| a2 |
any one of a group or kind. [2/3 definitions] |
| aardvark |
a large mammal with a long snout, long ears, a long tail, and with long fur mostly around its legs. Aardvarks are active at night, when they use their powerful claws to dig open ant or termite nests. They catch their food with their long, sticky tongue. Aardvarks live in southern and central Africa. Although they are sometimes called anteaters, aardvarks are not closely related to any other kind of mammal. |
| ability |
When you have ability for a certain kind of thing, it means that you are good at it. Some words that have a similar meaning to "ability" are "skill" and "talent." [1/2 definitions] |
| acacia |
An acacia is a kind of tree that grows in warm areas of the world, especially in parts of Africa and Australia. |
| acid |
An acid is a kind of chemical substance. When something has a lot of acid in it, like lemons, it tastes sour. We eat and drink many things that contain acid. A very strong acid can be dangerous, though. It can burn something that it touches. [1/2 definitions] |
| acorn |
An acorn is a very hard brown fruit that grows on a certain kind of tree called an oak. People can't eat acorns, but squirrels and chipmunks do. |
| acquire |
When you acquire something, you get it. It becomes yours. Acquiring something often takes some kind of work or effort. |
| acrylic |
a kind of plastic used to make yarns, paint, and many other things. |
| act |
If you pretend to be something or someone that you are not, you are acting. Sometimes people act for reasons that are good. Sometimes they act for reasons that are not honest or kind. [1/9 definitions] |
| activist |
An activist is a person who fights to make some kind of change in the world or in the place where they work or live. Activists often fight for people's rights or for things like fair treatment and safety. |
| adverb |
An adverb is a certain kind of word in a sentence. When a word is an adverb, it often describes how or when or where we do things. Words like "tomorrow," "here," "there," "slowly," and "usually" are adverbs. Adverbs also go in front of other adverbs or adjectives to describe those words. If we say "This is very good cake," "good" is an adjective that tells us about the cake, and "very" is an adverb that tells us how good the cake is. |
| advertise |
When you advertise for something, it means you are looking for a certain thing and you put up a notice somewhere, like in a newspaper or online list. In the notice, you tell people you are looking for this thing. Sometimes people advertise for things they want to buy from other people. Sometimes they advertise for a certain kind of person who they can pay to do some work for them. Let's say you want to buy a good but cheap bicycle, you could advertise for one in the newspaper. If somebody has one they want to sell, they will answer your notice. [1/3 definitions] |
| ageism |
the act of having a bad opinion of, or not treating in a fair way, a person or group of people based on age. This kind of discrimination is often against older people. |
| agency |
An agency is a company or group that helps people do things, especially things that can be difficult to do just by themselves. Agencies do things like help people find a job or help people find an apartment or buy a house. Some agencies help companies find employees to work for them. Some agencies do a special kind of work that customers don't have the skill to do themselves. [1/2 definitions] |
| agitation |
Agitation is a kind of tool that some people use to cause change, usually in a place where people work or in society in general. Agitation is the stirring up of strong feelings in people with the purpose of making them upset about their treatment or condition and wanting change. Sometimes this leads to protests or even violent behavior. [1/3 definitions] |
| agreement |
an understanding between people or groups that states what kind of action is to be taken and what each person's responsibility will be. The document that describes this understanding is also called an agreement. [1/4 definitions] |
| akin |
similar in kind or spirit; alike. [1/2 definitions] |
| algae |
Algae are living things that live mainly in water and make their food by using light from the sun. Algae are similar to plants, but they are not usually considered to be plants because they are different in some ways. For example, algae don't have roots and leaves like plants do. Most forms of algae are very helpful for animals and people. Seaweed is a kind of algae, which many people eat and can also be used in making other things. Fish and other water animals use algae for food. "Algae" is a plural word. The singular form is "alga." |
| alloy |
If people mix one type of metal with another type of metal, they make an "alloy." An alloy is a substance made by mixing two or more metals together. If people mix one type of metal with some other kind of substance, the new substance is also called an "alloy." |
| almond |
An almond, is a hard, oval seed of a certain kind of tree that grows in warm areas of the world. Although almonds are seeds, most people call them nuts. |
| alternate |
An alternate is a particular person who acts in place of another if they are needed. An alternate is a kind of substitute. [1/7 definitions] |