A1 Nouns
A1 noun vocabulary in alphabetical order with definitions and example sentences.
action
The process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation.
Example
The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive.
activity
A thing that you do for interest or pleasure.
Example
leisure/outdoor/recreational activities
actor
A person who performs on the stage, on television or in films, especially as a profession.
Example
Both lead actors (= the ones who play the main parts) are outstanding.
actress
A woman who performs on the stage, on television or in films, especially as a profession.
Example
The Oscar-winning actress has taken a break from acting.
address
Details of where somebody lives or works and where letters, etc. can be sent.
Example
What's your name and address?
adult
A fully grown person who is legally responsible for their actions.
Example
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
advice
An opinion or a suggestion about what somebody should do in a particular situation.
Example
expert/practical/professional/medical advice
afternoon
The period of time from 12 o'clock in the middle of the day until about 6 o’clock in the evening.
Example
this/yesterday/tomorrow afternoon
age
The number of years that a person has lived or a thing has existed.
Example
You're the same age as my brother.
airport
A place where planes land and take off and that has buildings for passengers to wait in.
Example
Gatwick Airport
animal
A creature that is not a bird, a fish, a reptile, an insect or a human.
Example
the animals and birds of South America
answer
Something that you say, write or do to react to a question or situation.
Example
I rang the bell, but there was no answer.
apartment
A set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building.
Example
an apartment building
apple
A round fruit with shiny red or green skin that is fairly hard and white inside.
Example
Peel and core the apples.
April
The fourth month of the year, between March and May.
Example
in April, She was born in April.
area
Part of a place, town, etc., or a region of a country or the world.
Example
to improve access to services in rural areas
arm
Either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands.
Example
He escaped with only a broken arm.
art
The use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture.
Example
modern/contemporary art
article
A piece of writing about a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine, on a website, etc.
Example
to read/write/publish an article
artist
A person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings.
Example
an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists
autumn
The season of the year between summer and winter, when leaves change colour and the weather becomes colder.
Example
in the autumn of 2010
baby
A very young child or animal.
Example
The baby's crying!
back
The part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal’s body that corresponds to this.
Example
on your back, He was lying on his back on the sofa.
banana
A long curved fruit with a thick yellow skin and that is soft inside, which grows on trees in hot countries.
Example
a bunch of bananas
band
A small group of musicians who play popular music together, often with a singer or singers.
Example
a rock/punk/jazz band
bank
An organization that provides various financial services, for example keeping or lending money.
Example
I don't have much money in the bank at the end of the month.
bath
A large, long container that you put water in and then get into to wash your whole body.
Example
I'm in the bath!
bathroom
A room in which there is a bath, a washbasin and often a toilet.
Example
Go and wash your hands in the bathroom.
beach
An area of sand or small stones (called shingle), next to the sea or a lake.
Example
on the beach, tourists sunbathing on the beach
bedroom
A room for sleeping in.
Example
the spare/guest bedroom
beer
An alcoholic drink made from malt with hops added to give it taste. There are many types of beer.
Example
a pint/can/bottle of beer
beginning
The time when something starts; the first part of an event, a story, etc.
Example
A story has to have a beginning, middle, and end.
bicycle
A road vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing the pedals with your feet.
Example
He got on his bicycle and rode off.
bill
A document that shows how much you owe somebody for goods or services.
Example
the phone/electricity/gas bill
bird
A creature that is covered with feathers and has two wings and two legs. Most birds can fly.
Example
a bird’s nest with two eggs in it
birthday
The day in each year which is the same date as the one on which you were born.
Example
Happy Birthday!
black
The very darkest colour, like night or coal.
Example
the black of the night sky
blog
A website where an individual person, or people representing an organization, write regularly about recent events or topics that interest them, usually with photos and links to other websites that they find interesting.
Example
This is a link to the museum's blog.
blue
The colour of a clear sky or the sea on a clear day.
Example
bright/dark/light/pale/deep blue
boat
A vehicle (smaller than a ship) that travels on water, moved by oars, sails or a motor.
Example
a rowing/sailing boat
body
The whole physical structure of a human or an animal.
Example
The human body is a complex structure.
bottle
A glass or plastic container, usually round with straight sides and a narrow neck, used especially for storing liquids.
Example
a wine/beer/milk/water bottle
box
A container made of wood, thick card, metal, etc. with a flat stiff base and sides and often a lid (= cover), used especially for holding solid things.
Example
in a box, Everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard boxes.
boy
A male child or a young male person.
Example
a little/small/young boy
boyfriend
A man or boy that somebody has a romantic or sexual relationship with.
Example
She's got a new boyfriend.
bread
A type of food made from flour, water and usually yeast mixed together and baked.
Example
a loaf/slice/piece of bread
break
A short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc.
Example
She was on her lunch break.
breakfast
The first meal of the day.
Example
They were having breakfast when I arrived.
brother
A boy or man who has the same parents as another person.
Example
We're brothers.
brown
The colour of earth or coffee.
Example
leaves of various shades of brown
bus
A large road vehicle that carries passengers, especially one that travels along a fixed route and stops regularly to let people get on and off.
Example
by bus, Shall we walk or go by bus?
business
The activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money.
Example
It's been a pleasure to do business with you.
butter
A soft yellow food made from cream, used in cooking and for spreading on bread.
Example
Fry the onions in butter.
cake
A sweet food made from a mixture of flour, eggs, butter, sugar, etc. that is baked in an oven. Cakes are made in various shapes and sizes and are often decorated, for example with cream or icing.
Example
a piece/slice of cake
call
The act of speaking to somebody on the phone.
Example
to get/receive a call from somebody
camera
A piece of equipment for taking photographs, moving pictures or television pictures. It can be a separate item or part of another device.
Example
Just point the camera and press the button.
capital
The most important town or city of a country or region, where the government operates from.
Example
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
car
A road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that can carry a small number of passengers.
Example
Paula got into the car and drove off.
career
The series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes.
Example
a teaching career
carrot
A long pointed orange root vegetable.
Example
grated carrot
cat
A small animal with soft fur that people often keep as a pet. Cats catch and kill birds and mice.
Example
a tin of cat food
CD
A small disc on which sound or information is recorded. CDs can be played or read on various types of machines, including CD players and computers. (the abbreviation for ‘compact disc’).
Example
on CD, His albums are available on CD and online.
cent
A coin and unit of money worth 1% of the main unit of money in many countries, for example of the US dollar or of the euro.
Example
A one-minute phone call to the UK cost 10 cents.
center
The middle point or part of something.
Example
The shopping center is very busy today.
century
A period of 100 years.
Example
A century ago, Valparaiso was the country's main port.
chair
A piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, a seat and four legs.
Example
a table and chairs
change
The act or result of something becoming different.
Example
We're hoping for a change in the weather.
chart
A diagram, lists of figures, etc. that shows information.
Example
Some shares have lost two-thirds of their value since being issued (see chart).
cheese
A type of food made from milk that can be either soft or hard and is usually white or yellow in colour; a particular type of this food.
Example
Cheddar cheese
child
A young human who is not yet an adult.
Example
a child of 3/a 3-year-old child
chocolate
A hard brown sweet food made from cocoa beans, used in cooking to add taste to cakes, etc. or eaten as a sweet.
Example
a chocolate bar
city
A large and important town.
Example
Parking is difficult in the city centre.
class
A group of students who are taught together.
Example
in the/your class, We were in the same class at school.
classroom
A room where a class of children or students is taught.
Example
classroom activities
clothes
The things that you wear, such as trousers, dresses and jackets.
Example
I bought some new clothes for the trip.
club
An organization for people who share an interest or do a sport or activity together.
Example
a golf/tennis/chess/film club
coffee
The roasted seeds (called coffee beans) of a tropical bush; a powder made from them.
Example
ground/real/instant coffee
college
(in the UK) a place where students go to study or to receive training after they have left school.
Example
a secretarial college
color
The property of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of reflected or emitted light.
Example
What is your favorite color?
company
A business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services.
Example
insurance/oil/tech/technology/pharmaceutical companies
computer
An electronic machine that can store, organize and find information, do processes with numbers and other data, and control other machines.
Example
a home computer
concert
A public performance of music.
Example
to attend/go to a concert
conversation
An informal talk involving a small group of people or only two; the activity of talking in this way.
Example
a phone conversation
cooking
The process of preparing food by heating it.
Example
My husband does all the cooking.
cost
The amount of money that you need in order to buy, make or do something.
Example
the high/low cost of housing
country
An area of land that has or used to have its own government and laws.
Example
European countries
course
A series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject.
Example
a French/chemistry course
cousin
A child of your aunt or uncle.
Example
She's my cousin.
cow
A large animal kept on farms to produce milk or beef.
Example
to milk a cow
cream
The thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid that rises to the top of milk, used in cooking or as a type of sauce to put on fruit, etc.
Example
We had strawberries and cream for dessert.
culture
The customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group.
Example
African/American/European/Islamic culture
cup
A small container that is like a bowl in shape, usually with a handle, used for drinking tea, coffee, etc.
Example
He filled the cup with water.
customer
A person or an organization that buys goods or services from a shop or business.
Example
marketing strategies to target potential customers
dance
A series of movements and steps that are usually performed to music; a particular example of these movements and steps.
Example
Do you know any other Latin American dances?
dancer
A person who dances or whose job is dancing.
Example
She's a fantastic dancer.
dancing
Moving your body to music.
Example
There was music and dancing till two in the morning.
date
A particular day of the month, sometimes in a particular year, given in numbers and words.
Example
‘What's the date today?’ ‘The 10th.’
daughter
A person’s female child.
Example
We have two sons and a daughter.
day
A period of 24 hours.
Example
‘What day is it today?’ ‘Monday.’
December
The 12th and last month of the year.
Example
She was born in December.
description
A piece of writing or speech that says what somebody/something is like; the act of writing or saying in words what somebody/something is like.
Example
Follow the link below for a more detailed description.
design
The general arrangement of the different parts of something that is made, such as a building, book, machine, etc.
Example
The basic design of the car is very similar to that of earlier models.
desk
A piece of furniture like a table, often with drawers (= parts like boxes in it with handles on the front for pulling them open), that you sit at to read, write, work, etc.
Example
at a desk, I spend all day sitting at a desk.
detail
A small individual fact or item; a less important fact or item.
Example
an expedition planned down to the last detail
dialogue
A conversation in a book, play or film or in language teaching materials.
Example
Learners are asked to listen to three short dialogues.
dictionary
A book or electronic resource that gives a list of the words of a language in alphabetical order and explains what they mean, or gives a word for them in a foreign language.
Example
a Spanish-English dictionary
diet
The food and drink that you eat and drink regularly.
Example
to eat a healthy, balanced diet
difference
The way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which somebody/something has changed.
Example
Americans and Brits speak the same language, but there are big cultural differences.
dinner
The main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening.
Example
It's time for dinner.
dish
A flat shallow container for cooking food in or serving it from.
Example
a baking/serving dish
doctor
A person who has been trained in medical science, whose job is to treat people who are ill or injured.
Example
You'd better see a doctor about that cough.
dog
An animal with four legs and a tail, often kept as a pet or trained for work, for example hunting or guarding buildings. There are many types of dog, some of which are wild.
Example
I took the dog for a walk.
dollar
The unit of money in the US, Canada, Australia and several other countries.
Example
You will be paid in American dollars.
door
A piece of wood, glass, etc. that is opened and closed so that people can get in and out of a room, building, car, etc.; a similar thing in a cupboard.
Example
Open the door!
dress
A piece of clothing that is made in one piece and hangs down to cover the body as far as the legs, sometimes reaching to below the knees, or to the ankles.
Example
a long white dress
drink
A liquid for drinking; an amount of a liquid that you drink.
Example
Can I have a drink?
driver
A person who drives a vehicle.
Example
a bus/train/taxi driver
ear
Either of the organs on the sides of the head that you hear with.
Example
the left/right ear
east
The direction that you look towards to see the sun rise; one of the four main points of the compass.
Example
Which way is east?
egg
A small oval object with a thin hard shell produced by a female bird and containing a young bird; a similar object (without a hard shell) produced by a female fish, insect, etc.
Example
The female sits on the eggs until they hatch.
elephant
A very large animal with thick grey skin, large ears, two curved outer teeth called tusks and a long nose called a trunk. There are two types of elephant, the African and the Asian.
Example
herds of elephants
A way of sending messages and data to other people by means of computers connected together in a network.
Example
I will be on vacation for a week in November, with no access to email.
end
The final part of a period of time, an event, an activity or a story.
Example
It's the end of an era.
euro
The unit of money of some countries of the European Union.
Example
I paid five euros for it.
evening
The part of the day between the afternoon and the time you go to bed.
Example
Remember to call me this evening.
event
A thing that happens, especially something important.
Example
recent/current/world events
exam
A formal written, spoken or practical test, especially at school or college, to see how much you know about a subject, or what you can do.
Example
to take an exam
example
Something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say.
Example
Let me give you an example.
exercise
Physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger.
Example
Swimming is good exercise.
eye
Either of the two organs on the face that you see with.
Example
The suspect has dark hair and green eyes.
face
The front part of the head, where the eyes, nose and mouth are.
Example
a pretty/pale/round face
fact
A thing that is known to be true, especially when it can be proved.
Example
First, some basic facts about healthy eating.
family
A group consisting of one or two parents and their children.
Example
I introduced Neil to the other members of my family.
farm
An area of land, and the buildings on it, used for growing crops and/or keeping animals.
Example
a 200-hectare farm
farmer
A person who owns or manages a farm.
Example
My parents are dairy farmers.
father
A male parent of a child or an animal; a person who is acting as the father to a child.
Example
My father died in 2017.
favorite
The person or thing you like best.
Example
This song is my favorite.
feeling
Something that you feel through the mind or through the senses.
Example
a feeling of guilt/helplessness/anger/sadness
festival
A series of performances of music, plays, films, etc., usually organized in the same place once a year; a series of public events connected with a particular activity or idea.
Example
a film/music festival
film
A series of moving pictures recorded with sound that tells a story, watched at a cinema or on a television or other device.
Example
Let's stay in and watch a film.
fire
The flames, light and heat, and often smoke, that are produced when something burns.
Example
Most animals are afraid of fire.
fish
A creature that lives in water, breathes through gills, and uses fins and a tail for swimming.
Example
They caught several fish.
flight
A journey made by air, especially in a plane.
Example
a smooth/comfortable/bumpy flight
floor
The surface of a room that you walk on.
Example
a wooden/concrete/tiled floor
flower
The coloured part of a plant from which the seed or fruit develops. Flowers usually grow at the end of a stem and last only a short time.
Example
The plant has a beautiful bright red flower.
food
Things that people or animals eat.
Example
Pat had prepared food and drink for the work party.
foot
The lowest part of the leg, below the ankle, on which a person or an animal stands.
Example
My feet are aching.
football
A game played by two teams of 11 players, using a round ball that players kick up and down the playing field. Teams try to kick the ball into the other team’s goal.
Example
The kids were outside playing football.
form
A type or variety of something.
Example
all the millions of different life forms on the planet today
Friday
The day of the week after Thursday and before Saturday.
Example
It's Friday today, isn't it?
friend
A person you know well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family.
Example
This is my friend Tom.
front
The part or side of something that faces forward; the side of something that you look at first.
Example
The front of the building was covered with ivy.
fruit
The part of a plant that consists of one or more seeds and a soft inner part, can be eaten as food and usually tastes sweet.
Example
tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples
fun
The feeling of enjoying yourself; activities that you enjoy.
Example
We had a lot of fun at Sarah's party.
future
The time that will come after the present or the events that will happen then.
Example
We need to plan for the future.
garden
A piece of land next to or around your house where you can grow flowers, fruit, vegetables, etc., usually with a lawn (= an area of grass).
Example
a front/back/rear garden
geography
The scientific study of the earth’s surface, physical features, divisions, products, population, etc.
Example
recent work in economic geography
girl
A female child.
Example
a little girl of six
girlfriend
A girl or a woman that somebody is having a romantic relationship with.
Example
He’s got a new girlfriend.
glass
A hard, usually clear, substance used, for example, for making windows and bottles.
Example
a sheet/pane of glass
gray
The color gray.
Example
Gray is a calm color.
green
The colour of grass and the leaves of most plants and trees.
Example
light/pale green
group
A number of people or things that are together in the same place or that are connected in some way.
Example
a group of people/students/friends
guitar
A musical instrument that usually has six strings and that you play with your fingers or with a plectrum.
Example
an acoustic/electric guitar
gym
A room or hall with equipment for doing physical exercise, for example in a school.
Example
The school has recently built a new gym.
hair
The substance that looks like a mass of fine threads growing on a person's head.
Example
She has long dark hair.
half
Either of two equal parts into which something is or can be divided.
Example
two and a half kilos (= 2½)
head
The part of the body on top of the neck containing the eyes, nose, mouth and brain.
Example
She nodded her head in agreement.
health
The condition of a person’s body or mind.
Example
to be good/bad for your health
help
The act of helping somebody to do something.
Example
Thank you for all your help.
history
All the events that happened in the past.
Example
in history, The battle was a turning point in human history.
home
The house or flat that you live in, especially with your family.
Example
Old people prefer to stay in their own homes.
homework
Work that is given by teachers for students to do at home.
Example
I always do my homework on the bus.
horse
A large animal with four legs, a mane (= long thick hair on its neck) and a tail. Horses are used for riding on, pulling carriages, etc.
Example
to ride a horse
hospital
A large building where people who are ill or injured are given medical treatment and care.
Example
to/into (the) hospital, (British English), He had to go to/into hospital for treatment.
hotel
A building where people stay, usually for a short time, paying for their rooms and meals.
Example
a two-star/five-star, etc. hotel
hour
60 minutes; one of the 24 parts that a day is divided into.
Example
I spent an hour on the phone.
house
A building for people to live in, usually for one family.
Example
in a house, We live in a two-bedroom house.
husband
The man that somebody is married to; a married man.
Example
This is my husband, Steve.
ice
Water that has frozen and become solid.
Example
There was ice on the windows.
ice cream
A type of sweet frozen food made from milk fat, tasting of fruit, chocolate, etc. and often eaten as a dessert; a small amount of this food intended for one person, often served in a container made of biscuit that is like a cone in shape.
Example
Desserts are served with cream or ice cream.
information
Facts or details about somebody/something.
Example
a piece of information
interest
The feeling that you have when you want to know or learn more about somebody/something.
Example
Her research has generated interest around the world.
internet
An international computer network connecting other networks and computers that allows people to share information around the world.
Example
to surf/browse/access the internet
interview
A formal meeting at which somebody is asked questions to see if they are suitable for a particular job, or for a course of study at a college, university, etc.
Example
a job interview
island
A piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.
Example
a small/tiny island
jeans
Trousers made of denim (= a type of strong cotton).
Example
I always wear jeans.
job
Work for which you receive regular payment.
Example
I don't have a job at present.
journey
An act of travelling from one place to another, especially when they are far apart.
Example
They went on a long train journey across India.
juice
The liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables; a drink made from this.
Example
a glass of fruit juice
July
The 7th month of the year, between June and August.
Example
in July, She was born in July.
June
The 6th month of the year, between May and July.
Example
She was born in June.
kind
A group of people or things that are the same in some way; a particular variety or type.
Example
three kinds of cakes/cake
kitchen
A room in which meals are cooked or prepared.
Example
We ate at the kitchen table.
land
The surface of the earth that is not sea.
Example
The new project will reclaim the land from the sea.
language
The system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country or area.
Example
the English language
laugh
The sound you make when you think that something is funny or silly.
Example
to give a laugh
left
The left side or direction.
Example
on the left, Take the next road on the left.
leg
One of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body.
Example
Sit on the floor, stretching your legs out in front of you.
lesson
A period of time in which somebody is taught something.
Example
She gives piano lessons.
letter
A written, typed or printed message that is put in an envelope or attached to an email and sent to somebody.
Example
to write/send (somebody) a letter
library
A building in which collections of books, newspapers, etc. and sometimes films and recorded music are kept for people to read, study or borrow.
Example
a public/university/school library
life
The ability to breathe, grow, produce young, etc. that people, animals and plants have before they die and that objects do not have.
Example
This could mean the difference between life and death.
light
The energy from the sun, a lamp, etc. that makes it possible to see things.
Example
bright/dim light
line
A long, thin mark on a surface.
Example
a straight/solid/dotted/dashed line
lion
A large, powerful animal of the cat family that hunts in groups and lives in parts of Africa and southern Asia. Lions have yellow-brown fur and the male has a mane (= long, thick hair round its neck).
Example
The lion shook its mane and roared.
list
A series of names, items, figures, etc., especially when they are written or printed.
Example
The guest list includes numerous celebrities.
love
A very strong feeling of liking and caring for somebody/something, especially a member of your family or a friend.
Example
She has earned the love and respect of many people.
lunch
A meal eaten in the middle of the day.
Example
She's gone to lunch.
machine
A piece of equipment with many parts that work together to do a particular task. The power used to work a machine may be electricity, steam, gas, etc. or human power.
Example
Machines have replaced human labour in many industries.
magazine
A type of large thin book with a paper cover that you can buy every week or month, containing articles, photographs, etc., often on a particular topic; a similar collection of articles, etc. that appears regularly online.
Example
a weekly/monthly magazine
man
An adult male human.
Example
a good-looking young man
map
A drawing or plan of the earth’s surface or part of it, showing countries, towns, rivers, etc.
Example
a map of France
March
The 3rd month of the year, between February and April.
Example
She was born in March.
market
An occasion when people buy and sell goods; the open area or building where they meet to do this.
Example
a fruit/flower/fish market
match
A sports event where people or teams compete against each other.
Example
(British English), a football match
May
The fifth month of the year, between April and June.
Example
She was born in May.
meal
An occasion when people eat food, especially breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Example
Try not to eat between meals.
meaning
The thing or idea that a sound, word, sign, etc. represents.
Example
What's the meaning of this word?
meat
The soft part of an animal or a bird that can be eaten as food; a particular type of this.
Example
a piece/slice of meat
meeting
An occasion when people come together to discuss or decide something.
Example
A hundred people attended the public meeting.
member
A person, an animal or a plant that belongs to a particular group.
Example
a member of the family/community
message
A written or spoken piece of information, etc. that you send to somebody or leave for somebody when you cannot speak to them yourself.
Example
There were no messages for me at the hotel.
meter
The fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimeters or approximately 39.37 inches.
Example
The room is five meters long.
mile
A unit for measuring distance equal to 1 609 metres or 1 760 yards.
Example
a 20-mile drive to work
milk
The white liquid produced by cows, goats and some other animals as food for their young and used as a drink by humans.
Example
a pint/litre of milk
minute
Each of the 60 parts of an hour, that are equal to 60 seconds.
Example
It's four minutes to six.
mistake
An action or an opinion that is not correct, or that produces a result that you did not want.
Example
It's easy to make a mistake.
model
A copy of something, usually smaller than the original object.
Example
a working model (= one in which the parts move) of a fire engine
moment
A very short period of time.
Example
Could you wait a moment, please?
Monday
The day of the week after Sunday and before Tuesday, the first day of the working week.
Example
It's Monday today, isn't it?
money
What you earn by working or selling things, and use to buy things.
Example
to borrow/save/spend/earn money
month
Any of the twelve periods of time into which the year is divided, for example May or June.
Example
The months of July and August are the hottest.
morning
The early part of the day from the time when people wake up until 12 o'clock in the middle of the day or before lunch.
Example
They left for Spain early this morning.
mother
A female parent of a child or animal; a person who is acting as a mother to a child.
Example
I want to buy a present for my mother and father.
mouse
A small animal that is covered in fur and has a long thin tail. Mice live in fields, in people’s houses or where food is stored.
Example
a house mouse
mouth
The opening in the face used for speaking, eating, etc.; the area inside the head behind this opening.
Example
She opened her mouth to say something.
museum
A building in which objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific interest are kept and shown to the public.
Example
a museum of modern art
music
Sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments.
Example
I like any kind of pop or dance music.
name
A word or words that a particular person, animal, place or thing is known by.
Example
What's your name?
neighbor
A person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to.
Example
My neighbor lent me some sugar.
news
New information about something that has happened recently.
Example
What's the latest news?
newspaper
A set of large printed sheets of paper, or a website, containing news, articles, advertisements, etc. and published every day or every week; the organization responsible for producing this.
Example
a daily/weekly newspaper
night
The time between one day and the next when it is dark, when people usually sleep.
Example
at night, These animals only come out at night.
north
The direction that is on your left when you watch the sun rise; one of the four main points of the compass.
Example
Which way is north?
nose
The part of the face that sticks out above the mouth, used for breathing and smelling things.
Example
She had dark eyes and a long narrow nose.
note
A short piece of writing to help you remember something.
Example
Please make a note of the dates.
November
The 11th month of the year, between October and December.
Example
She was born in November.
number
A word or symbol that represents an amount or a quantity.
Example
Think of a number and multiply it by two.
object
A thing that can be seen and touched, but is not alive.
Example
everyday objects such as cups and saucers
October
The 10th month of the year, between September and November.
Example
She was born in October.
office
A room, set of rooms or building where people work, usually sitting at desks.
Example
The company is moving to new offices on the other side of town.
onion
A round vegetable with many layers inside each other and a brown, red or white skin. Onions have a strong smell and taste.
Example
Chop the onions finely.
opinion
Your feelings or thoughts about somebody/something, rather than a fact.
Example
He has very strong political opinions.
opposite
A person or thing that is as different as possible from somebody/something else.
Example
Hot and cold are opposites.
orange
A round citrus fruit with thick skin of a colour between red and yellow and a lot of sweet juice.
Example
orange peel/zest/rind
order
The way in which people or things are placed or arranged in relation to each other.
Example
in… order, The names are listed in alphabetical order.
page
One side or both sides of a sheet of paper in a book, magazine, etc.
Example
Turn to page 64.
paint
A liquid that is put on surfaces to give them a particular colour; a layer of this liquid when it has dried on a surface.
Example
white paint
pair
Two things of the same type, especially when they are used or worn together.
Example
a pair of shoes/boots
paper
The thin material that you write and draw on and that is also used for wrapping and packing things.
Example
a piece/sheet of paper
paragraph
A section of a piece of writing, usually consisting of several sentences dealing with a single subject. The first sentence of a paragraph starts on a new line.
Example
an opening/introductory paragraph
parent
A person’s father or mother.
Example
He's still living with his parents.
park
An area of public land in a town or a city where people go to walk, play and relax.
Example
Hyde Park
part
Some but not all of a thing.
Example
We spent part of the time in the museum.
partner
A person that you are doing an activity with, such as dancing or playing a game.
Example
a dance/tennis partner
party
A social occasion, often in a person’s home, at which people eat, drink, talk, dance and enjoy themselves.
Example
a dinner/tea/cocktail party
past
The time that has gone by; things that happened in an earlier time.
Example
in the past, I used to go there often in the past.
pen
An instrument made of plastic or metal used for writing with ink (= coloured liquid for writing, etc.).
Example
an ink pen
pencil
A narrow piece of wood, or a metal or plastic case, containing a black or coloured substance, used for drawing or writing.
Example
I'll get a pencil and paper.
people
Human beings; men, women and children.
Example
At least ten people were killed in the crash.
pepper
A powder made from dried berries (called peppercorns), used to give a hot, spicy taste to food.
Example
Season with salt and pepper
period
A particular length of time.
Example
a long/an extended period
person
A human as an individual.
Example
What sort of person would do a thing like that?
phone
A piece of equipment for talking to people who are not in the same place as you.
Example
I have to make a phone call.
photograph
A picture that is made by using a camera that stores images in digital form or that has a film sensitive to light inside it.
Example
aerial photographs of the crash site
phrase
A group of words that have a particular meaning when used together.
Example
a memorable/catchy phrase
piano
A large musical instrument played by pressing the black and white keys on the keyboard. The sound is produced by small hammers hitting the metal strings inside the piano.
Example
to play the piano
picture
A painting or drawing, etc. that shows a scene, a person or thing.
Example
He likes books with lots of pictures in them.
piece
An amount of something that has been cut or separated from the rest of it; a standard amount of something.
Example
She wrote something on a small piece of paper.
pig
An animal with pink, black or brown skin, short legs, a broad nose and a short curly tail. Pigs are kept on farms for their meat (called pork) or live in the wild.
Example
a pig farmer
pink
The colour that is produced when you mix red and white together.
Example
She was dressed in pink.
place
A particular position, point or area.
Example
in a place, Keep your purse in a safe place.
plan
Something that you intend to do or achieve.
Example
Do you have any plans for the summer?
plane
A flying vehicle with wings and one or more engines.
Example
a passenger/fighter/military/private plane
plant
A living thing that grows in the earth and usually has a stem, leaves and roots, especially one that is smaller than a tree or bush.
Example
All plants need light and water.
play
A piece of writing performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio.
Example
a stage/radio play
player
A person who takes part in a game or sport.
Example
a football/tennis/chess player
point
A thing that somebody says or writes giving their opinion or stating a fact.
Example
She made several interesting points in the article.
police
An official organization whose job is to make people obey the law and to prevent and solve crime; the people who work for this organization.
Example
Get out of the house or I'll call the police.
policeman
A male police officer.
Example
a plain-clothes/uniformed policeman
post
The official system used for sending and delivering letters, packages, etc.
Example
by post, I'll send the original to you by post.
potato
A round white vegetable with a brown or red skin that grows underground as part of a plant also called a potato.
Example
Will you peel the potatoes for me?
pound
The unit of money in the UK, worth 100 pence.
Example
a ten-pound note
practice
Doing an activity or training regularly so that you can improve your skill; the time you spend doing this.
Example
conversation practice
present
A thing that you give to somebody as a gift.
Example
What can I get him for a birthday present?
price
The amount of money that you have to pay for something.
Example
Boat for sale, price £8 000
problem
A thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand.
Example
big/serious/major problems
product
A thing that is grown, produced or created, usually for sale.
Example
food/agricultural/software products
project
A piece of work involving careful study of a subject over a period of time, done by school or college students.
Example
a history project
purple
The colour of blue and red mixed together.
Example
Her hair was dyed a bright shade of purple.
question
A sentence, phrase or word that asks for information.
Example
You didn't answer my question.
radio
The activity of broadcasting programmes for people to listen to; the programmes that are broadcast.
Example
The play was written specially for radio.
rain
Water that falls from the sky in separate drops.
Example
There will be rain in all parts tomorrow.
reader
A person who reads, especially one who reads a lot or in a particular way.
Example
an avid reader of science fiction
reading
The activity of somebody who reads.
Example
My hobbies include reading and painting.
reason
A cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done.
Example
He said no but he didn't give a reason.
red
The colour of blood or fire.
Example
She often wears red.
report
A written or spoken account of an event, especially one that is published or broadcast.
Example
Are these news reports true?
result
A thing that is caused or produced because of something else.
Example
And did your intervention produce the desired result?
return
The action of arriving in or coming back to a place that you were in before.
Example
A week had passed since their return to Geneva.
rice
Short, narrow white or brown grain grown on wet land in hot countries as food; the plant that produces this grain.
Example
a grain of rice
river
A natural flow of water that continues in a long line across land to the sea.
Example
Eventually we came to the mouth of the River Thames.
road
A hard surface built for vehicles to travel on.
Example
a main/major/minor road
room
A part of a building that has its own walls, floor and ceiling and is usually used for a particular purpose.
Example
I heard him enter the room.
routine
The normal order and way in which you regularly do things.
Example
to settle/get/fall into a routine
rule
A statement of what may, must or must not be done in a particular situation or when playing a game.
Example
She laid down strict rules for her tenants, including prompt payment of rent.
salad
A mixture of raw vegetables such as lettuce, tomato and cucumber, usually served with other food as part of a meal.
Example
All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
salt
A white substance that is added to food to make it taste better or to preserve it. Salt is obtained from mines and is also found in seawater. It is sometimes called common salt to show that it is different from other chemical salts. Its chemical name is sodium chloride.
Example
Pass the salt, please.
sandwich
Two slices of bread, often spread with butter, with a layer of meat, cheese, etc. between them.
Example
a ham/tuna/egg sandwich
Saturday
The day of the week after Friday and before Sunday.
Example
It's Saturday today, isn't it?
school
A place where children go to be educated.
Example
My brother and I went to the same school.
science
Knowledge about the structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world, based on facts that you can prove, for example by experiments.
Example
new developments in science and technology
scientist
A person who studies one or more of the natural sciences (= for example, physics, chemistry or biology).
Example
a research scientist
second
A unit for measuring time. There are 60 seconds in one minute.
Example
in… seconds, She can run 100 metres in just over 11 seconds.
section
Any of the parts into which something is divided.
Example
That section of the road is still closed.
sentence
A set of words expressing a statement, a question or an order, usually containing a subject and a verb. In written English sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop/period (.), a question mark (?) or an exclamation mark (!).
Example
Does the sentence contain an adverb?
September
The 9th month of the year, between August and October.
Example
She was born in September.
sheep
An animal with a thick coat, kept on farms for its meat (called mutton or lamb) or its wool.
Example
a flock of sheep
shirt
A piece of clothing worn on the upper part of the body, made of light cloth, with sleeves and usually with a collar and buttons down the front.
Example
to wear a shirt
shop
A building or part of a building where you can buy goods or services.
Example
to open/close/run a shop
shopping
The activity of going to shops and buying things or ordering them online.
Example
to go shopping
show
A programme on television or the radio.
Example
Millions of people watch the show.
shower
A piece of equipment producing a flow of water that you stand under to wash yourself; the small room or part of a room that contains a shower.
Example
in the shower, He's in the shower.
singer
A person who sings, or whose job is singing, especially in public.
Example
She's a wonderful singer.
sister
A girl or woman who has the same mother and father as another person.
Example
She's my sister.
situation
All the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place.
Example
the present economic/financial/political situation
skill
The ability to do something well.
Example
The job requires skill and an eye for detail.
snake
A reptile with a very long thin body and no legs. There are many types of snake, some of which are poisonous.
Example
a snake coiled up in the grass
snow
Small soft white pieces (called flakes) of frozen water that fall from the sky in cold weather; this substance when it is lying on the ground.
Example
Snow was falling heavily.
son
A person’s male child.
Example
their four-year-old son
sound
Something that you can hear.
Example
a loud/soft/faint sound
soup
A liquid food made by boiling meat, vegetables, etc. in water, often eaten as the first course of a meal.
Example
a bowl/cup of soup
south
The direction that is on your right when you watch the sun rise; one of the four main points of the compass.
Example
Which way is south?
spring
The season between winter and summer when plants begin to grow.
Example
The following spring, the three artists travelled to California.
star
A large ball of burning gas in space that we see as a point of light in the sky at night.
Example
There was a big moon and hundreds of stars were shining overhead.
statement
Something that you say or write that gives information or an opinion.
Example
Are the following statements true or false?
station
A place where trains stop so that passengers can get on and off; the buildings connected with this.
Example
the main station
story
A description of events and people that the writer or speaker has invented in order to entertain people.
Example
a tragic love story
street
A public road in a city or town that has houses and buildings on one side or both sides.
Example
along/down/up the street, I was just walking along the street when it happened.
student
A person who is studying at a university or college.
Example
a college/university student
study
The activity of learning or gaining knowledge, either from books or by examining things in the world.
Example
a room set aside for private study
style
The particular way in which something is done.
Example
a wide range of musical styles
subject
A thing or person that is being discussed, described or dealt with.
Example
Walker's work has been the subject of much debate.
success
The fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to do or get.
Example
The company has achieved considerable success in this market.
sugar
A sweet substance, often in the form of white or brown crystals, made from the juices of various plants, used in cooking or to make tea, coffee, etc. sweeter.
Example
Do you take sugar (= have it in your tea, coffee, etc.)?
summer
The warmest season of the year, coming between spring and autumn.
Example
in the summer, We're going away in the summer.
Sunday
The day of the week after Saturday and before Monday, thought of as either the first or the last day of the week.
Example
It's Sunday today, isn't it?
supermarket
A large shop that sells food, drinks and goods used in the home. People choose what they want from the shelves and pay for it as they leave.
Example
I only shop at this supermarket.
swimming
The sport or activity of swimming.
Example
Swimming is a good form of exercise.
T-shirt
An informal shirt, usually with short sleeves (= arms) no collar or buttons, or just a few buttons at the top.
Example
He was wearing a faded pair of blue jeans and an old T-shirt.
table
A piece of furniture that consists of a flat top supported by legs.
Example
at a/the table, We sat at a round table in the corner.
tea
The dried leaves (called tea leaves) of the tea bush.
Example
a packet of tea
teacher
A person whose job is teaching, especially in a school.
Example
an English/a science teacher
team
A group of people who play a particular game or sport against another group of people.
Example
a football/basketball/soccer team
teenager
A person who is between 13 and 19 years old.
Example
a magazine aimed at teenagers
telephone
A system for talking to somebody else over long distances, using wires or radio; a machine used for this.
Example
The telephone rang and Pat answered it.
test
An examination of somebody’s knowledge or ability, consisting of questions for them to answer or activities for them to perform.
Example
an IQ/a fitness test
text
Any form of written material.
Example
a computer that can process text
thanks
Words or actions that show that you are grateful to somebody for something.
Example
How can I ever express my thanks to you for all you've done?
theater
A building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given.
Example
We went to the theater last night.
thing
An object whose name you do not use because you do not need to or want to, or because you do not know it.
Example
Can you pass me that thing over there?
Thursday
The day of the week after Wednesday and before Friday.
Example
It's Thursday today, isn't it?
ticket
A printed piece of paper, or a message or image received on your phone or computer, that gives you the right to travel on a particular bus, train, etc. or to go into a theatre, etc.
Example
a plane/bus/train ticket
title
The name of a book, poem, painting, piece of music, etc.
Example
What's title of her new book?
today
This day.
Example
Today is her tenth birthday.
toilet
A large bowl attached to a pipe that you sit on or stand over when you get rid of waste matter from your body.
Example
Have you flushed the toilet?
tomato
A soft fruit with a lot of juice and shiny red skin that is eaten as a vegetable either raw or cooked.
Example
a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich
tomorrow
The day after today.
Example
Today is Tuesday, so tomorrow is Wednesday.
tonight
The evening or night of today.
Example
Here are tonight's football results.
tooth
Any of the hard white structures in the mouth used for biting food.
Example
I've just had a tooth out at the dentist's.
topic
A subject that you talk, write or learn about.
Example
The main topic of conversation was Tom's new girlfriend.
tourist
A person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure.
Example
busloads of foreign tourists
town
A place with many houses, shops, etc. where people live and work. It is larger than a village but smaller than a city.
Example
The nearest town is ten miles away.
traffic
The vehicles that are on a road at a particular time.
Example
There's always a lot of traffic at this time of day.
train
A number of connected coaches or trucks, pulled by an engine or powered by a motor in each one, taking people and goods from one place to another.
Example
to get on/off a train
travel
The act or activity of travelling.
Example
air/rail/space travel
tree
A tall plant that can live a long time. Trees have a thick central wooden trunk from which branches grow, usually with leaves on them.
Example
an oak/olive/apple tree
trip
A journey to a place and back again, especially a short one for pleasure or a particular purpose.
Example
Did you have a good trip?
Tuesday
The day of the week after Monday and before Wednesday.
Example
It's Tuesday today, isn't it?
turn
The time when somebody in a group of people should or is allowed to do something.
Example
When it's your turn, take another card.
type
A class or group of people or things that share particular qualities or features and are part of a larger group; a kind or sort.
Example
a rare blood type
university
An institution at the highest level of education where you can study for a degree or do research.
Example
Is there a university in this town?
vacation
A period of time spent travelling or resting away from home.
Example
on vacation, They're on vacation in Hawaii right now.
village
A very small town located in a country area.
Example
We visited towns and villages all over Spain.
visit
An occasion or a period of time when somebody goes to see a place or person and spends time there.
Example
a two-day/three-day visit
visitor
A person who visits a person or place.
Example
We've got visitors coming this weekend.
waiter
A man whose job is to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant, etc.
Example
I'll ask the waiter for the bill.
walk
A journey on foot, usually for pleasure or exercise.
Example
Let's go for a walk.
wall
A long, solid structure that rises straight up from the ground, made of stone, brick or concrete, that surrounds, divides or protects an area of land.
Example
to build a wall
watch
A type of small clock that you wear on your wrist, or (in the past) carried in your pocket.
Example
She kept looking anxiously at her watch.
water
A liquid without colour, smell or taste that falls as rain, is in lakes, rivers and seas, and is used for drinking, washing, etc.
Example
a glass of water
way
A method, style or manner of doing something.
Example
I prefer to do things the easy way.
website
A set of pages on the internet, where a company or an organization, or an individual person, puts information.
Example
For current prices please visit our website.
Wednesday
The day of the week after Tuesday and before Thursday.
Example
It's Wednesday today, isn't it?
weekend
Saturday and Sunday.
Example
this/next/last weekend
west
The direction that you look towards to see the sun go down; one of the four main points of the compass.
Example
Which way is west?
white
The colour of fresh snow or of milk.
Example
various shades of white
wife
The woman that somebody is married to; a married woman.
Example
I met my wife at university.
window
An opening in the wall or roof of a building, car, etc., usually covered with glass, that allows light and air to come in and people to see out; the glass in a window.
Example
out of the window, She looked out of the window.
wine
An alcoholic drink made from the juice of grapes that has been left to ferment. There are many different kinds of wine.
Example
sparkling wine
winter
The coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring.
Example
a cold/mild/harsh winter
woman
An adult female human.
Example
a 54-year-old woman
word
A single unit of language that means something and can be spoken or written.
Example
Do not write more than 200 words.
work
The job that a person does especially in order to earn money.
Example
He started work as a security guard.
worker
A person who works, especially one who does a particular kind of work.
Example
farm/factory/office workers
world
The earth, with all its countries, peoples and natural features.
Example
a map of the world
writer
A person whose job is writing books, stories, articles, etc.
Example
Who's your favourite writer?
writing
The activity of writing, in contrast to reading, speaking, etc.
Example
Our son’s having problems with his reading and writing (= at school)
year
The period from 1 January to 31 December, that is 365 or 366 days, divided into 12 months.
Example
Elections take place every year.
yellow
The colour of lemons or butter.
Example
She was dressed in yellow.
yesterday
The day before today.
Example
Yesterday was Sunday.