Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

      cram crams, cramming, crammed

      VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.

      cramp cramps

      NOUN pain caused when muscles contract

      cramped

      ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.

      crane cranes, craning, craned

      NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air

      2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs

      VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.

      crash crashes, crashing, crashed

      NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged

      2 a sudden, loud noise

      VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.

      crate crates

      NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things

      crater craters

      NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.

      [from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]

      crave craves, craving, craved

      VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.

      craving NOUN

      crawl crawls, crawling, crawled

      VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.

      2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.

      crayon crayons

      NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax

      craze crazes

      NOUN something that is very popular for a short time

      crazy crazier, craziest

      ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish

      2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.

      creak creaks, creaking, creaked

      VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.

      NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise

      creaky ADJECTIVE

      cream creams

      NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk

      2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it

      ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white colour

      crease creases, creasing, creased

      NOUN 1 an irregular line that appears on cloth or paper when it is crumpled

      2 a straight line on something that has been pressed or folded neatly • Dad ironed a sharp crease in his best trousers.

      VERB 3 If you crease something, you make lines appear on it.

      create creates, creating, created

      VERB If someone creates something, they cause it to happen or exist.

      creation NOUN

      creative

      ADJECTIVE Creative people are good at inventing and developing new ideas.

      creature creatures

      NOUN any living thing that is not a plant

      crèche crèches

      NOUN a place where small children are looked after while their parents are working

      [from old French crèche meaning crib or manger]

      credit credits

      NOUN 1 a system where you pay for something in small amounts, regularly over a period of time

      2 praise given to you for good work

      PLURAL NOUN 3 Credits are the list of people who helped make a film, record or television programme.

      PHRASE 4 If your bank account is in credit, you have money in it.

      credit card credit cards

      NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods on credit rather than paying with cash

      creek creeks

      NOUN a narrow inlet where the sea comes a long way into the land

      creep creeps, creeping, crept

      VERB If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.

      creepy creepier, creepiest

      ADJECTIVE strange and frightening • The film was creepy.

      SYNONYMS: eerie, spooky

      cremate cremates, cremating, cremated

      VERB If someone is cremated when they die, their body is burned instead of buried.

      crematorium crematoriums or crematoria

      NOUN a building in which people are cremated

      crescent crescents

      NOUN a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at the ends, like a new moon

      cress

      NOUN a plant with small, strong-tasting leaves, used in salads

      crest crests

      NOUN 1 the highest part of a hill or wave

      2 a tuft of feathers on top of a bird’s head

      3 a special sign of something, such as a school or other organization

      crevice crevices

      NOUN a narrow crack or gap in rock

      crew crews

      NOUN The crew of a ship, aeroplane or spacecraft are the people who operate it.

      cricket crickets

      NOUN 1 an outdoor game played by two teams, who take turns at scoring runs by hitting a ball with a bat

      2 a small, jumping insect that produces sounds by rubbing its wings together

      cried

      VERB the past tense and past participle of cry

      crime crimes

      NOUN an action for which you can be punished by law

      criminal criminals

      NOUN 1 someone who has committed a crime

      ADJECTIVE 2 involving or related to crime

      crimson

      NOUN OR ADJECTIVE dark, purplish-red

      crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled

      VERB 1 If something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased or folded.

      NOUN 2 a small crease or fold

      cripple cripples, crippling, crippled

      VERB If someone is crippled by something, they are injured so severely that they can never move properly again.

      crippling ADJECTIVE

      crisis crises

      NOUN a serious or dangerous situation • The food crisis was caused by drought.

      crisp