| American Indian |
a member of any of the native peoples of North America, Central America, South America, or the West Indies, except for Eskimos. American Indians are also called Native Americans. |
| American Revolution |
the war of 1775-83 in which the American colonies won their independence from Great Britain. |
| amethyst |
a purple gem used in jewelry. Amethyst is a kind of quartz. |
| amiable |
having or showing a friendly manner. |
| amid |
among or surrounded by. |
| amidst |
in the middle of; among; amid. |
| amigo |
a Spanish word for friend. |
| amiss |
in the wrong way. [2 definitions] |
| ammonia |
the gas with a strong smell that is formed by combining nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia is used to make refrigerators cold and in making fertilizers. [2 definitions] |
| ammunition |
the objects fired from any weapon, or material that can be exploded. Bullets, bombs, and gunpowder are types of ammunition. [2 definitions] |
| amnesia |
partial or complete loss of memory as a result of an injury to the brain, illness, or shock. |
| amoeba |
a tiny living thing made of only one cell. Amoebas move by changing their shape. They eat by wrapping their bodies around their food. Amoebas live in fresh and salt water, soil, and in animals. Most kinds of amoebas can only be seen through a microscope. |
| among |
in the middle of or included with. [5 definitions] |
| amongst |
among. |
| amount |
measure; quantity. [3 definitions] |
| ampersand |
a sign (&). It is used in place of the word "and." |
| amphibian |
a small animal that spends part of its life cycle in water and part of its life cycle on land. Amphibians hatch in water and breathe with gills. Then they develop lungs so the adults can breathe air. Amphibians are cold-blooded animals with skeletons inside their bodies. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are amphibians. [2 definitions] |
| amphibious |
able to live both on land and in water. [2 definitions] |
| amphitheater |
an oval or round building with seats rising in rows from an open, central area. Amphitheaters are used for sports and other public events. |
| amphitheatre |
a spelling of "amphitheater" used in Canada and Britain. See "amphitheater" for more information. |
| ample |
large in size, amount, or space; as much or more than is needed. |