Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

NOUN a notice in a newspaper, on a poster or on TV about a job or things for sale

advice

NOUN a suggestion from someone about what you should do

The noun advice ends in ce.

advisable

ADJECTIVE If it is advisable to do something, it is a sensible thing to do and will probably give the results that you want. • It is advisable to wear a helmet when cycling.

advise advises, advising, advised

VERB If you advise someone to do something, you tell them you think they should do it.

The verb advise ends in se.

aerial aerials

NOUN 1 a piece of wire for receiving television or radio signals

ADJECTIVE 2 happening in the air • We watched the aerial displays at the RAF airshow.

aero-

PREFIX to do with the air, for example aeroplane

[from Greek aer meaning air]

aerobics

NOUN a type of fast physical exercise that increases the oxygen in your blood and strengthens your heart and lungs

aerobic ADJECTIVE

aeroplane aeroplanes

NOUN a vehicle with wings and engines that enable it to fly

aerosol aerosols

NOUN a small, metal container in which liquid is kept under pressure so that it can be forced out as a spray

affair affairs

NOUN 1 an event or series of events • The wedding was a happy affair.

2 If something is your own affair, then it is your concern only.

affect affects, affecting, affected

VERB When something affects someone or something, it causes them to change. • Computers affect our lives in many ways.

affection

NOUN a feeling of love and fondness for someone

affectionate ADJECTIVE

affluent

ADJECTIVE People who are affluent have a lot of money and possessions.

afford affords, affording, afforded

VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.

2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.

afloat

ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.

afraid

ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.

SYNONYM: scared

2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.

after

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event • She left just after breakfast. • Soon after, he went to work.

PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. • They ran after her.

afternoon afternoons

NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six o’clock

afterwards

ADVERB after an event or time • We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.

again

ADVERB happening one more time • The film was so good that we went to see it again.

SYNONYM: once more

against

PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on • He leaned the ladder against the wall.

2 in opposition to • France played against England.

age ages, ageing or aging, aged

NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.

2 a particular period in history • the Iron Age

PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. • He’s been talking for ages.

VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.

Ageing and aging are both correct spellings.

agency agencies

NOUN an organization or business that provides special services • detective agency • advertising agency

agenda agendas

NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting

agent agents

NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people • a travel agent

2 someone who works for their country’s secret service

aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated

VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.

2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.

aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN

aggressive

ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence • Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.

SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile

agile

ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily • He is as agile as a cat.

agilely ADVERB agility NOUN

agitated

ADJECTIVE worried and anxious

agitation NOUN

ago

ADVERB in the past • She bought her flat three years ago.

agony

NOUN very great physical or mental pain

SYNONYMS: suffering, torment

agree agrees, agreeing, agreed

VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.

2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.

agreeable

ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable

2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.

agreeably ADVERB

agreement agreements

NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.

agriculture

NOUN farming

ahead

ADVERB 1 in front • He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.

2 more advanced than someone or something else • Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.

3 in the future • I can’t think that far ahead.

aid aids

NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need

2 something that makes a job easier • The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.

ailment ailments

NOUN a minor illness

aim aims, aiming, aimed

VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.

2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.

SYNONYMS: intend, mean

NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. • The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.

SYNONYMS: goal, objective

aimless

ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.

aimlessly ADVERB

air

NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earth’s atmosphere

2 the space around things or above the ground • The balloons floated up into the air.

3 used to refer to travel in aircraft • My uncle often travels by air.

air conditioning

NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building

aircraft

NOUN any vehicle that can fly

air force air forces

NOUN the part of a country’s armed services that fights using aircraft

airline airlines

NOUN a company that provides air travel

airmail

NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air • He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.

airport airports

NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes

airtight

ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.

aisle aisles

NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves • The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.

ajar

ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.

alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed

NOUN 1 a feeling of fear and worry • The cat sprang back in alarm.

2 an automatic device used to warn people of something • The burglar alarm went off accidentally.

VERB 3 If something alarms you, it makes you worried and anxious.

album albums

NOUN 1 a CD, cassette or record with a number of songs on it

2 a book in which you keep a collection of things, such as photographs or stamps

alcohol

NOUN the name for drinks such as beer, wine and spirits