مفردات الإنجليزية B2

كل كلمات المستوى B2 الـ7,943 في قاموس WordStudy — مع الترجمة إلى العربية، وتعريف بإنجليزية مبسّطة، وجملة مثال.

ماذا يعني B2

تتيح لك مفردات B2 قراءة معظم المقالات ومتابعة الأفلام والدفاع عن رأي بشيء من الدقة.

B2 أحد مستويات CEFR الستة. يضم القاموس كله 84,633 كلمة: A1 1,040 · A2 2,579 · B1 6,148 · B2 8,003 · C1 10,482 · C2 56,381. كيف تُحدَّد المستويات →

تفضّل ملفًا؟ قائمة A1–A2 متاحة للتنزيل مجانًا بصيغة CSV (3,619 كلمة، CC BY 4.0).

كلمات B2 حسب الموضوع

كلمات المستوى B2 من كل مجموعة في WordStudy في صفحة مستقلة، مع الترجمة والتعريفات وروابط لكل كلمة واختبار من 10 كلمات.

السكن والإقامة · 27تقنية المعلومات والتطوير · 52الأفعال المركبة · 42الشارع والمدينة · 19الأعمال والإدارة · 32العواطف والمشاعر · 15البناء والتجديد · 19الصحة والعافية · 19الطب والرعاية الصحية · 30الطعام والتغذية · 15التعبير عن المواقف · 21علم النفس والعقل · 28رعاية الحيوانات الأليفة · 16الصالة الرياضية والتمرين · 37الرياضة والألعاب · 24الفن والهوايات الإبداعية · 18القانون والجريمة · 20العامية الحديثة · 22التعابير الحديثة · 27التعابير الكلاسيكية · 17التعابير المهنية · 39أفعال: make, do, take… · 16الصفات: ما يناسب ماذا · 17عبارات أصلية يومية · 46تعابير من الحياة الواقعية · 61العمل والاجتماعات والبحث عن وظيفة · 36

كل كلمات B2

A

• abandoned left alone and not used or cared for any more
• abandonment leaving something or someone and not coming back
• abbey a large building where religious people live and pray
• abbreviate make a word or name shorter
• abbreviated made shorter in form
• abdominal about the front body area below the chest
• abduct take someone away by force
• abduction taking someone away by force against their will
• abide follow a rule, or accept something you do not like
• ablaze burning with bright fire
• ably in a way that shows good skill
• abnormality something that is not normal or usual
• abnormally in a way that is not normal
• abominable very bad, causing strong dislike
• abort stop something before it is finished
• aborted stopped before being finished
• above-average better or more than what is normal
• above-ground on top of the earth, not under it
• above-mentioned talked about earlier in the same text
• aboveground on top of the earth, not below it
• abrupt sudden and not expected
• abruptly in a sudden way without warning
• absent-minded often forgetting things because your thoughts are elsewhere
• absentee a person who is not present where they should be
• absently without paying attention to what is around you
• absentminded often forgetting things because you are thinking of other things
• absentmindedly without paying attention, lost in thought
• absorbed very interested and giving all your attention to something
• absorbent able to take in water or liquid
• absorbing very interesting, keeping all your attention
• absorption the act of taking in liquid or being very focused
• abstain choose not to do something, especially voting or drinking
• absurdity the quality of being silly or having no sense
• absurdly in a way that is very silly or makes no sense
• abuser a person who hurts others or uses something in a wrong way
• abusive treating others in a cruel or harmful way
• academia the world of universities and learning
• accelerated made faster or happening more quickly
• accelerating going faster and faster
• accelerator the part you press with your foot to make a car go faster
• accessibility how easy it is for everyone to use or reach something
• accident-free without any accidents happening
• acclaim strong praise from many people
• accommodated given a place to stay or made to fit
• accommodating willing to help and make things easier for others
• accompanying going together with someone or something
• accomplice a person who helps someone do something wrong or against the law
• accomplishing finishing or doing something successfully
• accord to agree or match with something
• accredit give official approval or recognition to something
• accusing showing a belief that someone has done something wrong
• ace someone very good at something, or the best card
• achievable possible to do or reach
• achiever a person who succeeds at what they try to do
• acidity how sour or sharp something tastes or measures
• acknowledge to say you know about something
• acknowledged accepted as true or showed that you received something
• acknowledgement saying that something is true or that you received it
• acknowledgment saying you accept something is true or received
• acorn a small nut that grows on an oak tree
• acoustical about sound and how it moves in a space
• acquaint make someone know about something or meet someone
• acquainted knowing someone or something a little
• acquired got or gained over time
• acquiring getting or gaining something
• acquitted found not guilty by a court of law
• acrobat a person who does difficult body moves, like at a circus
• acronym a word made from the first letters of other words
• acrylic a man-made plastic used to make clear sheets, cloth and paint
• act out show feelings through actions, or perform a story
• act up behave badly or not work as it should
• action item a task that someone needs to do
• activated turned on or made to start working
• acupuncture putting thin needles in the body to help with pain
• adaptability the ability to change and work well in new situations
• adaptable able to change and do well in new situations
• adaption the act of changing to fit a new situation
• adaptive able to change when something new happens
• add-on something extra put on top of what already exists
• adder a type of snake found in Europe
• addititious added from outside, not part of the original thing
• additive something added to food or drink to change it
• adept very good and skilled at doing something
• adhd a condition that makes it hard to focus and sit still
• adhered stayed attached to, or followed a rule closely
• adios a word for goodbye, from another language
• adjacently next to or very close to something
• adjectival working like a word that describes a noun
• adjourn stop a meeting for now and continue later
• adjusted changed a little to make something better or fit
• administered given or managed by someone in charge
• administering giving medicine or managing something official
• administrate manage and organise the work of a group or place
• administration group that runs a place or company
• admirable very good and deserving respect
• admiringly in a way that shows you think someone is very good
• admittedly it must be said that, even if not happy about it
• adoptable able to be taken into a family as a child or pet
• adopted taken into a new family as a son or daughter
• adorn add beautiful things to make something look better
• adrenalin a body substance that gives you energy when excited or scared
• adrenaline a hormone that gives you energy when excited or scared
• adrift floating on water with no direction or control
• adt short form used for advertisement
• advancement moving forward or getting better in work or life
• advent the arrival or start of something important
• adventuresome willing to try new and exciting things
• adventurous wanting to try new and exciting things
• adversely in a bad or harmful way
• adversity a difficult or unlucky situation
• advertising the work of making and showing ads
• advised told someone what they should do
• adviser a person who gives helpful ideas about what to do
• advt short form for advertisement
• aerodynamic shaped to move easily through the air
• aeronautics the science of building and flying planes
• afar at or from a great distance away
• affair a thing that is happening, an event
• affairs things that need attention or action
• affecting causing feelings of sadness or sympathy
• affectionate showing love and care to someone
• affectionately in a loving and caring way
• ageless never seeming to get old
• agency a company that does work for others
• agenda a list of things to talk about or do
• aggravated made worse or more serious
• aggravation something that makes you feel angry or annoyed
• aggressively in a strong and forceful way, ready to fight
• agile able to move quickly and easily
• agility the ability to move quickly and easily
• agitated feeling worried and not calm
• agony very strong pain in your body or mind
• agreeable pleasant and enjoyable, or willing to agree
• aimlessly without a clear purpose or direction
• aircrew the people who work on a plane during a flight
• airmail letters sent by plane to another country
• akin similar to something else
• alarmed feeling frightened or worried about something
• alarming causing fear or worry
• albatross very large sea bird with long wings
• alcoholism a serious problem where someone cannot stop drinking
• algorithm a set of rules followed to solve a problem step by step
• alibi proof that you were somewhere else when a crime happened
• alleged said to be true but not yet proved
• allpurpose useful for many different things
• alltime the best or most ever known
• almighty having total power over everything
• alpha the first letter of the Greek alphabet, or the dominant one
• alphabetical arranged in the order of the letters A to Z
• alreadycrowded already having too many people
• altar a special table used for religious actions
• alternate happen one after the other, again and again
• alternatively as another choice or way to do something
• amazement a feeling of great surprise
• amber hard yellow-brown substance from old trees
• ambiguous having more than one meaning, not clear
• ambush surprise attack from a hiding place
• amenities things that make a place comfortable
• american from or about the United States of America
• ammonia a strong-smelling chemical used for cleaning
• ammunition bullets and objects shot from weapons
• amnesia loss of memory about past events
• ample more than enough
• amplifier a device that makes sound louder
• amplify make something louder or stronger
• amputated having had an arm or leg cut off
• amuse make someone laugh or smile
• analyse to look at something carefully to understand it
• analysis a careful look at something to understand it
• analytics the study of collected data to find useful patterns
• anatomy study of the parts and structure of the body
• ancestral coming from or related to family long ago
• ancestry all of your family members from the past
• anchorage a place where boats can stop safely
• anchorman the main person who reads news on television
• anesthesia loss of feeling, especially during surgery
• anesthesiologist doctor who gives medicine to stop pain
• angrylooking having a face that shows anger
• anguish very strong emotional pain or suffering
• annoyingly in a way that bothers or irritates you
• anthropology the study of human societies and cultures
• antiaircraft weapons designed to shoot down planes
• antibacterial able to kill small living things that cause disease
• anticancer used to fight or prevent the disease of cancer
• anticipated expected to happen before it actually does
• anticipation the feeling of being excited about something coming
• antidepressant medicine that helps people who feel very sad
• antidote substance that stops the effect of poison
• antioxidant substance that protects body cells from harm
• antipollution working against damage to air, water, or land
• antiquity very old times, the distant past
• antistatic stopping the build-up of electric charge
• apologetically in a way that shows you are sorry
• appal shock or frighten someone very much
• apparent easy to see or understand, clear
• appreciative showing that you are thankful and grateful
• approachable friendly and easy to talk to
• approvingly in a way that shows you think something is good
• approximate close to the real number but not exact
• archaeologist a person who studies ancient civilizations through remains
• arctic about the very cold area around the North Pole
• aria a song for one person in an opera
• arise to come up, to start to happen
• aristocracy the highest social class, often with old family wealth
• aristocrat a person from a rich and important family
• aristocratic behaving like or belonging to a rich important family
• armament weapons and military equipment
• armful as much as you can carry in your arms
• armor a strong protective covering for the body or vehicles
• arnica a plant used to treat pain and bruises
• arouse wake up a feeling or interest in someone
• arrogance acting as if you are better than other people
• arrogant thinking you are better than other people
• arrogantly in a way that shows you think you are better than others
• arson crime of setting fire to a building on purpose
• artery a tube that carries blood from the heart
• artificially not in a natural way, made by people
• artistry great skill in creating art or doing something well
• aspect one part or side of something
• assailant person who attacks another person
• assassinated killed on purpose, especially a public person
• assertive saying what you want in a clear strong way
• assess to think about how good something is
• associate to connect one thing with another in your mind
• associated connected with or related to
• association a group of people with the same interest
• asthma a condition causing difficulty breathing and tightness in chest
• astonish surprise someone very much
• astonishment a feeling of being very surprised
• astronomical very very large, or about the study of space
• asynchronous not happening at the same time
• athletics the British name for track and field sports
• atmospheric relating to the mood or feeling of a place
• attacker a person who tries to hurt someone
• attainable possible to reach or achieve
• attainment reaching a goal or getting something you worked for
• attendant a person whose job is to help people in a place
• attentive watching and listening carefully
• attire clothes, especially nice or special ones
• attractiveness the quality of being nice to look at
• atypical not like what is normal or usual
• aubergine a dark purple vegetable used in cooking
• aura special feeling or quality around a person or place
• authentic real, true, not a copy
• authoritative having power or being trusted as correct
• authorities people or groups with power to make decisions
• authority the power to tell others what to do
• authorization official permission to do something
• autistic having trouble with social communication
• automation use of machines to do work without human help
• autonomous able to rule or control yourself
• autopsy cutting open a dead body to find the cause
• avalanche large mass of snow falling down a mountain
• avenge to hurt someone back for a wrong they did
• avid very enthusiastic and keen about something
• avidly with great interest and excitement
• awaken wake up or make someone aware of something
• awakening starting to understand or feel something new
• award-winning having received a prize for being very good
• awe a feeling of great respect and wonder
• awkwardly in a clumsy or uncomfortable way
• axis an imaginary line that something turns around

B

• bachelor an unmarried man, or a first university degree
• bachelorette a woman who is not married
• backside the part of your body you sit on
• backstage the area behind a stage that the audience cannot see
• badtempered often angry and easily annoyed
• baffle confuse someone so they cannot understand
• bagpipe a musical instrument with a bag and pipes, from Scotland
• balky refusing to do what is wanted
• ballad a slow song that tells a story
• bandwidth amount of data that can be sent at one time
• bankrupt having no money to pay what you owe
• bankruptcy the state of having no money to pay debts
• baptism a church act of putting water on someone
• baptize to put water on someone in a church act
• barbaric wild, rough, and without fine culture
• barbershop a shop where men get their hair cut
• barcode black lines on a product that a machine can read
• barley a grain plant used for food and making drinks
• barometer a tool that measures air pressure to predict weather
• barrage a large number of things coming at once
• barren land where nothing can grow
• base jumping jumping from high buildings or cliffs with a special cloth
• basis the main reason or starting point
• bathhouse a building where people go to wash or swim
• bathtubfuls amounts that would fill a bath
• baton a thin stick used by a music leader or in a race
• batter to hit repeatedly and hard, or a mixture for cooking
• beading line of small round pieces used to decorate
• beagle a small dog with long ears, used for hunting
• bearing the way you hold your body, or a direction
• beating a severe physical attack, or the act of defeating someone
• beautify make something look more beautiful
• beehive a home where bees live and make honey
• beekeeper a person who takes care of bees
• befriend become a friend to someone
• beggar a person who lives by asking others for money
• bellboy hotel worker who carries bags and helps guests
• bellow shout in a deep loud voice
• beloved loved very much
• benevolence the quality of being kind and wanting to help
• benevolent kind and wanting to help others
• benign not harmful or dangerous
• benzene a chemical liquid used in making plastics and fuel
• berry a small soft fruit, like a strawberry
• bestow give something important as a gift or honour
• bewilder confuse someone completely
• bewilderment a feeling of being very confused
• biased unfairly favoring one side over another
• biathlon sport that combines skiing and shooting
• biblical about or from the Bible
• bicker argue about small unimportant things
• bickering arguing about small things again and again
• bicolour having two different colours
• bidden asked or told to do something
• bidding doing what someone asks, or offering money at a sale
• bidet a low bathroom bowl for washing the body
• bidirectional working in two directions
• biennial happening once every two years
• bifocal having two parts for seeing near and far
• bifocals glasses with two parts for seeing near and far
• bifold made to fold in two parts
• big-boned having a large body frame
• big-city about or from a large city
• big-hearted very kind and generous
• big-name famous and well known
• big-ticket costing a lot of money
• big-time at the highest level, very important
• biggie something or someone important
• biggish quite large, fairly big
• bighead a person who thinks too highly of themselves
• bigheaded thinking you are more important than you are
• bigness the quality of being large
• bigot a person who hates others for being different
• bigoted having strong unfair opinions about a group of people
• bigotry unfair hatred of people who are different
• bigtime at the highest level, very successful
• bigwig an important or powerful person
• biker a person who rides a motorcycle or bicycle
• bikeway a road or path made for bicycles
• bilateral involving two sides or countries
• bilaterally in a way that involves two sides
• bilberry a small dark blue wild fruit
• bilevel having two levels or floors
• bilingualism the ability to speak two languages well
• bill-poster a person who puts up signs on walls
• billboard a large sign by the road for showing messages
• billfold a small flat case for carrying money and cards
• billiard about a game played on a table with balls and sticks
• billiard-ball a hard round ball used in the table game
• billionaire a person who has more than a billion in money
• bimbo a person seen as attractive but not very smart
• bimonthly happening every two months or twice a month
• binary using only the two numbers zero and one
• bind up wrap a cloth around a wound
• binding a cover that holds pages together, or legally required
• bindweed a plant that grows around other plants
• binge doing too much of something at once, like eating
• binman a person whose job is to take away rubbish
• binocular using both eyes to see
• binomial having two names or parts in maths
• bio a short story about someone's life
• biodegradable able to break down naturally without harming nature
• biodegrade break down naturally into safe parts
• biodiversity the variety of different plants and animals in a place
• biographer a person who writes the story of another person's life
• biohazard something dangerous to people's health or nature
• biopic a film about the life of a real person
• biopsy taking a small piece of body tissue to test for disease
• biotechnology using living things to make products or solve problems
• biplane an old type of plane with two sets of wings
• bipolar having two opposite states, or a mood condition
• birchbark the outer covering of a birch tree
• birchwood wood from a birch tree
• bird-call the sound a bird makes
• bird-dog a dog trained to find birds for hunting
• bird-seed small seeds given as food for birds
• bird-watch watch wild birds as a hobby
• birdbath a bowl of water in a garden for birds to wash in
• birdbrained silly and not very smart
• birdcage a box made of wire for keeping birds
• birdcall the sound a bird makes
• birder a person who watches birds as a hobby
• birdie a small bird, or a good score in golf
• birdman a person who studies or cares for birds
• birdseed small seeds used as food for birds
• birthrate how many babies are born in a place per year
• birthright a right you have because you were born in a place or family
• birthstone a special stone connected to the month you were born
• bisect cut or divide something into two equal parts
• bisector a line that cuts something into two equal parts
• bitchy saying unkind things about other people
• bite back stop yourself from saying something angry
• biweekly happening every two weeks or twice a week
• biyearly happening every two years or twice a year
• biz short word for business
• blab tell a secret when you should not
• blabber talk too much about unimportant things
• blabbermouth a person who tells secrets or talks too much
• black out lose consciousness, or make all lights go dark
• black-head a small dark spot on the skin, blocked by oil
• black-jack a card game where you try to get close to twenty-one
• black-light a special light that makes some things glow in the dark
• black-list a list of people or things that are not allowed
• black-listing putting someone on a list of those not allowed
• blacken make something become dark or black
• blackhaired having hair that is black in colour
• blackhead a small dark spot on the skin from blocked oil
• blackmail forcing someone to pay by threatening to share secrets
• blackpowder an old type of material that explodes
• blacktop a road covered with dark hard material
• blading moving on shoes with wheels in a line
• blah boring and not interesting
• blah-blah words meaning boring or unimportant talk
• blah-blah-blah used to show boring talk that goes on and on
• blaming saying someone is responsible for something bad
• bland not having much taste or not interesting
• blandly in a way that is not interesting or exciting
• blank out suddenly forget something completely
• blankly looking at something without any expression
• blare make a loud unpleasant sound
• blast away keep shooting or doing something with great energy
• blast off when a rocket leaves the ground and goes into space
• blasted very annoying or damaged by an explosion
• blaster a thing or weapon that sends out a strong force
• blasting making very loud sounds, or breaking with explosions
• blatant very clear and obvious, especially something bad
• blatantly in an obvious way that is hard to miss
• blaze a large bright fire
• blaze away keep shooting or burning strongly
• blaze out shine or burn brightly
• blaze up suddenly start burning strongly
• bleached made white or lighter by chemicals or sun
• bleacher rows of seats for watching outdoor sports
• bleaching making something white or lighter with chemicals
• bleakness a cold empty feeling, without hope
• bleary not seeing clearly, with tired eyes
• bleeding losing blood from a wound or injury
• blended mixed together smoothly
• blending mixing things together until smooth
• blest lucky or having good things from a higher power
• blimp a large soft flying machine filled with gas
• blind-alley a path that leads nowhere, a dead end
• blind-spot an area you cannot see, or something you do not notice
• blinding so bright that you cannot see
• blindly without seeing or thinking clearly
• blindness not being able to see
• blinker a light on a car that shows which way you will turn
• blip a small sudden change or problem that does not last
• bliss out feel completely happy and relaxed
• blissful extremely happy and peaceful
• blistering extremely hot, or very fast and strong
• blithering talking in a silly way, complete fool
• blizzard a very strong storm with wind and snow
• bloated swollen and full of gas or liquid
• blob a small round drop or shape of something soft
• blocker person or thing that stops movement or action
• blocky shaped like a block, square and solid
• bloke a man, used in casual talk
• blood-poisoning a serious illness when infection enters the blood
• bloodshot eyes that are red because of tiredness or illness
• bloodstain a mark left by blood on something
• bloodstream the flow of blood through your body
• bloodthirsty wanting to see violence and killing
• bloody covered in blood, or very violent
• blooming flowers opening, or looking healthy and happy
• blow about be moved in different directions by the wind
• blow around be moved in different directions by wind
• blow down be knocked down by strong wind
• blow in arrive at a place without being expected
• blow off not do something you should, or be blown away
• blow out stop burning by blowing air, or a tyre bursting
• blow over be blown down by wind, or a problem ending
• blow-back an unwanted result of an action
• blow-by-blow telling every detail of what happened
• blow-up an explosion, or a big argument
• blower a machine that pushes air
• blowfish a fish that makes its body round when scared
• blue-black a very dark shade of blue
• blue-chip about companies or investments that are very safe
• blue-collar about workers who do physical jobs
• blue-ribbon of the highest quality
• blue-sky not practical, only about ideas
• bluebell a plant with small blue flowers shaped like bells
• blueeyed having eyes that are blue in colour
• blues a type of sad slow music, or feelings of sadness
• bluff try to trick someone into believing something false
• bluish slightly blue in colour
• blunder away waste something through stupid mistakes
• blundering making many careless mistakes
• blunt not sharp, or speaking in a very direct way
• bluntness the quality of speaking very directly
• blurring making something less clear or hard to see
• blurry not clear, hard to see the details
• blurt say something suddenly without thinking
• blusher a pink or red powder put on the cheeks
• blustery with strong winds blowing
• boatman a person who works on or drives a boat
• bombard attack with many things at once
• bomber a plane that drops bombs, or a person who uses them
• bony very thin so you can see the bones
• bookish liking to read books a lot
• booklet a small thin book with information
• bookmark something you put in a book to remember your page
• boor a rude person with bad behaviour
• boredlooking having a face that shows no interest
• bosnian from or about the country of Bosnia
• botanical relating to the study of plants
• botany the scientific study of plants
• bothersome causing trouble or annoyance
• bottle up to keep feelings hidden inside
• bottlemaker a person who makes bottles
• bottleneck point where progress becomes very slow
• bounce back to recover quickly after a bad time
• bourbon a type of strong drink made from grain in America
• bout a short period of illness or activity
• boyish looking or behaving like a young boy
• bracket a mark like this [ ] used in writing, or a support piece
• brainless very silly, without thinking
• braise to cook slowly in liquid in a closed pot
• brash too confident and not polite
• brazilian from or about the country of Brazil
• break out to escape or suddenly begin
• breakable easy to break
• breaststroke way of swimming face down with arms opening wide
• breathlessly in a way that shows excitement or being out of air
• breezy with a light pleasant wind blowing
• brewery a place where beer is made
• bribe money or gifts given illegally to influence someone
• bridesmaid a woman who helps the bride at a wedding
• briefing a short meeting where information is given
• brighten make something lighter or more cheerful
• brighteyed looking happy, excited, and full of energy
• brill very good, wonderful
• brilliantly in a very clever or bright way
• brim the top edge of a cup or hat edge
• brink very edge of something steep or dangerous
• briskly quickly and with energy
• broaden make something wider or include more
• broker person who buys and sells things for others
• brotherinlaw the brother of your husband or wife
• brownfield land that was used for industry before
• brownhaired having hair that is brown in colour
• brownishred a colour between brown and red
• browse look at things in a relaxed way without a clear plan
• bruising causing bruises, or very difficult and tiring
• buff light yellow-brown color or keen admirer
• buggy a small car or cart, or a baby carriage
• bulimia an illness where a person eats too much then forces it out
• bumpy with many rough parts, not smooth
• burdensome difficult to deal with, causing a lot of worry
• bureau an office or department that does work
• bureaucratic with too many rules and slow processes
• burgle break into a building to steal things
• busily in a very active and busy way
• businesslike serious and practical, focused on work
• businesspeople people who work in business or run companies
• busker person who performs in public places for money
• bussin very good, used mostly to talk about food that is great
• bustle move quickly in a busy and noisy way
• bustling full of busy activity and movement
• butt in to interrupt or join without being asked
• butterflies in stomach a nervous feeling in your stomach
• bystander person who watches something happen

C

• cabaret a show with music and dancing in a restaurant or club
• caching storing information so it can be found quickly later
• caged kept inside a cage, not free
• cain to cause trouble or act wildly
• cake-walk something very easy to do
• cakewalk something very easy to do
• caking becoming covered with a hard dry layer
• caky looking or feeling like dried cake on a surface
• calabria a region in the south of Italy
• calamine a pink liquid put on skin to stop itching
• californian from or about the state of California
• calisthenics exercises using your own body weight
• call down ask for something bad to happen to someone
• call forth produce or cause a reaction or feeling
• callback a phone call made in return, or being called for a second try
• callee the person who receives a phone call
• calligrapher a person who writes in a beautiful style by hand
• calligraphy art of beautiful handwriting
• calling a strong feeling that you should do a particular job
• camp up behave in a funny and exaggerated way
• camp-meeting an outdoor religious gathering
• campaigning working to achieve a political or social goal
• campcraft skills needed for living outdoors in nature
• campcrafter a person skilled at living outdoors
• cancellation stopping something that was planned
• cane a walking stick, or a tall grass plant for making sugar
• cannabis plant whose leaves are used as a drug
• cannonball a heavy metal ball shot from a cannon
• canon a general rule or principle, or a type of church leader
• canopy a covering that hangs over something, like trees or a bed
• cantina a small restaurant or bar, especially in warm countries
• canton a political area in some countries, like in Switzerland
• canuck an informal word for a person from Canada
• capacity how much a thing can hold inside it
• capsulize put into a short simple form
• captaincy the position of being a captain or leader of a team
• captainship the role or time of being a captain
• caption words written under a picture to explain it
• captivate hold someone's attention because of being interesting
• captivating very interesting and attractive
• captivation the state of being very interested in something
• captor a person who keeps someone as a prisoner
• carabine a short light gun
• carafe glass container for serving water or wine
• caramel a sweet brown food made from heated sugar
• carcass dead body of an animal or empty shell
• card-table a small table for playing card games
• cardamom a spice used in cooking with a strong taste
• cardamon a spice used to add flavour to food
• cardamum a spice with a strong sweet taste used in cooking
• cardigan a warm top with buttons that opens at the front
• cardinal-bird a bright red bird found in North America
• cardiologist a doctor for the heart
• cardiology the study of the heart and its diseases
• care-worn looking tired and worried from too many problems
• career about move fast in a wild and uncontrolled way
• career-guidance help and advice about choosing a job
• carefree happy and without any worries
• caressingly in a gentle, loving touching way
• caressive gentle and showing love through touch
• caret a mark (^) showing where to add something in text
• careworn looking tired from having too many problems
• carfuffle a lot of noisy confusion and trouble
• cargo-and-passenger carrying both goods and people
• cariboo a region in British Columbia, Canada
• caribou a large deer that lives in cold northern areas
• caricature a funny picture that makes someone's features look bigger
• caricaturist a person who draws funny exaggerated pictures of people
• carnival a big fun public event with music, games, and costumes
• carpool share a car ride with others going the same way
• carrier a person or thing that transports or carries something
• cartilage firm flexible tissue in the body, found in the ear and nose
• cascade water falling down in steps, or things happening one after another
• case-law law based on decisions made by judges in the past
• cased put inside a case or covering
• casement a window that opens on one side like a door
• casework detailed work on individual problems, especially social
• cash-book a book for recording money that comes in and goes out
• cash-keeper a person who takes care of money
• cashable able to be exchanged for money
• cashbook a record of money coming in and going out
• cashless without using paper money or coins
• casing an outer covering that protects something inside
• cask a large round wooden container for storing drinks
• cast-off something thrown away because it is no longer wanted
• castaway a person left alone on an island after a ship accident
• caste a social class that people are born into
• casting object made by pouring hot metal into a mold
• casualties people hurt or killed in a war or accident
• catalog a list of things available, like in a shop or library
• catalogize put things in order in a list or system
• catalysis making a chemical reaction happen faster
• catalyst something that makes a change or reaction happen faster
• cataract a condition that makes the eye cloudy, or a large waterfall
• catastrophic causing very great damage or suffering
• catch on to understand or become popular
• catchy easy to remember, like a good song
• categorise put things into groups based on what they are like
• catering providing food and drink for events or groups
• catlike moving quietly and gracefully like a cat
• causal showing the connection between a cause and its result
• cause-and-effect how one thing leads to another thing happening
• causeless without a reason or cause
• causer a person or thing that makes something happen
• causeway a raised road or path over water or wet land
• caustic able to burn through things, or very harsh in words
• caustically in a harsh and hurtful way with words
• caution tape yellow tape used to keep people away from danger
• cautionary giving a warning about possible danger
• cautioner a person who warns others about danger
• cautiously in a careful way, trying to avoid problems
• cavalryman a soldier who fights on a horse
• caving exploring underground spaces as a sport
• cctv cameras that record what happens in a place for safety
• cedi the money used in Ghana
• cedilla a small mark under a letter that changes how it sounds
• ceil cover the inside top of a room
• ceilidh a traditional party with music and dancing from Scotland
• celebrant a person who leads a ceremony or celebration
• celebratory done to celebrate a special event
• celeriac a root vegetable that tastes like celery
• celeste a light blue colour like the sky
• celestial about the sky, stars, or heaven
• celiac about a condition where the body cannot handle gluten
• celibacy choosing not to have a physical relationship
• celibate choosing not to have a physical relationship
• cellarway steps leading down to a room under a building
• cellist a person who plays the cello instrument
• cello a large stringed instrument you sit behind to play
• cellulitis a skin infection that makes an area red and swollen
• celluloid a material used to make old films and photos
• celt a person from the ancient peoples of western Europe
• celtic about the ancient people and culture of western Europe
• centenarian a person who is 100 years old or older
• centenary the 100th anniversary of an event
• centennial happening every 100 years, or a 100th anniversary
• centennium a period of 100 years
• centiare a unit of area equal to one square metre
• centigrade a temperature scale where water freezes at zero
• centile a value on a scale of one hundred
• centimo a small unit of money in some countries
• centisecond one hundredth of a second
• centra more than one centre or middle point
• centralized controlled from one main place
• centralwestern in the middle and western area of a place
• centreing putting something in the middle position
• centremost closest to the very middle
• centric at or near the centre
• centrical placed at or relating to the centre
• centrifugal moving away from the centre when spinning
• centripetal moving toward the centre when spinning
• centrist having political views in the middle, not extreme
• centurion a leader of 100 soldiers in ancient Rome
• cep a type of wild mushroom that is good to eat
• ceramist a person who makes objects from clay
• cerebral about the brain, or very intellectual
• cerebrum the largest part of the brain that controls thinking
• ceremonial relating to a formal event or tradition
• ceremonious very formal and following all the rules of a ceremony
• ceres a small planet between Mars and Jupiter
• cerise a bright pinkish-red colour
• cert something that is certain to happen
• certifiable officially able to be declared or confirmed
• certification an official document showing you have a skill or right
• certifier a person or group that gives official approval
• certify officially say that something is true or correct
• cerulean a deep sky-blue colour
• cerumen the yellow wax inside your ears
• cervical about the neck or the lower part of a woman's body
• cesium a soft silver metal element
• cess a tax or charge
• cesspipe a pipe that carries waste water away
• cesspit a hole in the ground for collecting waste water
• cesspool a hole that collects dirty waste water underground
• chachka a small cheap decorative object
• chalice a special drinking cup used in religious ceremonies
• chalk-stone a hard white lump formed in the body from disease
• chalkpit a place where chalk is dug from the ground
• chalkstone a hard deposit in the body caused by disease
• chamber-maid a person who cleans rooms in a hotel
• chambermaid a person who cleans rooms in a hotel
• championess a female winner of a competition
• chance-comer a person who arrives by luck, not by plan
• chanceable depending on luck or chance
• chanceful full of risk or depending on luck
• chancel the part of a church near the altar
• chancellor a high-ranking leader in government or a university
• chaotic completely messy and without any order
• chap a man or boy, used in friendly talk
• chappie a friendly word for a man
• chappy a friendly word for a man or boy
• chaqueta a type of short jacket
• characterful having interesting or unusual qualities
• characterisation describing someone's qualities in detail
• characteristic a thing that makes someone or something special
• characterization the way a person or thing is described
• charbroil cook food over very hot burning coals
• chard a green vegetable with large leaves
• chargeable able to have a cost or able to be charged with power
• charioteer a person who drives a chariot
• charismatic having a charm that inspires devotion in others
• charity-boy a boy who receives help from a charity
• charity-girl a girl who receives help from a charity
• charity-school a school paid for by charity for poor children
• charlemagne a famous king and emperor from European history
• charley a painful cramp in a muscle
• charmer a person who is very attractive and pleasant
• charqui dried meat, also called jerky
• charry partly burned or black like coal
• chartered given official permission or hired for a special trip
• chaser a person who follows something, or a drink after another
• chasm a very deep gap in the ground or between ideas
• chastise punish or criticize someone strongly
• chastisement the act of punishing someone strongly
• chastity not having physical relationships, being pure
• chatter talk quickly about unimportant things
• cheatable able to be cheated or tricked
• cheatee a person who has been cheated
• chechen from or about a republic in southern Russia
• check-off removing items from a list as they are completed
• check-room a place where you leave your coat or bags
• checkable able to be checked or verified
• checkman a person who checks or inspects things
• checkpoint a place where people are stopped and checked
• checkup a visit to a doctor to see if you are healthy
• checkweigh weigh something to check it is the right amount
• checky having a pattern of squares like a chess board
• cheek-bone the bone below your eye on the side of your face
• cheeky slightly rude in a funny and playful way
• cheep a short high sound made by a young bird
• cheerfully in a happy and positive way
• cheerfulness the quality of being happy and positive
• cheerly in a bright and happy way
• cheesemonger a person who sells cheese
• cheesiness the quality of being silly or too sentimental
• cheezit a warning to stop because someone is coming
• chemotherapy medical treatment using strong drugs to fight cancer
• cherished loved and cared for very much
• cherub a small angel, often shown as a baby with wings
• cherubic looking sweet and innocent like a little angel
• chessman one piece used in the game of chess
• chevalier a knight or man of noble rank
• chicklette a young woman, used informally
• chiefly mainly or most importantly
• chihuahua very small dog breed from Mexico
• childless not having any children
• chilling frightening in a way that makes you feel cold
• chime in to join a talk by adding your own words
• chin-bandage a cloth wrapped around the chin for support
• chinch a small insect that damages plants
• chinchilla a small soft-furred animal from South America
• chinwag a long friendly conversation
• chippie a fish and chips shop, or a carpenter
• chippy a fish and chips shop, or someone easily annoyed
• chivvy keep telling someone to hurry up
• chivy keep pushing someone to do something faster
• chloroplast the part of a plant cell that makes food from light
• choker a piece of jewellery worn tight around the neck
• choli a short blouse worn with traditional clothes in South Asia
• choosingly in a way that shows careful choosing
• chord a group of musical notes played together
• choreography art of planning steps and moves for dancing
• chroma the brightness or strength of a colour
• chrome a shiny silver metal coating
• chronicler a person who writes down events as they happen
• chronometer a very exact clock or watch
• chuckle-head a silly or foolish person
• chucklehead a silly or foolish person
• chump a foolish person who is easy to trick
• church-owl a type of owl that lives in old buildings
• circles groups of people with the same interests
• circuitry the system of electrical connections in a device
• circumcised having had skin cut from a male body part
• citywide across the whole city
• civil related to the people of a country
• civilisation an advanced society with its own culture and rules
• civility polite and respectful behaviour
• claimant a person who asks for something they believe they deserve
• clan a large family group, especially in Scotland
• clause a part of a sentence or a rule in a law
• clean and jerk a weight lifting move in two stages
• cleanliness the state of being free from dirt and keeping things clean
• clearness the quality of being easy to see or understand
• clerical about office work, or about church leaders
• cleverly in a smart and skillful way
• climatologist a scientist who studies long-term weather patterns
• cloak a loose outer garment without sleeves, or to hide something
• cloakroom a room where you leave your coat and bags
• clog a shoe made of wood, or to block something
• clumsy moving in a careless way and often dropping things
• clunker old car or machine that works badly
• coaching training or teaching someone to improve
• coarse rough and not smooth, or rude in manner
• coastline the line where the land meets the sea
• coca a plant from South America whose leaves are used in drinks
• cocaine a dangerous illegal drug made from the coca plant
• codependency needing another person too much in an unhealthy way
• coherence when ideas or parts fit together in a clear way
• coherent clear and logical, easy to understand
• cohesion things sticking together well as one unit
• collie a type of dog with long hair, good at herding sheep
• colon a mark like two dots used in writing
• colonialism control of one country by another
• colonization act of taking control of a new land
• colonize to take control of a new land
• colonized taken under control of another country
• colouring the colours of something, or adding colours to a picture
• come across to meet or find someone by chance while doing something else
• commemorate do something special to remember an important event
• commission a group given a job to do or money for selling
• committed dedicated and loyal to a cause or activity
• commonwealth a group of countries working together
• commotion a lot of noise and confused activity
• communicative willing and able to share information easily
• communicator a person who is good at sharing ideas
• compassionate feeling care and wanting to help others in pain
• compelled forced to do something
• compensation money given to someone for loss or damage
• competent having enough skill to do something well
• competitively in a way that tries to win against others
• compile collect information and put it together
• compiler person or program that puts things together
• completion the act of finishing something
• complexion the natural colour and look of the skin on your face
• complexity the state of being difficult and having many parts
• compliance following rules or doing what is asked
• complication something that makes a situation more difficult
• complimentary saying nice things, or given for free
• comply do what a rule or person asks you to do
• compost old plant material that breaks down to feed the soil
• composure state of being calm and in control
• comprehend to understand something fully
• comprehension the ability to understand something
• comprehensive covering everything, complete and detailed
• compress press or squeeze something to make it smaller
• compression pressing something into a smaller space
• comprise be made up of, or include
• compromised weakened or damaged, or agreed upon through concession
• compulsive feeling a strong need that is hard to stop
• compulsory required by law or rules, you must do it
• compute calculate or work out a number or answer
• computerised done or controlled by a computer
• conceal hide something so others cannot find or see it
• concede admit that something is true, or give up
• conceit thinking you are better or more important than others
• conceited thinking too highly of yourself
• conceivable possible to imagine or believe
• conceive think of an idea, or become pregnant
• concentrated focused in a small area, or highly dense and strong
• conception the beginning of an idea, or when life starts in the body
• concerning about a topic, or making you feel worried
• concession something you agree to give up in an argument
• concise using few words to say a lot
• concussion injury to the brain from a hard hit
• condemn say strongly that something is wrong
• condemned declared guilty or unfit for use
• condom a thin covering used during sex to prevent pregnancy
• confederate person who works with others on a plan
• confer talk with others to discuss and decide something
• confession telling the truth about something wrong you did
• confide to tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it
• confidential meant to be kept secret and not shared with others
• confidentiality keeping private information secret
• confidently in a way that shows you believe in yourself
• configuration the way parts are arranged to work together
• configure to set up or arrange parts for use
• confine keep within limits, or lock someone in a place
• confirming making something more certain
• conformist a person who follows the rules and does what others do
• confrontation an angry meeting or fight between people
• confrontational behaving in a way that starts arguments
• confucian about the teachings of the Chinese thinker Confucius
• congregation a group of people gathered for religious worship
• congress formal meeting of representatives
• congressional about the group of people who make laws
• conjugation different forms of a word listed together
• conjunction a word like and, but, or that joins parts of a sentence
• conjure make something appear as if by magic
• conquest taking control of a place or people by fighting
• conscience the inner feeling that tells you what is right and wrong
• consciousness being awake and aware of what is around you
• consensus general agreement among a group of people
• consent give permission for something to happen
• conservative not wanting to change, keeping things the same
• conservatory a glass room attached to a house, or a music school
• conserve use carefully to make sure it lasts, or protect nature
• considerably by a large and important amount
• considering thinking about, or taking into account
• consignment a group of goods sent or delivered together
• consistency always behaving or happening the same way
• consistently always in the same way, without changing
• consolation something that makes you feel better when sad
• consolidate make stronger by joining together
• conspiracy a secret plan by a group to do something wrong
• constable a police officer, especially of low rank
• constituency an area whose people choose someone for government
• constitutional about the basic rules of how a country is run
• constraint a limit on what you can do
• consultant an expert who gives advice for a fee
• consultation a meeting to discuss and get advice
• consultative giving advice but not making final decisions
• consumer a person who buys and uses things
• contagious spreading from person to person by contact
• contaminate make something dirty or dangerous
• contaminated made dirty or poisoned
• contemplate think deeply and carefully about something
• contemporary from the same time or from now
• contempt a strong feeling that someone or something is worthless
• contend compete or struggle, or claim something is true
• contender a person who competes, especially for a prize
• contented happy and satisfied with what you have
• contention a strong disagreement, or a claim someone makes
• contractor a person or company hired to do a specific job
• contradiction when two things are opposite and cannot both be true
• controversy a big public argument about something important
• conveniently in a way that is easy and saves you time
• conventional following the traditional and usual way of doing things
• converse talk with someone, or the opposite of something
• conversely in the opposite way
• conversion changing from one form or use to another
• convertible a car with a top that can open
• convicted found guilty of a crime
• conviction a strong belief, or being found guilty of a crime
• convincing making you believe something is true
• coolly in a calm way without showing feelings
• cooperate work together with others to achieve something
• cooperative willing to work with others and help
• coordinate organise people or things to work well together
• coordination making different things work well together
• coordinator a person who organises activities or people
• copper a reddish-brown metal used for wires and pipes
• cornerstone the most important part that everything else is built on
• cornet a small brass instrument similar to a trumpet
• corona a ring of light around the sun or moon
• corporal about the body, or a low-ranking soldier
• corporate about a big company or business
• correctness the quality of being right and without mistakes
• correlate have a connection or relationship with something else
• correlation a connection between two things that change together
• correspond match or agree with, or exchange letters
• correspondence letters or messages between people
• correspondent a person who reports news from a distant place
• corresponding matching or relating to something
• corrupt dishonest, using power for personal gain
• corruption dishonest behaviour, especially by people in power
• cosmic related to the universe beyond earth
• cosmonaut a Russian person who travels into space
• cosmos the whole universe and everything in it
• councillor a member of a local government council
• counsel advice, or to give advice to someone
• counselling professional help with personal or emotional problems
• counsellor a person trained to help with personal problems
• counterfeit fake copy made to look like the real thing
• counterpart a person or thing that has the same job in another place
• countryman a person from the same country, or from the countryside
• countrywide across the whole country
• coup a sudden taking of power, especially in government
• courier a person who delivers packages or messages
• coursework schoolwork done during a course, not in an exam
• courteousness polite and respectful behaviour toward others
• cozinesscosiness the feeling of being warm and comfortable
• craftsman a person skilled at making things by hand
• cramping having a sudden tight painful feeling in muscles
• cranberry a small sour red berry used in food and drink
• crater a large round hole in the ground from an explosion
• craving an intense desire or longing for something
• crawler something that moves slowly, or a baby learning to move
• crazed behaving in a wild and uncontrolled way
• crazily in a wild and uncontrolled way
• crease a line made by folding or pressing something
• creatively in a way that uses imagination and new ideas
• credibility the quality of being believed and trusted
• credible able to be believed, trustworthy
• creep move slowly and quietly, or a strange person
• cripple make unable to move or work properly
• crippled badly hurt so cannot move well
• crisscross lines that cross each other in different directions
• criteria standards by which something is judged or decided
• criterion a rule used to decide or judge something
• critically in a very important way, or with a judging eye
• critique a careful examination and judgement of something
• crook a dishonest person, or a hooked stick carried by a shepherd
• crooked bent or twisted, or dishonest and corrupt
• cross-platform working on different types of computers or systems
• crosscultural involving different cultures or ways of life
• crossly in an angry and annoyed way
• crude rough and basic, or rude and not polite
• cruelly in a way that causes pain or suffering on purpose
• cruelty behaviour that causes pain to others on purpose
• crushing overwhelming and devastating, or very severe
• crustacean a sea animal with a hard shell, like a crab or lobster
• ct scan many pictures joined by a computer to show inside the body
• cuban from or about the country of Cuba
• cubism an art style that shows objects as flat shapes
• cue a signal to start something, or a stick for playing pool
• cuff the end of a sleeve near your hand
• culinary about cooking or preparing food
• culmination the highest or final point of something
• cult a small group with extreme beliefs, or something very popular
• cultivated grown by people
• culturally in a way that relates to culture and traditions
• cultured educated and knowing about art, music, and literature
• curate a church helper, or choose and organise a collection
• curb to hold back or limit something, or the edge of a pavement
• curl make or form into a round curved shape
• curling sport where you slide stones on ice
• cursor the small arrow or line on a computer screen
• curtain call when performers come back on stage for applause
• curtained covered or hidden with curtains
• customizable able to be changed to fit what you want
• cutting a piece cut from a plant, or hurtful words
• cutting-edge most modern and advanced
• cyanide a very dangerous poison
• cyberaddict a person who spends too much time on computers
• cybercrime crime committed using computers and the internet
• cyberschool a school where learning happens online
• cybersecurity protecting computers and data from attacks
• cyberspace the virtual world of the internet
• cyclist a person who rides a bicycle
• cylinder a shape like a tube with flat round ends
• cynical believing people only do things for selfish reasons

D

• dachshund small dog with a very long body and short legs
• daft silly and foolish
• dairy about milk and foods made from milk
• damages money paid to someone who was harmed
• damned used to show anger, or said to be sent to hell
• dandelion a common yellow wild flower
• daring brave enough to do dangerous or risky things
• darkbrown a brown colour that is close to black
• darkhaired having hair that is very dark in colour
• darling a word of love for someone you care about
• database a large organised collection of information on a computer
• dated old-fashioned and no longer modern
• daughterinlaw the wife of your son
• dawn on begin to understand something for the first time
• daybreak the time in the morning when light first appears
• daydream think about nice things while awake instead of working
• dazed not able to think clearly
• deafening so loud that you almost cannot hear
• dean important person in a university or church
• debatable not certain
• debit money taken from your bank account
• debug to find and fix problems in a machine or code
• debugging finding and fixing problems in a computer
• debut the first time someone performs or appears in public
• decathlon sports contest with ten different events
• deceit making someone believe something that is not true
• deceive make someone believe something that is not true
• decency being proper and following good behavior rules
• deceptive making you believe something that is not true
• decisionmaker a person who makes important choices
• decisionmaking the process of making important choices
• decompose break down into smaller parts over time, like dead plants
• decomposition the natural process of breaking down after death
• decorative used to make something look attractive
• decrypt to change a secret code back into clear words
• dedicated giving a lot of time and effort to something
• dedication giving your time and effort to a task or person
• deem consider or judge something to be a certain way
• deep-fry cook food in a lot of very hot oil
• deepdiving going far under water
• deepen make or become deeper or more serious
• deerstalker a special hat with flaps, like Sherlock Holmes wore
• default what happens when no other choice is made
• defect a fault or problem in something, or leave to join the other side
• defendant person who must answer to a charge in court
• defense mechanism a way the body or mind protects itself
• defiant refusing to obey and showing it openly
• deforestation cutting down large areas of trees
• defy refuse to obey or challenge someone openly
• deity a god or goddess
• delegate give a task to someone else, or a representative
• delegation a group of people chosen to speak for others
• deli a shop that sells special prepared foods
• deliberate done on purpose, not by accident
• deliberately on purpose, meaning to do it
• delicacy a rare and expensive type of food
• delicately in a gentle and careful way
• deliciously in a way that tastes very good
• delirious very confused and unable to think clearly
• delirium a confused mental state, often from illness or fever
• deliverable something that must be provided by a certain time
• deltoid large triangle-shaped muscle of the shoulder
• delusional having false beliefs that seem very real
• demanding needing a lot of effort, time, or skill
• demeanor way a person acts and looks to others
• democrat person who believes in rule by the people
• demolish destroy a building or structure completely
• demon an evil spirit in stories or religion
• demoted moved down to a lower position or rank
• denial saying that something is not true
• denim a strong blue cloth used to make jeans
• denounce publicly say that something or someone is wrong
• dense thick and packed closely together
• densely with many things packed close together
• density how closely packed together things are in a space
• dependable always doing what you say, able to be trusted
• dependence needing something or someone to survive
• dependency the state of needing something too much
• depict show or represent something in a picture or words
• depicted shown or drawn in a picture or words
• deploy send people or equipment to where they are needed
• deployment sending people or resources to where they are needed
• depot a place where buses or trains are kept, or goods are stored
• depress make someone feel very sad, or push something down
• deprived not having the basic things needed for a good life
• deputy a person who acts for a leader when they are away
• dermatologist doctor who treats problems with the skin
• descent moving down, or where your family comes from
• descriptive giving a lot of details about what something is like
• desensitize make less affected by something over time
• designate choose someone or something for a particular purpose
• desolation a feeling of great sadness, or an empty destroyed place
• desperately in a way that shows great need or hopelessness
• desperation a feeling of having no hope and needing help badly
• despicable very bad and deserving to be hated
• despise hate someone or something very much
• despised looked down on and greatly disliked
• destine plan or decide what will happen in the future
• destined meant to happen in the future
• destiny what is meant to happen to you in life
• detach separate one thing from another
• detached separate and not connected, or not showing feelings
• detachment not feeling emotionally connected, or a group of soldiers
• detain keep someone in a place and not let them leave
• detect to find or notice something that is hidden
• detected found or noticed something that was hidden
• detecting finding or discovering something that is hidden
• detection the act of finding or discovering something
• deteriorate become worse over time
• deteriorated having become worse in quality over time
• determiner a word like the, a, this that comes before a noun
• detrimental causing harm or damage
• devastation great destruction and damage
• devise think of a plan or create something new
• devote give all your time and effort to something
• devoted loving someone very much and giving them all your care
• devour to eat something hungrily and quickly
• deworming removing harmful worms from the body
• diabetes a disease where the body cannot control blood sugar levels
• diabetic relating to or suffering from diabetes
• diagnose find out what illness or problem someone has
• diagnoses decisions about what illnesses people have
• diagonal going from one corner to the opposite corner
• diagonally in a line from one corner to the opposite corner
• dialect a form of language spoken in a particular region
• dialing pressing numbers on a phone to make a call
• dialog a conversation between two or more people
• diamond-shaped having four equal sides in a tilted square shape
• diarrhoea an illness that makes you go to the toilet very often
• dictate tell someone what to write, or give orders
• dictation reading words for someone else to write down
• dictator a leader who has total power and controls everything
• die away slowly become weaker and then stop
• die out slowly disappear completely over time
• diesel a type of fuel used in some vehicles
• dietary about the food and drink someone takes
• dietician a person who gives advice about healthy food
• dietitian an expert who advises people about what to eat
• differentiate see or show the difference between things
• differing not the same, having differences
• dig in start eating eagerly, or make yourself strong in a place
• dig out find something by searching or remove from the ground
• dig up take something out of the ground by digging
• digestible easy for your stomach to break down
• digestion the process of breaking down food in your body
• digestive about the process of breaking down food in the body
• digitally using computers or electronic technology
• dignified looking serious and worthy of respect
• dignify make something seem more important or worthy
• dignity calm serious behaviour that makes others respect you
• diligently in a careful and hard-working way
• dilute make a liquid weaker by adding water
• dilution making something weaker by adding liquid
• dimension a measurement of size, such as length or width
• diminish become smaller or less important
• diminished made smaller or less important
• diminishing becoming smaller or less over time
• dimly with very little light
• dimmer a device that controls how bright a light is
• diningroom the room where people eat meals
• dinner-party a social event where guests eat together
• diphtheria a serious disease of the throat
• diplomat a person who represents their country in another country
• diplomatic skilled at dealing with people without causing anger
• dipping putting something briefly into a liquid
• directed controlled or aimed in a particular way
• directing controlling how something is done or where it goes
• directive an official order to do something
• directory a list of names, addresses, or files organised in order
• dirt-cheap very very cheap, costing almost nothing
• dirt-track a rough road or path made of earth
• dirtiness the state of being not clean
• disagreeable not pleasant, or hard to get along with
• disappearance when someone or something goes away and cannot be found
• disapproval the feeling that something is wrong or not good
• disapprove think that something is wrong or not good
• discard throw away something you no longer need
• discarded thrown away because it is no longer needed
• discharge let someone leave, or release something
• discharged allowed to leave, especially from hospital
• discharging letting out or releasing something
• disciple a person who follows and learns from a teacher or leader
• disciplinary about punishment for breaking rules
• discipline training people to follow rules and behave well
• disciplined trained to follow rules and behave well
• disclose tell or reveal secret information
• disclosed made known or revealed
• disclosure making secret information known to others
• discolor change something from its normal colour
• discolour change from the normal colour to a worse one
• disconnect break the connection between things
• disconnecting breaking the connection between things
• disconnection when the connection between things is broken
• discontent a feeling of not being happy with how things are
• discontinue stop doing or making something
• discontinued no longer being made or sold
• discotheque a club where people dance to recorded music
• discouraged having lost confidence or enthusiasm
• discourse a long formal discussion or text about a subject
• discoverer a person who finds something for the first time
• discredit make people stop trusting or believing in something
• discreet careful not to let others know, quiet about things
• discretion the ability to make careful decisions about what to say
• discriminate treat someone unfairly because of who they are
• discus a heavy flat round object thrown in sports
• diseased having a disease or illness
• disenchanted no longer happy or excited about something
• disguise change how you look so people do not know you
• disguised changed to look different so as not to be recognised
• disguising hiding what something really is
• dish out give things to people, often food or criticism
• dish up put food on plates ready to eat
• dish-cloth a cloth used for washing plates and cooking things
• dish-washer a machine that washes plates and cooking things
• dishcloth a cloth for washing dishes
• dishonesty not telling the truth, being a liar
• disillusion make someone see the truth about something disappointing
• disinfectant a liquid that kills harmful small living things
• disinfecting killing harmful small living things on a surface
• disk-shaped round and flat like a circle
• dislocate move a bone out of its normal position
• dislocated a bone moved out of its normal position in a joint
• disloyal not faithful to those who deserve loyalty
• dismantled taken apart piece by piece
• dismay a feeling of shock and worry
• dismayed feeling shocked and disappointed
• dismissal telling someone to leave, especially from a job
• dismount get off a horse, bicycle, or other thing you ride
• dismounted got off from something you were riding
• disobedience refusing to follow rules or do what you are told
• disorder a state of mess and confusion, or a health problem
• disordered messy and not organised
• disorganize make something messy and without order
• disorientation feeling confused about where you are
• dispatch send something or someone to a place quickly
• dispatching sending something away quickly
• dispensable not needed, can be removed without problem
• dispenser a machine or container that gives out items
• dispensing giving out or providing something
• dispersed spread out over a wide area
• dispersing spreading out in different directions
• displace force something or someone to move from their place
• displaced forced to leave home because of war or disaster
• displease make someone feel unhappy or annoyed
• displeased feeling unhappy or annoyed about something
• displeasing making someone feel annoyed or not happy
• displeasure a feeling of being unhappy about something
• disposal getting rid of something, or having something available
• dispose get rid of something, or arrange things in order
• disposed willing or likely to do something
• disposition a person's usual way of thinking and feeling
• dispute a serious argument or disagreement
• disqualify stop someone from taking part because of a broken rule
• disregard pay no attention to something, ignore it
• disrespectfully in a way that shows no respect
• disruption something that stops normal activity from continuing
• disruptive causing problems and stopping normal activity
• dissatisfaction not being happy with how things are
• dissatisfied not happy with something, wanting it to be better
• disseminate spread information widely to many people
• dissertation a long research paper written to complete a university course
• dissident a person who publicly disagrees with the government
• dissimilar not similar, different from each other
• dissolved mixed into a liquid until it disappears
• distantly from far away, or in an unfriendly way
• distasteful unpleasant and causing dislike
• distilling making a liquid pure by heating and cooling it
• distinct clearly different from something else
• distinctive easy to recognise because of special qualities
• distinguished famous and respected, or looking important
• distort change the shape or truth of something
• distortion changing something from its true or normal shape
• distract take someone's attention away from what they are doing
• distraction something that takes your attention away
• distress great pain, worry, or sadness
• distressed very upset and worried
• distressing making you feel very upset and worried
• distribute to give things out to many people
• distributed given out or spread to many people or places
• distributing giving things out to many people
• distributor a person or company that gives out products to shops
• disturbed worried or mentally unwell
• disturbing making you feel worried or upset
• ditch a narrow channel dug at the side of a road, or to abandon
• diversion something that takes attention away, or a different route
• diversity having many different types of people or things
• divert change the direction of something
• diverting interesting and entertaining
• divider something that separates one area from another
• divulge tell secret information to someone
• do away get rid of something completely
• do out clean and decorate a room
• do over do something again from the start
• do up fasten or close something, or repair a building
• do-it-yourself building or fixing things at home without an expert
• do-it-yourselfer a person who builds or fixes things at home
• docker a person who works loading and unloading ships
• doctorate the highest degree awarded by a university
• doctrine a set of beliefs or rules taught by a group
• documentation official papers or written instructions
• documented recorded in writing or on film
• doddle something very easy to do
• dodge move quickly to avoid something
• dodging moving quickly to avoid being hit
• doe a female deer
• doer a person who acts and gets things done
• dog-biscuit a hard food for dogs
• dog-box a small space for keeping a dog
• dog-daisy a common white flower with a yellow centre
• dog-eared with pages bent at the corners from too much use
• dog-fox a male fox
• dog-house a small outdoor shelter for a dog
• dog-lead a strap for holding a dog when walking
• dogcart a small cart pulled by horses
• doglike similar to a dog in behaviour
• dogsled a vehicle pulled by dogs over snow
• doll-like looking like a pretty toy person
• domain an area of knowledge or control, or a web address
• dome a large round roof shaped like half a ball
• domestic about your home or about your own country
• domesticate train a wild animal to live with people
• domesticated trained to live with and be useful to people
• dominance having more power or control than others
• dominant most powerful or important
• dominated controlled by one person or thing
• dominating having a strong controlling influence
• domino a small flat piece with dots used in a game
• dominoes a game played with flat pieces that have dots
• doms buildings with large round roofs
• doodle draw simple pictures while thinking about other things
• doom a terrible fate that cannot be avoided
• doomed certain to fail, suffer, or be destroyed
• door-man a person who opens doors at a hotel or building
• door-to-door going from one house to the next
• doorkeeper a person who watches over the entrance to a building
• dosage the amount of medicine you should take
• dot down write something quickly
• dot-com a company that does business on the internet
• dotted covered with small round marks
• double back turn around and go back the way you came
• double in also work in another role
• double over bend your body forward because of pain or laughing
• double up share something with another person
• double-bass a very large stringed instrument with a deep sound
• double-bedded having a bed for two people
• double-breasted a coat or jacket that overlaps at the front
• double-charge charge someone twice for the same thing
• double-decker a bus with two levels
• doubled made twice as big or twice as much
• doubling becoming twice as much or twice as big
• doubly twice as much, in two ways
• doubtfully in a way that shows you are not sure
• doubting feeling unsure about whether something is true
• down in the dumps feeling very sad and unhappy
• down payment the first part of the money you pay for something big
• down-to-earth practical and honest, not pretending
• downfall the loss of power or success
• downpour a very heavy fall of rain
• downright completely and totally, used to make a word stronger
• downside the bad or negative part of something
• downsize make a company smaller by reducing staff
• downstream in the direction that water in a river flows
• dowry money or things a bride's family gives to the husband
• doze away spend time sleeping lightly
• doze off fall into a light sleep
• doze out wake up slowly from a light sleep
• dozed slept lightly for a short time
• dozer a heavy machine that pushes earth, or a sleepy person
• dozing sleeping lightly, not fully asleep
• dozy feeling sleepy and slow
• draft a first try at writing something
• drafting writing the first version of something
• draftsman a person who draws detailed plans for buildings
• drafty with cold air blowing through
• drag away pull someone away from something they enjoy
• drag in bring a topic into a conversation when not wanted
• drag on continue for too long in a boring way
• drag out make something last longer than needed
• drag up mention something unpleasant from the past
• dragon-fly an insect with a long body and large clear wings
• dragonfly an insect with a long body and four clear wings
• drain remove liquid from something, or a pipe for carrying water away
• drain-away a pipe or channel that takes water away
• drain-pipe a pipe that carries water away from a building
• drainage a system for removing water from an area
• drainboard a flat area next to a sink where dishes dry
• drained very tired, or with all liquid removed
• drainer a thing where you put dishes to dry
• draining removing water, or making you very tired
• drainpipe a pipe that takes water away from a roof or building
• drake a male duck
• drape hang cloth loosely over something
• drapery cloth hung as decoration, or a fabric shop
• drat a word showing you are annoyed
• draughtboard a board with squares for playing the game of draughts
• draughts a board game where you move round pieces diagonally
• draughtsman a person who makes detailed drawings and plans
• draughty with cold air blowing through gaps
• draw aside move to one side for a private talk
• draw away move ahead of others, or pull back
• draw back move back from something, or not want to continue
• draw down reduce the amount of something over time
• draw in arrive at a station, or become attracted to something
• draw off take liquid away from a larger amount
• draw on use something as a resource, or pull on clothing
• draw out make something last longer, or encourage someone to talk
• draw over pull something to cover another thing
• draw round draw a line around the outside of something
• draw up create a document, or stop a vehicle
• drawbridge a bridge that can be pulled up to stop people crossing
• drawing-board a flat board used for making drawings
• drawing-pen a pen used for making detailed drawings
• drawing-room a formal room for sitting and talking with guests
• dreaded causing great fear
• dreadfully very badly, or used to mean very much
• dream away spend time thinking about nice things instead of working
• dream up think of something new and creative
• dream-land an imaginary perfect place
• dream-world a world that exists only in your imagination
• dreamer a person who has unrealistic ideas or plans
• dreamland an imaginary place that is perfect and happy
• dreamworld a world that exists only in imagination
• dreamy looking like you are thinking about nice things
• drench make completely wet
• drenching making something completely wet through
• dressage a sport where horses do careful trained movements
• dressing-table a table with a mirror for getting ready
• dribbler a person who lets liquid fall from their mouth
• dribbling letting liquid fall slowly, or moving a ball with small touches
• drier a machine that removes water, or less wet
• drift along move slowly without any particular plan
• drift apart slowly stop being close friends
• drift in arrive slowly and without hurry
• drift off slowly fall asleep
• drift out slowly move away from a place
• drift-wood wood carried by water to the shore
• drifter a person who moves from place to place without a plan
• drifting moving slowly without direction or purpose
• driftwood pieces of wood carried to shore by the water
• drill-hole a hole made by a turning tool
• drill-sergeant a military person who trains soldiers strictly
• driller a person or machine that makes holes
• drilling making holes with a turning tool, or practising again and again
• drink down drink something completely
• drink in enjoy looking at or experiencing something fully
• drink off drink something quickly in one go
• drip-dry let clothes dry by hanging them without squeezing
• dripping with liquid falling in small drops
• dripping-pan a pan that catches liquid falling from cooking meat
• drippy always dropping liquid, or too sentimental
• drive away leave in a car, or make someone go away
• drive back force someone to go back
• drive in push something in by hitting, or arrive by car
• drive off leave quickly in a car
• drive on continue driving without stopping
• drive out force someone to leave a place
• drive over go to a place by car
• drive through go through a place without stopping
• drive up arrive somewhere in a car
• driven very determined and wanting to succeed
• drizzle light rain with very small drops
• drizzling raining very lightly with small drops
• drizzly with light rain falling
• dromedary a camel with one hump on its back
• drool let liquid come from your mouth without control
• droop hang down weakly
• drooping hanging down in a weak or tired way
• droopy hanging down in a sad or tired way
• drop away become less or fewer over time
• drop back fall behind others in a group
• drop behind not keep up with others
• drop out leave a school or activity before finishing
• drop set an exercise where you reduce weight each round
• drop through fall through something, or fail to happen
• drop-in a place you can visit without an appointment
• drop-kick kick a ball just as it bounces off the ground
• drop-off a sudden fall, or a place to leave something
• drop-shaped having the form of a falling liquid drop
• dropkick a kick made as the ball hits the ground
• droplet a very small drop of liquid
• dropout a person who leaves school or a group before finishing
• dropper a small tube for adding liquid one drop at a time
• dropping-out leaving school or an activity before it ends
• drought a long time with no rain, making the land very dry
• drove moved animals along, or a large group of moving things
• drown out be so loud that you cannot hear something else
• drowsiness the feeling of being sleepy
• druggist a person who sells medicine in a shop
• drum up try hard to get support or business
• drumbeat the sound made by hitting a drum
• drumming playing a drum, or making a repeated tapping sound
• drumstick a stick for hitting a drum, or the leg of a chicken
• drunkard a person who drinks too much alcohol regularly
• drunken intoxicated by alcohol, or caused by drinking
• dry out become completely dry, or stop drinking alcohol
• dry up become completely dry, or stop talking suddenly
• dry-clean clean clothes with chemicals instead of water
• dry-cleaners a shop that cleans clothes with chemicals
• dry-cleaning cleaning clothes using chemicals instead of water
• dryland land that is not covered by water and gets little rain
• dryly in a funny way that seems serious
• dryness the state of having no water or moisture
• dual having two parts or purposes
• dubbed given a name or title, or with new voices added to a film
• duel a fight between two people with weapons, planned in advance
• duffel thick heavy cloth used for bags and coats
• dug-out a shelter dug into the ground, or a boat from a tree
• dugout a shelter made by digging, or a boat from a log
• dune a hill of sand made by the wind
• duo two people who work or perform together
• duplex building with two separate living spaces
• duplication the act of making an exact copy
• dustman a person whose job is to collect rubbish
• dutch from or about the Netherlands
• dwelt lived in a place for some time
• dynamic full of energy and always changing

E

• eagerly in a way that shows great interest and excitement
• earl a man of high rank in the British system
• earnings money that you get from working
• earplug a small piece you put in your ear to block sound
• ease a feeling of comfort with no worry or difficulty
• eastward going toward the east
• eating disorder a serious problem with how someone eats
• ecg a test that shows how your heart is working
• ecoconference a meeting about protecting the environment
• ecologically in a way that relates to the natural environment
• ecologist a scientist who studies the relationship of living things
• economic about money and business in a country
• economical using money, time, or resources carefully
• economically in a way relating to the economy, or in a thrifty way
• economise spend less money or use less of something
• economist a person who studies money and how it works in society
• economy the system of money and business in a country
• ecstatic feeling such great joy that you can hardly control it
• editorial an article giving the opinion of a newspaper
• effectiveness how well something works to get the result you want
• efficientlooking appearing to be well organised and fast
• ego a person's sense of their own importance
• eighteenth coming at number 18 in order
• elaborate very detailed and complex, or to explain more
• elated very happy and full of pride
• elation a feeling of great happiness and excitement
• elder an older person, or a tree with small white flowers
• elective a subject you can choose to study, not required
• electoral about choosing leaders through voting
• electrify supply with electricity, or make very excited
• electrode a piece that sends or receives electric current
• electronically using electronic devices or computers
• elegance the quality of being beautiful and graceful
• elegantly in a beautiful and graceful way
• elemental about the basic forces of nature
• elevate raise to a higher position or level
• elevated raised up high or having noble character
• elevation the height above sea level, or a promotion in rank
• eligible meeting the requirements to do or get something
• elite the best or most skilled group of people
• elk very large deer with wide flat horns
• elliptical shaped like a stretched circle
• eloquence the ability to speak beautifully and persuasively
• eloquent able to express ideas clearly and beautifully in words
• elucidate explain something and make it clear
• emanate come out from a source, like light or smell
• embark start a journey or begin something new
• embed fix something firmly into a surface
• embody represent an idea or quality in a clear way
• embrace hold someone close in your arms, or accept something fully
• emergence coming out or appearing for the first time
• emission gas or other substance released into the air
• emphasis special attention given to something important
• emphatically in a strong and clear way, leaving no doubt
• empirical based on observation and testing, not just ideas
• empower give someone the power and confidence to do something
• enabling making something possible or giving the power to do it
• enact make a law official, or act something out
• enacting making a law, or performing an action
• enamel a hard shiny coating on teeth or objects
• enameled covered with a hard shiny coating
• enamelled covered with a hard shiny layer
• enamored very much in love with or excited about something
• encamp set up a camp to stay in temporarily
• encamping setting up a camp in a place
• encampment a group of tents or shelters set up as a camp
• enchanter a person who uses magic to put spells on others
• enchanting very beautiful and delightful, like magic
• enchantment a feeling of great pleasure, or a magic spell
• enchilada a Mexican food made of a rolled flat bread with filling
• enclosure an area surrounded by a fence or wall
• encode change information into a code or special form
• encoder a device that changes information into a code
• encoding changing information into a special form
• encompass include or contain everything within
• encourager a person who gives support and confidence to others
• encouragingly in a way that gives someone hope and support
• encrypt change data into a secret code for safety
• encrypting making data secret by changing it into code
• encryption the process of making data secret with a code
• encyclopaedia a large book or set with information about many topics
• end-consumer the person who finally buys and uses a product
• end-game the last part of a game or process
• end-piece the part at the very end of something
• end-product the final thing made after a process
• end-to-end from the beginning to the very end
• end-user the person who will actually use a product
• endearing making people feel love and warmth toward you
• endearment a word or action showing love, like calling someone dear
• endeavour try hard to do something difficult
• endgame the final stage of something
• endlessly without stopping, going on and on
• endorse say publicly that you support or approve something
• endorsement public support or approval of something
• endurable able to be survived or handled
• endurance the power to bear pain or hardship without giving up
• enduring lasting for a long time, not changing
• energetically with a lot of energy and effort
• energize give energy and excitement to someone
• energized feeling full of energy and ready to act
• energizer something that gives energy and excitement
• energizing making you feel full of energy
• energy-consuming using a lot of energy
• energy-efficiency using less energy to do the same work
• energy-efficient using less energy while doing the same job
• energy-intensive needing a very large amount of energy
• enforced made sure a rule is followed by using power
• enforcement making sure rules and laws are followed
• enforcer a person who makes sure rules are followed
• engagement an agreement to marry, or being involved in something
• engaging interesting and attractive, holding your attention
• engine-driver a person who drives a train
• engine-room the room in a ship where the engine is kept
• engineered designed and built using science and skill
• english-speaking where people speak the language from England
• engraved cut a design or words into a hard surface
• engraver a person who cuts designs into hard surfaces
• engraving a picture or design cut into a hard surface
• engulf completely cover or surround something
• enhancement making something better or improving its quality
• enhancer something that makes another thing better
• enlarger a device that makes pictures bigger
• enlighten give someone new knowledge or understanding
• enlightened having a good understanding, open-minded
• enlightening giving new and helpful knowledge
• enlightenment gaining deep knowledge and understanding
• enlisted joined the military, or got someone to help
• enlistee a person who has joined the military
• enlistment the act of joining the military
• enormously to a very great degree, very much
• enquire ask for information about something
• enrage make someone extremely angry
• enraged extremely angry
• enrichment making something richer or more valuable
• enrollee a person who has signed up for something
• ensemble a group of musicians or actors, or a set of clothes
• enshrine protect something important in a law or document
• ensue happen after something else, as a result
• ensuing happening after and because of something
• entail involve or require as a necessary part
• entangle get caught up or involved in something complicated
• entangled caught up in something complicated
• entanglement being caught in a difficult or complicated situation
• enterprise a business or a difficult project that takes courage
• entertaining fun and enjoyable to watch or listen to
• enticing very attractive and tempting
• entirety the whole of something, everything included
• entitle give someone the right to have or do something
• entity something that exists as a separate thing
• entrancing so beautiful or interesting you cannot look away
• entrant a person who enters a competition or organisation
• entree the main dish of a meal
• entrepreneurial about starting and running new businesses
• entrepreneurship the activity of starting new businesses
• entrust give someone responsibility for something important
• entry-level for people just starting in a job or activity
• entryway the area where you enter a building
• envelop wrap or cover something completely
• enviously in a way that shows you want what someone else has
• environment-conscious caring about protecting nature
• environmentalism working to protect the natural world
• environmentally in a way that relates to the natural world
• environs the area around a place
• envision imagine or picture something in your mind
• envoy a person sent to represent their government in talks
• eon a very very long period of time
• epaulet a decoration on the shoulder of a uniform
• epaulette a piece on the shoulder of a military uniform
• epicenter the central point of an earthquake or event
• epicentra more than one central point of earthquakes
• epicentre the point on the surface above where an earthquake starts
• epicentrum the central point where an earthquake is strongest
• epidemical spreading quickly among many people like a disease
• epilate remove hair from the body
• epilation the removal of body hair
• epilator a device for removing body hair
• epilepsy a brain condition that causes sudden fits
• epileptic about or having a condition that causes sudden fits
• epilogue a section at the end of a book or play
• episcopal about bishops in a Christian church
• episcopalian belonging to a type of Christian church with bishops
• epitaph words written on a gravestone about a dead person
• epoch an important period of time in history
• epsom a town in England known for horse racing and salts
• equal-spaced with the same distance between each item
• equalize make things equal or the same
• equalized made equal or balanced
• equalizer something that makes things equal or fair
• equate consider two things as being the same
• equation a maths statement showing two things are equal
• equatorial near the middle line of the earth where it is hot
• equestrian about horse riding
• equestrianism the sport of horse riding
• equidistant at the same distance from two or more points
• equilateral having all sides of equal length
• equine about or relating to horses
• equinox a day when day and night are the same length
• equitable fair and equal for everyone
• equitably in a fair way that treats everyone equally
• equity being fair, or the value of a share you own
• equivalent equal in value, amount, or meaning
• eradicate completely remove or destroy something bad
• eradication completely removing or destroying something
• erasable able to be rubbed out or removed
• erasure the act of removing or rubbing out something
• erect build something, or standing straight and tall
• erection the act of building something
• ergonomic designed to be comfortable and efficient to use
• ergonomics the study of making things comfortable to use
• ernie a machine that picks random numbers for a lottery
• erode slowly wear away by water, wind, or time
• eroded slowly worn away over time
• eroding slowly being worn away
• erosion the slow wearing away of land by water or wind
• err make a mistake
• errand-boy a boy who carries messages and small packages
• erratic changing often and without a pattern
• error-free without any mistakes
• error-prone likely to make mistakes often
• errorless without any mistakes at all
• erupt suddenly burst out, like a volcano or anger
• eruption a sudden violent burst, like from a volcano
• escalate become worse or more serious step by step
• escalate down become less serious step by step
• escalating becoming more serious or worse
• escapable possible to get away from
• escapade an exciting and sometimes dangerous adventure
• escapee a person who has got away from prison or danger
• escarpment a long steep slope of rock or earth
• escort a person who goes with someone for safety or company
• eskimo a word used for people living in the very cold north
• especial more than usual, greater or better
• esperanto a language created for people of all countries to share
• essayist a person who writes short pieces about topics
• essex a county in the east of England
• essie a personal name, usually for a woman
• establish to start or set up something new
• esteem great respect and admiration for someone
• esteemed greatly respected and admired
• estonian from or about the country of Estonia
• estuary the wide part of a river where it meets the sea
• eternally lasting forever, without end
• ethernet a way of connecting computers together with cables
• ethic a principle about what is right and wrong
• ethical about what is right and wrong
• ethics study of what is right and wrong
• ethnic about a group of people who share culture and history
• ethnically in a way relating to cultural groups
• ethnicity the group you belong to based on shared culture
• etiquette the rules of polite behaviour in society
• etna a famous active volcano on the island of Sicily
• eulogy a speech praising someone who has died
• euphoric filled with an intense sense of well being and excitement
• european from or about the continent of Europe
• evacuation moving people out of a dangerous place
• evaluation carefully judging how good something is
• evaporate turn from liquid into gas and disappear
• eventual happening at the end, after a long time
• everlasting lasting forever, never ending
• evicted forced to leave a place by law
• eviction act of forcing someone out of their home
• evidently clearly, in a way that is easy to see
• evoke bring a feeling or memory to mind
• evolution slow change and development over a very long time
• evolutionary about the slow process of change over time
• evolve change and develop slowly over time
• exacerbate make a bad situation even worse
• exactness being completely correct and precise
• exaggerate say something is bigger or more than it really is
• exaggerated made to seem larger or more important than reality
• exaggeration making something seem bigger than it really is
• exalt praise very highly or raise to a higher position
• examinee a person who is taking a test
• excavation act of digging things out of the ground
• exceed go beyond a limit or be more than expected
• exceeding going beyond what is normal or expected
• excel be very good at something
• exceptionally in an unusual and very good way
• excessive too much, more than what is needed
• excessively in a way that is too much
• exchange rate how much one country's money is worth in another
• excitable easily made excited or nervous
• exclaim say something suddenly and loudly
• exclamation a sudden cry or remark expressing strong feeling
• exclude keep someone or something out
• exclusion keeping someone or something out
• exclusively only, for one person or group and no one else
• execute carry out a plan, or kill someone as punishment
• executed carried out or put to death by law
• execution carrying out a plan, or killing as punishment
• executive important person who makes decisions at work
• exert use effort or influence to make something happen
• exhausting making you extremely tired
• exile being forced to live away from your own country
• exiled sent away from your own country
• existed was real or was alive
• existing already there, current
• expectant feeling or showing hope that something good will happen
• expenditure the total amount of money spent
• expire come to an end, or stop being valid
• explicit stated very clearly with nothing hidden
• explicitly in a very clear and direct way
• exploit use something fully, or treat someone unfairly for gain
• exploitation unfairly using someone or something for your benefit
• exploited used unfairly for someone else's benefit
• explosive able to blow up, or very sudden and violent
• exposure being open to something, like sun or danger
• expressive showing feelings and emotions clearly
• exquisite extremely beautiful and well made
• extended made longer or bigger
• extension an extra part added to make something bigger or longer
• extraordinarily in an extremely unusual or remarkable way
• extraterrestrial from outside the planet Earth
• extravagant spending much more money than needed
• extremist a person with very strong and dangerous views
• exultant feeling very happy because of success
• eyebrow the line of hair above each eye
• eyelash one of the small hairs on the edge of the eyelid
• eyelid the skin that covers and protects your eye
• eyesore something ugly that is unpleasant to look at
• eyewitness a person who saw an event happen

F

• fabric cloth or material used to make clothes or covers
• faced having a particular type of face
• facial about or for the face
• facilitate make something easier or help it happen
• facilities buildings or equipment provided for a purpose
• facility a building or place made for a special use
• faction a small group within a larger group with different ideas
• factual based on facts and true information
• faculty a part of a university that teaches a group of related subjects
• fade away to slowly become weaker and disappear
• failed not successful in achieving what was attempted
• fairhaired having light-coloured hair
• fall behind to not keep up with others
• fall out to have an argument with someone
• falter become weak or unsure and almost stop
• familiarise make someone know about something for the first time
• fascination being extremely interested in something
• fascism system where one strong leader controls everything
• fascist person who supports one strong leader controlling all
• fashioned made or shaped in a particular way
• fastmoving happening or changing very quickly
• fatal causing death
• fatherinlaw the father of your husband or wife
• fatten make an animal or person fatter
• fattening making you gain weight
• faulty not working correctly, having something wrong
• fearless showing no fear, brave and courageous
• fearsome very frightening or scary
• feasible possible to do, able to be done
• feat an impressive and difficult achievement
• federation group of states joined under one shared government
• feminist a person who supports equal rights for women
• femme a French word for woman
• fencing a sport where two people fight with thin swords
• fend take care of yourself without help from others
• ferment when sugar in food turns to alcohol, or cause trouble
• fern green plant with many small thin leaves
• ferryboat a boat that carries people across water regularly
• festivity happy celebration and enjoyment
• feverish having a high body temperature from illness
• fiance a man who is engaged to be married
• fiancee woman who has promised to marry someone
• fictional not real, from a made-up story
• fiddle play with something using your fingers, or a violin
• fidget keep making small movements because you cannot sit still
• fierce very strong and aggressive
• fiercely in an intense and aggressive way
• fifties the numbers from 50 to 59, or that time period
• fightingmachine a vehicle or device made for battle
• figurative using words in a way that is not their usual meaning
• filial about the relationship between a child and parent
• finance money matters and how to use money
• findings facts learned by studying or looking into something
• finely in very small pieces, or very well
• fingernail the hard covering at the end of your finger
• fingerprint the unique pattern of lines on your finger tip
• firearm a gun or other weapon that shoots bullets
• firing shooting a weapon, or removing someone from a job
• firmness being strong and not easily changed
• fiscal about government money and taxes
• fishfarming growing fish in controlled water for food
• flam a trick or lie to deceive someone
• flammable catching fire and burning very easily
• flashpoint the moment when a situation suddenly becomes dangerous
• flatten make something completely flat
• flavouring something added to food to give it a certain taste
• flawed having a fault or weakness that makes it imperfect
• flawless perfect, without any mistakes or problems
• flax a plant used to make cloth and oil
• flee run away quickly from danger
• flesh the soft part of the body under the skin
• flex bend or stretch something
• flexibly in a way that can change and adapt easily
• fling throw something with force
• flirt behave in a playful way to show romantic interest
• flirtation playful behaviour to show romantic interest
• flirtatious behaving as if you like someone in a playful way
• flora all the plants growing in one area
• flowerbed an area of ground where flowers are planted
• flowerpot a container for growing plants
• flutter move wings quickly, or feel nervous and excited
• flux constant change and movement
• foil thin metal sheet, or stop someone's plan
• fondly in a loving and caring way
• foolishly in a silly way without thinking
• foolishness the quality of being unwise or lacking good sense
• footage a length of film or video recording
• footer information shown at the bottom of a page
• footing being in a stable safe position on your feet
• footnote a note at the bottom of a page with extra information
• forcefully in a strong and powerful way
• forearm the lower part of your arm between elbow and hand
• foreignlooking appearing to be from another country
• foreman a person in charge of a group of workers
• foremost most important or leading
• foreseeable able to be expected or predicted
• forestry the science of growing and caring for forests
• formation the way something is made or arranged
• formica a hard plastic material used for covering surfaces
• formidable very impressive and a little frightening
• forthcoming about to happen soon, or willing to give information
• fortuneteller a person who claims to know your future
• forum a place or meeting for public discussion of issues
• fossil the preserved remains of ancient plants or animals in rock
• foster to encourage or promote development, or to care for a child
• foul very unpleasant, or against the rules in sport
• framework a basic structure that supports something bigger
• framing putting a border around or building a structure
• franchise the right to sell a company's products in an area
• franchisee a person who pays to run a branch of a business
• frantic extremely worried and acting wildly
• frantically in a wild and worried way
• fraud a crime of tricking people to get money
• frayed worn and coming apart at the edges
• freeflow moving smoothly without being stopped
• freelance working independently rather than for one employer
• freshwater water that is not salty, from rivers and lakes
• friction the rubbing of surfaces, or disagreement between people
• friendless having no friends, lonely
• frigate a fast military ship
• frontier the border between two countries, or the edge of knowledge
• frostbite damage to body parts from extreme cold
• frown make an unhappy or worried face by pulling eyebrows down
• frugal careful with money, not wasteful
• fugitive person running away from the law or police
• fulfill do what you promised, or meet a requirement
• fume feel very angry, or give off harmful gas
• functional working properly and useful
• functionality the things something can do, its features
• fundamental very important and basic
• fundamentally in the most basic and important way
• funerary about funerals or death ceremonies
• funk a type of dance music, or a state of fear
• funky having a strong rhythm, or unusual in a cool way
• funnily in a strange or amusing way
• furnace a very hot enclosed space for heating or melting
• furthermore also, and one more thing
• futurologist a person who studies what may happen in the future

G

• gadget a small useful electronic device or tool
• gaiety a feeling of happiness and fun
• gale very strong wind that can cause damage
• galloping running very fast like a horse at full speed
• gamble risk money hoping to win more
• gambler a person who risks money on games or bets
• gamer a person who plays video games regularly
• garner collect or gather something over time
• garnish to add food decoration to make a dish look nicer
• gaslighting making someone question what is real and what is not
• gasworks a factory where gas is made
• gatekeeper person who controls who may enter a place
• gateway an entrance or a way to reach something
• gaudy too bright and showy, not in good taste
• gauge tool for measuring size, amount, or pressure
• gaze look at something for a long time
• gazebo small open building in a garden for sitting in
• gear equipment for an activity, or a part in a machine
• gem a beautiful precious stone, or something very good
• generalisation a broad statement that may not be true for everything
• generalise make a broad statement based on limited examples
• generalist a person who knows about many different things
• generalization a statement that is true for most but not all cases
• generously in a way that gives more than expected
• genuinely truly and honestly
• geographic about the land, rivers, and mountains of a place
• germ a very small living thing that can make you sick
• get ahead to make progress and become more successful
• geyser a natural spring that shoots hot water into the air
• ghetto a poor area of a city where one group of people lives
• give out to hand things to many people or stop working
• giveaway something given for free, or a sign that reveals truth
• giver a person who gives things to others
• giving generous and willing to share with others
• glacial about ice or glaciers, or extremely cold
• glacier a huge mass of ice that moves very slowly down a mountain
• glacis a gentle slope in front of a defensive wall
• glamorous attractive and exciting in a special way
• glare look at someone in an angry way, or a bright harsh light
• glazier a person whose job is to fit glass into windows
• glazing fitting glass into windows, or the glass itself
• gleam a soft gentle light, or to shine softly
• glee great happiness and delight
• globalization when business and culture spread across the world
• globally across the whole world
• gloom darkness, or a feeling of sadness
• gloomy dark and sad, without hope
• glorify praise someone very highly, or make seem better
• gloved wearing gloves on the hands
• glow give off a warm steady light
• glower look at someone in an angry threatening way
• gnp the total value of goods made by a country's people
• go-ahead permission to start something
• go-between a person who takes messages between two groups
• go-by pass without stopping, or something to ignore
• go-getter a person who works hard to succeed
• go-kart a small low racing car with no roof
• go-round one turn or attempt at something
• goad push someone to act by making them angry
• goal-kick a kick in football taken from the goal area
• goal-line the line at each end of a football field
• goal-shot a shot aimed at scoring a goal
• gobal relating to the whole world
• goddaughter a girl you promised to help care for at her baptism
• godfather a man who promises to help care for a child at baptism
• godforsaken empty and without anything good, very unpleasant
• godly living by the rules of God, very religious
• godparent a person who promises to care for a child at baptism
• godsend something very helpful that comes at just the right time
• goer a person who goes to a particular place regularly
• goitre a swelling in the neck from a thyroid problem
• gold-mine a place where gold is dug out, or a source of wealth
• gold-plated covered with a thin layer of gold
• gold-rush a time when many people hurry to find gold
• goo a thick sticky substance
• good-humoured cheerful and in a pleasant mood
• good-naturedly in a kind and friendly way
• good-neighbor friendly and helpful to people who live nearby
• good-neighbour being kind and helpful to those who live near you
• good-sized fairly large
• good-tempered not easily made angry, calm and pleasant
• goodwill friendly and helpful feelings toward other people
• gooey soft, sticky, and wet
• goof make a silly mistake
• goofy silly and funny in a playful way
• gook thick sticky dirty substance
• goop a thick sticky messy substance
• gooseberry a small green sour fruit that grows on a bush
• gopher a small animal that digs tunnels underground
• gore blood from wounds, or to wound with horns
• gorge a deep narrow valley, or eat too much
• gorgeously in a very beautiful and attractive way
• gorgonzola a strong Italian cheese with blue marks
• gory showing a lot of blood and violence
• gospel the teachings of Jesus, or something believed as true
• gothic about a dark style in art and buildings with pointed arches
• goulash a thick meat soup with spice, from Hungary
• gourd a large fruit with a hard shell, used as a container
• gourmet someone who knows and loves fine food
• governmental about or run by the government
• gracefulness the quality of moving in a smooth beautiful way
• graceless without grace, clumsy or not polite
• gracious kind, polite, and generous
• graciously in a kind and polite way
• gradation a small change in steps from one level to another
• graded arranged by level or quality
• gradient how steep a slope is
• grading giving marks or arranging by quality
• gradual happening slowly over a long time
• grafting attaching a piece of one plant onto another
• grainy having a rough surface with small pieces
• grammar-school a school for children, or a selective secondary school
• grammatical relating to the rules of a language
• grand-nephew the son of your nephew or niece
• grand-niece the daughter of your nephew or niece
• grandeur great beauty and impressiveness
• grandiose seeming impressive but too large or unrealistic
• grandly in an impressive and important way
• grandstand rows of seats for watching sports, or acting to impress
• granite a very hard grey rock used in building
• granola a breakfast food made from oats, nuts, and honey
• grant-in-aid money given by the government to help with a project
• granting giving or allowing something officially
• granulated in the form of small hard grains
• grapevine a plant that grapes grow on, or informal news sharing
• graphical shown in the form of pictures or graphs
• graphically in a very clear and detailed way, or using pictures
• grapple struggle to deal with a difficult problem
• grappling trying hard to deal with a difficult situation
• grasping trying hard to get things, especially money
• gratefulness the feeling of being thankful
• gratification a feeling of pleasure from getting what you wanted
• gratify give someone pleasure or satisfaction
• gratifying giving pleasure and satisfaction
• grating a frame of metal bars, or an annoying harsh sound
• gratis free, without having to pay
• gratuitous done without a good reason, unnecessary
• gratuity extra money given for good service, a tip
• graveside the area next to a grave
• gravitation the force that pulls things toward each other
• gravitational related to the force that pulls things down
• grayish slightly grey in colour
• grazing animals eating grass, or lightly touching a surface
• greasing putting oil or fat on something to make it smooth
• great-aunt the sister of your grandmother or grandfather
• great-grandchild the child of your grandchild
• great-granddaughter the daughter of your grandchild
• great-grandson the son of your grandchild
• great-nephew the son of your nephew or niece
• great-niece the daughter of your nephew or niece
• great-uncle the brother of your grandmother or grandfather
• greats famous important people, or main university courses
• greed wanting much more than you need
• green-eyed feeling jealous, or having green eyes
• greenery green plants and leaves
• greenfly a tiny green insect that damages plants
• greengrocery a shop that sells fruits and vegetables
• greenish slightly green in colour
• greeter a person who welcomes others when they arrive
• gremlin a small imaginary creature that causes problems
• grenade a small bomb thrown by hand
• grenadine a sweet red syrup used in drinks
• greyfaced having a pale tired-looking face
• greyhaired having grey or white hair
• greyhound a tall thin dog that runs very fast
• greyish slightly grey in colour
• greyishgreen a colour between grey and green
• grid a network of lines crossing each other to form squares
• griddle a flat metal surface for cooking food
• grief deep sadness, especially when someone dies
• grieve feel great sadness, especially about a death
• grieved felt very sad about a loss
• grieving feeling deep sadness after someone dies
• grievous very serious and causing great pain
• grilling cooking food over direct heat, or asking hard questions
• grim very serious and unpleasant
• grime thick black dirt on surfaces
• grimly in a very serious and dark way
• grimy covered with thick dirty marks
• grind to crush something into small pieces or powder
• grind away keep working hard at something difficult
• grind down slowly make someone tired and weak
• grind out produce something with long hard effort
• grind up crush something into very small pieces
• grinder a machine that crushes things into small pieces
• grindstone a round stone used for making tools sharp
• gripe complain about something in an annoying way
• griping complaining about things in a boring way
• gripper something that holds tight
• gripping so exciting that you cannot stop reading or watching
• grisly causing horror and disgust, very unpleasant
• grits a food made from crushed grain, popular in the south of USA
• gritty brave and determined, or having small rough pieces
• grizzled having grey hair, especially from age
• groan make a deep sound because of pain or annoyance
• groaning making a low deep sound from pain or effort
• groin the area where your legs meet your body
• groomsman a man who helps the groom at a wedding
• groomsmen men who help the groom at a wedding
• grooved having long narrow cuts in the surface
• groovy fashionable and exciting
• grope feel around in the dark trying to find something
• gross very unpleasant, or the total before anything is taken away
• grossly very much, in a very bad way
• grotesque very ugly and strange in a shocking way
• grotto a small pretty cave
• ground-level at the same level as the ground outside
• ground-nut a peanut, a nut that grows underground
• ground-water water found under the surface of the earth
• grounding basic knowledge and training in a subject
• groundless without any good reason or proof
• groundnut a peanut, growing under the ground
• grounds the land around a building, or reasons for something
• groundwater water under the surface of the earth
• groundwork the basic work needed before starting something bigger
• groupie a person who follows a famous person or band everywhere
• grouse complain about something, or a type of wild bird
• grow over become covered by plants growing
• grow together become closer over time
• grownup an adult person
• grub food, or a small fat insect that lives in soil
• grudging done without wanting to, unwilling
• grudgingly in a way that shows you do not want to do it
• grueling extremely tiring and difficult
• gruelling extremely difficult and tiring
• gruff having a rough deep voice, or not very friendly
• gruffly in a rough and unfriendly way
• grumbling complaining in a quiet unhappy way
• grumpily in a bad-tempered and complaining way
• grungy dirty and in bad condition
• grunt make a short low sound, like a pig
• grunting making short low sounds
• guarantor a person who promises to pay if someone else cannot
• guaranty a promise to pay if something goes wrong
• guard-rail a metal bar that stops people or vehicles from falling
• guarded careful about what you say, not revealing much
• guardianship the legal responsibility of caring for someone
• guardrail a bar to stop people from falling off an edge
• guava a tropical fruit with pink or white flesh inside
• guerilla a fighter who attacks in small surprise groups
• guerrilla a fighter using surprise attacks against a larger force
• guess-work trying to find an answer without having enough facts
• guesswork finding answers by guessing, not from real knowledge
• guffaw a loud burst of laughter
• guide-line a rule or piece of advice about how to do something
• guideline a rule or suggestion about how to do something
• guild a group of people who do the same work or share interests
• guillotine a machine with a blade for cutting, used in history
• guilt-ridden feeling very guilty about something
• guiltily in a way that shows you feel guilty
• guinea-pig a small pet animal, or a person used for testing
• guise the way something appears on the outside, often hiding truth
• gullet the tube from your mouth to your stomach
• gullibility being too easy to trick or fool
• gullible too ready to believe what people tell you
• gully a narrow channel cut into earth by flowing water
• gulping swallowing quickly and with difficulty
• gum up block or spoil something so it does not work
• gum-boots tall rubber boots for walking in wet places
• gum-tree a tree that produces a sticky substance
• gumdrop a small soft sweet made from sugar
• gummy sticky, or having no teeth
• gumtree a tree, especially from Australia, that makes sticky liquid
• gun down shoot and kill someone
• gun-boat a small ship with guns on it
• gun-fire the shooting of guns
• gunboat a small military ship with weapons
• gung-ho too eager and excited about doing something
• gunge sticky unpleasant soft substance
• gunner a soldier who uses a large gun
• gunpoint threatening someone with a gun
• gunshot the sound or act of firing a gun
• guppy a small colourful fish kept as a pet
• gusty with strong sudden bursts of wind
• gut feeling a strong sense about something without knowing why
• gutless not brave, without courage
• guts courage and bravery, or the inside parts of the body
• guzzle eat or drink something quickly and greedily
• gymnast a person who does difficult body exercises as sport
• gymnastic about the sport of body exercises and movements
• gynaecologist a doctor for women's health
• gynaecology the medical study of women's health
• gynecologist a doctor who treats women's health problems
• gynecology the area of medicine about women's health
• gyrate turn round and round in a circle
• gyro a Greek food of meat in bread, or a spinning device
• gyroscope a spinning device that helps keep balance and direction

H

• habitant a person who lives in a particular place
• habitation a place where people live
• hack-saw a saw for cutting metal
• hacker a person who breaks into computer systems
• hacking breaking into computer systems without permission
• hacksaw a saw with a thin blade for cutting metal
• haddock a type of sea fish often used in cooking
• hag an ugly old woman, used in an unkind way
• haggard looking very tired and unwell
• haggis a Scottish dish made from meat and oats in a casing
• haggling arguing about the price of something
• haiku a Japanese poem with three lines of five, seven, and five syllables
• hair-dye a product that changes the colour of your hair
• hair-line the edge where hair starts growing on the head
• hair-net a thin net worn over hair to keep it in place
• hair-piece false hair worn to cover baldness
• hair-raising very frightening and exciting
• hair-slide a clip used to hold hair in place
• hairball a ball of hair in an animal's stomach
• hairdressing the job of cutting and styling hair
• hairgrip a small metal clip for holding hair in place
• hairless without any hair
• hairnet a thin net for keeping hair tidy
• hairpiece extra hair worn on the head
• hairpin a thin piece of wire for holding hair in place
• hairslide a decorative clip for holding hair
• hairstylist a person whose job is to cut and style hair
• half-and-half in equal parts, half of each
• half-hearted done without real effort or interest
• half-heartedly without much effort or enthusiasm
• half-hourly happening every thirty minutes
• half-life the time for half of a substance to break down
• half-light dim light, between light and dark
• half-mast a flag flown lower than usual to show sadness
• half-measure an action that does not fully solve a problem
• half-pound a weight equal to about 225 grams
• half-year a period of six months
• half-yearly happening every six months
• halfblind not able to see very well
• halfdecaf coffee that is half normal and half without caffeine
• halfempty with only half of the space filled
• halfhearted without much interest or effort
• halflife the time for half of something to break down
• halfsister a sister who shares only one parent with you
• halleluiah a word of praise and joy used in religion
• hallelujah an exclamation of praise and thankfulness
• hallmark a typical quality, or a mark showing quality
• hallucinate see things that are not really there
• halo a circle of light around the head of a holy person
• halter a strap around an animal's head for leading it
• halting stopping and starting, not smooth
• haltingly in a way that stops and starts, not flowing
• hamlet a very small village
• hammer throw a sport where you throw a heavy ball on a wire
• hammered very drunk
• hammerhead a shark with a flat wide head shaped like a hammer
• hammering hitting something hard many times
• hamstring the muscle at the back of your upper leg
• hand round give something to each person in a group
• hand-grenade a small bomb thrown by hand
• hand-held small enough to hold and use in your hand
• hand-knit made by knitting with hands, not a machine
• hand-knitted made by hand using knitting needles
• hand-me-down clothes passed from an older child to a younger one
• hand-pick choose very carefully by hand
• hand-picked carefully chosen for a special purpose
• hand-to-hand fighting very close to the other person
• hand-to-mouth having only enough money for basic needs
• handcart a small cart pushed or pulled by hand
• handclap hitting your hands together once to make a sound
• handcraft something made by skilled hands, not machines
• handcrafted made carefully by hand, not by machine
• handgrip the part you hold with your hand, or how you hold it
• handhold something to hold onto for support
• handicap something that makes an activity more difficult
• handily in a convenient and useful way
• handiness being useful and easy to use
• handler a person who manages or controls something
• handout something given for free, or a printed sheet
• handover giving control or responsibility to another person
• handpick choose with great care for a special purpose
• handpicked very carefully selected
• handprint the mark left by pressing a hand on a surface
• handrail a bar to hold for support when walking on stairs
• hands-down easily and without any doubt
• hands-off not getting involved or controlling things
• hands-on learning by doing things yourself
• handsaw a saw used with one hand for cutting wood
• handset the part of a phone you hold, or a remote control
• handsomely generously, or in an attractive way
• handsomeness the quality of being good-looking
• handwork work done by hand, not by machine
• hang about wait around doing nothing in particular
• hang back not move forward, stay behind because of doubt
• hang gliding flying through the air on a large frame with cloth
• hang round spend time in a place without doing much
• hang together stay united or make sense as a whole
• hang-glider a frame with cloth used for flying through the air
• hang-up a problem or worry that stops you from feeling free
• hangar a large building where planes are kept
• hangnail a small piece of skin torn near your fingernail
• hangout a place where you spend a lot of free time
• hangtag a label attached to a product with information
• happen along arrive somewhere by chance
• happen in come into a place by chance
• harassment behavior that bothers or hurts someone again and again
• hard-back a book with a stiff cover
• hard-cover a book with a thick stiff cover
• hard-earned gained through a lot of work and effort
• hard-headed practical and not influenced by feelings
• hard-hearted showing no sympathy or kindness
• hard-hit seriously affected by something bad
• hard-hitting direct and powerful, not avoiding the truth
• hard-line very strict and refusing to change
• hard-sell a very aggressive way of trying to sell something
• hard-to-get pretending not to be interested
• hard-to-reach difficult to get to or contact
• hard-won achieved only after a lot of hard work and effort
• hardback a book with a stiff cover
• hardcover a book with a thick firm cover
• hardened made tough and no longer affected by things
• hardening becoming harder or less sensitive over time
• hardhearted not showing care or sympathy for others
• hardiness the ability to survive difficult conditions
• hardness how firm or tough something is
• hardwearing lasting a long time without getting damaged
• hardwood strong heavy wood from trees like oak
• hardy strong and able to survive difficult conditions
• hare-brained silly and not well thought out
• hark back talk about or remember something from the past
• harmless not able to cause any damage or hurt
• harmonic about musical sounds that go well together
• harmonious things that go well together and create a nice effect
• harmonize make things go well together
• harrow a farm tool for breaking up soil
• harrowing extremely upsetting and disturbing
• harry keep attacking or bothering someone
• harsh rough, unpleasant, or too strong
• harshly in a cruel or severe way
• harshness being very severe or unkind
• harvesting gathering food from fields when it is ready
• hasidic about a very religious group of Jewish people
• hassle something annoying that causes trouble
• haste doing things too quickly, in a rush
• hasten make something happen faster, or hurry
• hastily very quickly, often too quickly
• hatchet small tool with a sharp blade for cutting wood
• hatching a baby bird coming out of an egg
• hats off a way of showing respect or admiration for someone
• haughtiness behaving as if you are better than others
• haul in pull something heavy toward you
• haul up pull something heavy upward
• haunch the upper leg and hip area of a person or animal
• haunches the area where the legs and hips meet
• haunting beautiful and sad, staying in your mind
• have down understand something, or have written it
• have in invite someone to your home
• hay dried grass used as food for animals
• hayfield a field where grass is grown to be cut for hay
• haywire out of control and not working properly
• hazardous dangerous and likely to cause harm
• haze thin mist or smoke in the air that makes it hard to see
• hazel a light brown colour, or a type of tree with nuts
• hazel-nut a small round brown nut from a hazel tree
• hazy not clear because of mist, or vague and unclear
• head in go into a place
• head up lead or be in charge of something
• head-office the main building of a company
• headachy having or causing a headache
• headcount the total number of people who work at a company
• header hitting a ball with your head, or text at the top of a page
• headlamp a strong light on the front of a car
• headland piece of land going out into the sea
• headless without a head
• headlight the main light on the front of a vehicle
• headmaster the male leader of a school
• headnoise sounds heard in the head that are not real
• headquarter use a place as the main base of an organisation
• headquarters the main office of an organisation
• headrest the part of a seat that supports your head
• headstand standing on your head with your feet in the air
• headway progress moving forward
• headwear anything worn on the head, like hats
• healer a person who helps others recover from illness
• health-care medical services that keep people well
• healthiness the state of being in good health
• heap a large untidy pile of things
• heaps a very large amount of something
• hearse car that carries a dead person
• heartbreaking causing extreme sadness
• heartfelt very honest and deeply felt
• heat therapy using warmth to treat pain in the body
• heat-wave a long period of very hot weather
• heave pull or lift something very heavy with great effort
• heavy-duty made to be strong and last through hard use
• hectare a unit of land equal to 10,000 square metres
• hectic very busy and full of activity
• hedge a row of bushes forming a barrier, or avoid giving a clear answer
• help along help someone make progress
• help off help someone remove something
• help on help someone put something on
• help over help someone get past a difficulty
• helpfully in a way that gives useful help
• helpfulness the quality of being willing to help
• hemisphere one half of the earth or a round shape
• hemp a plant used to make rope, cloth, and other products
• hence for this reason, therefore
• henhouse a small building where chickens live
• herbal made from plants used in medicine or cooking
• heritage traditions and culture passed down through history
• hesitant not sure what to do, slow to act
• hesitated stopped for a moment because of feeling unsure
• hesitation pausing because you are not sure
• hexagon a shape with six straight sides
• hierarchical arranged in levels from most to least important
• hierarchy a system where people are ranked by importance
• highland an area of mountains or high land
• hijack take control of a vehicle by force
• hilt the handle of a sword or knife
• hinder to make it difficult for something to happen
• hip thrust an exercise where you push your hips upward
• hit it off become friends quickly and easily
• hive a home for bees, or a busy active place
• hoax a trick that makes people believe something false
• holder a person who has something, or a thing for holding objects
• holdup a delay, or a robbery with weapons
• holocaust a great destruction and loss of life
• homeopath a person who treats illness with very small amounts of natural substances
• homeopathic about treating illness with tiny amounts of natural things
• homeopathy a way of treating illness using very small amounts of natural substances
• homeward going toward home
• homicide killing of one person by another
• hone improve a skill with practice and effort
• honeybee a type of bee that makes honey
• honorary given as an honour, without the usual requirements
• horrid very unpleasant and nasty
• horrified feeling very shocked and scared by something bad
• horserace a competition where horses run against each other
• horseracing the sport of racing horses
• hospice a place where dying people are cared for
• hospitable friendly and welcoming to visitors
• hospitalise send someone to hospital for treatment
• hospitality being friendly and generous to guests
• hospitalize put someone in hospital for medical care
• hostage person kept by force until demands are met
• hostile very unfriendly and ready to fight or argue
• hotblooded having strong feelings and getting angry easily
• hourly happening every hour
• housemaster a teacher in charge of a school house or dormitory
• hover stay in the air in one place without moving
• hugely very much, to a great degree
• hum make a low continuous sound with closed lips
• humane showing kindness and care for others and animals
• humanist a person who believes in the value of human beings
• humanitarian about helping people who are suffering
• humankind all people in the world together
• humbug dishonest talk, or a type of sweet
• humiliate make someone feel ashamed and stupid in public
• humiliating making you feel very ashamed
• humiliation the feeling of being embarrassed and ashamed
• humility quality of not being too proud
• hungrylooking appearing to be very hungry
• hurl throw something with great force
• hurtle move very fast in an uncontrolled way
• hush make quiet, or a period of silence
• hustle move quickly and push, or work hard to earn money
• hydrogen very light gas with no color or smell
• hymn a religious song sung in church
• hyperbole language that exaggerates to make a strong point
• hypertension blood pressure that is too high
• hyphen a short line (-) used to join words together
• hypocrite person who says one thing but does another
• hypocritical saying one thing but doing the opposite
• hypothesis an idea that has not yet been proved true
• hypothetical based on an idea, not on real facts
• hysteric a person in an extreme emotional state

I

• i beg to differ a polite way to say you disagree
• icecap a thick layer of ice covering a large area
• icelandic from or about the country of Iceland
• iceman a person who works with or delivers ice
• ick a sudden bad feeling about someone you liked before
• iconic very famous and widely known as a symbol
• icu a hospital unit for patients who are very seriously ill
• ideally in the best possible way, or if things were perfect
• identification proving who you are, or finding what something is
• ideology a set of political or social beliefs
• idle not working or doing anything
• idleness state of doing nothing or being lazy
• ignorance not knowing about something important
• ignorant not knowing about something, lacking knowledge
• illegible too messy or unclear to be read
• illiterate not able to read or write
• illuminated lit up or made bright with light
• imagemaking creating a particular public picture of someone
• imagery pictures or descriptions that create images in the mind
• imaginable possible to think of in your mind
• imaginative good at thinking of new and creative ideas
• immeasurable too large or great to measure
• immensely to a very great degree
• immerse put completely into a liquid, or be deeply involved
• immersed deeply involved or covered in liquid
• immobile not moving, completely still
• immoral not following what society believes is right
• immortal living forever, never dying
• immortality the state of living forever
• immunization giving a person protection against a disease
• impactor something that hits or crashes into another thing
• impartial treating everyone equally, not taking sides
• imperative extremely important and needing to be done now
• impermanent not lasting forever, temporary
• implementation the process of putting a plan into action
• implode collapse inward suddenly and violently
• impolitely in a rude way that lacks good manners
• imports goods brought in from another country
• imposed put on someone as a rule or duty
• imposing large and making a strong effect on people
• impossibility something that cannot happen or be done
• impotence lack of power or ability to act
• impractical not sensible or useful in real life
• imprecise not exact or accurate
• impressionism an art style that uses light and colour to show feelings
• impressionist an artist who paints using light and colour effects
• imprison put someone in prison
• imprisonment being kept in prison as punishment
• improbable not likely to happen or be true
• improperly in a wrong or unsuitable way
• impulse a sudden strong wish to do something
• impurity something dirty or harmful mixed into a substance
• in-law family member through marriage
• inability state of not being able to do something
• inaccurate not correct or exact
• inactivity doing nothing, not being active
• inadequate not enough, or not good enough
• inane very silly and without meaning
• inanimate not alive, without life
• inborn something you have from birth, natural
• incense a substance that makes a sweet smell when burned
• incentive something that encourages you to do more
• incidentally by the way, as a side note
• inclination feeling of wanting to do something
• incompetent not able to do a job well
• incorporate include something as part of a bigger thing
• incriminate make someone appear guilty of a crime
• incur cause something unpleasant to happen to yourself
• incurable not able to be cured or fixed
• indebted owing thanks or money to someone
• indecent not proper and shocking to other people
• indent move text away from the left edge of a page
• indescribable too amazing or terrible to describe in words
• indicate to show or point to something
• indication a sign that shows something is true
• indifference lack of interest or care about something
• indifferent not caring or interested
• indigenous originally from a particular place, native
• indignant angry because of something unfair
• indignantly in an angry way because something is unfair
• indignity treatment that makes you feel ashamed
• indispensable so important that you cannot do without it
• indulge allow yourself to enjoy something you want
• indulgent allowing someone to have what they want
• industrious working very hard and with great effort
• ineffective not producing the result you want
• inequality unfair difference between groups of people
• inert not moving or not able to cause a reaction
• inexpertly in a way that shows little skill
• infect spread disease or harmful things to something
• infectious able to spread disease from person to person
• inference a conclusion you reach based on what you know
• inferior lower in quality or position than something else
• infidelity being unfaithful to a partner or promise
• infinite without any end or limit
• infinitely without any limit or end at all
• inflammation swelling, redness, and pain in part of the body
• inflammatory making people angry, or causing swelling in the body
• inflate fill with air to make bigger
• inflation when prices keep going up over time
• inflexible not willing to change, or not able to bend
• influential having the power to change how people think
• influenza a serious illness like a bad cold with fever
• infrared light that gives heat but cannot be seen
• infringe break a rule or take away someone's rights
• infringement breaking a rule or someone's rights
• inhabit live in a place
• inheritance money or things you get when someone in your family dies
• inhibition a feeling that stops you from doing what you want
• initiate start something new
• initiative plan or action to fix a problem
• innate born with, a natural quality you always had
• innocence state of not having done anything wrong
• innocently in a way that shows no harmful intent
• innovation a new idea or way of doing things
• innovative using new and creative ideas
• inpatient person staying in hospital for treatment
• inquest an official examination to find the cause of a death
• inquisitive wanting to know about everything, curious
• insecure not feeling safe or confident about yourself
• insecurity feeling of not being safe or sure
• insensitive not caring about other people's feelings
• inseparable always together, impossible to separate
• insight a sudden clear grasp of what something really means
• insignificant too small or unimportant to matter
• insincere not meaning what you say, fake
• installment one part of a payment made over time
• instinct a natural feeling that tells you what to do
• instinctively in a natural way without needing to think
• institution important group or building in a country
• institutional about large organisations like hospitals or schools
• instruct tell someone what to do, or teach them
• instructional designed to teach or give information
• instructive teaching you something useful
• insufficient not enough for what is needed
• intact not broken or damaged, still whole
• integer whole number that is not a fraction
• integrated joined together to work as one whole thing
• intellectuals people who spend time thinking about ideas
• intelligible able to be understood clearly
• intensive care special hospital treatment for very sick people
• intent having a firm plan to do something, or great focus
• intently with close attention and full focus
• interface point where two systems or people meet and work together
• interfere get involved when you are not wanted
• interior the inside part of something
• internally on the inside, within something
• internship a period of work experience for a student
• interpersonal about relationships between people
• interpretive explaining or giving the meaning of something
• interrogation act of asking many serious questions
• interruption something that stops an activity for a short time
• intervention getting involved to change a situation
• intimacy state of being very close with someone
• intimate very close and personal
• intimidate to frighten someone so they do what you want
• intimidating making someone feel afraid or less sure
• intolerance not accepting people who are different
• intolerant not willing to accept others who are different
• intoxicated drunk or under the effect of a substance
• intransitive a verb that does not need an object after it
• intrapersonal happening within one person's own mind
• intravenous put directly into a vein in the body
• intricate having many small parts that are hard to follow
• intrigue make very curious, or a secret plan
• intriguing very interesting and making you want to know more
• intrude enter a place or situation where you are not welcome
• intruder a person who enters a place without permission
• intrusion entering where you are not wanted
• intuitive understanding things naturally without being taught
• invader a person or army that enters a place by force
• invariable never changing, always the same
• invariably always, without ever changing
• invasive spreading in a harmful way that is hard to stop
• inventive good at thinking of new and clever ideas
• inverter a device that changes one type of electric current to another
• investing putting money into something to make more
• invincible too strong or powerful to be beaten
• invisible not able to be seen
• invitingly in a way that makes you want to come closer
• invoke use a rule or power, or call for help
• involvement taking part in something
• iranian from or about the country of Iran
• iraqi from or about the country of Iraq
• iris the coloured part of your eye, or a purple flower
• ironical meaning the opposite of what is said
• ironically in a way that is opposite to what you would expect
• irrational not based on logic or reason
• irrelevant not connected to or important for what is being discussed
• irreplaceable too special or valuable to be replaced
• irresistible too attractive or strong to say no to
• irresistibly in a way that is impossible to resist
• irresponsible not thinking about what could go wrong
• irretrievable impossible to get back or fix
• irritation the feeling of being annoyed
• islam the religion followed by Muslims
• islamabad the capital city of Pakistan
• islamic about the religion and culture of Muslims
• islander a person who lives on an island
• islet a very small island
• isolate separate from others
• isolated far from other places or people, alone
• isolating making someone feel alone and cut off
• israeli from or about the country of Israel
• israelite a person from the ancient people of Israel
• italic letters that lean to the right in printed text
• italics text printed leaning to the right for emphasis
• iv drip a device that puts liquid medicine directly into a vein
• ivy a green climbing plant that grows on walls