Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

apart ADJECTIVE

If something is apart from something else, there is a space between them. He stood with his feet apart.

ape apes NOUN

Apes are like monkeys but are larger and have no tails. Chimpanzees and gorillas are apes.

apologize apologizes, apologizing, apologized; also spelt apologise VERB

When you apologize, you say you are sorry for something you have done.

apology apologies NOUN

An apology is something you say or write to tell someone you are sorry.

apostrophe apostrophes NOUN

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark (‘) used in contractions and to show belonging.

See Punctuation on page 270

apparatus NOUN

The apparatus for a particular task is the equipment you use for it.

appear appears, appearing, appeared

VERB 1 When something appears, it moves into a place where you can see it.

VERB 2 If something appears to be a certain way, that is how it seems.

appearance appearances

NOUN 1 Someone’s appearance in a place is their sudden arrival there.

NOUN 2 Your appearance is the way you look to other people.

appetite appetites NOUN

If you have an appetite, you are looking forward to eating something.

applause NOUN

Applause is clapping your hands to show that you liked something.

apple apples NOUN

An apple is a round crisp fruit which grows on a tree.

See Fruit on page 260

apply applies, applying, applied VERB

If you apply for something, like a job, you usually ask for it in writing.

appreciate appreciates, appreciating, appreciated VERB

If you appreciate something, you feel grateful for it.

approach approaches, approaching, approached VERB

When someone approaches you, they get nearer to you.

approve approves, approving, approved VERB

If you approve of something, you think it is good.

approval NOUN

approximate ADJECTIVE

An approximate answer may not be exactly right. What is the approximate distance between those trees?

approximately ADVERB

If you say approximately, you mean about. It is approximately 5 metres long.

apricot apricots NOUN

An apricot is a small, round yellow-orange fruit with a large stone in the centre.

April NOUN

April is the fourth month of the year. It has 30 days.

apron aprons NOUN

An apron is a piece of material that you wear to keep your clothes clean.

aquarium aquaria or aquariums NOUN

An aquarium is a glass tank for fish and other underwater animals.

arch arches NOUN

An arch is a curved part of a bridge, wall or building.

archery NOUN

Archery is a sport in which people shoot at a target with a bow and arrow.

architect architects NOUN

An architect is a person who designs buildings.

are VERB

Are is a present tense form of be. They are both in my class.

See be

area areas

NOUN 1 The area of something is the size of its surface. To find the area of a rectangle, you multiply the length by the breadth.

NOUN 2 You use the word area to mean in or around a place. There are lots of shops in this area.

argue argues, arguing, argued VERB

If you argue with someone, you say that you do not agree with them, and give your reasons.

argument arguments NOUN

An argument is a talk between people who do not agree. In some arguments, people shout angrily.

arithmetic NOUN

Arithmetic is about adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers.

arm arms NOUN

Your arm is the part of your body between the shoulder and the hand.

armchair armchairs NOUN

An armchair is a chair with a support on each side for your arms.

armour NOUN

Armour is metal clothing that soldiers used to wear in battle.

army armies NOUN

An army is a large organized group of people who are trained to fight in case of war.

around

PREPOSITION 1 You say around when things are in various places. There are lots of cupboards around the house.

PREPOSITION 2 You can use around when something is on all sides of something else. The Earth’s atmosphere is the air around it.

arrange arranges, arranging, arranged

VERB 1 If you arrange something like a party, you make plans and organize it.

VERB 2 If you arrange things like flowers, you group them in a special way.

array arrays

NOUN 1 An array is a group of things set out neatly in columns and rows.

NOUN 2 An array is also a large number of things displayed together. Ben’s mouth watered at the array of cakes.

arrest arrests, arresting, arrested VERB

If the police arrest someone, they take them to the police station.

arrive arrives, arriving, arrived VERB

When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.

arrival NOUN

arrow arrows

NOUN 1 An arrow is a thin stick with a pointed end, which is shot from a bow.

NOUN 2 An arrow can also be a sign which shows people which way to go.

art NOUN

Art is something like painting or sculpture, which is beautiful or has a special meaning.

artery arteries NOUN

An artery is a tube which carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

article articles

NOUN 1 An article is a piece of writing in a magazine or newspaper.

NOUN 2 An article can also be an object.

What is this strange article?

artificial ADJECTIVE

Artificial things are made by people. They do not occur naturally.

artist artists NOUN

An artist is a person who does things like painting or sculpture.

as

CONJUNCTION 1 If one thing happens as something else happens, it happens at the same time as the second thing. We watched television as we ate our sandwiches.

CONJUNCTION 2 You say as when you are going to give a reason for something. As I like school I get there early.

ascend ascends, ascending, ascended VERB

When you ascend, you move upwards. He ascended the stairs to his room.

ascending ADJECTIVE

When things are arranged in ascending order, each thing is higher than the one before it. The numbers 21, 37 and 49 are in ascending order.

ash ashes

NOUN 1 Ash is the dust left after a fire.

NOUN 2 An ash is a large tree.

ashamed ADJECTIVE

If you are ashamed, you feel sorry about something you have done.

ask asks, asking, asked

VERB 1 If you ask someone a question, you are trying to find something out.

VERB 2 If you ask someone for something, you want them to give it to you.

asleep ADJECTIVE

If you are asleep, your eyes are closed and your body is resting.

aspirin aspirins NOUN

Aspirin is a drug which you take to help you if you have a pain, fever or cold. An aspirin is a tablet of this drug.

ass asses NOUN

An ass is an animal like a horse but smaller and with longer ears.

assemble assembles, assembling, assembled

VERB 1 If you assemble something, you fit the parts of it together.

VERB 2 When people assemble, they come together in a group.

assembly assemblies NOUN

Assembly is a gathering of all the teachers and pupils in a school.

assistant assistants

NOUN 1 A person’s assistant is someone whose job is to help them.

NOUN 2 A shop assistant is a person who works in a shop selling things.

asthma NOUN

Asthma is a disease of the chest. It causes wheezing and makes it difficult for you to breathe properly.