Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

and worry • The cat sprang back in alarm.

      2 an automatic device used to warn people of something • The burglar alarm went off accidentally.

      VERB 3 If something alarms you, it makes you worried and anxious.

      album albums

      NOUN 1 a CD, cassette or record with a number of songs on it

      2 a book in which you keep a collection of things, such as photographs or stamps

      alcohol

      NOUN the name for drinks such as beer, wine and spirits

      alert alerts, alerting, alerted

      ADJECTIVE 1 If you are alert, you are paying full attention to what is happening.

      SYNONYMS: vigilant, watchful

      VERB 2 If you alert someone to a problem or danger, you warn them of it.

      algebra

      NOUN a branch of mathematics in which symbols and letters are used to represent unknown numbers

      alias aliases

      NOUN a false name

      alibi alibis

      NOUN If you have an alibi, you have evidence proving you were somewhere else when a crime was committed.

      alien aliens

      NOUN 1 In science fiction, an alien is a creature from outer space.

      ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is alien to you seems strange because it is not part of your normal experience. • The desert is an alien environment to many people.

      [from Latin alienus meaning foreign]

      alight alights, alighting, alighted

      ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is alight is burning.

      VERB 2 If something alights somewhere, it lands there.

      3 If someone alights from a vehicle, they get out of it.

      alike

      ADJECTIVE 1 Things that are alike are very similar in some way.

      ADVERB 2 If people or things are treated alike, they are treated the same.

      alive

      ADJECTIVE If someone or something is alive, they are living.

      alkali alkalis

      NOUN a chemical substance sometimes used in cleaning materials. Alkalis can neutralize acids.

      ANTONYM: acid

      alkaline ADJECTIVE

      all

      ADJECTIVE, NOUN OR ADVERB 1 the whole of something • She told us all about it. • He ate all the chocolate.

      ADVERB 2 also used to show that both sides in a game or contest have the same score • The final score was three points all.

      Allah

      PROPER NOUN the Muslim name for God

      allege alleges, alleging, alleged

      VERB If you allege that something is true, you say it’s true, but you cannot prove it.

      allergy allergies

      NOUN If you have an allergy to something, it makes you ill to eat or touch it.

      allergic ADJECTIVE

      alley alleys

      NOUN a narrow street or passageway between buildings

      alliance alliances

      NOUN a group of countries, organizations or people who have similar aims and who work together to achieve them

      alligator alligators

      NOUN a large, scaly reptile, similar to a crocodile

      [from Spanish el lagarto meaning lizard]

      alliteration

      NOUN the use of several words together that begin with the same letter or sound. For example, the slithery snake slid silently across the sand.

      allotment allotments

      NOUN a piece of land that people rent to grow fruit and vegetables on

      allow allows, allowing, allowed

      VERB If someone allows you to do something, they let you do it.

      all right

      ADJECTIVE 1 If something is all right, it is satisfactory, but not especially good. • Do you like mushrooms? They’re all right.

      2 If someone is all right, they are safe and not harmed.

      3 You say all right if you agree to something. • Will you help? All right.

      ally allies

      NOUN a person or a country that helps and supports another

      SYNONYMS: friend, partner

      almond almonds

      NOUN an oval edible nut, cream in colour

      almost

      ADVERB very nearly • I have almost as many points as you.

      SYNONYMS: just about, practically

      alone

      ADJECTIVE not with other people or things

      along

      PREPOSITION 1 moving forward • We strolled along the road.

      2 from one end of something to the other • The cupboards stretched along the wall.

      alongside

      PREPOSITION OR ADVERB next to something • We tied our boat alongside the jetty.

      aloud

      ADVERB When you read aloud, you read so that people can hear you.

      alphabet alphabets

      NOUN all the letters used to write words in a language. The letters of an alphabet are written in a special order.

      alphabetical

      ADJECTIVE If something is in alphabetical order, it is arranged according to the letters of the alphabet.

      alphabetically ADVERB

      already

      ADVERB If you have done something already, you did it earlier. • Josh has already gone to bed.

      also

      ADVERB in addition to something that has just been mentioned • I bought an ice cream, and I also bought a drink.

      altar altars

      NOUN a holy table in a church or temple

      alter alters, altering, altered

      VERB If something alters, or if you alter it, it changes.

      alternate alternates, alternating, alternated

      Said “ol-ter-nut” ADJECTIVE 1 If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one in every two days.

      Said “ol-ter-nayt” VERB 2 If two things alternate, they regularly happen one after the other.

      alternative alternatives

      NOUN something you can do or have instead of something else • Is there an alternative to meat on the menu?

      although

      CONJUNCTION in spite of the fact that • He wasn’t well-known in America, although he had made a film there.

      altitude altitudes

      NOUN height above sea level • The mountain range reaches an altitude of 1330 metres.

      altogether

      ADVERB 1 completely or entirely • The car got slower, then stopped altogether.