| a2 |
"A" has a meaning like "any." When you use "a" before a word, you are talking about any one of some group or kind of thing. When you say "a cat," it means any cat of all the cats in the world, or it means any cat of a group of cats. [2/3 definitions] |
| about |
If a book is about trains, it means that the book tells you many things on the subject of trains. It might tell you things like where the first trains were built, what fuel trains use, or how fast trains travel. [9 definitions] |
| about to |
When you are about to do something, you are ready to do it and almost starting to do it. If you are about to take a bite of a sandwich, you are holding up the sandwich and your mouth is open. |
| abroad |
If we talk about places abroad, we mean places that are not in our own country. If we talk about people abroad, we mean people who live in other countries or who are in other countries just now. [1/2 definitions] |
| absent-minded |
tending to not pay attention to a task or event because one is thinking about other things. |
| absolute |
When something is absolute, it is completely certain. There can be no question about whether or not it is true or sure. [1/4 definitions] |
| absolutely |
When something is absolutely right, it is exactly right. If something is absolutely beautiful, "beautiful" is the exact word to describe this thing, and there is nothing about this thing that isn't beautiful. [2 definitions] |
| abuse |
to talk to or about in an insulting or unfair way. [1/6 definitions] |
| accept |
to regard as something that one cannot change or avoid; to come to a neutral opinion about, or at least come to the point of no longer putting up a fight. [1/5 definitions] |
| accomplish |
When you accomplish something, you finally do something or finish something that you've needed to do. Usually, when you accomplish something, you feel good about it or just feel glad that it's done. Often it takes a lot of work or effort to accomplish something. |
| accord |
Accord is agreement or harmony. If things are in accord, they go well together. If something is in accord with another thing, it follows it. It doesn't go against it. If people are in accord, they agree about something or they have a similar opinion. |
| accountant |
An accountant is a person who keeps track of how a business spends its money, gives advice about spending money, and often makes sure the company is paying a correct amount of tax to the government each year. All businesses have to report to the government how much money they make and pay a correct amount of tax. Some companies only use an accountant when they are reporting their income to the government and need to figure out how much tax they have to pay. People who have regular jobs also use accountants sometimes if their money affairs are complicated. |
| achievement |
An achievement is something that is completed with success using hard work or skill. People usually feel good about their achievements. |
| acquaint |
If you acquaint yourself with someone, you introduce yourself to them and get to know them a little. If you acquaint yourself with a thing, you start to learn about it and get some knowledge about it. [2 definitions] |
| actually |
We often use "actually" when we are about to say something that is true but surprising. [1/2 definitions] |
| A.D. |
A.D. is an abbreviation of the Latin words "anno domini." The abbreviation A.D. is used in dates when people are talking about things in history that happened after Jesus Christ was born. The year that Jesus Christ was born is called "1 A.D." The year after that is called "2 A.D." Jesus Christ is considered both God and man in the religion of Christianity, and he is an important figure in the history of the world. The calendar that most people use nowadays was created by Christians. That's why the year of Christ's birth was chosen as a way to divide older times from newer times. This calendar is not the first or only calendar that people in the world have created, but most people nowadays use this particular calendar. Instead of "A.D.," though, people often use "C.E." nowadays, which stands for "Common Era" or "Christian Era." |
| ad |
a short form of "advertisement," a public notice that tells people about products for sale, events, employment opportunities, or the like. |
| address |
When you address something, you give your attention to it and try to do what needs to be done about it. [1/6 definitions] |
| admit |
When you admit something, you tell the truth about it even if you don't really want to. [1/2 definitions] |
| advantage |
An advantage is something that is good about something. It might make it better than something else--at least in a certain way. [1/2 definitions] |
| adverb |
An adverb is a certain kind of word in a sentence. When a word is an adverb, it often describes how or when or where we do things. Words like "tomorrow," "here," "there," "slowly," and "usually" are adverbs. Adverbs also go in front of other adverbs or adjectives to describe those words. If we say "This is very good cake," "good" is an adjective that tells us about the cake, and "very" is an adverb that tells us how good the cake is. |