Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries
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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,