Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

chisel chisels NOUN

A chisel is a tool with a long thin blade and a sharp end, which is used for cutting wood or stone.

chocolate chocolates

NOUN 1 Chocolate is a brown sweet or drink made from cocoa.

NOUN 2 A chocolate is a sweet covered with a layer of chocolate.

choice choices

NOUN 1 A choice is the different things that you can choose from.

NOUN 2 A choice can also be someone or something that you choose. If you need a captain, Jessica would be a good choice.

choir choirs NOUN

A choir is a group of people who sing together.

choke chokes, choking, choked VERB

If you choke, you cannot breathe because not enough air can get to your lungs. He choked on a chicken bone.

choose chooses, choosing, chose, chosen VERB

To choose something is to decide which thing you want to have or do.

chop chops, chopping, chopped

VERB 1 When someone chops something like wood, they cut it with an axe.

NOUN 2 A chop is a slice of meat on a bone.

chorus choruses NOUN

A chorus is a part of a song which is repeated after each verse.

chose VERB

Chose is the past tense of choose.

chosen VERB

Chosen is the past participle of choose.

Christian Christians NOUN

A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christmas Christmases NOUN

Christmas is a Christian festival held on December 25, when the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated.

chuckle chuckles, chuckling, chuckled VERB

When you chuckle, you laugh quietly.

church churches NOUN

A church is a building where Christians worship.

cigarette cigarettes NOUN

A cigarette is a thin roll of paper with tobacco in, which people smoke.

cinema cinemas NOUN

A cinema is a place where people watch films.

circle circles NOUN

A circle is a perfect round shape.

circular ADJECTIVE

See Colours and shapes on page 266

circuit circuits NOUN

A circuit is the complete path that an electric current flows through. You can make a simple circuit with a battery, a bulb and wires.

circumference circumferences NOUN

The circumference of a circle is the distance around its edge.

circus circuses NOUN

A circus is a travelling group of people such as clowns and acrobats.

city cities NOUN

A city is a large busy town.

claim claims, claiming, claimed

VERB 1 If someone claims something, they ask for it because it is theirs.

VERB 2 If you claim something is the case, you say it is the case. Amy claims she was the first to finish.

clap claps, clapping, clapped VERB

When you clap, you make a noise by hitting your hands together.

class classes

NOUN 1 A class is a group of people who are taught together.

NOUN 2 A class is also a group of people or things that are alike in some way.

classify classifies, classifying, classified VERB

To classify things is to arrange them in groups with similar features. These books are classified as non-fiction.

classroom classrooms NOUN

A classroom is a room in a school where children have lessons.

clause clauses NOUN

In grammar, a clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. It may be a complete sentence or one part of a sentence. For example, “the girl laughed” is a clause because it has a subject (the girl) and a verb (laughed).

claw claws NOUN

The claws of a bird or animal are the hard curved nails at the end of its feet.

clay NOUN

Clay is a type of sticky earth that goes hard when it is dry. It is used to make bricks and pots.

clean cleaner, cleanest ADJECTIVE

If something is clean, it is free from dirt.

clear clearer, clearest; clears, clearing, cleared

ADJECTIVE 1 If a thing is clear, you can see through it.

ADJECTIVE 2 If something you say or write is clear, it is easy to understand.

VERB 3 If you clear an area, you move things that are not wanted out of the way.

clever cleverer, cleverest ADJECTIVE

Someone who is clever is able to learn and understand things easily.

click clicks, clicking, clicked VERB

When you click something, it makes a short snapping sound.

cliff cliffs NOUN

A cliff is a steep hill by the sea.

climate climates NOUN

The climate of a place is the sort of weather it usually has.

climb climbs, climbing, climbed VERB

When you climb something, you move upwards using your hands and feet.

cling clings, clinging, clung VERB

If you cling to someone or something, you hold onto them tightly.

clinic clinics NOUN

A clinic is where people go to get help from a doctor or nurse.

clip clips, clipping, clipped

NOUN 1 A clip is something small and springy which holds things in place.

VERB 2 If you clip something like a hedge, you cut small pieces off it.

cloak cloaks NOUN

A cloak is a loose coat without sleeves that fastens at the neck.

cloakroom cloakrooms NOUN

A cloakroom is a room where coats can be left.

clock clocks NOUN

A clock is an instrument that measures and shows the time.

clockwise ADVERB

If something goes clockwise, it moves in the same direction as the hands on a clock.

clockwork ADJECTIVE

Clockwork toys move when they are wound up with a key.

close closer, closest; closes, closing, closed

(rhymes with dose) ADJECTIVE 1 If something is close, it is very near.

(rhymes with doze) VERB 2 When you close something like a door, you shut it.

closed ADJECTIVE

If something is closed, it is not open.

cloth cloths

NOUN 1 Cloth is material made from something like cotton or wool.

NOUN 2 A cloth is a piece of cloth used for cleaning.

clothes PLURAL NOUN

Clothes are the things people wear, such as shirts, trousers and dresses.

See Clothes on page 257

cloud clouds

NOUN 1 A cloud is a patch of white or grey mist that floats in the sky.

NOUN 2 You can use cloud to describe a lot of smoke, steam or dust.

cloudy ADJECTIVE

clover NOUN

Clover is a small wild plant. It has white or purple flowers, and leaves divided into three parts.

clown clowns NOUN

A clown is someone in a circus who wears funny clothes and does silly things to make people laugh.

club clubs NOUN

A club is an organization joined by people who are interested in the same thing, such as chess or riding.

clue clues NOUN

A clue is something that helps to solve a problem or mystery.

clump clumps NOUN

A clump is a small group of plants growing together.

clumsy clumsier, clumsiest ADJECTIVE

Someone who is clumsy moves awkwardly and carelessly.

clumsily ADVERB

clung VERB

Clung is the past tense of cling.

cluster clusters NOUN

A cluster is a number of things close together in a small group.

clutch clutches, clutching, clutched VERB

If you clutch something, you hold it tightly with your hand.

clutter NOUN

Clutter is an untidy mess.

coach coaches

NOUN 1 A coach is a long motor vehicle used for taking passengers on long journeys.

NOUN 2 A coach is also a section of a train that carries passengers.

NOUN 3 A coach is someone who trains you for a sport or gives you extra lessons.

coal NOUN

Coal is a hard black rock which is dug out of the ground and burned to give heat.

coarse coarser, coarsest ADJECTIVE

Anything that is coarse looks and feels rough.

coast coasts NOUN

The coast is the place where the land meets the sea.