Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary
Copyright
Published by Collins
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Westerhill Road
Bishopbriggs
Glasgow G64 2QT
Second Edition 2015
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010, 2015
eBook Edition © March 2015 ISBN 978-0-00-758365-2
Version: 2015-01-27
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Using this dictionary
Dictionary A-Z
Aa
Bb
Cc
Dd
Ee
Ff
Gg
Hh
Ii
Jj
Kk
Ll
Mm
Nn
Oo
Pp
Rr
Ss
Tt
Uu
Vv
Ww
Xx
Yy
Zz
Word Wizard
2D shapes
3D shapes and angles
Numbers and fractions
Time
Parts of speech
Prepositions
Prefixes
Suffixes
Where words come from
Tips for tricky words
Punctuation
The Earth and Space
The Solar System
The Earth
The Moon
Continents
Mountains, rivers, and oceans
Flags of the world
Index
Picture credits
About the Publisher
Using this dictionary
A dictionary helps you to find out what a word means and how to spell it correctly. The words in a dictionary are arranged in alphabetical order.
How to find a word
Think of the first letter in the word you want to look up. Once you know this, there is more than one way to find your word in the dictionary:
• You can use the Index at the back of the ebook which lists all of the dictionary words in alphabetical order. Scroll through the Index until you find the letter your word begins with, then look down the words until you find the one you are looking for. You can then follow the link to the entry in the dictionary.
• You can use the Contents page at the front of the book, which has a link to every letter in the dictionary. Follow the link to the letter your word begins with, then look through the entries in this letter until you find the word you are looking for.
Finding your way around the dictionary
1. The headword is the word you are looking up.
2. After the headword there can be other forms of the word, such as plural nouns, verb tenses, and comparative and superlative adjectives.
3. The part of speech tells you what type of word the headword is, such as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or pronoun.
4. The definition tells you what the word means.
5. If the headword has more than one meaning, each meaning has a different number.
6. Sometimes there is an example to show how the word is used.
7. A pronunciation shows you how to say a difficult word.
8. A word history tells you where a word originally came from.
9. Some entries have a related word, such as a noun, adjective, or adverb made from the headword.
10. Synonyms, or words that you can use instead, are given for some words.
11. Antonyms, or words that have the opposite meaning, are given for some words.
Other features of this dictionary
• Some headwords can be spelt in more than one way.
medieval; also spelt mediaeval
age ages, ageing or aging, aged
• Sometimes definitions include a label, such as FORMAL, INFORMAL, or TRADEMARK. This tells you a little more about the word or how it is used.
mum mums
NOUN INFORMAL mother
• Sometimes a photo or an illustration is included.
mollusc molluscs
NOUN an animal with a soft body and no backbone. Snails, slugs, clams and mussels are all molluscs.
• Grammar and spelling tips provide extra information on the spelling or use of words.
different
ADJECTIVE If one thing is different from another, it is not like it.
• Some definitions tell you where to find more information at another headword.
convex
ADJECTIVE A convex surface bulges outwards, rather than being level or curving inwards.
See concave
ANTONYM: concave
Extra help for you
Word Wizard is a special section after the A-Z to help you with your writing. It contains information on things like parts of speech, prefixes, suffixes, and punctuation. It also tells you how you can improve your spelling. There are interesting facts about where some words come from. It even has information on shapes, numbers, fractions, and angles, along with pictures.
The Earth and Space is a fact-filled section with colourful pictures. This is where to look if you want to know more about the Solar System, the Earth, the Moon, the continents, and the world’s mountains, rivers, and oceans. There are also pages showing you the flags of some of the nations of the world.
Aa
a an
ADJECTIVE A and an are used when you talk about one of something. A is used when the next sound is a consonant: a car, a dog. An is used when the next sound is a vowel (a, e, i, o or u): an apple, an elephant.
abacus abacuses
NOUN a frame with beads that slide along rods, used for counting
[from Greek abax meaning board covered with sand for doing sums on]
abandon abandons, abandoning, abandoned
VERB If you abandon someone or something, you leave them or give them up for good. • He abandoned all hope of catching the train on time.
abbey abbeys
NOUN a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live
abbreviation abbreviations
NOUN a short form of a word or phrase • N is an abbreviation for North.
abdomen abdomens
NOUN the front part of your body below your chest, containing your stomach and intestines
abdominal ADJECTIVE
ability abilities
NOUN If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.
able
ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you can do it.
ANTONYM: unable
abnormal
ADJECTIVE not normal or usual
abnormally ADVERB
aboard
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If you are aboard a plane or a ship you are on it.
Aborigine Aborigines
NOUN someone descended from the people who were living in Australia before the European settlers arrived
about
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London
2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • about two o’clock
PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.
above
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If one thing is above another, it is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.
ANTONYM: below
abroad
ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.
abscess abscesses
NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus
abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled
VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use ropes to go down it.
absent
ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you are not there.
ANTONYM: present
absolute
ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute darkness
2 having total power • an absolute ruler
absolutely
ADVERB If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.
absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed
VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.
absorbent
ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks up liquids easily.
abstract
ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.
2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.
3 In grammar, abstract nouns refer to qualities or ideas, rather than physical objects, for example happiness.
See noun
absurd
ADJECTIVE Something that is absurd is stupid or ridiculous.
abuse abuses, abusing, abused
Said “ab-yooss” NOUN 1 cruel treatment of someone
2 rude and unkind remarks
Said “ab-yooz” VERB 3 To abuse someone is to treat them cruelly.
4 If you abuse someone, you speak to them in a rude and insulting way.
abysmal
ADJECTIVE very bad
abysmally ADVERB
academic academics
ADJECTIVE 1 Academic work is done in school, college and university.
NOUN 2 someone who teaches or does research in a college or university
academy academies
NOUN 1 a school or college, usually one that specializes in a particular subject • the Royal Academy of Arts
2 an organization of scientists, writers, artists or musicians
accelerate accelerates, accelerating, accelerated
VERB To accelerate is to speed up.
ANTONYM: decelerate
acceleration
NOUN the rate at which the speed of something increases
accent accents
NOUN a way of pronouncing a language • She had an Australian accent.
accept accepts, accepting, accepted
VERB 1 If you accept something, you say yes to it or you take it from someone. • She accepted our invitation to the party.
2 If you accept a situation, you realize that it cannot be changed. • I accepted that I would have to work hard before my exams.
acceptable
ADJECTIVE satisfactory
access
NOUN If you have access to a place, you may enter it. If you have access to a thing, you may use it.
accessible
ADJECTIVE 1 easy to reach or to see • The beach was accessible by a narrow path.
2 Books that are accessible are easy to understand.
accident accidents
NOUN 1 something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed
PHRASE 2 Something that happens by accident has not been planned. • We met by accident in the supermarket.
accidental
ADJECTIVE Something that is accidental has not been planned.
accidentally ADVERB
accommodation
NOUN a place where you can live, work or sleep
accompany accompanies, accompanying, accompanied
VERB 1 If you accompany someone, you go with them.
2 If you accompany a singer, you play an instrument while they sing.
accomplice accomplices
NOUN a person who helps someone else to commit a crime
accomplish accomplishes, accomplishing, accomplished
VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.
according to
PREPOSITION If something is true according to a particular person, that person says that it is true. • According to my grandad, that castle is haunted.
account accounts, accounting, accounted
NOUN 1 a written or spoken report of something
2 money that you keep at a bank
PHRASE 3 On account of means because of. • He couldn’t play football, on account of a sore throat.
VERB 4 To account for something is to explain it. • The bad weather accounts for the cancellation of the barbecue.
accountant accountants
NOUN someone whose job is to look after the financial affairs of people and companies
accumulate accumulates, accumulating, accumulated
VERB If things accumulate, or if you accumulate things, they collect over a period of time. • While they were away, a large pile of letters accumulated on the doormat.
accumulation NOUN
accurate
ADJECTIVE absolutely correct
accuracy NOUN
accuse accuses, accusing, accused
VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong, you say they have done it.
accusation NOUN
ace aces
NOUN 1 In a pack of cards, the ace is a card with a single symbol on it.
2 In tennis, an ace is a serve that the other player is unable to return.
ADJECTIVE 3 INFORMAL good or skilful • an ace squash player
ache aches, aching, ached
NOUN 1 a continuous, dull pain
VERB 2 If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.
achieve achieves, achieving, achieved
VERB If you achieve something, you are successful at doing it or at making it happen.
acid acids
NOUN 1 a chemical substance. Strong acids can damage skin, cloth and metal, for example sulphuric acid. Other acids, such as those found in citrus fruit and vinegar, are harmless.
ANTONYM: alkali
ADJECTIVE 2 If something has an acid taste, it tastes sharp or bitter.
ANTONYM: alkaline
[from Latin acidus meaning sour]
acid rain
NOUN rain that has been polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil
acknowledge acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged
VERB 1 If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you admit that it is true.
2 If you acknowledge someone, you show that you have seen and recognized them, by waving or saying hello.
3 If you acknowledge a message or a letter, you tell the person who sent it that you have received it.
acne
NOUN a skin disease that causes spots on the face and neck. Acne is common among teenagers.
acorn acorns
NOUN a nut that grows on oak trees
acquaintance acquaintances
NOUN someone you know slightly but not well
acre acres
NOUN a unit for measuring land. One acre is equal to 4840 square yards or about 4047 square metres.
acrobat acrobats
NOUN an entertainer who performs difficult gymnastic acts
[from Greek akrobates meaning someone who walks on tiptoe]
acrobatic ADJECTIVE
acrobatics PLURAL NOUN
acronym acronyms
NOUN a word made up of the initial letters of a phrase • NATO is an acronym, and stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
across
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you go across a place, you go from one side of it to the other. • We walked across Hyde Park.
2 Something that is situated across a road or river is on the other side of it.
act acts, acting, acted
VERB 1 If you act, you do something. • We have to act quickly in an emergency.
2 If you act in a particular way, you behave in that way. • You’re acting like a baby.
3 If you act in a play or film, you play a role in it.
NOUN 4 a single thing someone does • The rescue was a brave act.
5 An Act of Parliament is a law passed by the government.
6 Stage plays are divided into parts called acts.
action actions
NOUN 1 something you do for a particular purpose
2 a physical movement, such as jumping
active
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things.
2 In grammar the active, or the active voice, is the form of the verb in which the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the action, rather than having it done to them. For example, the sentence The dog bit Ben is in the active voice. In the passive voice the subject is acted upon: Ben was bitten by the dog.
ANTONYM: passive
activity activities
NOUN 1 a situation in which a lot of things are happening at the same time • There was a great deal of activity in the hall as we got ready for the school play.
2 something you do for pleasure, such as gymnastics or music
actor actors
NOUN a man or woman whose job is performing in plays or films
actress actresses
NOUN a woman whose profession is acting
actual
ADJECTIVE real, rather than imaginary or guessed at • You guessed I was eleven – my actual age is twelve.
actually ADVERB
acute
ADJECTIVE 1 severe or intense • She had an acute pain in her arm.
2 In mathematics, an acute angle measures less than 90 degrees.
3 Someone who is acute is intelligent.
AD
ADJECTIVE You use AD in dates to show the number of years after the birth of Jesus Christ.
[an abbreviation of the Latin Anno Domini meaning the year of Our Lord]
adapt adapts, adapting, adapted
VERB 1 If you adapt to something, you get used to it.
2 If you adapt something, you change it so that it can be used in a new way.
adaptable
ADJECTIVE If you are adaptable, you change easily in a new situation or to suit new circumstances.
add adds, adding, added
VERB 1 If you add something to a number of things, you put it with those things. • Each girl added more wood to the pile.
2 If you add numbers together, or add them up, you work out the total. • Two and three added together are five (2 + 3 = 5).
adder adders
NOUN a small, poisonous snake
addiction addictions
NOUN If you have an addiction to something, you cannot stop doing it or wanting it.
addition additions
NOUN 1 the process of adding two or more numbers together
2 something that is added to something else • The addition of sugar would improve the taste of these plums.
additional
ADJECTIVE extra or more
additive additives
NOUN something that is added to something else, such as food
address addresses, addressing, addressed
NOUN 1 Your address is the number of the house where you live, together with the name of the street and the town or village.
VERB 2 If someone addresses a letter to you, they write your name and address on it.
3 If you address a group of people, you speak to them formally.
adenoids
PLURAL NOUN small lumps of flesh at the back of the throat
adequate
ADJECTIVE just enough for what is needed
SYNONYMS: enough, satisfactory, sufficient
adhesive adhesives
NOUN 1 a substance used to stick things together, such as glue
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is adhesive, it sticks to other things.
adjective adjectives
NOUN a word that adds to the description of a noun. For example, large and old are both adjectives.
adjust adjusts, adjusting, adjusted
VERB 1 If you adjust something, you change its position or alter it in some other way. • She adjusted her pillow to make herself more comfortable.
2 If you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it.
adjustment NOUN
administration administrations
NOUN the work of managing and supervising an organization
admiral admirals
NOUN a senior officer in the navy
admire admires, admiring, admired
VERB If you admire someone or something, you respect and approve of them.
admirer NOUN
admission admissions
NOUN 1 If you are allowed admission to a place, you may go into it.
2 If you make an admission, you confess to something or agree that it is true.
admit admits, admitting, admitted
VERB 1 If you admit something, you agree that it is true.
2 If you admit to something, you agree that you did something you shouldn’t have done.
3 To admit someone or something to a place is to allow them to enter it.
admittance
NOUN the right to enter somewhere • There will be no admittance to the party after eight o’clock.
adolescent adolescents
NOUN a young person who is no longer a child, but is not yet an adult
[from Latin adolescere meaning to grow up]