Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

abbey abbeys

NOUN a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live

abbreviation abbreviations

NOUN a short form of a word or phrase • N is an abbreviation for North.

abdomen abdomens

NOUN the front part of your body below your chest, containing your stomach and intestines

abdominal ADJECTIVE

ability abilities

NOUN If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.

able

ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you can do it.

ANTONYM: unable

abnormal

ADJECTIVE not normal or usual

abnormally ADVERB

aboard

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If you are aboard a plane or a ship you are on it.

Aborigine Aborigines

NOUN someone descended from the people who were living in Australia before the European settlers arrived

about

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London

2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • about two o’clock

PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.

above

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If one thing is above another, it is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.

ANTONYM: below

abroad

ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.

abscess abscesses

NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus

abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled

VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use ropes to go down it.

absent

ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you are not there.

ANTONYM: present

absolute

ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute darkness

2 having total power • an absolute ruler

absolutely

ADVERB If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.

absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed

VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

absorbent

ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks up liquids easily.

abstract

ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.

2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.

3 In grammar, abstract nouns refer to qualities or ideas, rather than physical objects, for example happiness.

See noun

absurd

ADJECTIVE Something that is absurd is stupid or ridiculous.

abuse abuses, abusing, abused

Said “ab-yooss” NOUN 1 cruel treatment of someone

2 rude and unkind remarks

Said “ab-yooz” VERB 3 To abuse someone is to treat them cruelly.

4 If you abuse someone, you speak to them in a rude and insulting way.

abysmal

ADJECTIVE very bad

abysmally ADVERB

academic academics

ADJECTIVE 1 Academic work is done in school, college and university.

NOUN 2 someone who teaches or does research in a college or university

academy academies

NOUN 1 a school or college, usually one that specializes in a particular subject • the Royal Academy of Arts

2 an organization of scientists, writers, artists or musicians

accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated

VERB To accelerate is to speed up.

ANTONYM: decelerate

acceleration

NOUN the rate at which the speed of something increases

accent accents

NOUN a way of pronouncing a language • She had an Australian accent.

accept accepts, accepting, accepted

VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes to it or you take it from someone. • She accepted our invitation to the party.

2 If you accept a situation, you realize that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.

acceptable

ADJECTIVE satisfactory

access

NOUN If you have access to a place, you may enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.

accessible

ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach was accessible by a narrow path.

2 Books that are accessible are easy to understand.

accident accidents

NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed

PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.

accidental

ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has not been planned.

accidentally ADVERB

accommodation

NOUN a place where you can live, work or sleep

accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied

VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.

2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.

accomplice accomplices

NOUN a person who helps someone else to commit a crime

accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished

VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.

according to

PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.

account accounts, accounting, accounted

NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something

2 money that you keep at a bank

PHRASE 3 On account of means because of. • He couldn’t play football, on account of a sore throat.

VERB 4 To account for something is to explain it. • The bad weather accounts for the cancellation of the barbecue.

accountant accountants

NOUN someone whose job is to look after the financial affairs of people and companies

accumulate accumulates, accumulating, accumulated

VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.

accumulation NOUN

accurate

ADJECTIVE absolutely correct

accuracy NOUN

accuse accuses, accusing, accused

VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong, you say they have done it.

accusation NOUN

ace aces

NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.

2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.

ADJECTIVE 3 INFORMAL good or skilful • an ace squash player

ache aches, aching, ached

NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain

VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.

achieve achieves, achieving, achieved

VERB If you achieve something, you are successful at doing it or at making it happen.

The i comes before the e in achieve.

acid acids

NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.

ANTONYM: alkali

ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it tastes sharp or bitter.

ANTONYM: alkaline

[from Latin acidus meaning sour]

acid rain

NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil

acknowledge acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged

VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.

2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognized them, by waving or saying hello.

3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.

acne

NOUN a skin disease that causes spots on the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.

acorn acorns

NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees

acquaintance acquaintances

NOUN someone you know slightly but not well

acre acres

NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.