Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

crisp crisper, crispest; crisps

ADJECTIVE 1 Things like fruit and biscuits that are crisp are fresh and firm.

NOUN 2 A crisp is a crunchy, thinly sliced piece of fried potato.

See Other foods on page 261

criticize criticizes, criticizing, criticized; also spelt criticise VERB

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

crocodile crocodiles NOUN

A crocodile is a large reptile, about five metres long.

See Reptiles on page 264

crooked ADJECTIVE

Something that is crooked is bent or twisted.

crop crops NOUN

A crop is plants grown for food.

cross crosser, crossest; crosses, crossing, crossed

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is cross is angry about something.

NOUN 2 A cross is a mark like + or ×.

VERB 3 If you cross something like a road, you go from one side to the other.

crossing crossings NOUN

A crossing is a place where you can cross the road safely.

crouch crouches, crouching, crouched VERB

If you crouch down, you bend your legs under you so that you are close to the ground.

crow crows NOUN

A crow is a large black bird.

crowd crowds NOUN

A crowd is a large number of people together in one place.

crowded ADJECTIVE

A place that is crowded is full of people.

crown crowns NOUN

A crown is an ornament that kings and queens sometimes wear on their heads.

cruel crueller, cruellest ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cruel hurts people or animals without caring.

cruise cruises NOUN

A cruise is a holiday on a ship that travels to different places.

crumb crumbs NOUN

A crumb is a very small piece of dry food such as bread or biscuit.

crumble crumbles, crumbling, crumbled VERB

If you crumble something that is soft, it breaks into lots of little pieces.

crunch crunches, crunching, crunched VERB

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

crush crushes, crushing, crushed VERB

To crush something is to destroy its shape by squeezing it.

crust crusts NOUN

The crust is a hard layer on the outside of something such as bread.

cry cries, crying, cried

VERB 1 When you cry, tears come from your eyes.

NOUN 2 A cry is a sudden sound that you make when you are surprised or hurt.

crystal crystals NOUN

A crystal is a mineral that has formed into a regular shape.

cub cubs NOUN

A cub is a young wild animal such as a lion, fox or bear.

See Young animals on page 265

cube cubes NOUN

A cube is a solid shape with six square faces all the same size.

See Solid shapes on page 266

cuckoo cuckoos NOUN

A cuckoo is a grey bird. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.

cucumber cucumbers NOUN

A cucumber is a long, thin, dark green vegetable, eaten raw.

See Vegetables on page 260

cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled VERB

When you cuddle someone, you put your arms round them.

culprit culprits NOUN

A culprit is someone who has done something harmful or wrong.

cunning ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cunning plans to get what they want, often by tricking other people.

cup cups

NOUN 1 A cup is a small container with a handle, which you drink out of.

NOUN 2 A cup is also a prize for the winner of a game or competition.

cupboard cupboards NOUN

A cupboard is a piece of furniture with doors and shelves.

cure cures, curing, cured

NOUN 1 A cure is something that makes people better when they have been ill.

VERB 2 If someone or something cures a person, they make them well again.

curiosity NOUN

Curiosity is wanting to know about things.

curious

ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.

ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is curious is unusual and hard to explain.

curl curls, curling, curled

VERB 1 If an animal curls up, it makes itself into a rounded shape.

NOUN 2 Curls are pieces of hair shaped in curves and circles.

curly ADJECTIVE

currant currants NOUN

Currants are small dried grapes.

current currents

NOUN 1 A current is a steady movement of water or air.

NOUN 2 A current is also the movement of electricity through a wire.

curriculum curriculums or curricula NOUN

A curriculum is the different courses taught at a school or college.

curry curries NOUN

Curry is an Indian dish made with spices.

cursor cursors NOUN

A cursor is a small sign on a computer screen that shows where the next letter or number will appear.

curtain curtains NOUN

A curtain is a large piece of material that you pull across a window to cover it.

curve curves NOUN

A curve is a smooth, gradually bending line.

curved ADJECTIVE

cushion cushions NOUN

A cushion is a soft object put on a seat to make it more comfortable.

custom customs NOUN

A custom is something that people usually do. It’s his custom to take the dog for a walk after supper.

customer customers NOUN

A customer is a person who buys something, especially from a shop.

cut cuts, cutting, cut

VERB 1 If you cut yourself, you hurt yourself by accident on something sharp.

VERB 2 If you cut something, you use a knife or scissors to remove parts of it.

cutlery NOUN

Cutlery is the knives, forks and spoons that you eat your food with.

cycle cycles, cycling, cycled

NOUN 1 A cycle is a bicycle.

VERB 2 If you cycle, you ride a bicycle.

cyclist NOUN

cylinder cylinders NOUN

A cylinder is a three-dimensional shape like a tube with flat circular ends.

cylindrical ADJECTIVE

See Solid shapes on page 266

Dd

dad dads NOUN

Your dad is your father.

daddy daddies NOUN

INFORMAL Your daddy is your father.

daffodil daffodils NOUN

A daffodil is a yellow trumpet-shaped flower that blooms in the spring.

dagger daggers NOUN

A dagger is a weapon like a knife.

daily ADJECTIVE

Something that is daily happens every day.

dairy dairies NOUN

A dairy is a shop or company that sells milk and food made from milk, such as butter and cheese.

daisy daisies NOUN

A daisy is a small wild flower with white petals and a yellow centre.

dam dams NOUN

A dam is a wall built across a river or stream to hold back water.

damage damages, damaging, damaged VERB

To damage something means to harm or spoil it.

damp damper, dampest ADJECTIVE

Something that is damp is slightly wet.

dance dances, dancing, danced VERB

When you dance, you move your body in time to music.

dandelion dandelions NOUN

A dandelion is a wild plant with bright yellow flowers.

danger dangers NOUN

A danger is something that could harm you.

dangerous ADJECTIVE

If something is dangerous, it is likely to harm you.

dare dares, daring, dared VERB

If you dare to do something, you are brave enough to do it.

dark darker, darkest ADJECTIVE

When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly.

darkness NOUN