# Collins Junior Illustrated Thesaurus

Collins Dictionaries

Collins Junior Illustrated Thesaurus is a clear, easy-to-use thesaurus that provides support for children’s creative writing and helps build vocabulary, with full definitions for every synonym and sample sentences for each word.A simple, step-by-step introduction shows children how to get the best out of their thesaurus, while the colour headwords and clear layout make it easy to find the right word. Colourful illustrations and images throughout help children remember words and definitions.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Using this thesaurus

Aa

Bb

Cc

Dd

Ee

Ff

Gg

Hh

Ii

Jj

Kk

Ll

Mm

Nn

Oo

Pp

Qq

Rr

Ss

Tt

Uu

Vv

Ww

Xx

Yy

Zz

Word list pages

Amphibians

Animals

Birds

Body

Books

Buildings

Cars

Clean

Cold

Colours

Cooking

Crimes

Criminals

Dance

Drinks

Flowers

Fruit

Groups

Insects

Jobs

Magic

Mammals

Music

Pictures

Poetry

Reptiles

Shapes

Sounds

Space

Sports

Stories

Time

Trees

Vegetables

Water

Weather

Young animals

Index

Picture Credits

Copyright

About the Publisher

Using this thesaurus

A thesaurus helps you choose exactly the right word to make your writing more interesting. In your writing, do you find you use words like good, bad and nice too often? A thesaurus will help you find other words with the same meaning.

How to find a word

If you want to find a different way of saying a word, think of its first letter. Once you know this, there is more than one way to find your word in the thesaurus:

• You can use the Index at the back of the ebook which lists all of the thesaurus words in alphabetical order. Scroll through the Index until you find the letter your word begins with, then look down the words until you find the one you are looking for. You can then follow the link to the entry in the thesaurus.

• You can use the Contents page at the front of the book, which has a link to every letter in the thesaurus. Follow the link to the letter your word begins with, then look through the entries in this letter until you find the word you are looking for. The entries are in alphabetical order.

Once you have found your word in the thesaurus, you can choose the synonym that suits your writing. A synonym is a word or phrase that has a similar meaning to the headword. Read the example sentences to understand how each synonym can be used.

Choosing the right synonym


1. The headword is the word that you want to find a synonym for.

2. Some headwords also have a number in brackets. This tells you that this headword can have different meanings.

3. Next you will see the part of speech. This tells you what type of word the headword is, such as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or pronoun. If the word you want to find is a verb, make sure the headword you look at is also a verb.

4. Underneath the headword, you will find the definition. The definition tells you what the headword means.

5. The synonyms are listed below the definition of each headword. Synonyms have similar meanings to the headword.

6. Every synonym in the Collins Junior Thesaurus has an example sentence. This shows you how the word might be used in speech or writing.

7. Some headwords and synonyms have an illustration or photo to help you read the word and understand its meaning.

Other features of this thesaurus

This arrow ➔ points to a booster. Boosters are lively words and phrases that can be used to replace a headword. Boosters are usually words that are used in speech as slang, in proverbs and in mottos. For example:

noisy ADJECTIVE

Someone or something noisy makes loud or unpleasant sounds.

boisterous

Dad complained the party was getting far too boisterous.

deafening

Suddenly there was a deafening clap of thunder.

loud

The boys’ game was much too loud.

piercing

She was a nice girl, but they couldn’t stand her piercing laugh.

➔ ear-splitting

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another. When a headword has an antonym, the antonym is shown at the end of the entry.

hot (2) ADJECTIVE

You say food is hot if it has a strong spicy taste.

peppery

The meal was a bit too peppery for me.

spicy

Dad likes his curries really spicy.

ANTONYM: mild

Word list entries

There are special themed entries throughout this thesaurus to support your writing.

At these entries you will find lists of things, such as parts of the body, colours and different types of animal. You might also find labelled illustrations to help you understand the words in the list. The word list pages are listed on the Contents page.

Online resources

Explore further at www.collins.co.uk/homeworkhelp for games, activities and extra support for parents and children.

Aa

accident (1) NOUN

An accident is something nasty that happens by chance.

calamity

The flooding river caused a calamity and the house was wrecked.

catastrophe

That plane crash was a catastrophe.

collision

Mark damaged his bike in a collision with the gatepost.

crash

There was a bad crash on the motorway.

disaster

Tom’s walk ended with a disaster when he fell in the canal.

mishap

“Just a mishap,” said Dad, after his keys fell down the drain.

accident (2) NOUN

If something happens by accident, it was not planned.

chance

The friends met by chance at the disco.

coincidence

Ben and Rosie got the same answers by coincidence.

afraid ADJECTIVE

Someone who is afraid thinks that something nasty might happen.

anxious

Mole felt anxious in the wild wood.

nervous

“You don’t need to be nervous,” said the dentist. “This won’t hurt a bit.”

panic-stricken

They were panic-stricken when they heard the ice crack.

petrified

Emma was petrified during her ride on the big dipper.

scared

Goldilocks was scared when the three bears found her.

worried

Our cat was worried when the pet-shop owner picked up her kittens.

➔ numb with fear; scared to death

amphibian NOUN

An amphibian is an animal that can live on land and in water.

TYPES OF AMPHIBIANS:


anger NOUN

Anger is the strong feeling you have about something that is unfair.

fury

My little brother stamped his foot in fury when I wouldn’t play with him.

outrage

There was outrage among farmers when the plans were announced.

rage

Nobody dared annoy the ogre, because his rage was terrible to see.


angry ADJECTIVE

If you feel angry, you are very cross.

annoyed

Alice was annoyed with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.

cross

Steven was cross when his sister finished his jigsaw.

enraged

Michael was enraged when thieves stole his new bike.

furious

His sister was furious about the broken window.

infuriated

Grandpa was infuriated because squirrels had dug up his flower bulbs.

mad

I made my best friend mad by shouting at her.

wild

Sarah was really wild when her little brother scribbled on her work.

➔ climbing the walls; fuming; going ballistic; livid

ANTONYM: pleased

animal NOUN

Animals are living things that are not plants. Humans, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects are all animals.

beast

Fabulous beasts roamed wild in the enchanted forest.

creature

Mice are timid creatures.

KINDS OF ANIMALS:

amphibian

bird

fish

insect

mammal

reptile


annoy VERB

If you do something that annoys someone, you make them cross.

bother

The horse lashed its tail at flies that were bothering it.

hassle INFORMAL

Stop hassling me or we won’t go at all.

irritate

It irritates Thomas when people treat him like a child.

pester

The cubs would not stop pestering the old lion.

➔ drive someone crazy; get on someone’s nerves

appear (1) VERB

If something appears, it moves into a place where you can see it.

come into view

At last the train came into view round the bend.

emerge

A mouse emerged from a small hole in the skirting board.

turn up

They waited ages for the bus to turn up.

appear (2) VERB

If someone appears in a show or play, they take part in it.

act

Our drama teacher is looking for people to act in Peter Pan.

perform

I’ve been asked to perform in the school concert tonight.

argument NOUN

An argument is a talk between people who do not agree.

disagreement

There was a disagreement about the new kitten’s name.

fight

We had a bit of a fight over whose turn it was to wash up.

quarrel

Sophie was unhappy after the quarrel with her friend.

squabble

“I don’t want the usual squabble about this,” said Mary.


arrange (1) VERB

If you arrange something like a party, you make plans and organize it.

fix

We’d better fix the date soon or there won’t be any seats left.

organize

My mum’s great at organizing things, but she won’t do any cooking.

plan

William’s sister is planning a wedding at the end of the year.

arrange (2) VERB

If you arrange things like flowers, you group them in a special way.

group

Harry grouped the rocks according to size.

set out

The books were set out on the shelves.

sort

Dad sorted his files in alphabetical order to make them easy to find.

arrive VERB

When you arrive at a place, you reach it at the end of your journey.

come

What time’s Jeremy coming?

turn up

Chloe could turn up any minute now.

ask (1) VERB

You ask for something when you want to be given it.

beg

James begged his dad for a mountain bike for his birthday.

demand

“Who’s been playing with my camera?” demanded Dad.

order

The highwayman ordered them to hand over their jewels.

plead

Holly pleaded to be allowed to stay up late and read her book.

request

The sign read, “Parents are requested to control their children.”

ask (2) VERB

If you ask someone a question, you are trying to find something out.

enquire

“May I enquire,” said the teacher, “why that mouse is in your pocket?”

find out

I’ll find out what time the train goes from the station.

interrogate

“You don’t have to interrogate me,” said Nina. “I’ll tell you anyway.”

question

The police said they were questioning a number of people.

ask (3) VERB

If you ask someone somewhere, you want them to come.

invite

I invited all my friends to my birthday party at the pool.

summon

Christopher was summoned to the head teacher’s office.

attractive ADJECTIVE

If someone or something is attractive, they are nice to look at.

beautiful

The car stopped and a beautiful woman got out.

charming

We had tea in the garden of a charming little cottage.


handsome

“I’ll turn into a handsome prince if you kiss me,” said the frog.

lovely

There was a lovely view from the window.

pretty

On the way, we passed through several pretty villages.

awful ADJECTIVE

Something awful is very unpleasant or bad.

bad

The weather was so bad we had to cancel the picnic.

dreadful

Sarah had a dreadful cold and found it hard to breathe.

horrible

A horrible smell came wafting from the witch’s cauldron.

terrible

Rosetta’s writing is so terrible nobody can read it.

unpleasant

They’ve painted the walls an unpleasant shade of green.

Bb

bad (1) ADJECTIVE

You say somebody is bad if they are naughty or wicked.

criminal

The police arrested four of the men for criminal behaviour.

disobedient

I have a very disobedient dog. He doesn’t come when I call him.

evil

Stories often tell of the fight between good and evil forces.

vile

“You’re vile!” she screamed. “Go away!”

wicked

The wicked queen gave Snow White a poisoned apple.

ANTONYM: good

bad (2) ADJECTIVE

If something is bad, it is harmful, unpleasant or upsetting.

appalling

Conditions on the road were appalling. There were several accidents.

disgusting

A disgusting smell came from the cave. An ogre was washing his underpants.

dreadful

The kitchen was in a dreadful state when Sanjay had finished making a cake.

harmful

Pollution is harmful for the environment.

hazardous

There is thick fog on the motorway and driving conditions are hazardous.

horrid

Amy stood in the doorway. “I’ve just had a horrid dream,” she said.

nasty

The medicine tasted really nasty.

severe

Darren the dragon had a severe coughing fit and set light to the furniture.

terrible

The weathermen were forecasting terrible floods for the weekend.

unpleasant

Walking to school was really unpleasant. Slush was everywhere.

bad (3) ADJECTIVE

You say something is bad if it is of poor quality.

careless

Your answers are right, but your presentation is careless.

faulty

Robert’s handling of the cricket bat was faulty so he couldn’t hit the ball.

poor

The lighting was so poor nobody could see the steps properly.

shoddy

The cupboard was so shoddy that it fell apart when I opened it.

wrong

The instructions were wrong so we couldn’t see how to assemble the kit.

ban VERB

If someone bans something, you are not allowed to do it.

forbid

Our teacher has forbidden sweets and crisps in the classroom.

prohibit

The council has prohibited skateboarding in the shopping centre.

band (1) NOUN

A band is a small number of people, like a group of musicians.

group

Five of us have formed a pop group.

orchestra

Our school has its own orchestra.

band (2) NOUN

A band can be a strip of material such as iron, cloth or rubber.

hoop

Metal hoops held the barrel together.

strap

Strong straps keep the luggage safe on the roof rack.

strip

Strips of gold round the sailor’s sleeve showed he was in charge.

bang NOUN

A bang is a sudden loud noise.

blast

They heard a blast from the rocket as it launched.

boom

A boom from the explosive echoed round the quarry.

explosion

There was a deafening explosion and the ground shook.

knock

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the front door.

bare (1) ADJECTIVE

If something is bare, it has nothing in it or on it.

empty

She looked for food in the cupboard, but it was empty.

unfurnished

The place was unfurnished except for a table and one chair.

bare (2) ADJECTIVE

If part of your body is bare, it is not covered by clothes.

naked

The baby lay naked, kicking her legs.

nude

The painting showed a nude woman holding a towel.

undressed

“You can’t come in!” she shrieked. “I’m undressed!”

basic ADJECTIVE

Basic means the simplest things you need, or need to know.

chief

The chief thing to remember when hiking is to shut gates behind you.

essential

Water is an essential requirement for all living creatures.


important

An important rule is to check the traffic before you cross a road.

main

The main thing is not to panic if the fire alarm goes off.

standard

Our car is a standard model.

beautiful (1) ADJECTIVE

You say something is beautiful if it gives you great pleasure to look at or listen to.

amazing

There’s an amazing view of the countryside from here.

attractive

It’s an attractive village with a very old church in the centre.

enchanting

The castle has an enchanting garden.

fine

It was a fine day so Finlay went for a paddle at the beach.


glorious

“Summer weather here is absolutely glorious,” exclaimed Gran.

gorgeous

Princess Jane wore a gorgeous dress sparkling with jewels.

graceful

The ballerina performed a graceful curtsey for the audience.

incredible

It was an incredible building with dozens of turrets.

magnificent

The king wore magnificent robes.

pretty

There’s a pretty cottage round the corner.

spectacular

The fireworks were spectacular.

splendid

The singer had a splendid voice.

stunning

“Wow! Your new hairstyle is absolutely stunning!” said Fiona.

beautiful (2) ADJECTIVE

You say someone is beautiful if they are lovely to look at.

good

Mum looked really good in her new outfit.

good-looking

The girl next door’s really good-looking.

lovely

The princess looked lovely on her wedding day.

believe VERB

If you believe someone or something, you think what is said is true.

accept

She can’t accept that she is wrong.

trust

I trusted him, but it seems he was not telling the truth.

bend (1) VERB

When something bends, it becomes curved or crooked.

buckle

Her bike hit a rock that badly buckled the front wheel.

fold

The blacksmith heated a strip of iron and folded it in half.

twist

A man twisted long balloons into the shape of an animal.

bend (2) NOUN

A bend is a curve in something.

corner

The house you are looking for is round the next corner.

curve

Round a curve in the river was the waterfall where we ate our picnic.

loop

Loops in the mountain road made the drive scary.

bend (3) VERB

When you bend, you move your body forwards and downwards.

bow

The farmer bowed his back under a heavy sack of oats.

crouch

The girl crouched down in a field during a game of hide and seek.

lean

Sam leaned over and stroked the kitten.

stoop

Stooping down, she touched the track made by the deer.

better (1) ADJECTIVE

Something that is better than something else is of a higher standard or quality.

finer

I couldn’t have had a finer teacher.

greater

After all his study, he had a greater understanding of the subject.

better (2) ADJECTIVE

If you are feeling better after an illness, you are not feeling so ill.

healthier

Sean certainly looks much healthier now.

recovering

Grandma had a nasty fall but she is now recovering.

stronger

I felt really weak, but I’m getting stronger every day.

big (1) ADJECTIVE

Something or somebody big is large in size.

bulky

The parcel was too bulky to fit through the letterbox.

enormous

Lionel got squashed when an enormous dog sat on him.

giant

At the end of the party Uncle Simon set off a giant firework.

grand

The concert was in a very grand house.

great

There was a great gasp from the audience.

huge

Elephants are huge animals.

immense

This money will be an immense help to the new hospital.

large

Matt took a large bite of chocolate cake and grinned contentedly.

massive

A massive rock crashed to the ground in front of them.

mighty

There was a mighty roar from the crowd when we scored the winning goal.

vast

A vast mountain rose before them, its top lost in mist.

➔ colossal; gigantic; mammoth

big (2) ADJECTIVE

Sometimes big can mean important, or having a lot of influence.

important

“Hey, I think we’ve found something important,” said Carter.

serious

Burglary is a serious problem in this area.

bin VERB

If you bin something, you throw it away.

discard

Mum tried to persuade Dad to discard his old jacket.

scrap

She decided to scrap everything she’d written so far.

bind VERB

If you bind something, you tie something like string or cloth tightly round it so that it is held in place.

attach

In our first-aid class, we were taught to attach splints to a damaged limb.

fasten

The woodcutter always fastens the firewood with twine.

join

Simon used extra-strong tape to join the broken struts together.

tie

“I’ll tie a handkerchief round your leg to stop the bleeding,” said Mum.

bird NOUN

A bird is an animal with two legs, two wings and feathers.

PET BIRDS:

budgerigar

cockatiel


FARM BIRDS:

chicken

duck

goose

turkey


BIRDS THAT LIVE NEAR WATER:

coot

curlew

duck

flamingo

goose

gull

kingfisher

moorhen

pelican

penguin

puffin

stork

swan


BRITISH GARDEN BIRDS:

blackbird

blue tit

chaffinch

robin

sparrow

thrush

wren


BIRDS OF PREY:

buzzard

eagle

falcon

kestrel

owl


OTHER BIRDS:

emu

kiwi

kookaburra

ostrich

parrot

peacock

vulture


bit NOUN

A bit of something is a small piece of it.

chip

We found a chip of Roman pottery in the garden.

chunk

Henry broke off a chunk of chocolate.

crumb

Under the table, birds were pecking at leftover crumbs.

fragment

They were looking for fossils but found only a small fragment of bone.

morsel

Oliver was so hungry he ate up every last morsel of pie.

part

Julia liked the part in the film where owls brought messages.

piece

She couldn’t finish the jigsaw. There was one piece missing.

portion

Every guest had a portion of cheese.

scrap

There was an interesting scrap of paper at the crime scene.

shred

The kitten tore the curtains to shreds.

slab

A slab of white stone covered the mouth of the tomb.

speck

If there was a speck of dust my mum would find it.

body NOUN

Your body is every part of you.


boil VERB

When liquid boils, it bubbles.

bubble

Stew bubbled furiously on the stove.

foam

Warm the butter until it foams.

froth

Hot milk rose in the pan and frothed over the top.

heat

Heat the mixture for five minutes.

book NOUN

A book is a number of pages held together inside a cover.

KINDS OF BOOKS:

album

atlas

diary

dictionary

encyclopedia

jotter

manual

notebook

novel

storybook

textbook

thesaurus

boring ADJECTIVE

Something boring is so dull that you have no interest in it.

dreary

We spent a dreary afternoon queuing for concert tickets.

dull

The film was so dull that William fell asleep in the middle of it.

monotonous

The television presenter droned on in a monotonous voice.

➔ mind-numbing

ANTONYM: exciting

bottom (1) NOUN

The bottom of something is the lowest part of it.

base

There were lots of fallen rocks at the base of the cliff.

bed

The bed of the river was sandy.

foot

They stopped at the foot of the mountain and looked up.

foundation

It was an old pillar. The foundation was crumbling.

bottom (2) NOUN

Your bottom is the part of your body that you sit on.

behind

Llewelyn sat there so long that his behind went numb.

bum INFORMAL

“Does my bum look big in this?” Abdul’s teenage sister asked.

buttocks

A fall on the ice bruised his buttocks.

rear

While Tom was looking round the farm, a goat butted him in the rear.

box NOUN

A box is a container with straight sides, made from something stiff, like cardboard, wood or plastic.

carton

They took a carton of strawberries with them on the picnic.

case

When we moved, all our books were packed in cases.

chest

Tommy keeps his toys in a chest.

packet

Sarah wanted her own small packet of cereal for breakfast.

brave ADJECTIVE

If you are brave, you show you can do something even if it is frightening.

adventurous

Jack was adventurous and liked to explore new places.


bold

The kitten was bold enough to tap the dog on its nose.

courageous

The courageous dentist agreed to check the lion’s teeth.

daring

King Arthur’s knights did all sorts of daring deeds.

fearless

People doing extreme sports seem fearless.

➔ heroic; intrepid

ANTONYM: cowardly

break (1) VERB

If you break something, it splits into pieces or stops working.

chip

“Don’t bang that plate down or you’ll chip it,” said Mum.

crack

The ogre gazed at his reflection. This made the mirror crack.

crumble

She sat anxiously crumbling a piece of bread in her fingers.

fall apart

Jeremy gloomily watched his bookshelves fall apart.

shatter

Her voice is so loud it could shatter glass.

smash

There was a smash as the stereo hit the floor.

snap

Simone heard a twig snap behind her. She spun round in alarm.

splinter

The Snow Queen made the glass splinter into a thousand fragments.

break (2) NOUN

A break is a short rest or change.

interval

In the play there’s a short interval between two acts.

pause

There was a pause while the teacher hunted for her notes.

rest

“I’m exhausted,” said Daniel. “Let’s have a rest before we go out.”

bright (1) ADJECTIVE

Someone who is bright is quick at learning or noticing things.

brainy

My brother’s really brainy. He wants to go to university.

clever

“If you’re clever, you’ll put the watch together again,” said Jessie.

intelligent

Guide dogs have to be very intelligent.

sharp

“You’re very sharp,” said the old lady, “but you still haven’t solved the puzzle.”

smart

Some people think squirrels are smart, but they often can’t find nuts they’ve buried.

bright (2) ADJECTIVE

Bright lights and colours are strong and startling.

brilliant

Parrots’ brilliant colours make them easy to see.

colourful

The magician produced a colourful string of knotted scarves.

dazzling

They shaded their eyes against his dazzling white shirt.

glaring

Glaring headlights blinded Dad and he had to stop the car.

glowing

The bonfire was glowing in the dark.

bright (3) ADJECTIVE

Someone who is bright is cheerful and lively.

cheerful

I like Alex. He’s always so cheerful and jolly in class.

lively

Kamal felt lively and refreshed when he woke up.

bring VERB

If you bring something or someone, you have them with you when you arrive.

carry

He arrived carrying presents for everyone.

guide

You’ll need someone to guide you back if it’s dark.

lead

Firemen often have to lead people out of burning buildings.

take

Taxis were used to take guests to the wedding reception.

build VERB

If you build something, you make it by joining things together.

create

Dad created a wonderful tree house for us.

make

The children made an igloo with small blocks of snow.

put up

We put up a fence round the guinea pigs to keep them safe.

building NOUN

A building is a place, such as a house, that has walls and a roof.

BUILDINGS TO LIVE IN:

apartment

bungalow

castle

cottage

detached house

flat

semi-detached house

terraced house

BUILDINGS TO WORK IN:

factory

fire station

garage

hospital

laboratory

library

lighthouse

police station

shop

skyscraper

studio

windmill

BUILDINGS TO WORSHIP IN:

cathedral

chapel

church

mosque

synagogue

temple


bully VERB

Someone who bullies people hurts or frightens them.

frighten

The witch frightened him into helping her gather mushrooms.

threaten

One of the big boys threatened us.

torment

Stop tormenting your little sister.

bump NOUN

A bump is a raised, uneven part on a surface.

bulge

A bag of sweets made a bulge in his jacket pocket.

hump

There are humps here to slow down traffic.

lump

Our old mattress is full of lumps.

swelling

Chloe had a nasty swelling on her finger.

bump into VERB

If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.

bang into

The brakes on his bike failed and he banged into the fence.

collide with

In the dark our car collided with a tree.

hit

He ran into the road without looking and hit a cyclist.

strike

She struck a litter bin when she lost control of her skateboard.

bunch NOUN

A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.

bouquet

The bride carried a bouquet of roses.

posy

Emma gave her mum a lovely posy of bright flowers.

spray

Sprays of holly brightened the hall.

bundle NOUN

A bundle is a number of small things gathered together.

batch

The first batch of letters arrived the next day.

collection

We put a collection of newspapers out for recycling.

heap

On the table was a heap of clothes for the charity shop.

pile

A pile of dirty washing was waiting to go to the launderette.

burn VERB

If something is burning, it is on fire.

blaze

A bonfire blazed in the garden.

flame

The fire began to flame green as it caught the ink.

flare

Suddenly a match flared in the darkness.

flicker

He blew gently on the spark and the fire began to flicker.

burst VERB

When something like a balloon or tyre bursts, it splits apart suddenly.

explode

One of the bottles exploded in the heat.

pop

The baby laughed with delight when the bubbles popped.

puncture

A nail punctured one of my tyres.


Cc

call (1) VERB

If you call, you phone or visit someone.

phone

I’ll phone you as soon as I get there.

ring

Give me a ring one day next week.

visit

Grandpa wants us to visit tomorrow.

call (2) VERB

If you call someone, you shout for them.

cry

“Where are you hiding?” she cried.

cry out

Rashid cried out in delight when he saw the otter.

shout

“Come on Ben. You’ll be late for school,” Mum shouted.

yell

“Come on in!” Tracy yelled. “The water is great!”

calm (1) ADJECTIVE

If something is calm, it is still and peaceful.

peaceful

Everything seemed peaceful in the church.

still

That afternoon the breeze had dropped and the air was still.

calm (2) ADJECTIVE

If you are calm, you do not seem worried or excited.

cool

She was surprisingly cool about the exciting news.

quiet

The children were very quiet until they saw the mouse.

car NOUN

A car is a road vehicle with wheels and an engine. It needs a driver and usually has room for passengers.

KINDS OF CARS:

convertible

estate

four-wheel drive

hatchback

limousine

minicab

people carrier

racing car

saloon

sports car

taxi

vintage car


care VERB

If you care about something, you are concerned about it.

be bothered

I am bothered about missing my swimming lessons.

be concerned

My brother is concerned about the world’s endangered wildlife.

mind

Gavin said he didn’t mind who won the game of chess.

careful (1) ADJECTIVE

If you are careful, you try to do things well.

accurate

The soldier had to be accurate. He had only one chance to hit the target.

thorough

We made a thorough search of the room.

careful (2) ADJECTIVE

If you are careful, you try to do things safely.

alert

In Australia there is a danger of bush fires, and people have to be alert.

cautious

The lifeguard taught them to be cautious around the pool.

wary

Joe was wary of the elephant - it was very large.


watchful

With a toddler, you have to be watchful all the time.

careless (1) ADJECTIVE

If you are careless, you do not take enough care.

messy

My little sister is a messy eater.

sloppy

Her knitting was sloppy, with dropped stitches everywhere.


untidy

The professor was untidy. Now he couldn’t find his papers.

careless (2) ADJECTIVE

Careless can also mean not being sensible about things.

reckless

Sam took a reckless leap over the river.

thoughtless

Only thoughtless people went out in the storm without a jacket.

carry VERB

When you carry something, you pick it up and take it with you.

move

He moved the plant over to the window.

take

We’d better take an umbrella.

transport

We need a van to transport our furniture.

catch (1) VERB

If you catch something, like measles, you get that illness.

come down with

“Stay away from me or you’ll come down with chickenpox too,” said Beth.

get

I don’t want to get this cold.

go down with

It’s just like Ross to go down with something at the wrong moment.

catch (2) VERB

If you catch somebody or something, you capture them.

arrest

The police want to arrest a man they suspect of burglary.

capture

Prison guards set a trap to capture the escaped prisoner.

trap

“Trap that spider,” said Granny, “then put it outside.”

change (1) VERB

When you change something, it becomes different.

alter

The tailor said he could soon alter the length of the trouser legs.

modify

Let’s modify the plan. We’ll go this afternoon instead.

reorganize

“Oh no!” cried Mrs Jones. “I’m going to have to reorganize everything.”

revise

The teacher said my story was good, but I should revise the ending.

change (2) VERB

When something changes, it becomes different.

develop

Caterpillars develop into moths or butterflies.

shift

The wind shifted to the west.

turn

Tadpoles soon turn into frogs.


change (3) VERB

If you change something, you replace it with something else.

exchange

“Can I exchange this blue shirt for a green one?” asked the customer.

swap

Henry wanted to swap his pop music CD for one of Rosie’s.

switch

I didn’t see him switch his old pen for my new one.

chase VERB

If you chase someone, you try to catch them.

follow

The boys followed the man they suspected of stealing a bike.

hunt

Our cat was out all night, hunting mice and rats.

pursue

Police pursued the speeding car for miles along the motorway.

trail

It was easy to trail the robber by following his footprints in the snow.

check VERB

If you check something, you make sure it is correct and safe.

examine

The witch frowned and examined the contents of the cauldron.

inspect

The mechanic inspected the car’s brakes.

make sure

Before we set off, I made sure we’d remembered everything.

test

He tested the ground in case it was boggy.

choose VERB

When you choose, you decide what to have or do.

elect

They quickly elected a new leader.

name

Each one named the person they wanted.

pick

He picked the biggest cake he could find.

select

They were told to select a book and read for the rest of the lesson.

take

We took the shortest way.

clean (1) VERB

If you clean something, you remove dirt from it.

DIFFERENT WAYS OF CLEANING:

bathe

brush

dust

mop up

polish

rinse

scour

scrub

shampoo

sponge

sweep

vacuum

wash

wipe


clean (2) ADJECTIVE

If something is clean, it is free from dirt.

blank

She took a blank sheet and began to write.

sparkling

Penelope polished the glasses until they were sparkling.

spotless

The floor was spotless by the time they’d finished mopping it.

clear (1) ADJECTIVE

If something you say or write is clear, it is easy to understand.

evident

It was evident she didn’t like me.

obvious

It was obvious from the first sentence that this was a sad book.

plain

“I’ll make my idea plain, in words of one syllable,” his brother said.

simple

The instructions were really simple and easy to follow.

clear (2) ADJECTIVE

On a clear day there are no clouds in the sky.

bright

On a bright day there are strong shadows on the ground.

cloudless

After the storm the sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky.

fine

“If the weather’s fine we’ll go to the beach tomorrow,” said Dad.

sunny

It was sunny one minute and raining heavily the next.

clear (3) ADJECTIVE

If a space is clear, there is nothing in it or it is free from things you don’t want.

bare

The room was bare when we got it ready for decorating.

empty

For once, the car park was empty and Mum could park close to the shops.

clever ADJECTIVE

Someone who is clever can learn and understand things easily.

brainy

Matt is really brainy. He gets top marks for everything.

bright

The baby’s very bright. She’s saying lots of words already.

crafty

A crafty old fox sneaked into the kitchen and stole the sausages.

cunning

She disguised her scar with a cunning use of make-up.

gifted

Kamal is a gifted writer.

intelligent

Our cat’s quite intelligent. It understands ten words.

inventive

Matt was really inventive when it came to making up excuses.

sharp

That old man is still as sharp as ever.

skilful

Finches are skilful at getting the shells off sunflower seeds.

talented

He was a talented musician who could play any instrument well.

climb VERB

When you climb something, you move upwards.

ascend

The lift ascended so rapidly it took their breath away.

clamber

They clambered up the steep hill, clutching at bushes.

shin up

They shinned up the tree and looked at the view.


clothes PLURAL NOUN

Clothes are the things people wear, such as shirts, trousers and dresses.

clothing

You’ll need warm clothing if you want to watch the fireworks.

costume

The actors in the film wore wonderful bright costumes.

dress

We were asked to wear informal dress to the dance.

garments

The charity shop is always glad of garments we no longer need.

gear

Sebastian had to have all the right gear for skateboarding.

outfit

Mum said her new outfit would be perfect for the wedding.

wardrobe

A famous designer planned the wardrobe for the musical.

wear

The shop sold everything you could want in the way of outdoor wear.


cold ADJECTIVE

If the weather is cold, the temperature outside is low.


WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THE COLD:

arctic

biting

bitter

chilly

cool

freezing

frosty

frozen

icy

raw

wintry

collect VERB

If you collect a number of things, you bring them together.

assemble

They assembled lots of food for the midnight feast.

gather

We went out to gather blackberries from a field near our house.

hoard

David hoarded empty glass bottles for his display.

raise

The school is trying to raise money for Children in Need.

save

We have been asked to save used stamps for a school project.

collection NOUN

A collection is a group of things brought together over a period of time.

assortment

The bathroom shelf is full of an assortment of shampoo bottles.

heap

Now and again, Dad adds another book to the heap.

mass

Dan worked his way through a mass of clothes to find his jeans.

pile

There was a pile of smelly old trainers in the corner.

set

“One more card and I’ll have a complete set,” said Raymond.

colour NOUN

The colour of something is the way it looks in daylight.

shade

The walls were painted in different shades.

tint

The autumn leaves were taking on a warm red tint.

DIFFERENT COLOURS:


black


blue

navy

sky blue

turquoise


brown

chocolate

coffee

fawn


green

bottle-green

lime


orange

tan


pink

rose


purple

lavender

lilac

mauve


red

crimson

scarlet

vermilion


white

cream

ivory


yellow

amber

gold

come VERB

To come to a place is to move there or arrive there.

appear

We all giggled when the magician’s rabbit appeared on stage.

approach

The guard dog growled loudly when the stranger approached.

arrive

The train arrived, and Grandma got out.

draw near

As they drew near to the castle, the great door opened.

show up

Most of the acts were good, but the conjuror didn’t show up.

turn up

“Don’t worry about us. We’ll turn up later,” said Ted.

visit

The Mayor is going to visit this afternoon.

ANTONYM: go

comfortable (1) ADJECTIVE

Something comfortable makes you feel relaxed and snug.

cosy

My room’s warm and cosy in winter, even when it’s freezing outside.

snug

Jamil felt snug tucked up in bed.

soft

Charlotte snuggled into the soft pillow and fell asleep straight away.

comfortable (2) ADJECTIVE

If you are comfortable, you feel at ease.

contented

The cat looked contented stretching out beside the fire.

happy

He was happy in his new room.

relaxed

Rebecca felt relaxed in the company of her friends.

ANTONYM: uncomfortable

common ADJECTIVE

If something is common, you often see it or it often happens.

average

It’s average behaviour for a boy of his age.

everyday

Children feeding ducks on the pond is an everyday sight in this park.

standard

Power steering is standard in many cars that are made today.

usual

It is quite usual to see dogs and cats getting on well together.

competition NOUN

A competition is an event to see who is best at doing something.

championship

Our school is taking part in the junior swimming championship.

contest

There was a fierce contest between the red and blue teams.

game

Supporters cheered when their team won the game.

race

Attilio was by far the fastest runner and easily won the race.

tournament

My brother is through to the finals of the table-tennis tournament.

complete (1) ADJECTIVE

If something is complete, there is nothing missing.

entire

I’ve got the entire set of famous people in my album.

full

The teacher wanted a full report of the science experiment.

whole

Amy recited the whole poem without a single mistake.

complete (2) VERB

If you complete something, you finish it.

conclude

The head teacher concluded his lecture with a warning about litter.

do

Have you done your homework?

end

Simon ended his talk by asking if there were any questions.

finish

Charles couldn’t think how to finish his story.

conversation NOUN

If you have a conversation with someone, you talk to each other.

chat

My mum likes to have a chat with friends over a cup of coffee.

discussion

There was a long discussion about which class Sheena should be put in.

gossip

The opening of the new school provided plenty of gossip.


talk

“I think we should have a talk about this,” said his teacher.

cook VERB

When you cook food, you prepare it for eating by heating it.

WAYS OF COOKING:

bake

barbecue

boil

fry

grill

microwave

poach

roast

steam

stew

stir-fry

toast


copy (1) NOUN

A copy is something made to look like something else.

fake

The police say that painting is a fake.

forgery

He thought the man gave him a twenty-pound note, but it was a forgery.

imitation

Those jewels are only imitations. They’re made of glass.

photocopy

“Can you give me a photocopy of that page?” asked Domenica.

print

It’s not an original painting. It’s a print.

replica

Manuel bought a plastic replica of the Eiffel Tower.

copy (2) VERB

If you copy what someone does, you do the same thing.

follow

“You must follow my movements exactly,” said the dance teacher.

imitate

She can imitate her mum’s voice.

impersonate

Frank is really good at impersonating famous people.

mimic

Ben can mimic the sounds animals make.

mirror

We carefully mirrored the movements of the karate teacher.

trace

Kim carefully traced the outline of the country into her book.

correct ADJECTIVE

Something that is correct is true and has no mistakes.

accurate

Make sure that your measurements are accurate, or the pieces will not fit together.

exact

It’s no good guessing the amount of flour you need, it must be exact.

precise

“It’s very important that the details you give are precise,” said the policeman.

right

In the test, all his answers were right.

true

“Your report may be exciting,” said her teacher, “but is it true?”

cosy ADJECTIVE

A house or room that is cosy is comfortable and warm and not too big.

comfortable

It was a comfortable room with lots of deep armchairs and thick rugs.

snug

We love our house because it’s so snug.

warm

The fire sent out a warm, welcoming glow.

count VERB

If you count a number of things, you find out how many there are.


add up

She added up her pocket money to see if there was enough to go to the cinema.

calculate

Patrick calculated the number of hours he had spent doing his homework.

tally

The whole class stayed to tally the votes for the football captain.

work out

Work out how much you’ve got, and how much more you need to buy this bike.

cover VERB

If you cover something, you put something else over it to protect or hide it.

cloak

Mist cloaked the mountain top, making it too dangerous to climb.


conceal

The boy concealed his work with his hand.

hide

During winter a blanket of snow hid the lawn and flowerbeds.

mask

Edmund masked his feeling of dismay with a smile.

crack NOUN

A crack is a line or gap on something that shows it is damaged.

crevice

Many spiders lurked in crevices in the old stone wall.

gap

They had to watch the game through a gap in the fence.

split

One of the pieces of wood had a large split at the end.

crash NOUN

A crash is a sudden loud noise like something breaking.

clash

Fabian brought the cymbals together with a clash.

clatter

The metal tray dropped to the ground with a clatter.

smash

There was a smash as the stereo hit the floor.


crime NOUN

A crime is something that is against the law of a country.

KINDS OF CRIMES:

arson

burglary

graffiti

hijacking

joyriding

mugging

murder

piracy

robbery

shoplifting

smuggling

stealing

terrorism

theft

vandalism

criminal NOUN

A criminal is someone who has done something that is against the law.

KINDS OF CRIMINALS:

arsonist

burglar

graffitist

hijacker

joyrider

mugger

murderer

pirate

robber

shoplifter

smuggler

terrorist

thief

vandal

crooked ADJECTIVE

Something that is crooked is bent or twisted.

bent

Shadha complained she couldn’t get any juice through the bent straw, so the waiter got her another.

twisting

A twisting path led through the woods to the cottage.

warped

The wood was so warped they couldn’t use it for anything but firewood.

cross ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cross is angry about something.

angry

Adrian was so angry he could hardly speak to her.

annoyed

Grandpa was annoyed when he found slugs had eaten his lettuces.

grumpy

Steven felt grumpy about not being well enough to go out.

irritable

Flies pestered the pony and made him very irritable.

cruel ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cruel hurts people or animals without caring.

brutal

The police said it was a brutal murder.

cold-hearted

The kidnapper was cold-hearted and ignored their pleas.

heartless

A heartless burglar smashed my grandma’s favourite vase.

vicious

The burglar aimed a vicious kick at the guard dog.

ANTONYM: kind

crush VERB

To crush something is to destroy its shape by squeezing it.

flatten

They flattened the soft drink cans before recycling them.

screw up

Tibbles screwed up Mum’s jacket when she slept on it.

squash

I dropped the shopping bag and squashed the tomatoes.

cry (1) VERB

To cry means to call out loudly.

call

He called, “Anybody there?”

shout

“I can’t hear you,” she shouted.

shriek

“Oh no!” shrieked Libby. “My new jeans have shrunk.”

yell

Debbie had to yell above the din in the school playground.

cry (2) VERB

When you cry, tears come from your eyes and trickle down your face.

grizzle

The baby grizzles when he’s hungry.

howl

My sister howled when her gerbil died.

snivel

“It’s no good snivelling,” said the ugly sisters. “You’re not going to the ball.”

sob

Tommy sobbed when he dropped his ice cream.

wail

“I wanted to go to the pantomime!” wailed Roly.

weep

Lara wept as she waved goodbye.

whimper

The puppy whimpered when Abdul went off to school.

cut (1) VERB

If you cut something, you use a knife or scissors to remove parts of it.

carve

Nicholas carved the wood into the shape of a cat.

chop

The cook chopped an onion and carrot into small pieces.

clip

Katherine clipped out an advertisement from the newspaper.

mow

Grandpa loves mowing his lawn to keep it neat and tidy.

prune

Rose bushes need pruning in spring.

saw

The gardener sawed up some wood to make a nesting box.

slice

Mrs Cratchit always sliced the bread too thinly.


snip

The hairdresser snipped off my long hair.

trim

The barber carefully trimmed the wizard’s long beard.

cut (2) VERB

To cut can mean to reduce something.

lower

The supermarket is lowering a lot of its prices this week.

reduce

The government is trying to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads.

Dd

damage VERB

To damage something means to harm or spoil it.

break

My little sister has broken her doll already.

chip

Melanie was furious when she chipped her nail varnish.

dent

A gatepost got in the way and dented Dad’s bumper.

destroy

An unexpected storm destroyed their beach hut.

ruin

“You’ve ruined my painting!” David screamed angrily.

scratch

Natalie’s bike was scratched when it fell in the holly bush.

spoil

The baby knocked over a cup and spoiled my homework.

vandalize

Someone has vandalized the phone box on the corner of our street.

wreck

Rocks often wreck boats that come too close to shore.

dance VERB

When you dance, you move your body in time to music.

SOME KINDS OF DANCING:

ballet dancing

ballroom dancing:

foxtrot

quickstep

tango

waltz

break dancing

disco dancing

folk dancing

Highland dancing

Irish dancing

line dancing

salsa

square dancing

tap dancing


dangerous ADJECTIVE

If something is dangerous, it is likely to harm you.

alarming

Rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate.

deadly

The bite of some snakes can be deadly.

harmful

Medicines can be harmful if taken by the wrong person.

menacing

The captain waved his hook at Peter in a menacing fashion.

risky

They decided the adventure was getting too risky.

treacherous

Road conditions were treacherous in the thick fog.

unsafe

The bridge was rotten and unsafe to cross.

ANTONYM: safe

dark ADJECTIVE

When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly.

black

The night was black and stormy.

dim

They could hardly see in the dim hallway.

gloomy

Rooms in the old castle were damp and gloomy.

murky

The submarine moved slowly in the murky depths of the ocean.

shadowy

A shadowy figure emerged from the misty woods.

unlit

It looked as if no one was home as all the rooms were unlit.

delicious ADJECTIVE

Food that is delicious tastes or smells very nice.

mouthwatering

At the village fair, the smell of frying onions was mouthwatering.

scrumptious INFORMAL

When we got home from school, Mum made us a scrumptious apple pie.


tasty

Andrew enjoyed a tasty snack on his way home from football training.

ANTONYM: horrible

demonstrate (1) VERB

If someone demonstrates something, they show you how to do it.

explain

Jamie explained how to separate the yolks and whites of eggs.

illustrate

Our music teacher illustrated how to play the violin.

demonstrate (2) VERB

If people demonstrate, they hold a public meeting or march to show they are strongly for or against something.

march

Sometimes thousands of people march in the capital to make their feelings known to the government.

protest

When people protest, they often meet to carry banners and shout slogans.

deserted ADJECTIVE

If a place is deserted, there are no people there.

abandoned

In the middle of the wood, the boys came upon an abandoned cottage.


empty

They saw a farmhouse and ran towards it to ask for water, but it was empty.

destroy VERB

To destroy something means to damage it so much it cannot be mended.

crush

The cottages were crushed under the feet of the angry giant.

damage

A tree fell in the storm and damaged our garden shed.

demolish

Builders demolished an empty house to make space for a new theatre.

ruin

People complained that the new building ruined their view.

smash

The jetty was smashed when a motorboat went out of control.

wreck

Many ships used to be wrecked on rocks around the coast before lighthouses were built to signal warnings.

different (1) ADJECTIVE

Something that is different from something else is not like it in one or more ways.

assorted

I like boxes of assorted biscuits best.

changed

He seemed changed somehow. Perhaps it was the short hair.

mixed

Alex had mixed feelings about going up a grade at school.

opposite

Mum’s quite opposite to me. She likes my room to be tidy and I like it to be a mess.

various

He had various excuses for being late.

different (2) ADJECTIVE

Something different is unusual and out of the ordinary.

bizarre

Have you seen Polly’s new hairstyle? It’s really bizarre!

extraordinary

The magician at the party performed some extraordinary tricks.

peculiar

There was something peculiar about the expression on his face.

special

I wanted to do something special for my seventh birthday.

unusual

The baby had an unusual cry.

➔ something else

dig VERB

When people or animals dig, they break up a surface.


burrow

Rabbits keep burrowing holes in the vegetable patch.

excavate

Archeologists are excavating at an ancient burial site.

hollow

Hollow out the centre of the pumpkin and cut teeth and eyeholes in the skin.

quarry

Marble has been quarried in Italy for many centuries.

scoop

Libby scooped out some ice cream from the tub.

tunnel

Some prisoners of war tunnelled their way out of the camp.

dirty ADJECTIVE

Something that is dirty is marked or covered with mud or stains.

filthy

“Your hands are filthy,” said Dad. “Go and wash them.”

foul

The pigsty was foul with droppings, old straw and mud.

greasy

“I hate washing up greasy dishes,” complained Simon.


grimy

Driving in the open-top car was great fun, but it made their faces pretty grimy.

grubby

He scrubbed at his knees with a grubby old tissue.

messy

Cleaning out the hamster is a messy job.

muddy

He came in from football with muddy shorts and boots.


polluted

The city air is polluted with vehicle fumes.

stained

Their clothes and mouths were stained with blackberry juice.

untidy

Litter blew around the park and made it look untidy.

discover VERB

When you discover something, you find it or find out about it.

find

My brother has found a good way to train the new puppy.

uncover

Mehmet lifted some papers and uncovered a book he’d thought was lost.

unearth

Kylie was digging a hole in the garden and unearthed an old pot.

ANTONYM: hide

disguise VERB

If you disguise something, you change it so that people do not recognize it.

camouflage

The army camouflages tanks to hide them from aircraft.

conceal

She tried to conceal the spot on her chin.

cover

He covered his hair with a black wig.

dress up

Murray dressed up as his father for the party.


mask

Dark sunglasses masked the expression in his eyes.

disturb (1) VERB

If you disturb someone, you interrupt them or spoil their peace and quiet.

bother

Don’t bother me now, I’m busy.

hassle INFORMAL

“Quit hassling me, will you?” yelled my older sister.

interrupt

We’re not allowed to interrupt Dad when he’s working.

pester

Thomas pestered his brother in the library.

trouble

I don’t want to trouble her now. She’s watching her favourite programme.

disturb (2) VERB

If something disturbs you, it upsets or worries you.

alarm

I don’t want to alarm you, but I think we should leave.

distress

The violence in the film distressed him.

frighten

The mouse was frightened when the cat sat by the cage.

upset

The noise upset the baby.

worry

Don’t tell Grandma about the problem. It’ll only worry her.

do (1) VERB

If you do something, you get on and finish it.

arrange

Dad is going to arrange everything.

carry out

The mechanic said he would carry out the repairs while we waited.

complete

“We should complete the work before the end of the week,” said the builder.

cope with

Rachel’s not sure she can cope with the decorations on her own.

finish

“You’ll have to finish your homework before you go swimming,” said Mum.

learn

What are you learning at the moment?

perform

Watch the clown perform his amazing juggling act.

do (2) VERB

If you say that something will do, you mean it is good enough.

be enough

I wonder if half a page about my holidays will be enough?

be sufficient

I really hope this food will be sufficient for six people.

be suitable

Mum wanted to know if jeans would be suitable for the parents’ evening.

work

They thought string might work as they didn’t have any tape.

drag VERB

If you drag a heavy object, you pull it along the ground.

draw

The horse plodded on, drawing the heavy cart behind it.

haul

Fishermen hauled in their nets and found they had a large catch.

pull

Indigo pulled her friend from the river and rang for an ambulance.

tow

The farmer used a tractor to tow anything heavy around the farm.

tug

The boys tugged the sack of grain across the barn floor.

draw (1) VERB

When you draw, you use something like a pencil or crayon to make a picture or a pattern.

doodle

Holly doodled in her notebook as she listened to the teacher.

paint

I wanted to paint some pictures while I was on holiday.

sketch

The artist sat by the lake sketching the view.


trace

For homework we had to trace the outline of a map and fill in the rivers.

draw (2) NOUN

A draw is the result in a game or competition in which nobody wins.

dead heat

The result of the 100 metres sprint was a dead heat.

tie

Floella had hoped to win the competition, but there was a tie for first place.

draw (3) VERB

If something draws you, it is so interesting that you move towards it.

attract

A skydiving display attracted large crowds to the event.

bring in

We are hoping the advertising will bring in plenty of people.

entice

We were enticed into the shop by the display of cakes in the window.

lure

The witch lured the children into her house with promises of sweets.

pull in

The new programme has pulled in a lot of young viewers.

dreadful ADJECTIVE

Something that is dreadful is very bad or unpleasant.

alarming

Our test results were pretty alarming.

awful

I was off school with an awful cold.

dire

The teacher issued dire warnings about the standard of our homework.

frightening

The force of the thunder storm was frightening.

frightful

After the Halloween party the house was in a frightful mess.

ghastly

A ghastly wail echoed round the castle.

horrible

The jumper I got for my birthday was a horrible yellow colour.

dream NOUN

A dream is something you want very much.

ambition

It’s Michael’s ambition to be a pilot.

daydream

My favourite daydream is being interviewed on TV about my book.

fantasy

Chelsea has this fantasy about being a famous model.

➔ vision

drink VERB

When you drink, you take liquid into your mouth and swallow it.

gulp

Boris was so thirsty he gulped down all his lemonade.

guzzle

“Don’t guzzle like that. Drink it slowly,” said Granny.

lap

Tigger lapped up the milk Simon put down for him.

sip

Julia sipped the hot tea carefully.

slurp

Augustus greedily slurped the chocolate milk shake.

swallow

She swallowed the medicine without tasting it.

swig

They swigged cola from the bottle.

DIFFERENT THINGS TO DRINK:

cold drinks

cola

fizz

fruit juice

lemonade

milk

milk shake

smoothie

squash

soya milk

water

hot drinks

cocoa

coffee

hot chocolate

hot milk

malted milk

tea


drive VERB

To drive means to make something or somebody go.

control

Sharon controlled her car skilfully on the sandy beach.

force

The cruel baron forced the villagers from their cottages.

push

People at the front of the crowd were pushed forward.

send

Tom sent the ball over the fence.

steer

Rashid steered the go-kart into the side of the track.

urge

The knight urged his horse to a full gallop.

dry ADJECTIVE

Something that is dry has no water in it at all.

arid

Large areas of Mexico are arid desert.


barren

No crops could grow on the barren land.

parched

The garden was parched and all the seedlings died.

dull (1) ADJECTIVE

Something that is dull is not interesting.

boring

It was the most boring action film they’d ever seen.

dreary

I spent a dreary morning being dragged round the shops.

tedious

John found his cousin’s story tedious.

dull (2) ADJECTIVE

Something that is dull is not bright or clear.

cloudy

The day was so cloudy we thought it might rain at any moment.


dismal

A most surprising thing happened on that dismal wintry afternoon.

drab

She wore a drab grey dress and grimy brown shoes.

gloomy

It was difficult to see the ogre in the gloomy light of the cave.

grey

The clouds in the sky were a dark grey colour when the thunder storm started.

miserable

I like playing board games on miserable, rainy days.

ANTONYM: bright

Ee

eager ADJECTIVE

If you are eager, you very much want to do or have something.

enthusiastic

There were plenty of enthusiastic volunteers to help plan the school garden.

impatient

Mark was impatient to get back to school after the holidays.

keen

Brownie was keen to enter the competition at the dog show.

longing

Rachel was longing to see her newborn baby brother.

easy ADJECTIVE

Something that is easy can be done without difficulty.

clear

The way the teacher showed us made everything clear.


obvious

The answer to the problem was obvious. I gave Tom some of my ice cream and he stopped crying.

plain

It was plain to see he didn’t like spiders.

simple

“Shelling the peas shouldn’t take you long,” said Mum. “It’s a simple job.”

ANTONYM: difficult

eat VERB

When you eat, you chew and swallow food.

bite

“Bite the jammy bit of the doughnut first,” said Isaac.

chew

Cows chew the grass thoughtfully.

devour

They devour the sandwiches as fast as she makes them.

gnaw

Boggart happily lay down in the garden and gnawed his bone.


gobble

Mum told them to stop gobbling sweets.

graze

Sheep graze in the meadow until the farmer brings them in for the night.

have a meal

“We have a meal together every evening,” said Mum.

munch

The horse likes to munch apples, carrots and oats.

nibble

Kylie nibbles her food like a mouse.

peck

Pigeons peck seeds and breadcrumbs thrown by the tourists.

swallow

Arthur was too busy talking to swallow his food properly.

edge NOUN

An edge is the end or side of something.

border

Her wallpaper had a border with animals on it.

boundary

The farmer planted a hedge along the boundary of his land.

brim

He filled his glass up to the brim.

margin

There were holes in the margin of the paper to fit the folder.

rim

They stood at the rim of the crater and gazed down into the depths.

effort NOUN

Effort is the energy needed to do something.

energy

It took a huge amount of energy to climb to the top of the hill.

force

With great force, the giant pushed a boulder from the mouth of the cave.

struggle

The boys found it a struggle to drag the heavy sack.

work

“They have put a lot of work into this project,” said the teacher.

empty (1) ADJECTIVE

Something that is empty has no people or things in it.

bare

John’s room was bare apart from a few packing cases.

blank

Hasan stared at the blank pages of his old diary.

clear

The road was clear and we arrived in record time.


deserted

We knocked on the door, but the place was completely deserted.

unoccupied

The house had been unoccupied for years.

vacant

We had a job to find a vacant field for our picnic.

ANTONYM: full

empty (2) VERB

If you empty a container, you pour or take everything out of it.


clear out

Dad started to clear out the shed today.

drain

There was a hole in his bucket and the water drained out.

unload

The children helped unload the car when they got home.

ANTONYM: fill

encourage (1) VERB