Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

circumferences

      NOUN 1 the outer line or edge of a circle

      2 The length of this line is also called the circumference.

      circumstance circumstances

      NOUN The circumstances of a situation or event are the conditions that affect what happens. • He did well under difficult circumstances.

      circus circuses

      NOUN a travelling show performed in a large tent, with performers such as clowns and acrobats

      cistern cisterns

      NOUN a tank in which water is stored, such as in the roof of a house, or above a toilet

      citizen citizens

      NOUN The citizens of a country or city are the people who live in it or belong to it.

      citrus fruit citrus fruits

      NOUN Citrus fruits are juicy, sharp-tasting fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit.

      city cities

      NOUN a large town where many people live and work

      civil

      ADJECTIVE 1 relating to the citizens of a place

      2 Someone who is civil is polite.

      civilian civilians

      NOUN a person who is not in the armed forces

      civilization civilizations; also spelt civilisation

      NOUN 1 a large group of people with a high level of organization and culture • We’re learning about the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome and Egypt.

      2 a highly developed and organized way of life

      civilized; also spelt civilised

      ADJECTIVE 1 A civilized society is one with a highly developed social organization and a comfortable way of life.

      2 A civilized person is polite and reasonable.

      civil war civil wars

      NOUN a war between groups of people who live in the same country

      claim claims, claiming, claimed

      VERB 1 If you claim that something is the case, you say that it is so.

      2 If you claim something, you ask for it because you believe you have a right to it.

      clamber clambers, clambering, clambered

      VERB If you clamber somewhere, you climb there with difficulty. • We clambered over the rocks to get to the beach.

      clammy clammier, clammiest

      ADJECTIVE unpleasantly damp and sticky • The weather was very clammy.

      clamp clamps, clamping, clamped

      NOUN 1 a device that holds something firmly in place

      VERB 2 When you clamp one thing to another, you fasten them together with a clamp.

      clan clans

      NOUN a group of families related to each other by being descended from the same ancestor

      clang clangs, clanging, clanged

      VERB When something made of metal clangs, or when you clang it, it makes a loud, ringing sound.

      clank clanks, clanking, clanked

      VERB When something clanks, it makes a loud, metallic sound.

      clap claps, clapping, clapped

      VERB 1 When you clap, you hit your hands together loudly to show that you have enjoyed something or that you approve of something.

      NOUN 2 a sudden loud noise of thunder

      clarify clarifies, clarifying, clarified

      VERB If you clarify something, you make it clear and easier to understand.

      clarification NOUN

      clarinet clarinets

      NOUN a woodwind instrument with a straight tube and a single reed in its mouthpiece

      clarity

      NOUN The clarity of something is its clearness. • The clarity of the water made me think it was very clean.

      clash clashes, clashing, clashed

      VERB 1 Colours or ideas that clash are so different that they do not go together. • Debbie’s red shirt clashed with her green shorts.

      2 If one event clashes with another, they happen at the same time, so you cannot go to both.

      3 If people clash with each other, they fight or argue.

      clasp clasps, clasping, clasped

      VERB 1 If you clasp something, you hold it tightly.

      NOUN 2 a fastening such as a hook or a catch

      class classes

      NOUN 1 a group of pupils or students taught together, or a lesson that they have together

      2 A class of people or things is a group of them of a particular type. • Beetles and ants belong to different classes of insect.

      SYNONYMS: group, kind, type

      classic

      ADJECTIVE Something described as classic is considered a high quality example of something. • He has a classic car.

      classical

      ADJECTIVE 1 traditional in style and content • classical ballet

      2 Classical music is serious music thought to be of lasting value.

      classify classifies, classifying, classified

      VERB to arrange things into groups with something in common • We classified the foods into three groups: fruits, vegetables and meats.

      classification NOUN

      classroom classrooms

      NOUN a room in a school where lessons take place

      clatter clatters, clattering, clattered

      VERB 1 When things clatter, they hit each other with a loud, rattling noise.

      NOUN 2 a loud noise made by hard things hitting against each other • There was a great clatter when the waitress dropped the tray.

      clause clauses

      NOUN In grammar, a clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb, which may be a complete sentence or part of a sentence.

      claw claws, clawing, clawed

      NOUN 1 An animal’s claws are the hard, curved nails at the end of its feet.

      2 The claws of a crab or a lobster are the two jointed parts at the end of the leg, used for holding things.

      VERB 3 3 If an animal claws something, it digs its claws into it

      clay

      NOUN a type of earth that is soft and sticky when wet and hard when baked dry. It is used to make pottery and bricks.

      clean cleaner, cleanest; cleans, cleaning, cleaned

      ADJECTIVE 1 free from dirt or unwanted marks

      VERB 2 to remove dirt from something

      clear clearer, clearest; clears, clearing, cleared

      ADJECTIVE 1 easy to understand, see or hear • The instructions on the packet were very clear.

      2 easy to see through • a clear liquid

      VERB 3 To clear unwanted