| 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. |
| 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] |
| 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. [1/9 definitions] |
| abuse |
to use in a way that is wrong or bad; misuse. [2/6 definitions] |
| access |
the right or ability to enter, look at, or use something. [1/4 definitions] |
| accommodate |
If a hotel room accommodates four people, it has room for four people. Four people can use the space comfortably. If an elevator can accommodate twelve people, it means that it can hold twelve people. [1/3 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. |
| 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." |
| adapt |
to change for a particular use. [1/2 definitions] |
| adaptation |
An adaptation is a thing that is created when people make changes in something to make it easier or better, or so they can use it in a new way. [1/3 definitions] |
| adopt |
to take on and use as one's own. [1/3 definitions] |
| aerobic |
able to work the heart and lungs to help the body use oxygen better. |
| aerobics |
(used with a singular or plural verb) a form of exercise that works the heart and lungs to help the body use oxygen better. Running, swimming, biking, or dance are forms of aerobics. |
| after |
We use "after" when we are talking about the order of things. When one thing comes first, the next thing comes after it. The letter B comes after the letter A in the alphabet. The number 2 comes after the number 1. [1/5 definitions] |
| after all |
Sometimes we use "after all" when we tell what really happened in the end even though we had thought something else might happen. [2 definitions] |
| again |
We sometimes use "again" when we mean that someone or something is back to the way they were before. [1/2 definitions] |
| against |
We often use "against" when we talk about something touching or hitting something else with strong force. When waves crash against a beach, it means that the waves hit the beach with force. [1/4 definitions] |
| aggression |
The use of force or violence against another in order to dominate or achieve one's own goals. [1/2 definitions] |
| agitation |
Agitation is a kind of tool that some people use to cause change, usually in a place where people work or in society in general. Agitation is the stirring up of strong feelings in people with the purpose of making them upset about their treatment or condition and wanting change. Sometimes this leads to protests or even violent behavior. [1/3 definitions] |