obey [to act as one is ordered to act]
She said she became a judge because she believed that people must obey
the laws.
object [(1) to show that one does not like or approve; (2) to protest;(3)
something not alive that can be seen or touched]
The lawyer said he would object if the disputed evidence was given. (1)
He objected strongly to the Senator's comment. (2)
She found a strange object near her house. (3)
observe [(1) to watch; (2) to look at carefully; (3) to celebrate or
honor something]
She observed everyone who walked past her house. (1)
They observed the elections to report on possible violations of voting
laws. (2)
They will observe the anniversary of the day she was born. (3)
occupy [to take and hold or to control by force]
Soldiers occupied the town formerly controlled by rebels.
ocean [(1) the area of salt water that covers almost seventy-five percent
of the earth's surface; (2) any of the five main divisions of this water]
We are going to the ocean for two weeks. (1)
He has sailed across the Pacific Ocean three times. (2)
of [(1) made from; (2) belonging to; (3) about; (4) connected to; (5)
included among]
Her ring is made of gold. (1)
His son is a member of the Boy Scouts. (2)
That movie is the story of a woman who wins one million dollars. (3)
Someone broke the window of my car. (4)
One of my brothers is a doctor. (5)
off [(1) away; (2) at a distance; (3) condition when something is no longer
operating or continuing; (4) not on; (5) not connected]
She walked off without speaking. (1)
The lake was 10 miles off. (2)
※one mile = 1.6 kilometers
The game is off because of rain. (3)
The electric power was off for three hours. (4)
He took off the rope so his dog could run. (5)
offensive [(1) a military campaign of attack;(2) having to do with
attacking]
The government offensive began with an air attack. (1)
The weapons included a new offensive missile that destroys radar centers.
(2)
offer [(1) to present or propose;(2) the act of presenting or proposing; (
3) that which is presented or proposed]
He offered to help her find her car. (1)
Republican leaders made an offer to share power with the Democrats. (2)
She got a job offer from a computer company in Texas. (3)
office [(1) a room or building where business or work is done; (2) a public
position to which one is elected or appointed]
Her office is on the fortieth floor of the new building. (1)
He was elected to the office of Vice President. (2)
officer [(1) a person in the military who commands others; (2) any person
who is a member of a police force]
Her father is an army officer in Germany. (1)
Two police officers were honored for saving the lives of five people. (2)
official [(1) a person with power in an organization; (2) a
representative of an organization or government;(3) of or about an
office; (4) approved by the government or someone in power]
She is an official of our church council. (1)
Members of our local parents and teachers organization are electing an
official to represent them at the state level. (2)
She read about it in the official newspaper. (3)
An official statement said the labor strike would begin at midnight. (4)
often [many times]
How often do you see each other?
oil [(1) a thick liquid that does not mix with water and that burns easily;
(2) a black liquid taken from the ground and used as fuel]
Oil for heating homes costs a lot more this year. (1)
The president says America must produce more of the oil it needs. (2)
old [(1) not young or new; (2) having lived or existed for many years]
He has an old car and an old house. (1)
The old tree has been growing for more than three hundred years. (2)
on [(1) above and held up by; (2) touching the upper surface of; (3)
supported by; (4) about; (5) at the time of]
The clock is on the wall. (1)
The book is on the table. (2)
He is on his feet. (3)
The report on the meeting is ready. (4)
He left on Wednesday. (5)
once [one time only]
We had dinner there once.
only [(1) being the single one or ones; (2) no more than]
He was the only person here. (1)
We have only two dollars. (2)
open [(1) to start; (2) not closed; (3) not secret]
They opened talks. (1)
We saw them through the open window. (2)
No secrets were discussed at the open meeting. (3)
operate [(1) to do work or a job; (2) to cut into the body for medical
reasons]
Her family operates a car repair business. (1)
Doctors will operate on him to remove a cancer. (2)
opinion [a belief based on one's own ideas and thinking]
What is your opinion on the power crisis?
oppose [(1) to be against; (2) to fight against]
She opposes cutting trees in national forests. (1)
Protesters promised to oppose attempts to put oil wells in wild areas of
Alaska. (2)
opposite [(1) as different as possible; (2) completely different from; (
3) exactly the other way]
They worked on opposite sides of town. (1)
The two men held opposite opinions on the war. (2)
North is the opposite direction from south. (3)
oppress [(1) to make others suffer; (2) to control by the use of unjust and
cruel force or power]
The Khmer Rouge used torture and murder to oppress the Cambodian people. (
1)
The American colonists declared independence because Britain oppressed them
with heavy taxes and brutal force. (2)
or [(1) giving another of two choices; (2) giving the last of several
choices]
Would you like coffee or tea? (1)
I could meet you at noon on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday. (2)
orbit [(1) to travel in space around a planet or other object; (2) the path
or way an object travels in space around another object or planet]
The spacecraft will orbit the moon three times. (1)
The satellite is in an orbit that will keep it always above the same
place on Earth. (2)
order [(1) to give a command; (2) to tell someone what to do; (3) a
command; (4) the correct or normal way things are organized; (5) a peaceful
situation in which people obey laws]
The sergeant ordered the marching soldiers to halt. (1)
The court ordered election officials to count the votes again. (2)
You have no choice but to obey the order. (3)
The President spoke about a new world order. (4)
Police stopped the rioting and returned order to the city. (5)
organize [(1) to put in order; (2) to put together into a system]
He needed a few minutes to organize his thoughts. (1)
She will help him organize the material for his book. (2)
other [(1) different; (2) of another kind; (3) the remaining one or ones of
two or more]
Any other woman would have left him. (1)
He wanted a life other than his own. (2)
That man is short; the other is tall. (3)
our [of or belonging to us]
We ate our dinner in the park.
oust [(1) to force to leave; (2) to remove by force]
The soldiers ousted the farmers from the village. (1)
The rebels ousted the President. (2)
out [(1) away from the inside; (2) opposite of in]
He walked out of the house. (1)
She was out of the office when I arrived. (2)
over [(1) above; (2) covering; (3) across, in or on every part of]
She looked up as the plane flew over her. (1)
He pulled the blanket over his sleeping daughter. (2)
She has traveled all over the world. (3)
overthrow [(1) to remove from power; (2) to defeat or end by force]
The people of Yugoslavia overthrew the President. (1)
The report said the generals were plotting to overthrow the government. (
2)
owe [to pay or have to repay (usually money) in return for something
received]
How much do I owe you for the coffee?
own [to have or possess for oneself]
He said he owned the car.
pain
[a hurt or suffering somewhere in the body]
The injury caused him great pain.
paint
[(1) to cover with a liquid color; (2) to make a picture with liquid
colors; (3) a colored liquid used to cover or protect a surface]
He will paint his house next week. (1)
She painted this picture when she was young. (2)
How much paint will you need to paint your house? (3)
pan
[a metal container used for cooking]
Cook your food in this pan.
paper
[a thin, flat material made from plants or cloth often used for writing]
I use a lot of paper for my schoolwork.
parachute
[a device that permits a person or thing to fall slowly from an airplane or
helicopter to the ground]
He jumps from an airplane and his parachute lets him fall slowly to the
ground.
parade
[a group of people and vehicles moving together to celebrate a special
event or anniversary]
She took the children to watch the Independence Day parade.
pardon
[to forgive for a crime and release from punishment]
Presidents can pardon criminals.
parent
[a father or mother]
Her parents will be here later.
parliament
[a government lawmaking group]
The government ended parliament and called new elections.
part
[(1) something less than the whole; (2) not all of something]
I spend part of today planning what I will do tomorrow. (1)
Only a small part of this land belongs to me. (2)
party
[(1) a group of people working together for a political purpose; (2) a
group of people or friends gathered together for enjoyment]
She raises money for the Democratic Party. (1)
Bill has invited everyone to a party at his house. (2)
pass
[(1) to go by or move around something; (2) to move along; (3) to cause
or permit to go]
You can pass the car in front of us. (1)
The hours passed slowly as he waited to leave. (2)
The guard passed him through the gate. (3)
passenger
[a person traveling by airplane, train, boat or car who is not the pilot or
driver]
All passengers and the crew of the airplane survived the emergency
landing.
passport
[a document permitting a person to travel to another country]
She was arrested for traveling with a false passport.
past
[(1) the time gone by; (2) the time before; (3) recent; (4) immediately
before; (5) former]
He would like to forget the past. (1)
The records showed the patient had no medical problems in his recent
past. (2)
She has not been here for the past few days. (3)
He is the past president of our organization. (4)
He is a past president of our organization. (5)
path
[(1) a narrow way for walking; (2) a way along which something moves]
We walked along the path together. (1)
He watched the path of the arrow all the way to the target. (2)
patient
[a person being treated by a doctor for a health problem]
The doctors examined the patient carefully.
pay
[to give money for work done or for something bought]
She paid a lot of money for her clothes.
peace
[(1) the condition of freedom from war, fighting or noise; (2) rest; (3)
quiet]
We have been at peace for almost ten years. (1)
He was sleeping, at peace with the world. (2)
A shout broke the peace of the early morning. (3)
people
[(1) any group of persons; (2) all the persons of a group, race, religion
or nation]
A large crowd of people welcomed the Pope to St. Louis. (1)
The American people are a mix of the world's people. (2)
percent
[a part of every hundred]
Ten is ten percent of one hundred.
perfect
[(1) complete or correct in every way; (2) completely right or good; (3)
without mistakes]
It was a perfect performance. (1)
Today is a perfect day. (2)
She had a perfect score on the test. (3)
perform
[to speak, dance or sing in front of others]
She performed perfectly.
period
[an amount of time within events, restrictions or conditions]
The child went through a period of intense growth.
permanent
[(1) never changing; (2) lasting for a very long time or for all time]
Please tell me your permanent address. (1)
Astronauts left an American flag on the moon as a permanent memorial. (2)
permit
[(1) to let; (2) to make possible]
Her parents permit her to work. (1)
The wider doors and raised walkway permit people in wheelchairs to use
the building. (2)
person
[a man, woman or child]
She is a good person to know.
physical
[of the body]
Physical exercise helps keep him healthy.
physics
[the study of motion, matter and energy]
Studying physics takes a lot of time.
picture
[(1) an idea or representation of something as seen by the eye; (2) a
painting; (3) what is made with a camera]
She drew a picture of him from memory. (1)
The picture of her was painted many years ago. (2)
My camera takes good pictures. (3)
piece
[a part of something larger]
Please have a piece of my birthday cake.
pig
[a farm animal used for its meat]
He raises pigs on his farm.
pilot
[one who guides or flies an airplane or helicopter]
The pilot landed the airplane on a road.
pipe
[a long, round piece of material used to move liquid or gas]
The pipe moves oil from Texas to Virginia.
place
[(1) to put something somewhere; (2) an area or a part of an area; (3)
space where a person or thing is; (4) any room, building, town or country]
He placed the book on the table. (1)
The place you are looking for is on the other side of town. (2)
I am staying at his place. (3)
Japan is a place I would like to visit. (4)
plan
[(1) to organize or develop an idea or method of acting or doing something;
(2) an organized or developed idea or method]
They plan to have a party. (1)
The plan will not work. (2)
planet
[a large object in space that orbits the sun]
Earth is a planet.
plant
[(1) to put into the ground to grow; (2) a living growth from the ground
which gets its food from air, water and earth]
If you plant this, it will grow. (1)
These plants have beautiful flowers in the summer. (2)
plastic
[a material made from chemicals that can be formed and made into things]
I ate with a plastic spoon from a plastic plate on a plastic table.
play
[(1) to have fun; (2) to not work; (3) to take part in a sport; (4) to make
music on an instrument; (5) a story acted in a theater]
She plays with her baby. (1)
I cannot play today. (2)
He plays baseball every day. (3)
Will you play the guitar? (4)
We saw a play at the theater last night. (5)
please
[(1) to make one happy; (2) to give enjoyment]
He was pleased to see her again. (1)
The music is pleasing to her. (2)
plenty
[(1) all that is needed; (2) a large enough amount]
There is plenty of time to see a movie. (1)
We have plenty of food. (2)
plot
[(1) to make secret plans; (2) a secret plan to do something wrong or
illegal]
Her friends plotted to surprise her with a party. (1)
A bank employee discovered the plot. (2)
poem
[words and their sounds organized in a special way to express emotions]
Several of his poems have been published.
point
[(1) to aim one's finger toward; (2) to aim; (3) the sharp end of
something]
The man pointed his finger at the suspect. (1)
She pointed the gun at the target. (2)
The knife had a sharp point. (3)
poison
[a substance that can destroy life or damage health]
Police found poison in the woman's food.
police
[(1) a government agency responsible for guarding the public, keeping
order, and making sure people obey the law; (2) members of that agency]
The mayor said police have failed to reduce crime in the city. (1)
He said the city needs more police. (2)
policy
[an established set of plans or goals used to develop and make decisions in
politics, economics or business]
The new president said he would change the nation's economic policy.
politics
[the activities of government and of those who are in public office]
He enjoys discussing politics with his friends.
pollute
[to release dangerous or unpleasant substances into the air, soil or
water]
The governor said he will act against companies that pollute the air and
water in his state.
poor
[(1) people with little or no money; (2) lacking money or goods; (3) of bad
quality]
She has proposed programs to help the poor. (1)
His family is poor because he cannot keep a job. (2)
The company makes poor products. (3)
popular
[(1) liked by many people; (2) generally approved by the public]
She is a popular girl at our school. (1)
A proposal to cut taxes has much popular support. (2)
population
[all the people in a place, city or country]
The population of the world continues to increase.
port
[(1) a city where ships load or unload goods; (2) a place on a coast
where ships can be safe from a storm]
Baltimore is a busy port on the Atlantic coast. (1)
The ship raced the storm to a safe port. (2)
position
[(1) a place; (2) the way of holding the body; (3) the way a thing is set
or placed; (4) a job (or level of a job) in an organization]
The soldiers attacked the enemy position. (1)
The position of his body showed he was in pain. (2)
Someone changed the position of the bed. (3)
Her father holds a high position in the company. (4)
possess
[(1) to have; (2) to own; (3) to control or be controlled by]
She possesses great negotiating skills. (1)
He possesses a 1955 Ford Thunderbird car. (2)
An evil spirit possessed her. (3)
possible
[(1) able to be done; (2) can happen or is expected to happen]
The train is a possible way to get there. (1)
She is a possible candidate for President in 2004. (2)
postpone
[to delay action until a later time]
The meeting is postponed until Tuesday.
pour
[(1) to flow; (2) to cause to flow]
Rain water poured down the mountain. (1)
People poured from the store when the alarm sounded. (2)
power
[(1) the ability to control or direct others; (2) control; (3) strength; (
4) ruling force; (5) force or energy used to do work]
The police have the power to arrest and question people suspected of
crimes. (1)
The independent counsel was given the power to investigate the president.
(2)
Nations have nuclear weapons with the power to destroy the world. (3)
The governing power of the United States rests in the Constitution. (4)
Water power turns the wheel. (5)
praise
[(1) to say good things about; (2) to approve]
Kelley's professor praised her test results. (1)
The father praised his son's decision. (2)
pray
[(1) to make a request to a god or spirit; (2) to praise a god or spirit]
He prayed to ask God to forgive him for the terrible thing he had done. (
1)
She prayed to give thanks to God for healing her son. (2)
pregnant
[(1) carrying a child within the body before it is born; (2) expecting to
give birth to a baby]
She just learned that she is pregnant. (1)
The pregnant woman expects to give birth next month. (2)
prepare
[(1) to make ready; (2) to put together]
She is prepared for her trip to Europe. (1)
He will prepare dinner. (2)
present
[(1) to offer for consideration; (2) a gift; (3) now; (4) to be at a
place]
We will present our idea to the committee. (1)
I gave them a present for their anniversary. (2)
The present time is a good time. (3)
I was present at school yesterday. (4)
president
[(1) the chief official of a country that is a republic; (2) the leader
of an organization]
The President of the United States serves a term of four years. (1)
His wife is president of our school's parents and teachers organization. (
2)
press
[(1) to urge strongly; (2) newspapers, magazines and other publications]
The mayor pressed him for money for his re-election campaign. (1)
The opening of the new hospital was fully reported in the local press. (2)
pressure
[the force produced when something is pushed down or against something
else]
We expect a storm because the atmospheric pressure is very low.
prevent
[to keep or stop from going or happening]
Doctors are trying to prevent the disease from spreading.
price
[the amount of money for which anything is bought, sold or offered for
sale]
He is asking a fair price for his house.
prison
[a place where a person is kept as punishment for a crime]
The state is building a new prison because the old one is not big enough.
private
[(1) of or about a person or group that is secret; (2) opposite public]
Reports say a private army is plotting to take over the government. (1)
This private property is closed to public use. (2)
prize
[(1) something offered or won in a competition; (2) something of value that
one must work hard for to get]
She knows the writer who won the Nobel Prize last year. (1)
The prize that he seeks is peace in the Middle East. (2)
probably
[(1) a good chance of taking place; (2) a little more than possible]
My son's friend probably will eat at our house tonight. (1)
We probably will get some rain from those dark clouds. (2)
problem
[a difficult question or situation with an unknown or unclear answer]
She has sympathy for people with those problems.
process
[an operation or series of changes leading to a desired result]
The production process seems to be a success.
produce
[(1) to make; (2) to create; (3) to cause something to be; (4) to
manufacture]
The farmer produced a big crop. (1)
Who produced the new action movie? (2)
The police produced some new evidence at the trial. (3)
His company produces road signs. (4)
profession
[a job that requires special training]
Many doctors are leaving the medical profession.
professor
[a teacher at a college or university]
Do you like your English professor?
profit
[money gained from a business activity after paying all costs of that
activity]
How much profit did you make from selling the stock?
program
[(1) a plan of action; (2) the different events or parts of a meeting or
show]
We have developed a program to increase company profits. (1)
Our group is part of the program at the school meeting. (2)
progress
[movement forward or toward improvement or a goal]
Are you making progress on your science project?
project
[a planned effort to do something]
She hopes to complete her science project in about a week.
propaganda
[ideas or information used to influence opinions]
Does political propaganda win elections?
property
[anything owned by someone such as land, buildings or goods]
His property extends from here to the river.
propose
[to present or offer for consideration]
She proposed a new program for teaching English.
protect
[(1) to guard; (2) to defend; (3) to prevent from being harmed or damaged]
The museum is protecting its valuable paintings with a new security system.
(1)
The Secret Service protects the White House from any kind of attack. (2)
Seat belts and air bags protect the driver and front seat passenger in most
new cars. (3)
protest
[(1) to speak against; (2) to object]
The speakers protested the lack of controls on handgun sales. (1)
The group protested because their votes were not counted. (2)
prove
[to show to be true]
The defense lawyer proved that the young man was not guilty.
provide
[to give something needed or wanted]
She provided food and warm clothing to the homeless man.
public
[(1) of or about all the people in a community or country; (2) opposite
private]
Everyone could speak at the public meeting. (1)
She said she spoke as a private citizen, not as a public official. (2)
publication
[something that is published such as a book, newspaper or magazine]
I do not read that publication.
publish
[(1) to make public something that is written; (2) to include something
in a book, newspaper or magazine]
The government published the list of properties. (1)
Did the newspaper publish anything about the accident? (2)
pull
[(1) to use force to move something toward the person or thing using the
force; (2) opposite push]
Please pull the microphone closer so we can hear you. (1)
You have to pull, not push the door to open it. (2)
pump
[to force a gas or liquid up, into or through]
The broken part would not pump fuel from the tank to the engine.
punish
[to cause pain, suffering or loss for doing something bad or illegal]
The judge punished him with a five-year prison sentence.
purchase
[(1) to buy with money or with something of equal value; (2) that which
is bought]
Did you purchase your watch in Switzerland? (1)
He used a charge card to pay for the purchase. (2)
pure
[(1) free from anything that is different or that reduces value; (2) clean]
He asked if the ring was made of pure gold. (1)
Do not expect pure water from a mountain stream. (2)
purpose
[(1) the reason or desired effect for doing something; (2) goal]
What is the purpose of your trip? (1)
His only purpose in life was to make her happy. (2)
push
[(1) to use force to move something away from the person or thing using the
force; (2) opposite pull]
She pushed him away. (1)
Ed pushed the horse and I pulled it. (2)
put
[(1) to place; (2) to set in position]
She put the dog outside. (1)
He put the television where everyone could see it. (2)
quality
[(1) that which something is known to have or be; (2) amount of value or
excellence]
An important quality of steel is its strength. (1)
Their goods are of the highest quality. (2)
question
[(1) to ask; (2) to express wonder or disbelief; (3) a sentence or word
used in asking for information; (4) a problem; (5) an issue to be
discussed]
His father questioned him about the car. (1)
She questioned if he really cooked the dinner. (2)
Did you answer every question in the test? (3)
The question of a pay increase is blocking a new labor agreement. (4)
The civil rights question is a big issue in the campaign. (5)
quick
[fast]
She made a quick decision.
quiet
[(1) with little or no noise; (2) having little or no movement; (3) calm]
The room was so quiet he could hear his heart beat. (1)
The sea was quiet. (2)
City streets were quiet on the night before Christmas. (3)
race
[(1) to run; (2) to take part in a competition to decide who or what can
move fastest; (3) to take part in a campaign for political office; (4)
one of the major groups that humans can be divided into because of a common
physical similarity, such as skin color]
The cat and dog raced through the house. (1)
Are you racing in the one hundred meter event? (2)
Her mother entered the race for mayor. (3)
All races of people are equal under the laws of the United States. (4)
radar
[a device that uses radio signals to learn the position or speed of objects
that may be too far away to be seen]
Radar can show if a storm is moving toward us.
radiation
[(1) waves of energy from something that produces heat or light; (2) energy
from a nuclear substance, which can be dangerous]
Radiation from the sun can burn our skin. (1)
Radiation from a nuclear explosion can kill. (2)
radio
[the system of sending and receiving signals or sounds through the air
without wires]
Do you listen to VOA Special English on the radio?
raid
[(1) to make a sudden attack; (2) a sudden attack]
Police raided a number of houses where illegal drugs were sold. (1)
Thirty-eight people were arrested in the drug raid. (2)
railroad
[(1) a road for trains; (2) a company that operates such a road and its
stations and equipment]
The government has made a walking trail where the railroad was. (1)
Railroads in the United States mostly carry products instead of passengers.
(2)
rain
[water falling from the sky]
Rain has fallen for three days.
raise
[(1) to lift up; (2) to move to a higher position; (3) to cause to grow; (
4) to increase]
Rising floodwaters raised the house and carried it away. (1)
The bridge raises so ships can pass under it. (2)
The farmer raises mostly corn and soybeans. (3)
Congress raised taxes. (4)
rare
[(1) not common; (2) not usual; (3) not often]
He has rare musical ability for a boy so young. (1)
A warm day is rare this time of year. (2)
It is rare for me to get so many telephone calls. (3)
rate
[(1) speed; (2) a measure of how quickly or how often something happens; (
3) the price of any thing or service that is bought or sold]
The old man reads at a slow rate. (1)
What is the patient's heart rate? (2)
The interest rate on home loans has increased. (3)
reach
[(1) to put a hand toward; (2) to arrive at; (3)to come to]
She reached out to take my hand. (1)
He reached home about six o'clock. (2)
We will reach a decision soon. (3)
react
[to act as a result of or in answer to]
How did she react to the news?
read
[to look at and understand the meaning of written words or numbers]
She reads four newspapers every morning.
ready
[(1) prepared; (2) completed; (3) organized; (4) willing]
They are ready to start the game. (1)
Your food order is ready. (2)
The new Congress is ready to begin its work. (3)
Who is ready to eat an insect? (4)
real
[(1) true; (2) truly existing; (3) not false]
The real reason he came here was to see you. (1)
He never believed in ghosts until he saw a real one. (2)
That is a real diamond, not a copy. (3)
realistic
[in agreement with the way things are]
He put a realistic price on his house and sold it very quickly.
reason
[(1) the cause for a belief or act; (2) purpose; (3) something that
explains]
She did not believe his reason for leaving. (1)
The reason he studies English is to get a better job. (2)
Warmer water in the eastern Pacific Ocean is the reason for unusual weather
in the Americas. (3)
reasonable
[(1) ready to listen to reasons or ideas; (2) not extreme; (3) ready or
willing to compromise]
The head of our office is a reasonable woman. (1)
They told him to come home at a reasonable hour. (2)
They reached agreement because they were reasonable.(3)
rebel
[(1) to act against a government or power, often with force; (2) to
refuse to obey; (3) one who opposes or fights against the government of his
or her country]
The people rebelled against the government. (1)
My body rebels when I exercise too much. (2)
Rebels fought to overthrow the government. (3)
receive
[to get or accept something given, offered or sent]
I received your letter today.
recent
[a short time ago]
These are recent pictures of my family.
recession
[a temporary reduction in economic activity, when industries produce less
and many workers lose their jobs]
Will a big tax cut prevent a recession?
recognize
[(1) to know or remember something or someone that was known, known about
or seen before; (2) to accept another nation as independent and establish
diplomatic ties with its government]
He recognized his friend of many years ago. (1)
Most nations recognized the newly independent country.
record
[(1) to write something in order to have it for future use; (2) to put
sound or pictures in a form that can be kept and heard or seen again; (3) a
writing that shows proof or facts about something]
He records each day what his teachers expect him to study at home. (1)
VOA Special English feature programs are recorded before they are
broadcast. (2)
A public record is kept of all home sales in this county. (3)
recover
[(1) to get again something that was lost, stolen or taken away; (2) to
return to normal health or normal conditions]
The police recovered the stolen money. (1)
She is expected to recover from the operation. (2)
red
[having the color like that of blood]
Those red flowers are roses.
reduce
[(1) to make less or smaller in number, size or amount; (2) to cut]
She reduced her picture so it would fit in her passport. (1)
Congress voted to reduce taxes. (2)
reform
[(1) to make better by changing; (2) to improve; (3) a change to a better
condition]
The Congress reformed the way candidates pay for political campaigns. (1)
He reformed his life by ending all use of tobacco and alcohol. (2)
The voters approved reforms that will reduce air and water pollution. (3)
refugee
[a person who has been forced to flee because of unjust treatment, danger
or war]
His family came to the United States as refugees.
refuse
[(1) to reject; (2) to not accept, give or do something]
She refused his apology. (1)
He refused to fight in the Vietnam War. (2)
regret
[a feeling of sadness or sorrow about something that is done or that
happens]
The President expressed regret that so many lives were lost.
reject
[to refuse to accept, use or believe]
Colonel Travis rejected the General's demand.
relations
[(1) understandings or ties between nations; (2) members of the same
family; (3) people connected by marriage or family ties]
The United States does not have diplomatic relations with Cuba. (1)
Most of his relations live in California. (2)
He sees his wife's relations almost every week. (3)
release
[(1) to free; (2) to permit to go; (3) to permit to be known or made
public]
The terrorists released their hostages. (1)
The child released his balloon. (2)
The spokesman released details of the President's trip. (3)
religion
[a belief in, or the honoring of, a god or gods]
The Constitution says the United States cannot establish an official
religion.
remain
[(1) to stay in a place after others leave; (2) to stay the same]
She remained in the town after most of her friends left. (1)
He has remained my friend for almost 50 years. (2)
remains
[a dead body]
The soldier's remains were buried in the National Cemetery.
remember
[(1) to think about the past; (2) opposite forget]
I still remember stories that my grandfather told me. (1)
She told him to remember to call when he got home. (2)
remove
[(1) to take away or take off; (2) to put an end to; (3) to take out of a
position or office]
She removed her shoes as soon as she sat down. (1)
Doctors removed his gall bladder. (2)
The dishonest judge was removed from office. (3)
repair
[work done to fix something]
His car is being repaired.
repeat
[to say or do again]
Please repeat what you said.
report
[(1) to tell about; (2) to give the results of a study or investigation; (
3) the story about an event; (4) the results of a study or investigation;
(5) a statement in which the facts may not be confirmed]
She reported about her holiday in Europe. (1)
The scientist reported the results of his experiment. (2)
Did you read the newspaper report about the accident? (3)
The director said he was pleased with our budget report. (4)
A report said 260 people were killed. (5)
represent
[(1) to act in the place of someone else; (2) to substitute for; (3) to
serve as an example]
She represents the people who could not be here. (1)
On this map, X represents where the treasure is buried. (2)
This statue represents the skills of the ancient artists. (3)
repress
[to control or to restrict freedoms by force]
He repressed his people.
request
[(1) to ask for; (2) the act of asking for]
She requested a glass of water. (1)
No one heard her request for help. (2)
require
[to need or demand as necessary]
This job requires computer skills.
rescue
[to free from danger or evil]
He rescued a little boy floating in the sea.
research
[a careful study to discover correct information]
He made the discovery after many years of research.
resign
[to leave a position, job or office]
The President has resigned.
resist
[(1) to oppose; (2) to fight to prevent]
He resists all demands for new elections. (1)
The baby resisted sleep for several hours. (2)
resolution
[an official statement of agreement by a group of people, usually reached
by voting]
The United Nations Security Council approved a joint cease-fire resolution.
resource
[anything of value that can be used or sold]
Our coal supplies are a great energy resource.
responsible
[(1) having a duty or job to do; (2) being the cause of]
He is responsible for preparing the report. (1)
They were responsible for the accident. (2)
rest
[(1) to sit, lie down or sleep to regain strength; (2) that which
remains; (3) the others]
You should rest after your long walk. (1)
Would anyone like the rest of my dinner? (2)
He spoke to the rest of them. (3)
restrain
[(1) to keep controlled; (2) to limit action by a person or group]
He restrained his anger. (1)
Police restrained the protestors. (2)
restrict
[(1) to limit; (2) to prevent from increasing or becoming larger]
The government restricted travel. (1)
The device restricts the car's speed. (2)
result
[(1) to happen from a cause; (2) that which follows or is produced by a
cause; (3) effect]
The accident resulted from the thick fog. (1)
The test results showed she was pregnant. (2)
As a result of the storm, no one could get to work. (3)
retire
[to leave a job or position because one is old or in poor health]
He retired at age 55 and traveled for the rest of his life.
return
[(1) to go or come back; (2) to bring, give, take or send back]
She returned home yesterday. (1)
I returned the book to the library last week. (2)
revolt
[(1) to protest violently; (2) to fight for a change, especially of
government]
Demonstrators will revolt if police try to arrest them. (1)
Protesters revolted and seized several government buildings. (2)
rice
[a food grain]
Rice is a major food in much of the world.
rich
[(1) having much money or goods; (2) having plenty of something]
Her brother became a rich man. (1)
Oil made Kuwait a rich country. (2)
ride
[(1) to sit on or in and be carried along; (2) to travel by animal, wheeled
vehicle, airplane or boat]
She and I ride horses every weekend. (1)
I ride the subway to work. (2)
right
[what a person legally and morally should be able to do or have; (2)
agreeing with the facts; (3) good; (4) correct; (5) opposite wrong; (6)
on the side that is toward the east when one is facing north; (7)
opposite left]
It is their right to vote. (1)
You gave the right answer. (2)
He is the right kind of person for the job. (3)
She always seems to do the right thing. (4)
She said she was right and he was wrong. (5)
Our farm is on the right side of the river. (6)
Turn right, not left, at the second street. (7)
riot
[(1) to act with many others in a violent way in a public place; (2) a
violent action by a large group of people]
Prisoners rioted and started fires inside the prison. (1)
The riot spread from the football game to the streets. (2)
rise
[(1) to go up; (2) to go higher; (3) to increase; (4) to go from a position
of sitting or lying to a position of standing]
The moon will rise soon after the sun goes down. (1)
The river is rising and spreading out. (2)
The temperature rises as the sun gets higher. (3)
He rose to his feet as she walked into the room. (4)
risk
[the chance of loss, damage or injury]
He never considered the risk of a broken heart.
river
[a large amount of water that flows across land into another river, a
lake or an ocean]
Native Americans called the big river "the Father of Waters."
road
[a long piece of hard ground built between two places so people can walk,
drive or ride easily from one place to the other]
The road was straight until it reached the mountains.
rob
[(1) to take money or property secretly or by force; (2) to steal]
Someone robbed his television. (1)
The two men robbed her as she walked home from work. (2)
rock
[a hard piece of mineral matter]
He threw a rock across the river.
rocket
[a device shaped like a tube that moves through air or space by burning
gases and letting them escape from the back or bottom, sometimes used as
a weapon]
The huge rocket launched three men on a flight to the moon.
roll
[(1) to turn over and over; (2) to move like a ball]
The children rolled down the hill. (1)
She rolled her eyes at his joke. (2)
room
[a separate area within a building with its own walls]
The boy spent hours playing in his room.
root
[the part of a plant that is under the ground and takes nutrients from
the soil]
The roots brought food to the big tree and held it firmly in the ground.
rope
[a long, thick piece of material made from thinner pieces of material, used
for tying]
The boy tied the end of the rope around the tree.
rough
[(1) not flat or smooth; (2) having an uneven surface; (3) violent; (4) not
made well]
The rough floor was made of wood, split by hand. (1)
We found rough ground at the top of the mountain. (2)
The strong wind made a rough sea. (3)
The rough wall of stones did not stand straight. (4)
round
[having the shape of a ball or circle]
The stone plate was perfectly round.
rub
[to move something over the surface of another thing]
The boy rubbed his hand over the cat's back.
rubber
[a substance made from the liquid of trees with the same name, or a similar
substance made from chemicals]
The ball was made of rubber.
ruin
[(1) to damage severely; (2) to destroy]
The rain ruined the book he left outside. (1)
Time ruined the old building, leaving only fallen walls. (2)
rule
[(1) to govern or control; (2) to decide; (3) a statement or an order
that says how something must be done]
One party ruled the Senate; the other ruled the House of Representatives.
(1)
Five of nine Supreme Court judges ruled that the Republican should be
President. (2)
The rules were not clear on how to count the votes. (3)
run
[to move quickly by steps faster than those used for walking]
Please walk, do not run, to the nearest door.
sabotage
[to damage or destroy as an act against an organization or nation]
The rebels sabotaged the railroad.
sacrifice
[to do without something or to suffer a loss for a belief, idea, goal or
another person]
She sacrificed her house to pay for medical school for her son.
sad
[not happy]
He was sad because she left.
safe
[away from harm or danger]
This is a safe place for you to stay.
sail
[to travel by boat or ship]
We will sail to Hawaii on Thursday.
sailor
[a person involved in sailing a boat or ship]
He is a sailor on one of the big oil ships.
salt
[a white substance found in seawater and in the ground, used to affect
the taste of food]
The doctor says eating too much salt can raise my blood pressure.
same
[(1) not different; (2) not changed; (3) like another or others]
He eats at the same time every day. (1)
She looks the same as she did ten years ago. (2)
His car is the same as mine. (3)
sand
[extremely small pieces of crushed rock found in large amounts in deserts
and on coasts]
The hot sand of the desert burned her feet.
satellite
[(1) a small object in space that moves around a larger object; (2) an
object placed in orbit around the earth]
The Earth and other planets are satellites of the sun. (1)
A new communications satellite was put in orbit today. (2)
satisfy
[to give or provide what is desired, needed or demanded]
Does this food satisfy your hunger?
save
[(1) to make safe; (2) to remove from harm; (3) to keep for future use]
He saved the building by disarming the bomb. (1)
The fireman saved her when he pulled her from the burning house. (2)
She saved a little money every week. (3)
say
[(1) to speak; (2) to express in words]
What will you say to her? (1)
I will say to her what is in my heart. (2)
school
[(1) a place for education; (2) a place where people go to learn]
Is your son going to public or private school? (1)
Her school is testing students to measure how much they have learned. (2)
science
[the study of nature and the actions of natural things, and the knowledge
gained about them]
Science has made great changes in our lives in just a few years.
sea
[a large area of salt water, usually part of an ocean]
The rough sea seems angry.
search
[to look for carefully]
We searched everywhere for her missing book.
season
[(1) one of the four periods of the year that is based on the earth's
position toward the sun (spring, summer, autumn, winter); (2) a period of
time based on different weather conditions; (3) a period during the year
when something usually happens]
He says autumn is his favorite season. (1)
She likes to visit there during the dry season. (2)
He cannot wait for baseball season to start. (3)
seat
[(1) a thing to sit on; (2) a place to sit or the right to sit there]
The boy gave the woman his seat on the bus. (1)
He has held his seat in parliament for 40 years. (2)
second
[the one that comes after the first]
This is the second time I have been here.
secret
[(1) something known only to a few and kept from general knowledge; (2)
hidden from others; (3) known only to a few]
No member will talk about the secret ceremonies. (1)
The nuclear scientist denied giving secret information to foreign spies. (
2)
Many secret stories of the Cold War are now becoming known. (3)
security
[(1) freedom from danger or harm; (2) protection; (3) measures necessary to
protect a person or place]
Security was increased in the city. (1)
The store provided its own security. (2)
Strong national security kept the country safe. (3)
see
[(1) to know or sense through the eyes; (2) to understand or know]
Did you see her smile? (1)
I see what you mean. (2)
seed
[the part of a plant from which new plants grow]
If you plant the seeds now, you can eat vegetables in two months.
seek(ing)
[(1) to search for; (2) to try to get; (3) to plan to do]
They are seeking a cure for cancer. (1)
She is seeking election to public office. (2)
Electric power companies are seeking to reduce their use of coal. (3)
seem
[to appear to be]
She seems to be in good health.
seize
[(1) to take quickly by force; (2) to take control of quickly; (3) to
arrest]
Marines seized the island in three days. (1)
The generals seized power after the president fled. (2)
The policeman seized the suspect. (3)
self
[all that which makes one person different from others]
He seems to think only of himself.
sell
[to give something in exchange for money]
He will sell his car to me for 2,000 dollars.
Senate
[the smaller of the two groups in the governments of some countries, such
as in the United States Congress]
The Senate has 100 members, two from each state.
send
[(1) to cause to go; (2) to permit to go; (3) to cause to be carried, taken
or directed to or away from a place]
She sent the boy away. (1)
To which university did he send his daughter? (2)
The government will send supplies immediately to the earthquake area. (3)
sense
[(1) to come to know about by feeling, believing or understanding; (2)
any of the abilities to see, hear, taste, smell or feel]
He sensed that the dog would not attack him. (1)
The medicine affected his sense of taste. (2)
sentence
[(1) to declare the punishment for a crime; (2) the punishment for a
crime]
The judge sentenced him to three years in prison. (1)
She received a sentence of 18 months of community service. (2)
separate
[(1) to set or keep people, things or ideas away from or independent from
others; (2) not together or connected]
He separated the two boys and told them to stop fighting. (1)
They work in separate offices. (2)
series
[a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in
time, position or order]
The doctor said the series of tests would show the cause of the pain.
serious
[(1) important; (2) needing careful consideration; (3) dangerous]
The two sides have begun serious negotiations. (1)
We have a serious problem to solve. (2)
The accident victim is reported to be in serious condition. (3)
serve
[(1) to work as an official; (2) to be employed by the government; (3) to
assist or help]
He served as Secretary of State. (1)
She has served as a government employee for 30 years. (2)
She served us tea and made us feel welcome. (3)
service
[(1) an organization or system that provides something for the public; (
2) a job that an organization or business can do for money; (3) military
organizations such as an army, navy or air force; (4) a religious
ceremony]
Schools and roads are services paid for by taxes. (1)
His business provides childcare services for working parents. (2)
Two of her sons are in the military services. (3)
Our church provides three services every Sunday morning. (4)
set
[(1) to put in place or position; (2) to establish a time, price or limit]
She set food in front of us. (1)
Have you set a time for our meeting? (2)
settle
[(1) to end (a dispute); (2) to agree about (a problem); (3) to make a home
in a new place]
The long dispute was finally settled. (1)
We settled our legal problem without going to court. (2)
Her family settled in Dallas many years ago. (3)
several
[three or more, but not many]
I saw them in the office several days ago.
severe
[(1) not gentle; (2) causing much pain, sadness or damage]
The prisoners received severe treatment from their guards. (1)
The powerful storm caused severe damage to homes. (2)
sex
[(1) either the male or female group into which all people and animals
are divided because of their actions in producing young; (2) the physical
activity by which humans and animals can produce young]
What is the sex of your children? (1)
The doctor warned them about the dangers of unprotected sex. (2)
shake
[to move or cause to move in short, quick movements]
Do not shake your finger at me.
shape
[(1) to give form to; (2) the form of something, especially how it looks]
He shaped his own version of the truth from the facts that were known. (1)
She made him a birthday cake in the shape of a fish. (2)
share
[(1) to give part of something to another or others; (2) a part belonging
to, given to or owned by a single person or a group; (3) any one of the
equal parts of ownership of a business or company]
They shared the food that remained. (1)
Each of the brothers had an equal share of the business. (2)
The president owned 100,000 shares of the company's stock. (3)
sharp
[(1) having a thin edge or small point that can cut or hurt; (2) causing
hurt or pain]
The sharp knife cut through the vegetable and into his finger. (1)
Her sharp, angry voice cut him like a knife. (2)
she
[the girl or woman who is being spoken about]
She is a kind woman.
sheep
[a farm animal used for its meat and hair]
They used the wool from their sheep to make all of their clothes.
shell
[(1) to fire artillery; (2) a metal container that is fired from a large
gun and explodes when it reaches its target; (3) a hard outside cover]
The big guns shelled the town for an hour. (1)
The soldiers fired more than 200 artillery shells. (2)
The turtle's shell protects it from its enemies. (3)
shelter
[(1) to protect or give protection to; (2) something that gives protection;
(3) a place of safety]
She sheltered her son from the evil she saw in the world. (1)
Survival in nature requires food, water and shelter. (2)
They found shelter under a tree until the rain ended. (3)
shine
[(1) to aim a light; (2) to give bright light; (3) to be bright; (4) to
clean to make bright]
He shined the light on them. (1)
The sun shined brightly in the clear sky. (2)
The faces of the children shined with happiness. (3)
She shined the silver lamp until she could see her face in it. (4)
ship
[(1) to transport; (2) a large boat]
He ships his products by truck. (1)
The ship seemed to stop at every island in the Caribbean Sea. (2)
shock
[(1) to cause to feel sudden surprise or fear; (2) something that greatly
affects the mind or emotions; (3) a powerful shake, as from an earthquake]
She was shocked to find a man hiding in her house. (1)
Her father's sudden death was a great shock to her. (2)
Many minor shocks followed the earthquake. (3)
shoe
[a covering for the foot]
I cannot find one of my shoes.
shoot
[(1) to cause a gun or other weapon to send out an object designed to kill;
(2)to use a gun]
The policewoman will shoot you if you move. (1)
He shoots only at targets. (2)
short
[(1) lasting only for a small period of time; (2) not long; (3) opposite
tall]
He made a short speech. (1)
The missing dog has short legs and a long body. (2)
She is short, but her husband is tall. (3)
should
[(1) used with another verb (action word) to show responsibility, (2)
probability, (3) or that something is believed to be a good idea]
We should study. (1)
The talks should begin soon. (2)
Criminals should be punished. (3)
shout
[to speak very loudly]
The protestors shouted at the President.
show
[(1) to make something be seen; (2) to make known; (3) a play or story
presented in a theater, or broadcast on radio or television, for
enjoyment or education; (4) something organized to be seen by the public]
She showed an anger I did not know she possessed. (1)
He showed that he could do it. (2)
Did you hear the Morning Show today on VOA radio? (3)
The music students played at a free show after school. (4)
shrink
[to make or become less in size, weight or value]
Those wool clothes will shrink if you wash them in hot water.
sick
[(1) suffering physically or mentally with a disease or other problem; (
2) not in good health]
She is sick with a fever. (1)
He always seems to be sick. (2)
sickness
[the condition of being in bad health]
Doctors do not yet know what is causing her sickness.
side
[(1) the outer surfaces of an object that are not the top or bottom; (2)
parts away from the middle; (3) either the right or left half of the body]
The side of my car was damaged in the accident. (1)
On which side of the football field does our school sit? (2)
He usually sleeps on the left side of his body. (3)
sign
[(1) to write one's name; (2) a mark or shape used to mean something; (3)
evidence that something exists or will happen; (4) a flat piece of material
with writing that gives information]
The writer signed a copy of his book for me. (1)
A white mark on trees is a sign of the mountain trail. (2)
Scientists have found no sign yet of life anywhere else in the Universe. (
3)
That sign tells us how many miles we must drive to get to Chicago. (4)
*one mile = 1.6 kilometers
signal
[(1) to send a message by signs; (2) an action or movement that sends a
message]
That traffic light signals when we must stop or go. (1)
Paul Revere will make a signal with his light to warn if the British are
coming by land or sea. (2)
silence
[(1) to make quiet; (2) to stop from speaking or making noise; (3) a lack
of noise or sound]
Silence the television by pushing the mute button on your hand control. (
1)
The team leader silenced his men with a hand sign. (2)
She heard only silence. (3)
silver
[a valued white metal]
That little box is made of silver.
similar
[like something else but not exactly the same]
The President said his proposal was similar to a proposal by Congress.
simple
[(1) easy to understand or do; (2) not difficult or complex]
Special English is a simple form of spoken English. (1)
This book tells us in a simple way how to use a computer to do complex
work. (2)
since
[from a time in the past until now]
I have known her since we went to school together.
sing
[to make music sounds with the voice]
He sings in the shower.
single
[one only]
He gave her a single flower, a red rose, to show his love.
sink
[to go down into water or other liquid]
He sank deeper into the mud with each step.
sister
[a female with the same father or mother as another person]
I have only one sister.
sit
[(1) to rest on the lower part of the body without the support of the legs;
(2) to become seated]
Please sit down and rest. (1)
She sat down. (2)
situation
[the way things are during a period of time]
The situation in the Middle East is very dangerous.
size
[(1) the space occupied by something; (2) how long, wide or high
something is]
Can you imagine the size of the Universe? (1)
Geometry can help you measure the size of that big tree. (2)
skeleton
[all the bones of a human or other animal together in their normal
positions]
Scientists sometimes find the skeletons of people who lived thousands of
years ago.
skill
[the ability gained from training or experience]
He has great baseball skills.
skin
[the outer covering of humans and most animals]
Her skin was burned red by the intense sunlight.
sky
[the space above the earth]
The sky was filled with beautiful white clouds.
slave
[a person owned or controlled by another]
All slaves in the United States were freed by an amendment to the
Constitution in 1865.
sleep
[to rest the body and mind with the eyes closed]
Do you sleep eight hours or more each night?
slide
[to move smoothly over a surface]
A big area of snow slid down the mountain.
slow
[(1) to reduce the speed of; (2) not fast in moving, talking or other
activities]
Slow your speed to 45 miles per hour. (1)
*one mile = 1.6 kilometers
Is Special English slow enough for you? (2)
small
[(1) little in size or amount; (2) few in number; (3) not important; (4)
opposite large]
The small boy was hungry. (1)
The small force landed by parachute. (2)
It was a small problem and easy to solve. (3)
His small house was next to a big building. (4)
smash
[(1) to break or be broken into small pieces by force; (2) to hit or move
with force]
He smashed the window with a rock. (1)
The speeding car smashed into the wall. (2)
smell
[(1) to sense through the nose; (2) something sensed by the nose]
She smelled something burning. (1)
I love the smell of food cooking. (2)
smoke
[(1) to use cigarettes or other tobacco products by burning them and
breathing in the smoke; (2) that which can be seen rising into the air like
a cloud from something burning]
He smoked cigarettes until he died. (1)
The smoke from the burning forest rose high into the sky. (2)
smooth
[(1) having a level surface; (2) opposite rough]
The smooth floor was perfect for dancing. (1)
The floor was rough until the workman made it smooth. (2)
snow
[soft, white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky, usually in
winter or when the air temperature is very cold]
The snow fell for two days.
so
[(1) in such a way that; (2) also; (3) too; (4) very; (5) as a result; (
6) in order that; (7) for the purpose of]
He held the flag so all could see it. (1)
She was tired and so was I. (2)
She left early, and so did we. (3)
I am so sick. (4)
They were sick, so they could not come. (5)
We plant seeds so plants will grow. (6)
Come early so we can discuss the plans. (7)
social
[of or about people or a group]
The president offered a new solution for some social problems.
soft
[(1)not hard; (2) easily shaped; (3) pleasing to touch; (4) not loud]
She likes a soft bed but her husband likes a hard bed. (1)
Her daughter likes to shape things from soft clay. (2)
I like to hold her soft hands. (3)
The room was filled with soft music. (4)
soil
[earth in which plants grow]
She put the seeds in the soil and the plants began to grow.
soldier
[a person in the army]
A soldier is trained to be ready for any situation.
solid
[(1) having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; (2) strong; (3) not
in the form of a liquid or gas]
The tools were solid metal and very heavy. (1)
The house is solid, so it will survive the storm. (2)
Ice is the solid form of water. (3)
solve
[(1) to find an answer; (2) to settle]
The boy solved the mathematics problem. (1)
The committee hopes its proposals will solve the current economic
problem. (2)
some
[(1) of an amount or number or part not stated; (2) not all]
Would you like some coffee? (1)
Would you like some of my coffee? (2)
son
[a person's male child]
Tommy is my youngest son.
soon
[(1) not long after the present time; (2) quickly]
She will soon be 18 years old. (1)
Tell him to get here as soon as possible. (2)
sort
[(1) any group of people or things that are the same or are similar in some
way; (2) a kind of something]
They are the same sort of people as I. (1)
He is the sort of person you want as a friend. (2)
sound
[(1) fast-moving waves of energy that affect the ear and result in hearing;
(2) that which is heard]
Sound travels through the air at a speed of 1,088 feet per second. (1)
*one feet = 30.48 centimeters
She says the sound of the ocean helps her sleep. (2)
south
[the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun]
He lives 15 miles south of Washington.
* one mile = 1.6 kilometers
space
[(1) the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the sun, moon, planets
and stars are; (2) the area between or inside things]
Humans began making flights into space in the early 1960's. (1)
Their new house has more space than their old one. (2)
speak
[(1) to talk; (2) to say words with the mouth; (3) to express one's
thoughts to others and exchange ideas; (4) to give a speech to a group]
She would not speak to him. (1)
He spoke to everyone. (2)
He spoke about his proposal to everyone he met. (3)
The Senator speaks to a group tomorrow about trade relations with East
Asia. (4)
special
[(1) of a different or unusual kind; (2) not for general use; (3) better or
more important than others of the same kind]
Special English is a special kind of English that is easy to understand. (
1)
This is a special machine that can be used only by a trained worker. (2)
She received a special award for a lifetime of service to others. (3)
speech
[a talk given to a group of people]
The President will make a television speech tonight about civil rights.
speed
[(1) to make something go or move faster; (2) the rate at which something
moves or travels; (3) the rate at which something happens or is done]
The chairman is speeding up debate on the bill. (1)
Do you know the speed of light? (2)
Special English news is read at a speed of 90 words per minute. (3)
spend
[to give as payment; to use]
He spent 45 dollars for food. (1)
He spends much time studying. (2)
spill
[to cause or permit liquid to flow out, usually by accident]
The big ship spilled hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the
ocean.
*one barrel(米)= 42 gallons (159 liters)
spirit
[(1) the part of a human that is not physical and is connected to
thoughts and emotions; (2) the part of a person that is believed to
remain alive after death]
His spirit continued to fight the disease even after his body
surrendered. (1)
Many believe a person's spirit does not die but returns to the world in a
new body. (2)
split
[(1) to separate into two or more parts; (2) to divide or break into
parts]
When you split wood for a fire, you are warmed two times: once by the
work and later by the fire. (1)
Cells split into two parts; the new part becomes a new cell that is exactly
like the old one. (2)
sport
[any game or activity of competition involving physical effort or skill]
His daughter plays four sports.
spread
[(1) to become longer or wider; (2) to make or become widely known]
The old tree has spread its roots and branches over a wide area. (1)
Please spread the news that we are having a party next Saturday. (2)
spring
[the time of the year between winter and summer]
I hope spring starts early this year.
spy
[(1) to steal or get information secretly; (2) one who watches others
secretly; (3) a person employed by a government to get secret information
about another country]
She spied to get information for another company. (1)
A spy for the man's wife watched him for several weeks. (2)
Three people employed at the C.I.A. were accused of being spies for a
foreign country. (3)
square
[a flat shape having four equal sides]
Measure this square and tell me how much material is needed to cover it.
stab
[to cut or push into or through with a pointed weapon]
The person stabbed her then ran away.
stand
[(1) to move into or be in a position in which only the feet are on a
surface; (2) to be in one position or place]
She told the students to stand for the opening ceremony. (1)
Two hours ago, she was standing where the city bus stops. (2)
star
[(1) a mass of gas that usually appears as a small light in the sky at
night, but is not a planet; (2) a famous person, usually an actor or
singer]
Those stars form the shape of Orion the Hunter. (1)
Some Hollywood stars were at the White House last night. (2)
start
[(1) to begin; (2) to make something begin]
He will start the new job tomorrow. (1)
Will you start the car and turn on the heater? (2)
starve
[to suffer or die from a lack of food]
Thousands may have starved to death because of crop failures in Sudan.
state
[(1) to say; (2) to declare; (3) a political part of a nation]
The Ambassador stated his concern about the problem. (1)
A White House spokesman stated that no changes had been made in policies
affecting trade with Asia. (2)
He plans to travel through several western states. (3)
station
[(1) a place of special work or purpose; (2) a place where passengers get
on or off trains or buses; (3) a place for radio or television broadcasts]
Rebels attacked a police station outside the city. (1)
He plans to meet her when she arrives at the bus station. (2)
She works at the television station. (3)
statue
[a form of a human, animal or other creature usually made of stone, wood or
metal]
The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was a gift from France.
stay
[(1) to continue to be where one is; (2) to remain; (3) to not leave; (4)
to live for a time]
I will stay here until you return. (1)
He stayed at home yesterday. (2)
She said I should stay until she calls. (3)
They stayed in New York for two years. (4)
steal
[to take without permission or paying]
Be careful. She will steal your heart.
steam
[the gas that comes from hot water]
The kitchen is full of steam when his mother cooks.
steel
[iron made harder and stronger by mixing it with other substances]
Much of the steel used now in the United States is imported.
step
[(1) to move by lifting one foot and placing it in a new position; (2)
the act of stepping; (3)one of a series of actions designed to reach a
goal]
He stepped through the door. (1)
We moved slowly up the mountain, one step at a time. (2)
The final step is to put the new boat in the water. (3)
stick
[(1) to attach something to another thing using a substance that will
hold them together; (2) to become fixed in one position so that movement is
difficult; (3) a thin piece of wood]
We will put glue on the wallpaper, then stick the paper to the wall. (1)
Something is making the door stick. (2)
We need some small sticks to start a campfire. (3)
still
[(1) not moving; (2) until the present or a stated time; (3) even so; (4)
although]
The man was standing still. (1)
Was he still there? (2)
She slept for nine hours, but she was still tired. (3)
The job was difficult, but she still wanted to do it. (4)
stone
[a small piece of rock]
The boys threw stones at the soldiers.
stop
[(1) to prevent any more movement or action; (2) to come or bring to an
end]
She stopped the car. (1)
Stop that noise. (2)
store
[(1) to keep or put away for future use; (2) a place where people buy
things]
She stores food for emergencies. (1)
His father owns an automobile parts store. (2)
storm
[violent weather, including strong winds and rain or snow]
The storm caused severe damage across southern Florida.
story
[the telling or writing of an event, either real or imagined]
No one believed the story of her life, so she changed it.
stove
[a heating device used for cooking]
The stove is broken so I cannot cook dinner.
straight
[continuing in one direction without turns]
The road is straight, all the way across the desert.
strange
[(1) unusual; (2) not normal; (3) not known]
I saw some strange lights in the sky last night. (1)
Our backyard is a strange place to see a deer. (2)
Some of our customs seem strange to her. (3)
street
[a road in a city, town or village]
Which street are you looking for?
stretch
[(1) to extend for a distance; (1) to pull on to make longer or wider]
They stretched the rope across the river. (1)
His shoulders stretched the coat. (2)
strike
[(1) to hit with force; (2) to stop work as a way to seek better
conditions, more pay or to make other demands]
He struck the baseball with the bat. (1)
The workers are on strike for more money. (2)
strong
[(1) having much power; (2) not easily broken, damaged or destroyed]
The strong wind blew down some trees. (1)
Even some of the strong trees were damaged. (2)
structure
[(1) the way something is built, made or organized; (2) a system that is
formed or organized in a special way; (3) a building]
This picture shows the structure of a plant cell. (1)
He will propose some changes in the structure of the organization. (2)
The new structure will have offices on 14 floors. (3)
struggle
[(1) to try with much effort; (2) to fight with; (3) a great effort; (4)
a fight]
He struggled to keep his company open. (1)
The two boys struggled for no reason. (2)
It is a great struggle just to get up in the morning. (3)
Who were the boys in that struggle outside the school? (4)
study
[(1) to make an effort to gain knowledge by using the mind; (2) to
examine carefully]
He studied for many years to become a doctor. (1)
She studied the problem carefully before making her proposal. (2)
stupid
[(1) not able to learn much; (2) not intelligent]
You are not stupid, you have a learning problem. (1)
There are no stupid people, only stupid mistakes. (2)
subject
[the person or thing being discussed, studied or written about]
Everyone knows the subject of this meeting, so let us get started.
submarine
[an underwater ship]
The submarine is in trouble at the bottom of the ocean.
substance
[the material of which something is made (a solid, liquid or gas)]
The new substance is a liquid that quickly changes to a solid when mixed
with another chemical.
substitute
[(1) to put or use in place of another; (2) a person or thing put or used
in place of another]
You can substitute this medicine for the one you have been using. (1)
Jim is a substitute for Tom in today's game. (2)
subversion
[an attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or government,
usually secretly]
The three men are accused of subversion.
succeed
[(1) to reach a goal or thing desired; (2) to produce a planned result]
He succeeded in marrying her. (1)
The team succeeded in winning every game that year. (2)
such
[(1) of this or that kind; (2) of the same kind as; (3) similar to]
She was surprised that they were interested in visiting such places. (1)
Such people are never happy with their situation. (2)
He had coins, keys, gum and such in his pockets. (3)
sudden
[(1) not expected; (2) without warning; (3) done or carried out quickly
or without preparation]
All of us got wet during that sudden rainstorm. (1)
Police made a sudden arrest in the case. (2)
He made a sudden decision to retire immediately. (3)
suffer
[(1) to feel pain in the body or mind; (2) to receive or experience hurt or
sadness]
She suffered much before her death from cancer. (1)
He suffered from depression when he did not use his medicine. (2)
sugar
[a sweet substance made from liquids taken from plants]
I would like sugar in my tea, please.
suggest
[to offer or propose something to think about or consider]
She suggested doing the job a different way.
summer
[the warmest time of the year, between spring and autumn]
Most public schools are closed during the summer.
sun
[the huge star in the sky that provides heat and light to earth]
Without the sun, life would not exist on Earth.
supervise
[to direct and observe the work of others]
She supervises a health services office.
supply
[(1) to give; (2) to provide; (3) the amount of something that can be given
or sold to others]
The organization supplies food and clothing to poor people. (1)
The store supplies workers with low cost uniforms and other work
clothing. (2)
The store has large supplies of uniforms in all sizes. (3)
support
[(1) to carry the weight of; (2) to hold up or in position; (3) to agree
with others and help them reach a goal; (4) to approve]
The walls support the weight of the house. (1)
My helper supports the part while I connect it. (2)
Her job is to support the other workers by agreeing with their decisions.
(3)
He supports them by approving their efforts to complete the work. (4)
suppose
[(1) to believe, think or imagine; (2) to expect]
I suppose you are right. (1)
It is supposed to rain tonight. (2)
suppress
[(1) to put down or to keep down by force; (2) to prevent information
from being known publicly]
The government suppressed any attempt to end its control. (1)
The government suppressed all reports of demonstrations. (2)
sure
[(1) very probable; (2) with good reason to believe; (3) true without
question]
He believed he had a sure method of escape. (1)
Everything she wrote was based on sure facts. (2)
The government had sure proof that he did the crime. (3)
surface
[the outer side or top of something]
The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.
surplus
[(1) an amount that is more than is needed; (2) extra]
The United States had a big budget surplus. (1)
That country has a trade surplus. It exports more than it imports. (2)
surprise
[(1) to cause a feeling of wonder because something is not expected; (2)
something not expected; (3) the feeling caused by something not expected]
Her friends surprised her with a party. (1)
The party was a big surprise. (2)
Her real surprise made everyone else as happy as she. (3)
surrender
[(1) to give control of oneself or one's property to another or others; (2)
to stop fighting and admit defeat]
The robbers surrendered to police. (1)
Germany surrendered to the allied powers to end the war in Europe. (2)
surround
[(1) to form a circle around; (2) to be in positions all around someone
or something]
The house was surrounded by big trees. (1)
Soldiers surrounded the enemy headquarters. (2)
survive
[to remain alive during or after a dangerous situation]
No one survived when the plane crashed into the mountain.
suspect
[(1) to imagine or believe that a person is guilty of something bad or
illegal; (2) a person believed to be guilty]
Police suspected her from the beginning. (1)
They questioned all the usual suspects. (2)
suspend
[to cause to stop for a period of time]
The committee meeting was suspended because not enough voting members
were there.
swallow
[to take into the stomach through the mouth]
He swallowed the medicine.
swear in
[to put an official into office by having him or her promise to carry out
the duties of that office]
The chief justice will swear in the president.
sweet
[tasting pleasant, like sugar]
This fruit is very sweet.
swim
[to move through water by making motions with the arms and legs]
Can you swim across the river?
sympathy
[a sharing of feelings or emotions with another person, usually feelings of
sadness]
You have our sympathy for your loss.
system
[(1) a method of organizing or doing something by following rules or a
plan; (2) a group of connected things or parts working together for a
common purpose or goal]
The office established a filing system so that we can find documents easily
and quickly. (1)
Our system of justice sometimes makes mistakes and punishes an innocent
person. (2)
take
[(1) to put a hand or hands around something and hold it, often to move
it to another place; (2) to carry something; (3) to seize; (4) to
capture; (5) to begin to be in control]
Take this glass. (1)
They will take this with them. (2)
Did the policemen take the evidence? (3)
The Marines took the enemy position. (4)
The President takes office tomorrow. (5)
talk
[(1) to express thoughts in spoken words; (2) a meeting for discussion]
He will talk to us. (1)
The professor will give the talk. (2)
tall
[(1) higher than others; (2) opposite short]
New York has many very tall buildings. (1)
Tom is tall but his wife is short. (2)
tank
[(1) a large container for holding liquids; (2) a heavy military vehicle
with guns]
That oil tank is leaking. (1)
The tank moved into position and began shelling the town. (2)
target
[any person or object aimed at or fired at]
We fired at paper targets 300 meters from us.
taste
[to sense through the mouth]
The fruit tastes sweet.
tax
[the money a person or business must pay to the government so the
government can provide services]
Federal taxes are due April 15th, unless you pay them earlier.
tea
[a drink made from the plant of the same name]
May I get you a cup of tea?
teach
[(1) to show how to do something; (2) to provide knowledge; (3) to cause to
understand]
Will you teach me how to drive a car? (1)
She wants to teach high school students. (2)
He taught me to understand poems. (3)
team
[a group organized for some purpose, often for sports]
She plays on the softball and soccer teams.
tear
[to pull apart, often by force]
Did your dog tear the newspaper?
tears
[the fluid that comes out of the eyes while crying]
Her eyes flooded with tears.
technical
[(1) involving machines, processes and materials in industry,
transportation and communications; (2) of or about a very special kind of
subject or thing]
He has made many technical improvements in our factory. (1)
You need technical knowledge to understand how this system works. (2)
technology
[the use of scientific knowledge and methods to produce goods and
services]
She works at a company that designs communications technology.
telephone
[a device or system for sending sounds, especially the voice, over
distances]
Do you have a wireless telephone?
telescope
[a device for making objects that are far away appear closer and larger]
Space telescopes can see objects near the edge of our galaxy.
television
[(1) a device that receives electronic signals and makes them into pictures
and sounds; (2) the system of sending pictures and sounds by electronic
signals over a distance so others can see and hear them on a receiver]
He has a television in every room. (1)
Television has affected almost every part of our lives. (2)
tell
[(1) to give information; (2) to make known by speaking; (3) to command]
He will tell everyone how to get to the party. (1)
She will tell us about her trip to China. (2)
Do what I tell you. (3)
temperature
[the measurement of heat and cold]
What is the temperature outside?
temporary
[lasting only a short time]
He has a temporary job.
tense
[(1) having fear or concern; (2) dangerous; (3) opposite calm]
My pregnant sister is tense about the pain of childbirth. (1)
The bomb threat created a tense situation. (2)
The calm situation suddenly became a tense situation. (3)
term
[(1) a limited period of time during which someone does a job or carries
out a responsibility; (2) the conditions of an agreement that have been
accepted by those involved in it]
He served two terms in Congress. (1)
The terms of the peace agreement were guaranteed by the United States and
Russia. (2)
terrible
[(1)very bad; (2) causing terror or fear]
She had a terrible day at the office. (1)
The hostages were in a terrible situation. (2)
territory
[a large area of land]
The area is dangerous territory in summer because of extremely hot
weather and lack of water.
terror
[(1) extreme fear; (2) that which causes great fear]
She lived with the terror that the attack could happen again. (1)
He froze with terror when he saw the angry bear running toward him. (2)
terrorist
[a person who carries out acts of extreme violence as a protest or a way to
influence a government]
The terrorist admitted that he made the bomb.
test
[(1) to attempt to learn or prove what something is like or how it will act
by studying or doing; (2) an attempt to learn or prove what something is
like or how it will act by studying or doing; (3) a group of questions or
problems used to find out a person's knowledge]
The scientists will test the new engine soon. (1)
The test of the new engine takes place today. (2)
The students did well on the language test. (3)
than
[(1) connecting word used to link things that may be similar, but are not
equal]
My sister is taller than I am.
thank
[to say that one has a good feeling toward another because that person
did something kind]
I want to thank you for helping me.
that
[(1) showing the person, place or thing being spoken about; (2) the person,
place or thing being spoken about]
That man is a soldier. (1)
The building that I saw was very large. (2)
the
[used in front of a name word to show that it is a person or thing that
is known about or is being spoken about]
The man watched the animal run into the woods.
theater
[a place where movies are shown or plays are performed]
We saw a wonderful play last night at the theater.
them
[other people being spoken about]
Did you talk to them about the dog?
then
[(1) at that time; (2) and so]
We were young then. (1)
If I am late then she gets angry. (2)
theory
[a possible explanation of why something exists or how something happens
using experiments or ideas, but which is not yet proven]
Other scientists are debating his theory about the disappearance of
dinosaurs.
there
[(1) in that place or position; (2) to or toward that place]
What did you find over there? (1)
I am going there to get something to eat. (2)
these
[of or about the people, places or things nearby that have been spoken
about already]
These are my children.
they
[those ones being spoken about]
They work with us on several projects.
thick
[(1) having a large distance between two opposite surfaces; (2) having many
parts close together; (3) almost solid, such as a liquid that does not flow
easily; (4) opposite thin]
The wall is two meters thick. (1)
The forest is very thick. (2)
He put thick oil in the motor of his old car. (3)
This house paint is thick, not thin like the other paint. (4)
thin
[(1) having a small distance between two opposite surfaces; (2) not fat; (
3) not wide; (4) opposite thick]
The walls in this house are very thin. (1)
He was fat as a boy but is thin as a man. (2)
The young trees are thin but will grow wide. (3)
The electric wires were thin, not thick. (4)
thing
[any object]
Do you know what that thing is?
think
[(1) to produce thoughts; (2) to form ideas in the mind; (3) to consider;
(4) to believe]
What is it in humans that makes them think? (1)
Sometimes he thinks about the purpose of his life. (2)
I will think about your request. (3)
I think you are right. (4)
third
[coming after two others]
You are the third person to tell me about that.
this
[of or about the person, place or thing nearby that has been spoken about
already]
This note will answer your question.
threaten
[to warn that one will do harm or cause damage]
The bank threatened to seize his house.
through
[(1) in at one end and out at the other; (2) from front to back; (3) from
top to bottom; (4) with the help of; (5) by]
Oil is shipped through a pipe from Texas to Virginia. (1)
The dog ran through the house. (2)
The submarine sank through the water. (3)
They got help through their church. (4)
They came through the back way. (5)
throw
[to cause to go through the air by a movement of the arm]
Very few baseball players can throw a ball 100 miles an hour.
* one mile = 1.6 kilometers
tie
[(1) to join or hold together with some material; (2) anything that joins
or unites; (3) links or connections]
He tied his dog to the tree. (1)
They are connected by business ties. (2)
The two nations have strong trade ties. (3)
time
[(1) that which is measured in minutes, hours, days and years; (2) a period
that can be identified in hours and minutes and is shown on a clock; (3)
a period when an event should or will take place]
We have been friends for a long time. (1)
What time is it? (2)
The time for starting the meeting is two o'clock. (3)
tired
[(1) having less strength because of work or exercise; (2) needing sleep or
rest]
Talking all day makes him tired. (1)
I am so tired I could sleep all day. (2)
to
[(1) showing the direction of an action; (2) showing the person or place
toward which an action is directed; (3) showing a goal or purpose]
At the first stoplight, turn to the right. (1)
She is flying to Seattle. (2)
Come to my house to study tonight. (3)
today
[this day]
I am glad that school ends today.
together
[(1) in one group; (2) at the same time or place; (3) in cooperation]
Her wedding will bring us all together next month. (1)
They will be together at school tomorrow. (2)
We agreed to work together. (3)
tomorrow
[the day after today]
You will feel better tomorrow, after a night's rest.
tonight
[this night]
Are you going to see her tonight?
too
[(1) also; (2) as well; (3) more than is necessary]
I like him too. (1)
She will be at the party too. (2)
He works too much. (3)
tool
[any instrument or device designed to help one do work]
May I borrow a tool from you to fix my keyboard.
top
[(1) the upper edge or surface; (2) the highest part; (3) the cover of
something]
The food is in the pan on the top of the stove. (1)
She climbed to the top of the mountain. (2)
Please put the top on the box of tea. (3)
torture
[(1) to cause severe pain; (2) the act of causing severe pain in order to
harm, to punish or to get information from]
The guards tortured the prisoners by beating them. (1)
Torture was used to get information about the rebels. (2)
total
[the complete amount]
The measure proposes a tax-reduction total of 1.6 trillion dollars over ten
years.
touch
[to put the hand or fingers on]
Please do not touch the wet paint.
toward
[(1) in the direction of; (2) leading to]
He walked toward the river. (1)
They took the first steps toward a peace agreement. (2)
town
[a center where people live, larger than a village but not as large as a
city]
Many towns are smaller now because young people move to the cities.
trade
[(1) to buy and sell or exchange products or services; (2) the activity
of buying, selling or exchanging products or services]
He trades shares of stock on the New York Stock Exchange. (1)
The United States wants to sell more American products in its trade with
China. (2)
tradition
[a ceremony, activity or belief that has existed for a long time]
A big Thanksgiving Day dinner is a tradition in our family.
traffic
[the movement of people, vehicles or ships along a street, road or
waterway]
Traffic was very slow during the evening rush hour.
tragic
[(1) extremely sad; (2) terrible]
The boy's struggle against disease was a tragic story. (1)
A tragic car crash killed five people. (2)
train
[(1) to teach or learn how to do something; (2) to prepare for an activity;
(3) an engine and the cars connected to it that move along a railroad]
A doctor will train the group in emergency medical treatment. (1)
The soldiers trained for days to prepare for the attack. (2)
She rides a train to work every day. (3)
transport
[to move goods or people from one place to another]
Trucks will transport the goods.
transportation
[the act or business of moving goods or people]
Effective transportation depends on reasonable fuel costs.
trap
[(1) to catch or be caught by being tricked; (2) to be unable to move or
escape; (3) a device used to catch animals]
Police trapped robbers by opening stores that offered to buy stolen
goods. (1)
He was trapped in the burning building. (2)
Few people use traps now to catch animals for their fur or skins. (3)
travel
[to go from one place to another, usually for a long distance]
He travels to California several times a year.
treason
[the act of fighting against one's own country or of helping its enemies]
Only a few persons have been tried for treason in the past 50 years.
treasure
[a large collection of money, jewels or other things of great value]
Searchers still find treasure in ships that sank as they carried gold to
Europe.
treat
[(1) to deal with; (2) to act toward in a special way; (3) to try to cure]
The new book treats the subject of political wrong-doing in the 1990's. (1)
His political enemies treated him unfairly. (2)
Doctors are treating the disease with a new medicine. (3)
treatment
[(1) the act of treating; (2) the use of medicine to try to cure or make
better]
A new report offers a different treatment on the costs of reducing air
pollution. (1)
Doctors are developing some new treatments for the AIDS disease. (2)
treaty
[a written agreement between two or more nations]
The United States may seek changes in the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
tree
[a very tall plant that is mostly wood, except for its leaves]
Some new rules are expected to reduce the number of trees cut in the
National Forests.
trial
[an examination in a court of a question or dispute to decide if a charge
is true]
Evidence against the terrorists will be presented at a trial in New York.
tribe
[a group of families ruled by a common chief or leader]
Another Native American tribe is seeking the return of lands taken by the
government in the 1800's.
trick
[(1) to cheat; (2) to fool a person so as to get something or make him or
her do something]
He used false documents to trick the tax office into reducing his taxes. (
1)
She tricked him into giving her private information about his credit
card. (2)
trip
[a movement from one place to another, usually a long distance]
We will go on a trip to Europe next month.
troops
[a number of soldiers in a large controlled group]
American and European troops are keeping peace in Yugoslavia.
trouble
[that which causes concern, fear, difficulty or problems]
He always has trouble starting his car.
truce
[a temporary halt in fighting agreed to by all sides involved]
Fighting ended when the two sides agreed to a truce.
truck
[a heavy vehicle used to carry goods]
The men loaded everything that I own into the truck.
true
[(1)correct; (2) not false]
The news report was true. (1)
The woman made a true statement to the court. (2)
trust
[to believe that someone is honest and will not cause harm]
Many important people trusted him.
try
[(1) to make an effort; (2) to take court action against a person to decide
if he or she is guilty or innocent of a crime]
We will try to find her. (1)
The court will try him next week. (2)
tube
[(1) a long, round structure through which liquids or gases can flow; (2) a
long, thin container in which they can be kept]
The patient breathed through a tube placed in his throat. (1)
The tube of toothpaste is empty. (2)
turn
[(1) to change direction; (2) to move into a different position; (3) to
change color, form or shape]
Turn to the left at the next street. (1)
Turn the meat so it will cook on both sides. (2)
Her beautiful black hair turned white as years passed. (3)
under
[(1) below; (2) below the surface of; (3) less than; (4) as called for by a
law, agreement or system]
The river flows under the bridge. (1)
The submarine went under. (2)
The book was under 20 dollars. (3)
Such action is not permitted under the law. (4)
understand
[(1) to know what is meant; (2)to have knowledge of]
I understand what you mean. (1)
He understands chemistry. (2)
unite
[to join together]
The new president will try to unite all parties in support of his
program.
universe
[all of space, including planets and stars]
Do you know why the universe is expanding?
university
[a place of education that usually includes several colleges and research
organizations]
Her sons are students at different universities.
unless
[(1) except if it happens; (2) on condition that]
I will not go, unless the rain stops. (1)
I will come to your house unless it rains. (2)
until
[(1) up to a time; (2) before]
She said she would wait for me until three o'clock. (1)
We cannot start until everyone arrives. (2)
up
[to, in or at a higher position or value]
We will walk up the stairs.
urge
[(1) to advise strongly; (2) to make a great effort to get someone to do
something]
He urged the governor to think carefully before signing such a bill. (1)
The speaker urged the crowd to take control of the university. (2)
urgent
[needing an immediate decision or action]
She said urgent action is necessary.
us
[(1) the form of the word "we" used after a preposition; (2) or used as
an object of a verb]
He said he would write to us. (1)
They saw us yesterday. (2)
use
[(1) to employ for a purpose; (2) to put into action]
We use electricity to light our house. (1)
He used a piece of glass to cut the ropes that tied our hands. (2)
usual
[(1) as is normal or common; (2) as is most often done, seen or heard]
They watched all the usual television shows. (1)
We left for work at our usual time. (2)
valley
[a long area of land between higher areas of land]
The people in the valley worry about snow sliding down the mountain.
value
[(1) the quality of being useful, important or desired; (2) the amount of
money that could be received if something is sold]
His greatest value is honesty. (1)
The value of their house rose 50 percent in two years. (2)
vegetable
[a plant grown for food]
She is healthy because she eats lots of vegetables and exercises every
day.
vehicle
[(1) anything on or in which a person or thing can travel or be
transported, especially anything on wheels; (2) a car or truck]
This area is closed to all vehicles. (1)
We pay a tax based on the value of each vehicle we own. (2)
version
[the form of something with different details than earlier or later forms]
Are you using the latest version of that computer program?
very
[extremely]
He was very late.
veto
[to reject or refuse to approve]
The President promised to veto the bill if Congress passes it.
vicious
[(1) bad; (2) dangerous; (3) showing harm or hate]
They had a vicious argument about money. (1)
That vicious dog has bitten several people. (2)
He made some vicious statements about the President. (3)
victim
[(1) someone or something that is injured, killed or made to suffer; (2)
someone who is tricked]
The victim never saw the vicious person who struck her. (1)
The victim trusted the woman who took her money. (2)
victory
[a success in a fight or competition]
The little school won its first basketball victory in two years.
village
[a very small town]
Many villages are dying as people move to towns and cities.
violate
[(1) to fail to obey or honor; (2) to break (an agreement)]
He violated laws against making illegal drugs. (1)
He violated the loan agreement by making payments late. (2)
violence
[the use of force to cause injury, death or damage]
She said parents are concerned about violence in the schools.
visit
[to go to or come to a place for a short time for friendly or business
reasons]
The President will visit Japan next month.
voice
[the sound made by creatures, especially humans, for speaking]
She has a nice voice for speaking.
volcano
[a hill or mountain around a hole in the earth's surface that can
explode, sending hot, melted rock and ash into the air]
Many volcanoes are active and could explode suddenly.
vote
[(1) to choose a candidate in an election; (2) a choice or decision
expressed by the voice, by hand or by writing]
Americans vote in national elections every two years. (1)
Officials hope to reduce mistakes in votes by replacing old voting
systems with new and better ones. (2)
wages [money received for work done]
Jack receives his wages every Friday.
wait [(1) to delay acting; (2) to postpone]
Wait for me. (1)
We will wait until next Tuesday to discuss the problem. (2)
walk [to move by putting one foot in front of the other]
She walks two miles every day.
*one mile = 1.6 kilometers
wall [(1) the side of a room or building formed by wood, stone or other
material; (2) a structure sometimes used to separate areas of land]
He has many pictures on his wall. (1)
China built the Great Wall to protect against enemy invasions. (2)
want [(1) to desire; (2) to wish for; (3) to need]
He wants to see her more often. (1)
She wants to win a lot of money in the lottery. (2)
They want to eat now. (3)
war [fighting between nations, or groups in a nation, using weapons]
The world's last major war, World War II, ended in 1945.
warm [(1) almost hot; (2) having or feeling some heat]
My coffee is warm instead of hot. (1)
She likes to sit outside in the warm sunlight. (2)
warn [(1) to tell of possible danger; (2) to advise or inform about
something bad
that may happen]
A weather radio warns of dangerous storms. (1)
The President warned that the country may be entering an economic
recession. (2)
wash [to make clean, usually with water]
Tommy says that he will wash the car today.
waste [(1) to spend or use without need or care; (2) to make bad use of; (
3) a spending of money, time or effort with no value gained or returned; (
4) something thrown away as having no value; (5) the liquid and solid
substances that result from body processes and are passed out of the body]
Do not waste your money by buying video games. (1)
He wasted his life by using drugs and alcohol. (2)
Watching television is a waste of time. (3)
Chemical wastes pollute our water supplies. (4)
How do astronauts deal with the problem of wastes from their bodies? (5)
watch [(1) to look at; (2) to observe closely; (3) to look and wait for]
Did you watch the football game on television? (1)
Watch every move he makes. (2)
I will watch for her train to arrive. (3)
water [the liquid that falls from the sky as rain or is found in lakes,
rivers and oceans]
May I have some water, please?
wave [(1) to move or cause to move one way and the other, as a flag in
the wind; (2) to signal by moving the hand one way and the other; (3) a
large mass of water that forms and moves on the surface of a lake or
ocean]
The flag is waving in the wind. (1)
She waved at me. (2)
The waves are especially large today. (3)
way [(1) a path on land or sea or in the air; (2) how something is done; (
3) method]
This trail is the way to our camp. (1)
She says I should drive the way that she does. (2)
Show me the way to hit the ball. (3)
we [two or more people, including the speaker or writer]
He and I will go together, and we will return together.
weak [(1) having little power; (2) easily broken, damaged or destroyed; (3)
opposite strong]He was weak from hunger. (1)
We are worried about crossing the weak bridge. (2)
You need a strong rope, not a weak one, to tie the boat to the tree. (3)
wealth [a large amount of possessions, money or other things of value]
His wealth comes from his rich grandfather.
weapon [anything used to cause injury or to kill during an attack, fight or
war]
Police could not find the weapon used in the murder.
wear [to have on the body, as clothes]What will you wear to the party?
weather [the condition of the atmosphere resulting from sun, wind, rain,
heat or cold]
We will have more cold weather tomorrow.
week [a period of time equal to seven days]
She will be gone for two weeks.
weigh [to measure how heavy someone or something is]
The ticket agent will weigh your bag at the airport.
welcome [to express happiness or pleasure when someone arrives or something
develops]
We welcomed the sun after a week of rain.
well [(1) in a way that is good or pleasing; (2) in good health; (3) a hole
in the ground where water, gas or oil can be found]
She is doing well at school. (1)
He was sick, but he is well now. (2)
We may see more oil wells in Alaska soon. (3)
west [the direction in which the sun goes down]
They live in a town 50 miles west of Chicago.
* one mile = 1.6 kilometers
wet [(1) covered with water or other liquid; (2) not dry]
It rained just enough to make the streets wet. (1)
My clothing got wet in the rain. (2)
what [(1) used to ask about something or to ask for information about ; (2)
which or which kind]
What is this? (1)
He wants to know what you would like to drink. (2)
wheat [(1) a grain used to make bread; (2) the plant that produces the
grain]
We like bread made from whole wheat. (1)
The farmer grows wheat in most of his fields. (2)
wheel [a round structure that turns around a center]
The wheel on his bicycle came off.
when [(1) at what time; (2) at any time; (3) during or at the time]
When does the train leave? (1)
When will she come home? (2)
I studied hard when I was in school. (3)
where [(1) at, to or in what place; (2) place in which]
Where is his house? (1)
The house where he lives is in the old part of the city. (2)
which [used to ask about what one or what ones of a group of things or
people]
Which program do you like best? (1)
Which students will take the test? (2)
while [(1) a space of time; (2) at or during the same time]
Please come to my house for a while. (1)
It may not be a good idea to eat while you are driving. (2)
white [having the color like that of milk or snow]
She calls her cat Snowball because it is white.
who [(1) what or which person or persons that; (2) the person or persons]
Who wants to go? (1)
They are the ones who want to go. (2)
whole [(1) the complete amount; (2) all together; (3) not divided; (4)
not cut into pieces]
He paid the whole cost of the dinner. (1)
The whole group is invited. (2)
The whole country celebrates Independence Day. (3)
The boy ate the whole cake. (4)
why [(1) for what cause or reason; (2) the reason for which]
Why did she do it? (1)
I do not know why she did it. (2)
wide [(1) having a great distance from one side to the other; (2) not
limited]
The flood covered a wide area along the river. (1)
The new store offered a wide choice of products. (2)
wife [a woman who is married]
His wife works at home.
wild [(1) living and growing in natural conditions and not organized or
supervised by humans; (2) angry; (3) uncontrolled]
Many kinds of wild animals live in America's National Forests. (1)
The man was wild with anger. (2)
Police broke up the wild party. (3)
will [a word used with action words to show future action]
They will hold talks tomorrow.
willing [being ready or having a desire to]
They are willing to talk about the problem.
win [(1) to gain a victory; (2) to defeat another or others in a
competition, election or battle]
Our school won first prize in the foreign language competition. (1)
The candidate with the most campaign money usually wins the election. (2)
wind [a strong movement of air]
In some areas, wind is used to produce electricity.
window [an opening in a wall to let in light and air, usually filled with
glass]
The glass is broken in many of the windows of the old house.
winter [the coldest time of year, between autumn and spring]
Winter lasts for a long time in the mountains.
wire [a long, thin piece of metal used to hang objects or to carry
electricity or electronic communications from one place to another]
Most electric wires in our town are buried in the ground.
wise [(1) having much knowledge and understanding; (2) able to use
knowledge and understanding to make good or correct decisions]
She is a wise woman. (1)
The President is a wise leader. (2)
wish [(1) to want; (2) to express a desire for]
I wish to have Japanese food tonight. (1)
She wishes that her friend will call her. (2)
with [(1) along or by the side of; (2) together; (3) using; (4) having]
She walked with her friend. (1)
She is here with me. (2)
He fixed it with a tool. (3)
They live in the house with the red door. (4)
withdraw [(1) to take or move out, away or back; (2) to remove]
He said he will withdraw from the presidential race. (1)
The company says it will withdraw the disputed product from stores. (2)
without [(1) with no; (2) not having or using; (3) free from; (4) not
doing]
He grew up without a father. (1)
We were without electricity for four hours. (2)
They said goodbye without tears. (3)
He spoke without thinking. (4)
woman [an adult female human]
The woman with him was his mother.
wonder [(1) to ask oneself; (2) to question; (3) a feeling of surprise]
I wonder why she did that. (1)
She wonders if it is true. (2)
The child's eyes were wide with wonder at the fireworks. (3)
wonderful [(1) causing wonder; (2) especially good]
Astronauts on the moon took some wonderful pictures of the Earth. (1)
It is a wonderful day. (2)
wood [the solid material of which trees are made]His stove burns wood.
word [one or more connected sounds that form a single part of a language]
The Word Book is a list of words used in VOA Special English radio
programs.
work [(1) to use physical or mental effort to make or do something; (2) the
effort used to make or to do something; (3) that which needs effort; (4)
the job one does to earn money]
She works as an airline pilot. (1)
This old house requires a lot of work. (2)
You need a strong back to do farm work. (3)
What kind of work do you do? (4)
world [(1) the earth; (2) the people who live on the earth]
Communication satellites let us talk almost instantly to people in any part
of the world. (1)
Most of the world wants an end to nuclear weapons. (2)
worry [(1) to be concerned; (2) to continue thinking that something,
possibly bad, can happen]
They worry that taxes are too high. (1)
Others worry that the government will not provide the services they need.
(2)
worse [more bad than]
Air pollution is worse today than it was yesterday.
worth [value measured in money]
The new house is worth almost one million dollars.
wound [(1) to injure; (2) to hurt; (3) to cause physical damage to a person
or animal; (4) an injury to the body of a human or animal in which the skin
is usually cut or broken]
The terrorist attack wounded twelve people. (1)
Her feelings were wounded by him. (2)
Many were wounded by glass from broken windows. (3)
Blood was pouring from the wound in his leg. (4)
wreck [(1) to damage greatly; (2) to destroy; (3) anything that has been
badly damaged or broken]
The storm wrecked many houses in the town. (1)
The boy wrecked the family car. (2)
The house was a wreck after the wild party. (3)
wreckage [what remains of something severely damaged or destroyed]
Searchers found the wreckage of the airplane high on a mountain.
write [to use an instrument to make words appear on a surface, such as
paper]
Please write a note to me with your new address.
wrong [(1) not correct; (2) bad; (3) not legal; (4) opposite right]
His answer is wrong. (1)
He made the wrong decision. (2)
It is wrong to steal her money. (3)
She knew the difference between right and wrong. (4)
year [a period of time equal to twelve months]
We signed a work agreement for one year.
yellow [having the color like that of gold or the sun]
The skin of bananas is yellow.
yes [used to express agreement or to permit]
When he asked her to marry him, she said, "Yes."
yesterday [the day before today]
We talked yesterday about her problem.
yet [(1) at some time before now; (2) now; (3) at this time; (4) however]
Have they arrived yet? (1)
Do not sit down yet. (2)
I cannot tell you about it yet. (3)
The sun was shining, yet it was cold. (4)
you [the person or persons being spoken to]
I am glad to see you.
young [(1) in the early years of life; (2) not old]
The young girl missed her mother. (1)
He seemed too young to know so much. (2)
zero [the number meaning none or nothing]
One minus one equals zero.
zoo [a place where animals are kept for the public to look at and study]
We saw the new panda at the zoo.
(COMMON EXPRESSIONS)
a lot of [much or many]
We had a lot of rain.
carry out [to do; to put into effect]
Please carry out the plan.
pass a bill [approve]
Congress is expected to pass a bill to cut taxes.
take steps [to start to do something]
The government will take steps to halt inflation.
(WORDS USED IN VOA SPECIAL ENGLISH SCIENCE PROGRAMS)
antibodies [special proteins, produced in the blood, that kill harmful
bacteria]
The body's defense system creates different antibodies for each disease
it fights.
atom [a very small part of all things; the smallest part of an element that
can join with parts of other elements]
All matter is made of atoms.
bacteria [living things that are one cell and can be seen only through a
microscope; some cause disease]
Some bacteria cause disease.
cell [a small mass of living material that is part of all plants and
animals]
All plants and animals are made of cells.
chromosome [a line of genes; most human cells contain 46 chromosomes]
Chromosomes carry the genes that make each of us different.
compound [a substance containing two or more elements]
A compound contains two or more chemical elements.
dense [close together; thick]
Lead is a dense material.
electron [a small part of an atom that has an electrical force]
An electron is a small part of an atom.
element [one of more than 100 substances known to science that cannot be
separated into other substances]
An element cannot be separated into other substances.
enzyme [a special kind of protein; it produces changes in other
substances without being changed itself]
An enzyme can change other substances without being changed itself.
fetus [unborn young]
A human embryo becomes a fetus after eight weeks.
fission [a splitting; in atomic fission, the nucleus of an atom is split to
produce nuclear energy]
Nuclear fission splits atoms to produce energy.
fusion [a joining together; in atomic fusion, atomic particles are joined
together to produce nuclear energy]
Nuclear fusion joins atoms to produce energy.
genes [parts of cells that control the growth and development of living
things; genes from the mother and father are passed to the child; genes
contain nucleic acid]
Genes in the cell control the growth and development of living things.
genetic engineering [the science of changing the genes of a living thing]
Genetic engineering changes the genes of a living organism.
gravity [the force that pulls things toward the center]
Gravity is the force that pulls things toward the center.
image [a reproduction of the appearance of a person or thing]
An image is a picture of someone or something.
laser [an instrument that makes a thin, powerful light]
A laser makes a thin, powerful beam of light.
magnet [a piece of iron or other material that has a pulling force; this
pulling force is called magnetism]
A magnet pulls on objects of iron or steel.
molecule [the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist]
A molecule is the smallest part of a chemical substance.
nerve [a thin piece of tissue that sends information through the body to
and from the brain]
Nerves carry information between the brain and the other parts of the body.
nucleic acid [a molecule that holds the genetic information necessary for
life; there are two kinds of nucleic acid: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
and RNA (ribonucleic acid)]
A molecule of nucleic acid holds the genetic information necessary for
life.
nucleus [the center part of an atom or cell]
The nucleus is the center part of an atom or cell.
nutrient [a food or substance that makes plants, humans or animals grow]
Food is a nutrient that makes humans and animals grow.
organ [a part of the body that has a special purpose, such as the heart
or brain]
The heart and the brain are organs.
organism [a living thing, often so small it can be seen only through a
microscope]
An organism is a living plant or animal of any size.
particle [a very small piece of matter]
A particle is a very small piece of matter.
proteins [substances responsible for the growth of tissue and for fixing
damaged tissue]
Proteins fix damaged tissue and help tissue grow.
robot [a machine that moves and performs tasks]
A robot is a machine that moves and does work.
tissue [living material; a group of cells that are similar in appearance
and do the same thing]
Tissue is a group of living cells.
virus [a kind of organism that causes disease]
A virus is a tiny organism that invades cells and causes disease.
x-rays [a kind of radiation that can pass through most solid materials,
often used in medicine]
X-ray radiation is used to make images of bones and tissue for medical
purposes.
(SOME CHEMICAL ELEMENTS)
hydrogen: H
helium: He
carbon: C
nitrogen: N
oxygen: O
sodium: Na
magnesium: Mg
aluminum: Al
silicon: Si
phosphorus: P
sulfur: S
chlorine: Cl
potassium: K
calcium: Ca
titanium: Ti
iron: 鐵 Fe
nickel: Ni
copper: 銅 Cu
zinc: Zn
silver: 銀 Ag
tin: Sn
iodine: I
platinum: Pt
gold: 金 Au
mercury: 水銀 Hg
lead: 鉛 Pb
radon: Rn
radium: Ra
uranium: U
plutonium: Pu
(PARTS OF THE BODY)
head:頭
hair:毛、頭髮
face:
ear:耳
mouth:口
nose:鼻
eye:目
chin:
neck:首
shoulder:肩
chest:胸
arm:腕
elbow:
wrist:手首
hand:手
thumb:
fingers:手指
leg:腳
knee:
ankle:
foot:足
toes:足指
(ORGANS OF THE BODY)
breast
The breast produces mother's milk to feed a baby.
heart
The heart pumps blood through the body.
intestines
The intestines are tubes through which food passes after it is broken
down in the stomach. Part of the intestines also remove solid wastes from
the body.
kidney
The kidneys clean wastes from the body.
liver
The liver makes some proteins and enzymes. It also removes poisons from the
blood.
lung
The lungs take in and expel air from the body.
prostate
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system.
stomach
The stomach breaks down food for the body to use.
uterus
The uterus is a part of the female reproductive system where a fetus
develops.
(DISEASES)
AIDS:
Alzheimer's:
botulism:
cancer:
chicken pox:
cholera:
cystic fibrosis:
dengue fever:
diabetes: 糖尿病
diarrhea:
encephalitis:
hepatitis: 肝炎
influenza:
leukemia: 白血病
multiple sclerosis:
muscular dystrophy:
malaria:
measles:
meningitis:
Parkinson's:
polio:
pneumonia: 肺炎
rheumatic fever:
river blindness:
syphilis: 梅毒
tetanus: 破傷風
tuberculosis: 結核
typhoid fever:
yellow fever: 黃熱病
whooping cough:
(THE PLANETS)
North Pole: 北極
South Pole: 南極
Moon: 月
Sun: 太陽
Mercury: 水星
Venus: 金星
Earth: 地球
Mars: 火星
Jupiter: 木星
Saturn: 土星
Uranus: 天王星
Neptune: 海王星
Pluto: 冥王星
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