ENGLISH

DICTIONARY

Submitted by:

Brandon Ed Chinue Tan-Tabayag

English Meanings
 words

to go away forever from something or somebody. The same word also means to stop
abandon
what you are doing before you have finished it.

abatement decrese, softening, weakening, lessening

abbess a woman who is the head of the nuns in a convent or abbey

abbey a monastery or a convent; the big church of a monastery or convent

abbot a man who is the head of the monks in a monastery or abbey

abbreviation a short way of writing or printing a word, such as Dr.Doctor, Jan. for January

abdomen the lower part of the body which contains the stomach

ability strength, cleverness or skill

able having the strength, cleverness or skill to do something

abolish to get rid of or to put an end to something

to talk or make sounds in a foolish way; to make a murmuring sound as water does in
babble
a stream or brook

babe an infant, an inexperienced person, a young child of either sex

baboon a large monkey with a short tail and al long dog-like face

baby a very young child who cannot walk yet

babyish like a baby

bachelor a man who has not married

backbone the spine, strength, the spinal column

backing support, implied approval

bacon pigmeat that has been dried and salted

bacteria disease-germ, microbe

cab the place in an engine or lorry where the drive sits. The same word also means a taxi

cabbage a vegetable with green or purple leaves growing tightly together in a round ball

a small house or hut made of logs or other rough materials. The same word also
cabin
means a room for passengers on a ship or aeroplane

a kind of cupboard with glass doors where you keep ornaments or collections of
cabinet
things, a council of ministers

cable a very strong thick rope, sometimes made of pieces of wire twisted together

cackle the loud excited noise made by hens

a plant with thick leaves and stems, often covered with prickles, which grows in hot
cactus
dry countries. You can also grow small ones as house plants

cad a mean vulgar fellow

caddly a small airtight box to keep tea in

cadet a boy or young man who is learning to be an officer in the army or navy or air force

daffodil a yellow spring flower shaped rather like a trumpet

daft foolish or silly

dagger a short sword

dahlia a garden plant with brightly coloured flowers

daily every day

dainty pretty; delicate

dairy a place where milk, butter and cheese are kept

daisy a small field flower with white or pink petals around a yellow centre

dale low ground between hills; a small valley

dam a special kind of wall which checks a flow of water

eager wanting very much to do something; keen

eagle a large bird of prey, with a sharp curved beak and claws

the part of the body you hear with. The same word means a spike of grain such as
ear
an ear of corn or barley

earl a nobleman of high rank

early in good time; near the beginning

earn to get something, usually money, in return for working; to deserve

earnest serious; sincere

earring jewellery which is worn on the ear

the planet we live on; the world. The same word also means the ground in a
earth
garden or field

earthquake a violent shaking of the earth’s surface

fable a short story, usually about animals, which is meant to teach us lesson

fabric woven stuff, frame, building structure

facade outward appearance, front of building

face the front of your head

fact a thing that everyone knows is true and hot imaginary

the science and art of disposing forces in order for battle, adroit management of a
factice
situation

factory a building where things are made in large quantities, usually by machine

fade to lose colour or freshness

fail not to be able to do something you try to do; to be unsuccessful

failing a fault or a bad habit

gabble to speak so quickly that people find it hard to understand what you are saying

gain to earn or win; to add to what you already have

a group of people working together. The same word also means a band of robbers or
gaing
thieves

gale a strong wind

the upper floor of seats in a theatre or church. The same word also means a room or
gallery
building where works of art on show

gallon a measure of liquid, equal to 4 quarts or 8 points

gallop the fastest speed at which a horse can move

gamble to play a game for money

gambol to skip and jump happily

game a way of playing which has rules

something you do regularly and often, almost without thinking about it, such as
habit
brushing your teeth

habitation residence, abode, occupancy

hackney a horse kept for hire, a coach kept for hire

hadmaster a woman who is responsible for all the teachers and pupils in a school

hail frozen rain which falls as little lumps of ice

hair the soft covering which grows on your head

hairbrush a special brush you use for tidying and arranging your hair

hairdresser someone who cuts and arranges people’s hair

hale sound, healthy, robust

one of two equal parts. When you cut something in half, you divide it into tow parts
half
which are exactly the same size
 I

ice water which has been frozen hard by the cold

ice cream a frozen food made with milk and sugar

icicle a long thin spike of ice, usually hanging from a roof

icing a sugar coating for cakes

idea a plan which you think of, or a picture in your mind

ideal perfect; exactly right

idiot a person whose mind does not work properly; a crazy person

idle lazy; not working; doing nothing

idol an image or statue of a person or animal that is worshipped as a god

idyll a short narrative poem of rustic life

jab to poke or stab at something suddenly

jackal a wild animal that looks like a dog

jacket a short coat. The same word also means a loose paper cover on a book

jagged having sharp and rough edges

jaguar a fierce wild animal, rather like a leopard

jail another word for prison. Sometimes the word is spelled gaol

jalap a purgative medicine

jam fruit cooked together with sugar until it is thick and soft

jar a pottery or glass container with a wide opening

jargon confused unintelligible talk

kafir a member of the most important dark race in south Africa

kangaroo an animal which can jump a long way. It has a pocket for its babies

a heavy piece of wood or metal that goes along the bottom of a boat or ship from one
keel
end to the other

keen very interested in something. The same word also means sharp; cutting

to hold on to something and not give it away. The same word also means the strongest,
keep
inside part of castle

keeper someone who looks after or guards something, like a gamekeeper or a keeper at the zoo

kennel a small house or shelter for a dog

kernel the inside part of a nut that can usually be eaten

kerosene a lamp oil from petroleum

kettle a metal container used for boiling water. It has a lid, a handle and spout

a small piece of paper of cardboard with writing or printing on it. You stick labels on such
label
things as jars, boxes or luggage, so that you know what is inside

laboratory a room or building where scientific tests are carried out

labour hard work

a string used to fasten shoes. The same word also means material with a pretty pattern
lace
of holes

lack to be in need of something you have not got. If you are hungry, you lack food

lad a boy

a set of wooden or metal rungs between two long pieces of wood or metal, used for
ladder
climbing up or down

laden loaded, burdened

lady another word for a woman

ladybird a tiny flying beetle, usually red with black spots

macabre terrible, gruesome

machiavellian cunning in political management

an instrument, usually made of metal, which does a job of work, like a sewing
machine
machine or a washing machine

machinery the working parts of machines; another name for machines

mackintosh a raincoat. It is often called mac for short

crazy; not right tin the head. Someone who is mad does not think properly, because
mad
his mind is ill. The same word also means angry

a thin book which comes out every week or month. It has different stories and
magazine
pictures in it each time

maggot a small creature without legs found in bad meat, cheese or fruit

an imaginary power that makes wonderful thing happen that seem impossible, like
magic
changing a pumpkin into a beautiful coach

magician someone who can do magic

nab to catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly

nag to keep on scolding or finding fault

the hard part at the end of a finger or toe. The same word also means a thin sharp
nail
piece of metal used to join pieces of wood

naked without clothes or covering

name what a person or thing is called

nanny-goat a female goat

nap a short sleep

a square piece of cloth or paper used to wipe your mouth and fingers when you are
napkin
eating

narcissus a spring flower, white or yellow, that smells very sweet

narcotic substance which relieves pain and produces sleep

o’clock the time by the clock

o.k. all right

a kind of tree that can grow very big and lives to a very old age. It has acorns as its
oak
fruit.

oar a long piece of wood with one flat end, used to row a boat

oasis a place in a desert where plants and trees grow because there is water

oath a solemn promise that you will speak the truth or keep your word

a kind of grain used mostly to feed animals. Oats are also grown up and cooked with
oats
water to make porridge.

obedience doing as you are told

obey to do as you are told

obituary an account of a deceased person or persons, list of the death

pace a step or the length of a step, as when you say something is six paces away, speed

pacify to console, embalm, appease, give peace to

to put things into a container. You pack clothes into a trunk or suitcase when you go
pack
away. The same word also means a bundle

package a parcel or bundle

packet a small parcel or package

a lot of sheets of paper glued or sewn together at the top. The same word also means
pad
a piece of thick, soft material, usually to protect a part of your body from harm

pail another word for bucket

pain the feeling when something hurts you

paint to colour something with a brush and coloured liquid is called paint

painting a coloured picture painted on paper or canvas

quack the noise a duck makes

quail a wild bird like a small partridge. The same word also means to lose courage

quaint old-fashioned; a little odd

quake to tremble, shake or quiver

qualification ability, suitable quality or characteristic

how good or bad something is. Clothes of good quality usually cost more but will last
quality
longer than clothes of poor quality

quantity the size, number or amount of things

quantum a quantity, an amount, a sufficient amount

quarrel to argue or disagree with someone in an angry way

a place where stone for building is dug out. The same word also means an animal
quarry
that is being hunted

a small furry animal with long ears. Some rabbits are kept in hutches as pets, but
rabbit
wild rabbits dig holes in the ground to live in

to move very quickly to get to a place before someone else does. The same word also
race means a large group of people having a similar appearance, especially the same skin
colour. Europeans, Africans and Chines all belong to different races

racetrack the path or course where a race is run

rack a framework to keep things on, such as a hat rack

a bat with a network of strings used in playing tennis and other games. Sometimes
racket
the word is spelled racquet. The same word also means a loud noise

a method of finding the position of an object (ship, aircraft) by reflection of

radiance brightness shooting in rays, splendour, brilliancy

radiant bright; sending out rays of heat or light. The same word also means showing joy

radiate to send out rays of heat or light: to spread out in many directions from a centre
 a set of pipes or other apparatus used to heat a room by electricity, hot water or
radiator steam. The same word also means the part of a car that holds water to keep the
engine from getting too hot

radiculous silly; foolish; laughable

sack a large bag made of cloth, paper or plastic

sacred holy

sad not happy; feeling sorry

saddle a leather seat for a rider, which is fastened on to a horse’s back or a bicycle

safari an expedition in Africa in search of wild animals

not able to be hurt; out of danger. The same word also means a very strong metal
safe
box used to lock money and valuable things away safety

safety freedom from harm or danger

sag to sink down or bend in the middle; to hang limply or droop

a long story about people and legends of olden days; a long story about a family and
saga
their family before them

a piece of canvas fastened to a ship’s mast. Sails catch the wind so that the ship is
sail
moved along

tab a small flap or loop, usually on a piece of clothing

a piece of furniture with legs and a flat top. The same word also means a set of facts
table
or figures arranged in columns

tableau a picture, striking group of dramatic sence

tablecloth a large piece of material used to cover a table

tablet a small, flat piece of something, like stone, soap and some kinds of medicine

tacit silent, unspoken

a short nail with a wide flat head. The same word also means to sew something
tack
together with long loose stitches

tackle to use all your strength to try to do something. The same word also means the
 equipment for doing something, such as fishing tackle

tadpole a frog when it is very young, before its legs develop

taffeta a kind of stiff shiny cloth used for making dresses

ubiquitous existing everywhere, omnipresent

ugly not pretty or pleasant to look at

ulcer an open sore on the skin or inside you

ultimatum the last offer, Final warning

a round piece of material stretched over thin pieces of metal. It can be opened and
umbrella
held over your head to keep you from getting wet in the rain

someone who settles arguments and decides whether players have broken the rules
umpire
in games like cricket and tennis

uncle the brother of your mother or father

uncomfortable not at ease; feeling awkward

underneath the ground. The same word also means a railway that runs in a tunnel
underground
under the ground

underline to draw a line under a word

vacant empty; not lived in, like a house that people have moved away from

vacation a holiday

vaccinate (say vaksinate) to give an injection that will prevent you from getting some diseases

vacuum a space with no air in it

vagabond a wanderer, aimless, rascal

vagrant wandering, unsettled

vague not very clear or sure

vain thinking how pretty or good-looking you are; having a very good opinion of yourself
valiant bold, courageous, brave, heroic

valley the low land between two hills or mountains

wad a bundle of paper, often used for packing

waddle to walk with short steps, rocking from side to side, as a duck does

wade to walk in water

wafer a very thin biscuit

waft to sail or float, a breath of wind

wag to move something up and down or from side to side, as when a dog wages its tail

wage payment for a job of work

wagon an open vehicle with four wheels, used to carry heavy loads

wagtail a small wild bird with a long tail that wags up and down

wail to make a long sad crying noise

a special kind of photograph which shows doctors what the inside of your body looks
x-ray
like

xylography wood engraving, a process of decorative painting on wood

a set of narrow pieces of wood that make musical sounds when they are hit with
xylophone
wooden hammers

yacht (rhymes with got) a kind of boat, usually with sails, used for racing or for pleasure

yak a long-haired ox

yap to bark sharply

a space, usually closed in by buildings or a fence. The same word also means a
yard
measurement of 36 inches or 3 feet

thread made from wool or cotton. The same word also means a story told by
yarn
someone who has travelled a lot
 to open your mouth wide and breathe air in and out slowly, especially when you are
yawn
sleepy or bored

year a length of time; 365 days, 52 weeks or 12 months make a year

yearning longing, keen desire

yell to call out very loudly

yellow a colour. Lemons and primroses are yellow and so are the yolks of eggs

zeal enthusiasm, eagerness, passionate ardour

zealous fervent, enthusiastic, eager, earnest

zebra a wild animal like a small horse with stripes

zero nothing

zest joy in what you are doing: enthusiasm

zigzag moving from side to side, like this line

zinc a bluish-white metal

zip a long metal or plastic fastener used to do up clothing and to close purses and bags

zipper another word for zip-fastener

a large are of the world which is different from other areas because, for example, it
zone
has a much hotter or much colder climate