Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

party of people from each school turned up for the tug-of-war.

      burglar NOUN

      A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings and steals things.

      intruder

      Dad woke up and realized that there was an intruder downstairs.

      robber

      The traveller was set upon by robbers, who stole his money.

      thief

      Thieves broke into the warehouse and stole 100 televisions.

      burn (1) VERB

      If something is burning, it is on fire.

      be alight

      The stove was still alight when we came down in the morning.

      blaze

      A fire blazed merrily in Mole’s sitting room.

      flame

      The barbecue flamed up around the burgers.

      flicker

      The fire flickered and crackled.

       Something burning is said to be ablaze.

      burn (2) VERB

      To burn something can mean to damage or destroy it with fire.

      char

      The barbecue was too hot and charred the sausages.

      scorch

      The baking sun had scorched the dry grass on the prairies.

      shrivel

      The heat of the desert had shrivelled even the toughest of the plants.

      singe

      I leaned too close to the bonfire and singed my hair.

      burst VERB

      When something bursts, or you burst it, it splits open suddenly.

      break

      The coffin broke open and the zombie’s hands grasped the fractured lid.

      explode

      Shells were exploding just behind the enemy trenches.

      rupture

      A water pipe had ruptured.

      split

      With the force of the player’s shot, the leather ball had split.

      bury VERB

      If something is buried under something, it is covered by it.

      conceal

      The secret door was concealed behind the bookshelves in the library.

      cover

      I couldn’t find my homework as I had accidentally covered it with my dirty socks!

      hide

      Sometimes Dad hides a bone in the garden so that our dog Sadie can find it and dig it up.

      secrete

      The thief secreted the stolen jewels in a box under the floorboards.

      ➔ See hide (2)

      business (1) NOUN

      A business is an organization that produces or sells goods, or provides a service.

      company

      My mum runs her own company.

      corporation

      Whizzo Fireworks is part of a big corporation making flares and explosives for quarries.

      firm

      My uncle’s firm deals in electrical supplies.

      organization

      “Grappo Inc,” boasted the president, “is a big organization full of high achievers.”

      business (2) NOUN

      Business is work relating to buying and selling goods and services.

      industry

      The steel industry requires plenty of water for cooling the metal.

      trade

      The clothing business is sometimes called the rag trade.

      business (3) NOUN

      Business is a general word for any event, situation or activity.

      affair

      “That Baskerville murder was a strange affair,” said Sherlock Holmes.

      issue

      Who owned the buried treasure? It was a complex issue!

      matter

      “Stop waffling and stick to the matter in hand,” the chairman cut in.

      busy (1) ADJECTIVE

      If you are busy, you are doing something.

      employed

      Amal would clearly be employed for the next half hour, dealing with a difficult customer.

      hard at work

      My brother was hard at work revising when his friends came round.

      occupied

      I was occupied looking after my baby brother.

      working

      I was working on my school project when I was interrupted by the phone ringing.

      ANTONYMS: idle or unoccupied

      busy (2) ADJECTIVE

      A busy place is full of people doing things or moving about.

      bustling

      Trafalgar Square is the bustling heart of London.

      hectic

      The streets of Rome were hectic and noisy.

      lively

      There is a lively market in the town centre every Saturday.

      but CONJUNCTION

      But is used to introduce an idea that is opposite to what has gone before.

      however

      The games were about to start. However, I felt poorly and sat in the corner.

      nevertheless

      In my opinion, Sunita had the best fancy dress. Nevertheless, Emma got the prize.

      on the other hand

      My sister said she’d had a good time. On the other hand, she always says things like that.

      yet

      Back home, Mum ordered us to bed, yet I wasn’t really tired.

      buy VERB

      If you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.

      acquire

      The school acquired a piece of land to extend the playing field.

      obtain

      Dad obtained tickets for the match.

      pay for

      We saved up our pocket money and used it to pay for a new CD player.

      purchase

      “My good man, where in your emporium can I purchase a handbag?” sniffed Lady Bracknell.

Cc

      café NOUN

      A café is a place where