PARTS OF SPEECH

A

B

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baby - n. a newly born creature

back - n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward

bad - ad. wrong; acting against the law; not good

balance - v. to make two sides or forces equal

ball - n. something round

balloon - n. a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air

ballot - n. a piece of paper used for voting

ban - v. to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction

bank - n. an organization that keeps and lends money

bar - v. to prevent or block

barrier - n. anything that blocks or makes an action difficult

base - n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact ("Her research was based on experiments.")

battle - n. a fight between opposing armed forces

be - v. to live; to happen; to exist

beat - v. to hit again and again

beauty - ad. that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit

because - prep. for the reason that ("He left because he was sick.")

become - v. to come to be

bed - n. a sleeping place

before - prep. earlier

begin - v. to do the first part of an action; to start

behind - ad. at the back of; in back of

believe - v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust

bell - n. an instrument that makes a musical sound ("a church bell")

belong - v. to be owned by; to be a member of

below - ad. lower than

best - ad. the most good

betray - v. to turn against; to be false to

better - ad. more good than

between - ad. in the space or time that separates; from one to the other ("talks between two nations")

big - ad. of great size; not small

bill - n. a legislative proposal

biology - n. the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms

bird - n. a creature that flies

bite - v. to cut with the teeth

black - ad. dark; having the color like that of the night sky

blame - v. to accuse; to hold responsible

blanket - n. a cloth cover used to keep warm

bleed - v. to lose blood

blind - ad. not able to see

block - v. to stop something from being done; to prevent movement

blood - n. red fluid in the body

blow - v. to move with force, as in air ("The wind blows.")

blue - ad. having the color like that of a clear sky

boat - n. something built to travel on water that carries people or goods

body - n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal

boil - v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot

bomb - n. a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with bombs

bone - n. the hard material in the body

book - n. a long written work for reading

border - n. a dividing line between nations

born - v. to come to life; to come into existence

borrow - v. to take as a loan

both - ad. not just one of two, but the two together

bottle - n. a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid

bottom - ad. the lowest part of something

box - n. something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or wood

boy - n. a young male person

boycott - v. to refuse to take part in or deal with

brain - n. the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures

brave - ad. having no fear

bread - n. a food made from grain

break - v. to divide into parts by force; to destroy

breathe - v. to take air into the body and let it out again

bridge - n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other

brief - ad. short; not long

bright - ad. giving much light; strong and clear in color

bring - v. to come with something

broadcast - v. to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a radio or television program

brother - n. a male with the same father or mother as another person

brown - ad. having the color like that of coffee

budget - n. a spending plan

build - v. to join materials together to make something

building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment

bullet - n. a small piece of metal shot from a gun

burn - v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire

burst - v. to break open suddenly

bury - v. to put into the ground and cover with earth

bus - n. a public vehicle to carry people

business - n. one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade

busy - ad. doing something; very active

but - conj. however; other than; yet

buy - v. to get by paying something, usually money

by - conj. near; at; next to ("by the road"); from ("a play by William Shakespeare"); not later than ("by midnight")

C

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cabinet - n. a group of ministers that helps lead a government

call - v. to give a name to ("I call myself John."); to ask for or request ("They called for an end to the fighting.")

calm - ad. quiet; peaceful; opposite tense

camera - n. a device for taking pictures

camp - n. a place with temporary housing

campaign - n. a competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; a connected series of military actions during a war

can - v. to be able to; to have the right to; n. a container used to hold liquid or food, usually made of metal

cancel - v. to end; to stop

cancer - n. a disease in which dangerous cells grow quickly and destroy parts of the body

candidate - n. a person who seeks or is nominated for an office or an honor

capital - n. the official center of a government; the city where a country's government is

capitalism - n. an economic system in which the production of most goods and services is owned and operated for profit by private citizens or companies

capture - v. to make a person or animal a prisoner; to seize or take by force; to get control of

car - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; an automobile; a part of a train

care - v. to like; to protect; to feel worry or interest

careful - ad. acting safely; with much thought

carry - v. to take something or someone from one place to another

case (court) - n. a legal action

case (medical) - n. an incident of disease ("There was only one case of chicken pox at the school.")

cat - n. a small animal that often lives with humans

catch - v. to seize after a chase; to stop and seize with the hands

cause - v. to make happen; n. the thing or person that produces a result

ceasefire - n. a halt in fighting, usually by agreement

celebrate - v. to honor a person or event with special activities

center - n. the middle of something; the place in the middle; a place that is the main point of an activity

century - n. one hundred years

ceremony - n. an act or series of acts done in a special way established by tradition

chairman - n. a person leading a meeting or an organized group

champion - n. the best; the winner

chance - n. a possibility of winning or losing or that something will happen

change - v. to make different; to become different

charge - v. to accuse someone of something, usually a crime; n. a statement in which someone is accused of something

chase - v. to run or go after someone or something

cheat - v. to get by a trick; to steal from

cheer - v. to shout approval or praise

chemicals - n. elements found in nature or made by people; substances used in the science of chemistry

chemistry - n. the scientific study of substances, what they are made of, how they act under different conditions, and how they form other substances

chief - n. the head or leader of a group; ad. leading; most important

child - n. a baby; a boy or girl

children - n. more than one child

choose - v. to decide between two or more

circle - n. a closed shape that has all its points equally distant from the center, like an "O"

citizen - n. a person who is a member of a country by birth or by law

city - n. any important large town

civilian - ad. not military

civil rights - n. the political, economic and social rights given equally to all people of a nation

claim - v. to say something as a fact

clash - n. a battle; v. to fight or oppose

clean - v. to make pure; ad. free from dirt or harmful substances ("clean water")

clear - ad. easy to see or see through; easily understood

clergy - n. a body of officials within a religious organization

climate - n. the normal weather conditions of a place

climb - v. to go up or down something by using the feet and sometimes the hands

clock - n. a device that measures and shows time

close - v. to make something not open; ad. near to

cloth - n. a material made from plants, chemicals, animal hair and other substances

clothes - n. what people wear

cloud - n. a mass of fog high in the sky

coal - n. a solid black substance used as fuel

coalition - n. forces, groups or nations joined together

coast - n. land on the edge of the ocean

coffee - n. a drink made from the plant of the same name

cold - ad. not warm; having or feeling great coolness or a low temperature

collect - v. to bring or gather together in one place; to demand and receive ("collect taxes")

college - n. a small university

colony - n. land controlled by another country or government

color - n. the different effects of light on the eye, making blue, red, brown, black, yellow and others

combine - v. to mix or bring together

come - v. to move toward; to arrive

command - v. to order; to have power over something

comment - v. to say something about; to express an opinion about something

committee - n. a group of people given special work

common - ad. usual; same for all ("a common purpose")

communicate - v. to tell; to give or exchange information

community - n. a group of people living together in one place or area

company - n. a business organized for trade, industrial or other purposes

compare - v. to examine what is different or similar

compete - v. to try to do as well as, or better than, another or others

complete - ad. having all parts; ended or finished

complex - ad. of or having many parts that are difficult to understand; not simple

compromise - n. the settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded

computer - n. an electronic machine for storing and organizing information, and for communicating with others

concern - n. interest, worry ("express concern about"); v. to fear ("to be concerned")

condemn - v. to say a person or action is wrong or bad

condition - n. something declared necessary to complete an agreement; a person's health

conference - n. a meeting

confirm - v. to approve; to say that something is true

conflict - n. a fight; a battle, especially a long one

congratulate - v. to praise a person or to express pleasure for success or good luck

Congress - n. the organization of people elected to make the laws of the United States (the House of Representatives and the Senate); a similar organization in other countries

connect - v. to join one thing to another; to unite; to link

conservative - n. one who usually supports tradition and opposes great change

consider - v. to give thought to; to think about carefully

constitution - n. the written general laws and ideas that form a nation's system of government

contain - v. to hold; to include

container - n. a box, bottle or can used to hold something

continent - n. any of the seven great land areas of the world

continue - v. to go on doing or being

control - v. to direct; to have power over

convention - n. a large meeting for a special purpose

cook - v. to heat food before eating it

cool - ad. almost cold

cooperate - v. to act or work together

copy - v. to make something exactly like another; n. something made to look exactly like another

corn - n. a food grain

correct - ad. true; free from mistakes; v. to change to what is right

cost - n. the price or value of something ("The cost of the book is five dollars."); v. to be valued at ("The book costs five dollars.")

cotton - n. a material made from a plant of the same name

count - v. to speak or add numbers

country - n. a nation; the territory of a nation; land away from cities

court - n. where trials take place; where judges make decisions about law

cover - v. to put something over a person or thing; n. anything that is put over a person or thing

cow - n. a farm animal used for its milk

crash - v. to fall violently; to hit with great force

create - v. to make; to give life or form to

creature - n. any living being; any animal or human

credit - n. an agreement that payments will be made at a later time

crew - n. a group of people working together

crime - n. an act that violates a law

criminal - n. a person who is responsible for a crime

crisis - n. an extremely important time when something may become much better or worse; a dangerous situation

criticize - v. to say what is wrong with something or someone; to condemn; to judge

crops - n. plants that are grown and gathered for food, such as grains, fruits and vegetables

cross - v. to go from one side to another; to go across

crowd - n. a large number of people gathered in one place

crush - v. to damage or destroy by great weight; to defeat completely

cry - v. to express or show sorrow or pain

culture - n. all the beliefs, traditions and arts of a group or population

cure - v. to improve health; to make well ("The doctor can cure the disease."); n. something that makes a sick person well ("Antibiotics are a cure for infection.")

curfew - n. an order to people to stay off the streets or to close their businesses

current - n. movement of air, water or electricity; ad. belonging to the present time ("She found the report in a current publication.")

custom - n. a long-established belief or activity of a people

customs - n. taxes on imports

cut - v. to divide or injure with a sharp tool; to make less; to reduce

D

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dam - n. a wall built across a river to hold back flowing water

damage - v. to cause injury or destruction; n. harm; hurt or injury, usually to things

dance - v. to move the body and feet to music; n. a series of steps, usually to music

danger - n. a strong chance of suffering injury, damage or loss

dark - ad. having little or no light ("The room was dark.")

date - n. an expression of time; a day, month and year

daughter - n. a person's female child

day - n. twenty-four hours; the hours of sunlight

dead - ad. not living

deaf - ad. not able to hear

deal - v. to have to do with ("The talks will deal with the problem of pollution."); to buy or sell ("Her company deals in plastic.")

debate - v. to argue for or against something; n. a public discussion or argument

debt - n. something that is owed; the condition of owing

decide - v. to choose; to settle; to judge

declare - v. to say; to make a statement

decrease - v. to make less in size or amount

deep - ad. going far down; a long way from top to bottom

defeat - v. to cause to lose in a battle or struggle; n. a loss; the condition of having lost

defend - v. to guard or fight against attack; to protect

deficit - n. a shortage that results when spending is greater than earnings, or imports are greater than exports

define - v. to give the meaning of; to explain

degree - n. a measure of temperature

delay - v. to decide to do something at a later time; to postpone; to cause to be late

delegate - n. one sent to act for another; one who represents another

demand - v. to ask by ordering; to ask with force

democracy - n. the system of government in which citizens vote to choose leaders or to make other important decisions

demonstrate - v. to make a public show of opinions or feelings ("The crowd demonstrated in support of human rights."); to explain by using examples ("The teacher demonstrated the idea with an experiment.")

denounce - v. to accuse of being wrong or evil; to criticize severely

deny - v. to declare that something is not true; to refuse a request

depend - v. to need help and support

deplore - v. to regret strongly; to express sadness

deploy - v. to move forces or weapons into positions for action

depression - n. severe unhappiness; a period of reduced business and economic activity during which many people lose their jobs

describe - v. to give a word picture of something; to give details of something

desert - n. a dry area of land

design - v. to plan or create plans for

desire - v. to want very much; to wish for

destroy - v. to break into pieces; to end the existence of

detail - n. a small part of something; a small piece of information

develop - v. to grow; to create; to experience progress

device - n. a piece of equipment made for a special purpose

dictator - n. a ruler with complete power

die - v. to become dead; to stop living; to end

diet - n. usual daily food and drink

different - ad. not the same

difficult - ad. not easy; hard to do, make or carry out

dig - v. to make a hole in the ground

dinner - n. the main amount of food eaten at a usual time ("The family had its dinner at noon."); a special event that includes food ("The official dinner took place at the White House.")

diplomat - n. a person who represents his or her government in dealing with another government

direct - v. to lead; to aim or show the way ("He directed me to the theater."); ad. straight to something; not through some other person or thing ("The path is direct.")

direction - n. the way (east, west, north, south); where someone or something came from or went to

dirt - n. earth or soil

disappear - v. to become unseen; to no longer exist

disarm - v. to take away weapons; to no longer keep weapons; to make a bomb harmless by removing its exploding device

discover - v. to find or learn something

discuss - v. to talk about; to exchange ideas

disease - n. a sickness in living things, often caused by viruses, germs or bacteria

dismiss - v. to send away; to refuse to consider

dispute - v. to oppose strongly by argument; n. an angry debate

dissident - n. a person who strongly disagrees with his or her government

distance - n. the amount of space between two places or objects ("The distance from my house to your house is two kilometers.")

dive - v. to jump into water head first

divide - v. to separate into two or more parts

do - v. to act; to make an effort

doctor - n. a person trained in medicine to treat sick people

document - n. an official piece of paper with facts written on it, used as proof or support of something

dog - n. a small animal that often lives with humans

dollar - n. United States money, one hundred cents

door - n. an opening for entering or leaving a building or room

down - ad. from higher to lower; in a low place

dream - v. to have a picture or story in the mind during sleep; n. a picture or story in the mind during sleep; a happy idea about the future

drink - v. to take liquid into the body through the mouth

drive - v. to control a moving vehicle

drop - v. to fall or let fall; to go lower

drown - v. to die under water

drug - n. anything used as a medicine or in making medicine; a chemical substance used to ease pain or to affect the mind

dry - ad. not wet; without rain

during - ad. through the whole time; while (something is happening)

dust - n. pieces of matter so small that they can float in the air

duty - n. one's job or responsibility; what one must do because it is right and just

E

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each - ad. every one by itself

early - ad. at or near the beginning, especially the beginning of the day; opposite late

earn - v. to be paid in return for work done

earth - n. the planet we all live on; the ground or soil

earthquake - n. a sudden, violent shaking of the earth's surface

ease - v. to reduce; to make less difficult

east - n. the direction from which the sun rises

easy - ad. not difficult; not hard to do

eat - v. to take food into the body through the mouth

ecology - n. the scientific study of the environment and links among living and material things

economy - n. the system by which money, industry and trade are organized

edge - n. the line where something ends or begins

education - n. the act of teaching

effect - n. the result or change caused by something ("The storm had a serious effect on the economy.")

effort - n. an attempt; the work necessary to do something

egg - n. the rounded object containing unborn young produced by female birds, fish or reptiles; a single cell in a female person or animal that can develop into a baby

either - ad. one of two, but not the other

elect - v. to choose by voting

electricity - n. a form of energy that flows through wires to provide heat and light, and power to machines

embassy - n. the offices of an ambassador and his or her assistants

emergency - n. an unexpected and dangerous situation demanding quick action

emotion - n. a strong feeling such as love, hate, fear or sadness

employ - v. to give work in return for wages

empty - ad. having nothing inside; v. to remove everything

end - v. to stop; to finish; n. the part which comes last

enemy - n. a person opposing or hating another; a person or people of the other side in a war

energy - n. power used to do work, usually with machines; the ability and willingness to be active

enforce - v. to make something be done

engine - n. a machine that uses energy to cause movement or to do work

engineer - n. a person who designs engines, machines, roads, bridges or railroads

enjoy - v. to be pleased or satisfied by something

enough - ad. as much as necessary; pro. the amount needed

enter - v. to come or go into

environment - n. all surrounding things, conditions and influences that affect life; the natural world of land, sea, air, plants and animals

equal - ad. the same in amount, size, weight or value; having the same rights

equipment - n. things, tools or machines needed for a purpose or activity

escape - v. to get free; to get away from; to get out of

especially - ad. more than others ("We liked the food, especially the fish.")

establish - v. to bring into existence; to create

estimate - v. to form an opinion about a value, size or amount using less than complete information

ethnic - ad. of or concerning people belonging to a large group because of their race, religion, language, tribe or where their ancestors lived

evaporate - v. to change from a liquid into a gas

even - ad. in a way not thought possible ("They survived, even though the building was destroyed.")

event - n. that which happens, especially something of importance

ever - ad. at any time

every - ad. each one; all

evidence - n. material or facts that prove something; a reason for believing

evil - ad. not good; extremely bad

exact - ad. having no mistakes; correct in every detail

examine - v. to study closely

example - n. a part that shows what the rest of a thing or group is like

excellent - ad. extremely good

except - prep. but for

exchange - v. to trade; to give or receive one thing for another

excuse - v. to take away blame; to pardon; to forgive; n. a reason (sometimes false) for an action

execute - v. to kill

exercise - n. an activity or effort for the purpose of improving the body or to stay in good health

exile - v. to force a person to leave his or her country; to expel; n. a person who is forced to leave his or her country

exist - v. to be; to live

expand - v. to make larger; to grow larger

expect - v. to think or believe that something will happen; to wait for an event

expel - v. to force out; to remove from; to send away

experience - v. to live through an event, situation or condition ("She experienced great pain."); n. something that one has done or lived through ("The experience caused her great pain.")

experiment - v. to test; n. a test or trial carried out to prove if an idea is true or false, or to discover something

expert - n. a person with special knowledge or training

explain - v. to give reasons for; to make clear; to tell about; to tell the meaning

explode - v. to break apart violently with a loud noise, like a bomb

explore - v. to travel in a place that is not well known to learn more about it; to make a careful search; to examine closely

export - v. to send to another country; n. something sent to another country, usually for sale

express - v. to say clearly

extend - v. to stretch out in area or length; to continue for a longer time

extra - ad. more than normal, expected or necessary

extreme - ad. more than the usual or accepted

extremist - n. a person with strong religious or political beliefs who acts in an extreme or violent way

F

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face - n. the front of the head: eyes, nose, mouth; v. to look toward; to turn toward; to have before you, such as a problem or danger

fact - n. something known or proved to be true

factory - n. a building or group of buildings where goods are made

fail - v. to not succeed; to not reach a goal

fair - ad. just; honest; what is right

fall - v. to go down quickly; to come down; to drop to the ground or a lower position

false - ad. not true; not correct

family - n. the group that includes children and their parents

famous - ad. known very well to many people

far - ad. at, to or from a great distance

farm - n. land used to grow crops and animals for food

fast - ad. moving or working at great speed; quick

fat - n. tissue in the bodies of humans and animals used to store energy and to keep warm; ad. thick; heavy

father - n. the male parent; a man who has a child or children

fear - v. to be afraid; to worry that something bad is near or may happen ("He feared falling down."); n. a strong emotion when there is danger or trouble ("He had a fear that he would fall down.")

federal - ad. of or having to do with a national or central government

feed - v. to give food to

feel - v. to have or experience an emotion; to know by touching

female - n. a woman or girl; the sex that gives birth; ad. of or about women

fence - n. something around an area of land to keep animals or people in or out

fertile - ad. rich in production of plants or animals; producing much

few - ad. not many; a small number of

field - n. an area of open land, usually used to grow crops or to raise animals

fierce - ad. extremely strong; violent; angry

fight - v. to use violence or force; to attempt to defeat or destroy an enemy; n. the use of force; a battle

fill - v. to put or pour something into a container until there is space for no more

film - v. to record something so it can be seen again; to make a motion picture or movie; n. a thin piece of material for making pictures with a camera; a movie

final - ad. at the end; last

financial - ad. of or about the system that includes the use of money, credit, investments and banks

find - v. to discover or learn something by searching or by accident; to decide a court case ("The jury finds the man guilty of murder.")

fine - n. a payment ordered by a court to punish someone for a crime; ad. very good; very small or thin

finish - v. to complete; to end

fire - v. to shoot a gun; n. the heat and light produced by something burning

fireworks - n. rockets producing bright fire in the sky, used in holiday celebrations

firm - ad. not easily moved or changed ("She is firm in her opinion.")

first - ad. coming before all others

fish - n. a creature that lives and can breathe in water

fit - v. to be of the correct size or shape ("These shoes fit my feet.")

fix - v. to make good or right again

flag - n. a piece of colored cloth used to represent a nation, government or organization

flat - ad. smooth; having no high places

flee - v. to run away from

float - v. to be on water without sinking; to move or be moved gently on water or through air

flood - v. to cover with water; n. the movement of water out of a river, lake or ocean onto land

floor - n. the bottom part of a room for walking on ("The book fell to the floor."); the level of a building ("The fire was on the first floor.")

flow - v. to move like a liquid

flower - n. the colored part of plants that carry seeds

fluid - n. any substance that can flow, such as a liquid

fly - v. to move through the air with wings, like a bird or airplane; to travel in an airplane or flying vehicle

fog - n. a mass of wet air that is difficult to see through; a cloud close to the ground

follow - v. to come or go after; to accept the rule or power of; to obey

food - n. that which is taken in by all living things for energy, strength and growth

fool - v. to make someone believe something that is not true; to trick; n. a person who is tricked easily

foot - n. the bottom part of the leg; the part of the body that touches the ground when a person or animal walks

for - prep. because of ("He is famous for his work."); in exchange ("Give me one dollar for the book."); through space or time ("They travelled for one hour."); representative of ("I speak for all people."); to be employed by ("She works for a computer company.")

force - v. to make someone do something or make something happen by using power; n. power, strength; strength used against a person or object; military power of a nation; a military group

foreign - ad. of, about or from another nation; not from one's own place or country

forest - n. a place of many trees

forget - v. to not remember

forgive - v. to pardon; to excuse; to remove guilt

form - v. to make; to start; to shape ("They formed a swim team."); n. a kind ("Swimming is a form of exercise.")

former - ad. earlier in time; not now

forward - ad. the direction in front of; toward the front

free - v. to release; ad. not controlled by another or by outside forces; not in prison; independent; not limited by rules; without cost

freedom - n. the condition of being free

freeze - v. to cause or to become very cold; to make or to become hard by cold

fresh - ad. newly made or gathered; recent

friend - n. a person one likes and trusts

frighten - v. to cause great fear

from - prep. having a person, place or thing as a beginning or cause ("It is a message from the president."); at a place distant, not near ("The school is five kilometers from my home."); because of ("He is suffering from cancer.")

front - n. the forward part; the opposite of back; the beginning; the first part

fruit - n. food from trees and plants

fuel - n. any substance burned to create heat or power

full - ad. containing as much as a person or thing can hold; complete

fun - n. anything that is pleasing and causes