmed

NOUN 1 something you wear for good luck

2 the quality of being attractive and pleasant

VERB 3 If you charm someone, you use your charm to please them.

chart charts

NOUN a diagram or table showing information

chase chases, chasing, chased

VERB If you chase someone, you run after them or follow them in order to catch them or make them leave a place.

chat chats, chatting, chatted

NOUN 1 a friendly talk with someone

VERB 2 When people chat, they talk to each other in a friendly way about things that are not very important.

chatty ADJECTIVE

chatroom chatrooms

NOUN an internet site where users have discussions using e-mail

chatter chatters, chattering, chattered

VERB 1 When people chatter, they talk about unimportant things.

2 If your teeth chatter, they knock together and make a clicking noise because you are cold.

chauffeur chauffeurs

NOUN a person whose job is to drive another person’s car • He had a chauffeur to drive him everywhere.

cheap cheaper, cheapest

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is cheap costs very little money.

2 Cheap sometimes means of poor quality.

cheaply ADVERB

cheat cheats, cheating, cheated

VERB If someone cheats in a game or exam, they break the rules in order to do better.

check checks, checking, checked

VERB 1 If you check something, you examine it to make sure that everything is all right. • Check your work carefully when you finish.

NOUN 2 an inspection to make sure that everything is all right

3 Checks are different coloured squares that form a pattern.

checkout checkouts

NOUN the place in a supermarket where you pay for your goods

cheek cheeks

NOUN 1 Your cheeks are the sides of your face below your eyes.

2 speech or behaviour that is rude and disrespectful • Their grandparents won’t stand any cheek from them.

cheeky ADJECTIVE cheekily ADVERB

cheer cheers, cheering, cheered

VERB When people cheer, they shout loudly and happily. • We cheered our team when they won.

cheerful

ADJECTIVE A cheerful person is happy.

cheerfully ADVERB

cheese cheeses

NOUN a solid savoury food made from milk

cheetah cheetahs

NOUN a wild mammal like a large cat with black spots, mainly found in Africa

[from Sanskrit citra + kaya meaning speckled body]

chef chefs

NOUN a head cook in a restaurant or hotel

[from French chef meaning head]

chemical chemicals

NOUN 1 a substance made by the use of chemistry • Dangerous chemicals should be handled carefully.

ADJECTIVE 2 involved in chemistry or using chemicals • a chemical reaction

chemist chemists

NOUN a shop that sells medicines and cosmetics

chemistry

NOUN the scientific study of substances and the ways in which they change when they are combined

cheque cheques

NOUN a printed piece of paper that people can use to pay for things

cherry cherries

NOUN a small, juicy fruit with a red, yellow or black skin and a hard stone in the centre

chess

NOUN a game played on a board with 64 squares. Each player has 16 pieces.

chest chests

NOUN 1 the front part of your body between your shoulders and your waist

2 a large wooden box used for storing things

chestnut chestnuts

NOUN 1 a reddish-brown nut that grows inside a prickly, green outer covering

2 the tree that produces these nuts

ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is chestnut is reddish-brown in colour.

chew chews, chewing, chewed

VERB When you chew something, you use your teeth to break it up in your mouth before swallowing it.

chewing gum

NOUN a kind of sweet that you chew for a long time, but which you do not swallow

chick chicks

NOUN a young bird

chicken chickens

NOUN a bird kept on a farm for its eggs and meat; also the meat of this bird

chickenpox

NOUN an illness that causes a fever and blister-like spots to appear on the skin

chief chiefs

NOUN 1 the leader of a group or organization

ADJECTIVE 2 main or most important

chilblain chilblains

NOUN a sore, itchy swelling on a finger or toe, which causes discomfort in cold weather

child children

NOUN 1 a young person who is not yet an adult

SYNONYMS: kid, youngster

2 Someone’s child is their son or daughter.

childhood childhoods

NOUN Your childhood is the time when you are a child.

childish

ADJECTIVE If someone is childish, they are not acting in an adult way.

ANTONYM: adult

childishly ADVERB

childminder childminders

NOUN a person who is paid to look after children while their parents are at work

children

PLURAL NOUN the plural of child

chill chills, chilling, chilled

VERB 1 When you chill something, you make it cold. • Chill the orange juice before you drink it.

NOUN 2 a feverish cold

3 a feeling of cold • the chill of early morning

chilli chillies

NOUN the red or green seed pod of a type of pepper that has a very hot, spicy taste

chilly chillier, chilliest

ADJECTIVE 1 Chilly weather is rather cold.

2 If people behave in a chilly way, they are not very friendly.

chime chimes, chiming, chimed

VERB 1 When a bell chimes, it makes a clear ringing sound.

NOUN 2 Chimes are a set of bells or other objects that make ringing sounds.

chimney chimneys

NOUN a pipe above a fireplace or furnace through which smoke from the fire can escape

chimpanzee chimpanzees

NOUN a small ape with dark fur that lives in forests in Africa

chin chins

NOUN the part of your face below your mouth

china

NOUN plates, cups, saucers and other dishes that are made from fine clay

chink chinks

NOUN 1 a small, narrow opening • a chink in the fence

2 a small ringing sound, like glasses touching each other

chip chips, chipping, chipped

NOUN 1 Chips are thin strips of fried potato.

2 a tiny piece of silicon inside a computer, which is used to form electronic circuits • computer chips

VERB 3 If you chip an object, you break a small piece off it.

chirp chirps, chirping, chirped

VERB When a bird chirps, it makes a short, high-pitched sound.

chisel chisels, chiselling, chiselled

NOUN 1 a tool with a long metal blade and a sharp edge at the end. Chisels are used for cutting and shaping wood, stone or metal.

VERB 2 If you chisel wood, stone or metal, you cut or shape it using a chisel.

chlorine

NOUN a poisonous greenish-yellow gas with a strong, unpleasant smell. It is used to disinfect water and to make bleach.

chocolate chocolates

NOUN a sweet food made from cocoa beans

[from Aztec xococ + atl meaning bitter water]

choice choices

NOUN 1 a range of different things that are available to choose from

SYNONYMS: range, variety

2 something that you choose • You made a good choice when you bought this book.

choir choirs

NOUN a group of singers, for example in a church

choke chokes, choking, choked

VERB If you choke on something, it prevents you from breathing properly. • He choked on a fish bone.

cholesterol

NOUN a substance found in all animal fats, tissues and blood

choose chooses, choosing, chose, chosen

VERB If you choose something, you decide to have it or do it.

SYNONYMS: pick, select

chop chops, chopping, chopped

VERB 1 If you chop something, you cut it with quick, heavy strokes using an axe or a knife. • Mum chopped the logs for firewood.

NOUN 2 a small piece of pork or lamb that contains a bone • We had chops and broccoli for dinner.

choppy

ADJECTIVE When the sea or a stretch of water is choppy, there are a lot of waves on it because it is windy.

chopstick chopsticks

NOUN Chopsticks are a pair of thin sticks used for eating Chinese and Japanese food.

choral

Said “kor-al” ADJECTIVE for a choir

chord chords

NOUN a group of three or more musical notes played together

chore chores

NOUN an uninteresting job that has to be done

chorus choruses

NOUN 1 a part of a song that is repeated after each verse

2 a large group of singers

chose

VERB the past tense of choose

chosen

VERB 1 the past participle of choose

2 When you are chosen, you are picked to do something. • I was chosen for the volleyball team.

christen christens, christening, christened

VERB When a priest christens someone, they name them in a ceremony where water is poured over their head as a sign that they are a member of the Christian church.

christening NOUN

Christian Christians

NOUN a person who believes in Jesus Christ and his teachings

Christianity NOUN

Christmas Christmases

NOUN a Christian festival held on December 25th to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

chrome

Said “krome” NOUN metal plated with chromium, a hard, silver-grey metal

chromosome chromosomes

Said “krome-uh-soam” NOUN the part of a cell in living things that contains the genes that determine what characteristics the animal or plant will have

chronic

ADJECTIVE lasting a very long time or never stopping • He suffers from chronic hay fever.

chronological

ADJECTIVE arranged in the order in which things happened • Tell me the whole story in chronological order.

chronologically ADVERB

chrysalis chrysalises

NOUN a butterfly or moth when it is developing from being a caterpillar to being a fully grown adult

chrysanthemum chrysanthemums

NOUN a plant with large, brightly-coloured flowers

chuckle chuckles, chuckling, chuckled

VERB When you chuckle, you laugh quietly.

chunk chunks

NOUN a thick piece of something

SYNONYMS: hunk, lump, piece

church churches

NOUN a building where Christians go for religious services and worship

churchyard churchyards

NOUN an area of land around a church, often used as a graveyard

churn churns, churning, churned

NOUN 1 a container used for making milk or cream into butter

VERB 2 When you churn something, you stir it vigorously, for example when making milk into butter.

churn out

VERB If you churn out something, you produce it quickly in large numbers. • They churned out hundreds of leaflets advertising the dance.

chutney

NOUN a strong-tasting, thick sauce made from fruit, vinegar and spices

cider

NOUN an alcoholic drink made from apples

cigar cigars

NOUN a roll of dried tobacco leaves, which people smoke

cigarette cigarettes

NOUN a thin tube of paper containing tobacco, which people smoke

cinder cinders

NOUN Cinders are small pieces of burnt material left after something such as wood or coal has burned.

cinema cinemas

NOUN a place where people go to watch films

circle circles, circling, circled

NOUN 1 a regular, two-dimensional round shape. Every point on the edge is the same distance from the centre.

VERB 2 to move around in a circle • Seagulls circled overhead.

circular ADJECTIVE

circuit circuits

NOUN 1 the path of an electric current

2 a racecourse

3 A training circuit is a course of physical activities.

circulation circulations

NOUN 1 the movement of blood around a body

2 the number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are sold each time it is issued

circumference circumferences

NOUN 1 the outer line or edge of a circle

2 The length of this line is also called the circumference.

circumstance circumstances

NOUN The circumstances of a situation or event are the conditions that affect what happens. • He did well under difficult circumstances.

circus circuses

NOUN a travelling show performed in a large tent, with performers such as clowns and acrobats

cistern cisterns

NOUN a tank in which water is stored, such as in the roof of a house, or above a toilet

citizen citizens

NOUN The citizens of a country or city are the people who live in it or belong to it.

citrus fruit citrus fruits

NOUN Citrus fruits are juicy, sharp-tasting fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit.

city cities

NOUN a large town where many people live and work

civil

ADJECTIVE 1 relating to the citizens of a place

2 Someone who is civil is polite.

civilian civilians

NOUN a person who is not in the armed forces

civilization civilizations; also spelt civilisation

NOUN 1 a large group of people with a high level of organization and culture • We’re learning about the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome and Egypt.

2 a highly developed and organized way of life

civilized; also spelt civilised

ADJECTIVE 1 A civilized society is one with a highly developed social organization and a comfortable way of life.

2 A civilized person is polite and reasonable.

civil war civil wars

NOUN a war between groups of people who live in the same country

claim claims, claiming, claimed

VERB 1 If you claim that something is the case, you say that it is so.

2 If you claim something, you ask for it because you believe you have a right to it.

clamber clambers, clambering, clambered

VERB If you clamber somewhere, you climb there with difficulty. • We clambered over the rocks to get to the beach.

clammy clammier, clammiest

ADJECTIVE unpleasantly damp and sticky • The weather was very clammy.

clamp clamps, clamping, clamped

NOUN 1 a device that holds something firmly in place

VERB 2 When you clamp one thing to another, you fasten them together with a clamp.

clan clans

NOUN a group of families related to each other by being descended from the same ancestor

clang clangs, clanging, clanged

VERB When something made of metal clangs, or when you clang it, it makes a loud, ringing sound.

clank clanks, clanking, clanked

VERB When something clanks, it makes a loud, metallic sound.

clap claps, clapping, clapped

VERB 1 When you clap, you hit your hands together loudly to show that you have enjoyed something or that you approve of something.

NOUN 2 a sudden loud noise of thunder

clarify clarifies, clarifying, clarified

VERB If you clarify something, you make it clear and easier to understand.

clarification NOUN

clarinet clarinets

NOUN a woodwind instrument with a straight tube and a single reed in its mouthpiece

clarity

NOUN The clarity of something is its clearness. • The clarity of the water made me think it was very clean.

clash clashes, clashing, clashed

VERB 1 Colours or ideas that clash are so different that they do not go together. • Debbie’s red shirt clashed with her green shorts.

2 If one event clashes with another, they happen at the same time, so you cannot go to both.

3 If people clash with each other, they fight or argue.

clasp clasps, clasping, clasped

VERB 1 If you clasp something, you hold it tightly.

NOUN 2 a fastening such as a hook or a catch

class classes

NOUN 1 a group of pupils or students taught together, or a lesson that they have together

2 A class of people or things is a group of them of a particular type. • Beetles and ants belong to different classes of insect.

SYNONYMS: group, kind, type

classic

ADJECTIVE Something described as classic is considered a high quality example of something. • He has a classic car.

classical

ADJECTIVE 1 traditional in style and content • classical ballet

2 Classical music is serious music thought to be of lasting value.

classify classifies, classifying, classified

VERB to arrange things into groups with something in common • We classified the foods into three groups: fruits, vegetables and meats.

classification NOUN

classroom classrooms

NOUN a room in a school where lessons take place

clatter clatters, clattering, clattered

VERB 1 When things clatter, they hit each other with a loud, rattling noise.

NOUN 2 a loud noise made by hard things hitting against each other • There was a great clatter when the waitress dropped the tray.

clause clauses

NOUN In grammar, a clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb, which may be a complete sentence or part of a sentence.

claw claws, clawing, clawed

NOUN 1 An animal’s claws are the hard, curved nails at the end of its feet.

2 The claws of a crab or a lobster are the two jointed parts at the end of the leg, used for holding things.

VERB 3 3 If an animal claws something, it digs its claws into it

clay

NOUN a type of earth that is soft and sticky when wet and hard when baked dry. It is used to make pottery and bricks.

clean cleaner, cleanest; cleans, cleaning, cleaned

ADJECTIVE 1 free from dirt or unwanted marks

VERB 2 to remove dirt from something

clear clearer, clearest; clears, clearing, cleared

ADJECTIVE 1 easy to understand, see or hear • The instructions on the packet were very clear.

2 easy to see through • a clear liquid

VERB 3 To clear unwanted things from a place is to remove them. • We cleared the dirty dishes from the table.

4 If you clear a fence or other obstacle, you jump over it without touching it.

clearly ADVERB

clear up

VERB When you clear up a place, you tidy it and put things away.

clench clenches, clenching, clenched

VERB 1 When you clench your fist, you curl your fingers up tightly.

2 When you clench your teeth, you squeeze them together tightly, either in pain or in anger.

clerk clerks

NOUN a person who keeps records or accounts in an office, bank or law court

clever cleverer, cleverest

ADJECTIVE 1 intelligent and quick to understand things

SYNONYMS: bright, intelligent, smart

2 very effective or skilful • We came up with a clever plan.

cliché clichés

NOUN an idea or phrase that is no longer effective because it has been used so much. For example, in this day and age and over the moon.

click clicks, clicking, clicked

VERB 1 When something clicks or when you click it, it makes a short snapping sound.

NOUN 2 a sound of something clicking

client clients

NOUN someone who pays a professional person or company for a service

cliff cliffs

NOUN a high area of land with a very steep side, usually next to the sea

cliffhanger cliffhangers

NOUN a very exciting or frightening situation, usually in a television or radio serial, where you are left not knowing what is going to happen next

climate climates

NOUN the general weather conditions that are typical of a place

climax climaxes

NOUN the most exciting moment of something, usually near the end

climb climbs, climbing, climbed

VERB 1 If you climb something, such as a tree, mountain or ladder, you move towards the top of it.

2 If you climb somewhere, you move there with difficulty. • We climbed over the high wall.

NOUN 3 a movement upwards • I was tired after the long climb to the top of the hill.

climber NOUN

cling clings, clinging, clung

VERB If you cling to something, you hold on to it tightly.

clinic clinics

NOUN a place where people go for medical advice or treatment

clip clips, clipping, clipped

NOUN 1 a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together

2 a short piece of a film shown by itself

VERB 3 If you clip something, you cut bits from it to shape it.

clipboard clipboards

NOUN a stiff piece of board or plastic, with a clip at the top to keep papers in place

clippers

PLURAL NOUN a tool used for cutting • hedge clippers

cloak cloaks, cloaking, cloaked

NOUN 1 a wide, loose coat without sleeves

VERB 2 If something cloaks something else, it covers or hides it. • The mist cloaked the land.

cloakroom cloakrooms

NOUN 1 a room where you can leave coats and luggage for a while

2 a room with toilets and washbasins in a public building

clock clocks

NOUN an instrument that measures and shows the time

clockwise

ADVERB in the same direction as the hands on a clock

clockwork

NOUN 1 Toys that move by clockwork are wound up with a key.

PHRASE 2 If something goes like clockwork, it happens with no problems or delays.

clog clogs, clogging, clogged

VERB 1 When something is clogged, or when you clog something up, it becomes blocked and doesn’t work properly or doesn’t allow things to move freely. • The traffic was clogging the roads.

NOUN 2 a shoe made entirely of wood, originally from the Netherlands

clone clones

NOUN an animal or plant that is an identical copy of another animal or plant

close closes, closing, closed; closer, closest

Said “klohz” VERB 1 If you close something, you move it so that it is no longer open. • He closed the door behind him.

2 If a shop or other building closes at a certain time, it does not do business after that time.

Said “klohss” ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is close to something else is near to it.

SYNONYMS: near, nearby

4 People who are close are very friendly with each other and know each other well.

5 If the weather is close, it is uncomfortably warm and stuffy.

NOUN 6 a street that is closed at one end • We live in Park Close.

closely ADVERB

close-up close-ups

Said “klohss-up” NOUN A close-up in a film or a photograph is taken at very close range and shows things in great detail.

cloth cloths

NOUN 1 fabric made by a process such as weaving

2 a piece of material used for wiping or protecting things

clothes

PLURAL NOUN things people wear on their bodies

cloud clouds

NOUN 1 a mass of water vapour that is seen as a white or grey patch in the sky

2 A cloud of smoke or dust is a mass of it floating in the air.

cloudy cloudier, cloudiest

ADJECTIVE 1 full of clouds • The sky was cloudy.

SYNONYMS: dull, overcast

2 difficult to see through • a cloudy liquid

SYNONYM: murky

clover

NOUN a small plant with leaves made up of three similar parts

clown clowns

NOUN a circus performer who wears funny clothes and make-up and does silly things to make people laugh

club clubs

NOUN 1 a group of people with similar interests, who meet regularly. The place where they meet is also called a club. • a youth club

2 a team that competes in sports competitions

clue clues

NOUN something that helps solve a problem or mystery • Police have found clues to the robbery.

clueless

ADJECTIVE INFORMAL If you say that someone is clueless, you think they are stupid and not able to do things properly.

clump clumps

NOUN a small group of things growing or standing close together • a clump of trees

clumsy clumsier, clumsiest

ADJECTIVE moving awkwardly and carelessly

SYNONYMS: awkward, ungainly

clumsily ADVERB

clung

VERB the past tense and past participle of cling

cluster clusters, clustering, clustered

NOUN 1 a group of things together • There is a cluster of houses by the lake.

VERB 2 If people cluster together, they stay together in a close group.

[from Old English clyster meaning bunch of grapes]

clutch clutches, clutching, clutched

VERB If you clutch something, you hold it tightly or seize it.

clutter clutters, cluttering, cluttered

NOUN 1 an untidy mess

VERB 2 Things that clutter a place fill it and make it untidy.

coach coaches, coaching, coached

NOUN 1 a large bus that takes passengers on long journeys

2 a section of a train that carries passengers

VERB 3 If someone coaches you, they help you to get better at a sport or a subject.

SYNONYMS: instruct, train

NOUN 4 someone who coaches a person or sports team

coal

NOUN a hard, black rock taken from under the ground and burned as a fuel

coarse coarser, coarsest

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is coarse is rough in texture.

2 Someone who is coarse talks or behaves in a rude, offensive way.

coarsely ADVERB coarseness NOUN

coast coasts, coasting, coasted

NOUN 1 the edge of the land where it meets the sea

VERB 2 If a vehicle coasts somewhere, it moves there with the engine switched off. • The car coasted quietly down the hill.

coastal ADJECTIVE

coastguard coastguards

NOUN an official who watches the sea near a coast to get help for sailors when they need it

coat coats, coating, coated

NOUN 1 a piece of outdoor clothing with sleeves, which you wear over other clothes

2 An animal’s coat is the fur or hair on its body.

3 A coat of paint or varnish is a layer of it.

VERB 4 If you coat something, you cover it with a thin layer of something. • We coated the biscuits with chocolate.

coating coatings

NOUN a thin layer of something spread over a surface

coax coaxes, coaxing, coaxed

VERB If you coax someone to do something, you persuade them gently to do it.

cobble cobbles

NOUN Cobbles or cobblestones are stones with a rounded surface that were used in the past for making roads.

cobra cobras

NOUN a type of large poisonous snake from Africa and Asia

cobweb cobwebs

NOUN the very thin net that a spider spins to catch insects

cock cocks

NOUN an adult male chicken, or any other male bird

cockerel cockerels

NOUN a young cock

cockle cockles

NOUN a type of small, edible shellfish

Cockney Cockneys

NOUN someone who was born in the East End of London

cockpit cockpits

NOUN 1 the area in a plane where the pilot sits in control

2 the driver’s compartment in a racing car

cockroach cockroaches

NOUN a large, dark-coloured insect often found in dirty rooms

[from Spanish cucaracha]

cocky cockier, cockiest

ADJECTIVE INFORMAL If you are cocky, you are sure of yourself and sometimes rather cheeky.

cocoa

NOUN 1 a brown powder made from the seeds of a tropical tree and used for making chocolate

2 a hot drink made from this powder

coconut coconuts

NOUN a very large nut with white flesh, milky juice, and a hard hairy shell

cocoon cocoons

NOUN a silky covering over the larvae of moths and some other insects

cod

NOUN a large, edible fish

The plural of cod is cod.

code codes

NOUN 1 a system of replacing the letters or words in a message with other letters or words, so that nobody can understand the message unless they know the system • They wrote messages in code.

2 a group of numbers and letters used to identify something • the telephone code for Falmouth

coeducation

NOUN Coeducation is a system where girls and boys are taught together at the same school.

coeducational ADJECTIVE

coffee

NOUN 1 a powder made by roasting and grinding the beans of the coffee plant

2 a hot drink made from coffee

coffin coffins

NOUN a box in which a dead body is buried or cremated

cog cogs

NOUN a wheel with teeth, which turns another wheel or part of a machine

coil coils, coiling, coiled

NOUN 1 a length of rope or wire wound into a series of loops

2 A single loop is also called a coil.

VERB 3 If something coils, or if you coil it, it winds into a series of loops. • The snake coiled around the branch.

coin coins, coining, coined

NOUN 1 a small metal disc used as money

VERB 2 If you coin a word or a phrase, you invent it.

coinage

NOUN the coins that are used in a particular country

coincide coincides, coinciding, coincided

VERB When two things coincide, they happen at the same time. • Auntie’s visit coincided with my birthday.

coincidence coincidences

NOUN what happens when two or more things occur at the same time by chance

coke

NOUN a grey fuel produced from coal

cola colas

NOUN a sweet, brown fizzy drink, like Coca-Cola

colander colanders

NOUN a bowl-shaped container with holes in it, used for washing or draining food

cold colder, coldest; colds

ADJECTIVE 1 If something is cold, it has a very low temperature.

2 If the weather is cold, the air temperature is very low.

NOUN 3 a minor illness that makes you sneeze and cough, and sometimes gives you a sore throat

cold-blooded

ADJECTIVE 1 A cold-blooded animal has a body temperature that changes according to the surrounding temperature.

2 Someone who is cold-blooded does not show any pity.

cold-bloodedly ADVERB

coleslaw

NOUN a salad of chopped cabbage and other vegetables in mayonnaise

collaborate collaborates, collaborating, collaborated

VERB When people collaborate, they work together to produce something. • The two schools collaborated to produce a play.

collaboration NOUN collaborator NOUN

collage collages

NOUN a picture made by sticking pieces of paper or cloth on to a surface

collapse collapses, collapsing, collapsed

VERB 1 If something such as a building collapses, it falls down suddenly.

2 If a person collapses, they fall down suddenly because they are ill.

collapsible

ADJECTIVE A collapsible object can be folded flat when it is not in use. • collapsible chairs

collar collars

NOUN 1 the part around the neck of something, such as a coat or shirt

2 a leather band round the neck of a dog or cat

colleague colleagues

NOUN A person’s colleagues are the people they work with.

collect collects, collecting, collected

VERB 1 If you collect things, you gather them together for a special purpose or as a hobby.

2 If you collect someone or something from a place, you call there and take them away. • We collected Ali from school.

3 When things collect in a place, they gather there over a period of time. • Dust collects in corners.

collection collections

NOUN 1 a group of things you have gathered over a period of time • a stamp collection

2 the organized collecting of money, for example for charity, or the money collected

collective noun collective nouns

NOUN a noun that refers to a group of people or things. For example, a flock, a herd, and a shoal are all collective nouns.

college colleges

NOUN a place where students study after they have left school

collide collides, colliding, collided

VERB If a moving object collides with something, it hits it. • They collided with each other as they rushed through the door.

collision collisions

NOUN A collision is when a moving object hits something.

SYNONYM: crash

colon colons

NOUN 1 the punctuation mark (:). It is used to introduce a list, a quotation or an explanation of a statement. • We need to buy several things: bread, milk, fruit and toothpaste.

2 part of your intestine

colonel colonels

NOUN an army officer with a fairly high rank

colony colonies

NOUN 1 a country that is controlled by another country

2 a group of people or animals living together

colossal

ADJECTIVE very large indeed

[from Greek kolossos meaning huge statue]

colour colours

NOUN the appearance something has as a result of reflecting light • Red, blue and yellow are the primary colours.

colour blind

ADJECTIVE Someone who is colour blind is not able to see the difference between certain colours.

colourful

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is colourful has a lot of different colours or bright colours.

ANTONYMS: dull, colourless

2 A colourful story is very exciting and interesting.

ANTONYMS: dull, boring

colourless

ADJECTIVE 1 without colour

2 dull and uninteresting

colt colts

NOUN a young male horse

column columns

NOUN 1 a tall, solid, upright cylinder, especially one supporting part of a building

2 In a newspaper or magazine, a column is a vertical section of writing.

3 a group of people or vehicles moving in a long line

coma comas

NOUN a state of deep unconsciousness

comb combs, combing, combed

NOUN 1 a flat object with long, thin, pointed parts, which you use for tidying your hair

VERB 2 When you comb your hair, you tidy it with a comb.

combat combats, combating, combated

NOUN 1 fighting • In the Falklands War many soldiers had to take part in armed combat.

VERB 2 If someone combats something, they try to stop it happening. • We need new ways to combat crime.

combination combinations

NOUN 1 a mixture of things • Fatima won the competition through a combination of skill and determination.

2 a series of numbers or letters used to open a special lock

combine combines, combining, combined

VERB If you combine things, you mix them together. • Combine the butter and sugar, then add the eggs. • The book combines adventure and mystery.

combine harvester combine harvesters

NOUN a large machine used on farms to cut, sort and clean grain

combustion

NOUN the process of burning

come comes, coming, came

VERB 1 If you come to a place, you move or arrive there.

2 If something comes to a particular point, it reaches that point. • The water came up to her waist.

3 When a particular time comes, it happens. • Spring came early this year.

comedian comedians

NOUN an entertainer whose job is to make people laugh

comedy comedies

NOUN a play, film, or television programme that is intended to make people laugh

comet comets

NOUN an object that travels around the sun leaving a bright trail behind it

[from Greek kometes meaning long-haired]

comfort comforts, comforting, comforted

NOUN 1 the state of being pleasantly relaxed

2 a feeling of relief from worry or unhappiness • It’s a comfort to me to know that they are safe.

VERB 3 If you comfort someone, you make them less worried or unhappy.

comfortable

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are comfortable, you are at ease and relaxed.

2 Something that is comfortable makes you feel relaxed. • a comfortable chair

comfortably ADVERB

comic comics

NOUN 1 a magazine that contains stories told in pictures

ADJECTIVE 2 funny • a comic song

comma commas

NOUN the punctuation mark (,). It can show a short pause, or it can separate items in a list or words in speech marks from the rest of the sentence.

command commands, commanding, commanded

NOUN 1 an order to do something

VERB 2 If you command someone to do something, you order them to do it.

commemorate commemorates, commemorating, commemorated

VERB If you commemorate something, you do something special to show that you remember it. • On Remembrance Day we commemorate all the people who died in the two World Wars.

comment comments, commenting, commented

NOUN 1 a remark about something

VERB 2 If you comment on something, you make a remark about it.

commentary commentaries

NOUN a description of an event that is broadcast on radio or television while the event is happening • The commentary on the match was on the radio.

commentator commentators

NOUN someone who gives a radio or television commentary

commerce

NOUN the buying and selling of goods

commercial commercials

NOUN 1 an advertisement on television or radio

ADJECTIVE 2 Commercial activities involve producing large amounts of goods to sell and make money.

commit commits, committing, committed

VERB When someone commits a crime or sin, they do it. • The police know who committed the burglary.

committee committees

NOUN a group of people who make decisions on behalf of a larger group

common commoner, commonest; commons

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is common exists in large numbers or happens often.

NOUN 2 an area of grassy land where everyone can go

ADJECTIVE 3 If something is common to two or more people, they all have it or use it. • We had a common interest in butterflies.

PHRASE 4 If two things or people have something in common, they both have it. • Sarah and I have a lot in common.

common noun common nouns

NOUN Common nouns name things in general. They begin with lower-case letters: girl, boy, animal, picture.

See noun

common sense

NOUN knowing how to behave sensibly in any situation

Commonwealth

NOUN The Commonwealth is a group of countries that used to be ruled by Britain.

commotion

NOUN a lot of noise and excitement

communal

ADJECTIVE shared by a group of people • The shop had communal changing rooms.

communicate communicates, communicating, communicated

VERB When people communicate, they exchange information, usually by talking or writing to each other.

communication communications

NOUN 1 the act of exchanging information, usually by talking, writing or, in the case of animals, making sounds • the communication of ideas

PLURAL NOUN 2 Communications are electrical or radio systems that allow people to broadcast or communicate information.

communion

NOUN 1 a Christian religious service in which people share holy bread and wine

2 the sharing of thoughts and feelings

community communities

NOUN all the people living in a particular area

commuter commuters

NOUN a person who has to travel a long way to work every day

compact

ADJECTIVE Something that is compact takes up very little space, or no more space than is necessary.

compact disc compact discs

NOUN a music or video recording in the form of a small plastic disc

companion companions

NOUN someone you travel or spend time with

company companies

NOUN 1 a business that sells goods or provides a service

2 If you have company, you have a friend or visitor with you.

PHRASE 3 If you keep someone company, you spend time with them.

comparative comparatives

ADJECTIVE 1 You use comparative to show that something is true only when compared with something else.

NOUN 2 In grammar, the comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows an increase in size, quality or amount. It is usually formed by adding -er to a word, for example, bigger, faster, or by putting more before the word, for example, more difficult.

compare compares, comparing, compared

VERB When you compare things, you see in what ways they are different or similar. • We compared our hair to see whose was longest.

comparison comparisons

NOUN When you make a comparison, you consider two things together and decide in what ways they are different or similar.

compartment compartments

NOUN 1 a section of a railway carriage

2 one of the separate sections of something such as a bag or a box

compass compasses

NOUN 1 an instrument with a magnetic needle that always points north. You use a compass to find your way.

PLURAL NOUN 2 Compasses are a hinged instrument for drawing circles.

compassion

NOUN pity and sympathy for someone who is suffering

compassionate ADJECTIVE

compass point compass points

NOUN one of the 32 marks on the dial of a compass that show direction • North, south, east and west are compass points.

compel compels, compelling, compelled

VERB 1 If you compel someone to do something, you force them to do it.

ADJECTIVE 2 A compelling story or event is extremely interesting.

3 A compelling argument or reason makes you believe that something is true.

compensate compensates, compensating, compensated

VERB 1 To compensate someone means to give them money to replace something that has been lost or damaged.

2 If one thing compensates for another, it cancels out the bad effects of it. • The trip to Disneyland compensated for her long illness.

compete competes, competing, competed

VERB 1 If you compete in a contest or game, you take part in it.

2 If you compete, you try to do better than others.

competent

ADJECTIVE Someone who is competent at something can do it satisfactorily. • He is a competent nurse.

competition competitions

NOUN an event in which people take part to find out who is the best at something

compile compiles, compiling, compiled

VERB When you compile information, you collect it and put it together.

complain complains, complaining, complained

VERB 1 If you complain, you say that you are not happy about something. • The neighbours complained about the noise.

2 If you complain of pain or illness, you say that you have it.

complaint NOUN

complement complements, complementing, complemented

VERB 1 If one thing complements another, the two things go well together. • Her piano music complements the poem.

NOUN 2 In grammar, a complement is a word or phrase that gives information about the subject or object of a sentence. For example, in the sentence Rover is a dog, is a dog is the complement.

Do not confuse complement with compliment.

complete completes, completing, completed

VERB 1 If you complete something, you finish it. • She has just completed her third short story.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something is complete, none of it is missing.

completely

ADVERB totally

SYNONYM: utterly

complex complexes

ADJECTIVE 1 Complex things have many different parts and are hard to understand.

NOUN 2 a group of buildings used for a particular purpose, such a sports complex

complexion complexions

NOUN the quality of the skin on your face

complicated

ADJECTIVE Something that is complicated is hard to understand.

complication complications

NOUN something that makes a situation more difficult to deal with

compliment compliments

NOUN If you pay someone a compliment, you tell them you admire or like something about them.

Do not confuse compliment with complement.

component components

NOUN The components of something are the parts it is made of.

compose composes, composing, composed

VERB 1 If you compose a piece of music, a letter, or a speech, you write it.

2 If something is composed of particular things or people, it is made up of them.

composer composers

NOUN someone who writes music

composition compositions

NOUN 1 a piece of music or writing

2 the things that something is made up of

compost

NOUN a mixture of rotted plants and manure that gardeners add to the soil to help plants grow

compound word compound words

NOUN a word with a single meaning, but made up of two or more words. For example, gingerbread, housework and teapot are all compound words.

comprehend comprehends, comprehending, comprehended

VERB If you comprehend something, you understand it.

comprehensive comprehensives

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is comprehensive includes everything that you need to know.

NOUN 2 a school where children of all abilities are taught together

comprehensively ADVERB

compress compresses, compressing, compressed

VERB If you compress something, you squeeze it or shorten it. • She compressed her story into one page.

compromise compromises, compromising, compromised

NOUN 1 an agreement in which people accept less than they really wanted

VERB 2 When people compromise, they settle for less than they really wanted.

compulsory

ADJECTIVE If something is compulsory, you have to do it.

computer computers

NOUN an electronic machine that stores information and makes calculations

computerize computerizes, computerizing, computerized; also spelt computerise

VERB When a system or process is computerized, such as train timetables or bank accounts, the work is done by computers.

comrade comrades

NOUN a companion, especially in battle

con cons, conning, conned

VERB 1 If someone cons you, or you are conned, you are tricked into doing something. • He conned me into buying the tickets.

NOUN 2 a trick that makes you believe or do something that you would not normally believe or do

concave

ADJECTIVE A concave surface curves inwards, rather than being level or bulging outwards.

ANTONYM: convex

conceal conceals, concealing, concealed

VERB If you conceal something, you hide it.

conceited

ADJECTIVE Someone who is conceited is too proud of their appearance or abilities.

SYNONYMS: bigheaded, self-important

conceive conceives, conceiving, conceived

VERB 1 If you can’t conceive of something, you can’t imagine it or believe it. • He couldn’t conceive of anything more fun than surfing.

2 If you conceive something such as a plan, you think of it and work out how it could be done. • Alex conceived the idea while eating his lunch.

3 When a woman conceives, she becomes pregnant.

concentrate concentrates, concentrating, concentrated

VERB 1 If you concentrate on something, you give it all your attention. • I need to concentrate on my homework.

2 When something is concentrated in one place, it is all there rather than in several places. • The shops were concentrated in the town centre.

concentrated

ADJECTIVE A concentrated liquid has been made stronger by having water removed from it. • concentrated orange juice

concentration concentrations

NOUN 1 the ability to give your full attention to something you do or hear

2 A concentration of something is a large amount of it in one place.

concept concepts

NOUN an abstract or general idea

conception conceptions

NOUN the idea you have of something

concern concerns, concerning, concerned

NOUN 1 worry about something or someone

2 If something is your concern, it is your duty or responsibility.

VERB 3 If something concerns you or if you are concerned about it, it worries you.

concerned ADJECTIVE

concerning

PREPOSITION You use concerning to show what something is about. • an article concerning fox hunting

concert concerts

NOUN a public performance by musicians

concession concessions

NOUN If you make a concession, you agree to let someone have or do something.

concise

ADJECTIVE giving all the necessary information using as few words as possible • a concise explanation

SYNONYMS: brief, short

concisely ADVERB

conclude concludes, concluding, concluded

VERB 1 If you conclude something, you examine the facts and decide what your opinion is. • We concluded that the letter was a fake.

2 When you conclude something, you finish it.

conclusion conclusions

NOUN 1 the end of something

2 a final decision about something • We wanted to go for a swim in the sea, but we came to the conclusion that it was too cold.

concrete

NOUN 1 a building material made by mixing cement, sand and water

ADJECTIVE 2 real and physical, rather than abstract • He had no concrete evidence.

concussion

NOUN damage to the brain caused by a blow or a fall, which causes confusion, sickness or unconsciousness

concussed ADJECTIVE

condemn condemns, condemning, condemned

VERB 1 If you condemn something, you say it is bad and unacceptable.

2 If someone is condemned to a punishment, they are given it. • The burglar was condemned to five years in prison.

condensation

NOUN a coating of tiny drops of liquid formed on a cold surface by steam or vapour

condense condenses, condensing, condensed

VERB 1 If you condense a piece of writing or a speech, you shorten it.

2 When a gas or vapour condenses, it changes into a liquid.

condition conditions

NOUN 1 the state someone or something is in • The antique clock was still in good condition.

2 something that must happen in order for something else to be possible • I can go swimming on Saturday on the condition that I do my homework first.

conduct conducts, conducting, conducted

Said “kon-duct” NOUN 1 behaviour

Said “kon-duct” VERB 2 When you conduct an activity, you carry it out.

3 When someone conducts an orchestra, a band or a choir, they direct it in a piece of music.

4 If something conducts heat or electricity, heat or electricity can pass along it. • Copper conducts electricity well.

conductor conductors

NOUN 1 someone who conducts an orchestra or choir

2 someone who moves round a bus or train selling and checking tickets

3 a substance that conducts heat or electricity

cone cones

NOUN 1 a regular three-dimensional shape with a circular base and a point at the top

2 the fruit of a fir or pine tree

conference conferences

NOUN a meeting at which formal discussions take place

confess confesses, confessing, confessed

VERB If you confess to something, you admit that you did it.

confession confessions

NOUN 1 If you make a confession, you admit that you have done something wrong.

SYNONYM: admission

2 the act of confessing something, especially as a religious act, where people confess their sins to a priest

confetti

NOUN small pieces of coloured paper thrown over the bride and groom at a wedding

[from Italian confetto meaning a sweet]

confide confides, confiding, confided

VERB If you confide in or to someone, you tell them a secret.

confidence

NOUN 1 If you have confidence in someone, you feel you can trust them.

2 Someone who has confidence is sure of their own abilities or qualities.

confident

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are confident about something, you are sure it will happen the way you want it to.

2 Someone who is confident is very sure of themselves and their own abilities.

confidently ADVERB

confidential

ADJECTIVE Confidential information is meant to be kept secret.

confine confines, confining, confined

VERB 1 If someone confines you to a place, you can’t leave it. • The doctor confined Debbie to bed for two weeks as she had pneumonia.

2 If you confine yourself to doing something, you do only that thing. • On their trip abroad, they confined themselves to drinking bottled water.

confirm confirms, confirming, confirmed

VERB 1 If you confirm something, you say or show that it is true. • The teacher confirmed that we had all passed our spelling test.

2 If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say it is definite. • Dad confirmed our holiday booking.

confiscate confiscates, confiscating, confiscated

VERB If someone confiscates something, they take it away from someone as a punishment.

[from Latin confiscare meaning to seize for the public treasury]

confiscation NOUN

conflict conflicts, conflicting, conflicted

NOUN 1 disagreement and argument

2 a war or battle

VERB 3 When two ideas or interests conflict, they are different and it seems impossible for them both to be true.

conform conforms, conforming, conformed

VERB 1 If you conform, you behave the way people expect you to.

2 If something conforms to a law or to someone’s wishes, it does what is required or wanted.

conformist NOUN OR ADJECTIVE

confront confronts, confronting, confronted

VERB 1 If you are confronted with a problem or task, you have to deal with it.

2 If you confront someone, you meet them face to face, especially when you are going to fight or argue with them.

confrontation confrontations

NOUN a serious dispute between two people or groups of people who come face to face

confuse confuses, confusing, confused

VERB 1 If you confuse two people or things, you mix them up and are not sure which is which.

2 If you confuse someone, you make them uncertain about what is happening or what to do.

confusion NOUN

congested

ADJECTIVE 1 When a road is congested, it is so full of traffic that normal movement is impossible.

2 If your nose is congested, it is blocked and you cannot breathe properly.

congestion NOUN

congratulate congratulates, congratulating, congratulated

VERB If you congratulate someone, you say that you’re pleased about something good that has happened to them, or praise them for something they have done. • He congratulated us on winning the competition.

congratulations NOUN

congregation congregations

NOUN the people attending a service in a church

congruent

ADJECTIVE In mathematics, things that are congruent are exactly the same size and shape, and would fit exactly on top of each other. • congruent triangles

conifer conifers

NOUN any type of evergreen tree that produces cones

coniferous ADJECTIVE

conjunction conjunctions

NOUN In grammar, a conjunction is a word that links two other words or two clauses, such as and, but, or, while and that. For example: “I love bacon and eggs.” “I’m happy, but my brother is not”.

conjurer conjurers

NOUN someone who entertains people by doing magic tricks

conker conkers

NOUN a brown nut from a horse chestnut tree

connect connects, connecting, connected

VERB 1 If you connect two things, you join them together.

2 If one thing or person is connected with another, there is a link between them.

connection connections

NOUN 1 the point where two things are joined together

2 If you make a connection at a station or airport, you continue your journey by catching another train, bus or plane. • Our train was late, so we missed our connection.

connective connectives

NOUN a word that connects phrases, clauses or words together

See conjunction

conquer conquers, conquering, conquered

VERB 1 If you conquer something difficult or dangerous, you succeed in controlling it. • She conquered her fear of spiders.

2 to take control of a country by force

conqueror NOUN

conscience

NOUN the part of your mind that tells you what is right or wrong

conscientious

ADJECTIVE Someone who is conscientious takes great care over their work.

conscientiously ADVERB

conscious

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is conscious is awake, rather than asleep or unconscious.

2 If you are conscious of something, you are aware of it.

3 A conscious action or effort is done deliberately.

consecutive

ADJECTIVE 1 Consecutive events or periods of time happen one after the other. • We had eight consecutive days of rain.

2 Consecutive numbers follow each other in order. For example, 1, 2, 3, 4 are consecutive numbers.

consecutively ADVERB

consent consents, consenting, consented

NOUN 1 permission to do something

2 agreement between two or more people • By common consent we went to France for the holiday.

VERB 3 If you consent to something, you agree to do it or allow it to happen.

consequence consequences

NOUN result or effect

conservation

NOUN the preservation of the environment

conservationist NOUN OR ADJECTIVE

conservative conservatives

NOUN 1 a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Britain

ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is conservative does not like change or new ideas.

3 A conservative estimate or guess is a cautious or moderate one.

conservatory conservatories

NOUN a room with glass walls and a glass roof in which plants are kept

conserve conserves, conserving, conserved

VERB 1 If you conserve a supply of something, you make it last as long as possible. • I switched off my torch to conserve the battery.

2 If you conserve something, you keep it as it is and do not change it. • We should conserve this old building.

consider considers, considering, considered

VERB If you consider something, you think about it carefully.

considerable

ADJECTIVE A considerable amount of something is a lot of it.

considerate

ADJECTIVE Someone who is considerate thinks of other people’s needs and feelings.

consideration considerations

NOUN 1 careful thought about something

2 something that should be thought about when you are planning or deciding something

3 Someone who shows consideration pays attention to the needs and feelings of other people.

consist consists, consisting, consisted

VERB Something that consists of certain things is made up of them. • This bread consists of flour, yeast and water.

consistent

ADJECTIVE Something that is consistent does not change.

console consoles, consoling, consoled

Said “kon-sole” VERB 1 If you console someone who is unhappy, you comfort them and cheer them up.

Said “kon-sole” NOUN 2 a panel with switches or knobs for operating a machine

consonant consonants

NOUN all the letters of the alphabet that are not vowels

conspicuous

ADJECTIVE If something is conspicuous, you can see or notice it very easily.

conspiracy conspiracies

NOUN an illegal plan made in secret by a group of people

constable constables

NOUN a police officer of the lowest rank

constant

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is constant happens all the time or is always there. • We could hear the constant sound of the waves pounding the shore.

2 If an amount or level is constant, it stays the same.

constellation constellations

NOUN a group of stars

constipated

ADJECTIVE Someone who is constipated finds it difficult to empty their bowels.

[from Latin constipare meaning to press together]

constipation NOUN

constitution constitutions

NOUN 1 The constitution of a country is the system of laws and principles by which it is governed.

2 Your constitution is your health.

construct constructs, constructing, constructed

VERB If you construct something, you build or make it.

construction constructions

NOUN 1 the process of building or making something

2 something built or made

constructive

ADJECTIVE helpful • The tennis coach made some constructive comments about my backhand.

consult consults, consulting, consulted

VERB 1 If you consult someone, you ask for their opinion or advice.

2 If you consult a book or map, you look at it for information.

consultation NOUN

consultant consultants

NOUN an experienced doctor who specializes in one type of medicine • a consultant heart surgeon

consume consumes, consuming, consumed

VERB 1 If you consume something, you eat or drink it.

2 To consume fuel or energy is to use it up.

consumer consumers

NOUN someone who buys things or uses services • magazines aimed at teenage consumers

consumption

NOUN The consumption of fuel or food is the using of it, or the amount used. • The consumption of ice cream rises in hot weather.

contact contacts, contacting, contacted

NOUN 1 If you are in contact with someone, you talk or write to them regularly. • I am in contact with a pen pal in France.

2 When things are in contact, they are touching each other.

VERB 3 If you contact someone, you telephone them or write to them.

contact lens contact lenses

NOUN small plastic lenses that you put in your eyes instead of wearing glasses, to help you see better

contagious

ADJECTIVE A contagious disease can be caught by touching people or things infected with it. • Measles is contagious.

contain contains, containing, contained

VERB 1 If a substance contains something, that thing is a part of it.

2 The things a box or room contains are the things inside it.

container containers

NOUN something that you keep things in, such as a box or a jar

contaminate contaminates, contaminating, contaminated

VERB If dirt, chemicals or radiation contaminate something, they make it impure and harmful.

contamination NOUN

contemplate contemplates, contemplating, contemplated

VERB 1 If you contemplate, you think very carefully about something. • She contemplated what she would do at the weekend.

2 If you contemplate something, you look at it for a long time.

contemporary

ADJECTIVE 1 produced or happening now

2 A contemporary work is one that was written at the time of the events it describes.

contempt

NOUN If you treat someone with contempt, you show no respect for them at all.

content

Said “kon-tent” ADJECTIVE 1 If you are content, you are happy and satisfied with your life.

2 If you are content to do something, you are willing to do it.

contents

Said “kon-tents” PLURAL NOUN 1 The contents of something like a box or a cake are the things in it.

2 The contents page of a book tells you what is in it.

contest contests

NOUN a competition or game

contestant contestants

NOUN someone who takes part in a competition

SYNONYMS: competitor, player

context contexts

NOUN The context of a word or sentence is the words or sentences that come before and after it, which help to make the meaning clear.

continent continents

NOUN 1 a very large area of land, such as Africa or Asia

2 In Britain, the mainland of Europe is sometimes called the Continent. [from Latin terra continens meaning continuous land]

continental

ADJECTIVE In Britain, continental means on, belonging to or typical of the mainland of Europe. • continental breakfast

continual

ADJECTIVE happening again and again • Mum had a continual stream of phone calls.

continue continues, continuing, continued

VERB 1 If you continue to do something, you keep doing it.

2 If something continues, it does not stop.

3 You say something continues when it starts again after stopping. • She paused for a moment, then continued.

continuous

ADJECTIVE happening all the time without stopping • The television made a continuous buzzing noise.

contour contours

NOUN 1 The contour of something is its general shape or outline.

2 On a map, a contour is a line joining points of equal height.

contract contracts, contracting, contracted

Said “con-trakt” NOUN 1 a legal agreement about the sale of something or work done for money • He was given a two-year contract.

Said “con-trakt” VERB 2 When something contracts, it gets smaller or shorter. • Metals contract with cold and expand with heat.

ANTONYM: expand

contraction contractions

NOUN a shortened form of a word or words, often marked by an apostrophe • “I’ve” is a contraction of “I have”.

contradict contradicts, contradicting, contradicted

VERB If you contradict someone, you say that what they have just said is wrong.

contradiction NOUN

contrary

ADJECTIVE 1 Contrary ideas, opinions or attitudes are completely different from each other.

PHRASE 2 On the contrary is used to contradict something that has just been said.

contrast contrasts, contrasting, contrasted

Said “con-trast” NOUN 1 a great difference between things • the contrast between town and country

Said “con-trast” VERB 2 If you contrast things, you describe or emphasize the differences between them.

contribute contributes, contributing, contributed

VERB 1 If you contribute to something, you do something to make it successful. • Everyone contributed to the class project.

2 If you contribute money to something, you help to pay for it. • We contributed some money to the appeal for the homeless.

SYNONYMS: donate, give

contribution NOUN

control controls, controlling, controlled

NOUN 1 If you have control over something, you are able to make it work the way you want it to.

2 The controls on a machine are the knobs or other devices used to work it.

VERB 3 If someone controls a country or an organization, they make the decisions about how it is run.

4 If someone controls something such as a machine, they make it work the way they want it to.

PHRASE 5 If something is out of control, nobody has any power over it. • The fire was out of control.

controversial

ADJECTIVE Something that is controversial causes a lot of discussion and argument, because many people disapprove of it. • The film was controversial.

convalescent convalescents

NOUN someone who is resting while recovering from an illness

convenient

ADJECTIVE If something is convenient, it is easy to use or it makes something easy to do. • It’s convenient living close to the bus stop.

convenience NOUN

convent convents

NOUN 1 a building where nuns live

2 a school run by nuns

conventional

ADJECTIVE Someone who is conventional thinks or behaves in an ordinary and accepted way.

converge converges, converging, converged

VERB When things meet or join at a particular place, they converge. • The roads converge after three kilometres.

convergence NOUN

conversation conversations

NOUN When people have a conversation, they talk to each other.

convert converts, converting, converted

VERB 1 If you convert something, it changes from one thing to another. • Dad converted the loft into a workshop.

2 If someone converts you, they persuade you to change your religious or political beliefs.

3 In mathematics, convert means to change a number from one form to another. These are equal to each other. For example, you can convert a fraction to a decimal (½ = 0.5).

convex

ADJECTIVE A convex surface bulges outwards, rather than being level or curving inwards.

See concave

ANTONYM: concave

convey conveys, conveying, conveyed

VERB 1 If someone conveys people or things to a place, they take them there.

2 If you convey information, ideas or feelings, you tell people about them.

conveyor belt conveyor belts

NOUN a moving strip used in factories for moving objects along

convict convicts, convicting, convicted

Said “kon-vikt” VERB 1 If a law court convicts someone of a crime, it says they are guilty of it.

Said “kon-vikt” NOUN 2 someone serving a prison sentence

convince convinces, convincing, convinced

VERB If you convince someone of something, you persuade them to do it or that it is true. • I convinced mum and dad to let me go on the school trip.

convoy convoys

NOUN a group of ships or vehicles travelling together

cook cooks, cooking, cooked

VERB 1 When you cook, you prepare food for eating by boiling, baking or frying it.

NOUN 2 a person whose job is to prepare food

cooker cookers

NOUN an apparatus for cooking food

cookery

NOUN the art of preparing and cooking food

cookie cookies

NOUN 1 a sweet biscuit • a chocolate cookie

2 a small file placed on a user’s computer by a website • This website uses cookies.

cool cooler, coolest; cools, cooling, cooled

ADJECTIVE 1 Something cool has a low temperature but is not cold.

2 If you are cool in a difficult situation, you stay calm.

VERB 3 When something cools, it becomes less warm.

cooperate cooperates, cooperating, cooperated

VERB 1 When people cooperate, they work or act together.

2 If you cooperate, you do what someone asks you to do.

cooperative cooperatives

ADJECTIVE 1 A cooperative person does what they are asked to do willingly and cheerfully.

NOUN 2 a business or organization run by the people who work for it, and who share its profits

coordinates

PLURAL NOUN a pair of numbers or letters that tell you exactly where a point is on a grid, map or graph

cop cops

NOUN INFORMAL a policeman

cope copes, coping, coped

VERB If you cope, you are able to do something even if the circumstances are difficult. • I managed to cope with my homework and with looking after my little brother at the same time.

copper

NOUN a soft, reddish-brown metal

copy copies, copying, copied

NOUN 1 something made to look like something else • a copy of a famous painting

2 A copy of a book, newspaper or record is one of many identical ones produced at the same time. • a copy of today’s newspaper

VERB 3 If you copy what someone does, you do the same thing.

4 If you copy something, you make a copy of it.

copyright copyrights

NOUN If someone has the copyright on a piece of writing or music, it cannot be copied or performed without their permission.

coral corals

NOUN a hard substance that forms in the sea from the skeletons of tiny animals called corals

cord cords

NOUN 1 strong, thick string

2 electrical wire covered in rubber or plastic

corduroy

NOUN heavy, ribbed cloth made of cotton

core cores

NOUN the most central part of an object or place • an apple core • the earth’s core

cork corks

NOUN 1 a soft, light substance that forms the bark of a Mediterranean tree

2 a piece of cork pushed into the end of a bottle to close it

corkscrew corkscrews

NOUN a device for pulling corks out of bottles

corn

NOUN 1 crops such as wheat and barley

2 the seeds of these crops

corner corners, cornering, cornered

NOUN 1 the point where two sides or edges of something meet • The TV was in the corner of the room.

See vertex

VERB 2 If someone corners a person or animal, they get them into a place they can’t escape from. • The police cornered the thief.

cornet cornets

NOUN a small, brass instrument used in brass and military bands

coronation coronations

NOUN the ceremony at which a king or queen is crowned

coroner coroners

NOUN an official who investigates the deaths of people who have died in a violent or unusual way

corporal corporals

NOUN an officer of low rank in the army or air force

corporal punishment

NOUN punishing of people by beating them

corps

Said “kor” NOUN part of an army with special duties • the Medical Corps

corpse corpses

NOUN a dead body

correct corrects, correcting, corrected

ADJECTIVE 1 If something is correct, there are no mistakes in it.

VERB 2 If you correct something that is wrong, you make it right. • She corrected my maths homework.

correction NOUN

correspond corresponds, corresponding, corresponded

VERB 1 If one thing corresponds with another, it is similar to it or it matches it in some way.

2 If numbers or amounts correspond, they are the same.

3 When people correspond, they write to each other.

correspondence

NOUN 1 letters or the writing of letters

2 If there is a correspondence between two things, there is a similarity between them.

correspondent correspondents

NOUN a newspaper, radio or television reporter

corridor corridors

NOUN a passage in a building or train

[from Old Italian corridore meaning place for running]

corrode corrodes, corroding, corroded

VERB When something corrodes, it is eaten away. When iron and steel are corroded, rust is formed.

corrosion NOUN corrosive ADJECTIVE

corrugated

ADJECTIVE Corrugated metal or cardboard has parallel folds to make it stronger.

corrupt corrupts, corrupting, corrupted

ADJECTIVE 1 People who are corrupt act dishonestly or illegally in return for money or power.

SYNONYM: dishonest

VERB 2 If you corrupt someone, you make them dishonest.

3 If a bug in a computer spoils files, it corrupts them.

corruption NOUN

cosmetics

PLURAL NOUN lipstick, face powder and other make-up

cosmic

ADJECTIVE belonging to or relating to the whole universe

cosmos

NOUN the universe

cost costs, costing, cost

NOUN 1 the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something

VERB 2 You use cost to talk about the amount of money you have to pay for things. • You can’t have that – it costs too much.

costume costumes

NOUN 1 a set of clothes worn by an actor

2 the clothing worn in a particular place or during a particular period

cosy cosier, cosiest

ADJECTIVE warm and comfortable

cot cots

NOUN a small bed for a baby, with bars or panels round it to stop the baby falling out

cottage cottages

NOUN a small house, especially in the country

cotton

NOUN 1 cloth made from the soft fibres of the cotton plant • a cotton shirt

2 thread used for sewing • a needle and cotton

couch couches

NOUN a long, soft piece of furniture for sitting or lying on

cough coughs, coughing, coughed

VERB When you cough, you force air out of your throat with a sudden harsh noise.

could

VERB 1 the past tense of can

2 You use could to say that something might happen or might be true. • It could rain later.

3 You use could when you are asking for something politely. • Could you tell me the way to the station, please?

couldn’t

VERB a contraction of could not

council councils

NOUN a group of people elected to look after something, especially the affairs of a town, district or county

counsel counsels, counselling, counselled

NOUN 1 advice

VERB 2 If someone counsels people, they give them advice about their problems.

count counts, counting, counted

VERB 1 When you count, you say all the numbers in order up to a particular number.

2 If you count, or count up, all the things in a group, you add them up to see how many there are.

3 If you can count on someone or something, you can rely on them. • You can count on me to help.

PHRASE 4 If you keep count of something, you keep a record of how often it happens. • Who’s keeping count of the score?

5 If you lose count of something, you cannot remember how often it has happened.

counter counters

NOUN 1 a long, flat surface in a shop, over which goods are sold

2 a small, flat, round object used in board games

counterfeit counterfeits, counterfeiting, counterfeited

Said “kown-ter-fit” ADJECTIVE 1 Counterfeit things are not genuine, but have been made to look genuine in order to deceive people. • counterfeit money

VERB 2 If someone counterfeits something, they make an exact copy of it in order to trick people.

countless

ADJECTIVE too many to count

country countries

NOUN 1 one of the political areas the world is divided into

2 land away from towns and cities • It is peaceful living in the country.

countryside

NOUN land away from towns and cities

county counties

NOUN a region with its own local government • The county of Lincolnshire is in the east of England.

couple couples

NOUN 1 two people who are married or having a romantic relationship

2 A couple of things or people means two of them, or not very many.

couplet couplets

NOUN two lines of poetry together that usually rhyme

coupon coupons

NOUN 1 a piece of printed paper that entitles you to pay less than usual for something

2 a form you fill in to ask for information or to enter a competition

courage

NOUN the quality shown by people who do things that they know are dangerous or difficult • She showed great courage in her efforts to save them from the burning house.

courageous ADJECTIVE

courageously ADVERB

courgette courgettes

NOUN a vegetable that looks like a small green marrow

courier couriers

NOUN 1 someone employed by a travel company to look after people on holiday

2 someone employed to deliver letters and parcels quickly

course courses

NOUN 1 a series of lessons or lectures

2 a piece of land where races take place or golf is played

3 the route something such as a ship or a river takes • The captain changed course to avoid the storm.

4 one of the parts of a meal • The first course was soup.

PHRASE 5 If you say of course, you are showing that you are absolutely sure about something. • Of course she wouldn’t do a thing like that.

court courts

NOUN 1 a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or a magistrate. The judge and jury or magistrate can also be referred to as the court. • He is due to appear in court next week. • The court awarded him ten thousand pounds in compensation.

2 a place where a game such as tennis or badminton is played

3 the place where a king or queen lives and works

courteous

ADJECTIVE Courteous behaviour is polite and considerate.

courteously ADVERB

courtyard courtyards

NOUN a flat area of ground surrounded by buildings or walls

cousin cousins

NOUN Your cousin is the child of your uncle or aunt.

cove coves

NOUN a small bay on the coast

cover covers, covering, covered

VERB 1 If you cover something, you put something else over it to protect it or hide it.

2 If something covers something else, it forms a layer over it.

3 If you cover a particular distance, you travel that distance.

4 If you cover a subject, you discuss it in a lesson, course or book. • We covered the Vikings in today’s lesson.

NOUN 5 something put over an object to protect it or keep it warm

6 The cover of a book or magazine is its outside.

7 Cover is trees, rocks or other places where you can shelter or hide. • When it started raining they ran for cover.

coverage

NOUN The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it. • There was complete coverage of the Wimbledon finals on television.

cow cows

NOUN a large female mammal kept on farms for its milk and meat

coward cowards

NOUN a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous situations

cowardly ADJECTIVE cowardice NOUN

cowboy cowboys

NOUN a man employed to look after cattle in America

coy coyer, coyest

ADJECTIVE If someone behaves in a coy way, they pretend to be shy and modest.

crab crabs

NOUN a crustacean with four pairs of legs, two claws, and a flat, round body covered by a shell

crack cracks, cracking, cracked

VERB 1 If something cracks, or if something cracks it, it becomes damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.

2 If you crack a joke, you tell it.

3 If you crack a problem or code, you solve it.

NOUN 4 one of the lines appearing on something when it cracks

5 a narrow gap • My ring fell into a crack in the pavement.

cracker crackers

NOUN 1 a thin, crisp biscuit that is often eaten with cheese

2 a paper-covered tube that pulls apart with a bang, and usually has a toy and paper hat inside

crackle crackles, crackling, crackled

VERB 1 something crackles, it makes a series of short sharp sounds • The bonfire started to crackle as the flames grew higher.

NOUN 2 a short sharp sound

cradle cradles, cradling, cradled

NOUN 1 a box-shaped bed for a baby

VERB 2 If you cradle something in your arms or hands, you hold it there carefully.

craft crafts

NOUN 1 an activity that needs skill with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery

2 a boat, plane or spacecraft

craftsman or craftswoman craftsmen or craftswomen

NOUN a person who makes things skilfully with their hands

craftsmanship NOUN

crafty craftier, craftiest

ADJECTIVE Crafty people get what they want by tricking other people in a clever way.

SYNONYMS: cunning, wily

crag crags

NOUN a steep, rugged rock or peak

cram crams, cramming, crammed

VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.

cramp cramps

NOUN pain caused when muscles contract

cramped

ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.

crane cranes, craning, craned

NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air

2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs

VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.

crash crashes, crashing, crashed

NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged

2 a sudden, loud noise

VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.

crate crates

NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things

crater craters

NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.

[from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]

crave craves, craving, craved

VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.

craving NOUN

crawl crawls, crawling, crawled

VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.

2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.

crayon crayons

NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax

craze crazes

NOUN something that is very popular for a short time

crazy crazier, craziest

ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish

2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.

creak creaks, creaking, creaked

VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.

NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise

creaky ADJECTIVE

cream creams

NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk

2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it

ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white colour

crease creases, creasing, creased

NOUN 1 an irregular line that appears on cloth or paper when it is crumpled

2 a straight line on something that has been pressed or folded neatly • Dad ironed a sharp crease in his best trousers.

VERB 3 If you crease something, you make lines appear on it.

create creates, creating, created

VERB If someone creates something, they cause it to happen or exist.

creation NOUN

creative

ADJECTIVE Creative people are good at inventing and developing new ideas.

creature creatures

NOUN any living thing that is not a plant

crèche crèches

NOUN a place where small children are looked after while their parents are working

[from old French crèche meaning crib or manger]

credit credits

NOUN 1 a system where you pay for something in small amounts, regularly over a period of time

2 praise given to you for good work

PLURAL NOUN 3 Credits are the list of people who helped make a film, record or television programme.

PHRASE 4 If your bank account is in credit, you have money in it.

credit card credit cards

NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods on credit rather than paying with cash

creek creeks

NOUN a narrow inlet where the sea comes a long way into the land

creep creeps, creeping, crept

VERB If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.

creepy creepier, creepiest

ADJECTIVE strange and frightening • The film was creepy.

SYNONYMS: eerie, spooky

cremate cremates, cremating, cremated

VERB If someone is cremated when they die, their body is burned instead of buried.

crematorium crematoriums or crematoria

NOUN a building in which people are cremated

crescent crescents

NOUN a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at the ends, like a new moon

cress

NOUN a plant with small, strong-tasting leaves, used in salads

crest crests

NOUN 1 the highest part of a hill or wave

2 a tuft of feathers on top of a bird’s head

3 a special sign of something, such as a school or other organization

crevice crevices

NOUN a narrow crack or gap in rock

crew crews

NOUN The crew of a ship, aeroplane or spacecraft are the people who operate it.

cricket crickets

NOUN 1 an outdoor game played by two teams, who take turns at scoring runs by hitting a ball with a bat

2 a small, jumping insect that produces sounds by rubbing its wings together

cried

VERB the past tense and past participle of cry

crime crimes

NOUN an action for which you can be punished by law

criminal criminals

NOUN 1 someone who has committed a crime

ADJECTIVE 2 involving or related to crime

crimson

NOUN OR ADJECTIVE dark, purplish-red

crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled

VERB 1 If something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased or folded.

NOUN 2 a small crease or fold

cripple cripples, crippling, crippled

VERB If someone is crippled by something, they are injured so severely that they can never move properly again.

crippling ADJECTIVE

crisis crises

NOUN a serious or dangerous situation • The food crisis was caused by drought.

crisp crisper, crispest; crisps

ADJECTIVE 1 pleasantly fresh and firm • crisp lettuce leaves

NOUN 2 a thin slice of potato that has been fried until it is hard and crunchy

critic critics

NOUN 1 someone who writes reviews of books, films, plays or musical performances for newspapers or magazines

2 a person who criticizes someone or something publicly

critical

ADJECTIVE 1 A critical time or situation is a very important and serious one when things must be done correctly.

2 If the state of a sick or injured person is critical, they are in danger of dying.

3 Someone who is critical judges people and things very severely.

criticism criticisms

NOUN 1 spoken or written disapproval of someone or something

2 A criticism of a book, film or play is an examination of its good and bad points.

criticize criticizes, criticizing, criticized; also spelt criticise

VERB If you criticize someone or something, you say what you think is wrong with them.

croak croaks, croaking, croaked

VERB 1 When animals and birds croak, they make harsh, low sounds.

NOUN 2 a harsh, low sound

croaky ADJECTIVE

crochet crochets, crocheting, crocheted

Said “kroh-shay” NOUN 1 a kind of knitting done with a hooked needle and cotton or wool

VERB 2 If you crochet, you use a hooked needle and wool or cotton to make lacy material for things such as clothes and shawls.

crockery

NOUN things you use for eating and drinking, such as plates, cups, bowls and saucers

crocodile crocodiles

NOUN a large, scaly, meat-eating reptile that lives in tropical rivers

[from Greek krokodeilos meaning lizard]

crocus crocuses

NOUN Crocuses are yellow, purple or white flowers that grow in early spring.

crook crooks

NOUN 1 a criminal

2 The crook of your arm or leg is the soft, inside part of your elbow or your knee.

3 a long stick with a hooked end used by shepherds

crooked

ADJECTIVE 1 bent or twisted

2 dishonest

crop crops, cropping, cropped

NOUN 1 plants such as wheat and potatoes that are grown for food

2 the plants collected at harvest time • They gather two crops of rice a year.

VERB 3 If you crop something such as your hair, you cut it very short.

cross crosses, crossing, crossed; crosser, crossest

VERB 1 If you cross something, such as a room or a road, you go to the other side of it.

2 Lines or roads that cross meet and go across each other.

3 If you cross your arms, legs or fingers, you put one on top of the other.

NOUN 4 a mark or a shape like + or ×

ADJECTIVE 5 Someone who is cross is rather angry.

cross out

VERB If you cross out words on a page, you draw a line through them.

cross-country

NOUN the sport of running across open countryside, rather than on roads or a track

crossing crossings

NOUN 1 a place where you can cross the road, a railway or a river

2 a journey by ship to a place across the sea

crossroads

NOUN a place where two roads meet and cross each other

cross-section cross-sections

NOUN 1 the flat part of something that you see when you cut straight through it to see inside • We looked at cross-sections of kiwi fruit and oranges.

2 a typical sample of people or things • We interviewed a cross-section of teenagers.

crossword crosswords

NOUN a word puzzle in which you work out answers to clues and write them in a grid

crouch crouches, crouching, crouched

VERB If you crouch, you lower your body with your knees bent.

crow crows, crowing, crowed

NOUN 1 a large black bird that makes a loud, harsh sound

VERB 2 When a cock crows, it makes a series of loud sounds, usually early in the morning.

crowbar crowbars

NOUN a heavy, iron bar used as a lever or for forcing things open

crowd crowds, crowding, crowded

NOUN 1 a large group of people gathered together

VERB 2 When people crowd around someone or something, they gather closely together around them.

crown crowns, crowning, crowned

NOUN 1 a circular ornament made of gold or jewels, which a king or queen wears on their head

VERB 2 When a king or queen is crowned, a crown is put on their head and they are officially made king or queen.

crucial

ADJECTIVE Something that is crucial is very important.

crucify crucifies, crucifying, crucified

VERB When a person is crucified they are tied or nailed to a cross and left there to die.

crucifixion NOUN

crude cruder, crudest

ADJECTIVE 1 rough and simple • a crude shelter made of old boxes

2 rude and vulgar

cruel crueller, cruellest

ADJECTIVE Cruel people deliberately cause pain or distress to other people or to animals.

SYNONYMS: brutal, unkind

cruelly ADVERB cruelty NOUN

cruise cruises, cruising, cruised

NOUN 1 a holiday in which you travel on a ship and visit places

VERB 2 When a vehicle cruises, it moves at a constant, moderate speed.

crumb crumbs

NOUN a very small piece of bread or cake

crumble crumbles, crumbling, crumbled

VERB When something crumbles, or when you crumble it, it breaks into small pieces.

crumple crumples, crumpling, crumpled

VERB If you crumple paper or cloth, you squash it so that it is full of creases and folds.

crunch crunches, crunching, crunched

VERB If you crunch something, you crush it noisily, for example between your teeth or under your feet.

crusade crusades

NOUN 1 In the Middle Ages, the Crusades were a number of expeditions to Palestine by Christians who were attempting to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.

2 a long and determined attempt to achieve something

[from Spanish cruzar meaning to take up the cross]

crusader NOUN

crush crushes, crushing, crushed

VERB 1 If you crush something, you squeeze it hard until its shape is destroyed. • He crushed the empty can.

2 If you crush against someone or something, you press hard against them. • We crushed against each other in the crowded bus.

crust crusts

NOUN 1 the hard outside part of a loaf

2 a hard layer on top of something • the earth’s crust

crustacean crustaceans

Said “krus-tay-shun” NOUN an animal with a hard outer shell and several pairs of legs, which usually lives in water • Crabs, lobsters and shrimps are crustaceans.

crutch crutches

NOUN a support like a long stick that you lean on if you have injured your leg or foot • I was on crutches while my ankle healed.

cry cries, crying, cried

VERB 1 When you cry, tears come from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt.

2 If you cry something, you shout it or say it loudly.

NOUN 3 a shout or other loud sound made with your voice

crypt crypts

NOUN an underground room beneath a church, usually used as a burial place

crystal crystals

NOUN 1 a piece of a mineral that has formed naturally into a regular shape

2 a type of transparent rock, used in jewellery

3 a type of very high quality glass

crystalline ADJECTIVE

cub cubs

NOUN 1 the young of some wild animals • a fox cub • a lion cub

2 The Cubs is an organization for young boys before they join the Scouts.

cube cubes

NOUN a solid shape with six square faces that are all the same size

cubic

ADJECTIVE 1 shaped like a cube

2 used to describe volume when you measure height, width and depth • a cubic metre

cubicle cubicles

NOUN a small enclosed area in a place such as a sports centre or a shop, where you can dress and undress

cuboid cuboids

NOUN a rectangular, three-dimensional box shape. A cuboid has six faces, all of which are rectangles.

cuckoo cuckoos

NOUN a grey bird with a two-note call. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.

cucumber cucumbers

NOUN a long, thin, green vegetable that is eaten raw

cud

NOUN food that has been chewed and digested more than once by cows, sheep or other animals that have more than one stomach

cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled

VERB 1 If you cuddle someone, you hold them closely in your arms as a way of showing your affection.

NOUN 2 If you give someone a cuddle, you cuddle them.

cuddly ADJECTIVE

cuff cuffs

NOUN the end part of a sleeve, especially a shirt sleeve

cul-de-sac cul-de-sacs

NOUN a road that does not lead to any other roads because one end is blocked off

[from French cul + de + sac meaning bottom of the bag]

culprit culprits

NOUN someone who has done something harmful or wrong

cult cults

NOUN 1 a small religious group, especially one that is considered strange

ADJECTIVE 2 very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people • It became a cult film.

cultivate cultivates, cultivating, cultivated

VERB When someone cultivates land, they grow crops on it.

cultivation NOUN

culture cultures

NOUN the ideas, customs and art of a particular society

cunning

ADJECTIVE A cunning person or plan achieves things in a clever way, often by deceiving people.

SYNONYMS: crafty, sly, wily

cup cups, cupping, cupped

NOUN 1 a small, round container with a handle, which you drink from

2 a large metal container with two handles, which is given as a prize

VERB 3 If you cup your hands, you put them together to make a shape like a cup.

cupboard cupboards

NOUN 1 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves

2 a very small room for storing things in • The broom is in the cupboard under the stairs.

curator curators

NOUN the person in a museum or art gallery in charge of its contents

curb curbs, curbing, curbed

VERB If you curb something, you keep it within limits. • You must curb your spending on comics.

curdle curdles, curdling, curdled

VERB When milk curdles, it turns sour.

cure cures, curing, cured

VERB 1 If a doctor cures someone of an illness, they help them get better.

NOUN 2 something that heals or helps someone to get better

VERB 3 If someone cures meat or fish, they smoke it to give it flavour and preserve it.

curfew curfews

NOUN a rule or a law stating that people must stay indoors between particular times at night

curiosity curiosities

NOUN 1 the desire to know something or about many things

2 something unusual and interesting

curious

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.

SYNONYMS: inquisitive, nosy

2 Something that is curious is unusual or difficult to understand.

SYNONYMS: strange, peculiar

curl curls, curling, curled

NOUN 1 Curls are lengths of hair shaped in tight curves and circles.

2 a curved or spiral shape • A curl of smoke rose from the chimney.

VERB 3 If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral. • Smoke curled up the chimney.

curly ADJECTIVE

currant currants

NOUN a small, dried grape. Currants are often used in cakes and puddings.

currency currencies

NOUN A country’s currency is its coins and banknotes.

current currents

NOUN 1 a steady continuous flowing movement of water or air

NOUN 2 An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.

ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is current is happening now. • current fashion trends

curriculum curriculums or curricula

NOUN the different courses taught at a school or university

curry curries

NOUN an Indian dish made with hot spices

curse curses, cursing, cursed

NOUN 1 an evil spell • She said the old house had a curse on it.

VERB 2 If you curse, you swear because you are angry.

cursor cursors

NOUN a sign on a computer monitor that shows where the next letter or symbol is

curtain curtains

NOUN a hanging piece of material that can be pulled across a window

curtsy curtsies, curtsying, curtsied

NOUN 1 a little bobbing bow to show respect • I made a little curtsy to the Queen.

VERB 2 the action of making a curtsy

curve curves, curving, curved

NOUN 1 a smooth, gradually bending line

VERB 2 When something curves, it moves in a curve or has the shape of a curve. • The lane curved to the right.

curved ADJECTIVE

cushion cushions, cushioning, cushioned

NOUN 1 a soft object that you put on a seat to make it more comfortable

VERB 2 When something cushions something else, it reduces its effect. • The pile of leaves cushioned his fall.

custard

NOUN a sweet, yellow sauce made from milk and eggs

custody

NOUN 1 If someone has custody of a child, they have the legal right to keep it and look after it.

PHRASE 2 Someone who is in custody is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court.

[from Latin custos meaning a guard]

custodial ADJECTIVE

custom customs

NOUN something that people usually do • the custom of decorating the house for Christmas

customary

ADJECTIVE usual

customer customers

NOUN a person who buys things from a shop or firm

customs

NOUN the place at a border, airport or harbour where you declare any goods that you are bringing into the country

cut cuts, cutting, cut

VERB 1 If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.

2 If you cut yourself, you injure yourself with a sharp object.

NOUN 3 a mark made with a knife or a sharp tool

4 a reduction in something • There were lots of price cuts during the sales.

cutlery

NOUN knives, forks and spoons

cycle cycles, cycling, cycled

NOUN 1 a bicycle

2 a series of events that is repeated again and again • the cycle of the seasons

VERB 3 When you cycle, you ride a bicycle.

cyclist NOUN

cyclone cyclones

NOUN a violent wind that blows in a spiral like a corkscrew

cygnet cygnets

NOUN a young swan

cylinder cylinders

NOUN 1 a hollow or solid shape with straight sides and equal circular faces

See prism

2 the part of an engine that the piston moves in

cylindrical ADJECTIVE

cymbal cymbals

NOUN a circular brass plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals are clashed together or hit with a stick.

See percussion