Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

ADJECTIVE 1 shaped like a cube

2 used to describe volume when you measure height, width and depth • a cubic metre

cubicle cubicles

NOUN a small enclosed area in a place such as a sports centre or a shop, where you can dress and undress

cuboid cuboids

NOUN a rectangular, three-dimensional box shape. A cuboid has six faces, all of which are rectangles.

cuckoo cuckoos

NOUN a grey bird with a two-note call. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.

cucumber cucumbers

NOUN a long, thin, green vegetable that is eaten raw

cud

NOUN food that has been chewed and digested more than once by cows, sheep or other animals that have more than one stomach

cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled

VERB 1 If you cuddle someone, you hold them closely in your arms as a way of showing your affection.

NOUN 2 If you give someone a cuddle, you cuddle them.

cuddly ADJECTIVE

cuff cuffs

NOUN the end part of a sleeve, especially a shirt sleeve

cul-de-sac cul-de-sacs

NOUN a road that does not lead to any other roads because one end is blocked off

[from French cul + de + sac meaning bottom of the bag]

culprit culprits

NOUN someone who has done something harmful or wrong

cult cults

NOUN 1 a small religious group, especially one that is considered strange

ADJECTIVE 2 very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people • It became a cult film.

cultivate cultivates, cultivating, cultivated

VERB When someone cultivates land, they grow crops on it.

cultivation NOUN

culture cultures

NOUN the ideas, customs and art of a particular society

cunning

ADJECTIVE A cunning person or plan achieves things in a clever way, often by deceiving people.

SYNONYMS: crafty, sly, wily

cup cups, cupping, cupped

NOUN 1 a small, round container with a handle, which you drink from

2 a large metal container with two handles, which is given as a prize

VERB 3 If you cup your hands, you put them together to make a shape like a cup.

cupboard cupboards

NOUN 1 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves

2 a very small room for storing things in • The broom is in the cupboard under the stairs.

curator curators

NOUN the person in a museum or art gallery in charge of its contents

curb curbs, curbing, curbed

VERB If you curb something, you keep it within limits. • You must curb your spending on comics.

curdle curdles, curdling, curdled

VERB When milk curdles, it turns sour.

cure cures, curing, cured

VERB 1 If a doctor cures someone of an illness, they help them get better.

NOUN 2 something that heals or helps someone to get better

VERB 3 If someone cures meat or fish, they smoke it to give it flavour and preserve it.

curfew curfews

NOUN a rule or a law stating that people must stay indoors between particular times at night

curiosity curiosities

NOUN 1 the desire to know something or about many things

2 something unusual and interesting

curious

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

SYNONYMS: inquisitive, nosy

2 Something that is curious is unusual or difficult to understand.

SYNONYMS: strange, peculiar

curl curls, curling, curled

NOUN 1 Curls are lengths of hair shaped in tight curves and circles.

2 a curved or spiral shape • A curl of smoke rose from the chimney.

VERB 3 If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral. • Smoke curled up the chimney.

curly ADJECTIVE

currant currants

NOUN a small, dried grape. Currants are often used in cakes and puddings.

currency currencies

NOUN A country’s currency is its coins and banknotes.

current currents

NOUN 1 a steady continuous flowing movement of water or air

NOUN 2 An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.

ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is current is happening now. • current fashion trends

curriculum curriculums or curricula

NOUN the different courses taught at a school or university

curry curries

NOUN an Indian dish made with hot spices

curse curses, cursing, cursed

NOUN 1 an evil spell • She said the old house had a curse on it.

VERB 2 If you curse, you swear because you are angry.

cursor cursors

NOUN a sign on a computer monitor that shows where the next letter or symbol is

curtain curtains

NOUN a hanging piece of material that can be pulled across a window

curtsy curtsies, curtsying, curtsied

NOUN 1 a little bobbing bow to show respect • I made a little curtsy to the Queen.

VERB 2 the action of making a curtsy

curve curves, curving, curved

NOUN 1 a smooth, gradually bending line

VERB 2 When something curves, it moves in a curve or has the shape of a curve. • The lane curved to the right.

curved ADJECTIVE

cushion cushions, cushioning, cushioned

NOUN 1 a soft object that you put on a seat to make it more comfortable

VERB 2 When something cushions something else, it reduces its effect. • The pile of leaves cushioned his fall.

custard

NOUN a sweet, yellow sauce made from milk and eggs

custody

NOUN 1 If someone has custody of a child, they have the legal right to keep it and look after it.

PHRASE 2 Someone who is in custody is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court.

[from Latin custos meaning a guard]

custodial ADJECTIVE

custom customs

NOUN something that people usually do • the custom of decorating the house for Christmas

customary

ADJECTIVE usual

customer customers

NOUN a person who buys things from a shop or firm

customs

NOUN the place at a border, airport or harbour where you declare any goods that you are bringing into the country

cut cuts, cutting, cut

VERB 1 If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.

2 If you cut yourself, you injure yourself with a sharp object.

NOUN 3 a mark made with a knife or a sharp tool

4 a reduction in something • There were lots of price cuts during the sales.

cutlery

NOUN knives, forks and spoons

cycle cycles, cycling, cycled

NOUN 1 a bicycle

2 a series of events that is repeated again and again • the cycle of the seasons

VERB 3 When you cycle, you ride a bicycle.

cyclist NOUN

cyclone cyclones

NOUN a violent wind that blows in a spiral like a corkscrew

cygnet cygnets

NOUN a young swan

cylinder cylinders

NOUN 1 a hollow or solid shape with straight sides and equal circular faces

See prism

2 the part of an engine that the piston moves in

cylindrical ADJECTIVE

cymbal cymbals

NOUN a circular brass plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals are clashed together or hit with a stick.

See percussion

Dd

dabble dabbles, dabbling, dabbled

VERB If you dabble in something, you work or play at it without being seriously involved in it.

dad or daddy dads or daddies

NOUN INFORMAL Your dad or your daddy is your father.

daffodil daffodils

NOUN a plant with yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that blooms in spring

daft dafter, daftest

ADJECTIVE silly and not very sensible

dagger daggers

NOUN a weapon like a short knife

daily

ADJECTIVE occurring every day

dainty daintier, daintiest

ADJECTIVE very delicate and pretty