Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

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Aa

      a an

      ADJECTIVE A and an are used when you talk about one of something. A is used when the next sound is a consonant: a car, a dog. An is used when the next sound is a vowel (a, e, i, o or u): an apple, an elephant.

      abacus abacuses

      NOUN a frame with beads that slide along rods, used for counting

      [from Greek abax meaning board covered with sand for doing sums on]

      abandon abandons, abandoning, abandoned

      VERB If you abandon someone or something, you leave them or give them up for good. • He abandoned all hope of catching the train on time.

      abbey abbeys

      NOUN a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live

      abbreviation abbreviations

      NOUN a short form of a word or phrase • N is an abbreviation for North.

      abdomen abdomens

      NOUN the front part of your body below your chest, containing your stomach and intestines

      abdominal ADJECTIVE

      ability abilities

      NOUN If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.

      able

      ADJECTIVE If you are able to do something, you can do it.

      ANTONYM: unable

      abnormal

      ADJECTIVE not normal or usual

      abnormally ADVERB

      aboard

      PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If you are aboard a plane or a ship you are on it.

      Aborigine Aborigines

      NOUN someone descended from the people who were living in Australia before the European settlers arrived

      about

      PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject. • a book about London

      2 You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact. • about two o’clock

      PHRASE 3 If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it. • He was about to leave.

      above

      PREPOSITION OR ADVERB If one thing is above another, it is higher up. • The plane was flying above the clouds.

      ANTONYM: below

      abroad

      ADVERB If you go abroad, you go to another country.

      abscess abscesses

      NOUN a painful swelling on the body, which contains pus

      abseil abseils, abseiling, abseiled

      VERB If you abseil down a rock face, you use ropes to go down it.

      absent

      ADJECTIVE If you are absent from a place, you are not there.

      ANTONYM: present

      absolute

      ADJECTIVE 1 total and complete • absolute darkness

      2 having total power • an absolute ruler

      absolutely

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

      absorb absorbs, absorbing, absorbed

      VERB If something absorbs liquid or gas, it soaks it up. • Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

      absorbent

      ADJECTIVE If something is absorbent, it soaks up liquids easily.

      abstract

      ADJECTIVE 1 An abstract idea is based on thoughts and ideas rather than on real objects or happenings, for example bravery and happiness.

      2 Abstract art uses shapes rather than images of people or objects.