Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

(1) PREPOSITION

      If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject.

      concerning

      The police interviewed the bank manager concerning the robbery.

      regarding

      Parents were sent a letter regarding half term.

      to do with

      Mum had a long phone conversation to do with our holiday plans.

      about (2) ADVERB

      You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact.

      approximately

      The theatre held approximately 800 people.

      around

      Around 50 000 people attended the big game.

      in the region of

      The bike cost in the region of £100.

      more or less

      Each jar holds more or less five litres.

      roughly

      We had to wait for roughly three hours.

      about (3) ADVERB

      About can mean in different directions.

      around

      “Stop dancing around while I’m talking to you,” Mum said irritably.

      here and there

      My sister’s clothes were scattered here and there in her room.

      hither and thither OLD-FASHIONED

      The bee flew hither and thither collecting pollen from the flowers.

      about to PREPOSITION

      If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it.

      on the point of

      I was on the point of closing the front door, when the phone rang.

      ready to

      The pilot was ready to turn back, when he saw the missing boat.

      above (1) PREPOSITION

      If one thing is above another, it is directly over or higher than it.

      on top of

      Ali balanced the bag of flour on top of the door, so that it would fall on Craig when he came in.

      over

      A cloud of smoke hung ominously over the grumbling volcano.

      ANTONYM: below

      above (2) PREPOSITION

      Above can mean greater than something in level or amount.

      beyond

      The dancer’s skill was beyond anything we could have imagined.

      greater than

      The number of visitors to the museum this year is greater than last year.

      higher than

      The cost of the repairs was higher than Mum had expected.

      ANTONYM: below

      absolutely ADVERB

      If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.

      completely

      Anoop was completely satisfied with his new computer.

      thoroughly

      “I am thoroughly fed up of washing dishes,” moaned Cinderella.

      totally

      We sat totally enthralled by the magician’s amazing tricks.

      utterly

      The instructions to the board game left me utterly confused.

      abuse (1) Said “ab-yooss” NOUN

      Abuse is the cruel treatment of someone.

      cruelty

      Sadly, many animals are injured through cruelty or neglect.

      harm

      Fortunately, the two lost children were found with no harm done to them.

      ill-treatment

      Oliver Twist suffered much ill-treatment in the workhouse.

      abuse (2) Said “ab-yooz” VERB

      To abuse someone is to treat them cruelly.

      harm

      Now the dog was at the rescue kennels, no one could harm it any more.

      ill-treat

      People who ill-treat their animals should face heavy fines.

      mistreat

      Cinderella was constantly mistreated by her two ugly sisters.

      misuse

      The dictator misused his power by giving jobs to his relatives.

      accident NOUN

      An accident is something that happens suddenly or unexpectedly, causing people to be hurt or killed.

      collision

      Eight vehicles were involved in a collision during the heavy rain.

      crash

      The police advised that the airport should be closed because of the plane crash.

      mishap

      Falling off my bike was a minor mishap, but luckily I wasn’t hurt.

      ➔ See disaster

      accidental ADJECTIVE

      Something that is accidental has not been planned.

      unexpected

      The sail’s tearing in the wind was a totally unexpected problem.

      unintentional

      “I didn’t mean to stand on the flowers. It was quite unintentional,” I apologized.

      unplanned

      Although our beach volleyball tournament was unplanned, it was a great success.

      ANTONYM: deliberate

      accurate ADJECTIVE

      If something is accurate, it is absolutely correct.

      exact

      In order to set my watch, I need to know the exact time.

      factual

      Non-fiction books are factual accounts of real people and events.

      faithful

      The French version of the book is a faithful translation of the English original.

      precise

      Tightrope walkers must be very precise in their movements.

      spot-on INFORMAL

      Your guess about the train’s arrival time was spot-on.

      true

      “Is this statement a true record of where you were?” queried the police officer.

      ANTONYM: inaccurate

      ache VERB

      If a part of your body aches, you feel a continuous, dull pain there.

      be sore

      Jane’s leg muscles were sore after aerobics.

      hurt

      “Ouch!” said Devendra as the nurse cleaned his cut knee. “That hurts!”