Ogden's Basic English 850 · Free web edition

001 come /kʌm/

move to the place where another person is

You hear footsteps approaching. The person gets closer, step by step, until they are standing in front of you.

Come and sit next to me.

002 get /ɡɛt/

take something into your hands and keep it

A hand reaches out, takes hold of something, and draws it into the palm.

You can get a map at the desk.

003 give /ɡɪv/

let another person have something from your hand

Your hand opens and holds something out; another hand takes it, and yours comes back empty.

Give this note to your teacher.

004 go /ɡəʊ/ · /ɡoʊ/

move away from here to another place

You turn your back on where you were standing and walk off, your shape getting smaller down the road.

She went home without saying a word to anyone.

005 keep /kiːp/ · /kip/

have something and not let it go away

Something stays in your hand and you never let it go; a long time later it is still there, in the same place.

He keeps his old letters in a shoe box.

Synonymsretain

006 let /lɛt/

say that a person may do something

The hand that was blocking the way drops and moves aside, and the path is open.

Her father let her drive the car last night.

Synonymsallow

007 make /meɪk/

put parts together and get a new thing

Scattered pieces lie on the table, and a pair of hands turns them into something that was not there before.

The children made a snowman in the yard.

Synonymscreate

008 put /pʊt/

move something to a place and let it rest there

You take something in your hand and place it on a table or on the floor.

He put his cup beside the sink.

009 seem /siːm/ · /sim/

have the look of being a certain way

You watch a person from a distance, and the way they look leaves a guess in your mind.

The old man seems happy to see us.

010 take /teɪk/

get something into your hand and move it away

A hand closes around something, lifts it off the shelf, and it leaves with the person.

Take an umbrella with you today.

011 be /bɪ/ · /bi/

used to say what a person or thing is

The name fits the thing exactly, and the thing is really there, standing in its own place.

My brother is a doctor in town.

012 do /duː/ · /du/

to carry out an act

Sleeves pushed up, hands start moving, and a thing goes from not done to done.

He did the dishes while she swept the floor.

013 have /hæv/, /həv/

to keep something as your own

The thing is written under your name; anyone else who wants it has to ask you first.

We have two cats and a dog.

014 say /seɪ/

make words with your mouth for others to hear

The mouth opens, sound comes out, and what was inside your head reaches another person's ears.

Say your name slowly, please.

015 see /siː/ · /si/

get a picture of something with your eyes

Your eyes face that way, light comes in, and a picture forms behind them.

I see a bird on the roof.

016 send /sɛnd/

make a thing go to a person far away

The thing goes into an envelope, a stamp is stuck on, and someone carries it far away for you.

I will send you the photos tonight.

017 may /meɪ/

it is possible that; it is allowed

A door stands open a crack; whether you get through depends on how things turn out.

You may sit here if you like.

018 will /wɪl/, /wəl/

used to say a thing is going to happen

The thing has not happened yet, and you are already walking toward it, quite sure of it.

She will call you after lunch.

019 about /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; more or less

The talk keeps circling one subject, going round and round it and never wandering off.

We talked about the new teacher.

020 across /əˈkɹɒs/ · /əˈkɹɔs/

over from this side to that side

You start at one edge of the road and walk to the other side, your feet crossing the whole width.

A small bridge runs across the river here.

021 after /ˈɑːftə/ · /ˈæftɝ/

later in time than something else

The first thing lands, and only then does the second one step up behind it.

We went home after the film.

022 against /əˈɡenst/, /əˈɡeɪnst/

touching a thing and pushing the other way

A person steps forward with an arm across the chest and pushes back what someone else wants to do.

Many people were against the plan.

023 among /əˈmʌŋ/

in the middle, with others all round you

One person stands inside a crowd, with shoulders and voices on every side.

She found her keys among the toys.

024 at /æt/, /ət/

used to mark a place or a time

A single point is pinned on the map, and the person or thing stays on it, not moving.

We stopped at a small shop for water.

025 before /bɪˈfɔː/ · /ˌbiˈfɔɹ/

earlier in time than something else

The hour on the clock has not come yet; you finish the job first and get there ahead of it.

He called his mother before the meeting started.

026 between /bɪˈtwiːn/ · /bitˈwin/

in the space with one thing on each side

One person stands on either side, with you in the space between them.

The bank is between the shop and the park.

027 by /baɪ/

near a thing; with the help of

You want the window to stay open. You put a stone under it, and the window stays open. The stone did it.

We came here by train.

028 down /daʊn/

from a high place to a low place

A body or an object follows its own weight, from a high place to a low one.

The cat jumped down from the table.

029 from /frɒm/, /frəm/ · /frəm/

used to show the starting point of a move

The starting point is left behind, and the person or thing carries its marks along.

This letter is from my old friend.

030 in /ɪn/

used before a word for a place or a time

Walls close on every side, and the person or thing stays inside that space.

Two birds built a nest in the tree.

031 off /ɒf/ · /ɔf/

away from a thing; not working any more

A finger presses the switch, the light goes out, and the sound stops with it.

She took off her wet shoes at the door.

032 on /ɒn/ · /ɑn/

touching the top of a thing; working

One thing lies flat against the surface of another, pressing down and not slipping off.

Your book is on the kitchen table.

033 over /ˈəʊvə/ · /ˈoʊvɝ/

above a thing, with space between them

One thing hangs above another, with empty air between them.

A lamp hangs over the desk.

034 through /θɹuː/ · /θɹu/

in at one side and out at the other

The way is open from end to end, and you pass from one side to the other without stopping.

The train went through a long tunnel.

035 to /tuː/, /tə/ · /tu/, /tə/

in the direction of a place or person

An arrow points one way, and your feet follow it all the way to the end.

She walked to the window and stopped.

036 under /ˈʌndə/ · /ˈʌndɝ/

in the space below a thing

Something presses or covers from above, and you are in the shade it makes.

The dog is sleeping under my chair.

037 up /ʌp/

to a higher place or level

The head lifts, and the body or the object rises past the top of your head.

The balloon rose up and disappeared behind the clouds.

038 with /wɪð/ · /wɪð/, /wɪθ/

in the company of; having as a part

Two people walk side by side, no space left between them, doing the same thing.

I went shopping with my mother.

039 as /æz/, /əz/

in the role of; at the same time

A person steps into a role and does the work that role asks for.

She works as a nurse in this town.

040 for /fɔː/, /fə/ · /fɔɹ/, /fɚ/

used to give a reason or the person helped

A goal sits ahead of you, and your steps and your strength all push toward it.

He waited for the bus in the rain.

041 of /ɒv/, /əv/ · /ʌv/, /əv/

belonging to a thing, or made from it

A thin line runs from one thing to another: the second belongs to the first.

The color of the sky changed.

042 till /tɪl/

up to the time that something starts

You hold on and do not let go; only when that hour knocks do you stop.

We waited till the rain stopped.

043 than /ðæn/, /ðən/

used to join two things that are not equal

Two things stand side by side, one taller, one shorter, and the gap between them shows.

This box is heavier than that one.

044 a /ə/, /eɪ/

used before words for one thing out of many

You pull one out of a pile without looking: just one, and which one is not said.

A dog ran into our garden.

045 the /ðə/, /ðiː/

used before a word when both of you know which

A finger points at one particular thing, and the listener knows at once which one.

The man at the gate is my uncle.

046 all /ɔːl/ · /ɔl/

every part of a group, with none left

Everything on the table is drawn into the circle, and not one piece is left out.

All the windows were open.

047 any /ˈɛni/

this one or that one, it is all the same

You reach into a pile and take whatever comes; one is as good as another, you do not choose.

Any child can join this game.

048 every /ˈɛvɹi/ · /ˈɛvɝi/

each one in a group, with no one left out

You point at each person in turn, counting them one by one, and none is missed.

Every child got a small gift.

049 little /ˈlɪtəl/

small in size, or only a small amount

Only a pinch of something sits in the palm; open the hand and there is almost nothing.

There is little milk in the cup.

050 much /mʌtʃ/

a great amount of a thing; very

Things are piled so high that one arm cannot hold them and it takes two.

He talks too much in class.

051 no /nəʊ/ · /noʊ/

used to refuse, or to say zero

You shake your head and wave a hand, pushing the whole thing away and leaving nothing.

There is no salt in this soup.

052 other /ˈʌðə/ · /ˈʌðɝ/

not this one, but a different one

The finger leaves the one in front of you and points to the ones still standing beside it.

One hand held the cup; the other held a book.

053 some /sʌm/

a number of things, but not all

You take a handful out; the number is neither large nor small, and you never counted.

Some of the apples are still green.

054 such /sʌtʃ/

of this sort, or as great as this

The thing in front of you is exactly that way, and the degree makes you point it out.

I never saw such a big fish.

055 that /ðæt/, /ðət/

the one over there, not near you

Your arm stretches out and points at the one sitting some distance away.

That house has been empty for years.

056 this /ðɪs/

the one here, near your hand

A finger comes down on the thing nearest your hand, almost touching it.

This seat is free, you can sit.

057 I /aɪ/

the person who is speaking now

The speaker puts a hand on his own chest and means this body here.

I forgot my keys again.

058 he /hiː/, /hi/ · /hi/

a male person that you talk about

You speak of another man, and your eyes slide over to his side of the room.

He lives in the house next door.

059 you /juː/, /jə/ · /ju/, /jə/

the person or people I am talking to

The speaker turns his face to the other person and lets the words fall on him.

You left your coat in the car.

060 who /huː/ · /hu/

used to ask which person does a thing

A row of people stands there, and you do not know which head to put the name on.

I do not know who took it.

061 and /ænd/, /ənd/

used to join two things or two ideas

Two things are tied together with one rope and mentioned in the same breath.

My sister and I share a room.

062 because /bɪˈkɒz/ · /bɪˈkɑz/

for the reason that a thing happens

Something happened; you look back and put a finger on what gave it the push.

We stayed inside because it was raining.

063 but /bʌt/

used to show a turn against what came first

The sentence turns halfway, and what comes next pushes back against what came before.

The room is small but very bright.

064 or /ɔː/ · /ɔɹ/, /ɚ/

used to show a second thing you may take

Two roads lie ahead; your foot stops at the fork, and only one can be taken.

Hurry up, or we will miss the train.

065 if /ɪf/

used to name a condition that may happen

The key turns first. Until it turns, the door does not move; after it turns, the door opens.

If you press this button, the machine starts.

066 though /ðəʊ/ · /ðoʊ/

even when this is true, that is also true

A stone blocks the path, and you still step over it and keep walking.

Though he was tired, he kept walking.

067 while /waɪl/

during the time that another thing is done

In the same stretch of time one thing is being done and another is being done, neither one waiting.

She sang while she washed the dishes.

068 how /haʊ/

in what way

The road is there, but the way to walk it is not clear, and you ask which foot to move.

Show me how you fixed the bike.

069 when /wen/ · /wɛn/

at what time; at the time that

A clock hangs on the wall with its hands turning, and you ask which moment.

Tell me when the shop closes.

070 where /weə/ · /wɛɹ/

in what place; at the place that

Your eyes sweep the room; the thing is gone, and you ask which corner is hiding it.

I forgot where I left my keys.

071 why /waɪ/

for what reason; because of what

The thing has already happened; you frown and want to know what line pulled it from behind.

Nobody knows why he left early.

072 again /əˈɡen/, /əˈɡeɪn/

one more time, after the first time

The same job was just finished, and the hands come up and start it over from the top.

Please read the last line again.

073 ever /ˈɛvə/ · /ˈɛvɝ/

at any time, now or in the past

Time is pulled back a long way, back to long ago, asking whether such a thing happened at all.

This is the best film I have ever seen.

074 far /fɑː/ · /fɑɹ/

a long way away from this place

You look out and the thing shrinks to a dot, with a road you could never walk to the end in between.

The school is not far from here.

Synonymsdistant

075 forward /ˈfɔːwəd/ · /ˈfɔɹwɝd/

to the front, not to the back

The body leans ahead, and the foot steps into ground not walked on yet.

The little boy leaned forward to see the fish.

076 here /hɪə/ · /hiɹ/

in this place, near the speaker

A finger points down at the ground under your feet, this patch you are standing on.

Put your bags here by the door.

077 near /nɪə/ · /nɪɹ/

only a short way from a thing

Only a small gap is left between two things, and you could reach out and touch.

There is a small park near our house.

078 now /naʊ/

at this time, not before or after

The second hand points at this moment; the past has shut its door and the future has not opened.

I am busy now, call me later.

079 out /aʊt/

away from the inside of a place

You step from a closed place onto open ground, with the door behind you.

The kids are out in the yard.

080 still /stɪl/

up to this time, not changed

A long time passes and the thing has not changed; it stands where it stood.

He is still waiting at the bus stop.

081 then /ðɛn/

at that time; and after that

The first thing finishes, and the next one steps in right behind it.

We ate, then we walked home.

082 there /ðɛə/ · /ðɛɹ/

in that place, away from here

A hand points into the distance; that spot is not beside you, and you have to walk to it.

Your shoes are over there by the wall.

083 together /təˈɡɛðə/ · /təˈɡɛðɝ/

with each other, in one place

People come from different directions and end up pressed into the same patch of ground.

Let us cook dinner together tonight.

084 well /wɛl/

in a good way; in good health

The job is done cleanly, the edges are neat, and whoever watches gives a nod.

She sings very well for her age.

085 almost /ˈɔːlməʊst/ · /ˈɔlmoʊst/

not quite, but very near it

One small step short of the finish line, only that little bit not reached.

I almost missed the last bus.

Synonymsnearly

086 enough /ɪˈnʌf/ · /iˈnʌf/

as much as is needed, and no more

What is in the bowl rises exactly to the line it needs, and any more would be waste.

We have enough chairs for everyone.

087 even /ˈiːvən/ · /ˈivɪn/

used to add a surprising last thing

The hardest one to imagine is pulled in too, going further than anything said before.

Even the baby stopped crying.

088 not /nɒt/ · /nɑt/

used to say a thing is untrue

A hand comes down on the sentence and cancels the whole of it; the thing did not happen.

I am not ready to go yet.

089 only /ˈəʊnli/ · /ˈoʊnli/

no more than this one thing

A wide circle is drawn, one small dot is left inside, and all the rest are crossed out.

She only drinks water with her meals.

Synonymsjust · merely

090 quite /kwaɪt/

to a great degree, but not fully

The degree goes a stretch further than you expected, enough to lift an eyebrow.

The test was quite easy for us.

091 so /səʊ/ · /soʊ/

to that degree; for that cause

The sentence before pushes the degree up high, and the next one comes down along it.

It was so cold that we stayed in.

092 very /ˈvɛɹi/

in a high degree, more than usual

The same word is loaded with extra weight, and the voice presses down as it comes out.

Her hands were very cold.

093 tomorrow /təˈmɒˌɹəʊ/ · /təˈmɑˌɹoʊ/

the day after the one we are in now

You sleep, the sun comes up again, and that day, not here yet, waits just ahead.

The shop opens tomorrow at eight.

094 yesterday /ˈjɛstədi/ · /ˈjɛstɝˌdeɪ/

the day before the one we are in now

You sleep and look back; the day just gone has already closed its door.

I found your keys in the garden yesterday.

095 north /nɔːθ/ · /nɔɹθ/

the direction at the top of a map

The top of the map, the part the cold wind usually blows down from.

Birds fly north in the spring.

096 south /saʊθ/

the direction at the bottom of a map

The bottom of the map, where the sun leans and the air turns warm.

We drove south for two hours.

097 east /iːst/ · /ist/

the direction where the sun comes up

The side the sun comes up from every morning, the first part of the sky to catch the light.

Their farm lies east of the river.

098 west /wɛst/

the direction where the sun goes down

The side where the sun goes down, the edge of the sky burning red.

They walked west along the river.

099 please /pliːz/ · /pliz/

used when asking for a thing in a kind way

Before asking a favour you bow your head a little and make your voice soft.

Please close the window, it is cold.

100 yes /jɛs/

used to say that you agree or it is true

The head goes down once, the mouth opens, and agreement is handed over plainly.

Yes, I can help you now.

101 account /əˈkaʊnt/

a record of money kept in a bank

The bank gives you a number, and money coming in and going out is written under that name.

He put half his pay into a savings account.

102 act /ækt/

a thing that a person does

A person reaches out and pushes that door open, quick and clean, with everyone watching.

His kind act made her smile.

Synonymsdeed · action

103 addition /əˈdɪʃən/

putting one thing with another to get more

A pile of apples sits on the table; you put two more on, and the number jumps up a notch.

We learned addition in first grade.

104 adjustment /əˈdʒʌstmənt/

a small change made to get a better fit

The chair sits a little low, so he loosens a screw and moves it up half an inch.

One small adjustment made the seat fit.

105 advertisement /əˈdvɜːtɪsmənt/ · /ˌædvɝˈtaɪzmənt/

words or pictures that make people want a thing

A big board on the corner shows a smiling face, and people look up and read the line.

The advertisement on the wall shows a smiling baby.

Synonymsad

106 agreement /əˈɡɹiːmənt/ · /əˈɡɹimənt/

a thing two people say yes to together

Two people sign their names at the bottom of the paper, and from then on the thing holds.

Both sides signed the agreement in a small room.

107 air /ɛə/ · /ɛɹ/

the clear gas around us that we take in

You push the window open and something cool and invisible rushes in; your chest loosens.

The air in the mountains smells clean and cold.

108 amount /əˈmaʊnt/

how much there is of a thing

The clerk counts the pile of coins, then writes the number down on the receipt.

The amount on the bill seems wrong.

109 amusement /əˈmjuːzmənt/ · /əmˈjuzmənt/

a thing that makes time go quickly and happily

A child climbs onto the merry-go-round, spins round and round, and the laughing will not stop.

The kids' laughter gave me great amusement.

Synonymsfun · enjoyment

110 animal /ˈænɪməl/ · /ˈænəməl/

a living thing that moves and is not a plant

Something with four legs pushes out of the grass, shakes its coat, and runs off.

Some animals sleep all through the winter.

111 answer /ˈɑːnsə/ · /ˈænsɝ/

words you give back when a question is put

The teacher finishes the question, a hand goes up, and the waited-for words come out.

Nobody knew the answer to that question.

Synonymsreply · response

112 apparatus /ˌæpəˈɹætəs/ · /ˌæpɝˈætəs/

a set of parts put together for one work

Tubes, stands and clamps crowd a table in the lab, all of them built to do one job.

This apparatus helps us measure the water.

113 approval /əˈpɹuːvəl/ · /əˈpɹuvəl/

a sign that a thing is good and may go on

The form goes up, the manager ticks the last box, and gives a small nod.

The plan is waiting for the manager's approval.

Synonymsconsent · permission

114 argument /ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/ · /ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/

a talk in which two people do not agree

Two people stand in the doorway, voices rising, and neither will be the first to stop.

An argument broke out between the two drivers.

115 art /ɑːt/ · /ɑɹt/

the making of beautiful things, like pictures

A painting hangs on the wall, its colors wild but good, and people slow down as they pass.

She studies art at a school in town.

116 attack /əˈtæk/

a sudden move to give pain or damage

A dog suddenly lunges, teeth showing, and the rope pulls tight.

That dog may attack if you run.

Synonymsassault

117 attempt /əˈtɛmpt/

a first or early push to do a hard thing

He misses the jump the first time, walks back a few steps, and runs at the ditch again.

He made one last attempt to climb it.

Synonymstry

118 attention /əˈtɛnʃən/

the act of keeping your mind on one thing

The room is loud, but she stares at the page in front of her and hears nothing else.

The baby cried and drew everyone's attention.

119 attraction /əˈtɹækʃən/

a power that makes people come near

The lights in the window come on, and people passing slow down with their eyes stuck to it.

The lights of the fair have a strange attraction for children.

120 authority /ɔːˈθɒɹɪti/ · /əˈθɔɹəti/

the right to say what others may do

A man in uniform stands at the crossing, raises a hand, and every car stops.

The local authority closed the old bridge.

121 back /bæk/

the part of the body behind you

He bends over, and the line of his spine curves from the neck down to the waist.

My back hurts after the long drive.

122 balance /ˈbæləns/

a state in which a body does not fall

One foot on a narrow beam, arms out wide, the body tipping a little left and right to find it.

She kept her balance on the narrow wall.

123 base /beɪs/

the lowest part on which a thing rests

Before the building goes up, a row of thick posts is driven into the ground to hold it.

The camp sits at the base of the hill.

124 behavior /bɪˈheɪvjə/ · /bɪˈheɪvjɝ/

the way a person acts before other people

He talks loudly at the table, and his mother frowns and gives him a look.

His behavior at dinner surprised everyone.

Synonymsconduct

125 belief /bɪˈliːf/ · /bɪˈlif/

the feeling in your mind that a thing is so

Nobody else believes in him, yet he practices every day, and the sentence in his chest never loosens.

Nothing could shake her belief in him.

Synonymsfaith

126 birth /bɜːθ/ · /bɝθ/

the time when a baby comes into the world

A cry comes out of the delivery room, and the people outside stand up at once.

She gave birth to a baby girl.

127 bit /bɪt/

a very small part of a thing

A corner breaks off the bread and lands on the table, no bigger than a fingernail.

A bit of dust got into my eye.

128 bite /baɪt/

to cut into food with your front teeth

The teeth come down, the skin splits, and juice runs down the corner of the mouth.

He bit into the peach and juice ran down his chin.

129 blood /blʌd/

the red water in a body that keeps it living

Paper cuts the finger, and a small red drop swells up, round and slow.

There was blood on his shirt.

130 blow /bləʊ/ · /bloʊ/

a hard push of air from the mouth or wind

Wind comes off the sea, flips the brim of a hat up, and leaves the hair a mess.

The wind began to blow from the sea.

131 body /ˈbɒdi/ · /ˈbɑdi/

all the parts of a person from head to foot

Five kilometers later, everything from head to foot is hot, and the clothes stick to the skin.

Your body needs water after a run.

132 brass /bɹɑːs/ · /bɹæs/

a hard yellow metal that looks a little like gold

A door handle, touched for decades, shines yellow and shows a face in it.

The old lamp is made of brass.

133 bread /bɹɛd/

a soft food baked in an oven, made from flour

A whole loaf just out of the oven, a hard crust, and white steam when you break it open.

She bought fresh bread for breakfast.

134 breath /bɹɛθ/

the air that goes in and out of the body

At the top of the hill he bends over, his chest rising and falling, white puffs coming out.

His breath was short after the long climb.

135 brother /ˈbɹʌðə/ · /ˈbɹʌðɝ/

a boy born of the same mother as you

A boy who grew up under the same roof, who fought you for toys and once took a punch for you.

Her brother works in a fish market.

136 building /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a thing with walls and a roof for people

A grey tower stands there, dozens of windows lit one square at a time.

Smoke came out of the burning building.

137 burn /bɜːn/ · /bɝn/

to be on fire, or to make a mark with fire

Flame licks the corner of the paper; the edge goes black first, then curls all the way up.

Dry wood burns fast in the fire.

138 burst /bɜːst/ · /bɝst/

to come open suddenly with a loud noise

The balloon swells bigger and bigger, then goes bang, and the pieces fly up to the ceiling.

The balloon burst with a loud bang.

139 business /ˈbɪznɪs/ · /ˈbɪznəs/

the work of making and selling things

He opens a small shop, unlocks it in the morning, counts the money at night, his own boss.

She runs a small business from her kitchen.

140 butter /ˈbʌtə/ · /ˈbʌtɝ/

a soft yellow fat from milk, put on bread

The tip of a knife lifts a small lump and spreads it on hot bread, where it melts into a shiny layer.

The butter melted in the hot pan.

141 canvas /ˈkænvəs/

a thick cloth used for painting or for tents

A thick cloth stretched over a wooden frame, drinking the paint the moment the brush touches it.

The bag is made of strong canvas.

142 care /kɛə/ · /kɛɹ/

to keep a person safe and give help

The child has a fever in the night; she sits by the bed and changes the cloth on his forehead again and again.

She takes good care of her plants.

143 cause /kɔːz/ · /kɑz/

a thing that makes another thing come about

An old wire sparks, and every light in the building goes out at once.

Careless driving causes many accidents on this road.

144 chalk /tʃɔːk/ · /tʃɑk/

a soft white stick used to put marks on a board

A short white stick between the fingers, dragging across a blackboard and leaving powder behind.

The teacher wrote the date in chalk.

145 chance /tʃɑːns/ · /tʃæns/

a short time when one may do a thing

A door opens a crack for a few seconds, and he runs for it.

This is your last chance to try.

Synonymsopportunity

146 change /tʃeɪndʒ/

the act of making a thing different

The same street five years later: the shops are different, the trees are taller.

The town has changed a lot since then.

Synonymsalteration

147 cloth /klɒθ/ · /klɔθ/

soft material made from threads, used to make shirts

A whole length of cloth spread on the table, scissors following a chalk line, soft edges falling away.

He cut the cloth into long thin strips.

Synonymsfabric

148 coal /kəʊl/ · /koʊl/

a hard black thing from the earth that burns

A shiny black lump goes into the stove, and red light shows through the cracks.

The stove burns coal in winter.

149 color /ˈkʌlə/ · /ˈkʌlɝ/

the look of a thing, as red, blue or green

Tubes of paint squeezed onto paper, red and yellow running into each other.

The walls were painted a warm yellow color.

Synonymshue

150 comfort /ˈkʌmfət/ · /ˈkʌmfɝt/

the feeling of being warm, soft and free from pain

After a long day you sink into the sofa, stretch your legs out, and your whole body lets go.

She found comfort in her friend's quiet words.

151 committee /kəˈmɪti/

a small group of persons who meet to decide things

Five people around a long table, raising hands, taking notes, voting on one small thing.

The committee will meet on Friday.

152 company /ˈkʌmpəni/ · /ˈkʌmpəˌni/

a group of persons who work together for money

Dozens of desks on one office floor, phones ringing all day, everyone busy with something.

The company moved to a bigger office last month.

Synonymsfirm · business

153 comparison /kəˈmpæɹɪsən/ · /kəmˈpɛɹəsən/

the putting of two things together to see how they are alike

Two shirts hang side by side; he looks from one to the other, pointing at each in turn.

The comparison shows the new one is lighter.

154 competition /ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən/ · /ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/

a test in which persons try to do better than others

Eight runners crouch on the track, and at the sound of the gun they all surge forward.

Thirty schools entered the singing competition this year.

Synonymscontest

155 condition /kəˈndɪʃən/ · /kənˈdɪʃən/

the way a thing or person is now

The hood of a used car comes up; the mechanic looks for a long time and shakes his head.

Doctors say his condition is getting better.

Synonymsstate

156 connection /kəˈnɛkʃən/

a way in which two things are joined together

A cable comes out of the wall, goes into the machine, and the light comes on.

The internet connection dropped during the meeting.

Synonymslink

157 control /kəˈntɹəʊl/ · /kənˈtɹoʊl/

the power to make a thing do what one will

The car picks up speed down the hill and both his hands lock on the wheel.

The teacher could not control the noisy class.

158 cook /kʊk/

a person who makes food ready to eat

A man in a white hat stands at the stove, flips the pan, and flames jump up around the food.

My uncle is a cook on a big ship.

159 copper /ˈkɒpə/ · /ˈkɑpɝ/

a soft reddish metal used for wires and roofs

Red-brown sheets cover the roof; where the rain runs off, a green film starts to show.

The old pot is made of copper.

160 copy /ˈkɒpi/ · /ˈkɑpi/

one thing made to be the same as another

A sheet lies flat on the glass, a light passes over it, and a second sheet slides out.

She keeps a copy of every letter she sends.

Synonymsduplicate

161 cork /kɔːk/ · /kɔɹk/

a light brown stopper for the top of a bottle

A small pale piece of wood fills the neck of the bottle and pops when it comes out.

The cork floated on the water like a tiny boat.

Synonymsstopper · plug

162 cotton /ˈkɒtən/ · /ˈkɑtən/

a soft white plant material used to make cloth

A field turns white; you take a handful, soft and light, and it presses into a ball.

Farmers here pick cotton in late autumn.

163 cough /kɒf/ · /kɑf/

a sharp sound made when air is pushed from the throat

His throat tickles, he covers his mouth, and his shoulders jerk again and again.

The smoke made her cough all the way home.

164 country /ˈkʌntɹi/

a wide land with one government and many persons

A large block of color on a map, its edge drawn as a line, with millions of people inside.

She has visited ten countries so far.

Synonymsnation

165 cover /ˈkʌvə/ · /ˈkʌvɝ/

the outer part of a book or box

A book closed: the top sheet carries a picture and a name.

The book has a red cover.

166 crack /kɹæk/

a thin line where a hard thing has broken a little

A thin line on the wall runs up from the corner of the window and slowly widens.

The ice cracked under his boots as he crossed the lake.

Synonymssplit

167 credit /ˈkɹɛdɪt/ · /ˈkɹɛdət/

a way of getting goods now and paying later

You take goods from the shop now, the amount goes in a book, and you pay at the end of the month.

You can pay by credit card here.

168 crime /kɹaɪm/

a thing a person does that the law says is wrong

Late at night, broken glass on the ground and blue police lights washing over the whole street.

The police solved the crime in three days.

Synonymsoffense

169 crush /kɹʌʃ/

to press a thing hard till it breaks or goes flat

A foot comes down and the empty can flattens at once with a sharp sound.

Don't crush the box, it has eggs.

Synonymssquash

170 cry /kɹaɪ/

to let water come from the eyes when one is sad

Tears drop onto the table one by one, and she wipes them away with the back of her hand.

She cried all the way home on the bus.

Synonymsweep

171 current /ˈkʌɹənt/ · /ˈkɑɹənt/

water or power that moves along in one direction

The water midstream moves faster than at the banks; a leaf that drifts in is carried off.

The boat was carried away by the current.

172 curve /kɜːv/ · /kɝv/

a line that keeps turning, not straight

At the foot of the hill the road stops going straight, swings left, and bends into a half circle.

The ball flew in a wide curve over the wall.

Synonymsbend

173 damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ · /ˈdæmədʒ/

harm done to a thing so it is not as before

Hail comes down and leaves small dents all over the car roof, with the paint chipped off.

Rats have done a lot of damage in the barn.

Synonymsharm

174 danger /ˈdeɪndʒə/ · /ˈdeɪndʒɝ/

a chance that a bad thing may come to one

The ice under your feet is thin and pale; one more step and it will break.

The sign says danger, keep out.

175 daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ · /ˈdɔtɝ/

a female child of a father or mother

A little girl holds her mother's hand, skipping ahead, and turns back to smile.

The old woman's daughter calls her every Sunday.

176 day /deɪ/

the time when the sun is up and it is light

The sun comes up in the east, the sky turns light, and people leave their homes one by one.

We spent the whole day cleaning out the garage.

177 death /dɛθ/

the time when a person stops being alive

The hand on the bed slowly loosens, the room goes quiet, and birds are calling outside.

His death came as a shock to us.

178 debt /dɛt/

money that one has taken and still has to give back

A figure written in red in the account book: you pay a little each month and most of it is still there.

Her little shop finally cleared its debt last spring.

179 decision /dɪˈsɪʒən/

the act of making up one's mind about a thing

Two papers lie open on the table; he looks at them for a long time and picks one up.

After two hours of arguing, the team made a decision.

180 degree /dɪˈɡɹiː/ · /dɪˈɡɹi/

a step or amount in a scale of heat or size

The red line in the thermometer climbs and stops at a high mark.

Bake the cake at two hundred degrees for an hour.

181 design /dɪˈzaɪn/

a plan or outline made before a thing is built

Lines first, then a few squares added on paper, until it looks like the thing to be built.

Who did the design for this room?

182 desire /dɪˈzaɪə/ · /dɪˈzaɪɝ/

a strong feeling that you want something

The shoes in the shop window: every day he walks past and stands there two minutes longer.

A sudden desire for coffee pulled her out of bed.

Synonymswish · longing

183 destruction /dɪˈstɹʌkʃən/

the breaking down of a thing so nothing is left

After the fire the roof beams have fallen in, leaving black walls and broken tiles all over the ground.

The fire caused terrible destruction.

Synonymsruin

184 detail /ˈdiːteɪl/ · /ˈditeɪl/

a small part of a great thing, seen near

He kneels down to look at one corner of the painting, where even the veins on a single leaf are drawn.

She remembers every detail of that day.

185 development /dɪˈvɛləpmənt/

a slow making greater or better over time

A few years ago this was empty ground; now the road is built and the buildings are up.

The development of the new road took three years.

186 digestion /daɪˈdʒɛstʃən/

the work of the body on food after it is taken in

The food goes down and the stomach works at it for hours before things settle.

Too much oil is bad for digestion.

187 direction /daɪˈɹɛkʃən/ · /daɪˈɹɛkʃɪn/

the way a thing moves or is turned

He stands at the crossing, turns all the way around, and points to where the sun goes down.

We walked in the wrong direction.

188 discovery /dɪˈskʌvɹi/ · /ˌdɪsˈkʌvɹi/

the first time a thing is seen or made clear

You open an old box and find, pressed at the bottom, a letter that was never sent.

The discovery changed how we see the stars.

Synonymsfinding

189 discussion /dɪˈskʌʃən/

the talking together of two or more persons about a question

Several people around a table, one talking then another, turning the problem over and over.

Their discussion in the kitchen woke the baby up.

Synonymstalk

190 disease /dɪˈziːz/ · /dɪˈziz/

a bad state of the body or plant

One patch of leaves in the field turns yellow, and soon the whole crop is limp.

This disease spreads from person to person.

Synonymsillness · sickness

191 disgust /dɪˈsɡʌst/ · /dɪsˈɡʌst/

a strong bad feeling when a thing seems wrong or dirty

He catches the smell, turns his head away at once, and his face screws up.

The smell of the fish filled her with disgust.

Synonymsdistaste

192 distance /ˈdɪstəns/

how far one place is from another place

The mountain looks close, but after two hours of walking it sits exactly where it was.

The distance between the two towns is short.

193 distribution /ˌdɪstɹɪˈbjuːʃən/ · /ˌdɪstɹəbˈjuʃən/

the giving out of things to a number of persons

A box of water is carried to the door and handed out, one bottle each, until it is empty.

The distribution of tickets starts at nine tomorrow.

194 division /dɪˈvɪʒən/

the cutting of a thing into parts

A line drawn through the middle of a field: the left half is yours, the right half is his.

The company has a new sales division.

195 doubt /daʊt/

a feeling that a thing may not be true

He finishes speaking; she says nothing and only lifts her eyes to him.

I doubt he will come tonight.

Synonymsuncertainty

196 drink /dɹɪŋk/

water or another liquid that one takes in

Ice knocking against the glass, a straw pushed in, cold air rising from the top.

He poured a drink and sat by the window.

Synonymsbeverage

197 driving /ˈdɹaɪvɪŋ/

the work of making a car go where one will

Both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road ahead, one foot moving between the pedals.

Driving in heavy rain scares most new drivers.

198 dust /dʌst/

dry bits of earth that fly about in the air

Sunlight comes in at an angle and the air is full of tiny specks floating in it.

A cloud of dust rose when the truck passed.

199 earth /ɜːθ/ · /ɝθ/

the ground under our feet, or the round world

Fingers push into loose soil, take a handful: cool, and it holds together in a ball.

The earth here is good for growing rice.

200 edge /ɛdʒ/

the line or side where a thing comes to an end

The edge of the table is right by your hand; slide the cup an inch further and it falls.

Don't stand too close to the edge.

201 education /ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃən/ · /ˌɛdʒəˈkeɪʃən/

the teaching of a person over a long time

A classroom, a blackboard, books, a teacher's voice, year after year.

Every child should get a good education.

Synonymsschooling

202 effect /ɪˈfɛkt/ · /ˈifɛkt/

a change that comes from a cause

The medicine goes down; the next day the headache is gone and the strength is back.

The new rule had little effect on our work.

Synonymsresult · outcome

203 end /ɛnd/

the last part of a thing or time

The last short length of rope hangs down to the ground, and there is nothing beyond it.

The meeting came to an end before noon.

Synonymsfinish · conclusion

204 error /ˈɛɹə/ · /ˈɛɹɝ/

a thing done wrong by chance

One digit in a row of numbers is read wrong, and every sum after it comes out wrong too.

One small error in the bill cost him fifty dollars.

Synonymsmistake · slip

205 event /ɪˈvɛnt/ · /iˈvɛnt/

a thing that takes place at a time and place

A stage goes up in the square, the crowd grows, and it happens only once a year.

The whole event lasted three hours.

206 example /ɪˈɡzɑːmpəl/ · /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/

a thing taken from many to make a point clear

The teacher holds up a cup and says, like this one, and everyone understands at once.

Her plain cake is a good example of home cooking.

Synonymsinstance

207 exchange /ɪˈkstʃeɪndʒ/ · /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/

a giving of one thing and taking of another

Two hands pass and take: he gives me an apple, I give him bread.

We exchanged phone numbers at the party.

Synonymsswap · trade

208 existence /ɛˈɡzɪstəns/ · /ɛɡˈzɪstəns/

the fact of being here in the world

The telescope is turned on the dark patch, and a point you can barely see slowly appears.

Few people doubt the existence of that star.

209 expansion /ɪˈkspænʃən/ · /ɪkˈspænʃən/

a becoming greater in size or amount

The shop knocks through the wall next door, the shelves move back row by row, and the space doubles.

The shop's expansion took two years.

Synonymsgrowth · enlargement

210 experience /ɪˈkspɪəɹɪəns/ · /ɪkˈspɪɹiəns/

knowledge or power that comes from doing a thing

After doing it many times his hands stop shaking and his eyes no longer have to check everything.

Living abroad was a strange experience for him.

211 expert /ˈɛkspɜːt/ · /ˈɛkspɝt/

a person who knows a thing very well

Everyone else just stands and looks; he puts out a hand, feels it once, and knows what is wrong.

He is an expert on old coins.

Synonymsspecialist · authority

212 fact /fækt/

a thing that is true and can be seen

After a long argument someone brings out the record book and there it is, in black and white.

The fact is, we have no money.

213 fall /fɔːl/ · /fɑl/

to go down through the air to the earth

Your foot slips, your whole body drops, and your hands grab at the air.

Be careful, don't fall off the wall.

Synonymsdrop · tumble

214 family /ˈfæmli/ · /ˈfæməli/

a group of persons of the same blood living together

A table full of people eating, old and young, bowls knocking against bowls.

My family eats together every evening.

215 father /ˈfɑːðə/ · /ˈfɑðɝ/

the male parent of a child

He kneels down, ties the child's laces, pats his knee, and stands up.

My father taught me to ride a bike.

216 fear /fɪə/ · /fɪɹ/

a bad feeling when danger is near

The light goes off, the corner of the room turns black, and he pulls the blanket up to his chin.

His fear of dogs kept him off that street.

Synonymsdread

217 feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ · /ˈfilɪŋ/

a sense in the body, like heat or pain

Your hand touches hot water and pulls back before the burning arrives.

He lost all feeling in his frozen fingers.

218 fiction /ˈfɪkʃən/

writing about persons and things that are not true

The people and events in the book are made up, yet they read as if they really happened.

This story is fiction, not history.

219 field /fiːld/ · /fild/

a wide open land where grass or plants grow

A wide stretch of soil plowed into long strips, with someone bent over working far off.

The farmers work in the field all day.

220 fight /faɪt/

to use the body or arms against another

Two boys roll on the ground, clothes pulled crooked, neither one letting go.

The two boys began to fight at school.

221 fire /ˈfaɪə/ · /ˈfaɪɝ/

the bright hot flame that burns wood

Wood piled together, orange tongues licking upward, and the air around turns warm.

We sat around the fire and told stories.

222 flame /fleɪm/

the bright tongue of fire that comes up from burning

A match strikes: a small blue tongue wavers at the tip, then stands up straight.

The flame moved when I opened the window.

223 flight /flaɪt/

a going through the air by bird or plane

The metal bird leaves the ground, clouds slide past the window, and hours later it lands in another country.

My flight leaves at seven tomorrow morning.

224 flower /ˈflaʊə/ · /ˈflaʊɝ/

the bright part of a plant that comes before the seed

A thin stem holds up a soft round head that nods whenever the wind passes.

She put a yellow flower in her hair.

225 fold /fəʊld/ · /foʊld/

to turn one part of a thing over another

Two hands flatten a sheet of paper, turn one side over the other, and line up the corners.

Fold the letter and put it in the envelope.

226 food /fuːd/ · /fud/

what a person or animal takes in to live

Steam rises from the table; chopsticks reach in, and the emptiness inside is slowly filled.

There is enough food for everyone here.

227 force /fɔːs/ · /fɔɹs/

the power that makes a thing move or change

A stuck door: you put your shoulder to it, and the wood gives way with a creak.

He pushed the door with all his force.

Synonymspower · strength

228 form /fɔːm/ · /fɔɹm/

the outline or shape of a thing

A lump of wet clay turns in the hands and slowly takes the outline of a bowl.

The cloud changed its form within a minute.

Synonymsshape

229 friend /fɹɛnd/

a person one likes and is happy to be with

You call at midnight; the voice on the other end is thick with sleep, but they pick up.

She is the friend I call when I am lost.

230 front /fɹʌnt/

the part of a thing that faces forward

A line of people, and the one at the very front is looking straight at the door.

Please stand in front of the sign.

231 fruit /fɹuːt/ · /fɹut/

what a plant gives you to eat, with seeds in it

Round things hang on the tree; you pick one, bite in, and juice runs down your fingers.

We bought fruit at the small shop.

232 glass /ɡlɑːs/ · /ɡlæs/

a hard clear substance used for windows

A clear hard sheet in the window, with raindrops crawling slowly down it from outside.

The glass in the window is cold.

233 gold /ɡəʊld/ · /ɡoʊld/

a soft yellow metal of great value

A small heavy piece, yellow and bright in the light, cool against your palm.

They painted the old chair gold for the party.

234 government /ˈɡʌvəmənt/ · /ˈɡʌvɝmənt/

the group of persons who make the laws of a country

In a big building people meet and sign papers, deciding where the city's roads will go.

The government will build a new road here.

235 grain /ɡɹeɪn/

a small hard seed of grass used as food

A small handful of yellow rice in your palm; rub it with a thumb and the grains scatter and fall.

A few grains of rice fell on the table.

236 grass /ɡɹɑːs/ · /ɡɹæs/

a green plant with thin leaves that covers the ground

You step down and the long green blades bend under your foot, then spring back when you lift it.

The children ran barefoot on the grass.

237 grip /ɡɹɪp/

to take and keep a hard hold on a thing

Five fingers close and lock around the smooth handle so it cannot be shaken loose.

Hold the rail with a firm grip.

Synonymshold · grasp

238 group /ɡɹuːp/ · /ɡɹup/

several things or people seen as one set

A few people stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, all looking inward as they talk.

Our group meets every Friday afternoon.

239 growth /ɡɹəʊθ/ · /ɡɹoʊθ/

a becoming greater or longer over time

Last year the young tree came up to your knee; now it stands above the wall.

The city has seen fast growth in ten years.

240 guide /ɡaɪd/

a person who goes first and shows the way

Someone who knows the way walks ahead, turns back to wave, and you follow his steps around the corner.

He guided the boat slowly between the rocks.

241 harbor /ˈhɑːbə/ · /ˈhɑɹbɝ/

a safe water place where ships may come in

One boat after another comes in behind the stone wall, ropes are tied, and the water finally goes still.

The boat slept in the harbor all night.

242 harmony /ˈhɑːməni/ · /ˈhɑɹməni/

a pleasing coming together of different sounds or parts

Several voices at different heights come together without fighting, sounding like a single line.

The four singers sang in perfect harmony.

243 hate /heɪt/

to have a very strong bad feeling about a thing

At the thought of that name the jaw tightens and the palms go hot.

I hate waiting in long lines.

244 hearing /ˈhɪəɹɪŋ/ · /ˈhiɹɪŋ/

the power of the ear to take in sound

An ear pressed to the wall picks up even light footsteps from the next room.

His hearing is still good at ninety.

245 heat /hiːt/ · /hit/

the quality of being hot, as of fire

Stone in the noon sun after a whole morning: put your hand on it and you pull it back at once.

The heat made everyone walk slowly.

Synonymswarmth

246 help /hɛlp/

to do a part of another person's work

One person cannot lift it alone; another takes the other end, and the box comes up.

Please help me carry this heavy box.

Synonymsaid · assistance

247 history /ˈhɪstɹi/ · /ˈhɪstɝi/

the record of things that came before now

Old photographs, old letters, old houses, layer on layer in time, waiting for someone to open them.

She teaches history at a high school.

248 hole /həʊl/ · /hoʊl/

an opening in a thing, where it is not solid

A round tear in the cloth: push a finger through and it meets the light on the other side.

The dog dug a hole under the fence.

249 hope /həʊp/ · /hoʊp/

the feeling that what you want may still come true

Before daylight you are already waiting for that door to open, certain that it will.

I hope the rain stops before noon.

250 hour /ˈaʊə/ · /ˈaʊɝ/

a space of time of sixty minutes

The long hand goes all the way around the clock, slowly covering sixty small marks.

The trip takes about an hour.

251 humor /ˈhjuːmə/ · /ˈhjumɝ/

the power to see what is funny and make others see it

One light remark cracks open a stiff room and everyone laughs.

His humor made the long meeting short.

252 ice /aɪs/

water made hard by great cold

Water hardens in the cold until the surface is smooth enough to show your reflection.

The ice on the lake is thick today.

253 idea /aɪˈdɪə/ · /aɪˈdiə/

something you have in your mind as a thought

Halfway through a shower something lights up in your head and you stand still.

I have an idea for the weekend.

Synonymsthought · notion

254 impulse /ˈɪmpʌls/ · /ˈɪmpəls/

a sudden push of feeling that makes one act

Before you have decided, your hand is already out, and only afterwards do you ask yourself why.

He bought the car on impulse.

255 increase /ˈɪŋkɹiːs/ · /ˈɪnˌkɹis/

to become greater in number or size

The number climbs mark by mark, faster and faster, and nobody holds it back.

Prices increase every year in this town.

Synonymsrise · growth

256 industry /ˈɪndəstɹi/

the making of goods in great amounts by machines

Tall chimneys in a row, machines running all night, trucks coming and going.

The fishing industry feeds thousands of families here.

257 ink /ɪŋk/

the dark liquid used for writing or printing

The nib presses down, a dark dot soaks into the paper, and slowly spreads.

A drop of ink fell on his white shirt.

258 insect /ˈɪˌnsɛkt/ · /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/

a small animal with six legs and a hard body

Six thin legs carry a small shell along the underside of a leaf in a hurry.

A small insect walked across the page.

Synonymsbug

259 instrument /ˈɪnstɹəmənt/

a thing made for a special use, as making music

Fingers stop the holes while the other hand draws the bow, and a thin sound comes out of the wood.

The doctor laid his instruments on a clean cloth.

260 insurance /ɪˈnʃɔːɹəns/ · /ˌɪnˈʃʊɹəns/

money given to a company so it will pay if loss comes

You pay a little each month, and on the day something goes wrong, someone else pays the large sum.

We bought insurance for the old house.

261 interest /ˈɪntɹɪst/ · /ˈɪntɝəst/

a wish to know more about a thing

Something makes you want to know more; your eyes follow it and you forget the time.

The bank pays little interest on small savings.

262 invention /ɪˈnvɛnʃən/ · /ˌɪnˈvɛnʃən/

a new thing made for the first time

Something that never existed before is made for the first time and set on the table.

Nobody expected his invention to sell so well.

Synonymscreation

263 iron /ˈaɪən/ · /ˈaɪɝn/

a hard grey metal used for making tools and machines

A heavy grey-black metal that rings dull when struck and holds a magnet fast.

She pressed the shirt flat with a hot iron.

264 jelly /ˈdʒɛli/

a soft clear food that shakes when it is moved

Press it with a spoon and it wobbles and springs back, shiny enough to catch the light.

The child ate all the red jelly.

265 join /dʒɔɪn/

the place where two things are put together

Two pipes meet end to end, and the ring where they join can be seen by anyone.

Water leaks from the join in the pipe.

266 journey /ˈdʒɜːni/ · /ˈdʒɝni/

a going from one place to another, often far

The bag swings onto your shoulder, the road falls away stretch by stretch, and home shrinks behind you.

The journey took three days by bus.

Synonymstrip · voyage

267 judge /dʒʌdʒ/

a person who hears both sides and says what is right

Someone sits behind a desk, hears both sides out, and brings the hammer down once.

The judge asked everyone to be quiet.

268 jump /dʒʌmp/

to push oneself up off the earth with the legs

The knees bend, then straighten hard, and for a moment both feet leave the ground.

The cat can jump over that fence.

Synonymsleap · hop

269 kick /kɪk/

to send a thing away with a sharp blow of the foot

The leg pulls back, the foot swings through, and the ball flies off in a straight line.

He kicked the ball into the goal.

270 kiss /kɪs/

to touch a person with the lips

A face comes close, lips touch a forehead lightly, and there is a small sound.

She kissed her son good night.

Synonymspeck

271 knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ · /ˈnɑlədʒ/

all that a person has in the mind from books

Book after book read and stacked up inside, ready to be taken out when something comes up.

His knowledge of birds is surprising.

272 land /lænd/

the solid dry part of the earth

After a long time on the water a hard edge appears ahead and your feet finally rest on it.

Birds rest on land after a long flight.

273 language /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ · /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/

the sounds and words a group of persons use to speak

Sounds made in the mouth carry agreed meanings, so others understand what you want as soon as they hear.

She speaks three languages at work.

274 laugh /lɑːf/ · /læf/

to make sounds with the mouth when a thing is funny

A remark lands and air bursts out of your nose while your shoulders shake.

Everyone laughed at his funny hat.

275 law /lɔː/ · /lɑ/

a rule made by a government that all must keep

Lines printed in a thick book; whoever steps over them pays for it.

The new law starts next month.

276 lead /led/ · /lɛd/

a soft heavy grey metal, used in pipes

A soft grey metal that a fingernail can mark, and holding it leaves your hands black.

Workers found lead in the drinking water tank.

277 learning /ˈlɜːnɪŋ/ · /ˈlɝnɪŋ/

the getting of knowledge by reading and doing

You get it wrong, then try again, until your fingers slowly remember where to go.

Learning a new song takes time.

278 leather /ˈlɛðə/ · /ˈlɛðɝ/

the skin of an animal made ready for use

Animal skin once it has been treated: thick under the hand, and a fold leaves a pale mark.

These shoes are made of soft leather.

279 letter /ˈlɛtə/ · /ˈlɛtɝ/

a written message sent to a person by post

A few handwritten lines on paper, folded into an envelope with a stamp on it.

Her letter arrived three weeks after she left.

280 level /ˈlɛvəl/

a line or height that is flat and even

The water stops at a certain line, neither high nor low, and waits there.

Her English level is much higher now.

281 lift /lɪft/

a box in a building that takes persons up and down

An iron box closes its doors and carries you from the ground floor up.

The lift is out of order again.

Synonymselevator

282 light /laɪt/

the bright thing from the sun that lets us see

Sunlight comes in sideways through the window, lies on the floor, and dust drifts through it.

Morning light came through the thin curtain.

283 limit /ˈlɪmɪt/ · /ˈlɪmət/

the line or point where a thing must stop

An invisible line: you walk up to it and have to stop, and there is no going further.

There is a limit on how fast we can go.

284 linen /ˈlɪnɪn/ · /ˈlɪnən/

a thin strong cloth used for sheets and shirts

A pale cloth that feels a little rough, with folds that never press flat.

The table was covered with white linen.

285 liquid /ˈlɪkwɪd/ · /ˈlɪkwəd/

a thing that flows and takes the form of its cup

It has no shape of its own: pour it into a cup and it becomes the shape of the cup, pour it into a jar and it fills the jar.

The bottle leaked a dark liquid onto the floor.

Synonymsfluid

286 list /lɪst/

words written one under another so nothing is forgotten

You write things down one under another, and cross each one off as you put it in the basket.

I made a list before going shopping.

287 look /lʊk/

to turn your eyes to a thing and keep them there

Your eyes rest on something and stay there, taking in what is in front of you.

Look at the sky before it gets dark.

288 loss /lɒs/ · /lɔs/

when a thing you had is gone and its place is empty

Something that was there is gone, and the empty place it left keeps reminding you.

The storm caused a big loss for farmers.

289 love /lʌv/

to care for a person more than for yourself

That person is not in the room, and still you keep a plate of food aside for them.

I love the way she laughs.

290 machine /məˈʃiːn/ · /məˈʃin/

a thing with parts that turn and do work

Gears and metal arms turn against each other inside it, and it does work no pair of hands could do.

This machine cuts wood very quickly.

291 man /mæn/

a male person who is no longer a boy

A grown man stands in the doorway, a coat over one shoulder, his chin unshaven.

An old man sat by the window.

292 manager /ˈmænɪdʒə/ · /ˈmænədʒɝ/

the person who is over the work of other people

He is the last one to leave the office, and the keys are in his pocket.

The manager will see you at ten.

293 mark /mɑːk/ · /mɑɹk/

a small line or spot put on a thing to be seen

A pen draws a small circle on the map, and anyone who looks at it knows where to go.

There is a red mark on the map.

294 market /ˈmɑːkɪt/ · /ˈmɑɹkət/

a place where people come to give money for food

Stalls are up before daylight, and shouting voices and the smell of vegetables fill one narrow street.

We buy fresh fish at the morning market.

295 mass /mæs/

how much of a thing there is when you lift it

Two boxes the same size, one full of sand and one full of paper: you lift them and feel the difference at once.

The mass of the box makes it hard to lift.

296 meal /miːl/ · /mil/

the food you take at one time of the day

Plates and bowls are set out, a few people sit down, and they eat and talk.

We had a quiet meal together.

297 measure /ˈmɛʒə/ · /ˈmɛʒɝ/

to get the size or weight of a thing

You hold a ruler against it, count the marks one by one, and write the number in a notebook.

Measure the table before you buy the cloth.

298 meat /miːt/ · /mit/

the soft part of an animal used as food

The knife goes in with some resistance, the cut face is wet, and it hisses when it hits the pan.

This soup needs more meat and less salt.

299 meeting /ˈmiːtɪŋ/ · /ˈmitɪŋ/

when people come together to talk about one thing

A room full of people around a long table, one question going back and forth, and the clock crawling.

The meeting lasted two long hours.

300 memory /ˈmɛməɹi/ · /ˈmɛmɝi/

the power to keep and bring back what is past

Years later a smell drifts past, and a whole afternoon comes back, lit up again.

That song brings back a happy memory.

Synonymsrecollection

301 metal /ˈmɛtəl/

a hard thing like iron that is cold to touch

Strike it and it rings, touch it and it is cold, and left out in the rain it grows a skin of rust.

The box is heavy because it is metal.

302 middle /ˈmɪdəl/

the point as far from one end as from the other

There is something at each end, and you stand halfway between them, a walk away from either.

Put the vase in the middle of the table.

303 milk /mɪlk/

the white drink that comes from a cow

White liquid pours into a glass and leaves a thin film on the inside of the glass.

The baby drinks milk every morning.

304 mind /maɪnd/

the part of you that thinks and keeps memories

With your eyes closed, pictures still move behind them, and voices still go on talking.

A good idea came into my mind.

305 mine /maɪn/

a deep hole in the earth where men get coal

The tunnel mouth is black with no bottom in sight, and the miners walk down with lamps on their heads.

The old mine closed and the town slowly emptied.

306 minute /ˈmɪnɪt/ · /ˈmɪnət/

a short time with sixty seconds in it

The second hand goes all the way around once: long enough to say one short sentence.

Wait a minute, I am almost ready.

Synonymsmoment

307 mist /mɪst/

a thin white cloud near the ground in the morning

At daybreak a white layer floats in the valley, and the far trees are only shadows.

The hills were hidden in thin mist.

308 money /ˈmʌni/

the paper or metal you give for what you get

A few folded notes in your pocket, handed over in return for something someone else had.

I spent all my money on books.

309 month /mʌnθ/

one of the 12 parts a year is cut into

A whole page of the calendar turns over, and the moon goes full and thin again.

We moved here two months ago.

310 morning /ˈmɔːnɪŋ/ · /ˈmɔɹnɪŋ/

the first part of the day, after the dark

The sky is just turning pale, birds are calling, and the street is empty except for the milk van.

I run in the morning before work.

311 mother /ˈmʌðə/ · /ˈmʌðɝ/

the woman who gave you birth and takes care of you

She puts the best piece on your plate and says she is not hungry.

My mother calls me every Sunday.

312 motion /ˈməʊʃən/ · /ˈmoʊʃən/

going from one place to another

A hand lifts and sweeps across, the air moves aside, and things change place.

The motion of the boat made me sleepy.

Synonymsmovement

313 mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ · /ˈmaʊntən/

a very high part of the earth with rock on top

The ground rises high above everything, snow on the top, clouds circling halfway up.

We climbed the mountain before sunrise.

314 move /muːv/ · /muv/

to go from one place to another, or make a thing do so

The chair goes from one end of the room to the other and leaves four shallow marks on the floor.

Please move your car from the gate.

315 music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ · /ˈmjuzɪk/

sounds put together in a way that is pleasing

High notes and low notes join into a line, and your foot starts tapping without being asked.

She listens to music while cooking.

316 name /neɪm/

the word by which a person or thing is known

Someone says that sound across the room, and you turn around before you know you have.

I forgot the name of that street.

317 nation /ˈneɪʃən/

all the people of one land under one rule

The people of one land, speaking the same language, standing under the same flag.

The whole nation watched the game.

Synonymscountry

318 need /niːd/ · /nid/

to be without something you must have

The bottle is empty and your throat is dry, and all you want is to find a well.

Plants need water and light to grow.

319 news /njuːz/ · /njuz/

what is said about something that has just happened

Something nobody has heard yet comes out of someone's mouth, and the whole room stops.

The news about the school spread fast.

320 night /naɪt/

the dark part of the day when you sleep

The sun drops, the street lights come on one by one, and every sound grows softer.

We drove home through the night without stopping.

321 noise /nɔɪz/

a loud or bad sound that you do not want

A chair is dragged across the floor above you and it does not stop; covering your ears does not help.

The noise from the road keeps me awake.

322 note /nəʊt/ · /noʊt/

a short writing on paper to help you keep a thing in mind

A small piece of paper left on the table with a few words on it, so that nothing gets forgotten.

He left a note on the kitchen door.

323 number /ˈnʌmbə/ · /ˈnʌmbɝ/

a word or sign that says how many things there are

Little signs stand in a row and tell you how many of a thing there are.

Write your number at the top of the page.

324 observation /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən/ · /ˌɑbzɝˈveɪʃən/

watching a thing with care for a time

You stand still and follow a bird with your eyes, writing down everything it does.

Her observation of the birds lasted an hour.

325 offer /ˈɒfə/ · /ˈɔfɝ/

to say that you will give or do a thing

You say the words first: let me do that, you sit down for a while.

She offered to drive me home.

326 oil /ɔɪl/

a thick yellow liquid from the earth or from plants

Yellow liquid runs slowly from the neck of the bottle, and the bottom of the pan turns shiny.

The old car leaks oil on the garage floor.

327 operation /ˌɒpəˈɹeɪʃən/ · /ˌɑpɝˈeɪʃən/

work done by a doctor inside your body

A very bright light, several people around a bed, and a knife moving steadily in one pair of hands.

She is still weak after the operation.

328 opinion /əˈpɪnjən/

what a person thinks about a thing

One question on the table, and each person weighs it inside and then says what they think.

Everyone at the table had a different opinion.

Synonymsview

329 order /ˈɔːdə/ · /ˈɔɹdɝ/

the way things are put so that all is in its place

Everything sits where it belongs, nothing is out of place, and the sight of it settles you.

Keep the books in order on the shelf.

330 organization /ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/ · /ˌɔɹɡənəˈzeɪʃən/

a group of people working together for one end

Many people with different jobs, some giving money, some running errands, all busy with the same thing.

The organization sends food to mountain schools.

Synonymsassociation

331 ornament /ˈɔːnəmənt/ · /ˈɔɹnəmənt/

a small thing put on a shelf to make it look good

A small thing stands on the shelf: no use at all, just nice to look at.

A glass bird sits there as an ornament.

Synonymsdecoration

332 owner /ˈəʊnə/ · /ˈoʊnɝ/

the person who has a thing and may keep or give it

The dog runs to the door at the sound of those steps, because that is the person who opens it every day.

The owner of the shop knows me well.

333 page /peɪdʒ/

one of the printed sheets in a book

One side of a sheet, covered with lines of words; turn it and the next side is there.

Turn to page twenty in your book.

334 pain /peɪn/

the bad feeling you have when your body is hurt

Something in your ankle beats and beats, so you put all your weight on the other foot when you walk.

The pain in his back kept him awake.

Synonymsache · soreness

335 paint /peɪnt/

wet colour that you put on a wall

The brush comes out of the tin heavy with color, and one push along the wall covers the old white.

White paint covered the old wooden door.

336 paper /ˈpeɪpə/ · /ˈpeɪpɝ/

thin white sheets on which you may write

A thin flat sheet: press a pen on it and the mark stays; crush it in your hand and it becomes a ball.

Write your answer on a piece of paper.

337 part /pɑːt/ · /pɑɹt/

a bit of a thing, not all of it

Take the whole thing apart and one small piece is left in your hand, one that still fits back.

Only part of the story is true.

338 paste /peɪst/

a thick wet mix that makes two things stick

A thick wet lump spread on the back of a sheet, and the two sheets stick together.

The child made a paste from flour and water.

Synonymsglue

339 payment /ˈpeɪmənt/

the money you give for a thing you take

The thing goes into a bag, you hold out your card, and the machine gives a short beep.

He made the last payment on his bike today.

340 peace /piːs/ · /pis/

a time when there is no war or fighting

The shooting stops, doors open again, and children run in the street.

Everyone hopes for peace in the world.

341 person /ˈpɜːsən/ · /ˈpɝsən/

a man, woman or child, one living being

Someone in the street with a face, a name, and a whole day of their own, not a number.

Every person here has a story.

Synonymsindividual

342 place /pleɪs/

a part of the world where a thing is

A small patch you can circle on a map; step into it and the air feels different.

This is a good place to sit.

Synonymsspot · location

343 plant /plɑːnt/ · /plænt/

a living thing with roots in the earth and green leaves

A green thing with its roots down in the soil, pushing slowly upward.

A tall plant grows beside the kitchen window.

344 play /pleɪ/

to do something for joy and not for work

The children run out without stopping for their shoes, and their laughter reaches the yard first.

The kids play outside after dinner.

345 pleasure /ˈplɛʒə/ · /ˈplɛʒɝ/

a good feeling you get from something you like

Something small loosens inside you all at once, and the corners of your mouth lift by themselves.

Fishing gives him more pleasure than money does.

346 point /pɔɪnt/

a very small round mark made with a pen

The tip of the pen touches the paper and leaves one very small round dot.

There is a red point on the map.

347 poison /ˈpɔɪzən/

something that makes you ill or dead if it goes in

One small mouthful of something with no color and no taste, and the body goes down.

The old bottle holds poison.

348 polish /ˈpɒlɪʃ/ · /ˈpɑlɪʃ/

a liquid or paste you rub on a thing to make it bright

A little squeezed onto a cloth, rubbed back and forth, until the old table shines enough to show your face.

A little polish made the old table shine again.

349 porter /ˈpɔːtə/ · /ˈpɔɹtɝ/

a man who takes bags from place to place for pay

Someone carries another person's cases on his shoulder, through the crowd, toward the platform.

The porter carried my bags upstairs.

350 position /pəˈzɪʃən/

the place where a thing is, or where you stand

The chair is moved three times and ends up where the door can be seen.

Put the chair back in its position.

Synonymslocation · spot

351 powder /ˈpaʊdə/ · /ˈpaʊdɝ/

a dry thing like dust made of very small bits

Pinch it between your fingers and it falls apart; one breath of wind and the whole white cloud of it lifts.

Mix the powder with warm water.

352 power /ˈpaʊə/ · /ˈpaʊɝ/

the push that makes a thing move or work

One push of the palm and the heavy door swings open on its own, with no key.

The engine has enough power to climb.

Synonymsstrength · force

353 price /pɹaɪs/

the money you must give to get a thing

The number on the little tag decides whether you put it back on the shelf or take it home.

The price is too high for me.

Synonymscost

354 print /pɹɪnt/

to put words on paper with a machine

The machine rolls over the white sheet, and lines of words come out of it.

They print the news every morning.

355 process /ˈpɹəʊses/ · /ˈpɹɑses/

a number of things done one after another

From raw to ready it passes through several pairs of hands, and none of it can be hurried.

The whole process takes about three weeks.

Synonymsprocedure

356 produce /ˈpɹɒdjuːs/ · /ˈpɹoʊduːs/

food that comes from a farm or a garden

Picked from the field at first light, still damp and dusty, and laid out on a wooden table.

The farm sells fresh produce.

357 profit /ˈpɹɒfɪt/ · /ˈpɹɑfət/

the money you have over after all is paid

After the sale, take away what it cost you, and the extra stack left in your hand.

They sold the old car at a small profit.

Synonymsgain

358 property /ˈpɹɒpəti/ · /ˈpɹɑpɝti/

the land, house or goods that are yours

The house, the land, the things in the cupboard: all of it written under one person's name.

The storm damaged a lot of property near the river.

359 prose /pɹəʊz/ · /pɹoʊz/

writing in the way people talk, not in lines

Sentences that move the way ordinary speech does, with no rhyme and no line breaks.

His prose is simple, almost like everyday talk.

360 protest /ˈpɹəʊtest/ · /ˈpɹoʊtest/

to say in a loud way that you are not pleased

A crowd stands at the gate holding signs, and their voices rise one wave after another.

Students walked out in protest against the new rule.

Synonymsdemonstration

361 pull /pʊl/

to take hold of a thing and make it come to you

Both hands close on the rope, your weight goes back, and the thing comes closer inch by inch.

Pull the door, don't push it.

362 punishment /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/

a bad thing done to you for a wrong you did

After doing wrong, something has to be handed over to pay for it.

He accepted his punishment without a single word.

Synonymspenalty

363 purpose /ˈpɜːpəs/ · /ˈpɝpəs/

the end you have in mind when you do a thing

Before you set out, you already know where you are going and why.

The trip had a purpose she never explained.

Synonymsaim · goal · intention

364 push /pʊʃ/

to make a thing go away from you with your hand

The flat of your hand against the door, one push off the back foot, and the door gives way inward.

Push the box to the wall.

365 quality /ˈkwɒlɪti/ · /ˈkwɑləti/

the amount of good or bad in a thing

Two of the same thing side by side: your hand tells you which one will still be good in ten years.

The sound quality of that old radio still surprises me.

366 question /ˈkwɛstʃən/

words you say when you want an answer

A sentence is thrown at you and hangs in the air, waiting for an answer.

A boy raised his hand and asked a hard question.

367 rain /ɹeɪn/

drops of water that come down out of the sky

Thin lines fall out of the sky, and the ground turns a darker color fast.

The rain stopped before noon.

Synonymsshower

368 range /ɹeɪndʒ/

from the smallest to the greatest of a group

From this end to that end, and everything in between counts as part of it.

The shop sells shoes in a wide range of sizes.

Synonymsspan

369 rate /ɹeɪt/

how much of a thing takes place in one hour

How many times something happens in an hour, written as a number on a dial.

Your heart rate goes up when you run.

370 ray /ɹeɪ/

a line of light from the sun or a fire

A narrow line of light comes through the gap in the curtain and lies across the wall.

A thin ray of light came through the crack in the door.

Synonymsbeam · shaft

371 reaction /ɹɪˈækʃən/ · /ɹiˈækʃən/

what you do or feel because of what comes

Something happens, and the body moves before the head has caught up.

His reaction to the joke was a long, quiet laugh.

Synonymsresponse

372 reading /ˈɹiːdɪŋ/ · /ˈɹidɪŋ/

what you do when you take in written words

Your eyes move line by line, and a voice in your head says the words for you.

Reading before bed helps me relax.

373 reason /ˈɹiːzən/ · /ˈɹizən/

the answer to the question why a thing is

The thread behind what happened: follow it and you find the why.

There must be a reason why the door is open.

374 record /ˈɹekɔːd/ · /ˈɹɛkɚd/

a writing kept so that you may see it later

Written down line by line, so that years later you can turn back and read it.

The nurse wrote a record of his temperature each hour.

375 regret /ɹɪˈɡɹɛt/ · /ɹəˈɡɹɛt/

a sad feeling about a thing you did or did not do

The thing is over, but a sentence you never finished still sits inside you.

I regret not saying goodbye.

376 relation /ɹɪˈleɪʃən/ · /ɹiˈleɪʃən/

the way in which two things are joined

An invisible line runs between two people and keeps pulling them toward each other.

Nobody could see the relation between the two accidents.

Synonymslink · connection

377 religion /ɹɪˈlɪdʒən/ · /ɹiˈlɪdʒən/

what a group of people believe about God

A group of people who believe the same thing, bow their heads the same way, and say the same words.

Religion is important to her family.

378 representative /ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛntətɪv/ · /ˌɹɛpɹəˈzɛnətɪv/

a person who is there for a group and says its words

One person stands up and speaks for the whole group behind him.

Each class sends one representative to the meeting.

Synonymsdelegate

379 request /ɹɪˈkwɛst/ · /ɹiˈkwɛst/

asking for a thing in a soft way

You say what you want in a quiet voice, and then wait for the other person to nod.

She sent a polite request for a new chair.

380 respect /ɹɪˈspɛkt/ · /ɹiˈspɛkt/

a good opinion of a person that you show

When the other person comes in, you lower your voice and give up your seat.

We should respect other people's time.

Synonymshonor

381 rest /ɹɛst/

to stop work for a time and let the body be still

You stop what you are doing, let your body go soft, and do nothing at all.

Let the horse have a rest before we ride on.

Synonymsbreak · pause

382 reward /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ · /ɹiˈwɔɹd/

a good thing given to you for what you did

The job is done, and someone holds out something good to say thank you.

He got a reward for finding the dog.

383 rhythm /ˈɹɪðəm/

a beat that comes again and again in music

The drum hits again and again, and your foot starts keeping time without asking you.

The song has a strong rhythm.

384 rice /ɹaɪs/

small white grains cooked in water and eaten

Small white grains go into a pot with water and come out soft, ready to eat.

We eat rice every day.

385 river /ˈɹɪvə/ · /ˈɹɪvɝ/

a long line of water that goes to the sea

Water comes from far away, goes around the stones, and keeps moving down toward the low ground.

The river runs past our village.

386 road /ɹəʊd/ · /ɹoʊd/

a hard way made for cars to go on

A hard strip of ground that runs from your feet to somewhere you cannot see.

This road leads to the sea.

387 roll /ɹəʊl/ · /ɹoʊl/

to turn over and over as a ball does

Something round turns over and over as it travels, and nothing in its path stops it.

The ball rolled under the bed.

388 room /ɹuːm/ · /ɹum/

four walls and a door, in a house

Four walls around you: close the door and there is no one but you.

My room is small but bright.

389 rub /ɹʌb/

to move your hand back and forth on a thing

Both hands pressed together, moving back and forth until they grow warm.

Rub your hands to get warm.

390 rule /ɹuːl/ · /ɹul/

a line saying what you may or may not do

A line everyone agrees on in advance, and anyone who steps over it gets called back.

One rule: no phones at dinner.

391 run /ɹʌn/

to go on your feet faster than you walk

Your feet push off the ground again and again, wind goes past your ears, and it gets easier as you go.

I run in the park every morning.

392 salt /sɒlt/ · /sɔlt/

white grains that you put in food for taste

A small white pinch goes into the soup, and suddenly the whole pot has taste.

He put too much salt in the rice by mistake.

393 sand /sænd/

very small bits of rock found near the sea

Countless tiny grains run through your fingers; close your hand and they are gone.

The children played in the sand.

394 scale /skeɪl/

a set of marks used to get a size

Small lines along a ruler, each with its number standing beside it.

Read the scale on the ruler.

395 science /ˈsaɪəns/

the work of testing what is true about the world

First you ask why, then you try it, and let the facts do the talking.

Science helps us understand the world.

396 sea /siː/ · /si/

a great body of salt water with no end in view

A blue sheet with no edge in sight; the wind comes and the whole thing turns over.

Far out at sea, the little boat looked very small.

397 seat /siːt/ · /sit/

the thing you put your body on when you sit

One place kept for one person: you sit down and stay there.

Excuse me, is this seat free?

398 secretary /ˈsɛkɹɪtəɹi/ · /ˈsɛkɹəˌtɛɹi/

a person who writes letters and keeps papers in order

Answers the phone, keeps the days in order, and turns a pile of paper into something you can find.

The secretary answered the phone.

399 selection /sɪˈlɛkʃən/ · /səˈlɛkʃən/

taking one thing out of a group of many

Several things are laid out on the table, and your hand takes just one.

The shop has a wide selection of tea.

Synonymschoice

400 self /sɛlf/

the one person you are and no other

After the light goes out, the part that is only you.

He is slowly finding his true self.

401 sense /sɛns/

the power of the body to feel what is near

There is no proof, but something in your body knows first that all is not right.

I have a sense that something is wrong.

402 servant /ˈsɜːvənt/ · /ˈsɝvənt/

someone who is paid to work in a house

Someone who comes the moment they are called and puts another person's needs first.

The servant opened the door quietly.

403 sex /sɛks/

male or female, as a person is born

A small box on a form where you write male or female.

Please write your name and sex here.

404 shade /ʃeɪd/

a place where the light of the sun does not come

The patch where the sun is blocked: step into it and the air is cool at once.

We parked the car in the shade and ate lunch.

405 shake /ʃeɪk/

to move a thing quickly from side to side

Hold it at both ends and swing it back and forth, and what is inside rattles.

Shake the bottle before you open it.

406 shame /ʃeɪm/

a bad feeling when you have done something wrong

Your face goes hot all at once, and you want somewhere to hide.

He felt shame after lying to her.

407 shock /ʃɒk/ · /ʃɑk/

a hard blow to the mind or body

A few words are said. The person stops, says nothing, and does not move for a long time.

The shock of cold water made him shout out loud.

Synonymsjolt

408 side /saɪd/

one of the two parts of a thing, left or right

A thing has a left and a right half, and you stand on just one of them.

Write your name on the other side.

409 sign /saɪn/

a board or mark that tells you something

A board by the road with an arrow on it, telling you which way to go.

The sign says the shop is closed.

410 silk /sɪlk/

a smooth cloth that your hand slips over

Your hand slides off it at a touch, and the light moves slowly across the surface.

Her dress is made of silk.

411 silver /ˈsɪlvə/ · /ˈsɪlvɝ/

a bright white metal used for money and ornaments

A white metal that shines, polished until you can see your face in it.

Grandma keeps her old coins in a small silver box.

412 sister /ˈsɪstə/ · /ˈsɪstɝ/

a girl or woman with the same mother as you

You grew up together, fought over things, and stood in front of each other when trouble came.

My little sister cut her own hair last night.

413 size /saɪz/

how great or small a thing is

You hold two hands up to measure, and then you know which one will fit.

These gloves are the wrong size for my hands.

414 sky /skaɪ/

the wide open air over the earth, where clouds are

Look up: a whole open space, with clouds moving slowly across it.

The sky turned red at sunset.

415 sleep /sliːp/ · /slip/

to close your eyes and rest for a long time

The light goes out, your eyes close, and the world is shut outside the door for a while.

I need eight hours of sleep.

416 slip /slɪp/

to lose your foot and go down

The ground goes out from under your foot, your body is already falling, and you have not worked out why.

He slipped on the icy step and dropped his keys.

417 slope /sləʊp/ · /sloʊp/

land that is not flat but goes up

The ground tilts upward, and every step costs more than it would on the flat.

The kids ran down the slope.

Synonymsincline

418 smash /smæʃ/

to come down hard and break into small bits

It hits the floor with one loud crack and scatters into small pieces you cannot sweep up fast enough.

The boys smashed the old window with a football.

Synonymsbreak · shatter

419 smell /smɛl/

what your nose takes in from a thing

Before you see anything, your nose has already found what is cooking in the kitchen.

I love the smell of fresh bread.

Synonymsscent

420 smile /smaɪl/

to make your mouth go up at the ends

The corners of the mouth lift a little, and the eyes soften with them.

He hid a small smile behind his coffee cup.

421 smoke /sməʊk/ · /smoʊk/

the grey cloud that goes up from a fire

Something gray rises out of the fire and thins away into the air above.

Smoke came out of the window.

422 sneeze /sniːz/ · /sniz/

to let air out of your nose with a loud sound

Your nose tickles, air bursts out of you, and your whole body jerks.

I sneeze when the dust is bad.

423 snow /snəʊ/ · /snoʊ/

soft white bits of water that fall from the sky

White pieces come down slowly out of the sky and cover every sound on the ground.

Heavy snow kept the children home from school.

424 soap /səʊp/ · /soʊp/

what you rub on your hands with water to clean them

Add water and rub, and a layer of white foam rises on your hands, more of it the longer you rub.

Wash your hands with soap.

425 society /səˈsaɪəti/

all the people living together under one set of ways

Countless people living together, each making room for the others by the same set of rules.

We all live in society together.

426 son /sʌn/

a male child of a mother or father

The boy in the family, carried in arms at first, then walking out the door on his own.

Their son starts school this year.

427 song /sɒŋ/ · /sɔŋ/

words set to music, made for singing

A few notes line up one after another, come out of a mouth, and turn into a tune.

This song makes me happy.

428 sort /sɔːt/ · /sɔɹt/

a group of things that are alike in some way

A pile of things is separated by what they look like, each kind going into its own pile.

She keeps every sort of button in that drawer.

Synonymstype · kind

429 sound /saʊnd/

what you can hear with your ears

The air shakes a little, your ear catches it, and you know something made it.

A loud sound from the kitchen made us run.

430 soup /suːp/ · /sup/

a hot liquid food made from meat or vegetables

A pot of hot, thin food that you scoop up with a spoon and drink.

The soup is too hot to drink.

431 space /speɪs/

an empty area between two things

The empty patch between two things, still wide enough for something else to fit.

There is space for one more chair.

Synonymsroom · gap

432 stage /steɪdʒ/

a raised floor where people act in a play

A raised floor with lights on it, and a person standing in the middle.

The lights went out and the stage turned dark.

433 start /stɑːt/ · /stɑɹt/

to make the first move of an action

The first movement, when everything that was still begins to move.

The film starts at eight.

Synonymsbeginning

434 statement /ˈsteɪtmənt/

something said in a clear way for all to hear

Saying one thing plainly in front of everyone, in a way you will not take back.

He read a short statement and left without questions.

Synonymsdeclaration

435 steam /stiːm/ · /stim/

the white gas that boiling water gives off

The water boils, and white clouds push up under the pot lid, hissing as they get out.

Steam from the kettle clouded the kitchen window.

436 steel /stiːl/ · /stil/

a very hard metal made from iron

A hard, heavy metal that rings sharply when you hit it.

A steel door closed behind us with a heavy sound.

437 step /stɛp/

one movement of a foot when you move forward

One foot lifts and comes down in front of the other: that is one step.

Take one step forward and stop.

438 stitch /stɪtʃ/

one small loop of thread in cloth

The needle goes through the cloth and back, and a small loop of thread stays behind.

The doctor put five stitches in my little finger.

439 stone /stəʊn/ · /stoʊn/

a small hard piece of rock

A hard, cold lump in your hand that makes a noise when you throw it.

She kept a smooth white stone in her pocket.

Synonymsrock

440 stop /stɒp/ · /stɑp/

to make something end and not go on

A foot presses down, the wheels go still, and the noise dies with them.

The bus stopped at the corner.

Synonymshalt

441 story /ˈstɔːɹi/ · /ˈstɔɹi/

words that tell about what happened to someone

Someone starts talking and lays out a line of events, one after another, in order.

Grandpa told us a funny story about his first job.

Synonymstale

442 stretch /stɹɛtʃ/

to make something longer by pulling its two ends

Your arms pull out to the sides, and your body goes from folded up to open.

Stretch your arms above your head.

Synonymsextend

443 structure /ˈstɹʌktʃə/ · /ˈstɹʌktʃɝ/

the way the parts of something are joined

Beams and posts put together to hold up the weight above them.

The old structure shook when the trucks went past.

444 substance /ˈsʌbstəns/

a material that a thing is made of

Something you can touch, pour into a bottle, and feel the weight of.

The bottle held a sticky black substance.

445 sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ · /ˈʃʊɡɝ/

a sweet white thing we put in tea

Small white grains that melt the moment they touch your tongue and taste sweet.

He takes sugar in his coffee.

446 suggestion /səˈdʒɛstʃən/

an idea you offer to another person to think about

An idea handed over gently, for you to take or leave.

Do you have a better suggestion?

Synonymsproposal

447 summer /ˈsʌmə/ · /ˈsʌmɝ/

the warm part of the year

The sun bakes the ground pale, and all anyone wants is a piece of shade.

We swim in the lake every summer.

448 support /səˈpɔːt/ · /səˈpɔɹt/

to hold something up so it does not fall

A hand holds something up from below so that it does not fall.

Two wooden posts support the roof of the shed.

449 surprise /səˈpɹaɪz/

a feeling when something happens that you did not expect

Something turns out other than you expected, and your eyes open wide first.

The party was a real surprise.

450 swim /swɪm/

to move through water with your arms and legs

You float in the water, arms and legs pulling together, and slowly move forward.

I can swim across the pool.

451 system /ˈsɪstəm/

a group of parts that work together as one whole

Many parts joined together, so that when one moves the others move with it.

The heating system is broken.

452 talk /tɔːk/ · /tɔk/

to speak with another person about something

Two people sit facing each other, one sentence after another, until everything is said.

We need to talk about this.

453 taste /teɪst/

the feeling in your mouth when you eat or drink

Something touches your tongue, and sweet, salty, sour and bitter come apart all at once.

I can still taste the garlic hours later.

Synonymsflavor

454 tax /tæks/

money a person must give to the state

Part of the money you earn has to be handed over and cannot be kept.

Everyone must pay tax on income.

455 teaching /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/ · /ˈtitʃɪŋ/

the work of helping another person learn

One person explains, a group listens, and then each of them tries it by hand.

Good teaching makes hard things easy.

Synonymsinstruction

456 tendency /ˈtɛndənsi/

a habit of moving or acting the same way again and again

Again and again the same thing happens: the door is left open, the cup is put on the left.

There is a growing tendency for people to work from home.

Synonymsinclination · trend

457 test /tɛst/

questions or actions used to see how good something is

A set of questions that shows how much you have learned and where the gaps are.

We have a math test on Friday.

458 theory /ˈθɪəɹi/ · /ˈθiɝi/

a set of ideas that may explain how something works

A set of ideas not yet proved, worked out on paper first.

The theory sounds good but needs proof.

459 thing /θɪŋ/

any object, act or idea that can be named

Something you can pick up, that has a name, and can sit on a table.

Put your things in the box.

460 thought /θɔːt/ · /θɔt/

a picture or idea in your mind

A sentence that appears in your head all at once, before it is spoken.

A thought came to me in the shower.

Synonymsidea

461 thunder /ˈθʌndə/ · /ˈθʌndɝ/

the loud noise in the sky after lightning

Electricity held in the clouds lets go all at once, and the sky shakes with it.

Thunder rolled over the hills all through the night.

462 time /taɪm/

the passing of minutes, hours and years

The second hand climbs forward, click by click, and the tea on the table goes from hot to cold.

Time goes fast when you are busy.

463 tin /tɪn/

a small metal container in which food is kept

A small round can of thin metal; twist off the lid and it is packed with beans.

She keeps her pens in an old tin.

Synonymscan

464 top /tɒp/ · /tɑp/

the highest part of a thing

You reach the last stair, look up, and there is the highest point of the roof.

Put the heavy books on the top shelf.

465 touch /tʌtʃ/

to put your hand or finger on something

Your fingertips rest lightly on something, and the skin feels a little warmth.

Don't touch the paint; it is still wet.

466 trade /tɹeɪd/

the business of buying and selling things

A boat of goods comes in, the two sides swap boxes, and each takes home what it lacks.

The two towns trade fish for salt.

Synonymsexchange

467 transport /ˈtɹænspɔːt/ · /ˈtɹænspɔɹt/

to take goods or people from one place to another

A truck loaded with boxes drives all the way from the warehouse to the dock.

Trucks transport fruit to the north.

468 trick /tɹɪk/

something done to fool a person

He smiles and asks you to pick a card, while his hand swaps it under the table.

That was a clever trick.

469 trouble /ˈtɹʌbəl/

a hard or bad thing that makes you worry

The car dies halfway, the rain starts, and you stand by the road with a worried face.

We are in trouble if the bus leaves.

Synonymsdifficulty · problem

470 turn /tɜːn/ · /tɝn/

to move round, or to go to the next person in order

The wheel goes half a circle to the left, and the front of the car slowly points down another road.

Turn the key to the right.

471 twist /twɪst/

to turn something strongly in two directions at once

Both hands grip the ends of a towel and pull in opposite directions.

Twist the lid until it opens.

472 unit /ˈjuːnɪt/ · /ˈjunət/

one part of a whole, or a measure we count by

A long building is cut into sections, and each section has its own number on the door.

We finished the first unit today.

473 use /juːs/ · /jus/

to do something with a thing for a purpose

A hand reaches into a drawer, finds an old tool, and puts it to work.

May I use your phone for a minute?

474 value /ˈvæljuː/ · /ˈvælju/

how much money a thing would get if you sold it

An old man sets an old coin in his palm and says it is worth far more than it looks.

He knows the value of a good night's sleep.

Synonymsworth

475 verse /vɜːs/ · /vɝs/

one line of a poem, or a group of such lines

One line of words stops in the middle of the page, with white space after it, and the next line begins below.

She wrote a short verse on the back of a card.

476 vessel /ˈvɛsəl/

a thing to hold liquid, or a big ship

A clay pot with a round belly, big enough to hold a whole day's water.

Pour the oil into a clean vessel.

477 view /vjuː/ · /vju/

what you can see from a place

Standing at the top of a hill, you look down and the whole city is spread out in front of you.

The view from the window is lovely.

478 voice /vɔɪs/

the sound a person makes when they speak

She speaks, and the air gives a small shake with her words.

Her voice was soft on the phone.

479 walk /wɔːk/ · /wɑk/

to move on your feet, one foot after the other

In the evening, along the river, you go slowly, your shoes tapping the stone path.

Let's walk to the park after dinner.

480 war /wɔː/ · /wɔɹ/

fighting between countries or groups with guns

The city gate is smashed open, and people in the street run away with children in their arms.

The war lasted for four years.

481 wash /wɒʃ/ · /wɑʃ/

to make something clean with soap and water

Two hands rub the clothes back and forth, and foam slides down between the fingers.

Wash your hands before you eat.

482 waste /weɪst/

to use badly or throw away what is still good

The tap is left running with nobody there, and clean water pours down the drain.

Don't waste food; take only what you need.

483 water /ˈwɔːtə/ · /ˈwɔtɝ/

the clear liquid that falls as rain and we drink

The clear liquid in the glass shifts, and the light from the window moves in it.

The children ran through the cold water of the stream.

484 wave /weɪv/

a line of water that moves across the sea

A line of water pushes in from far out and breaks white at the shore.

A big wave hit the small boat.

485 wax /wæks/

a soft yellow material used to make candles

The candle is half burned, hot wax runs down its side and sets into a tear.

The candle wax dripped on the cloth.

486 way /weɪ/

a road, or how you do a thing

Three paths split ahead, and he raises a hand and points to the narrowest one.

We took a quiet way through the park to school.

Synonymspath · route

487 weather /ˈwɛðə/ · /ˈwɛðɝ/

how the air and sky are from day to day

The sky is blue when you leave in the morning; by noon the clouds come down low and the wind turns cold.

Bad weather kept the plane on the ground all day.

488 week /wiːk/ · /wik/

seven days one after the other

Seven boxes in a row on the calendar, crossed off one after another.

I will be back in a week.

489 weight /weɪt/

how heavy a thing is when you lift it

You lift the box with both hands, your knees bend under it, and only then do you feel how heavy it is.

The bag's weight surprised me.

Synonymsheaviness

490 wind /wɪnd/

air that moves quickly across the land

The leaves all turn over to one side at once, and the washing on the line puffs out.

The wind blew my hat away.

491 wine /waɪn/

a drink made from grapes, with alcohol in it

Deep red liquid turns once in the glass and slides slowly down the inside.

They shared a bottle of red wine.

492 winter /ˈwɪntə/ · /ˈwɪntɝ/

the cold part of the year

Frost covers the window glass, and your breath turns white in the doorway.

Winter here is long and dry.

493 woman /ˈwʊmən/

a female person who is fully grown

One hand carries a bag, the other holds a child, and she crosses the road quickly.

A woman asked me for directions.

494 wood /wʊd/

the hard substance that trees are made of

The axe comes down, chips fly, and a pale new cut shows.

He cut the wood into thin pieces for the fire.

Synonymstimber · lumber

495 wool /wʊl/

the thick soft hair that covers a sheep

The cut fleece is soft and loose: close your hand on it, let go, and it springs back.

This hat is made of wool from my uncle's sheep.

496 word /wɜːd/ · /wɝd/

one small part of language that has a meaning

He writes a single word on the paper, then draws a circle round it.

I don't know this word.

Synonymsterm

497 work /wɜːk/ · /wɝk/

the act of doing a job

Out of the house at daylight, at the desk, finishing one thing and then the next.

She works in a small office.

Synonymslabor

498 wound /wuːnd/ · /wund/

a cut or broken place on the body

The skin is scraped off a knee, and blood comes slowly through.

The wound on his arm took two weeks to close.

Synonymsinjury · cut

499 writing /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ/

the act of putting words on paper with a pen

A sheet of paper under the lamp, and the pen moves forward line by line.

Her writing got much better after a year of practice.

500 year /jɪə/ · /jɪɹ/

twelve months, or three hundred and sixty-five days

Another ring appears in the tree, and the child is a little taller.

We moved here three years ago.

501 angle /ˈæŋɡəl/

the shape made when two lines meet at a point

Two lines meet at a point and open out from it.

The two roads meet at a wide angle here.

502 ant /ænt/

a very small insect that lives and works in a group

A small black dot crawls along the crack in the floor with a bread crumb on its back.

Ants found the sugar on the floor.

503 apple /ˈæpəl/

a round red or green fruit that grows on a tree

You turn it in your hand, a white shine runs over the red skin, and the bite is loud and crisp.

She cut the apple into four parts.

504 arch /ɑːtʃ/ · /ɑɹtʃ/

a curved top over a door or a bridge

Stones are laid one on another until they curve over the middle, and people walk underneath.

We walked under the stone arch.

505 arm /ɑːm/ · /ɑɹm/

the long part of the body from shoulder to hand

He raises his arm to wave, the sleeve slides down, and a strong forearm shows.

He carried the box under his arm.

506 army /ˈɑːmi/ · /ˈɑɹmi/

a large group of men who fight for a country

A line of people in the same clothes, feet hitting the ground together, all one sound.

The army camped outside the town.

Synonymstroops

507 baby /ˈbeɪbi/

a very young child who cannot walk or speak

A tiny hand closes around your finger, and the eyes are not quite open yet.

The baby grabbed my finger and would not let go.

Synonymsinfant

508 bag /bæɡ/

a soft container with a handle for carrying things

A cloth bag full of things, its two handles pulled down by the weight.

My bag is full of books.

509 ball /bɔːl/ · /bɔl/

a round thing that you throw or kick

The round ball bounces twice on the ground, rolls to the wall, and stops.

The ball rolled under the car and stayed there.

510 band /bænd/

a long narrow strip of cloth or other material

A long narrow strip of cloth goes around the box, and its two ends fasten together.

He tied a red band around the box.

511 basin /ˈbeɪsɪn/ · /ˈbeɪsən/

a round open container used for holding water

Warm water sits in a china bowl, and a towel hangs over its edge.

He filled the basin with warm water for the dishes.

512 basket /ˈbɑːskɪt/ · /ˈbæskət/

a container made of thin sticks woven together

Strips of bamboo woven across each other; lift it and light shows through the gaps.

The basket is full of eggs.

513 bath /bɑːθ/ · /bæθ/

a large container you sit in to clean your body

Hot water fills the tub, and white steam rises and fogs the mirror.

The children take a bath at eight.

514 bed /bɛd/

a piece of furniture you lie on to sleep

One corner of the covers is turned back, and the pillow has a hollow where a head lay.

Make your bed before you leave.

515 bee /biː/ · /bi/

a small flying insect that makes sweet honey

A small yellow and black body lands in the middle of a flower, legs dusted with gold.

A bee flew into the room.

516 bell /bɛl/

a metal object that rings when it is hit

Pull the rope, the metal tongue strikes the inside, and the sound spreads out.

A small bell above the door rang when we entered.

517 berry /ˈbɛɹi/

a small soft round fruit with many seeds

Small round fruit hangs on the bush; press one and dark red juice comes out.

She picked a berry from the bush.

518 bird /bɜːd/ · /bɝd/

a warm creature with wings, feathers and a beak

A small thing on the branch shakes its feathers, opens its wings, and is gone.

A bird built a nest in the tree.

519 blade /bleɪd/

the flat sharp part of a knife or tool

A thin strip of steel, with light running along it in a bright line.

The blade of the knife is dull.

520 board /bɔːd/ · /bɔɹd/

a long flat length of wood for building

A flat piece of wood nailed to the wall, good for putting things on or writing on.

He nailed a board over the hole.

Synonymspanel

521 boat /bəʊt/ · /boʊt/

a small vehicle that moves on water

A small boat rocks on the water, and the oars cut two lines behind it.

We crossed the lake by boat.

522 bone /bəʊn/ · /boʊn/

one of the hard white parts inside a body

Hard white pieces hold the body up, and a knob sticks out where two of them meet.

The old dog buried a bone under the apple tree.

523 book /bʊk/

a set of printed pages held together in a cover

Sheets of paper pressed tight and bound together; open it and there is a faint smell of ink.

This book has twelve short stories.

524 boot /buːt/ · /but/

a strong shoe that covers your foot and leg

The top comes up to your calf, and you can step into mud without caring.

Wear your boots; the road is muddy.

525 bottle /ˈbɒtəl/ · /ˈbɑtəl/

a tall glass or plastic container with a small top

A glass body with a wide belly and a narrow neck; pull the stopper and it says glug.

He dropped the bottle and it rolled across the floor.

526 box /bɒks/ · /bɑks/

a container with straight sides and a lid

Four boards stand around a space, and the lid goes on and hides what is inside.

She found an old photo box in the attic.

Synonymscase

527 boy /bɔɪ/

a young male person who is not yet a man

He has run so fast that his laces have come loose and his face is wet with sweat.

The boy next door plays football.

528 brain /bɹeɪn/

the soft part inside the head that thinks

A soft grey lump inside the head, wiring and signalling very fast.

Sleep helps your brain work well.

529 brake /bɹeɪk/

a part that makes a wheel or car slow down

Your foot presses down, the wheels are gripped, and the car jerks to a stop.

Press the brake before the corner.

530 branch /bɹɑːntʃ/ · /bɹæntʃ/

a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk

An arm reaches out from the trunk, splitting thinner and thinner, leaves hanging at the ends.

A bird landed on the highest branch and sang.

531 brick /bɹɪk/

a hard block of baked clay used to build walls

Red clay baked hard, square and flat, stacked up into a wall.

Each brick was laid by hand.

532 bridge /bɹɪdʒ/

a road built over water so people can cross

A path carried over the water, resting on both banks, people crossing above.

The old bridge crosses the river.

533 brush /bɹʌʃ/

a tool with stiff hairs used for cleaning

Stiff hairs fixed to a wooden handle; rub it back and forth and the dust goes.

Use this brush to clean your shoes.

534 bucket /ˈbʌkɪt/ · /ˈbʌkət/

an open container with a handle for carrying water

A round can with a handle; full of water, it pulls your arm down.

The boy kicked the bucket and water splashed everywhere.

Synonymspail

535 bulb /bʌlb/

a glass object that gives light when electricity goes in

A thin wire inside a glass shell, glowing as a small ball of light the moment the switch is turned.

The bulb in the hall is dead.

536 button /ˈbʌtən/

a small round thing that holds two parts of clothes

The small thing on the edge of a coat: push it through and it catches in the hole opposite.

She pressed the button and the bus door opened.

537 cake /keɪk/

a sweet food made of flour, eggs and sugar

It rises in a round tin, and when you cut it the soft yellow inside shows.

We baked a cake for her birthday.

538 camera /ˈkæmɹə/ · /ˈkæmɝə/

a small machine that you use to take pictures

You lift it to your eye, point it, press once, and that moment is kept.

He took the camera on his trip.

539 card /kɑːd/ · /kɑɹd/

a small flat piece of thick paper

A small rectangle of stiff paper with words written on it or a picture printed on it.

He shuffled the cards and dealt five to each player.

540 cart /kɑːt/ · /kɑɹt/

a small vehicle with wheels that you push

Two wheels and a flat board, squeaking as you push it along.

He pushed the cart down the aisle.

541 carriage /ˈkæɹɪdʒ/

a wheeled box pulled by a horse, for people

A horse pulls a wooden box on wheels, with people sitting inside.

The carriage stopped at the gate.

542 cat /kæt/

a small animal with soft fur that says meow

It arches its back, flicks its tail, and jumps onto the window ledge without a sound.

A black cat jumped over the fence and ran away.

543 chain /tʃeɪn/

a line of metal rings joined one to another

Iron rings hold on to each other; pull it tight and it goes straight and hard.

The gate is held by a chain.

544 cheese /tʃiːz/ · /tʃiz/

a solid food made from milk

A pale yellow block that the knife goes into with a little push, smelling faintly sour.

He put cheese on his bread.

545 chest /tʃɛst/

the front part of the body between neck and stomach

You breathe in deep, and the front of your body slowly rises.

The old man kept his letters in a wooden chest.

546 chin /tʃɪn/

the lowest part of your face, under the mouth

When he talks the lower jaw moves, and dark stubble shows along the bone.

She rested her chin on her hand.

547 church /tʃɜːtʃ/ · /tʃɝtʃ/

a building where people go to pray

A pointed roof reaches up at the sky; inside it is quiet, and light falls through the coloured glass.

The church stands by the square.

548 circle /ˈsɜːkəl/ · /ˈsɝkəl/

a round line that has no end

One stroke, no lifting, all the way round from where you started until the line closes.

Draw a circle around the answer.

549 clock /klɒk/ · /klɑk/

a machine that shows you the hour

A round face on the wall, a short hand and a long hand each creeping along.

The clock in the kitchen is slow.

Synonymstimepiece

550 cloud /klaʊd/

a white or grey mass of water in the sky

A white mass in the sky, pushed by the wind into new shapes, covering the sun.

Dark clouds are coming from the west.

551 coat /kəʊt/ · /koʊt/

a warm outer garment with sleeves

You put on a thick layer before going out, button it up, and the cold wind stays outside.

Take your coat; it is cold.

552 collar /ˈkɒlə/ · /ˈkɑlɝ/

the band round the neck of a shirt

The ring around the neck of a shirt, turned up against the back of your neck.

She turned up her collar against the cold wind.

553 comb /kəʊm/ · /koʊm/

a tool with many teeth for making hair neat

A row of fine teeth runs from the roots to the ends and puts the tangled hair straight.

She ran a comb through her hair.

554 cord /kɔːd/ · /kɔɹd/

a thin strong line used to tie things

A thin line wound around your hand; pull it and it goes tight.

Pull the cord to start the fan.

Synonymsstring

555 cow /kaʊ/

a big farm animal kept for its milk

A big body stands in the grass, head down eating, its tail driving off flies.

Two cows stood by the fence, waiting for the farmer.

556 cup /kʌp/

a small round container with a handle for drinking

A small round mouth with a handle; pour hot water in and you cannot hold it.

He dropped the cup and it broke on the floor.

557 curtain /ˈkɜːtən/ · /ˈkɝtən/

a piece of cloth that covers a window

Cloth hanging from a rod; pull it and the light stays outside.

Close the curtain; the sun is bright.

Synonymsdrape

558 cushion /ˈkʊʃən/

a soft bag you put on a seat to sit on

A soft square: press it and your hand sinks in, and sitting a long time is no trouble.

Put a cushion behind your back.

559 dog /dɒɡ/ · /dɔɡ/

an animal that lives with people and barks

Its ears go up and it runs out, tail wagging in circles.

The dog waits by the door.

560 door /dɔː/ · /dɔɹ/

a flat panel you open to go into a room

A flat panel set in a frame: push it and another room is there.

Someone knocked on the door three times and waited.

561 drain /dɹeɪn/

a pipe that carries dirty water away

Dirty water turns in circles at the hole, then goes down with a gulp.

Dirty water ran slowly down the drain in the street.

562 drawer /ˈdɹɔːə/ · /dɹɔɹ/

a box that slides in and out of a table

A wooden box slides out from under the desk, with keys and old letters lying inside.

The keys are in the top drawer.

563 dress /dɹɛs/

a piece of clothing worn by women and girls

A single piece of cloth from shoulder to hem, pulled in at the waist.

She wore a blue dress to the party.

564 drop /dɹɒp/ · /dɹɑp/

the smallest round bit that a liquid comes in

Water gathers at the tip, falls, and makes a small ring where it lands.

A drop of rain hit my hand.

Synonymsdroplet

565 ear /ɪə/ · /iɹ/

the part of the body that takes in sound

Sound goes in, and the small bones inside shake a little.

He whispered in my ear.

566 egg /ɛɡ/

a round white thing laid by a hen

Tap the shell and it cracks; the yellow and the clear part slide into the bowl.

She boiled two eggs for breakfast.

567 engine /ˈɛndʒɪn/ · /ˈɛndʒən/

a machine that makes a vehicle move

Pistons run up and down inside an iron case, and once it starts it hums low.

The old car's engine made a loud noise all the way home.

568 eye /aɪ/

the part of the body that lets you see

Open it and light comes in, and the world takes shape.

Keep your eyes on the road.

569 face /feɪs/

the front part of the head, with eyes and mouth

Two eyes, a nose and a mouth, all packed into the small flat front of the head.

Her face turned red in the cold.

570 farm /fɑːm/ · /fɑɹm/

a place where a person keeps animals and grows food

A piece of land with a fence round it, crops in rows and animals in the yard.

They grow corn on the farm.

571 feather /ˈfɛðə/ · /ˈfɛðɝ/

a light soft thing that covers the body of a bird

A light thing that floats when the wind takes it, and lands on your shoulder without a sound.

A white feather fell on the grass.

572 finger /ˈfɪŋɡə/ · /ˈfɪŋɡɝ/

one of the five parts at the end of the hand

Five of them on one hand, all different lengths; the quickest one points and curls and picks things up.

She cut her finger while chopping onions for dinner.

573 fish /fɪʃ/

a small animal that lives in water and swims

The body turns, the tail sweeps once, and it is facing another way in the water.

We caught three fish today.

574 flag /flæɡ/

a piece of cloth put up to show a country

A piece of cloth at the top of a pole. The wind comes and it opens out whole.

The children raised the flag before class every morning.

575 floor /flɔː/ · /flɔɹ/

the flat part of a room that you walk on

The flat surface under your feet, running from one wall of the room to the other.

The floor is cold in winter.

576 fly /flaɪ/

a small black thing with wings that lands on food

A small black speck buzzing round the table. You chase it off and it comes back.

A fly kept landing on my food.

577 foot /fʊt/

the part of the body at the end of the leg

You come down on the heel first, then the flat, then push off with the toes.

My left foot hurts after the walk.

578 fork /fɔːk/ · /fɔɹk/

a tool with points used to take food to the mouth

A handle with sharp points at the end: press it into the meat and the meat stays where it is.

He ate the cake with a fork.

579 fowl /faʊl/

a bird that is kept for its eggs or meat

Birds in the yard, clucking and crowding round your feet, waiting for the grain you throw down.

The farmer keeps fowl in the yard.

580 frame /fɹeɪm/

a border of wood or metal round a picture

Four sides joined into an empty border, with a space in the middle waiting for a picture.

He put the photo in a wooden frame.

581 garden /ˈɡɑːdən/ · /ˈɡɑɹdən/

a small place near a house where flowers grow

A small patch of soil behind a fence, flowers and vegetables crowded together, a watering can by the gate.

My grandma grows tomatoes in her garden.

582 girl /ɡɜːl/ · /ɡɝl/

a child or young person who is not a boy

Two braids, a cloth bear under one arm, standing at the door for someone to come and take her hand.

The little girl waved at me from the bus.

583 glove /ɡlʌv/

a cover for the hand with a place for each finger

Five little pockets, one for each finger. Pull it on and the cold wind cannot get in.

One glove fell off in the snow.

584 goat /ɡəʊt/ · /ɡoʊt/

a farm animal with horns that eats grass and climbs

Standing on a narrow rock on a steep slope, head down, cropping grass, the beard jerking as it chews.

The goat ate my paper bag.

585 gun /ɡʌn/

a metal tool that sends out hard bits and can kill

An iron tube held in the hand. One finger pulls, and something far away falls down.

The police locked the gun in a box.

586 hair /hɛə/ · /hɛɹ/

the thin threads that grow on the head

Fine threads growing out of the top of the head; the wind pushes them all one way.

He cut his hair short before the summer holiday.

587 hammer /ˈhæmə/ · /ˈhæmɝ/

a heavy tool with a long handle, used to put in nails

A heavy lump of iron on a wooden handle. Swing it at the nail head and the nail goes in.

He hit his thumb with the hammer.

588 hand /hænd/

the part at the end of the arm with five fingers

Five fingers open and close: it can grip, it can twist, and it can rest on someone's shoulder.

She washed her hands and sat down at the table.

589 hat /hæt/

a thing you put on your head to keep off sun

Drop it on your head and the brim shades your eyes, so the sun cannot reach your face.

That red hat suits you well.

590 head /hɛd/

the top part of the body, above the neck

The round thing above the neck. Turn it a little and you see what is behind you.

He hit his head on the low door.

591 heart /hɑːt/ · /hɑɹt/

the part inside the chest that pushes blood round

A bag of muscle the size of your fist, knocking inside the chest and never stopping.

The doctor listened to his heart and smiled.

592 hook /hʊk/

a curved piece of metal used to hang things up

A piece of metal bent back on itself; slip it through a bag handle and lift, and the bag hangs from it.

The fisherman took the fish off the hook carefully.

593 horn /hɔːn/ · /hɔɹn/

one of the hard pointed things on a cow's head

Hard curved points on a bull's head. Lower the head and push, and the other animal goes over.

The driver honked his horn twice at the crossing.

594 horse /hɔːs/ · /hɔɹs/

a big animal with four legs that a person can ride

Four long legs on the ground, a shake of the mane, and a person carried along at a trot.

She rides a brown horse every Sunday.

595 hospital /ˈhɒˌspɪtəl/ · /ˈhɑˌspɪtəl/

a building where sick people are cared for

White walls, the smell of disinfectant, a bed rolling down the corridor, a light on above a door.

My father stayed in hospital for three days.

596 house /haʊs/

a building with walls and a roof where people live

Brick walls around a few rooms, a roof to keep the rain off, warm light in the window.

Their house has a small blue door.

597 island /ˈaɪlənd/

land with water on every side of it

Water on every side, one piece of land in the middle; the waves hit the shore and the boat must stay out.

We rowed to a small island at noon.

Synonymsisle

598 jewel /ˈdʒuːəl/ · /ˈdʒuəl/

a hard pretty stone that is worth much money

A small stone cut into many flat faces; under a lamp it throws light that hurts the eye.

The queen wore a jewel on her finger.

Synonymsgem

599 kettle /ˈkɛtəl/

a pot with a handle, used for boiling water

A tin pot sitting on the stove; when the water boils, the spout starts to sing.

The kettle is boiling on the stove.

600 key /kiː/ · /ki/

a small metal thing that opens a lock

A small piece of metal; the teeth go into the hole, you turn your wrist, and the door opens.

I left my key inside the car.

601 knee /niː/ · /ni/

the part in the middle of the leg where it bends

The joint in the middle of the leg that bends. Kneel down and this is what touches the ground first.

He hurt his knee playing football.

602 knife /naɪf/

a tool with a blade, for cutting

A thin strip of steel with the edge turned down, pushed forward again and again through a pile of vegetables.

Cut the bread with a clean knife.

603 knot /nɒt/ · /nɑt/

the place where two ends of a thread are tied

The rope goes round twice, one end comes up through the loop, and a hard pull locks it.

I can't undo this knot in the rope.

604 leaf /liːf/ · /lif/

a flat green part that grows on a tree

A thin green blade on a branch; when the wind comes, it turns over.

A dry leaf fell on my book.

605 leg /lɛɡ/

one of the two long parts below the body that hold you up

Two posts holding the body up, the weight moving from one to the other with every step.

My legs hurt after the long walk.

606 library /ˈlaɪbɹəɹi/ · /ˈlaɪbɹɛˌɹi/

a room or building full of books you may read

Rows of shelves up to the ceiling, and the sound of turning pages louder than any talking.

She studies in the library after class.

607 line /laɪn/

a long thin mark made with a pen

The pen travels across the paper and leaves a thin straight mark behind it.

Draw a line under the word.

608 lip /lɪp/

one of the two soft edges of the mouth

Two soft edges round the mouth that open and close when you speak; in winter they crack.

Her lips are dry from the cold wind.

609 lock /lɒk/ · /lɑk/

a metal thing that keeps a door shut till a key turns

An iron block through the door ring. Turn the key and the tongue shoots out and holds.

The lock on the gate is broken.

610 map /mæp/

a drawing of a country or town seen from above

A sheet of paper spread out: blue for water, curves for roads, and a finger walking over it.

Open the map and find the river.

611 match /mætʃ/

a small stick that makes a flame when you rub it

A short wooden stick with a dab of stuff on the head; one scrape on the box and a flame appears.

He lit the candle with one match.

612 monkey /ˈmʌŋki/

an animal with long arms that climbs trees

Long arms hanging from a branch, swinging; the tail curls round and a hand snatches your hat.

A monkey took my sandwich.

613 moon /muːn/ · /mun/

the round white thing in the night sky

A pale round disc in the night sky; a cloud drifts past and it goes bright, then dim.

They walked home under the moon without a word.

614 mouth /maʊθ/

the opening in the face used for eating and talking

A hole in the face that opens and shuts; food goes in this way, and words come out.

Don't talk with your mouth full.

615 muscle /ˈmʌsəl/

a part under the skin that pulls tight to move you

Strips of flesh under the skin that pull tight; make an effort and they stand up hard.

His arm muscles are strong.

616 nail /neɪl/

a thin metal pin hit into wood to join things

A thin iron pin with a point at one end; the hammer comes down and it goes into the wood.

There is a nail in my shoe.

617 neck /nɛk/

the thin part between the head and the shoulders

The narrow part between head and shoulders; turn your head and the skin pulls tight.

My neck is stiff this morning.

618 needle /ˈniːdəl/ · /ˈnidəl/

a thin pointed tool with a hole for thread

A thin steel pin with a hole at its tail; pushed through cloth, it leaves a line of small holes.

She pulled the needle through the cloth.

619 nerve /nɜːv/ · /nɝv/

a thin thread inside the body that carries feeling

A fine thread inside the body; touch it and a message of pain runs up to the brain.

A bad tooth can touch a nerve.

620 net /nɛt/

threads tied in squares with holes, used to catch fish

Rope tied into squares with holes between them; thrown over the water, the fish are caught in it.

The ball hit the net and fell back.

621 nose /nəʊz/ · /noʊz/

the part of the face used for smelling

The part that stands out in the middle of the face; two holes draw in air and tell you every smell.

My nose is cold in this wind.

622 nut /nʌt/

a small hard fruit with a shell you must break

A hard shell with something good inside; you have to break it open with a stone.

The squirrel hid a nut under the leaves.

623 office /ˈɒfɪs/ · /ˈɔfɪs/

a room where people work at tables with papers

A desk, a computer, a chair. A person sits here for most of the day.

Her office is on the fifth floor.

624 orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ · /ˈɔɹəndʒ/

a round fruit with a thick skin and sweet juice

Round, the skin full of tiny holes. Peel it, pull it into pieces, and juice runs down your hand.

I eat an orange every morning.

625 oven /ˈʌvən/

a box that is heated for cooking food

An iron box with fire inside, glowing red. Open the door and the heat hits your face.

She opened the oven and the kitchen filled with heat.

626 parcel /ˈpɑːsəl/ · /ˈpɑɹsəl/

a paper cover round something, sent by post

A parcel wrapped neatly in brown paper, tied with string crossing over it, with the recipient's name written on top.

He tied the parcel with string and wrote the address.

Synonymspackage

627 pen /pɛn/

a tool with ink used for writing on paper

The tip is split by a fine cut; ink runs down the split and lands on the paper as letters.

Sign your name with a black pen.

628 pencil /ˈpɛnsəl/

a wooden stick with a dark centre, used for writing

A black core wrapped in wood. Write something wrong and a rubber takes it away.

My pencil broke during the test.

629 picture /ˈpɪktʃə/ · /ˈpɪktʃɝ/

a drawing or photo of a person or place

Patches of colour on paper making a person or a place; one look and you know who it is.

She drew a picture of her cat.

Synonymsimage

630 pig /pɪɡ/

a fat farm animal with a flat nose and short legs

Pink skin, a flat round nose, rooting in the mud for food, the tail curled into a ring.

The pigs ran across the wet field.

Synonymshog

631 pin /pɪn/

a short thin piece of metal used to hold cloth

A thin steel needle bent back to hold itself; it keeps two pieces of cloth together.

Hold the paper with a pin.

632 pipe /paɪp/

a long round tube that water or gas goes through

A long hollow tube: water goes in at one end and comes out at the other.

Water runs through this pipe.

Synonymstube

633 plane /pleɪn/

a machine with wings that goes through the air

Two wide wings on a body, climbing into the sky until houses look like small boxes.

Our plane leaves at six.

Synonymsaircraft

634 plate /pleɪt/

a round flat dish you put food on

A shallow round dish with the food in the middle and a ring of empty edge.

Put the fish on a clean plate.

635 plough /plaʊ/

a heavy tool pulled by a cow to turn up soil

A curved blade pushed into the soil and pulled by a horse, turning up a long dark furrow.

The farmer pulled the plough behind his horse.

636 pocket /ˈpɒkɪt/ · /ˈpɑkət/

a small bag sewn in clothes to keep things in

A small bag sewn into clothes; put your hand in and coins rattle at the bottom.

He found a coin in his pocket.

637 pot /pɒt/ · /pɑt/

a deep round thing used for cooking on a fire

A deep round thing on the fire, with soup bubbling and turning over inside.

The soup is boiling in the pot.

638 potato /pəˈteɪˌtəʊ/ · /pəˈteɪˌtoʊ/

a round white food that grows under the ground

A yellow lump under the soil; dug out with dirt on it, peeled to show the white flesh.

Peel the potatoes before you cook them.

639 prison /ˈpɹɪzən/

a building where people are kept and may not leave

High walls with wire on top, an iron door closing behind you, a yard where you can only walk in circles.

The thief escaped from prison during the night.

Synonymsjail

640 pump /pʌmp/

a machine that pushes water or air along

A piston going up and down inside an iron case, forcing water from low ground up to high.

Use the pump to fill the tyre.

641 rail /ɹeɪl/

one of two steel bars a train runs on

Two steel bars lying parallel; the wheels press down and roll away into the distance.

Workers replaced the broken rail before the first train came.

642 rat /ɹæt/

a small grey animal with a long thin tail

A small grey animal running along the base of the wall, tail dragging, gone into a hole.

A rat ran under the old box.

643 receipt /ɹɪˈsiːt/ · /ɹiˈsit/

a small paper you get when you have paid

A short strip of paper coming out of a machine, with the price and the date printed on it.

Keep the receipt in case you return it.

644 ring /ɹɪŋ/

a round band of metal you put on a finger

A thin circle of gold round the base of a finger; a lift of the hand and it flashes.

She wears a ring on her left hand.

Synonymsband

645 rod /ɹɒd/ · /ɹɑd/

a long thin straight bar of wood or metal

A straight hard bar. Held in the hand it works as a tool, and it can also hit.

He bent the iron rod with his hands.

646 roof /ɹuːf/ · /ɹuf/

the cover on top of a house that keeps off rain

The layer over the top of a house, sloped, so the rain runs down the side.

Snow covers the roof of our house.

647 root /ɹuːt/ · /ɹut/

the part of a tree that is under the ground

The part you cannot see, under the soil, thread by thread holding the tree down.

The tree's roots go deep into the ground.

648 sail /seɪl/

a large cloth on a boat that makes it move

A great sheet of cloth on the mast; the wind fills it and the boat is pulled along.

The wind filled the sail at once.

649 school /skuːl/ · /skul/

a place where children go to learn

A building and a playground. The bell rings and children pour out of the doors.

The children walk to school together.

650 scissors /ˈsɪzəz/ · /ˈsɪzɝz/

a tool with two blades that cut paper or cloth

Two blades crossed, with a loop for the fingers; close them and the paper comes apart.

Cut the string with these scissors.

651 screw /skɹuː/ · /skɹu/

a metal pin with a twisted body, turned into wood

A shaft with a spiral ridge running round it; it turns as it goes deeper into the wood.

Turn the screw to the right.

652 seed /siːd/ · /sid/

a small hard thing from which a new plant grows

A small hard grain put in the soil and watered; days later a green shoot comes up.

A seed fell from the tree and landed in the mud.

653 sheep /ʃiːp/ · /ʃip/

a farm animal with thick wool that eats grass

Thick curly wool covers the body; the head stays down in the grass, and a bleating call comes from it.

The sheep stay close to each other.

654 shelf /ʃɛlf/

a flat board on a wall for keeping books

A flat board fixed to the wall, books and bottles in a row on it, too high to reach without a chair.

He climbed a chair to reach the top shelf.

655 ship /ʃɪp/

a big boat that carries people or goods on the sea

A huge iron shell floating on the water, smoke from its funnel, sliding slowly out of the harbor.

The ship left the port at dawn.

656 shirt /ʃɜːt/ · /ʃɝt/

a cloth for the upper body, with sleeves and buttons

Cloth with sleeves, a row of buttons down the front, a collar turned at either side of the neck.

Your shirt has a coffee stain.

657 shoe /ʃuː/ · /ʃu/

a cover for the foot with a hard base

A shell round the foot with a hard sole, so a stone underfoot is not felt.

These shoes are too tight for me.

658 skin /skɪn/

the thin cover over the whole body

A thin cover over the whole body; long in the sun it darkens, and a scratch turns it red.

Her skin burns easily in summer.

659 skirt /skɜːt/ · /skɝt/

a cloth worn by women below the waist

Cloth hanging from the waist; walk quickly and it swings back and forth against your legs.

She wore a long skirt to the party.

660 snake /sneɪk/

a long animal with no legs that moves on the ground

A long body with no legs, flat on the ground, twisting left and right as it slides forward.

The snake raised its head and looked at us.

Synonymsserpent

661 sock /sɒk/ · /sɑk/

a soft cover for the foot, worn inside a shoe

A short soft tube over the foot; the heel wears thin and a hole appears.

One of my socks is missing.

662 spade /speɪd/

a tool with a flat blade for digging soil

A flat blade on a wooden handle; one push with the foot and a whole lump of soil comes up.

She cleaned the mud off her spade and went home.

663 sponge /spʌndʒ/

a soft thing full of holes that takes in water

A soft block full of tiny holes; press it and it goes flat, let go and it swells with water.

The sponge soaked up all the water in the sink.

664 spoon /spuːn/ · /spun/

a tool with a small hollow part for eating soup

A small hollow at one end, a handle at the other; it carries soup up to your mouth.

The baby banged her spoon on the table and laughed.

665 spring /spɹɪŋ/

a twisted wire that pushes back when you let go

Steel wire coiled in circles; press it down, let go, and it jumps back into its shape.

The old chair has a broken spring.

666 square /skwɛə/ · /skwɛɹ/

a flat shape with four straight sides of equal length

Four sides of the same length, four corners standing straight, like a floor tile.

The children sat on a square of grass to eat lunch.

667 stamp /stæmp/

a small piece of paper stuck on a letter

A small piece of paper with a torn edge; wet the back and stick it in the corner of the envelope.

He put a stamp on the envelope.

668 star /stɑː/ · /stɑɹ/

a point of light seen in the sky at night

A bright point in the night sky; there are so many that you cannot count them.

We saw many stars from the hill.

669 station /ˈsteɪʃən/

a place where trains stop for people to get on

A long platform, people standing about with bags, and when the train comes the doors open.

The train left the station five minutes late.

670 stem /stɛm/

the long part of a plant that holds up the leaves

A post standing up out of the soil, with leaves hanging on both sides of it.

He broke the stem when he picked the rose.

Synonymsstalk

671 stick /stɪk/

a thin piece of wood from a tree

A dry piece of branch, just the right length for the hand: it holds you up on a walk, and it can knock on a fence.

The dog ran back with a stick.

672 stocking /ˈstɒkɪŋ/ · /ˈstɑkɪŋ/

a long soft cover for the foot and leg

A long thin tube of cloth that goes from the foot up over the knee.

She hung a stocking by the fire.

673 stomach /ˈstʌmək/

the part inside you where food goes after eating

A soft bag inside the body; food goes in and is slowly worked over, and when you are hungry it growls.

He ate too fast and his stomach felt heavy.

674 store /stɔː/ · /stɔɹ/

a place where things are sold

Shelves behind a glass door; whatever you want, you pay for it and carry it out.

The store closes at nine tonight.

Synonymsshop

675 street /stɹiːt/ · /stɹit/

a road in a town with houses on both sides

A hard road between two rows of houses, with cars and people going along it.

The street is quiet in the morning.

676 sun /sʌn/

the great hot ball of light in the sky

A white burning ball in the sky; warm on your back, and painful to look at for long.

The sun came out after the rain.

677 table /ˈteɪbəl/

a flat top on legs, used for putting things on

A flat board on four legs, with bowls and books set down on top.

Put the plates on the table.

678 tail /teɪl/

the part at the back end of an animal

The part that trails at the back of the body; when a dog is happy it swings from side to side.

The cat's tail moved slowly.

679 thread /θɹɛd/

a very thin line of cotton used for sewing

A thin line of cotton, pushed through the eye of a needle, holding two pieces of cloth together.

The thread broke while she sewed.

680 throat /θɹəʊt/ · /θɹoʊt/

the passage inside the neck that food goes down

The passage inside the neck; it moves up and down when you swallow, and hurts after shouting.

She drank warm water to clear her throat.

681 thumb /θʌm/

the short thick finger at the side of the hand

The shortest and thickest of the five, on the edge of the hand, pressed down on whatever you hold.

He cut his thumb on the glass.

682 ticket /ˈtɪkɪt/ · /ˈtɪkət/

a small paper that lets you get in or travel

A small piece of paper, torn in half at the gate; the man looks at it once and lets you in.

I bought two tickets for the show.

683 toe /təʊ/ · /toʊ/

one of the small parts at the front of the foot

Little soft bumps at the front of the foot; kick a table leg and you jump.

I hit my toe on the step.

684 tongue /tʌŋ/

the soft part in the mouth used for tasting

A soft strip inside the mouth that curls, tastes sweet and salt, and shapes words.

The dog stuck out its tongue and panted.

685 tooth /tuːθ/ · /tuθ/

one of the hard white things in the mouth

One of a row of hard white blocks in the mouth; bite down and the food breaks.

One tooth is loose in my mouth.

686 town /taʊn/

a group of houses and shops with streets between them

Bigger than a village, with a main street and shops; walk to the end and the fields begin.

We drove through a small town.

687 train /tɹeɪn/

a long line of cars pulled along a rail

A long line of carriages hooked to an engine, running along the rails with a rumble.

The train was late again.

688 tray /tɹeɪ/

a flat board with edges for carrying food

A flat board with a low edge; cups and bowls on it, carried in both hands.

She carried the tea on a tray.

689 tree /tɹiː/ · /tɹi/

a big plant with a hard stem and branches

A thick trunk standing out of the ground, splitting into branches, a wide green roof on top.

A bird built its nest in that tree.

690 trousers /ˈtɹaʊzəz/ · /ˈtɹaʊzɝz/

clothing for the legs, with a tube for each one

Two tubes of cloth joined at the waist, one for each leg; sit down and they pull tight at the knee.

These trousers are too long for me.

Synonymspants

691 umbrella /ʌmˈbɹɛlə/

a round cover on a stick that keeps off rain

A pole holding a circle of cloth open; the rain hits it and runs off the edge in a line.

Take an umbrella, it looks like rain.

692 wall /wɔːl/ · /wɔl/

the upright side of a room or building

Bricks laid one on another, keeping the wind out and the inside apart from the outside.

They painted the wall blue last weekend.

693 watch /wɒtʃ/ · /wɑtʃ/

a small clock you wear on your arm

A small face strapped to the wrist; the second hand steps forward one mark at a time.

My watch stopped at three.

694 wheel /wiːl/ · /wil/

a round thing that turns and makes a cart go

A ring on an axle; push it and it turns, and the cart goes forward with it.

The front wheel of my bike is flat.

695 whip /wɪp/

a long thin strip on a handle, used to hit

A thin strip of leather on a wooden handle; swung out it cracks, and the air seems to split.

The driver raised his whip.

696 whistle /ˈwɪsəl/

a small thing you blow to make a loud sound

A little metal mouth; hold it between your lips and blow, and a sharp note carries across the field.

The teacher blew her whistle twice.

697 window /ˈwɪndəʊ/ · /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a glass opening in a wall that lets in light

A square hole in the wall with glass in it, letting in the light and whatever is outside.

Rain hit the window all night and kept me awake.

698 wing /wɪŋ/

one of the two parts a bird uses to go up

Two wide fans of feather on either side of the body; beat them and the ground drops away.

The bird hurt one wing and fell.

699 wire /ˈwaɪə/ · /ˈwaɪɝ/

a thin metal thread that carries electric power

A long thin piece of metal that bends and twists; when electricity runs through it, something moves.

The fence is made of thin wire.

700 worm /wɜːm/ · /wɝm/

a small soft animal with no legs that lives in soil

A soft thin body in the wet soil, stretching out and pulling itself forward.

A worm came out after the rain.

701 able /ˈeɪbəl/

having what is needed to do a thing

You take the heavy end of the table in both hands, lift, and carry it across the room without help.

After weeks of practice, she was able to swim across.

Synonymscapable

702 acid /ˈæsɪd/ · /ˈæsəd/

having a sour taste that hurts the tongue

The tongue touches it and pulls back; a sharp ache runs along the teeth and your mouth fills with water.

These green apples taste acid and hard.

Synonymssour · tart

703 angry /ˈæŋɡɹi/

feeling hot and bad inside because of a wrong

The face goes red, the jaw tightens, and the voice comes out low and shaking.

He was angry when they lost his bag.

704 automatic /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ · /ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/

working by itself, with no person to touch it

Nobody touches anything. The door slides open by itself, and the light comes on by itself.

The door is automatic, so just walk in.

705 beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ · /ˈbjutəfəl/

so good to look at that you stop and look again

The eye lands on it and cannot move away; for a moment you breathe more softly.

The lake looks beautiful at sunset.

706 black /blæk/

of the colour of night when there is no light

The light is turned off at night. Everything in the room goes into the dark, and nothing shows.

She wore a black coat to the party.

707 boiling /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/

so hot that it sends up bubbles and steam

Bubbles rise from the bottom of the pan, the water rolls over, and white steam hits your face.

Don't put your hand in the boiling water.

708 bright /bɹaɪt/

giving out much light, or full of strong colour

Light fills the whole room at once; you have to narrow your eyes to see clearly.

The kitchen is bright in the morning.

709 broken /ˈbɹəʊkən/ · /ˈbɹoʊkən/

no longer in one piece, and no longer working

Pieces of it on the floor, and no way to fit them back into what they were.

My phone screen is broken again.

Synonymsdamaged

710 brown /bɹaʊn/

of the colour of dry soil or burnt bread

The colour of dry earth, or the crust of baked bread; warm, and easy on the eye.

He has brown shoes and a grey hat.

711 cheap /tʃiːp/ · /tʃip/

costing very little money to get

The number on the price tag is small enough to make you look twice, and paying does not hurt.

These shirts are cheap but they last.

712 chemical /ˈkɛmɪkəl/ · /ˈkɛməkəl/

of the parts that make up air, water and stone

The label on the bottle is crowded with names you cannot read, and the moment the cap comes off a sharp smell hits your nose.

This cleaner has a strong chemical smell.

713 chief /tʃiːf/ · /tʃif/

most important, before all the others

Out of a pile of things, one stands at the front, and all the others have to line up behind it.

Our chief problem is the lack of time.

Synonymsmain · primary · principal

714 clean /kliːn/ · /klin/

not dirty, with nothing bad on it

The table top has been wiped until it shines. You run a finger across it and pick up no dust at all.

Please keep the kitchen clean.

715 clear /klɪə/ · /klɪɹ/

not hard to see through or to understand

You finish speaking, the other person nods, and there is not a trace of doubt left in their eyes.

Her answer was clear and short.

716 common /ˈkɒmən/ · /ˈkɑmən/

seen or had by most persons, not special

Walk ten steps down the street and you pass one; nobody gives it a second look.

Rain is common here in spring.

Synonymsordinary · usual

717 complex /ˈkɒmpleks/ · /ˈkɑmplɛks/

having many parts put together in a hard way

One thread lies over another. Pull this one free and that one tangles around it again.

The rules are too complex for me.

Synonymscomplicated · intricate

718 conscious /ˈkɒnʃəs/ · /ˈkɑnʃəs/

awake and able to see and know what is near

The eyes are open. You know where you are, and you know where to put your hand.

The patient stayed conscious during the whole operation.

Synonymsaware

719 cut /kʌt/

made into parts by a knife

The knife comes down. The cut face is flat and clean, with juice still standing along the edge.

Add the cut bread to the plate.

720 deep /diːp/ · /dip/

going a long way down from the top

You look down and cannot see the bottom. You drop a stone and wait a long time for the sound.

The river is deep near the bridge.

721 dependent /dɪˈpɛndənt/

needing another person to give help and food

Let go and you cannot stand. You need to hold someone's arm before you dare take a step.

The baby is still dependent on her mother.

Synonymsreliant

722 early /ˈɜːli/ · /ˈɝli/

before the normal time, at the start of the day

The sky is not yet fully light, and the only sound on the street is someone sweeping.

We left early to avoid the traffic.

723 elastic /ɪˈlæstɪk/

able to be pulled long and then go back

You stretch it out. Let go and it snaps back to its old shape, as if nothing had happened.

The band is elastic and fits any wrist.

Synonymsstretchy · flexible

724 electric /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/

worked by power that comes through a wire

The plug goes in. Something hums inside, and the casing grows warm under your hand.

He rides an electric bike to work.

725 equal /ˈiːkwəl/ · /ˈikwəl/

the same in size, number or amount

Two piles stand side by side, the same height, and no one can say which one holds more.

Cut the cake into eight equal pieces.

726 fat /fæt/

having much flesh on the body

As the body moves along, it sways from side to side, and the buttons on the shirt are pulled tight.

The cat got fat from too much food.

727 fertile /ˈfɜːtaɪl/ · /ˈfɝtəl/

able to make plants come up well

You take a handful of soil: dark, loose, and a few small worms slip out between your fingers.

Plants grow fast in this fertile soil.

728 first /fɜːst/ · /fɝst/

coming before all the others in time or order

He stands at the head of the line, and everyone behind him waits for him to go ahead.

She was the first to answer.

729 fixed /fɪkst/

not able to be moved from its place

Nailed to the wall. Push it, pull it, and it does not move at all.

The table is fixed to the floor.

730 flat /flæt/

having no high or low parts

You press your hand down and the whole palm meets it; no part of it is left in the air.

We need a flat surface for the map.

Synonymslevel · even

731 free /fɹiː/ · /fɹi/

for which you do not give any money

There is no one selling tickets at the door. You push it open and walk in, and nobody stops you.

Entry is free for children under six.

732 frequent /ˈfɹiːkwənt/

coming again and again, with little time between

One thing has barely ended when the next begins; there is almost no gap between them.

Frequent rain kept the farmers out of the fields.

Synonymsrecurring

733 full /fʊl/

having as much inside as it can take

One more drop and it will spill; a thin skin of water stands above the rim.

The bus was full, so we walked home.

734 general /ˈdʒɛnɹəl/ · /ˈdʒɛnɝəl/

about the great parts, not the small details

No details: just the broad outline laid out on the table, plain enough for anyone to follow.

The book gives a general idea of the city.

Synonymsbroad · overall

735 good /ɡʊd/

right for its purpose, and pleasing to have

It works smoothly in your hands, and when you are done you want to look at it once more.

That was a good meal, thank you.

736 great /ɡɹeɪt/

much more than normal in size or worth

Something bigger than any one person, still spoken of many years later.

He wrote a great book about the sea.

737 grey /ɡɹeɪ/

the colour you get when black is mixed with white

The colour of the sky just before rain: neither black nor white, sitting flat in between.

The sky turned grey before the rain.

738 hanging /ˈhæŋɪŋ/ · /ˈhæŋɡɪŋ/

fixed at the top, moving free under it

One end tied up high, the other end free, swinging a little whenever the wind passes.

A lamp is hanging above the table.

Synonymssuspended · dangling

739 happy /ˈhæpi/

feeling well, with a smile on the face

The corners of the mouth lift on their own, and the walk turns so light you want to skip.

The children were happy to see the snow.

Synonymsglad · cheerful

740 hard /hɑːd/ · /hɑɹd/

not soft, and not easy to do

Press a fingernail into it and no mark is left; tap it and it rings.

The bread is hard, so soak it first.

741 healthy /ˈhɛlθi/

having a strong body and no ill feeling

Colour in the face, a brisk step, and not one visit to the doctor all year.

She looks healthy and full of energy.

742 high /haɪ/

far up from the earth, near the top

You look up until your neck aches, and the top is still further above.

The wall is too high to climb.

743 hollow /ˈhɒləʊ/ · /ˈhɑloʊ/

having an empty space in the middle

Tap it and the sound comes back empty; there is room inside for something else.

The tree is hollow inside.

744 important /ɪˈmpɔːtənt/ · /ˌɪmˈpɔɹtənt/

of great worth, not to be put off

Everything else can wait. This one cannot: put it off and real trouble follows.

This letter is important, don't lose it.

745 kind /kaɪnd/

giving help and soft words to others

You soften your voice before you speak, and you leave the other person a way out.

It was kind of you to help me.

746 like /laɪk/

of the same sort as another one

Two things set side by side, almost the same in every feature, only different in size.

Her voice is like her sister's.

747 living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

not dead, still taking air and food

Still breathing, still moving; put your hand on it and you feel warmth.

She keeps a living plant beside her desk.

Synonymsalive

748 long /lɒŋ/ · /lɔŋ/

covering a great space from end to end

You start walking from one end, and after a while you are still not at the other.

She has long hair down to her waist.

749 male /meɪl/

of the group of men and boys

A low voice, broad shoulders, and a heavier step than anyone else's as he comes into the room.

The male birds have brighter colors.

750 married /ˈmæɹid/ · /ˈmɛɹid/

living with a person as husband or wife, after a wedding

A ring on the hand, and when they introduce themselves they speak of another person.

My teacher is married with two kids.

751 material /məˈtɪəɹɪəl/ · /məˈtɪɹiəl/

of the stuff that you can touch

You can touch it and lift it; it is not something made up in the head.

They care too much about material things.

Synonymsphysical · tangible

752 medical /ˈmɛdɪkəl/ · /ˈmɛdəkəl/

of the work of making ill persons well

White coats, the smell of disinfectant, and rows of small bottles with labels on them.

She needs medical help right away.

753 military /ˈmɪlɪtəɹi/ · /ˈmɪləˌtɛɹi/

of the group that keeps a country safe with arms

The same clothes on every back, steps falling together, and at one order everyone turns at once.

The area is closed for military use.

754 natural /ˈnætʃɹəl/ · /ˈnætʃɝəl/

made by no person, coming from the earth

No one has touched it; it grew into this shape on its own.

This park is a natural home for birds.

755 necessary /ˈnɛsəsəɹi/ · /ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/

needed, and not able to be left out

Anything on the table can be taken away but this: remove it and the whole thing falls apart.

It is necessary to book a seat early.

Synonymsneeded · essential · required

756 new /njuː/ · /nju/

not used before, and only now made

Never used yet: the corners are clean and it still has that smell.

He bought a new bike last week.

757 normal /ˈnɔːməl/ · /ˈnɔɹməl/

of the sort that you see every day

What should come comes, what should go goes, and nobody finds it strange.

It is normal to feel tired after a long walk.

Synonymsregular · typical

758 open /ˈəʊpən/ · /ˈoʊpən/

not shut, so that air and persons go in

The door has drawn back a step, and the wind from outside reaches your feet.

The window is open, so it is cold.

759 parallel /ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/ · /ˈpɛɹəˌlɛl/

going the same way and never meeting

Two lines run on and on, and the gap between them never widens or narrows.

The two roads run parallel to each other.

760 past /pɑːst/ · /pæst/

of the time that is before now

The page has already been turned: you can read it again, but you cannot change it.

In the past, people wrote letters by hand.

761 physical /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

of the body, and of what your hands touch

Half a day of carrying boxes: the arms ache and the whole body is wet with sweat.

Farming is hard physical work.

Synonymsbodily

762 political /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/ · /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

of the work of controlling a country

A group of people arguing over one thing: who gets to decide, and who has to give way.

They argued about political issues all night.

763 poor /pɔː/ · /pʊɹ/

having very little money to get food

Turn the pocket out and there is nothing in it; at the market you add up the prices again and again.

The family was too poor to buy books.

764 possible /ˈpɒsɪbəl/ · /ˈpɑsəbəl/

able to be done or to come about

A crack is still open in the door; nothing is settled yet, and it may really happen.

It is possible to finish today.

Synonymsfeasible

765 present /ˈpɹezənt/ · /ˈpɹɛzənt/

in this place at this time

When the names are read out he answers; look up and there he is, sitting in the room.

All the students were present this morning.

766 private /ˈpɹaɪvɪt/ · /ˈpɹaɪvət/

for one person only, not for others

The door shut, the curtains drawn: what is inside is not for outsiders to see.

This is a private room, please knock first.

767 probable /ˈpɹɒbəbəl/ · /ˈpɹɑbəbəl/

very possible, with a good chance

Reading the sky and the wind, you are nearly sure; only the last word is missing.

It is probable that he will be late.

Synonymslikely · expected

768 quick /kwɪk/

taking very little time to be done

A foot lifts and the person is already across, leaving only a stir of air.

A quick look at the clock told him he was late.

Synonymsfast · swift

769 quiet /ˈkwaɪət/

making no noise, with little sound

The room is so still you can hear the clock ticking, and everyone speaks in a lower voice.

The street is quiet at this hour.

770 ready /ˈɹɛdi/

having all in place for the start

Everything laid out, shoes on, waiting only for the word to go.

I am ready to leave now.

Synonymsprepared · set

771 red /ɹɛd/

of the colour of fire and blood

Blood from a small cut: it is the first thing your eye finds, even from across the room.

She painted the door red.

772 regular /ˈɹɛɡjʊlə/ · /ˈɹeɪɡjəlɝ/

coming again after the same time space

It comes again after the same stretch of time, as steady as a pendulum.

He keeps a regular sleep schedule.

773 responsible /ɹɪˈspɒnsɪbəl/ · /ɹiˈspɑnsəbəl/

having the work of keeping another safe

When something goes wrong they do not hide; they stand up and say, this was mine.

She is responsible for the whole team.

Synonymsaccountable

774 right /ɹaɪt/

true; or the side of the body that is not the left

The answer is there on the page, every part of it fits, and you cannot find a fault.

You are right, the shop is closed.

Synonymscorrect

775 round /ɹaʊnd/

having the form of a ball or circle

From any side the curve is the same, and it rolls without catching on anything.

The child drew a round face with two dots for eyes.

Synonymscircular

776 same /seɪm/

not different in any way at all

Two things set side by side, and you cannot tell which one is which.

Both sisters wore the same dress to the party.

777 second /ˈsɛkənd/

coming after the first one, in order

Right behind the one in front, a single step back, with the eyes still looking ahead.

This is my second cup of tea.

778 separate /ˈsepɹət/ · /ˈsɛpɹət/

kept far from others, not joined

A space between them, each going its own way, never touching.

They sleep in separate rooms.

Synonymsdistinct · divided

779 serious /ˈsɪəɹɪəs/ · /ˈsɪɹiəs/

not playing, giving deep thought to hard work

No smile on the face, words coming one at a time, eyes fixed on you.

His face turned serious when he heard the news.

780 sharp /ʃɑːp/ · /ʃɑɹp/

having an edge that cuts easily

Touch it and the hand pulls back; a thin line has already opened on the skin.

Be careful, the broken glass has a sharp edge.

781 smooth /smuːð/ · /smuð/

having no rough parts to be felt

The palm slides all the way across, and nothing stops it on the way.

The stone is smooth and cool.

782 sticky /ˈstɪki/

able to be fixed to whatever it touches

Touch it with a finger and it comes away on you; shake your hand twice and it is still there.

My hands are sticky from the sweets.

783 stiff /stɪf/

not bending, hard to be moved

It will not bend. Move it and it creaks, like the hinge of an old door.

My neck feels stiff this morning.

Synonymsrigid · inflexible

784 straight /stɹeɪt/

going from one end to the other with no turn

From this end to that one, without a single bend in between.

He walked straight past me without saying hello.

785 strong /stɹɒŋ/ · /stɹɔŋ/

having much power in the body

The rope pulls taut and does not break; two people haul on it and it will not move.

He is strong enough to lift the box.

Synonymspowerful · robust

786 sudden /ˈsʌdən/

coming with no sign before it

Fine one second, changed the next, with no time for anyone to get ready.

There was a sudden noise outside.

Synonymsabrupt · unexpected

787 sweet /swiːt/ · /swit/

tasting of sugar, pleasing in the mouth

It touches the tongue and melts there, and you want another bite.

The market sells sweet oranges in winter.

788 tall /tɔːl/ · /tɔl/

far up from the foot to the head

A head above everyone in the crowd; to speak to you they have to look down.

He is tall enough to reach the top shelf.

789 thick /θɪk/

far from one side to the other side

Pinch it between two fingers and they will not meet; a gap is left in the middle.

Wear a thick coat, it is cold.

790 tight /taɪt/

pulled hard round the body, with no space

It grips the body so closely that lifting an arm is an effort, and it leaves a mark.

He held the rope tight and pulled with all his strength.

791 tired /ˈtaɪəd/ · /ˈtaɪɝd/

having no more power after much work

The eyelids keep dropping, and once you sit down you do not want to get up again.

I am tired after the long trip.

792 true /tɹuː/ · /tɹu/

agreeing with what is real and known

You have heard it many times; you check it, and not one word is wrong.

The story is true, I checked it.

793 violent /ˈvaɪlənt/ · /ˈvaɪələnt/

using great force that is out of control

The movement does not check itself; something is knocked over and the noise bursts out.

The film has some violent scenes.

Synonymsfierce · brutal

794 waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

staying in a place till someone comes

Standing at the door, eyes fixed on the way they will come, feet shifting back and forth.

The waiting crowd stood in the rain.

795 warm /wɔːm/ · /wɔɹm/

a little hot, pleasing to the skin

You put your hand on the cup and the heat creeps up slowly through your palm.

The room is warm and smells of bread.

796 wet /wɛt/

covered with water, not dry at all

Press it and water runs out; the clothes stick to the body and you shiver with cold.

My shoes are wet from the rain.

797 wide /waɪd/

far from one side to the other

Two people walk side by side and still leave a gap; arms stretched out do not reach the edges.

The road is wide enough for two cars.

Synonymsbroad

798 wise /waɪz/

able to see what is best to do

While others rush ahead, he stops one step short, looks, and only then moves.

It was wise of you to wait.

799 yellow /ˈjɛləʊ/ · /ˈjɛloʊ/

of the colour of the sun

The colour of a ripe lemon's skin, bright enough to jump out against a grey wall.

The leaves turn yellow in autumn.

800 young /jʌŋ/

not old, having been here only a short time

Not a line on the face, and when they run they cannot stop themselves.

She is too young to drive.

Synonymsyouthful

801 awake /əˈweɪk/

not sleeping, with the eyes open

Three in the morning, eyes open, the shadow on the ceiling not moving at all.

I was awake all night.

802 bad /bæd/

not good, causing trouble or pain

Milk left a week in the fridge: it comes out in lumps.

This milk smells bad; don't drink it.

803 bent /bɛnt/

not straight, turned from its first line

A nail that was stepped on and folded in the middle to a blunt angle.

The old fork is bent.

Synonymscurved · crooked

804 bitter /ˈbɪtə/ · /ˈbɪtɝ/

of a taste that is sharp and not sweet

A pill dissolves at the back of the tongue and the brows pull together at once.

This coffee is bitter without sugar.

805 blue /bluː/ · /blu/

of the colour of the sky on a clear day

Look up on a clear day: the whole sky, clean, without a single cloud.

She painted the door blue.

806 certain /ˈsɜːtən/ · /ˈsɝtən/

having no doubt in the mind

He checks the address once more, then nods and says it is right.

I am certain this is the right road.

Synonymssure · definite

807 cold /kəʊld/ · /koʊld/

of very low heat, making you shake

The hand touches the door handle and the fingertips pull back at once.

Your hands are cold; come sit by the fire.

808 complete /kəˈmpliːt/ · /kəmˈplit/

having every part, with nothing out

The last piece of a puzzle pressed in, the edges meeting without a gap.

She read the complete story in one evening.

Synonymswhole · entire

809 cruel /kɹʊəl/ · /ˈkɹuəl/

causing pain and not caring at all

Someone leaves a puppy out in the rain, shuts the car door, and drives away.

It was cruel to leave the dog outside.

810 dark /dɑːk/ · /dɑɹk/

having little or no light in it

The light goes off, and in the room you cannot even see your own hand.

It gets dark early in winter.

811 dead /dɛd/

not living any more, with no breath

Every leaf in the pot has turned yellow; touch one and it crumbles onto the soil.

The plant is dead; I forgot to water it.

Synonymslifeless

812 dear /dɪə/ · /dɪɹ/

costing much money, or loved very much

You turn the price tag over, and the number makes you hang the coat gently back on the rail.

That shop is too dear for me.

Synonymscostly

813 delicate /ˈdɛlɪkɪt/ · /ˈdɛləkət/

small and thin, and easily broken

Fine flowers are cut into the wall of the cup. In the light, every line of them can be seen.

She wore a delicate silver ring.

814 different /ˈdɪfɹənt/ · /ˈdɪfɝənt/

not of the same sort as another

Twins standing together: one is laughing, the other is looking down at his shoes.

My answer is different from yours.

Synonymsdistinct

815 dirty /ˈdɜːti/ · /ˈdɝti/

having dust or waste on it

Trainers that have been through the mud, a black ring caked around the edges.

Wash your dirty hands before dinner.

816 dry /dɹaɪ/

having no water in it or on it

A towel left in the sun all afternoon, stiff when you touch it.

The ground is dry after a week without rain.

817 false /fɔːls/ · /fɔls/

not true, made to seem what it is not

He gives a name that does not exist, his eyes on something else.

Give me your real name, not a false one.

818 feeble /ˈfiːbəl/ · /ˈfibəl/

having very little power in the body

An old man takes two steps along the wall, his hand shaking too much to hold a cup.

His voice was feeble after the long illness.

Synonymsweak · frail

819 female /ˈfiːmeɪl/ · /ˈfimeɪl/

of the sex that can have young

The only woman in the line, standing among a row of tall men.

A female engineer designed the new bridge.

820 foolish /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ · /ˈfulɪʃ/

acting with little or no thought

An umbrella in hand, and still running all the way home through the rain.

It was foolish to run home in the rain.

Synonymssilly · unwise

821 future /ˈfjuːtʃə/ · /ˈfjutʃɝ/

of the time that has not come

The pages of the calendar that are still blank, not one of them written on yet.

What are your plans for the future?

822 green /ɡɹiːn/ · /ɡɹin/

of the colour of grass and leaves

After rain the whole hillside shines, and water still hangs on the blades of grass.

The light turned green, so we walked.

823 ill /ɪl/

not well, with a body that gives pain

Curled under the blanket, forehead hot, voice gone rough.

She stayed home because she was ill.

Synonymssick · unwell

824 last /lɑːst/ · /læs/

coming after all the others, at the end

One by one the people leave the carriage, until only he is left.

This is the last train tonight.

Synonymsfinal

825 late /leɪt/

after the right or normal time

The hands pass eight, and the classroom door is already shut.

Sorry I'm late; the bus didn't come.

826 left /lɛft/

of the side that is not the right one

At the crossroads, turn that way and there is a bakery.

He writes with his left hand but kicks with his right.

827 loose /luːs/ · /lus/

not fixed tight, able to be moved

The waistband is a size too big, and every few steps you have to pull it up.

One button on my coat is loose.

Synonymsslack

828 loud /laʊd/

making much noise, able to be heard far

The music next door comes through the wall, and the cup on the table trembles.

The music is too loud.

829 low /ləʊ/ · /loʊ/

near the earth, not far up

The eaves hang close overhead; lift a hand and you touch the tiles.

Keep your voice low in the library.

830 mixed /mɪkst/

made of different sorts put together

A dish holding peanuts and raisins together, in shades light and dark.

I bought a bag of mixed nuts.

Synonymscombined · assorted

831 narrow /ˈnæɹəʊ/ · /ˈnæɹoʊ/

not wide, small from one side to the other

Two people walking side by side have to turn their shoulders.

The street is too narrow for two cars.

832 old /əʊld/ · /oʊld/

having lived or been used for a long time

Scratches across the wooden table, its corners polished smooth by years of hands.

My grandfather lives in that old house.

833 opposite /ˈɒpəzɪt/ · /ˈɑpəzət/

as different as possible, face to face

One says east, the other says west, and neither gives way.

They sat on opposite sides of the table.

Synonymscontrary · reverse

834 public /ˈpʌblɪk/

for all persons, not for one only

Anyone can sit on the bench, and nearby someone is feeding pigeons.

Smoking is not allowed in public places.

835 rough /ɹʌf/

having a hard, not smooth, outer face

A palm dragged along the wall, the grit scraping the skin numb.

The wall feels rough under my hand.

Synonymsuneven · coarse

836 sad /sæd/

feeling bad, as when something is lost

She stares out of the window, tears turning in her eyes without falling.

He looked sad when he left.

Synonymsunhappy · sorrowful

837 safe /seɪf/

not in danger, with no chance of loss

The lock clicks, the chain is on, and the only sound left in the room is breathing.

You are safe here with us.

Synonymssecure · protected

838 secret /ˈsiːkɹɪt/ · /ˈsikɹət/

kept from other persons, only you know

A folded note at the back of the drawer that no one is allowed to read.

We have a secret plan for her birthday.

Synonymshidden · confidential

839 short /ʃɔːt/ · /ʃɔɹt/

covering only a small space from end to end

A length of rope cut off, just long enough to go once around a wrist.

Her hair is short now.

840 shut /ʃʌt/

not open, with the door pulled to

The shutter pulled all the way down, and everything behind the glass is black.

The gate stayed shut until the guard opened it.

Synonymsclosed · sealed

841 simple /ˈsɪmpəl/

having only a few parts, easy to do

The instructions have three steps, and one reading is enough.

The recipe is simple: eggs, salt, oil.

842 slow /sləʊ/ · /sloʊ/

taking much time, not quick at all

A tortoise creeps along the stone path; the sun has moved and it is still not at the wall.

The bus is slow at this hour.

843 small /smɔːl/ · /smɔl/

of little size, less than normal

A sweet in the palm of your hand: close your fingers and it disappears.

She lives in a small flat.

844 soft /sɒft/ · /sɑft/

giving way when pushed, not hard

Press the pillow down and the print of your fingers slowly rises again.

The baby's hair is soft.

845 solid /ˈsɒlɪd/ · /ˈsɑləd/

hard through and through, not a liquid

Water left in the freezer overnight, and next day it rings when you knock it.

Ice is water in a solid form.

846 special /ˈspɛʃəl/

of a sort not seen every day

Of all the dishes on the table, only that bowl of soup was made by grandmother's own hands.

She cooked a special dish for her father's birthday.

847 strange /stɹeɪndʒ/

not normal, and hard to make sense of

Footsteps come up the stairwell, but nobody arrives.

There is a strange smell in the kitchen.

Synonymsodd · weird

848 thin /θɪn/

of little space from one side to the other

The paper is thin enough to let light through; hold it up and you can see the fingers behind it.

The ice on the lake is still thin.

849 white /waɪt/

of the colour of snow or milk

Snow covering the yard, and every footprint sinks into a deep hole.

He wore a white shirt.

850 wrong /ɹɒŋ/ · /ɹɔŋ/

not of the sort that is needed or true

The answer does not fit, and a red pen draws a cross on the page.

You gave me the wrong number.

Synonymsincorrect · mistaken