| census |
an official count of the people who live in a country or other area. A census is also used to collect information about these people, such as their job, age, or sex. |
| Cherokee |
a member of a Native American people that used to live in the southeastern United States. The Cherokee now live mostly in Oklahoma and also in North Carolina. |
| China |
a country in eastern Asia. China is also called the People's Republic of China. Beijing is the capital of China. |
| Chinese |
the main language of China, which is based on the language spoken in the region of the capital, Beijing. This language is also called Mandarin Chinese or Mandarin. [1/4 definitions] |
| chlorine |
a substance that is one of the chemical elements. It combines with sodium to form table salt. It is also used in making bleach. Chlorine is poisonous in its pure gas form. (symbol: Cl) |
| chocolate |
a food substance that is made from ground cacao seeds. Chocolate is not sweet, but it is often used in candy and other sweet foods. It is also used in making certain kinds of sauces. [1/6 definitions] |
| cholesterol |
a white substance, found in the tissues of humans and animals, which acts to clean the bloodstream and surrounds certain nerves. Cholesterol is made in the body but can also be obtained from animal foods such as meat and cheese. |
| chrysalis |
the hard outside covering on a moth or butterfly while it is a pupa, the stage before it becomes an adult with wings. Many kinds of moths and butterflies make a chrysalis instead of a cocoon. Chrysalis is also sometimes used as another name for the pupa itself. |
| circus |
a traveling show with clowns, acrobats, and other acts. Some circuses have trained animals also. [1/2 definitions] |
| cobalt |
a brittle silver-white metal that is one of the chemical elements. Cobalt is sometimes added to other metals in alloys to make them harder. It is also used in making some kinds of paint. (symbol: Co) |
| colander |
a bowl-shaped container with many holes in the bottom, used especially for washing fruits and vegetables and also for draining the water away from spaghetti or other pasta. A colander usually has very small legs on the bottom, and it often has a handle or handles. |
| comma |
a punctuation mark (,). It is used to separate words, phrases, or other parts of a sentence or list, or to show a pause in speech. It is also used when writing numbers of one thousand or greater to mark off groups of three digits. |
| compete |
to try to win or get something that others are also trying to get. [1/2 definitions] |
| condominium |
an apartment building in which each apartment is owned by the persons living in it. Each of these apartments is also called a condominium. |
| contractor |
a person who signs an agreement to carry out a particular job at a certain price and also to supply necessary things for the job. A contractor often hires, supervises, and pays other people to help or to do the work. A person in charge of building or repairing a house is often a contractor. |
| copper |
a reddish brown metal that is one of the chemical elements. Copper is used to make pipes, because it does not easily rust. It is also used to make wires, because it is an excellent conductor of electricity. It can be combined with other metals to make alloys such as brass and bronze. (symbol: Cu) [1/4 definitions] |
| cougar |
a common name for a puma, a large wild cat with tan fur. Cougars live in many parts of North and South America. They are carnivorous mammals. They are also called mountain lions or panthers. |
| coyote |
a North American mammal that is closely related to dogs, foxes, and wolves. Coyotes have a pointed nose and ears and a bushy tail. They hunt small animals, and they also sometimes eat plants. |
| day care |
care during the day in a home or day-care center for children too young for school or older children after school or during vacation. Day care may also offer care for elderly or disabled people. |
| distemper |
a disease that infects mostly dogs, but also cats and horses. Distemper causes fever, loss of appetite, and breathing difficulties. |
| Djibouti |
an East African country bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The capital of Djibouti is also called Djibouti. |