Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

compose composes, composing, composed VERB

If you compose something, like a poem or a piece of music, you write it.

compound compounds NOUN

In language, a compound is a word that is made up of two or more words. “Playground”, “armchair” and “toothache” are all compounds.

computer computers NOUN

A computer is a machine that stores information and works things out according to instructions in a program.

conceal conceals, concealing, concealed VERB

If you conceal something, you hide it carefully.

concentrate concentrates, concentrating, concentrated VERB

If you concentrate on something, you give it all your attention.

concerned ADJECTIVE

If you are concerned about something, it worries you.

concert concerts NOUN

A concert is a performance by musicians, usually in a big hall.

conclusion conclusions

NOUN 1 A conclusion is something you decide is true after you have thought carefully.

NOUN 2 The conclusion of something is its ending.

concrete NOUN

Concrete is a building material made of cement, sand and water, which goes hard when it is set.

condition conditions

NOUN 1 The condition of something is the state it is in.

NOUN 2 A condition is a rule you must agree to before you are allowed to do something. You can go out on one condition – you must be home by five.

conductor conductors NOUN

A conductor is someone who controls the way musicians play together.

cone cones NOUN

A cone is a solid curved shape with a flat circular base and a pointed top.

See Solid shapes on page 266

confess confesses, confessing, confessed VERB

If you confess, you say that you have done something wrong.

confident

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are confident about something, you are sure about it.

ADJECTIVE 2 People who are confident know that they can do something well.

confuse confuses, confusing, confused

VERB 1 To confuse someone means to make them unsure what to do. The new road layout confused everyone.

VERB 2 If you confuse two things, you mix them up by mistake. I always confuse the twins because they are so alike.

congratulate congratulates, congratulating, congratulated VERB

If you congratulate someone, you say you are pleased that something special has happened to them.

conjunction conjunctions NOUN

In grammar, a conjunction is a word that joins two other words or parts of a sentence. “And”, “but”, “while” and “although” are all conjunctions.

connect connects, connecting, connected VERB

If you connect two things, you join them together.

connective connectives NOUN

In grammar, a connective is a word or phrase that joins parts of a text. For example, “and”, “at last” and “because” are connectives.

conquer conquers, conquering, conquered VERB

To conquer people is to take control of their country by force.

conscious ADJECTIVE

If you are conscious, you are awake and know what is happening.

consecutive ADJECTIVE

If things are consecutive, they happen one after the other. October, November and December are consecutive months.

conservation NOUN

Conservation is the protection of the environment.

consider considers, considering, considered VERB

If you consider something, you think about it carefully.

consist consists, consisting, consisted VERB

Something that consists of particular things is made up of them. The book consists of an introduction, ten chapters and an index.

consonant consonants NOUN

A consonant is any letter of the alphabet except a, e, i, o and u.

See vowel

constant ADJECTIVE

Something that is constant happens all the time. My friend Elizabeth complains of a constant headache.

construct constructs, constructing, constructed VERB

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

consume consumes, consuming, consumed VERB

If you consume something, you eat or drink it, or use it up.

contain contains, containing, contained VERB

The things that something contains are the things in it.

container containers NOUN

A container is something you put things in.

content ADJECTIVE

If you are content, you are happy and satisfied with your life.

contents PLURAL NOUN

The contents of something like a box or cake are the things in it. The contents page of a book tells you what is in it.

contest contests NOUN

A contest is a competition or game which you try to win.

continent continents NOUN

A continent is a very large area of land, such as Africa or Asia.

continue continues, continuing, continued VERB

If you continue to do something, you go on doing it.

continuous ADJECTIVE

Something that is continuous goes on without stopping.

contraction contractions NOUN

A contraction is a shortened form of a word or of words. For example, “I’m” is a contraction of “I am”.

contradict contradicts, contradicting, contradicted VERB

If you contradict someone, you say the opposite of what they have just said.

control controls, controlling, controlled

VERB 1 If you control something, you make it behave exactly as you want it to.

NOUN 2 The controls on a machine are knobs or other things used to work it.

convenient ADJECTIVE

If something is convenient, it is easy to use or do.

conversation conversations NOUN

If you have a conversation with someone, you talk to each other.

convince convinces, convincing, convinced VERB

If someone or something convinces you, they make you believe that something is true.

cook cooks, cooking, cooked VERB

When you cook food, you prepare it for eating by heating it.

cooker cookers NOUN

A cooker is a piece of equipment for cooking food.

cookie cookies NOUN

A cookie is another word for a biscuit.

cool cooler, coolest ADJECTIVE

If something is cool, its temperature is low but it is not cold.

coordinates NOUN

Coordinates are two numbers or letters which help you find the exact position of something. They are often used on maps, graphs and charts.

cope copes, coping, coped VERB

If you cope with a task or problem, you deal with it successfully.

copper NOUN

Copper is a reddish-brown metal.

copy copies, copying, copied

NOUN 1 A copy is something made to look exactly like something else.

VERB 2 If you copy something, you make a copy of it.

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

coral corals NOUN

Coral is a hard substance that forms in the sea from the skeletons of tiny animals called corals.

cord cords NOUN

Cord is thick, strong string.

core cores NOUN

The core of a fruit is the hard part in the middle that contains seeds.

cork corks

NOUN 1 Cork is the light bark of the cork oak tree.

NOUN 2 A cork is a piece of cork used to block the open end of a bottle.

corn NOUN

Corn is a cereal crop, such as wheat or sweet corn.

corner corners NOUN

A corner is the place where two edges or roads join.

correct corrects, correcting, corrected