Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

affording, afforded

      VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.

      2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.

      afloat

      ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.

      afraid

      ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.

      SYNONYM: scared

      2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.

      after

      PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event • She left just after breakfast. • Soon after, he went to work.

      PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. • They ran after her.

      afternoon afternoons

      NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six o’clock

      afterwards

      ADVERB after an event or time • We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.

      again

      ADVERB happening one more time • The film was so good that we went to see it again.

      SYNONYM: once more

      against

      PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on • He leaned the ladder against the wall.

      2 in opposition to • France played against England.

      age ages, ageing or aging, aged

      NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.

      2 a particular period in history • the Iron Age

      PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. • He’s been talking for ages.

      VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.

       Ageing and aging are both correct spellings.

      agency agencies

      NOUN an organization or business that provides special services • detective agency • advertising agency

      agenda agendas

      NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting

      agent agents

      NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people • a travel agent

      2 someone who works for their country’s secret service

      aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated

      VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.

      2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.

      aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN

      aggressive

      ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence • Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.

      SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile

      agile

      ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily • He is as agile as a cat.

      agilely ADVERB agility NOUN

      agitated

      ADJECTIVE worried and anxious

      agitation NOUN

      ago

      ADVERB in the past • She bought her flat three years ago.

      agony

      NOUN very great physical or mental pain

      SYNONYMS: suffering, torment

      agree agrees, agreeing, agreed

      VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.

      2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.

      agreeable

      ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable

      2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.

      agreeably ADVERB

      agreement agreements

      NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.

      agriculture

      NOUN farming

      ahead

      ADVERB 1 in front • He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.

      2 more advanced than someone or something else • Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.

      3 in the future • I can’t think that far ahead.

      aid aids

      NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need

      2 something that makes a job easier • The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.

      ailment ailments

      NOUN a minor illness

      aim aims, aiming, aimed

      VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.

      2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.

      SYNONYMS: intend, mean

      NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. • The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.

      SYNONYMS: goal, objective

      aimless

      ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.

      aimlessly ADVERB

      air

      NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earth’s atmosphere

      2 the space around things or above the ground • The balloons floated up into the air.

      3 used to refer to travel in aircraft • My uncle often travels by air.

      air conditioning

      NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building

      aircraft

      NOUN any vehicle that can fly

      air force air forces

      NOUN the part of a country’s armed services that fights using aircraft

      airline airlines

      NOUN a company that provides air travel

      airmail

      NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air • He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.

      airport airports

      NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes

      airtight

      ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.

      aisle aisles

      NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves • The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.

      ajar

      ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.

      alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed

      NOUN