Читать книгу Collins Primary Thesaurus - Collins Dictionaries - Страница 8
Оглавлениеcafé NOUN
A café is a place where you can buy light meals and drinks.
coffee shop
My sister took me into her favourite coffee shop for a treat.
snack bar
Dad remembers when that expensive restaurant was a simple snack bar.
teashop
On holiday, we had tea and scones in an old-fashioned teashop.
call (1) VERB
If you call someone or something a particular name, that is their name.
christen
My mum has christened her little soft-top car William.
name
My parents wanted to name me Humphrey, but changed their minds.
call (2) VERB
If you call someone, you telephone them.
phone
“Dad just phoned to say he’ll be home shortly,” I told Mum.
ring
Lisa rang the hospital to see how her brother was doing.
telephone
“If you telephone between twelve and one o’clock, you’ll catch me,” the salesman said.
call off VERB
If something is called off, it is cancelled.
abandon
When the heavy rain turned to snow, the referee decided that the match should be abandoned.
cancel
Owing to lack of support, the dance had to be cancelled.
postpone
Because of building repairs, we had to postpone our bowling until Tuesday.
calm (1) ADJECTIVE
Someone who is calm is quiet and does not show any worry or excitement.
composed
Mrs Yamamoto is a very composed, businesslike woman.
level-headed
Sanjay is a level-headed individual who would never panic in a crisis.
relaxed
Cameron was so relaxed about his exam, he fell asleep on the first page.
unflappable INFORMAL
The lifeboat crew were selected for being unflappable as well as skilled sailors.
ANTONYM: excitable
calm (2) ADJECTIVE
If the sea is calm, the water is not moving very much.
peaceful
The sea was peaceful as we walked along the beach in the early morning.
quiet
After the storm the sea became quiet again.
still
The lake was absolutely still, reflecting the mountains behind.
tranquil
It was a hot, sunny day and the children enjoyed swimming in the tranquil bay.
ANTONYM: rough
calm down VERB
If you calm someone down, you help make them less upset or excited.
quieten
A lollipop helped to quieten the squealing toddler.
soothe
Some farmers turn on the radio to soothe pigs in their pens.
cancel VERB
If you cancel something that has been arranged, you stop it from happening.
abandon
The match was abandoned at half-time when the floodlights failed.
abort
Mission Control decided to abort the mission and bring the shuttle back.
call off
When I caught chickenpox, Mum and Dad called off the party.
scrap INFORMAL
“Let’s scrap the idea of Paris, and go to Rome instead,” Dad suggested.
capable ADJECTIVE
Someone who is capable is able to do something well.
able
My dad is an able businessman.
accomplished
Rajesh is an accomplished violinist.
competent
Sir Winston Churchill was a surprisingly competent artist.
efficient
Mrs Kemp was very efficient; everything was done to a tight schedule.
skilful
My sister is a skilful horsewoman, with several medals to her name.
ANTONYM: incompetent
captain NOUN
A captain is the officer in charge of a ship or aeroplane.
commander
Uncertain what to do, Lieutenant Zarg called the spacecraft commander to the bridge.
master
The master of the oil tanker reluctantly gave the order to abandon ship.
pilot
“It looks as if we’re in for some turbulence,” the pilot announced.
skipper
Trawler skippers and their crews have to endure awful weather conditions.
capture VERB
If someone captures someone or something, they take them prisoner.
arrest
Police arrested the woman on suspicion of blackmail.
kidnap
The villains kidnapped the wealthy businessman’s son and held him hostage.
nab INFORMAL
Sergeant Philpot nabbed the burglar as he tried to make his escape.
take captive
After being taken captive, the explorer was imprisoned in a hut.
ANTONYM: release
car NOUN
A car is a four-wheeled road vehicle with an engine and room to carry a few passengers.
automobile
“This motorcar,” boasted Mr Toad, “is the finest automobile ever built.”
banger INFORMAL
Our new teacher drives a real old banger.
motorcar
The sign read, “This road is unsuitable for motorcars”.
The word vehicle can be used for a car, but also for other forms of transport, especially those with wheels.
Some kinds of car:
4×4 (four by four or four-wheel drive)
convertible
coupé
estate car
hatchback
Jeep™
Land Rover™
limousine
Mini™
off-road vehicle
people carrier
racing car
saloon
sedan
soft top
sports car
vintage car
care (1) VERB
If you care about something or someone, you are concerned about them and interested in them.
be concerned
Yolanda didn’t seem to be concerned about next week’s test.
bother
“If you don’t care about the state of your room, why should I bother?” my mother snapped.
mind
Graham didn’t mind if Sanjiv borrowed some of his pens.
care (2) NOUN
A care is a worry or trouble.
anxiety
The twins hadn’t returned, and Dad was showing signs of anxiety.
concern
Our concern is that Midori will miss too much school while she’s off with mumps.
trouble
I don’t like to burden other people with my troubles.
worry
One worry for the head teacher was what to do if several teachers were ill at once.
care (3) NOUN
If you do something with care, you concentrate very hard on it so that you don’t make any mistakes.
attention
Attention to detail is an important aspect of an architect’s work.
caution
You must always exercise caution when you cross a road.
ANTONYM: carelessness
care for VERB
If you care for a person or animal, you look after them.
look after
Connor and I looked after Mum when she was ill.
nurse
Mrs Nelson nursed her sick husband for some months before he recovered.
tend
We take it in turns to tend the three class guinea pigs.
ANTONYM: neglect
careful (1) ADJECTIVE
If someone is careful, they act sensibly and with care.
alert
“Be alert at all times,” the major warned. “You don’t know who’s out there!”
attentive
The nurse was very attentive when she stitched up Paul’s cut forehead.
cautious
I have learnt always to be cautious about so-called “free” offers.
sensible
My gran is very sensible and always takes a coat if the weather looks doubtful.
wary
The barons were right to be wary of King John’s cunning schemes.
careful (2) ADJECTIVE
Something that is careful shows a concern for detail.
accurate
If you work in a shop, it’s important to be accurate in giving change.
meticulous
Alyssa produces meticulous work. She gets very upset if the slightest detail is criticized.
painstaking
I admired Nicholas for his painstaking work. His painting took weeks to finish.
precise
“Be very precise in your workings,” said Mr Matthews, our maths teacher.
thorough
Mrs Chan is very thorough; she always cleans behind her furniture.
ANTONYM: careless
careful (3) ADJECTIVE
If you are careful in what you say, you think before you speak.
discreet
Jamila was discreet in not mentioning the party, in case Tanya hadn’t been invited.
tactful
Shopkeepers have to be tactful, for some customers are easily offended.
ANTONYM: careless
careless ADJECTIVE
If you are careless, you do not pay enough attention to what you are doing.
inaccurate
The clerk’s inaccurate adding up cost the company thousands of pounds.
slapdash
“This is slapdash work, Rachel,” snapped Miss Greer. “Do it again slowly!”
slipshod
Slipshod tiling by the builders caused our roof to leak.
sloppy INFORMAL
Mr Ismail told me off for my sloppy handwriting.
ANTONYM: careful
carry VERB
When you carry something, you hold it and take it somewhere.
convey
The robot arm conveyed the large nut to the bolt, and screwed them together.
lug
It was hard work lugging the case upstairs.
transport
Mrs Bartlett transported the table to her home by car.
carry on VERB
If you carry on with something, you continue doing it.
continue
“Please continue with what you were doing,” the head teacher said when she came in.
persevere
It pays off, in the end, to persevere with a job.
persist
“If you persist in talking, you’ll lose your playtime,” Mrs Rasheed warned.
proceed
Grandad took a sip of his tea and then proceeded with his story.
castle NOUN
A castle is a large building with walls or ditches round it to protect it from attack.
fort
The cavalry rode out from their fort, trumpets blaring and guns blazing.
fortress
On the very peak of the mountain stood the enemy fortress.
stronghold
King Edward I built strongholds in Wales.
Parts of a castle:
drawbridge
dungeon
keep
hall
moat
portcullis
tower
cat NOUN
A cat is a small animal covered with fur that people in some countries keep as a pet.
Some types of cat:
Abyssinian
Manx
Persian
Siamese
tabby
tortoiseshell
Some wild cats:
cheetah
jaguar
leopard
lion
panther
puma
tiger
catch (1) VERB
If you catch a person or animal, you capture them.
arrest
Navy police arrested the drunken sailor.
capture
By luck, the cowboys managed to capture the runaway horse.
ensnare
The unfortunate trespasser found herself ensnared in barbed wire.
trap
In the forests of Russia, hunters trap animals for their skins.
catch (2) NOUN
A catch is a hidden difficulty.
disadvantage
One of the disadvantages of having long hair is that it can get very tangled.
drawback
There is a drawback to eating too much chocolate. It can make you feel sick!
snag
When putting the shelves up we came across a snag – we didn’t have enough screws.
cause (1) VERB
If someone or something causes something, they make it happen.
bring about
The curse of the Baskervilles brought about the family’s doom.
create
Last night some lads created a disturbance in our street.
lead to
More policemen on the beat led to a drop in the crime rate.
produce
Who would have thought that a small baby would produce so much noise?
cause (2) NOUN
The cause of something is the thing that makes it happen.
origin
The origin of the tradition was a mystery.
source
Gambling was the source of all the earl’s troubles.
cautious ADJECTIVE
Someone who is cautious acts carefully to avoid possible danger or disappointment.
careful
Ashley was careful about handling the precious eggs.
wary
The sparrows were wary of the nearby cat.
ANTONYM: reckless
celebration NOUN
A celebration is an occasion to mark a happy day or event.
Types of celebration:
anniversary party
banquet
birthday party
carnival
feast
festival
fête
gala
jubilee
party
reunion
wedding
centre NOUN
The centre of an object or area is the middle of it.
core
The earth’s core consists of molten rock.
heart
In the heart of the city, a musician played on a street corner.
hub
At the hub of operations was my brother, with his walkie-talkie set.
middle
The bull’s-eye is in the middle of a dartboard.
certain (1) ADJECTIVE
If you are certain about something, you are sure it is true.
confident
Shula was confident that the rumour she had heard was true.
convinced
Al was convinced that he would pass his exam.
positive
“Are you positive that’s what you want for your birthday?” Mum asked.
sure
“I’m sure I put my homework in my bag, but I can’t find it,” I said.
ANTONYM: uncertain
certain (2) ADJECTIVE
If something is certain to happen, it is likely to happen.
inevitable
It was inevitable that the bully would meet his match before long.
likely
According to the weather forecast, it’s likely to be a sunny afternoon.
unavoidable
When its brakes failed, the lorry faced an unavoidable collision.
ANTONYM: unlikely
certainly ADVERB
Certainly can mean without any doubt.
definitely
“Put me down for a ticket,” Dad said. “I’m definitely going to the game.”
undoubtedly
The horse was undoubtedly the fastest that Jo had ridden.
without doubt
Without doubt, geography was John’s favourite subject.
chair NOUN
A chair is a seat for one person to sit on, with a back and legs.
Types of chair:
armchair
deckchair
dining chair
highchair
office chair
rocking chair
chance (1) NOUN
If there is a chance that something will happen, it might happen.
danger
At oil refineries, there is always a danger of fire breaking out.
likelihood
With those clouds, there was a likelihood of rain before long.
possibility
“Is there any possibility of a lift, please?” Hamal asked.
probability
It is a probability that humans will one day walk on Mars.
chance (2) NOUN
Something that happens by chance happens unexpectedly, without being planned.
accident
It was totally by accident that Mum bumped into her old friend.
coincidence
“What a coincidence!” Grandad gasped. “I went to that school too!”
fortune
By good fortune, a passer-by heard the calls of the stricken climber.
luck
The tennis player’s injury was just bad luck.
stroke of luck
By a stroke of luck, the massive doors were unguarded.
change (1) VERB
When something changes, or you change it, it becomes different.
alter
Gavin has really altered since he won the “Be a Pop Star” competition.
convert
Dad converted the old shed into a play hut.
mutate
Before Kirk’s eyes, the handsome crewman mutated into a fanged, drooling monster.
transform
Bond’s car transformed into a boat.
change (2) VERB
If you change something, you swap or replace it.
exchange
We had to take my new shoes back and exchange them for a larger size.
replace
Today Mr Woo replaced his old banger with a smooth sports car.
substitute
“What happens if you substitute milk for water?” the teacher asked.
swap
Dylan swapped his cards for Salman’s.
trade
Mum joked that she wanted to trade my dad for a newer model!
change (3) NOUN
A change is a difference or alteration in something.
difference
Mum and I noticed the difference in Gran after her illness.
metamorphosis
Caterpillars undergo an amazing metamorphosis into butterflies.
transformation
When Mum emerged from the hairdresser’s, what a transformation!
character NOUN
Someone’s character is all the qualities which combine to form their personality.
nature
It was not in Abigail’s nature to be rude.
personality
Gran had a bubbly personality, and was always making friends.
temperament
A dog’s temperament depends largely on how it is treated.
charge VERB
If something or someone charges, they rush forward.
attack
The infantry attacked the fortress at dawn.
rampage
Boadicea’s angry tribesmen rampaged through the streets, yelling and whooping.
run wild
Leaving their longships, the Viking marauders ran wild in the Saxon village.
rush
When the bell went, Boris rushed for the door, only to be hauled back.
storm
On D-Day 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches and cliffs of Normandy.
chase VERB
If you chase someone, you run after them or follow them in order to catch them.
follow
Fans followed the pop idol wherever he went.
hound
Reporters hounded the star until she gave them an interview.
hunt
Lions hunt antelope as their prey.
pursue
Detectives pursued the gangster to South America.
track
Sniffer dogs tracked the thief to a disused dockside warehouse.
cheap ADJECTIVE
Something that is cheap costs very little money.
bargain
My bargain laptop computer cost half of what most people pay.
economical
My old car is very economical on fuel, but costs more in repairs.
inexpensive
The jacket was inexpensive but looked very smart.
reasonable
Mum thought that it was a reasonable price for a second-hand mountain bike.
cheat (1) VERB
If someone cheats, they lie or do unfair things to win or get what they want.
con INFORMAL
The thief conned his way into the old woman’s house by asking if he could use her phone for an emergency.
deceive
“It’s no good trying to deceive me,” Mum said. “I know you’re up to something!”
double-cross INFORMAL
The thief double-crossed his accomplice and took all the cash.
dupe
The stamp collectors were duped into buying some very convincing fakes.
rip off INFORMAL
“We were ripped off there!” snorted my brother disgustedly, as we left the burger bar.
swindle
The cashier had systematically swindled the bank for years before she was caught.
trick
Trying to trick his pursuers, the getaway driver doubled back.
cheat (2) NOUN
A cheat is a person who lies or does unfair things to win or get what they want.
con man INFORMAL
The con man pretended to be from the electricity company.
double-crosser
The gangster snarled “You dirty double-crosser!” and pulled the trigger.
swindler
The swindler sold villas to his clients which did not really exist.
check (1) VERB
If you check something, you examine it to make sure that everything is all right.
assess
Miss Connolly assessed our term’s work before writing her report.
examine
Sherlock Holmes picked up the knife and examined it.
inspect
The council team inspected the food cupboards carefully.
test
To test our multiplication tables, Mr Murphy fires questions at us.
check (2) NOUN
A check is an inspection to make sure that everything is all right.
assessment
Every soldier has to do his PFA, or Physical Fitness Assessment.
check-up
After his fall, Grandad had to visit the doctor’s for a check-up.
examination
Detectives carried out a minute examination of the crime scene.
inspection
Even the best schools are subject to regular inspections.
test
Older vehicles have to go through a safety test to ensure that they are roadworthy.
cheeky ADJECTIVE
Someone who is cheeky is rude and disrespectful, often in an amusing way.
disrespectful
It’s a mistake to be disrespectful to teachers.
impertinent
What an impertinent thing to say to someone who has helped you!
impudent
The impudent waiter said the cheekiest things to his customers.
rude
“Try not to be rude to people, even if they are unpleasant to you,” said Mum.
ANTONYMS: respectful or polite
cheerful ADJECTIVE
A cheerful person is happy.
bright
I’m quite bright in the morning.
cheery
The postman gave us a cheery wave.
chirpy INFORMAL
Despite her aches, Gran is always chirpy.
jolly
The jolly poacher chuckled as he popped another salmon in his bag.
light-hearted
After Scrooge changed his character, he was light-hearted at Christmas.
merry
Mum and her friend had a merry time looking at old school photos.
chew VERB
When you chew something, you use your teeth to break it up in your mouth before swallowing it.
chomp
The horse chomped its way through a field of lettuces.
crunch
Some people crunch their lollipops. Others suck them.
gnaw
Beavers had gnawed away the bark of the tree.
munch
I hate it when people munch their lunch with their mouth open.
child NOUN
A child is a young person who is not yet an adult.
juvenile
In the eyes of the law, anyone under 18 is a juvenile.
kid INFORMAL
Mum takes several kids to school, not just us.
nipper INFORMAL
“When I was a nipper,” Grandad said, “I used to climb that oak tree.”
youngster
The youngster ran out into the road without even looking.
➔ See baby
A child whose parents are dead is an orphan.
childish ADJECTIVE
If someone is childish, they are not acting in an adult way.
immature
To lark around like that was immature for a man of his age.
infantile
Jafar’s temper tantrum was very infantile.
juvenile
“Such juvenile behaviour must be punished,” the head teacher said grimly.
choice (1) NOUN
A choice is a range of different things that are available to choose from.
selection
What a selection of chocolates greeted my eyes when I opened the box!
variety
There was a variety of films to choose from on the plane.
choice (2) NOUN
A choice is something that you choose.
option
We had no option but to accept a refund when our flights were cancelled.
preference
My preference is action movies rather than romances.
selection
To her disgust, the judges’ selection did not include Mrs Whipple’s fairy cakes.
If you have a choice whether or not to do something, it is optional.
choose VERB
If you choose something, you decide to have it or do it.
opt for
Mum and Dad couldn’t decide which holiday to opt for: Florida or France.
pick
My mean sister always picks the chocolates that I want.
select
The archer selected an arrow.
single out
The dog show judge singled out Wuffles as being especially intelligent.
church NOUN
A church is a building where Christians go to pray.
Some parts of a church:
aisle
altar
choir
font
lectern
nave
pew
pulpit
spire
steeple
tower
vestry
circle VERB
If someone or something circles an object, they move around it in a circle.
lap
The cyclist lapped the track for the final time.
orbit
The earth takes around 365 days, or one year, to orbit the sun.
➔ See go round (1)
To sail round the world is to circumnavigate it.
circumstances NOUN
The circumstances of a situation or event are the conditions that affect what happens.
background
Our history teacher explained the background of the American Civil War.
context
The police had to consider the context of the accident.
situation
The situation was difficult for everyone.
claim VERB
If you claim that something is the case, you say that it is so.
allege
The witness alleged that Jones had threatened several people.
argue
The boss argued that it was fair to sack someone who worked slowly.
declare
The smuggler declared that he had nothing illegal in his case.
insist
The arrested woman insisted that the officer had made a mistake.
maintain
Hal maintained that only Leroy was better than him at basketball.
class (1) NOUN
A class is a group of pupils or students who are taught together.
group
Mum’s quilting group meets on Tuesday.
set
My clever sister is in the top maths set.
stream
At the grammar school, children were put in streams according to their ability.
tutor group
Jennifer is in Mrs Burton’s tutor group.
class (2) NOUN
A class of people or things is a group of them that are alike in some way.
category
Nitesh entered the junior category of the poetry competition.
kind
Beavenutti is the best restaurant of its kind in the area.
sort
“What is your favourite sort of music?” Carly asked Hannah.
type
The market stall sold lots of different types of vegetables and fruits.
clean (1) ADJECTIVE
If something is clean, it is free from dirt or unwanted marks.
immaculate
The car was immaculate when Dad bought it, but filthy two days later.
spotless
“I want this cabin spotless,” rasped the captain, “or you’re for the high jump!”
ANTONYM: dirty
clean (2) VERB
If you clean something, you remove dirt from it.
Different ways to clean:
bathe
brush
dry-clean
dust
hoover
launder
mop
polish
rinse
scour
scrub
shampoo
sponge
sweep
swill
vacuum
wash
wipe
clear (1) ADJECTIVE
If something is clear, it is easy to understand, see or hear.
apparent
It was apparent we were going to lose, right from the start of the match.
definite
There were definite indications that the swallows were nesting in the eaves.
distinct
We could hear the distinct sound of church bells in the distance.
evident
It was evident from the wet roads that it had been raining.
obvious
The man showed obvious signs of having been in a fight.
plain
“It’s plain to see that you have learnt very little,” the head teacher said.
ANTONYM: unclear
clear (2) ADJECTIVE
A clear sky has no clouds in it.
bright
A very bright morning can mean rain later.
cloudless
Skylarks sang high in the cloudless sky.
moonlit
The UFO slid silently across the moonlit sky.
starlit
On that starlit night, I could have stayed for hours by the shore.
ANTONYM: cloudy
clear (3) ADJECTIVE
If something is clear, it is easy to see through.
see-through
My mum has a see-through plastic coat.
translucent
The dragonfly’s translucent wings beat against the sky.
transparent
Scott covered his book with transparent sticky-backed plastic.
ANTONYMS: murky or opaque
clever ADJECTIVE
Someone who is clever is intelligent and quick to understand things.
brainy
My brainy brother came top of his class.
bright
Jim was only three, but he was bright enough to understand what was going on.
intelligent
“It’s no good just being intelligent. You have to work hard too,” said my English teacher.
smart
He’s far too smart to get mixed up in anything illegal.
ANTONYM: unintelligent
climb VERB
When you climb, you move upwards.
ascend
Alice ascended the stairs, carrying a candle.
clamber up
Having locked himself out, Dad had to clamber up the drainpipe to an open window.
scale
The daring climber had to scale the overhanging rockface.
clock NOUN
A clock is an instrument that measures and shows the time.
Other instruments that measure the time:
alarm clock
digital clock
egg timer
grandfather clock
hourglass
stopwatch
sundial
timer
watch
wristwatch
close (1) Said “klohz” VERB
If you close something, you move it so that it is no longer open.
seal
The crewman sealed the hatch and the submarine was ready to dive.
secure
“Make sure you secure all the bolts on that cage,” the zookeeper warned.
shut
“Shut the door behind you, but first check you’ve got your key,” said Mum.
ANTONYM: open
close (2) Said “klohss” ADJECTIVE
If something is close to something else, it is near to it.
adjacent
The amusement arcade was adjacent to the holiday camp.
handy
Our chalet was handy for the camp shop.
nearby
Grabbing a towel that was nearby, Jacinth soaked it and threw it over the flaming pan.
neighbouring
The neighbouring woods are full of bluebells.
ANTONYM: far
cloth NOUN
Cloth is fabric made by a process such as weaving.
fabric
“This fabric will make lovely curtains for the spare room,” said Gran.
material
The tailor used only the best material for the suits he made.
textiles
Natural textiles such as wool are warmer than man-made ones.
Some types of cloth:
corduroy
cotton
denim
felt
lace
nylon
satin
silk
tweed
velvet
wool
clothes PLURAL NOUN
Clothes are the things people wear on their bodies.
clothing
“My son is in the clothing trade,” Manny told everyone proudly.
costume
At the open-air museum, the guides wore period costume.
dress
“Shorts and trainers are hardly suitable dress for a wedding,” Lady Etherington said.
garments
The notice read: “To try garments on, please use the changing room”.
gear INFORMAL
As the forecast was poor, Kayla took her wet weather gear with her.
Some clothes:
blouse
burqa
cardigan
coat
dress
glove
hat
hijab
jacket
jumper
pyjamas
robe
sari
scarf
shalwar-kameez
shirt
shoe
skirt
sock
stocking
tie
tights
trousers
T-shirt
underwear
vest
cloudy (1) ADJECTIVE
If the sky is cloudy, it is full of clouds.
dull
The weather was dull, but there was some sunshine forecast for later.
gloomy
It was a gloomy day for the start of our holiday.
overcast
The sky was overcast when the plane took off.
cloudy (2) ADJECTIVE
Cloudy can mean difficult to see through.
muddy
The scuba divers could not find the shipwreck in the muddy water.
murky
The travellers could see a faint light shining through the murky evening – shelter at last!
opaque
The bottle was made of opaque glass, so we could not see clearly what was in it.
club (1) NOUN
A club is an organization of people with a particular interest, who meet regularly.
association
Grandad belongs to an ex-servicemen’s association.
group
Mr Fanshaw runs a local pottery group.
society
Dad is a member of a society for the protection of wildlife.
club (2) NOUN
A club is a thick, heavy stick used as a weapon.
baton
Police carry batons in case they need to defend themselves.
truncheon
In Grandad’s day, all police officers were issued with truncheons.
clumsy ADJECTIVE
Someone who is clumsy moves awkwardly and carelessly.
accident-prone
Matt is accident-prone; he’s always hurting himself somehow.
awkward
There’s something awkward about the way Indira holds her cutlery.
blundering
The blundering chef clattered about in the kitchen.
butterfingered INFORMAL
Butterfingered people should not work in china shops!
lumbering
Giant Grumbleweed was a lumbering hulk with a knack for breaking things.
uncoordinated
My Dad is a very uncoordinated dancer.
coat (1) NOUN
An animal’s coat is the fur or hair on its body.
fleece
In a blur of movement, the shearer had the sheep’s fleece off in seconds.
fur
Stephanie sobbed into her dog Cassie’s fur.
hide
The hide of cows is treated to make leather.
The fur from certain dead animals is called a pelt.
coat (2) NOUN
A coat is a piece of clothing with long sleeves, that you wear over other clothes.
A waistcoat is a sleeveless piece of clothing, often worn under a suit or jacket, which buttons up at the front.
Types of coat:
anorak
blazer
bomber jacket
duffel coat
jacket
kagoul
mackintosh
overcoat
raincoat
waterproof
cold ADJECTIVE
If something is cold, it has a very low temperature.
ANTONYMS: hot or warm
Words for cold weather:
arctic
biting
bitter
bleak
chilly
freezing
frosty
harsh
icy
nippy
perishing
raw
snowy
wintry
Words for feeling cold:
chilled to the bone
freezing
frozen
frozen to the marrow
numb
perished
shaking
shivering
collapse (1) VERB
If something such as a building collapses, it falls down suddenly.
cave in
The miners were trapped when the roof of the passage caved in.
crumple
As the charges exploded, the walls crumpled to the ground.
give way
In 1879, the poorly built Tay Bridge in Scotland gave way in a storm.
collapse (2) VERB
If a person collapses, they fall down suddenly because they are ill.
faint
I nearly fainted when I saw our angry neighbour brandishing my ball.
pass out
The parade ground was so hot that several soldiers passed out.
collect VERB
If you collect things, you gather them together for a special reason.
assemble
For the exhibition, the gallery assembled paintings from all over the world.
cluster
Interested buyers clustered around the beautiful bronze statue.
compile
The editor compiled an anthology of poems.
gather
“Gather your tools up before you run off,” Dad reminded me.
collection NOUN
A collection is a group of things brought together over a period of time.
array
The shelf held a dazzling array of trophies.
compilation
The book is a compilation of short stories by famous writers.
A collection of poems is an anthology.
colour NOUN
The colour of something is the way that it looks in the light.
Some colours:
black
blue
brown
green
grey
orange
pink
purple
red
violet
white
yellow
come VERB
If you come to a place, you move there or arrive there.
arrive
As soon as we arrived, my auntie started hugging people.
materialize
In no time at all, thanks to Ratty, a splendid tea had materialized.
show up INFORMAL
Josh showed up at the very last minute, just when we had started to panic.
turn up
Sarah and I weren’t expecting Faith to turn up, but she did.
come about VERB
If something comes about, it happens.
happen
Mr Abiola was walking past the shop when the robbery happened.
occur
The incident occurred at the swimming pool.
take place
The party will take place from three to five o’clock on Saturday afternoon.
comfortable (1) ADJECTIVE
Something that is comfortable makes you feel relaxed.
comfy INFORMAL
Our sofa is comfy – at least our dog Wuffles thinks so!
cosy
The hobbit was extremely reluctant to leave his cosy home.
relaxing
On holiday, Mum loves a relaxing sauna.
restful
The seaside resort had a restful atmosphere.
comfortable (2) ADJECTIVE
If you are comfortable, you are at ease and relaxed.
at ease
Sir George was the sort of person to make you feel at ease straight away.
contented
Gran was contented in her little flat.
relaxed
After a week of her holiday, Mrs Archer felt completely relaxed.
ANTONYM: uncomfortable
common ADJECTIVE
Something that is common exists in large numbers or happens often.
average
The average person doesn’t know much about nuclear physics.
everyday
In a quarry, explosions are an everyday occurrence.
normal
It was normal for Harry to take his granny up a morning cup of tea.
ordinary
It started off like any ordinary day at work.
standard
“A standard-class ticket, please,” I said to the train guard.
usual
The usual lunch on Friday is fish.
ANTONYM: uncommon
company NOUN
A company is a business that sells goods or provides a service.
business
My father runs an electrical business.
corporation
Mrs Fletcher’s tiny company belongs to a huge global corporation.
firm
Mum’s firm is paying for her to go on a management course.
competition NOUN
A competition is an event in which people take part to find out who is the best at something.
championship
Wimbledon is a famous tennis championship.
contest
The two villages faced each other in a tug-of-war contest.
event
The Olympic Games is the world’s leading sporting event.
tournament
Our school entered two teams in the Under-11 netball tournament.
complain VERB
If you complain, you say that you are not happy about something.
bleat
Sam kept bleating that he had lost his pen.
fuss
The customer was fussing over a minute mark on the desk.
grouse
“It’s no good grousing now. You had your chance and didn’t take it,” said Gran.
grumble
Mum always grumbles about the dreadful state of my room.
moan
All my big sister ever does is moan!
whinge
The millionaire rock star was always whingeing about how unfair life is.
complete (1) ADJECTIVE
If something is complete, none of it is missing.
entire
At the end, the entire cast took a bow.
full
“Pay me the full amount now,” the greedy landlord insisted.
whole
“I swear to tell the whole truth,” the witness declared to the court.
complete (2) ADJECTIVE
Complete can mean to the greatest degree possible.
absolute
“You’re talking absolute rubbish,” the major replied to the private.
sheer
The winning jockey leapt off his horse in sheer joy.
thorough
The disobedient little girl made a thorough nuisance of herself.
utter
Chander felt an utter fool dressed as a clown.
complete (3) VERB
If you complete something, you finish it.
conclude
Professor Boffin concluded his talk and then asked if there were any questions.
end
The crowd was in tears as he ended his speech.
finalize
The airline staff finalized arrangements for the plane to take off.
finish
When Gran had finished her tea she turned on the radio.
round off
We rounded off our day out with a delicious meal in a steakhouse.
wrap up INFORMAL
“OK, darlings, we’ll wrap it up for today,” the film director announced.
ANTONYM: begin
completely ADVERB
Completely can mean totally, absolutely and utterly.
absolutely
By the end of the sponsored swim, Kalil was absolutely exhausted.
entirely
“I entirely agree with you,” put in Kaylee.
fully
The new manager said he was fully committed to the club and the team.
totally
Fire totally destroyed the pier buildings.
utterly
You could see by the expression on her face that Isha was utterly fed up.
complicated ADJECTIVE
Something that is complicated has so many parts or aspects that it is difficult to understand or deal with.
complex
It was a complex engine, which my brother struggled to understand.
elaborate
Blofeld had spent years on an elaborate plan for world domination.
intricate
Clock mechanisms are too intricate for you or me to tamper with.
ANTONYMS: simple or straightforward
computer NOUN
A computer is an electronic machine that can store and deal with large amounts of information.
Some types of computer:
desktop
iPad™
laptop
Mac™
notebook
PC (personal computer)
tablet
concentrate VERB
If you concentrate on something, you give it all your attention.
apply yourself to
Previously lazy, Watkins now applied himself to his work and did well in the exam.
be engrossed in
My sister was so engrossed in some telly programme, she failed to see me sneaking up.
focus on
“Today, we are going to focus on fractions,” Mrs Abrahams said, to a chorus of groans.
pay attention to
“Pay attention to what I’m saying, Jamie,” said Dani. “It’s important.”
condition NOUN
The condition of someone or something is the state they are in.
fitness
Army doctors examine the fitness of soldiers each year.
order
The television was in good working order when we sold it.
shape
My grandad is in pretty good shape for a man of 75 – he still goes for a run every morning.
state
“Just look at the state of your trousers!” my stepmum sighed.
confess VERB
If you confess to something, you admit that you did it.
admit
After questioning, the suspect admitted she had stolen the bag.
come clean INFORMAL
“Now come clean, David,” Auntie Julie said. “I know you’ve been at the chocolates.”
own up
The head teacher demanded that the person responsible for the damage should own up.
confused ADJECTIVE
If you are confused, you are uncertain about what is happening or what to do.
baffled
Lyra was baffled. What on earth was the significance of the dust?
bewildered
Bewildered by his sudden fame, Robbie went completely off the rails.
muddled
The useless new parking scheme was a prime example of muddled thinking.
perplexed
Frank stood at the crossroads, totally perplexed by the map he’d been given.
puzzled
“Then I’m puzzled,” Mum said. “How did the biscuit tin fly to your room?”
confusing ADJECTIVE
If something is confusing, it makes you uncertain about what is happening or what to do.
baffling
No body. No weapon. No witnesses. The whole thing was baffling.
bewildering
There was a bewildering choice of stereos.
perplexing
The mystery got more perplexing. Where on earth had the shoe gone?
puzzling
Sergeant Assad found it puzzling that everyone had volunteered for the job.
connect (1) VERB
If you connect two things, you join them together.
attach
When Mum receives nice postcards, she attaches them to the fridge with magnets.
couple
The man in the overalls dropped from the platform to couple the engine to the coaches.
fasten
Phil fastened the papers together with a clip.
join
The plumber joined the two pipes underneath the sink.
link
“This deal,” said the chairman, “will link two fine companies.”
unite
On their wedding day, the couple were united in marriage.
connect (2) VERB
If one thing or person is connected with another, there is a link between them.
associate
He claims that he no longer associates with any of those people.
relate
In good non-fiction writing, each sentence should relate to the one before.
connection NOUN
A connection is a link or relationship between two things.
association
Dad has always had a close association with the school. He attended as a pupil when he was a boy and is now a governor.
bond
There was a bond between the two brothers that could not be broken.
link
There are strong historical links between Britain and India.
relationship
Luis’ relationship with his stepfather was not always an easy one.
contact VERB
If you contact someone, you telephone them or write to them.
communicate with
Television reporters often communicate with the studio by satellite phone.
get in touch with
Message for Mr Sample: please urgently get in touch with your son.
make contact
Joe wants me to make contact when I arrive in New York.
Different ways to make contact:
card
fax
letter
postcard
telegram
telephone
text message
contain VERB
The things that something contains are the things in it.
accommodate
The narrowboat could accommodate up to nine people.
comprise
Our cottage comprises six rooms: three upstairs and three down.
consist of
Pancake mix mainly consists of flour, eggs and milk.
hold
An average household bucket will hold ten litres of liquid.
include
The holiday package includes all flights, accommodation and meals.
container NOUN
A container is something that you keep things in, such as a box or a jar.
receptacle
“What we need,” said Mr Vanstone, “is some sort of receptacle for these tadpoles.”
vessel
A pitcher is a vessel for carrying liquids.
contest NOUN
A contest is a competition or game.
battle
The Cup Final was a battle between a giant club and one of the league’s minnows.
bout
The wrestling announcer began, “This is a bout of eight rounds of three minutes each.”
competition
Mum is a fanatic for entering competitions. She’s always thinking up catchy slogans.
head-to-head INFORMAL
The finish of the sack race was a close-run head-to-head between Mrs Robinson and Miss Penn.
match
The match against Holcombe was played in pouring rain.
tournament
The chess tournament featured players from all over the country.
continue VERB
If you continue to do something, you keep doing it.
carry on
“If you carry on prodding me, I’ll prod you back,” I said to Barry.
keep on
“If you keep on forgetting your homework, you’ll get detention,” I told Anita.
persevere
Although she was tired, Jamilah persevered with her drawing.
persist
Although I hate it, Dad persists in calling me by my nickname.
continuous ADJECTIVE
Something that is continuous goes on without stopping.
ceaseless
The ceaseless noise of drilling was driving me mad.
constant
Bill and Ben were constant companions. You never saw them apart.
incessant
After a few minutes, Mrs Snell’s incessant chatter became annoying.
nonstop
The disco played nonstop music throughout the evening.
uninterrupted
Good weather meant uninterrupted play at Wimbledon for the whole fortnight.
➔ See endless
control (1) VERB
To control something is to have power over it.
be in charge of
Our dad is in charge of our local Under-11s soccer team.
command
Captain Hardy commanded HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson.
direct
The fire chief directed operations from a mobile control centre.
manage
Mum’s sister manages a supermarket down the road.
control (2) NOUN
Control is the power over something.
authority
The mayor had authority over the city’s transport system.
command
The conductor was in complete command of the orchestra.
direction
The team is playing well under the direction of the new manager.
power
“The Wizard of Oz has the power to give you courage, Lion,” said Dorothy.
convenient (1) ADJECTIVE
If a time to do a particular thing is convenient, it is suitable for those concerned.
agreeable
“Is three o’clock agreeable to you, Mrs Williams?” the receptionist enquired.
appropriate
Max felt it was an appropriate moment to ask the question.
suitable
“Eight o’clock would be a suitable time for me to pick you up,” my stepdad said.
ANTONYM: inconvenient
convenient (2) ADJECTIVE
If something is convenient, it is easy to use, do or go to.
handy
The store is really handy for Grandma to pop down to.
helpful
Mrs Hakim handed out a helpful fact sheet at the end of the lesson.
useful
Tin-openers are a useful invention which we couldn’t do without!
ANTONYM: inconvenient
conversation NOUN
When people have a conversation, they talk to each other.
chat
Auntie Doris often pops in for a chat on her way home from work.
dialogue
The opening scene of Macbeth consists of a dialogue between three witches.
discussion
Our discussion centred on whether to play indoors or outdoors.
cook VERB
When you cook food, you prepare it for eating by boiling, baking or frying it.
Some ways to cook food:
bake
barbecue
blanch
boil
braise
fry
grill
microwave
poach
roast
simmer
steam
stew
stir-fry
toast
cool (1) ADJECTIVE
Something cool has a low temperature but is not cold.
chilly
It was chilly outside, so we stayed by the fire.
fresh
A fresh breeze blew off the estuary, flapping the flag on the church tower.
nippy
“It’s rather nippy,” Mum said. “I’d take a pullover if I were you.”
refreshing
In summer there’s nothing to beat refreshing orange juice.
ANTONYM: warm
➔ See cold
cool (2) ADJECTIVE
If you are cool in a difficult situation, you stay calm.
calm
“Now everybody keep calm,” the captain said. “There is no need for panic.”
laid back INFORMAL
My friend Chris was totally laid back about the exam. “If I fail, I fail,” he said.
relaxed
Despite the tension in those around him, the sub’s commander looked relaxed.
ANTONYM: nervous
cope VERB
If you cope with a task or problem, you deal with it successfully.
carry on
Despite the rain, the team carried on and eventually won the game.
get by
Although money was tight, Mum got by doing all sorts of odd jobs for people.
manage
“That piano’s heavy. Can you manage?” a kind passer-by enquired.
survive
During the exams, Liam survived by drinking cups of coffee and going to bed early.
cope with VERB
If you have to cope with a difficult situation, you have to deal with it.
contend with
Apart from blizzards, Captain Scott had to contend with a growing shortage of food.
deal with
I don’t know how teachers deal with 30 kids like my little brother.
copy (1) NOUN
A copy is something made to look like something else.
duplicate
As the new car came with only one key, Dad had a duplicate made.
forgery
The banknotes were such good forgeries that only an expert could tell they weren’t the real thing.
imitation
“If that diamond is an imitation, it’s very like the real thing,” I thought.
replica
The miniature locomotive was an exact replica of the real train.
reproduction
As the real painting is worth millions, our family was quite happy with a reproduction.
ANTONYM: original
copy (2) VERB
If you copy what someone does, you do the same thing.
follow
If you set a good example, others may follow.
imitate
Jordan sits behind me, imitating Mr Heaney’s funny voice.
impersonate
To gain access to the jewels, the thief impersonated the head porter.
copy (3) VERB
If you copy something, you make a copy of it.
counterfeit
The criminals tried to counterfeit passports with false names.
duplicate
Before you mail the completed form, duplicate it so we have a copy for the files.
forge
The sly couple forged tickets and then tried to sell them outside the stadium.
replicate
The artist replicated paintings and passed them off as originals.
cost NOUN
The cost is the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something.
charge
“You know, sir, there’ll be a charge for any phone calls,” the hotel clerk said smoothly.
expense
My father didn’t want the expense of a new roof, but the leaks changed his mind.
price
The money I made from errands was just about the price of the model I wanted.
The cost of travelling on transport is the fare.
cosy ADJECTIVE
Somewhere cosy is warm and comfortable.
comfortable
Gramps finds his new reclining armchair very comfortable.
comfy INFORMAL
I was very comfy in my little room right up in the loft.
snug
The two dogs were snug in their baskets when Peter foolishly mentioned “walkies”.
ANTONYM: uncomfortable
count (1) VERB
If you count, or count up, all the things in a group, you add them up to see how many there are.
add up
Irina added up the number of times Mr Reid clapped his hands.
calculate
The salesman calculated the money he would make that week.
reckon up
If you reckon up the rainy days we’ve had recently, you’ll get a surprise.
tot up INFORMAL
My friend Ainsley and I totted up the number of cakes our dads had eaten.
count (2) VERB
If something counts in a situation, it is important or valuable.
carry weight
The politician assured people that their opinions did carry weight.
make a difference
The crook’s previous crimes certainly made a difference to the length of his jail sentence.
matter
The goals you scored before don’t matter. It’s the ones you get now that are important.
count (3) VERB
If you can count on someone or something, you can rely on them.
bank
We were banking on good weather for the school fête.
depend
“I’m depending on you, Smithers. Don’t let me down,” the lieutenant said.
rely
“Can I rely on you to check that all doors are locked?” my mother asked.
country (1) NOUN
A country is one of the political areas the world is divided into.
kingdom
Beyond the barren plains of Kremmen lay the kingdom of the Wargs.
land
“We’re very proud of our land,” said the large Welshman.
nation
Napoleon once said that England was a nation of shopkeepers.
state
After the war a new state was created which united the people.
country (2) NOUN
The country is land away from towns and cities.
bush NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIAN AND AFRICAN
The Pritchards’ farm is right out in the bush.
countryside
The countryside was a patchwork of fields.
outback AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND
A lot of the outback in Australia is really very wild.
wilds
The gamekeeper lived out in the wilds in a small cottage.
The adjective used to describe things in the country is rural.
courage NOUN
Courage is the quality shown by people who do things that they know are dangerous or difficult.
bravery
His bravery in saving the child brought him letters from all over the world.
daring
The daring of King Arthur’s knights is recorded in legend.
guts INFORMAL
The timid girl showed real guts when she went down the rope slide.
heroism
For her heroism in an enemy country, the undercover agent received a secret award.
ANTONYM: cowardice
course NOUN
A course is the route something such as an aircraft, river or ship takes.
path
The plane’s flight path brought it close to the enemy coast.
route
Our quickest route to the Far East is, surprisingly, over the North Pole.
trajectory
The stone’s trajectory was a graceful arc from my catapult to our greenhouse.
way
“Which way do you go home?” I asked Sunil.
of course PHRASE
If you say of course, you are showing that you are absolutely sure about something.
certainly
School meals are certainly tastier than they used to be.
definitely
“I’m definitely coming to camp,” Vadim confirmed.
undoubtedly
I bragged that my team was undoubtedly the best in the world.
crack NOUN
A crack is a narrow gap.
cranny
In a tiny cranny in the cupboard lay the key that they sought.
crevice
Climbers use crevices in the rock to hold the pieces of equipment that support them.
nook
The birds lay their eggs in nooks in the sheer cliffs above the sea.
crafty ADJECTIVE
Someone who is crafty gets what they want by tricking people in a clever way.
cunning
Bond’s cunning trick was to hide above the door.
sly
The sly fox hid behind the henhouse.
wily
The wily coyote was no match for the even cleverer roadrunner.
crash (1) NOUN
A crash is an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged.
accident
Queues built up, as the accident had blocked both sides of the road.
collision
The collision took place at a busy road intersection.
pile-up
Pile-ups often occur during fog, when vehicles collide with one another.
smash
It was a bad smash, with two people injured.
crash (2) VERB
If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.
bump
The motorbike bumped into the back of the car.
collide
My dad’s car collided with a quarry truck on a narrow bend.
plough into
The runaway lorry ploughed into the wall.
crazy ADJECTIVE INFORMAL
Someone or something crazy is very strange or foolish.
absurd
How absurd that you should think that baked beans grow on trees!
bizarre
To see my brother on a bike dressed as a teddy bear was a bizarre experience.
insane
I reckon that bungee jumping is an insane thing to do.
outrageous
Uncle Will is aways doing outrageous things.
ridiculous
Dad thought the idea was ridiculous.
strange
The cowboy had a strange look in his eye.
creep VERB
If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.
edge
I edged towards the door, hoping that no one would notice me leave.
slink
“Don’t try to slink off. I haven’t finished yet!” snapped the irritable countess.
sneak
The cat sneaked up the fire escape and crept in through the back door.
tiptoe
I heard my big brother tiptoe past my room.
creepy ADJECTIVE
Someone or something creepy is strange and frightening.
eerie
Eerie noises floated down from the moor.
mysterious
The mysterious stranger disappeared into the mist with a flourish of his cloak.
sinister
With his eyepatch and wooden leg, Long John looked a truly sinister character.
spooky INFORMAL
The film was so spooky Hailey had to cover her eyes.
criminal NOUN
A criminal is someone who has committed a crime.
crook INFORMAL
Two crooks called at our door pretending to be from the water company.
offender
As a young offender, the 15-year-old was not sent to prison.
villain
“Have nothing to do with him. He’s a total villain,” Mum warned.
Types of criminal:
assassin
bandit
blackmailer
burglar
gangster
highwayman
hijacker
kidnapper
mugger
murderer
pickpocket
pirate
robber
shoplifter
smuggler
terrorist
thief
vandal
Types of crime committed by criminals:
abduction
assassination
blackmail
burglary
hijacking
kidnapping
mugging
murder
robbery
shoplifting
smuggling
terrorism
theft
vandalism
crisp ADJECTIVE
Food that is crisp is pleasantly fresh and firm.
crispy
To really be enjoyed, lettuce needs to be fresh and crispy.
crunchy
The apples were crunchy and juicy.
ANTONYM: soft
criticize VERB
If you criticize someone or something, you say what you think is wrong with them.
disapprove of
My parents disapprove of expensive fast food which is full of chemicals.
find fault with
The duchess managed to find fault with everyone in the room.
crooked (1) Said “kroo-kid” ADJECTIVE
Something that is crooked is bent or twisted.
deformed
Gran’s hands are deformed with arthritis.
distorted
The distorted shape of the trees was caused by the onshore wind.
twisted
The wreckage of the car was twisted beyond all recognition.
ANTONYM: straight
crooked (2) Said “kroo-kid” ADJECTIVE
A crooked person is dishonest.
corrupt
The corrupt police officer accepted bribes.
criminal
“You have committed a criminal offence,” intoned the judge.
dishonest
Something made me suspect that the salesman was dishonest.
shady INFORMAL
“He looks a shady customer,” said Carlos, nodding towards a surly man across the street.
ANTONYMS: law-abiding or honest
cross ADJECTIVE
Someone who is cross is rather angry.
angry
My friend Anna was rather angry when I lost her favourite CD.
annoyed
Dad was annoyed that I hadn’t washed up as I’d promised.
cantankerous
The cantankerous old farmer used to shout at anyone who walked past his farm.
crotchety
Gran sometimes gets crotchety when her arthritis is painful.
grumpy
My brother is always grumpy when it comes to having a bath.
irritable
Mum was rather irritable because she had a bad headache.
snappy
“There’s no need to get snappy,” Lynn retorted. “Here’s your wretched comb.”
crowd (1) NOUN
A crowd is a large group of people gathered together.
mass
The whole square was a seething mass of red, white and blue flags.
mob
Enraged, the mob surged through the streets like a human tide.
multitude
The prophet spoke to the multitude, foretelling the great events to come.
swarm
A swarm of demonstrators headed for the parliament building.
crowd (2) NOUN
A crowd is a large number of people watching an event.
audience
The concert audience clapped when the conductor took the stage.
gate
Fifty thousand were there – the biggest gate that United had had all season.
spectators
In the past, the spectators cheered as people were publicly executed.
cruel ADJECTIVE
Cruel people deliberately cause pain or distress to other people or to animals.
callous
The callous emperor made his slaves work their fingers to the bone.
hard-hearted
Hard-hearted Scrooge begrudged giving Cratchit a day off at Christmas.
heartless
The heartless landlord threw the poor widow into the street.
merciless
The merciless sniper picked off his victims one by one with precision.
ruthless
Anyone who disagreed with the ruthless dictator disappeared.
vicious
The vicious crocodile clamped its jaws on the unfortunate swimmer.
crumble VERB
When something crumbles, or you crumble it, it breaks into small pieces.
collapse
Weak foundations caused the apartment block to collapse.
decay
The beam had decayed, bringing the floor above it crashing down.
decompose
Plants, animals and humans begin to decompose when they die.
disintegrate
The agent disintegrated as Morpheus fired his phaser weapon.
cry (1) VERB
When you cry, tears come from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt.
WORD POWER: This word tends to be used a lot. To make your writing more varied, try to use some of the alternative words suggested here instead.
bawl
The moment the baby’s bottle was put in its mouth it stopped bawling.
blubber
After being refused an ice cream, the toddler blubbered for the next half hour.
shed tears
Dad’s advice is not to shed tears over something that is in the past.
snivel
“Stop snivelling and you might get a lolly,” the girl’s mother snapped.
sob
Milly sobbed her heart out to think that her dog was dead.
weep
After her sisters had left for the ball, Cinderella wept silently as she swept.
cry (2) VERB
If you cry something, you shout it or say it loudly.
WORD POWER: This word tends to be used a lot. To make your writing more varied, try to use some of the alternative words suggested here instead.
bawl
Everyone came running when the camp cook bawled “Dinner’s ready!”
bellow
“Time to go to school,” Dad bellowed up the stairs to us.
boom
“Attention!” boomed the sergeant major to the new recruits.
call
When I saw my friend on the other side of the street I called out her name.
shout
Ben shouted for help when he saw the child fall into the pond.
yell
“Watch out!” yelled Yanni as he saw the cricket ball flying in Aidan’s direction.
cry (3) NOUN
A cry is a shout or other sound made with your voice.
bellow
A loud bellow came from the bull at the end of the field.
howl
The wolf let out a howl as he prowled through the moonlit night.
shout
The crowd gave a shout of joy as another goal hit the back of the net.
shriek
My silly brother gave a shriek when he saw the spider in the bath.
yell
With a yell, Aidan jumped out of the way of the speeding cricket ball.
cupboard NOUN
A cupboard is a piece of furniture with doors and shelves.
Some types of cupboard:
cabinet
larder
locker
safe
sideboard
wardrobe
cure NOUN
A cure is something that heals or helps someone to get better.
antidote
There is no known antidote to the bite of that particular snake.
medicine
Dad took some medicine for his stomach ache.
remedy
The remedy for boredom is simple. You need to get out more!
treatment
Fortunately, the treatment helped and my ankle soon felt better.
curious ADJECTIVE
Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.
inquiring
“Dad, it said on my report that I’ve an inquiring mind. What does that mean?”
inquisitive
Inquisitive about anything mechanical, Fiona dismantled the cuckoo clock.
interested
If it’s anything about trains, then my brother is interested.
nosy
Our nosy neighbour was anxious to hear any gossip she could.
curl VERB
If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral.
coil
The boa constrictor coiled its body slowly round the hapless victim.
entwine
Climbing clematis plants entwined themselves with the telephone wire.
spiral
Smoke spiralled up from the cottage chimney.
twist
The string from the kite twisted as it came tumbling down.
wind
The country road wound round in a series of bends.
curly ADJECTIVE
Curly hair has many curls in it.
curled
My sister’s hair was all curled when she came out of the hairdresser’s.
frizzy
In the Afro look of the 1970s, people had a mop of bushy, frizzy hair.
kinky
If your hair is naturally straight, you can make it kinky by having it permed.
wavy
I would love to have wavy hair, but mine’s dead straight.
cut (1) NOUN
A cut is a mark made with a knife or other sharp tool.
gash
The nasty gash in Billy’s knee needed to have several stitches.
groove
Uncle Ken chiselled a groove in the shelf for plates to stand up in.
nick
I was clumsy with the knife and made a nick in the desk.
slit
To make the pocket, Mum cut a slit in the fabric.
cut (2) VERB
If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.
WORD POWER: This word tends to be used a lot. To make your writing more varied, try to use some of the alternative words suggested here instead.
cut a little:
chip
When she fell, Vanessa chipped her tooth.
chisel
I tried to chisel out a hole for the lock, but I split the wood.
clip
Ross clipped the hedge for his auntie.
prune
When you prune roses in winter, you cut them right back near the base.
shave
Kay shaved a little off the shelf to make it fit.
snip
For a practical joke, I snipped a bit off Dad’s tie, but he didn’t find it funny.
trim
Grandad has his hair trimmed each month – what’s left of it, that is.
cut hard at something:
chop
The karate expert chopped the brick in half with a single blow.
hack
Hacking her way through the jungle, the botanist searched for the rare plant.
slash
Bluebeard slashed downward with his cutlass, through the rope.
cut something down:
chop
Dad had to chop the old tree down after it was damaged in the storm.
fell
The stupid lumberjack proceeded to fell the wrong tree.
mow
It’s useless to mow the lawn in wet weather.
cut something in two:
bisect
With one swing of the axe the man bisected the thick log.
divide
Using a sharp knife, Mum divided the last piece of pie for my brother and me.
halve
“If I halve this apple, will you share it with me?” I asked Helen.
Tools you can use to cut things:
axe
carving knife
chisel
cleaver
clippers
guillotine
knife
mower
razor
saw
scalpel
scissors
secateurs
shears
