Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

NOUN a small bay on the coast

cover covers, covering, covered

VERB 1 If you cover something, you put something else over it to protect it or hide it.

2 If something covers something else, it forms a layer over it.

3 If you cover a particular distance, you travel that distance.

4 If you cover a subject, you discuss it in a lesson, course or book. • We covered the Vikings in today’s lesson.

NOUN 5 something put over an object to protect it or keep it warm

6 The cover of a book or magazine is its outside.

7 Cover is trees, rocks or other places where you can shelter or hide. • When it started raining they ran for cover.

coverage

NOUN The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it. • There was complete coverage of the Wimbledon finals on television.

cow cows

NOUN a large female mammal kept on farms for its milk and meat

coward cowards

NOUN a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous situations

cowardly ADJECTIVE cowardice NOUN

cowboy cowboys

NOUN a man employed to look after cattle in America

coy coyer, coyest

ADJECTIVE If someone behaves in a coy way, they pretend to be shy and modest.

crab crabs

NOUN a crustacean with four pairs of legs, two claws, and a flat, round body covered by a shell

crack cracks, cracking, cracked

VERB 1 If something cracks, or if something cracks it, it becomes damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.

2 If you crack a joke, you tell it.

3 If you crack a problem or code, you solve it.

NOUN 4 one of the lines appearing on something when it cracks

5 a narrow gap • My ring fell into a crack in the pavement.

cracker crackers

NOUN 1 a thin, crisp biscuit that is often eaten with cheese

2 a paper-covered tube that pulls apart with a bang, and usually has a toy and paper hat inside

crackle crackles, crackling, crackled

VERB 1 something crackles, it makes a series of short sharp sounds • The bonfire started to crackle as the flames grew higher.

NOUN 2 a short sharp sound

cradle cradles, cradling, cradled

NOUN 1 a box-shaped bed for a baby

VERB 2 If you cradle something in your arms or hands, you hold it there carefully.

craft crafts

NOUN 1 an activity that needs skill with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery

2 a boat, plane or spacecraft

craftsman or craftswoman craftsmen or craftswomen

NOUN a person who makes things skilfully with their hands

craftsmanship NOUN

crafty craftier, craftiest

ADJECTIVE Crafty people get what they want by tricking other people in a clever way.

SYNONYMS: cunning, wily

crag crags

NOUN a steep, rugged rock or peak

cram crams, cramming, crammed

VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.

cramp cramps

NOUN pain caused when muscles contract

cramped

ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.

crane cranes, craning, craned

NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air

2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs

VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.

crash crashes, crashing, crashed

NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged

2 a sudden, loud noise

VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.

crate crates

NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things

crater craters

NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.

[from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]

crave craves, craving, craved

VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.

craving NOUN

crawl crawls, crawling, crawled

VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.

2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.

crayon crayons

NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax

craze crazes

NOUN something that is very popular for a short time

crazy crazier, craziest

ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish

2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.

creak creaks, creaking, creaked

VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.

NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise

creaky ADJECTIVE

cream creams

NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk

2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it

ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white colour

crease creases, creasing, creased

NOUN 1 an irregular line that appears on cloth or paper when it is crumpled

2 a straight line on something that has been pressed or folded neatly • Dad ironed a sharp crease in his best trousers.

VERB 3 If you crease something, you make lines appear on it.

create creates, creating, created

VERB If someone creates something, they cause it to happen or exist.

creation NOUN

creative

ADJECTIVE Creative people are good at inventing and developing new ideas.

creature creatures

NOUN any living thing that is not a plant

crèche crèches

NOUN a place where small children are looked after while their parents are working

[from old French crèche meaning crib or manger]

credit credits

NOUN 1 a system where you pay for something in small amounts, regularly over a period of time

2 praise given to you for good work

PLURAL NOUN 3 Credits are the list of people who helped make a film, record or television programme.

PHRASE 4 If your bank account is in credit, you have money in it.

credit card credit cards

NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods on credit rather than paying with cash

creek creeks

NOUN a narrow inlet where the sea comes a long way into the land

creep creeps, creeping, crept

VERB If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.

creepy creepier, creepiest

ADJECTIVE strange and frightening • The film was creepy.

SYNONYMS: eerie, spooky

cremate cremates, cremating, cremated

VERB If someone is cremated when they die, their body is burned instead of buried.

crematorium crematoriums or crematoria

NOUN a building in which people are cremated

crescent crescents

NOUN a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at the ends, like a new moon

cress

NOUN a plant with small, strong-tasting leaves, used in salads

crest crests

NOUN 1 the highest part of a hill or wave

2 a tuft of feathers on top of a bird’s head

3 a special sign of something, such as a school or other organization

crevice crevices

NOUN a narrow crack or gap in rock

crew crews

NOUN The crew of a ship, aeroplane or spacecraft are the people who operate it.

cricket crickets

NOUN 1 an outdoor game played by two teams, who take turns at scoring runs by hitting a ball with a bat

2 a small, jumping insect that produces sounds by rubbing its wings together

cried

VERB the past tense and past participle of cry

crime crimes

NOUN an action for which you can be punished by law

criminal criminals

NOUN 1 someone who has committed a crime

ADJECTIVE 2 involving or related to crime

crimson

NOUN OR ADJECTIVE dark, purplish-red

crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled

VERB 1 If something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased or folded.