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Reverse Search
Reverse Search allows you to search within the full text of dictionary entries for words, word parts, and phrases.
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Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or the word "orange."
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Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or "apples" or "orange" or "oranges."
Exact matches of all of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" and the word "orange."
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Example: Searching for "a variety of apple" identifies all entries that contain that phrase. Searching for "app" identifies all entries that contain the letters "app," such as occurrences of "apple," "application," and "apply."
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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] |
aardvark |
a large mammal with a long snout, long ears, a long tail, and with long fur mostly around its legs. Aardvarks are active at night, when they use their powerful claws to dig open ant or termite nests. They catch their food with their long, sticky tongue. Aardvarks live in southern and central Africa. Although they are sometimes called anteaters, aardvarks are not closely related to any other kind of mammal. |
abalone |
a large sea snail that has several shiny colors on the inside of its shell. Abalone are mollusks. People eat abalone meat and make decorations from the shells. |
abandon |
When people abandon a place, they leave it because they have to. They are forced to give it up and go somewhere else. [1/3 definitions] |
ability |
An ability is something you are able to do. Humans have the ability to learn different languages. [2 definitions] |
able |
When you are able to do something, it means that you can do it. If someone is able to walk, it means that they can walk. [2 definitions] |
aboard |
When you are aboard, it means that you are on something that travels, such as a boat, plane, or train. [1/2 definitions] |
about |
"About" sometimes means "near" or "close to." If you are about the same age as your friend, it means that you are near the same age. [4/9 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. |
above |
When you are above something, it means you will not do it because you think it is bad or stupid and it's something that good people or grown-up people don't do. [1/4 definitions] |
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] |
abrupt |
When a person speaks in an abrupt manner, they speak with very few words, but they don't seem as if they are shy. They seem unfriendly or even rude. [1/2 definitions] |
absence |
Absence is being away from a place where you usually are. [1/3 definitions] |
absent |
When you are absent, you are away. You are not in the usual place. |
absolutely |
When you are absolutely sure about something, it means that you are completely sure. You have no doubt at all. If you are absolutely finished with something, there is not even one more little thing to do. [1/2 definitions] |
abstract |
When something is abstract, it doesn't have any physical form. Feelings and ideas are abstract things. They are things, but you can't see them or touch them or even smell them! They exist in people's minds only. [2/3 definitions] |
abundant |
If certain things are abundant, there are very many of them. There are more than enough. If there is an abundant amount of something, there is plenty of it. |
abuse |
If someone hurts a dog by treating it in a bad way, we say that they are abusing the dog. [1/4 definitions] |
academy |
An academy is a school. Usually an academy is a private school. People have to pay to go to a private school. Some academies focus on a particular type of thing, such as art, music, military training, or science. Academies give special classes for these things. Some academies are regular schools for school children, and some academies give classes for adult students, especially in things like music, drama, or art. |
accelerate |
When you accelerate, you increase the speed or rate of something. If a driver accelerates while they are driving, they make their car go faster. [1/2 definitions] |
accent |
a mark (' or `). Accents are used to show what parts of a word are to be said with more stress. [2/5 definitions] |
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