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VOA Special EnglishVOA Special English 基础词汇手册
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VOA Special English 基础词汇手册

©2001 Voice Of America, ©2005 Merriam-Webster Inc.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Parts of Speech
Prefixes
Expressions
Science Words
Organs of the Body

PARTS OF SPEECH

  • n. (noun) - a name word
  • v. (verb) - an action word
  • ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word
  • prep. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation
  • pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun
  • conj. (conjunction) - a joining word

注:用鼠标左键点击带有下划线的单词词条即可听到发音

A

  • a - ad. one; any; each
  • able - v. having the power to do something
  • about - ad. almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the weather.")
  • above - ad. at a higher place
  • accept - v. to agree to receive
  • accident - n. something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event
  • accuse - v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a statement against someone
  • across - ad. from side to side; to the other side
  • act - v. to do something
  • activist - n. one who seeks change through action
  • actor - n. someone acting in a play or show
  • add - v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more
  • administration - n. the executive part of a government, usually headed by a president or prime minister
  • admit - v. to accept ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.")
  • adult - n. a grown person
  • advise - v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision
  • affect - v. to produce an effect on; to influence ("A lack of sleep affected the singer's performance.")
  • afraid - ad. feeling fear
  • after - ad. later; behind
  • again - ad. another time; as before
  • against - ad. opposed to; not agreeing with something
  • age - n. how old a person or thing is
  • agency - n. an organization that is part of a larger group ("an agency of the United Nations")
  • aggression - n. an attack against a person or country; the violation of a country's borders
  • ago - ad. of time past; before now
  • agree - v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something
  • agriculture - n. farming
  • aid - v. to help; to support; n. help, assistance
  • aim - v. to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose
  • air - n. the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that we breathe
  • air force - n. a military organization using airplanes
  • airplane - n. a vehicle with wings that flies
  • airport - n. a place where airplanes take off and land
  • album - n. a collection of recorded music
  • alcohol - n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or in industrial products
  • alive - ad. having life; not dead
  • all - ad. everything; everyone; the complete amount
  • ally - n. a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose
  • almost - ad. a little less than completely
  • alone - ad. separated from others
  • along - ad. near or on ("along the road")
  • already - ad. before now; even now
  • also - ad. added to; too
  • although - conj. even if it is true that
  • always - ad. at all times; every time
  • ambassador - n. a nation's highest diplomatic representative (to another government)
  • amend - v. to add to or to change (a proposal or law)
  • ammunition - n. the bullets or shells fired from guns
  • among - ad. in or part of (a group)
  • amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything
  • anarchy - n. a lack of order; lawlessness
  • ancestor - n. a family member from the past
  • ancient - ad. very old; long ago
  • and - conj. also; in addition to; with
  • anger - n. a strong emotion against someone or something
  • animal - n. a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat
  • anniversary - n. a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in the past
  • announce - v. to make known publicly; to declare officially
  • another - ad. one more; a different one
  • answer - n. a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after being asked a question
  • any - ad. one or more of no special kind
  • apologize - v. to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts responsibility
  • appeal - v. to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on somebody for help
  • appear - v. to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem
  • appoint - v. to name; to choose ("appoint a judge")
  • approve - v. to agree with; to agree to support
  • archeology - n. the scientific study of past human life and activities
  • area - n. any place or part of it
  • argue - v. to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree
  • arms - n. military equipment; weapons
  • army - n. military ground forces
  • around - ad. on every side (of)
  • arrest - v. to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner
  • arrive - v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip
  • art - n. expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or statues
  • artillery - n. big guns
  • as - conj. equally ("as fast as"); when; while
  • ash - n. the part left after something burns
  • ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions every day.")
  • assist - v. to help
  • astronaut - n. a person who travels in space
  • astronomy - n. the scientific study of stars and the universe
  • asylum - n. political protection given by a government to a person from another country
  • at - prep. in or near ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon")
  • atmosphere - n. the gases surrounding any star or planet
  • attach - v. to tie together; to connect
  • attack - n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight
  • attempt - v. to work toward something; to try; to make an effort
  • attend - v. to be present at
  • automobile - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car
  • autumn - n. the time of the year between summer and winter
  • average - n. something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common; normal
  • avoid - v. to stay away from
  • awake - ad. not sleeping
  • award - n. an honor or prize for an act or service
  • away - ad. not near

B

  • baby - n. a newly born creature
  • back - n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward
  • bad - ad. wrong; acting against the law; not good
  • balance - v. to make two sides or forces equal
  • ball - n. something round
  • balloon - n. a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air
  • ballot - n. a piece of paper used for voting
  • ban - v. to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction
  • bank - n. an organization that keeps and lends money
  • bar - v. to prevent or block
  • barrier - n. anything that blocks or makes an action difficult
  • base - n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact ("Her research was based on experiments.")
  • battle - n. a fight between opposing armed forces
  • be - v. to live; to happen; to exist
  • beat - v. to hit again and again
  • beauty - ad. that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit
  • because - prep. for the reason that ("He left because he was sick.")
  • become - v. to come to be
  • bed - n. a sleeping place
  • before - prep. earlier
  • begin - v. to do the first part of an action; to start
  • behind - ad. at the back of; in back of
  • believe - v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust
  • bell - n. an instrument that makes a musical sound ("a church bell")
  • belong - v. to be owned by; to be a member of
  • below - ad. lower than
  • best - ad. the most good
  • betray - v. to turn against; to be false to
  • better - ad. more good than
  • between - ad. in the space or time that separates; from one to the other ("talks between two nations")
  • big - ad. of great size; not small
  • bill - n. a legislative proposal
  • biology - n. the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms
  • bird - n. a creature that flies
  • bite - v. to cut with the teeth
  • black - ad. dark; having the color like that of the night sky
  • blame - v. to accuse; to hold responsible
  • blanket - n. a cloth cover used to keep warm
  • bleed - v. to lose blood
  • blind - ad. not able to see
  • block - v. to stop something from being done; to prevent movement
  • blood - n. red fluid in the body
  • blow - v. to move with force, as in air ("The wind blows.")
  • blue - ad. having the color like that of a clear sky
  • boat - n. something built to travel on water that carries people or goods
  • body - n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal
  • boil - v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot
  • bomb - n. a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with bombs
  • bone - n. the hard material in the body
  • book - n. a long written work for reading
  • border - n. a dividing line between nations
  • born - v. to come to life; to come into existence
  • borrow - v. to take as a loan
  • both - ad. not just one of two, but the two together
  • bottle - n. a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid
  • bottom - ad. the lowest part of something
  • box - n. something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or wood
  • boy - n. a young male person
  • boycott - v. to refuse to take part in or deal with
  • brain - n. the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures
  • brave - ad. having no fear
  • bread - n. a food made from grain
  • break - v. to divide into parts by force; to destroy
  • breathe - v. to take air into the body and let it out again
  • bridge - n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other
  • brief - ad. short; not long
  • bright - ad. giving much light; strong and clear in color
  • bring - v. to come with something
  • broadcast - v. to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a radio or television program
  • brother - n. a male with the same father or mother as another person
  • brown - ad. having the color like that of coffee
  • budget - n. a spending plan
  • build - v. to join materials together to make something
  • building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment
  • bullet - n. a small piece of metal shot from a gun
  • burn - v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire
  • burst - v. to break open suddenly
  • bury - v. to put into the ground and cover with earth
  • bus - n. a public vehicle to carry people
  • business - n. one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade
  • busy - ad. doing something; very active
  • but - conj. however; other than; yet
  • buy - v. to get by paying something, usually money
  • by - conj. near; at; next to ("by the road"); from ("a play by William Shakespeare"); not later than ("by midnight")

C

  • cabinet - n. a group of ministers that helps lead a government
  • call - v. to give a name to ("I call myself John."); to ask for or request ("They called for an end to the fighting.")
  • calm - ad. quiet; peaceful; opposite tense
  • camera - n. a device for taking pictures
  • camp - n. a place with temporary housing
  • campaign - n. a competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; a connected series of military actions during a war
  • can - v. to be able to; to have the right to; n. a container used to hold liquid or food, usually made of metal
  • cancel - v. to end; to stop
  • cancer - n. a disease in which dangerous cells grow quickly and destroy parts of the body
  • candidate - n. a person who seeks or is nominated for an office or an honor
  • capital - n. the official center of a government; the city where a country's government is
  • capitalism - n. an economic system in which the production of most goods and services is owned and operated for profit by private citizens or companies
  • capture - v. to make a person or animal a prisoner; to seize or take by force; to get control of
  • car - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; an automobile; a part of a train
  • care - v. to like; to protect; to feel worry or interest
  • careful - ad. acting safely; with much thought
  • carry - v. to take something or someone from one place to another
  • case (court) - n. a legal action
  • case (medical) - n. an incident of disease ("There was only one case of chicken pox at the school.")
  • cat - n. a small animal that often lives with humans
  • catch - v. to seize after a chase; to stop and seize with the hands
  • cause - v. to make happen; n. the thing or person that produces a result
  • cease-fire - n. a halt in fighting, usually by agreement
  • celebrate - v. to honor a person or event with special activities
  • center - n. the middle of something; the place in the middle; a place that is the main point of an activity
  • century - n. one hundred years
  • ceremony - n. an act or series of acts done in a special way established by tradition
  • chairman - n. a person leading a meeting or an organized group
  • champion - n. the best; the winner
  • chance - n. a possibility of winning or losing or that something will happen
  • change - v. to make different; to become different
  • charge - v. to accuse someone of something, usually a crime; n. a statement in which someone is accused of something
  • chase - v. to run or go after someone or something
  • cheat - v. to get by a trick; to steal from
  • cheer - v. to shout approval or praise
  • chemical - n. elements found in nature or made by people; substances used in the science of chemistry
  • chemistry - n. the scientific study of substances, what they are made of, how they act under different conditions, and how they form other substances
  • chief - n. the head or leader of a group; ad. leading; most important
  • child - n. a baby; a boy or girl
  • children - n. more than one child
  • choose - v. to decide between two or more
  • circle - n. a closed shape that has all its points equally distant from the center, like an "O"
  • citizen - n. a person who is a member of a country by birth or by law
  • city - n. any important large town
  • civilian - ad. not military
  • civil rights - n. the political, economic and social rights given equally to all people of a nation
  • claim - v. to say something as a fact
  • clash - n. a battle; v. to fight or oppose
  • clean - v. to make pure; ad. free from dirt or harmful substances ("clean water")
  • clear - ad. easy to see or see through; easily understood
  • clergy - n. a body of officials within a religious organization
  • climate - n. the normal weather conditions of a place
  • climb - v. to go up or down something by using the feet and sometimes the hands
  • clock - n. a device that measures and shows time
  • close - v. to make something not open; ad. near to
  • cloth - n. a material made from plants, chemicals, animal hair and other substances
  • clothes - n. what people wear
  • cloud - n. a mass of fog high in the sky
  • coal - n. a solid black substance used as fuel
  • coalition - n. forces, groups or nations joined together
  • coast - n. land on the edge of the ocean
  • coffee - n. a drink made from the plant of the same name
  • cold - ad. not warm; having or feeling great coolness or a low temperature
  • collect - v. to bring or gather together in one place; to demand and receive ("collect taxes")
  • college - n. a small university
  • colony - n. land controlled by another country or government
  • color - n. the different effects of light on the eye, making blue, red, brown, black, yellow and others
  • combine - v. to mix or bring together
  • come - v. to move toward; to arrive
  • command - v. to order; to have power over something
  • comment - v. to say something about; to express an opinion about something
  • committee - n. a group of people given special work
  • common - ad. usual; same for all ("a common purpose")
  • communicate - v. to tell; to give or exchange information
  • community - n. a group of people living together in one place or area
  • company - n. a business organized for trade, industrial or other purposes
  • compare - v. to examine what is different or similar
  • compete - v. to try to do as well as, or better than, another or others
  • complete - ad. having all parts; ended or finished
  • complex - ad. of or having many parts that are difficult to understand; not simple
  • compromise - n. the settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded
  • computer - n. an electronic machine for storing and organizing information, and for communicating with others
  • concern - n. interest, worry ("express concern about"); v. to fear ("to be concerned")
  • condemn - v. to say a person or action is wrong or bad
  • condition - n. something declared necessary to complete an agreement; a person's health
  • conference - n. a meeting
  • confirm - v. to approve; to say that something is true
  • conflict - n. a fight; a battle, especially a long one
  • congratulate - v. to praise a person or to express pleasure for success or good luck
  • Congress - n. the organization of people elected to make the laws of the United States (the House of Representatives and the Senate); a similar organization in other countries
  • connect - v. to join one thing to another; to unite; to link
  • conservative - n. one who usually supports tradition and opposes great change
  • consider - v. to give thought to; to think about carefully
  • constitution - n. the written general laws and ideas that form a nation's system of government
  • contain - v. to hold; to include
  • container - n. a box, bottle or can used to hold something
  • continent - n. any of the seven great land areas of the world
  • continue - v. to go on doing or being
  • control - v. to direct; to have power over
  • convention - n. a large meeting for a special purpose
  • cook - v. to heat food before eating it
  • cool - ad. almost cold
  • cooperate - v. to act or work together
  • copy - v. to make something exactly like another; n. something made to look exactly like another
  • corn - n. a food grain
  • correct - ad. true; free from mistakes; v. to change to what is right
  • cost - n. the price or value of something ("The cost of the book is five dollars."); v. to be valued at ("The book costs five dollars.")
  • cotton - n. a material made from a plant of the same name
  • count - v. to speak or add numbers
  • country - n. a nation; the territory of a nation; land away from cities
  • court - n. where trials take place; where judges make decisions about law
  • cover - v. to put something over a person or thing; n. anything that is put over a person or thing
  • cow - n. a farm animal used for its milk
  • crash - v. to fall violently; to hit with great force
  • create - v. to make; to give life or form to
  • creature - n. any living being; any animal or human
  • credit - n. an agreement that payments will be made at a later time
  • crew - n. a group of people working together
  • crime - n. an act that violates a law
  • criminal - n. a person who is responsible for a crime
  • crisis - n. an extremely important time when something may become much better or worse; a dangerous situation
  • criticize - v. to say what is wrong with something or someone; to condemn; to judge
  • crop - n. plants that are grown and gathered for food, such as grains, fruits and vegetables
  • cross - v. to go from one side to another; to go across
  • crowd - n. a large number of people gathered in one place
  • crush - v. to damage or destroy by great weight; to defeat completely
  • cry - v. to express or show sorrow or pain
  • culture - n. all the beliefs, traditions and arts of a group or population
  • cure - v. to improve health; to make well ("The doctor can cure the disease."); n. something that makes a sick person well ("Antibiotics are a cure for infection.")
  • curfew - n. an order to people to stay off the streets or to close their businesses
  • current - n. movement of air, water or electricity; ad. belonging to the present time ("She found the report in a current publication.")
  • custom - n. a long-established belief or activity of a people
  • customs - n. taxes on imports
  • cut - v. to divide or injure with a sharp tool; to make less; to reduce

D

  • dam - n. a wall built across a river to hold back flowing water
  • damage - v. to cause injury or destruction; n. harm; hurt or injury, usually to things
  • dance - v. to move the body and feet to music; n. a series of steps, usually to music
  • danger - n. a strong chance of suffering injury, damage or loss
  • dark - ad. having little or no light ("The room was dark.")
  • date - n. an expression of time; a day, month and year
  • daughter - n. a person's female child
  • day - n. twenty-four hours; the hours of sunlight
  • dead - ad. not living
  • deaf - ad. not able to hear
  • deal - v. to have to do with ("The talks will deal with the problem of pollution."); to buy or sell ("Her company deals in plastic.")
  • debate - v. to argue for or against something; n. a public discussion or argument
  • debt - n. something that is owed; the condition of owing
  • decide - v. to choose; to settle; to judge
  • declare - v. to say; to make a statement
  • decrease - v. to make less in size or amount
  • deep - ad. going far down; a long way from top to bottom
  • defeat - v. to cause to lose in a battle or struggle; n. a loss; the condition of having lost
  • defend - v. to guard or fight against attack; to protect
  • deficit - n. a shortage that results when spending is greater than earnings, or imports are greater than exports
  • define - v. to give the meaning of; to explain
  • degree - n. a measure of temperature
  • delay - v. to decide to do something at a later time; to postpone; to cause to be late
  • delegate - n. one sent to act for another; one who represents another
  • demand - v. to ask by ordering; to ask with force
  • democracy - n. the system of government in which citizens vote to choose leaders or to make other important decisions
  • demonstrate - v. to make a public show of opinions or feelings ("The crowd demonstrated in support of human rights."); to explain by using examples ("The teacher demonstrated the idea with an experiment.")
  • denounce - v. to accuse of being wrong or evil; to criticize severely
  • deny - v. to declare that something is not true; to refuse a request
  • depend - v. to need help and support
  • deplore - v. to regret strongly; to express sadness
  • deploy - v. to move forces or weapons into positions for action
  • depression - n. severe unhappiness; a period of reduced business and economic activity during which many people lose their jobs
  • describe - v. to give a word picture of something; to give details of something
  • desert - n. a dry area of land
  • design - v. to plan or create plans for
  • desire - v. to want very much; to wish for
  • destroy - v. to break into pieces; to end the existence of
  • detail - n. a small part of something; a small piece of information
  • develop - v. to grow; to create; to experience progress
  • device - n. a piece of equipment made for a special purpose
  • dictator - n. a ruler with complete power
  • die - v. to become dead; to stop living; to end
  • diet - n. usual daily food and drink
  • different - ad. not the same
  • difficult - ad. not easy; hard to do, make or carry out
  • dig - v. to make a hole in the ground
  • dinner - n. the main amount of food eaten at a usual time ("The family had its dinner at noon."); a special event that includes food ("The official dinner took place at the White House.")
  • diplomat - n. a person who represents his or her government in dealing with another government
  • direct - v. to lead; to aim or show the way ("He directed me to the theater."); ad. straight to something; not through some other person or thing ("The path is direct.")
  • direction - n. the way (east, west, north, south); where someone or something came from or went to
  • dirt - n. earth or soil
  • disappear - v. to become unseen; to no longer exist
  • disarm - v. to take away weapons; to no longer keep weapons; to make a bomb harmless by removing its exploding device
  • discover - v. to find or learn something
  • discuss - v. to talk about; to exchange ideas
  • disease - n. a sickness in living things, often caused by viruses, germs or bacteria
  • dismiss - v. to send away; to refuse to consider
  • dispute - v. to oppose strongly by argument; n. an angry debate
  • dissident - n. a person who strongly disagrees with his or her government
  • distance - n. the amount of space between two places or objects ("The distance from my house to your house is two kilometers.")
  • dive - v. to jump into water head first
  • divide - v. to separate into two or more parts
  • do - v. to act; to make an effort
  • doctor - n. a person trained in medicine to treat sick people
  • document - n. an official piece of paper with facts written on it, used as proof or support of something
  • dog - n. a small animal that often lives with humans
  • dollar - n. United States money, one hundred cents
  • door - n. an opening for entering or leaving a building or room
  • down - ad. from higher to lower; in a low place
  • dream - v. to have a picture or story in the mind during sleep; n. a picture or story in the mind during sleep; a happy idea about the future
  • drink - v. to take liquid into the body through the mouth
  • drive - v. to control a moving vehicle
  • drop - v. to fall or let fall; to go lower
  • drown - v. to die under water
  • drug - n. anything used as a medicine or in making medicine; a chemical substance used to ease pain or to affect the mind
  • dry - ad. not wet; without rain
  • during - ad. through the whole time; while (something is happening)
  • dust - n. pieces of matter so small that they can float in the air
  • duty - n. one's job or responsibility; what one must do because it is right and just

E

  • each - ad. every one by itself
  • early - ad. at or near the beginning, especially the beginning of the day; opposite late
  • earn - v. to be paid in return for work done
  • earth - n. the planet we all live on; the ground or soil
  • earthquake - n. a sudden, violent shaking of the earth's surface
  • ease - v. to reduce; to make less difficult
  • east - n. the direction from which the sun rises
  • easy - ad. not difficult; not hard to do
  • eat - v. to take food into the body through the mouth
  • ecology - n. the scientific study of the environment and links among living and material things
  • economy - n. the system by which money, industry and trade are organized
  • edge - n. the line where something ends or begins
  • education - n. the act of teaching
  • effect - n. the result or change caused by something ("The storm had a serious effect on the economy.")
  • effort - n. an attempt; the work necessary to do something
  • egg - n. the rounded object containing unborn young produced by female birds, fish or reptiles; a single cell in a female person or animal that can develop into a baby
  • either - ad. one of two, but not the other
  • elect - v. to choose by voting
  • electricity - n. a form of energy that flows through wires to provide heat and light, and power to machines
  • embassy - n. the offices of an ambassador and his or her assistants
  • emergency - n. an unexpected and dangerous situation demanding quick action
  • emotion - n. a strong feeling such as love, hate, fear or sadness
  • employ - v. to give work in return for wages
  • empty - ad. having nothing inside; v. to remove everything
  • end - v. to stop; to finish; n. the part which comes last
  • enemy - n. a person opposing or hating another; a person or people of the other side in a war
  • energy - n. power used to do work, usually with machines; the ability and willingness to be active
  • enforce - v. to make something be done
  • engine - n. a machine that uses energy to cause movement or to do work
  • engineer - n. a person who designs engines, machines, roads, bridges or railroads
  • enjoy - v. to be pleased or satisfied by something
  • enough - ad. as much as necessary; pro. the amount needed
  • enter - v. to come or go into
  • environment - n. all surrounding things, conditions and influences that affect life; the natural world of land, sea, air, plants and animals
  • equal - ad. the same in amount, size, weight or value; having the same rights
  • equipment - n. things, tools or machines needed for a purpose or activity
  • escape - v. to get free; to get away from; to get out of
  • especially - ad. more than others ("We liked the food, especially the fish.")
  • establish - v. to bring into existence; to create
  • estimate - v. to form an opinion about a value, size or amount using less than complete information
  • ethnic - ad. of or concerning people belonging to a large group because of their race, religion, language, tribe or where their ancestors lived
  • evaporate - v. to change from a liquid into a gas
  • even - ad. in a way not thought possible ("They survived, even though the building was destroyed.")
  • event - n. that which happens, especially something of importance
  • ever - ad. at any time
  • every - ad. each one; all
  • evidence - n. material or facts that prove something; a reason for believing
  • evil - ad. not good; extremely bad
  • exact - ad. having no mistakes; correct in every detail
  • examine - v. to study closely
  • example - n. a part that shows what the rest of a thing or group is like
  • excellent - ad. extremely good
  • except - prep. but for
  • exchange - v. to trade; to give or receive one thing for another
  • excuse - v. to take away blame; to pardon; to forgive; n. a reason (sometimes false) for an action
  • execute - v. to kill
  • exercise - n. an activity or effort for the purpose of improving the body or to stay in good health
  • exile - v. to force a person to leave his or her country; to expel; n. a person who is forced to leave his or her country
  • exist - v. to be; to live
  • expand - v. to make larger; to grow larger
  • expect - v. to think or believe that something will happen; to wait for an event
  • expel - v. to force out; to remove from; to send away
  • experience - v. to live through an event, situation or condition ("She experienced great pain."); n. something that one has done or lived through ("The experience caused her great pain.")
  • experiment - v. to test; n. a test or trial carried out to prove if an idea is true or false, or to discover something
  • expert - n. a person with special knowledge or training
  • explain - v. to give reasons for; to make clear; to tell about; to tell the meaning
  • explode - v. to break apart violently with a loud noise, like a bomb
  • explore - v. to travel in a place that is not well known to learn more about it; to make a careful search; to examine closely
  • export - v. to send to another country; n. something sent to another country, usually for sale
  • express - v. to say clearly
  • extend - v. to stretch out in area or length; to continue for a longer time
  • extra - ad. more than normal, expected or necessary
  • extreme - ad. more than the usual or accepted
  • extremist - n. a person with strong religious or political beliefs who acts in an extreme or violent way

F

  • face - n. the front of the head: eyes, nose, mouth; v. to look toward; to turn toward; to have before you, such as a problem or danger
  • fact - n. something known or proved to be true
  • factory - n. a building or group of buildings where goods are made
  • fail - v. to not succeed; to not reach a goal
  • fair - ad. just; honest; what is right
  • fall - v. to go down quickly; to come down; to drop to the ground or a lower position
  • false - ad. not true; not correct
  • family - n. the group that includes children and their parents
  • famous - ad. known very well to many people
  • far - ad. at, to or from a great distance
  • farm - n. land used to grow crops and animals for food
  • fast - ad. moving or working at great speed; quick
  • fat - n. tissue in the bodies of humans and animals used to store energy and to keep warm; ad. thick; heavy
  • father - n. the male parent; a man who has a child or children
  • fear - v. to be afraid; to worry that something bad is near or may happen ("He feared falling down."); n. a strong emotion when there is danger or trouble ("He had a fear that he would fall down.")
  • federal - ad. of or having to do with a national or central government
  • feed - v. to give food to
  • feel - v. to have or experience an emotion; to know by touching
  • female - n. a woman or girl; the sex that gives birth; ad. of or about women
  • fence - n. something around an area of land to keep animals or people in or out
  • fertile - ad. rich in production of plants or animals; producing much
  • few - ad. not many; a small number of
  • field - n. an area of open land, usually used to grow crops or to raise animals
  • fierce - ad. extremely strong; violent; angry
  • fight - v. to use violence or force; to attempt to defeat or destroy an enemy; n. the use of force; a battle
  • fill - v. to put or pour something into a container until there is space for no more
  • film - v. to record something so it can be seen again; to make a motion picture or movie; n. a thin piece of material for making pictures with a camera; a movie
  • final - ad. at the end; last
  • financial - ad. of or about the system that includes the use of money, credit, investments and banks
  • find - v. to discover or learn something by searching or by accident; to decide a court case ("The jury finds the man guilty of murder.")
  • fine - n. a payment ordered by a court to punish someone for a crime; ad. very good; very small or thin
  • finish - v. to complete; to end
  • fire - v. to shoot a gun; n. the heat and light produced by something burning
  • firework - n. rockets producing bright fire in the sky, used in holiday celebrations
  • firm - ad. not easily moved or changed ("She is firm in her opinion.")
  • first - ad. coming before all others
  • fish - n. a creature that lives and can breathe in water
  • fit - v. to be of the correct size or shape ("These shoes fit my feet.")
  • fix - v. to make good or right again
  • flag - n. a piece of colored cloth used to represent a nation, government or organization
  • flat - ad. smooth; having no high places
  • flee - v. to run away from
  • float - v. to be on water without sinking; to move or be moved gently on water or through air
  • flood - v. to cover with water; n. the movement of water out of a river, lake or ocean onto land
  • floor - n. the bottom part of a room for walking on ("The book fell to the floor."); the level of a building ("The fire was on the first floor.")
  • flow - v. to move like a liquid
  • flower - n. the colored part of plants that carry seeds
  • fluid - n. any substance that can flow, such as a liquid
  • fly - v. to move through the air with wings, like a bird or airplane; to travel in an airplane or flying vehicle
  • fog - n. a mass of wet air that is difficult to see through; a cloud close to the ground
  • follow - v. to come or go after; to accept the rule or power of; to obey
  • food - n. that which is taken in by all living things for energy, strength and growth
  • fool - v. to make someone believe something that is not true; to trick; n. a person who is tricked easily
  • foot - n. the bottom part of the leg; the part of the body that touches the ground when a person or animal walks
  • for - prep. because of ("He is famous for his work."); in exchange ("Give me one dollar for the book."); through space or time ("They travelled for one hour."); representative of ("I speak for all people."); to be employed by ("She works for a computer company.")
  • force - v. to make someone do something or make something happen by using power; n. power, strength; strength used against a person or object; military power of a nation; a military group
  • foreign - ad. of, about or from another nation; not from one's own place or country
  • forest - n. a place of many trees
  • forget - v. to not remember
  • forgive - v. to pardon; to excuse; to remove guilt
  • form - v. to make; to start; to shape ("They formed a swim team."); n. a kind ("Swimming is a form of exercise.")
  • former - ad. earlier in time; not now
  • forward - ad. the direction in front of; toward the front
  • free - v. to release; ad. not controlled by another or by outside forces; not in prison; independent; not limited by rules; without cost
  • freedom - n. the condition of being free
  • freeze - v. to cause or to become very cold; to make or to become hard by cold
  • fresh - ad. newly made or gathered; recent
  • friend - n. a person one likes and trusts
  • frighten - v. to cause great fear
  • from - prep. having a person, place or thing as a beginning or cause ("It is a message from the president."); at a place distant, not near ("The school is five kilometers from my home."); because of ("He is suffering from cancer.")
  • front - n. the forward part; the opposite of back; the beginning; the first part
  • fruit - n. food from trees and plants
  • fuel - n. any substance burned to create heat or power
  • full - ad. containing as much as a person or thing can hold; complete
  • fun - n. anything that is pleasing and causes happiness
  • funeral - n. a ceremony held in connection with the burial or burning of the dead
  • future - n. time after now ("We can talk about it in the future."); ad. in the time to come ("All future meetings will be held in this room.")

G

  • gain - v. to get possession of; to get more; to increase
  • game - n. an activity with rules in which people or teams play or compete, usually sports
  • gas - n. any substance that is not solid or liquid; any substance that burns to provide heat, light or power
  • gather - v. to bring or come together into a group or place; to collect
  • general - n. a high military leader; ad. without details; affecting or including all or almost all
  • gentle - ad. soft; kind; not rough or violent
  • get - v. to receive; to gain; to go and bring back; to become; to become the owner of
  • gift - n. something given without cost
  • girl - n. a young female person
  • give - v. to present to another to keep without receiving payment
  • glass - n. a hard, clear material that is easily broken, used most often for windows or for containers to hold liquids
  • go - v. to move from one place to another; to leave
  • goal - n. that toward which an effort is directed; that which is aimed at; the end of a trip or race
  • god - n. the spirit that is honored as creator of all things ("They believe in God."); a spirit or being believed in many religions to have special powers
  • gold - n. a highly valued yellow metal
  • good - ad. pleasing; helpful; kind; correct; not bad
  • goods - n. things owned or made to be sold
  • govern - v. to control; to rule by military or political power
  • government - n. a system of governing; the organization of people that rules a country, city or area
  • grain - n. the seed of grass plants used for food, such as wheat, rice and corn; those plants that produce the seeds
  • granddaughter - n. the daughter of a person's daughter or son
  • grandfather - n. the father of a person's father or mother
  • grandmother - n. the mother of a person's father or mother
  • grandson - n. the son of a person's daughter or son
  • grass - n. a plant with long, narrow, green leaves
  • gray - ad. having the color like that made by mixing black and white
  • great - ad. very large or more than usual in size or number; very good; important
  • green - ad. having the color like that made by mixing yellow and blue; having the color like that of growing leaves and grass
  • grind - v. to reduce to small pieces by crushing
  • ground - n. land; the earth's surface; soil
  • group - n. a number of people or things together; a gathering of people working for a common purpose
  • grow - v. to develop or become bigger; to increase in size or amount
  • guarantee - v. to promise a result; to promise that something will happen
  • guard - v. to watch and protect a person, place or thing ("He guards the president."); n. a person or thing that watches or protects ("He is a prison guard.")
  • guerrilla - n. a person who fights as part of an unofficial army, usually against an official army or police
  • guide - v. to lead to; to show the way; n. one who shows the way
  • guilty - ad. having done something wrong or in violation of a law; responsible for a bad action
  • gun - n. a weapon that shoots bullets

H

  • hair - n. the fine material that grows from the skin, especially from the head
  • half - n. one of two equal parts of something
  • halt - v. to come or cause to come to a stop; to stop
  • hang - v. to place something so the highest part is supported and the lower part is not; to kill by hanging
  • happen - v. to become a fact or event; to take place
  • happy - ad. pleased; satisfied; feeling good; not sad
  • hard - ad. not easily cut or broken; solid; difficult to do or understand; needing much effort or force
  • harm - v. to injure; to damage; n. damage; hurt
  • harvest - v. to gather crops; n. the crop after it is gathered
  • hat - n. a head cover
  • hate - v. to have strong emotions against; to consider as an enemy; opposite love
  • have - v. to possess; to own; to hold
  • he - pro. the boy or man who is being spoken about
  • head - v. to lead; to command; n. leader; chief; the top part of something; the highest position
  • headquarter - n. the center from which orders are given; the main offices of a business or organization
  • heal - v. to return to good health; to cure; to become well
  • health - n. the general condition of the body and mind; the condition of being free from sickness or disease
  • hear - v. to receive sound through the ears; to receive news about
  • heat - v. to make hot or warm; n. great warmth; that which is produced by burning fuel; energy from the sun
  • heavy - ad. having much weight; not easy to lift; of great amount or force
  • helicopter - n. a machine without wings that can fly up or down or remain in one place above the ground
  • help - v. to give support; to assist; to make easier; n. support; aid
  • here - ad. in, to or at this place
  • hero - n. a person honored for being brave or wise
  • hide - v. to prevent from being seen or found; to make secret
  • high - ad. tall; far up; far above the ground; important; above others
  • hijack - v. to seize or take control of a vehicle by force
  • hill - n. a small mountain
  • history - n. the written record or description of past events; the study of the past
  • hit - v. to strike; to touch with force
  • hold - v. to carry or support, usually in the hands or arms; to keep in one position; to keep as a prisoner; to contain; to possess; to occupy; to organize and be involved in ("The two sides hold talks this week.")
  • hole - n. an opening; a torn or broken place in something
  • holiday - n. a day when one does not work; a day on which no work is done to honor or remember a person or event
  • holy - ad. greatly honored in religion
  • home - n. the building where a person lives, especially with family; the place where one was born or comes from; the area or country where one lives
  • honest - ad. truthful; able to be trusted
  • honor - v. to obey; to show strong, good feelings for ("to honor one's parents"); n. an award; an act of giving special recognition ("He received many honors for his efforts to help others.")
  • hope - v. to expect; to believe there is a good chance that something will happen as wanted; to want something to happen
  • horrible - ad. causing great fear; terrible
  • horse - n. a large animal often used for racing, riding or farm work
  • hospital - n. a place where sick or injured people are given medical care
  • hostage - n. a person captured and held as a guarantee that a demand or promise will be honored
  • hostile - ad. ready to fight; ready for war
  • hot - ad. having or feeling great heat or a high temperature
  • hotel - n. a building with rooms, and often food, for travellers
  • hour - n. a measure of time; sixty minutes
  • house - n. a building in which people live; a country's parliament or lawmaking group ("House of Representatives")
  • how - ad. in what way; to what amount
  • however - conj. yet; but
  • huge - ad. very big; of great size
  • human - ad. of or about people
  • humor - n. the ability to understand, enjoy or express what makes people laugh
  • hunger - n. the need for food
  • hunt - v. to search for animals to capture or kill them; to seek; to try to find
  • hurry - v. to do or go fast
  • hurt - v. to cause pain, injury or damage
  • husband - n. a man who is married

I

  • I - pro. the person speaking
  • ice - n. frozen water
  • idea - n. a thought or picture in the mind; a belief
  • identify - v. to recognize someone or something and to say who or what they are
  • if - conj. on condition; provided that ("I will go if you go.")
  • illegal - ad. not legal; in violation of a law
  • imagine - v. to make a picture in the mind; to form an idea
  • immediate - ad. without delay; very near in time or place
  • import - v. to bring from another country; n. something brought from another country, usually for sale
  • important - ad. having great meaning, value or power
  • improve - v. to make better; to become better
  • in - prep. inside; held by; contained by; surrounded by; during
  • incident - n. an event or something that happens
  • incite - v. to urge or cause an action or emotion, usually something bad or violent
  • include - v. to have; to make a part of
  • increase - v. to make more in size or amount
  • independent - ad. not influenced by or controlled by another or others; free; separate
  • individual - n. one person
  • industry - n. any business that produces goods or provides services; the work and related activity in factories and offices; all organizations involved in manufacturing
  • infect - v. to make sick with something that causes disease
  • inflation - n. a continuing rise in prices while the value of money goes down
  • influence - v. to have an effect on someone or something; to cause change
  • inform - v. to tell; to give knowledge to
  • information - n. knowledge; facts
  • inject - v. to force a fluid into, such as putting medicine or drugs into the body through the skin
  • injure - v. to cause harm or damage to a person or animal
  • innocent - ad. not guilty of a crime; not responsible for a bad action
  • insane - ad. mentally sick
  • insect - n. a very small creature, usually with many legs and sometimes with wings
  • inspect - v. to look at something carefully; to examine, especially by an expert
  • instead - ad. in the place of; taking the place of
  • instrument - n. a tool or device designed to do something or to make something
  • insult - v. to say something or to do something that makes another person angry or dishonored
  • intelligence - n. the ability to think or learn; information gathered by spying
  • intelligent - ad. quick to understand or learn
  • intense - ad. very strong; extremely serious
  • interest - n. what is important to someone ("He acted to protect his interests." "She had a great interest in painting."); a share in owning a business; money paid for the use of money borrowed
  • interfere - v. to get in the way of; to work against; to take part in the activities of others, especially when not asked to do so
  • international - ad. of or about more than one nation or many nations; of the whole world
  • intervene - v. to come between; to come between in order to settle or solve
  • invade - v. to enter an area or country by force with an army
  • invent - v. to plan and make something never made before; to create a new thing or way of doing something
  • invest - v. to give money to a business or organization with the hope of making more money
  • investigate - v. to study or examine all information about an event, situation or charge; to search for the truth
  • invite - v. to ask someone to take part in or join an event, organization or gathering
  • involve - v. to take part in; to become a part of; to include
  • iron - n. a strong, hard metal used to make machines and tools
  • island - n. a land area with water all around it
  • issue - n. an important problem or subject that people are discussing or arguing about
  • it - pro. a thing, place, event or idea that is being spoken about ("The sky is blue, but it also has a few white clouds.")

J

  • jail - n. a prison for those waiting to be tried for a crime or for those serving sentences for crimes that are not serious
  • jewel - n. a valuable stone, such as a diamond or emerald
  • job - n. the work that one does to earn money
  • join - v. to put together or come together; to become part of or a member of
  • joint - ad. shared by two or more
  • joke - n. something done or said to cause others to laugh
  • judge - v. to form an opinion about; to decide a question, especially a legal one; n. a public official who decides problems of law in a court
  • jump - v. to push down on the feet and move up quickly into the air
  • jury - n. a group of people chosen to decide what is true in a trial
  • just - ad. only ("Help me for just a minute."); very shortly before or after the present ("He just left."); at the same time ("He left just as I came in."); what is right or fair ("The law is just, in my opinion.")

K

  • keep - v. to possess; to have for oneself
  • kick - v. to hit with the foot
  • kidnap - v. to seize and take away by force
  • kill - v. to make dead; to cause to die
  • kind - n. sort ("What kind of dog is that?"); ad. gentle; caring; helpful
  • kiss - v. to touch with the mouth to show love or honor
  • knife - n. a tool or weapon used to cut
  • know - v. to understand something as correct; to have the facts about; to recognize someone because you have met and talked together before
  • knowledge - n. that which is known; learning or understanding

L

  • labor - n. work; workers as a group
  • laboratory - n. a room or place where experiments in science are done
  • lack - v. to be without; n. the condition of needing, wanting or not having
  • lake - n. a large area of fresh water surrounded by land
  • land - v. to come to the earth from the air ("Airplanes land at airports."); n. the part of the earth not covered by water; the ground
  • language - n. words and their use; what people speak in a country, nation or group
  • large - ad. big; being of more than usual size, amount or number; opposite small
  • last - v. to continue ("The talks will last three days."); ad. after all others; the only one remaining ("She is the last person in line.")
  • late - ad. after the correct time; near the end; opposite early
  • laugh - v. to make sounds to express pleasure or happy feelings
  • launch - v. to put into operation; to begin; to send into the air or space
  • law - n. all or any rules made by a government
  • lead - v. to show the way; to command; to control; to go first
  • leak - v. to come out of or to escape through a small opening or hole (usually a gas or liquid)
  • learn - v. to get knowledge about; to come to know a fact or facts
  • leave - v. to go away from; to let something stay where it is
  • left - ad. on the side that is toward the west when one is facing north; opposite right
  • legal - ad. of or in agreement with the law
  • legislature - n. a government lawmaking group
  • lend - v. to permit someone to use a thing temporarily; to make a loan of money
  • less - ad. smaller in amount; not as much
  • let - v. to permit to do or to be; to make possible
  • letter - n. a message written on paper; a communication in writing sent to another person
  • level - n. the amount or height that something reaches or rises to; the position of something or someone
  • liberal - ad. one who usually supports social progress or change
  • lie - v. to have one's body on the ground or other surface; to say something that one knows is not true
  • life - n. the time between being born and dying; opposite death; all living things
  • lift - v. to take or bring up to a higher place or level
  • light - n. a form of energy that affects the eyes so that one is able to see; anything that produces light; ad. bright; clear; not heavy
  • lightning - n. light produced by electricity in the air, usually during a storm
  • like - v. to be pleased with; to have good feelings for someone or something; ad. in the same way as; similar to
  • limit - v. to restrict to a number or amount; n. the greatest amount or number permitted
  • line - n. a long, thin mark on a surface; a number of people or things organized; one after another; the edge of an area protected by military forces
  • link - v. to connect; to unite one thing or event with another; n. a relation between two or more things, situations or events
  • liquid - n. a substance that is not a solid or gas, and can move freely, like water
  • list - v. to put in writing a number of names of people or things; n. a written series of names or things
  • listen - v. to try to hear
  • literature - n. all the poems, stories and writings of a period of time or of a country
  • little - ad. not tall or big; a small amount
  • live - v. to have life; to exist; ad. having life; alive
  • load - v. to put objects on or into a vehicle or container; n. that which is carried
  • loan - n. money borrowed that usually must be returned with interest payments; something borrowed
  • local - ad. about or having to do with one place
  • lonely - ad. feeling alone and wanting friends; visited by few or no people ("a lonely man")
  • long - ad. not short; measuring from beginning to end; measuring much; for much time
  • look - v. to turn the eyes toward so as to see; to search or hunt for; to seem to be
  • lose - v. to have no longer; to not find; to fail to keep; to be defeated
  • loud - ad. having a strong sound; full of sound or noise
  • love - v. to like very much; to feel a strong, kind emotion (sometimes involving sex); n. a strong, kind emotion for someone or something; opposite hate
  • low - ad. not high or tall; below the normal height; close to the ground
  • loyal - ad. showing strong friendship and support for someone or something
  • luck - n. something that happens by chance

M

  • machine - n. a device with moving parts used to do work
  • magazine - n. a publication of news, stories, pictures or other information
  • mail - n. letters, papers and other things sent through an official system, such as a post office
  • main - ad. the most important or largest
  • major - ad. great in size, importance or amount
  • majority - n. the greater number; more than half
  • make - v. to produce; to create; to build; to do something or to carry out an action; to cause to be or to become
  • male - n. a man or boy; the sex that is the father of children; ad. of or about men
  • man - n. an adult male human
  • manufacture - v. to make goods in large amounts
  • many - ad. a large number or amount of
  • map - n. a picture of the earth's surface or a part of it
  • march - v. to walk in a group like soldiers; to walk together in a large group to protest about something
  • mark - v. to make a sign or cut on something
  • market - n. a place or area where goods are sold, bought or traded; an economic system in which the prices of things are decided by how many there are and how much money people are willing to pay for them
  • marry - v. to join a man and woman together as husband and wife; to become husband and wife (usually in a religious or civil ceremony)
  • mass - n. an amount of matter having no special form and usually of a large size