| abbreviate |
When you abbreviate a word, you use a shorter form of it, You often use just a few letters of the word to stand for the whole thing. We often abbreviate things like the names of months, names for the days of the week, and words in addresses like "Street" and "Road." [1/2 definitions] |
| abrupt |
When something is abrupt, it happens without anybody expecting it, and it often happens very quickly. [1/2 definitions] |
| accompany |
If a person or group accompanies someone who is performing, they support them by playing or singing along with them. A band often accompanies a singer, for example. Even though the band plays along with the performer, the band is not the main focus of attention. The singer is. [1/3 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. |
| accomplishment |
If you try to do something that is hard, it is an accomplishment when you finish it. An accomplishment is something that a person has done or finished in a successful way. People are often proud of their accomplishments or just happy that they were able to do them. |
| accord |
to agree or be in harmony (often followed by "with"). [1/4 definitions] |
| 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. |
| acquire |
When you acquire something, you get it. It becomes yours. Acquiring something often takes some kind of work or effort. |
| activist |
An activist is a person who fights to make some kind of change in the world or in the place where they work or live. Activists often fight for people's rights or for things like fair treatment and safety. |
| 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 |
"Ad" is a short word for "advertisement." An advertisement is something that tells people about things to buy or things that are happening. You often see advertisements on television. Sometimes you hear ads on the radio or see them online. Also, when you are outside, you sometimes see advertisements on signs. |
| add |
to find the sum of (often followed by "up"). [1/5 definitions] |
| adjourn |
to stop the process of a formal meeting or court session, often with the intention of starting again at another time. |
| adjustment |
An adjustment is a change you make in something. An adjustment often fixes something that is slightly wrong. |
| adorable |
When we think something is very cute and sweet, we often say it is "adorable." |
| 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. |
| advertisement |
An advertisement is something that tells people about things they can buy or things that are happening. They are often printed in newspapers and magazines. You often see advertisements on television and on the computer. When you ride in a car, you sometimes see them on signs. |
| adviser |
An adviser is a person who helps you decide what to do by giving you information or by giving you their opinion. An adviser often has special knowledge of something and that's why they are able to help. |
| affair |
An affair is a big or important event where people talk with each other and often enjoy themselves. [1/3 definitions] |
| affect1 |
When one thing affects another thing, it makes a change in it or causes something to happen to it. The weather is something that often affects the way people feel. If it is a sunny day, people often feel happy and as if they have more energy. If a big storm affects an area, it probably causes some damage or harm there. [1/2 definitions] |