| a2 |
When you are talking about some particular thing of a group or kind but it's not important which one of that group it is, you use "a" before the word. If you say "I saw a friend of mine," you know which friend you saw, but it's not important right now which friend it is. You are just introducing the idea of this person or thing into the conversation. [1/3 definitions] |
| 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] |
| abstract |
When a painting or sculpture is abstract, you can't tell what it is. It has shapes and maybe color, but it's not a clear picture of anything. The artist may be trying to suggest a feeling or idea or maybe even people and things, but the artist is not trying to show those people and things as they are in reality. [1/3 definitions] |
| absurd |
If something is absurd, it makes no sense at all. There is no logic to it. It's crazy or ridiculous. |
| abundance |
If there is an abundance of something, there is plenty of it. There is a very large amount, and it's more than enough. |
| acceptable |
When something is acceptable, it means that it is just good enough. It doesn't have to be fixed or changed for something else. It's not really great, but it is OK. [1/2 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. |
| agree |
When you agree with someone, you have the same thought or feel the same way about something. If you agree with your sister that something is good, it means that she thinks it's good and you think it's good too. [1/5 definitions] |
| a little |
If you have a little chocolate, you have a small amount of chocolate. It's not a lot, but it's something. [1/3 definitions] |
| analysis |
Analysis is careful and detailed study of something in order to understand it or to understand how it works, or it's a report or explanation of the results of this kind of study. [1/2 definitions] |
| and so on |
"And so on" means "with more of the same type." It's used when you start a list of something and let your reader or listener imagine the type of things that might follow. If you say "In the closet, there are coats, jackets, and so on," you let your listener imagine other typical things that might be in the closet. They might imagine things like hats, boots, scarves. and umbrellas. |
| apply |
If something doesn't apply to you, then it has no connection with you or it doesn't matter for you. Let's say children under six aren't allowed to play in the big playground. But, you're older than six, so that rule doesn't apply to you. It's OK for you to play there. [1/4 definitions] |
| approval |
If you have someone's approval to do something, it means that they say it's OK for you to do it. [1/2 definitions] |
| approximate |
When some amount or distance or time is not perfectly correct but it's close, we say it is approximate. [1/2 definitions] |
| approximately |
If you get home at approximately four o'clock, it means you get home around four o'clock. You might get there a few minutes before or after four, but the time you get there is near four. If it's approximately two miles from your home to your school, the distance from your home to your school is about two miles. It could be a little more or a little less. |
| bathrobe |
A bathrobe is something that some people wear after a bath or before going to bed, or they wear it in the morning when they get up. It is a little like a long jacket, but it's soft and comfortable. Some people wear a bathrobe at home just to relax. We often call a bathrobe a robe. |
| bend |
When something bends, it is not straight anymore. It becomes curved or it takes the shape of an angle. When it's very windy, the trees bend. [1/5 definitions] |
| be out of |
If you are out of something, it means that you usually have it, but it's all gone now. You or somebody else used it all. |
| biodegradable |
If something is biodegradable, it can be broken down by the action of living things like bacteria and fungi. Paper is something that is biodegradable. It's not good to litter, but if someone drops a piece of paper in the woods, eventually that paper will break down and become part of the soil. It will not be paper anymore. |
| bitter |
When the weather is bitter, it means that the weather is very cold, and it's hard to be outside in it. [1/3 definitions] |
| blank |
When someone's face is blank, it's not showing any feeling or interest. Also, sometimes it means that the person doesn't understand what someone is saying or what is happening. [1/3 definitions] |