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Useful Dictionary of Derived Words
Useful Dictionary of Derived Words
Useful Dictionary of Derived Words
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Useful Dictionary of Derived Words

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The aim of the 'Useful Dictionary of Derived Words' is to help you increase your vocabulary. In this dictionary, each entry consists of a main entry word in BOLD CAPITAL letters followed by words that are derived from that base word.

For example, the main entry word CONSIDER is followed by words that are derived from that base word such as considered, considering, considerable, considerably, considerate, considerately, consideration, inconsiderable, inconsiderate, inconsiderately.

Concise definitions and examples in full sentences are given to show the main meanings and uses of every word that is included.

The dictionary contains nearly 3,000 main entry words and about 10,000 derived words.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherBookBaby
Release dateNov 4, 2016
ISBN9781483585512
Useful Dictionary of Derived Words
Author

Martin Manser

Martin Manser is a professional writer and researcher. He is responsible for ‘The Penguin Wordmaster’ and ‘The Guinness Book of Words’.

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    Useful Dictionary of Derived Words - Martin Manser

    Z

    INTRODUCTION

    The aim of this dictionary is to help you increase your vocabulary. In this dictionary, each entry consists of a base word in BOLD CAPITAL letters followed by words that are derived from that base word. Concise definitions and examples in full sentences are given to show the main meanings and uses of every word that is included.

    For example:

    CONSIDER vb 1 think over carefully: The jury considered its verdict. 2 show thought for: you should consider people’s feelings before you criticize them. 3 have an opinion: He’s considered a great writer. I consider her a fool. considered adj resulting from careful thought: In my considered opinion, we should sell the company. considering prep in spite of: He is very active considering his age. considerable adj very great: This will cost a considerable amount of money. considerably adv The elephant is considerably larger than the rhino. considerate adj caring about people: She very considerate towards her guests. considerately adv He considerately stood up to give the old lady his seat. consideration n 1 thinking about or caring: She was brought up to always show consideration for the needs of others. 2 something that must be thought about: Closeness to local amenities is an important consideration when buying a house. 3 thinking: he said he would give the matter some consideration. These issues must be taken into consideration. inconsiderable adj too small to be worth considering: The number of bottles broken in transit was inconsiderable. inconsiderate adj not thinking about, or caring for, the needs, feelings, etc., of others: Playing your music so loud at night is really inconsiderate. inconsiderately adv Someone had inconsiderately left the gate open and cows were getting onto the road.

    The lists of derived words are shown in a set order. The base word is CONSIDER, from which further words are derived. As you can see from the example above, first come the words immediately and, for the most part, regularly, derived from the base word (including plurals, verb parts, adjectives and adverbs) or by adding such endings as -ed, -er, -ing, -ly and -ness in alphabetical order (e.g. considered, considering). Then words are included which are slightly further removed from the base word, for example by adding more complicated endings such as -ability, -able, -ion, -ism, -ist and -ize, by combination with other words, or by prefixes showing change of meaning such as re-, over- or under-, or opposites such as in-, mis- or -un. These are also listed in alphabetical order (e.g. considerable, considerate, inconsiderable, inconsiderate, inconsiderately).

    Certain derived words are not defined, since their meaning can be worked out easily. Such words include words ending in:

    -ed showing a quality of state, for example SCAREscared

    -er person or thing that does something; person working in a job; person or thing that has or is something, for example DECEIVEdeceiver

    -ly used to make adverbs, for example MADmadly

    -ness a state, quality or condition or an example of this, for example MILDmildness

    Where the same spelling is used for words with different histories, a small raised number is included after the main entry word:

    ROW¹ (pronounced to rhyme with know) n number of people or things arranged in a line: Three crows were sitting in a row on the fence.

    ROW² (pronounced to rhyme with know) vb 1 move a boat forward by using oars: We rowed the dinghy from the yacht to the quay. 2 take a person or thing in a boat with oars: A fisherman will row you over to the island. row n journey in such a boat: It would be a long row to the shore. rower n person who rows: The Viking longship had three rowers at each oar. rowing n sport or activity of rowing a boat with oars: She took up rowing at university.

    ROW³ (pronounced to rhyme with how) n 1 noisy quarrel: We were woken up by two magpies having a row in the garden. 2 lot of noise: What’s all that row outside? row vb make or have a row: She said her parents had been rowing a lot recently.

    We hope this dictionary will help expand your vocabulary, so that you will become more confident in writing and speaking English.

    Martin Manser

    Michael Munro

    A

    ABANDON vb 1 leave, especially alone or without help: The unwanted baby was abandoned on the doorstep of the church. 2 give up; stop: We abandoned the game because of the storm. abandon n freedom from care or control: They joined in the dance with complete abandon. abandoned adj having been left: They spent the night in an abandoned cottage. abandonment n 1 leaving: The thing he most regretted was his abandonment of his wife and children. 2 stopping: A sudden downpour led to the abandonment of the game in the second half.

    ABLE adj 1 having the power: Will you be able to come on Saturday? 2 clever and skilful: She was a very able manager. ability n 1 cleverness or state of being able: She’s a musician of real ability. 2 cleverness in doing one or more particular things: Drawing is only one of his many abilities. ably adv in a clever or skilful way: I was ably assisted by my little brother. inability n lack of ability: His inability to drive meant that he would have to take a train. unable adj without the power: The old lady was unable to walk without a stick.

    ABNORMAL See NORM.

    ABOLISH vb put an end to: The death penalty was abolished many years ago. abolition n abolishing: Wilberforce did much to bring about the abolition of slavery.

    ABORT vb 1 end a pregnancy: She took the painful decision to abort the baby. 2 stop something before it is finished: A mechanical failure led them to abort the launch of the rocket. abortion n ending of a pregnancy: She had an abortion when she was younger. abortive adj unsuccessful: The soldiers made one last abortive attempt to capture the fort. abortively adv They tried, albeit abortively, to reach the South Pole. abortiveness n The abortiveness of their mission was not the fault of their commander.

    ABRUPT adj 1 sudden: The bus came to an abrupt stop when it ran out of fuel. 2 not gentle or polite in speech or manner: Don’t be so abrupt with the children if you want them to like you. abruptly adv The ceremony ended abruptly when the fire alarm went off. I’m sorry if I spoke rather abruptly just now. abruptness n I apologize for the abruptness of my departure, but I have to catch a train.

    ABSENT adj 1 not present: The teacher made a note of the children who were absent. 2 not paying attention: She had a rather absent look on her face. absence n 1 being absent: His illness explains his absence from work. 2 lack: In the absence of any other explanation, we must accept her story. absentee n person who is not present: He had been an absentee from the last two meetings. absently adv in an inattentive way: She stared out of the window, only absently replying to my remarks.

    ABSOLUTE adj 1 complete or total: They were living in a state of absolute poverty. 2 having no conditions or restrictions: The emperor had absolute power over his people. She is now the absolute owner of the estate. absolutely adv 1 completely or totally: You were absolutely right about him. 2 certainly: Would you like a drink? Absolutely! absoluteness n 1 completeness: He could never recover from a defeat of such absoluteness. 2 unrestrictedness: The absoluteness of his power over his employees was like something from the Middle Ages.

    ABSORB vb 1 soak up liquid: Use a sponge to absorb the spillage. 2 occupy someone: The book failed to absorb him. 3 include: We’ve got all the people we need, but we can probably absorb a few more. absorbed adj giving all your attention: She was absorbed in writing her letter. absorbing adj occupying your attention: He wrote a highly absorbing account of his experiences. absorption n 1 soaking up: Absorption of rainwater turned the soil to mud. 2 having your attention occupied: She turned over each page with an air of deep absorption.

    ABSTRACT adj 1 not to do with actual objects: We visited a gallery of abstract art. 2 not to do with actual practice: Our plans are still rather abstract. abstract n 1 very short version of a book, article, etc.: This magazine published abstracts from recently published novels. 2 abstract work of art: This is a typical abstract of the artist’s later period. abstraction n condition of not paying attention to anything: She must have been in a state of abstraction when she signed this.

    ABSURD adj unreasonable or silly: We all laughed at his absurd suggestion. absurdity n 1 something absurd: The idea of making another attempt struck him as an absurdity. 2 state of being absurd: You had to smile at the obvious absurdity of the plan. absurdly adv The cost of the tickets was absurdly high.

    ABUSE vb 1 use badly or not properly: The corrupt politician abused his position to make himself rich. 2 treat someone cruelly or violently: The father was accused of abusing his children. 3 insult or say rude things about or to someone: You don’t expect to be abused when you ask a polite question. abuse n 1 improper use: A government that imprisons its opponents is guilty of an abuse of power. 2 cruel or violent treatment: He was convicted of child abuse. 3 insults or rude language: When I asked if she had hurt herself she replied with a stream of abuse. abused adj having been cruelly or violently treated: She set up a refuge for abused wives. abuser n person who abuses something or someone: He was a long-term abuser of drugs. abusive adj 1 rude or insulting: I won’t tolerate people using abusive language to my staff. 2 cruel or violent: She eventually left her abusive husband. abusively adv He shouted abusively at the boys in the street. abusiveness n condition of being abusive: She was shocked by the abusiveness of the girl’s language. The abusiveness of their relationship had lasting effects on him in later life.

    ACADEMIC adj 1 to do with schools, universities, etc., or with learning or teaching: This diary covers one academic year. 2 not practical or to do with actual experience: My interest in cars is only academic as I can’t afford one. academic n member of a university, college, etc., especially a teacher: This restaurant is popular with academics from the nearby university. academically adv in a way relating to education: He wasn’t as academically inclined as his sister.

    ACCELERATE vb (cause to) move or happen faster: The car behind us suddenly accelerated and sped past. Something must be done to accelerate the application process. accelerated adj faster: Things began to happen at an accelerated pace. acceleration n process of becoming faster: Constant acceleration and braking is very hard on a car’s tyres. accelerator n pedal pressed with the foot to make a vehicle go faster: I pressed down hard on the accelerator and the van shot forward.

    ACCEPT vb 1 (agree to) receive something: I’d be happy to accept any suggestions. 2 say yes to an invitation: She was happy to accept their invitation to the wedding. 3 consider or deal with in a kind or friendly way: Foreigners here are soon accepted by most people. 4 believe an explanation, story, etc.: Do you really expect me to accept this ridiculous story? 5 concede that something cannot be changed: Even the most stubborn rebels had to accept that the struggle had failed. acceptable adj 1 satisfactory: He produces acceptable work. 2 welcome: Hers was the most acceptable proposition. 3 able to be allowed or tolerated: I don’t find it acceptable that the job is not open to women. acceptability or acceptableness n condition of being good enough or welcome: It’s not up to me to judge the acceptability of each application. acceptably adv in a reasonably good way: Most of your investments have performed acceptably. acceptance n an act of accepting or the state of being accepted: His plans found acceptance everywhere. The idea slowly gained acceptance. accepted adj widely agreed: Buying insurance online has become the accepted way of doing things.

    ACCESS n 1 entrance or approach: Access to the house is from the road. 2 opportunity to see or use something: I don’t have access to these files. access vb be able to see or use something: You can access the latest updates on their website. accessible adj 1 able to be entered or reached: Is the park accessible from the main road? 2 able to be seen or used: The information is accessible to anyone who wants it. 3 able to be used by disabled people: The entrance has been modified to make it accessible for wheelchair users. accessibility n 1 ability to be entered or reached: A ramp has been added to improve accessibility for disabled people. 2 ability to be seen or used: What I like about this website is its easy accessibility. inaccessible adj 1 not able to be entered or reached: The highest peak of the mountain was regarded as inaccessible. 2 not able to be seen or used: These reports are inaccessible to anyone who doesn’t have the latest password. inaccessibility n 1 inability to be entered or reached: Because of its inaccessibility the plateau had never been explored. 2 inability to be seen or used: The previous inaccessibility of the records meant that she was uncovering new information.

    ACCIDENT n 1 unfortunate event, especially causing damage or injury: She was injured in a road traffic accident. 2 unintended or chance event: I came across the book by accident when I was looking for something else. Was it really an accident that we arrived at the same time? accidental adj unintended or happening by chance: The police said that the fire was accidental and hadn’t been started deliberately. accidentally adv I accidentally knocked over the teacup.

    ACCLAIM vb praise or welcome: The press was quick to acclaim the prime minister’s actions. I’m sure you’ll join us in acclaiming Sarah as the new head of the Sales Department. acclaim n praise: Her latest novel was greeted with great acclaim in the media. acclaimed adj praised: Our guest speaker tonight is the acclaimed author of several bestsellers.

    ACCOMMODATE vb 1 provide (someone) with something, especially somewhere to stay or live: This house can accommodate a family of four. 2 contain or have space for: The library accommodates several hundred books. accommodating adj helpful, willing to do someone a favour: Our new landlady is very accommodating. accommodation n somewhere to stay or live: Once we’ve booked our flights we can arrange accommodation.

    ACCOMPANY vb 1 travel or go with: He accompanied me on the train. 2 be with or add to: The pasta is accompanied by a rich tomato sauce. 3 play music along with: I will accompany the singer on the piano. accompaniment n (playing of) music along with someone or something else: The folk singer sang without accompaniment. accompanist n person who plays a musical accompaniment: The singer introduced her accompanist to the audience. unaccompanied adj 1 alone: I sat at a table next to another unaccompanied diner. 2 without musical accompaniment: Unaccompanied singing is common in folk music.

    ACCOMPLISH vb manage to do: She accomplished the feat of climbing Mount Everest. accomplished adj good or clever: He is an accomplished singer. accomplishment n 1 accomplishing or something accomplished: She relished the accomplishment of her ambition to become a doctor. 2 well-learned ability: Playing the violin is just one of his accomplishments.

    ACCORDING adj 1 in a manner suitable for: Each person is paid according to the number of hours they have worked. 2 in the words of: According to one report, three people had been hurt in the crash. accordingly adv suitably: This is a serious crime and you will be punished accordingly.

    ACCOUNT n 1 arrangement by which a person or business keeps money at a bank or receives money from it: She opened a bank account for each of her children. 2 report or description: The book gives a vivid account of the journey. 3 statement of the money paid and received by a business: She is in charge of the company’s accounts. accountable adj 1 responsible to someone for something: Find out who is accountable for the failure of the project. 2 able to be explained: I could find no accountable cause of the accident. accountant n person who organizes and checks the accounts of a business and advises on the use of money: He employed an accountant to handle his tax affairs. accountancy n work of an accountant: She is studying accountancy at college. unaccountable adj not able to be explained: For some unaccountable reason the message was never received. unaccountably adv Unaccountably, the car seemed to have vanished.

    ACCUMULATE vb (cause to) increase or collect: She had accumulated quite an amount of money in her savings account. Dead leaves accumulated in the gutter. accumulation 1 n act of accumulating: The accumulation of wealth was never his main motivation. 2 n something that has accumulated: Get rid of the accumulation of dust in the filter of the machine.

    ACCURATE adj 1 exactly right or true: We agreed that it was an accurate report. All measurements must be strictly accurate. 2 hitting the target: The enemy artillery fire was extremely accurate. The new rifle is much more accurate than the old weapon. accuracy n 1 quality of being exactly right or true: We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of her account. Success depends on the accuracy of your measurements. 2 success in hitting the target: The bombs were dropped with pinpoint accuracy. The accuracy of the missiles has been much improved. accurately adv with accuracy: The dimensions have been accurately measured. The arrow had not been aimed accurately. inaccurate adj 1 not exactly right or true: To say that he was above average height would be inaccurate. If the measurements are inaccurate the component will not fit. 2 not hitting the target: He dismissed the enemy gunfire as too inaccurate to cause any damage. The old muskets were inaccurate compared to the new rifles. inaccuracy n 1 quality of not being exactly right or true: He was accused of inaccuracy in his report of the events. Their guesses at the number of beans in the jar varied wildly in their inaccuracy. 2 failure in hitting the target: The inaccuracy of the artillery barrage meant that the enemy defences were still largely intact. The only reason that he survived was the inaccuracy of his enemies’ weapons. 3 something that is not exactly right or true: She was asked to explain several inaccuracies in her account. inaccurately adv without accuracy: They inaccurately estimated the amount of fuel they would need. His poor eyesight meant that he fired his gun inaccurately.

    ACCUSE vb say that (someone) did something wrong, especially a crime: He was accused of murder. accusation n statement that someone has done something wrong: How do you respond to the accusation of corruption? accused adj having been accused of a particular crime: The accused person will be put on trial. accuser n person who accuses: She defied her accusers to prove she had done anything wrong.

    ACHE n dull, lasting pain: She complained of a persistent ache in her shoulder. ache vb feel an ache: My feet ache from all that walking. aching adj feeling lasting pain: Oh, my aching back! achingly adv very painfully: I’ve had an achingly sore head all day.

    ACHIEVE vb succeed in obtaining or doing something: With a lot of work, you could achieve a good result. achievable adj able to be achieved: An increase in productivity should be easily achievable. achievement 1 n the act of achieving: She kept her mind focused on the achievement of her ambitions. 2 n something achieved: Graduating from university was a wonderful achievement for someone from his poor background. achiever n person who achieves: She was the first achiever of a world record from her country. underachieve vb achieve less than expected or normal: Children from deprived families often underachieve at school. underachievement n act of achieving less than expected or normal: The boy’s educational record is one of underachievement. underachiever n person who underachieves: She runs a special class for underachievers.

    ACID n substance that, dissolved in water, can attack metals and form salts: The beaker contains hydrochloric acid. acid adj 1 to do with acid, especially sour-tasting: I enjoy the acid flavour of lemon juice. 2 (of something said) bitter or biting: He was feared for making acid remarks in response to polite questions. acidify vb make acidic: The rain was acidified by pollution in the atmosphere. acidification n making acidic: The increasing acidification of the lake water was killing all the fish. acidity n extent to which something contains acid: This is a common test of the acidity of a solution. acidly adv in a bitter or biting way: She replied acidly that he was a pathetic fool. acidness n bitter or biting quality: The critic was renowned for the acidness of her judgements.

    ACKNOWLEDGE vb 1 say or how that you know of the truth, existence, presence, etc., of: something: He was generally acknowledged as the leader. 2 let the sender know that you have received a message: When she didn’t acknowledge my email I wondered if she had received it. acknowledged adj generally accepted as being: Hitchcock was the acknowledged master of suspense in films. acknowledgement n 1 act of acknowledging: There was widespread acknowledgement of her achievements in the media. 2 n statement or message of acknowledgement: I will expect a written acknowledgement that you have received the package. unacknowledged adj not generally accepted or admitted: The unacknowledged truth was that many people knew what was going on and did nothing about it.

    ACQUAINT vb make someone familiar: Take time to acquaint yourself with the rules. I think we ought to get better acquainted. acquaintance 1 n person whom you know slightly: Police interviewed several of his friends and acquaintances. 2 n familiarity: He has little acquaintance with other languages. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance. acquaintanceship n knowledge or familiarity: I’d like to increase my acquaintanceship with this method. unacquainted adj not familiar or knowledgeable: If you are unacquainted with French I’ll translate for you.

    ACQUIRE vb obtain: This painting was acquired directly from the artist. When did you acquire the habit of reading in bed? acquired adj not natural, but learned: A liking for caviar is an acquired taste. acquisition 1 n act of acquiring: The company’s target was the acquisition of all available property in the neighbourhood. 2 n something acquired: Her latest acquisition was a sports car.

    ACTIVE adj 1 doing something: She has led a long and active life. 2 having or using energy: He’s very young and active. actively adv in a way that involves effort and intention: We actively encouraged him to stand for election. Even in her retirement she is still actively involved in the theatre. activate vb make something start working: The alarm is activated by a motion sensor. activation n activating: A technical hitch delayed the activation of the new air-conditioning system. activity n condition of things being done: There’s been a lot of activity on this website today. 2 something people do: Swimming and surfing are popular activities at the beach. inactive adj not working or doing anything: The village is built at the foot of an inactive volcano. inactivity n not doing anything: She hated the forced inactivity of being confined to bed.

    ACTUAL adj real or true: Yesterday was the actual last time I saw her. His actual name is Winters. actuality n state of being actual: He never became king in actuality. actually adv really or in fact: She’s not actually going out with him, is she? Actually, I think I will have a coffee.

    ACUTE adj 1 showing good judgement or insight: Her judgement of people’s characters was always acute. 2 strong, sharp, or serious: He was suffering from acute stomach pain. 3 (of a disease) serious but not long-lasting: She was taken into hospital with acute appendicitis. acutely adv strongly: I am acutely aware of the problems you face.

    ADAPT vb change, especially so as to fit in with something or someone else: Dogs adapt easily to new homes. The novel is being adapted for a TV series. adaptability n ability to adapt or be adapted: You shouldn’t underestimate the adaptability of young children to new situations. adaptable adj able to change or be changed for different situations: The bag is adaptable into a backpack. He’s very adaptable when it comes to working on different tasks. adaptation 1 n act of adapting: The species that thrive best are those capable of adaptation to changed environments. 2 n something resulting from adaptation: The film is an adaptation of a successful stage play.

    ADDICT n 1 person who is dependent on something, especially a drug: She became a heroin addict. 2 (informal) person who is very keen on something: He is an addict of online social networking. addicted adj 1 dependent on something: He was addicted to cocaine. 2 (informal) very keen on something: Many TV viewers are addicted to soap operas. addiction n state of being addicted to something: She had managed to keep her drug addiction secret. He developed an addiction to golf after he retired. addictive adj causing addiction: Some prescription drugs are highly addictive if their use is not controlled. This is one of the most addictive series on TV at the moment.

    ADDITION 1 n act of adding: Children learn addition at primary school. 2 n something added: Computer programming is the latest addition to the range of subjects taught at the college. additional adj added or extra: The government is allocating additional funds to the project. additionally adv also or as well: The climate gets hotter and, additionally, wetter in summer. additive n substance added to food to change its taste or colour: Some food additives have been shown to trigger allergies.

    ADDRESS n 1 description of where a home, office, etc., is, as used for sending letters: Here’s a note of my new address. 2 place described in an address: The taxi will pick you up at your address. 3 location of a site on the internet: Key in the web address to your search engine. 4 formal speech: The Queen will give an address to Parliament. address vb 1 write an address on an envelope, etc.: The package is actually addressed to the house next door. 2 speak or write to someone: You should address him as Mister President. 3 direct remarks to someone: Please address your questions to me. addressed adj with an address already written on it: Send a stamped, addressed envelope to the following address. addressee n person, business, etc., to whom a letter, etc., is addressed: The letter had got wet in the rain and the postman couldn’t read the name of the addressee.

    ADEQUATE adj enough or sufficient for something: Make sure you allow adequate time to get to the airport. adequacy n state of being sufficient: He was anxious about the adequacy of his savings to pay for the new car. adequately adv enough: Have you been adequately fed? inadequacy n state of not being sufficient: The accommodation was of such inadequacy that we refused to accept it. inadequate adj not enough or sufficient: This diet is inadequate for a growing child. inadequately adv not enough: Firemen are inadequately paid for the dangerous work they do.

    ADJUST vb 1 alter (something) slightly, especially to correct a position, setting, etc.: I adjusted the car’s rear-view mirror until I could see properly. 2 vb change to suit a new situation or new surroundings: After its release the young tiger soon adjusted to living in the wild. adjustable adj able to be altered slightly in position or size: The straps on the backpack are adjustable. adjustment n slight change: After testing the machine we made a few adjustments to its settings.

    ADMINISTER vb 1 manage or carry out (government, business, etc.): The conquered country was administered by the occupying army. 2 give out or distribute: This doctor is responsible for administering the anaesthetic to the patient. administration 1 n act of administering: The UN took charge of the administration of famine relief in the disaster area. 2 n group of people who administer, esp. a government: The speaker criticized the policies of the previous administration. administrative adj to do with administration: The administrative work of the government is carried out by civil servants. administratively adv The plan is to make the company more administratively efficient. administrator n person working in administration: The prime minister was more of a competent administrator than an inspiring leader.

    ADMIRE vb consider to be good or praiseworthy: Everyone was admiring his new car. admirable adj deserving admiration: She had made admirable progress with the garden. admirably adv Your research has been admirably thorough. admiration n act of admiring: I have great admiration for her achievements. admirer n He was a great admirer of Rembrandt’s paintings. admiring adj showing or feeling admiration: An admiring visitor was taking photos of the house. admiringly adv The mother looked on admiringly as her daughter sang.

    ADMIT vb 1 allow to enter: They admitted him to the private rooms. 2 confess: I admit to having lied. 3 recognize the truth of something: He admitted that the mountain was difficult to climb. admittance n act of allowing or being allowed to enter: She arrived late and was refused admittance to the meeting. admittedly adv 1 by general agreement: He was admittedly a good worker. 2 I admit or agree that something is true: Admittedly, it was cold. admission n 1 permission to enter: Thousands of refugees were seeking admission to the United States. 2 act of entering or being allowed to enter: The hospital reported several admissions for people suffering from the infection. 3 price charged for being allowed to enter: Admission is free for people over 65. 4 act of confessing something: The prisoner made no admission of guilt. readmission n act of being allowed to enter again after leaving: If you leave during the performance there will be no readmission until the interval. readmit vb allow someone to enter again after leaving: The teacher allowed her to go to the toilet and readmitted her when she came back.

    ADOLESCENCE n period of life during which a child becomes an adult: The author spent her early adolescence at a boarding school. adolescent adj to do with adolescence: His adolescent experience of playing cricket put him off the game. adolescent n adolescent person: This type of pop music only appeals to adolescents.

    ADOPT vb 1 take a child into your family as if it were your own: His parents adopted an orphaned baby. 2 choose a course of action, etc.: The manager decided to adopt new tactics to overcome the rival team. adoption n act of adopting: She said that if she could not have a baby of her own she would consider adoption. The meeting voted for the adoption of the new plan. adoptive adj having adopted: He always called his adoptive parents Mum and Dad.

    ADVANCE vb 1 move forwards: The invading army advance towards Paris. 2 cause to happen earlier: The time of the meeting was advanced to an hour earlier. 3 put forward or suggest (an idea, etc.): I wasn’t asked to advance my opinion. 4 lend money: Her parents advanced her the money for a new laptop. 5 improve or further: This discovery has advanced our understanding of animal behaviour. advance n 1 forward movement: Nothing could halt the advance of the forest fire. 2 improvement or progress: He was responsible for several significant advances in computer technology. 3 amount of money paid before it is due: You could always ask your boss for an advance on your wages. advance adj early or beforehand: We had no advance warning. advanced adj far on in progress, knowledge, etc.: This dictionary is meant for advanced learners of English. The film was a science fiction story about a civilization more technologically advanced than ours. advancement n 1 being moved to a more important position or job: He’s due for advancement to manager. 2 act of improving or furthering: She was honoured for her service in the advancement of science.

    ADVANTAGE n 1 better or more favourable position: Your money gives you an advantage over most people. 2 something extra that is gained: There’s no advantage in arriving early. advantaged adj in a better situation than others: He was lucky in coming from an advantaged background. advantageous adj giving advantage: The house was advertised at a special advantageous price. advantageously adv He was glad to have a chance to use his knowledge advantageously. See also DISADVANTAGE.

    ADVENTURE n 1 dangerous, exciting, or risky action or journey: I was reading a book about the adventures of Robin Hood. 2 state of adventure, risk or excitement: Starting a new job always gave him a feeling of adventure. adventurer n person who undertakes adventures: The jungle had only been visited by a handful of adventurers. adventurous adj daring and liking excitement: Isn’t Thailand a rather adventurous choice of a holiday destination? adventurously adv They sailed adventurously into uncharted waters. adventurousness n You had to admire her adventurousness in taking on a new career. unadventurous adj not involving excitement or risk: He decided that his life had been dull and too unadventurous. unadventurously adv Unadventurously, she chose not to go on the trip. unadventurousness n Her friends accused her of unadventurousness in her sober choice of clothes.

    ADVERSE adj against or hurtful to someone: He doesn’t react well to adverse criticism. adversely adv The company’s profits were adversely affected by the economic downturn.

    ADVERTISE vb make a fact, product, etc. known: The new car was advertised on television. The manager wants to advertise for a new assistant. advert, advertisement n a sign, notice in a newspaper, short television film, etc., advertising something: I saw an advert for a new smartphone on TV. advertiser n The advertisement caught my attention but I don’t remember the name of the advertiser. advertising n business of creating advertisements: I heard she’d got a job in advertising. unadvertised adj not made generally known: I wrote to the company and asked if there were any unadvertised vacancies.

    ADVISE vb 1 give advice to someone or recommend: Your father can advise you on a good choice of car. We were advised to phone back later. 2 tell someone formally: The police advised the arrested man of his rights. advisable adj recommended or wise: It would be advisable to wait. adviser n Each new student is assigned to an adviser. advisory adj giving advice: Read the advisory label on the bottle. ill-advised adj not wise or recommended: This was the worst of her many ill-advised decisions. unadvisable, unadvised adj not wise or recommended: If you continue with this unadvisable course of action there will be consequences.

    AESTHETIC adj to do with beauty, especially in art, architecture, etc.: The new building had been designed with aesthetic appeal in mind as well as function. aesthetically adv I don’t care if my car isn’t aesthetically pleasing as long as it goes. aesthetics n study of the laws of beauty and good taste: She wrote an essay on the aesthetics of modern aircraft design.

    AFFECT vb have an effect on: This weather could affect the harvest. affectation n pretence put on for show: His posh accent is only an affectation. affecting adj making you feel sadness: The film had a really affecting ending. unaffected adj not having been affected: Her remarks left none of her listeners unaffected.

    AFFECTION n kindly or loving feeling: Our parents were not ashamed of showing affection for their children. affectionate adj showing or feeling affection: She gave her puppy an affectionate hug. affectionately adv I kissed her affectionately on the cheek.

    AFFILIATE vb connect a person, society, etc. to a larger organization: The local club is affiliated to the national body. affiliate n affiliated person, society, etc.: The professor is an affiliate of The Royal Society. affiliated adj Members of affiliated organizations are entitled to use the club’s facilities. affiliation n state of being affiliated: Do you have an affiliation to a particular political party?

    AFFIRM vb declare to be true: The president affirmed that he would seek re-election. affirmation n declaration that something is true: The audience’s applause was an affirmation of their affection for the singer. affirmative adj showing agreement: We hope they will give an affirmative response to our proposal. affirmatively adv When I asked if he was okay he held up his thumb affirmatively. reaffirm vb affirm again: The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating poverty.

    AFFORD vb 1 be able to spare: I can’t afford the time to go out for lunch. 2 have the means, time, or money for: I can’t afford a new coat. Can you afford to take a day off work? 3 (formal) provide (with): We may not be afforded such an opportunity again. affordable adj able to be bought with the money you can spare: If we save hard a new car should be affordable next year. affordability n I’m looking into the affordability of renting a flat in the city. unaffordable adj costing too much: Buying a house is simply unaffordable for most young couples.

    AGE n 1 length of the life or existence of someone or something: What’s the age of this horse? 2 period of life: We’ll look after him in his old age. 3 period of history: The fifteenth century was a great age of exploration. 4 (informal, often plural) long time: It took an age before anyone answered the phone. We’ve been waiting ages for a bus. 5 n quality of being old: One gets slower with age. age vb make, become, or begin to seem old or older: He hardly seems to have aged over the years since we last met. aged adj 1 old: She lived to become an aged woman. 2 having the age of: He was a man aged around forty. ag(e)ing adj becoming old: I moved house to be near my ageing parents. ag(e)ing n process of growing old: Ageing is inevitable, I’m afraid. ageless adj never seeming to become old: The writer praised the movie star’s ageless beauty.

    AGGRESSION n 1 attack, especially by one country on another: The United Nations condemns aggression between its member states. 2 n feeling of wanting to attack someone or something: In most animals, aggression is the automatic response to feeling threatened. aggressive adj showing or feeling aggression: The French were making aggressive moves towards the border. She’s not what I would call an aggressive individual. aggressively adv If attacked, we will respond aggressively. aggressiveness n The manager said he expected more aggressiveness from his players. aggressor n attacker: Each nation accused the other of being the aggressor in the conflict.

    AGONY n great pain or worry: I was in agony when I broke my leg. She suffered agony of remorse. agonize vb cause to suffer agony: He was agonized by the stabbing pain in his chest. agonizing adj very painful or worrying: She complained of agonising pain in her foot. It was an agonising decision to have to make. agonizingly adv It was agonisingly painful. It took an agonizingly long time before we heard any news.

    AGREE vb 1 have the same opinion: I agree with you that I should go. 2 approve or allow: I won’t agree to his going. 3 suit: Milk doesn’t agree with me. 4 match or be similar: Your total doesn’t agree with mine. 5 decide together: We’ve agreed on where to meet. agreeable adj 1 pleasing or acceptable: It was a very agreeable way to spend an afternoon. 2 willing to agree: Are you agreeable to these conditions? agreeableness n Everyone commented on the agreeableness of the accommodation. agreeably adv The hotel room was very agreeably furnished. agreed adj accepted by all: In the end they couldn’t afford the agreed price. agreement n 1 act or state of agreeing: Are we in agreement? 2 n arrangement reached by agreeing: Both parties respected the terms of the agreement. See also DISAGREE.

    AGRICULTURE n science or practice of the use of land for growing food and raising animals: Most of the country’s food was produced by domestic agriculture. agricultural adj The invention of the plough was an important agricultural development. agriculturally adv The civilization was not highly advanced agriculturally.

    aim vb 1 point or direct: Never aim a gun at anybody. 2 intend or hope: We aim to leave soon. 3 try to get or bring about: I’m aiming for a low price. aim n action of aiming: She practised shooting for hours to improve her aim. 2 something aimed at or for: My aim is to have my own business by the age of thirty. aimer n person who aims: Fortunately, the people shooting at us were poor aimers. aimless adj with no purpose or direction: His life had been aimless until he joined the army. aimlessly adv I wandered aimlessly through the backstreets. aimlessness n The apparent aimlessness of the animal’s movements was intended to throw predators off the scent.

    AIR n 1 mixture of gases that surrounds the earth: Outside the house the air was cold. 2 tune: The fiddler played a medley of Irish airs. 3 an appearance or manner: He has the air of a happy man. air vb 1 let fresh, cool air reach a room, etc., or let fresh, warm air reach clothes, etc.: We hung the washing out in the garden to air it. 2 express or make known opinions, etc.: The discussion gave everyone a chance to air their views. airborne adj travelling or carried in the air: The island fell to an airborne attack. air-conditioned adj (of a room, building, car, etc.) containing air that is cooled for comfort: In hot weather like this I insist on an air-conditioned room. air-conditioning n system of providing cooled air for comfort: Unfortunately, the air-conditioning was not working. aircraft n flying vehicle, such as a plane or helicopter: An enemy aircraft was dropping bombs on the village. airfield n place where planes are kept and take off and land: There are plans to build housing on the disused airfield. airily adv in a light-hearted or vague way: ‘Don’t you worry about a thing,’ she told us airily. airiness n The airiness of the house seemed to offer a healthy environment. airing n 1 act of letting fresh, cool air reach a room, etc., or letting fresh, warm air reach clothes, etc.: Open all the windows and give the house an airing. 2 expression: Some rather odd opinions were given an airing at the meeting. airless adj lacking in fresh air: The bedroom was stuffy and airless. airlessness n A hotel guest was complaining about the airlessness of his room. airlift n operation in which people are lifted out or supplies lifted in to a disaster area by plane: Rescue services quickly set up an airlift to evacuate the flood-threatened villages. airlift vb remove or supply by air: Thousands of refugees were airlifted to safety. airline n business that transports people or goods by air: If the flight is fully booked try another airline. airliner n large plane carrying many passengers: We watched an airliner coming in to land. airmail n mail carried in planes: The book will be sent from America by airmail. airman, airwoman n person who flies or helps to fly aircraft, especially a pilot: They were taken to a prison camp for enemy airmen. airport n place where large aircraft for passengers or goods are kept and take off and land: We’ll take a taxi to the airport. airy 1 (especially of a room, etc.) containing much (fresh) air: They lived in an airy house on the clifftop. 2 hopeful or not realistic: I knew such airy plans would never reach fruition.

    ALARM n 1 frightened expectation of danger: The noise of shouting filled him with alarm. 2 n device that gives a warning of danger: Something had set off the fire alarm. 3 (also alarm clock) clock that rings a bell or gives some other signal at a set time: Set the alarm for half past six. alarm vb cause alarm in someone: I don’t want to alarm you but I can smell smoke. alarmed adj 1 frightened: Alarmed guests were running from the hotel. 2 fitted with a warning device: The entrance and exit doors are all alarmed. alarming adj giving cause for alarm: I heard an alarming crash in the kitchen. alarmingly adv Their savings are being used up alarmingly quickly.

    ALCOHOL n clear liquid that is in drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits and is burnt to run engines, etc.: His religion forbids him to drink alcohol. alcohol-free adj containing no alcohol: I’m looking for a bottle of alcohol-free wine. alcoholic adj to do with alcohol: I didn’t taste alcoholic drink until I was twenty-one. alcoholic n person who depends on taking alcoholic drink: He joined a society that helps alcoholics to stay sober. alcoholically adv in terms of alcohol content: Is this cordial alcoholically strong? alcoholism n state of being an alcoholic: They were concerned about the increasing alcoholism among stressed executives. non-alcoholic adj containing no alcohol: When you’re going to be driving later you should have only non-alcoholic drinks.

    ALERT adj fully awake or ready for action: The guards were warned to stay alert at their posts. alert n 1 warning, especially of an attack: Sound the alert as soon as the radar picks up an approaching aircraft. 2 period for which such a warning lasts: Stay in the shelter during an alert. alert vb warn or make alert: Has he been alerted to the danger? alertly adv The postman alertly spotted a suspicious package. alertness n The sheepdog had a charming air of alertness.

    ALIEN adj foreign: They were hostile to alien intrusions into their territory. alien n 1 foreigner: All aliens have to register their presence with the police. 2 person from another planet: The film was about Earth being invaded by aliens from Mars. alienate vb turn away or cause to become unfriendly: The immigrants were alienated by the government’s unhelpful attitude. alienation n state of being or feeling alienated, especially from the rest of society: Many young unemployed people describe their sense of alienation.

    ALLEGE vb state without proof: He is alleging that I am a thief. alleged adj The alleged theft took place during the night. allegedly adv The necklace was allegedly stolen from the hotel room. allegation n something alleged: She will be prosecuted if these allegations prove to be true.

    ALLERGY n condition in which something has an unusual effect on the body: The child has an allergy to house dust. allergic adj to do with, especially having, an allergy: I’m allergic to feathers.

    ALLIANCE, ALLIED See ALLY.

    ALLOCATE vb give to use, etc., as your share: You’ve been allocated this room to work in. allocation n 1 act of allocating: Who is responsible for the allocation of parking spaces? 2 something allocated: The weekly allocation of food was insufficient for his family.

    ALLOW vb 1 permit: The council doesn’t allow cars to park here during the day. 2 admit or accept a point of argument, etc.: The judge allowed the claim. 3 prepare or expect to need: I would allow three hours to get there. allowable adj permissible: One mistake is allowable, but two is too many. allowance n an amount of money given regularly: She saved up the money from her weekly allowance. disallow vb forbid or rule out: The goal was disallowed because the striker was offside. disallowed adj What about that disallowed goal in the second half?

    ALLY n country, person, etc., agreeing with one or more others to act in their common interest: The USA was Britain’s main ally in the war against Germany. ally vb make an ally of: We should ally ourselves to our neighbours. alliance n 1 state of agreement or connection: Their enemies were in alliance against them. 2 agreement, especially between political parties or countries, to act in the common interest: The minority parties formed an alliance to oppose the government. allied adj 1 joined by agreement or treaty: Allied forces invaded France in 1944. 2 related, connected: We will discuss this matter and allied issues during the meeting.

    ALTER vb change: We had to alter our plans. alterable adj The programme of events is no longer alterable. alteration n 1 act of altering: The jacket was too small and was sent back for alteration. 2 something changed: I’ve made one or two alterations to your design. inalterable adj not able to be changed: He believed that his destiny was inalterable. inalterably adv At this point nothing has been inalterably decided.

    ALTERNATE vb (of two or more things), (cause to) do something or happen by turns: Day alternates with night. She alternates between moods of anger and joy. He and I alternate as driver. alternate adj 1 alternating: Their jerseys had alternate stripes of blue and orange. 2 every second: He works on alternate weekends. alternately adv Day and night come and go alternately.

    ALTERNATIVE adj possible as a choice instead of something else: People who are afraid of flying can always find an alternative means of travel. alternative n one of two possible choices: I have no alternative but to fire you. alternatively adv We could travel tomorrow or, alternatively, wait until Thursday.

    AMATEUR n person who does something, especially sport, for pleasure, not money: He had only played rugby as an amateur. amateur adj 1 to do with amateurs: She plays amateur soccer at the weekend. 2 poor, badly done: I would describe it as an amateur piece of work. amateurish adj not well done: He made an amateurish attempt to put up a shelf. amateurishly adv The painting and decorating had been rather amateurishly done.

    AMAZE vb surprise greatly: It will amaze you when you hear our news. amazed adj greatly surprised: The staff heard the announcement in an amazed silence. amazedly adv I could only look on amazedly as my car was stolen. amazement n condition of being amazed: I can hardly describe my amazement at this turn of events. amazing adj 1 greatly surprising: They had completed an amazing amount of work. 2 (informal) greatly enjoyable: We had an amazing time at the beach. amazingly adv The team’s performance was amazingly good.

    AMBITION n desire to do or succeed in something: She fulfilled her ambition to climb Mount Everest. ambitious adj 1 showing ambition: He was an ambitious man who quickly won promotion. 2 requiring a lot of work: The building of the new bridge was an ambitious project. ambitiously adv She ambitiously set her sights on becoming prime minister. overambitious adj having overestimated your ability: Looking back, he realized he had been overambitious in aiming to make his first million by the age of twenty. unambitious adj not ambitious enough: You should aspire to more than these unambitious goals.

    AMEND vb change, especially to correct or improve: The witness said he had no wish to amend his initial statement. amendment n (example of) amending: You don’t need to make any amendments to your essay.

    AMPLE adj large, especially more than enough: You have had ample time to complete the task. ampleness n condition of being ample: They had no complaints about the ampleness of the funding. amply adv She didn’t feel she had been amply rewarded for her work.

    ANALYSE vb examine something in detail, especially by splitting it up into its parts: We haven’t had time to analyse the latest results. analysis n (an example of) analysing something: The doctor took a sample of her blood for analysis. analyst n person who carries out analyses: He is one of the leading analysts of political events. analytical adj involving analysis: Science is a popular choice of career for those with analytical minds. analytically adv The problem should be easy to solve if you can think analytically.

    ANCESTOR n person from whom you are descended, especially further back than a grandparent: My ancestors came here from Spain in the nineteenth century. ancestral adj handed down from or to do with ancestors: The castle was the ancestral home of her family. ancestry n (a line of) ancestors: My mother is of Italian ancestry.

    ANCIENT adj 1 very old: We learned about the ancient traditions of our people. 2 of long ago, especially to do with Rome and Greece: The story is based on the myths of ancient Greece. ancient n person belonging to an ancient civilized society such as Rome or Greece: The science of geometry was well known to the ancients anciently adv The river was anciently worshipped as a god.

    ANGEL n attendant or messenger of God, usually represented as a human being with wings: The church was decorated with paintings of angels. angelic adj 1 to do with angels: The music represents the singing of an angelic choir. 2 as beautiful or good as an angel: She was hardly an angelic child. angelically adv The lady in the portrait was angelically beautiful.

    ANGRY adj 1 showing or feeling anger: I wonder why he looks so angry. 2 appearing to be angry: The sky filled with dark, angry clouds. 3 sore: She showed the doctor an angry wound on her leg. angrily adv When I asked him to forgive me he just shook his head angrily.

    ANNOUNCE vb 1 make known: The results of the competition will be announced next week. 2 announce the arrival of a guest or the start of a radio or television programme: A pleasant voice announced that the weather forecast would follow the news bulletin. announcement n statement: I heard an announcement on the radio that the football match had been cancelled. announcer n person who announces: She got a job as a radio announcer. unannounced adj without warning: The hotel was unprepared for the unannounced arrival of a VIP.

    ANNUAL adj done, paid, lasting, happening, etc., once a year: The rock festival soon became an annual event. annual n 1 book brought out under the same title once every year: I got a superhero annual for Christmas. 2 plant that lives no longer than a year: She planted colourful annuals in pots at her front door. annually adv He buys a new car annually.

    ANONYMOUS adj 1 (of a person) having no known name: We speculated about the identity of the anonymous writer of the letter. 2 (of music, a book, painting, etc.) created by someone whose name is not known: The letter was anonymous. anonymously adv He replied anonymously to the letter in the newspaper. anonymity n condition of having no known name: She chose anonymity rather than revealing that she had written the book.

    ANSWER n 1 reply to a question, letter, etc.: He gave no answer when they asked for his name. 2 solution to a problem: I’ve found the answer to our organizational difficulties. answer vb 1 give an answer to: She answered my question with a nod. 2 respond to a call to the door, telephone, etc.: Isn’t anyone going to answer that phone? 3 respond to: My dog answers to ‘Rover’. The plane isn’t answering to the controls. 4 fit a description: He answers to this description exactly. answerable adj responsible for something or to someone: Find out who is answerable for this blunder. unanswerable adj not able to be answered: Children have a habit of asking unanswerable questions. unanswered not answered: The spokesman’s statement left us with some unanswered questions.

    ANTICIPATE vb 1 expect: I anticipate that he will arrive today. 2 act in expectation of: He anticipated his prize by spending the money before he won it. anticipation n 1 excited expectation: Fans were awaiting her next performance with great anticipation. 2 state of preparedness: Streets had been closed to traffic in anticipation of the demonstration.

    ANXIETY n 1 state of being very worried or nervous: Some people suffer from high anxiety before flying. 2 great eagerness: Her apparent bad temper was really a product of her anxiety to do a good job. anxious adj feeling anxiety: Are you feeling anxious about the exam? He was anxious to avoid any unnecessary delay. anxiously adv Students were anxiously awaiting their exam results. anxiousness n She showed great anxiousness to please her guests.

    APOLOGIZE vb say or write that you are sorry to someone or for something: The speaker apologized for the lack of a microphone. If I’ve hurt your feelings, I apologize. apologetic adj apologising: She was very apologetic for her late arrival. apologetically adv ‘It’s my fault,’ he apologetically admitted. apology n act of apologising: The bus company offered an apology for the loss of our luggage. unapologetic adj not sorry: He was totally unapologetic about his earlier criticisms.

    APPAL vb shock or horrify: He was appalled at the waste. appalling adj 1 shocking: The number of people who died in the air crash was appalling. 2 very great: The whole weekend was an appalling waste of time. appallingly adv The cost of the building reached an appallingly high total.

    APPARENT adj 1 clear to see or understand: It became apparent that the game was lost. 2 seeming: A last-minute holiday was the apparent reason for her leaving town. apparently adv Apparently, he had already cashed the cheque. What was the reason for her apparently unhappy response?

    APPEAL vb 1 ask or beg, especially for help: The beaten enemy appealed for mercy. 2 ask a higher person or court to change another’s decision: If I’m found guilty, I shall appeal. 3 please: The idea doesn’t appeal to me. appeal n 1 act of appealing: I appealed to her for help. The convicted criminal decided against an appeal. 2 n quality of being appealing: His offer didn’t hold any appeal for me. appealing adj pleasing or attractive: She looks very appealing in her new dress. appealingly adv ‘Won’t you help us?’ she asked appealingly. The room was very appealingly furnished. unappealing adj not pleasing or attractive: I found his style of writing rather unappealing.

    APPEAR vb 1 be in view or come into view: A ship appeared on the horizon. 2 seem or look: The story appears to be true. 3 be brought out or be produced: Most newspapers appear every day. 4 present yourself in a play, etc., or in court: She is appearing in a new film this month. appearance n 1 act or state of appearing: We were surprised by her unexpected appearance at our front door. 2 how someone or something looks: You should do something about your untidy appearance. non-appearance n failure to appear: Passengers were complaining about the non-appearance of the nine o’clock bus. See also DISAPPEAR.

    APPLAUD vb express your approval of a play, concert, etc., especially by clapping your hands: The audience applauded at the end of the song. applause n noise of clapping your hands to applaud: The applause at the end of the first act was deafening.

    APPLY vb 1 be intended or suitable for; have to do with: These rules apply to everyone. 2 ask formally for: You apply to the government for a licence. 3 put onto: Apply oil to all moving parts. 4 use in

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