Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

one of the large number of very small planets that move around the sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars

      asthma

      NOUN a disease of the chest that causes wheezing and difficulty in breathing

      [from Greek azein meaning to breathe hard]

      asthmatic ADJECTIVE

      astonish astonishes, astonishing, astonished

      VERB If something astonishes you, it surprises you very much.

      astonished ADJECTIVE astonishing ADJECTIVE

      astonishingly ADVERB astonishment NOUN

      astrology

      NOUN the study of the sun, moon and stars in the belief that their movements can influence people’s lives

      astronaut astronauts

      NOUN a person who operates a spacecraft

      [from Greek astron meaning star and nautes meaning sailor]

      astronomy

      NOUN the scientific study of stars and planets

      astronomer NOUN

      at

      PREPOSITION 1 where someone or something is • John waited for me at the bus stop.

      2 the direction something is going in • I threw the snowball at my brother.

      3 when something happens • The party starts at six o’clock.

      ate

      VERB the past tense of eat

      atheist atheists

      NOUN someone who does not believe in any form of God

      athlete athletes

      NOUN a person who is very good at sport and who takes part in sporting competitions

      athletics

      NOUN sporting events such as running, long jump and discus

      Atlantic

      NOUN the ocean that separates North and South America from Europe and Africa

      atlas atlases

      NOUN a book of maps

      [from the giant Atlas in Greek mythology, who supported the sky on his shoulders]

      atmosphere atmospheres

      NOUN 1 gases that surround a planet

      2 the general mood of a place • There was a friendly atmosphere at the party.

      atom atoms

      NOUN the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction

      atrocity atrocities

      NOUN an extremely shocking and cruel act

      attach attaches, attaching, attached

      VERB If you attach something to something else, you join or fasten the two things together.

      attachment attachments

      NOUN 1 a feeling of love and affection for someone

      2 a file attached to an e-mail

      attack attacks, attacking, attacked

      VERB 1 If someone attacks another person or animal, they use violence in order to hurt or kill them. • The lion attacked the zebra in order to kill it for food.

      2 In a game such as football or hockey, players attack to get the ball into a position from which a goal can be scored.

      NOUN 3 violent, physical action against someone

      attempt attempts, attempting, attempted

      VERB 1 If you attempt to do something, you try to do it.

      NOUN 2 the act of trying to do something • He made a brave attempt to help.

      attend attends, attending, attended

      VERB 1 If you attend school, church or hospital, you go there regularly.

      2 If you attend an event, you are present at it.

      attend to

      VERB If you attend to something, you deal with it. • We should attend to our homework before going to the park.

      attendant attendants

      NOUN someone whose job is to help people in a place such as a museum or shop

      attention

      NOUN the thought or care that you give to someone or something • I paid a lot of attention to my homework.

      attentive

      ADJECTIVE When you are attentive, you pay close attention.

      attentively ADVERB

      attic attics

      NOUN a room at the top of a house immediately below the roof

      attitude attitudes

      NOUN the way you think about someone or something and behave towards them • I’m not going in that shop again. I don’t like their attitude.

      attract attracts, attracting, attracted

      VERB 1 If something attracts people, it interests them and makes them want to go to it.

      2 If someone attracts you, you like them and are interested in them.

      3 When magnetic materials are attracted to a magnet, they are pulled towards it.

      attraction attractions

      NOUN 1 If you feel an attraction for someone, you like them very much.

      2 somewhere people like to visit for interest or pleasure, such as a fun fair or a stately home

      3 A force of attraction pulls magnetic materials towards a magnet.

      attractive

      ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is attractive is good-looking or has an exciting personality.

      2 If something is attractive, it is interesting.

      aubergine aubergines

      NOUN a dark purple, pear-shaped vegetable. It is also called an eggplant.

      auburn

      ADJECTIVE a red-brown hair colour

      auction auctions, auctioning, auctioned

      NOUN 1 a public sale in which goods are sold to the person who offers the highest price

      VERB 2 to sell something in an auction

      audible

      ADJECTIVE If something is audible, you can hear it.

      audience audiences

      NOUN 1 the group of people who are watching or listening to a performance

      2 a private or formal meeting with an important person • The winners of the bravery awards had an audience with the Queen.

      audition auditions

      NOUN a short performance by an actor or musician, so that a director can decide whether they are suitable for a part in a play or a film, or for a place in an orchestra

      auditorium auditoriums or auditoria

      NOUN the part of a theatre or concert hall where the audience sits

      August

      NOUN the eighth month of the year. August has 31 days.

      aunt aunts

      NOUN Your aunt is the sister of your mother or father, or the wife of your uncle.

      author